Document:

EXHIBIT 10.14(k)

 

SECOND AMENDMENT
 TO THE 
 EMBARQ SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

 

WHEREAS, Embarq Corporation (the “Company”) established the Embarq Supplement Executive Retirement Plan effective as of May 17, 2006, as most recently amended and restated effective January 1, 2009, and as subsequently further amended (the “Plan”); and

 

WHEREAS, Sections 7.1 and 8.9 of the Plan provide that the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) may, in its sole discretion, amend the Plan; and

 

WHEREAS, by action dated November 15, 2011, the Board of Directors of Embarq Corporation delegated its amendment authority with regard to the Plan to the CenturyLink Plan Design Committee; and

 

WHEREAS, the CenturyLink Plan Design Committee wishes to amend the Plan in order to clarify certain provisions therein and make certain other changes;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby amended as follows:

 

1.                                      Effective November 15, 2011, the definition of “Committee” in Section 2.1 of the Plan (“Definitions”) is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

“Committee” means the CenturyLink Employee Benefits Committee.

 

2.                                      Effective January 1, 2011, Section 5.4 of the Plan (“Form of Payment”) is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

5.4          Form of Payment.

 

(a)                                 Default Form of Payment.  Subject to the exceptions under Section 5.4(c), benefits payable to a Participant under the Plan shall be distributed as follows:

 

(i)                                     If the Participant does not make a timely election (as described under subsection (ii) below), then such benefits shall be payable in the form of an annuity for the Participant’s life, or

 

(ii)                                  if the Participant so elects, in the form of a Qualified Joint and Survivor Annuity, using the actuarial factors for conversion, as provided under the Qualified Pension Plan as of the date of the Participant’s election. Such election must be made by the Participant in writing and will only be effective if it is received by the Committee at least 30 days before the Participant’s Benefit Commencement Date; 

 

 

provided, however, that the election as to the form of payment of a Participant who was a participant in the Sprint Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan immediately prior to the Effective Date will apply to any benefits paid under this Plan, unless a subsequent election to change the form of payment is made.

 

(b)                                 Form of Payment of Vested Enhanced Benefit.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, if the Participant is receiving payment of his or her Vested Benefit in the form of an annuity at the time he or she becomes entitled to an Enhanced Benefit, the Vested Enhanced Benefit shall be paid in the same form as the Vested Benefit then being paid.

 

(c)                                  Exception to Default Form of Payment — Lump Sum Payment.

 

(i)                                     Notwithstanding Section 5.4(a) and subject to Section 5.4(c)(ii):

 

(A)                               If the actuarial equivalent of the present value of a Participant’s Vested Benefit hereunder is valued at not more than two times the limit on the amount of contributions permitted under Section 402(g) of the Code on the date of such Participant’s Separation from Service, the Company shall pay the equivalent actuarial value of such Vested Benefit in a lump sum on the 180th day after the Participant’s Separation from Service with an Employer.

 

(B)                               Subject to Section 5.4(b), if the actuarial equivalent of the present value of a Participant’s Vested Enhanced Benefit, if any, is valued at not more than two times the limit on the amount of contributions permitted under Section 402(g) of the Code on the later of (i) first day of the 25th month following such Participant’s Separation from Service with the Employer or (ii) first day of the month coincident with or next following the Participant’s 55th birthday, as applicable, the equivalent actuarial value of such Vested Enhanced Benefit shall be paid in a lump sum in accordance with Section 5.1(b) above.

 

(ii)                                  Notwithstanding Section 5.4(a):

 

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(A)                               If the actuarial equivalent of the present value of the Participant’s Vested Benefit hereunder is valued at not more than one time the limit on the amount of contributions permitted under Section 402(g) of the Code on May 1, 2009, the Company shall pay the equivalent actuarial value of such Vested Benefit in a lump sum on May 1, 2009.

 

(B)                               Subject to Section 5.4(b), if the actuarial equivalent of the present value of a Participant’s Vested Enhanced Benefit hereunder is valued at not more than one time the limit on the amount of contributions permitted under Section 402(g) of the Code on the first day of the 25th month following such Participant’s Separation from Service with the Employer, the Company shall pay the equivalent actuarial value of such Vested Enhanced Benefit in a lump sum within 60 days after the first day of the 25th month following such Participant’s Separation from Service with the Employer.

 

(d)                                 For purposes of this Section 5.4, such actuarial equivalent amount shall be determined in the same manner that the amount of an involuntary cash out distribution is computed under the Qualified Pension Plan. The payment of a lump sum amount under this Section 5.4 shall be a complete discharge of any obligations to such individual and his or her beneficiaries hereunder.

 

3.                                      Effective January 1, 2011, a new Section 5.5 (“Limitation of Actuarial Adjustments”) is hereby added to the Plan and shall in its entirety read as follows:

 

5.5                               Limitation of Actuarial Adjustments.  Notwithstanding any Plan provision to the contrary, in no event shall there be an actuarial adjustment of a Participant’s Vested Benefit or Enhanced Benefit if the Benefit Commencement Date is after the Participant’s attainment of age 65.

 

4.                                      Effective January 1, 2011, Exhibit 4 to the Plan is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

Exhibit 4

 

Equivalent Actuarial Value of a Vested Enhanced Benefit if (i) the Participant Separates from Service due to an Involuntary Termination without Cause, whether or not such Participant has attained age 55, (ii) the Participant has a Vested Benefit in accordance with Section 4.2 of the Plan and (iii) the sum of

 

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Participant’s age and years of Credited Service equal at least 75 as of the end of the period during which severance is actually paid:

 

	
 
    	
Age When
   Benefits Begin
    	
 
    	
Percentage
   of Benefits
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
55
    	
 
    	
75.0
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
56
    	
 
    	
77.5
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
57
    	
 
    	
80.0
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
58
    	
 
    	
82.5
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
59
    	
 
    	
85.0
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
60
    	
 
    	
87.5
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
61
    	
 
    	
90.0
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
62
    	
 
    	
92.5
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
63
    	
 
    	
95.0
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
64
    	
 
    	
97.5
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
65 or older
    	
 
    	
100.0
    	
 
    

 

5.                                      Effective November 15, 2011, Section 7.1 of the Plan (“Amendment”) is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

7.1                               [Reserved.]

 

6.                                      Effective November 15, 2011, Section 8.9 of the Plan (“Amendments”) is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

8.9                               Amendments. The Board or its authorized delegate may amend this Plan in its sole discretion. Any such amendment shall be effective at such date as the Board or its authorized delegate may determine, except that no such amendment, other than an amendment of a minor nature or permitted in accordance with the terms of the trust, if any, described in Section 8.4, may apply to any period prior to the announcement of the amendment.

 

7.                                      Effective November 15, 2011, Section 8.10 of the Plan (“Plan Termination”) is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

8.10                        Plan Termination. The Board or its authorized delegate may at any time terminate this Plan in whole or in part in which case no further benefits shall accrue hereunder with respect to any affected Participant. If an Employer ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company, the participation in this Plan of all Participants employed by that Employer will terminate and no further benefits for such Participants shall accrue hereunder. There shall be no acceleration of any benefits payable under this Plan upon termination of the Plan, except as permitted under Section 409A of the Code.

 

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8.                                      Except as amended above, each and every provision of the Plan, as it previously may have been amended, shall remain in full force and effect without change or modification.

 

9.                                      Any inconsistent provision of the Plan shall be read to be consistent with this Amendment and its purposes.

 

10.                               The Effective Date of each item of this Amendment shall be as indicated as indicated above.

 

Signature in Counterparts. The undersigned agree to be bound by their telecopied signatures and agree that the Company may rely on their telecopied signatures.  This Resolution may be executed in multiple counterparts which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being all of the members of the CenturyLink Plan Design Committee, hereby approve, adopt and execute this Amendment on this                  day of December, 2011.

 

CENTURYLINK PLAN DESIGN COMMITTEE

 

 

	
By:   
    	
 
    	
 
    	
By:   
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Charles   Wheeler, Chair 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
G.   Clay Bailey, Member 
    
	
Title: 
    	
Sr.   Vice President, Human Resources
    	
 
    	
Title:   
    	
Sr.   Vice President, Treasurer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:   
    	
 
    	
 
    	
By:   
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Joseph   Osa, Member 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Marina   Pearson, Member 
    
	
Title: 
    	
Vice   President, Human Resources, Labor
    	
 
    	
Title:   
    	
Vice   President, Human Resources, Compensation & Benefits
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:   
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Mark   Stites, Member 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title: 
    	
Vice   President, Legal
    	
 
    	
 
    

 

5EXHIBIT 10.15(c)

 

AMENDMENT 2011-1
 TO THE 
 QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.
 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

WHEREAS, Qwest Communications International Inc. (the “Company”) established the Qwest Communications International Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan effective as of January 1, 1999, as most recently amended and restated effective January 1, 2005, and as subsequently further amended (the “Plan”); and

 

WHEREAS, Section 11.1 of Part A of the Plan permits the Company to amend the Plan by action of the Board of Directors of the Company; provided, however, that no amendment shall be effective to decrease or restrict the value of a Plan participant’s account balance in existence at the time the amendment is made and subject to other limitations not herein relevant.

 

WHEREAS, by action dated November 15, 2011, the Board has delegated its authority to amend the Plan to the CenturyLink Plan Design Committee; and

 

WHEREAS, the CenturyLink Plan Design Committee wishes to amend Part A of the Plan in order to cause the cessation of active participation, deferrals and other contributions thereunder after December 31, 2011 and to make other desired changes;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby amended as follows:

 

1.                                      Effective January 1, 2012, Section 1.23 of Part A of the Plan (“Participant”) is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

1.23                        “Participant” shall mean any Employee (i) who is selected to participate in the Plan, (ii) who elects to participate in the Plan, (iii) who signs a Plan Agreement, an Election Form and a Beneficiary Designation Form, (iv) whose signed Plan Agreement, Election Form and Beneficiary Designation Form are accepted by the Committee, (v) who commences participation in the Plan, and (vi) whose Plan Agreement has not terminated. A spouse or former spouse of a Participant shall not be treated as a Participant in the Plan or have an account balance under the Plan, even if he or she has an interest in the Participant’s benefits under the Plan as a result of applicable law or property settlements resulting from legal separation or divorce. Notwithstanding any Plan provision to the contrary, there shall be no new Participants after December 31, 2011, and any Employee who is a Participant as of December 31, 2011 shall remain a Participant solely with respect to his Account Balance as of December 31, 2011 (as subsequently adjusted in accordance with the Plan’s terms, such as for earnings, losses, distributions, etc.).

 

 

2.                                      Effective January 1, 2012, a new Section 2.4 (“Selection, Enrollment and Eligibility in Plan Years After December 31, 2011”) is hereby added to Part A of the Plan and shall in its entirety read as follows:

 

2.4                               Selection, Enrollment and Eligibility In Plan Years After December 31, 2011. Notwithstanding any Plan provision to the contrary, (a) no Employee shall be selected to participate in the Plan after December 31, 2011, (b) there shall be no new Participants after December 31, 2011, and (c) after December 31, 2011, Participants who have an Account Balance as of December 31, 2011 shall not be able to make deferrals of Annual Salary, Bonus, Commissions and Other Compensation earned after December 31, 2011; provided, however, each Participant with an Account Balance as of December 31, 2011 shall remain a Participant with respect to that Account Balance (as subsequently adjusted in accordance with the Plan’s terms, such as for earnings, losses, distributions, etc.).

 

3.                                      Effective January 1, 2012, Section 3.3 of Part A of the Plan (“Election to Defer; Effect of Election Form”) is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

3.3          Election to Defer; Effect of Election Form.

 

(a)                                 First Plan Year. In connection with a Participant’s commencement of participation in the Plan, the Participant shall make an irrevocable deferral election for the Plan Year in which the Participant commences participation in the Plan, along with such other elections as the Committee or its designated agent deems necessary or desirable under the Plan. For these elections to be valid, the Election Form must be completed and signed by the Participant, timely delivered to the Committee or its designated agent (in accordance with Section 2.2 above) and accepted by the Committee.

 

(b)                                 Subsequent Plan Years. For each succeeding Plan Year, an irrevocable deferral election for that Plan Year, and such other elections as the Committee or its designated agent deems necessary or desirable under the Plan, shall be made by timely delivering to the Committee or its designated agent, in accordance with its rules and procedures, before the end of the Plan Year preceding the Plan Year for which the election is made, a new Election Form. If no such Election Form is timely delivered for a Plan Year, the Annual Deferral Amount shall be zero for that Plan Year.

 

(c)                                  Plan Years after December 31, 2011. No Participant shall be permitted to make an irrevocable deferral election for any Plan Year that commences after December 31, 2011.

 

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4.                                      Effective January 1, 2012, Section 3.5 of Part A of the Plan (“Annual Company Matching Amount”) is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

3.5                               Annual Company Matching Amount. For each Plan Year, the Company shall make a matching contribution to each Participant’s Company Matching Account using: (a) the sum of the Participant’s total deferrals to this Plan for the Plan Year and his deferrals to the 401(k) Plan for the Plan Year of the 401(k) Plan that ends with or within such Plan Year; multiplied by (b) the matching contribution formula set forth in the 401(k) Plan for the Plan Year of the 401(k) Plan that ends with or within such Plan Year (without regard to the 401(k) Plan’s limits on pre-tax deferrals or includable compensation); and then reduced by (c) the amount of actual Company matching contributions to the 401(k) Plan for such Plan Year. If a Participant is not employed by an Employer as of the last day of a Plan Year other than by reason of his or her Retirement or death, the Annual Company Matching Amount for such Plan Year shall be zero (0). The foregoing sentence shall not apply to grandfathered former participants in the US WEST Deferred Compensation Plan. In the event of Retirement or death, a Participant shall be credited with the Annual Company Matching Amount for the Plan Year in which he or she Retires or dies. Notwithstanding any Plan provision to the contrary, the Company shall not make any Company matching contributions to any Participant’s Company Matching Account under the Plan after December 31, 2011.

 

5.                                      Effective November 15, 2011, Section 11.1 of the Plan (“Amendment”) is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

11.1                        Amendment. Any Employer may, at any time, amend or modify the Plan in whole or in part with respect to that Employer by the action of its board of directors or the delegate of the board of directors; provided, however, that: (i) no amendment or modification shall be effective to decrease or restrict the value of a Participant’s Account Balance in existence at the time the amendment or modification is made, calculated as if the Participant had experienced a Termination of Employment as of the effective date of the amendment or modification or, if the amendment or modification occurs after the date upon which the Participant was eligible to Retire, the Participant had Retired as of the effective date of the amendment or modification, and (ii) no amendment or modification of this Section 11.1 or Section 12.2 of the Plan shall be effective. The amendment or modification of the Plan shall not affect any Participant or Beneficiary who has become entitled to the payment of benefits under the Plan as of the date of the amendment or modification.

 

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6.                                      Effective November 15, 2011, Section 11.4 of the Plan (“Termination”) is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

11.4                        Termination. Although each Employer anticipates that it will continue the Plan for an indefinite period of time, there is no guarantee that any Employer will continue the Plan or will not terminate the Plan at any time in the future. Accordingly, each Employer reserves the right to discontinue its sponsorship of the Plan and/or to terminate the Plan at any time with respect to any or all of its participating Employees by action of its board of directors or the delegate of the board of directors.

 

7.                                      Except as amended above, each and every provision of the Plan, as it previously may have been amended, shall remain in full force and effect without change or modification.

 

8.                                      Any inconsistent provision of the Plan shall be read to be consistent with this Amendment and its purposes.

 

9.                                      The Effective Date of each item of this Amendment shall be as indicated above.

 

Signature in Counterparts. The undersigned agree to be bound by their telecopied signatures and agree that the Company may rely on their telecopied signatures.  This Resolution may be executed in multiple counterparts which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being all of the members of the CenturyLink Plan Design Committee, hereby approve, adopt and execute this Amendment on this                  day of December, 2011.

 

	
CENTURYLINK PLAN DESIGN   COMMITTEE
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:   
    	
 
    	
 
    	
By:   
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Charles   Wheeler, Chair 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
G.   Clay Bailey, Member 
    
	
Title:   
    	
Sr.   Vice President, Human Resources
    	
 
    	
Title:   
    	
Sr.   Vice President, Treasurer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:   
    	
 
    	
 
    	
By:   
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Joseph   Osa, Member 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Marina   Pearson, Member 
    
	
Title:   
    	
Vice   President, Human Resources, Labor
    	
 
    	
Title:   
    	
Vice   President, Human Resources,
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Compensation &   Benefits
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:   
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Mark   Stites, Member 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Title:   
    	
Vice   President, Legal
    	
 
    	
 
    
							

 

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