Document:

Exhibit 4.1

 

AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL

 

FRANCHISE ADVISOR DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

As Amended and Restated Effective April 25, 2012

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 2 AVAILABLE SHARES
    	
7
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 3 PARTICIPANT DEFERRALS
    	
7
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 4 ANNUAL MATCHES
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 5 ANNUAL DISCRETIONARY ALLOCATIONS
    	
14
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 6 TRANSITION AND OPPORTUNITY STOCK PROGRAM
    	
15
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 7 INVESTMENT OPTIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS, EARNINGS   AND TAXES
    	
15
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 8 BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
    	
20
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 9 EFFECTS OF CERTAIN EVENTS
    	
20
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 10 AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
    	
23
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 11 ADMINISTRATION
    	
24
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 12 CLAIMS PROCEDURES
    	
24
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 13 TRUST
    	
27
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE 14 MISCELLANEOUS
    	
28
    

 

 

AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL

FRANCHISE ADVISOR DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

As Amended and Restated Effective April 25, 2012

 

Purpose

 

The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means for the deferral by Eligible Financial Advisors of Eligible Compensation.  Participation in the Plan shall be limited to Eligible Financial Advisors of the Participating Companies, and the Plan shall be unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of ERISA.

 

Article 1
 Definitions

 

For purposes of the Plan, unless otherwise clearly apparent from the context, the following phrases or terms shall have the meanings indicated in this Article 1:

 

1.01.        “Account Adjustment” shall mean an adjustment made to the balance of any Plan Account in accordance with Article 3.03.

 

1.02.        “Advisor” shall mean an independent contractor who is a party to an effective Franchise Agreement.

 

1.03.        “Aggregate Vested Balance” shall mean, with respect to the Plan Accounts of any Participant as of a given date, the sum of the amounts that have become vested under all of the Participant’s Plan Accounts in accordance with Articles 3.07, 4.03, 5.03, Article 9 and the provisions of the applicable Annual Enrollment Materials, as adjusted to reflect all applicable Investment Adjustments, earnings, account adjustments pursuant to Article 3.03 and all prior withdrawals and distributions.

 

1.04.        “Amended Distribution Election Form” shall mean the written form required by the Committee to be submitted by a Participant to effect a permitted change in the Distribution Election previously made by the Participant under any Distribution Election Form or prior Amended Distribution Election Form.

 

1.05.        “Annual Deferral Account” shall mean a notional, bookkeeping account established under the Plan to reflect the amount credited in a Plan Year with respect to a Participant’s elective deferral for such Plan Year in accordance with Article 3.05 and the provisions of the applicable Annual Enrollment Materials, as adjusted to reflect all applicable Investment Adjustments, earnings, account adjustments pursuant to Article 3.03 and all prior withdrawals and distributions.

 

1.06.        “Annual Discretionary Allocation” shall mean the aggregate amount credited to a Participant in respect of a particular Plan Year pursuant to Article 5.02.

 

 

1.07.        “Annual Discretionary Allocation Account” shall mean a notional, bookkeeping account established under the Plan to reflect the amounts credited in a Plan Year with respect to a Participant’s Annual Discretionary Allocations for such Plan Year in accordance with Article 5.02 and the provisions of the applicable Annual Enrollment Materials, as adjusted to reflect all applicable earnings crediting pursuant to Article 7.02.

 

1.08.        “Annual Discretionary Allocation Crediting Date” shall mean with respect to any Annual Discretionary Allocation, the date used to determine the Annual Discretionary Allocation Market Value of a share of Company Stock for purposes of determining the number of Share Units to be credited to a Participant’s Annual Discretionary Allocation Account, which date shall be the date specified by the Committee for the crediting of that Annual Discretionary Allocation.

 

1.09.        “Annual Discretionary Allocation Market Value” of a share of Company Stock with respect to an Annual Discretionary Allocation shall mean the Fair Market Value thereof on the Annual Discretionary Allocation Crediting Date.

 

1.10.        “Annual Election Form” shall mean the written form required by the Committee to be submitted by a Participant in connection with the Participant’s Annual Participant Deferral Percentage election with respect to a given Plan Year.

 

1.11.        “Annual Enrollment Forms” shall mean, for any Plan Year, the Annual Election Form, the Distribution Election Form and any other forms or documents which may be required of a Participant by the Committee, in its sole discretion.

 

1.12.        “Annual Enrollment Materials” shall mean, for any Plan Year, the Annual Enrollment Forms and any other forms, documents or materials concerning the terms of any Participant deferral of GDC, any Annual Match and any Annual Discretionary Allocation for such Plan Year.

 

1.13.        “Annual Match” shall mean the aggregate amount credited to a Participant in respect of a particular Plan Year pursuant to Article 4.02.

 

1.14.        “Annual Match Account” shall mean a notional, bookkeeping account established under the Plan to reflect the amount credited in a Plan Year with respect to a Participant’s Annual Match for such Plan Year in accordance with Article 4.02 and the provisions of the applicable Annual Enrollment Materials, as adjusted to reflect all applicable Investment Adjustments and all prior withdrawals and distributions.  For Plan Years commencing before January 26, 2011, the Annual Match Account is referred to as the “Annual Stock Match Account.”

 

1.15.        “Annual Participant Deferral Percentage” shall mean the percentage of GDC a Participant elects to defer in respect of a particular Plan Year pursuant to Article 3.02.

 

1.16.        “Beneficiary” shall mean one or more persons, trusts, estates or other entities, designated in accordance with Article 8, that are entitled to receive a distribution of a Participant’s Plan Accounts in the event of the Participant’s death.

 

2

 

1.17.        “Beneficiary Designation Form” shall mean the written form required to be signed and submitted by a Participant and accepted by the Committee to designate his or her Beneficiary, or the amended Beneficiary Designation Form last signed and submitted by a Participant and accepted by the Committee.

 

1.18.        “Board” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.

 

1.19.        “Change in Control” shall mean any transaction or series of transactions that constitutes a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company, in each case within the meaning of Section 409A.

 

1.20.        “Claimant” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 12.01.

 

1.21.        “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it may be amended from time to time, and all regulations, interpretations and administrative guidance issued thereunder.

 

1.22.        “Committee” shall mean the Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board or such other committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan.  Any reference herein to the Committee shall be deemed to include any person or subcommittee to whom any duty of the Committee has been delegated pursuant to Article 11.02.

 

1.23.        “Company” shall mean Ameriprise Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor to all or substantially all of its assets or business.

 

1.24.        “Company Stock” shall mean the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

 

1.25.        “Designation Date” shall mean the date or dates as of which a designation of investment directions by a Participant pursuant to Article 7.01, or any change in a prior designation of investment directions by a Participant pursuant to Article 7.01, shall become effective.  The Designation Date in any Plan Year shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that each trading day of the NYSE shall be available as a Designation Date unless the Committee selects different Designation Dates.

 

1.26.        “Disability” shall mean, with respect to a Participant, the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.  In making its determination, the Committee shall be guided by the prevailing authorities applicable under Section 409A.

 

1.27.        “Distribution Election” shall mean an election made in accordance with Article 3.09.

 

1.28.        “Distribution Election Form” shall mean the written form required by the Committee to be submitted by a Participant with respect to a Distribution Election for a given Plan Year.

 

3

 

1.29.        “Elected Amount” shall mean the aggregate amount a Participant elects to defer in respect of a particular Plan Year pursuant to Article 3.

 

1.30.        “Eligible Compensation” shall mean, for any Plan Year, the Financial Planning GDC or other items of compensation designated by the Committee in the applicable Annual Enrollment Materials as eligible for deferral under the Plan for such Plan Year.

 

1.31.        “Eligible Financial Advisor” shall mean an Advisor who meets eligibility criteria established by the Committee to participate in the Plan for a given Plan Year.

 

1.32.        “ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as it may be amended from time to time, and all regulations, interpretations and administrative guidance issued thereunder.

 

1.33.        “Fair Market Value” of a share of Company Stock on a given date shall mean the per-share closing price of Company Stock as reported on the NYSE composite tape on such date, or, if there is no such reported sale price of Company Stock on the NYSE composite tape on such date, then the per-share closing price of Company Stock as reported on the NYSE composite tape on the last previous day on which sale price was reported on the NYSE composite tape.  If at any time the Company Stock is no longer listed or traded on the NYSE, the Fair Market Value of a share of Company Stock shall be calculated in such manner as may be determined by the Committee in its good faith judgment from time to time.

 

1.34.        “Financial Planning GDC” shall mean GDC from any financial plan account governed by an ADV that requires an annual written deliverable.

 

1.35.        “FINRA” shall mean the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.

 

1.36.        “Franchise Agreement” shall mean an Independent Advisor Business Franchise Agreement, including all addenda and amendments thereto, entered into between a Participating Company and an Advisor.

 

1.37.        “GDC” shall mean a Participant’s gross dealer concessions which shall be expressed in U.S. dollars.

 

1.38.        “Investment Adjustment” shall mean an adjustment made to the balance of any Plan Account in accordance with Article 7.01(b) to reflect the performance of an Investment Option pursuant to which the value of the Plan Account or portion thereof is measured.

 

1.39.        “Investment Agent” shall mean the person appointed by the Committee or the Trustee to invest the Plan Accounts of Participants, or if no person is so designated, the Committee.

 

1.40.        “Investment Option” shall mean a hypothetical investment made available under the Plan from time to time by the Committee for purposes of valuing Plan Accounts.  In the event that an Investment Option ceases to exist or is no longer to be an Investment Option, the Committee may designate a substitute Investment Option for the discontinued hypothetical investment.

 

4

 

1.41.        “Newly Eligible Financial Advisor” shall mean an Advisor who becomes eligible to participate in the Plan during a Plan Year and who has not previously participated in the Plan or an elective or non-elective account-balance deferred compensation arrangement (as defined for purposes of Section 409A) of the Company, a Participating Company or any entity other than the Company with whom the Company would be considered a single employer under Sections 414(b) or 414(c) of the Code, as determined by the Committee and to the extent permissible under Section 409A.  An Advisor shall become a Newly Eligible Financial Advisor as of the Plan Entry Date immediately following such Advisor’s satisfaction of the Plan’s eligibility criteria, including the selection of such Advisor as an Eligible Financial Advisor by the Committee.

 

1.42.        “NYSE” shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

 

1.43.        “Participant” shall mean any Eligible Financial Advisor who commences participation in the Plan and whose participation in the Plan 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.

 

1.44.        “Participating Company” shall mean, as applicable, the Company or any of its subsidiaries listed on Schedule A attached hereto, as such Schedule A may be amended by the Committee, in its sole discretion, from time to time.

 

1.45.        “Plan” shall mean the Ameriprise Financial Franchise Advisor Deferred Compensation Plan, which shall be evidenced by this instrument and by the Annual Enrollment Materials, as they may be amended from time to time.

 

1.46.        “Plan Accounts” shall mean the Annual Deferral Accounts, the Annual Match Accounts, the Annual Discretionary Allocation Accounts and the T & O Accounts established under the Plan.

 

1.47.        “Plan Entry Date” shall mean, with respect to a Newly Eligible Financial Advisor, the date during a Plan Year as of which the Newly Eligible Financial Advisor becomes eligible to participate in the Plan.  The Plan Entry Dates for a Plan Year shall be determined by the Committee in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

1.48.        “Plan Year” shall mean a period with a duration defined by the Committee from time to time under the Plan.  Each Plan Year must be designated by the Committee on or before the December 31 of the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the Plan Year commences, and in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

1.49.        “Reference Date” shall mean the date used to determine the Fair Market Value of a share of Company Stock for purposes of determining the number of Share Units to be credited to a Participant’s Plan Accounts, which date shall be, unless otherwise determined by the Committee and approved by the Board:  (a) with respect to dividend payments, the date dividends are paid on Company Stock; (b) with respect to the Elected Amounts, the Friday immediately following the last day of a given Service Period; and (c) with respect to any

 

5

 

payments pursuant to Article 3.03(b), the last trading day of the January that includes the last day of the Plan Year to which the relevant deferrals relate.

 

1.50.        “Return of Excess Deferrals” shall mean the amount of a Participant’s Eligible Compensation earned during the Plan Year that is in excess of the Minimum Deferral Threshold but less than the Participant’s Elected Amount that is paid to the Participant by a Participating Company in accordance with Article 3.03(b).

 

1.51.        “Section 409A” shall mean Section 409A of the Code, and the Treasury Regulations promulgated and other official guidance issued thereunder.

 

1.52.        “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all regulations, interpretations and administrative guidance issued thereunder.

 

1.53.        “Service Period” shall mean the service periods within a Plan Year, the first of which begins on the first day of such Plan Year, established by the Committee for the crediting of Share Units during such Plan Year.

 

1.54.        “Settlement Date” shall mean, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the date on which shares of Company Stock shall be delivered or cash paid in settlement of Share Units or distribution of a Plan Account in accordance with Articles 3.11, 4.05 or 5.05, or Article 9.

 

1.55.        “Share Unit” shall mean a unit credited to a Participant’s Plan Accounts in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan.  Subject to adjustment pursuant to Article 7.02(b), each Share Unit shall represent the right to receive a share of Company Stock or the value thereof at the time or times designated in the Plan.

 

1.56.        “Stock Match Crediting Date” shall mean with respect to any Plan Year, the date used to determine the Stock Match Market Value of a share of Company Stock for purposes of determining the number of Share Units to be credited in respect of such Plan Year to a Participant’s Annual Stock Match Account, which date shall be, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the last trading day of February following the end of the applicable Plan Year.

 

1.57.        “Stock Match Market Value” of a share of Company Stock with respect to an Annual Stock Match shall mean the Fair Market Value thereof on the Stock Match Crediting Date.

 

1.58.        “T & O Plan Account” shall mean the account to which amounts received and adjusted pursuant to the terms of the Transition and Opportunity Stock Program have been credited.

 

1.59.        “Termination of Franchise Agreement” shall mean, with respect to a Participant, the termination of such Participant’s Franchise Agreement and the subsequent provision of all services to a Participating Company or any of their affiliates, if applicable, voluntarily or involuntarily, under circumstances that constitute a “separation from service” for purposes of Section 409A, as determined in accordance with the Company’s Policy Regarding Section 409A Compliance.

 

6

 

1.60.        “Transition and Opportunity Stock Program” shall mean the one-time stock bonus program offered by the Company in 2005 to Eligible Financial Advisors.

 

1.61.        “Trust” shall mean a trust established in accordance with Article 13.

 

1.62.        “Trustee” shall mean the trustee of the Trust.

 

1.63.        “Unforeseeable Emergency” shall mean, with respect to a Participant, a severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, or a dependent (as defined in Section 152(a) of the Code) of the Participant, loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant.  In making its determination, the Committee shall be guided by the prevailing authorities applicable under Section 409A.

 

Article 2
 Available Shares

 

2.01.        Number of Shares.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Article 2.02, a total of 10,500,000 shares of Company Stock shall be authorized for issuance under the Plan.  For purposes of counting shares against the share reserves under this Article 2.01, credits of Share Units to Plan Accounts will be counted against the reserve on the date of crediting based on the number of Share Units so credited.  If any Share Units credited to Plan Accounts are forfeited or otherwise terminate without issuance of shares of Company Stock, or any Share Units are settled for cash or otherwise do not result in the issuance of all or a portion of the shares of Company Stock, such shares of Company Stock, to the extent of such forfeiture, termination, cash settlement or non-issuance, will again be available for issuance under the Plan.

 

2.02.        Anti-Dilution Adjustment.  In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of Company Stock by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, split-up, split-off, spin-off, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, rights offering, reorganization, combination, subdivision or exchange of shares, a sale by the Company of all or part of its assets, any distribution to stockholders other than a normal cash dividend, or other extraordinary or unusual event, the Committee shall make such adjustment in the class and aggregate number of shares that may be delivered under the Plan as described in Article 2.01 as may be determined to be appropriate by the Committee, and such adjustments shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes of the Plan.  Any adjustment or substitution under this Article 2.02 shall conform to the requirements of Section 409A.

 

Article 3
 Participant Deferrals

 

3.01.        Enrollment Requirements for Annual Participant Deferrals.  As a condition to being eligible to defer an Elected Amount for any Plan Year, each Eligible Financial Advisor shall complete and return to the Committee each of the Annual Enrollment Forms no later than December 31st of the immediately preceding Plan Year, or such earlier date as the Committee may establish from time to time and in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A.  The Committee may in its discretion permit a Newly Eligible Financial Advisor to complete and

 

7

 

return to the Committee each of the Annual Enrollment Forms within 30 days of the immediately following Plan Entry Date.  An Eligible Financial Advisor’s Annual Election Form shall be irrevocable once filed with the Committee, and may only be suspended pursuant to Article 3.08.

 

3.02.        Participant Deferrals.

 

(a)           Deferral Election.  To the extent permitted by the Committee and subject to the terms and conditions provided by the Committee, an Eligible Financial Advisor for a given Plan Year may make an election to defer a percentage of his or her GDC for such Plan Year (the “Annual Participant Deferral Percentage”).  The Committee shall have sole discretion to determine in respect of each Plan Year, in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A:  (i) the Eligible Financial Advisors for the Plan Year who shall be permitted to defer Elected Amounts; (ii) the items of Eligible Compensation for the Plan Year; (iii) a minimum amount or percentage of Eligible Compensation in order to effectuate the deferrals requested by a Participant for the Plan Year (the “Minimum Deferral Threshold”); (iv) a maximum amount or percentage of Eligible Compensation eligible for deferral by a Participant for a Plan Year (the “Maximum Deferral Limit”); and (v) any other terms and conditions applicable to the Elected Amount.  If an election is made for more than the Maximum Deferral Limit, the amount or percentage deferred shall be equal to the Maximum Deferral Limit determined by the Committee.  The Committee’s selection of an Eligible Financial Advisor who is permitted to defer Elected Amounts in respect of a particular Plan Year will not entitle that Advisor to defer Elected Amounts for any subsequent Plan Year, unless such Advisor is again selected by the Committee to defer Elected Amounts for such subsequent Plan Year.

 

(b)           Deferral Deductions.  The Elected Amount shall be deducted from GDC as follows:  (i) for periodic payments, in substantially equivalent amounts from each periodic payment during the Plan Year; and (ii) for one-time payments, at the time the compensation would otherwise have been paid to the Participant.

 

3.03.        Correction of Ineligible Deferrals.

 

(a)           Return of Deferrals if Minimum Deferral Threshold Not Met.  Whether a Participant has met the Minimum Deferral Threshold will be determined by the Committee on the last day of the applicable Plan Year and will be based on an objective standard.

 

(i)            For Plan Years commencing on or after January 26, 2011, if a Participant has not meet the Minimum Deferral Threshold for a given Plan Year, the Participant’s Elected Amount for such Plan Year (including any Investment Adjustments on the Participant’s Elected Amount during such Plan Year) will be distributed to the Participant in cash at the time the distribution is processed, but in any case no later than the March 15 immediately following the Plan Year to which such deferrals relate.

 

(ii)           For Plan Years commencing before January 26, 2011, if a Participant has not meet the Minimum Deferral Threshold for a given Plan Year, the value of the Share Units credited during such Plan Year pursuant to a Participant’s Elected Amount (including any dividends credited on the Participant’s Elected Amount during such Plan Year) will be distributed to the Participant in cash based on the Fair Market Value of Company Stock

 

8

 

at the time the distribution is processed, but in any case no later than the March 15 immediately following the Plan Year to which such deferrals relate.

 

(b)           Return of Excess Deferrals.  On the last day of each Plan Year, the Committee shall determine the amount of Eligible Compensation earned by each Participant in respect of such Plan Year.  If such amount is greater than the Minimum Deferral Threshold but less than the Elected Amount, the Company will, or will cause a Participating Company to:

 

(i)            For Plan Years commencing on or after January 26, 2011:  (A) distribute to the Participant a lump sum cash payment equal to the lesser of (1) the difference between the Participant’s Eligible Compensation and the Elected Amount or (2) the amount in such Participant’s Annual Deferral Account (including any Investment Adjustments on the Participant’s Elected Amount during such Plan Year); and (B) reduce the Participant’s Annual Deferral Account for the Plan Year by the amount of such distribution.  Any such distribution will be made no later than the March 15 immediately following the end of the Plan Year to which such deferrals relate.

 

(ii)           For Plan Years commencing before January 26, 2011:  (A) distribute to the Participant a lump sum cash payment equal to the lesser of (1) the difference between the Participant’s Eligible Compensation and the Elected Amount or (2) the amount in such Participant’s Annual Deferral Account on the applicable Reference Date; and (B) debit the Participant’s Annual Deferral Account for the Plan Year by a number of Share Units determined by dividing (1) the Return of Excess Deferrals by (2) the Fair Market Value on the applicable Reference Date.  Any such distribution will be made no later than the March 15 immediately following the end of the Plan Year to which such deferrals relate.

 

3.04.        Commencement of Participation.  Provided an Eligible Financial Advisor in respect of a particular Plan Year has met all enrollment requirements set forth in the Plan and any other requirements imposed by the Committee, including submitting all Annual Enrollment Forms to the Committee within the specified time period, the Eligible Financial Advisor’s designated deferrals with respect to such Plan Year shall commence as of the first day of the particular Plan Year.  In the case of a Newly Eligible Financial Advisor, designated deferrals shall commence as of the date such Eligible Employee’s Annual Enrollment Forms are received by the Committee, which shall be no later than 30 days following the Plan Entry Date on which such Eligible Financial Advisor first became eligible to participate in the Plan, and such Annual Deferral Election shall apply only with respect to compensation earned for services performed subsequent to the time such enrollment forms are received by the Committee.  For this purpose, an election will be deemed to apply to compensation paid for services performed subsequent to the time such Annual Election Form is received by the Committee provided that the election applies to the portion of the compensation equal to the total amount of the compensation for the service period multiplied by the ratio of the number of days remaining in the performance period after the election over the total number of days in the performance period.  If an Eligible Financial Advisor fails to meet all such requirements within the specified time period with respect to a Plan Year, such Eligible Financial Advisor shall not be eligible to defer an Elected Amount respect to such Plan Year.

 

9

 

3.05.        Annual Deferral Account.

 

(a)           The aggregate amount that the Participant elected to defer prior to the commencement of a given Plan Year based on the Participant’s Annual Participant Deferral Percentage multiplied by the Participant’s aggregated earned GDC for such Plan Year (the “Elected Amount”) will be credited to the Participant’s Annual Deferral Account.  A separate Annual Deferral Account shall be established and maintained for each Participant’s deferrals with respect to a given Plan Year.

 

(b)           For Plan Years commencing on or after January 26, 2011, a Participant’s Elected Amount will be credited to his or her Annual Deferral Account during the Plan Year as soon as administratively practicable following the applicable date under Article 3.02(b).

 

(c)           For Plan Years commencing before January 26, 2011, a Participant’s Elected Amount will be credited to his or her Annual Deferral Account during the Plan Year on the Reference Date for each Service Period in the form of Share Units.  Commencing in the Plan Year that begins in calendar year 2006 and subject to adjustment pursuant to the provisions of Articles 3.03 and 7.02(a), the number of Share Units to be credited with respect to a Service Period shall be determined in accordance with the following formula:  the quotient of (i) the product of (A) the Participant’s Annual Participant Deferral Percentage multiplied by (B) the Participant’s Eligible Compensation for such Service Period, divided by (ii) the Fair Market Value of a share of Company Stock on the Reference Date for such Service Period.  Fractional Share Units, if any, will be credited to the Participant’s Annual Deferral Account and rounded to six decimal places.  The Committee may, but is not required to, make available other investment benchmarks from time to time to measure the value of a Participant’s Annual Deferral Accounts.

 

3.06.        Subsequent Plan Year Deferrals.  The Annual Enrollment Forms submitted by a Participant in respect of a particular Plan Year will not be effective with respect to any subsequent Plan Year.  If an Eligible Financial Advisor is eligible to participate in the Plan for a subsequent Plan Year and the required Annual Enrollment Forms are not timely delivered for the subsequent Plan Year, the Participant shall not be eligible to defer an Elected Amount with respect to such subsequent Plan Year.

 

3.07.        Vesting.

 

(a)           For Plan Years commencing on or after January 26, 2011, a Participant shall be vested in all amounts credited to his or her Annual Deferral Account as of the date such amounts are credited to such Participant’s Annual Deferral Account.

 

(b)           For Plan Years commencing before January 26, 2011, a Participant shall be vested in his or her Annual Deferral Account in respect of each given Plan Year as set forth in the Annual Enrollment Materials for such Plan Year.  The vesting terms of Annual Deferral Accounts set forth in the Annual Enrollment Materials shall be established by the Committee in its sole discretion and may vary for each Participant and for each Plan Year.  As of the date of a Participant’s Termination of Franchise Agreement (including a termination for “Cause” as defined in Section 17 of the Franchise Agreement), the amounts credited to the Participant’s Annual Deferral Accounts shall be reduced by the amount which has not become vested in

 

10

 

accordance with the vesting provisions set forth below and in the Annual Enrollment Materials applicable to such Annual Deferral Account, and such unvested amounts shall be forfeited by the Participant.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan or any Annual Enrollment Materials, the Committee shall have the authority, exercisable in its sole discretion, to accelerate the vesting of any amounts credited to any Annual Deferral Account of any Participant.

 

3.08.        Suspension of Deferrals.

 

(a)           Unforeseeable Emergencies.  If a Participant experiences an Unforeseeable Emergency, the Participant may petition the Committee to suspend any deferrals required to be made by the Participant.  A petition shall be made on the form required by the Committee to be used for such request and shall include all financial information requested by the Committee in order to make a determination on such petition, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.  The Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, whether to approve the Participant’s petition.  If the petition for a suspension is approved, suspension shall take effect upon the date of approval.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall not have any right to approve a request for suspension of deferrals if such approval (or right to approve) would cause the Plan to fail to comply with, or cause a Participant to be subject to a tax under the provisions of Section 409A.

 

(b)           Disability.  From and after the date that a Participant is deemed to have suffered a disability, any standing deferral election of the Participant shall automatically be suspended and no further deferrals shall be made with respect to the Participant.  For this purpose, “disability” shall mean any medically determinable physical or mental impairment resulting in the Participant’s inability to perform the duties of his or her position or any substantially similar position, where such impairment can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than six months.

 

(c)           Resumption of Deferrals.  If deferrals by a Participant have been suspended during a Plan Year due to an Unforeseeable Emergency or a disability, the Participant will not be eligible to make any further deferrals in respect of that Plan Year.  The Participant may be eligible to make deferrals for subsequent Plan Years provided the Participant is selected to make deferrals for such subsequent Plan Years and the Participant complies with the election requirements under the Plan.

 

3.09.        Distribution Election.

 

(a)           Initial Elections.  The Participant shall make a Distribution Election at the time he or she completes his or her Annual Election Form with respect to a given Plan Year as to the time and form (lump sum or installments) of the distribution of the Participant’s Plan Accounts for that Plan Year, within the options permitted under the Annual Enrollment Materials for that Plan Year.  The amount of each installment payment shall be equal to the value of the Participant’s respective Plan Accounts for that Plan Year divided by the number of installments remaining to be paid.

 

11

 

(b)           Subsequent Elections.  Subject to any restrictions that may be imposed by the Committee, a Participant may amend his or her Distribution Election with respect to any Plan Account by completing and submitting to the Committee within such time frame as the Committee may designate, an Amended Distribution Election Form; provided, however, that such Amended Distribution Election Form (i) is submitted no later than a date specified by the Committee in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A, (ii) shall not take effect until 12 months after the date on which such Amended Distribution Election Form becomes effective, and (iii) specifies a new distribution date (or a new initial distribution date in the case of installment distributions) that is no sooner than five years after the original distribution date (or the original initial distribution date in the case of installment distributions), or such later date specified by the Committee.

 

3.10.        Payment Medium.

 

(a)           For Plan Years commencing on or after January 26, 2011, the distribution of a Participant’s Annual Deferral Accounts shall be paid in cash; provided, however, that the Committee may provide, in it’s sole discretion, that any distribution attributable to the portion of an Annual Deferral Account that is deemed invested in the Company Stock shall be paid in shares of Company Stock.  Fractional shares of Company Stock shall be paid in cash.

 

(b)           For Plan Years commencing before January 26, 2011, the distribution of a Participant’s Annual Deferral Accounts shall be paid in Company Stock; provided, however, any fractional Share Units shall be paid in cash.

 

3.11.        Payment of Annual Deferral Accounts.  Except as otherwise provided by Article 9, a Participant’s Annual Deferral Account for a given Plan Year shall be distributed in accordance with the Participant’s Distribution Election for such Annual Deferral Account in effect at the time of distribution.

 

Article 4
 Annual Matches

 

4.01.        Annual Match.  The Committee shall have sole discretion to determine in respect of each Plan Year and each Participant:  (a) whether any Annual Match shall be made; (b) the Participant(s) who shall be entitled to such Annual Match; (c) the amount of such Annual Match, which shall be expressed as a percentage of the Participant’s Elected Amount, less the amount of Return of Excess Deferrals, if any, under Article 3.03(b) (the “Match Amount”); (d) the Investment Option(s) that shall apply to such Annual Match; and (e) any other terms and conditions applicable to such Annual Match.  The Committee’s selection of an Eligible Financial Advisor who is entitled to receive an Annual Match in respect of a particular Plan Year will not entitle that Advisor to receive an Annual Match for any subsequent Plan Year, unless such Advisor is again selected by the Committee to receive an Annual Match for such subsequent Plan Year.  If an Eligible Financial Advisor fails to meet the requirements for an Annual Match with respect to a Plan Year, such Eligible Financial Advisor shall not be eligible to receive an Annual Match with respect to such Plan Year.

 

12

 

4.02.        Annual Match Account.

 

(a)           For Plan Years commencing on or after January 26, 2011, if a Participant meets the Minimum Deferral Threshold (as described in Article 3.02(a)(iii)) for a Plan Year, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may credit the Participant’s Annual Match Account with the Match Amount.  A separate Annual Match Account shall be established and maintained for each Participant and each Annual Match.

 

(b)           For Plan Years commencing before January 26, 2011, if a Participant meets the Minimum Deferral Threshold (as described in Article 3.02(a)(iii)) for a Plan Year, the Committee may credit the Participant’s Annual Stock Match Account with the Match Amount on the Stock Match Crediting Date.  A separate Annual Stock Match Account shall be established and maintained for each Participant and each Annual Stock Match.  The number of Share Units to be credited for such Plan Year on the Stock Match Crediting Date shall be equal to the quotient of:  (i) the Match Amount, divided by (ii) the Stock Match Market Value of a share of Company Stock.  Fractional Share Units, if any, will be credited to the Participant’s Annual Stock Match Account and rounded to six decimal places.  The Committee may, but is not required to, make available other investment benchmarks from time to time to measure the value of a Participant’s Annual Stock Match Accounts.

 

4.03.        Vesting.  A Participant shall be vested in his or her Annual Match Account in respect of each given Plan Year as set forth in the Annual Enrollment Materials for such Plan Year.  The vesting terms of Annual Match Accounts set forth in the Annual Enrollment Materials shall be established by the Committee in its sole discretion and may vary for each Participant and for each Plan Year.  As of the date of a Participant’s Termination of Franchise Agreement (including a termination for “Cause” as defined in Section 17 of the Franchise Agreement), the amounts credited to the Participant’s Match Accounts shall be reduced by the amount which has not become vested in accordance with the vesting provisions set forth below and in the Annual Enrollment Materials applicable to such Match Account, and such unvested amounts shall be forfeited by the Participant.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan or any Annual Enrollment Materials, the Committee shall have the authority, exercisable in its sole discretion, to accelerate the vesting of any amounts credited to any Annual Match Account of any Participant.

 

4.04.        Payment Medium.  The distribution of a Participant’s Match Account for a given Plan Year shall be paid in Company Stock or in cash, in the sole discretion of the Participant; provided, however, if a Participant elects to receive payment in Company Stock, any fractional Share Units or shares of Company Stock shall be paid in cash.  A Participant’s election to receive the distribution of his or her Match Account, if any, for a given Plan Year shall be made in the Annual Enrollment Materials for that Plan Year or in such other manner permitted by the Committee and in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A.  If a Participant does not elect the payment medium for his or her Match Account for a given Plan Year, the Participant will be deemed to have elected to receive the distribution of such Match Account in Company Stock.

 

4.05.        Payment of Match Accounts.  Except as otherwise provided by Article 9, if a Participant elects to have the distribution of the Match Account for a given Plan Year paid in

 

13

 

cash, each portion of such Match Account shall be distributed as soon as practicable following the vesting of that portion of the Match Account, but in no event later than March 15 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which that portion vests.  If a Participant elects to have the distribution of the Match Account for a given Plan Year to be paid in Company Stock, such Match Account shall be distributed at the same time as the Participant’s Annual Deferral Account for that Plan Year.

 

Article 5
 Annual Discretionary Allocations

 

5.01.        Annual Discretionary Allocation.  A Participant may be credited with one or more other discretionary allocations in respect of any Plan Year, expressed as either a flat dollar amount or as a percentage of one or more items of the Participant’s Eligible Compensation for the Plan Year, or any combination of the foregoing (the “Annual Discretionary Allocation Amount”).  The Committee shall have sole discretion to determine in respect of each Plan Year and each Participant:  (a) whether any Annual Discretionary Allocation shall be made; (b) when any Annual Discretionary Allocation shall be made; (c) the Participant(s) who shall be entitled to such Annual Discretionary Allocation; (d) the amount of such Annual Discretionary Allocation; and (e) any other terms and conditions applicable to such Annual Discretionary Allocation.  The Committee’s selection of an Eligible Financial Advisor to receive an Annual Discretionary Allocation in respect of a particular Plan Year will not entitle that Advisor to receive an Annual Discretionary Allocation for any subsequent Plan Year, unless such Advisor is again selected by the Committee to receive an Annual Discretionary Allocation for such subsequent Plan Year.

 

5.02.        Annual Discretionary Allocation Account.  If the Committee determines to credit a Participant with an Annual Discretionary Allocation in a Plan Year, the number of Share Units to be credited for such Plan Year with effect on the Annual Discretionary Allocation Crediting Date shall be equal to the quotient of:  (a) the Annual Discretionary Allocation Amount, divided by (b) the Annual Discretionary Allocation Market Value of a share of Company Stock.  Fractional Share Units, if any, will be credited to the Participant’s Annual Discretionary Allocation Account and rounded to six decimal places.  A separate Annual Discretionary Allocation Account shall be established and maintained for each Participant and the Annual Discretionary Allocations made during each Plan Year.  The Committee may, but is not required to, make available other investment benchmarks from time to time to measure the value of a Participant’s Annual Discretionary Allocation Accounts.

 

5.03.        Vesting.  A Participant shall be vested in his or her Annual Discretionary Allocation Account in respect of each given Plan Year as set forth in materials establishing the Annual Discretionary Allocation(s) for such Plan Year.  The vesting terms of Annual Discretionary Allocation Accounts shall be established by the Committee in its sole discretion and may vary for each Participant, for each type of account and for each Plan Year.  As of the date of a Participant’s Termination of Franchise Agreement (including a termination for “Cause” as defined in Section 17 of the Franchise Agreement), the amounts credited to the Participant’s Annual Discretionary Allocation Accounts shall be reduced by the amount which has not become vested in accordance with the vesting provisions set forth below and in the Annual Enrollment Materials applicable to such Annual Discretionary Allocation Account, and such unvested amounts shall be forfeited by the Participant.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary

 

14

 

contained in the Plan or any materials establishing an Annual Discretionary Allocation, the Committee shall have the authority, exercisable in its sole discretion, to accelerate the vesting of any amounts credited to any Annual Discretionary Allocation Account of any Participant.

 

5.04.        Payment Medium.  The distribution of a Participant’s Annual Discretionary Allocation Account for a given Plan Year shall be paid as specified in the applicable Annual Enrollment Materials.  If the applicable Annual Enrollment Materials provide a Participant the discretion to elect to receive payment of his or her Annual Discretionary Allocation Account in cash or Company Stock, such Participant’s election shall be made by the end of the Plan Year in which the Annual Discretionary Allocation is made, in the Annual Enrollment Materials for the following Plan Year or in such other manner permitted by the Committee and in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A.  If a Participant does not elect the payment medium for his or her Annual Discretionary Allocation Account for a given Plan Year, the Participant will be deemed to have elected to receive the default payment medium as specified in the applicable Annual Enrollment Materials.

 

5.05.        Payment of Annual Discretionary Allocation Accounts.  Except as otherwise provided by Article 9, a Participant’s Annual Discretionary Allocation Account for a given Plan Year shall be distributed at the time specified by the Committee at the time the Committee first made an Annual Discretionary Allocation for that Plan Year.  If the Committee does not specify the time for a Participant’s Annual Discretionary Allocation Account for a given Plan Year to be distributed, such Annual Discretionary Allocation Account shall be distributed at the same time as the Participant’s Annual Deferral Account for that Plan Year.  If the Committee does not specify the time for a Participant’s Annual Discretionary Allocation Account for a given Plan Year to be distributed and the Participant does not have an Annual Deferral Account for that Plan Year, each portion of such Annual Discretionary Allocation Account shall be distributed as soon as practicable following the vesting of that portion of the Annual Discretionary Allocation Account, but in no event later than March 15 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which that portion vests.

 

Article 6
 Transition and Opportunity Stock Program

 

The Company established a T & O Plan Account under the Plan for each Advisor who received a transition and opportunity stock bonus pursuant to the terms of the Transition and Opportunity Stock Program, and credited all transition and opportunity bonus amounts to the respective T & O Plan Accounts.  T & O Plan Accounts will be distributed to participating Advisors pursuant to the terms of the Transition and Opportunity Stock Program.  The T & O Plan Accounts are not eligible to receive dividends.  The distribution of a Participant’s T & O Account shall be paid pursuant to the terms of the Transition and Opportunity Stock Program.

 

Article 7
 Investment Options and Adjustments, Earnings and Taxes

 

7.01.        Plan Years commencing on or after January 26, 2011.  Plan Accounts, with the exception of Annual Discretionary Allocation Accounts, for Plan Years commencing on or after January 26, 2011 shall be subject to the following:

 

15

 

(a)           Investment Options.

 

(i)            Establishment.  The Committee shall establish from time to time the Investment Option(s) that will be available under the Plan.  At any time, the Committee may, in its discretion, add one or more additional Investment Options under the Plan, and in connection with any such addition, may permit Participants to select from among the then-available Investment Options under the Plan to measure the value of such Participants’ Plan Accounts.  In addition, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may discontinue any Investment Option at any time, and provide for the portions of Participants’ Plan Accounts and future deferrals designated to the discontinued Investment Option to be reallocated to another Investment Option(s).

 

(ii)           Investment Direction.  Subject to such limitations, operating rules and procedures as may from time to time be required by law; imposed by the Committee, the Trustee or their designated agents; contained elsewhere in the Plan; or set forth in any Annual Enrollment Materials, each Participant may communicate to the Investment Agent a direction (in accordance with this Article 7) as to how his or her Plan Accounts should be deemed to be invested among the Investment Options made available by the Committee; provided, however, that a Participant’s ability to select Investment Options with respect to his or her Annual Match Account and Annual Discretionary Allocation Account is subject to, and may be limited by, the Committee’s discretion under Article 4.01  and Article 5.01 to designate the Investment Options that shall apply to all or a portion of such Annual Match Account or Annual Discretionary Allocation Account.  The Participant’s investment directions shall designate the percentage (in any whole percent multiples, which must total 100 percent) of the portion of the subsequent contributions to the Participant’s Plan Accounts which is requested to be deemed to be invested in such Investment Options, and shall be subject to the rules set forth below.  The Investment Agent shall invest the assets of the Participant’s Plan Accounts in accordance with the directions of the Participant except to the extent that the Committee directs it to the contrary.  The Committee has the authority, but not the requirement, in its sole and absolute discretion, to direct that a Participant’s Plan Accounts be invested among such investments as it deems appropriate and advisable, which investments need not be the same for each Participant.

 

(iii)          Form of Investment Direction.  Any initial or subsequent investment direction shall be in writing to the Investment Agent on a form supplied by the Company, or, as permitted by the Investment Agent, may be by oral designation or electronic transmission designation to the Investment Agent.  A designation shall be effective:  (i) as of the Designation Date the direction is received and accepted by the Investment Agent if so received before the market close for the NYSE on such Designation Date, to the extent practicable; or (ii) as of the Designation Date next following the date the direction is received and accepted by the Investment Agent if not received before the market close for the NYSE on such Designation Date, or as soon thereafter as administratively practicable, subject to the Committee’s right to override such direction.  The Participant may, if permitted by the Committee, make an investment direction to the Investment Agent for his or her existing Plan Accounts as of a Designation Date and a separate investment direction to the Investment Agent for contribution credits to his or her Plan Accounts occurring after the Designation Date.

 

16

 

(iv)          Effect of Investment Direction.  All amounts credited to a Participant’s Plan Accounts shall be invested in accordance with the then effective investment direction, unless the Committee directs otherwise.  Unless otherwise changed by the Committee, an investment direction shall remain in effect until the Participant’s Plan Accounts are distributed or forfeited in their entirety, or until a subsequent investment direction is received and accepted by the Investment Agent.

 

(v)           Change of Investment Direction.  If a Participant files an investment direction with the Investment Agent for his or her existing Plan Accounts as of a Designation Date which is received and accepted by the Investment Agent and not overridden by the Committee, then the Participant’s existing Plan Accounts shall be deemed to be reallocated as of the next Designation Date (or as soon thereafter as administratively practicable) among the designated Investment Options according to the percentages specified in such investment direction; provided, however, that a Participant’s ability to change the Investment Options applicable to his or her Annual Match Account and Annual Discretionary Allocation Account are subject to, and may be limited by, the Committee’s discretion under Article 4.01  and Article 5.01 to designate the Investment Options that shall apply to all or a portion of such Annual Match Account or Annual Discretionary Allocation Account.  Unless otherwise changed by the Committee, an investment direction shall remain in effect until the Participant’s Plan Accounts are distributed or forfeited in their entirety, or until a subsequent investment direction is received and accepted by the Investment Agent.

 

(vi)          Limits on Investment Direction.  The Committee, in its sole discretion, may place limits on a Participant’s ability to make changes with respect to any Investment Options.

 

(vii)         Invalid Investment Direction.  If the Investment Agent receives an initial or subsequent investment direction with respect to Plan Accounts which it deems to be incomplete, unclear or improper, or which is unacceptable for some other reason (determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the Investment Agent), the Participant’s investment direction for such Plan Accounts then in effect shall remain in effect (or, in the case of a deficiency in an initial investment direction, the Participant shall be deemed to have filed no investment direction) until the Participant files an investment direction for such Plan Accounts acceptable to the Investment Agent.

 

(viii)        Default Investment Direction.  If the Investment Agent does not possess valid investment directions covering the full balance of a Participant’s Plan Accounts or subsequent contributions thereto (including, without limitation, situations in which no investment direction has been filed, situations in which the investment direction is not acceptable to the Investment Agent under Article 7.01(a)(vii), or situations in which some or all of the Participant’s designated investments are no longer permissible Investment Options), the Participant shall be deemed to have directed that the undesignated portion of the Plan Accounts be invested in a money-market fund or similar short-term investment fund; provided, however, the Committee may provide for the undesignated portion to be allocated to or among the Investment Option(s) that the Participant did designate in the same proportion as the designated portion, or may provide for any other allocation method it deems appropriate, in its discretion.

 

17

 

(ix)           Indemnity for Investment Direction.  None of the Company, its directors and employees (including, without limitation, each member of the Committee) the Trustee and their designated agents and representatives shall have any liability whatsoever for the investment of a Participant’s Plan Accounts, or for the investment performance of a Participant’s Plan Accounts.  Each Participant, as a condition to his or her participation hereunder, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors and employees (including, without limitation, each member of the Committee), the Trustee and their designated agents and representatives from any losses or damages of any kind (including, without limitation, lost opportunity costs) relating to the investment of a Participant’s Plan Accounts.  The Investment Agent shall have no liability whatsoever for the investment of a Participant’s Plan Accounts, or for the investment performance of a Participant’s Plan Accounts, other than as a result of the failure to follow a valid and effective investment direction.  Each Participant, as a condition to his or her participation hereunder, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Investment Agent, and its agents and representatives, from any losses or damages of any kind (including, without limitation, lost opportunity costs) relating to the investment of a Participant’s Plan Accounts, other than as a result of the failure to follow a valid and effective investment direction.

 

(x)            Separate Accounts.  The Participant’s Annual Match Accounts and Annual Discretionary Allocation Accounts shall be treated for purposes of this Article 7 as separate from the Annual Deferral Accounts.  Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Annual Enrollment Materials, a Participant may only provide investment directions with respect to his or her Annual Deferral Accounts.

 

(b)           Adjustment of Plan Accounts.  While a Participant’s Plan Accounts do not represent the Participant’s ownership of, or any ownership interest in, any particular assets, the Participant’s Plan Accounts shall be adjusted in accordance with the Investment Option(s), subject to the conditions and procedures set forth herein or established by the Committee from time to time.  Any notional cash earnings generated under an Investment Option (such as interest and cash dividends and distributions) shall, at the Committee’s sole discretion, either be deemed to be reinvested in that Investment Option or reinvested in one or more other Investment Option(s) designated by the Committee.  All notional acquisitions and dispositions of Investment Options under a Participant’s Plan Accounts shall be deemed to occur at such times as the Committee shall determine to be administratively feasible in its sole discretion and the Participant’s Plan Accounts shall be adjusted accordingly.  In addition, a Participant’s Plan Accounts may be adjusted from time to time, in accordance with procedures and practices established by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to reflect any notional transactional costs and other fees and expenses relating to the deemed investment, disposition or carrying of any Investment Option for the Participant’s Plan Accounts.

 

7.02.        Plan Years commencing before January 26, 2011.  Plan Accounts for Plan Years commencing before January 26, 2011 and all Annual Discretionary Allocation Accounts shall be subject to the following:

 

18

 

(a)           Earnings Crediting.

 

(i)            A Participant shall, from time to time during such Participant’s period of participation under the Plan, including during the period following the Participant’s Termination of Franchise Agreement and until the Settlement Date, have credited to each of his or her Annual Deferral Accounts, and his or her Stock Match Accounts and Annual Discretionary Allocation Accounts for which the Committee has not specified an investment benchmark other than Share Units, on the applicable Reference Date with respect to dividend payments, additional Share Units, the number of which shall be equal to the quotient determined by dividing:  (A) the product of (1) 100 percent of each dividend declared and paid by the Company on the Company Stock on a per share basis and (2) the number of Share Units recorded in the Participant’s Annual Deferral Accounts, and his or her Stock Match Accounts and Annual Discretionary Allocation Accounts for which the Committee has not specified an investment benchmark other than Share Units (other than the Participant’s T & O Plan Account) on the record date for the payment of any such dividend, by (B) the Fair Market Value of a share of Company Stock on the Reference Date for such dividend, in each case, with fractions computed to six decimal places.

 

(ii)           With respect to the Stock Match Accounts and Annual Discretionary Allocation Accounts for which the Committee has specified an investment benchmark other than Share Units, a Participant shall, from time to time during such Participant’s period of participation under the Plan, including during the period following the Participant’s Termination of Franchise Agreement and until the Settlement Date, have credited to each of such Stock Match Accounts and Annual Discretionary Allocation Accounts earnings in accordance with the applicable investment benchmark.

 

(b)           Anti-Dilution Adjustment.  In the event of a change in the outstanding shares of Company Stock by reason of any change in corporate capitalization, such as a stock split or dividend, or a corporate transaction, such as any merger of the Company into another corporation, any consolidation of two or more corporations into another corporation, any separation of a corporation (including a spin-off or other distribution of stock or property by a corporation), any reorganization of a corporation (whether or not such reorganization comes within the definition of such term in Section 368 of the Code), or any partial or complete liquidation by the Company, the Committee shall make such adjustment in the class and number of Share Units credited to Participants’ Plan Accounts to reflect any such change as may be determined to be appropriate by the Committee, and such adjustments shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes of the Plan.  Any adjustments or substitutions under this Article 7.02(b) shall conform to the requirements of Section 409A.

 

7.03.        Valuation of Plan Accounts Pending Distribution.  To the extent that the distribution of any portion of any Plan Account is deferred, whether pursuant to the terms of the Plan or any Annual Enrollment Materials, or for any other reason, any amounts remaining to the credit of a Plan Account shall continue to be adjusted pursuant to this Article 7.

 

19

 

Article 8
 Beneficiary Designation

 

8.01.        Beneficiary.  The Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, whether a Participant shall have the right to designate his or her Beneficiary to receive any benefits payable under the Plan upon the death of a Participant.  The Beneficiary designated under the Plan may be the same as or different from the beneficiary designation under any other plan or arrangement in which the Participant participates.

 

8.02.        Beneficiary Designation; Change.  A Participant shall designate his or her Beneficiary by completing and signing a Beneficiary Designation Form, and returning it to the Committee.  Provided that the Committee provides for a Beneficiary designation, a Participant shall have the right to change a Beneficiary by completing, signing and submitting to the Committee an amended Beneficiary Designation Form in accordance with the Committee’s rules and procedures, as in effect from time to time.  Upon the acceptance by the Committee of an amended Beneficiary Designation Form, all Beneficiary designations previously filed shall be canceled.  The Committee shall be entitled to rely on the last Beneficiary Designation Form filed by the Participant and accepted by the Committee prior to his or her death.

 

8.03.        Acknowledgment.  No designation or change in designation of a Beneficiary shall be effective until received, accepted and acknowledged in writing by the Committee.

 

8.04.        No Beneficiary Designation.  If a Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary as provided above, if the Committee does not provide for Beneficiary designation or if the designated Beneficiary predeceases the Participant, then the benefits remaining under the Plan to be paid to a Beneficiary shall be payable to the person or persons surviving the Participant in the following order:  (a) the Participant’s spouse, if he or she was married at the time of death; or (b) the executor or personal representative of the Participant’s estate.

 

8.05.        Doubt as to Beneficiary.  If the Committee has any doubt as to the proper Beneficiary to receive payments pursuant to the Plan, to the extent permissible under Section 409A, the Committee shall have the right, exercisable in its discretion, to cause the Company to withhold such payments until this matter is resolved to the Committee’s satisfaction.

 

8.06.        Discharge of Obligations.  The payment of benefits under the Plan to a Beneficiary shall fully and completely discharge the Company and the Committee from all further obligations under the Plan with respect to the Participant.

 

Article 9
 Effects of Certain Events

 

9.01.        Death.  In the case of a Participant’s death, all amounts credited to the Plan Accounts of the affected Participant shall be 100 percent vested.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in a Participant’s Distribution Election or otherwise, if a Participant dies before he or she has received a complete distribution of his or her Plan Accounts, the Participant’s Beneficiary shall receive the balance of the Participant’s Plan Accounts, which, in the event of a Participant’s death prior to January 1, 2013, shall be payable to the Participant’s Beneficiary in a lump sum within 90 days of the date of the Participant’s death, or by such later date permissible

 

20

 

under Section 409A.  In the event of a Participant’s death on or after January 1, 2013, the balance of the Participant’s Plan Accounts shall be payable to the Participant’s Beneficiary in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable following the date of the Participant’s death, but in no event later than the end of the year of the Participant’s death, or, if later, by the 15th day of the third month following the date of the Participant’s death.  The Participant’s Beneficiary will not be permitted, either directly or indirectly, to designate the year of payment.

 

9.02.        Disability.  In the case of a Participant’s Disability, all amounts credited to the Plan Accounts of the affected Participant shall be 100 percent vested.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in a Participant’s Distribution Election or otherwise, a Participant suffering a Disability prior to January 1, 2013 shall receive the balance of the Participant’s Plan Accounts, which shall be paid in a lump sum within 90 days of the date that the Participant became disabled.  In the event a Participant suffers a Disability on or after January 1, 2013, the balance of the Participant’s Plan Accounts shall be payable to the Participant in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable following the date of the Participant’s Disability, but in no event later than the end of the year of the Participant’s Disability, or, if later, by the 15th day of the third month following the date of the Participant’s Disability.  The Participant will not be permitted, either directly or indirectly, to designate the year of payment.

 

9.03.        Qualified Transition.  In the case of a Qualified Transition by a Participant, such Participant’s Plan Accounts shall be immediately 100 percent vested.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in a Participant’s Distribution Election or otherwise, in the event of a Participant’s Qualified Transition, the balance of the Participant’s Plan Accounts will be paid out in either a lump sum, or substantially equivalent annual installments, as specified by the Participant in his or her Distribution Election, in each case commencing, in accordance with administrative guidelines determined by the Committee, on March 15th of the year following the year of the Participant’s Qualified Transition.  “Qualified Transition” shall mean, with respect to a Participant:  (a) the transfer of 100 percent of such Participant’s interest in his or her Individual Financial Advisor Business (as such term is defined in the Franchise Agreement) and in all client accounts; (b) the Participant’s Termination of Franchise Agreement; (c) the Participant satisfies any terms imposed by the Committee regarding a Qualified Transition, including, but not limited to, the satisfaction of an age and years of service requirement; and (d) the Participant remits to the Company a signed non-competition and non-solicitation and general release provided by the Company.

 

9.04.        Other Termination of Franchise Agreement.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in a Participant’s Distribution Election or otherwise, in the event of a Participant’s Termination of Franchise Agreement for any reason other than a Qualified Transition, Disability or death, the portion of the Participant’s Aggregate Vested Balance will be paid out in either a lump sum, or substantially equivalent annual installments, as specified by the Participant in his or her Distribution Election, in each case commencing, in accordance with administrative guidelines determined by the Committee, on the March 15th of the year following the year of the Participant’s Termination of Franchise Agreement.

 

9.05.        Termination of Employment.  In the event a Participant transfers to employee status by becoming an employee of the Company or any Participating Company, the Participant’s Plan Accounts will continue to vest in accordance with Articles 3.07, 4.03 and 5.03.

 

21

 

Upon the Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined by Section 409A, and determined in accordance with the Company’s Policy Regarding Section 409A Compliance) with the Company or any Participating Company, all unvested portions of the Plan Accounts will be forfeited unless otherwise determined by the Committee, and the portion of the Participant’s Aggregate Vested Balance will be paid in accordance with the Participant’s Distribution Election Forms.

 

9.06.        Change in Control.  Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company, all amounts credited to any and all Plan Accounts of each Participant as of the effective date of such Change in Control shall become immediately 100 percent vested.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in a Participant’s Annual Distribution Election Form or the Plan, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company will, or will cause a Participating Company to, distribute all previously undistributed Plan Accounts to Participants (or their estates, as the case may be), as soon as administratively practicable following the effective date of the Change in Control, but in no event later than 90 days thereafter.

 

9.07.        Unforeseeable Emergency.  In the event that a Participant experiences an Unforeseeable Emergency, the Participant may petition the Committee to receive a partial or full payout of amounts credited to one or more of the Participant’s Plan Accounts.  The Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, whether the requested payout shall be made, the amount of the payout and the Plan Accounts from which the payout will be made; provided, however, that the payout shall not exceed the lesser of the Participant’s Aggregate Vested Balance or the amount reasonably needed to satisfy the Unforeseeable Emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution.  In making its determination under this Article 9.07, the Committee shall be guided by the requirements of Section 409A and any other related prevailing legal authorities, and the Committee shall take into account the extent to which a Participant’s Unforeseeable Emergency is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise or by the liquidation by the Participant of his or her assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship).  If, subject to the sole discretion of the Committee, the petition for a payout is approved, the payout shall be made within 90 days of the date of the Unforeseeable Emergency.

 

9.08.        Event of Taxation.  If, for any reason, all or any portion of a Participant’s benefit under the Plan becomes taxable to the Participant prior to receipt, a Participant may petition the Committee for a distribution of the state, local or foreign taxes owed on that portion of his or her benefit that has become taxable.  Upon the grant of such a petition, which grant shall not be unreasonably withheld, a Participant’s Participating Company shall, to the extent permissible under Section 409A, distribute to the Participant immediately available funds in an amount equal to the state, local and foreign taxes owed on the portion of the Participant’s benefit that has become taxable (which amount shall not exceed a Participant’s unpaid Aggregate Vested Balance under the Plan).  If the petition is granted, the tax liability distribution shall be made within 90 days of the date that the Participant’s benefits under the Plan became taxable.  Such a distribution shall affect and reduce the benefits to be paid to the Participant under the Plan.

 

9.09.        Plan Termination.  In the event of a termination and liquidation of the Plan pursuant to Article 10.02 as it relates to any Participant, then subject to Article 7.03, all amounts credited to each of the Plan Accounts of each affected Participant shall be 100 percent vested and shall be paid to the Participant or, in the case of the Participant’s death, to the executor or

 

22

 

personal representative of the Participant’s estate, in a lump sum.  Such lump-sum payment shall be made 13 months after such termination (or such earlier or later date permitted under Section 409A) notwithstanding any elections made by the Participant, and the Annual Election Forms relating to each of the Participant’s Plan Accounts shall terminate upon full payment of such Aggregate Vested Balance, except that neither the Company nor any Participating Company shall have any right to so accelerate the payment of any amount to the extent such right would cause the Plan to fail to comply with, or cause a Participant to be subject to a tax under, the provisions of Section 409A.

 

9.10.        Effect of Payment.  The full payment of the applicable benefit under the provisions of the Plan shall completely discharge all obligations to a Participant and his or her Beneficiary under the Plan.

 

Article 10
 Amendment and Termination

 

10.01.      Amendment.  The Committee may, at any time, amend or modify the Plan in whole or in part with respect to any or all Participating Companies; provided, however, that (a) no amendment or modification shall be effective to decrease or restrict the value of a Participant’s Aggregate Vested Balance in existence at the time the amendment or modification is made, calculated as if the Participant had experienced a Termination of Franchise Agreement as of the effective date of the amendment or modification, (b) no amendment or modification may be made if such amendment or modification would cause the Plan to fail to comply with, or cause a Participant to be subject to tax under the provisions of Section 409A, and (c) except as specifically provided in Article 10.02, no amendment or modification shall be made after a Change in Control which adversely affects the vesting, calculation or payment of benefits hereunder or diminishes any other rights or protections any Participant would have had but for such amendment or modification, unless each affected Participant consents in writing to such amendment.

 

10.02.      Termination.  Although the Company may anticipate that it will continue the Plan for an indefinite period of time, there is no guarantee that the Company will continue the Plan or will not terminate the Plan at any time in the future.  Accordingly, the Company reserves the right to discontinue its sponsorship of the Plan and to terminate the Plan, at any time, and the Company may at any time terminate an Participating Company’s participation in the Plan provided, however, that (a) all plans that are aggregated with the Plan for purposes of Section 409A are also terminated; and (b) the Plan is not terminated proximate to a downturn in the financial health of the Participating Company, or any entity other than the Participating Company with whom the Participating Company would be considered a single employer under Sections 414(b) or 414(c) of the Code.  In the event of a termination and liquidation described in this Article 10.02, no new deferred compensation plans may be established by the Participating Company for a minimum period of three years following the termination and liquidation of this Plan if such new plan would be aggregated with this Plan under Section 409A.

 

23

 

Article 11
 Administration

 

11.01.      Committee Duties.  This Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  The Committee shall also have the discretion and authority to (a) make, amend, interpret, and enforce all appropriate rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan, and (b) decide or resolve any and all questions including interpretations of the Plan, as may arise in connection with the Plan.  When making a determination or calculation, the Committee shall be entitled to rely on information furnished by a Participant or the Company.

 

11.02.      Agents.  In the administration of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, employ or designate agents, including officers of the Company, or a subcommittee of the Committee, and delegate to them such administrative duties as it sees fit (including acting through a duly appointed representative) and may from time to time consult with counsel who may be counsel to any Participating Company.

 

11.03.      Binding Effect of Decisions.  The decision or action of the Committee with respect to any question arising out of or in connection with the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all persons having any interest in the Plan.

 

11.04.      Indemnity of Committee.  All Participating Companies shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Committee, and any agent to whom duties of the Committee may be delegated, against any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses or liabilities arising from any action or failure to act with respect to the Plan, except in the case of willful misconduct by the Committee or any of its members or any such agent.

 

11.05.      Participating Company Information.  To enable the Committee to perform its functions, each Participating Company shall supply full and timely information to the Committee on all matters relating to the compensation of its Participants, the date and circumstances of the Disability, death or Termination of Franchise Employment of its Participants, and such other pertinent information as the Committee may reasonably require.

 

11.06.      Costs of the Plan.  The costs and expenses of the Plan shall be borne by the Participating Companies; provided, however, that the Committee, in its sole discretion, may charge an annual administrative fee to each Participant which shall be deducted from each Participant’s Annual Deferral Account during the Plan Year in which the fee is assessed.

 

Article 12
 Claims Procedures

 

12.01.      Presentation of Claim.  Any Participant or the Beneficiary of a deceased Participant (such Participant or Participant’s Beneficiary being referred to below as a “Claimant”) may deliver to the Committee a written claim for a determination with respect to the amounts distributable to such Claimant from the Plan.  If such a claim relates to the contents of a notice received by the Claimant, the claim must be made within 60 days after such notice was received by the Claimant.  The claim must state with particularity the determination desired by the Claimant.  All other claims must be made within 180 days of the date on which the event that

 

24

 

caused the claim to arise occurred.  The claim must state with particularity the determination desired by the Claimant.

 

12.02.      Notification of Decision.  The Committee shall consider a Claimant’s claim within a reasonable time, and shall notify the Claimant in writing within 90 days (45 days, in the event of a claim for Disability benefits) after the Committee’s receipt of the claim, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim.  The notice shall state:  (a) that the Claimant’s requested determination has been made, and that the claim has been allowed in full; or (b) that the Committee has reached a conclusion contrary, in whole or in part, to the Claimant’s requested determination, and such notice must set forth in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant:  (i) the specific reason(s) for the denial of the claim, or any part of it; (ii) specific reference(s) to pertinent provisions of the Plan upon which such denial was based; (iii)  description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant to perfect the claim, and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary; and (iv) an explanation of the claim review procedure set forth in Article 12.03 and a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA if the claim is denied upon review (subject to compliance with the Plan’s arbitration clause).  In the event of a claim for Disability benefits, the notice shall also identify any internal protocol, policy or guideline relied upon or state that such a protocol, policy or guideline was relied upon and will be provided free of charge upon request, and provide an explanation of any scientific or clinical judgment underlying a “medical necessity” or “experimental treatment” determination (if any) or a statement that such a determination was made and that an explanation will be provided free of charge upon request.

 

If an extension is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished by the Committee to the Claimant within the initial 90-day period (45-day period, in the event of a claim for Disability benefits) and in no event shall such an extension exceed a period of 90 days from the end of the initial 90-day period (provided that, in the case of a claim for Disability benefits, the initial extension shall not continue past the 30th day after the expiration of the original 45-day period, with a second 30-day extension available upon proper notice if necessary).  Any extension notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring the extension and the date on which the Committee expects to render a decision on the claim, and in the case of a claim for Disability benefits, shall specify the standards under which entitlement to benefits will be decided, the unresolved issues remaining, and the additional information needed to resolve those issues, and shall grant the Disability claimant at least 45 days to supply the necessary additional information.

 

12.03.      Review of a Denied Claim.  Within 60 days (180 days, in the event of a claim for Disability benefits) after receiving a notice from the Committee that a claim has been denied, in whole or in part, a Claimant (or the Claimant’s duly authorized representative) may file with the Committee a written request for a review of the denial of the claim.  In connection with the review, the Claimant (or the Claimant’s duly authorized representative):  (a) may review pertinent documents; (b) may submit written comments or other documents; and/or (c) may request a hearing, which the Committee, in its sole discretion, may grant.  In the event of a claim for Disability benefits, the decision on review shall be made by a named fiduciary independent of the person who denied the original claim, and that reviewing fiduciary shall not defer to the initial review, shall provide for an independent medical review of any medical judgments, and

 

25

 

shall identify any medical or vocational experts whose advice was obtained in connection with the claim.  The Committee may choose to have one or more members decide the initial claim and then recuse themselves from the appellate process or may make other arrangements to ensure an independent review of Disability claims.

 

12.04.      Decision on Review.  The Committee shall render its decision on review promptly, and not later than 60 days (45 days, in the event of a claim for Disability benefits) after the filing of a written request for review of the denial, unless a hearing is held or other special circumstances require additional time, in which case the Committee’s decision must be rendered within 120 days (90 days, in the event of a claim for Disability benefits) after such date.  Such decision must be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant, and it must contain:  (a) specific reasons for the decision; (b) specific reference(s) to the pertinent Plan provisions upon which the decision was based; and (c) inform the Claimant that he or she is entitled, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, relevant documents and other relevant information, and (d) inform the Claimant of his or her right, subject to the requirements of Section 12.06 below, to bring suit under Section 502(a) of ERISA now that his or her claim has been denied on appeal.  In the event of a claim for Disability benefits, the notice shall also identify any internal protocol, policy or guideline relied upon or state that such a protocol, policy or guideline was relied upon and will be provided free of charge upon request, and provide an explanation of any scientific or clinical judgment underlying a “medical necessity” or “experimental treatment” determination (if any) or a statement that such a determination was made and that an explanation will be provided free of charge upon request, and contain such other information as is required by the Department of Labor regulations.  All decisions on review shall be final and binding with respect to all concerned parties.

 

12.05.      Disability Claims.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise required by law, the special rules applicable to Disability claims shall not apply if the Committee’s uniformly-applicable policy requires reliance exclusively on determinations by the entity responsible for deciding such matters under the Company’s long-term disability plan or determinations by the Social Security Administration when deciding whether or not a Participant is Disabled.

 

12.06.      Arbitration.  A Claimant’s compliance with the foregoing provisions of this Article 12 is a mandatory prerequisite to a Claimant’s right to commence any arbitration with respect to any claim for benefits under the Plan.  Any dispute, claim or controversy that may arise between a Participant and the Company or any other person (the “Claims”) under the Plan is subject to arbitration, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Participant and the Company.  To the extent that such Claims are required to be arbitrated under the rules, constitutions, or by-laws of the FINRA, as amended form time to time, they will be arbitrated in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the FINRA.  If either the FINRA declines to administer an arbitration of any Claims or the FINRA rules do not allow for arbitration of any Claims, the Claims shall be finally decided by arbitration conducted pursuant to the Commercial Dispute Resolution Procedures of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”), and its Supplementary Rules for Securities Arbitration, or other applicable rules promulgated by the AAA.  In addition, all claims, statutory or otherwise, which allege discrimination or other violation of employment laws, including but not limited to claims of sexual harassment, shall be finally decided by arbitration pursuant to the AAA unless otherwise

 

26

 

agreed to in writing by a Participant and the Company.  By agreement of a Participant and the Company in writing, disputes may be resolved in arbitration by a mutually agreed-upon organization other than the FINRA or the AAA.  In consideration of the promises and the compensation provided in this Plan, neither a Participant nor the Company shall have a right:  (a) to arbitrate a Claim on a class action basis or in a purported representative capacity on behalf of any Participants, employees, applicants or other persons similarly situated; (b) to join or to consolidate in an arbitration Claims brought by or against another Participant, employee, applicant or the Participant, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Participant and the Company; (c) to litigate any Claims in court or to have a jury trial on any Claims; and (d) to participate in a representative capacity or as a member of any class of claimants in an action in a court of law pertaining to any Claims.  Nothing in this Plan relieves a Participant or the Company from any obligation the Participant or the Company may have to exhaust certain administrative remedies before arbitrating any claims or disputes under this Article 12.06.  Either a Participant or the Company may compel arbitration of any Claims filed in a court of law.  In addition, either a Participant or the Company may apply to a court of law for an injunction to enforce the terms of the Plan pending a final decision on the merits by an arbitration panel pursuant to this provision.  The Company shall pay all fees, costs or other charges charged by the AAA or any other organization administering arbitration proceeding agreed upon pursuant to this Article 12 that are above and beyond the filing fees of the federal or state court in the jurisdiction in which the dispute arises, whichever is less.  A Participant or the Company shall each be responsible for their own costs of legal representation, if any, except where such costs of legal representation may be awarded as a statutory remedy by the arbitrator.  Any award by an arbitration panel shall be final and binding upon a Participant or the Company.  Judgment upon the award may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof or having jurisdiction over the relevant party or its assets.  This provision is covered and enforceable under the terms of the Federal Arbitration Act.

 

Article 13
 Trust

 

13.01.      Establishment of the Trust.  The Company may establish one or more Trusts to which the Participating Companies may transfer such assets as the Participating Companies determine in their sole discretion to assist in meeting their obligations under the Plan.

 

13.02.      Interrelationship of the Plan and the Trust.  The provisions of the Plan and the relevant Annual Enrollment Materials shall govern the rights of a Participant to receive distributions pursuant to the Plan.  The provisions of the Trust shall govern the rights of the Participating Companies, Participants and the creditors of the Participating Companies to the assets transferred to the Trust.

 

13.03.      Distributions from the Trust.  Each Participating Company’s obligations under the Plan may be satisfied with Trust assets distributed pursuant to the terms of the Trust, and any such distribution shall reduce the Participating Company’s obligations under the Plan.

 

27

 

Article 14
 Miscellaneous

 

14.01.      Status of Plan.  The Plan is intended to be (a) a plan that is not qualified within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code and (b) a plan that “is unfunded and is maintained by an employer primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employee” within the meaning of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA.  The Plan shall be administered and interpreted to the extent possible in a manner consistent with that intent.  All Plan Accounts and all credits and other adjustments to such Plan Accounts shall be bookkeeping entries only and shall be utilized solely as a device for the measurement and determination of amounts to be paid under the Plan.  No Plan Accounts, credits or other adjustments under the Plan shall be interpreted as an indication that any benefits under the Plan are in any way funded.

 

14.02.      Section 409A.  It is intended that the Plan (including all amendments thereto) comply with provisions of Section 409A, so as to prevent the inclusion in gross income of any benefits accrued hereunder in a taxable year prior to the taxable year or years in which such amount would otherwise be actually distributed or made available to the Participants.  The Plan shall be administered and interpreted to the extent possible in a manner consistent with that intent and the Company’s Policy Regarding Section 409A Compliance.  Notwithstanding the terms of Articles 3.11, 4.05, 5.05 and Article 9, to the extent that a distribution to a Participant who is a Specified Employee at the time of separation from service is required to be delayed by six months pursuant to Section 409A, distribution shall be made no earlier than the first day of the seventh month following the Participant’s separation from service.  The amount of such payment will equal the sum of the payments that would have been paid to the Specified Employee during the six-month period immediately following the Specified Employee’s Termination of Employment had the payment commenced as of such date.  If the Specified Employee elected to receive installment payments, the remaining balance of the Specified Employee’s Plan Accounts shall be paid in substantially equivalent installments.  For purposes of this paragraph, “Specified Employee” shall mean a key employee as defined under Section 409A, as determined in accordance with the Company’s Policy Regarding Section 409A Compliance.

 

14.03.      Offsets.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, to the maximum extent permissible by Section 409A and applicable law, any amount otherwise due or payable under the Plan may be forfeited, or its payment suspended, at the discretion of the Committee, to apply toward or recover any claim the Company may have against the Participant, including but not limited to, for the enforcement of the Company’s Detrimental Conduct provisions under its long-term incentive award plan, to recover a debt to the Company or to recover a benefit overpayment under a Company benefit plan or program.  No amounts shall be offset against a Participant’s Plan Accounts prior to the date on which the offset amounts would otherwise be distributed to the Participant unless otherwise permitted by Section 409A.  An offset shall be made only to the extent and in the manner permitted by the Company’s Policy Regarding Section 409A Compliance.

 

14.04.      Securities Matters.  The Company shall be under no obligation to effect the registration pursuant to the Securities Act of any shares of Company Stock to be issued

 

28

 

hereunder or to effect similar compliance under any state laws.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be obligated to cause to be issued or delivered any certificates evidencing shares of Company Stock pursuant to the Plan unless and until the Company is advised by its counsel that the issuance and delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authority and the requirements of any securities exchange on which shares of Company Stock are traded.  The Committee may require, as a condition to the issuance and delivery of certificates evidencing shares of Company Stock pursuant to the terms hereof, that the recipient of such shares make such covenants, agreements and representations, and that such certificates bear such legends, as the Committee deems necessary or desirable.

 

14.05.      Unsecured General Creditor.  Participants and their Beneficiaries, heirs, successors and assigns shall have no legal or equitable rights, interests or claims in any property or assets of a Participating Company.  For purposes of the payment of benefits under the Plan, any and all of a Participating Company’s, assets, shall be, and remain, the general, unpledged unrestricted assets of the Participating Company.  A Participating Company’s obligation under the Plan shall be merely that of an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay money in the future.

 

14.06.      Other Benefits and Agreements.  The benefits provided for a Participant under the Plan are in addition to any other benefits available to such Participant under any other plan or program for financial advisors of the Participant’s Participating Company.  The Plan shall supplement and shall not supersede, modify or amend any other such plan or program except as may otherwise be expressly provided.

 

14.07.      Participating Company’s Liability.  A Participating Company’s liability for the payment of benefits shall be defined only by the Plan and the Annual Election Form, as entered into between the Participating Company and a Participant.  A Participating Company shall have no obligation to a Participant under the Plan except as expressly provided in the Plan and his or her Annual Election Form.

 

14.08.      Nonassignability.  Neither a Participant nor any other person shall have any right to commute, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, anticipate, mortgage or otherwise encumber, transfer, hypothecate, alienate or convey in advance of actual receipt, the amounts, if any, payable hereunder, or any part thereof, which are, and all rights to which are expressly declared to be, unassignable and non-transferable.  No part of the amounts payable shall, prior to actual payment, be subject to seizure, attachment, garnishment or sequestration for the payment of any debts, judgments, alimony or separate maintenance owed by a Participant or any other person, be transferable by operation of law in the event of a Participant’s or any other person’s bankruptcy or insolvency or be transferable to a spouse as a result of a property settlement or otherwise.

 

14.09.      No Right to Service.  Nothing in the Plan or any Annual Election Form shall be deemed to give a Participant the right to continue to be retained in the service of the Company or any Participating Company.

 

14.10.      Furnishing Information.  A Participant will cooperate with the Committee by furnishing any and all information requested by the Committee and take such other actions as may be requested in order to facilitate the administration of the Plan and the payments of benefits

 

29

 

hereunder, including but not limited to taking such physical examinations as the Committee may deem necessary.

 

14.11.      Terms.  Whenever any words are used herein in the masculine, they shall be construed as though they were in the feminine in all cases where they would so apply; and whenever any words are used herein in the singular or in the plural, they shall be construed as though they were used in the plural or the singular, as the case may be, in all cases where they would so apply.

 

14.12.      Captions.  The captions of the articles and paragraphs of the Plan are for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of its provisions.

 

14.13.      Governing Law.  The Plan and all determinations made and actions taken thereunder, to the extent not otherwise governed by federal law, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of laws, and construed accordingly.    All Participants agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of Minnesota with respect to matters relating to the Plan and agree not to raise or assert the defense that such forum is not convenient for such Participant.

 

14.14.      Notice.  Any notice or filing required or permitted to be given to the Committee under the Plan shall be sufficient if in writing and hand-delivered, or sent by registered or certified mail, to the address below:

 

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

360 Ameriprise Financial Center

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55474

Attn:  Vice President, Benefits

 

with a copy to:

 

General Counsel’s Office

 

Such notice shall be deemed given as of the date of delivery or, if delivery is made by mail, as of the date shown on the postmark or the receipt for registration or certification.

 

Any notice or filing required or permitted to be given to a Participant under the Plan shall be sufficient if in writing and hand-delivered, or sent by mail, to the last known address of the Participant.

 

14.15.      Successors.  The provisions of the Plan shall bind and inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns and the Participant and the Participant’s Beneficiary, heirs and assigns.

 

14.16.      Spouse’s Interest.  The interest in the benefits hereunder of a spouse of a Participant who has predeceased the Participant shall automatically pass to the Participant and shall not be transferable by such spouse in any manner, including but not limited to such spouse’s will or under the laws of intestate succession.

 

30

 

14.17.      Validity.  In case any provision of the Plan shall be illegal or invalid for any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts hereof, but the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal or invalid provision had never been inserted herein.

 

14.18.      Incompetent.  If the Committee determines in its discretion that a benefit under the Plan is to be paid to a minor, a person declared incompetent or to a person incapable of handling the disposition of that person’s property, the Committee may direct payment of such benefit to the guardian, legal representative or person having the care and custody of such minor, incompetent or incapable person.  The Committee may require proof of minority, incompetence, incapacity or guardianship, as it may deem appropriate prior to distribution of the benefit.  Any payment of a benefit shall be a payment for the account of the Participant and the Participant’s Beneficiary, as the case may be, and shall be a complete discharge of any Company liability under the Plan for such payment amount.

 

14.19.      Insurance.  The Company, on its own behalf or on behalf of the Trustee, and, in its sole discretion, may, or may cause a Participating Company to, apply for and procure insurance on the life of the Participant, in such amounts and in such forms as the Trust may choose.  The Company, the Participating Company or the Trustee, as the case may be, shall be the sole owner and beneficiary of any such insurance.  The Participant shall have no interest whatsoever in any such policy or policies, and at the request of the Company or a Participating Company, as the case may be, shall submit to medical examinations and supply such information and execute such documents as may be required by the insurance company or companies to whom the Company or such Participating Company has applied for insurance.

 

14.20.      Legal Fees to Enforce Rights After Change in Control.  The Company is aware that upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Board (which might then be composed of new members) or a shareholder of the Company, or of any successor corporation might then cause or attempt to cause the Company or such successor to refuse to comply with its obligations under the Plan and might cause or attempt to cause the Company to institute, or may institute, arbitration or litigation seeking to deny Participants the benefits intended under the Plan.  In these circumstances, the purpose of the Plan could be frustrated.  Accordingly, if, following a Change in Control, it should appear to any Participant that the Company or any successor corporation or any Participating Company or successor corporation has failed to comply with any of its obligations under the Plan or any agreement thereunder, or if the Company, a Participating Company or any other person takes any action to declare the Plan void or unenforceable or institutes any arbitration, litigation or other legal action designed to deny, diminish or to recover from any Participant the benefits intended to be provided, then the Company and the applicable Participating Company irrevocably authorize such Participant to retain counsel of his or her choice at the expense of the Company and the Participating Company to represent such Participant in connection with the initiation or defense of any arbitration, litigation or other legal action, whether by or against the Company, the Participating Company or any director, officer, shareholder or other person affiliated with the Company, the Participating Company or any successor thereto in any jurisdiction; provided, however, that in the event that the trier in any such legal action determines that the Participant’s claim was not made in good faith or was wholly without merit, the Participant shall return to the Company any amount received pursuant to this Article 14.20.  Any reimbursements shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s Policy Regarding Section 409A Compliance.

 

31

 

14.21.      Electronic Documents Permitted.  Subject to applicable law, Annual Election Forms, Annual Enrollment Materials, and other forms or documents may be in electronic format or made available through means of online enrollment or other electronic transmission.

 

*  *  *  *  *

 

32

 

Ameriprise Financial

Franchise Advisor Deferred Compensation Plan

 

Schedule A

April 25, 2012

 

Participating Companies

 

·                  American Enterprise Investment Services, Inc.

·                  Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

·                  Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (formerly known as RiverSource Investments, LLC)

·                  Columbia Management Investment Services Corp. (formerly known as RiverSource Service Corporation)

·                  RiverSource Life Insurance Company (formerly known as IDS Life Insurance Company)

·                  RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York (formerly known as IDS Life Insurance Company of New York and American Centurion Life Assurance Company)

·                  IDS Property Casualty Insurance Company

·                  Ameriprise Trust Company

·                  Ameriprise Bank, FSB

·                  RiverSource Distributors, Inc.

·                  Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (formerly known as RiverSource Fund Distributors, Inc.)

·                  Columbia Wanger Asset Management, LLCExhibit 4.2

 

Execution Copy

 

 

 

OMNIBUS AGREEMENT

 

AMONG

 

GOLAR LNG LIMITED

 

GOLAR LNG ENERGY LIMITED

 

GOLAR LNG PARTNERS LP

 

GOLAR GP LLC

 

AND

 

GOLAR PARTNERS OPERATING LLC

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
ARTICLE I
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
DEFINITIONS
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 1.1.
    	
Definitions
    	
2
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE II
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
FIVE-YEAR   VESSEL RESTRICTED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 2.1.
    	
Five-Year Vessel Restricted Businesses
    	
6
    
	
Section 2.2.
    	
Permitted Exceptions
    	
6
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE III
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
NON-FIVE-YEAR   VESSEL RESTRICTED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 3.1.
    	
Non-Five-Year Vessel Restricted Businesses
    	
8
    
	
Section 3.2.
    	
Permitted Exceptions
    	
8
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IV
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
BUSINESS   OPPORTUNITIES PROCEDURES
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 4.1.
    	
Procedures
    	
9
    
	
Section 4.2.
    	
Scope of Prohibition
    	
10
    
	
Section 4.3.
    	
Enforcement
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE V
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
RIGHTS OF   FIRST OFFER
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 5.1.
    	
Rights of First Offer
    	
11
    
	
Section 5.2.
    	
Procedures for Rights of First Offer
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VI
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
GOLAR   FREEZE INTERESTS PURCHASE OPTION
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 6.1.
    	
Option to Purchase the Golar Freeze Interests
    	
12
    
	
Section 6.2.
    	
Procedures
    	
12
    

 

i

 

	
ARTICLE VII
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
KHANNUR   INTERESTS PURCHASE OPTION
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 7.1.
    	
Option to Purchase the Khannur Interests
    	
14
    
	
Section 7.2.
    	
Procedures
    	
14
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VIII
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
INDEMNIFICATION
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 8.1.
    	
Golar LNG Indemnification
    	
16
    
	
Section 8.2.
    	
Limitation Regarding Indemnification
    	
17
    
	
Section 8.3.
    	
Indemnification Procedures
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IX
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
MISCELLANEOUS
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Section 9.1.
    	
Choice of Law; Submission To Jurisdiction
    	
18
    
	
Section 9.2.
    	
Notice
    	
18
    
	
Section 9.3.
    	
Entire Agreement
    	
18
    
	
Section 9.4.
    	
Termination
    	
18
    
	
Section 9.5.
    	
Waiver; Effect of Waiver or Consent
    	
19
    
	
Section 9.6.
    	
Amendment or Modification
    	
19
    
	
Section 9.7.
    	
Assignment
    	
19
    
	
Section 9.8.
    	
Counterparts
    	
19
    
	
Section 9.9.
    	
Severability
    	
19
    
	
Section 9.10.
    	
Gender, Parts, Articles and Sections
    	
19
    
	
Section 9.11.
    	
Further Assurances
    	
19
    
	
Section 9.12.
    	
Withholding or Granting of Consent
    	
20
    
	
Section 9.13.
    	
Laws and Regulations
    	
20
    
	
Section 9.14.
    	
Negotiation of Rights of Golar LNG, Golar Energy, Limited   Partners, Assignees and Third Parties
    	
20
    

 

ii

 

OMNIBUS AGREEMENT

 

THIS OMNIBUS AGREEMENT is entered into on, and effective as of, the Closing Date (as defined herein), among Golar LNG Limited, a limited company organized under the laws of Bermuda (“Golar LNG”), Golar LNG Energy Limited, a limited company organized under the laws of Bermuda (“Golar Energy”).  Golar LNG Partners LP, a Marshall Islands limited partnership (the “MLP”), Golar GP LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company (including any permitted successors and assigns under the MLP Agreement (as defined herein)) (the “General Partner”), and Golar Partners Operating LLC, a Marshall Islands limited liability company (the “Operating Company”).

 

R E C I T A L S:

 

1.              The Parties desire by their execution of this Agreement to evidence their understanding, as more fully set forth in Articles II and IV, with respect to (a) those business opportunities that the Golar Entities (as defined herein) will not pursue during the term of this Agreement and (b) the procedures whereby such business opportunities are to be offered to the Partnership Group (as defined herein) and accepted or declined.

 

2.              The Parties desire by their execution of this Agreement to evidence their understanding, as more fully set forth in Articles III and IV, with respect to (a) those business opportunities that the Partnership Group will not pursue during the term of this Agreement and (b) the procedures whereby such business opportunities are to be offered to Golar LNG and accepted or declined.

 

3.              The Parties desire by their execution of this Agreement to evidence their understanding, as more fully set forth in Article V, with respect to (a) Golar LNG’s right of first offer relating to Five-Year Vessels (as defined herein) or Non-Five-Year Vessels (as defined herein) owned by the MLP and (b) the MLP’s right of first offer relating to Five-Year Vessels that Golar LNG or Golar Energy might own.

 

4.              The Parties desire by their execution of this Agreement to evidence their understanding, as more fully set forth in Articles VI and VII, with respect to the rights of the MLP to purchase the Golar Freeze from Golar LNG and the Khannur from Golar Energy.

 

5.              The Parties desire by their execution of this Agreement to evidence their understanding, as more fully set forth in Section 6.2(b)(ii), Section 7.2(c)(ii) and Article VIII, with respect to certain indemnification obligations of Golar LNG and Golar Energy.

 

In consideration of the premises and the covenants, conditions, and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1.                                 Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

 

“Acquiring Party” has the meaning given such term in Section 4.1.

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question.  As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

“Agreement” means this Omnibus Agreement, as it may be amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time in accordance with Section 9.6 hereof.

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the MLP.

 

“Break-up Costs” means the aggregate amount of any and all additional taxes, flag administration, financing, legal and other similar costs (except with respect to Section 2.2(b) where Break-up Costs shall be deemed to include only administrative costs associated with transfer and re-flagging, including related legal costs) to (a) the Golar Entities that would be required to transfer Five-Year Vessels acquired by the Golar Entities as part of a larger transaction to a Partnership Group Member pursuant to Sections 2.2(b) or 2.2(d)(i), or (b) the Partnership Group that would be required to transfer Non-Five-Year Vessels acquired by the Partnership Group as part of a larger transaction to a Golar LNG Entity pursuant to Section 3.2(b)(i).

 

“Change of Control” means, with respect to any Person (the “Applicable Person”), any of the following events:  (a) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the Applicable Person’s assets to any other Person, unless immediately following such sale, lease, exchange or other transfer such assets are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Applicable Person; (b) the consolidation or merger of the Applicable Person with or into another Person pursuant to a transaction in which the outstanding Voting Securities of the Applicable Person are changed into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where (i) the outstanding Voting Securities of the Applicable Person are changed into or exchanged for Voting Securities of the surviving Person or its parent and (ii) the holders of the Voting Securities of the Applicable Person immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, not less than a majority of the outstanding Voting Securities of the surviving Person or its parent immediately after such transaction; and (c) a “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), other than Golar LNG, Golar Energy or their respective Affiliates with respect to the General Partner, being or becoming the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of all of the then outstanding

 

2

 

Voting Securities of the Applicable Person, except in a merger or consolidation which would not constitute a Change of Control under clause (b) above.

 

“Closing Date” means the date of the closing of the initial public offering of common units representing limited partner interests in the MLP.

 

“Conflicts Committee” means the Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors.

 

“Contribution Assets” has the meaning given such term in Section 8.1.

 

“Covered Environmental Losses” means all Losses suffered or incurred by the Partnership Group by reason of, arising out of or resulting from:

 

(i) any violation or correction of violation of Environmental Laws; or

 

(ii) any event or condition relating to environmental or human health and safety matters, in each case, associated with the ownership or operation by the Partnership Group or the Golar LNG Entities of the Contribution Assets (including, without limitation, the presence of Hazardous Substances on, under, about or migrating to or from the Contribution Assets or the disposal or release of, or exposure to, Hazardous Substances generated by or otherwise related to operation of the Contribution Assets), including, without limitation, the reasonable and documented cost and expense of (a) any investigation, assessment, evaluation, monitoring, containment, cleanup, repair, restoration, remediation or other corrective action required or necessary under Environmental Laws, (b) the preparation and implementation of any closure, remedial, corrective action or other plans required or necessary under Environmental Laws and (c) any environmental or toxic tort (including, without limitation, personal injury or property damage claims) pre-trial, trial or appellate legal or litigation support work;

 

but only to the extent that such violation complained of under clause (i), or such events or conditions included in clause (ii), occurred before the Closing Date; and, provided that, in no event shall Losses to the extent arising from a change in any Environmental Law after the Closing Date be deemed “Covered Environmental Losses.”

 

“DUSUP” means the Dubai Supply Authority, the charterer of the Golar Freeze after its conversion to an FSRU.

 

“Environmental Laws” means all international, federal, state, foreign and local laws, statutes, rules, regulations, treaties, conventions, orders, judgments and ordinances having the force and effect of law and relating to protection of natural resources, health and safety and the environment, each in effect and as amended through the Closing Date.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“First Offer Negotiation Period” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(c).

 

“Five-Year Vessel” means any LNG carrier or FSRU operating under a charter for five or more years, together with the related charter.

 

3

 

“FSRU” means a floating storage and regasification unit.

 

“General Partner” is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.

 

“Golar Entities” means Golar LNG, Golar Energy and any Person controlled, directly or indirectly, by Golar LNG or Golar Energy, other than the Partnership Entities.

 

“Golar Freeze” means the FSRU that is currently operating under a time charter with DUSUP.

 

“Golar Freeze Facilities Agreement” means the Facilities Agreement, dated June 17, 2010, among Golar Freeze Holding Co., as borrower, the lenders party thereto and DnB NOR Banks ASA, as facility agent and security agent, relating to the $125,000,000 credit facility with respect to the Golar Freeze.

 

“Golar Freeze Interests” means all of Golar LNG’s rights, title and interests in the Golar Freeze, including the shares of capital stock of Golar Freeze UK Ltd. and interests in any other Golar LNG Entity holding interests in the Golar Freeze and including any charters or other agreements relating to the operation of the Golar Freeze then in effect.

 

“Golar LNG Entities” means Golar LNG and any Person controlled, directly or indirectly, by Golar LNG, other than the Partnership Entities and Golar Energy.

 

“Golar Potential Transferee” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(b).

 

“Golar Sale Assets” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(b).

 

“Golar Transfer Notice” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(b).

 

“Golar Transferring Party” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(b).

 

“Golar Winter Security Documents” has the meaning given such term in the Golar Freeze Facilities Agreement.

 

“Hazardous Substances” means (a) each substance defined, designated or classified as a hazardous waste, hazardous substance, hazardous material, solid waste, contaminant or toxic substance under Environmental Laws; (b) petroleum and petroleum products, including crude oil and any fractions thereof; (c) natural gas, synthetic gas and any mixtures thereof; (d) any radioactive material; and (e) any asbestos-containing materials in a friable condition.

 

“Khannur” means the LNG carrier that was built in 1977 and is undergoing retrofitting into an FSRU.

 

“Khannur Interests” means all of Golar Energy’s rights, title and interests in the Khannur, including the shares of capital stock of Golar Khannur (UK) Ltd. and interests in any other Golar Entity holding interests in the Khannur and including any charters or other agreements relating to the operation of the Khannur then in effect.

 

4

 

“Losses” means losses, damages, liabilities, claims, demands, causes of action, judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, court costs and reasonable attorneys’ and experts’ fees) of any and every kind or character; provided, however, that such term shall not include any special, indirect, incidental or consequential damages.

 

“MLP” is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.

 

“MLP Agreement” means the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the MLP, dated as of April 13, 2011, as such agreement is in effect on the Closing Date, to which reference is hereby made for all purposes of this Agreement.  No amendment or modification to the MLP Agreement subsequent to the Closing Date shall be given effect for purposes of this Agreement unless consented to by each of the Parties to this Agreement.

 

“Nusantara Regas” means PT Nusantara Regas, the charterer of the Khannur after its conversion to an FSRU.

 

“Non-Five-Year Vessel” means any LNG carrier or FSRU that is not a Five-Year Vessel.

 

“Offer” has the meaning given such term in Section 4.1.

 

“Offered Assets” has the meaning given such term in Section 4.1.

 

“Offeree” has the meaning given such term in Section 4.1.

 

“Offer Period” has the meaning given such term in Section 4.1.

 

“Parties” means the parties to this Agreement and their successors and permitted assigns.

 

“Partnership Entities” means the General Partner, the MLP and any Person controlled by any such entity.

 

“Partnership Group” means the MLP and any Person controlled by any such entity.

 

“Partnership Group Member” means any Person in the Partnership Group.

 

“Partnership Potential Transferee” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(a).

 

“Partnership Sale Assets” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(a).

 

“Partnership Transfer Notice” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(a).

 

“Partnership Transferring Party” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(a).

 

“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization or any other entity.

 

“Potential Transferee” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(b).

 

5

 

“Sale Assets” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(b).

 

“Transfer” means any transfer, assignment, sale or other disposition of any Non-Five-Year Vessel by a Golar Entity or of any Five-Year Vessel or Non-Five-Year Vessel by a Partnership Group Member; provided, however, that such term shall not include: (a) transfers, assignments, sales or other dispositions from a Golar Entity to another Golar Entity, or from a Partnership Group Member to another Partnership Group Member; (b) transfers, assignments, sales or other dispositions pursuant to the terms of any related charter or other agreement with a charter party; (c) transfers, assignments, sales or other dispositions pursuant to Articles II or III of this Agreement; or (d) grants of security interests in or mortgages or liens on such Five-Year Vessels or Non-Five-Year Vessels in favor of a bona fide third party lender (but not the foreclosing of any such security interest, mortgage or lien).

 

“Transfer Notice” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(b).

 

“Transferring Party” has the meaning given such term in Section 5.2(b).

 

“UK Tax Leases” means the finance lease arrangements with respect to the Methane Princess.

 

“Voting Securities” means securities of any class of Person entitling the holders thereof to vote in the election of members of the board of directors or other similar governing body of the Person.

 

ARTICLE II

 

FIVE-YEAR VESSEL RESTRICTED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

 

Section 2.1.                                 Five-Year Vessel Restricted Businesses.  Subject to Section 9.4 and except as permitted by Section 2.2, each of the Golar Entities shall be prohibited from acquiring, owning, operating or chartering Five-Year Vessels.

 

Section 2.2.                                 Permitted Exceptions.  Notwithstanding any provision of Section 2.1 to the contrary, the restrictions in this Agreement shall not prevent any Golar Entity from:

 

(a)                                 acquiring, owning, operating or chartering any Non-Five-Year Vessel;

 

(b)                                 acquiring one or more Five-Year Vessels if such Golar Entity offers to sell to the vessel to the MLP for the acquisition price plus any Break-up Costs in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 4.1;

 

(c)                                  putting a Non-Five-Year Vessel under charter for five or more years if such Golar Entity offers to sell the vessel to the MLP for fair market value (x) after the time it becomes a Five-Year Vessel and (y) at each renewal or extension of that charter for five or more years, in each case in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 4.1;

 

6

 

(d)                                 acquiring one or more Five-Year Vessels as part of the acquisition of a controlling interest in a business or package of assets and owning, operating or chartering such Five-Year Vessel(s); provided, however, that:

 

(i)                                                        if less than a majority of the value of the business or assets acquired is attributable to Five-Year Vessels, as determined in good faith by Golar LNG’s or Golar Energy’s board of directors, as applicable, the Golar Entity must offer to sell such Five-Year Vessel(s) to the MLP for their fair market value plus any Break-up Costs in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 4.1; and

 

(ii)                                                     if a majority or more of the value of the business or assets acquired is attributable to Five-Year Vessels, as determined in good faith by Golar LNG’s or Golar Energy’s board of directors, as applicable, Golar LNG or Golar Energy, as applicable, shall notify the MLP of the proposed acquisition in writing.  The MLP shall, not later than the 10th calendar day following receipt of such notice, notify Golar LNG or Golar Energy, as applicable, if it or any other Partnership Group Member wishes to acquire any Five-Year Vessel forming part of that business or package of assets in cooperation and simultaneously with the Golar Entity acquiring the Non-Five-Year Vessels forming part of that business or package of assets. If the MLP does not notify Golar LNG or Golar Energy, as applicable, of its intent to pursue the acquisition within such 10 calendar days, the Golar Entity may proceed with the acquisition and then offer to sell such vessels to the MLP as provided in subsection (i) above;

 

(e)                                  acquiring a non-controlling interest in any company, business or pool of assets;

 

(f)                                   acquiring, owning, operating or chartering any Five-Year Vessel if the MLP does not fulfill its obligation to purchase such Five-Year Vessel in accordance with the terms of any existing or future agreement;

 

(g)                                  acquiring, owning, operating or chartering any Five-Year Vessel that is subject to an offer to purchase by a Partnership Group Member as described in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) above, in each case pending the offer of such Five-Year Vessel to the MLP and the MLP’s determination pursuant to Section 4.1 whether to purchase the Five-Year Vessel and, if the MLP has determined to purchase or to cause any Partnership Group Member to purchase such Five-Year Vessel, pending the closing of such purchase;

 

(h)                                 providing ship management services relating to any vessel; or

 

(i)                                     acquiring, owning, operating or chartering any Five-Year Vessel if the MLP has previously advised Golar LNG or Golar Energy, as applicable, that it consents to such acquisition, operation or charter.

 

7

 

ARTICLE III

 

NON-FIVE-YEAR VESSEL RESTRICTED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

 

Section 3.1.                                 Non-Five-Year Vessel Restricted Businesses.  Subject to Section 9.4 and except as permitted by Section 3.2, each Partnership Group Member shall be prohibited from acquiring, owning, operating or chartering Non-Five-Year Vessels.

 

Section 3.2.                                 Permitted Exceptions.  Notwithstanding any provision of Section 3.1 to the contrary, the restrictions in this Agreement shall not prevent any Partnership Group Member from:

 

(a)                                 owning, operating or chartering any Non-Five-Year Vessel that was previously a Five-Year Vessel while owned by any Partnership Group Member;

 

(b)                                 acquiring one or more Non-Five-Year Vessels as part of the acquisition of a controlling interest in a business or package of assets and owning, operating or chartering those Non-Five-Year Vessels; provided, however, that:

 

(i)                                                        if less than a majority of the value of the business or assets acquired is attributable to Non-Five-Year Vessels, as determined in good faith by the Board, such Partnership Group Member must offer to sell such Non-Five-Year Vessels to Golar LNG for their fair market value plus any applicable Break-up Costs in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 4.1; and

 

(ii)                                                     if a majority or more of the value of the business or assets acquired is attributable to Non-Five-Year Vessels, as determined in good faith by the Board, the MLP shall notify Golar LNG of the proposed acquisition in writing. Golar LNG shall, not later than the 10th calendar day following receipt of such notice, notify the MLP if it or any other Golar LNG Entity wishes to acquire any Non-Five-Year Vessel forming part of that business or package of assets in cooperation and simultaneously with the Partnership Group Member acquiring the Five-Year Vessels forming part of that business or package of assets.  If Golar LNG does not notify the MLP of its intent to pursue the acquisition within such 10 calendar days, the Partnership Group Member may proceed with the acquisition and then offer to sell such Non-Five-Year Vessels to Golar LNG as provided in subsection (i) above;

 

(c)                                  acquiring, owning, operating or chartering any Non-Five-Year Vessel that is subject to an offer to purchase by a Golar LNG Entity as described in paragraph (b) above pending the offer of such Non-Five-Year Vessel to Golar LNG and Golar LNG’s determination pursuant to Section 4.1 whether to purchase the Five-Year Vessel and, if Golar LNG has determined to purchase or cause any Golar LNG Entity to purchase such Five-Year Vessel, pending the closing of such purchase; or

 

(d)                                 acquiring, owning, operating or chartering Non-Five-Year Vessels if Golar LNG has previously advised the MLP that it consents to such acquisition, ownership, operation or charter.

 

8

 

ARTICLE IV

 

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES PROCEDURES

 

Section 4.1.                                 Procedures.  In the event that (a) a Partnership Group Member acquires, operates or puts under charter Non-Five-Year Vessels in accordance with Section 3.2(b)(i), or (b) a Golar Entity acquires, operates or puts under charter Five-Year Vessels in accordance with Section 2.2(b), (c) or (d)(i), then simultaneously or in any event not later than 30 calendar days after the consummation of the acquisition or the commencement of operations or charter, such acquiring Party (the “Acquiring Party”) shall notify (a) Golar LNG, in the case of an acquisition by a Partnership Group Member or (b) the Board, in the case of an acquisition by a Golar Entity and offer such party to be notified (each an “Offeree”) the opportunity for any Golar LNG Entity or Partnership Group Member, as applicable, to purchase such Non-Five-Year Vessels or Five-Year Vessels, as applicable (the “Offered Assets”), for their fair market value (or, in the case of an acquisition in accordance with Section 2.2(b), the acquisition price) plus, in the case of an acquisition in accordance with Sections 2.2(b), 2.2(d)(i) or 3.2(b)(i), any applicable Break-up Costs, in each case on commercially reasonable terms in accordance with this Section 4.1 (the “Offer”).  The Offer shall set forth the Acquiring Party’s proposed terms relating to the purchase of the Offered Assets by the applicable Golar LNG Entity or Partnership Group Member, including any liabilities to be assumed by the applicable Golar LNG Entity or Partnership Group Member as part of the Offer.  As soon as practicable after the Offer is made, the Acquiring Party will deliver to the Offeree all information prepared by or on behalf of or in the possession of such Acquiring Party relating to the Offered Assets and reasonably requested by the Offeree.  As soon as practicable, but in any event, within 30 calendar days after receipt of the Offer, the Offeree shall notify the Acquiring Party in writing that either:

 

(a)                                 Golar LNG has elected not to purchase (or not to cause any of its permitted Affiliates to purchase) or the Board has elected not to cause any Partnership Group Member to purchase, as applicable, such Offered Assets, in which event the Acquiring Party and its Affiliates shall, subject to the other terms of this Agreement (including Section 2.2(b)), be forever free, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to continue to own, operate and charter such Offered Assets; or

 

(b)                                 Golar LNG has elected to purchase (or to cause any of its permitted Affiliates to purchase) or the Board has elected to cause any Partnership Group Member to purchase, as applicable, such Offered Assets, in which event the following procedures shall be followed:

 

(i)                                                        After the receipt of the Offer by the Offeree, the Acquiring Party and the Offeree shall negotiate in good faith regarding the fair market value (and any applicable Break-up Costs) of the Offered Assets that are subject to the Offer and the other terms of the Offer on which the Offered Assets will be sold to the applicable Golar LNG Entity or Partnership Group Member.  If the Acquiring Party and the Offeree agree on the fair market value (and any applicable Break-up Costs) of the Offered Assets that are subject to the Offer and the other terms of the Offer during the 30-day period (the “Offer Period”) after receipt by the Acquiring Party of Golar LNG’s election to purchase (or election to cause any of its permitted Affiliates to purchase) or of the Board’s election to cause any Partnership Group Member to purchase, as applicable, the Offered Assets,

 

9

 

Golar LNG shall purchase (or cause any of its permitted Affiliates to purchase) or the Board shall cause any Partnership Group Member to purchase, as applicable, the Offered Assets on such terms as soon as commercially practicable after such agreement has been reached.

 

(ii)                                                     If the Acquiring Party and the Offeree are unable to agree on the fair market value (and any applicable Break-up Costs) of the Offered Assets that are subject to the Offer or on any other terms of the Offer during the Offer Period, the Acquiring Party and the Offeree will engage a mutually-agreed-upon investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor prior to the end of the Offer Period to determine the fair market value of the Offered Assets and/or the other terms on which the Acquiring Party and the Offeree are unable to agree.  In determining the fair market value of the Offered Assets and other terms on which the Offered Assets are to be sold, the investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor, as applicable, will have access to the proposed sale and purchase values and terms for the Offer submitted by the Acquiring Party and the Offeree, respectively, and to all information prepared by or on behalf of the Acquiring Party relating to the Offered Assets and reasonably requested by such investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor.  Such investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor will determine the fair market value (and any applicable Break-up Costs) of the Offered Assets and/or the other terms on which the Acquiring Party and the Offeree are unable to agree within 30 calendar days of its engagement and furnish the Acquiring Party and the Offeree its determination.  The fees and expenses of the investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor, as applicable, will be divided equally between the Acquiring Party and the Offeree.  Upon receipt of such determination, the Offeree will have the option, but not the obligation:

 

(A)                               in the case that the Offeree is Golar LNG, to purchase or cause any of its permitted Affiliates to purchase, or in the case that the Offeree is the Board, to cause any Partnership Group Member to purchase the Offered Assets for the fair market value (and any applicable Break-up Costs), and on the other terms determined by the ship broker or investment banking firm, as soon as commercially practicable after determinations have been made; or

 

(B)                               in the case that the Offeree is Golar LNG, to elect not to cause any of its permitted Affiliates to purchase, or in the case that the Offeree is the Board, not to cause any Partnership Group Member to purchase such Offered Assets, in which event the Acquiring Party and its Affiliates shall, subject to the other terms of this Agreement, be forever free to continue to own and operate such Offered Assets.

 

Section 4.2.                                 Scope of Prohibition.  If any Party or its Affiliates engages in the ownership or operation of Five-Year Vessels in the case of a Golar Entity, or Non-Five-Year Vessels in the case of a Partnership Group Member, pursuant to any of the exceptions described in Sections 2.2 or 3.2, as applicable, the Party and its Affiliates may not subsequently expand that portion of their business other than pursuant to the exceptions contained in such Sections 2.2 or 3.2.  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or the MLP Agreement, each Party and

 

10

 

its Affiliates shall be free to engage in any business activity whatsoever, including those that may be in direct competition with the Golar Entities or the Partnership Group Members.

 

Section 4.3.                                 Enforcement.  Each Party agrees and acknowledges that the other Parties do not have an adequate remedy at law for the breach by any such Party of its covenants and agreements set forth in this Article IV, and that any breach by any such Party of its covenants and agreements set forth in this Article IV would result in irreparable injury to such other Parties.  Each Party further agrees and acknowledges that any other Party may, in addition to the other remedies which may be available to such other Party, file a suit in equity to enjoin such Party from such breach, and consent to the issuance of injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of Article IV of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE V

 

RIGHTS OF FIRST OFFER

 

Section 5.1.                                 Rights of First Offer.

 

(a)                                 The Partnership Group hereby grants Golar LNG a right of first offer on any proposed Transfer by any Partnership Group Member of any Five-Year Vessels or any Non-Five-Year Vessels owned or acquired by any Partnership Group Member.  The Golar Entities hereby grant the MLP a right of first offer on any proposed Transfer of any Five-Year Vessels owned or acquired by any Golar Entity.

 

(b)                                 The Parties acknowledge that all potential Transfers of Five-Year Vessels or Non-Five-Year Vessels pursuant to this Article V are subject to obtaining any and all written consents of governmental authorities and other non-affiliated third parties and to the terms of all existing agreements in respect of such Five-Year Vessels or Non-Five-Year Vessels, as applicable.

 

Section 5.2.                                 Procedures for Rights of First Offer.

 

(a)                                 In the event that a Partnership Group Member (a “Partnership Transferring Party”) proposes to Transfer any Non-Five-Year Vessels (the “Partnership Sale Assets”), prior to engaging in any negotiation for such Transfer with any non-affiliated third party or otherwise offering to Transfer the Partnership Sale Assets to any non-affiliated third party, such Partnership Transferring Party shall give Golar LNG (a “Partnership Potential Transferee”), written notice setting forth all material terms and conditions (including, without limitation, the purchase price or the terms of the charter agreement and a description of the Partnership Sale Asset(s) on which such Partnership Transferring Party desires to Transfer the Partnership Sale Assets) (a “Partnership Transfer Notice”).

 

(b)                                 In the event that a Golar Entity (a “Golar Transferring Party” and, together with a Partnership Transferring Party, a “Transferring Party”) proposes to Transfer any Five-Year Vessels (the “Golar Sale Assets” and, together with the Partnership Sale Assets, the “Sale Assets”), prior to engaging in any negotiation for such Transfer with any non-affiliated third party or otherwise offering to Transfer the Golar Sale Assets to any non-affiliated third party, such Golar Transferring Party shall give the MLP (a “Golar Potential Transferee” and, together with a Partnership Potential Transferee, a “Potential Transferee”), written notice setting forth all

 

11

 

material terms and conditions (including, without limitation, the purchase price or the terms of the charter agreement and a description of the Golar Sale Asset(s) on which such Golar Transferring Party desires to Transfer the Golar Sale Assets) (a “Golar Transfer Notice” and, together with a Partnership Transfer Notice, each a “Transfer Notice”).

 

(c)                                  After delivery of a Transfer Notice, the Transferring Party then shall be obligated to negotiate in good faith for a 30-day period following the delivery by the Transferring Party of the Transfer Notice (the “First Offer Negotiation Period”) to reach an agreement for the Transfer of such Sale Assets to the Potential Transferee or any of its Affiliates on the terms and conditions set forth in the Transfer Notice.  If no such agreement with respect to the Sale Assets is reached during the First Offer Negotiation Period, and the Transferring Party has not Transferred, or agreed in writing to Transfer, such Sale Assets to a third party within 180 calendar days after the end of the First Offer Negotiation Period on terms generally no less favorable to the Transferring Party than those included in the Tran sfer Notice, then the Transferring Party shall not thereafter Transfer any of the Sale Assets without first offering such assets to the applicable Potential Transferee in the manner provided above.

 

ARTICLE VI

GOLAR FREEZE INTERESTS PURCHASE OPTION

 

Section 6.1.                                 Option to Purchase the Golar Freeze Interests.

 

(a)                                 Golar LNG hereby grants to the Partnership Group the unconditional right and option to purchase for fair market value at any time within 24 months after the Closing Date, all of the Golar Freeze Interests.

 

(b)                                 The Parties acknowledge that the potential transfer of the Golar Freeze Interests pursuant to this Article VI is subject to obtaining any and all written consents of governmental authorities and other third parties and to the terms of all agreements existing as of the date hereof in respect of the Golar Freeze Interests including, without limitation, any rights of first refusal of the parties to such agreements to purchase the Golar Freeze Interests.  Golar LNG hereby covenants and agrees to use its reasonable efforts to obtain any such consents required to be obtained by it in connection with the transfer of the Golar Freeze Interests pursuant to this Article VI.

 

Section 6.2.                                 Procedures.

 

(a)                                 If a Partnership Group Member decides to exercise the option to purchase the Golar Freeze Interests, it will provide written notice to Golar LNG of such exercise, the fair market value it proposes to pay for the Golar Freeze Interests, and the other material terms of the purchase.  The decision to purchase the Golar Freeze Interests, the fair market value to be paid for the Golar Freeze Interests, and the other terms of the purchase shall be approved by the Conflicts Committee.  If the Partnership Group Member and Golar LNG are unable to agree on the fair market value of the Golar Freeze Interests and/or the other material terms, the Partnership Group Member and Golar LNG shall engage a mutually-agreed-upon investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor to determine the fair market value of the Golar Freeze Interests and/or the other material terms on which the Partnership Group Member and

 

12

 

Golar LNG are unable to agree.  In determining the fair market value of the Golar Freeze Interests and/or the other material terms on which the Golar Freeze Interests are to be sold, the investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor, as applicable, will have access to the proposed sale and purchase values and terms for the offer submitted by the Partnership Group Member and Golar LNG, respectively, and to all information prepared by or on behalf of the Partnership Group Member and Golar LNG with respect to the Golar Freeze Interests and reasonably requested by such investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor.  Such investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor will determine the fair market value of the Golar Freeze Interests and/or the other terms on which the Partnership Group Member and Golar LNG are unable to agree within 30 calendar days of its engagement and furnish the Partnership Group Member and Golar LNG its determination.  The fees and expenses of the investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor, as applicable, will be divided equally between the Partnership Group Member and Golar LNG.  Upon receipt of such determination, the Partnership Group Member will have the option, but not the obligation in to purchase the Golar Freeze Interests for the fair market value and on the other terms determined by the investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor, as soon as commercially practicable after determinations have been made.

 

(b)                                 If a Partnership Group Member chooses to exercise its option to purchase the Golar Freeze Interests under Section 6.2(a), the applicable parties shall enter into a purchase and sale agreement for the purchase and sale of the Golar Freeze Interests pursuant to which Golar LNG shall be obligated to sell the Golar Freeze Interests to the Partnership Group Member and the Partnership Group Member shall be obligated to purchase the Golar Freeze Interests from Golar LNG.  The terms of the purchase and sale agreement will include the following:

 

(i)                                                        the Partnership Group Member will deliver a cash purchase price (unless the Partnership Group Member and Golar LNG agree that the consideration will be paid by means of equity of the MLP, an interest-bearing promissory note or other form of consideration);

 

(ii)                                                     the Partnership Group will be entitled to the benefit of the indemnification contained in Article VIII of this Agreement for the remaining term of such indemnification with respect to events or conditions associated with the operation of the Golar Freeze and occurring before the date of acquisition of the Golar Freeze Interests by the Partnership Group Member;

 

(iii)                                                  Golar LNG will provide customary representations and warranties with respect to title to the Golar Freeze Interests and any other such matters as the Partnership Group Member may approve, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld;

 

(iv)                                                 Golar LNG will grant to the Partnership Group Member the right, exercisable at the Partnership Group Member’s risk and expense, to make such surveys, tests and inspections of the Golar Freeze as the Partnership Group Member may deem desirable, so long as such surveys, tests or inspections do not damage the Golar Freeze or interfere with the activities of the Golar LNG Entities or DUSUP thereon and so long as the Partnership Group Member has furnished Golar LNG with evidence that adequate liability insurance is in full force and effect;

 

13

 

(v)                                                    the Partnership Group Member will have the right to terminate its obligation to purchase the Golar Freeze under this Article VI and the related purchase and sale agreement if the results of any searches, surveys, tests or inspections conducted pursuant to paragraph (iv) above are, in the reasonable opinion of the Partnership Group, unsatisfactory; and

 

(vi)                                                 neither Golar LNG nor the applicable Partnership Group Member shall have any obligation to sell or buy the Golar Freeze if any of the consents referred to in Section 6.1(b) above have not been obtained.

 

(c)                                  If a Partnership Group Member chooses or is deemed to have chosen not to exercise its option to purchase the Golar Freeze at the price determined by the investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor under Section 6.2(a), all future rights to purchase the Golar Freeze Interests by the Partnership Group will be extinguished.

 

ARTICLE VII

KHANNUR INTERESTS PURCHASE OPTION

 

Section 7.1.                                 Option to Purchase the Khannur Interests.

 

(a)                                 Golar Energy hereby grants to the Partnership Group the unconditional right and option to purchase for fair market value upon completion of the retrofitting of the Khannur and acceptance by Nusantara Regas, all of the Khannur Interests.

 

(b)                                 The Parties acknowledge that the potential transfer of the Khannur Interests pursuant to this Article VII is subject to obtaining any and all written consents of governmental authorities and other third parties and to the terms of all agreements existing as of the date hereof in respect of the Khannur Interests including, without limitation, any rights of first refusal of the parties to such agreements to purchase the Khannur Interests.  Golar Energy hereby covenants and agrees to use its reasonable efforts to obtain any such consents required to be obtained by it in connection with the transfer of the Khannur Interests pursuant to this Article VII.

 

Section 7.2.                                 Procedures.

 

(a)                                 Not later than 30 calendar days after the date of acceptance of the Khannur by Nusantara Regas, Golar Energy shall notify the Board and offer the Board the opportunity to cause any Partnership Group Member to purchase the Khannur for its fair market value pursuant to Section 7.1(a).

 

(b)                                 If a Partnership Group Member decides to exercise the option to purchase the Khannur Interests, it will provide, within 30 days of receipt of notice pursuant to Section 7.2(a), written notice to Golar Energy of such exercise, the fair market value it proposes to pay for the Khannur Interests, and the other material terms of the purchase.  The decision to purchase the Khannur Interests, the fair market value to be paid for the Khannur Interests, and the other terms of the purchase shall be approved by the Conflicts Committee.  If the Partnership Group Member and Golar Energy are unable to agree on the fair market value of the Khannur Interests and/or the other material terms, the Partnership Group Member and Golar Energy shall engage a mutually-agreed-upon investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor to determine the fair

 

14

 

market value of the Khannur Interests and/or the other material terms on which the Partnership Group Member and Golar Energy are unable to agree.  In determining the fair market value of the Khannur Interests and/or the other material terms on which the Khannur Interests are to be sold, the investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor, as applicable, will have access to the proposed sale and purchase values and terms for the offer submitted by the Partnership Group Member and Golar Energy, respectively, and to all information prepared by or on behalf of the Partnership Group Member and Golar Energy with respect to the Khannur Interests and reasonably requested by such investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor.  Such investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor will determine the fair market value of the Khannur Interests and/or the other terms on which the Partnership Group Member and Golar Energy are unable to agree within 30 calendar days of its engagement and furnish the Partnership Group Member and Golar Energy its determination.  The fees and expenses of the investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor, as applicable, will be divided equally between the Partnership Group Member and Golar Energy.  Upon receipt of such determination, the Partnership Group Member will have the option, but not the obligation in to purchase the Khannur Interests for the fair market value and on the other terms determined by the investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor, as soon as commercially practicable after determinations have been made.

 

(c)                                  If a Partnership Group Member chooses to exercise its option to purchase the Khannur Interests under Section 7.2(b), the applicable parties shall enter into a purchase and sale agreement for the purchase and sale of the Khannur Interests pursuant to which Golar Energy shall be obligated to sell the Khannur Interests to the Partnership Group Member and the Partnership Group Member shall be obligated to purchase the Khannur Interests from Golar Energy.  The terms of the purchase and sale agreement will include the following:

 

(i)                                                        the Partnership Group Member will deliver a cash purchase price (unless the Partnership Group Member and Golar Energy agree that the consideration will be paid by means of equity of the MLP, an interest-bearing promissory note or other form of consideration);

 

(ii)                                                     the Partnership Group will be entitled to the benefit of the indemnification contained in Article VIII of this Agreement for the remaining term of such indemnification with respect to events or conditions associated with the operation of the Khannur and occurring before the date of acquisition of the Khannur Interests by the Partnership Group Member; provided, however, that any such indemnification with respect to the Khannur shall be by Golar Energy, and not by Golar LNG, and provided, further, that the remaining term of any such indemnification with respect to the Khannur shall be deemed to be not less than three (3) years from the closing date of the acquisition of the Khannur Interests by the Partnership Group Member;

 

(iii)                                                  Golar Energy will provide customary representations and warranties with respect to title to the Khannur Interests and any other such matters as the Partnership Group Member may approve, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld;

 

(iv)                                                 Golar Energy will grant to the Partnership Group Member the right, exercisable at the Partnership Group Member’s risk and expense, to make such surveys,

 

15

 

tests and inspections of the Khannur as the Partnership Group Member may deem desirable, so long as such surveys, tests or inspections do not damage the Khannur or interfere with the activities of the Golar Entities or Nusantara Regas thereon and so long as the Partnership Group Member has furnished Golar Energy with evidence that adequate liability insurance is in full force and effect;

 

(v)                                                    the Partnership Group Member will have the right to terminate its obligation to purchase the Khannur under this Article VII and the related purchase and sale agreement if the results of any searches, surveys, tests or inspections conducted pursuant to paragraph (iii) above are, in the reasonable opinion of the Partnership Group, unsatisfactory; and

 

(vi)                                                 neither Golar Energy nor the applicable Partnership Group Member shall have any obligation to sell or buy the Khannur if any of the consents referred to in Section 7.1(b) above have not been obtained.

 

(d)                                 If a Partnership Group Member chooses or is deemed to have chosen not to exercise its option to purchase the Khannur at the price determined by the investment banking firm, ship broker or other expert advisor under Section 7.2(b), all future rights to purchase the Khannur Interests by the Partnership Group will be extinguished.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 8.1.                                 Golar LNG Indemnification.  Subject to the provisions of Section 8.2 and Section 8.3, Golar LNG shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Partnership Group from and against: (a) any Covered Environmental Losses relating to the assets contributed by the Golar LNG Entities to the Partnership Group prior to or on the Closing Date (the “Contribution Assets”) to the extent that Golar LNG is notified by the MLP of any such Covered Environmental Losses within five (5) years after the Closing Date; (b) Losses to the Partnership Group arising from (i) the failure of the Partnership Group, immediately after the Closing Date, to be the owner of such valid leasehold interests or fee ownership interests in and to the Contribution Assets as are necessary to enable the Partnership Entities to own and operate the Contribution Assets in substantially the same manner that the Contribution Assets were owned and operated by the Golar LNG Entities immediately prior to the respective dates on which each such Contribution Asset was acquired by the Partnership Entities or (ii) the failure of the Partnership Entities to have by the Closing Date any consent or governmental permit necessary to allow the Partnership Entities to own or operate the Contribution Assets in substantially the same manner that the Contribution Assets were owned and operated by the Golar LNG Entities immediately prior to the respective dates on which each such Contribution Asset was acquired by the Partnership Entities, in each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, to the extent that Golar LNG is notified by the MLP of such Losses within three (3) years after the Closing Date; (c) all federal, state, foreign and local income tax liabilities attributable to the operation of the Contribution Assets prior to the Closing Date, including any such income tax liabilities of the Golar LNG Entities that may result from the consummation of the formation transactions for the Partnership Group and the MLP, but excluding any federal, state, foreign and local income taxes reserved on

 

16

 

the books of the Partnership Group on the Closing Date; (d) any Losses with respect to the UK Tax Leases in excess of any scheduled payments thereunder, including Losses in connection with termination of any UK Tax Lease; and (e) any Losses with respect to any payments required to be made pursuant to the terms of the Golar Winter Security Documents.

 

Section 8.2.                                 Limitation Regarding Indemnification.  The aggregate liability of Golar LNG under Section 8.1(a) above shall not exceed $5,000,000.  Furthermore, no claim may be made against Golar LNG for indemnification pursuant to Section 8.1(a), unless the aggregate dollar amount of all claims for indemnification pursuant to such section shall exceed $500,000, in which case Golar LNG shall be liable for claims for indemnification only to the extent such aggregate amount exceeds $500,000.

 

Section 8.3.                                 Indemnification Procedures.

 

(a)                                 The Partnership Group Members agree that within a reasonable period of time after they become aware of facts giving rise to a claim for indemnification pursuant to Section 8.1, they will provide notice thereof in writing to Golar LNG specifying the nature of and specific basis for such claim.

 

(b)                                 Golar LNG shall have the right to control all aspects of the defense of (and any counterclaims with respect to) any claims brought against the Partnership Group that are covered by the indemnification set forth in Section 8.1, including, without limitation, the selection of counsel, determination of whether to appeal any decision of any court and the settling of any such matter or any issues relating thereto; provided, however, that no such settlement shall be entered into without the consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) of the Partnership Group unless it includes a full release of the Partnership Group from such matter or issues, as the case may be.

 

(c)                                  The Partnership Group Members agree to cooperate fully with Golar LNG with respect to all aspects of the defense of any claims covered by the indemnification set forth in Section 8.1, including, without limitation, the prompt furnishing to Golar LNG of any correspondence or other notice relating thereto that the Partnership Group may receive, permitting the names of the members of the Partnership Group to be utilized in connection with such defense, the making available to Golar LNG of any files, records or other information of the Partnership Group that Golar LNG considers relevant to such defense and the making available to Golar LNG of any employees of the Partnership Group; provided, however, that in connection therewith Golar LNG agrees to use reasonable efforts to minimize the impact thereof on the operations of the Partnership Group and further agrees to maintain the confidentiality of all files, records and other information furnished by a Partnership Group Member pursuant to this Section 8.3.  In no event shall the obligation of the Partnership Group to cooperate with Golar LNG as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence be construed as imposing upon the Partnership Group an obligation to hire and pay for counsel in connection with the defense of any claims covered by the indemnification set forth in this Article VIII; provided, however, that the Partnership Group Members may, at their own option, cost and expense, hire and pay for counsel in connection with any such defense.  Golar LNG agrees to keep any such counsel hired by the Partnership Group reasonably informed as to the status of any such defense (including providing

 

17

 

such counsel with such information related to any such defense as such counsel may reasonably request) but Golar LNG shall have the right to retain sole control over such defense.

 

In determining the amount of any Loss for which any of the members of the Partnership Group is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, the gross amount of the indemnification will be reduced by (i) any insurance proceeds realized by the Partnership Group, and such correlative insurance benefit shall be net of any incremental insurance premium that becomes due and payable by the Partnership Group as a result of such claim, and (ii) all amounts recovered by the Partnership Group under contractual indemnities from third Persons.  The Partnership Group hereby agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to realize any applicable insurance proceeds or amounts recoverable under such contractual indemnities; provided, however, that the costs and expenses (including, without limitation, court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees) of the Partnership Group in connection with such efforts shall be promptly reimbursed by Golar LNG in advance of any determination of whether such insurance proceeds or other amounts will be recoverable.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 9.1.                                 Choice of Law; Submission To Jurisdiction.  This Agreement shall be subject to and governed by the laws of the State of New York.  Each party hereby submits to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York and to venue in New York, New York.

 

Section 9.2.                                 Notice.  All notices, requests or consents provided for or permitted to be given pursuant to this Agreement must be in writing and must be given by depositing the same in the mail, addressed to the Person to be notified, postpaid, and registered or certified with return receipt requested or by delivering such notice in person or by private-courier, prepaid, or by telecopier to such party.  Notice given by personal delivery or mail shall be effective upon actual receipt.  Couriered notices shall be deemed delivered on the date the courier represents that delivery will occur.  Notice given by telecopier shall be effective upon actual receipt if received during the recipient’s normal business hours, or at the beginning of the recipient’s next business day after receipt if not received during the recipient’s normal business hours.  All notices to be sent to a party pursuant to this Agreement shall be sent to or made at the address set forth below such party’s signature to this Agreement, or at such other address as such party may stipulate to the other parties in the manner provided in this Section 9.2.

 

Section 9.3.                                 Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties relating to the matters contained herein, superseding all prior contracts or agreements, whether oral or written, relating to the matters contained herein.

 

Section 9.4.                                 Termination.  Upon a Change of Control of the General Partner or of the MLP, the provisions of Articles II, III, IV and V of this Agreement (but not less than all of such Articles) shall terminate immediately.  Upon a Change of Control of Golar LNG, the provisions of Articles II, III, IV and V of this Agreement applicable to Golar LNG (but not less than all of such Articles) shall terminate at the time that is the later of (i) the date on which all of the MLP’s

 

18

 

outstanding subordinated units have converted to common units of the MLP and (ii) the date of the Change of Control of Golar LNG.  Upon a Change of Control of Golar Energy, the provisions of Articles II, IV and V of this agreement applicable to Golar Energy (but not less than all of such articles) shall terminate at the time that is the later of (i) the date on which all of the MLP’s outstanding subordinated units have converted into common units of the MLP and (ii) the date of the Change of Control of Golar Energy.

 

Section 9.5.                                 Waiver; Effect of Waiver or Consent.  Any party hereto may (a) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of any other party hereto or (b) waive compliance with any agreement or condition contained herein.  Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument duly executed by the party or parties to be bound thereby; provided, however, that the MLP may not, without the prior approval of the Conflicts Committee, agree to any extension or waiver of this Agreement that, in the reasonable discretion of the Board, will adversely affect the holders of common units of the MLP.  No waiver or consent, express or implied, by any party of or to any breach or default by any Person in the performance by such Person of its obligations hereunder shall be deemed or construed to be a waiver or consent of or to any other breach or default in the performance by such Person of the same or any other obligations of such Person hereunder.  Failure on the part of a party to complain of any act of any Person or to declare any Person in default, irrespective of how long such failure continues, shall not constitute a waiver by such party of its rights hereunder until the applicable statute of limitations period has run.

 

Section 9.6.                                 Amendment or Modification.  This Agreement may be amended or modified from time to time only by the written agreement of all the parties hereto; provided, however, that the MLP may not, without the prior approval of the Conflicts Committee, agree to any amendment or modification of this Agreement that, in the reasonable discretion of the Board, will adversely affect the holders of common units of the MLP.

 

Section 9.7.                                 Assignment.  No party shall have the right to assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other parties hereto.

 

Section 9.8.                                 Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all signatory parties had signed the same document.  All counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

Section 9.9.                                 Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance shall be held invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby and shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.

 

Section 9.10.                          Gender, Parts, Articles and Sections.  Whenever the context requires, the gender of all words used in this Agreement shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter, and the number of all words shall include the singular and plural.  All references to Article numbers and Section numbers refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement.

 

Section 9.11.                          Further Assurances.  In connection with this Agreement and all transactions contemplated by this Agreement, each signatory party hereto agrees to execute and

 

19

 

deliver such additional documents and instruments and to perform such additional acts as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate, carry out and perform all of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement and all such transactions.

 

Section 9.12.                          Withholding or Granting of Consent.  Each party may, with respect to any consent or approval that it is entitled to grant pursuant to this Agreement, grant or withhold such consent or approval in its sole and uncontrolled discretion, with or without cause, and subject to such conditions as it shall deem appropriate.

 

Section 9.13.                          Laws and Regulations.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, no party to this Agreement shall be required to take any act, or fail to take any act, under this Agreement if the effect thereof would be to cause such party to be in violation of any applicable law, statute, rule or regulation.

 

Section 9.14.                          Negotiation of Rights of Golar LNG, Golar Energy, Limited Partners, Assignees and Third Parties.  The provisions of this Agreement are enforceable solely by the parties to this Agreement, and no shareholder of Golar LNG or Golar Energy and no limited partner, member, assignee or other Person of the MLP shall have the right, separate and apart from Golar LNG, Golar Energy or the MLP, as applicable, to enforce any provision of this Agreement or to compel any party to this Agreement to comply with the terms of this Agreement.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

20

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on, and effective as of, the Closing Date.

 

	
 
    	
GOLAR   LNG LIMITED
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Siu-Yee Mac
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:   Siu-Yee Mac
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   Attorney-in-fact
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Address   for Notice:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Par-la-Ville   Place
    
	
 
    	
14 Par-la-Ville Road
    
	
 
    	
Hamilton HM 08
    
	
 
    	
Bermuda
    
	
 
    	
Phone
    	
(1) 441 295 4705
    
	
 
    	
Fax:
    	
(1) 441 295 3494
    
	
 
    	
Attention:
    	
Georgina Sousa
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GOLAR   LNG ENERGY LIMITED
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Siu-Yee Mac
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:   Siu-Yee Mac
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   Attorney-in-fact
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Address   for Notice:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Par-la-Ville Place
    
	
 
    	
14 Par-la-Ville Road
    
	
 
    	
Hamilton   HM 08
    
	
 
    	
Bermuda
    
	
 
    	
Phone
    	
(1) 441 295 4705
    
	
 
    	
Fax:
    	
(1) 441 295 3494
    
	
 
    	
Attention:
    	
Georgina Sousa
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
[Signature   Pages to Omnibus Agreement]
    
				

 

 

	
 
    	
GOLAR   LNG PARTNERS LP
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Siu-Yee Mac
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:   Siu-Yee Mac
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   Attorney-in-fact
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Address   for Notice:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Par-la-Ville Place
    
	
 
    	
14 Par-la-Ville Road
    
	
 
    	
Hamilton   HM 08
    
	
 
    	
Bermuda
    
	
 
    	
Phone
    	
(1) 441 295 4705
    
	
 
    	
Fax:
    	
(1) 441 295 3494
    
	
 
    	
Attention:
    	
Georgina Sousa
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
GOLAR   GP LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Siu-Yee Mac
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:   Siu-Yee Mac
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   Attorney-in-fact
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Address   for Notice:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Par-la-Ville   Place
    
	
 
    	
14 Par-la-Ville Road
    
	
 
    	
Hamilton HM 08
    
	
 
    	
Bermuda
    
	
 
    	
Phone
    	
(1) 441 295 4705
    
	
 
    	
Fax:
    	
(1) 441 295 3494
    
	
 
    	
Attention:
    	
Georgina Sousa
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
[Signature   Pages to Omnibus Agreement]
    
				

 

 

	
 
    	
GOLAR   PARTNERS OPERATING LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Siu-Yee Mac
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Name:   Siu-Yee Mac
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Title:   Attorney-in-fact
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Address   for Notice:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Par-la-Ville Place
    
	
 
    	
14 Par-la-Ville Road
    
	
 
    	
Hamilton   HM 08
    
	
 
    	
Bermuda
    
	
 
    	
Phone
    	
(1) 441 295 4705
    
	
 
    	
Fax:
    	
(1) 441 295 3494
    
	
 
    	
Attention:
    	
Georgina Sousa
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
[Signature   Pages to Omnibus Agreement]

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00203-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00203-of-00352.parquet"}]]