Document:

Exhibit 10.43

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

OF

TEXAS ROADHOUSE MANAGEMENT CORP.

 

Effective Date

January 1, 2010

 

 

	
ARTICLE I
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Establishment and Purpose
    	
 
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE II
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Definitions
    	
 
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE III
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Eligibility and Participation
    	
 
    	
8
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IV
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Deferrals
    	
 
    	
8
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE V
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Company Contributions
    	
 
    	
11
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VI
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Benefits
    	
 
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VII
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Modifications to Payment   Schedules
    	
 
    	
15
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VIII
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Valuation of Account   Balances; Investments
    	
 
    	
15
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IX
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Administration
    	
 
    	
16
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE X
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Amendment and Termination
    	
 
    	
17
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE XI
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Informal Funding
    	
 
    	
18
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE XII
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Claims
    	
 
    	
18
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE XIII
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
General Provisions
    	
 
    	
20
    

 

 

ARTICLE I

Establishment and Purpose

 

Texas Roadhouse Management Corp., (the “Company”) hereby amends and restates its Deferred Compensation Plan, which shall be known as the Third Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan of Texas Roadhouse Management Corp. (the “Plan”), effective January 1, 2010. This amendment and restatement applies only to amounts deferred under the Plan on or after January 1, 2010. Amounts deferred under the Plan prior to January 1, 2010 shall be subject to the provisions of the Plan as amended and restated July 5, 2007 (the Second Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan of Texas Roadhouse Management Corp, as amended), as the same may be further amended from time to time by the Company.

 

The purpose of this amendment and restatement is to provide additional flexibility regarding deferral elections and distributions, consistent with Code Section 409A. The Plan continues to be provided to attract and retain key employees by providing Participants with an opportunity to defer receipt of a portion of their salary, bonus, and other specified compensation. The Plan is not intended to meet the qualification requirements of Code Section 401(a), but is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A, and shall be operated and interpreted consistent with that intent.

 

The Plan constitutes an unsecured promise by a Participating Employer to pay benefits in the future. Participants in the Plan shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company or the Adopting Employer, as applicable. Each Participating Employer shall be solely responsible for payment of the benefits of its employees and their beneficiaries. The Plan is unfunded for federal tax purposes and is intended to be an unfunded arrangement for eligible employees who are part of a select group of management or highly compensated employees of the Employer within the meaning of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3), and 401(a)(1) of ERISA. Any amounts set aside to defray the liabilities assumed by the Company or an Adopting Employer will remain the general assets of the Company or the Adopting Employer and shall remain subject to the claims of the Company’s or the Adopting Employer’s creditors until such amounts are distributed to the Participants.

 

ARTICLE II

Definitions

 

2.1                               Account. Account means a bookkeeping account maintained by the Committee to record the payment obligation of a Participating Employer to a Participant as determined under the terms of the Plan. The Committee may maintain an Account to record the total obligation to a Participant and component Accounts to reflect amounts payable at different times and in different forms. Reference to an Account means any such Account established by the Committee, as the context requires. Accounts are intended to constitute unfunded obligations within the meaning of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA.

 

2.2                               Account Balance. Account Balance means, with respect to any Account, the total payment obligation owed to a Participant from such Account as of the most recent Valuation Date.

 

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2.3                               Adopting Employer. Adopting Employer means an Affiliate who, with the consent of the Company, has adopted the Plan for the benefit of its eligible employees.

 

2.4                               Affiliate. Affiliate means a corporation, trade or business that, together with the Company, is treated as a single employer under Code Section 414(b) or (c).

 

2.5                               Beneficiary. Beneficiary means a natural person, estate, or trust designated by a Participant to receive payments to which a Beneficiary is entitled in accordance with provisions of the Plan. The Participant’s spouse, if living, otherwise the Participant’s estate, shall be the Beneficiary if: (i) the Participant has failed to properly designate a Beneficiary, or (ii) all designated Beneficiaries have predeceased the Participant.

 

A former spouse shall have no interest under the Plan, as Beneficiary or otherwise, unless the Participant designates such person as a Beneficiary after dissolution of the marriage, except to the extent provided under the terms of a domestic relations order as described in Code Section 414(p)(1)(B).

 

2.6                               Business Day. Business Day means each day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for business.

 

2.7                               Change in Control. Change in Control means, with respect to a Participating Employer that is organized as a corporation, any of the following events: (i) a change in the ownership of the Participating Employer, (ii) a change in the effective control of the Participating Employer, or (iii) a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Participating Employer.

 

For purposes of this Section, a change in the ownership of the Participating Employer occurs on the date on which any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of the Participating Employer that, together with stock held by such person or group constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Participating Employer. A change in the effective control of the Participating Employer occurs on the date on which either: (i) a person, or more than one person acting as a group, acquires ownership of stock of the Participating Employer possessing 30% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Participating Employer, taking into account all such stock acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition, or (ii) a majority of the members of the Participating Employer’s Board of Directors is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of such Board of Directors prior to the date of the appointment or election, but only if no other corporation is a majority shareholder of the Participating Employer. A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of assets occurs on the date on which any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, other than a person or group of persons that is related to the Participating Employer, acquires assets from the Participating Employer that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 40% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Participating Employer

 

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immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions, taking into account all such assets acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition.

 

An event constitutes a Change in Control with respect to a Participant only if the Participant performs services for the Participating Employer that has experienced the Change in Control, or the Participant’s relationship to the affected Participating Employer otherwise satisfies the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(ii).

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to a Participating Employer that is a partnership, Change in Control means only a change in the ownership of the partnership or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the partnership, and the provisions set forth above respecting such changes relative to a corporation shall be applied by analogy.

 

The determination as to the occurrence of a Change in Control shall be based on objective facts and in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

2.8                               Claimant. Claimant means a Participant or Beneficiary filing a claim under Article XII of this Plan.

 

2.9                               Code. Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

2.10                        Code Section 409A. Code Section 409A means section 409A of the Code, and regulations and other guidance issued by the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service thereunder.

 

2.11                        Committee. Committee means the committee appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company (or the appropriate committee of such board) to administer the Plan. For purposes of legislation or other documents that refer to a “plan administrator”, the Committee shall be the “plan administrator”.

 

2.12                        Company. Company means Texas Roadhouse Management Corp.

 

2.13                        Company Contribution. Company Contribution means a credit by a Participating Employer to a Participant’s Account(s) in accordance with the provisions of Article V of the Plan. Company Contributions are credited at the sole discretion of the Participating Employer and the fact that a Company Contribution is credited in one year shall not obligate the Participating Employer to continue to make such Company Contribution in subsequent years. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, a reference to Company Contribution shall include Earnings attributable to such contribution.

 

2.14                        Compensation. Compensation means a Participant’s base salary, bonus, commission, and such other cash compensation (if any) approved by the Committee as Compensation that may be deferred under this Plan. Compensation shall not include any compensation that has been previously deferred under this Plan or any other arrangement subject to Code Section 409 A.

 

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2.15                        Compensation Deferral Agreement. Compensation Deferral Agreement means an agreement between a Participant and a Participating Employer that specifies: (i) the amount of each component of Compensation that the Participant has elected to defer to the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Article IV, and (ii) the Payment Schedule applicable to one or more Accounts. The Committee may permit different deferral amounts for each component of Compensation and may establish a minimum or maximum deferral amount for each such component. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the Compensation Deferral Agreement, Participants may defer up to 100% of their base salary and up to 100% of other types of Compensation for a Plan Year (but see Section 2.17, below). A Compensation Deferral Agreement may also specify the investment allocation described in Section 8.4.

 

2.16                        Death Benefit. Death Benefit means the benefit payable under the Plan to a Participant’s Beneficiary(ies) upon the Participant’s death as provided in Section 6.1 of the Plan.

 

2.17                        Deferral. Deferral means a credit to a Participant’s Account(s) that records that portion of the Participant’s Compensation that the Participant has elected to defer to the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Article IV. Unless the context of the Plan clearly indicates otherwise, a reference to Deferrals includes Earnings attributable to such Deferrals.

 

Deferrals shall be calculated with respect to the gross cash Compensation payable to the Participant prior to any deductions or withholdings, but shall be reduced by the Committee as necessary so that they do not exceed 100% of the cash Compensation of the Participant remaining after deduction of all required income and employment taxes, other employee benefit deductions, and other deductions required by law. Changes to payroll withholdings that affect the amount of Compensation being deferred to the Plan shall be allowed only to the extent permissible under Code Section 409A.

 

2.18                        Earnings. Earnings means a positive or negative adjustment to the value of an Account, based upon the allocation of the Account by the Participant among deemed investment options in accordance with Article VIII.

 

2.19                        Effective Date. Effective Date for this amendment and restatement means January 1, 2010.

 

2.20                        Eligible Employee. Eligible Employee means a member of a “select group of management or highly compensated employees” of a Participating Employer within the meaning of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA, as determined by the Committee from time to time in its sole discretion. For purposes of determining deferral election timing requirements for a “newly eligible” Employee, eligibility shall begin upon the receipt of written notification of eligibility from the Committee or its delegate.

 

2.21                        Employee. Employee means a common-law employee of an Employer.

 

2.22                        Employer. Employer means, with respect to Employees it employs, the Company and each Affiliate.

 

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2.23                        ERISA. ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

 

2.24                        Participant. Participant means an Eligible Employee who has elected to make a Deferral under the Plan or who has had a Company Contribution credited to his or her Account and thus has (or will have, once credited) an Account Balance greater than zero, regardless of whether such individual continues to be an Eligible Employee. A Participant’s continued participation in the Plan shall be governed by Section 3.2 of the Plan.

 

2.25                        Participating Employer. Participating Employer means the Company and each Adopting Employer.

 

2.26                        Payment Schedule. Payment Schedule means the date as of which payment of an Account under the Plan will commence and the form in which payment of such Account will be made.

 

2.27                        Performance-Based Compensation. Performance-Based Compensation means Compensation where the amount of, or entitlement to, the Compensation is contingent on the satisfaction of pre-established organizational or individual performance criteria relating to a performance period of at least 12 consecutive months. Organizational or individual performance criteria are considered pre-established if established in writing by not later than 90 days after the commencement of the period of service to which the criteria relate, provided that the outcome is substantially uncertain at the time the criteria are established. The determination of whether Compensation qualifies as “Performance-Based Compensation” will be made in accordance with Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(e) and subsequent guidance.

 

2.28                        Plan. Generally, the term Plan means the “Third Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan of Texas Roadhouse Management Corp.,” as set forth herein and as may be further amended from time to time hereafter. However, to the extent permitted or required under Code Section 409 A, the term Plan may in the appropriate context also mean a portion of the Plan that is treated as a single plan under Treas. Reg. Section1.409A-1(c), or the Plan or portion of the Plan and any other nonqualified deferred compensation plan or portion thereof that is treated as a single plan under such section.

 

2.29                        Plan Year. Plan Year means January 1 through December 31.

 

2.30                        Retirement/Termination Benefit. Retirement/Termination Benefit means the benefit payable to a Participant under the Plan following the Participant’s Separation from Service.

 

2.31                        Separation from Service. Separation from Service means an Employee’s termination of employment with the Employer. Whether a Separation from Service has occurred shall be determined by the Committee in accordance with Code Section 409A.

 

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Except in the case of an Employee on a bona fide leave of absence as provided below, an Employee is deemed to have incurred a Separation from Service if the Employer and the Employee reasonably anticipate that the level of services to be performed by the Employee after a date certain would be reduced to 20% or less of the average services rendered by the Employee during the immediately preceding 36-month period (or the total period of employment, if less than 36 months) disregarding periods during which the Employee was on a bona fide leave of absence.

 

An Employee who is absent from work due to military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence shall incur a Separation from Service on the first date immediately following the later of: (i) the six month anniversary of the commencement of the leave, or (ii) the expiration of the Employee’s right, if any, to reemployment under statute or contract.

 

For purposes of determining whether a Separation from Service has occurred, the Employer means the Employer as defined in Section 2.24 of the Plan, except that in applying Code sections 1563(a)(1), (2) and (3) for purposes of determining whether another organization is an Affiliate of the Company under Code Section 414(b), and in applying Treasury Regulation Section 1.414(c)-2 for purposes of determining whether another organization is an Affiliate of the Company under Code Section 414(c), “at least 50 percent” shall be used instead of “at least 80 percent” each place it appears in those sections.

 

The Committee specifically reserves the right to determine whether a sale or other disposition of substantial assets to an unrelated party constitutes a Separation from Service with respect to a Participant providing services to the seller immediately prior to the transaction and providing services to the buyer after the transaction. Such determination shall be made in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

2.32                        Specified Date Account. Specified Date Account means an Account established by the Committee to record the amounts payable at a future date as specified in the Participant’s Compensation Deferral Agreement. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, a Participant may maintain no more than five Specified Date Accounts. A Specified Date Account may be identified in enrollment materials as an “In-Service Account” or such other name as established by the Committee without affecting the meaning thereof.

 

2.33                        Specified Date Benefit. Specified Date Benefit means the benefit payable to a Participant under the Plan in accordance with Section 6.1(c).

 

2.34                        Specified Employee. Specified Employee means an Employee who, as of the date of his or her Separation from Service, is a “key employee” of the Company or any Affiliate, any stock of which is actively traded on an established securities market or otherwise. An Employee is a key employee if he or she meets the requirements of Code Section 416(i)(1)(A)(i), (ii), or (iii) (applied in accordance with applicable regulations thereunder and without regard to Code Section 416(i)(5)) at any time during the 12-month period ending on the Specified Employee Identification Date. Such Employee shall be treated as

 

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a key employee for the entire 12-month period beginning on the Specified Employee Effective Date.

 

For purposes of determining whether an Employee is a Specified Employee, the compensation of the Employee shall be determined in accordance with the definition of compensation provided under Treas. Reg. Section 1.415(c)-2(d)(2) (wages, salaries, fees for professional services, and other amounts received for personal services actually rendered in the course of employment with the employer maintaining the plan, to the extent such amounts are includible in gross income or would be includible but for an election under section 125(a), 132(f)(4), 402(e)(3), 402(h)(1)(B), 402(k) or 457(b), including the earned income of a self-employed individual. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph to the contrary: (i) if a different definition of compensation has been designated by the Company with respect to another nonqualified deferred compensation plan in which a key employee participates, the definition of compensation shall be the definition provided in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-l(i)(2), and (ii) the Company may through action that is legally binding with respect to all nonqualified deferred compensation plans maintained by the Company, elect to use a different definition of compensation.

 

In the event of corporate transactions described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(i)6), the identification of Specified Employees shall be determined in accordance with the default rules described therein, unless the Employer elects to utilize the available alternative methodology through designations made within the timeframes specified therein.

 

2.35                        Specified Employee Identification Date. Specified Employee Identification Date means December 31, unless the Employer has elected a different date through action that is legally binding with respect to all nonqualified deferred compensation plans maintained by the Employer.

 

2.36                        Specified Employee Effective Date. Specified Employee Effective Date means the first day of the fourth month following the Specified Employee Identification Date, or such earlier date as is selected by the Committee.

 

2.37                        Substantial Risk of Forfeiture. Substantial Risk of Forfeiture means the description specified in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(d).

 

2.38                        Unforeseeable Emergency. Unforeseeable Emergency means a severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, the Participant’s dependent (as defined in Code section 152, without regard to section 152(b)(1), (b)(2), and (d)(1)(B)), or a Beneficiary; loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty (including the need to rebuild a home following damage to a home not otherwise covered by insurance, for example, as a result of a natural disaster); or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant. The types of events which may qualify as an Unforeseeable Emergency may be limited by the Committee.

 

2.39                        Valuation Date. Valuation Date means each Business Day.

 

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2.40                        Year of Service. Year of Service means each 12-month period of continuous service with the Employer.

 

ARTICLE III

Eligibility and Participation

 

3.1                               Eligibility and Participation. An Eligible Employee becomes a Participant upon the earlier to occur of: (i) a credit of Company Contributions under Article V, or (ii) acceptance by the Committee of the initial Compensation Deferral Agreement submitted by the Eligible Employee.

 

3.2                               Duration. A Participant shall be eligible to make Deferrals and receive allocations of Company Contributions, subject to the terms of the Plan, for as long as such Participant remains an Eligible Employee. A Participant who is no longer an Eligible Employee but who has not yet incurred a Separation from Service may not make new Deferrals for new Plan Years after the Plan Year in which he or she became ineligible but may otherwise exercise all of the rights of a Participant under the Plan with respect to his or her Account(s). On and after a Separation from Service, a Participant shall remain a Participant as long as his or her Account Balance is greater than zero (0), and during such time may continue to make allocation elections as provided in Section 8.4. An individual shall cease being a Participant in the Plan when all benefits under the Plan to which he or she is entitled have been paid.

 

ARTICLE IV

Deferrals

 

4.1                               Deferral Elections, Generally.

 

(a)                                 A Participant may elect to defer Compensation by submitting a Compensation Deferral Agreement during the enrollment periods established by the Committee and in the manner specified by the Committee, but in any event, in accordance with Section 4.2. A Compensation Deferral Agreement that is not timely filed with respect to a service period or component of Compensation shall be considered void and shall have no effect with respect to such service period or Compensation. The Committee may modify any Compensation Deferral Agreement prior to the date the election becomes irrevocable under the rules of Section 4.2.

 

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(b)                                 The Participant shall specify on his or her Compensation Deferral Agreement the amount of Deferrals and whether to allocate Deferrals to a Retirement/Termination Account or to a Specified Date Account. If no designation is made, Deferrals shall be allocated to the Retirement/Termination Account. A Participant may also specify in his or her Compensation Deferral Agreement the Payment Schedule applicable to his or her Plan Accounts if, under the Plan, he or she is eligible to do so for that particular Account.

 

4.2                               Timing Requirements for Compensation Deferral Agreements.

 

(a)                                 First Year of Eligibility. In the case of the first year in which an Eligible Employee becomes eligible to participate in the Plan, if authorized by the Committee to make a Deferral during the Plan Year, he or she has up to 30 days following his or her initial eligibility (see Section 2.20) to submit a Compensation Deferral Agreement with respect to Compensation to be earned during the remainder of such Plan Year (but see below). The Compensation Deferral Agreement described in this paragraph becomes irrevocable upon the end of such 30-day period. The determination of whether an Eligible Employee may file a Compensation Deferral Agreement under this paragraph shall be determined in accordance with the rules of Code Section 4 09A, including the provisions of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-2(a)(7).

 

A Compensation Deferral Agreement filed under this paragraph applies to Compensation earned on and after the date the Compensation Deferral Agreement becomes irrevocable, some of which may be required to be pro-rated in accordance with the rules of Code Section 409A.

 

(b)                                 Prior Year Election. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4.2, Participants may defer Compensation by filing a Compensation Deferral Agreement no later than December 31 of the year prior to the year in which the Compensation to be deferred is earned. A Compensation Deferral Agreement described in this paragraph shall become irrevocable with respect to such Compensation as of January 1 of the year in which such Compensation is earned.

 

(c)                                  Performance-Based Compensation. If authorized by the Committee, Participants may file a Compensation Deferral Agreement with respect to Performance-Based Compensation no later than the date that is six months before the end of the performance period, provided that:

 

(i)                                     the Participant performs services continuously from the later of the beginning of the performance period or the date the criteria are established through the date the Compensation Deferral Agreement is submitted; and

 

(ii)                                  the Compensation is not readily ascertainable as of the date the Compensation Deferral Agreement is filed.

 

A Compensation Deferral Agreement becomes irrevocable with respect to Performance-Based Compensation as of the day immediately following the latest

 

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date for filing such election. Any election to defer Performance-Based Compensation that is made in accordance with this paragraph and that becomes payable as a result of the Participant’s death or disability (as defined in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(e)) or upon a Change in Control (as defined in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)) prior to the satisfaction of the performance criteria, will be void.

 

(d)                                 Sales Commissions. Sales commissions (as defined in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-2(a)(12)(i)) are considered to be earned by the Participant in the taxable year of the Participant in which the sale occurs. If authorized by the Committee, Participants may file a Compensation Deferral Agreement containing a Deferral of commissions before the last day of the year preceding the year in which the sales commissions are earned, and becomes irrevocable after that date.

 

(e)                                  Short-Term Deferrals. If authorized by the Committee, Compensation that meets the definition of a “short-term deferral” described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409 A-1(b)(4) may be deferred in accordance with the rules of Article VII, applied as if the date the Substantial Risk of Forfeiture lapses is the date payments were originally scheduled to commence, provided, however, that the provisions of Section 7.3 shall not apply to payments attributable to a Change in Control (as defined in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)).

 

(f)                                   Certain Forfeitable Rights. With respect to a legally binding right to a payment in a subsequent year that is subject to a forfeiture condition requiring the Participant’s continued services for a period of at least 12 months from the date the Participant obtains the legally binding right, if the Deferral of such right is authorized by the Committee an election to defer such Compensation may be made on or before the 30th day after the Participant obtains the legally binding right to the Compensation, provided that the election is made at least 12 months in advance of the earliest date at which the forfeiture condition could lapse. The Compensation Deferral Agreement described in this paragraph becomes irrevocable after such 30th day. If the forfeiture condition applicable to the payment lapses before the end of the required service period as a result of the Participant’s death or disability (as defined in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(i)(4)) or upon a Change in Control (as defined in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)), the Compensation Deferral Agreement will be void unless it would be considered timely under another rule described in this Section.

 

(g)                                  Company Awards. Participating Employers may unilaterally provide for deferrals of Company awards prior to the date of such awards. Deferrals of Company awards (such as sign-on, retention, or severance pay) may be negotiated with a Participant prior to the date the Participant has a legally binding right to such Compensation.

 

(h)                                 “Evergreen” Deferral Elections. The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Compensation Deferral Agreement that such Compensation Deferral Agreement will continue in effect for each subsequent year or performance

 

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period. Such “evergreen” Compensation Deferral Agreements will become effective with respect to an item of Compensation on the date such election becomes irrevocable under this Section 4.2. An evergreen Compensation Deferral Agreement may be terminated or modified prospectively with respect to Compensation for which such election remains revocable under this Section 4.2. A Participant whose Compensation Deferral Agreement is cancelled in accordance with Section 4.6 will be required to file a new Compensation Deferral Agreement under this Article IV in order to recommence Deferrals under the Plan.

 

4.3                               Allocation of Deferrals. A Participant may allocate Deferrals to one or more Specified Date Accounts and/or to the Retirement/Termination Account. The Committee may, in its discretion, establish a minimum deferral period for the establishment of a Specified Date Account (for example, the third Plan Year following the year Compensation is first allocated to such accounts).

 

4.4                               Deductions from Pay. The Committee has the authority to determine the payroll practices under which any component of Compensation subject to a Compensation Deferral Agreement will be deducted from a Participant’s Compensation.

 

4.5                               Vesting. Participant Deferrals shall be 100% vested at all times.

 

4.6                               Cancellation of Deferrals. The Committee may cancel a Participant’s Deferrals: (i) for the balance of the Plan Year in which an Unforeseeable Emergency occurs, (ii) if the Participant receives a hardship distribution under the Employer’s qualified 401(k) plan, through the end of the Plan Year in which the six month anniversary of the hardship distribution falls, and (iii) during periods in which the Participant is unable to perform the duties of his or her position or any substantially similar position due to a mental or physical impairment that can be expected to result in death or last for a continuous period of at least six months, provided cancellation occurs by the later of the end of the taxable year of the Participant or the 15th day of the third month following the date the Participant incurs the disability (as defined in this paragraph).

 

ARTICLE V

Company Contributions

 

5.1                               Discretionary Company Contributions. The Participating Employer may, from time to time in its sole and absolute discretion, credit Company Contributions to any Participant in any amount determined by the Participating Employer. Such contributions will be credited to a Participant’s Retirement/Termination Account.

 

5.2                               Vesting. Company Contributions described in Section 5.1 above, and the Earnings thereon, shall vest in accordance with the vesting schedule(s) established by the Committee at the time that the Company Contribution is made. All Company Contributions shall become 100% vested upon the occurrence of the earliest of: (i) the death of the Participant while actively employed, (ii) the Disability of the Participant, (iii) Retirement of the Participant (as defined by the Committee), or (iv) a Change in Control. The Participating Employer may, at any time, in its sole discretion, increase a

 

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Participant’s vested interest in a Company Contribution. The portion of a Participant’s Accounts that remains unvested upon his or her Separation from Service after the application of the terms of this Section 5.2 shall be forfeited.

 

ARTICLE VI

Benefits

 

6.1                               Benefits, Generally. A Participant shall be entitled to the following benefits under the Plan:

 

(a)                                 Retirement/Termination Benefit. Upon the Participant’s Separation from Service, he or she shall be entitled to a Retirement/Termination Benefit. The Retirement/Termination Benefit shall be equal to the vested portion of the Retirement/Termination Account and the unpaid balances of any Specified Date Accounts. The Retirement/Termination Benefit shall be based on the value of the Account(s) as of the end of the month prior to the payment date or such later date as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine. The payment date for the Retirement/Termination Benefit is the first business day of the month following the month in which Separation from Service occurs, provided, however, that with respect to a Participant who is a Specified Employee as of the date such Participant incurs a Separation from Service, the payment date is the first business day of the seventh month following the month in which such Separation from Service occurs. If the Retirement Benefit is to be paid in the form of installments, any subsequent installment payments to a Specified Employee will be paid on the anniversary of the date the first payment would have been made had the Participant not been classified as a Specified Employee.

 

(b)                                 Specified Date Benefit. If the Participant has established one or more Specified Date Accounts, he or she shall be entitled to a Specified Date Benefit with respect to each such Specified Date Account. The Specified Date Benefit shall be equal to the vested portion of the Specified Date Account, based on the value of that Account as of the end of the month designated by the Participant at the time the Account was established. The payment date for the Specified Date Benefit will be the first business day of the month following the designated month.

 

(c)                                  Death Benefit. In the event of the Participant’s death, his or her designated Beneficiary(ies) shall be entitled to a Death Benefit. The Death Benefit shall be equal to the vested portion of the Retirement/Termination Account and (i) if the Retirement/Termination Account is payable in a lump sum, the unpaid balances of any Specified Date Accounts, or (ii) if the Retirement/Termination Account is payable in installments, the vested portion of any Specified Date Accounts with respect to which payments have not yet commenced. The Death Benefit shall be based on the value of the Accounts as of the end of the month in which death occurred, with payment made in the following month.

 

(d)                                 Unforeseeable Emergency Payments. A Participant who experiences an Unforeseeable Emergency may submit a written request to the Committee to

 

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receive payment of all or any portion of his or her vested Accounts. Whether a Participant or Beneficiary is faced with an Unforeseeable Emergency permitting an emergency payment shall be determined by the Committee based on the relevant facts and circumstances of each case, but, in any case, a distribution on account of Unforeseeable Emergency may not be made to the extent that such emergency is or may be reimbursed through insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of the Participant’s assets, to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not cause severe financial hardship, or by cessation of Deferrals under this Plan. If an emergency payment is approved by the Committee, the amount of the payment shall not exceed the amount reasonably necessary to satisfy the need, taking into account the additional compensation that is available to the Participant as the result of cancellation of deferrals to the Plan, including amounts necessary to pay any taxes or penalties that the Participant reasonably anticipates will result from the payment. The amount of the emergency payment shall be subtracted first from the vested portion of the Participant’s Retirement/Termination Account until depleted and then from the vested Specified Date Accounts, beginning with the Specified Date Account with the latest payment commencement date. Emergency payments shall be paid in a single lump sum within the 90-day period following the date the payment is approved by the Committee.

 

6.2                               Form of Payment.

 

(a)                                 Retirement/Termination Benefit. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, a Participant who is entitled to receive a Retirement/Termination Benefit shall receive payment of such benefit in a single lump sum. The Committee may authorize all Participants or such Participants who meet a Years of Service requirement imposed by the Committee, to make elections regarding the form of payment in which such Participants desire to receive their Retirement/Termination Benefit. In that event, such eligible Participants may elect, on the initial Compensation Deferral Agreement on which allocations are made to the Retirement/Termination Account (or in accordance with “transition relief provided in Notice 2005-1 and subsequent IRS Notices regarding Code Section 409A) or, in the event the Committee authorizes multiple Retirement/Termination Accounts, on the initial Compensation Deferral Agreement which allocates Deferrals (or Company Contributions) to a newly created Retirement/Termination Account, to have such benefit paid in a form-of-payment method authorized by the Committee. Unless otherwise communicated to all Plan Participants, the following alternative forms-of-payment are available for election by the Participant: (i) substantially equal annual installments over a period of two to ten years; (ii) substantially equal quarterly installments over a period of two to five years; or (ii) a lump sum payment of a percentage of the balance in the Retirement/Termination Account, with the balance paid in substantially equal annual installments over a period of two to ten years, as elected by the Participant.

 

(b)                                 Specified Date Benefit. The Specified Date Benefit shall be paid in a single lump sum, unless the Committee authorizes alternate forms-of-payment for Specified

 

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Date Accounts and the Participant elects on the initial Compensation Deferral Agreement on which the account was established to have the Specified Date Account paid in substantially equal annual installments over a period of two to five years, as elected by the Participant.

 

Notwithstanding any election of a form of payment by the Participant, upon a Separation from Service prior to the Specified Date of any Specified Date Account the unpaid balance of such a Specified Date Account shall be paid in a lump sum. Any Specified Date Accounts that are in “pay status” at the time of a Separation from Service shall continue to be paid in accordance with the Specified Date form-of-payment election.

 

(c)                                  Death Benefit. A designated Beneficiary who is entitled to receive a Death Benefit shall receive payment of such benefit in a single lump sum.

 

(d)                                 Change in Control. In the event that a Participant incurs a Separation from Service within 24 months following a Change in Control, such Participant will receive his or her Retirement/Termination Account paid in a single lump sum payment regardless of a form-of-payment election to the contrary.

 

A Participant or Beneficiary receiving installment payments when a Change in Control occurs will receive the remaining account balance in a single lump sum within 90 days following the Change in Control.

 

(e)                                  Small Account Balances. A Participant’s election of an alternate form of payment notwithstanding, the Committee shall pay the value of the Participant’s Accounts upon a Separation from Service in a single lump sum if the balance of such Accounts is not greater than the applicable dollar amount under Code Section 402(g)(1)(B), provided the payment represents the complete liquidation of the Participant’s interest in the Plan.

 

(f)                                   Rules Applicable to Installment Payments. If a Payment Schedule specifies installment payments, payments will be made beginning as of the payment date and shall continue on each anniversary thereof until the number of installment payments specified in the Payment Schedule has been paid. The amount of each installment payment shall be determined by dividing (a) by (b), where (a) equals the Account Balance as of the Valuation Date and (b) equals the remaining number of installment payments.

 

For purposes of Article VII, installment payments will be treated as a single form of payment. If a lump sum equal to less than 100% of the Retirement/Termination Account is paid, the payment commencement date for the installment form of payment will be the first anniversary of the payment of the lump sum.

 

6.3                               Acceleration of or Delay in Payments. The Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, may elect to accelerate the time or form of payment of a benefit owed to the Participant hereunder, provided such acceleration is permitted under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-

 

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3(j)(4). The Committee may also, in its sole and absolute discretion, delay the time for payment of a benefit owed to the Participant hereunder, to the extent permitted under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-2(b)(7). If the Plan receives a domestic relations order (within the meaning of Code Section 414(p)(1)(B)) directing that all or a portion of a Participant’s Accounts be paid to an “alternate payee,” any amounts to be paid to the alternate payee(s) shall be paid in a single lump sum.

 

ARTICLE VII

Modifications to Payment Schedules

 

7.1                               Participant’s Right to Modify. A Participant may modify any or all of the alternative Payment Schedules with respect to an Account, consistent with the permissible Payment Schedules available under the Plan, provided such modification complies with the requirements of this Article VII.

 

7.2                               Time of Election. The date on which a modification election is submitted to the Committee must be at least 12 months prior to the date on which payment is scheduled to commence under the Payment Schedule in effect prior to the modification.

 

7.3                               Date of Payment under Modified Payment Schedule. The date payments are to commence under the modified Payment Schedule must be no earlier than five (5) years after the date payment would have commenced under the Payment Schedule in effect at the time the modification election was submitted. Under no circumstances may a modification election result in an acceleration of payments in violation of Code Section 409 A.

 

7.4                               Effective Date. A modification election submitted in accordance with this Article VII is irrevocable upon receipt by the Committee and becomes effective 12 months after such date.

 

7.5                               Effect on Accounts. An election to modify a Payment Schedule is specific to the Account or payment event to which it applies, and shall not be construed to affect the Payment Schedules of any other Accounts.

 

ARTICLE VIII

Crediting Date and Valuation of Account Balances; Investments

 

8.1          Crediting Date and Valuation. Deferrals shall be credited to appropriate Accounts on the date such Compensation would have been paid to the Participant absent the Deferral. Company Contributions shall be credited to the Retirement/Termination Account at the times determined by the Committee. Valuation of Accounts shall be performed under procedures approved by the Committee.

 

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8.2                               Adjustment for Earnings. Each Account will be adjusted to reflect Earnings on each Business Day. Adjustments shall reflect the net earnings, gains, losses, expenses, appreciation and depreciation associated with an investment option for each portion of the Account allocated to such option (“investment allocation”).

 

8.3                               Investment Options. Investment options will be determined by the Committee. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall be permitted to add or remove investment options from the Plan menu from time to time, provided that any such additions or removals of investment options shall not be effective with respect to any period prior to the effective date of such change.

 

8.4                               Investment Allocations. A Participant’s investment allocation constitutes a deemed, not actual, investment among the investment options comprising the investment menu. At no time shall a Participant have any real or beneficial ownership in any investment option included in the investment menu, nor shall the Participating Employer or any trustee acting on its behalf have any obligation to purchase actual securities as a result of a Participant’s investment allocation. A Participant’s investment allocation shall be used solely for purposes of adjusting the value of a Participant’s Account Balances.

 

A Participant shall specify an investment allocation for each of his or her Accounts in accordance with procedures established by the Committee. Allocation among the investment options must be designated in increments of 1%. The Participant’s investment allocation will become effective on the same Business Day or, in the case of investment allocations received after a time specified by the Committee, the next Business Day.

 

A Participant may change an investment allocation on any Business Day, both with respect to future credits to the Plan and with respect to existing Account Balances, in accordance with procedures adopted by the Committee. Changes shall become effective on the same Business Day or, in the case of investment allocations received after a time specified by the Committee, the next Business Day, and shall be applied prospectively.

 

8.5                               Unallocated Deferrals and Accounts. If the Participant fails to make an investment allocation with respect to an Account, such Account shall be invested in an investment option, the primary objective of which is the preservation of capital, as determined by the Committee.

 

ARTICLE IX

Administration

 

9.1                               Plan Administration. This Plan shall be administered by the Committee which shall have discretionary authority to make, amend, interpret and enforce all appropriate rules and regulations for the administration of this Plan and to utilize its discretion to decide or resolve any and all questions, including but not limited to eligibility for benefits and interpretations of this Plan and its terms, as may arise in connection with the Plan. Claims for benefits shall be filed with the Committee and resolved in accordance with the claims procedures in Article XII.

 

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9.2                               Withholding. The Participating Employer shall have the right to withhold from any payment due under the Plan (or with respect to any amounts credited to the Plan) any taxes required by law to be withheld in respect of such payment (or credit). Withholdings with respect to amounts credited to the Plan shall be deducted from Compensation that has not been deferred to the Plan.

 

9.3                               Indemnification. The Participating Employers shall indemnify and hold harmless each employee, officer or director to whom are delegated duties, responsibilities, and authority under the Plan or otherwise with respect to administration of the Plan, including, without limitation, the Committee, against all claims, liabilities, fines and penalties, and all expenses reasonably incurred by or imposed upon him or her or it (including but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees) which arise as a result of his or her or its actions or failure to act in connection with the operation and administration of the Plan to the extent lawfully allowable and to the extent that such claim, liability, fine, penalty, or expense is not paid for by liability insurance purchased or paid for by the Participating Employer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participating Employer shall not indemnify any person if his or her or its actions or failure to act are due to gross negligence or willful misconduct or for any such amount incurred through any settlement or compromise of any action unless the Participating Employer consents in writing to such settlement or compromise.

 

9.4                               Delegation of Authority. In the administration of this Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, employ agents and delegate to them such administrative duties as it sees fit, and may from time to time consult with legal counsel who shall be legal counsel to the Company.

 

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

 

ARTICLE X

Amendment and Termination

 

10.1                        Amendment and Termination. The Company may at any time and from time to time amend the Plan or may terminate the Plan as provided in this Article X. Each Participating Employer may also terminate its participation in the Plan.

 

10.2                        Amendments. The Company, by action taken by its Board of Directors, may amend the Plan at any time and for any reason, provided that any such amendment shall not reduce the vested Account Balances of any Participant accrued as of the date of any such amendment or restatement (as if the Participant had incurred a voluntary Separation from Service on such date) or reduce any rights of a Participant under the Plan or other Plan features with respect to Deferrals made prior to the date of any such amendment or restatement without the consent of the Participant. The Board of Directors of the

 

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Company may delegate to the Committee the authority to amend the Plan without the consent of the Board of Directors.

 

10.3                        Termination. The Company, by action taken by its Board of Directors, may terminate the Plan and pay Participants and Beneficiaries their Account Balances in a single lump sum at any time, to the extent and in accordance with Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix). If a Participating Employer terminates its participation in the Plan, the benefits of affected Employees shall be paid at the time provided in Article VI.

 

10.4                        Accounts Taxable Under Code Section 409A. The Plan is intended to constitute a plan of deferred compensation that meets the requirements for deferral of income taxation under Code Section 409A. The Committee, pursuant to its authority to interpret the Plan, may sever from the Plan or any Compensation Deferral Agreement any provision or exercise of a right that otherwise would result in a violation of Code Section 409A.

 

ARTICLE XI

Informal Funding

 

11.1                       General Assets. Obligations established under the terms of the Plan may be satisfied from the general funds of the Participating Employers, or a trust described in this Article XI. No Participant, spouse or Beneficiary shall have any right, title or interest whatever in assets of the Participating Employers. Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship, between the Participating Employers and any Employee, spouse, or Beneficiary. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments hereunder, such rights are no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Participating Employer.

 

11.2                        Rabbi Trust. A Participating Employer may, in its sole discretion, establish a grantor trust, commonly known as a rabbi trust, as a vehicle for accumulating assets to pay benefits under the Plan. Payments under the Plan may be paid from the general assets of the Participating Employer or from the assets of any such rabbi trust. Payment from any such source shall reduce the obligation owed to the Participant or Beneficiary under the Plan.

 

ARTICLE XII

Claims

 

12.1                        Filing a Claim. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to the Plan shall be filed in writing with the Committee which shall make all determinations concerning such claim. Any claim filed with the Committee and any decision by the Committee denying such claim shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the Participant or Beneficiary filing the claim (the “Claimant”).

 

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(a)                                 In General. Notice of a denial of benefits will be provided within 90 days of the Committee’s receipt of the Claimant’s claim for benefits. If the Committee determines that it needs additional time to review the claim, the Committee will provide the Claimant with a notice of the extension before the end of the initial 90-day period. The extension will not be more than 90 days from the end of the initial 90-day period and the notice of extension will explain the special circumstances that require the extension and the date by which the Committee expects to make a decision.

 

(b)                                 Contents of Notice. If a claim for benefits is completely or partially denied, notice of such denial shall be in writing and shall set forth the reasons for denial in plain language. The notice shall: (i) cite the pertinent provisions of the Plan document, and (ii) explain, where appropriate, how the Claimant can perfect the claim, including a description of any additional material or information necessary to complete the claim and why such material or information is necessary. The claim denial also shall include an explanation of the claims review procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures, including a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse decision on review.

 

12.2                        Appeal of Denied Claims. A Claimant whose claim has been completely or partially denied shall be entitled to appeal the claim denial by filing a written appeal with a committee designated to hear such appeals (the “Appeals Committee”). A Claimant who timely requests a review of the denied claim (or his or her authorized representative) may review, upon request and free of charge, copies of all documents, records and other information relevant to the denial and may submit written comments, documents, records and other information relevant to the claim to the Appeals Committee. All written comments, documents, records, and other information shall be considered “relevant” if the information: (i) was relied upon in making a benefits determination, (ii) was submitted, considered or generated in the course of making a benefits decision regardless of whether it was relied upon to make the decision, or (iii) demonstrates compliance with administrative processes and safeguards established for making benefit decisions. The Appeals Committee may, in its sole discretion and if it deems appropriate or necessary, decide to hold a hearing with respect to the claim appeal.

 

(a)                                 In General. Appeal of a denied benefits claim must be filed in writing with the Appeals Committee no later than 60 days after receipt of the written notification of such claim denial. The Appeals Committee shall make its decision regarding the merits of the denied claim within 60 days following receipt of the appeal (or within 120 days after such receipt, in a case where there are special circumstances requiring extension of time for reviewing the appealed claim). If an extension of time for reviewing the appeal is required because of special circumstances, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the Claimant prior to the commencement of the extension. The notice will indicate the special circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Appeals Committee expects to render the determination on review. The review will take into account comments, documents, records and other information submitted by

 

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the Claimant relating to the claim without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

 

(b)                                 Contents of Notice. If a benefits claim is completely or partially denied on review, notice of such denial shall be in writing and shall set forth the reasons for denial in plain language.

 

The decision on review shall set forth: (i) the specific reason or reasons for the denial, (ii) specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial is based, (iii) a statement that the Claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to and copies of all documents, records, or other information relevant (as defined above) to the Claimant’s claim, and (iv) a statement describing any voluntary appeal procedures offered by the Plan and a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring an action under Section 502(a) of ERISA.

 

12.4                        Legal Action. A Claimant may not bring any legal action, including commencement of any arbitration, relating to a claim for benefits under the Plan unless and until the Claimant has followed the claims procedures under the Plan and exhausted his or her administrative remedies under such claims procedures. Any such legal action must be commenced within one year of a final determination hereunder with respect to such claim.

 

12.5                        Discretion of Appeals Committee. All interpretations, determinations and decisions of the Appeals Committee with respect to any claim shall be made in its sole discretion, and shall be final and conclusive.

 

ARTICLE XIII

General Provisions

 

13.1                        Assignment. No interest of any Participant, spouse or Beneficiary under this Plan and no benefit payable hereunder shall be assigned as security for a loan, and any such purported assignment shall be null, void and of no effect, nor shall any such interest or any such benefit be subject in any manner, either voluntarily or involuntarily, to anticipation, sale, transfer, assignment or encumbrance by or through any Participant, spouse or Beneficiary. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, however, the Committee has the discretion to make payments to an alternate payee in accordance with the terms of a domestic relations order (as defined in Code Section 414(p)(1)(B)).

 

The Company may assign any or all of its liabilities under this Plan in connection with any restructuring, recapitalization, sale of assets or other similar transactions affecting a Participating Employer without the consent of the Participant.

 

13.2                        No Legal or Equitable Rights or Interest. No Participant or other person shall have any legal or equitable rights or interest in this Plan that are not expressly granted in this Plan. Participation in this Plan does not give any person any right to be retained in the service

 

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of the Participating Employer. The right and power of a Participating Employer to dismiss or discharge an Employee is expressly reserved. The Participating Employers make no representations or warranties as to the tax consequences to a Participant or a Participant’s beneficiaries resulting from a deferral of income pursuant to the Plan.

 

13.3                        No Employment Contract. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to constitute a contract of employment between an Employee and a Participating Employer.

 

13.4                        Notice. Any notice or filing required or permitted to be delivered to the Committee under this Plan shall be delivered in writing, in person, or through such electronic means as is established by the Committee. 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 on the receipt for registration or certification. Written transmission shall be sent by certified mail to:

 

TEXAS ROADHOUSE MANAGEMENT CORP.

ATTN: BENEFITS

6040 DUTCHMANS LANE, SUITE 200

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY 40205

 

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

 

13.5                        Headings. The headings of Sections are included solely for convenience of reference, and if there is any conflict between such headings and the text of this Plan, the text shall control.

 

13.6                        Invalid or Unenforceable Provisions. If any provision of this Plan shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions hereof and the Committee may elect in its sole discretion to construe such invalid or unenforceable provisions in a manner that conforms to applicable law or as if such provisions, to the extent invalid or unenforceable, had not been included.

 

13.7                        Lost Participants or Beneficiaries. Any Participant or Beneficiary who is entitled to a benefit from the Plan has the duty to keep the Committee advised of his or her current mailing address. If benefit payments are returned to the Plan or are not presented for payment after a reasonable amount of time, the Committee shall presume that the payee is missing. The Committee, after making such efforts as in its discretion it deems reasonable and appropriate to locate the payee, shall stop payment on any uncashed checks and may discontinue making future payments until contact with the payee is restored.

 

13.8                        Facility of Payment to a Minor. If a distribution is to be made to a minor, or to a person who is otherwise incompetent, then the Committee may, in its discretion, make such distribution: (i) to the legal guardian, or if none, to a parent of a minor payee with whom the payee maintains his or her residence, or (ii) to the conservator or committee or, if none, to the person having custody of an incompetent payee. Any such distribution shall

 

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fully discharge the Committee, the Company, and the Plan from further liability on account thereof.

 

13.9                        Governing Law. To the extent not preempted by ERISA, the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky shall govern the construction and administration of the Plan.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned executed this Plan as of the 7 day of January, 2010, to be effective as of the Effective Date.

 

 

	
Texas Roadhouse Management Corp.
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
By:
    	
/s/ W. Kent Taylor
    	
 (Print Name)
    
	
Its:
    	
Chairman 
    	
  (Title)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
/s/ W. Kent Taylor
    	
  (Signature)
    

 

22Exhibit 10.27 Custodian Agreement

Exhibit 10.27
FORM OF
CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT
FOR WHITETAIL ROCK SLAB FUNDS
This Agreement, effective [DATE] (the “Effective Date”), made by and among Whitetail Rock SLAB Fund [ROMAN NUMERAL], LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company (the “Fund”), Whitetail Rock Fund Management, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company, in its capacity as manager of the Fund (the “Manager”) and Union Bank and Trust Company, Lincoln, Nebraska (the “Custodian”), a duly organized state bank with principal offices in Lincoln, Nebraska.
RECITALS
A.    The Manager desires to appoint Custodian as custodian of the Fund’s securities and cash, and Custodian is willing to act in such capacity upon the terms and conditions herein set forth; and 
B.    Custodian in its capacity as custodian hereunder will also collect and apply the interest on said securities in the manner and to the extent herein set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and of the mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows: 
Section 1.    The terms as defined in this Section wherever used in this Agreement, or in any amendment or supplement hereto, shall have the meanings herein specified unless the context otherwise requires.  

Custodian shall mean Union Bank and Trust Company, in its capacity as custodian under this Agreement.  
Fund shall mean Whitetail Rock SLAB Fund [ROMAN NUMERAL], LLC.  
Members shall mean the Members of the Fund as set forth in the books and records of the Fund.  
Oral Instruction shall mean an authorization, instruction or approval transmitted to the Custodian in person or by electronic mail, telex, telephone, telegram, telecopy or other mechanical or documentary means lacking signatures, by the person or persons authorized by the Manager to give oral instructions on behalf of the Fund.  
Securities shall mean bonds, debentures, notes, stocks, evidences of indebtedness, and other securities and investments from time to time owned by the Fund and held within the United States.  
Units shall mean the membership interests of the Fund, whether or not such Units shall be evidenced by certificates.  
Written Instructions shall mean an authorization, instruction, certification or approval in form acceptable to the Custodian, signed by one or more individuals authorized to sign Written Instructions by the Manager on behalf of the Fund.  

Section 2.    The Fund shall from time to time file with the Custodian a certified copy of each resolution or authorization of the Manager authorizing execution of Written Instructions and specifying the number of signatories required, together with certified signatures of authorized signatories.  

The Fund shall, from time to time, file with the Custodian a certified copy of each resolution or authorization of the Manager authorizing the transmission of Oral Instructions and specifying the person or persons authorized to give Oral Instructions in accordance with this Agreement.  Upon transmitting any Oral Instruction, the Fund shall promptly forward to the Custodian a Written Instruction confirming the authorization, instruction or approval transmitted by such Oral Instruction.  
Each resolution filed with the Custodian in accordance with the terms hereof shall be considered in full force and effect and the Custodian shall be fully protected in acting in reliance thereon until such time as it receives written notice to the contrary.  
Section 3.    The Manager, on behalf of the Fund, hereby appoints the Custodian as custodian of the Securities of the Fund and cash from time to time on deposit hereunder, to be held by the Custodian and applied as provided in this Agreement.  The Custodian hereby accepts such appointment subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter provided.  Such Securities and cash shall be and remain the sole property of the Fund.  Funds held by the Custodian may be deposited in a general checking account or any other account into which the Custodian may periodically sweep cash balances.  The Securities of the Fund shall be held by the Custodian or a recognized securities depository and shall, unless payable to bearer, be registered in the name of the Custodian or in the name of its nominee or in the name of a recognized securities depository.  Securities, excepting bearer securities, delivered from time to time to the Custodian upon purchase or otherwise shall in all cases be in due form for transfer or already registered as above provided.  

The Custodian is further specifically authorized to enter into a sub-custodian agreement with Fifth Third Bank for the holding of the Fund’s securities, provided that the Custodian shall be subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement. 
Section 4.    The Fund will deposit with the Custodian the Securities owned by the Fund at the time this Agreement becomes effective.  Thereafter the Fund will cause to be deposited with the Custodian additional Securities as the same are purchased or otherwise acquired from time to time.  The Fund will make a deposit of cash to be held and applied by the Custodian hereunder.   Thereafter the Fund will cause to be deposited with the Custodian hereunder (i) the net proceeds of Securities sold from time to time and (ii) the net proceeds from the sale of Units, if any. 

Section 5.    The Custodian will collect from time to time the interest on the Securities held by it hereunder and will deposit the same in the Fund’s account.  In the event that any interest payments are received by the Fund, the Fund will endorse to the Custodian, or cause to be endorsed, interest checks and will issue appropriate orders to the issuers of the Securities to pay interest to the Custodian.  Subject to proper reserves, the Custodian will disburse the money from time to time on deposit in the account to or upon the order of the Fund as it may from time to time direct in accordance with this Agreement.  

Section 6.    The Custodian is hereby authorized and directed to disburse cash from time to time as follows: 

(a)to pay amounts due to the Manager or other Members of the Fund upon receipt of Written or Oral Instructions; 

(b)to pay, or provide the Fund with money to pay taxes upon receipt of appropriate Written or Oral Instructions; 

(c)for the purpose of completing the purchase of Securities purchased by the Fund, upon receipt of (i) Written or Oral Instructions specifying the Securities and stating the purchase price, and the name of the broker, investment banker or other party to or upon whose order the purchase price is to be paid; and (ii) upon receipt of such Securities by the Custodian; 

(d)for the purpose of transferring to the Fund money to redeem Units, upon receipt of Written or Oral Instructions; 

(e)to pay interest, management or supervisory fees, administration fees and costs, compensation of personnel, or operating expenses (including, without limitation thereto, fees for legal, accounting and auditing services) as permitted by the Fund’s Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of [DATE], and to disburse cash for other proper purposes.  Before making any such payment or disbursement, however, the Custodian shall receive (and may conclusively rely upon) Written or Oral Instructions requesting such payment or disbursement and stating that it is for one or more of the purposes hereinabove enumerated, provided that if the disbursement is for other proper purposes, the Written or Oral Instructions shall state that the disbursement was authorized by the Manager and is for a proper purpose.  

Section 7.    The Custodian is hereby authorized and directed to deliver Securities from time to time as follows: 

(a)for the purpose of completing sales of Securities sold by the Fund, upon receipt of (i) the net proceeds of sale and (ii) Written or Oral Instructions specifying the Securities sold and stating the amount to be received and the broker, investment banker or other party to or upon whose order the Securities are to be delivered; 

(b)for the purpose of exchanging Securities for other Securities and/or cash upon timely receipt of (i) Written or Oral Instructions stating the Securities to be delivered and the Securities and/or cash to be received in exchange and the manner in which the exchange is to be made, and (ii) against receipt of the other Securities and/or cash as specified in the Written or Oral Instructions; 

(c)for the purpose of exchanging or converting Securities pursuant to their terms or pursuant to any plan of conversion, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization, readjustment or otherwise, upon timely receipt of (i) Written or Oral Instructions authorizing such exchange or conversion and stating the manner in which such exchange or conversion is to be made, and (ii) against receipt of the Securities, certificates of deposit, interim receipts, and/or cash to be received as specified in the Written or Oral Instructions; 

(d)for the purpose of presenting Securities for payment which have matured or have been called for redemption upon receipt of appropriate Written or Oral Instructions.  

Section 8.    The Custodian assumes no duty, obligation or responsibility whatsoever to exercise any voting or consent powers with respect to the Securities held by it from time to time hereunder, it being understood that the Fund, or the Manager on behalf of the Fund shall have the right to vote, or consent or otherwise act with respect to such Securities.  The Custodian will, but only upon timely receipt of Written 

Instructions, furnish to the Fund proxies or other appropriate authorizations with respect to Securities registered in the name of the Custodian or its nominee so that such voting powers, or powers to consent or otherwise act may be exercised by the Fund or pursuant to its direction.  

Section 9.    The Manager will pay to the Custodian, on behalf of the Fund, compensation for the Securities provided hereunder in an amount as set forth in Schedule A hereto attached, or as shall be set forth in amendments to such schedule approved by the Manager and the Custodian. 

Section 10.    Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the Custodian assumes no duty, obligation or responsibility whatsoever to handle, forward, or process in any way notices of stockholder meetings, proxy statements, annual reports, conversion notices, call notices, or other notices or written materials of any kind sent to the registered owners of securities (hereafter referred to as “notices and materials”), excluding only stock certificates and dividend and interest payments, it being understood that responsibility for obtaining such notices and materials, and for taking action thereon, is the sole responsibility of the Fund and its investment advisers, and not the responsibility of the Custodian.  As an accommodation only, the Custodian will make reasonable efforts to forward such notices and written materials as it receives to the Fund, but makes no warranty or representation that all notices and materials will be forwarded, and the Fund hereby agrees that it shall make no claim whatsoever against the Custodian for any expense, damage, or loss of any kind arising out of or in connection with any act or omission of the Custodian, including any intentional or negligent act or omission of the Custodian, in connection with such notices and materials.  Upon receipt by the Custodian of warrants or rights issued in connection with the assets of the Fund, the Custodian shall enter on its ledgers appropriate notations indicating such receipt, but shall have no further obligation whatsoever to notify the Fund or any other person of such receipt, or to take any action of any kind with respect to such warrants or rights except upon receipt of Written Instructions authorizing the exercise or sale of such warrants or rights.  

Section 11.    The Custodian assumes only the usual duties or obligations normally performed by custodians of Securities of similar investments funds.  It specifically assumes no responsibility for the management, investment or reinvestment of the Securities from time to time owned by the Fund whether or not on deposit hereunder, it being understood that the responsibility for the proper and timely management, investment and reinvestment of said Securities shall be that of the Fund and its investment advisers.

The Custodian shall not be liable for any taxes, assessments or governmental charges which may be levied or assessed upon the Securities held by it hereunder, or upon the income therefrom or otherwise whatsoever.  The Custodian may pay any such tax, assessment or charge and reimburse itself out of the monies of the Fund or out of the Securities held hereunder.  
Section 12.    No liability of any kind shall be attached to or incurred by the Custodian by reason of its custody of the funds, assets, or Securities held by it, from time to time, under this Agreement, or otherwise by reason of its position as custodian hereunder, except only for its own gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties as specifically set forth in this Agreement.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the Custodian: 

(a)May rely upon the advice of counsel, who may be counsel for the Fund, the Manager or for the Custodian, and upon statements of accountants, brokers and other persons believed by it, in good faith, to be expert in the matters upon which they are consulted; and for any action taken or suffered in good faith based upon such advice or statements the Custodian shall not be liable to anyone; 

(b)Shall not be liable for anything done or suffered to be done, in good faith, in accordance with any request or advice of, or based upon information furnished by, the Fund, the Manager or its officers or agents; 

(c)Where authorized in this Agreement to act upon an Oral Instruction, may act upon any Oral Instruction which it receives and which it believes in good faith was transmitted by the person or persons authorized by the Manager of the Fund to give such Oral Instructions.  The Custodian shall have no duty or obligation to request or require a confirmatory Written Instruction or to make any inquiry or effort of certification of such Oral Instruction; 

(d)Is authorized to accept a certificate of the Manager to the effect that a resolution in the form submitted has been duly adopted by the Manager, as conclusive evidence that such resolution has been duly adopted and is in full force and effect; 

(e)May rely and shall be protected in acting upon any signature, Written or Oral (including telephone, telegraph or mechanical) Instruction, request, letter of transmittal, certificate, opinion of counsel, statement, instrument, report, notice, consent, order, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, forwarded or presented by the purchaser, Fund or other proper party or parties.  

Section 13.    The Fund (including its successors and assigns) hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Custodian and its successors and assigns of and from any and all liability whatsoever arising out of or in connection with the Custodian’s status, acts, or omissions under this Agreement, except only for liability arising out of the Custodian’s own gross negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct in the performance of its duties specifically set forth in this Agreement.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Fund (including its successors and assigns) does hereby agree to fully indemnify and hold harmless the Custodian, its successors and assigns, from any and all loss, liability, claims, demands, actions, suits and expenses of any nature as the same may arise from the failure of the Fund to comply with any law, rule, regulation or order of the United States, any State or any other jurisdiction, governmental authority, body or board relating to the sale, registration, or qualification of the Securities, or from the failure of the Fund to perform any duty or obligation under this Agreement.  

Upon Written request of the Custodian, the Fund shall assume the entire defense of any claim subject to the foregoing indemnity, or the joint defense with the Custodian of such claim, as the Custodian shall request.  The indemnities and defense provisions of this Section 13 shall indefinitely survive termination of this Agreement.  
Section 14.    This Agreement may be amended from time to time by a supplemental agreement, in form approved by counsel, executed by the Fund and the Custodian and amending and supplementing this Agreement in the manner mutually agreed.  

Section 15.    Either the Fund or the Custodian may give sixty (60) days’ written notice to the other of the termination of this Agreement, such termination to take effect at the time specified in the notice.  In case such notice of termination is given either by the Fund or by the Custodian, the Manager shall promptly appoint a Successor Custodian to serve upon the terms set forth in this Agreement as then amended and supplemented.  Upon receipt of written notice from the Fund of the appointment of such successor and upon receipt of Written Instructions, the Custodian shall deliver such Securities and cash as it may then be holding hereunder directly to and only to the Successor Custodian.  Unless or until a Successor Custodian has been appointed as above provided, the Custodian then acting shall continue to 

act as Custodian under this Agreement.  Every Successor Custodian appointed hereunder shall execute and deliver an appropriate written acceptance of its appointment and shall thereupon become vested with the rights, powers, obligations and custody of its predecessor Custodian.  The Custodian ceasing to act shall nevertheless, upon request of the Fund and the Successor Custodian and upon payment of its charges and disbursements, execute an instrument in form approved by its counsel transferring to the Successor Custodian all the predecessor Custodian’s rights, duties, obligations and custody.  

In case the Custodian shall consolidate with or merge into any other corporation, the corporation remaining after or resulting from such consolidation or merger shall ipso facto, without the execution or filing of any papers or other documents, succeed to and be substituted for the Custodian with like effect as though originally named as such.  
Section 16.    This Agreement shall take effect on the Effective Date.  

Section 17.    This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.  

Section 18.    Nothing contained in this Agreement is intended to or shall require the Custodian, in any capacity hereunder to perform any functions or duties on any holiday or other date of special observance on which the Custodian is closed.  Functions or duties normally scheduled to be performed on such days shall be performed on, and as of, the next business day on which both the New York Stock Exchange and the Custodian are open.  

Section 19.    This Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by the Fund without the written consent of the Custodian, or by the Custodian without the written consent of the Fund, authorized or approved by the Manager.  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Fund, the Manager and Custodian have caused this Agreement to be signed as of the day and year first above written.  
WHITETAIL ROCK SLAB FUND [ROMAN NUMERAL], LLC, 
a Nebraska limited liability company

By:    Whitetail Rock Fund Management, LLC,     
Manager

By:        
Name:        
Title:        

WHITETAIL ROCK FUND MANAGEMENT, LLC, a Nebraska limited liability company
By:        
Name:        
Title:        

UNION BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By:        
Name:        
Title:        

SCHEDULE A
WHITETAIL ROCK SLAB FUND [ROMAN NUMERAL], LLC
CUSTODIAL FEE AGREEMENT
The Manager will pay to the Custodian an annual fee of 0.25% of the daily average value of the sum of the price originally paid for the Fund’s Student Loan ABS and the Accreted Value of such Student Loan ABS as ascertained each business day and paid monthly.  Capitalized terms used in this Schedule A and not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Fund’s Limited Liability Company Agreement, as such agreement may be amended from time to time.

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