Document:

exv10w1

AMERICAN EXPRESS

RETIREMENT RESTORATION PLAN

(formerly known as the Supplemental Retirement Plan)

(As amended and restated effective as of January 1, 2011)

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 

	ARTICLE 1 HISTORY AND EFFECTIVE DATES	 	 	1	 
	Section 1.1
	 	History	 	 	1	 
	Section 1.2
	 	Effective Date	 	 	3	 
	Section 1.3
	 	Transition Rules	 	 	3	 
	Section 1.4
	 	Modification of Certain Grandfathered Benefits	 	 	3	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 2 DEFINITIONS
	 	 	 	 	4	 
	Section 2.1
	 	Definitions	 	 	4	 
	Section 2.2
	 	Qualified Plan Definitions	 	 	9	 
	Section 2.3
	 	Gender and Number	 	 	9	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 3 ADMINISTRATION	 	 	9	 
	Section 3.1
	 	Administrator	 	 	9	 
	Section 3.2
	 	Authority	 	 	9	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 4 ELIGIBILITY	 	 	9	 
	Section 4.1
	 	Eligibility	 	 	9	 
	Section 4.2
	 	Participation	 	 	10	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 5 SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS	 	 	10	 
	Section 5.1
	 	Benefits Under the RP	 	 	10	 
	Section 5.2
	 	Benefits in Excess of Limits Under the RSP	 	 	11	 
	Section 5.3
	 	Crediting of Account	 	 	15	 
	Section 5.4
	 	Supplemental Benefits Payment Election	 	 	17	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 6 ELECTIVE DEFERRALS	 	 	18	 
	Section 6.1
	 	Notification	 	 	18	 
	Section 6.2
	 	Participation	 	 	18	 
	Section 6.3
	 	Newly Eligible Employees	 	 	20	 
	Section 6.4
	 	Deferrable Compensation	 	 	20	 
	Section 6.5
	 	Deferral Benefits Election	 	 	21	 
	Section 6.6
	 	Crediting of Deferred Amounts	 	 	22	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 7 EARNINGS	 	 	23	 
	Section 7.1
	 	RP-Related Account	 	 	23	 
	Section 7.2
	 	RSP-Related Account	 	 	23	 
	Section 7.3
	 	Deferral Accounts	 	 	23	 
	Section 7.4
	 	Hypothetical Investment Method	 	 	23	 
	Section 7.5
	 	Interest Method	 	 	25	 
	Section 7.6
	 	Special Restrictions	 	 	25	 

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	ARTICLE 8 PAYMENT OF BENEFITS	 	 	26	 
	Section 8.1
	 	Supplemental Account Payments (Other than Payments Due to Death or Disability)	 	 	26	 
	Section 8.2
	 	Deferral Account Payments (Other
than Payments Due to Death or Disability)	 	 	27	 
	Section 8.3
	 	Designation of Beneficiaries	 	 	29	 
	Section 8.4
	 	Death	 	 	30	 
	Section 8.5
	 	Disability	 	 	31	 
	Section 8.6
	 	Unforeseen Emergency	 	 	31	 
	Section 8.7
	 	Company Offset	 	 	32	 
	Section 8.8
	 	Withholding	 	 	32	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 9 CHANGE IN CONTROL	 	 	32	 
	Section 9.1
	 	Change in Control	 	 	32	 
	Section 9.2
	 	Effect of Change in Control	 	 	34	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 10 CLAIMS PROCEDURES	 	 	37	 
	Section 10.1
	 	Claim	 	 	37	 
	Section 10.2
	 	Claim Decision	 	 	37	 
	Section 10.3
	 	Request for Review	 	 	38	 
	Section 10.4
	 	Review of Decision	 	 	39	 
	Section 10.5
	 	Arbitration	 	 	40	 
	Section 10.6
	 	Burden of Proof	 	 	40	 
	Section 10.7
	 	Administrator’s Sole Authority	 	 	40	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 11 AMENDMENT & TERMINATION	 	 	41	 
	Section 11.1
	 	Plan Amendment	 	 	41	 
	Section 11.2
	 	Effect of Plan Termination	 	 	41	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ARTICLE 12 GENERAL PROVISIONS	 	 	41	 
	Section 12.1
	 	Unfunded Status	 	 	41	 
	Section 12.2
	 	Non-Transferable	 	 	41	 
	Section 12.3
	 	No Right to Continued Employment	 	 	41	 
	Section 12.4
	 	Plan Benefits Not Compensation Under Employee Benefit Plans	 	 	41	 
	Section 12.5
	 	Compliance with Section 409A	 	 	42	 
	Section 12.6
	 	No Guarantee of Tax Consequences	 	 	42	 
	Section 12.7
	 	Limitations on Liability	 	 	42	 
	Section 12.8
	 	Severability	 	 	43	 
	Section 12.9
	 	Captions	 	 	43	 
	Section 12.10
	 	Governing Law	 	 	43	 

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AMERICAN EXPRESS

RETIREMENT RESTORATION PLAN

(formerly known as the Supplemental Retirement Plan)

(As amended and restated effective as of January 1, 2011)

ARTICLE 1

HISTORY AND EFFECTIVE DATES

     Section 1.1 History.

          (a) On November 26, 1973, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of American Express Company
(“Amex”) authorized and approved the adoption of the American Express Supplementary Pension Plan
(the “Plan”) to supplement retirement benefits provided under the American Express Retirement Plan
and other retirement and savings plans sponsored by Amex for a select group of management or highly
compensated individuals.

          (b) On July 1, 1994, the Board authorized and directed the amendment and restatement of the
Plan pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 thereof. The Plan was amended and restated generally
effective March 1, 1995, and renamed the American Express Company Supplemental Retirement Plan.
The Plan was subsequently amended through December 31, 2004.

          (c) On July 25, 2005, the Board amended and restated the Plan (immediately prior to such
amendment and restatement, the “Prior Plan”), effective January 1, 2005. Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, Participants who were in “pay status” as of January 1, 2005 continue to
have the payment of their benefits governed solely by the terms of the Prior Plan; provided,
however, that effective with payments made in calendar year 2006 and thereafter, payments other
than monthly annuity payments which would have been made on April 1 of any year under the Prior
Plan are made on July 1 of such year. Participants who were not in “pay status” as of January 1,
2005 are governed from and after such date by the terms of the Plan, as amended and restated, and
as further amended and restated from time to time. For purposes of this section, a Participant was
in “pay status” as of January 1, 2005 if he or she was entitled to benefits under the Plan as of
January 1, 2005, with payments scheduled to begin on or before April 1, 2005.

          (d) Effective as of October 1, 2005, Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (“AFI”) ceased to be a
participating employer in Amex’s tax-qualified retirement plans and the components of such plans
covering AFI participants were transferred to new plans established by AFI in a transaction that
complied with Section 414(l) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). In
connection with that transaction, the component of the Plan covering AFI participants was similarly
transferred, and active and retired AFI participants and AFI beneficiaries ceased participation in
and no longer have any benefits under the Plan.

 

 

          (e) Generally effective July 1, 2007, benefit accruals under the American Express Retirement
Plan, as amended (the “RP”) were ceased. In addition, generally effective as of July 1, 2007, Amex
adopted certain changes to the American Express Incentive Savings Plan, as amended, and renamed
such plan the American Express Retirement Savings Plan (the “RSP”).

          (f) On January 22, 2007, the Board amended and restated the Plan, generally effective July 1,
2007, to reflect the changes made to the RP and the RSP, to allow for the elective deferral of
compensation under the Plan, and to rename the Plan the American Express Supplemental Retirement
Plan.

          (g) On November 19, 2007, the Compensation and Benefits Committee (the “CBC”) approved the
First Amendment to the American Express Supplemental Retirement Plan (the “First Amendment”) to
provide for the payment of Plan benefits to employees of American Express Bank who would be
transferring to the buyer in the sale transaction.

          (h) In November 2007, the Employee Benefits Administration Committee (“EBAC”), pursuant to the
authority delegated to it, approved the amendment and restatement of the Plan to reflect certain
non-material amendments thereto. On November 19, 2007, the CBC approved an amendment to the Plan
to provide for accelerated vesting of ROE interest on Deferral Benefits upon the death or
disability of a Participant. Effective December 31, 2007, the Executive Vice President of Human
Resources, pursuant to the authority delegated to him, approved the amendment and restatement of
the Plan to reflect the amendments approved by EBAC and the CBC.

          (i) Effective March 29, 2008, the Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Global
Compensation & Benefits, pursuant to the authority delegated to him, added a new Section 4.4(b)(v)
and amended Section 4.5(c) to make certain changes related to the acquisition of GE Corporate
Payment Services.

          (j) On July 15, 2008, the Vice President of Global Benefits, pursuant to the authority
delegated to him, amended Section 4.4(c) of the Plan to clarify the calculation of Company
Contributions for Additional Years of Service.

          (k) The Plan was amended and restated, effective January 1, 2009, by the Vice President of
Global Benefits, pursuant to the authority delegated to him, to incorporate the prior amendments
made to the Plan during 2008, to make the changes necessary or advisable for compliance with
Section 409A of the Code and the treasury regulations and other official guidance issued
thereunder, and to make certain other non-material amendments to the Plan.

          (l) The Plan was amended and restated, effective March 30, 2009, by the Senior Vice President
Global Compensation and Benefits, pursuant to the authority delegated to him, (i) to cease certain
Company matching contributions and certain Company conversion contributions for the pay period
commencing March 30, 2009 through the pay period ending January 3, 2010, and (ii) to disregard the
temporary salary reductions in effect for the pay period commencing March 30, 2009 through the pay
period ending on January 3, 2010, for purposes of determining a Participant’s “Compensation” with
respect to crediting his or her RSP-Related Account.

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          (m) The Plan was amended and restated, effective December 1, 2009, by the Vice President of
Global Benefits, pursuant to the authority delegated to him, (i) to expand the class of employees
eligible to receive SRP-RSP benefits, and (ii) to remove PG Awards as compensation eligible for
elective deferrals.

          (n) The Plan was amended and restated, effective January 1, 2011 except as otherwise stated,
by the Senior Vice President Global Compensation & Benefits, pursuant to the authority delegated to
him by the Compensation and Benefits Committee, to require Participants to defer salary or bonus in
order to receive Company Matching Contributions that cannot be provided under the RSP due to the
limitations of Section 401(a)(17) of the Code, to eliminate tax gross-up provisions in connection
with a Change in Control, to make changes with respect to the Plan’s investment crediting process,
to alter certain procedures regarding distributions, and to rename the Plan as the American Express
Retirement Restoration Plan.

          (o) The Plan has remained in effect since its adoption and has been construed and operated as
a “top-hat plan” under Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3), and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and Section 2520.104-23 of the United States Department
of Labor Regulations.

     Section 1.2 Effective Date. Except as expressly provided otherwise herein, the Plan as
amended and restated hereby is generally effective January 1, 2011.

     Section 1.3 Transition Rules. Each Participant’s accrued benefit under the Prior Plan as of
December 31, 2004 (“Grandfathered Benefits”) was determined by the Administrator in accordance with
Section 409A of the Code and Notice 2005-1. Grandfathered Benefits are governed by and
administered in accordance with the Prior Plan, provided, however, that any election with respect
to Grandfathered Benefits may not materially modify the rights, terms or conditions of the Prior
Plan; and provided, further, that effective October 27, 2010, earnings credits on Grandfathered
Benefits will be administered in accordance with Article 7 of this Plan; and finally, provided that
in the event of a Change in Control, additional earnings credits due as a result of the Change in
Control under the terms of the Prior Plan shall be credited at the AFR a defined herein. All other
benefits have been governed by and administered solely in accordance with the Plan, as amended and
restated from time to time.

          Effective January 1, 2011, the Formerly Grandfathered Benefits lost their Grandfathered
Benefits status and will be distributed in accordance with Section 1.4 below. All other
Grandfathered Benefits (including any remaining Grandfathered Benefits attributable to
Degrandfathered Participants) shall continue to be Grandfathered Benefits.

     Section 1.4 Modification of Certain Grandfathered Benefits.

          (a) Effective January 1, 2011, the Formerly Grandfathered Benefits of each Degrandfathered
Participant which are not scheduled to be in pay status by December 31, 2016 shall be payable in a
lump sum on March 1, 2012 unless otherwise elected pursuant to Section 1.4(b). Formerly
Grandfathered Benefits which are scheduled for payment on March 1, 2012 will be credited with
earnings under the Interest Credit Method through December 31, 2011, provided, however, that if a
Participant becomes an Executive Officer, earnings credited to

3

 

such Participant’s Formerly Grandfathered Benefits shall not exceed the AFR (except to the extent
earnings in excess of the AFR have been paid out prior to the Participant’s becoming an Executive
Officer). For the portion of 2012 prior to the date of payment, earnings on Formerly Grandfathered
Benefits shall be credited with earnings at the AFR.

          (b) On or before December 31, 2010, each Degrandfathered Participant may elect to have his or
her formerly Grandfathered Benefits paid to him or her on a specified date (which must be a January
1 or July 1) that is no earlier than July 1, 2017 (or as soon thereafter as administratively
practicable, but no later than 90 days); provided that a Degrandfathered Participant who makes such
an election and experiences a Separation From Service prior to the selected specified date shall
have benefits paid as of the later of (i) July 1, 2017 or (ii) the January 1st or July
1st which is at least six months following his or her Separation from Service (or, in
either case, as soon thereafter as administratively practicable, but no later than 90 days). In
any event, such subsequent election shall not become effective until January 1, 2012. If a
Degrandfathered Participant files an election to delay payment, his or her Formerly Grandfathered
Benefits will be credited with earnings under the Interest Credit Method through December 31, 2011,
provided, however, that if a Participant becomes an Executive Officer, earnings credited to such
Participant’s Formerly Grandfathered Benefits shall not exceed the AFR (except to the extent
earnings in excess of the AFR have been paid out prior to the Participant’s becoming an Executive
Officer). Such Formerly Grandfathered Benefits shall transition to the Hypothetical Investment
Method as of January 1, 2012.

ARTICLE 2

DEFINITIONS

     Section 2.1 Definitions. As used in the Plan, the following terms have the meanings indicated
below:

          (a) “Account” means, with respect to a Participant, his or her Deferral Account and
Supplemental Account, collectively.

          (b) “Administrator” means the Employee Benefits Administration Committee, including
any individual(s) to whom the Employee Benefits Administration Committee delegates authority under
the Plan, or such other committee or individual(s) authorized to act as the Administrator by the
Committee.

          (c) “Affiliate” means any corporation or other trade or business under common control
with Amex, as further defined in the Qualified Retirement Plans.

          (d) “AFR” means 120% of the applicable federal long-term rate for December of the
prior Plan Year, as prescribed under Section 1274(d) of the Code.

          (e) “Band 50 Determination Date” means, for each Plan Year, the date in the prior Plan
Year selected by the Administrator during such prior Plan Year as the determination date for
determining whether an Employee is in Band 50 or above.

4

 

          (f) “Base Salary” means the compensation of the Participant for the applicable period
from the Company, including amounts which would have been paid to a Participant but which instead
are contributed by the Company to an employee benefit plan pursuant to a salary reduction agreement
and which are not includible in the gross income of the Participant under Sections 125, 132(a)(5),
132(f)(4), 402 or 403(b) of the Code. When used herein, the term “Base Salary” includes, but is
not limited to, the following: regular earnings, shift differential, holiday earnings, regular
earnings adjustments, vacation, company holidays, personal holidays, discretionary holidays,
Company-paid health-related time off, Company-paid workers compensation consisting of pay for
services provided, purchased vacation, termination vacation, and pay in lieu of notice. “Base
Salary” shall not include lump-sum severance pay, imputed income, long-term incentive pay, special
awards pay, non-qualified deferred compensation, amounts classified hereunder as Incentive Pay,
bonuses other than incentive pay, serial severance pay, and Company contributions to other employee
benefit plans or to fringe benefit plans.

          (g) “Beneficiary” means the individual or entity designated by a Participant in
accordance with procedures established by the Administrator to receive the Participant’s
Supplemental Account or Deferral Account in the event of the Participant’s death.

          (h) “Benefits” means, with respect to a Participant, his or her Deferral Benefits and
Supplemental Benefits, collectively.

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

          (j) “Committee” means the Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Board, or such
successor committee as may be designated by the Board.

          (k) “Company” means Amex, any of its subsidiaries and any Affiliates which have become
participating employers in a Qualified Retirement Plan.

          (l) “Deferral Account” means, with respect to a Participant for a given Plan Year, the
book reserve account established by Amex for the Participant for such Plan Year pursuant to Section
6.6.

          (m) “Deferral Benefits” means, with respect to a Participant, the benefits credited
under the Plan with respect to amounts withheld at the Participant’s election from a Participant’s
compensation which would otherwise have been paid in cash, as adjusted for earnings and losses
pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

          (n) “Deferral Benefits Eligibility Date” shall mean January 1, in the case of a
Participant eligible to participate in the Plan as of January 1 of a Plan Year, and otherwise shall
mean the date as of which the Participant first earns amounts from which Deferral Benefits can be
withheld under the rules set forth in Section 6.2.

          (o) “Deferral Election” means, with respect to a given Plan Year, an election made by
an eligible Employee with respect to his or her Deferral Benefits for such Plan Year under Article
6.

5

 

          (p) “Deferral Plan” means:

               (i) for Plan Years ending on or before December 31, 2007, the American Express Salary Deferral
Plan, the American Express Pay-for-Performance Deferral Programs and any other similar
non-qualified plans for the deferral of compensation available in such Plan Years; and

               (ii) for Plan Years beginning on or after January 1, 2008, the elective account balance
nonqualified deferred compensation component of this Plan and such other non-qualified plans or
arrangements for the deferral of compensation as determined by the Administrator, in its sole
discretion.

          (q) “Degrandfathered Participant” means a Participant who had Grandfathered Benefits
immediately prior to October 27, 2010 which are not scheduled to be in pay status by December 31,
2016 and is (i) a Non-Executive Officer as of October 27, 2010 and (ii) not scheduled to be
Retirement Eligible by December 31, 2013. By way of clarification, no person who is a Retiree as
of October 27, 2010 shall be a Degrandfathered Participant.

          (r) “Disability” has the meaning given such term by Section 409A. Whether a
Participant has a Disability shall be determined in accordance with Section 409A and the Policy.

          (s) “Employee” means an elected or appointed officer of the Company or any other
individual whom the Administrator identifies as an employee of the Company, and whose compensation
is reported on a Form W-2, regardless of whether the use of such form is subsequently determined to
be erroneous.

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

          (u) “Executive Officer” means an employee in Band 99 as of October 27, 2010; provided,
however, that if a person becomes a Band 99 employee after such date, such person will be
considered an Executive Officer for purposes of Section 7.3 as of the date he becomes a Band 99
employee.

          (v) “Formerly Grandfathered Benefits” means Benefits which were Grandfathered Benefits
as of October 27, 2010, (i) which are not scheduled to be in pay status by December 31, 2016 and
(ii) which are attributable to Degrandfathered Participants. As of January 1, 2011, Formerly
Grandfathered Benefits attributable to Degrandfathered Participants shall no longer be
Grandfathered Benefits governed by the Prior Plan, but rather shall become benefits subject to the
terms of this Plan as of such date (as amended from time to time).

          (w) “Incentive Pay” means overtime, annual incentive cash awards from the American
Express Company 2007 Incentive Compensation Plan and the 1998 Incentive Compensation Plan, and the
amounts listed on Schedule B. “Incentive Pay” shall not include lump-sum severance pay, imputed
income, long-term incentive pay, special awards pay, non-qualified deferred compensation, amounts
classified hereunder as Base Salary, bonuses other than incentive pay, serial severance pay, and
Company contributions to other employee benefit plans or to fringe benefit plans.

6

 

          (x) “Investment Committee” shall mean the Retirement Savings Plan Investment
Committee.

          (y) “Minimum Schedule Rate” means, for a calendar year, the “Below ROE Target Range”
rate for such calendar year under the metric set forth in Schedule A, as in effect for that
calendar year.

          (z) “Moody’s A Rate” means, for a calendar year, the average corporate bond yield rate
for such calendar year, as announced by Moody’s Investor Services for borrowers rated “A.”

          (aa) “Non-Executive Officer” means a Participant who is not an Executive Officer or a
Retiree.

          (bb) “Participant” means an Employee who accrues benefits under the Plan.

          (cc) “Plan Year” means,

               (i) for Supplemental Benefits under Article 5, the calendar year with reference to which
benefits are determined under the Qualified Retirement Plan; and

               (ii) for Deferral Benefits under Article 6, the specified calendar year.

          (dd) “Policy” means the American Express Section 409A Compliance Policy, as amended
from time to time, and any successor policy thereto.

          (ee) “Post-2010 Deferral Benefits” means Deferral Benefits (representing dollars
deferred pursuant to a Participant’s Deferral Election, adjusted for all earnings and losses under
the Plan) which are attributable to compensation earned by the Participant in 2011 and subsequent
Plan Years.

          (ff) “Pre-2011 Deferral Benefits” means Deferral Benefits (representing dollars
deferred pursuant to a Participant’s Deferral Election, adjusted for all earnings and losses under
the Plan) which are attributable to compensation earned by the Participant in 2010 and prior Plan
Years (regardless of when an amount deferred would otherwise have been paid in cash).

          (gg) “Qualified Retirement Plan” means the RP and/or the RSP, as the context may
imply.

          (hh) “Retiree” means a Participant who, as of October 27, 2010, was not an Executive
Officer, and (i) who as of October 27, 2010, has had a Retirement, or (ii) who is receiving serial
separation pay or has signed a separation agreement as of October 27, 2010 and will be Retirement
Eligible on or before the last day of the separation period.

          (ii) “Retirement” means a voluntary Separation from Service by a Participant who is
Retirement Eligible on the date of such Separation from Service.

7

 

          (jj) “Retirement Eligible” means, with respect to a Participant, he or she is age 55
or older with ten or more actual or deemed years of service with the Company. By way of
clarification, “deemed years of service” shall be honored for this purpose only if granted by the
time the Participant becomes a Participant.

          (kk) “RP-Related Account” means, with respect to a Participant, the book reserve
account established by the Company for the Participant pursuant to Section 5.1.

          (ll) “RSP-Related Account” means, with respect to a Participant, the book reserve
account established by the Company for the Participant pursuant to Section 5.2.

          (mm) “RSP Match Percentage” means, with respect to a Participant for a Plan Year, the
maximum Company Matching Contribution percentage that would be utilized for purposes of the RSP for
such Participant for the Plan Year if the Participant had made the maximum Elective Contribution
under the RSP for the Plan Year.

          (nn) “Schedule Rate” means, for a calendar year, the applicable rate for such calendar
year determined under the metric set forth in Schedule A, as in effect for that calendar year.

          (oo) “Section 401(a)(17) Limitation” refers to the limitation on the dollar amount of
Compensation which may be taken into account under the Qualified Retirement Plans under Section
401(a)(17) of the Code.

          (pp) “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code, together with the treasury
regulations and other official interpretations or guidance issued thereunder.

          (qq) “Section 415 Limitations” refers to the limitations on benefits for defined
benefit pension plans and defined contribution plans which are imposed by Section 415 of the Code.

          (rr) “Separation from Service” has the meaning given such term by Section 409A.
Whether a Participant has a Separation from Service shall be determined in accordance with Section
409A and the Policy.

          (ss) “Severance Plan” means, collectively, (A) the American Express Senior Executive
Severance Plan, effective January 1, 1994, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2009, and
as further amended from time to time, and any successor plan thereto, (B) the American Express
Severance Pay Plan, effective January 1, 1987, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2009,
and as further amended from time to time, and any successor plan thereto, and (C) the American
Express Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Plan effective as of May l, 2009, as amended from time to
time, and any successor plan thereto.

          (tt) “Supplemental Account” means, with respect to a Participant, his or her
RP-Related Account and RSP-Related Account, collectively.

          (uu) “Supplemental Benefits” means, with respect to a Participant, the benefits under
his or her Supplemental Account.

8

 

          (vv) “Supplemental Distribution” means a distribution to a Participant from his or her
Supplemental Account.

          (ww) “Supplemental Election” means the election made by a Participant with respect to
his or her Supplemental Account under Section 5.4.

          (xx) “Unforeseeable Emergency” means a severe financial hardship of the Participant
resulting from (i) an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse or the
Participant’s dependent (as defined in Section 152 of the Code, without regard to paragraphs
(b)(1), (b)(2) and (d)(1)(b) thereof), (ii) a loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty,
or (iii) such other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of
events beyond the control of the Participant, all as determined by the Administrator based on the
relevant facts and circumstances and in accordance with Section 409A.

     Section 2.2 Qualified Plan Definitions. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in the Plan
shall have the same meaning set forth in the related Qualified Retirement Plan, to the extent
applicable, as the context may imply.

     Section 2.3 Gender and Number. All pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to
refer to the masculine, feminine, or neuter, as the identity of the person or persons may require.
For all purposes of the Plan, where the context admits, the singular shall include the plural, and
the plural shall include the singular.

ARTICLE 3

ADMINISTRATION

     Section 3.1 Administrator. The Plan shall be administered by the Administrator.

     Section 3.2 Authority. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee (subject to the
limitation on the Committee’s authority under Section 10.7), the Administrator shall have full
power, authority and discretion to interpret, construe and administer the Plan, and such
interpretation and construction thereof and actions taken thereunder shall be binding on all
persons for the purposes so stated by the Administrator. The Administrator may correct any defect,
supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan in the manner and to the extent the
Administrator deems necessary or desirable. In the event of a mathematical or accounting error
made, or other similar mistake, the Administrator shall have power in its discretion to cause such
equitable adjustments to be made to correct for such errors as it considers appropriate in the
circumstances. Any decision of the Administrator in the administration of the Plan shall be final
and conclusive and binding upon all Participants and Beneficiaries.

ARTICLE 4

ELIGIBILITY

     Section 4.1 Eligibility. Participation in this Plan shall be limited to Employees who meet
the requirements of Section 4.2, and shall automatically occur for such Employees,

9

 

provided that the Administrator may designate, on a case-by-case basis, Employees or
categories of Employees who shall not be eligible to participate in all or any portion of this
Plan, and provided further, that the determination of eligible Employees shall be made consistent
with the requirement that the Plan be a “top-hat” plan for purposes of ERISA.

     Section 4.2 Participation. To become a Participant in the Plan, an Employee must satisfy
Section 4.1 and:

          (a) be a participant under a Qualified Retirement Plan maintained by the Company.
Participation by an Employee in a Qualified Retirement Plan shall be determined pursuant to and in
accordance with the eligibility criteria applicable under such Qualified Retirement Plan; and

          (b) for the relevant Plan Year:

               (i) have an Account under the Plan from a prior Plan Year; or

               (ii) receive Total Pay (as defined under the RSP, without regard to the Section 401(a)(17)
Limitation) in excess of the Section 401(a)(17) Limitation; or

               (iii) be employed in Band 50 or above as of the Band 50 Determination Date in the prior Plan
Year; or

               (iv) accrue benefits under a Qualified Retirement Plan in excess of the Section 415
Limitation.

ARTICLE 5

SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS

     Section 5.1 Benefits Under the RP. If a Participant is a participant under the RP, other than
a terminated participant, the Company shall establish an RP-Related Account for such Participant,
which shall be determined as follows:

          (a) “Compensation” for RP Credits. For purposes of RP credits under this Section 5.1,
“Compensation” has the meaning given such term in the RP, provided that the Committee may, in its
discretion, designate additional or different items as Compensation for purposes of this Section
5.1. Effective with the 2003 performance year (which awards were granted in 2004) and thereafter,
“Compensation” for purposes of RP credits under this Section 5.1 shall include the value of
restricted stock awards granted to certain Participants in lieu of cash supplemental Annual
Incentive Awards.

          (b) Contribution Credits. There shall be credited to a Participant’s RP-Related
Account for each Plan Year, in accordance with Section 5.3, an amount equal to the excess, if any,
of: (x) the Contribution Credits that would have been credited to a Participant’s Defined Benefit
Account Balance under the RP for the Plan Year if the Plan’s definition of Compensation was used,
the Section 401(a)(17) Limitation was ignored, and the Participant had not elected or been required
to defer the receipt of any Compensation pursuant to a Deferral

10

 

Plan, over (y) the actual Contribution Credits credited to the Participant’s Defined Benefit
Account Balance under the RP for the Plan Year. No credits shall be made to a Participant’s
RP-Related Account pursuant to this Section 5.1(b) for any pay period ending on or after July 1,
2007.

          (c) Benefits Formula. The formula of the benefits for a Plan Year under this Section
5.1 shall be determined by the Administrator and applied in a uniform manner for all similarly
situated Participants.

          (d) Additional Years of Service.

               (i) Certain Participants, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, may be deemed
to have rendered five additional Years of Service under the Plan. For each such Participant,
subject to such terms and conditions as the Company may impose upon such benefits by special
agreement with such Participant (in the event of a conflict with this Section 5.1(d), such special
agreement shall control), an additional amount shall be credited to the Participant’s RP-Related
Account equal to the excess, if any of: (x) the total cumulative Contribution Credits that would
have been credited to the Participant’s RP-Related Account under this Section 5.1 had the
Participant rendered such additional Years of Service under the RP, over (y) the actual total
cumulative Contribution Credits credited to the Participant’s RP-Related Account under this Section
5.1 as of the date the Participant is eligible for such benefits under the Plan. Subject to the
terms of the special agreement with each such Participant, such amounts shall be calculated and
credited to the RP-Related Account established for the Participant in accordance with Section 5.3
under procedures to be determined from time to time by the Administrator and consistently applied
to similarly situated Participants. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or agreed in
a special agreement with the Participant, amounts credited under this Section 5.1(d) shall be
subject to five-year vesting, and such amounts shall be forfeited by the Participant if the
Participant’s service with the Company terminates for any reason other than death or disability (as
defined in the RP) before five years of actual service have been rendered to the Company by such
Participant.

               (ii) For each Participant with a special agreement described in Section 5.1(d)(i) who has not
accrued five Years of Service as of July 1, 2007, the Participant shall be entitled to received the
credit described in Section 5.1(d)(i) for the 2007 Plan Year as if the RP had remained in effect
through December 31, 2007, and the Participant were an active participant in the RP through such
date. Regardless of any special agreement described in Section 5.1(d)(i), a Participant shall not
be entitled to receive any credit under this Section 5.1 for the 2008 Plan Year or later.

     Section 5.2 Benefits in Excess of Limits Under the RSP. If a Participant is a participant in
the RSP, other than a terminated participant, the Company shall establish an RSP-Related Account
for such Participant, which shall be determined as follows:

          (a) “Compensation” for RSP Credits.

               (i) Definition. For purposes of RSP credits under this Section 5.2, “Compensation” has the
meaning given the term “Total Pay” in the RSP, provided that the

11

 

Committee may, in its discretion, designate additional or different items as Compensation for
purposes of this Section 5.2. Effective July 1, 2007, “Compensation” for purposes of RSP credits
under this Section 5.2 shall include the value of restricted stock awards granted to certain
Participants in lieu of cash Annual Incentive Awards, subject to the limitation set forth in
Section 5.2(a)(ii).

               (ii) Limitation. “Compensation” of a Participant who is in Band 50 or above for purposes of
RSP credits under this Section 5.2 shall not include any Incentive Pay (including the value of any
restricted stock awards granted to certain Participants in lieu of cash Annual Incentive Awards) in
excess of one times his or her Base Salary. For purposes of this provision, a Participant’s pay
band and Base Salary shall be determined as of January 1 of each Plan Year. In addition, Incentive
Pay subject to this limitation shall only be those amounts actually paid in the Plan Year,
regardless of when such amounts were earned.

               (iii) Temporary Salary Reductions Disregarded. In determining the Compensation of a
Participant for purposes of this Section 5.2, “Total Pay” under the RSP shall be determined by
disregarding the temporary salary reductions in effect for the pay period commencing March 30, 2009
through the pay period ending on January 3, 2010.

          (b) Contribution Credits. The following amounts shall be credited to the
Participant’s RSP-Related Account for each Plan Year, in accordance with Section 5.3:

               (i) Company Stock Contribution. An amount equal to: (a) one percent of the sum of: (i) the
Participant’s Compensation, calculated without the Section 401(a)(17) Limitation or Section 415
Limitations, plus (ii) that portion of a Participant’s Compensation deferred during such Plan Year
pursuant to a Deferral Plan, minus (b) the amount actually allocated as a Company Stock
Contribution to the account of the Participant under the RSP. For purposes of this Section
5.2(b)(i), the Section 401(a)(17) Limitation shall be deemed to apply pro ratably to each regularly
scheduled pay period for each Plan Year. No credits shall be made to a Participant’s RSP-Related
Account pursuant to this Section 5.2(b)(i) for any pay period ending on or after July 1, 2007.

               (ii) Company Profit-Sharing Contribution. An amount equal to: (a) the Company Profit-Sharing
Contribution percentage utilized for purposes of the RSP for that Plan Year for such Participant
times the sum of: (i) the Participant’s Compensation, calculated without the Section 401(a)(17)
Limitation or Section 415 Limitations, plus (ii) that portion of a Participant’s Compensation
deferred during such Plan Year pursuant to a Deferral Plan, minus (b) the amount actually allocated
as a Company Profit-Sharing Contribution to the Account of the Participant under the RSP. Unless
otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, benefits credited under this Section 5.2(b)(ii) at the
time of a Supplemental Distribution shall be restricted to a Participant’s vested portion, as
determined under the applicable provisions of the RSP. Any non-vested portion of such deferred
compensation to be paid shall be forfeited.

               (iii) Company Matching Contribution.

                    (A) Before March 15, 2005, an amount equal to that portion of the Company Matching
Contribution that would have been contributed and allocated to the

12

 

account of a Participant by the Company as a Matching Contribution on behalf of a Participant,
(a) to the extent such contribution is limited by the Section 401(a)(17) Limitation or Section 415
Limitations, minus such amount allocated as a Matching Contribution to the account of the
Participant under the RSP, and (b) with respect to that portion of a Participant’s Compensation
deferred pursuant to a Deferral Plan, and assuming (i) such portion had not been deferred and (ii)
the Participant had elected to make Elective Contributions under the RSP equal to three percent (or
such lesser amount if actually elected by the Participant under the RSP) of such Participant’s
compensation deferred under such Deferral Plan.

                    (B) Effective March 15, 2005 through December 31, 2010, except as otherwise provided by
Section 5.2(b)(iii)(C), a Company matching contribution, whether or not the Participant actually
elects to defer Compensation under the RSP, equal to the Participant’s RSP Match Percentage for the
Plan Year multiplied by the sum of: (i) that portion of the Participant’s Compensation which was
deferred during the Plan Year pursuant to a Deferral Plan, and (ii) that portion of the
Participant’s Compensation (not including the amounts deferred as described in clause (i) above) in
excess of the Section 401(a)(17) Limitation, shall be contributed and allocated to the Account of a
Participant by the Company as a matching contribution on behalf of such Participant; provided,
however, for purposes of this Company matching contribution, Compensation shall not be subject to
the Section 401(a)(17) Limitation. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, benefits
credited under this Section 5.2(b)(iii) at the time of a Supplemental Distribution shall be
restricted to a Participant’s vested portion, as determined under the applicable provisions of the
RSP. Any non-vested portion of such deferred compensation to be paid shall be forfeited.

                    (C) No Company matching contributions shall be made for the pay period commencing March 30,
2009 through the pay period ending January 3, 2010 to any Participant; provided, however, the
preceding limitation shall not apply to Participants who are Former GE Employees (as defined by
Section 5.2(b)(iv)). For the avoidance of doubt, when Company matching contributions resumed after
the pay period ending on January 3, 2010, such contributions were resumed in the same amount as in
effect immediately prior to the pay period beginning on March 30, 2009; provided, however, that the
Company continued to retain the right to modify, amend or terminate the Plan and any contributions
thereunder at any time for any reason whatsoever. Effective for Compensation paid on or after
January 1, 2011, Matching Contributions will be calculated solely in accordance with Section
5.2(b)(iii)(D).

                    (D) Effective with Compensation paid on or after January 1, 2011:

                         (i) Each eligible Participant who meets the eligibility requirements for a Qualified Matching
Contribution (or other type of matching contribution) under the RSP (but without regard to whether
or not he or she contributes under the RSP) shall receive a Matching Contribution each Plan Year
equal to the Participant’s salary reduction amount (from Base Salary, Incentive Pay or a
combination of both) contributed pursuant to a Deferral Election under Article 6 for such Plan Year
(up to a maximum of five percent of the Participant’s Compensation which is not counted under the
RSP either because it is in excess of the Section 401(a)(17) Limitation for the Plan Year or
because it has been deferred under a Deferral Plan). Compensation for this purpose will not
include amounts paid prior to a

13

 

Participant’s Entry Date under the RSP with respect to Qualified Matching Contributions (or
other type of matching contributions, as applicable). Solely with respect to Incentive Pay paid in
2011, the Matching Contribution will be calculated by applying the formula set forth in this
paragraph but assuming that the Participant elected to defer five percent of any such Incentive Pay
payment to the extent the Participant’s Compensation has exceeded the Section 401(a)(17) Limitation
(counting Base Salary first, for this purpose) or been disregarded due to deferral under a Deferral
Plan, regardless of the Participant’s actual election.

                         (ii) Separately from any Matching Contribution calculated under (i), a Participant will be
provided a Matching Contribution equal to the amount of Qualified Matching Contribution (or other
type of matching contribution) that would have been provided to the Participant under the RSP, but
was not able to be provided solely on account of the limitations of Section 415 of the Code.

                         (iii) The vesting of Matching Contributions will parallel the vesting rules applicable under
the RSP.

               (iv) Company Conversion Contribution.

                    (E) Except as otherwise provided by Section 5.2(b)(D)(iii)(F), an amount equal to: (a) the
Company Conversion Contribution percentage utilized for purposes of the RSP for that Plan Year for
such Participant times the sum of: (i) the Participant’s Compensation, calculated without the
Section 401(a)(17) Limitation or Section 415 Limitations, plus (ii) that portion of a Participant’s
Compensation deferred during such Plan Year pursuant to a Deferral Plan, minus (b) the amount
actually allocated as a Company Conversion Contribution to the Account of the Participant under the
RSP. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, benefits credited under this Section
5.2(b)(D)(iii) at the time of a Supplemental Distribution shall be restricted to a Participant’s
vested portion, as determined under the applicable provisions of the RSP. Any non-vested portion
of such deferred compensation to be paid shall be forfeited.

                    (F) No Company conversion contributions were made for the pay period commencing March 30, 2009
through the pay period ending January 3, 2010 to any Participant; provided, however, the preceding
limitation did not apply to Participants who were Retirement Eligible as of December 31, 2009. For
the avoidance of doubt, when Company conversion contributions resumed after the pay period ending
on January 3, 2010, such contributions resumed in the same amount as in effect immediately prior to
the pay period beginning on March 30, 2009; provided, however, that the Company continued to retain
the right to modify, amend or terminate the Plan and any contributions thereunder at any time for
any reason whatsoever.

               (iv) Transition Contributions for Certain Former GE Capital Employees. For those Participants
who were hired directly pursuant to the requirements of the Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of
March 26, 2008, among General Electric Capital Corporation, GE Capital Financial Inc., General
Electric Company, American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. and American Express Bank,
FSB (the “Former GE Employees”), an amount equal to: (a) the Transition Contribution percentage
utilized for

14

 

purposes of the RSP for that Plan Year for such Participant times the sum of: (i) the
Participant’s Compensation, calculated without the Section 401(a)(17) Limitation or Section 415
Limitations, plus (ii) that portion of a Participant’s Compensation deferred during such Plan Year
pursuant to a Deferral Plan, minus (b) the amount actually allocated as a Transition Contribution
to the Account of the Participant under the RSP. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an individual
would be eligible for both Company Conversion Contributions under Section 5.2(b)(iii)(D)(iii) and
Transition Contributions under this Section 5.2(b)(iv), such individual shall only receive the
greater of the Company Conversion Contributions and the Transition Contributions to which he or she
would otherwise be entitled during such period of dual eligibility. Unless otherwise expressly
provided in the Plan, benefits credited under this Section 5.2(b)(iv) at the time of a Supplemental
Distribution shall be restricted to a Participant’s vested portion, as determined under the
applicable provisions of the RSP. Any non-vested portion of such deferred compensation to be paid
shall be forfeited. The right to Transition Contributions under this Section shall expire at the
same time as the right to Transition Contributions under the RSP.

               (v) No Disability Contributions. The RSP provides for certain contributions to be made on
account of qualifying RSP participants who are “disabled” as defined under the RSP. For the
avoidance of doubt, this Plan does not provide for such continuing contributions on account of a
disability.

          (c) Company Contribution for Additional Years of Service. Certain Participants, as
determined by the Company in its sole discretion, may be deemed to have rendered five additional
Years of Service under the RSP. For each such Participant, for the period of January 1, 2008 and
thereafter, subject to such terms and conditions as the Company may impose upon such benefits by
special agreement with such Participant (in the event of a conflict with this Section 5.2(c), such
special agreement shall control), an additional amount shall be credited to the Participant’s
RSP-Related Account equal to 80 percent (or such lower percentage specified in the special
agreement) of the Participant’s annual rate of base salary (as of the Participant’s date of hire),
before any reduction for any amounts deferred by the Participant pursuant to Section 401(k) or
Section 125 of the Code, or pursuant to a Deferral Plan or any other non-qualified plan which
permits the voluntary deferral of compensation. Subject to the terms of the special agreement with
each such Participant, such amounts shall be calculated under procedures to be determined from time
to time by the Administrator and consistently applied to similarly situated Participants. Unless
otherwise determined by the Administrator or agreed in the special agreement with the Participant,
amounts credited under this Section 5.2(c) shall be subject to five-year vesting, and such amounts
shall be forfeited by the Participant if the Participant’s service with the Company terminates for
any reason other than death or disability (as defined in the RSP) before five years of actual
service have been rendered to the Company by such Participant. Amounts described in this Section
5.2(c) shall be credited to the RSP-Related Account established for the Participant in accordance
with Section 5.3.

     Section 5.3 Crediting of Account.

          (a) Time and Manner. Amounts described in this Article 5 shall be credited to the
Supplemental Account established for a Participant at such times and in such manner as may be
determined by the Administrator. In making such credits, the Administrator shall generally attempt
to, but shall not be required to, credit accounts at a time and in a manner as similar as

15

 

possible to the time and manner for the crediting of similar amounts under the Qualified
Retirement Plans; provided, however, that:

               (i) unless the Administrator determines otherwise, amounts credited to a Supplemental Account
with respect to the application of the Section 415 Limitations to the RP shall be estimated by the
Administrator at the time of a Participant’s Separation from Service, based on such assumptions as
the Administrator may reasonably impose and consistently applied to similarly situated
Participants, and assuming that the Participant would begin receiving benefits under the RP at the
time of the Participant’s Separation from Service, or if later, at the earliest possible date that
the Participant could start to receive benefits under the RP, and such estimated amount shall be
credited immediately preceding the date upon which the Participant will receive (or commence
receiving, in the case of installment payments) payment of benefits under the Plan; and

               (ii) unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or agreed in a special agreement with a
Participant, amounts credited to a Supplemental Account pursuant to Section 5.2(c) shall be
determined as of and credited on the one-year anniversary of the later of the date of the special
agreement or the first day of the Participant’s employment by the Company. The Administrator shall
apply such procedures consistently to similarly situated Participants.

          (b) Company Stock Contributions. Amounts described in Section 5.2(b)(i) shall be
initially credited to the RSP-Related Account established for a Participant, to a subaccount
relating to the RSP Stock Fund (the “Stock Fund”). For purposes of the Plan, the amount of such
credits shall be determined by the Administrator in a manner determined by the Administrator to be
reasonably consistent with similar determinations made under the Stock Fund.

          (c) Other Contributions. Amounts described in Section 5.2(b)(ii) (profit-sharing
contributions), Section 5.2(b)(iii) (matching contributions), Section 5.2(b)(iii)(D)(iii)
(conversion credits), Section 5.2(b)(iv) (GE Capital transition contributions) and Section 5.2(c)
(special agreement credits) shall be credited to the RSP-Related Account established for a
Participant, which shall contain various subaccounts selected by the Administrator in its sole and
exclusive discretion, representing the various investment funds available to a Participant under
the RSP as provided for in the Plan; provided that:

               (i) if a Participant has directed RSP-Related amounts to the Stock Fund and the credits to
the RSP-Related Account of a Participant pursuant to this Section 5.3(c) to the subaccount relating
to the Stock Fund would result in the aggregate Company Stock holdings of such Participant under
the RSP-Related Account exceeding ten percent of the total value of his or her RSP-Related Account
(determined at the time of the transfer), then such Participant shall be deemed to have selected,
with respect to any such excess, the default subaccount designated by the Investment Committee for
purposes of the RSP for allocations exceeding the applicable ten-percent threshold under RSP, or if
none, such other default subaccount designated by the Investment Committee for purposes of the RSP;
and

16

 

               (ii) unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, no subaccount shall be established
under the Plan to coincide with any self-directed brokerage account which may be available under
the RSP.

          (d) Additional Accounts. The Administrator may, in its sole and exclusive discretion,
establish additional book reserve accounts from time to time. The procedures to reflect and credit
increases, decreases, interest, dividends, and other income, gains and losses shall be determined
by the Administrator in its sole and exclusive discretion.

     Section 5.4 Supplemental Benefits Payment Election. Any Supplemental Benefits payable under
the Plan shall be paid in cash from the general assets of the Company in the form elected by the
Participant subject to the following:

          (a) In accordance with rules and procedures adopted by the Administrator in compliance with
Section 409A, existing Participants, including Participants (other than those in pay status on
December 31, 2004) under the Prior Plan, may make Supplemental Elections as follows:

               (i) Participants who have not previously made an initial Supplemental Election under Section
5.4(b), whether under the Plan or under the Prior Plan, may make such an initial Supplemental
Election on or before the date set by the Administrator, which shall not be later than December 31,
2005.

               (ii) Participants who have previously made an initial Supplemental Election under Section
5.4(b), whether under the Plan or under the Prior Plan, but who have not previously modified such
election under Section 5.4(d), whether under the Plan or under the Prior Plan, may change such
Supplemental Election on or before the date set by the Administrator, which shall not be later than
December 31, 2005, to elect any payment form permissible under Section 5.4(b) and Section 409A,
regardless of whether such Supplemental Election lengthens or shortens the period over which
payments from the Plan shall be made. For the avoidance of doubt, any such distribution which
accelerates payments from the Plan shall not cause any reduction in the amounts otherwise payable
hereunder. Notwithstanding Section 5.4(d), if made on or before December 31, 2005 in accordance
with this Section 5.4(a)(ii), such subsequent Supplemental Election shall be made in accordance
with Section 409A, but, to the extent permitted under Section 409A transition guidance, need not
comply with the requirement regarding a minimum additional deferral period of five years. Any such
subsequent Supplemental Election made under this Section 5.4(a)(ii) shall constitute a modification
for purposes of the one-time limitation contained in Section 5.4(d), and no additional modification
will thereafter be permitted under Section 5.4(d).

               (iii) Employees who first become Participants after December 31, 2005 may make an initial
Supplemental Election in accordance with rules and procedures adopted by the Administrator in
compliance with Section 409A.

               (iv) Participants who have previously made both a Supplemental Election and a modification to
such Supplemental Election shall be subject to the rules of Section 5.4(d) prohibiting any further
changes to their Supplemental Elections. However, any

17

 

Participant
who was not in pay status (as defined in Section 1.1(c)) on January 1, 2005 and who previously
made a modification to an initial Supplemental Election which accelerated the time period for
payments from the Plan shall not have any reduction in the amounts otherwise payable hereunder
(notwithstanding Section V(D)(1)(b)(ii) of the Prior Plan).

          (b) A Participant may elect to receive his or her Supplemental Benefits in a single lump-sum
payment or in annual installments payable over a period of five, ten or 15 consecutive calendar
years. Except as provided in Section 5.4(d), a Participant may not modify his or her initial
Supplemental Election described in the preceding sentence. Such subsequent Supplemental Election
shall apply to the payment of all benefits under the Plan and the Prior Plan (except for benefits
that were in pay status on December 31, 2004).

          (c) If a Participant fails to make a valid, timely Supplemental Election in accordance with
Section 5.4(a) and the rules and procedures adopted by the Administrator, such Participant shall be
deemed to have made an initial Supplemental Election to receive his or her Supplemental Benefits in
the form of a single lump sum.

          (d) A Participant who has not previously modified an initial Supplemental Election may make a
one-time modification to his or her initial Supplemental Election to elect a different form of
payment for Supplemental Benefits under the Plan. To be effective, such a modification shall be
made by filing a written notice of modification in such form and manner as the Administrator may
prescribe; provided, however, that the modification must comply with Section 409A, including the
requirements regarding: (i) a minimum additional deferral period of five years, and (ii) the
subsequent Supplemental Election not being effective until 12 months after it is made. A
Participant may not change the payment method of his or her Supplemental Benefits after his or her
Separation from Service.

ARTICLE 6

ELECTIVE DEFERRALS

     Section 6.1 Notification. Employees eligible to participate in the Plan for a Plan Year with
respect to Deferral Benefits will be notified by Amex of their eligibility to participate for such
Plan Year. If Amex erroneously notifies an individual of his or her eligibility to participate,
and such individual does not meet the requirements of Section 4.2 or such individual has been
excluded by the Administrator pursuant to Section 4.1, such erroneous notification shall not cause
the individual to be eligible, and any Deferral Election made by such ineligible individual shall
be null and void and of no effect to the extent permissible under Section 409A.

     Section 6.2 Participation. An eligible Employee for a Plan Year who was a Participant in the
prior Plan Year as of the Band 50 Determination Date or who is employed in Band 50 or above as of
the Band 50 Determination Date in the prior Plan Year shall become a Participant in the Plan with
respect to Deferral Benefits for such Plan Year by making a Deferral Election in accordance with
Section 6.5 for the Plan Year. Such an Employee’s Deferral Benefits Eligibility Date for the Plan
Year shall be January 1. In addition to the foregoing, the following special rules apply to the
extent permitted by Section 6.3:

18

 

          (a) In the case of an Employee who is not already a Participant in the Plan, the Employee
shall be considered eligible to participate as of the date he or she first is employed in Band 50
or above, and shall be permitted to file an election within 30 days of such date. Such Employee’s
Deferral Benefits Eligibility Date shall be the first payroll period beginning after the expiration
of the 30 day period.

          (b) In the case of an Employee who is not already a Participant in the Plan and is not
employed in Band 50 or above, the following rules shall apply:

               (i) An Employee who was not otherwise eligible to participate in Deferral Benefits for a Plan
Year and first satisfies the requirements for participation during one of the first three quarters
of the Plan Year by reason of exceeding the Section 401(a)(17) Limitation will become eligible to
participate in Deferral Benefits under the Plan as of the first pay period beginning after the
first day of the second month of the calendar quarter immediately following the date such Employee
first receives Compensation in excess of the Section 401(a)(17) Limitation (the first day of such
pay period being the Deferral Benefits Eligibility Date), and may make an election in advance of
such date and in accordance with Section 6.3 by the deadline established by the Administrator.

               (ii) An Employee who was not otherwise eligible to participate in Deferral Benefits for a Plan
Year and first exceeds the Section 401(a)(17) Limitation in the final calendar quarter of a Plan
Year shall become eligible as follows:

                    (A) If the Employee had exceeded the Section 401(a)(17) Limitation by the Band 50
Determination Date, the Employee will become eligible effective January 1 of the following Plan
Year, which shall be such Employee’s Deferral Benefits Eligibility Date, and may participate in the
Plan’s normal election process.

                    (B) If the Employee had not exceeded the Section 401(a)(17) Limitation by the Band 50
Determination Date, the Employee shall not become eligible on January 1 of the following Plan Year,
and will not be entitled to participate in the Plan’s Deferral Election process unless he or she
otherwise qualifies. However, if the Employee exceeds the Section 401(a)(17) Limitation after the
Band 50 Determination Date but prior to January 1 of the following Plan Year, the Employee will
become eligible to participate in Deferral Benefits as of the first pay period beginning after the
first day of the second month of the first calendar quarter of such following Plan Year (the first
day of such pay period being the Deferral Benefits Eligibility Date), and may make an election in
advance of such date and in accordance with Section 6.3 by the deadline established by the
Administrator.

          (c) Except as expressly permitted under this Section, mid-year elections are not allowed. A
mid-year election may not be made, even if otherwise permitted under this Section, unless the
Employee also satisfies all the requirements of Section 6.3, and must be filed by the deadline
established by the Administrator. All Deferral Elections will become irrevocable as of the day
before the Deferral Benefits Eligibility Date, or such earlier date as is established by the
Administrator.

19

 

     Section 6.3 Newly Eligible Employees. To the extent permissible under Section 409A and
Section 6.2, Employees who become eligible to participate in the Plan during a Plan Year with
respect to Deferral Benefits and who have not previously been eligible to participate in an
elective account-balance deferred compensation arrangement (as defined for purposes of Section
409A) of Amex or its subsidiaries may be offered by Amex the opportunity to participate in the Plan
for the Plan Year in accordance with Section 6.2. In the case of an Employee who had previously
been eligible to participate in an elective account-balance deferred compensation arrangement (as
defined for purposes of Section 409A) of Amex or its subsidiaries (regardless of whether he or she
chose to do so), that Employee may be treated as newly eligible to participate and entitled to
mid-year enrollment to the extent permitted by Section 6.2 if:

          (a) The Employee had received payment of all amounts under the Plan’s Deferral Account and any
other elective account-balance plan and, as of the date of the last payment was not eligible to
continue participation in the Plan’s Deferral Benefits or any other elective account-balance plan,
disregarding for this purpose any right to delay payment; or

          (b) The Employee had ceased to be eligible to participate in Deferral Benefits under the Plan
and all other elective account-balance plans and had not been eligible to participate in Deferral
Benefits under the Plan or any other elective account-balance plan at any time during the 24-month
period ending on the date the Employee again became eligible (disregarding for purposes of
determining the Employee’s eligibility the right to accrue earnings on amounts in the Plan or other
elective account-balance plan), regardless of whether the Employee has received payments of amounts
previously deferred.

     Section 6.4 Deferrable Compensation.

          (a) Eligible Compensation.

               (i) An eligible Employee for a Plan Year may elect to defer a specified amount from one or
more of the following items:

                    (A) the Employee’s Base Salary to be paid during that Plan Year; and

                    (B) the Employee’s Incentive Pay to be paid in the second Plan Year to commence after the
election is made (excluding any amounts that would otherwise be Incentive Pay but which are earned
prior to the start of the Plan Year following the Plan Year in which the Deferral Election is
filed).

               (ii) Notwithstanding Section 6.4(a)(i), an Employee who becomes eligible to participate in the
Plan with respect to Deferral Benefits during a Plan Year who is offered the opportunity by Amex to
participate as described in Section 6.3 may only elect to defer a specified amount from one or more
of the following items:

                    (A) the Employee’s Base Salary for the Plan Year of the Deferral Election which is paid for
payroll periods beginning on and after the Employee’s Deferral Benefits Eligibility Date; and

20

 

                    (B) a portion of the Employee’s Incentive Pay to be paid in the following Plan Year,
calculated by multiplying the amount of each Incentive Pay payment made in the following Plan Year
by a percentage, such percentage to be determined by dividing the number of days remaining in the
calendar year as of the Employee’s Deferral Benefits Eligibility Date by 365 or, in the case of an
Employee hired during the performance period, by the total number of days in the performance period
measured from the date of hire.

          (b) Maximum Deferral. The Administrator shall impose the following limits on Deferral
Benefits, provided that the Administrator (in its sole discretion) may waive an otherwise
applicable limit so long as such waiver is approved no later than the day before the date a
Deferral Election becomes effective.

               (i) The Administrator shall limit the amount that may be deferred from (i) Base Pay to be paid
in the following Plan Year and (ii) Incentive Pay to be paid in the second following Plan Year,
based on the Participant’s Base Salary rate in effect as of the December 31st of the Plan Year
during which the Deferral Election is filed (or with respect to an Employee who becomes eligible to
participate in the Plan with respect to Deferral Benefits during a Plan Year, 100 percent of the
Employee’s Base Salary rate in effect as of the date he or she becomes eligible to so participate).
The Administrator shall calculate this limit by (i) subtracting the percentage of Base Salary
elected to be deferred from 100%, (ii) multiplying the Base Salary rate times the percentage
obtained under clause (i), and (iii) limiting the Incentive Pay Deferral Benefits for the second
following Plan Year to the dollar amount obtained under clause (ii). By way of clarification, a
Participant’s actual Base Salary Deferral Benefits will vary in amount, depending on actual Base
Salary paid, but shall not affect this maximum limit on Incentive Pay in the second following Plan
Year.

               (ii) All Deferral Elections shall be limited to the amount of any payment otherwise payable in
cash, net of applicable withholdings.

               (iii) The Administrator may, in its discretion, impose further limits on the amount or
percentage that can be deferred from Base Salary and/or Incentive Pay for a given Plan Year. Any
such limit will be imposed no later than the day before the date the Deferral Election takes
effect.

          (c) Computation of Deferral Amounts. The Administrator may specify that Deferral
Elections must be made as a percentage of Base Salary and Incentive Pay, respectively, as a dollar
amount of Base Salary and Incentive Pay, respectively, or in some other reasonable fashion. The
Administrator may permit the use of multiple methods of calculating Deferral Elections or require
use of a single method. The Administrator may permit Employees to specify that a Deferral Election
shall apply only to the extent that the Employee is paid amounts in excess of the Section
401(a)(17) Limitation.

     Section 6.5 Deferral Benefits Election.

          (a) Time of Deferral Election. An eligible Employee for a Plan Year who wants to
participate in the Plan with respect to Deferral Benefits for a Plan Year must make an irrevocable
Deferral Election for the Plan Year before the beginning of such Plan Year;

21

 

provided, however, that an Employee permitted under Section 6.2 to make a mid-year Deferral
Election for the Plan Year in which he or she becomes eligible to participate may make a Deferral
Election by the deadline established under that Section.

          (b) Form of Deferral Election. A Deferral Election for a Plan Year shall be made in
the manner and by the deadlines prescribed by the Administrator.

          (c) Contents of Deferral Election. In his or her Deferral Election for a Plan Year,
the Employee shall specify:

               (i) the items of his or her compensation eligible for deferral under Section 6.4(a) that the
Employee wishes to defer for the Plan Year and the amount of each such item to be deferred,
provided that the amount of all items to be deferred complies with Section 6.4(b) and any
administrative limits imposed on elections made for such Plan Year;

               (ii) in the case of an Employee in Band 50 or above as of the Band 50 Determination Date in
the prior Plan Year:

                    (A) the time when his or her Deferral Benefits for such Plan Year shall be paid, which shall
be either (A) the Retirement of the Participant, or (B) a specified date at least five years after
the last day of the Plan Year at the time of the election; and

                    (B) the form of payment of his or her Deferral Benefits for the Plan Year, which shall be (A)
a lump sum, or (B) five, ten or 15 substantially equal annual installments.

     By way of clarification, an Employee who is not in Band 50 or above as of the Band 50
Determination Deadline for the prior Plan Year may not file a special election regarding time and
form of payment for Deferral Benefits for a Plan Year. Instead, the Supplemental Election made
pursuant to Section 5.4 will also apply to such Deferral Benefits.

          (d) Withholding of Amounts Deferred. For each Plan Year, the Base Salary portion of a
Participant’s Deferral Election shall be withheld from each regularly scheduled Base Salary
payroll, and the Incentive Pay portion of a Participant’s Deferral Election shall be withheld at
the time the Incentive Pay are or otherwise would be paid to the Participant.

     Section 6.6 Crediting of Deferred Amounts. The Administrator shall establish and maintain a
Deferral Account with respect to each Participant’s Deferral Benefits. Amounts deferred by a
Participant shall be credited to the Deferral Account established for the Participant at such times
and in such manner as may be determined by the Administrator. The Administrator may divide the
Deferral Account into subaccounts for purposes of tracking earnings and losses in accordance with
Article 7.

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ARTICLE 7

EARNINGS

     Section 7.1 RP-Related Account. For each Participant, the RP-Related Account established
pursuant to Section 5.1 shall be increased by the Imputed Earnings Credit (as such term is defined
in the RP), not less frequently than annually, under procedures and at times determined by the
Administrator and consistently applied for similarly situated Participants. Such earnings shall be
credited at the same interest rate and computed in a similar manner (to the extent administratively
feasible) as Imputed Earnings Credits are computed under the RP for each Plan Year.

     Section 7.2 RSP-Related Account. A Participant’s RSP-Related Account shall be credited with
earnings under the Hypothetical Investment Method set forth below.

     Section 7.3 Deferral Accounts.

          (a) For Plan Year 2011 and later, a Participant’s Deferral Benefits for such Plan Year shall
be credited with earnings under the Hypothetical Investment Method set forth below. For the
avoidance of doubt, 2010 Incentive Pay paid in 2011 and deferred pursuant to a Deferral Election
will be considered 2010 Deferral Benefits for purposes of this Section.

          (b) For Executive Officers, such Participant’s Deferral Benefits for Plan Years prior to 2011
shall be credited with earnings under the Hypothetical Investment Method set forth below effective
for all earnings credited in any Plan Year beginning on or after January 1, 2011 and under the
Interest Method set forth below for earnings credited in 2010 and prior Plan Years; provided,
however, that earnings credited in 2010 (to the extent not paid out by October 27, 2010) will not
exceed the AFR if Amex’s ROE is Below ROE Target Range; and provided further that for those
Executive Officers who received payment in the 2010 Plan Year prior to October 27, 2010, earnings
on the amounts paid prior to October 27, 2010 were calculated based on the Interest Method without
reference to any AFR limitation.

          (c) For Non-Executive Officers, such Participant’s Deferral Benefits for Plan Years prior to
2011 shall be credited with earnings under the Interest Method set forth below through December 31,
2011; provided, however, that if a Participant becomes an Executive Officer during 2011, earnings
for 2011 credited to such Participant’s Deferral Benefits for Plan Years prior to 2011 shall not
exceed the AFR (except to the extent earnings in excess of the AFR have been paid out prior to the
Participant’s becoming an Executive Officer). For 2012 and subsequent years, the Hypothetical
Investment Method shall apply.

          (d) For Retirees, such Participant’s Deferral Benefits for Plan Years prior to 2011 shall be
credited with earnings under the Interest Method set forth below through December 31, 2012, and
under the Hypothetical Investment Method set forth below effective January 1, 2013.

     Section 7.4 Hypothetical Investment Method.

          (a) For each Participant, credits to his or her RSP-Related and Deferral Account (to the
extent subject to the Hypothetical Investment Method) shall be made to such

23

 

subaccounts thereunder as directed by such Participant, using the subaccounts described in
Section 5.3; provided, however, that with respect to Deferral Benefits attributable to Plan Years
prior to 2011, the Participant may elect to have all or some of such Deferral Benefits invested in
an investment option that credits earnings at the AFR instead of in the Stock Fund or the RSP-based
investment options, and provided further that no Participant may direct the investment of amounts
in or transfer amounts to the subaccount representing the Stock Fund to the extent that such
transfer would result in the aggregate Company Stock holdings of such Participant under the Plan
exceeding ten percent of (i) the total value of his or her Deferral Account (determined at the time
of the transfer) with respect to the investment of the Deferral Account or (ii) the total value of
his or her RSP-Related Account with respect to the investment of the RSP-Related Account. If more
than one subaccount is available, a Participant must designate, on a form or other medium
acceptable to the Administrator, in one-percent increments, the amounts to be credited to each
subaccount. A Participant shall be allowed to amend such designation consistent with the frequency
of investment changes offered the Participant under rules governing the RSP for a given Plan Year.
If a Participant has directed amounts to the Stock Fund and the credits to the relevant Account of
a Participant to the subaccount relating to the Stock Fund would result in the aggregate Company
Stock holdings of such Participant under the Plan exceeding ten percent of the total value of such
Account (determined at the time of the transfer), then such Participant shall be deemed to have
selected, with respect to any such excess, the default subaccount designated by the Investment
Committee for purposes of the RSP for allocations exceeding the applicable ten-percent threshold
under RSP, or if none, such other default subaccount designated by the Investment Committee for
purposes of the RSP. The investment of the Participant’s RSP-Related Account in the Stock Fund
likewise shall be limited in accordance with Section 5.3(c).

          (b) To the extent a Participant elects to invest in the subaccount representing the Stock
Fund, subject to Section 7.4(d), the limit on such investments set forth above, and such rules as
may be adopted by the Administrator, the performance of the book reserve subaccount established for
each Participant pursuant to Section 5.3 or Section 6.6 shall reflect the performance of the Stock
Fund. Such subaccount shall reflect such increases or decreases in value from time to time,
whether from dividends, gains, losses or otherwise, as may be experienced by the Stock Fund.
Subject to Section 7.6, and to such rules as may be adopted by the Administrator, a Participant may
elect to transfer credits among the Stock Fund and one or more subaccounts representing other
investment options in a manner similar to the rules for such transfers under the RSP; provided,
however, no Participant may transfer amounts to the subaccount representing the Stock Fund to the
extent that such transfer would violate a limit on such investment established by the Plan or the
Administrator.

          (c) To the extent the Participant does not elect (or is not permitted) to invest in the
subaccount representing the Stock Fund, subject to Section 7.4(d), and to such rules as may be
adopted by the Administrator, the performance of each book reserve subaccount established for each
Participant shall reflect the performance of the investment fund that the Participant elects to
have such subaccount represent. Each such subaccount shall reflect such increases or decreases in
value from time to time, whether from dividends, gains, losses or otherwise, as that experienced by
the related investment fund under the RSP or, in the case of the AFR investment option, as
indicated by the AFR. Subject to Section 7.6, credits to such subaccounts may be transferred to
any other subaccount under the Plan in a manner similar to the

24

 

rules for such transfers under the RSP, on such terms and at such times as permitted with
respect to the related investment funds under the RSP and such similar rules as may be established
for the AFR option, and to such rules as may be adopted by the Administrator. If a Participant
fails to affirmatively designate one or more subaccounts pursuant to this Section 7.4(c), subject
to rules established by the Administrator, such Participant shall be deemed to have selected either
a default account selected by the Administrator or, to the extent feasible and unless otherwise
directed by the Administrator, the subaccount(s) that relate to the Participant’s investment
direction under the RSP; provided, however, to the extent an Insider has directed RSP amounts to
the Stock Fund, such Insider shall be deemed to have selected the default account selected by the
Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion,
provide that one or more investment funds available under the RSP, including any self-directed
brokerage account which may be available under the RSP, shall not be available for designation
under the Plan.

          (d) Subject to Section 5.3(c), the subaccounts shall be valued subject to such reasonable
rules and procedures as the Administrator may adopt and apply to all Participants similarly
situated with an effort to value such subaccounts as if amounts designated were invested in at
similar times and in manners, subject to administrative convenience, as amounts are invested, and
subject to the same market fluctuation factors used in valuing such investments in the RSP.

     Section 7.5 Interest Method. With respect to Deferral Accounts governed by the Interest
Method:

          (a) Under the Interest Method, a Participant’s Deferral Account for a Plan Year shall be
credited with interest equivalents each calendar year at the Schedule Rate in effect for the
calendar year, subject to any limitations established under the Plan.

          (b) The amounts in such Deferral Account shall vest as follows:

               (i) Principal. The principal amount of a Participant’s Deferral Account for a Plan Year shall
be 100 percent vested at all times.

               (ii) Earnings. Until January 1, 2011, with respect to amounts credited with earnings under
the Interest Method, the earnings on a Participant’s Deferral Benefits for a Plan Year for a given
calendar year at the Minimum Schedule Rate for the calendar year shall be 100 percent vested as
such earnings are accrued and credited, and the portion of the earnings on a Participant’s Deferral
Benefits for a Plan Year for a given calendar year at the applicable Schedule Rate in excess of the
Minimum Schedule Rate for the calendar year, if any, shall become vested on the date that the
Participant becomes Retirement Eligible, or upon the earlier death or Disability of the
Participant, and thereafter as such earnings are accrued and credited. Effective December 31,
2010, all earnings amounts under the Interest Method with respect to Deferral Benefits not yet paid
out shall be fully vested.

     Section 7.6 Special Restrictions.

          (a) The provisions of this Section 7.6 shall apply to Participants who are or may be required
to file reports under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to equity

25

 

securities of Amex (“Insiders”). Such provisions shall apply during all periods that such
Participants are Insiders, including any period following cessation of Insider status during which
such Participants are required to report transactions pursuant to Rule 16a-2(b) (or its successor)
under the Exchange Act. This Section 7.6 shall be automatically applicable to any Participant who,
on and after the date hereof, becomes an Insider. For purposes of the foregoing, the effective
date of this Section 7.6 shall be the date the Participant becomes an Insider. At such time as any
Participant ceases to be an Insider (and any period contemplated by Rule 16a-2(b) has expired),
this Section 7.6 shall cease to be applicable to such Participant.

          (b) Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, (i) except as set forth below,
credits to the Account of an Insider may not be made to a subaccount that reflects the performance
of the Stock Fund, (ii) credits made to the Account of an Insider at any time may not be
transferred to a subaccount that reflects the performance of the Stock Fund and (iii) credits made
to an Insider’s Account at any time, and credits to a subaccount of an Insider that reflects the
performance of the Stock Fund (which credits could only have been made when such individual was not
an Insider) may not be transferred, withdrawn, paid out or otherwise changed, other than (a)
pursuant to the Participant’s payment election or the rules governing distribution in the event of
the Participant’s death (but only at such time as such person is no longer an Insider) or (b)
pursuant to applicable forfeiture provisions contained in the Plan.

          (c) It is intended that the crediting of amounts to the accounts of Insiders that represents
the performance of the Stock Fund is intended to qualify for exemption from Section 16 under Rule
16b-3(d) under the Exchange Act. The Administrator shall, with respect to Insiders, administer and
interpret all Plan provisions in a manner consistent with such exemption.

ARTICLE 8

PAYMENT OF BENEFITS

     Section 8.1 Supplemental Account Payments (Other than Payments Due to Death or Disability).

          (a) Subject to Section 8.1(b), payment of Supplemental Benefits shall be made as follows: (i)
if a Participant has elected (or is deemed to have elected) a lump-sum payment, it shall be made on
the first January 1 or July 1 which is at least six months following the Participant’s Separation
from Service for any reason (other than death or Disability) from the Company, or as soon
thereafter as administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90 days; and (ii) if a
Participant has elected annual installment payments, they shall begin on July 1 of the calendar
year following the Participant’s Separation from Service for any reason (other than death or
Disability) from the Company, or as soon thereafter as administratively feasible, but in no event
later than 90 days, and shall continue on each July 1 (or as soon thereafter as administratively
feasible, but in no event later than 90 days) thereafter for the period selected by the
Participant. A Participant who has experienced a Separation from Service and has begun receiving
payments as set forth above, shall continue receiving any remaining payments according to the terms
in effect on the date of his or her Separation from Service, even if later re-employed by the
Company.

26

 

          (b) If a Participant has made the one-time modification to his or her initial Supplemental
Election pursuant to Section 5.4(a)(ii) or Section 5.4(d) and such subsequent Supplemental Election
has become effective prior to the Participant’s Separation from Service, then payment of such
Participant’s Supplemental Benefits pursuant to Section 8.1(a) shall be made, or commence in the
case of annual installments, on the date that is five years later than the date such Supplemental
Benefits would otherwise be made or commence pursuant to Section 8.1(a). The rehire of a
Participant during this intervening period will not affect the payment schedule.

          (c) If a Participant has elected annual installment payments, each annual installment payment
shall be determined by multiplying the amount of the Participant’s Supplemental Benefits by a
fraction, the numerator of which is one, and the denominator is the number of remaining payments
(e.g., if the Participant elected five installments, the first annual installment payment would be
the amount of the Participant’s Supplemental Benefits multiplied by 1/5, the second annual
installment payment would be the remaining amount of the Participant’s Supplemental Benefits
multiplied by 1/4, etc.).

          (d) The payment of Supplemental Benefits to a Participant under this Section 8.1 shall be
limited to a Participant’s vested portion of his or her Supplemental Account at the time of
distribution. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, a Participant’s vested portion
shall be determined under the vesting provisions of the Qualified Retirement Plans. Any non-vested
portion of amounts credited to a Participant hereunder shall be forfeited.

     Section 8.2 Deferral Account Payments (Other than Payments Due to Death or Disability).

          (a) Generally Applicable Rules for Payment to Participants. With respect to Post-2010
Deferral Benefits, payments not made on account of death or Disability will be governed by Section
8.1 except to the extent that a Participant was eligible to make a special payment election with
respect to such Deferral Benefits pursuant to Section 6.5, in which case payment will be governed
by Section 8.2(b) or Section 8.2(c), as applicable. Pre-2011 Deferral Benefits not payable on
account of death or Disability will be paid in accordance with Section 8.2(b)(i) or Section
8.2(c)(i), as applicable.

          (b) Specified Date Elections for Employees in Band 50 or Above. If a Participant
designated a specified date as the time when some or all of the Deferral Benefits of such
Participant are to be paid, and the Participant has not had a Separation from Service, died or
become Disabled as of the specified date, then payment of the such Deferral Account shall be made
as follows:

               (i) In the case of Pre-2011 Deferral Benefits, (A) if the Participant elected a lump-sum
payment of some or all of such Deferral Benefits, it shall be made on the first March 15 or
September 15 following the specified date (or if the Participant designated March 15 or September
15 as the specified date, payment shall be made on such specified date), or as soon thereafter as
administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90 days; and (B) if the Participant elected
annual installment payments of some or all of such Deferral Benefits, payment shall begin on the
first March 15 or September 15 following the specified date (or if the Participant

27

 

designated March 15 or September 15 as the specified date, payment shall begin on such
specified date), or as soon thereafter as administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90
days, and shall continue on each March 15 (or as soon thereafter as administratively feasible, but
in no event later than 90 days) thereafter for the period selected by the Participant. If a
Participant who is to receive or has begun receiving payments in annual installments under this
Section 8.2(b)(i) experiences a Separation from Service before having received all of the annual
installments to which the Participant is entitled, then if the Participant is Retirement Eligible
at the time of his or her Separation from Service, the Participant shall receive or continue to
receive the remaining annual installment payments as scheduled, and if the Participant is not
Retirement Eligible at the time of his or her Separation from Service, then the remaining
installments shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum pursuant to Section 8.2(c)(i).

               (ii) In the case of Post-2010 Deferral Benefits, (A) if the Participant elected a lump-sum
payment of some or all of such Deferral Benefits, it shall be made on the first January 1 or July 1
coinciding with or following the specified date or as soon thereafter as administratively feasible,
but in no event later than 90 days, and (B) if the Participant elected annual installment payments
of some or all of such Deferral Benefits, payment shall begin on the first January 1 or July 1
coinciding with or following the specified date, or as soon thereafter as administratively
feasible, but in no event later than 90 days, and continue each January 1 or July 1 (as applicable)
thereafter (or as soon thereafter as administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90 days)
for the period selected by the Participant. If a Participant who is to receive or has begun
receiving payments in annual installments under this Section 8.2(b)(ii) experiences a Separation
from Service before having received all of the annual installments to which the Participant is
entitled, then the Participant shall receive or continue to receive the remaining annual
installment payments as scheduled.

          (c) Separation from Service for Employees in Band 50 or Above. If a Participant has a
Separation from Service for any reason other than death or Disability, regardless of whether the
Participant designated a later specified date as the time when some or all Deferral Benefits are to
be paid, then Deferral Benefits subject to a Deferral Election that specifies time and form of
payment under Section 6.5 will be paid as follows:

               (i) In the case of Pre-2011 Deferral Benefits:

                    (A) If a Participant is Retirement Eligible at the time of his or her Separation from Service,
then payment of the Participant’s Deferral Benefits shall be made as follows: (A) if the
Participant elected a lump-sum payment of some or all Deferral Benefits, payment of such Deferral
Benefits shall be made on the first March 15 or September 15 which is at least six months
following the Participant’s Separation from Service from the Company, or as soon thereafter as
administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90 days; and (B) if the Participant elected
annual installment payments of some or all Deferral Benefits, payment of such Deferral Benefits
shall begin on the first March 15 or September 15 which is at least six months following the
Participant’s Separation from Service from the Company, or as soon thereafter as administratively
feasible, but in no event later than 90 days, and shall continue on each March 15 (or as soon
thereafter as administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90 days) thereafter for the
period selected by the Participant. A Participant who has experienced a Separation from Service
and has begun receiving payments as set forth above, shall continue

28

 

receiving any remaining payments according to the terms in effect on the date of his or her
Separation from Service, even if later re-employed by the Company.

                    (B) If a Participant is not Retirement Eligible at the time of his or her Separation from
Service, then regardless of the Participant’s Deferral Elections, payment of all of the
Participant’s Deferral Benefits shall be made in a lump sum on the first March 15 or September 15
which is at least six months following the Participant’s Separation from Service, or as soon
thereafter as administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90 days.

               (ii) In the case of Post-2010 Deferral Benefits, upon Separation from Service, payment of the
Participant’s Deferral Benefits shall be made as follows: (A) if the Participant elected a
lump-sum payment of some or all Deferral Benefits, payment of such Deferral Benefits shall be made
on the first January 1 or July 1 which is at least six months following the Participant’s
Separation from Service from the Company, or as soon thereafter as administratively feasible, but
in no event later than 90 days; and (B) if the Participant elected annual installment payments of
some or all Deferral Benefits, payment of such Deferral Benefits shall begin on the first July 1 in
the calendar year following the Participant’s Separation from Service from the Company, or as soon
thereafter as administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90 days, and shall continue on
each July 1 (or as soon thereafter as administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90
days) thereafter for the period selected by the Participant. A Participant who has experienced a
Separation from Service and has begun receiving payments as set forth above, shall continue
receiving any remaining payments according to the terms in effect on the date of his or her
Separation from Service, even if later re-employed by the Company.

          (d) Calculation of Installments. If a Participant will receive payment of some or all
Deferral Benefits in annual installment payments, each annual installment payment shall be
determined by multiplying the amount of the Deferral Benefits being paid pursuant to such Deferral
Election by a fraction, the numerator of which is one, and the denominator of which is the number
of remaining payments (e.g., if the Participant is to receive payment of the entire amount in his
Deferral Account in five installments, the first annual installment payment would be the amount of
the Participant’s Deferral Account multiplied by 1/5, the second annual installment payment would
be the remaining amount of such Deferral Account multiplied by 1/4, etc.).

          (e) Payment Limited to Vested Amount. The payment of a Participant’s Deferral Account
for a Plan Year under this Section 8.2 shall be limited to a Participant’s vested portion of his or
her Deferral Account at the time of distribution. Any non-vested portion of amounts credited to a
Participant hereunder shall be forfeited.

     Section 8.3 Designation of Beneficiaries. A Participant may separately designate a
Beneficiary or Beneficiaries entitled to receive payment of his or her Supplemental Account and his
or her Deferral Account by filing written notice of such designation with the Administrator in such
form as the Administrator may prescribe. A Participant may revoke or modify such designation at
any time by a further written designation in such form as the Administrator may prescribe. A
Participant’s Beneficiary designation shall be deemed automatically revoked in the event of the
death of the Beneficiary or, if the Beneficiary is the Participant’s spouse, in the event of
dissolution of marriage. If no designation is in effect at the time Benefits payable under

29

 

the relevant Account become due, the Beneficiary of such Account shall be deemed to be the
Participant’s surviving spouse, if any, and if not, the Participant’s estate.

     Section 8.4 Death.

          (a) Supplemental Account. Upon a Participant’s death, payment of the Participant’s
Supplemental Account shall be made to the Participant’s Beneficiary or Beneficiaries designated to
receive the Participant’s Supplemental Account. If a Participant dies while still actively
employed by the Company, the payment of his or her Supplemental Account shall be made as a single
lump-sum payment on the first January 1 or July 1 which is at least six months following the
Participant’s death, or as soon thereafter as administratively feasible, but in no event later than
90 days. If a Participant elects annual installment payments and dies after such installment
payments have commenced (or while waiting for installments to commence in the event that payment
was delayed following Separation from Service as the result of a modification of a Supplemental
Election), any remaining installment payments shall be made to the Participant’s Beneficiary or
Beneficiaries as a single lump-sum payment on the first January 1 or July 1 which is at least six
months following the Participant’s death, or as soon thereafter as administratively feasible, but
in no event later than 90 days.

          (b) Deferral Account. Upon a Participant’s death, payment of the Participant’s
Deferral Account shall be made to the Participant’s Beneficiary or Beneficiaries designated to
receive the Participant’s Deferral Account.

               (i) With respect to Pre-2011 Deferral Benefits, if a Participant dies while still actively
employed by the Company, the payment of his or her Deferral Account shall be made as a single
lump-sum payment on the first March 15 or September 15 which is at least six months following the
Participant’s death, or as soon thereafter as administratively feasible, but in no event later than
90 days. If a Participant elects annual installment payments and dies after such installment
payments have commenced, any remaining installment payments shall be made to the Participant’s
Beneficiary or Beneficiaries as a single lump-sum payment on the first March 15 or September 15
which is at least six months following the Participant’s death, or as soon thereafter as
administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90 days.

               (ii) With respect to Post-2010 Deferral Benefits, if a Participant dies while still actively
employed by the Company, the payment of his or her Deferral Account shall be made as a single
lump-sum payment on the first January 1 or July 1 which is at least six months following the
Participant’s death, or as soon thereafter as administratively feasible, but in no event later than
90 days. If a Participant elects annual installment payments and dies after such installment
payments have commenced (or while waiting for installments to commence in the event that payment
was delayed following Separation from Service as the result of a modification of a Supplemental
Election applicable to such Deferral Benefits), any remaining installment payments shall be made to
the Participant’s Beneficiary or Beneficiaries as a single lump-sum payment on the first January 1
or July 1 which is at least six months following the Participant’s death, or as soon thereafter as
administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90 days.

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     Section 8.5 Disability.

          (a) Supplemental Account. In the event of the Disability of a Participant, payment of
the Participant’s Supplemental Account shall be made as follows: (i) if the Participant elected a
lump-sum payment of his or her Supplemental Account, payment shall be made on the first January 1
or July 1 which is at least six months following the Participant’s date of Disability, or as soon
thereafter as administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90 days; and (ii) if the
Participant elected annual installment payments of his or her Supplemental Account, payment shall
begin on July 1 of the calendar year following the Participant’s date of Disability, or as soon
thereafter as administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90 days, and shall continue on
each July 1 (or as soon thereafter as administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90
days) thereafter for the period selected by the Participant.

          (b) Deferral Accounts. In the event of the Disability of a Participant, payment of
the Participant’s Deferral Benefits shall be made as follows:

               (i) With respect to Pre-2011 Deferral Benefits, if the Participant elected a lump-sum payment
of some or all of his Deferral Benefits, payment of such Deferral Benefits shall be made on the
first March 15 or September 15 which is at least six months following the Participant’s date of
Disability, or as soon thereafter as administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90 days;
and (ii) if the Participant elected annual installment payments with respect to some or all of his
Deferral Benefits, payment of such Deferral Benefits shall begin on the first March 15 or September
15 which is at least six months following the Participant’s date of Disability, or as soon
thereafter as administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90 days, and shall continue on
each March 15 (or as soon thereafter as administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90
days) thereafter for the period selected by the Participant for such Deferral Benefits.

               (ii) With respect to Post-2010 Deferral Benefits, if the Participant elected a lump-sum
payment of some or all of his Deferral Benefits, payment of such Deferral Benefits shall be made on
the first January 1 or July 1 which is at least six months following the Participant’s date of
Disability, or as soon thereafter as administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90 days;
and (ii) if the Participant elected annual installment payments with respect to some or all of his
Deferral Benefits, payment of such Deferral Benefits shall begin on July 1 of the calendar year
following the Participant’s date of Disability, or as soon thereafter as administratively feasible,
but in no event later than 90 days, and shall continue on each July 1 (or as soon thereafter as
administratively feasible, but in no event later than 90 days) thereafter for the period selected
by the Participant for such Deferral Benefits.

     Section 8.6 Unforeseen Emergency. If a Participant experiences an Unforeseeable Emergency,
the Participant may petition the Administrator to receive a partial or full payout from the Plan.
The payout, if any, from the Plan shall not exceed the lesser of (a) the Participant’s vested
Account balance, or (b) the amount necessary to satisfy the Unforeseeable Emergency, plus amounts
necessary to pay federal, state, or local income taxes or penalties reasonably anticipated as a
result of the distribution. A Participant shall not be eligible to receive a payout from the Plan
to the extent that the Unforeseeable Emergency is or may be relieved (i) through reimbursement or
compensation by insurance or otherwise, (ii) by liquidation of the

31

 

Participant’s assets, to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause
severe financial hardship or (iii) by cessation of a Deferral Election under this Plan. If the
Administrator, in its sole discretion, approves a Participant’s petition for payout from the Plan,
such payout shall be made in a lump sum on the date on which such approval occurs, or as soon as
administratively feasible thereafter, but in no event later than 90 days. At the time of its
determination, and to the extent permissible by Section 409A, the Administrator shall determine how
any payment under this Section 8.6 will be applied against the Participant’s Account and the
subaccounts thereunder.

     Section 8.7 Company Offset. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan, the RP or the RSP to the
contrary, to the maximum extent permitted by Section 409A and applicable law, any amount otherwise
due or payable under the Plan may be forfeited, or its payment suspended, at the discretion of the
Administrator, to apply toward or recover any claim the Company may have against the Participant,
including but not limited to, for the enforcement of Amex’s Detrimental Conduct provisions under
its long-term incentive award plan, to recover a debt to the Company or to recover a benefit
overpayment under a Company benefit plan or program. No amounts shall be offset against a
Participant’s Account prior to the date on which the offset amounts would otherwise be distributed
to the Participant unless otherwise permitted by Section 409A. An offset shall be made only to the
extent and in the manner permitted by the Policy.

     Section 8.8 Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to deduct from any payment under the
Plan, regardless of the form of such payment, the amount of all applicable income and employment
taxes, if any, required by law to be withheld with respect to such payment or may require the
Participant to pay to it such tax prior to and, to the extent permissible under Section 409A, as a
condition of the making of such payment.

ARTICLE 9

CHANGE IN CONTROL

     Section 9.1 Change in Control. “Change in Control” means the happening of any of the
following:

          (a) Any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the
Exchange Act) (a “Person”) becomes the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 25 percent or more of either (i) the then outstanding common
shares of Amex (the “Outstanding Company Common Shares”) or (ii) the combined voting power of the
then outstanding voting securities of Amex entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
(the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that such beneficial ownership
shall not constitute a Change in Control if it occurs as a result of any of the following
acquisitions of securities: (A) any acquisition directly from Amex; (B) any acquisition by Amex or
any corporation, partnership, trust or other entity controlled by Amex (a “Subsidiary”); (C) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by Amex or any
Subsidiary; (D) any acquisition by an underwriter temporarily holding Amex securities pursuant to
an offering of such securities; (E) any acquisition by an individual, entity or group that is
permitted to, and actually does, report its beneficial ownership on Schedule 13-G (or any successor
schedule), provided that, if any such

32

 

individual, entity or group subsequently becomes required to or does report its beneficial
ownership on Schedule 13D (or any successor schedule), then, for purposes of this subsection, such
individual, entity or group shall be deemed to have first acquired, on the first date on which such
individual, entity or group becomes required to or does so report, beneficial ownership of all of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities beneficially owned
by it on such date; or (F) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger
or consolidation if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the conditions
described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of Section 9.1(c) are satisfied. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the “Subject
Person”) became the beneficial owner of 25 percent or more of the Outstanding Company Common Shares
or Outstanding Company Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of Outstanding Company
Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting Securities by Amex which, by reducing the number of
Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting Securities, increases the
proportional number of shares beneficially owned by the Subject Person; provided, that if a Change
in Control would be deemed to have occurred (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of
the acquisition of Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting Securities by
Amex, and after such share acquisition by Amex, the Subject Person becomes the beneficial owner of
any additional Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting Securities which
increases the percentage of the Outstanding Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting
Securities beneficially owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in Control shall then be deemed
to have occurred; or

          (b) Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease
for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any
individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by Amex’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors
then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of
the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption
of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest or other actual or
threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board,
including by reason of agreement intended to avoid or settle any such actual or threatened contest
or solicitation; or

          (c) The consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange, consolidation, or
similar corporate transaction involving Amex or any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries (each a
“Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (i) the
Outstanding Company Common Shares and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior
to such Business Combination, continue to represent (either by remaining outstanding or being
converted into voting securities of the resulting or surviving entity or any parent thereof) more
than 50 percent of the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the
then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the
case may be, of the corporation resulting from Business Combination (including, without limitation,
a corporation that, as a result of such transaction, owns Amex or all or substantially all of
Amex’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), (ii) no Person (excluding Amex,
any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of Amex, a Subsidiary or such corporation resulting
from such Business Combination or

33

 

any parent or subsidiary thereof, and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to
such Business Combination, directly or indirectly, 25 percent or more of the Outstanding Company
Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns,
directly or indirectly, 25 percent or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common
stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (or any parent thereof) or the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the
board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (or any parent
thereof) were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement
or action of the Board providing for such Business Combination; or

          (d) The consummation of the sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of Amex, unless such assets have been sold, leased, exchanged or disposed of to a
corporation with respect to which following such sale, lease, exchange or other disposition (i)
more than 50 percent of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such
corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such
corporation (or any parent thereof) entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then
beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and
entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Shares and
Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale, lease, exchange or other
disposition in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such
sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of such Outstanding Company Common Shares and
Outstanding Company Voting Shares, as the case may be, (ii) no Person (excluding Amex and any
employee benefit plan (or related trust)) of Amex or a Subsidiary or of such corporation or a
subsidiary thereof and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such sale, lease,
exchange or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 25 percent or more of the Outstanding
Company Common Shares or Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be) beneficially
owns, directly or indirectly, 25 percent or more of respectively, the then outstanding shares of
common stock of such corporation (or any parent thereof) and the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of such corporation (or any parent thereof) entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of
directors of such corporation (or any parent thereof) were members of the Incumbent Board at the
time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the Board providing for such sale,
lease, exchange or other disposition of assets of Amex; or

          (e) Approval by the shareholders of Amex of a complete liquidation or dissolution of Amex.

     Section 9.2 Effect of Change in Control. This Section 9.2 shall apply in the event of a
Change in Control.

          (a) Rabbi Trust. Notwithstanding Section 12.1 and any other provision herein to the
contrary, to the extent permitted by Section 409A without excise tax or penalty, effective
immediately upon a Change of Control, the entire value of each Participant’s Account under the Plan
shall be maintained in a trust (the “Trust”) established by Amex for this purpose and the Company
shall transfer to the Trust an amount sufficient to fund the entire value of each

34

 

Participant’s Account. The Trust is intended to be classified for federal income tax purposes
as a “grantor trust” within the meaning of Subpart E, Part I, Subchapter J, Chapter 1, Subtitle A
of the Code.

          (b) Account Earnings.

               (i) RSP-Related Account.

                    (A) Notwithstanding Section 7.4(b), effective immediately upon a Change in Control, to the
extent a subaccount of a RSP-Related Account established on behalf of a Participant reflects, or by
the terms of the Plan should in the future reflect, the performance of the Stock Fund, it shall
thereafter reflect the performance of the Stable Value Fund.

                    (B) Notwithstanding Section 7.4(c), in the event that any time after a Change in Control
either (A) the RSP is frozen or terminated and is not replaced by a comparable qualified investment
savings plan, or (B) there are no investment funds available under the RSP (or successor qualified
investment savings plan) to which a Participant may direct the investment of his or her RSP-Related
Account, then a Participant’s RSP-Related Account shall thereafter be credited with earnings of at
least the AFR.

               (ii) Deferral Accounts.

                    (A) If earnings are credited to all or part of a Deferral Account under the Interest Method,
notwithstanding Article 7, effective immediately upon a Change in Control, the applicable Schedule
Rate shall be no less than the Moody’s A Rate for the year of the Change in Control any year
thereafter during which the Interest Method applies, provided that in the case of a person who is
an Executive Officer for purposes of Article 7, the applicable Schedule Rate shall be no greater
than the AFR if Amex’s (or its successor’s) ROE is Below Target Range.

                    (B) If earnings are credited to all or part of a Deferral Account under the Hypothetical
Investment Method, the relevant portion of such Account shall be handled in the same manner as the
Participant’s RSP-Related Account under Section 9.2(b)(i).

                    (C) If a Participant who is eligible to receive lump-sum separation pay under the Severance
Plan experiences a Separation from Service within the two-year period following a Change in
Control, and the Participant would have become Retirement Eligible during the serial separation
period for which the Participant would have been eligible in a non-Change-in-Control situation,
then upon such Separation from Service, the Participant shall immediately become 100 percent vested
in the earnings on his or her Deferral Account under Section 7.5(b)(i) as if the Participant were
Retirement Eligible on the date of the Separation from Service, if not already fully vested.

          (c) Golden Parachute Excise Taxes.

               (i) In the event that any payment or benefit received or to be received by a Participant
hereunder in connection with a Change in Control or termination of such

35

 

Participant’s employment (hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Payments”) will be
subject to the excise tax referred to in Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then the
Payments shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion of the Payments is subject to
the Excise Tax but only if (a) the net amount of all Total Payments (as hereinafter defined), as so
reduced (and after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income and employment
taxes on such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (b) the net amount of such Total
Payments without any such reduction (but after subtracting the net amount of federal, state and
local income and employment taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to which the
Participant would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total Payments; provided, however, that
the Participant may elect in writing to have other components of his or her Total Payments reduced
prior to any reduction in the Payments hereunder.

               (ii) For purposes of determining whether the Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, the
amount of such Excise Tax and whether any Payments are to be reduced hereunder: (A) all payments
and benefits received or to be received by the Participant in connection with such Change in
Control or the termination of such Participant’s employment, whether pursuant to the terms of this
Plan or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any Person whose actions result
in such Change in Control, or any Person affiliated with the Company or such Person (collectively,
“Total Payments”) shall be treated as “parachute payments” (within the meaning of Section
280G(b)(2) of the Code) unless, in the opinion of the accounting firm which was, immediately prior
to the Change in Control, the Company’s independent auditor, or if that firm refuses to serve, by
another qualified firm, whether or not serving as independent auditors, designated by the Committee
(the “Firm”), such payments or benefits (in whole or in part) do not constitute parachute payments,
including by reason of Section 280G(2)(A) or Section 280G(b)(4)(A) of the Code; (B) no portion of
the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which the Participant shall have waived at such time
and in such manner as not to constitute a “payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the
Code shall be taken into account; (C) all “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section
280G(b)(2) of the Code shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax unless, in the opinion of the
Firm, such excess parachute payments (in whole or in part) represent reasonable compensation for
services actually rendered (within the meaning of Section 280G(g)(4)(B) of the Code) in excess of
the “base amount” (within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) allocable to such
reasonable compensation, or are otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax; and (D) the value of any
non-cash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Firm in accordance
with the principles of Sections 280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code and regulations or other guidance
thereunder. For purposes of determining whether any Payments in respect of a Participant shall be
reduced, a Participant shall be deemed to pay federal income tax at the highest marginal rate of
federal income taxation (and state and local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation
in the state and locality of such Participant’s residence, net of the maximum reduction in federal
income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes) in the calendar
year in which the Payments are made. The Firm will be paid reasonable compensation by the Company
for its services.

               (iii) As soon as practicable following a Change in Control, but in no event later than 30 days
thereafter, the Company shall provide to each Participant with respect to whom it is proposed that
Payments be reduced, a written statement setting forth the manner in which the Total Payments in
respect of such Participant were calculated and the basis for such

36

 

calculations, including, without limitation, any opinions or other advice the Company has
received from the Firm or other advisors or consultants (and any such opinions or advice which are
in writing shall be attached to the statement).

ARTICLE 10

CLAIMS PROCEDURES

     Section 10.1 Claim.

          (a) A claimant who believes that he or she is being denied Benefits to which he or she is
entitled under the Plan or who otherwise has a claim involving the Plan may file a written request
for such Benefits or written description of the claim (as applicable) with the Administrator,
setting forth his or her claim for Benefits or other claim involving the Plan.

          (b) Other than with respect to claims to which ERISA expressly provides a limitations period,
no action may be commenced against any Plan party after the earliest to occur of the following
dates: the date that is 90 days after the date of the final denial of the appeal, or the date that
is one year from the date a cause of action accrued. For purposes of this Article 10, a cause of
action is considered to have accrued when the person bringing the legal action knew, or in the
exercise of reasonable diligence should have known, that a Plan party has clearly repudiated the
claim or legal position which is the subject of the action, regardless of whether such person has
filed a claim in accordance with the provisions of this Article 10. The Administrator shall be the
Plan’s agent for service of process.

          (c) Any person requesting Benefits or wishing to assert a claim must exhaust all remedies
under the Plan’s claims procedures before being entitled to seek relief under Section 10.5.

     Section 10.2 Claim Decision.

          (a) Except as otherwise provided by Section 10.2(b), the Administrator shall reply to any
claim filed under Section 10.1 within 90 days of receipt, unless it determines to extend such reply
period for an additional 90 days for reasonable cause and notifies the claimant in advance of the
reasons for the extension and the date by which the Administrator expects to make a decision. If
the claim is denied in whole or in part, such reply shall include a written explanation, using
language calculated to be understood by the claimant, setting forth:

               (i) the specific reason or reasons for such denial;

               (ii) the specific reference to relevant provisions of the Plan on which such denial is based;

               (iii) a description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to
perfect his or her claim and an explanation why such material or such information is necessary;

37

 

               (iv) appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the claimant wishes to submit the
claim for review;

               (v) the time limits for requesting a review under Section 10.3 and for review under Section
10.4; and

               (vi) the claimant’s right to bring an action under Section 502 of ERISA (subject to Section
10.5) if the claim is denied on review.

          (b) If the claim is a claim that requires a determination regarding whether a Participant is
Disabled to be made by the Administrator (and not by some party other than the Administrator or the
Plan for purposes other than a benefit determination under the Plan), the Administrator will
respond to the claim within a reasonable period of time and in any case within 45 days (provided
that the Administrator may utilize up to two 30-day extension periods, in each case to the extent
that the Administrator determines that circumstances beyond the control of the Plan so require, and
shall in each case provide the claimant with an advance notice setting forth the reasons for the
extension and the date by which the Administrator expects to render a decision, the standards on
which entitlement to Benefits is based, the unresolved issues that prevent a decision on the claim,
and the additional information needed to resolve such issues). In the event that additional
information is necessary to resolve a claim requiring the Administrator to rule on the
Participant’s Disabled status, the claimant shall be afforded at least 45 days to provide the
information (during which time the periods to provide notice and a decision on the claim shall be
tolled).

          (c) In the event of a claim requiring the Administrator to rule on the Participant’s Disabled
status, the Administrator’s written notice of claim denial shall provide the claimant (in addition
to the items described in Section 10.2(a)) with a copy of any internal rule, guideline, protocol or
other similar criterion relied upon during the claims process or with a statement that such an
internal rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion was relied upon and that a copy will
be provided free of charge upon request, and if a medical necessity or experimental treatment or
similar exclusion or limit was imposed, the Administrator will provide an explanation of the
scientific or clinical judgment for the determination (applying the terms of the Plan to the
claimant’s medical circumstances) or a statement that such an explanation will be provided free of
charge upon request.

     Section 10.3 Request for Review.

          (a) Except as otherwise provided by Section 10.3(b), within 60 days after the receipt by the
claimant of the written explanation described above, the claimant may request in writing that the
Administrator review its determination. The claimant, or his or her duly authorized
representative, may, but need not, review the relevant documents and submit issues and comments in
writing for consideration by the Administrator. Reasonable access to and copies of any documents,
records and other information relevant to the claim will be provided free of charge upon request,
subject to attorney-client, attorney work-product and other applicable privilege rules unless
otherwise required by ERISA. Except as otherwise provided by Section 10.3(b), if the claimant does
not request a review of the initial determination within such 60-day period, the claimant shall be
barred and estopped from challenging the determination.

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          (b) In the event of a claim requiring the Administrator to make a determination regarding the
Participant’s Disabled status, the claimant shall have 180 days after receipt of the written
explanation described above to request in writing that the determination be reviewed, and shall be
barred and estopped from challenging the determination if he or she does not request a review of
the initial determination within such 180-day period.

     Section 10.4 Review of Decision.

          (a) After considering all materials presented by the claimant, the Administrator will render a
written decision, setting forth the specific reasons for the decision and containing specific
references to the relevant provisions of the Plan on which the decision is based. The decision on
review shall normally be made within 60 days after the Administrator’s receipt of the claimant’s
claim or request. If an extension of time is required for a hearing or other special
circumstances, the claimant shall be notified of the reasons for the extension and the date as of
which the Administrator expects to make a decision, and the time limit shall be 120 days. The
decision shall be in writing using language calculated to be understood by the claimant, and shall
set forth:

               (i) the specific reason or reasons for such denial;

               (ii) the specific reference to relevant provisions of the Plan on which such denial is based;

               (iii) a statement that the claimant is entitled, upon request and free of charge, to receive
reasonable access to and copies of all documents, records and other information relevant to the
claimant’s claim (subject to attorney-client, attorney work-product and other applicable privilege
rules unless otherwise required by ERISA); and

               (iv) the claimant’s right to bring an action under Section 502 of ERISA now that the claim has
been denied on appeal (subject to Section 10.5).

          (b) In the event of a claim requiring the Administrator to make a determination regarding the
Participant’s Disabled status, the Administrator shall ensure that no deference is afforded to the
prior determination, that the persons who made the initial determination on behalf of the
Administrator shall not be involved in the review, and that the persons who make the decision on
review on behalf of the Administrator are not subordinates of the original decision-makers. In the
event that a medical judgment is required, the persons conducting the review shall consult with a
health care professional of appropriate training and experience in the relevant field of medicine
and shall identify any medical or vocational experts consulted to the claimant. No health care
professional consulted in the course of the review shall be a person consulted in the course of the
original determination (or a subordinate of such person). The claim determination on review of a
claim requiring the Administrator to make a determination regarding the Participant’s Disabled
status shall be provided within 45 days (90 days, if the Administrator determines that special
circumstances require an extension and so informs the claimant). In the event of such a claim
denial, in addition to the items required above, the Administrator shall provide a copy of any
internal rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion relied upon during the claims process
or a statement that such an internal rule,

39

 

guideline, protocol or other similar criterion was relied upon and that a copy will be
provided upon request, and if a medical necessity or experimental treatment or similar exclusion or
limit was imposed, the Administrator will provide an explanation of the scientific or clinical
judgment for the determination (applying the terms of the Plan to the claimant’s medical
circumstances) or a statement that such an explanation will be provided free of charge upon
request.

          (c) All decisions on review shall be final and shall bind all parties concerned to the maximum
extent permitted by law.

     Section 10.5 Arbitration.

          (a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary and to the extent permitted by ERISA, upon
completion of the claims process set forth in this Article 10, the Administrator or a claimant will
have the right to compel binding arbitration with respect to any claim involving the Plan. If any
such party chooses to compel arbitration, the process and procedure shall be governed by the terms
and conditions of the American Express Company Employment Arbitration Policy and Employment
Arbitration Acknowledgment Form (“Policy”), to the extent such Policy is consistent with the terms
of the Plan. This includes, but is not limited to, the Policy’s prohibition against claims being
arbitrated on a class action basis or on bases involving claims brought in a representative
capacity on behalf of any other similarly situated party. In addition, if any party chooses to
compel arbitration, the arbitrator will be bound by the substantive terms of the Plan and ERISA
(including, but not limited to, the standard of review required by ERISA).

          (b) To the extent required by Sections 2560.503-1(c)(2)-(3) and 2560.503-1(d) of the Labor
Regulations, arbitration shall not be required in the case of a claim which requires the
Administrator to make a determination with respect to the Participant’s Disabled status.

     Section 10.6 Burden of Proof. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, to the extent
a claimant asserts entitlement to Benefits or otherwise makes a claim based upon facts not
contained in the Plan’s records, such person shall be required to provide satisfactory affirmative
evidence of such facts. For avoidance of doubt, if a person claims entitlement to Benefits based
upon service or compensation (including but not limited to claims with respect to Base Salary,
Incentive Pay, or Compensation for RSP-Related Account or RP-Related Account purposes) that is not
reflected in the Plan’s records, such person must provide satisfactory affirmative evidence of such
service or compensation. The Administrator shall have the sole and exclusive discretion to
determine whether the above-referenced affirmative evidence is satisfactory.

     Section 10.7 Administrator’s Sole Authority. Notwithstanding Section 3.2 or any other
provision of the Plan, the Administrator shall have the sole and exclusive authority with respect
to any matter, action or decision under this Article 10, and the Committee shall have neither any
authority with respect to such matters, nor the right or ability to limit or to interfere in any
way with the Administrator’s authority with respect to such matters.

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ARTICLE 11

AMENDMENT & TERMINATION

     Section 11.1 Plan Amendment. The Committee or its delegate may, at any time, amend or
terminate the Plan, provided that the Committee may not reduce or modify the amount of any Benefit
payable to a Participant or any Beneficiary receiving Benefit payments at the time the Plan is
amended or terminated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall not have the right to
amend or modify the terms and provisions of the Plan to the extent such amendment or modification
would result in a violation of Section 409A. In particular, amendments to the definitions of Base
Salary or Incentive Pay hereunder shall not be made in a manner which would result in an
impermissible alteration to an existing Deferral Election.

     Section 11.2 Effect of Plan Termination. If the Plan is terminated, no additional deferrals
or contributions shall be credited to any Participant Account hereunder. Following Plan
termination, Participants’ Accounts shall be paid at such time and in such form as provided under
Article 8. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either at the time of termination or on a subsequent
date, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine to distribute the then existing Account
balances of Participants and Beneficiaries and, following such distribution, there shall be no
further obligation to any Participant or Beneficiary under the Plan; provided, however, that the
authority granted to the Committee under this Section 11.2 shall be implemented in compliance with
the requirements of and only to the extent permissible under Section 409A.

ARTICLE 12

GENERAL PROVISIONS

     Section 12.1 Unfunded Status. Nothing in the Plan shall create, or be construed to create, a
trust of any kind or fiduciary relationship between the Company and the Participant, his or her
designated Beneficiary, or any other person. Any funds deferred under the provisions of the Plan
shall be construed for all purposes as a part of the general funds of the Company, and any right to
receive payments from the Company under the Plan shall be no greater than the right of any
unsecured general creditor. The Company may, but need not, purchase any securities or instruments
as a means of hedging its obligations to any Participant under the Plan.

     Section 12.2 Non-Transferable. The right of any Participant, or other person, to the payment
of deferred compensation under the Plan shall not be assigned, transferred, pledged or encumbered
except by the laws of descent and distribution.

     Section 12.3 No Right to Continued Employment. Participation in the Plan shall not be
construed as conferring upon the Participant the right to continue in the employ of the Company as
an executive or in any other capacity. The Company expressly reserves the right to dismiss any
employee at any time without liability for the effect such dismissal might have upon him or her
hereunder.

     Section 12.4 Plan Benefits Not Compensation Under Employee Benefit Plans. Any deferred
compensation payable under the Plan shall not be deemed salary or other compensation to the
Participant for the purpose of computing the benefits under any plan or arrangement

41

 

(including but not limited to any “employee benefit plan” under ERISA) except as expressly
provided in such plan or arrangement.

     Section 12.5 Compliance with Section 409A. The Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A,
and shall be interpreted, operated and administered consistent with this intent and the Policy. To
the extent the terms of the Plan fail to qualify for exemption from or to satisfy the requirements
of Section 409A, the Plan may be operated in compliance with Section 409A pending amendment to the
extent authorized by the Internal Revenue Service. In such circumstances, the Plan will be
administered in a manner which adheres as closely as possible to its existing terms while complying
with Section 409A.

     Section 12.6 No Guarantee of Tax Consequences.

          (a) The Company makes no representations or warranties and assumes no responsibility as to the
tax consequences to any Participant who enters into a deferred compensation agreement with the
Company pursuant to the Plan or any such Participant’s Beneficiary. Further, payment by the
Company to the Participant (or to a Participant’s Beneficiary or Beneficiaries) in accordance with
the terms of the Plan, including any designation of Beneficiary on file with the Administrator at
the time of Participant’s death, shall be binding on all interested parties and persons, including
the Participant’s heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, and shall discharge the Company,
its directors, officers and employees from all claims, demands, actions or causes of action of
every kind arising out of or on account of the Participant’s participation in the Plan, known or
unknown, for himself or herself, his or her heirs, executors, administrators and assigns.

          (b) No person connected with the Plan in any capacity, including, but not limited to, the
Company and its directors, officers, agents and employees, makes any representation, commitment, or
guarantee that any tax treatment, including, but not limited to, Federal, state and local income,
estate and gift tax treatment, will be applicable to any amounts deferred under the Plan, or paid
to or for the benefit of a Participant or Beneficiary under the Plan, or that such tax treatment
will apply to or be available to a Participant or Beneficiary on account of participation in the
Plan.

          (c) Any agreement executed pursuant to the Plan shall be deemed to include the above provision
of this Section 12.6.

     Section 12.7 Limitations on Liability. Neither the establishment of the Plan nor any
modification thereof, nor the creation of any account under the Plan, nor the payment of any
benefits under the Plan shall be construed as giving to any Participant or other person any legal
or equitable right against the Company, or any officer or employer thereof except as provided by
law or by any Plan provision. No person (including the Company) in any way guarantees any
Participant’s Account from loss or depreciation, whether caused by poor investment performance of a
deemed investment or the inability to realize upon an investment due to an insolvency affecting an
investment vehicle or any other reason. In no event shall the Company or any successor, employee,
officer, director or stockholder of the Company, be liable to any person on account of any claim
arising by reason of the provisions of the Plan or of any instrument or instruments implementing
its provisions (except that the Company shall make benefit payments

42

 

in accordance with the terms of the Plan), or for the failure of any Participant, Beneficiary
or other person to be entitled to any particular tax consequences with respect to the Plan, or any
credit or distribution hereunder.

     Section 12.8 Severability. If any provision of the Plan is held to be illegal or void, such
illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions of the Plan, but shall be fully
severable, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if said illegal or invalid provision had
never been inserted herein.

     Section 12.9 Captions. The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and
convenience only, shall not be considered part of the Plan, and shall not be considered in the
construction of the Plan.

     Section 12.10 Governing Law. The Plan shall be construed in accordance with and governed by
the laws of the State of New York to the extent not superseded by federal law, without reference to
the principles of conflict of laws.

* * * * *

43

 

SCHEDULE A

DEFERRAL ACCOUNT SCHEDULE RATE

Under the Interest Method, the Schedule Rate used to determine the earnings credited on a
Participant’s Deferral Accounts for such calendar year shall be determined under the following
metric, based on Amex’s “ROE” for such calendar year and its “ROE Target Range” for such calendar
year:

	 	 	 
	Amex’s ROE	 	Schedule Rate
	Below ROE Target Range

	 	Moody’s A Rate
	Within ROE Target Range
	 	9%
	Above ROE Target Range
	 	11%

Amounts credited under this Schedule are subject to any caps imposed by Article 7 of the Plan,
including the limitation of amounts credited to an Executive Officer to an amount which will not
exceed the AFR when required by Section 7.3.

Amex’s “ROE” for a calendar year means Amex’s consolidated annual return on equity for such
calendar year, as reported by Amex, subject to adjustment for significant accounting changes as
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

Amex’s “ROE Target Range” for a calendar year means the ROE target range announced by Amex
and in effect on January 1st of such calendar year.

Except as otherwise provided by Section 9.2(b)(ii) of the Plan, the Schedule Rate under this
Schedule A for any calendar year may be changed by the Committee, prospectively or retrospectively,
in its sole discretion, without prior notice to or consent of Participants or Beneficiaries.

44

 

SCHEDULE B

The following programs constitute Incentive Pay under the Plan. The Company reserves the right to
amend this list, including without limitation the right to add items to and delete items from this
list; provided, however, that no amendment shall impact the amounts to be deferred under a Deferral
Election already in effect except to the extent that such an impact is (i) permitted by Section
409A of the Code and (ii) specified in such amendment.

	 	•	 	S/E Sales
	 
	 	•	 	Real Estate Incent Plan
	 
	 	•	 	Business Finance Bonus
	 
	 	•	 	Performance Challenge
	 
	 	•	 	U.S. Banking Incentive Award
	 
	 	•	 	TMS Incentive
	 
	 	•	 	Cons Tvl ICP
	 
	 	•	 	GTMS Incentive
	 
	 	•	 	Morris Incentive
	 
	 	•	 	PSIA
	 
	 	•	 	Travel Incentive
	 
	 	•	 	Technology Incentive Award
	 
	 	•	 	Team Perf Rewd
	 
	 	•	 	Travelers Checks Quality Incentive Award
	 
	 	•	 	EICP Special Award
	 
	 	•	 	Team Incentive Plan
	 
	 	•	 	Bus Travel Inc
	 
	 	•	 	American Express One Business Travel Incentive
	 
	 	•	 	Sales Incentive
	 
	 	•	 	Interpretation
	 
	 	•	 	ES Rewrd & Recog
	 
	 	•	 	Temporary Assignment Awards

	 	•	 	Lump Sum Merits
	 
	 	•	 	Lump Sum Promotions

	 	•	 	T/C Bonus

45

 

	 	•	 	Special Merit
	 
	 	•	 	AEB Bonus
	 
	 	•	 	Nat’l Acct Inc
	 
	 	•	 	AIA
	 
	 	•	 	Foreign Market Premium
	 
	 	•	 	Fund of Hedge Funds Investment Management — Variable Compensation Plan
	 
	 	•	 	SkyGuide Subscription Commissions
	 
	 	•	 	Travel Protection Plan Sales Commissions
	 
	 	•	 	Publishing Sales Incentive Plan Commissions
	 
	 	•	 	Customer Focused Sales Commission (CFS Incentive), formerly known as Cardmember
Telephone Service Center Sales Commissions
	 
	 	•	 	USCC Regional MBD Incentive Plan
	 
	 	•	 	USCC National MBD Incentive Plan
	 
	 	•	 	USCC Regional DBD Incentive Plan
	 
	 	•	 	USCC National DBD Incentive Plan
	 
	 	•	 	USCC Enterprise DBD Incentive Plan
	 
	 	•	 	USCC CAT AE Incentive Plan
	 
	 	•	 	GCG DBD Incentive Plan
	 
	 	•	 	GCG VP Incentive Plan
	 
	 	•	 	Global Supplier Relations Preferred Reward
	 
	 	•	 	Personal Performance Incentive
	 
	 	•	 	Private Banking Sales Incentive Compensation Program
	 
	 	•	 	GFM Special Incentive Plan for Sales and Traders
	 
	 	•	 	Global Financial Institutions Group Sales Incentive Plan
	 
	 	•	 	AEB Private Bank Investment Specialist Incentive Plan
	 
	 	•	 	Private Banking Insurance Sales Incentive Program
	 
	 	•	 	GID Sales Force Commission Program
	 
	 	•	 	Harbor Annual Performance Bonus
	 
	 	•	 	Harbor Account Management Incentive Compensation Plan
	 
	 	•	 	Corporate Card Business Development Manager Sales Plan
	 
	 	•	 	Corporate Card Strategic Initiatives Manager Sales Plan

46

 

	 	•	 	Corporate Card Strategic National Accounts Manager Sales Plan
	 
	 	•	 	Corporate Card Account Development Manager Sales Plan
	 
	 	•	 	Account Development Manager-GE Sales Plan
	 
	 	•	 	Corporate Card National Account Manager Sales Plan
	 
	 	•	 	Business Card National Account Manager Sales Plan
	 
	 	•	 	Corporate Card Account Executive Sales Plan
	 
	 	•	 	Business Card Business Development Manager Sales Plan
	 
	 	•	 	Business Card Sales Leader Sales Plan
	 
	 	•	 	Corporate Card Sales & Account Development Leader Sales Plan
	 
	 	•	 	“PIC” Performance Incentive Compensation for Bands PB-LPB
	 
	 	•	 	“LPIC” Leadership Performance Incentive Compensation for SPB
	 
	 	•	 	“IC” Incentive Compensation for Executives
	 
	 	•	 	Serve Virtual Enterprises, Inc. Incentive Plan (formerly Revolution Money, Inc.
Incentive Plan)
	 
	 	•	 	The Serve Virtual Enterprises, Inc. Customer Service Incentive Plan (formerly The
Revolution Money, Inc. Customer Service Incentive Plan)
	 
	 	•	 	Serve Virtual Enterprises, Inc. Management Incentive Plan (formerly Revolution
Money, Inc. Management Incentive Plan)

47Exhibit 10.1

EXHIBIT 10.1

July 26, 2010

Mr. Ronald A. Andrews

Clarient, Inc.

31 Columbia

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

Dear Ronnie:

Clarient, Inc. (the “Company”) is pleased to enter into this letter agreement (the “Letter
Agreement”) with you (the “Executive”) which will address the terms of Executive’s employment with
the Company. The Company considers it essential to the best interests of its stockholders to
attract and foster the continuous employment of key management personnel of the Company and the
arrangements described in this Letter Agreement are intended to address that goal.

1. Duties. Executive will continue to serve as
Chief Executive Officer of the Company and will report directly to the Board of Directors of the
Company (the “Board”). This Letter Agreement amends, restates and supersedes in its entirety the
employment letter agreement, dated as of December 15, 2008, between Executive and the Company.

2. Term. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary, Executive’s employment relationship with the Company is employment “at will”. As a
result, Executive’s employment may be terminated by the Company or by Executive at any time
(subject to the notice provision below), in each case without any liability or obligation, except
as set forth in this Letter Agreement. If Executive terminates his employment, he shall give the
Company written notice of such termination not less than thirty (30) days prior to the effective
date of such termination. In light of the severance benefits provided for in Section 6, the
Company will have no obligation to give Executive prior notice of any such termination by the
Company (whether or not such termination is without cause).

3. Compensation.

	 	(a)	 	Base Salary. During the term of
Executive’s employment, Executive will receive a base salary of $450,000 per annum,
payable in biweekly increments, subject to annual salary and performance review and
potential salary increase (but not reductions) at the sole discretion of the Company.

	 	(b)	 	Bonus. Executive will be eligible
for a performance-based bonus as a participant in the Company’s Management Incentive
Plan (“MIP”) (target incentives as determined by the Compensation Committee of the
Company’s Board of Directors) with an annual target payment of 75% of base salary,
pro-rated for the number of months of services in any given year. Potential exists
to receive as much as twice this figure based on achievement of Company and personal
objectives. Any bonus that becomes payable under this subsection (b) shall be paid in
accordance with the Company’s past practices under the MIP, but in no event after the
later of (i) the 15th day of the third month following Executive’s first taxable year
in which such bonus is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, and
(ii) the 15th day of the third month following the first taxable year of the Company in
which such bonus is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, as
determined in accordance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the “Code”) and any Treasury Regulations and other guidance issued
thereunder.

 

 

 

4. Change of Control/Equity Grants. If
Executive remains employed by the Company through the occurrence of a Change of Control (as
defined below), then, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the stock option
agreements by and between the Company and Executive identified on Schedule 1 hereto (the
“Option Agreements”), all shares subject to the stock options granted under the Option
Agreements shall vest and become exercisable immediately prior to the consummation of such
Change of Control. To the extent inconsistent with the Option Agreements, this Section 4
shall constitute an amendment to the Option Agreements and, except as expressly provided
herein, all terms and conditions of the Option Agreements shall remain in full force and
effect. Additional equity grants may be awarded by action of the Company’s Board of
Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board and, if made, will be made in a manner
commensurate with senior executives, the terms and conditions of which shall be as
determined under the Company’s 2007 Incentive Award Plan, as amended, and by the Company’s
Board of Directors or Compensation Committee thereof.

5. Fringe Benefits.

	 	(a)	 	Executive will be paid a car allowance at the rate of $600 per month, paid on
a monthly basis. Without limiting the Company’s obligation pursuant to the preceding
sentence, in no event shall the monthly allowance be made later than December 31 of the
year following the year in which the expense was incurred. The allowance paid to
Executive in one year shall not affect the allowance paid to Executive in any
subsequent year and shall not be subject to liquidation in favor of any other benefit.

	 	(b)	 	Executive is eligible for group life and accidental death and dismemberment
insurance in an amount equal to one times the Executive’s annual base salary not to
exceed $600,000 (assuming that Executive meets normal insurability requirements). If
insurability requirements cannot be met, the maximum amount of group life insurance
benefit is $225,000. Executive will be offered the opportunity to purchase voluntary
life insurance for himself and his spouse and children, if applicable; and otherwise be
eligible to participate in all other benefits programs offered generally by the Company
to its other executives, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, short and
long term disability insurance, 401(k) Plan, flexible spending account (Section 125)
plan and employee assistance program.

	 	(c)	 	Executive will also be entitled twenty-five (25) days of vacation per annum
which will accrue at the rate of 7.7 hours per pay period. Executive may not accrue
more than forty (40) hours above his eligible vacation allowance per year. All
vacation accrued will carry over year to year; however, the point at which the total
number of vacation hours accrued exceeds the maximum allowable, no additional accruals
will be earned until the amount is reduced below the maximum.

	 	(d)	 	Executive shall be covered by the Company’s directors and officers liability
insurance policies and indemnification policies on the same terms and conditions as
apply to the Company’s other senior executives. This provision shall survive
termination of this Agreement and shall not be covered by the release contemplated by
Section 6(d).

6. Severance Payments. Subject to the provisions of subsection (d) and
Section 11 below and the other terms and conditions of this Letter Agreement, in the event
Executive has incurred a Separation from Service (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of
the Code, and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)) (“Separation from Service”) by reason of a
termination of Executive’s employment: (i) by the Company without “cause”, (ii) by Executive for
“good reason” within twelve months after a Change of Control, or (iii) by Executive as a result of
Executive’s death or disability (any of the foregoing being a “Severance Termination”), the Company
will provide Executive the benefits described in this Section 6, which shall be the only severance
benefits or other payments with respect to Executive’s employment with the Company to which
Executive shall be entitled. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, these benefits are
in lieu of all salary, bonuses and vacation accruals (except for salary, bonuses and vacation
accruals for periods ending on the date of termination as provided in Section 8 below) and other
rights Executive may have against the Company or its affiliates.

(a) If a Severance Termination occurs, Executive will receive payment of an amount
equal to twenty four (24) months of his base salary in effect at the time of the Severance
Termination.

(b) Upon a Severance Termination, Executive will be able to exercise any options
which have become vested and exercisable on or before the termination date and until the earlier of
(i) the first anniversary of the date of termination or (ii) the expiration date of the option. To
the extent inconsistent with any Option Agreement, this Section 6(b) shall constitute an amendment
to such Option Agreement and, except as expressly provided herein, all terms and conditions of such
Option Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

2

 

(c) Upon a Severance Termination, Executive will receive continued coverage under
the Company’s medical and health plans in accordance with COBRA rules and regulations following the
termination date (including any period as may be required by law), provided that coverage will end
if Executive obtains comparable coverage from a subsequent employer or otherwise ceases to be
eligible for COBRA benefits. If Executive chooses such continuation health insurance coverage,
Executive will only pay the amount paid by Executive during his employment and the Company will
subsidize the remaining costs which are normally the responsibility of the former employee for
twelve months or until Executive obtains insurance through another employer, whichever occurs
sooner. Thereafter, Executive shall be solely responsible for paying the premiums for COBRA
continuation coverage. If Executive ceases to be eligible for COBRA because the Company does not
pay the premiums for its existing or group insurance policy or the Company ceases to have a group
healthcare plan, the Company will pay Executive, for any portion of the period referred to above
during which Executive’s COBRA eligibility ceases for such reasons, the amount of the premium it
would have had to pay for Executive’s coverage under the then existing, or if none, the most
recently existing, healthcare insurance policy. Executive should consult with the Company’s
Manager of Human Resources concerning the process for assuming ownership of and continued premium
payments for any life insurance policy. Executive will be reimbursed in accordance with Company
policies promptly for all of Executive’s reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred on
behalf of the Company prior to Executive’s termination date. Without limiting the Company’s
obligation under the preceding sentence, the reimbursement of any expense under this subsection
(c) shall be made no later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense was
incurred.

(d) All compensation and benefits described above in (a) through (c) of this
Section 6 will be contingent upon (i) Executive’s execution of a release of all claims against the
Company substantially in the form of Exhibit A and expiration of the seven-day revocation period
referred to in the release, and (ii) Executive’s not engaging in any Solicitation (as defined in
Section 7 of this Letter Agreement) during the period of his employment by the Company or the
one-year period following Executive’s termination date.

(e) Subject to Section 11 below, the Company will pay Executive the amount described
in (a) above in equal bi-weekly installments (“Installments”) during the period commencing on the
date of the Severance Termination and ending on the twenty-four (24)-month anniversary of such
date; provided, however, that no such payments shall be made prior to the first payroll date
occurring on or after the fortieth (40th) day following the date of the Severance Termination (such
payroll date, the “First Payroll Date”) (with amounts otherwise payable prior to the First Payroll
Date paid on the First Payroll Date without interest thereon). Each Installment shall be treated
as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. The Company will prepare the final
release (which will be substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A to this Letter Agreement)
and deliver it to Executive within five business days of Executive’s termination of employment.
Executive will have twenty-one (21) days in which to consider the release although Executive may
execute it sooner. Please note that the release has a revocation period of seven days.

(f) In this Letter Agreement, the term “cause” means (a) Executive’s failure to
adhere to any lawful written policy of the Company (unless Executive’s failure to adhere is at the
request of the Board) if Executive has been given a reasonable opportunity to comply with such
policy and cure Executive’s failure to comply (which reasonable opportunity to cure must be granted
for a period of at least ten days and up to thirty days, if reasonable); (b) Executive’s
appropriation (or attempted appropriation) of a business opportunity of the Company, including
attempting to secure or securing any personal profit in connection with any transaction entered
into on behalf of the Company; (c) Executive’s misappropriation (or attempted misappropriation) of
any of the Company’s funds or property (including without limitation trade secrets and other
intellectual property); or (d) Executive’s conviction of, or Executive’s entering of a guilty plea
or plea of no contest with respect to, a felony or the equivalent thereof. In this Letter
Agreement, the term “ good reason ” means (i) Executive’s assignment (without Executive’s consent)
to a position, title, responsibilities, or duties of a materially lesser status or degree of
responsibility than the position, responsibilities, or duties of Chief Executive Officer of a
comparable publicly-held Company or removal from his position as Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, (ii) the relocation of the Company’s offices at which Executive is principally employed to
a location which is more than thirty miles from the location of the Company’s principal offices on
the date of this Letter Agreement, (iii) the reduction of Executive’s base salary or bonus
opportunity, except pursuant to a reduction which also applies to the Company’s other senior
executives or (iv) the requirement that Executive report other than directly to the Board;
provided, however, that Executive must have given the written notice to the Company that Executive believes he has the right to terminate
employment for good reason, within ninety (90) days of the initial occurrence of such event, and
the Company fails to eliminate the good reason within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the
notice. Further, Executive’s termination of employment must occur within 2 years from the initial
occurrence of an event that constitutes good reason.

 

3

 

(g) In this Letter Agreement, the term “Change of Control” means (a) the issuance,
sale, transfer or acquisition of shares of capital stock of the Company (including a transfer as a
result of death, disability, operation of law, or otherwise) in a single transaction or a group of
related transactions, as a result of which any entity, person, or group (other than Safeguard
Scientifics, Inc. and/or its affiliates) acquires the beneficial ownership of newly issued,
outstanding or treasury shares of the capital stock of the Company having 50% or more of the
combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities entitled to vote for at least a
majority of the authorized number of directors of the Company or (b) any merger, consolidation,
sale of all or substantially all the assets or other comparable transaction as a result of which
all or substantially all of the assets and business of the Company are acquired directly or
indirectly by another entity (except Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. and/or any of its affiliates). An
“affiliate” of an entity is an entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the
entity specified, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries. “Group” shall have
the same meaning as in section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and “beneficial
ownership” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission
adopted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

(h) Executive will not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided
for in this Letter Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise and Executive shall be
entitled to receive the severance payments provided in this Section 6 without regard to whether
Executive obtains other employment or enters into other service relationships, provided Executive
does not violate any of his obligations under this Section 6.

(i) Executive acknowledges that the arrangements described in this Letter Agreement
will be the only obligations of the Company or its affiliates in connection with any determination
by the Company to terminate Executive’s employment with the Company. This Letter Agreement does
not terminate, alter, or affect Executive’s rights under any plan or program of the Company in
which Executive may participate, except as explicitly set forth herein. Executive’s participation
in such plans or programs will be governed by the terms of such plans and programs.

7. Definitions of Competition and Solicitation.

(a) For purposes of Section 6(d) of this Letter Agreement “Solicitation” shall mean
(A) soliciting, enticing, or inducing any Customer (as defined below) to become a client, customer,
OEM, distributor, or reseller of the laboratory services business of any other person, firm or
corporation with respect to products or services which are competitive with products or services
then sold or under development by the Company’s reference laboratory services business or to cease
doing business with the Company or authorizing or knowingly approving the taking of such actions by
any other person or (B) soliciting, enticing, or inducing directly or indirectly, or hiring any
person who presently is or at any time during the term hereof shall be an employee of the Company
to become employed by any other person, firm or corporation or to leave his or her employment with
the Company or authorizing or approving any such action by any other person or entity. Providing a
reference for an employee of the Company will not, however, constitute Solicitation if the employee
has decided to leave the employ of the Company, is seeking other employment, and requests the
reference.

(b) For purposes of this Section 7, “Customer” means any person or entity which at
the time of determination, if made prior to termination of employment, or, after termination of
employment, at the time of such termination, shall be, or shall have been within one year prior to
such time, a client, customer, OEM, distributor, or reseller of the Company.

(c) Executive acknowledges (i) that his experience and capabilities are such that
the conditions in Section 6(d) to his receiving the severance benefits referred to in Section 6
will not prevent him from obtaining employment or otherwise earning a living at the same general
economic benefit as reasonably required by him without losing the severance benefits and (ii) that
he has, prior to the execution of this Letter Agreement, reviewed this Letter Agreement with his legal counsel. Executive acknowledges that the
provisions contained in this Section 7 and in Section 6(d) are reasonable and necessary to protect
the legitimate business interests of the Company and that the Company would not have entered into
this Letter Agreement in the absence of such provisions.

 

4

 

8. Other Payments in the Event of Termination of Employment. In the event of
termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive will be entitled to receive upon
such termination payment of all accrued, unpaid salary to the date of termination. In addition, in
the event of termination of Executive’s employment for any reason other than by the Company for
“cause”, Executive will be entitled to receive upon such termination a “pro rata portion” of his
“bonus for the year of termination” (as those terms are defined below) payable no later than
March 15th of the year following that in which such termination occurs. “Pro rata portion” means
the number of days in the calendar year of termination up to and including the date of termination
divided by the total number of days in that full calendar year. The “bonus for the year of
termination” means the amount Executive would have been likely to earn if he had been employed for
the full year, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company or a committee
thereof.

9. Withholding; Nature of Obligations. The Company will withhold applicable
taxes and other legally required deductions from all payments to be made hereunder. The Company’s
obligations to make payments under this Letter Agreement are unfunded and unsecured and will be
paid out of the general assets of the Company.

10. Representations and Covenants of Executive. Executive represents and
warrants to the Company that: (a) he has full power and authority to enter into this Letter
Agreement and to perform his duties hereunder, (b) the execution and delivery of this Letter
Agreement and the performance of his duties hereunder shall not result in an actual (as opposed to
merely asserted) breach of, or constitute an actual (as opposed to merely asserted) default under,
any agreement or obligation to which he may be bound or subject, including without limitation any
obligations of confidentiality, noncompetition, nonsolicitation or use of information, (c) this
Letter Agreement represents a valid, legally binding obligation on him and is enforceable against
him in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability of this Letter Agreement may be
subject to or limited by general principles of equity and by bankruptcy or other similar laws
relating to or affecting the rights of creditors, (d) to Executive’s knowledge, the services
contemplated by this Letter Agreement do not (i) infringe any third party’s copyright, patent,
trademark, trade secret or other proprietary right, or (ii) violate any law, statute, ordinance or
regulation, and (e) Executive has resigned from all positions as an employee, officer, director or
executive of prior employers. Executive covenants to the Company that during his employment with
the Company (a) he shall not (i) intentionally use, in connection with his employment with the
Company, any confidential or proprietary information or materials belonging to any third person or
entity, or (ii) knowingly violate any law, statute, ordinance or regulation and (b) he shall not
breach (i) any agreement with any third party to keep in confidence any confidential or proprietary
information, knowledge or data acquired prior to his execution of this Letter Agreement or (ii) any
obligations of confidentiality, noncompetition, nonsolicitation or use of information.

 

5

 

11. Section 409A.

(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Letter Agreement, if at the
time of Executive’s Separation from Service with the Company, Executive is a “specified employee”
as defined in Section 409A of the Code, as determined by the Company in accordance with
Section 409A of the Code, and the deferral of the commencement of any payments or benefits
otherwise payable hereunder as a result of such Separation from Service is necessary in order to
prevent any accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, then the Company will
defer the commencement of the payment of any such payments or benefits hereunder (without any
reduction in the payments or benefits ultimately paid or provided to Executive) until the date that
is at least six (6) months following Executive’s Separation from Service with the Company (or the
earliest date permitted under Section 409A of the Code), whereupon the Company will pay Executive a
lump-sum amount equal to the cumulative amounts that would have otherwise been previously paid to
Executive under this Letter Agreement during the period in which such payments or benefits were
deferred. Thereafter, payments will resume in accordance with this Letter Agreement.

(b) With respect to the provisions of this Letter Agreement which provide for
“nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, this Letter
Agreement shall comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the Regulations
thereunder and shall be so interpreted, construed and administered.

(c) In the event that following the date hereof the Company or Executive reasonably
determines that any compensation or benefits payable under this Letter Agreement may become subject
to taxes, interest or penalties imposed under Section 409A of the Code, the Company and Executive
shall work together to adopt such amendments to this Letter Agreement or adopt other policies or
procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any
other commercially reasonable actions necessary or appropriate, to (i) exempt the compensation and
benefits payable under this Letter Agreement from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the
intended tax treatment of the compensation and benefits provided with respect to this Letter
Agreement or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department
of Treasury guidance.

12. Miscellaneous. This Letter Agreement will inure to the benefit of
Executive’s personal representatives, executors, and heirs. In the event Executive dies while any
amount payable under this Letter Agreement remains unpaid, all such amounts will be paid to the
parties legally entitled thereto in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Letter
Agreement. No term or condition set forth in this Letter Agreement may be modified, waived, or
discharged unless such waiver, modification, or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by
Executive and an officer of the Company authorized to sign such writing by the Board of Directors
of the Company or an authorized committee thereof. This Letter Agreement will be construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of California without regard to the conflicts of
laws of any state. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Letter Agreement,
or the breach thereof, will be settled by arbitration in Los Angeles or Orange County, California
in accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American
Arbitration Association, using one arbitrator, and judgment upon the award rendered by the
arbitrator may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

 

6

 

13. Limit on Payments by the Company. Executive shall bear all expense of, and
be solely responsible for, all federal, state, local or foreign taxes due with respect to any
payment received hereunder, including, without limitation, any excise tax imposed by Section 4999
of the Code; provided, however, that any payment or benefit received or to be received by Executive in
connection with a Change of Control or the termination of Executive’s employment (whether payable
pursuant to the terms of this Letter Agreement (“Contract Payments”) or any other plan,
arrangements or agreement with the Company or any affiliate (collectively with the Contract
Payments, the “Total Payments”) shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion thereof
shall be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code but only if, by reason of
such reduction, the net after-tax benefit received by Executive shall exceed the net after-tax
benefit received by Executive if no such reduction was made. For purposes of this Section 13, “net
after-tax benefit” shall mean (i) the total of all payments and the value of all benefits which
Executive receives or is then entitled to receive from the Company that would constitute “parachute
payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, less (ii) the amount of all federal,
state and local income taxes payable with respect to the foregoing calculated at the maximum
marginal income tax rate for each year in which the foregoing shall be paid to Executive (based on
the rate in effect for such year as set forth in the Code as in effect at the time of the first
payment of the foregoing), less (iii) the amount of excise taxes imposed with respect to the
payments and benefits described in (i) above by Section 4999 of the Code. The foregoing
determination shall be made by a nationally recognized accounting firm (the “Accounting Firm”)
selected by the Company and reasonably acceptable to Executive (which may be, but will not be
required to be, the Company’s independent auditors). The Accounting Firm shall submit its
determination and detailed supporting calculations to both Executive and the Company within fifteen
(15) days after receipt of a notice from either the Company or Executive that Executive may receive
payments which may be “parachute payments.” If the Accounting Firm determines that such reduction
is required by this Section 13, Executive, in Executive’s sole and absolute discretion, may
determine which Total Payments shall be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion thereof
shall be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, and the Company shall pay
such reduced amount to Executive. If the Accounting Firm determines that no reduction is necessary
under this Section 13, it will, at the same time as it makes such determination, furnish Executive
and the Company an opinion that Executive shall not be liable for any excise tax under Section 4999
of the Code. Executive and the Company shall each provide the Accounting Firm access to and copies
of any books, records, and documents in the possession of Executive or the Company, as the case may
be, reasonably requested by the Accounting Firm, and otherwise cooperate with the Accounting Firm
in connection with the preparation and issuance of the determinations and calculations contemplated
by this Section 13. The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm for its services in connection
with the determinations and calculations contemplated by this Section 13 shall be borne by the
Company.

If this Letter Agreement sets forth our agreement on the subject matter hereof, kindly sign
and return to us the enclosed copy of this letter which will then constitute our legally binding
agreement on this subject and supersedes any prior discussions or agreements on this subject.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Sincerely,	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Clarient, Inc.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	/S/ Dennis M. Smith
 

By: Dennis M. Smith, Jr., M.D.
	 	 
	 

	 	Title: Chairman, Compensation Committee of
the Clarient, Inc. Board of Directors	 	 

I agree to the terms and conditions of this Letter Agreement.

	 	 	 
	/S/ Ronald A. Andrews
 

Ronald A. Andrews

	 	 

 

7

 

GENERAL RELEASE AND AGREEMENT

This GENERAL RELEASE AND AGREEMENT (hereinafter the “Release”) is made and entered into as of this      day of
     , 20     , by and between CLARIENT, INC. (the “Company”) and (“Executive”).

1. Background. The parties hereto acknowledge that this Release is being entered into pursuant to the
terms of the Letter Agreement, dated November [     ], 2009 (the “Letter Agreement”), between the Company and Executive
and in consideration of the payments and other benefits set forth in the Letter Agreement. As used in this Release, any
reference to the Company shall include its predecessors and successors and, in their capacities as such, all of its
present, past, and future directors, officers, Executives, attorneys, insurers, agents and assigns, as well as all
Company affiliates, subdivisions, subsidiaries and parents, including without limitation Safeguard Scientifics, Inc.
and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company Affiliates”) and their respective past, present and future directors,
officers, Executives, consultants, attorneys, insurers, agents and assigns; and any reference to Executive shall
include, in their capacities as such, his attorneys, heirs, administrators, representatives, agents, and assigns.

2. General Release.

(a) Executive, for and in consideration of the separation payments and other benefits offered to him or her by
the Company specified in the Letter Agreement that accompanies this Release and intending to be legally bound, does
hereby REMISE, RELEASE AND FOREVER DISCHARGE the Company and the Company Affiliates, of and from any and all causes of
actions, suits, debts, claims, and demands whatsoever in law or in equity, which he, his heirs, executors or
administrators may have, ever had or now have, that arise out of or are in any way related to events, acts, conduct, or
omissions occurring from the beginning of the Executive’s employment with the Company and/or the Company Affiliates to
the date of this Release      , and particularly, but without limitation, any claims arising from or relating in any way to
his employment or the separation of his employment relationship with the Company, including, but not limited to, any
claims arising under any federal, state, or local laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as
amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 2000e et seq., (“Title VII”), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29
U.S.C. Section 621 et seq. (“the ADEA”), the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et
seq. (“ADA”), the Executive Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. Section 301, et 
seq., as amended (“ERISA”), and any and all other federal, state or local laws, and any common law claims now or
hereafter recognized, including claims for wrongful discharge, slander and defamation, as well as all claims for
counsel fees and costs.

(b) By signing this Release, Executive represents that Executive has not commenced any proceeding against the
Company or any Company Affiliate in any forum (administrative or judicial) concerning Executive’s employment.

(c) Executive agrees and covenants not to sue or to bring, or assign to any third person, any claims or charges
against the Company or any Company Affiliate with respect to any known matter arising before the date of this Release
or covered by the release and not to assert against the Company or any Company Affiliate in any action, grievance,
suit, litigation or proceeding any known matter before the date of this Release or covered by the release. Executive and the Company
agree that in the event of a breach of any covenant of this Release or the Letter Agreement by Executive or the Company
or any Company Affiliate, the party damaged as a result of such breach shall be entitled to recover costs and
reasonable attorneys’ fees in an action relating to such breach, in addition to compensatory damages.

 

1

 

(d) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, neither party is released from any of his, her or its
obligations under this Release or the Letter Agreement, and each party confirms that such obligations are the only
obligations of the Company or its affiliates in connection with the cessation of Executive’s service with the Company.

(e) Executive acknowledges that this Release extends to all causes of action, suits, debts, claims and demands
referred to in (a) above, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected. By signing this Release, Executive expressly
waives all rights under Section 1542 of the California Civil Code, which reads in full as follows:

“A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO
EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST
HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.”

(f) By signing this Release and the Letter Agreement and by making the payments and providing the benefits
contemplated by the Letter, the Company does not admit any liability, wrongdoing or fault and expressly denies any such
liability, wrongdoing or fault.

3. Confidentiality; Non-Disparagement.

(a) Except to the extent required by law, including SEC disclosure requirements, the Executive agrees that the
terms of this Release will be kept confidential by Executive, except that Executive may advise his or her family and
confidential advisors.

(b) Executive will not at any time knowingly reveal to any person or entity any of the trade secrets or
confidential information of the Company or the Company Affiliates or of any third party which the Company is under an
obligation to keep confidential (including, but not limited to, trade secrets or confidential information respecting
inventions, products, designs, methods, know-how, techniques, systems, processes, software programs, works of
authorship, customer lists, projects, plans, and proposals), and Executive shall keep secret all confidential matters
relating to the Company or the Company Affiliates and shall not use or attempt to use any such confidential information
in any manner which injures or causes loss or may reasonably be calculated to injure or cause loss whether directly or
indirectly to the Company or the Company Affiliates. These restrictions contained in this sub-paragraph (b) shall not
apply to: (i) information that at the time of disclosure is in the public domain through no fault of Executive; (ii)
information received from a third party outside of the Company that was disclosed without a breach of any
confidentiality obligation; (iii) information approved for release by written authorization of the Company or the
Company Affiliate; or, (iv) information that may be required by law or an order of the court, agency or proceeding to be disclosed; provided, Executive shall provide the
Company notice of any such required disclosure once Executive has knowledge of it and will help the Company at the
Company’s expense to the extent reasonable to obtain an appropriate protective order.

 

2

 

(c) Executive represents that Executive has not taken, used or knowingly permitted to be used any memorandum,
reports, lists, records, drawings, sketches, specifications, software programs, data, documentation, or other materials
of any nature relating to any matter within the scope of the business of the Company, the Company Affiliates, or their
partner companies or concerning any of its dealings or affairs otherwise than for the benefit of the Company or the
Company Affiliates. Executive shall not, after his or her termination of employment, use or knowingly permit to be
used any such memoranda, reports, lists, records, drawings, sketches, specifications, software programs, data,
documentation, or other materials, it being agreed that all of the foregoing shall be and remain the sole and exclusive
property of the Company, the Company Affiliate or client of the same, as the case may be, and that immediately upon the
effectiveness of Executive’s resignation from employment, Executive shall deliver all of the foregoing, and all copies
thereof, to the Company at its main office.

(d) In accordance with normal ethical and professional standards, the Company and Executive agree that they
shall not in any way engage in any conduct or make any statement that would defame or disparage the other, or make to,
or solicit for, the media or others, any comments, statements (whether written or oral), and the like that may be
considered to be derogatory or detrimental to the good name or business reputation of either party. It is understood
and agreed that the Company’s obligation under this paragraph extends only to the conduct of the Company’s officers and
all of its directors. The only exception to the foregoing shall be in those circumstances in which Executive or the
Company is obligated to provide information in response to an investigation by a duly authorized governmental entity or
in connection with legal proceedings.

4. Indemnity.

(a) This Release shall not release the Company or any of its insurance carriers from any obligation it or they
might otherwise have to defend and/or indemnify Executive and hold him harmless from any claims made against him
arising out of his activities as director or officer of the Company, to the same extent as the Company or its insurance
carriers are or may be obligated to defend and/or indemnify and hold harmless any other director or officer and the
Company affirms its obligation to provide indemnification to Executive as a director, officer, former director, or
former officer of the Company, as set forth in the Company’s bylaws and charter documents in effect on the date of the
Letter Agreement; provided however, to the extent that such obligation of the Company or its insurance
carriers has increased in any scope or amount on the date Executive’s employment with the Company ceases, Executive
shall benefit from such increase as of such date.

(b) Executive agrees that Executive will personally provide reasonable assistance and cooperation to the Company,
at the Company’s expense, in activities related to the prosecution or defense of any pending or future lawsuits or
claims involving the Company.

 

3

 

5. General.

(a) Executive acknowledges and understands that Executive has been given twenty-one (21) days from the
Termination Date to consider and review the terms of this Agreement prior to signing it, and releasing Executive’s
claims. Executive understands that Executive may execute this Agreement in Executive’s sole and absolute discretion,
prior to the expiration of said twenty-one (21) day period; however, Executive may not sign this Agreement prior to the
Termination Date. Executive also understands that this Release is revocable by Executive for a period of seven (7)
days following execution of the Release. This Release shall not become effective or enforceable until this seven (7)
day revocation period has ended.

(b) Executive has carefully read and fully understands all the provisions of the Notice and the Release which
sets forth the entire agreement between Executive and the Company, and Executive acknowledges that Executive has not
relied upon any representation or statement, written or oral, not set forth in this document.

(c) Executive and Company agree that any breach of this Release or corresponding Letter Agreement by Executive or
Company will cause irreparable damage to the other party and that in the event of such breach the other party shall
have, in addition to any and all remedies of law, the right to an injunction, specific performance or other equitable
relief to prevent the violation of the obligations hereunder (d) No term or condition set forth in this Release may be
modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by
Executive and a duly authorized officer of the Company.

(e) Any waiver by the Company of a breach of any provision of this Release shall not operate or be construed as a
waiver of any subsequent breach of such provision or any other provision hereof.

(f) The parties agree that in no way does this Release preclude Executive from enforcing his ownership
rights pertaining to any stock options or RSAs which may have been purchased by Executive or granted to Executive by
the Company pursuant to a written stock option or RSA grant and/or as memorialized in a written Board Resolution (and
as reported periodically in the Company’s proxy statements).

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Release as of the date written above.

	 	 	 	 	 
	Dated:
	 	 	              
                  	 
	 

	 	
	 

	 	
	 
	 	CLARIENT INC.
	 

	 	
	Dated:
	 	By:________________

 

4

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