Document:

Exhibit10.1

Exhibit 10.1

EARTHLINK, INC.
2013 SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE BONUS PLAN

THIS 2013 SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE BONUS PLAN (this “Plan”) of EarthLink, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for the benefit of the eligible employees described herein, is adopted as of the 18th day of February 2013.  This Plan replaces and supersedes the terms of the Company’s 2012 Short-Term Incentive Bonus Plan as in effect prior to the adoption of this Plan.

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has approved the Plan as set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company hereby establishes the Plan as set forth below.
1.STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
1.1    Statement of Purpose.  The purpose of the Plan is to encourage the creation of shareholder value by establishing a direct link between Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below), Revenue (as defined below) and other Corporate Performance Objectives achieved and the incentive compensation of Participants in the Plan.
Participants contribute to the success of the Company through the application of their skills and experience in fulfilling the responsibilities associated with their positions.  The Company desires to benefit from the contributions of the Participants and to provide an incentive bonus plan that encourages the sustained creation of shareholder value.
2.    DEFINITIONS
2.1    Definitions.  Capitalized terms used in the Plan shall have the following meanings:
“Adjusted EBITDA” means earnings (or losses) from continuing operations before interest income or expense and other, net, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, excluding stock-based compensation expense, gain (loss) on investments, net, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, and restructuring, acquisition and integration-related costs.  To the extent any Bonus Award to be paid to any Participant pursuant to the Plan is paid (i) in cash, the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA shall include any compensation expense attributable to the Bonus Awards paid in cash or (ii) in shares of Common Stock, the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA shall exclude any compensation expense attributable to the Bonus Awards paid in shares of Common Stock.
“Bonus Award” means (i) for each Participant who is not a Management Participant, the Participant’s Performance Bonus or such lesser amount as the Committee in its sole discretion may determine as of a result of the failure by the individual Participant to achieve desired individual performance levels for the Bonus Period and (ii) for each Management Participant, the sum of (a) the Management Participant’s Performance Bonus or such lesser amount as the Committee in its sole discretion may determine as of a result of the failure by the individual Management Participant 

 

Exhibit 10.1

to achieve desired individual performance levels for the Bonus Period and (b) the Management Participant’s Discretionary Bonus, if any, for the Bonus Period.
“Bonus Period” means the period beginning January 1 and ending December 31 of the calendar year, in respect of which the Corporate Performance Objectives are measured and the Participants’ Bonus Awards, if any, are to be determined.
“Cause” has the same definition as under any employment or service agreement between the Employer and the Participant or, if no such employment or service agreement exists or if such employment or service agreement does not contain any such definition, Cause means (i) the Participant’s willful and repeated failure to comply with the lawful directives of the Board of Directors of any Employer or any supervisory personnel of the Participant; (ii) any criminal act or act of dishonesty or willful misconduct by the Participant that has a material adverse effect on the property, operations, business or reputation of any Employer; (iii) the material breach by the Participant of the terms of any confidentiality, non-competition, non-solicitation or other such agreement that the Participant has with any Employer or (iv) acts by the Participant of willful malfeasance or gross negligence in a matter of material importance to any Employer.
"Change in Control" means the occurrence of any of the following events:  
(a)    the accumulation in any number of related or unrelated transactions by any person of beneficial ownership (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s voting stock; provided that, for purposes of this subsection (a), a Change in Control will not be deemed to have occurred if the accumulation of more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the Company’s voting stock results from any acquisition of voting stock (i) directly from the Company that is approved by the Incumbent Board, (ii) by the Company, (ii) by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Employer, or (iv) by any person pursuant to a merger, consolidation, or reorganization (a "Business Combination") that would not cause a Change in Control under clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection (b) below; or 
(b)    consummation of a Business Combination, unless, immediately following that Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the persons who are the beneficial owners of voting stock of the Company immediately prior to that Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, at least fifty percent (50%) of the then outstanding shares of common stock and at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the entity resulting from that Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that as a result of that transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), in substantially the same proportions relative to each other as their ownership, immediately prior to that Business Combination, of the voting stock of the Company, and (ii) at least sixty percent (60%) of the members of the Board of Directors of the entity resulting from that Business Combination holding at least sixty percent (60%) of the voting power of such Board of Directors were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board of Directors providing for that Business Combination and, as a result of or in connection with such Business Combination, no person has the right to dilute either such 

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Exhibit 10.1

percentages by appointing additional members to the Board of Directors or otherwise without election or action by the shareholders; or 
(c)    a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, except pursuant to a Business Combination that would not cause a Change in Control under clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection (b) above, or 
(d)    approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company, except pursuant to a Business Combination that would not cause a Change in Control under clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection (b) above; or 
(e)    the acquisition by any person, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the Company (i) through the ownership of securities which provide the holder with such power, excluding voting rights attendant with such securities, or (ii) by contract; provided the Change in Control will not be deemed to have occurred if such power was acquired (x) directly from the Company in a transaction approved by the Incumbent Board, (y) by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Employer or (z) by any person pursuant to a Business Combination that would not cause a Change in Control under clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection (b) above.  
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Committee” means the Leadership and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company which will administer the Plan.
“Compensation” means the Participant’s actual wages earned during the Bonus Period, excluding incentive payments, salary continuation, bonuses, income from equity awards, stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, deferred compensation, commissions, and any other forms of compensation over and above the Participant’s actual wages earned during the Bonus Period.  
“Common Stock” means the common stock, $.01 par value per share, of the Company.
“Corporate Performance Objectives” means Adjusted EBITDA and Revenue, in such amounts as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion for the Bonus Period that must be achieved for the Participant’s Performance Bonus Multiplier for the Bonus Period to be greater than zero (0). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may establish Corporate Performance Objectives based upon any of the business criteria with respect to which Awards (as defined therein) that are intended to constitute qualified performance-based compensation under the Company’s 2011 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan may be based.  The Committee shall adjust the Corporate Performance Objectives as the Committee in its sole discretion may determine is appropriate in the event of unbudgeted acquisitions or divestitures or other unexpected fundamental changes in the business of the Company, any business unit or any product that is material taken as a whole to fairly and equitably determine the Bonus Awards and to prevent any inappropriate enlargement or dilution of the Bonus Awards.  In that respect, the Corporate Performance Objectives may be adjusted to reflect, by way of example and not of limitation, (i) unanticipated asset write-downs or impairment charges, (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements thereof, (iii) changes in tax laws, accounting principles or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) accruals for reorganization or restructuring programs, or extraordinary non-reoccurring items as described in Accounting 

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Exhibit 10.1

Principles Board Opinion No.  30 or as described in management’s discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the applicable year, (v) acquisitions or dispositions or (vi) foreign exchange gains or losses.  To the extent any such adjustments affect any Bonus Award, the intent is that the adjustments shall be in a form that allows the Bonus Award to continue to meet the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code for deductibility to the extent intended to constitute qualified performance-based compensation.
“Corporate Priorities” means the established goals of the Company to (i) instill a culture of relentless customer service in every part of the Company by developing and implementing processes and tools to enable effective service as well as metrics to monitor service quality and customer satisfaction; (ii) deliver results consistent with the Company’s 2013 business plan and provide investors with the information necessary to better understand Company progress in transforming the Company into a growth business; (iii) complete major integration deliverables on schedule while establishing a Company-wide focus on ongoing improvement and cost-effective operations with disciplined tracking of key metrics by customer segment, product and geographic region; (iv) deliver competitive products that anchor the Company’s brand as a premier provider of information technology services; and (v) equip Employees with the appropriate skills to execute the Company’s business strategy while developing a pipeline of leaders.
“Disability” has the same definition as under any employment or service agreement between the Employer and the Participant or, if no such employment or service agreement exists or if such employment or service agreement does not contain any such definition, Disability means where the Participant is “disabled” or has incurred a “disability” in accordance with the policies of the Employer that employs the Employee in effect at the applicable time.
“Discretionary Bonus” means the dollar amount which results from multiplying the Management Participant’s Compensation for the Bonus Period by the product of the Management Participant’s Discretionary Target Bonus Percent and the Management Participant’s Discretionary Bonus Multiplier.
“Discretionary Bonus Multiplier” means either (i) zero (0) or (ii) the percentage from one percent (1%) to two hundred percent (200%) that applies to determine the Management Participant’s Discretionary Bonus for the Bonus Period.  The Committee may but is not required to establish, in advance, the Discretionary Bonus Multipliers that relate to the individual performance levels that must be achieved during the Bonus Period to calculate the Management Participant’s Discretionary Bonus; the Committee alternatively may determine the Management Participant’s Discretionary Bonus Multiplier at any time before payment of the Discretionary Bonus, including after the end of the Bonus Period.
“Discretionary Target Aggregate Bonus” means the Discretionary Bonus that would be earned if the Management Participant’s Discretionary Bonus Multiplier were one hundred percent (100%).
“Discretionary Target Bonus Percent” means the percent of the Management Participant’s Compensation that will be earned as a Discretionary Bonus where the individual performance levels that are achieved for the Bonus Period results in a Discretionary Bonus Multiplier of one hundred 

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Exhibit 10.1

percent (100%).  The Discretionary Target Bonus Percent for each Management Participant shall be established by the Committee but may not exceed twenty percent (20%) for the Bonus Period.
“Distribution” means the payment of the Bonus Award under the Plan.
“Distribution Date” means the date on which the Distribution occurs.
“Effective Date” means January 1, 2013.
“Employee” means a common law employee of an Employer who is classified as “exempt” on the Employer’s payroll, personnel or tax records.  A common law employee of an Employer only includes an individual who renders personal services to the Employer and who, in accordance with the established payroll, accounting and personnel policies of the Employer, is characterized by the Employer as an “exempt” common law employee.  An Employee does not include (i) any person whom the Employer has identified on its payroll, personnel or tax records as an independent contractor or (ii) any person who has acknowledged in writing to the Employer that such person is an independent contractor, whether or not in case of both (i) and (ii) a court, the Internal Revenue Service or any other authority ultimately determines such classification to be correct or incorrect as a matter of law or (iii) any person who is classified other than as “exempt” on the Employer’s payroll, personnel or tax records.
“Employer” means EarthLink, Inc. (also referred to as the “Company”) and any other entity that is part of a controlled group of corporations or is under common control with the Company within the meaning of Sections 1563(a), 414(b) or 414(c) of the Code, except that, in making any such determination, fifty percent (50%) shall be substituted for eighty percent (80%) each place therein.
“Incumbent Board” means a Board of Directors of the Company at least a majority of whom consist of individuals who either are (a) members of the Company’s Board of Directors as of the Effective Date of the adoption of this Plan or (b) members who become members of the Company’s Board of Directors subsequent to the date of the adoption of this Plan whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least sixty percent (60%) of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (either by specific vote or by approval of a proxy statement of the Company in which that person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to that nomination), but excluding, for that purpose, any individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest  (within the meaning of Rule 14a-11 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) with respect to the election or removal of directors or other action or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the  Board of Directors of the Company.
“Management” means the Employees or Participants, as applicable, who are the executive officers of EarthLink, Inc., individually or as a group, as designated by the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Maximum Bonus Award” means the maximum Bonus Award, denoted as a dollar amount, which can be earned and paid to the Participant for the Bonus Period as established by the Committee.
“Participant” means an Employee of an Employer who is selected to participate in the Plan.

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Exhibit 10.1

“Performance Bonus” means the dollar amount which results from multiplying the Participant’s Compensation for the Bonus Period by the product of the Participant’s Performance Target Bonus Percent and the Participant’s Performance Bonus Multiplier.
“Performance Bonus Multiplier” means either (i) zero (0) or (ii) the percentage from fifty percent (50%) to two hundred percent (200%) that applies to determine the Participant’s Performance Bonus for the Bonus Period.  The Committee shall establish the Performance Bonus Multipliers that relate to the levels of Corporate Performance Objectives that must be achieved during the Bonus Period to calculate the Participant’s Performance Bonus.
“Performance Target Aggregate Bonus” means the Performance Bonus that would be earned if the Participant’s Performance Bonus Multiplier were one hundred percent (100%). 
“Performance Target Bonus Percent” means the percent of the Participant’s Compensation that will be earned as a Performance Bonus where the Corporate Performance Objectives that are achieved for the Bonus Period result in a Performance Bonus Multiplier of one hundred percent (100%).  The Performance Target Bonus Percent for each Participant shall be established consistent with the Participant’s position in the Company’s compensation structure except that the Performance Target Bonus Percent for each Management Participant shall be established by the Committee but may not exceed eighty percent (80%) for the Bonus Period.
“Plan” means this EarthLink, Inc. 2013 Short-Term Incentive Bonus Plan, in its current form and as it may be hereafter amended.
“Revenue” means gross revenue from operations.
“Target Aggregate Bonus” means the Bonus Award that would be earned (i) for a Participant other than a Management Participant, if the Participant’s Performance Bonus Multiplier were one hundred percent (100%) and (ii) for a Management Participant, if the Management Participant’s Performance Bonus Multiplier and Discretionary Bonus Multiplier were both one hundred percent (100%).
3.    ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
3.1    Administration of the Plan.  The Committee shall be the sole administrator of the Plan and shall have full authority to formulate adjustments and make interpretations under the Plan as it deems appropriate. The Committee shall also be empowered to make any and all of the determinations not herein specifically authorized which may be necessary or desirable for the effective administration of the Plan. Any decision or interpretation of any provision of this Plan adopted by the Committee shall be final and conclusive. Benefits under this Plan shall be paid only if the Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that the Participant or Beneficiary is entitled to them. None of the members of the Committee shall be liable for any act done or not done in good faith with respect to this Plan. The Company shall bear all expenses of administering this Plan.
4.    ELIGIBILITY
4.1    Establishing Participation.  Each Employee whose position in the Company’s compensation structure entitles him or her to participate in the Plan shall participate in the Plan for the applicable Bonus Period except that (a) the Committee must approve the members of 

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Exhibit 10.1

Management, if any, who shall be entitled to participate in the Plan for the Bonus Period and (b) no Employee who is eligible for commission or incentive-based compensation (in lieu of wages or base salary) shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.  The Committee shall retain the discretion to name as a Participant any otherwise-eligible member of Management hired or promoted after the commencement of the Bonus Period.
5.    AMOUNT OF BONUS AWARDS
5.1    Establishment of Bonuses.  
(a)    Initial Determinations.  The Committee shall establish generally for each Participant the Performance Target Bonus Percent and the Performance Bonus Multiplier that will apply with respect to the designated levels of achievement of the Corporate Performance Objectives for the Bonus Period.  The Performance Bonus Multiplier for each Participant will be based on the achievement of such Corporate Performance Objectives as the Committee shall designate, which may include the achievement of one or more Corporate Performance Objectives or any combination of Corporate Performance Objectives as the Committee may select.  The Committee also shall establish generally for each Management Participant the Discretionary Target Bonus Percent and Discretionary Bonus Multiplier that will apply with respect to the designated levels of individual performance for the Bonus Period. The Discretionary Bonus Multiplier for each Management Participant shall be based on the achievement of such individual performance levels, whether or not with respect to Corporate Priorities, as the Committee shall designate, which may include the achievement of one or more individual levels of performance or any combination of individual performance levels as the Committee may select.  
(b)    Corporate Performance Objectives.  The Committee shall establish the Corporate Performance Objectives that must be achieved to determine each Participant’s Performance Bonus Multiplier for the Bonus Period. To the extent the Corporate Performance Objectives are not achieved, the Performance Bonus Multiplier shall be zero (0).  The Corporate Performance Objectives to be achieved must take into account and be calculated with respect to the full accrual and payment of the Bonus Awards under the Plan.
The Corporate Performance Objectives must be established in writing no later than the earlier of (i) ninety (90) days after the beginning the period of service to which they relate and (ii) before the lapse of twenty-five percent (25%) of the period of service to which they relate; they must be uncertain of achievement at the time they are established; and the achievement of the Corporate Performance Objectives must be determinable by a third party with knowledge of the relevant facts.  The Corporate Performance Objectives may be stated with respect to the Company’s, a product’s, and/or a business unit’s Adjusted EBITDA, Revenue or other Corporate Performance Objectives and/or any combination of the foregoing as the Committee may designate.  The Corporate Performance Objectives may, but need not, be based upon an increase or positive result under the aforementioned business criteria and could include, for example and not by way of limitation, maintaining the status quo or limiting the economic losses (measured, in each case, by reference to the specific business criteria).  The Corporate Performance Objectives may not include solely the mere continued employment of the Participant.  However, the Performance Bonus may become payable contingent on the Participant’s continued employment at the time the Bonus Award becomes payable, in addition to the Corporate Performance Objectives described above.

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Exhibit 10.1

(c)    Individual Performance Levels.  The Committee shall establish the individual performance levels that must be achieved to determine each Management Participant’s Discretionary Bonus Multiplier for the Bonus Period.  The individual performance levels may be established at the same time as the Committee establishes the Corporate Performance Objectives or any other time during the Bonus Period or the Committee may determine each Management Participant’s Discretionary Bonus Multiplier after review of the Management Participant’s individual performance level for the Bonus Period.  The Discretionary Bonus may become payable contingent on the Management Participant’s continued employment at the time the Bonus Award becomes payable, in addition to the individual performance levels that may be designated.  
5.2    Calculation of Bonus Awards.
(a)    Timing of the Calculation.  The calculations necessary to determine the Bonus Awards for the Bonus Period shall be made no later than the fifteenth day of the third month following the end of the Bonus Period for which the Bonus Awards are to be calculated. Such calculation shall be carried out in accordance with this Section 5.2.
(b)    Calculation.  Following the end of the Bonus Period, each Participant’s Performance Bonus shall be calculated, and the Participant’s Performance Bonus for the Bonus Period shall be either the Participant’s Performance Bonus or such lesser amount as the Committee in its sole discretion may determine as set forth in Section 5.2(d).  Following the end of the Bonus Period, each Management Participant’s Discretionary Bonus, if any, also shall be calculated, and the Management Participant’s Discretionary Bonus for the Bonus Period shall be either the Participant’s Discretionary Bonus or such lesser amount as the Committee in its sole discretion may determine as set forth in Section 5.2(d).  Each Participant’s Bonus Award will then be calculated.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Participant’s Bonus Award may not exceed the Participant’s Maximum Bonus Award.
(c)    Written Determination.  For the Performance Bonus, which is based on the achievement of Corporate Performance Objectives, the Committee shall certify in writing whether such Corporate Performance Objectives have been achieved.  For the Discretionary Bonus, the Committee may not increase or award any Discretionary Bonus as a result of, or where the facts and circumstances indicate that such increase or award is because of, the failure to achieve the Corporate Performance Objectives upon which the Performance Bonus for the same Bonus Period which were intended to constitute qualified performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code were based.  The Bonus Awards payable under this Plan are intended to constitute Awards (as defined therein) under the Company’s 2011 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan or under any other plan under which Bonus Awards may be paid (as the Committee shall designate), to the maximum extent possible.  Accordingly, the Bonus Awards hereunder also will be subject to the terms of the Company’s 2011 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan or such other plan, to the extent applicable.  Any Bonus Awards or portions thereof that do not constitute Awards (as defined therein) under the Company’s 2011 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan or such other plan shall be deemed separate Bonus Awards that are granted under this Plan but outside of the Company’s 2011 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan or any other such plan.
(d)    Negative Discretion.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Participant’s Performance Bonus may be reduced, but not below zero (0), if the Participant’s 

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Exhibit 10.1

individual performance for the Bonus Period falls below that expected of such Participant.  Management “subject to the approval of the Committee” may determine if any Participant’s Performance Bonus should be reduced to determine the Participant’s Bonus Award as a result of the Participant’s failure to achieve required individual performance levels during the Bonus Period. The Committee shall determine in its discretion whether any Performance Bonuses for Management Participants should be reduced to determine the Participant’s Bonus Award for failure to achieve the desired individual performance levels, whether or not with respect to Corporate Priorities, during the Bonus Period.  Additionally, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, a Management Participant’s Discretionary Bonus may be reduced, but not below zero (0), by the Committee if the Management Participant’s individual performance level for the Bonus Period, whether or not with respect to Corporate Priorities, falls below that expected of such Management Participant, regardless of achievement of any individual performance levels previously designated by the Committee.  Any reduction of a Participant’s Performance Bonus or a Management Participant’s Discretionary Bonus shall be at the sole and absolute discretion of the Committee.  
6.    PAYMENT OF AWARDS
6.1    Eligibility for Payment.  Except as otherwise set forth in Sections 7.1 and 8.1 of this Plan, Bonus Awards shall not be paid to any Participant who is not employed by an Employer on the date the Distribution is to be made, and a Participant who terminates employment with all Employers shall not be eligible to receive any Distribution for (i) the Bonus Period that includes such termination of employment, (ii) any prior Bonus Period to the extent not paid before such termination of employment nor (iii) any future Bonus Periods.
6.2    Timing of Payment.  Any Distribution to be paid for a Bonus Period shall be paid no later than the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Bonus Period.
6.3    Payment of Award.  The amount of the Bonus Award to be paid pursuant to this Section 6 to a Participant who is employed by the Company to a Participant who is employed by the Company shall be paid as follows:  
(a)    The amount of the Bonus Award to be paid to a Participant who is employed by the Company, other than a Participant who is at the Director level or above, shall be paid in one lump sum cash payment by the Company, except that the Committee in its sole discretion, may elect to pay part or all of the amount of the Bonus Award that exceeds the Participant’s Target Aggregate Bonus in shares of Common Stock in lieu of cash.   
(b)    The amount of the Bonus Award to be paid to a Participant who is at the Director level or above shall be paid as follows:  (i) the amount of the Bonus Award up to fifty percent (50%) of the Participant’s Target Aggregate Bonus shall be paid in one lump sum cash payment by the Company; (ii) the amount of the Bonus Award that exceeds fifty percent (50%), and up to one hundred percent (100%), of the Participant’s Target Aggregate Bonus shall be paid in one lump sum payment by the Company in shares of Common Stock unless the Committee in its sole discretion elects to pay some or all of such portion of the Bonus Award in cash; and (iii) the amount of the Bonus Award that exceeds one hundred percent (100%) of the Participant’s Target 

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Exhibit 10.1

Aggregate Bonus shall be paid in one lump sum payment by the Company in cash, shares of Common Stock or any combination thereof, as the Committee in its sole discretion may elect.
In the event part or all of any Bonus Award is to be paid in shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Section 6, the number of shares to be delivered shall be equal to the dollar amount of the Bonus Award otherwise payable divided by the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the day the Committee approves the annual equity award grants for the 2014 fiscal year.  Shares of Common Stock to be delivered under this Plan shall be paid under the Company’s 2011 Equity and Cash Incentive Plan or under any other plan under which shares of Common Stock are otherwise available for payment of Bonus Awards, as the Committee shall designate.
6.4    Taxes; Withholding.  To the extent required by law, the Employer shall withhold from all Distributions made hereunder any amount required to be withheld by Federal and state or local government or other applicable laws. Each Participant shall be responsible for satisfying in cash or cash equivalent acceptable to the Company any income and employment tax withholdings applicable to any Distribution to the Participant under the Plan. The Company, to the extent applicable law permits, may permit the Participant to pay applicable tax withholdings by withholding shares of Common Stock that the Participant otherwise would receive upon the Distribution but only to satisfy the Participant’s minimum required tax withholdings.  Any shares of Common Stock withheld to pay applicable tax withholdings shall be equal to the dollar amount of the withholding divided by the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the last trading date immediately before the date of the Distribution.
7.    CHANGE IN CONTROL
7.1    Payment after a Change in Control.  If at any time after a Change in Control occurs the Participant’s employment with all Employers is terminated by an Employer for any reason other than Cause, death or Disability, then, the Participant shall be entitled to receive for the Bonus Period that includes the date of the Participant’s termination of employment the Bonus Award that would result based on actual business results for the entire Bonus Period taking into account the Corporate Performance Objectives achieved during the Bonus Period, calculated on the same basis as other similarly-situated Participants, and assuming for each Management Participant a Discretionary Bonus Multiplier of no less than one hundred percent (100%), or such greater or lesser percent if established prior to the Change in Control, except that the Bonus Award for that Bonus Period shall be based solely upon the Participant’s Compensation for that Bonus Period through the time of termination of employment; provided, however, that Participant shall only be entitled to receive such Bonus Award for the Bonus Period that includes the date of the Participant’s termination of employment if the Participant’s termination of employment occurs after the first calendar quarter of the Bonus Period and prior to payment of the Bonus Award for the Bonus Period in which the Participant’s employment is so terminated.  Each Participant described above also shall be entitled to receive any Bonus Award payable for any Bonus Period that ended before the termination of the Participant’s employment on the same basis as the Bonus Award for the Bonus Period that includes the date of the Participant's termination of employment.  Such Bonus Awards shall be paid at the normal time of the bonus payout as if the Participant had remained employed but in no event later than the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Bonus Period.  If at any time after a 

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Exhibit 10.1

Change in Control occurs the Participant’s employment with all Employers is terminated by an Employer for any reason other than Cause, death or Disability, the Participant shall not be entitled to receive a Bonus Award for the Bonus Period that includes the date of the Participant’s termination of employment if the Participant’s termination of employment occurs during the first calendar quarter of the Bonus Period.  
8.    TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
8.1    Payment after Termination of Employment.  If before a Change in Control occurs the Participant’s employment with all Employers is terminated by an Employer, such that the Participant is entitled to receive benefits under any severance plan maintained by the Company, or pursuant to any agreement between the Company and the Participant, then, if the Participant’s employment is terminated by an Employer after the first calendar quarter of the Bonus Period and prior to payment of the Bonus Award for the Bonus Period in which the Participant’s employment is terminated, the Participant shall be entitled to receive for the Bonus Period that includes the date of the Participant’s termination of employment the Bonus Award that would result based on actual business results for the entire Bonus Period, taking into account the Corporate Performance Objectives achieved during the Bonus Period, and actual individual performance levels achieved for the entire Bonus Period, calculated on the same basis as other similarly-situated Participants, except that the Bonus Award for that Bonus Period shall be based solely upon the Participant’s Compensation for that Bonus Period through the time of termination of employment.  Each Participant described above also shall be entitled to receive any Bonus Award payable for any Bonus Period that ended before the termination of the Participant’s employment.  Such Bonus Awards shall be paid at the normal time of the bonus payout as if the Participant had remained employed but in no event later than the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Bonus Period.  If before a Change in Control occurs the Participant’s employment with all Employers is terminated by an Employer, such that the Participant is entitled to receive benefits under any severance plan maintained by the Company, if the Participant’s employment is terminated by an Employer during the first calendar quarter of the Bonus Period, the Participant shall not be entitled to receive any Bonus Award for the Bonus Period that includes the date of the Participant’s termination of employment.  
9.    MISCELLANEOUS
9.1    Unsecured General Creditor.  Participants and their beneficiaries, heirs, successors and assigns shall have no legal or equitable rights, interests, or other claim in any property or assets of the Employer. Any and all assets shall remain general, unpledged, unrestricted assets of the Employer. The Employer’s obligation under the Plan shall be that of an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay cash or shares of Common Stock in the future, and there shall be no obligation to establish any fund, any security or any other restricted asset in order to provide for the payment of amounts under the Plan.
9.2    Obligations to the Employer.  If a Participant becomes entitled to a Distribution under the Plan, and, if, at the time of the Distribution, such Participant has outstanding any debt, obligation or other liability representing an amount owed to any Employer, then the Employer may offset such amounts owing to it or any other Employer against the amount of any Distribution. Such 

11

Exhibit 10.1

determination shall be made by the Committee. Any election by the Committee not to reduce any Distribution payable to a Participant shall not constitute a waiver of any claim for any outstanding debt, obligation, or other liability representing an amount owed to the Employer.
9.3    Nonassignability.  Neither a Participant nor any other person shall have any right to commute, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, anticipate, mortgage or otherwise encumber, transfer, hypothecate or convey in advance of actual receipt the amounts, if any, payable hereunder, or any part thereof, which are, and all rights to which are, expressly declared to be unassignable and nontransferable. No part of a Distribution, prior to actual Distribution, shall be subject to seizure or sequestration for the payment of any debts, judgments, alimony or separate maintenance owed by a Participant or any other person, nor shall it be transferable by operation of law in the event of the Participant’s or any other persons bankruptcy or insolvency, except as set forth in Section 9.2 above.
9.4    Employment or Future Pay or Compensation Not Guaranteed.  Nothing contained in this Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as a contract of employment or as giving any Participant or any former Participant any right to be retained in the employ of an Employer or receive or continue to receive any rate of pay or other compensation, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of an Employer to terminate the Participant’s employment at any time without assigning a reason therefore.
9.5    Gender, Singular and Plural.  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. As the context may require, the singular may be read as the plural and the plural as the singular.
9.6    Captions.  The captions to the articles, sections, and paragraphs of this Plan are for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of its provisions.
9.7    Applicable Law.  This Plan shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia.
9.8    Validity.  In the event any provision of the Plan is held invalid, void, or unenforceable, the same shall not affect, in any respect whatsoever, the validity of any other provision of the Plan.
9.9    Notice.  Any notice or filing required or permitted to be given to the Committee shall be sufficient if in writing and hand delivered, or sent by registered or certified mail, to the principal office of the Company, directed to the attention of the President and CEO of the Company. Such notice shall be deemed given as of the date of delivery or, if delivery is made by mail, as of the date shown on the postmark on the receipt for registration or certification.
9.10    Compliance.  No Distribution shall be made hereunder except in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations (including, without limitation, withholding tax requirements), any listing agreement with any stock exchange to which the Company is a party, and the rules of all domestic stock exchanges on which the Company’s shares of capital stock may be listed. The Company shall have the right to rely on an opinion of its counsel as to such compliance. No 

12

Exhibit 10.1

Distribution shall be made hereunder unless the Employer has obtained such consent or approval as the Employer may deem advisable from regulatory bodies having jurisdiction over such matters.
9.11    No Duplicate Payments.  The Distributions payable under the Plan are the maximum to which the Participant is entitled in connection with the Plan. To the extent the Participant and the Employer are parties to any other agreements or arrangements relating to the Participant’s employment that provide for payments of any bonuses under this Plan on termination of employment, this Plan shall be construed and interpreted so that the Bonus Awards and Distributions payable under the Plan are only paid once; it being the intent of this Plan not to provide the Participant any duplicative payments of Bonus Awards. To the extent a Participant is entitled to a bonus payment calculated under this Plan under any other agreement or arrangement that would constitute a duplicative payment of the Bonus Award or Distribution; to the extent of that duplication, no Bonus Award or Distribution will be payable hereunder.
9.12    Confidentiality.  The terms and conditions of this Plan and the Participant’s participation hereunder shall remain strictly confidential. The Participant may not discuss or disclose any terms of this Plan or its benefits with anyone except for Participant’s attorneys, accountants and immediate family members who shall be instructed to maintain the confidentiality agreed to under this Plan, except as may be required by law.
9.13    Temporary Leaves of Absence.  The Committee in its sole discretion may decide to what extent leaves of absence for government or military service, illness, temporary disability or other reasons shall, or shall not be, deemed an interruption or termination of employment.
9.14    Clawback Provision.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Participant shall reimburse or return to the Employer (i) the gross aggregate amount of any cash Distribution that the Participant previously received under the Plan, (ii) any shares of Common Stock that the Participant previously received under the Plan, (iii) an amount equal to any dividends the Participant previously received with respect to any shares of Common Stock that must be returned to the Employer and (iv) any and all other amounts the Participant received or earned that are attributable to a Distribution under the Plan, to the extent required under applicable law or any clawback or compensation recoupment policy that the Employer may adopt as long as such requirement to reimburse or return is triggered by action of the Committee or the Board that is taken prior to a Change in Control.
10.    AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
10.1    Amendment.  Except as set forth in Section 10.3 below, the Committee in its sole discretion may at any time amend the Plan in whole or in part.

13

Exhibit 10.1

10.2    Termination of the Plan.
(a)    Employer’s Right to Terminate.  Except as set forth in Section 10.3 below, the Committee may at any time terminate the Plan, if it determines in good faith that the continuation of the Plan is not in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders.  No such termination of the Plan shall reduce any Distributions already made.
(b)    Payments upon Termination of the Plan.  Upon the termination of the Plan under this Section, Awards for future Bonus Periods shall not be made.  With respect to the Bonus Period in which such termination takes place, the Employer will pay to each Participant the Participant’s Bonus Award, if any, for such Bonus Period, less any applicable withholdings, only to the extent the Committee provides for any such payments on termination of the Plan (in which case all such payments will be made no later than the 15th day of the third month following the end of the Bonus Period that includes the effective date of termination of the Plan).
10.3    Amendment or Termination after a Change in Control.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Committee may not amend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part, or change eligibility for participation in the Plan, on or after a Change in Control to the extent any such amendment or termination, or change in eligibility for participation in the Plan, would adversely affect the Participants’ rights hereunder or result in Bonus Awards not being paid consistent with the terms of the Plan in effect prior to such amendment or termination for the Bonus Period in which the amendment or termination of the Plan takes place and any prior Bonus Period, and assuming for each Management Participant a Discretionary Bonus Multiplier of no less than one hundred percent (100%), or such greater or lesser percent if established prior to the Change in Control, for any such Bonus Period. 
11.    COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 409A
11.1    Tax Compliance.  This Plan is intended to be exempt from the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and shall be construed and interpreted in accordance therewith. The Company may at any time amend, suspend or terminate this Plan, or any payments to be made hereunder, as necessary to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding the preceding, neither the Company nor any Employer shall be liable to any Employee or any other person if the Internal Revenue Service or any court or other authority having jurisdiction over such matter determines for any reason that any Bonus Award or Distribution to be made under this Plan is subject to taxes, penalties or interest as a result of failing to comply with Section 409A of the Code. The Distributions under the Plan are intended to satisfy the exemption from Section 409A of the Code for “short-term deferrals.”

14

Exhibit 10.1

12.    CLAIMS PROCEDURES
12.1    Filing of Claim.  If a Participant becomes entitled to a Bonus Award or a Distribution has otherwise become payable, and the Participant has not received the benefits to which the Participant believes he is entitled under such Bonus Award or Distribution, then the Participant must submit a written claim for such benefits to the Committee within ninety (90) days of the date the Bonus Award would have become payable (assuming the Participant is entitled to the Bonus Award) or the claim will be forever barred.
12.2    Appeal of Claim.  If a claim of a Participant is wholly or partially denied, the Participant or his duly authorized representative may appeal the denial of the claim to the Committee. Such appeal must be made at any time within thirty (30) days after the Participant receives written notice from the Committee of the denial of the claim. In connection therewith, the Participant or his duly authorized representative may request a review of the denied claim, may review pertinent documents and may submit issues and comments in writing. Upon receipt of an appeal, the Committee shall make a decision with respect to the appeal and, not later than sixty (60) days after receipt of such request for review, shall furnish the Participant with a decision on review in writing, including the specific reasons for the decision, as well as specific references to the pertinent provisions of the Plan upon which the decision is based.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Committee has not rendered a decision on appeal within sixty (60) days after receipt of such request for review, the Participant’s appeal shall be deemed to have been denied upon the expiration of the sixty (60)-day review period.
12.3    Final Authority.  The Committee has discretionary and final authority under the Plan to determine the validity of any claim. Accordingly, any decision the Committee makes on the Participant’s appeal shall be final and binding on all parties. If a Participant disagrees with the Committee’s final decision, the Participant may bring suit, but only after the claim on appeal has been denied or deemed denied. Any such lawsuit must be filed within ninety (90) days of the Committee’s denial (or deemed denial) of the Participant’s claim or the claim will be forever barred.
13.    COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 162(M)
13.1    Section 162(m) Compliance. It is the intent of the Company that the Plan and any Performance Bonus payable under the Plan to Participants who are or may become persons whose compensation is subject to Section 162(m) of the Code and that are intended to constitute qualified performance-based compensation satisfy any applicable requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code to qualify as qualified performance-based compensation.  Any provision, application or interpretation of the Plan inconsistent with this intent shall be disregarded or deemed to be amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.  Any Performance Bonus that is intended to constitute qualified performance-based compensation may only become payable if the applicable Corporate Performance Objectives are achieved.  Any Performance Bonus that is intended to constitute qualified performance-based compensation that is only nominally or partially contingent on achieving the Corporate Performance Objectives may not be awarded under the Plan.  However, the Company may pay a Discretionary Bonus, or other types of compensation, inside or outside the Plan, which may or may not be deductible.  In no event, however, may any Management Participant be entitled to a Discretionary Bonus under the Plan under two arrangements, where payment of the 

15

Exhibit 10.1

Discretionary Bonus that is not intended to be qualified performance-based compensation is contingent upon the failure to meet the Corporate Performance Objectives upon which the Performance Bonus that is intended to constitute qualified performance-based compensation is based.  The provisions of the Plan may be bifurcated by the Committee at any time, so that certain provisions of the Plan required in order to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code are only applicable to Participants whose compensation is subject to 162(m) of the Code.  

20297391v5  
 

16Exhibit 10.1

 

 

 

 

 

AVERY DENNISON CORPORATION

 

2005 EXECUTIVE VARIABLE DEFERRED RETIREMENT PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amended and Restated Effective as of January 1, 2013

 

 

AVERY DENNISON CORPORATION

 

2005 EXECUTIVE VARIABLE DEFERRED RETIREMENT PLAN

 

ARTICLE 1
 PURPOSE

 

The 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan (“Plan”) adopted by Avery Dennison Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) on behalf of itself and its participating Subsidiaries, originally effective as of December 1, 2004, is hereby amended and restated effective as of January 1, 2013.  The Plan is a deferred compensation plan for Eligible Executives employed by the Company and its Participating Subsidiaries. All vested deferred compensation account balances as of November 30, 2004, grandfathered under the Code Section 409A transition rules, shall be governed by prior deferred compensation plan documents and no subsequent amendment shall apply to such grandfathered amounts. All amounts deferred, contributed or which became vested on or after December 1, 2004 shall be subject to the provisions of this amended and restated Plan. The Plan is intended, and shall be interpreted in all respects, to comply with the provisions of Code Section 409A and those provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, applicable to an unfunded plan maintained primarily to provide deferred compensation benefits for a select group of “management or highly compensated employees.”

 

ARTICLE 2
 DEFINITIONS AND CERTAIN PROVISIONS

 

2.1       Account(s).  “Account” or “Accounts” means the bookkeeping account(s) established for record keeping purposes for a Participant pursuant to Section 6.1, which shall include one or more Deferral Accounts, a Company Contributions Account, any Special Unit Accounts and/or Stock Unit Account which may be established for the Participant by the Company.

 

2.2       Administrator.  “Administrator” means the administrator appointed by the Committee to handle the day-to-day administration of the Plan pursuant to Article 9.

 

2.3       Allocation Election.  “Allocation Election” means the form or electronic communication by which a Participant elects the Declared Rate(s) to be credited as notional earnings or losses to such Participant’s Account.

 

2.4       Annual Base Salary.  “Annual Base Salary” means an Eligible Employee’s annual salary at the time of deferral, or any other subsequent date as determined by the Administrator in its discretion, before reductions for contributions to or deferrals under any pension, deferred compensation or benefit plans sponsored by the Company.  For Eligible Employees who are sales representatives for the Company, Annual Base Salary (solely for the purpose of computing the maximum deferral amount under Section 4.3) shall include any commissions earned by such Eligible Employee.

 

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Avery Dennison Corporation 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan

 

2.5       Annual Deferral.  “Annual Deferral” means the amount of Annual Base Salary and/or Bonus that the Participant elects to defer under the Plan for a Plan Year.

 

2.6       Beneficiary.  “Beneficiary” means the person or persons or entity designated as such by a Participant pursuant to Article 8.

 

2.7       Benefit.  “Benefit” means any benefit provided under the terms of the Plan.

 

2.8       Bonus.  “Bonus” means the bonus to which the Participant is entitled from the Company under any bonus plan or incentive program specified by the Administrator, including any annual bonus plan or long-term incentive plan, before reductions for contributions to or deferrals under any pension, deferred compensation or benefit plans sponsored by the Company.

 

2.9       Change of Control.  “Change of Control” means “a change in the ownership or effective control,” or in “the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of” the Company (but not a Participating Subsidiary, except as provided under Article 10), within the meaning of Code Section 409A and shall include any of the following events as such concepts are interpreted under Code Section 409A:

 

(a)        the date on which a majority of members of the Company’s Board of Directors is replaced during any twelve-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Company’s Board of Directors before the date of the appointment or election; or

 

(b)        the acquisition, by any one person, or by persons acting as a group, or by a corporation owned by a group of persons that has entered into a merger, acquisition, consolidation, purchase, stock acquisition, asset acquisition, or similar business transaction with the Company, of:

 

(i)         ownership of stock of the Company, that, together with any stock previously held by such person or group, constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of either (i) the total fair market value, or (ii) the total voting power of the stock of the Company;

 

(ii)        ownership of stock of the Company possessing thirty percent (30%) or more of the total voting power of the Company, during the  twelve-month period ending on the date of such acquisition; or

 

(iii)       assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than forty percent (40%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately before such acquisition, during the twelve-month period ending on the date of such acquisition; provided, however, that any transfer of assets to a related person as defined under Code Section 409A shall not constitute a Change of Control.

 

2.10     Code.  “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as interpreted by Treasury regulations and applicable authorities.

 

2.11     Committee.  “Committee” means the deferred compensation plans administrative committee appointed to administer the Plan pursuant to Article 9.

 

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Avery Dennison Corporation 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan

 

2.12     Company.  “Company” means Avery Dennison Corporation, a Delaware corporation, acting on behalf of itself and its Participating Subsidiaries, as the context may require.

 

2.13     Company Contributions.  “Company Contributions” means discretionary Matching Contributions or Special Unit Contributions made by the Employer on behalf of the Participant pursuant to Article 5.

 

2.14     Company Contributions Account.  “Company Contributions Account” means an Account established to hold discretionary Matching Contributions pursuant to Sections 5.1 and 6.1.

 

2.15     Declared Rate.  “Declared Rate” means the notional rates of return (which may be positive or negative) of the individual investment options selected by a Participant for such Participant’s Account, as referred to in Article 6.

 

2.16     Deferral Account.  “Deferral Account” means an Account established to hold Annual Deferrals pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 6.1.

 

2.17     Disability Benefit. “Disability Benefit” means the Benefit payable to a Participant in accordance with Section 7.4 after the Participant has become Disabled.

 

2.18     Disability or Disabled.  “Disability or Disabled” shall be interpreted in accord with the requirements of Code Section 409A and shall mean, in the case of a Participant, that the Participant (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment, which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment, which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering Employees.

 

2.19     Distribution.  “Distribution” means any payment to a Participant or Beneficiary according to the terms of this Plan.

 

2.20     Early Termination Benefit.  “Early Termination Benefit” means the lump-sum amount payable to a Participant who ceases to be an Employee pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.3.

 

2.21     Eligible Employee.  “Eligible Employee” means an Employee who is (i) a member of a select group of management, or a highly compensated employee, and (ii) who meets the annually indexed salary requirement and/or such other eligibility requirements as may be established by the Committee.

 

2.22     Employee.  “Employee” means any person employed by the Company or a Participating Subsidiary.

 

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Avery Dennison Corporation 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan

 

2.23     Employer.  “Employer” means the Company or the Participating Subsidiary that is the legal employer of the relevant Participant.

 

2.24     Enrollment Period.  “Enrollment Period” means the period(s) designated for a particular Plan Year by the Administrator for enrollments.

 

2.25     ERISA.  “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, as interpreted by applicable authorities.

 

2.26     Matching Contributions. “Matching Contributions” means contributions made by the Employer on behalf of a Participant pursuant to Section 5.1.

 

2.27     Participant.  “Participant” means an Eligible Employee who has filed a completed and executed Participation Election Form with the Administrator, and who is participating in the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Articles 3 and 4.

 

2.28     Participating Subsidiary.  “Participating Subsidiary” means a subsidiary corporation the majority of the outstanding stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly by the Company.

 

2.29     Participation Election.  “Participation Election” means the commitment to make a deferral under the Plan, submitted by the Participant to the Administrator pursuant to Articles 3 and 4 of the Plan.  The Participant Election may take the form of an electronic communication followed by appropriate confirmation according to procedures established by the Administrator.

 

2.30     Plan.  “Plan” means this 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan, a non-qualified elective deferred compensation plan, as the same may be amended from time to time.

 

2.31     Plan Year.  “Plan Year” means the calendar year.

 

2.32     Settlement Date.  “Settlement Date” means the date by which a lump-sum payment shall be made or the date by which installment payments shall commence under the Plan and shall, in all events, be limited to a permissible payment event under Code Section 409A and paid within the discretionary payment period provided for timely payments thereunder.  Unless otherwise specified, the Settlement Date shall be as soon as practicable after, but in all events no later than ninety (90) days following, the Valuation Date.  In the case of a Participant’s death, the Administrator shall be provided with the documentation reasonably necessary to establish the fact of the Participant’s death.  Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of the Plan, in the event that a Participant is a “key employee” (as defined in Code Section 416(i) without regard to paragraph (5) thereof) of a corporation, any stock of which is publicly traded on an established securities market, the Settlement Date with respect to payments triggered by Termination of Employment (other than be reason of death or Disability) or Change in Control shall be paid only after the earlier of (i) the last day of the sixth (6th) complete calendar month following the Participant’s Termination of Employment, or (ii) the Participant’s death, consistent with and to the extent required under the provisions of Code Section 409A.  Any payments delayed by reason of the preceding sentence shall be caught up and paid in a

 

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Avery Dennison Corporation 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan

 

single lump-sum on the first day such payments are permissible consistent with the application of Code Section 409A.

 

2.33     Special Unit Contribution.  “Special Unit Contribution” means a contribution made by the Employer on behalf of a Participant pursuant to Section 5.2.

 

2.34     Special Unit Account.  “Special Unit Account” means an Account created to hold a Special Unit Contribution pursuant to Sections 5.2 and 6.1.

 

2.35     Special Unit Award Agreement.  “Special Unit Award Agreement” means the agreement between the Participant and the Company specifying the terms of a Special Unit Contribution including the vesting schedule and payout elections applicable to such Special Unit Contribution. The Special Unit Award Agreement may take the form of an electronic communication followed by appropriate confirmation according to procedures established by the Administrator.

 

2.36     Stock Unit Contribution.  “Stock Unit Contribution” means a contribution made by the Company on behalf of a Participant pursuant to Section 5.3.

 

2.37     Stock Unit Account.  “Stock Unit Account” means an Account created to hold all Stock Unit Contributions on behalf of a single Participant pursuant to Sections 5.3 and 6.1.

 

2.38     Stock Unit Award Agreement.  “Stock Unit Award Agreement” means a Performance Unit Agreement or such other agreement between a Participant and the Company specifying the terms of a Stock Unit Contribution. The Stock Unit Award Agreement may take the form of an electronic communication followed by appropriate confirmation according to procedures established by the Administrator.

 

2.39     Survivor Benefit.  “Survivor Benefit” means those Plan Benefits that become payable upon the death of a Participant pursuant to Section 7.5.

 

2.40     Termination of Employment.  “Termination of Employment” means the cessation of a Participant’s employment with the Employer for any reason, whether voluntary or involuntary, including by reason of retirement, Disability or death. For purpose of the preceding sentence, Termination of Employment shall be interpreted consistent with the requirements of Code Section 409A for “separation from service”.

 

2.41     Valuation Date.  “Valuation Date” means the date on which the Account is valued for Distribution purposes.  This date shall be the last day of the month in which an event occurs that triggers a Benefit payment.

 

2.42     Years of Participation.  “Years of Participation” means the cumulative consecutive years of participation in this Plan or in any other nonqualified deferred compensation plan sponsored by the Company, as determined in the complete and sole discretion of the Administrator.

 

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Avery Dennison Corporation 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan

 

ARTICLE 3
 PARTICIPATION

 

3.1       Participation.  The Administrator shall notify Eligible Employees generally not less than thirty (30) days (or such lesser period as may be practicable under the circumstances) prior to any deadline for filing a Participation Election Form.  An Eligible Employee must submit a Participant Election during the Enrollment Period established by the Administrator to become a Participant.

 

3.2       Participation Election.  An Eligible Employee shall become a Participant in the Plan no later than the first day of the Plan Year coincident with or beginning after the date the Employee is designated as an Eligible Employee, provided such Employee has filed a Participant Election with the Administrator.  To be effective, the Eligible Employee must submit the Participant Election during an Enrollment Period or any other such time as determined by the Administrator.  The Administrator may establish a special Enrollment Period during a Plan Year within thirty (30) days after an Eligible Executive first becomes eligible to participate in the Plan (if the Eligible Employee is not already a participant in any plan that is aggregated with this Plan for purposes of Code Section 409A), to allow deferrals by such newly Eligible Employee of amounts earned during the balance of such Plan Year.

 

3.3       Continuation of Participation.  A Participant who has elected to participate in the Plan by submitting a Participant Election shall continue as a Participant until all Benefits payable to or on behalf of the Participant under the Plan have been distributed.  In the event a Participant becomes ineligible to continue participation in the Plan, but has not experienced a Termination of Employment, no further Annual Deferrals or Company Contributions shall be made by or on behalf of the Participant but the Participant’s Accounts shall be held and administered in accordance with the Plan until such time as the Participant’s Accounts have been completely distributed.

 

ARTICLE 4
 PARTICIPANT DEFERRALS

 

4.1       Annual Deferral.  On the Participation Election Form, and subject to the restrictions set forth herein, an Eligible Employee shall designate the amount of Annual Base Salary and Bonus to be deferred for the following Plan Year or Bonus performance period, or such other period as the Committee may determine, provided that any deferral election shall be made no later than the last day of the calendar year preceding the calendar year (or, in the case of a new Participant, the thirtieth (30th) day following initial eligibility for the remaining portion of the Plan Year) in which the services are performed for which such Annual Base Salary or Bonus are earned; except and provided further that, to the extent allowed by Code Section 409A, the Committee may allow deferral elections to be made or revised no later than six (6) months before the end of the performance period solely with respect to any “performance-based compensation” as defined in Code Section 409A that is based on services performed over a period of at least twelve (12) months.  For this purpose, the Committee shall determine, in its complete and sole discretion, whether any Bonus qualifies as “performance-based compensation” as defined under Code Section 409A.

 

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Avery Dennison Corporation 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan

 

4.2       Minimum Deferral.  The minimum amount of Annual Deferral that may be deferred shall be two percent (2%) of a Participant’s Annual Base Salary.

 

4.3       Maximum Deferral.  The standard maximum amount of Annual Deferral that may be deferred shall be seventy-five percent (75%) of a Participant’s Annual Base Salary and one hundred percent (100%) of a Participant’s Bonus; provided that, with the approval of the Administrator, Participants may defer up to one hundred percent (100%) of their Annual Base Salary, less applicable withholdings.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may further limit the maximum or the minimum amount of deferrals by any Participant or group of Participants in its sole discretion.

 

ARTICLE 5
 DISCRETIONARY COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS

 

5.1       Discretionary Matching Contributions.  The Employer, in its sole discretion, may credit to selected Participants’ Accounts a discretionary amount or match of an Annual Deferral in any amount determined by the Company. Matching Contributions shall be made in the complete and sole discretion of the Company and no Participant or Eligible Employee shall have the right to receive any Matching Contribution regardless of whether Matching Contributions are made on behalf of other Participants.  Matching Contributions shall vest at the time specified by the Company.

 

5.2       Special Unit Contributions.  The Employer, in its complete and sole discretion, may credit an amount to the Plan on behalf of an existing Participant or a newly Eligible Employee as a special bonus award or a deferred signing bonus (a “Special Unit Contribution”). Such amounts shall be granted pursuant to a Special Unit Award Agreement which shall specify the period over which such Special Unit Contribution shall vest. The Participant may be granted an election with respect to the time and form of payment of a Special Unit Contribution during the thirty (30) day period following the grant of a Special Unit Contribution if such Contribution is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture for a minimum of twelve (12) months after the end of such election period (i.e., 13 months after the grant date), or as otherwise permitted under Code Section 409A.

 

5.3       Stock Unit Contributions.  A Participant may be credited an amount under the Plan as a hypothetical stock contribution (a “Stock Unit Contribution”), for example, pursuant to a Performance Unit Award under the Company-sponsored Employee Stock Option and Incentive Plan or any successor plan or similar plan, as determined by the Company in its complete and sole discretion, and as evidenced by a Stock Unit Award Agreement. The Stock Unit Award Agreement may specify that such award is to be contributed to this Plan or the Participant may be granted an election with respect to such an award to defer such phantom stock unit award into this Plan within the thirty (30) day period following grant of the award but only if such stock unit award is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture for a minimum of twelve (12) months after the end of such election period (i.e., 13 months after the grant date), or as otherwise permitted under Code Section 409A.

 

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Avery Dennison Corporation 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan

 

ARTICLE 6
 ACCOUNTS AND INVESTMENT OPTIONS

 

6.1       Accounts.  Solely for record keeping purposes, the Company shall maintain up to five (5) Deferral Accounts under the Plan for each Participant. Annual Deferrals shall be credited by the Employer to the Participant’s Deferral Account at the time such amounts would otherwise have been paid to the Participant. The Company shall also maintain a Company Contributions Account for each Participant which shall be credited with any Matching Contributions made on behalf of such Participant pursuant to Section 5.1, as directed by the Company.  In addition to Deferral Accounts and Company Contribution Accounts, separate Special Unit Accounts shall be maintained for each Special Unit Contribution and a separate Stock Unit Account shall be maintained for each Stock Unit Contributions made to the Plan on behalf of a Participant, if any, as directed by the Company. All of a Participant’s Accounts, except the Stock Unit Accounts, shall be credited (and compounded daily) with a notional rate of return (positive or negative) based on the Declared Rate(s) elected by the Participant under Section 6.2. Stock Unit Accounts shall be credited as provided in Section 6.4.

 

6.2       Participant Election of Declared Rates.  The crediting rate on amounts in a Participant’s Account shall be based on the Participant’s choice among the investment alternatives made available from time to time by the Committee. The Administrator shall establish a procedure by which a Participant may make an Allocation Election among any combination of Declared Rates in one percent (1%) increments up to one hundred percent (100%) and may change the Declared Rate(s) at least once per week with such change(s) effective as of the first day of the next following week.  Such investment elections may apply to future deferrals and/or to the existing Account balances, as indicated by the Participant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to set aside or invest funds as directed by the Participant and, if the Company elects to invest funds as directed by the Participant, the Participant shall have no more right to such investments than any other unsecured general creditor of the Company.

 

6.3       Declared Rates.  A Participant may select from Declared Rates which may from time to time be established under the Plan and the number of which may be expanded by the Committee; it being the intention that at all times Participants will have at least nine (9) core investment fund choices comparable in focus, type and quality to those listed on Exhibit A.  The Declared Rates provide a rate of return (positive or negative) that are based on the actual net performance of the Declared Rate(s) selected by the Participant.  The Declared Rates credited to Participant Accounts shall be the actual net performance of the Declared Rates, to which will be added a basis point credit, which credit (when added to the actual net performance of the Declared Rates) will together be approximately equivalent on average to crediting the actual gross performance of the Declared Rates less twenty (20) basis points.

 

6.4       Stock Unit Accounts.  A Participant’s Stock Unit Account shall be credited with the number of phantom shares of common stock of the Company specified in the Stock Unit Award Agreement.  Amounts credited to a Stock Unit Account shall be distributed in kind, subject to compliance with all legal requirements. The Committee shall administer any Stock Unit Account consistent with the intent of the Plan to reflect a hypothetical investment in common stock of the Company and shall have the complete and sole discretion to establish a

 

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Avery Dennison Corporation 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan

 

minimum or maximum share level and/or require the adjustment in number or conversion of notional shares held in a Stock Unit Account to an alternative form of security as appropriate to accomplish the intent of the Plan to treat such notional stock units similarly to actual shares of Company common stock. Prior to distribution, Participants shall have no rights as shareholders with respect to amounts credited to a Stock Unit Account except that Participants shall be entitled to be credited with dividend equivalents on vested awards or otherwise as provided under the terms of the Stock Unit Award Agreement. Such dividend equivalents shall be considered current earnings on the Stock Unit Account and shall be credited in the form of additional share units to the Stock Account based on the value of Company stock as of the date dividends are paid to shareholders of the Company.

 

6.5       Valuation of Accounts.  The value of an Account as of any date shall equal the amounts theretofore credited or debited to such Account, plus the deemed earnings or losses of such Account in accordance with this Article 6 through the day immediately preceding such date.

 

6.6       Vesting.  A Participant shall be one hundred percent (100%) vested at all times in amounts credited to the Participant’s Deferral Accounts.  Amounts credited to a Participant’s Company Contributions Account or Special Unit Account shall vest as specified by the Company or in the Special Award Agreement. Amounts credited to a Participant’s Stock Unit Account shall vest as provided under the applicable Stock Unit Award Agreement for such Stock Unit Contribution.

 

6.7       Statement of Accounts.  The Administrator (or an agent thereof) shall provide to each Participant periodic statements or on-line access to information setting forth the Participant’s deferrals, Declared Rate(s) (credits or debits), Distributions and Account balance.

 

6.8       Errors in Benefit Statements, Deferrals, Distributions or Administration.  In the event an error is made in a benefit statement, such error shall be corrected on the next benefit statement following the date such error is discovered.  In the event of an error in the amount of a Participant’s deferral, immediately upon the discovery of such error, if possible, the next deferral of such Participant shall be adjusted upward or downward to correct such prior error subject to compliance with permissible corrections procedures established under Code Section 409A.  In the event of an error in a Distribution, the applicable Participant’s Account shall, immediately upon the discovery of such error, be adjusted to reflect such under or over payment and, if possible, the next Distribution to such Participant shall be adjusted upward or downward to correct such prior error subject to compliance with permissible corrections procedures established under Code Section 409A.  If the remaining balance of a Participant’s Account is insufficient to cover an erroneous overpayment to such Participant, the Company may, at its discretion, offset other amounts payable to the Participant from the Company to the extent permitted under all applicable laws, to recoup the amount of such overpayment(s).  It is the intent of the Company that the Plan be interpreted and administered to comply in all respects with Code Section 409A. However, Participants and/or their Beneficiaries shall be responsible for any and all taxes resulting from participation in the Plan, and the Company shall have no liability to the Participant or any Beneficiary in the event any taxes or excise taxes may ultimately be determined to be applicable to any deferral, contribution, vesting event or Distribution under the Plan.

 

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Avery Dennison Corporation 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan

 

ARTICLE 7
 BENEFITS

 

7.1       Normal Benefit Distribution Election.

 

(a)        Initial Election.  At the time of entering the Plan or, if later, on or before December 31, 2008, Participants shall designate the time and form of distributions of amounts credited to their Accounts, from among the distribution alternatives specified herein. A Participant may establish up to five (5) Deferral Accounts with different payout elections.  Thereafter, at the time of making an Annual Deferral election under the Plan, the Participant shall designate the time and form of Distribution of deferrals made pursuant to such election by directing such deferrals to one or more existing Accounts or by establishing one or more new Accounts with new payout elections.  A Participant shall have no more than five (5) Deferral Accounts in existence at any one time under the Plan.  A Participant may elect to make additional deferrals into an existing Account in a subsequent Plan Year but may only make a new distribution election for such Account in accordance with the change in elections provisions specified in Section 7.1(b).  If deferrals are directed to an Account which is in payout status, such deferrals shall be paid out over the remaining installment period commencing with the calendar year following the year in which the deferral is credited to the Account.  At the time of entering the Plan or, if later, on or before December 31, 2008, Participants shall designate the time and form of distributions of amounts credited to their Company Contributions Accounts.  The time and form of payment of a Special Unit Account or a Stock Unit Account shall be specified in the Special Unit Award Agreement or Stock Unit Award Agreement or elected by the Participant at the time of a voluntary deferral of the Award as provided in Article 5.

 

(b)        Modification of Election.  A distribution election with respect to an existing Account under the Plan may only be changed under the terms and conditions specified by the Committee in compliance with Code Section 409A.  After December 31, 2008, except as expressly provided in this Article 7, no acceleration of a distribution is permitted and a subsequent election that delays payment or changes the form of payment shall be permitted if and only if all of the following requirements are met:

 

(i)         the new election does not take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which the new election is made;

 

(ii)        in the case of payments made on account of Termination of Employment (other than by reason of death or Disability), Change in Control, or a scheduled date, the new election delays payment for at least five (5) years from the date that payment would otherwise have been made, absent the new election; and

 

(iii)       in the case of payments made according to a scheduled date, the new election is made not less than twelve (12) months before the date on which payment would have been made (or, in the case of installment payments, the first installment payment would have been made) absent the new election.

 

For purposes of application of the above change limitations, distribution elections shall be made on an Account by Account basis and installment payments from a single Account shall

 

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Avery Dennison Corporation 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan

 

be treated as a single payment.  Changes complying with the requirements of this Section 7.1(b) may be made any number of times with respect to the same Account but in no event may any change delay the distribution of benefits payable from any Account beyond the date the Participant attains (or a deceased Participant would have attained) age eighty-five (85).   Election changes made pursuant to this Section 7.1(b) shall be made in accordance with rules established by the Committee, and shall comply with all applicable requirements of Code Section 409A and applicable authorities.

 

7.2       Benefit Distribution Alternatives.   The Participant shall be entitled to select the time and form of payment of Distributions from a particular Account from among the following alternatives set forth below. Benefits shall be paid according to the Participant’s distribution elections unless such distribution election is superseded by an alternative distribution event such as death, Disability, Unforeseeable Emergency, early Termination of Employment, or Change in Control, as specified in this Article 7.

 

(a)        Form of Distribution.  The available forms of payment from each of the Participant’s Accounts shall be as follows:

 

(i)         Lump-Sum.  One lump-sum payment.

 

(ii)        Installment Payments.

 

(A)       For all Accounts other than Stock Unit Accounts, monthly installments of principal and interest payable over a period of any number of years up to twenty (20), but in no event ending later than the date on which the Participant shall attain age eighty-five (85). Installment payments shall be calculated on an annual basis but paid during the Plan Year at approximately monthly intervals as may be determined by the Committee, provided that such intervals shall not be less frequent than quarterly, except in the final year of payments when only one installment shall be made in January of such final Plan Year. Installment payments shall be based on the Participant’s vested Account balance at the beginning of the payment period and shall be recalculated annually by dividing the Participant’s vested Account balance as of the last day of the Plan Year by the number of remaining years in the payment period based on the Participant’s retirement payment election. Accounts shall continue to be credited during the payment period based on the Participant’s choice among Declared Rates as provided in Article 6.

 

(B)       For Stock Unit Accounts, annual installments payable over a period of any number of years up to twenty (20), but in no event ending later than the date on which the Participant shall attain age eighty-five (85).  Installment payments shall be based on the Participant’s vested Stock Unit Account balance at the beginning of the payment period and shall be recalculated annually by dividing the Participant’s vested Account balance as of the last day of the Plan Year by the number of remaining years in the payment period based on the Participant’s retirement payment election.  Distributions shall be made in the form of whole shares of Company stock with any fraction of a share remaining in the account for each installment prior to the final installment when any remaining fraction of a share shall be paid in cash.  (For example, if 11.5 shares are credited to an account that provides for payment in 3 annual installments, 3 shares will be distributed in the first installment, 4 shares will be distributed in the second installment and the Participant shall receive 4 shares of stock and cash equal to 1⁄2 of a share in the final installment.)

 

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Avery Dennison Corporation 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan

 

(C)       In the event that any amounts credited to a Participant’s Account vest after the end of the installment period, such amounts shall be paid in a single lump-sum on the Settlement Date next following the Participant’s Termination of Employment.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, an installment payout election shall not be available prior to the date that the Participant shall have completed five (5) Years of Participation.

 

(iii)       Small Benefit Exception.   Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the total balance payable from all of a Participant’s Accounts under this Plan (and any other plans aggregated with this Plan for purposes of Code Section 409A) is less than the applicable dollar amount under Code Section 402(g)(1)(B) for the calendar year of payment, the Committee shall have the discretion to pay all of the Participant’s benefits under the Plan (and such other aggregated plans) in the form of a single lump-sum, at any time, subject to compliance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(v).

 

If no election is made regarding the form of benefits from a particular Account, benefits from that Account shall be paid in a single lump-sum.

 

(b)        Commencement of Payment of Benefits.  The available commencement dates for payment from a Participant’s Accounts shall be as follows:

 

(i)         Upon the Settlement Date next following Termination of Employment;

 

(ii)        In January of any specified Plan Year (without regard to Termination of Employment, except as provided in Section 7.3); or

 

(iii)       Upon the earlier of January of a specified Plan Year or the Settlement Date next following Termination of Employment.

 

If a Participant does not elect a commencement date for benefits from a particular Account, benefits from such Account shall commence on the Settlement Date next following the Participant’s Termination of Employment.

 

7.3       Early Termination Benefit.  In the event of a Participant’s Termination of Employment for any reason other than death, Disability, or prior to completion of five (5) Years of Participation, the Participant shall receive an Early Termination Benefit equal to the outstanding vested balance of each of the Participant’s Accounts, credited with notional earnings as provided in Article 6, payable in the form of a single lump-sum distribution on the Settlement Date next following such early Termination of Employment. The Participant shall be entitled to no further Benefits under this Plan.

 

7.4       Disability Benefit.  In the event of a Participant’s Disability prior to complete distribution of all of the Participant’s Accounts, the Participant shall receive a Disability Benefit equal to the outstanding vested balance of each of the Participant’s Accounts, credited with notional earnings as provided in Article 6, payable in the form of a single lump-sum Distribution on the last day of the fifteenth (15th) month commencing after the month in which such Disability occurs, unless the Participant makes a timely election under Section 7.1(b), during the first three (3) months following Disability, to delay commencement of a particular Account by a

 

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Avery Dennison Corporation 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan

 

minimum of five (5) years and to receive the benefits commencing in January of a later Plan Year in a form permitted under Section 7.2, in compliance with all requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

7.5       Survivor Benefits. In the event of a Participant’s death prior to complete distribution of all of the Participant’s Accounts, the Participant’s Beneficiary shall receive a Survivor Benefit equal to the outstanding vested balance of each of the Participant’s Accounts, credited with notional earnings as provided in Article 6, payable in the form of a single lump-sum Distribution on the last day of the fifteenth (15th) month commencing after the month in which the Participant’s death occurs, unless the Beneficiary makes a timely election during the first three (3) months following the Participant’s death, which is in compliance with Code Section 409A, to delay commencement of a particular Account by a minimum of five (5) years and to receive the benefits commencing in January of a later Plan Year, in a form permitted under Section 7.2.

 

7.6       Change of Control or other Benefit.  In the event a Change in Control occurs before a Participant’s Account has been fully distributed, the Participant shall receive an amount equal to the balance of the Account, credited with notional earnings as provided in Article 6, payable in the form of a single lump-sum distribution on the last day of the fifteenth (15th) month commencing after the month in which such Change in Control occurs, unless the Participant makes a timely election under Section 7.1(b), during the first three (3) months following such Change in Control, to delay commencement of a particular Account by a minimum of five (5) years and to receive the benefits commencing in January of a later Plan Year, in a form permitted under Section 7.2, in compliance with all requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

7.7       Unforeseeable Emergency. Upon a finding by the Committee that the Participant has suffered a Unforeseeable Emergency, subject to compliance with Code Section 409A, the Administrator may at the request of the Participant, approve cessation of current deferrals or accelerate distribution of benefits under the Plan in the amount reasonably necessary to alleviate such financial hardship.  The amount distributed pursuant to this Section 7.7 with respect to an Unforeseeable Emergency shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy such emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution, after taking into account the extent to which such hardship is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise or by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship).

 

ARTICLE 8
 BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

 

Each Participant and Beneficiary shall have the right, at any time, to designate any person or persons as Beneficiary or Beneficiaries to whom payment under this Plan shall be made in the event of death of the Participant or Beneficiary, as the case may be, prior to complete distribution of the Participant’s Benefits due under the Plan. Each Beneficiary designation shall become effective only when filed in writing with the Administrator during the Participant’s or Beneficiary’s lifetime, as the case may be, on a form prescribed by the Administrator.

 

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Avery Dennison Corporation 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan

 

The filing of a new Beneficiary designation form by a Participant will cancel and revoke all Beneficiary designations previously filed by such Participant.

 

If a Participant or Beneficiary, as the case may be, fails to designate a Beneficiary as provided above, or if all designated Beneficiaries predecease the Participant or Beneficiary, as the case may be, or die prior to complete distribution of the Participant’s Benefits, then the Administrator shall direct the distribution of such Benefits to the estate of the Participant or Beneficiary, as the case may be.

 

ARTICLE 9
 ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

 

9.1       Committee.  A Committee consisting of three (3) or more members shall be appointed by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer to administer the Plan, which shall have the exclusive right and full discretion (i) to appoint agents and service providers to act on its behalf, (ii) to interpret the Plan, (iii) to decide any and all matters arising hereunder (including the right to remedy possible ambiguities, inconsistencies, or admissions), (iv) to make, amend and rescind such rules and procedures as it deems necessary for the proper administration of the Plan and (v) to make all other determinations and resolve all questions of fact necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, including determinations regarding eligibility for benefits payable under the Plan.  All interpretations of the Committee with respect to any matter hereunder shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons affected thereby, subject to the provisions of this Article 9.  All decisions of the Committee shall be by vote of at least a majority of its members. Members of the Committee shall be eligible to participate in the Plan while serving as members of the Committee, but a member of the Committee shall not vote or act upon any matter that relates solely to such member’s interest in the Plan as a Participant.  The current members of the Committee are the members of the Retirement Planning Committee.  The Committee has designated the Vice President, Compensation and Benefits as the Administrator to carry out the day-to-day administration of the Plan.  No member of the Committee or any other agent thereof including the Administrator shall be liable for any determination, decision, or action made in good faith with respect to the Plan.  The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the members of the Committee and the Administrator from and against any and all liabilities, costs, and expenses incurred by such persons as a result of any act, or omission, in connection with the performance of such persons’ duties, responsibilities, and obligations under the Plan, other than such liabilities, costs, and expenses as may result from the bad faith, willful misconduct, or criminal acts of such persons.

 

9.2         Claims Procedure.  Any Participant, former Participant or Beneficiary may file a written claim with the Administrator setting forth the nature of the Benefit claimed, the amount thereof, and the basis for claiming entitlement to such Benefit.  The Administrator shall determine the validity of the claim and communicate a decision to the claimant promptly and, in any event, not later than ninety (90) days after the date of the claim.  The claim may be deemed by the claimant to have been denied for purposes of further review described below in the event a decision is not furnished to the claimant within such ninety (90) day period.  If additional information is necessary to make a determination on a claim, the claimant shall be advised of the need for such additional information within forty-five (45) days after the date of the claim.  The claimant shall have up to one hundred and eighty (180) days to supplement the claim

 

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Avery Dennison Corporation 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan

 

information, and the claimant shall be advised of the decision on the claim within forty-five (45) days after the earlier of the date the supplemental information is supplied or the end of the one hundred and eighty (180) day period.  Every claim for Benefits that is denied shall be denied by written notice setting forth in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant (i) the specific reason or reasons for the denial, (ii) specific reference to any provisions of the Plan (including any internal rules, guidelines, protocols, criteria, etc.) on which the denial is based, (iii) description of any additional material or information that is necessary to process the claim, and (iv) an explanation of the procedure for further reviewing the denial of the claim and shall include an explanation of the claimant’s right to pursue legal action upon an adverse determination on review.

 

9.3       Review Procedures.  Within sixty (60) days after the receipt of a denial on a claim, a claimant or his/her authorized representative may file a written request for review of such denial.  Such review shall be undertaken by the Committee and shall be a full and fair review. The claimant shall have the right to review all pertinent documents, information and data.  The Committee shall issue a decision not later than sixty (60) days after receipt of a request for review from a claimant unless special circumstances, such as the need to hold a hearing, require a longer period of time, in which case a decision shall be rendered as soon as possible but not later than one hundred and twenty (120) days after receipt of the claimant’s request for review.  The decision on review shall be in writing and shall include specific reasons for the decision written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant with specific reference to any provisions of the Plan on which the decision is based and shall include an explanation of the claimant’s right to pursue legal action upon an adverse determination on review.

 

ARTICLE 10
 AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN

 

The Committee at the direction of the Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors of the Company, may amend the Plan; provided, however, that (i) no such amendment shall be effective to decrease the Benefits accrued by any Participant or Beneficiary of a deceased Participant (including, but not limited to, the rate of earnings credited on Accounts); (ii) no such amendment shall revise the substantive provisions of the Plan related to the calculation of Benefits (including, without limitation, the provisions of Article 6), the minimum number of Declared Rates or the manner or timing of payments to be made under the Plan so as to prejudice the rights of any Participant or Beneficiary, except to the extent required by law, and (iii) no amendment shall change the timing or form of Distributions or otherwise violate the provisions of Code Section 409A so as to result in the imposition of excise taxes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not terminate the Plan but may, in its complete and sole discretion, freeze the Plan and allow no further deferrals into this Plan on a prospective basis. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company or any Participating Subsidiary may accelerate distribution upon termination of the Plan or in the event of a Change in Control subject to compliance with all requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

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Avery Dennison Corporation 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan

 

ARTICLE 11
 MAINTENANCE OF ACCOUNTS

 

The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, all such books of account, records and other data as may be necessary or advisable for the administration of this Plan, and to reflect properly the affairs thereof, and to determine the nature and amount of the interests of the respective Participants in each Account. Separate Accounts or records for the respective Participants’ Accounts shall be maintained for operational and accounting purposes, but no such Account or record shall be considered as creating a lien of any nature whatsoever on or as segregating any of the assets with respect to the Accounts under this Plan from any other funds or property of the Company.

 

ARTICLE 12
 MISCELLANEOUS

 

12.1     Applicable Law.  Except to the extent preempted by ERISA and applicable substantive provisions of federal law, this Plan shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely therein.

 

12.2     Exempt ERISA Plan.  The Plan is intended to be an unfunded plan maintained primarily to provide deferred compensation benefits for a select group of management or highly compensated employees within the meaning of Section 401 of ERISA, and therefore to be exempt from Parts 2, 3, and 4 of Title I of ERISA.

 

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

 

12.4     Employment Not Guaranteed.  Nothing contained in this Plan nor any action taken hereunder, shall be construed as a contract of employment or as giving any Employee any right to be retained in the employ of the Company.

 

12.5     Limitation.  A Participant and the Participant’s Beneficiary shall assume all risks in connection with the performance of any Declared Rate and any decrease in value of the Accounts, and none of the Company, any of its officers, employees, or directors, the Committee or the Administrator shall be liable or responsible therefor.

 

12.6     Notice.  Any notice or filing required or permitted to be given to the Administrator under the Plan shall be sufficient if in writing and hand delivered, or sent by registered or certified mail, to the principal office of the Employer, directed to the attention of the Administrator with a copy to the Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Company. Such notice shall be deemed given as of the date of delivery or, if delivery is made by mail, as of the date shown on the postmark on the receipt for registration or certification.

 

12.7     Limits on Transfer.  Other than by will, the laws of descent and distribution, or legal or judicial process related to dissolution of marriage, no right, title or interest of any kind in the Plan shall be transferable or assignable by a Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary or be

 

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Avery Dennison Corporation 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan

 

subject to alienation, anticipation, encumbrance, garnishment, attachment, levy, execution or other legal or equitable process, nor subject to the debts, contracts, alimony, liabilities or engagements, or torts of any Participant or Participant’s Beneficiary.  Any attempt to alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, garnish, attach or take any other action subject to legal or equitable process or encumber or dispose of any interest in the Plan shall be void.

 

12.8     Satisfaction of Claims.  Payments to any Participant or Beneficiary in accordance with the provisions of the Plan shall, to the extent thereof, be in full or partial satisfaction of the Participant’s and/or Beneficiary’s claims against the Company for the compensation or other amounts deferred and relating to the Account and/or Benefits to which the payments relate.

 

12.9     Tax Withholding.  The Participant or Beneficiary shall make appropriate arrangements with the Company for satisfaction of any federal, state or local income tax withholding requirements and Social Security or other employee tax requirements applicable to the crediting and payment of Benefits under the Plan.  If no other arrangements are made, the Company shall have the right to deduct from amounts otherwise credited or payable in settlement of an Account any sums that federal, state, local or foreign tax law requires to be withheld with respect to such credit or payment.

 

12.10   Participant Cooperation.  Each Participant shall cooperate with the Employer by furnishing any and all information requested by the Administrator in order to facilitate the payment of Benefits hereunder, taking such physical examinations as the Administrator may deem necessary and taking such other relevant action as may be requested by the Employer. If a Participant refuses to so cooperate, the Employer shall have no further obligation to the Participant under the Plan, other than payment to such Participant of the cumulative deferrals theretofore made pursuant to this Plan. If a Participant commits suicide during the two (2) year period beginning on the first day on which he participates in the Plan or if the Participant makes any material misstatement of information or nondisclosure of medical history, then no Benefits will be payable hereunder to such Participant of the deferrals theretofore made pursuant to this Plan, provided, that in the Committee’s sole discretion, Benefits may be payable in an amount reduced to compensate the Employer for any loss, cost, damage or expense suffered or incurred by the Employer as a result in any way of any such action, misstatement or nondisclosure.

 

12.11   Unfunded Status of Plan; Creation of Rabbi Trust.  The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan of deferred compensation and Participants shall rely solely on the unsecured promise of the Company for payment hereunder.  With respect to any payment not yet made to a Participant under the Plan, nothing contained in the Plan shall give a Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.  The Company has established the Avery Dennison Corporation Executive Compensation Trust (“Rabbi Trust”). The assets of the Rabbi Trust shall be subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors. To the extent any Benefits provided under the Plan are actually paid to a Participant or Beneficiary from the Rabbi Trust, the Employer shall have no further obligation with respect thereto, but to the extent not so paid, such Benefits shall remain the obligation of, and shall be paid by, the Employer. Participants and their Beneficiaries, heirs, successors, and assigns shall have no legal or equitable rights, interest, or claims in or to any specific property or assets of the Employer, nor shall they be beneficiaries of, or have any rights, claims, or interests in any life insurance policies, annuity contracts, or the proceeds therefrom owned or which may be acquired by the

 

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Avery Dennison Corporation 2005 Executive Variable Deferred Retirement Plan

 

Employer (“Policies”). Apart from the Rabbi Trust, such Policies or other assets of the Employer shall not be held under any trust for the benefit of Participants, their Beneficiaries, heirs, successors, or assigns, or held in any way as collateral security for the fulfilling of the obligations of the Employer under this Plan. Any and all of the Employer’s assets and Policies shall be, and shall remain, the general, un-pledged, unrestricted assets of the Employer. The Employer’s obligations under the Plan shall be merely an unfunded and unsecured promise of The Employer to pay money in the future.

 

12.12   Waiver of Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.  The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or other law that would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any portion of the Benefits due hereunder, wherever such laws may be enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or which may affect the administration or performance of this Plan; and (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) the Company hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the realization of any Benefits to which the Participants hereunder are entitled, but will suffer and permit the realization of all such Benefits as though no such law had been enacted. The provisions of this Section 12.12 are not intended, however, to prevent compliance of the Plan with the provisions of Code Section 409A.

 

12.13   Validity.  In the event any provision of this Plan is held invalid, void, or unenforceable, the same shall not affect, in any respect whatsoever, the validity of any other provision of this Plan.

 

12.14   Waiver of Breach.  The waiver by any party of any breach of any provision of the Plan by any other party shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.

 

12.15   Gender, Singular and Plural.  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. As the context may require, the singular may be read as the plural and the plural as the singular.

 

18

 

EXHIBIT A

 

EVDRP DECLARED RATES

 

	
Pacific   Select Fund
    	
 
    	
Fund   Manager
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Money Market
    	
 
    	
Pacific Life
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Managed Bond
    	
 
    	
Pacific Investment   Management Company (PIMCO)
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Equity Index
    	
 
    	
Mercury Advisors
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
International Equity
    	
 
    	
Brandes Investment   Partners, L.P.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Growth LT
    	
 
    	
Janus Capital   Corporation
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Small-Cap Index
    	
 
    	
Mercury Advisors
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Large-Cap Value
    	
 
    	
Salomon Brothers
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Diversified Research
    	
 
    	
Capital Guardian
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Emerging Markets
    	
 
    	
Oppenheimer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Fixed Account
    	
 
    	
N/A – not a managed   fund
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Capital Appreciation
    	
 
    	
Frontier
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Mid-Cap Value Fund
    	
 
    	
Lazard
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Core Growth
    	
 
    	
Turner Investment   Partners
    

 

19

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00216-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00216-of-00352.parquet"}]]