Document:

q3dex10zz.htm

 

	
  

	
Exhibit 10-zz

	
  

	
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION

	
  

	
SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

	
  

	
Amended and Restated effective as of December 31, 2011

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BELLSOUTH CORPORATION

	
  

	
SUPPLEMENTAL EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN

	
ARTICLE I.     STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The purpose of the BellSouth Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan is to provide supplemental pension benefits to Executives and certain other employees of BellSouth Corporation and certain subsidiaries of BellSouth Corporation, hereinafter referred to as Participants, who retire or terminate from service.  The Plan was originally effective as of January 1, 1984 and was subsequently amended from time to time.  The Plan was amended and restated, effective as of January 1, 2005, and as so amended and restated is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), with respect to all benefits accrued and vested on or after January 1, 2005.  Further, with respect to all benefits of Participants employed on or after January 1, 2007, the Plan is intended to fully comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A.  During the period from January 1, 2005, to the date of the adoption of this restated Plan document, the Plan has been operated in good faith compliance with the provisions of Code Section 409A, Internal Revenue Service Notice 2005-1, the proposed Treasury Regulations for Code Section 409A, the Final Treasury Regulations for Code Section 409A, applicable Internal Revenue Services Notices and Announcements and any other generally applicable guidance published in the Internal Revenue Service Bulletin.

Following the merger of AT&T Inc. and BellSouth Corporation, the Plan was amended and restated, effective January 1, 2008, to reflect the transition of certain participants to other AT&T retirement plans and/or other AT&T companies.  The Plan was further amended and restated effective January 1, 2010.  In order for a Participant to accrue benefits on or after January 1, 2010, the provisions of Article VIII shall apply.  The Plan is now hereby amended and restated effective December 31, 2011 in order to freeze benefit accruals for active participants, as specifically set forth herein.  This amendment and restatement shall supersede in all respects the amendment and restatement previously effective January 1, 2010.

	
ARTICLE II.     DEFINITIONS

	
 1.

	
The term “ADEA” shall mean the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended from time to time.

	
 2.

	
The term "Affiliate" shall mean any corporation, other than BellSouth Corporation (or a Participating Company), which is a member of the same controlled group of corporations (within the meaning of Code Section 414(b)) as BellSouth Corporation and any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is under common control with BellSouth Corporation within the meaning of Code Section 414(c).

	
 3.

	
The term "Annual Bonus Award" shall mean the bonus amount paid annually to a Participant that is included in the calculation of pension benefits under the Pension Plan.

	
 4.

	
The term “AT&T SERP Participant” shall mean an officer who is designated as a participant in the AT&T, Inc. 2005 Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan (the “A&T SERP”).  The initial day of participation in such plan is the named officer’s “SERP Effective Date” as defined in the AT&T SERP.

	
  

	 

	
5.  

	
The term “AT&T SERP Vesting Date” shall mean the date that an AT&T SERP Participant becomes 100% vested in the AT&T SERP.

	
 6.

	
The terms "BellSouth Corporation" and "Company" shall mean BellSouth Corporation, a Georgia corporation, or its successors.

	
 7.

	
The terms "Chairman of the Board", "President" and "Board of Directors" or "Board" shall mean the Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Board of Directors, respectively, of the Company.

	
 8.

	
The term “Claim Review Committee” shall mean the BellSouth Corporation Employees’ Benefit Claim Review Committee appointed by the Committee to be the claims fiduciary for any claims brought under the Pension Plan.

	
 9.

	
The term "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

	
10.

	
The term "Committee" shall mean the Employee Benefit Committee of BellSouth Corporation appointed by the Company to administer the Pension Plan.

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11.

	
The term “Disabled” or “Disability” means the following:

	
  

	
(a)

	
the inability of the Participant to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; OR

	
  

	
(b)

	
the Participant is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under a short-term disability plan covering employees of a Participating Company.

	
12.

	
The term "Executive" shall mean an employee on the active payroll of any Participating Company who holds a position that the Board of Directors has designated to be within the Company’s executive compensation group.

	
13.

	
The term “Executive Severance Agreement” means a BellSouth executive change in control agreement entered into by and between an executive who is a Participant in this Plan and BellSouth, as amended and/or superseded from time to time, providing certain benefits in the event of a change in corporate control of BellSouth Corporation.

	
14.

	
The term "Former Affiliate" shall have the same meaning as “Interchange Company”.

	
15.

	
The term "Included Earnings" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(a)(ii) of Article IV of this Plan.

	
16.

	
The term "Interchange Company" shall have the same meaning as is attributed to such term under the Pension Plan.

	
17.

	
The term "Mandatory Retirement Age" shall have the same meaning as is attributed to such term under the Pension Plan.

	
18.

	
The term “Merger” shall mean the merger, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 4, 2006 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among BellSouth, AT&T Inc. (“AT&T”), and ABC Consolidation Corp., a Georgia corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of AT&T (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to which, at the “Effective Time” (as defined in the Merger Agreement), BellSouth was  merged with and into the Merger Sub.

	
19.

	
The term “Merger Severance Plan” means a severance plan (or plans) adopted under the terms of the Company Disclosure Letter to the Merger Agreement (as defined in Section 16 of this Article II).

	
20.

	
The term “Officer” shall mean any Participant who is an “officer” for compensation purposes as shown on the records of AT&T.

	
21.

	
The term "Net Credited Service", except as expressly limited or otherwise provided in this Plan or under an individual Participant’s employment-related agreement with the Company, shall have the same meaning as is attributed to such term under the Pension Plan and shall be interpreted in the same manner as that term is interpreted for purposes of the Pension Plan.

	
22.  

	
The term "Participants" shall mean all Executives as defined herein, as well as all other management employees (i.e., non-collectively bargained employees) at pay grade E01 (or equivalent) and above and any other employees designated by the Chief Executive Officer of BellSouth Corporation or his or her delegated representative.

No employee shall commence or re-commence participation in the Plan on and after February 8, 2007.

	
23.  

	
The term "Participating Company" shall mean BellSouth Corporation, and each subsidiary of BellSouth Corporation which shall have determined, with the concurrence of the senior human resources officer of BellSouth Corporation, to participate in the Plan.  Each Participating Company participating in the Plan as of the adoption of this amendment and restatement shall be a Participating Company in the Plan.

In addition, any Participant who transfers employment on or after December 29, 2006 from a Participating Company to an Affiliate shall remain an eligible Participant in this Plan, and the employing Affiliate shall be considered a Participating Company for purposes of that Participant’s service and earnings hereunder.

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24.

	
The term "Pension Act" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) as it may be amended from time to time.

	
25.

	
The term "Pension Commencement Date" shall have the same meaning as is attributed to such term under the Pension Plan.

	
26.

	
The term "Pension Plan" shall mean the BellSouth Personal Retirement Account Pension Plan as in effect on the date of the Merger.

	
27.

	
The term "Plan" shall mean this BellSouth Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan.

	
28.

	
The term "Post-04 Benefit” shall mean the Participant’s Plan benefit accrued on or after January 1, 2005 determined in accordance with the provisions of Code Section 409A.

	
29.

	
The term "Pre-05 Benefit” shall mean the Participant’s Plan benefit accrued and vested as of December 31, 2004 determined in accordance with the provisions of Code Section 409A.

	
30.

	
The term “Rabbi Trust Agreement” shall mean each and all of the following: (i) BellSouth Corporation Trust Under Executive Benefit Plan(s); (ii) BellSouth Telecommunications, Inc. Trust Under Executive Benefit Plan(s); (iii) BellSouth Enterprises, Inc. Trust Under Executive Benefit Plan(s); (iv) BellSouth Corporation Trust Under Executive Benefit Plan(s) for Mobile Systems Executives; (v) BellSouth Corporation Trust Under Executive Benefit Plan(s) for Advertising and Publishing Executives; (vi) Trust Under Executive Benefit Plan(s) for Certain BellSouth Companies; in each case, as amended from time to time.

	
31.

	
The term “Senior Manager” shall mean any Participant who is a “senior manager” for compensation purposes as shown on the records of AT&T.

	
32.

	
The term “Specified Employee” shall mean, for periods on or after December 29, 2006, any Participant who is a “Key Employee” (as defined in Code Section 416(i) without regard to paragraph (5) thereof), as determined by AT&T in accordance with its uniform policy with respect to all arrangements subject to Code Section 409A, based upon the 12-month period ending on each December 31st (such 12-month period is referred to below as the “identification period”).  All Participants who are determined to be Key Employees under Code Section 416(i) (without regard to paragraph (5) thereof) during the identification period shall be treated as Key Employees for purposes of the Plan during the 12-month period that begins on the first day of the 4th month following the close of such identification period.  For periods prior to December 29, 2006, the term Specified Employee shall mean a specified employee under Code Section 409A.

	
33.

	
The term "Standard Annual Bonus" shall mean an amount determined by (1) a stated dollar amount, or (2) applying a target percentage of a Participant’s base pay rate, as determined by the annual compensation plan and the Participant’s current job or pay grade.

	
34.

	
The term "Vesting Service Credit", except as expressly limited or otherwise provided in this Plan or under an individual Participant’s employment-related agreement with the Company, shall have the same meaning as is attributed to such term under the Pension Plan and shall be interpreted in the same manner as that term is interpreted for purposes of the Pension Plan.

	
  

	
An AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is prior to January 1, 2009 shall have his Vesting Service Credit (“VSC”) determined in the same manner that is determined in the Pension Plan; provided however, his VSC shall not increase after his AT&T SERP Vesting Date (i.e., years of VSC earned after that date will not be included for purposes of calculating this Plan’s benefit).

	
  

	
In addition, any AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is on or after January 1, 2009 shall have his VSC determined in the same manner that is determined in the Pension Plan; provided however, his VSC shall not increase after his SERP Effective Date.

Lastly, Vesting Service Credit for all Participants shall be frozen and shall not increase after December 31, 2011.  For Participants who are otherwise accruing benefits under the Plan as of December 31, 2011, their Vesting Service Credit shall be frozen to the period of service as would have been recognized if such Participant had terminated employment on that date.

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35.

	
The use in this Plan of personal pronouns of the masculine gender is intended to include both the masculine and feminine genders.

	
ARTICLE III.     ADMINISTRATION

	
1.

	
The Company shall be the Plan Administrator and the Plan Sponsor of the Plan as those terms are defined in the Pension Act.  The Company may allocate all or any part of its responsibilities for the operation and administration of the Plan, except to the extent expressly prohibited by the Plan's terms. The Company may designate in writing other persons to carry out its responsibilities under the Plan, and may employ persons to advise it with regard to such responsibilities.  The Company, acting through the Committee, the Claim Review Committee or any other person designated by the Company, as applicable, shall have the exclusive responsibility and complete discretionary authority to interpret the terms of the Plan (including the power to construe ambiguous or uncertain terms), to control the operation and administration of the Plan and to resolve all questions in connection therewith, with all powers necessary to enable it to properly carry out such responsibilities, including without limitation the powers and responsibilities set forth in this Article III, and its determinations shall be final, conclusive and binding on all  persons.

	
2.

	
The Plan Administrator shall have the power to determine status, coverage, eligibility for and the amount of benefits under the Plan and all questions arising in connection therewith, with respect to employees of each Participating Company, respectively, and shall have the power to authorize disbursements according to this Plan.

	
3.

	
The review and final determination of claims and appeals for Participants and beneficiaries under the Plan shall be determined by, and in the complete discretion of, the Plan Administrator acting through the Claim Review Committee and in accordance with the claims and appeals procedures set forth in the summary plan description for the Pension Plan and shall be administered and interpreted in accordance with the Pension Act and procedures in effect under the Pension Plan.  All determinations of the Plan Administrator shall be final and binding and not subject to further administrative review.

	
4.

	
The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and/or the applicable Participating Company.

	
5.

	
The Company, the Committee and the Claim Review Committee, and each other Plan Administrator described herein, are each a named fiduciary as that term is used in the Pension Act with respect to the particular duties and responsibilities herein provided to be allocated to each of them.

	
6.  

	
Any person or group of persons may serve in more than one fiduciary capacity with respect to the Plan.

	
7.

	
Notwithstanding the preceding, effective as of the date of the Merger, responsibility for administration of the Plan shall be determined under the terms of the Rabbi Trust Agreements.  As provided in the Rabbi Trust Agreements, claims for benefits, appeals of benefit denials and Plan interpretations shall be made by a “Trust Contractor” or “Independent Fiduciary” (as such terms are defined in the Rabbi Trust Agreements), as the case may be.  At any time during which a Trust Contractor or Independent Fiduciary shall, under the terms of the Rabbi Trust Agreements, have such Plan administrative responsibilities, the term “Plan Administrator” as used in this Plan shall refer to such Trust Contractor or Independent Fiduciary.

	
ARTICLE IV.     BENEFITS

	
 1.

	
Participation

	
  

	
All persons included in the definition of the term "Participants" are deemed participants in this Plan.  In addition, each individual who has participated in this Plan but who has ceased to be included in the definition of "Participants", whether due to demotion, termination or otherwise, shall continue to be a Participant in this Plan, except for purposes of accruing additional benefits under Section 4 of this Article IV, and shall be entitled to a benefit under this Plan if, at the time such individual ceased to be included in the definition of "Participants", he or she had satisfied the service requirements for a deferred vested pension under the Pension Plan.  Each such individual shall receive a benefit under the terms of the Plan as in effect immediately prior to the effective date of such demotion, termination or other event, the amount of such benefit to be calculated as if the individual retired (or otherwise terminated employment) on such date, it being the Company's intent that any such demotion, termination or other event removing individuals from the definition of "Participants" shall not adversely affect entitlement to such benefits.

  

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 2.

	
Mandatory Retirement Age

	
  

	
Each Paticipant, whether or not eligible for benefits under this Plan, shall cease to be eligible for continued employment no later than the last day of the month in which such Participant attains the Mandatory Retirement Age.

	
 3.

	
Eligibility

	
  

	
(a)

	
Service Benefit

An individual who is both a Participant in this Plan and who is eligible for a service pension pursuant to the terms of the Pension Plan at the time of employment termination or whose age and Net Credited Service recognized under this Plan would satisfy the eligibility requirements of the Pension Plan for a service pension is eligible for a service benefit pursuant to this Plan.  Additionally, each Participant who has attained age 62 or older and whose Net Credited Service is ten years or more at the time of employment termination is eligible for a service benefit under this Plan.  Each Participant whose employment terminates pursuant to and under the terms of the Merger Severance Plan may also be eligible for a service benefit under this Plan, if at the time of employment termination the Participant's age and Net Credited Service meets the requirements established under such severance program to be deemed service pension eligible for purposes of this Plan.  Each Participant whose employment terminates pursuant to and under the terms of an Executive Severance Agreement shall be deemed to be eligible for a service pension for purposes of this Plan.

	
  

	
(b)

	
Deferred Benefit

	
  

	
(i)

	
Any individual not described in Section 3(a) of this Article IV who is a Participant in this Plan at the time of voluntary employment termination is eligible for a deferred vested pension pursuant to this Plan, provided he is eligible for a deferred vested pension pursuant to the Pension Plan.

	
  

	
(ii)

	
In the event that a Participant’s employment is terminated involuntarily prior to his or her becoming eligible for a deferred benefit under this Plan, and the termination is not for cause, such Participant shall nevertheless be entitled to a deferred benefit hereunder, based upon the Participant’s Vesting Service Credit at his or her date of termination.

	 	
(c)

	
Disability Pension

	
  

	
An individual who while a Participant in this Plan has become eligible for a disability pension pursuant to the terms of the Pension Plan and who is also determined to be Disabled shall be eligible for a disability pension hereunder, calculated as follows:  the amount is determined in accordance with Section 4 of this Article IV calculated to one year after date of Disability (pro-rata if less than 20 years of service) with no reduction factor but offset by the actual service or deferred benefit determined under Section 4 of this Article IV applying all applicable early retirement reduction factors (determined assuming that the service or deferred benefit is payable as an annuity).  Should the disability pension be discontinued pursuant to the terms of the Pension Plan, the disability pension hereunder shall be discontinued as well.  Regardless of the Participant’s Disabled status, the disability pension hereunder shall be discontinued upon the Participant’s attaining age 65.

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4.

	
Benefit Amounts

	
  

	
(a)

	
Computation of Benefit

	
  

	
(i)

	
(A)

	
Benefit Formula

	
  

	
The aggregate annualized benefit of each Participant payable as provided in the Plan shall be determined by adding the sum of two percent (2%) of Included Earnings for each year of the Participant's Vesting Service Credit for the first twenty years, plus one and one-half percent (1.5%) of Included Earnings for each year of the Participant's Vesting Service Credit for the next ten years, plus one percent (1%) of Included Earnings for each year of the Participant's Vesting Service Credit for each additional year up to the month in which the Participant retires less (1) 100% of the retirement benefit (unreduced for survivor annuity) payable from the Pension Plan and (2) 100% of the Primary Social Security benefit payable at age 65.

An AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is prior to January 1, 2009 shall have his Pension Plan benefit and Primary Social Security benefit calculated and frozen as of his AT&T SERP Vesting Date for purposes of calculating this Plan’s benefit.

In addition, any AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is on or after January 1, 2009 shall have his Pension Plan benefit and Primary Social Security benefit calculated and frozen as of his AT&T SERP Effective Date.

Furthermore, any Participant who is otherwise accruing a benefit as of December 31, 2011 shall have his Pension Plan benefit and Primary Social Security benefit calculated and frozen as if he had terminated employment on that date.

Lastly, any Participant whose annualized benefit (as described in the first paragraph of Section 4(a)(i)(A) above) determined as of December 31, 2011, including offsets for the Pension Plan and Primary Social Security (both frozen as described in the preceding sentence), is equal to $0, shall not be due any benefit from this Plan.  Future years of age and service will not be applied for any benefit calculation purpose.

	
  

	
(B)

	
Special Rules

	
  

	
(1)

	
With respect to service benefits, the benefit reduction to be applied pursuant to Section 4(a)(i)(A)(1) above for the benefit payable from the Pension Plan shall be the amount of such benefit that would be payable on the date that benefits are eligible to be paid (or become payable) under this Plan (regardless of the Participant’s actual pension commencement date under the Pension Plan) and determined assuming that the Participant elected a single life annuity (regardless of the actual form of benefit elected under the Pension Plan).

	
  

	 

	
  

	
(2)

	
With respect to deferred vested benefits, the benefit reduction to be applied pursuant to Section 4(a)(i)(A)(1) above for the benefit payable from the Pension Plan shall be the amount of such benefit that would be payable on the Participant’s 65th birthday (regardless of the Participant’s actual pension commencement date under the Pension Plan) and determined assuming that the Participant elected a single life annuity (regardless of the actual form of benefit elected under the Pension Plan).

	
  

	
(3)

	
In the case of any Executive (i) who has attained the age of sixty-two (62) or more or who is deceased, (ii) who was previously employed by a Former Affiliate, (iii) who serves or has served as an officer (as such term is used in the employment practices and policies of the relevant company) of BellSouth Corporation or an Affiliate, and (iv) whose service with a Former Affiliate is disregarded in determining the Executive's Vesting Service Credit under the Pension Plan, for purposes of this Plan, the Executive’s Vesting Service Credit and Net Credited Service shall be increased by

	
  

	
(x)  the Executive's Vesting Service Credit and Net Credited Service with the Former Affiliate(s) (determined under the rules of the Pension Plan as if the Executive had been employed by BellSouth Corporation during such period and had no other service covered under the Pension Plan), multiplied by

 

 

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(y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of whole years (not to exceed ten (10)) of such Executive's Net Credited Service as an officer of BellSouth Corporation or an Affiliate and the denominator of which is ten (10).

	
  

	
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Executive's Vesting Service Credit or Net Credited Service, for purposes of this Plan shall be increased for service with a Former Affiliate to the extent that any such service would otherwise be considered, directly or indirectly, in determining such Executive's benefits under this Plan by virtue of the terms of any other agreement, plan or arrangement.

	
(4)  

	
In the case of any Participant whose Vesting Service Credit or Net Credited Service includes a period of service with an employer with respect to which the Participant is entitled to any retirement benefit payable from defined benefit pension plan(s ) (including qualified plans and nonqualified plans such as excess benefit and supplemental executive retirement plans), including any Executive whose Vesting Service Credit and Net Credited Service under this Plan is increased pursuant to Section 4(a)(i)(B)(3) preceding, the benefit reduction described in Section 4(a)(i)(A)(1) above for the retirement benefit payable from the Pension Plan shall include any such retirement benefit payable by such employer.  The determination of the benefit reduction for any such benefit shall be made using approaches which approximate as nearly as practicable the approaches used in making such determinations with respect to benefits payable under the Pension Plan, as described above in this Section 4(a)(i).  In the case of any Executive whose Vesting Service Credit and Net Credited Service under this Plan is increased pursuant to paragraph (B)(3) of this Section 4(a)(i), the benefit payable by such employer shall first be multiplied  by the fraction described in that paragraph and the product thereof shall be the amount of the benefit reduction.

	
(5)  

	
A Participant’s service or deferred benefit (the value of which is expressed as an annuity) at the time of termination of employment shall not be less than the service or deferred benefit that would have been payable to the Participant if the Participant had terminated employment on any prior December 31, through December 31, 2011, (using pay, service, offsets and all factors applicable on the previous dates and assuming an immediate benefit commencement).

	
(6)  

	
In the case of each Participant who terminates employment pursuant to the terms of the Merger Severance Plan, the service benefit or deferred vested benefit calculated hereunder shall be calculated by adding additional months of Vesting Service Credit and an equal amount of months of age with the amount of such months equaling (i) 24, minus (ii) the number of months that have elapsed since the closing of the Merger (but not below zero).

	
(7)  

	
The terms and conditions set forth in Article VIII shall apply to any benefits accrued under any provision of this Plan on or after January 1, 2010, and in order for a Participant to accrue (or collect) such Plan benefits on or after January 1, 2010, the Participant must comply with the terms and conditions set forth in Article VIII.

	
  

	
(ii)

	
Included Earnings

Included Earnings shall equal the 12 month average of the sum of (1) the last sixty (60) months of base pay, plus (2) the Annual Bonus Awards payable during or after that sixty (60) month period.  The amounts of base pay and other payments used to determine Included Earnings as described above include all amounts during the specified period including those amounts previously deferred pursuant to other plans.  If a Participant terminates employment while eligible for a benefit under this Plan and thereafter receives compensation of the types described in clause (ii) of this Section 4(a), the additional Included Earnings shall be deemed to have been paid as of the date the Participant terminated employment, and the amount of benefit payable under this Plan shall be corrected accordingly.

 

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An AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is prior to January 1, 2009 shall have his Included Earnings calculated and frozen as of his AT&T SERP Vesting Date for purposes of calculating this Plan’s benefit.

 

In addition, any AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is on or after January 1, 2009 shall have his Included Earnings calculated and frozen as of his SERP Effective Date.

Lastly, for Participants who are otherwise accruing benefits under the Plan as of December 31, 2011, their Included Earnings shall be frozen at the amount as would have been recognized under this Section if such Participant had terminated employment on that date.

	
  

	
(b)

	
Minimum Benefit

	
  

	
In no event shall a Participant, whose Vesting Service Credit has been five years or more, who terminates employment on or after his or her sixty-second birthday, or who is retired on a service or disability pension under the Pension Plan or is otherwise eligible for a service pension benefit hereunder, receive a total annual retirement benefit (including any benefit under the Pension Plan) from the Company of less than 15% of the employee's annual base salary plus Standard Annual Bonus in effect on the employee's last day on the active payroll.

An AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is prior to January 1, 2009 shall have his Minimum Benefit calculated and frozen as of his AT&T SERP Vesting Date for purposes of calculating this Plan’s benefit.

In addition, any AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is on or after January 1, 2009 shall have his Minimum Benefit calculated and frozen as of his SERP Effective Date.

Lastly, any Participant who is otherwise accruing benefits under the Plan as of December 31, 2011 shall have his Minimum Benefit calculated and frozen as of December 31, 2011 as if he had terminated employment on such date.

	 	
(c)

	
Early Retirement Discount

	
  

	
(i)

	
The service benefit amount, determined in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4, for each Participant who is granted a service benefit, shall be reduced (before the offset for benefits under the Pension Plan) by one-half percent (0.5%) for each calendar month or part thereof by which the commencement of benefits under this Plan precedes the Participant’s 62nd birthday, except that each employee retired with thirty (30) or more years of service (either Net Credited Service or Vesting Service Credit) shall receive a service benefit reduced by one-quarter percent (0.25%) for each calendar month or part thereof by which the commencement of benefits under this Plan precedes the Participant’s 62nd birthday. With respect to Participants who terminate employment and receive benefits under the Merger Severance Plan, the preceding sentence shall be applied by substituting “twenty-eight (28) or more” for the words “thirty (30) or more.”  Further, with respect to a Participant who retires during 2006, in no event shall the amount by which such Participant’s benefit is reduced pursuant to this provision be greater than the amount by which such benefit would have been reduced pursuant to this provision had the Participant retired on December 31, 2005.

	
  

	
(ii)

	
The deferred vested benefit amount, determined in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4, for each Participant who is granted a deferred vested benefit, shall be reduced (after the offset for benefits under the Pension Plan) by an actuarially equivalent amount, using mortality rates and other assumptions then in effect under the Pension Plan, for each calendar month or part thereof by which the commencement of benefits under this Plan precedes the Participant’s 65th birthday.

 

 

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(iii)  An AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is prior to January 1, 2009 shall have his Early Retirement Discount calculated and frozen as of his AT&T SERP Vesting Date for purposes of calculating this Plan’s benefit.

 

 

In addition, any AT&T SERP Participant whose SERP Effective Date is on or after January 1, 2009 shall have his Early Retirement Discount calculated and frozen as of his SERP Effective Date.

(d)           Survivor/Death Benefits for Participant’s Terminating Employment prior to January 1, 2007

	
(i)  

	
Benefit Payable Before Benefit Commencement

If a Participant who has not made a valid lump sum election with respect to his or her Pre-2005 Benefit dies prior to termination of employment (or commencement of benefits for Participants with a deferred benefit) and leaves a surviving spouse at the time of his death, a pre-retirement survivor benefit is payable to the surviving spouse as an immediate life annuity equal to 100% of the service benefit or deferred benefit that the Participant would have received with respect to his or her Pre-2005 Benefit had he survived and terminated employment on the date of his death and commenced benefit payments.  In addition, with respect to the Participant’s Post-2004 Benefit, such benefit shall be paid to the surviving spouse as soon as administratively feasible following the Participant’s death in a single sum payment calculated in accordance with Section 5 of this Article IV.  If such Participant does not have a surviving spouse at the time of his death, the entire survivor benefit described in this paragraph shall be paid to the Participant’s estate as soon as administratively feasible following the Participant’s death (even if the Participant was a Band BB officer or above) in the form of a single sum payment calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of this Article IV.

	
(ii)  

	
Benefit Payable After Benefit Commencement

	
  

	
If the Participant was receiving benefits in the form of an annuity with respect to his Pre-2005 Benefit (or was eligible to receive benefits in the form of an annuity because of termination of employment), and leaves a surviving spouse at the time of his/her death, then such surviving spouse shall automatically receive a survivor annuity for life equal to 50% of the net pension benefit that the Participant was receiving (or eligible to receive) just prior to his death.  If the Participant was eligible to receive payment of his Post-2004 Benefit but had not yet received such payment, then his Post-2004 Benefit shall be paid to the spouse, if any, and otherwise to the Participant’s estate in the form of a single lump sum payment calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of this Article IV.

	
(iii)  

	
Lump Sum Election

In the event of the death of a Participant who has made a valid lump sum election under the Plan with respect to his or her Pre-2005 Benefit, his surviving spouse (or his estate if there is no surviving spouse) shall be entitled to receive 100% of the lump sum payment that would have been payable to the Participant as of the date of his death (including the lump sum payment of the Participant’s Post-2004 Benefit), and such lump sum shall be payable as soon as administratively feasible following the Participant’s death (even if the Participant was an Executive designated as a Band BB officer or above).

	
(iv)  

	
Lump Sum Settlement

If a Participant has already received a lump sum settlement of his entire benefit under the Plan, then no further benefits are payable under this subparagraph (d).

 

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(e)           Survivor/Death Benefits for Participant’s Terminating Employment on or after January 1, 2007

	
(i)  

	
Benefit Payable Before Benefit Commencement

If a Participant dies prior to termination of employment and leaves a surviving spouse at the time of his death, a pre-retirement survivor benefit is payable to the surviving spouse in the same form as elected by the Participant for payment of his benefit (i.e., single lump sum, 10 year installments, or single life annuity) in an amount equal to 100% of the service benefit or deferred benefit that the Participant would have received with respect to his benefit had he survived and terminated employment on the date of his death and commenced benefit payments; provided, if the survivor benefit is payable in a single life annuity, there will be no payment of an additional survivor annuity upon the surviving spouse’s death.  If such Participant does not have a surviving spouse at the time of his death, the entire survivor benefit described in this paragraph shall be paid to the Participant’s estate as soon as administratively feasible following the Participant’s death (even if the Participant was a “specified employee” as defined under Code Section 409A) in the form of a single sum payment calculated in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 of this Article IV.

	
(ii)  

	
Benefit Payable After Benefit Commencement

	
(A)  

	
Life Annuity.  If the Participant leaves a surviving spouse and was receiving benefits in the form of an annuity (or was eligible to receive benefits in the form of an annuity because of termination of employment and because the Participant had elected an annuity form of payment in accordance with Section 5 of this Article IV),  then such surviving spouse shall automatically receive a survivor annuity for life equal to 50% of the net pension benefit that the Participant was receiving (or eligible to receive) just prior to his death.  If the Participant does not leave a surviving spouse and was receiving benefits in the form of an annuity (or was eligible to receive benefits in the form of an annuity because of termination of employment and because the Participant had elected an annuity form of payment in accordance with Section 5 of this Article IV), then no further benefits will be payable after the Participant’s death, subject to the provisions of Section 6(b)(iii) of this Article IV.

	
(B)  

	
10-Year Installments.  If the Participant leaves a surviving spouse and was receiving benefits in the form of 10-year installments, then the remaining installments shall continue to be paid to the surviving spouse.  If the Participant was receiving benefits in the form of 10-year installments and does not leave a surviving spouse, then the remaining installments shall be paid in the form of a single lump sum payable to his estate, subject to the provisions of Section 6(b)(iii) of this Article IV.

	
(C)  

	
Lump Sum Payment.  If the Participant was eligible to receive a single lump sum payment of his Plan benefit but dies prior to the payment being made, then the single lump sum payment shall be made to his surviving spouse, if applicable, and otherwise to his estate, subject to the provisions of Section 6(b)(iii) of this Article IV.

	
(iii)  

	
Lump Sum Settlement

If a Participant has already received a lump sum settlement of his entire benefit under the Plan, then no further benefits are payable under this subparagraph (e).

	
  

	
(f)

	
Special Increases

 

 

Service and disability benefit payments of retired Participants shall be increased by the same percentage and pursuant to the same terms and conditions as are set forth in the Pension Plan.

 

 

11

  

  

 

 

	
5.

	
Form of Benefit Payments

 

 

	
(a)

	
Rules Applicable to Participants who terminate Employment Prior to January 1, 2007

 

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
Annuity Payments.  With respect to a Participant who has not made a valid lump sum election in accordance with subparagraph (ii) hereof, such Participant’s Pre-2005 Benefit shall be paid in monthly payments.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at the time of the Participant’s termination of employment, the present value of the benefit of a Participant, whether payable as a service benefit, a deferred benefit, or a survivor’s benefit, is less than $20,000, such benefit shall be paid in the form of a single lump sum payment, calculated in accordance with subparagraph (c) of this Section 5.

	
  

	
(ii)

	
Lump Sum Benefit Payment

	
  

	
(1)

	
Pre-2005 Benefit.   A Participant may elect to receive his Pre-2005 Benefit hereunder, whether payable as a service benefit, a deferred benefit or a survivor’s benefit, paid in the form of a single lump sum payment,  calculated in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (c) of this Section 5; provided, any such election must be made in accordance with procedures established by the Company and must be on file with the Company, or its designee, for at least 12 consecutive calendar months prior to the Participant’s termination of employment or death in order to be valid and in effect.

	
  

	
(2)

	
Post-2004 Benefit.  All Post-2004 Benefits, whether payable as a service benefit or a deferred benefit shall be paid in the form of a single lump sum payment, calculated in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (c) of this Section 5.

 

	
(b)

	
Rules Applicable to Participants who terminate Employment on or after January

 

1, 2007

 

 

	
  

	
(i)

	
Lump Sum Benefit Payment.   Absent an election to the contrary in accordance with subparagraph (iv) hereof, a Participant’s entire benefit under the Plan, whether payable as a service benefit or a deferred benefit, shall be paid in the form of a single lump sum payment, calculated in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (c) of this Section 5.

	
  

	
(ii)

	
10-Year Installments.  If a Participant made a valid election for 10-year installments under subparagraph (iv) hereof, such Participant’s entire benefit under the Plan, whether payable as a service benefit or a deferred benefit, shall be paid in the form of annual installments payable over a period of 10 years.  The amount of the annual installments shall be determined by calculating the Participant’s benefit under the Plan as a single lump sum in accordance with subparagraph (c) of this Section 5 and then paying 1/10th of the amount each year plus interest annually at the rate then specified under the Pension Plan.

 

 

	
(iii)       

	
Life Annuity.  If a Participant made a valid election for a life annuity under subparagraph (iv) hereof, such Participant’s entire benefit under the Plan, whether payable as a service benefit or a deferred benefit, shall be paid in the form of monthly payments payable over the life of the Participant.  The amount of the monthly payments shall equal the Participant’s annualized benefit determined under Section 4(a)(i)(A) of Article IV divided by 12.

 

 

12

  

  

 

If a Participant is Disabled, the disability pension described in Section 3(d) of Article IV shall be paid in the form of monthly payments until the earlier of the Participant’s death or attaining age 65.

	
  

	
(iv)

	
Election Opportunity

	
(1)  

	
Initial Election.  Participants who are participating in the Plan as of September 30, 2006 (or become newly eligible during October 2006) may elect a single lump sum payment, 10-year installments or a life annuity during the period between October 1, 2006 and November 30, 2006.  Participants who first become Participants in the Plan on or after November 1, 2006 may elect a single lump sum, 10-year installments or a life annuity; provided such election must be made within 30 days of the Participant’s initial participation in the Plan.

	
(2)  

	
Subsequent Elections.  Participants may elect to change the form of payment (and the timing of payment) during a time other than that specified under subparagraph (1) above; however, such election must comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A and applicable regulations thereunder, which means that the subsequent election will only be effective if made at least one year prior to the time at which the distribution would be made absent the subsequent election AND if the first payment under the form of payment elected is delayed for at least a five year period.

Participants may not make a payment election with regard to any disability benefit that may become payable under the Plan.

	
  

	
(v)

	
De Minimis Cash-Out.  Notwithstanding any election made under subparagraph (iv) of this Section 5(b), if at the time of the Participant’s termination of employment, the present value of the benefit of a Participant, whether payable as a service benefit or a deferred benefit, is less than $20,000, such benefit shall be paid in the form of a single lump sum payment, calculated in accordance with subparagraph (c) of this Section 5.  The preceding paragraph will no longer apply for distributions made after December 31, 2008.

(c)           Lump Sum Calculation

Benefits payable in a single lump sum in accordance with the Plan shall be the amount that is the actuarial present value of the Participant’s benefit, or applicable portion thereof, expressed as a single life annuity and shall be determined using (i) the applicable interest rate then in effect under the Pension Plan, and (ii) the applicable mortality table then in effect under the Pension Plan.

 

6.           Timing of Payment of Benefits

 

Except for the reasons specified below, benefits granted under this Plan shall commence on the day following the date of termination of employment from the Company and all Affiliates.

	
(a)  

	
For Terminations of Employment Occurring Prior to January 1, 2007

	
(i)            

	
An Executive who is a Band BB officer or above and who has made a valid lump sum election shall receive the lump sum payment (including interest accrued annually at the applicable interest rate in effect under the Pension Plan) as soon as administratively feasible following the date that is 2 years following his date of retirement or other termination of employment.

	
  

	
(ii)

	
Participants eligible for a deferred vested benefit will have their entire benefit commence at such time as the individual otherwise elects to commence payment of benefits under the Pension Plan provided such benefits commence on or before December 31, 2008.  Otherwise, payment of the deferred vested benefit will automatically commence as soon as administratively practicable following July 1, 2009.

 

 

13

  

  

	
  

	
(iii)

	
Participants who have a Post-2004 Benefit and who are Executives or otherwise Specified Employees at the time of his or her termination of employment shall receive the lump sum payment (including interest accrued annually at the applicable interest rate in effect under the Pension Plan) as soon as administratively feasible following the date that is 6 months following his or her date of retirement or other termination of employment.

	
(b)  

	
For Terminations of Employment On or After January 1, 2007

	
  

	
(i)

	
Participants electing a single lump sum payment or 10-year installment payments and who are Executives or otherwise Specified Employees at the time of his or her termination of employment shall receive the single lump sum payment or the first installment under the 10-year installment form of benefit (each including interest accrued annually at the applicable interest rate in effect under the Pension Plan) as soon as administratively feasible following the date that is 6 months following his or her date of retirement or other termination of employment.

	
  

	
(ii)

	
Participants electing a life annuity payment form and who are Executives or otherwise Specified Employees shall receive the first annuity payment as soon as administratively feasible following the date that is 6 months following his or her retirement date or other termination of employment and this first payment shall equal 7 monthly annuity payments.

	
  

	
(iii)

	
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if a Participant whose benefit is delayed under subparagraphs (i) or (ii) of this Section 6(b) dies prior to the payment of such delayed amounts, such delayed amounts shall be paid in a single lump sum payment to the Participant’s estate.  The remainder of such Participant’s benefit (if any) shall be paid in accordance with Section 4(e) of this Article IV.

7.           Treatment During Subsequent Employment

 

 

Employment with any Participating Company or Affiliate for which a Participant is an eligible employee, subsequent to retirement or termination of employment with entitlement to any type of benefits described heretofore, shall result in the permanent suspension of the benefit for the period of such employment or reemployment.  Upon termination of such subsequent employment, the full benefit payable hereunder shall be recalculated and then offset by any amounts previously paid to the Participant using assumptions set forth under the Pension Plan.  The benefit will commence following the subsequent termination of employment but shall be subject to the provisions set forth in Section 6 of this Article IV regarding the timing of payment of benefits.  This Section 7 shall not apply on or after January 1, 2009, provided, however, that any Participant whose benefits were suspended as of December 31, 2008 shall be grandfathered and shall continue to have his benefits suspended subject to the provisions of this Section 7.

 

8.           Employment with Cingular

 

 

Individuals who were Participants as of December 23, 2001 and who transferred to Cingular Wireless, LLC on or before December 23, 2001 pursuant to the Contribution Agreement by and between BellSouth Corporation and AT&T Inc. (formerly SBC Communications, Inc.) continue to be treated as actively employed by the Company for all purposes of this Plan while they remain actively employed by Cingular Wireless, LLC or an AT&T Affiliate, subject to all conditions and provisions set forth in this plan.

 

14

  

  

 

 

	
ARTICLE V.    DEATH BENEFITS

 

 

	
1.

	
Eligibility and Administration

 

 

All individuals who became eligible to participate in the Plan prior to January 1, 2006 shall be eligible for death benefits under this Plan.  With respect to individuals who become eligible to participate in the Plan on or after January 1, 2006, no death benefits shall be payable pursuant to this Article V.  Death benefits described herein are in addition to death benefits payable under the Pension Plan but shall be subject to the same terms and conditions of, and administered in the same manner as, corresponding death benefit provisions of the Pension Plan.

 

 

2.           Amount of Death Benefit

 

 

For an Executive, the benefit equals the annual base salary plus two times the Standard Annual Bonus.  The above stated amounts of base salary and Standard Annual Bonus are those amounts in effect at the earlier of retirement or death including those amounts previously deferred pursuant to other plans. For all other Participants, the benefit equals the Standard Annual Bonus in effect at the earlier of retirement or death.  In addition, the death benefit for all Participants will include the amount of death benefit, if any, that would otherwise have been payable under the Pension Plan had there been no deferral of compensation under any plan of the Company.  The benefit amount will also include the amount of death benefit, if any, that would otherwise have been payable under the Pension Plan had the restriction on the amount of compensation that may be taken into account under Code Section 401(a)(17) not been applicable.

 

 

3.           Death Benefits After 2005

 

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2 of this Article V, with respect to each Participant in the Plan on December 31, 2005, the amount of any death benefit payable pursuant to Section 1 of this Article V shall in no event be based on base salary and/or Standard Award amounts greater than such Participant’s base salary and the Standard Award applicable with respect to such Participant on December 31, 2005.

 

 

	
4.

	
Form and Source of Payments

 

 

All death benefits payable pursuant to this Article V of the Plan shall be paid in a single lump sum as soon as administratively feasible following the death of the Participant and shall be paid from Company or Participating Company's operating expenses, or through the purchase of insurance from an insurance company as the Company may determine.

 

 

15

  

  

 

ARTICLE VI.    GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

 

1.           Effective Date

 

 

This Plan was originally effective January 1, 1984 and this restatement of the Plan is effective December 31, 2011.

 

 

2.           Rights to Benefit

 

 

There is no right to any benefit under this Plan except as may be provided by the Company or each Participating Company.  Participants have the status of general, unsecured creditors of the Participating Company and the Plan constitutes a mere promise by the Participating Company to make benefit payments in the future.  A Participant shall have only a contractual right to receive the benefits provided for hereunder if and when he complies with all of the conditions set forth herein.  Nothing contained in this Plan and no action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Plan shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind.  The Plan is intended to be "unfunded" for purposes of the Pension Act and the Code. If any payment is made to a Participant, his or her surviving spouse or other beneficiary with respect to benefits described in this Plan from any source arranged by the Company or a Participating Company including the Rabbi Trust Agreements and also including, without limitation, any other fund, trust, insurance arrangement, bond, security device, or any similar arrangement, such payment shall be deemed to be in full and complete satisfaction of the obligation of the Company or Participating Company under this Plan  to the extent of such payment as if such payment had been made directly by the Company or Participating Company.  If any payment from a source described in the preceding sentence shall be made, in whole or in part, prior to the time payment would be made under the terms of this Plan, such payment shall be deemed to satisfy the obligation of the Company or Participating Company to pay Plan benefits beginning with the benefit which would next become payable under the Plan and continuing in the order in which benefits are so payable, until the payment from such other source is fully recovered. In determining the benefits satisfied by a payment, Plan benefits, as they become payable, shall be discounted to their value as of the date such actual payment was made using an interest rate equal to the valuation interest rate for deferred annuities as last published by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation prior to the date of such actual payment.  If the benefits which actually become payable under this Plan, after applying the discount described in the preceding sentence, are less than the amount of any prepayment described herein, any such shortfall shall not be collected from or enforced against the Participant as a claim by the Company or Participating Company.

 

 

3.           Liability for Payment of Benefits

 

 

Where a Participant's period of service includes service in more than one Participating Company or in a company that is not a Participating Company, the last Participating Company to employ him or her immediately prior to his or her retirement or termination of employment with entitlement to a benefit hereunder shall be responsible for the full benefit under this Plan.

 

16

  

  

 

4.           Governing Law

 

 

The Company intends that this Plan be an unfunded deferred compensation plan maintained primarily for a select group of management and highly compensated employees exempt from Parts 2, 3 and 4 of Title I of the Pension Act by reason of the exemptions set forth in Sections 201(a), 301(a) and 401(a) of the Pension Act and from Part 1 of the Pension Act by reason of the exemption set forth in Section 2520.104-23 of applicable United States Department of Labor regulations.  This Plan shall be interpreted and administered accordingly.  This Plan shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas to the extent such laws are not preempted by the Pension Act.  Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Plan, each provision of this Plan shall be interpreted to permit the deferral of compensation and the payment of deferred amounts in accordance with Code Section 409A and any provision that would conflict with such requirements shall not be valid or enforceable.

 

 

 5.           Assignment or Alienation

 

 

Benefits payable, and rights to benefits, under this Plan may not in any manner be anticipated, sold, transferred, assigned (either at law or in equity), alienated, pledged, encumbered or subject to attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or other legal or equitable process.

 

 

6.           Employment at Will

 

 

Nothing contained in this Plan shall be construed as conferring upon a Participant the right to continue in the employ of the Company.

 

 

7.           Savings Clause

 

 

In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

 

 

8.           Payments to Others

 

 

Benefits payable to a former employee or retiree unable to execute a proper receipt may be paid to other person(s) in accordance with the standards and procedures set forth in the Pension Plan.

 

17

  

  

 

9.           Plan Termination

 

 

Subject to the limitations described below, the Company retains the right to terminate, in whole or in part, and each Participating Company retains the right to withdraw from this Plan, at any time, for any reason, with or without notice.  The Company will continue to make payments, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan, to all Participants who were either retired or terminated prior to Plan termination, and will also continue to recognize its obligation to the surviving spouse of the aforementioned individuals.  Additionally, Participants who have satisfied the service requirements for a deferred vested pension under the Pension Plan on the date of Plan termination shall receive benefits under the terms of the Plan as in effect immediately prior to its termination, the amount of such benefit to be calculated as if the Participant retired (or otherwise terminated employment) on the termination date of the Plan, it being the Company's intent that termination of the Plan shall not adversely affect any entitlement to such benefits and any amendment, modification or termination of this Plan inconsistent with this expression of intent shall be null and void.

 

 

ARTICLE VII.    INTERCHANGE OF BENEFIT OBLIGATION

 

 

The same transfer of service credit provisions contained in interchange agreements presently in existence under the Pension Plan, or as they may be amended from time to time, by and between the Company, on behalf of all Participating Companies, and any Interchange Company shall apply to the transfer of service credit for purposes of this Plan.

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII.    LOYALTY CONDITIONS FOR OFFICERS AND SENIOR MANAGERS

 

 

This Article shall apply only to Participants who are Officers or Senior Managers at the time benefits accrue or are received.

 

 

	
1.  

	
Generally

 

AT&T would be unwilling to provide Plan benefits but for the loyalty conditions and covenants set forth in this Article VIII, and the conditions and covenants herein are a material inducement to AT&T’s willingness to sponsor the Plan and to offer Plan benefits for the Participants on or after January 1, 2010.  Accordingly, as a condition of accruing and/or receiving any Plan benefits on or after January 1, 2010, each Participant is deemed to agree that he shall not, without obtaining the written consent of AT&T in advance, participate in activities that constitute engaging in competition with AT&T or engaging in conduct disloyal to AT&T, as those terms are defined in Article VIII, Section 2 hereof.  Further, notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, all benefits provided under the Plan with respect to a Participant shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of this Article VIII if the Participant, without the consent of AT&T, participates in an activity that constitutes engaging in competition with AT&T or engaging in conduct disloyal to AT&T, as so defined.

 

 

18

  

  

 

	
2.  

	
Definitions.

 

For purposes of this Article VIII and of the Plan generally:

 

	
(a)  

	
an “Employer Business” shall mean AT&T, any subsidiary of AT&T, the Company, a Participating Company, an Affiliate, and any business in which any of them or a subsidiary or an affiliated company of theirs has a substantial ownership or joint venture interest;

 

	
(b)  

	
“engaging in competition with AT&T” shall mean, while employed by an Employer Business or within two (2) years after the Participant’s termination of employment, engaging by the Participant in any business or activity in all or any portion of the same geographical market where the same or substantially similar business or activity is being carried on by an Employer Business.  “Engaging in competition with AT&T” shall not include owning a nonsubstantial publicly traded interest as a shareholder in a business that competes with an Employer Business.  However, “engaging in competition with AT&T” shall include representing or providing consulting services to, or being an employee or director of, any person or entity that is engaged in competition with any Employer Business or that takes a position adverse to any Employer Business.

 

	
(c)  

	
“engaging in conduct disloyal to AT&T” means, while employed by an Employer Business or within two (2) years after the Participant’s termination of employment, (i) soliciting for employment or hire, whether as an employee or as an independent contractor, for any business in competition with an Employer Business, any person employed by an Employer Business during the one (1) year prior to Participant’s termination of employment, whether or not acceptance of such position would constitute a breach of such person’s contractual obligations to any Employer Business; (ii) soliciting, encouraging, or inducing any vendor or supplier with which Participant had business contact on behalf of any Employer Business during the two (2) years prior to Participant’s termination of employment, to terminate, discontinue, renegotiate, reduce, or otherwise cease or modify its relationship with AT&T or its affiliate; or (iii) soliciting, encouraging, or inducing any customer or active prospective customer with whom Participant had business contact, whether in person or by other media (“Customer”), on behalf of any Employer Business during the two (2) years prior to Participant’s termination of employment, to terminate, discontinue, renegotiate, reduce, or otherwise cease or modify its relationship with any Employer Business, or to purchase competing goods or services from a business competing with any Employer Business, or accepting or servicing business from such Customer on behalf of himself or any other business. “Engaging in conduct disloyal to AT&T” also means, disclosing Confidential Information to any third party or using Confidential Information, other than for an Employer Business, or failing to return any Confidential Information to the Employer Business following termination of employment.

 

	
(d)  

	
“Confidential Information” shall mean all information belonging to, or otherwise relating to, an Employer Business, which is not generally known, regardless of the manner in which it is stored or conveyed to Participant, and which the Employer Business has taken reasonable measures under the circumstances to protect from unauthorized use or disclosure.  Confidential Information includes trade secrets as well as other proprietary knowledge, information, know-how, and non-public intellectual property rights, including unpublished or pending patent applications and all related patent rights, formulae, processes, discoveries, improvements, ideas, conceptions, compilations of data, and data, whether or not patentable or copyrightable and whether or not it has been conceived, originated, discovered, or developed in whole or in part by Participant.  For example, Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, information concerning the Employer Business’ business plans, budgets, operations, products, strategies, marketing, sales, inventions, designs, costs, legal strategies, finances, employees, customers, prospective customers, licensees, or licensors; information received from third parties under confidential conditions; or other valuable financial, commercial, business, technical or marketing information concerning the Employer Business, or any of the products or services made, developed or sold by the Employer Business.  Confidential Information does not include information that (i) was generally known to the public at the time of disclosure; (ii) was lawfully received by Participant from a third party; (iii) was known to Participant prior to receipt from the Employer Business; or (iv) was independently developed by Participant or independent third parties; in each of the foregoing circumstances, this exception applies only if such public knowledge or possession by an independent third party was without breach by Participant or any third party of any obligation of confidentiality or non-use, including but not limited to the obligations and restrictions set forth in this Plan.

 

19

  

  

 

	
3.  

	
Forfeiture of Benefits

 

	
  

	
A Participant’s right to receive Plan benefits accrued on or after January 1, 2010 shall be forfeited and no benefits accrued on or after January 1, 2010 shall be provided under this Plan if the Committee determines that, within the time period and without the written consent specified, Participant either engaged in competition with AT&T or engaged in conduct disloyal to AT&T, as defined in Article VIII, Section 2, hereof, regardless of the position or duties the Participant takes and regardless of whether or not the employing company, or the company that Participant becomes associated with or renders service to, is itself engaged in direct competition with an Employer Business.

 

	
4.  

	
Equitable Relief

 

The parties recognize (i) that any Participant’s breach of any of the covenants in this Article VIII will cause irreparable injury to the Company, and will represent a failure of the consideration under which the Company (in its capacity as creator and sponsor of the Plan) agreed to provide the Participant with the opportunity to accrue Plan benefits on and after January 1, 2010, and (ii) that monetary damages would not provide the Company with an adequate or complete remedy that would warrant the Company’s continued sponsorship of the Plan and payment of Plan benefits for all Participants.  Accordingly, in the event of a Participant’s actual or threatened breach of covenants in this Article VIII, the Committee, in addition to all other rights and acting as a fiduciary under ERISA for the limited purpose of enforcing the provisions hereof on behalf of all Participants, shall have a fiduciary duty (in order to assure that the Company receives fair and promised consideration for its continued Plan sponsorship and funding) to seek an injunction restraining the Participant from breaching the covenants in this Article VIII.  To enforce its repayment rights with respect to a Participant, the Plan shall have a first priority, equitable lien on all Plan benefits that are paid to the Participant.  In addition, the Company shall pay for any Plan expenses that the Committee incurs hereunder, and shall be entitled to recover from the Participant its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in obtaining such injunctive remedies.  In the event the Committee succeeds in enforcing the terms of this Section through a written settlement with the Participant or a court order granting an injunction hereunder, the Participant shall be entitled to collect Plan benefits prospectively, if the Participant is otherwise entitled to such benefits, net of any fees and costs assessed pursuant hereto (which fees and costs shall be paid to AT&T as a repayment on behalf of the Participant), provided that the Participant complies with said settlement or injunction.

 

	
5.  

	
Uniform Enforcement.

 

In recognition of AT&T’s need for nationally uniform standards for the Plan’s administration, it is an absolute condition in consideration of any Participant’s accrual or receipt of benefits under the Plan on or after January 1, 2010 that each and all of the following conditions apply to all Participants and to any benefits that are accrued on or after January 1, 2010 and that are thereafter paid or are payable under the Plan:

 

	
(a)  

	
ERISA shall control all issues and controversies hereunder, and the Committee shall serve for the limited purposes of this Article VIII as a “fiduciary” of the Plan.

 

	
(b)  

	
All litigation between the parties relating to this Section shall occur in federal court, which shall have exclusive jurisdiction, any such litigation shall be held in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, and the only remedies available with respect to the Plan shall be those provided under ERISA.

 

	
(c)  

	
If the Committee determines in its sole discretion either (I) that the Company or any Employer Business that employed the Participant terminated the Participant’s employment for cause, or (II) that equitable relief enforcing the Participant’s covenants under this Article VIII is either not reasonably available, not ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, or circumvented because the Participant has sued in state court, or has otherwise sought remedies not available under ERISA, then in any and all of such instances the Participant shall not be entitled to collect any Plan benefits accrued on or after January 1, 2010, and if any such Plan benefits have been paid to the Participant, the Participant shall immediately repay all such Plan benefits to the Plan (which shall be used to pay Plan administrative expenses or Plan benefits.) upon written demand from the Committee.  Furthermore, the Participant shall hold the Company and each Employer Business harmless from any loss, expense, or damage that may arise from any of the conduct described in clauses (I) and (II) hereof.

 

20

  

  

 

 

ARTICLE IX.     PLAN MODIFICATION

 

 

The Company may, in its sole discretion, from time to time make any changes in the Plan as it deems appropriate, provided, that no such action shall accelerate or postpone the time or schedule of payment of any Plan benefit except as may be permitted under Code Section 409A and regulations thereunder; and provided further, such modifications shall not result in a reduction of benefits to either: (i) those participants or their surviving spouses already receiving benefits under this Plan, or (ii) those participants who have satisfied the service requirements for a deferred vested pension under the Pension Plan.  Specifically, no Plan modification shall have the effect of reducing a Participant's benefits under the Plan to which he or she would be entitled under the terms of the Plan as in effect immediately prior to its modification, the amount of such benefit to be calculated as if the Participant retired (or otherwise terminated employment) on the date the Plan was modified, it being the Company's intent that any modification of the Plan shall not adversely affect any entitlement to such benefits and any amendment, modification or termination of this Plan inconsistent with this expression of intent shall be null and void.  In addition, the Company may authorize the execution of agreements providing retirement benefits subject generally to the terms and conditions of the Plan and benefits under such agreements shall be deemed provided hereunder, and any such amendments authorized prior to the amendment and restatement of the Plan shall be incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

21TRCR 8-K 2011 1103 Ex 10.1

EXHIBIT 10.1

WAIVER AND SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
THIS WAIVER AND SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (this "Amendment") is made and entered into on November 2, 2011, by and between TRANSCEND SERVICES, INC., a Delaware corporation, and successor-by-merger to Medical Dictation Services, Inc. ("Borrower"), with its chief executive office and principal place of business at One Glenlake Parkway, Suite 1400, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, and REGIONS BANK, an Alabama bank ("Lender"), with an office at One Glenlake Parkway, Suite 400, Atlanta, Georgia 30328.
Recitals:
Lender and Borrower are parties to that certain Loan and Security Agreement dated as of August 31, 2009 (as at any time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the "Loan Agreement") pursuant to which Lender has made certain revolving credit and term loans (collectively, the "Loans") to Borrower.
Borrower has requested that Lender agree to amend a certain provision of the Loan Agreement.  In addition, an Event of Default under (and as defined in) the Loan Agreement has occurred, and Borrower has requested a waiver of such Event of Default.
Lender is willing to so amend the Loan Agreement and waive such Event of Default, subject to the terms and provisions as hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, for TEN DOLLARS ($10.00) in hand paid and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby severally acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:
i)    Definitions.  All capitalized terms used in this Amendment, unless otherwise defined herein, shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in the Loan Agreement.
ii)    Amendments to Loan Agreement.  The Loan Agreement is hereby amended, effective as of September 1, 2011 to reflect the intention of the parties, by deleting clause (b) of Section 8.2 of the Loan Agreement, and by substituting in lieu thereof the following new clause (b):
(b)    Tangible Net Worth.  Borrower shall (i) at the end of the Fiscal Quarter ending September 30, 2011, have a Tangible Net Worth equal to or greater than $25,000,000, (ii) at the end of the Fiscal Quarter ending December 31, 2011, have a Tangible Net Worth equal to or greater than $22,500,000, and (iii) at the end of each Fiscal Quarter at all times thereafter, have a Tangible Net Worth equal to or greater than $25,000,000.
iii)    Limited Waiver of Default.  An Event of Default has occurred and currently exists under the Loan Agreement as a result of Borrower's breach of Section 8.2(b) of the Loan Agreement (the "Designated Default").  The Designated Default exists because of Borrower's failure to achieve a Tangible Net Worth equal to or greater than $25,000,000 at the end of the Fiscal Quarter ending on September 30, 2011.  Borrower represents and warrants that the Designated Default is the only Default or Event of Default that exist under the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents as of the date hereof.  Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 9 hereof, Lender hereby waives the Designated Default in existence on the date hereof.  In no event shall such waiver be deemed to constitute a waiver of (a) any Default or Event of Default other than the Designated Default in existence on the date of this Amendment or (b) Borrower's obligation to comply with all of the terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents from and after the date hereof.  Notwithstanding any prior, temporary mutual disregard of the terms of any contracts between the parties, Borrower hereby agrees that it shall be required strictly to comply with all of the terms of the Loan Documents on and after the date hereof.
iv)    Ratification and Reaffirmation.  Borrower hereby ratifies and reaffirms the Obligations, each of the 

Loan Documents and all of Borrower's covenants, duties, indebtedness and liabilities under the Loan Documents.
v)    Acknowledgments and Stipulations.  Borrower acknowledges and stipulates that the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents executed by Borrower are legal, valid and binding obligations of Borrower that are enforceable against Borrower in accordance with the terms thereof; all of the Obligations are owing and payable without defense, offset or counterclaim (and to the extent there exists any such defense, offset or counterclaim on the date hereof, the same is hereby waived by Borrower); the security interests and liens granted by Borrower in favor of Lender are duly perfected, first priority security interests and liens; and (i) the unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Loans on and as of November 2, 2011, totaled $-0-, and (ii) the unpaid principal amount of the Term Loan on and as of November 2, 2011, totaled $-0-.
vi)    Representations and Warranties.  Borrower represents and warrants to Lender, to induce Lender to enter into this Amendment, that no Default or Event of Default exists on the date hereof other than the Designated Default; the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of Borrower and this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by Borrower; and, except as may have been disclosed in writing by Borrower to Lender prior to the date hereof, all of the representations and warranties made by Borrower in the Loan Agreement are true and correct on and as of the date hereof.
vii)    Reference to Loan Agreement.  Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment, each reference in the Loan Agreement to "this Agreement," "hereunder," or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Loan Agreement, as amended by this Amendment.
viii)    Breach of Amendment.  This Amendment shall be part of the Loan Agreement and a breach of any representation, warranty or covenant herein shall constitute an Event of Default.
ix)    Condition Precedent.  The effectiveness of the amendment contained in Section 2 hereof and the waiver contained in Section 3 hereof is subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions precedent, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, unless satisfaction thereof is specifically waived in writing by Lender:
(a)    Lender shall have received this Amendment, duly executed and delivered by a Senior Officer of Borrower;
(b)    Lender shall have determined that there shall have been no change that could have a Material Adverse Effect on any Credit Party or Subsidiary of Borrower since the date of the most recent financial statements of such Person delivered to Lender;
(c)    Lender shall have received resolutions of Borrower, certified by a Senior Officer of Borrower, authorizing Borrower to enter into this Amendment, in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto; and
(d)    Lender shall have received the waiver and amendment fee set forth in Section 10 of this Amendment.
x)    Waiver and Amendment Fee; Expenses of Lender.  In consideration of Lender's willingness to enter into this Amendment as set forth herein, Borrower agrees to pay to Lender a waiver and amendment fee in the amount of $750 in immediately available funds on the date hereof, and Borrower irrevocably authorizes Lender to make a Revolving Loan to Borrower in the amount of such waiver and amendment fee and to disburse the proceeds of such Revolving Loan directly to itself in payment of such waiver and amendment fee.  Additionally, Borrower agrees to pay, on demand, all costs and expenses incurred by Lender in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Amendment and any other Loan Documents executed pursuant hereto and any and all amendments, modifications, and supplements thereto, including, without limitation, the costs and fees of Lender's legal counsel and any taxes or expenses associated with or incurred in connection with any instrument or agreement referred to herein or contemplated hereby.
xi)    Governing Law.  This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal 

laws of the State of Georgia.
xii)    Successors and Assigns.  This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.
xiii)    No Novation, etc.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Amendment, nothing herein shall be deemed to amend or modify any provision of the Loan Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, each of which shall remain in full force and effect.  This Amendment is not intended to be, nor shall it be construed to create, a novation or accord and satisfaction, and the Loan Agreement as herein modified shall continue in full force and effect.
xiv)    Counterparts; Telecopied Signatures.  This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties to this Amendment on separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute one and the same agreement.  Any manually executed signature page to this Amendment delivered by a party by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be deemed to be an original signature hereto.
xv)    Further Assurances.  Borrower agrees to take such further actions as Lender shall reasonably request from time to time in connection herewith to evidence or give effect to the amendments set forth herein or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
xvi)    Section Titles.  Section titles and references used in this Amendment shall be without substantive meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the agreements among the parties hereto.
xvii)    Release of Claims.  To induce Lender to enter into this Amendment, Borrower hereby releases, acquits and forever discharges Lender, and all officers, directors, agents, employees, successors and assigns of Lender, from any and all liabilities, claims, demands, actions or causes of action of any kind or nature (if there be any), whether absolute or contingent, disputed or undisputed, at law or in equity, or known or unknown, that Borrower now has or ever had against Lender arising under or in connection with any of the Loan Documents or otherwise.  Borrower represents and warrants to Lender that Borrower has not transferred or assigned to any Person any claim that Borrower ever had or claimed to have against Lender.
xviii)    Waiver of Jury Trial.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereto each hereby waives the right to trial by jury in any action, suit, counterclaim or proceeding arising out of or related to this Amendment.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signatures begin on following page.]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed under seal and delivered by their respective duly authorized officers on the date first written above.

	
				
	ATTEST:
	 
	TRANSCEND SERVICES, INC.
	 

	 
	 
	(successor-by-merger to Medical Dictation Services, Inc.)

	 
	 
	("Borrower")
	 

	/s/ Larry Gerdes
	By:
	/s/ Lance Cornell
	 

	Chief Executive Officer
	Name:
	Lance Cornell
	 

	[CORPORATE SEAL]
	Title:
	CFO
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	REGIONS BANK
	 

	 
	 
	("Lender")
	 

	 
	By:
	/s/Scott J. Rossman
	 

	 
	Name:
	Scott J. Rossman
	 

	 
	Title:
	SVP

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