Document:

ex103eedcp.htm

EXHIBIT 10.3

ASHLAND INC.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR EMPLOYEES (2005)

(Effective as of January 1, 2005)

 

Whereas, the Ashland Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Employees (2005) (hereinafter the “Plan”) was approved by the
Board of Directors of Ashland Inc. (“Ashland”) on November 4, 2004 to be effective January 1, 2005;

 

Whereas, the Plan as approved and effective reserved the right to amend it;

 

Whereas, the right to amend the Plan was exercised on April 21, 2005 by amending and restating the Plan effective January 1, 2005
and further amending the Plan on October 28, 2005 effective January 1, 2005;

 

Whereas, it is again desired to exercise the right to amend the Plan and thereby institute the second amendment and restatement
of the Plan;

 

Now, Therefore, effective January 1, 2005, except as otherwise provided herein, the Plan is amended and restated as follows:

 

1.           PURPOSE

 

The Ashland Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Employees (2005) (the “Plan”) is maintained primarily for the purpose of providing an opportunity to defer compensation for retirement or other future purposes to a select
group of management or highly compensated employees (including former employees that met these criteria when employed).  The obligations of the Company hereunder constitute a mere promise to make the payments provided for in this Plan.  No employee, his or her spouse or the estate of either of them shall have, by reason of this Plan, any right, title or interest of any kind in or to any property of the Company.  To the extent any Participant has a right to receive payments from the
Company under this Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.

 

This Plan is a replacement of the prior Ashland Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan amended and restated as of April 1, 2003 (the “Former Plan”).  Compensation deferred under the Former Plan that was vested as of
December 31, 2004 shall remain subject to all of the rules, terms and conditions in effect under the Former Plan as of December 31, 2004.  For this purpose, the Compensation deferred under the Former Plan shall include all income, gains and losses connected to such Compensation.

 

The rules, terms and conditions of this Plan shall apply to Compensation deferred after December 31, 2004, including any Election to defer such Compensation made in 2004.  For this purpose, the Compensation deferred after
December 31, 2004 shall include all income, gains and losses connected to such Compensation.  Additionally, the rules, terms and conditions of this Plan shall apply to any Compensation that was deferred before January 1, 2005 and that was not vested at December 31, 2004.

 

2.           DEFINITIONS

 

The following definitions shall be applicable throughout the Plan:

 

(a)           “Accounting Date” means the Business Day on which a calculation concerning a Participant’s Compensation Account is performed, or as otherwise defined
by the Committee.

 

(b)           “Beneficiary” means the person(s) designated by the Participant in accordance with Section 10, or if no person(s) is/are so designated, the estate of
a deceased Participant.

 

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(c)           “Board” means the Board of Directors of Ashland Inc. or its designee.

 

(d)           “Business Day” means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading activity.

 

(e)           “Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur (1) upon approval of the shareholders of Ashland (or if such approval is not required, upon the approval
of the Board) of (A) any consolidation or merger of the Company (a “Business Combination”), other than a consolidation or merger of the Company into or with a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, in which the shareholders of the Company own, directly or indirectly, less than 50% of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Business Combination that are entitled to vote generally for the election of directors of the Business Combination or pursuant to which shares of the Company's Common
Stock would be converted into cash, securities or other property, other than a merger of the Company in which the holders of the Company's Common Stock immediately prior to the merger have substantially the same proportionate ownership of common stock of the surviving corporation immediately after the merger, (B) any sale, lease, exchange, or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all the assets of Ashland, provided, however, that no sale, lease, exchange
or other transfer of all or substantially all the assets of Ashland shall be deemed to occur unless assets constituting 80% of the total assets of Ashland are transferred pursuant to such sale, lease exchange or other transfer, or (C) adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of Ashland, (2) when any person (as defined in Section 3(a)(9) or 13(d) of the Exchange Act), other than Ashland or any subsidiary or employee benefit plan or trust maintained by Ashland, shall become
the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of Ashland’s Common Stock outstanding at the time, without the approval of the Board, or (3) at any time during a period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board shall cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election or the nomination for election by Ashland’s shareholders of each new director during
such two-year period was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such two-year period.

 

(f)           “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

(g)           “Committee” means the Personnel and Compensation Committee of the Board or its designee.

 

(h)           “Common Stock” means the common stock, $.01 par value, of Ashland Inc.

 

(i)           “Common Stock Fund” means that investment option, approved by the Committee, in which a Participant’s Compensation Account may be deemed to be invested
and may earn income based on a hypothetical investment in Common Stock.

 

(j)           “Company” means, on and after June 30, 2005, Ashland Inc., its divisions, subsidiaries and affiliates.

 

(k)           “Compensation” means any employee compensation determined by the Committee to be properly deferrable under the Plan.

 

(l)           “Compensation Account(s)” means the Retirement Account, the In-Service Account(s), the Excess Plan Account and/or the SERP Account.  In-Service
Accounts created on and after January 1, 2006, shall be referred to as Flexible Distribution Accounts.

 

(m)           “Corporate Human Resources” means the Corporate Human Resources Department of the Company.

 

 

 

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(n)           “Credit Date” means the date Compensation otherwise would have been paid to the Participant.

 

(o)           “Deferred Compensation” means the Compensation the Participant elects to defer pursuant to the Plan.

 

(p)           “Disability” means that a Participant is either:

 

	
1.  
	
Unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that is expected to result in death or last for a continuous period of 12 or more months; or

	
2.  
	
Receiving income replacement benefits for a period of at least three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that is expected to result in death or last for a continuous period of 12 or more months.

Corporate Human Resources or its delegate shall determine whether a Participant has incurred a Disability.

 

(q)           “Election” means a Participant’s delivery of a notice of election to defer payment of all or a portion of his or her Compensation, Excess Payments
or SERP Payments under the terms of the Plan.  Such notice shall also include instructions specifying the time the deferred Compensation, Excess Payments or SERP Payments will be paid and the form in which it will be paid.  Such elections shall be irrevocable except as otherwise provided in the Plan or pursuant to Treasury guidance.  Elections shall be made and delivered as prescribed by the Committee or the Company.

 

(r)           “Employee” means a full-time, regular salaried employee (which term shall be deemed to include officers) of the Company, its present and future subsidiary
corporations as defined in Section 424 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended or its affiliates.

 

(s)           “Excess Payments” means payments made to a Participant pursuant to the Plan and the Excess Plan.  These are amounts that a Participant deferred
from the Excess Plan to this Plan which were transferred to this Plan at a time when the amounts were payable under the Excess Plan and held in an Excess Plan Account for the Participant.

 

(t)           “Excess Plan” means the Ashland Inc. Nonqualified Excess Benefit Pension Plan, as it now exists or as it may hereafter be amended.

 

(u)           “Fair Market Value” means the price of a share of Common Stock, as reported on the Composite Tape for New York Stock Exchange issues on the date and at
the time designated by the Company.

 

 

(v)           “In-Service Account” means the account(s) to which the Participant’s Deferred Compensation is credited and from which distributions are made.  In-Service
Accounts created on and after January 1, 2006, are referred to as Flexible Distribution Accounts.  References to Flexible Distribution Accounts shall include In-Service Accounts created before January 1, 2006.  A Participant may not have more than five Flexible Distribution Accounts outstanding.

 

(w)           “Participant” means an Employee selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan and who has elected to defer payment of all or a portion of his or
her Compensation under the Plan or who otherwise has a Compensation Account in the Plan.

 

(x)           “Performance-Based Compensation” means Compensation that meets requirements specified by the Secretary of the Treasury.  Performance-Based Compensation
will include the attributes 

 

 

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that it is variable, contingent on the satisfaction of pre-established metrics and is not readily ascertainable at the time of the Election to defer such compensation under Section 8(b).

 

(y)           “Plan” means this Ashland Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Employees (2005) as it now exists or as it may hereafter be amended.

 

(z)           “Plan Year” means the calendar year.  The first Plan Year of the Plan is 2005.

 

(aa)           “Retirement Account” means the account(s) to which the Participant’s Deferred Compensation is credited and from which distributions are made.

 

(bb)           “Secretary of the Treasury” or “Treasury” means the United States Department of Treasury.

 

(cc)           “Separation from Service” or “Termination” means a termination from employment resulting in a cessation of performing active service for the
Company (other than by reason of death or Disability).  An Employee is considered to incur a Separation from Service on the date the Employee terminates employment with the Company or when it is reasonably anticipated that the
Employee's services to the Company will permanently decrease to 20% or less of the average amount of services performed for the Company during the immediately preceding 36 month period (or period of total employment if less than 36 months).  Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, a Separation from Service does not occur as a result of military leave, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence not exceeding six months or the period during which the Employee retains a right
to reemployment.

 

(dd)           “SERP” means the Ashland Inc. Supplemental Early Retirement Plan for Certain Employees, as it now exists or as it may hereafter be amended.

 

(ee)           “SERP Payments” means payments made to a Participant pursuant to the Plan and the SERP.  These are amounts that a Participant deferred from
the SERP to this Plan which were transferred to this Plan at a time when the amounts were payable under the SERP and held in a SERP Account for the Participant.

 

(ff)           “Specified Employee” means, for a particular Plan Year, any Employee who was at anytime during the 12 months ending on the December 31 preceding the
start of the particular Plan Year (the Specified Employee identification date) classified on the records of the Company as being in salary grade band 23 or higher.  Such an Employee shall be classified as a Specified Employee as of January 1 of the particular Plan Year (the Specified Employee effective date) and shall remain classified as such for the entirety of such Plan Year.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no more than 200 Employees may be classified as Specified Employees for
any Plan Year.  Unless otherwise provided in the particular document, this definition of Specified Employee shall apply to all plans, programs, contracts, agreements and other arrangements maintained by the Company that are subject to Code section 409A.

 

(gg)           “Stock Unit(s)” means the share equivalents credited to the Common Stock Fund of a Participant’s Compensation Account pursuant to Section 6.

 

(hh)           “Unforeseeable Emergency” means a severe financial hardship of a Participant because of 

 

	
1.  
	
An illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse or dependent (as defined in Internal Revenue Code section 152(a));

	
2.  
	
A loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty; or

	
3.  
	
Such other similar extraordinary unforeseeable circumstances because of events beyond the control of the Participant.

 

 

 

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The meaning of Unforeseeable Emergency shall be interpreted and applied in accordance with applicable guidance that may be issued by the Treasury.

 

	
3.
	
SHARES; ADJUSTMENTS IN EVENT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION

 

(a)           Shares Authorized for Issuance.  There shall be
reserved for issuance under the Plan 500,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment pursuant to subsection (c) below.

 

(b)           Units Authorized for Credit.  The maximum number
of Stock Units that may be credited to Participants’ Compensation Accounts under the Plan is 1,500,000, subject to adjustment pursuant to subsection (c) below.

 

(c)           Adjustments in Certain Events.  In the event of
any change in the outstanding Common Stock of the Company by reason of any stock split, share dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization, combination, or exchange or reclassification of shares, split-up, split-off, spin-off, liquidation or other similar change in capitalization, or any distribution to common shareholders other than ordinary cash dividends, the number or kind of shares or Stock Units that may be issued or credited under the Plan shall be automatically adjusted so that the
proportionate interest of the Participants shall be maintained as before the occurrence of such event.  Such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of the Plan.

 

4.           ELIGIBILITY

 

The Committee shall have the authority to select from management and/or highly compensated Employees those Employees who shall be eligible to participate in the Plan; provided, however, that employees and/or retirees who have elected
to defer an amount into this Plan from another plan sponsored or maintained by the Company, the terms of which allowed such employee or retiree to make such a deferral election into this Plan, shall be considered to be eligible to participate in this Plan.

 

5.           ADMINISTRATION

 

Full power and authority to construe, interpret and administer the Plan shall be vested in the Company and the Committee or one or more of their delegates. This power and authority includes, but is not limited to, selecting Compensation
eligible for deferral, establishing deferral terms and conditions and adopting modifications, amendments and procedures as may be deemed necessary, appropriate or convenient by the Committee. This power and authority also includes, without limitation, the ability to construe and interpret provisions of the Plan, make determinations regarding law and fact, reconcile any inconsistencies between provisions in the Plan or between provisions of the Plan and any other statement concerning the Plan, whether oral or
written, supply any omissions to the Plan or any document associated with the Plan, and to correct any defect in the Plan or in any document associated with the Plan. Decisions of the Company and the Committee (or their delegates) shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties.  Day-to-day administration of the Plan shall be the responsibility of Corporate Human Resources.  The administration of and all interpretations under the Plan shall be made consistent with all applicable law.

 

	
6.
	
PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS

 

Upon election to participate in the Plan, there shall be established a Retirement Account and/or Flexible Distribution Account, as designated by the Participant, to which there shall be credited any Deferred Compensation, as of each
Credit Date.  If timely elected by a Participant, there shall also be established an Excess Plan Account and/or a SERP Account to which there shall be credited any distribution from the Excess Plan and/or SERP, as applicable, at the time the Participant is eligible to receive a distribution from such plan and/or plans.  Each such Compensation Account shall be credited (or 

 

 

 

5

 

debited) on each Accounting Date with income (or loss) based upon a hypothetical investment in any one or more of the investment options available under the Plan, as prescribed by the Committee, for the particular Compensation credited, which may include a Common Stock Fund, as elected by the Participant under the terms of Section 8.  The
crediting or debiting on each Accounting Date of income (or loss) shall be made for the respective amounts that were subject to each Election under Section 8.  All investments of a Participant’s Compensation Account, including, but not limited to Stock Units in which such Participant’s Compensation Account may be invested in the Common Stock Fund, shall be on each relevant Accounting Date valued at fair market value.  Additionally, all distributions, investments and investment exchanges
allowed and made under the Plan shall be as of the relevant Accounting Date at fair market value.

 

7.           EARLY WITHDRAWAL

 

(a)           Unforeseeable Emergency.  A Participant or a Participant’s
legal representative may submit an application for a distribution from either a Retirement Account or a Flexible Distribution Account because of an Unforeseeable Emergency.  The amount of the distribution shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy the needs of the Unforeseeable Emergency.  Such distribution shall include an amount to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution.  The amount allowed as a distribution under this Section 7(a) shall take into
account the extent to which the Unforeseeable Emergency may be relieved by reimbursement, insurance or liquidation of the Participant’s assets (but only to the extent such liquidation would itself not cause a severe financial hardship).  The distribution shall be made in a single sum and paid as soon as practicable after the application for the distribution on account of the Unforeseeable Emergency is approved.  The provisions of this Section 7(a) shall be interpreted and administered
in accordance with applicable guidance that may be issued by the Treasury.

 

(b)           Disability.  A Participant or a Participant’s
legal representative may submit an application for a distribution from the Retirement Account and Flexible Distribution Account because of the Participant’s Disability.  The distribution shall be made in a single sum and paid as soon as practicable after the application for the distribution on account of the Participant’s Disability is approved.  The provisions of this Section 7(b) shall be interpreted and administered in accordance with applicable guidance that may be issued by
the Treasury.  If such guidance should allow an election of a period or form of distribution at the time of the application for a distribution on account of the Participant’s Disability then the Plan shall allow such elections.

 

(c)           Prohibition on Acceleration.  Except as otherwise
provided in the Plan and except as may be allowed in guidance from the Secretary of the Treasury, distributions from a Participant’s Compensation Account(s) may not be made earlier than the time such amounts would otherwise be distributed pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

 

	
8.
	
DEFERRAL ELECTION

 

(a)           General. The Company or the Committee shall determine the
timing of the filing of the appropriate Election forms.  An effective Election may not be revoked or modified except as otherwise determined by the Company or the Committee or as stated herein.  In addition to the provisions contained in this Plan, any deferrals of SERP Payments or Excess Payments must be in accordance with the terms of the SERP or the Excess Plan.

 

(b)           Permissible Deferral Election.

(i)              A Participant’s Election to defer Compensation may only be made in the taxable year before the Compensation is earned, with two exceptions.  The first exception applies to a Participant during his or her first year of eligibility to participate
in the Plan.  In that event such a Participant may, if so offered by the Company or the Committee, elect to defer Compensation for services performed after the Election, provided that the Election is made within 30 days of the date the Participant becomes eligible to participate in the Plan. 

 

 

 

6

 

 

The second exception is with respect to an election to defer Performance-Based Compensation.  If Performance-Based Compensation is based on services of a Participant performed over a period of at least 12 months, then the Participant may make an Election to defer all or part of such Compensation not later than six months before
the end of such service period.  A Participant’s Election under this Section 8(b) shall specify the amount or percentage of Compensation deferred and specify the time and form of distribution from among those described in Section 9 of the Plan.  Each Election to defer Compensation is a separate election regarding the time and form of distribution.

(ii)              An Election to defer Excess Payments or SERP Payments to this Plan must be made pursuant to the terms of the applicable plan.  Such an Election must be made either in a taxable year before the Employee is eligible to participate in the applicable
plan or within 30 days of the date the Employee first became eligible to participate in the applicable plan.  Failure to make an Election results in a default Election.  If the Employee fails to make an Election under both the Excess Plan and the SERP, then the Employee’s benefit under both such plans will be transferred at the time such Employee is eligible for a distribution under each such plan to an Excess Plan Account and a SERP Account, as applicable, and shall thereafter be distributed
in three annual payments beginning with the January 1 after the Excess Account and/or SERP Account were established (33 1/3% in the first year, 50% of the remaining amount in the second year and the remaining amount in the third year).  If the Employee makes an election under either the Excess Plan or the SERP, but fails to make an election under the other plan, the plan payment for which no election was made shall be the same as the election the Employee made for the other plan.

 

(c)           Investment Alternatives — Existing Balances.  A
Participant may elect to change an existing selection as to the investment alternatives in effect with respect to an existing Compensation Account (in increments prescribed by the Committee or the Company) as often, and with such restrictions, as determined by the Committee or by the Company.  If a Participant fails to make an investment selection for his or her Compensation Account, the Committee or the Company may prescribe a default selection or selections in any manner that appears reasonable in
their discretion.

 

(d)           Change of Beneficiary.  A Participant may, at
any time, elect to change the designation of a Beneficiary in accordance with Section 10 of the Plan.

 

(e)           Transition Relief.  The Company and the Committee,
acting either singly or in concert, have the discretion to grant one or more Participants the right to cancel any outstanding deferral election prior to December 31, 2005, pursuant to and in accordance with Q/A-20 of IRS Notice 2005-1, 2005-2 I.R.B. 274, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

9.           DISTRIBUTION

 

(a)           Retirement Account.  In accordance with a Participant’s
Election under Section 8, but subject to Sections 7 and 11, amounts subject to such Election in the Retirement Account (determined in accordance with Section 6) shall be distributed -

 

	
1.  
	
Upon a Participant’s Separation from Service as either a lump sum or in installments not exceeding 15 years; provided, however, that the distribution to a Participant who is a Specified Employee must not be made before the earliest of the date that is six months after the Participant’s Separation from Service or the date of the Participant’s
death;

	
2.  
	
Upon a Participant’s death to the Participant’s Beneficiary as either a lump sum or in installments not exceeding 15 years from the date of the Participant’s death; or

	
3.  
	
At a specified time or under a fixed schedule not exceeding 15 years from the Participant’s Separation from Service.

 

 

 

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(b)           Flexible Distribution Account.   In accordance
with a Participant’s Election under Section 8, but subject to Sections 7 and 11, amounts subject to such Election in the Flexible Distribution Account (determined in accordance with Section 6) shall be distributed -

 

	
1.  
	
Upon a Participant’s death to the Participant’s Beneficiary as either a lump sum or in installments not exceeding 15 years; or

	
2.  
	
At a specified time or under a fixed schedule not less than two years measured from the beginning of the Plan Year after the Plan Year in which the Election is made and not exceeding 15 years measured from the beginning of the Plan Year after the Plan Year in which the Election is made.

 

(c)           Excess Plan and SERP Accounts.  In accordance
with a Participant’s Election under Section 8, but subject to Sections 7 and 11, amounts subject to such Election in either the Excess Plan Account or SERP Account, or both (determined in accordance with Section 6) shall be distributed -

 

	
1.  
	
Upon a Participant’s Separation from Service and entitlement to a distribution under the Excess Plan and/or SERP, as applicable, as either a lump sum or in installments not exceeding 15 years from the date the Participant was entitled to a distribution under the Excess Plan and/or SERP, as applicable; provided, however, that the distribution to a
Participant who is a Specified Employee must not be made before the earliest of the date that is six months after the Participant was entitled to a distribution under the Excess Plan and/or SERP, as applicable or the date of the Participant’s death;

	
2.  
	
Upon a Participant’s death to the Participant’s Beneficiary as either a lump sum or in installments not exceeding 15 years from the date of the Participant’s death; or

	
3.  
	
At a specified time or under a fixed schedule not exceeding 15 years from the date the Participant incurred a Separation from Service and was entitled to a distribution under the Excess Plan and/or SERP, as applicable.

 

(d)           Medium of Distribution and Default Method.  In
accordance with the Participant’s Election and within the guidelines established by the Committee or the Company, a Participant’s Retirement Account, Flexible Distribution Account, Excess Plan Account and/or SERP Account shall be distributed in cash or shares of Common Stock (or a combination of both).  To the extent permissible under law, a Participant may make this Election at any time before a distribution is to be made.  If no Election is made by a Participant as to the distribution
or form of payment from one or more of his or her Compensation Account(s), upon the earliest time that a distribution from such account is to be made pursuant to the terms of the Plan, such account shall be paid in cash or shares of Common Stock (or a combination of both) in (i) a lump sum in the case of the Retirement Account or Flexible Distribution Account, or (ii) as prescribed under the default rules for the Excess Account and SERP Account in Section 8(b)(ii).

 

(e)           Election to Delay the Time or Change the Form of Distribution.  A
Participant may make an Election to delay the time of a distribution or change the form of a distribution, or may elect to do both, with respect to an amount that would be payable pursuant to an Election under paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 9, except in the event of a distribution on account of the Participant’s death, if all of the following requirements are met -

 

	
1.  
	
Such an Election may not take effect until at least 12 months after it is made;

	
2.  
	
Any delay to the distribution that would take effect because of the Election is at least to a date five years after the date the distribution otherwise would have begun; and

	
3.  
	
In the case of a distribution that would be made under paragraphs (a)(3), (b)(2) or (c)(3) of this Section 9 such an Election may not be made less than 12 months before the date of the first scheduled payment.

 

(f)           Distribution Exceptions.  Notwithstanding anything
in the Plan to the contrary, the following shall apply to the distribution of Contribution Accounts:

 

 

 

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1.  
	
Distribution pursuant to a domestic relations order as described in Section 12;

	
2.  
	
Distribution of a Participant’s or Beneficiary’s Compensation Accounts shall be made in a single lump sum payment as soon as possible provided the distribution will be of the entirety of the Participant’s or Beneficiary’s Compensation Accounts and the distribution does not exceed the adjusted Code section 402(g) limit; and

	
3.  
	
Distribution or suspension of contributions may be made in the discretion of the Company for any other permitted purpose under Treas. Reg. section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ii)-(xiv).

 

10.           BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

 

A Participant may designate one or more persons (including a trust) to whom or to which payments are to be made if the Participant dies before receiving distribution of all amounts due hereunder.  A designation of Beneficiary
will be effective only after the signed Election is filed with Corporate Human Resources while the Participant is alive and will cancel all designations of Beneficiary signed and filed earlier. If the Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary as provided above or if all of a Participant’s Beneficiaries predecease him or her and he or she fails to designate a new Beneficiary, the remaining unpaid amounts shall be paid in one lump sum to the estate of such Participant. If all Beneficiaries of the Participant
die after the Participant but before complete payment of all amounts due hereunder, the remaining unpaid amounts shall be paid in one lump sum to the estate of the last to die of such Beneficiaries.

 

11.           CHANGE IN CONTROL

 

In the event of a Change in Control, the Company shall reimburse a Participant for the legal fees and expenses incurred if the Participant is required to seek to obtain or enforce any right to distribution.  In the event
that it is determined that such Participant is properly entitled to a cash or other distribution hereunder, such Participant shall also be entitled to interest thereon payable in an amount equivalent to the Prime Rate of Interest quoted by Citibank, N.A. as its prime commercial lending rate on the subject date from the date such distribution should have been made to and including the date it is made.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, this Section 11 may not be amended after
a Change in Control occurs without the written consent of a majority in number of Participants.

 

12.           INALIENABILITY OF BENEFITS

 

The interests of the Participants and their Beneficiaries under the Plan may not in any way be voluntarily or involuntarily transferred, alienated or assigned, nor subject to attachment, execution, garnishment or other such equitable
or legal process.  A Participant or Beneficiary cannot waive the provisions of this Section 12.  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, valid court ordered divisions of a Participant’s Compensation Account(s) pursuant to a domestic relations order may be recognized and distributions may be made pursuant to such an order provided that such distributions are consistent with this Section 12.  A domestic relations order intended to assign a benefit hereunder
to a former spouse of a Participant must be delivered to the Company.  The Company will review the order to determine if it is qualified.  Upon notification by the Company that the order is qualified, the spouse will be able to elect a distribution of the assigned benefit by the end of the fifth calendar year following the calendar year during which the Company notifies the former spouse that the order is qualified.  In all events, the entire assigned benefit must be distributed
by the end of the fifth calendar year following the calendar year during which the Company notifies the former spouse that the order is qualified.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, if an assigned benefit is equal to or less than the adjusted Code section 402(g) limit it shall be distributed to the former spouse as soon as administratively possible.  The Company may prescribe procedures that are consistent with this Section 12 and applicable law to implement benefit assignments
pursuant to qualified orders.

 

 

 

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13.                      CLAIMS

 

	
(a)
	
Initial Claim – Notice of Denial.  If any claim for benefits (within the meaning of section 503 of ERISA) is denied in whole or in part, the Company (which shall include the Company or its delegate throughout this Section 13) will provide
written notification of the denied claim to the Participant or beneficiary, as applicable, (hereinafter referred to as the claimant) in a reasonable period, but not later than 90 days after the claim is received.  The 90-day period can be extended under special circumstances.  If special circumstances apply, the claimant will be notified before the end of the 90-day period after the claim was received. The notice will identify the special circumstances.  It will also specify the
expected date of the decision.  When special circumstances apply, the claimant must be notified of the decision not later than 180 days after the claim is received.

 

The written decision will include:

 

(i) The reasons for the denial.

(ii) Reference to the Plan provisions on which the denial is based.  The reference need not be to pagenumbers or
to section headings or titles.  The reference only needs to sufficiently describe the provisions so that the provisions could be identified based on that description.

(iii) A description of additional materials or information needed to process the claim.  It will also explain why
those materials or information are needed.

(iv) A description of the procedure to appeal the denial, including the time limits applicable to those procedures.  It
will also state that the claimant may file a civil action under section 502 of ERISA (ERISA – §29 U.S.C. 1132).  The claimant must complete the Plan’s appeal procedure before filing a civil action in court.

 

If the claimant does not receive notice of the decision on the claim within the prescribed time periods, the claim is deemed denied.  In that event the claimant may proceed with the appeal procedure described below.

	
(b)
	
Appeal of Denied Claim.  The claimant may file a written appeal of a denied claim with the Company in such manner as determined from time to time.  The Company is the named fiduciary under ERISA for purposes of the appeal of the denied
claim.  The Company may delegate its authority to rule on appeals of denied claims and any person or persons or entity to which such authority is delegated may re-delegate that authority.  The appeal must be sent at least 60 days after the claimant received the denial of the initial claim.  If the appeal is not sent within this time, then the right to appeal the denial is waived.

 

The claimant may submit materials and other information relating to the claim.  The Company will appropriately consider these materials and other information, even if they were not part of the initial claim submission.  The claimant will also be given reasonable and free access to or copies of documents, records and
other information relevant to the claim.

 

Written notification of the decision on the appeal will be delivered to the claimant in a reasonable period, but not later than 60 days after the appeal is received.  The 60-day period can be extended under special circumstances.  If special circumstances apply, the claimant will be notified before the end of the 60-day
period after the appeal was received. The notice will identify the special circumstances.  It will also specify the expected date of the decision.  When special circumstances apply, the claimant must be notified of the decision not later than 120 days after the appeal is received.

 

Special rules apply if the Company designates a committee as the appropriate named fiduciary for purposes of deciding appeals of denied claims.  For the special rules to apply, the committee must meet regularly on at least a quarterly basis.

 

 

 

10

 

When the special rules for committee meetings apply the decision on the appeal must be made not later than the date of the committee meeting immediately following the receipt of the appeal.  If the appeal is received within 30 days of the next following meeting, then the decision must not be made later than the date of the second
committee meeting following the receipt of the appeal.

 

The period for making the decision on the appeal can be extended under special circumstances.  If special circumstances apply, the claimant will be notified by the committee or its delegate before the end of the otherwise applicable period within which to make a decision.  The notice will identify the special circumstances.  It
will also specify the expected date of the decision.  When special circumstances apply, the claimant must be notified of the decision not later than the date of the third committee meeting after the appeal is received.

 

In any event, the claimant will be provided written notice of the decision within a reasonable period after the meeting at which the decision is made.  The notification will not be later than 5 days after the meeting at which the decision is made.

 

Whether the decision on the appeal is made by a committee or not, a denial of the appeal will include:

 

	
(i)    
	
The reasons for the denial.

	
(ii)    
	
Reference to the Plan provisions on which the denial is based.  The reference need not be to page numbers or to section headings or titles.  The reference only needs to sufficiently describe the provisions so that the provisions could be identified based on that description.

	
(iii)    
	
A statement that the claimant may receive free of charge reasonable access to or copies of documents, records and other information relevant to the claim.

	
(iv)    
	
A description of any voluntary procedure for an additional appeal, if there is such a procedure.  It will also state that the claimant may file a civil action under section 502 of ERISA (ERISA – §29 U.S.C. 1132).

 

If the claimant does not receive notice of the decision on the appeal within the prescribed time periods, the appeal is deemed denied.  In that event the claimant may file a civil action in court.  The decision regarding a denied claim is final and binding on all those who are affected by the decision.  No
additional appeals regarding that claim are allowed.

 

14.           GOVERNING LAW

 

The provisions of this plan shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, except to the extent preempted by Federal law.

 

15.           AMENDMENTS

 

The Committee may amend, alter or terminate this Plan at any time without the prior approval of the Board; provided, however, that the Committee may not, without approval by the Board:

 

(a)           increase the number of securities that may be issued under the Plan (except as provided in Section 3(c));

 

(b)           materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan; or

 

(c)           otherwise materially increase the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan.

 

 

 

11

 

16.           COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 16b-3

 

It is the intention of the Company that the Plan comply in all respects with Rule 16b-3 promulgated under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and that Plan Participants remain non-employee directors (“Non-Employee Directors”)
for purposes of administering other employee benefit plans of the Company and having such other plans be exempt from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.  Therefore, if any Plan provision is found not to be in compliance with Rule 16b-3 or if any Plan provision would disqualify Plan participants from remaining Non-Employee Directors, that provision shall be deemed amended so that the Plan does so comply and the Plan participants remain Non-Employee Directors, to the extent permitted by law and deemed
advisable by the Committee, and in all events the Plan shall be construed in favor of its meeting the requirements of Rule 16b-3.

 

17.           COMPLIANCE WITH 409A

 

It is the intention of the Company and the Committee that the Plan be administered in compliance with Code section 409A and the applicable guidance issued thereunder by the Secretary of the Treasury.  Any provision that
is found to be inconsistent with Code section 409A or the applicable guidance issued thereunder by the Secretary of the Treasury shall be reformed and applied by the Company in a manner consistent with applicable law, as determined by the Company.

 

	
18.
	
EFFECTIVE DATE

 

The Plan was approved and originally became effective as of January 1, 2005.

 

 

12ex10-4dirdcp.htm

EXHIBIT 10.4

ASHLAND INC.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS (2005)

(Effective generally as of January 1, 2005)

 

Whereas, the Ashland Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (2005) (hereinafter the “Plan”) was
approved by the Board of Directors of Ashland Inc. on November 4, 2004 to be effective January 1, 2005;

 

Whereas, the Plan as approved and effective reserved the right to amend it;

 

Whereas, the right to amend the Plan was exercised on November 15, 2006 in the first amendment and restatement of the Plan with
changes identified therein effective January 26, 2007 and the right to amend the Plan was again exercised on November 15, 2007 with changes thereto effective January 1, 2008;

 

Whereas, it is again desired to exercise the right to amend and restate the Plan and thereby institute the second amendment and
restatement of the Plan;

 

Now, Therefore, effective January 1, 2005, except as the Plan had been amended after that date and except as otherwise provided
herein, the second amendment and restatement of the Plan is as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.  GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

1.           PURPOSE

 

The purpose of this Ashland Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (2005) (the "Plan") is to provide each Director with an opportunity to defer some or all of the Director's Fees as a means of saving for retirement
or other purposes.  In addition, the Plan provides Directors with the ability to increase their proprietary interest in the Company’s long-term prospects by permitting Directors to receive all or a portion of their Fees in Ashland Common Stock.  The obligations of the Company hereunder constitute a mere promise to make the payments provided for in this Plan.  No Director, his or her spouse or the estate of either of them shall have, by reason of this Plan, any right, title or
interest of any kind in or to any property of the Company.  To the extent any Participant has a right to receive payments from the Company under this Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.

 

This Plan is a replacement of the prior Ashland Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors amended as of April 1, 2003 (the “Former Plan”).  Fees deferred under the Former Plan shall remain subject
to all of the rules, terms and conditions in effect under the Former Plan as of December 31, 2004.  For this purpose, the Fees deferred under the Former Plan shall include all income, gains and losses connected to such Deferred Fees.

 

The rules, terms and conditions of this Plan shall apply to Fees deferred after December 31, 2004, including any Election to defer such Fees made in 2004.  For this purpose, the Fees deferred after December 31, 2004 shall
include all income, gains and losses connected to such Fees.

 

2.           DEFINITIONS

 

The following definitions shall be applicable throughout the Plan:

 

	
(a)  
	
"Accounting Date" means the Business Day on which a calculation concerning a Participant's Deferral Account is performed, or as otherwise defined by the Committee.

 

1

 

 

 

	
(b)  
	
"Beneficiary" means the person(s) designated by a Participant in accordance with Article IV, Section 1.

 

	
(c)  
	
"Board" means the Board of Directors of Ashland Inc. or its designee.

 

	
(d)  
	
"Business Day" means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading activity.

 

	
(e)  
	
“Change in Control” shall be deemed to occur (1) upon approval of the shareholders of Ashland (or if such approval is not required, upon the approval of the Board) of (A) any consolidation or merger of the Company (a “Business Combination”), other than a consolidation or merger of the Company into or with a direct or indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary, in which the shareholders of the Company own, directly or indirectly, less than 50% of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Business Combination that are entitled to vote generally for the election of directors of the Business Combination or pursuant to which shares of the Company's Common Stock would be converted into cash, securities or other property, other than a merger of the Company in which the holders of the Company's Common Stock immediately prior to the merger have substantially
the same proportionate ownership of common stock of the surviving corporation immediately after the merger, (B) any sale, lease, exchange, or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all the assets of Ashland, provided, however, that no sale, lease, exchange or other transfer of all or substantially all the assets of Ashland shall be deemed to occur unless assets constituting 80% of the total assets of Ashland are transferred pursuant to such sale, lease
exchange or other transfer, or (C) adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of Ashland, (2) when any person (as defined in Section 3(a)(9) or 13(d) of the Exchange Act), other than Ashland or any subsidiary or employee benefit plan or trust maintained by Ashland, shall become the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of Ashland’s Common Stock outstanding at the time, without the approval of the
Board, or (3) at any time during a period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board shall cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election or the nomination for election by Ashland’s shareholders of each new director during such two-year period was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such two-year period.

 

	
(f)  
	
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

	
(g)  
	
"Committee” means the Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board or its designee.

 

	
(h)  
	
"Common Stock" means the common stock, $.01 par value, of Ashland Inc.

 

	
(i)  
	
"Common Stock Fund" means that investment option, approved by the Committee, in which a Participant's Deferral Account may be deemed to be invested and may earn income based on a hypothetical investment in Common Stock.

 

	
(j)  
	
"Company" means Ashland Inc., its divisions and subsidiaries.

 

	
(k)  
	
"Corporate Human Resources" means the Corporate Human Resources Department of the Company.

 

	
(l)  
	
"Credit Date" means the date on which any Fees would otherwise have been paid to the Participant.

 

 

 

2

 

	
(m)  
	
"Deferral Account" means the account(s) to which the Participant's Deferred Fees, Stock Units and Restricted Stock Units are credited and from which distributions are made.  A Director who does not elect to defer Fees may still have a Deferral Account with a Restricted Stock Account (as defined in (z) of this Section 2).

 

	
(n)  
	
"Deferred Fees" mean the Fees elected by the Participant to be deferred pursuant to the Plan.

 

	
(o)  
	
"Director" means any non-employee director of the Company.

 

	
(p)  
	
“Disability” means that a Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity because of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that is expected to result in death or last for a continuous period of 12 or more months. Corporate Human Resources or its delegate shall determine whether a Participant has incurred
a Disability.

 

	
(q)  
	
"Election" means a Participant's delivery of a written notice to the Vice-President of Human Resources for the Company (or his or her delegate) directing how his or her Fees will be paid under the terms of the Plan.  The Committee or the Company may prescribe other means of making and delivering an Election.  An Election
shall also include instructions specifying the time and form under which the Participant’s Deferral Account will be paid.  Such elections shall be irrevocable except as otherwise provided in the Plan.

 

	
(r)  
	
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

	
(s)  
	
"Fair Market Value" means the price of a share of Common Stock, as reported on the Composite Tape for New York Stock Exchange on the date and at the time designated by the Company.

 

	
(t)  
	
"Fees" mean the annual retainer and, as applicable, other additional retainers earned by a Director for service as a member of the Board during all or part of a calendar year.

 

	
(u)  
	
"Participant" means a Director, regardless of whether the Director elects to defer the payment of any Fees.

 

	
(v)  
	
"Payment Commencement Date" means the date payments of amounts deferred begin pursuant to Article III, Section 5.

 

	
(w)  
	
“Personal Representative” means the person or persons who, upon the disability or incompetence of a Participant, have acquired on behalf of the Participant, by legal proceeding or otherwise, the right to receive the benefits specified in this Plan.

 

	
(x)  
	
"Plan" means this Ashland Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (2005) as it now exists or may be hereafter amended.

 

	
(y)  
	
“Restricted Stock Account” means the portion of a Participant’s Stock Account that is separately accounted for and to which Restricted Stock Units are credited.

 

	
(z)  
	
“Restricted Stock Unit(s)” means the share equivalents credited to a Participant’s Restricted Stock Account pursuant to Article III, Section 1.

 

	
(aa)  
	
“Secretary of the Treasury” or “Treasury” means the United States Department of Treasury.

 

	
(bb)  
	
"Stock Account” means the portion of a Participant’s Deferral Account that is separately accounted for and to which Stock Units are credited. 

 

 

 

3

 

	
(cc)  
	
"Stock Unit(s)" means the share equivalents credited to a Participant's Stock Account pursuant to Article III, Section 1.

 

	
(gg)  
	
"Termination" means retirement from the Board or termination of service as a Director for any other reason.

 

	
(hh)  
	
“Unforeseeable Emergency” means a severe financial hardship of a Participant because of -

 

	
1.  
	
An illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse or dependent (as defined in Internal Revenue Code section 152(a));

	
2.  
	
A loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty; or

	
3.  
	
Such other similar extraordinary unforeseeable circumstances because of events beyond the control of the Participant.

 

Corporate Human Resources or its delegate shall determine whether a Participant has incurred an Unforeseeable Emergency.

 

	
3.
	
SHARES; ADJUSTMENTS IN EVENT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION

 

(a)           Shares Authorized for Issuance.  There
shall be reserved for issuance under the Plan 500,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment pursuant to subsection (b) below.  Such shares shall be authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock.

 

(b)           Adjustments in Certain Events.  In the
event of any change in the outstanding Common Stock of the Company by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization, combination, or exchange of shares, split-up, split-off, spin-off, liquidation or other similar change in capitalization, or any distribution to common shareholders other than ordinary cash dividends, the number or kind of shares that may be issued under the Plan shall be automatically adjusted so that the proportionate interest of the Directors
shall be maintained as before the occurrence of such event.  Such adjustment shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes of the Plan.

 

4.           ELIGIBILITY

 

Any non-employee Director of the Company shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.

 

5.           ADMINISTRATION

 

Full power and authority to construe, interpret and administer the Plan shall be vested in the Company and the Committee or one or more of their delegates.  This power and authority includes, but is not limited to, establishing
deferral terms and conditions and adopting modifications and amendments to procedures as may be deemed necessary or appropriate.  This power and authority also includes, without limitation, the ability to construe and interpret provisions of the Plan, make determinations regarding law and fact, reconcile any inconsistencies between provisions in the Plan or between provisions of the Plan and any other statement concerning the Plan, whether oral or written, supply any omissions to the Plan or any document
associated with the Plan, and to correct any defect in the Plan or in any document associated with the Plan.  Decisions of the Company and the Committee (or their delegates) shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties.  Day-to-day administration of the Plan shall be the responsibility of Corporate Human Resources.  This responsibility includes authority to create new administrative forms or modify existing forms for use under this Plan so long as any such modified
or new forms are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.  The administration of and all interpretations under the Plan shall be made consistent with all applicable law.

 

 

  

4  

  

  

 

ARTICLE II.  COMMON STOCK PROVISION

 

Each Participant may make an Election to receive all or a portion of his or her Fees in shares of Common Stock or make an Election to defer Fees pursuant to Article III, Section 3.  A Participant who elects to receive Fees
in shares of Common Stock shall receive such shares at the end of each quarter beginning in the quarter the Election is effective.  The number of shares of Common Stock so issued shall be equal to the amount of Fees which otherwise would have been payable during the quarter divided by the Fair Market Value.  Only whole number of shares of Common Stock will be issued, with any fractional shares to be paid in cash.

 

ARTICLE III.  DEFERRED COMPENSATION

 

1.           PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS

 

(a)           For each Participant, there shall be established a Deferral Account to which there shall be credited any Deferred Fees as of each Credit Date.  The Deferral
Account shall be credited (or debited) on each Accounting Date with income (or loss) based upon a hypothetical investment in any one or more of the investment options available under the Plan, as prescribed by the Committee, which may include a Common Stock Fund, as elected by the Participant under the terms of Article III, Section 3.  The crediting or debiting on each Accounting Date of income (or loss) shall be made for the respective amounts that were subject to each Election under Article III Section
3.

 

(b)           The Stock Account of a Participant shall be credited on each Accounting Date with Stock Units equal to the number of shares of Common Stock (including fractions
of a share) that could have been purchased with the amount of such Deferred Fees as to which a stock deferral election has been made at the Fair Market Value on the Accounting Date.  As of the date of any dividend distribution date for the Common Stock, the Participant’s Stock Account shall be credited with additional Stock Units equal to the number of shares of Common Stock (including fractions of a share) that could have been purchased, at the Fair Market Value on such date, with the amount which
would have been paid as dividends on that number of shares (including fractions of a share) of Common Stock which is equal to the number of Stock Units then credited to the Participant’s Stock Account with respect to a particular Election under Article III Section 3.

 

(c)           Each Participant may have his or her Stock Account credited on an Accounting Date determined by the Committee with the number of Restricted Stock Units approved
for such allocation equal to the number of shares of Common Stock (including fractions of a share) that could have been purchased with the dollar amount of the approved grant for this purpose at the Fair Market Value on the Accounting Date.  The Stock Units so credited shall be separately maintained and accounted for in a Restricted Stock Account for the Participant.  Amounts credited to the Restricted Stock Account shall be forfeitable until the earlier of (i) one year anniversary of the
date on which such amounts were so credited, or (ii) the date of the next annual shareholders’ meeting of the Company.  As of the date of any dividend distribution date for the Common Stock, the Participant’s Restricted Stock Account shall be credited with additional Restricted Stock Units equal to the number of shares of Common Stock (including fractions of a share) that could have been purchased, at the Fair Market Value on such date, with the amount which would have been paid as dividends
on that number of shares (including fractions of a share) of Common Stock which is equal to the number of Restricted Stock Units then credited to the Participant’s Restricted Stock Account.  The additional Restricted Stock Units so allocated shall remain forfeitable until the date on which the Restricted Stock Units with respect to which the additional Restricted Stock Units were credited become non-forfeitable.  On the date that a Participant ceases to be a Director, all Stock Units
(including fractional Stock Units) that have not become non-forfeitable shall be forfeited.  Upon a Change in Control, all forfeitable amounts in the Restricted Stock Account shall become non-forfeitable.

 

5

  

  

  

  

 

2.           EARLY WITHDRAWAL

 

(a)           Unforeseeable Emergency.  A Participant or a Participant’s
legal representative may submit an application for a distribution from the Participant’s Deferral Account (including the non-forfeitable portion of the Restricted Stock Account) because of an Unforeseeable Emergency.  The amount of the distribution shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy the needs of the Unforeseeable Emergency.  Such distribution shall include an amount to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution.  The amount allowed as a distribution
under this Section 2(a) shall take into account the extent to which the Unforeseeable Emergency may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation from insurance or liquidation of the Participant’s assets (but only to the extent such liquidation would itself not cause a severe financial hardship).  The distribution shall be made in a single sum and paid as soon as practicable after the application for the distribution on account of the Unforeseeable Emergency is approved.  The provisions
of this Section 2(a) shall be interpreted and administered in accordance with applicable guidance that may be issued by the Treasury.

 

(b)           Disability.  A Participant or a Participant’s
legal representative may submit an application for a total distribution from the Participant’s Deferral Account (including the non-forfeitable portion of the Restricted Stock Account) because of the Participant’s Disability.  The distribution shall be made in a single sum and paid as soon as practicable after the application is approved.

 

(c)           Prohibition on Acceleration.  Except as otherwise
provided in the Plan and except as may be allowed in guidance from the Secretary of the Treasury, distributions from a Participant’s Deferral Account may not be made earlier than the time such amounts would otherwise be distributed pursuant to the terms of the Plan.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, distribution or suspension of contributions may be made in the discretion of the Company for any permitted purpose under Treas. Reg. section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ii)-(xiv).

 

3.           DEFERRAL ELECTION

 

(a)           General.  Any Participant wishing to defer Fees under
the Plan may elect to do so by delivering to the Vice-President of Human Resources of the Company (including a delegatee thereof) an Election on a form prescribed by Corporate Human Resources designating the manner in which such Deferred Fees are to be invested in accordance with Article III, Section 1 and electing the timing and form of distribution.  The timing of the filing of the appropriate form with Corporate Human Resources shall be determined by the Company or the Committee.  An effective
election to defer Fees may not be revoked or modified except as otherwise determined by the Company or the Committee in a manner consistent with applicable law or as stated herein.

 

(b)           Permissible Deferral Election.  A Participant’s
Election to defer Fees may only be made in the taxable year before the Fees are earned, with one exception.  The exception applies to a Participant during his or her first year of eligibility to participate in the Plan.  In that event such a Participant may, if so offered by the Company or the Committee, elect to defer Fees for services performed after the Election, provided that the Election is made within 30 days of the date the Participant becomes eligible to participate in the Plan.  A
Participant’s Election under this Section 3(b) shall specify the amount or percentage of Fees deferred and the time and form of distribution from among those described in Article III Section 4 of the Plan.  Each Election to defer Fees may be treated as a separate election regarding the time and form of distribution, if so determined at the time of a particular election by the Company.

 

(c)           Investment Alternatives - Existing Balances.  Subject
to the following, a Participant may elect to change an existing selection as to the investment alternatives in effect with respect to existing deferred Fees and other amounts credited to the Participant’s Deferral Account (in increments prescribed by the Committee or the Company) as often, and with such restrictions, as determined by the Committee or by the Company.  Effective January 1, 2008, the following rules shall apply to investments of Stock Units and Restricted Stock Units in the Common
Stock Fund:

 

 

 

6

 

1.  Former Directors – Participants who are former Directors on January 1, 2008 shall continue to be eligible
to elect to transfer amounts they may have invested in the Common Stock Fund among the other investment alternatives available under the Plan.

 

2.  All other Participants –

 

(i)  Scope.  The provisions of this Article III, Section 3(c)(2) shall apply to all Participants not described
in (c)(1) immediately above.

 

(ii)  Stock Units that Remain Transferable.  Stock Units credited to a Participant’s Stock Account
on December 31, 2007 and dividends credited thereto after that date as additional Stock Units pursuant to Article III, Section 1(b) of the Plan can, at the election of the Participant, be transferred to the other investment alternatives available under the Plan.  The first grant of Restricted Stock Units and dividends paid thereon and credited as additional Restricted Stock Units under Article III, Section 1(c) shall, when they vest, be treated the same as Stock Units in a Participant’s Stock Account
on December 31, 2007.

 

(iii)  Stock Units that Are Not Transferable.  Except as otherwise provided in (i) and (ii) immediately
above, Stock Units allocated to a Participant’s Stock Account after December 31, 2007 cannot be transferred to another investment alternative under the Plan.

 

(iv)  Special Rule for Certain Restricted Stock Units.  Restricted Stock Units that are granted after December
31, 2007 may be transferred to an investment alternative available under the Plan other than Stock Units upon becoming vested, provided that the Participant whose Stock Account received the grant elects to make such a transfer before such Restricted Stock Units vest at such time and under such rules as the Committee or the Company may prescribe.  If a Participant fails to make such an election, then the vested Restricted Stock Units (which become Stock Units upon vesting) and dividends credited with
respect to such Units shall be subject to the restrictions on investment transfer described in (iii) immediately above.

 

(d)           Change of Beneficiary.  A Participant may, at
any time, elect to change the designation of a Beneficiary in accordance with Article IV, Section 1 hereof.

 

	
4.
	
DISTRIBUTION

 

(a)           Deferral Account.  In accordance with the Participant's
Election and as prescribed by the Committee, Deferred Fees credited to a Participant's Deferral Account, which shall include the non-forfeitable portion of the Participant’s Restricted Stock Account, shall be distributed in cash or shares of Common Stock (or a combination of both).  Unless otherwise directed by the Committee, if no Election is made by a Participant as to the distribution or form of payment of his or her Deferral Account, upon Termination such account shall be paid in cash in a
lump sum.  The entire Deferral Account must be paid out within fifteen years following the date of the Participant's Termination.  In accordance with a Participant’s Election under Article III Section 3, but subject to Sections 2 and 6 of Article III, amounts subject to such Election in the Deferred Account (determined in accordance with Article III Section 1) shall be distributed -

 

	
1.  
	
Upon a Participant’s separation from service, including death, as a Director as either a lump sum or in installments not exceeding 15 years; or

	
2.  
	
At a specified time or under a fixed schedule not exceeding 15 years.

 

(b)           Medium of Distribution and Default Method.  In
accordance with the Participant’s Election and within the guidelines established by the Committee or the Company, a Participant’s Deferral Account (including the non-forfeitable portion of the Restricted Stock Account) shall be distributed in cash or shares of Common Stock (or a combination of both).  To the extent permissible under law, a Participant 

 

 

 

7

 

may make this Election at any time before a distribution is to be made.  If no Election is made by a Participant as to the distribution or form of payment of his or her Deferral Account, upon the earliest time that a distribution from such account is to be made pursuant to the terms of the Plan, such account shall be paid in cash
or shares of Common Stock (or a combination of both) in lump sum.  Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, all of a Participant’s Stock Units that are subject to the restrictions on investment transfer described in Article III, Section 3(c)(2)(iii) shall be distributed to the Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary in whole shares of Common Stock, with any remainder distributed in cash.  The amounts so distributed shall be paid first under the timing of distributions
that applies to the benefit being distributed.

 

(c)           Election to Delay the Time or Change the Form of Distribution.  A
Participant may make an Election to delay the time of a distribution or change the form of a distribution, or may elect to do both, with respect to an amount that would be payable pursuant to an Election under paragraph (a) of this Section 4, except in the event of a distribution on account of the Participant’s death, if all of the following requirements are met -

 

	
1.  
	
Such an Election may not take effect until at least 12 months after it is made;

	
2.  
	
Any delay to the distribution that would take effect because of the Election is at least to a date five years after the date the distribution otherwise would have begun; and

	
3.  
	
In the case of a distribution that would be made under paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 4 such an Election may not be made less than 12 months before the date of the first scheduled payment.

 

5.           PAYMENT COMMENCEMENT DATE

 

Payments of amounts deferred pursuant to a valid Election shall commence in accord with the Participant’s Election.  If a Participant dies prior to the first deferred payment specified in an Election, payments shall
commence to the Participant’s Beneficiary on the first payment date so specified.

 

6.           CHANGE IN CONTROL

 

In the event of a Change in Control, the Company shall reimburse a Participant for the legal fees and expenses incurred if the Participant is required to seek to obtain or enforce any right to distribution.  In the event
that it is determined that such Participant is properly entitled to a cash or other distribution hereunder, such Participant shall also be entitled to interest thereon payable in an amount equivalent to the Prime Rate of Interest quoted by Citibank, N.A. as its prime commercial lending rate on the subject date from the date such distribution should have been made to and including the date it is made.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, Article I, Section 2 (f) and this Section
6 may not be amended after a Change in Control occurs without the written consent of a majority in number of Participants.

 

ARTICLE IV.  MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

1.           BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

 

A Participant may designate one or more persons (including a trust) to whom or to which payments are to be made if the Participant dies before receiving payment of all amounts due hereunder.  A designation of Beneficiary
will be effective only after the signed Election is filed with the Vice-President of Human Resources for the Company (or a delegate thereof) while the Participant is alive and will cancel all designations of a Beneficiary signed and filed earlier.  If the Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary as provided above or if all of a Participant’s Beneficiaries predecease him or her and he or she fails to designate a new Beneficiary, remaining unpaid amounts shall be paid in one lump sum to
the estate of such Participant.  If all Beneficiaries of the Participant die before the Participant or before complete payment of all amounts due hereunder, the remaining unpaid amounts shall be paid in one lump sum to the estate of the last to die of such Beneficiaries.

 

 

 

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2.           INALIENABILITY OF BENEFITS

 

The interests of a Participant and his or her Beneficiaries under the Plan may not in any way be voluntarily or involuntarily transferred, alienated or assigned, nor be subject to attachment, execution, garnishment or other such
equitable or legal process.

 

3.           GOVERNING LAW

 

The provisions of this Plan shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

 

4.           AMENDMENTS

 

The Committee may amend, alter or terminate this Plan at any time; provided, however, that the Committee may not, without approval by the Board:

 

(a)           materially increase the number of securities that may be issued under the Plan (except as provided in Article I, Section 3),

 

(b)           materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan, or

 

(c)           otherwise materially increase the benefits accruing to participants under the Plan.

 

5.           COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 16b-3

 

It is the intention of the Company that the Plan comply in all respects with Rule 16b-3 promulgated under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and that Plan Participants remain non-employee directors (“Non-Employee Directors”)
for purposes of administering other employee benefit plans of the Company and having such other plans be exempt from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.  Therefore, if any Plan provision is found not to be in compliance with Rule 16b-3 or if any Plan provision would disqualify Plan participants from remaining Non-Employee Directors, that provision shall be deemed amended so that the Plan does so comply and the Plan participants remain Non-Employee Directors, to the extent permitted by law and deemed
advisable by the Committee, and in all events the Plan shall be construed in favor of its meeting the requirements of Rule 16b-3.

 

6.           COMPLIANCE WITH 409A

 

It is the intention of the Company and the Committee that the Plan be administered in compliance with Code section 409A and the applicable guidance issued thereunder by the Secretary of the Treasury.  Any provision that
is found to be inconsistent with Code section 409A or the applicable guidance issued thereunder by the Secretary of the Treasury shall be reformed and applied by the Company in a manner consistent with applicable law, as determined by the Company.

 

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7.           EFFECTIVE DATE

 

The Plan was approved and originally became effective as of January 1, 2005; provided, however, that Article I Sections 2 (m), (t), (u), (y) and (z); and Article III Section 1 (c) were effective January 26, 2007 and Article
III, Section 3(c) and the last sentence of Article III, Section 4(b) were effective January 1, 2008.

 

 

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