Document:

Exhibit 10.89

 

AUTOBYTEL INC.

SEVERANCE BENEFITS AGREEMENT

This Severance Benefits Agreement ("Agreement") entered into effective as of January 14, 2014 ("Effective Date") between Autobytel Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Autobytel" or "Company"), and Phillip DuPree ("Employee").

Background

Autobytel has determined that it is in its best interests to provide Employee with certain severance benefits to encourage Employee's continued employment with, and dedication to the business of, the Company.

In consideration of the foregoing and other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows.

1.            Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement, the terms below that begin with initial capital letters within this Agreement shall have the specially defined meanings set forth below (unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning).

(a)            "409A Suspension Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.

(b)            "Arbitration Agreement" means that certain Mutual Agreement to Arbitrate dated as of January 14, 2014 entered into by and between the Company and Employee.

(c)            "Cause" shall mean the termination of the Employee's employment by the Company as a result of any one or more of the following:

(i)            any conviction of, or pleading of nolo contendre by, the Employee for any felony;

(ii)            any willful misconduct of the Employee which has a materially injurious effect on the business or reputation of the Company;

(iii)            the gross dishonesty of the Employee in any way that adversely affects the Company; or

(iv)            a material failure to consistently discharge Employee's employment duties to the Company which failure continues for thirty (30) days following written notice from the Company detailing the area or areas of such failure, other than such failure resulting from Employee's Disability.

For purposes of this definition of Cause, no act or failure to act, on the part of the Employee, shall be considered "willful" if it is done, or omitted to be done, by the Employee in good faith or with reasonable belief that Employee's action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.  Employee shall have the opportunity to cure any such acts or omissions (other than clauses (i)  and (iii) above) within thirty (30) days of the Employee's receipt of a written notice

1

from the Company notifying Employee that, in the opinion of the Company, "Cause" exists to terminate Employee's employment.

(d)            "Change of Control" shall mean any of the following events:

(i)        When any "person" as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and as used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof (including a "group" as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, but excluding the Company, any Subsidiary or any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary (including any trustee of such plan acting as trustee)), directly or indirectly, becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, as amended from time to time), of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities.

(ii)        When the individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board ("Incumbent Board"), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to such date, whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall, for purposes of this section, be counted as a member of the Incumbent Board in determining whether the Incumbent Board constitutes a majority of the Board.

(iii)        Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or the acquisition of assets of another corporation (a "Business Combination"), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination:

(1)  all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company and the beneficial owners of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, respectively, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or indirectly or through one or more subsidiaries); and

(2)  no person (excluding any employee benefit plan or related trust of the Company or such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination.

(iv) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

2

(e)            "COBRA" shall mean the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(f)            "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(g)            "Company" means Autobytel, and upon any assignment to and assumption of this Agreement by any Successor Company, shall mean such Successor Company.

(h)            "Disability" shall mean the inability of the Employee to perform Employee's duties to the Company on account of physical or mental illness or incapacity for a period of one-hundred twenty (120) consecutive calendar days, or for a period of one hundred eighty (180) calendar days, whether or not consecutive, during any three hundred sixty-five (365) day period.

(i)            "Employee's Position" means Employee's position as the Executive Vice President, President Dealer Services of the Company.

(j)            "Employee's Primary Work Location" means Autobytel's headquarters located at 18872 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 200, Irvine, California, 92612-1400.

(k)            "Good Reason" means any act, decision or omission by the Company that: (A) materially modifies, reduces, changes, or restricts Employee's base salary as in existence as of the Effective Date or as of the date prior to any such change, whichever is more beneficial for Employee at the time of the act, decision, or omission by the Company; (B) materially modifies, reduces, changes, or restricts the Employee's Health and Welfare Benefits as a whole as in existence as of the Effective Date hereof or as of the date prior to any such change, whichever are more beneficial for Employee at the time of the act, decision, or omission by the Company; (C) materially modifies, reduces, changes, or restricts the Employee's authority, duties, or responsibilities commensurate with the Employee's Position but excluding the effects of any reductions in force other than the Employee's own termination; (D) relocates the Employee's primary place of employment without Employee's consent from Employee's Primary Work Location to any other location in excess of a fifty (50) mile radius from the Employee's Primary Work Location other than on a temporary basis or requires any such relocation as a condition to continued employment by Company; (E) constitutes a failure or refusal by any Company Successor to assume  this Agreement; or (F) involves or results in any material failure by the Company to comply with any provision of this Agreement, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of written notice thereof given by the Employee.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no event shall constitute "Good Reason" unless (i) the Employee first provides written notice to the Company within ninety (90) days of the event(s) alleged to constitute Good Reason, with such notice specifying the grounds that are alleged to constitute Good Reason, and (ii) the Company fails to cure such a material breach to the reasonable satisfaction of the Employee within thirty (30) days after Company's receipt of such written notice.

3

(l)            "Health and Welfare Benefits" means all Company medical, dental, vision, life and disability plans in which Employee participates.

(m)            "Separation from Service" or "Separates from Service" shall mean Employee's termination of employment, as determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-1(h).  Employee shall be considered to have experienced a termination of employment when the facts and circumstances indicate that Employee and the Company reasonably anticipate that either (i) no further services will be performed for the Company after a certain date, or (ii) that the level of bona fide services Employee will perform for the Company after such date (whether as an employee or as an independent contractor) will permanently decrease to no more than twenty percent (20%) of the average level of bona fide services performed by Employee (whether as an employee or independent contractor) over the immediately preceding thirty-six (36) month period (or the full period of services to the Company if Employee has been providing services to the Company for less than thirty six (36) months).  If Employee is on military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence, the employment relationship between Employee and the Company shall be treated as continuing intact, provided that the period of such leave does not exceed six months, or if longer, so long as Employee retains a right to reemployment with the Company under an applicable statute or by contract.  If the period of a military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence exceeds six months and Employee does not retain a right to reemployment under an applicable statute or by contract, the employment relationship shall be considered to be terminated for purposes of this Agreement as of the first day immediately following the end of such six-month period.  In applying the provisions of this section, a leave of absence shall be considered a bona fide leave of absence only if there is a reasonable expectation that Employee will return to perform services for the Company.  For purposes of determining whether Employee has incurred a Separation from Service, the Company shall include the Company and any entity that would be considered a single employer with the Company under Code Section 414(b) or 414(c).

(n)            "Severance Period" shall equal twelve (12) months.

(o)            "Successor Company" means any successor to Autobytel or its assets by reason of any Change of Control.

(p)            "Termination Without Cause" means termination of Employee's employment with the Company (i) by the Company (a) for any reason other than (1) death, (2) Disability or (3) those reasons expressly set forth in the definition of "Cause," (b) for no reason at all, or (c) in connection with or as a result of a Change of Control; provided, however, that a termination of Employee's employment with the Company in connection with a Change of Control shall not constitute a Termination Without Cause if Employee is offered employment with the Successor Company under terms and conditions, including position, salary and other compensation, and benefits, that would not provide Employee the right to terminate Employee's employment for Good Reason.

4

2.            Severance Benefits and Conditions.

(a)            In the event of (i) Termination Without Cause by the Company, or (ii) the termination of Employee's employment with the Company by Employee for Good Reason within 30 days following the earlier of (1) the Company's failure to cure within the 30-day period set forth in the definition of Good Reason, and (2) the Company's notice to Employee that it will not cure the event giving rise to such termination for Good Reason, then (A) Employee shall receive upon such termination a lump sum amount equal to the number of months constituting the Severance Period at the time of termination times the Employee's monthly base salary (determined as the Employee's highest monthly base salary paid to Employee while employed by the Company; base salary does not include any bonus, commissions or other incentive payments or compensation); (B) subject to Section 2(b) below, Employee shall be entitled to a continuation of all Health and Welfare Benefits for Employee and, if applicable, Employee's eligible dependents during the Severance Period at the time they would have been provided or paid had the Employee remained an employee of Company during the Severance Period and at the levels provided prior to the event giving rise to a termination; and (C) the Company shall make available to Employee career transition services at a level and with a provider selected by the Company in accordance with Section 2(g) below.

(b)            (i) With respect to Health and Welfare Benefits that are eligible for continuation coverage under COBRA, in the event the Company is unable to continue Employee's and Employee's eligible dependents' (assuming such dependents were covered by Autobytel at the time of termination) participation under the Company's then existing insurance policies for such Health and Welfare Benefits, Employee may elect to obtain coverage for such Health and Welfare Benefits either by (1) electing COBRA continuation benefits for Employee and Employee's eligible dependents; (2) obtaining individual coverage for Employee and Employee's eligible dependents (if Employee and Employee's eligible dependents qualify for individual coverage); or (3) electing coverage as eligible dependents under another person's group coverage (if Employee and Employee's eligible dependents qualify for such dependent coverage), or any combination of the foregoing alternatives. Employee may also initially elect COBRA continuation benefits and later change to individual coverage or dependent coverage for Employee or any eligible dependent of Employee, but Employee understands that if continuation of Health and Welfare Benefits under COBRA is not initially selected by Employee or is later terminated by Employee, Employee will not be able to return to continuation coverage under COBRA. The Company shall pay directly or reimburse to Employee the monthly premiums for the benefits or coverage selected by Employee, with such payment or reimbursement not to exceed the monthly premiums the Company would have paid assuming Employee elected continuation of benefits under COBRA.  The Company's obligation to pay or reimburse for the Health and Welfare Benefits covered by this Section 2(b)(i) shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the end of the Severance Period; and (ii) Employee's employment by an employer that provides Employee and Employee's eligible dependents with group coverage substantially similar to the Health and Welfare Benefits provided to Employee and Employee's eligible dependents at the time of the termination of Employee's employment with the Company, provided that Employee and Employee's eligible dependents are eligible for participation in such group coverage.

5

(ii) With respect to Health and Welfare Benefits that are not eligible for continuation coverage under COBRA, in the event the Company is unable to continue Employee's participation under the Company's then existing insurance policies for such Health and Welfare Benefits, Employee may elect to obtain coverage for such Health and Welfare Benefits either by (1) obtaining individual coverage for Employee (if Employee qualifies for individual coverage); or (2) electing coverage as an eligible dependent under another person's group coverage (if Employee qualifies for such dependent coverage), or any combination of the foregoing alternatives. The Company shall pay directly or reimburse to Employee the monthly premiums for the benefits or coverage selected by Employee, with such payment or reimbursement not to exceed the monthly premiums the Company paid for such Health and Welfare Benefits at the time of termination of Employee's employment with the Company.  The Company's obligation to pay or reimburse for the Health and Welfare Benefits covered by this Section 2(b)(ii) shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the end of the Severance Period; and (ii) Employee's employment by an employer that provides Employee with group coverage substantially similar to the Health and Welfare Benefits provided to Employee at the time of the termination of Employee's employment with the Company, provided that Employee is eligible for participation in such group coverage. Employee acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall not be obligated to provide any Health and Welfare Benefits covered by this Section 2(b)(ii) for Employee if Employee does not qualify for coverage under the Company's existing insurance policies for such Health and Welfare Benefits, for individual coverage, or for dependent coverage.

(c)            The payments and benefits set forth in Sections 2(a) and 2(b) are conditioned upon and shall be provided to Employee only if (i) Employee has executed and delivered to the Company a Separation and Release Agreement in favor of the Company and Releasees, which agreement shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A ("Release") no later than the expiration of the applicable period of time allowed for Employee to consider the Release as set forth in Section 17 of the Release ("Release Consideration Period"); (ii) Employee has not revoked the Release prior to the expiration of the applicable revocation period set forth in Section 17 of the Release ("Release Revocation Period"); and (iii) the Release has become effective and non-revocable no later than the cumulative period of time represented by the sum of the maximum Release Consideration Period and the maximum Release Revocation Period. No payments or benefits set forth in Sections 2(a) or 2(b) shall be due or payable to, or provided to, Employee if the Release has not become effective and non-revocable in accordance with the requirements of this Section 2(c).

(d)            Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2(c), but subject to the last sentence of this Section 2(d), all payments under Section 2(a)(A) shall be made to Employee within five (5) business days after the Release becomes effective and non-revocable in accordance with its terms. In any case, the payment under Section 2(a)(A) shall be made no later than two and one-half months after the end of the calendar year in which Employee's Separation from Service occurs, provided that the Release shall have become effective and non-revocable in compliance with Section 2(c) prior to expiration of such two and one-half month period. If the period of time covered by the entire allowed Release Consideration Period, the entire Revocation Period and the entire five business day period described above in this Section 2(d) (considering such periods consecutively) begins in one calendar year and ends in the

6

following calendar year, all payments under Section 2(a)(A) shall be made to Employee on the first business day of such following calendar year which is five (5) or more business days after the date on which the Release became effective and non-revocable in accordance with its terms.

(e)            In addition to the payments and benefits under Sections 2(a) and 2(b), to the extent required by applicable law or the Company's incentive or other compensation plans applicable to Employee, if any, upon any termination of Employee's employment Employee shall receive (i) any amounts earned and due and owing to Employee as of the termination date with respect to any base salary, incentive compensation or commissions; and (ii) any other payments required by applicable law (including payments with respect to accrued and unused vacation time). Payments required under this Section 2(e) are not conditioned upon Employee's signing the Release and shall be made within the time period(s) required by applicable law.

(f)            All payments and benefits under this Section 2 are subject to legally required federal, state and local payroll deductions and withholdings.

(g)            To receive career transition services, Employee must contact the service provider no later than 30 days after the Release becomes effective.

(h)            Other than the payments and benefits provided for in this Section 2, Employee shall not be entitled to any additional payments or benefits from the Company resulting from a termination of Employee's employment with the Company.

3.            Taxes.  All payments made pursuant to this Agreement will be subject to withholding of applicable taxes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and except as otherwise specifically provided elsewhere in this Agreement, Employee is solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of any federal, state, province or local taxes that may arise with respect to this Agreement (including any taxes and interest arising under Section 409A of the Code).  Neither the Company nor any of its employees, directors, or service providers shall have any obligation whatsoever to pay such taxes or interest, to prevent Employee from incurring them, or to mitigate or protect Employee from any such tax or interest liabilities.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any amounts that become due under this Agreement on account of Employee's termination of employment constitute "nonqualified deferred compensation" within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, payment of such amounts shall not commence until Employee incurs a Separation from Service.  If, at the time of Employee's Separation from Service under this Agreement, Employee is a "specified employee" (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), any amounts that constitute "nonqualified deferred compensation" within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code that become payable to Employee on account of Employee's Separation from Service (including any amounts payable pursuant to the preceding sentence) will not be paid until after the end of the sixth calendar month beginning after Employee's Separation from Service ("409A Suspension Period").  Within 14 calendar days after the end of the 409A Suspension Period, Employee shall be paid a lump sum payment, without interest, in cash equal to any payments delayed because of the preceding sentence.  Thereafter, Employee shall receive any remaining benefits as if there had not been an earlier delay.  With respect to the reimbursement of expenses to which Employee is entitled under this Agreement, if any, or the provision of in-kind benefits to Employee as

7

specified under this Agreement, if any, such reimbursement of expenses or provision of in-kind benefits shall be subject to the following conditions:  (i) the expenses eligible for reimbursement or the amount of in-kind benefits provided in one taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement or the amount of in-kind benefits provided in any other taxable year, except for any medical reimbursement arrangement providing for the reimbursement of expenses referred to in Section 105(b) of the Code, solely to the extent that the arrangement provides for a limit on the amount of expenses that may be reimbursed under such arrangement over some or all of the period in which the reimbursement arrangement remains in effect; (ii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense shall be made no later than the end of the calendar year after the calendar year in which such expense was incurred; (iii) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit; and (iv) the right to reimbursement or provision of in-kind benefits shall not apply to any expenses incurred or benefits to be provided beyond the last day of the second taxable year following the year in which Employee's Separation from Service occurred.

4.            Arbitration.  Any controversy or claim arising out of, or related to, this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be governed by the terms of the Arbitration Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference.

5.            Entire Agreement.  All oral or written agreements or representations express or implied, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement are set forth in this Agreement.  This Agreement contains the entire integrated understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes any prior employment, severance, or change-in-control protective agreement or other agreement, plan or arrangement between the Company or any predecessor and Employee.  No provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted to mean that Employee is subject to receiving fewer benefits than those available to Employee without reference to this Agreement. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the Prior Severance Agreement is hereby terminated and shall have no further force or effect.

6.            Notices. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any notice, approval, consent, waiver or other communication required or permitted to be given or to be served upon any person in connection with this Agreement shall be in writing.  Such notice shall be personally served, sent by fax or cable, or sent prepaid by either registered or certified mail with return receipt requested or Federal Express and shall be deemed given (i) if personally served or by Federal Express, when delivered to the person to whom such notice is addressed, (ii) if given by fax or cable, when sent, or (iii) if given by mail, two (2) business days following deposit in the United States mail.  Any notice given by fax or cable shall be confirmed in writing, by overnight mail or Federal Express within forty-eight (48) hours after being sent.  Such notices shall be addressed to the party to whom such notice is to be given at the party's address set forth below or as such party shall otherwise direct.

8

If to the Company:

Autobytel Inc.

18872 MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 200

Irvine, California, 92612-1400

Facsimile:  (949) 862-1323

                                        Attn:  Chief Legal Officer

If to the Employee:

To Employee's latest home address on file with the Company

7.            No Waiver.  No waiver, by conduct or otherwise, by any party of any term, provision, or condition of this Agreement, shall be deemed or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such term, provision, or condition nor as a waiver of a similar or dissimilar condition or provision at the same time or at any prior or subsequent time.

8.            Amendment to this Agreement.  No modification, waiver, amendment, discharge or change of this Agreement, shall be valid unless the same is in writing and signed by the party against whom enforcement of such modification, waiver amendment, discharge, or change is or may be sought.

9.            Non-Disclosure.  Unless required by applicable law, rule, regulation or order or to enforce this Agreement, Employee shall not disclose the existence of this Agreement or the underlying terms to any third party, including without limitation, any former, present or future employee of the Company, other than to Employee's immediate family who have a need to know such matters or to Employee's tax or legal advisors who have a need to know such matters.  If Employee does disclose this Agreement or any of its terms to any of Employee's immediate family or tax or legal advisors, then Employee will inform them that they also must keep the existence of this Agreement and its terms confidential.  The Company may disclose the existence or terms of the Agreement and its terms and may file this Agreement as an exhibit to its public filings if it is required to do so under applicable law, rule, regulation or order.

10.            Enforceability; Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, such provision shall be deemed to be modified or restricted to the extent and in the manner necessary to render the same valid and enforceable, or shall be deemed excised from this Agreement, as the case may require, and this Agreement shall be construed and enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law as if such provision had been originally incorporated herein as so modified or restricted, or as if such provision had not been originally incorporated herein, as the case may be.

11.            Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California without giving effect to such State's choice of law rules.  This Agreement is deemed to be entered into entirely in the State of California.  This Agreement shall not be strictly construed for or against either party.

9

12.            No Third Party Beneficiaries.  Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, nothing contained in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to create rights running to the benefit of any third party.

13.            Successors of the Company.  The rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the successors and assigns of the Company, including any Successor Company.  This Agreement shall be assignable by the Company in the event of a merger or similar transaction in which the Company is not the surviving entity, or a sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets.

14.            Rights Cumulative.  The rights under this Agreement, or by law or equity, shall be cumulative and may be exercised at any time and from time to time.  No failure by any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any rights shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise by any party preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.

15.            No Right or Obligation of Employment.  Employee acknowledges and agrees that nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon Employee any right with respect to continuation of employment by the Company, nor shall it interfere in any way with Employee's right or the Company's right to terminate Employee's employment at any time, with or without Cause.

16.            Interpretation.  Every provision of this Agreement is the result of full negotiations between the parties, both of whom have either been represented by counsel throughout or otherwise been given an opportunity to seek the aid of counsel.  Each party hereto further agrees and acknowledges that it is sophisticated in legal affairs and has reviewed this Agreement in detail.  Accordingly, no provision of this Agreement shall be construed in favor of or against any of the parties hereto by reason of the extent to which any such party or its counsel participated in the drafting thereof. Captions and headings of sections contained in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not control the meaning, effect, or construction of this Agreement. Time periods used in this Agreement shall mean calendar periods unless otherwise expressly indicated.

17.            Legal and Tax Advice.  Employee acknowledges that: (i) the Company has encouraged Employee to consult with an attorney and/or tax advisor of Employee's choosing (and at Employee's own cost and expense) in connection with this Agreement, and (ii) Employee is not relying upon the Company for, and the Company has not provided, legal or tax advice to Employee in connection with this Agreement.  It is the responsibility of Employee to seek independent tax and legal advice with regard to the tax treatment of this Agreement and the payments and benefits that may be made or provided under this Agreement and any other related matters. Employee acknowledges that Employee has had a reasonable opportunity to seek and consider advice from Employee's counsel and tax advisors.

18.            Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one instrument.  The parties agree that facsimile copies of signatures shall be deemed originals for all

10

purposes hereof and that a party may produce such copies, without the need to produce original signatures, to prove the existence of this Agreement in any proceeding brought hereunder.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank.]

11

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Employee have executed and entered into this Agreement effective as of the date first shown above. 

	
 

	
AUTOBYTEL INC.

 

 

 

	
 

	
By:

	
  /s/ Glenn E. Fuller

	
 

	
 

	
Glenn E. Fuller, Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Administrative Officer and Secretary

	
 

	
EMPLOYEE

 

 

 

	
 

	
 

	
  /s/ Phillip DuPree

	
 

	
 

	
Phillip DuPree

12

EXHIBIT A

SEPARATION AND RELEASE AGREEMENT

It is hereby agreed by and between you, Phillip DuPree (for yourself, your spouse, family, agents and attorneys) (jointly, "You" or "Employee"), and Autobytel Inc., its predecessors, successors, affiliates, directors, employees, shareholders, fiduciaries, insurers, employees and agents (jointly, the "Company"), as follows:

1.    Separation of Employment. You acknowledge that your employment with the Company ended effective [_______], 201[__] ("Employment Termination Date"), and that You will perform no further duties, functions or services for the Company subsequent to the Employment Termination Date. You have resigned or hereby resign from all officer and director positions You held with the Company or any of its subsidiaries effective as of the Employment Termination Date. This Separation and Release Agreement ("Release") is entered into in connection with that certain Severance Benefits Agreement dated effective as of January 6, 2014 by and between the Company and Employee ("Severance Benefits Agreement").

2.    Release Consideration. In exchange for your promises and obligations in this Release and the Severance Benefits Agreement, including the release of claims set forth below, if You sign and do not revoke this Release and this Release becomes effective, the Company will pay You the amounts, and will provide the benefits, due to You under the Severance Benefits Agreement, minus legally required federal, state and local payroll deductions and withholdings.  Payment of any monetary amount provided for in this Section 2 will be made within the time periods required by the Severance Benefits Agreement (except for payments or benefits that will be paid or provided over time as provided therein) and, if no time is specified, within 5 business days after this Release becomes effective.

3.    Acknowledgement of Receipt of Amounts Due. You acknowledge and agree that You have received all, and that the Company does not owe You any additional, payments, benefits or other compensation as a result of your employment with the Company or your separation from employment with the Company, including, but not limited to, wages, commissions, bonuses, vacation pay, severance pay, expenses, fees, or other compensation or payments of any kind or nature, other than those amounts or benefits, if any, payable or to be provided to You after the date hereof pursuant to the Severance Benefits Agreement after this Release becomes effective.

4.    Return of Company Property.  You represent and warrant that You have returned to the Company any and all documents, software, equipment (including, but not limited to, computers and computer-related items), and all other materials or other things in your possession, custody, or control which are the property of the Company, including, but not limited to, Company identification, keys, computers, cell phones, and the like, wherever such items may have been located; as well as all copies (in whatever form thereof) of all materials relating to your employment, or obtained or created in the course of your employment with the Company. You hereby represent that, other than those materials You have returned to the Company pursuant to this Section 4, You have not copied or caused to be copied, and have not transferred

1

or printed-out or caused to be transferred or printed-out, any software, computer disks, e-mails or other documents other than those documents generally available to the public, or retained any other materials originating with or belonging to the Company.  You further represent that You have not retained in your possession, custody or control, any software, documents or other materials in machine or other readable form, which are the property of the Company, originated with the Company, or were obtained or created in the course of or relate to your employment with the Company.

5.    Confidentiality and Non-Solicitation/Interference.

(a) You shall keep confidential, and shall not hereafter use or disclose to any person, firm, corporation, governmental agency, or other entity, in whole or in part, at any time in the future, any trade secret, proprietary information, or confidential information of the Company, including, but not limited to, information relating to trade secrets, processes, methods, pricing strategies, customer lists, marketing plans, product introductions, advertising or promotional programs, sales, financial results, financial records and reports, regulatory matters and compliance, and other confidential matters, except as required by law and as necessary for compliance purposes.  These obligations are in addition to the obligations set forth in any confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement between You and the Company, including, without limitation, that certain Employee Confidentiality Agreement dated as of [_______], [__], which shall remain binding on You after the Employment Termination Date.

(b) Unless required by applicable law, rule, regulation or order or to enforce this Agreement, Employee shall not disclose the existence of the Severance Benefits Agreement or this Release or the underlying terms to any third party, including without limitation, any former, present or future employee of the Company, other than to Employee's immediate family who have a need to know such matters or to Employee's tax or legal advisors who have a need to know such matters.  If Employee does disclose this Release, the Severance Benefits Agreement or any of their respective terms to any of Employee's immediate family or tax or legal advisors, then Employee will inform them that they also must keep the existence of this Release, the Severance Benefits Agreement and their respective terms confidential.  The Company may disclose the existence or terms of this Release, the Severance Benefits Agreement and their respective terms and may file this Release and the Severance Benefits Agreement as exhibits to its public filings if it is required to due so under applicable law, rule, regulation or order.

(c) For a period of one (1) year immediately following this Release becoming effective, You agree that You will not interfere with Company's business by soliciting an employee to leave Company's employ, or by inducing a consultant or vendor to sever its relationship with Company.  You may not, at any time, use the Company's trade secrets to solicit business from any source, including the Company's customers or clients.  This Section 5(c) is not intended to, and shall not, prevent You from lawful competition with the Company.  You represent and warrant that You have not engaged in any of the foregoing activities prior to the effective date of this Release.

6.    Nondisparagement. You agree that neither You nor anyone acting on your behalf or at your direction will disparage, denigrate, defame, criticize, impugn or otherwise damage or

2

assail the reputation or integrity of the Company to any third party and in particular to any current or former employee, officer, director, contractor, supplier, customer, or client of the Company or prospective or actual purchaser of the equity interests of the Company or its business or assets.

7.    Unconditional General Release of Claims.

(a)                In consideration for the payment and benefits provided for in Section 2, and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1542 of the Civil Code of California, You unconditionally release and forever discharge the Company, and the Company's current, former, and future controlling shareholders, subsidiaries, affiliates, related companies, predecessor companies, divisions, directors, trustees, officers, employees, agents, attorneys, successors, and assigns (and the current, former, and future controlling shareholders, directors, trustees, officers, employees, agents, and attorneys of any such subsidiaries, affiliates, related companies, predecessor companies, and divisions) (all of the foregoing released persons or entities being referred to herein as "Releasees"), from any and all claims, complaints, demands, actions, suits, causes of action, obligations, damages and liabilities of whatever kind or nature, whether known or unknown, based on any act, omission, event, occurrence, or nonoccurrence from the beginning of time to the date of execution of this Release, including, but not limited to, claims that arise out of or in any way relate to your employment or your separation from employment with the Company.

(b)                You acknowledge and agree that the foregoing unconditional and general release includes, but is not limited to, (i) any claims for salary, bonuses, commissions, equity, compensation (except as specified in this Agreement), wages, penalties, premiums, severance pay, vacation pay or any benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; (ii) any claims of harassment, retaliation or discrimination; (iii) any claims based on any federal, state or governmental constitution, statute, regulation or ordinance, including, without limitation, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans With Disabilities Act, Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Family Rights Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the California Constitution, the California Labor Code, the California Industrial Welfare Commission Wage Orders, the California Government Code, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act; (iv) whistleblower claims, claims of breach of implied or express contract, breach of promise, misrepresentation, negligence, fraud, estoppel, defamation, infliction of emotional distress, violation of public policy, wrongful or constructive discharge, or any other employment-related tort, and any claims for costs, fees, or other expenses, including attorneys' fees; and (v) any other aspect of your employment or the termination of your employment.

(c)                For the purpose of implementing a full and complete release, You expressly acknowledge and agree that this Release resolves all claims You may have against the Company and the Releasees as of the date of this Release, including but limited to claims that You did not know or suspect to exist in your favor at the time of the execution of this Release.  You expressly waive any and all rights which You may have under the provisions of

3

Section 1542 of the California Civil Code or any similar state or federal statute.  Section 1542 provides as follows:

"A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him or her must have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor."

(d)                This Release will not waive the Employee's rights to indemnification under the Company's certificate of incorporation or by-laws or, if applicable, any written agreement between the Company and the Employee, or under applicable law.

(e)                You hereby certify that You have not experienced a job‐related illness or injury for which You have not already filed a claim.

(f)                This general release does not waive or release rights or claims arising after You sign this Release.

8.    Covenant Not to Sue.  A "covenant not to sue" is a promise not to sue in court.  This covenant differs from a general release of claims in that, besides waiving and releasing the claims covered by this Release, You represent and warrant that You have not filed, and agree that You will not file, or cause to be filed or maintained, any judicial complaint, lawsuit or demand for arbitration involving any claims You have released in this Release, and You agree to withdraw any judicial complaints, lawsuits or demands for arbitration You have filed, or were filed on your behalf, prior to the effective date of this Release.  Still, You may sue to enforce this Release.  You agree if You breach this covenant, then You must pay the legal expenses incurred by incurred by any Releasee in defending against your suit, including reasonable attorneys' fees, or, at the Company's option, return everything paid to You under this Agreement.  In that event, the Company shall be excused from making any further payments or continuing any other benefits otherwise owed to You under paragraph 2 of this Agreement.  Furthermore, You give up all rights to individual damages in connection with any administrative or court proceeding with respect to your employment with or termination of employment from, the Company.  You also agree that if You are awarded money damages, You will assign your right and interest to such money damages (i) in connection with an administrative charge, to the relevant administrative agency; and (ii) in connection with a lawsuit or demand for arbitration, to the Company.

9.    Cooperation With Company. You agree to assist and cooperate (including, but not limited to, providing information to the Company and/or testifying truthfully in a proceeding) in the investigation and handling of any internal investigation, governmental matter, or actual or threatened court action, arbitration, administrative proceeding, or other claim involving any matter that arose during the period of your employment.  You shall be reimbursed for reasonable expenses actually incurred in the course of rendering such assistance and cooperation. Your agreement to assist and cooperate shall not affect in any way the content of information or testimony provided by You.

4

10.        No Reemployment. You acknowledge and agree that the Company has no obligation to employ You or offer You employment in the future and You shall have no recourse against the Company if it refuses to employ You or offer You employment.  If You do seek re-employment, then this Release shall constitute sufficient cause for the Company to refuse to re-employ You.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company has the right to offer to re-employ You in the future if, in its sole discretion, it chooses to do so.

11.        No Admission of Liability. This Release does not constitute an admission that the Company or any other Releasee has violated any law, rule, regulation, contractual right or any other duty or obligation.

12.        Severability. Should any provision of this Release be declared or be determined by any court or arbitrator to be illegal or invalid, the validity of the remaining parts, terms, or provisions shall not be affected, and said illegal or invalid part, term, or provision shall be deemed not to be part of this Release.

13.        Governing Law. This Release is made and entered into in the State of California and shall in all respects be interpreted, enforced, and governed under the law of that state, without reference to conflict of law provisions thereof.

14.        Interpretation.  The language of all parts in this Release shall be construed as a whole, according to fair meaning, and not strictly for or against any party. The captions and headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not control the meaning, effect, or construction of this Agreement.

15.        Knowing and Voluntary Agreement.  You have carefully reviewed this Release and understand the terms and conditions it contains. By entering into this Release, You are giving up potentially valuable legal rights. You specifically acknowledge that You are waiving and releasing any rights You may have under the ADEA. You acknowledge that the consideration given for this waiver and release is in addition to anything of value to which You were already entitled. You acknowledge that You are signing this Release knowingly and voluntarily and intend to be bound legally by its terms.

16.        Entire Agreement. You hereby acknowledge that no promise or inducement has been offered to You, except as expressly stated in this Release and in the Severance Benefits Agreement, and You are relying upon none.  This Release and the Severance Benefits Agreement represent the entire agreement between You and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersede any other written or oral understandings between the parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof and may only be amended or modified with the prior written consent of You and the Company.

17.        Period for Review and Consideration/Revocation Rights.

[Alternative 1 for Section 17 if Employee is NOT age 40 or over at time of separation from employment]

5

You understand that You have seven (7) days after this Release has been delivered to You by the Company to decide whether to sign this Release, although You may sign this Release at any time within the seven (7) day period.  If You do sign it, You also understand that You will have an additional three (3) days after the date You deliver this signed Release to the Company and to change your mind and revoke this Release, in which case a written notice of revocation must be delivered to the Company's Chief Legal Officer, Autobytel Inc., 18872 MacArthur Blvd. Suite 200, Irvine, California 92612-1400, on or before the third (3rd) day after your delivery of this signed Release to the Company (or on the next business day if the third calendar day is not a business day).  You understand that this Release will not become effective or enforceable until after that three (3) day period has passed.  If You revoke this Release, this Release shall not be effective or enforceable as to any rights You may have under this Release.  In the event that You revoke this Release, You will not be entitled to the payments and benefits specified in Paragraph 2.

[Alternative 2 for Section 17 if Employee is age 40 or over at time of separation from employment, separation from employment is NOT in connection with a group separation, and ADEA Claims are being released]

You understand that You have twenty-one (21) days after this Release has been delivered to You by the Company to decide whether to sign this Release, although You may sign this Release at any time within the twenty-one (21) day period.  If You do sign it, You also understand that You will have an additional seven (7) days after the date You deliver this signed Release to the Company and to change your mind and revoke this Release, in which case a written notice of revocation must be delivered to the Company's Chief Legal Officer, Autobytel Inc., 18872 MacArthur Blvd. Suite 200, Irvine, California 92612-1400, on or before the seventh (7th) day after your delivery of this signed Release to the Company (or on the next business day if the seventh calendar day is not a business day).  You understand that this Release will not become effective or enforceable until after that seven (7) day period has passed.  If You revoke this Release, this Release shall not be effective or enforceable as to any rights You may have under this Release.  In the event that You revoke this Release, You will not be entitled to the payments and benefits specified in Paragraph 2.

[Alternative 3 for Section 17 if Employee is age 40 or over at time of separation from employment, separation from employment IS in connection with a group termination, and ADEA Claims are being released]

(a)            You understand that You have forty-five (45) days after this Release has been delivered to You by the Company to decide whether to sign this Release, although You may sign this Release at any time within the forty-five (45) day period.  If You do sign it, You also understand that You will have an additional seven (7) days after You sign to change your mind and revoke the Agreement, in which case a written notice of revocation must be delivered to the Company's Chief Legal Officer, Autobytel Inc., 18872 MacArthur Blvd. Suite 200, Irvine, California 92612-1400, on or before the seventh (7th) day after your delivery of this signed Release to the Company (or on the next business day if the seventh calendar day is not a business

6

day).  You understand that this Release will not become effective or enforceable until after that seven (7) day period has passed.  If You revoke this Release, this Release shall not be effective or enforceable as to any rights You may have under this Release.  In the event that You revoke this Release, You will not be entitled to the payments and benefits specified in Paragraph 2.

(b)            You acknowledge that You have received the group information of employees included in the Company's ____________ group termination program, the eligibility factors for participation in the program, and the time limits for participation in the program.  You also acknowledge that You have received lists of the ages and job titles of employees eligible or selected for the program and employees not eligible or selected for the group termination program.  This information is set forth on Appendix A attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

18.        Advice of Attorney and Tax Advisor.  Employee acknowledges that: (i) the Company has advised Employee to consult with an attorney and/or tax advisor of Employee's choosing (and at Employee's own cost and expense) before executing this Release, and (ii) Employee is not relying upon the Company for, and the Company has not provided, legal or tax advice to Employee in connection with this Release.  It is the responsibility of Employee to seek independent tax and legal advice with regard to the tax treatment of this Release and the payments and benefits that may be made or provided under this Release and any other related matters. Employee acknowledges that Employee has had a reasonable opportunity to seek and consider advice from Employee's attorney and tax advisors.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY.  THIS RELEASE INCLUDES A GENERAL RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS, KNOWN AND UNKNOWN. YOU MAY NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE TERMS OF THIS RELEASE THAT ARE NOT AGREED UPON BY THE COMPANY IN WRITING. ANY CHANGES SHALL CONSTITUTE A REJECTION OF THIS RELEASE BY EMPLOYEE.

Dated:_____________, 201_                                                                                                  _____________________________________

Phillip DuPree

Dated:_____________, 201_                                                                                                  AUTOBYTEL INC.

By:            __________________________________

                          [Officer's Name]

                          [Title]

7EXHIBIT 10.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

 

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF

 

January 1, 2014

 

 

ARTICLE I

 

DESIGNATION OF PLAN AND DEFINITIONS

 

1.1                            TITLE AND PURPOSE

 

(a)                   Title.  This Plan shall be known as “The Allstate Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan.”

 

(b)                      Purpose.  This Plan was established by The Allstate Corporation for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for eligible employees.  The Plan is intended to be an unfunded plan maintained for a select group of management or highly compensated employees within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).  With respect to amounts deferred on or after January 1, 2005, this Plan is intended to be a nonqualified deferred compensation plan maintained in conformity with the requirements of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and shall be interpreted accordingly.

 

(c)                       Effective Date and Plan History.  The Plan was adopted by Allstate Insurance Company effective January 1, 1995.  The Plan was amended and restated by the Company, effective January 1, 1996, November 11, 1997, September 1, 1999, November 1, 2000, November 1, 2001, June 1, 2002, October 7, 2002, May 28, 2004, December 31, 2008, July 31, 2009, January 1, 2011, January 1, 2013, and January 1, 2014.  The terms of this Plan are effective for all benefits under the Plan that are not fully distributed as of January 1, 2005, except that actions taken on or after January 1, 2005 and prior to December 31, 2008, are subject to the terms of the then existing Plan and, as applicable, a reasonable and good faith interpretation of Code Section 409A and the transition guidance provided thereunder.

 

 

1.2                            GENERAL DEFINITIONS

 

Unless expressly stated otherwise, the following definitions will apply:

 

(a)                   “Account” shall mean nominal bookkeeping entries made to state the balance of a Participant’s benefit under the Plan.  A Participant’s benefit under the Plan shall be comprised of the total of all sub-accounts, which may include a Pre-2005 Sub-Account and Post-2004 Sub-Account.  “Account” shall also mean any amounts

 

Page 2

 

deferred by a Participant, as adjusted for earnings and debits, under The Allstate Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Employee Agents and The Allstate Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Contractor Exclusive Agents.

 

(b)                  “Beneficiary” or “Contingent Beneficiary” shall mean the person or persons last designated in writing by the Participant to the Committee, in accordance with Section 8.4 of this Plan.

 

(c)                   “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(d)                 “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including regulations and guidance of general applicability issued thereunder.

 

(e)                   “Committee” shall mean the Committee appointed by the Board of Directors pursuant to Article VI of this Plan, and shall mean those persons to whom the Committee has delegated administrative duties pursuant to Section 6.1(g).

 

(f)                    “Company” shall mean The Allstate Corporation.

 

(g)                  “Compensation” shall mean all of the items included in the term “Annual Compensation” as that term is defined in the Allstate Retirement Plan sponsored by the Company without regard to the annual compensation limit imposed by Code Section 401(a)(17).

 

(h)                  “Compensation Floor” shall be the compensation limit in effect pursuant to Code Section 401(a)(17) for a Plan Year.

 

(i)                      “Controlled Group” shall mean any corporation or other business entity which is included in a controlled group of corporations, within the meaning of section 1563(a)(i) of the Code, within which the Company is also included.

 

(j)                      “Current Plan Year” shall mean the Plan Year in which amounts are deferred pursuant to a valid deferral election, in accordance with Section 2.2.

 

(k)                  “Eligible Compensation” shall mean the greater of (i) an Employee’s projected  Compensation based on his or her Compensation for the month ending on December 31 of the Prior Plan Year, annualized in such manner as the Committee shall determine; (ii) an Employee’s projected annualized base salary based on his or her Compensation for the month ending on December 31 of the Prior Plan Year,

 

Page 3

 

annualized in such manner as the Committee shall determine; or (iii) an Employee’s Compensation for the calendar year two years before a Plan Year.  For purposes of this definition, “Compensation” shall not include any bonus amounts paid on a monthly, quarterly or other nonannual basis.

 

(l)                      “Eligible Employee” shall mean any Employee who the Committee determines shall be eligible to participate in the Plan and whose (i) Eligible Salary is expected to exceed the Compensation Floor, or (ii) Eligible Compensation is expected to exceed the Compensation Floor for the Plan Year and, therefore, is eligible to make a deferral under Article II of this Plan.

 

(m)              “Eligible Salary” shall mean an Employee’s base salary during the Prior Plan Year annualized in such manner as the Committee shall determine, plus any bonus amounts paid on a monthly, quarterly or other nonannual basis included as Compensation during the Prior Plan Year up through the date the Employee’s eligibility is determined, as set forth by the Committee.

 

(n)                  “Employee” shall mean any regular, full-time employee of the Employer, but shall in no event include persons classified as agents.  If a person is not considered to be an “Employee” for purposes of Plan eligibility, a later change in the person’s status, even if the change in status is applicable to prior years, will not have a retroactive effect for Plan purposes.

 

(o)                  “Employer” shall mean the Company, Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company, Esurance Insurance Services, Inc. and any other entity within the Controlled Group that adopts the terms of the Plan, as agreed to by the entity’s Board of Directors, with the approval of the Committee.

 

(p)                  “Hardship” shall apply only to a Participant’s Pre-2005 Sub-Account and shall mean a distribution that would satisfy the requirements of Code section 401(k)(2)(B)(i)(IV) from a tax-qualified plan maintained by an Employer, with the approval of the Committee.

 

(q)                  “Incentive” shall mean the amount actually payable to a Participant under an annual cash incentive program sponsored by the employer.  An Incentive earned during a Plan Year becomes payable in the calendar year next following the Plan Year.  Any bonus amounts earned for periods of less than 12 months or that are payable to a

 

Page 4

 

Participant on a monthly, quarterly or any other nonannual basis under any cash incentive or award program shall not be considered an Incentive under this Plan.

 

(r)                     “Investment” shall mean the elections made by Participants, as allowed for in Section 4.3 of the Plan, to allocate and reallocate deferrals and Account balances among the Investment Options described in Section 4.3(b), together with accruals and adjustments reflecting the hypothetical experience of the Investment Options.

 

(s)                    “Participant” shall mean an Eligible Employee who has an Account balance in the Plan.

 

(t)                     “Plan” shall mean The Allstate Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan as set forth herein, and as amended from time to time in accordance with Article VII hereof.

 

(u)                  “Plan Year” shall mean the fiscal year of the Company, which is a calendar year.

 

(v)                  “Post-2004 Sub-Account” shall mean a nominal bookkeeping sub-account of the Participant’s Account established to state the balance of (i) Compensation deferred by a Participant under the Plan on or after January 1, 2005, as adjusted pursuant to Article IV of the Plan, (ii) any cash amounts automatically directed to this Plan on or after January 1, 2005 by action of the Board of Directors of The Allstate Corporation or a committee thereof; and (iii) earnings and losses on amounts contributed pursuant to (i) and (ii) of this subsection, pursuant to Article IV.  “Post-2004 Sub-Account shall refer to the total of the Participant’s benefit under this Plan with respect to amounts deferred or otherwise credited on or after January 1, 2005, pursuant to Section 4.2.

 

(w)              “Pre-2005 Sub-Account” shall mean a nominal bookkeeping sub-account of the Participant’s Account established to state the balance of (i) Compensation that was fully earned and vested prior to January 1, 2005, and deferred by a Participant under the terms of the Plan then in effect; (ii) any cash amounts automatically directed to this Plan and fully earned and vested prior to January 1, 2005 by action of the Board of Directors of The Allstate Corporation or a committee thereof; and (iii) subsequent earnings and losses on amounts contributed pursuant to (i) and (ii) of this subsection, pursuant to Article IV.

 

(x)                  “Prior Plan Year” shall mean the Plan Year immediately preceding the Current Plan

 

Page 5

 

Year.

 

(y)                  “Separation from Service” shall mean the termination of employment or cessation or reduction of services by a Participant that results in a distribution as specifically defined and determined under Article V of the Plan.  “Separation from Service” shall have distinct meanings with respect to the Pre-2005 Sub-Account and the Post-2004 Sub-Account, as set forth in Article V of the Plan.

 

(z)                   “Unforeseeable Financial Emergency” shall apply only to a Participant’s Post-2004 Sub-Account and shall mean a severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, the Participant’s beneficiary, or the Participant’s dependent (as defined in Section 152 of the Code, without regard to Sections 152(b)(1), 152(b)(2) and 152(d)(1)(B) of the Code); loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty; or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant; but shall not include any of the foregoing to the extent such emergency is or may be relieved through 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 cessation of deferrals under the Plan.  In making its determination, the Committee shall be guided by the prevailing authorities applicable under the Code so as to result in the Participant not being in constructive receipt or subject to penalties under Code Section 409A with respect to any distribution or cancellation of a deferral due to an Unforeseeable Financial Emergency.

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

PARTICIPATION

 

 

2.1                            PARTICIPATION AND DEFERRAL ELECTIONS

 

An Eligible Employee shall become a Participant upon the filing of an election to defer base salary or Incentive and shall continue as a Participant until his or her Account has been fully paid pursuant to the provisions of Article V.  An election to defer base salary or Incentives shall specify the percentage of compensation to be deferred under the Plan for a Plan Year.  An election to defer base salary or Incentive shall be filed in the manner

 

Page 6

 

and at the time that the Committee may specify in its discretion from time to time.

 

 

2.2                            TIMING OF DEFERRAL ELECTIONS

 

(a)                   In no event shall a Participant be permitted to make a deferral election with respect to his or her base salary after December 31 of the calendar year preceding the Plan Year in which such deferral election shall take effect.  All elections to defer base salary for a Plan Year shall be irrevocable as of December 31 of the preceding Plan Year (or such earlier date as may be determined by the Committee from time to time) and, therefore, may not be changed by either the Committee or the Participant after December 31 (or such earlier date, if applicable).

 

(b)                  An election to defer Incentive shall be filed no later than December 31 of the calendar year preceding the Plan Year in which services are first performed with respect to such Incentive, unless the Committee determines that a Participant’s Incentive constitutes “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 409A.  In such case, the Committee may establish a later date for the filing of Incentive deferral elections; provided that, as of such date established by the Committee, Incentive is not readily ascertainable within the meaning of Code Section 409A, and further provided that such date shall in no event be later than 6 months prior to the end of the applicable performance period for such Incentive.  Such deferral election shall be irrevocable as of the filing date established by the Committee.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant’s election made in 2008 to defer Incentive earned in 2008 shall apply to the Participant’s entire Incentive earned in 2008, including any amounts that may not constitute performance-based compensation.  To the extent a Participant’s election made in 2008 results in a deferral of any portion of the Participant’s Incentive that does not constitute performance-based compensation, such deferral election shall be deemed to be a transition relief election pursuant to Code Section 409A.

 

(c)                   “Evergreen” Deferral Elections.  The Committee may in its discretion establish rules from time to time under which deferral elections provided in this Section  2.2 shall remain in effect for all succeeding Plan Years in which the Participant is eligible to make a deferral election unless and until the Participant files a subsequent deferral election.

 

Page 7

 

(d)                 Hardship and Unforeseeable Financial Emergency.  Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section 2.2, the Committee may in its sole discretion cancel all outstanding deferral elections of a Participant if the Participant experiences a Hardship or upon the Committee’s determination that the Participant has experienced an Unforeseeable Financial Emergency.  Any subsequent election to defer shall be subject to the terms of this Section 2.2(a), (b), and (c).

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

DEFERRALS

 

 

3.1                            AMOUNT OF DEFERRAL

 

(a)                   Elections made pursuant to Section 2.2(a) to defer base salary shall be made in whole number percentages up to eighty (80) percent and shall apply only to base salary payable on or after the Participant has earned Compensation in the Plan Year equal to the Compensation Floor for the Plan Year.

 

(b)                  Elections made pursuant to Section 2.2(b) to defer Incentive shall be made in whole number percentages up to one hundred (100) percent.  If a Participant’s Compensation (determined solely for this purpose on an annualized basis as of the date that such election becomes irrevocable pursuant to Section 2.2(b)) does not exceed the Compensation Floor, the election to defer Incentive shall be reduced dollar for dollar until the total of such Compensation and the Incentive that is not deferred and is payable to the Participant equals the Compensation Floor.

 

 

3.2                            EFFECTIVE DATE OF DEFERRAL

 

Compensation deferred shall be credited to a Participant’s Account by bookkeeping entry as set forth in Section 4.2.

 

 

3.3                            USE OF AMOUNTS DEFERRED

 

Amounts credited to Accounts shall be a part of the general funds of the Company, shall be subject to all the risks of the Company’s business, and may be deposited, invested or expended in any manner whatsoever by the Company.

 

Page 8

 

ARTICLE IV

 

ACCOUNTS AND VESTING

 

 

4.1                            ESTABLISHMENT OF ACCOUNT

 

The Committee shall establish, by bookkeeping entry on the books of the Company, an Account for each Participant.  Accounts shall not be funded in any manner.

 

4.2                            CONTRIBUTIONS TO ACCOUNT

 

The Committee shall cause deferred Compensation to be credited by bookkeeping entry to each Participant’s Account as of the last day of the month in which the Compensation or any cash amounts automatically directed to this Plan otherwise would have been payable to the Participant, or as soon thereafter as is administratively practicable.

 

4.3                            MAINTENANCE OF ACCOUNT BALANCES - INVESTMENT

 

(a)                   A Participant may make an Investment with respect to amounts in his or her Account.  Each Investment shall be made in accordance with procedures established by the Committee and shall specify that portion of the Participant’s deferrals on the date of such election to be invested in each Investment Option (as defined in Section 4.3(b) below).  In its sole discretion, the Committee may withhold one or more of the Investment Options from Investment by Participants for a Plan Year or Years.  Investments of deferrals must be made in whole percentage increments.

 

Each Account shall be adjusted, as applicable, to apply contributions, dividend equivalents, investment gains and losses net of any Plan administration and investment expenses, and distributions.  All such adjustments shall be bookkeeping entries reflecting hypothetical experience for the Investment Options in which Investments are made.

 

(b)                  The Investment Options in which Investments may be made are:

 

(1)                  Investment Option #1 – Stable Value Fund. The Stable Value Fund, managed by Invesco Advisors, Inc., (“Invesco”) includes a number of investment contracts issued by a diversified group of high quality insurance companies,

 

Page 9

 

banks, and other financial institutions (excluding Allstate companies), each backed by one or more diversified bond portfolios.

 

The investment contracts are supported by use of investment portfolios holding a diversified mix of high quality fixed-income securities. To provide some diversification in the fund by style of fixed income management, Invesco may from time to time select one or more fixed income sub-advisors to manage portions of the fund consistent with the fund’s overall objectives.  Derivative securities may be used for hedging and replication purposes only. U.S. Treasury securities and U.S. Treasury futures may be used to manage interest rate risk.

 

The Stable Value Fund’s objective is to seek preservation of capital, and to provide liquidity and a reasonably predictable return that moves gradually toward the current short- to intermediate- term market interest rates. As the fund seeks to preserve principal value, Invesco controls risk by diversifying the fund among a variety of high quality fixed income investments, fixed income sub-advisors, and investment contracts.

 

The credited rate of interest of the Stable Value Fund is the average return of all investments held in the fund.

 

(2)                         Investment Option #2 – Bond Fund.  The Bond Fund invests in the U.S. Bond Index Non-Lending Series Fund - Class A, a collective fund managed by State Street Global Advisors (SSgA).  The fund’s objective is to approximate as closely as practicable, before expenses, the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the “Barclays Index”) over the long term.  The Barclays Index is an index representative of well-diversified exposure to the overall U.S. bond market.  More specifically, it covers the dollar-denominated investment-grade fixed-rate taxable bond market, including U.S. Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, mortgaged pass-through securities, asset-backed securities, and commercial mortgage-backed securities.  The fund may attempt to invest in the securities comprising the Barclays Index in the same proportions as they are represented in the Barclays Index. However, it may not be possible for the fund to purchase some of the securities comprising the Barclays Index. In such a case, SSgA will select

 

Page 10

 

securities for the fund that SSgA believes will reasonably track the characteristics of the Barclays Index.

 

(3)                        Investment Option #3 – S&P 500 Fund1.  The S&P 500 Fund invests in the S&P 500 Index Non-Lending Series Fund – Class A, a collective fund managed by SSgA. The fund’s objective is to approximate as closely as practicable, before expenses, the performance of the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 (the “S&P 500 Index”) over the long term.  The S&P 500 Index consists of large capitalization stocks across over 24 industry groups and 500 stocks chosen for market size, liquidity and industry group representation. The fund seeks to maintain the returns of the S&P 500 Index by investing in a portfolio that replicates the S&P 500 Index by owning securities in approximately the same proportions as they are represented in the S&P 500 Index or by constructing a portfolio that SSgA believes will reasonably track the characteristics of the S&P 500 Index.

 

(4)                        Investment Option #4 – International Equity Fund.  The International Equity Fund invests in the Global Equity ex U.S. Index Non-Lending Series Fund - Class A, a collective fund managed by SSgA.  The fund’s objective is to approximate as closely as practicable, before expenses, the performance of the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) ACWI ex-USA Index (the “ACWI ex-USA Index”) over the long term. The ACWI ex-USA Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index that is designed to measure the equity market performance of developed and emerging markets.  The ACWI ex-USA Index consists of approximately 1,800 stocks in selected markets with emerging markets representing approximately 20%.  MSCI attempts to capture approximately 85% of the total market capitalization in each country. The fund seeks to maintain the returns of the ACWI ex-USA Index by investing in a portfolio that replicates the ACWI ex-USA Index by owning securities in approximately the same proportions as they are 

 

 

1  Standard & Poor’s ®, S&P®, S&P 500 Index and Standard & Poor’s 500 Index are trademarks of McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and have been licensed for use by State Street Bank and Trust Company.  The product is not sponsored, endorsed, listed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”), and S&P makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in this product.

 

Page 11

 

represented in the ACWI ex-USA Index or by constructing a portfolio that SSgA believes will reasonably track the characteristics of the ACWI ex-USA Index.

 

Restrictions apply to reallocations or transfers of money into the International Equity Fund. This means that Participants are prohibited from using the reallocation or transfer feature to move money into the International Equity Fund within any 30-calendar day period following the date money is moved out of the International Equity Fund through reallocation or transfer. Any subsequent reallocation or transfer of money out of the International Equity Fund during a 30-calendar day restriction period will start a new 30-day restriction period. The 30-calendar day restriction does not apply to Participant deferrals into the International Equity Fund or to hardship withdrawals from the International Equity Fund.

 

Reallocations or transfers of money out of the International Equity Fund are allowed at any time. The restriction applies only to reallocations or transfers into the International Equity Fund.

 

(5)                        Investment Option #5 – Russell 2000 Fund2.  The Russell 2000 Fund invests in the Russell Small Cap Index Non-Lending Series Fund – Class A, a collective fund managed by SSgA. The fund’s objective is to approximate as closely as practicable, before expenses, the performance of the Russell 2000 Index, over the long term. The Russell 2000 Index measures the performance of the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity universe.  It is a subset of the Russell 3000 Index and includes approximately 2,000 of the smallest securities based on a combination of their market capitalization and current index memberships.   The fund seeks to match the return of the Russell 2000 Index by investing in a portfolio that holds the securities of the Russell 2000 Index in approximately the same proportions as they are represented in the Russell 2000 Index or by constructing a portfolio that SSgA believes will reasonably track the characteristics of the Russell 2000 Index.

 

2  Russell Investment Group is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks, and copyrights relating to the Russell Indexes. Russell  2000®  Index is a trademark of the Russell Investment Group.

 

Page 12

 

(6)                        Investment Option #6 - The Mid-Cap Fund3.  The Mid-Cap Fund invests in the S&P Mid-Cap Index Non-Lending Series Fund – Class A, a collective fund managed by SSgA. The fund’s objective is to approximate as closely as practicable, before expenses, the performance of the S&P Mid-Cap 400 Index (the “Mid-Cap Index”) over the long term.  The Mid-Cap Index is a cap-weighted index that measures the performance of the mid-range sector of the U.S. stock market.  The fund seeks to match the return of the Mid-Cap Index by owning securities  in approximately the same proportions as they are represented in the Mid-Cap Index or constructing a portfolio that SSgA believes will reasonably track the characteristics of the Mid-Cap Index.

 

(c)                   A Participant may change his Investment elections at such time and in such manner, and with respect to such existing Account balances and future contributions, as the Committee shall determine; any such changes to be effective only in accordance with such procedures as established from time to time by the Committee.  Any reallocations of existing Account balances must be made in whole percentage increments.  A reallocation election will become effective as set forth in Plan procedures.  Any reallocations of existing Account balances made under this Plan will simultaneously apply to any amounts the Participant may have deferred under either The Allstate Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Employee Agents or The Allstate Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Independent Contractor Exclusive Agents.

 

 

4.4                            VESTING

 

A Participant shall be fully vested in his or her Account at all times, subject to Sections 3.3, 8.2 and 8.3.

 

ARTICLE V

 

PAYMENTS

 

 

 

3  S&P MidCap 400®  Index is a trademark of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC.,  and has been licensed for use by State Street Bank and Trust. The product is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor’s (S&P), and S&P makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in this product.

 

Page 13

 

5.1                            EVENTS CAUSING ACCOUNTS TO BECOME DISTRIBUTABLE

 

(a)        Pre-2005 Sub-Account.  All references to “Account” in this Section 5.1(a) shall refer solely to the portion of a Participant’s Account, if any, that is the Pre-2005 Sub-Account.

 

(1)                      A Participant’s Account shall become distributable upon notification to the Plan of the Participant’s Separation from Service or, at the election of the Participant pursuant to Section 5.3(a), in one of the first through fifth years after Separation from Service.  In either event, the Participant may elect to receive payment in a lump sum or in annual installments as provided in Section 5.3(a).

 

For purposes of this Section 5.1(a), “Separation from Service” shall mean the termination of a Participant’s employment with any company in the Controlled Group for any reason whatsoever, including retirement, resignation, dismissal or death, but does not include a transfer of status to an employee agent or to an Exclusive Agent Independent Contractor or Exclusive Financial Specialist Independent Contractor for Allstate Insurance Company, Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company, Allstate Life Insurance Company or for any other member of the Controlled Group.  “Separation from Service” shall also mean the subsequent termination of any Exclusive Agent Independent Contractor or Exclusive Financial Specialist Independent Contractor agreement, unless such termination results from acceptance of employment with any member of the Controlled Group.

 

(2)                      That portion of a Participant’s Account determined to be necessary to alleviate a demonstrated Hardship shall become distributable upon the date of such determination, subject to Section 5.2.

 

(3)                      Special Distribution Rule for Participants Prior to September 1, 1999.  For those Participants who irrevocably elected to do so on or before September 1, 1999, such Participants may receive a distribution as of the first day of any Plan Year prior to his or her Separation from Service. The portion of the Participant’s Account attributable to Compensation deferred, and

 

Page 14

 

accruals thereon, shall be distributed on the date elected.  Any balance in the Participant’s Account remaining after any payment under this paragraph and any balance in the Account attributable to participation in the Plan in any year subsequent to the year in which a payout on such date certain occurs, shall become distributable to the Participant as provided in paragraphs (1), (2) or (3) of this Section 5.1(a).

 

(4)                      Effective September 1, 1999, a Participant may at any time irrevocably elect to receive a distribution of his or her entire Account balance, subject to the forfeiture to the Company of 10% of such Account balance (a “100% In-Service Withdrawal”) provided that any deferral election for the current Plan Year will continue subject to Section 2.2(a) and the Participant may not elect to defer any base salary or Incentives earned during the next succeeding Plan Year (“Suspension Period”). If a Participant elects a 100% In-Service Withdrawal after the enrollment period for the next succeeding Plan Year and before the end of the current Plan Year, then any deferral election for base salary or Incentives earned during the next succeeding Plan Year will be cancelled.  The Participant’s Account balance shall become distributable subject to Section 5.2 following the date of such election.

 

(5)                      In the event of a Participant’s death prior to distribution of his or her entire Account balance, the remaining Account balance shall become distributable following the date on which all events have occurred which entitle the Beneficiary or Beneficiaries to payment.

 

(b)                              Post-2004 Sub-Account. All references to “Account” in this Section 5.1(b) shall refer solely to the portion of a Participant’s Account, if any, that is the Post-2004 Sub-Account.

 

(1)                      Distributions of the Account shall be made (in the case of a lump sum) or commence (in the case of installments) on the first day of the first calendar month that commences after the six (6) month anniversary of the Participant’s Separation from Service.  Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 5.3, distributions shall be in the form of a single lump sum payment.  For purposes of this Section 5.1(b), “Separation from Service”

 

Page 15

 

shall mean a termination of employment upon which a Participant ceases performing services for all entities within the Controlled Group.  Notwithstanding, a Separation from Service shall also include a reduction in a Participant’s rate of services to any such entity that is reasonably anticipated to be a permanent reduction to a rate that is 20 percent or less of the average rate of services performed by the Participant in the 36 months prior to such reduction.  If a Participant ceases or reduces services under a bona fide leave of absence, a Separation from Service occurs after the close of the 6-month anniversary of such leave; provided, however, that if the Participant has a statutory or contractual right to reemployment, the Separation from Service shall be delayed until the date that the Participant’s right ceases or, if the Participant resumes services, until the Participant subsequently Separates from Service.  For purposes of determining whether a Participant has a Separation from Service, services taken into account shall include services performed for the Company as an independent contractor but not services performed as a non-employee member of the board of directors of any entity within the Controlled Group.  Determination of whether a Separation from Service occurs shall be made in a manner that is consistent with Treas. Reg. 1.409A-1(h).

 

(2)                      In the event of a Participant’s death prior to the full distribution of his or her Account, the undistributed Account shall be distributed to the Participant’s Beneficiary within 90 days of the Participant’s death.

 

(3)                      The Committee retains sole discretion to determine whether and to what extent all or any portion of an Account may be payable on account of an Unforeseeable Financial Emergency.  If the Committee determines that such distribution shall be made, payment shall be made within 30 days of the determination of Unforeseeable Financial Emergency and the Committee may, in its discretion, determine how any partial distribution of the Account shall be allocated among the hypothetical Investment options applicable to such Account.

 

(4)                      Payment Dates.  If a payment is due on a nonbusiness day or a federal or

 

Page 16

 

state holiday, such payment shall be due on the next succeeding business day.

 

 

5.2                            NOTICE OF ACCOUNT PAYMENT AND COMMENCEMENT OF DISTRIBUTION FOR PRE-2005 SUB-ACCOUNTS

 

The Committee or its appointed representative shall notify a Participant or Beneficiary, as the case may be, as soon as practicable after the first day of the month next following the date on which the Pre-2005 Sub-Account becomes distributable, that he or she is entitled to receive payment from the Pre-2005 Sub-Account, the balance of which shall be computed as of the close of business on the last day of the month in which the Pre-2005 Sub-Account becomes distributable.  Distribution of Pre-2005 Sub-Account balances shall commence as soon as practicable after the first day of the month next following the date on which the Pre-2005 Sub-Account becomes distributable.

 

 

5.3                            FORM OF PAYMENT

 

(a)                   Except as provided in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this Section 5.3 and Article VIII hereof, payments of Account balances to a Participant shall be in the form of one lump sum payment or annual cash installment payments over a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 10 years, at the election of the Participant.  The provisions of this Section 5.3 apply separately to the Pre-2005 Sub-Account and the Post-2004 Sub-Account and, accordingly, different forms of payments may be made from each such sub-account.

 

(b)                  The amount of each annual installment payable to a Participant who has elected to receive installment payments shall be as follows:  The first annual installment payment shall, for a Participant who has elected to receive installment payments commencing upon his or her Separation from Service, be computed as of the close of business on the last day of the month in which the Account becomes distributable, and the amount of such payment shall equal his or her Account balance as of such date, divided by the number of installments including the one being paid.  The first annual installment payment shall, for a Participant who has elected to receive installment payments commencing in one of the first through fifth

 

Page 17

 

years after Separation from Service, be computed as of the close of the first business day of the year preceding the year in which the Account balance becomes distributable, and the amount of such payment shall equal his or her Account balance as of such date, divided by the number of installments including the one being paid.  Each subsequent installment payment shall be computed as of the close of the last business day of the year thereafter, and the amount of each subsequent payment shall equal his or her remaining Account balance, divided by the number of remaining installments including the one being paid.  Investment gains or losses and other adjustments shall continue with respect to the entire unpaid Account balance, as provided in Section 4.3.

 

(c)                   In the event of a Participant’s death prior to distribution of his or her entire Account balance, the remaining Account balance shall be paid in a lump sum to the Participant’s Beneficiary or Beneficiaries, subject to Sections 5.1(a)(5) and 5.1(b)(2).

 

(d)                 Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) above, if the Account balance is $5,000 or less on any date a payment is to be made to a Participant, the payment shall be the remaining unpaid Account balance.

 

 

5.4                            DISTRIBUTION ELECTION

 

(a)                   Each Participant shall elect his or her desired form of payment, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, at the time of his or her initial participation election set forth in Section 2.1.

 

(b)                  This Section 5.4(b) shall apply solely with respect to Pre-2005 Sub-Accounts. Except for distribution elections under Section 5.1(a)(3) and (4), each Participant may from time to time revise the terms of distribution of the Participants Accounts, in accordance with the procedures established by the Committee, provided that (i) the revised notice of the desired form of payment shall be made by the Participant no less than twelve months prior to the date on which payment is to commence, but in any event no later than the day before the date of the Participant’s Separation from Service and (ii) in any event, distribution of the Participant’s Account shall not commence earlier than twelve months after the Participant’s revised notice of the desired form of payment is made.

 

Page 18

 

(c)                   This Section 5.4(c) shall apply solely with respect to Post-2004 Sub-Accounts.  Installments shall be paid only if a Participant filed an irrevocable election to receive installment payments in a manner acceptable to the Committee on or before the later of December 31, 2008, or the date of the Participant’s initial election to defer base salary or Incentive under the Plan.  Installment payments shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments for purposes of Code Section 409A.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

ADMINISTRATION

 

6.1                            GENERAL ADMINISTRATION; RIGHTS AND DUTIES

 

The Board shall appoint the Committee, which, subject to the express limitations of the Plan, shall be charged with the general administration of the Plan on behalf of the Participants.  The Committee shall also be responsible for carrying out its provisions, and shall have all powers necessary to accomplish those purposes, including, but not by way of limitation, the following:

 

(a)              To construe and interpret the Plan;

 

(b)             To compute the amount of benefits payable to Participants;

 

(c)              To authorize all disbursements by the Company of Account balances pursuant to the Plan;

 

(d)            To maintain all the necessary records for the administration of the Plan;

 

(e)              To make and publish rules for administration and interpretation of the Plan and the transaction of its business;

 

(f)               To make available to each Participant the current value of his or her Account;

 

(g)             To delegate the administration of the Plan in accordance with its terms to officers or employees of the Company, of Allstate Insurance Company or of an independent consultant retained by the Committee who the Committee believes to be reliable and competent.  The Committee may authorize officers or employees of the Company or of Allstate Insurance Company to whom it has delegated duties under the Plan to appoint other persons to assist the delegate in

 

Page 19

 

administering the Plan; and

 

(h)             To refuse to accept the deferral of amounts the Committee or its delegate considers too small to be administratively feasible.

 

The determination of the Committee as to any disputed question or controversy shall be conclusive.

 

6.2    CLAIMS PROCEDURES

 

 

Each Participant or Beneficiary (for purposes of this Section 6.2. referred to as a “Claimant”) may submit a claim for benefits to the Committee (or other person designated by the Committee) in writing in such form as is permitted by the Committee.  A Claimant shall have no right to seek review of a denial of benefits, or to bring any action in any court to enforce a claim for benefits, prior to his filing a claim for benefits and exhausting his rights to review in accordance with this Section 6.2.

 

 

A properly filed claim for benefits shall be evaluated and the Claimant shall be notified in writing of the approval or the denial within ninety (90) days after the receipt of such claim unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim.  If such an extension of time is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the Claimant prior to the termination of the initial ninety (90) day period, and such notice shall specify the special circumstances requiring an extension and the date by which a final decision will be reached (which date shall not be later than one hundred and eighty (180) days after the date on which the claim was filed).  Written notice to a Claimant shall advise whether the claim is granted or denied, in whole or in part, and if denied, shall contain (1) the specific reasons for the denial, (2) references to pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial is based, (3) a description of any additional material or information necessary to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary, and (4) the Claimant’s rights to seek a review of the denial.

 

If a claim is denied, in whole or in part, the Claimant shall have the right to request that the Committee (or person designated by the Committee) review the denial, provided that he files a written request for review with the Committee within sixty (60) days after the date on which he received written notice of the denial.  A Claimant (or his duly

 

Page 20

 

authorized representative) may review pertinent documents and submit issues and comments in writing to the Committee.  Within sixty (60) days after a request for review is received, the review shall be made and the Claimant shall be advised in writing of the decision on review, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the review, in which case the Claimant shall, within such initial sixty (60) day period, be given a written notice specifying the reasons for the extension and when such review shall be completed (provided that such review shall be completed within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the date on which the request for review was filed).  The decision on review shall be forwarded to the Claimant in writing and shall include specific reasons for the decision and references to Plan provisions upon which the decision is based.  A decision on review shall be final and binding on all persons for all purposes.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

PLAN AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION

 

7.1                            AMENDMENTS

 

The Company shall have the right to amend this Plan from time to time by resolutions of the Board or by the Committee, and to amend or rescind any such amendments; provided, however, that no action under this Section 7.1 shall in any way reduce the amount of Compensation deferred or reduce the value of any Account.  All amendments shall be in writing and shall be effective as provided subject to the limitations in this Section 7.1.

 

7.2                            TERMINATION OF PLAN

 

The Company expects that the Plan will continue indefinitely but continuance of the Plan is not a contractual or other obligation of the Company.  The Company reserves its right to discontinue the Plan at any time by resolution of the Board; however, no such action shall reduce the value of an Account or result in a distribution that does not conform to the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Page 21

 

8.1                            NOTIFICATION TO COMMITTEE

 

Any election made or notification given by a Participant pursuant to this Plan shall be made in accordance with procedures established by the Committee or its designated representative, and shall be deemed to have been made or given on the date received by the Committee or such representative.

 

 

8.2                            PARTICIPANT’S EMPLOYMENT

 

Participation in this Plan shall not give any Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company, Allstate Insurance Company of any member of the Controlled Group, or any other right or interest other than as herein provided.  No Participant or Employee shall have any right to any payment or benefit except to the extent provided in this Plan.

 

 

8.3                            STATUS OF PARTICIPANTS

 

This Plan shall create only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company and shall not be construed as creating a trust or other fiduciary relationship with Participants.  Participants will have only the rights of general unsecured creditors of the Company with respect to Compensation deferred and investment gains and losses credited to their Accounts.

 

 

8.4                            BENEFICIARIES AND CONTINGENT BENEFICIARIES

 

(a)                               Beneficiary Designation.  Each Participant shall, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, designate one or more persons or entities (including a trust or trusts or his or her estate) to receive distribution of his or her Account that are not distributed prior to the Participant’s death.  The Participant may also designate a person or persons as a Contingent Beneficiary who shall succeed to the rights of the person or persons originally designated as Beneficiary, in case the latter should die.  The Participant may from time to time change any designation of Beneficiary or Contingent Beneficiary so made, by submitting a new designation in accordance with procedures established by the Committee.  The last valid designation made by a Participant under the Plan, in accordance

 

Page 22

 

with procedures established by the Committee, shall be controlling.

 

 

(b)                              Spousal Consent Required.  In the event a Participant designates a person other than his or her spouse as Beneficiary of any interests under this Plan, the Participant’s spouse shall sign a notarized statement specifically approving such designation and authorizing the Committee to make payment of such interests in the manner provided in such designation.  In the absence of such designation by the Participant, or in the absence of spousal approval and authorization as herein above provided, or in the event of the death, prior to or simultaneous with the death of the Participant, of all Beneficiaries or Contingent Beneficiaries, as the case may be, to whom payments were to be made pursuant to a designation by the Participant, such payments or any balance thereof shall be paid to the Participant’s spouse or, if there is no surviving spouse, to the Participant’s estate, or, if there is no estate, according to the Illinois laws of descent and distribution.

 

(c)                               Death of Beneficiary.  In the event of the death, subsequent to the death of the Participant, of a Beneficiary or Contingent Beneficiary, as the case may be, to whom such payments were to be made or were being made pursuant to a designation under this section, such payments or any balance thereof shall be paid to the estate of such Beneficiary or Contingent Beneficiary.

 

 

 

8.5                            TAXES AND OTHER CHARGES

 

To the extent permitted by law, if the whole or any part of a Participant’s Account shall become the subject of any federal, state or local tax which the Company shall legally be required to withhold or pay, the Company shall reduce an Account with respect to such tax paid.

 

 

8.6                            BENEFITS NOT ASSIGNABLE; OBLIGATIONS BINDING UPON SUCCESSORS

 

Before a Participant’s Account becomes distributable, benefits under this Plan and rights to receive the amounts credited to the Account of a Participant shall not be assignable or transferable and any purported transfer, assignment, pledge or other encumbrance or attachment of any payments or benefits under this Plan shall not be permitted or recognized.  Obligations of the Company under this Plan shall be binding upon

 

Page 23

 

successors of the Company.

 

 

8.7                            ILLINOIS LAW GOVERNS; SAVING CLAUSE

 

The validity of this Plan or any of its provisions shall be construed and governed in all respects under and by the laws of the State of Illinois.  If any provisions of this Plan shall be held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof shall continue to be fully effective.

 

 

8.8                            HEADINGS NOT PART OF PLAN

 

Headings and subheadings in this Plan are inserted for reference only, and are not to be considered in the construction of the provisions hereof.

 

Page 24

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00226-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00226-of-00352.parquet"}]]