EX-10.25 Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, dated October 1, 2007

Contract Categories: Human Resources - Compensation Agreements
EX-10.25 3 b65742a2exv10w25.htm EX-10.25 EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN, DATED OCTOBER 1, 2007 exv10w25
 

EXHIBIT 10.25
EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
FOR ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
As Amended and Restated as of October 1, 2007

 


 

EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
FOR ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
         
Article   Page  
1. Definitions
    1  
 
       
2. Membership
    5  
 
       
3. Deferral Account
    7  
 
       
4. Company Account
    12  
 
       
5. Maintenance of Accounts
    14  
 
       
6. Payment of Benefits
    17  
 
       
7. Amendment or Termination
    25  
 
       
8. General Provisions
    27  
 
       
9. Signature and Verification
    33  

 


 

INTRODUCTION
This Executive Deferred Compensation Plan of Allegro Microsystems, Inc. (the “Plan”) was authorized by Allegro Microsystems, Inc. to be applicable effective on and after April 1, 1995. The Plan was subsequently amended and restated to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code effective as of January 1, 2008 and to reflect the merger of Allegro MicroSystems W.G., Inc. into the Company in 2003. This Plan is intended to promote extraordinary contributions by eligible executives towards the success of the Company by providing such executives with an opportunity to defer a portion of any compensation they may receive as base salary or as a bonus under any bonus program maintained by the Company and to restore Company Basic and Supplemental Retirement Contributions lost under the Allegro Microsystems, Inc. Employees’ Retirement and Savings Plan because of the application of the limitation on compensation imposed by Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code or by reason of the deferral of his base salary or bonus under this Plan. The Plan is unfunded and is maintained by the Company for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly-compensated employees. The Plan reads as hereinafter set forth.

 


 

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
FOR ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS
1.01   Administrative Committee” shall mean the committee which administers the Plan. The members of the Plan’s Administrative Committee shall be those persons appointed by the President, Allegro Microsystems, Inc. to administer the Plan.
 
1.02   Affiliated Company” shall mean any company, corporation or business directly or indirectly controlled by Allegro Microsystems, Inc., whether or not such company, corporation or business participates in the Plan.
 
1.03   Base Salary” shall mean the Member’s annual fixed compensation that is paid periodically during the year, determined prior to any pre-tax contributions under a “qualified cash or deferred arrangement” (as defined under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code and its applicable regulations) or under a “cafeteria plan” (as defined under Section 125 of said Code and its applicable regulations) and any deferrals under Article 3.

 


 

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1.04   Beneficiary” shall mean the beneficiary designated by a Member pursuant to Section 6.04.
 
1.05   Bonus” shall mean any payment made pursuant to a plan identified as a bonus plan.
 
1.06   Company” shall mean Allegro Microsystems, Inc. and any successor thereto, with respect to its employees, and any Affiliated Company authorized by the Board of Directors to participate in the Plan, with respect to its employees.
 
1.07   Company Account” shall mean the bookkeeping account maintained for each Member to record the amount of Company Contributions credited to the Member in accordance with Article 4, as adjusted pursuant to Article 5.
 
1.08   Deferral Account” shall mean the bookkeeping account (or accounts) maintained for each Member to record the amount of his Base Salary and/or Bonus he has elected to defer in accordance with Article 3, as adjusted pursuant to Article 5. The Administrative Committee may establish such sub-accounts within a Member’s Deferral Account as it deems necessary to implement the provisions of the Plan.
 
1.09   Deferral Agreement” shall mean the completed agreement, including any amendments, attachments and appendices thereto, in such form determined by the Administrative Committee, between an Eligible Executive and the Company, under which the Eligible Executive agrees to defer Base Salary or a Bonus under the Plan.

 


 

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1.10   Effective Date” shall mean April 1, 1995.
 
1.11   Eligible Executive” shall mean an employee of the Company who is (i) a senior staff member on the payroll of the Company, or (ii) the president of Allegro Microsystems, Inc. and who is designated by the Administrative Committee as eligible to participate in this Plan.
 
1.12   Member” shall mean, except as otherwise provided in Article 2, each Eligible Executive who has executed a Deferral Agreement as described in Section 2.01.
 
1.13   Plan” shall mean the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan of Allegro Microsystems, Inc. as set forth in this document, as it may be amended from time to time.
 
1.14   Plan Year” shall mean the calendar year.
 
1.15   “Pre-2005 Deferrals” shall mean that portion of a Member’s Deferral Account attributable to deferrals of his Base Salary and Bonus that were accrued and 100% vested and non-forfeitable prior to January 1, 2005.
 
1.16   Savings Plan” shall mean Allegro Microsystems, Inc. Employees’ Retirement and Savings Plan.
 
1.17   Valuation Date” shall mean the last business day of each calendar quarter following the Effective Date, or such other day as the Administrative Committee may determine.

 


 

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ARTICLE 2. MEMBERSHIP
2.01   In General
 
(a)   An Eligible Executive who was a Member on September 30, 2007 shall continue to be a Member. Each other Eligible Executive shall become a Member as of the earlier of (i) the date he first files a Deferral Agreement with the Administrative Committee or (ii) the first day of the first calendar year during which the amount of Company Basic or Supplemental Retirement Contributions made on behalf of an Eligible Executive Employee under the Savings Plan are curtailed due to the limitation on compensation imposed by Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code. However, an Eligible Executive’s Deferral Agreement shall be effective for purposes of deferring a Base Salary or Bonus only as provided in Article 3.
 
(b)   A Member’s Deferral Agreement shall be in writing and be properly completed upon a form approved by the Administrative Committee, which shall be the sole judge of the proper completion thereof. Such Deferral Agreement shall provide for the deferral of Base Salary or Bonus. The Deferral Agreement may include such other provisions as the Administrative Committee deems appropriate. A Deferral Agreement shall not be revoked or modified except as otherwise provided in Article 3.

 


 

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(c)   The Administrative Committee may require such other information as it deems appropriate as a condition for membership in the Plan.
 
2.02   Termination of Membership: Re-employment
 
(a)   Membership shall cease upon a Member’s termination of employment with the Company unless the Member is entitled to benefits under the Plan, in which event his membership shall terminate when those benefits are distributed to him. Membership shall also cease as provided in the preceding sentence upon a Member’s taking a leave of absence from the Company unless such leave of absence is approved by the Company.
 
(b)   If a former Member whose membership in the Plan ceased under Section 2.02(a) is re-employed as an Eligible Executive, the former Member may become a Member again in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.01.
 
(c)   The Pre-2005 Deferral of a former Member who is rehired by the Company or an Affiliated Company, whether or not as an Eligible Executive, shall be paid to the rehired Member at the time and in the form designated by the Member on the Deferral Agreement in which he elected to defer such amounts. Payments of Pre-2005 Deferrals being made to a former Member shall not cease merely because the former Member is rehired by the Company or an Affiliated Company.

 


 

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ARTICLE 3. DEFERRAL ACCOUNT
3.01   Deferral Elections
 
    Subject to the provisions of Section 3.04, prior to the close of business on December 31 in any Plan Year, an Eligible Executive may elect to defer all or a portion of (i) his Base Salary that is otherwise earned and payable in the next Plan Year and (ii) of his Bonus for services he performs in the next fiscal year that is payable in the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which such services are performed. The election shall be made by filing a Deferral Agreement with the Administrative Committee. In the event that December 31 does not fall on a business day, such filing must be made by the close of business on the last prior business day.
 
3.02   Special Rules for Initial Deferral Elections
 
    Subject to the provisions of Section 3.04, if an employee becomes an Eligible Executive after January 1 in any Plan Year, he may elect to defer his Base Salary or Bonus by filing a Deferral Agreement with the Administrative Committee prior to the close of business on the tenth business day following the date he becomes an Eligible Executive. However, any such deferral of Base Salary shall apply only to Base Salary to be paid for services performed after such election is effective and any such deferral of a Bonus shall apply only for the “remaining portion” of the Bonus paid for services performed in the fiscal year of the Company during which the election is effective and for the Bonus paid for services in the first fiscal year of the Company beginning after such election is

 


 

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effective. The “remaining portion” of the Bonus paid for services performed in the fiscal year of the Company during which the election is effective shall be determined by multiplying the Bonus for that fiscal year by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days remaining in the fiscal year after the election becomes effective and the denominator is the total number of days in such fiscal year.
3.03   Special Rule for 2008 Bonus Deferral Election
 
    Subject to the provisions of Section 3.04, if a Bonus is paid to an Eligible Employee in 2008 with respect to services performed in 2008, the Eligible Employee may elect, prior to the close of business on December 31, 2007 to defer all or a portion of such Bonus by filing a Deferral Agreement with the Committee prior to the close of business on December 31, 2007.
 
3.04   Procedures and Restrictions
 
(a)   An Eligible Executive may defer up to 100% of his Base Salary or Bonus. Any deferral shall be in 1% increments. In its sole discretion, the Administrative Committee may establish such other maximum or minimum limits on the amount of Base Salary or Bonus an Eligible Executive may defer as it deems appropriate. Eligible Executives shall be given written notice of any such limits at least ten business days prior to the date they take effect.
 
(b)   An Eligible Executive’s election to defer all or a portion of his Base Salary or Bonus for any Plan Year shall be effective on the last day the deferral of such Base Salary or Bonus

 


 

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    may be elected under Section 3.01, 3.02 or 3.03, as the case may be, and shall remain in effect until revoked or changed by the Eligible Executive. An Eligible Executive may revoke or change his election to defer all or a portion of his Base Salary or Bonus at any time prior to the date the election becomes effective. Once an Eligible Employee’s election other than an election under Section 3.03, becomes effective, the Eligible Employee may revoke or change the election prior to December 31 of any subsequent Plan Year (the “Deadline Date”). Elections under Section 3.03 may not be revoked or changed once they become effective. Any revocation or change of an election once it becomes effective shall be effective (i) with respect to Base Salary payable in connection with services performed in the first Plan Year commencing after the Deadline Date and (ii) with respect to Bonus for services the Eligible Executive performs in the first fiscal year commencing after the Deadline Date. Any revocation or change shall be made in a form and manner determined by the Administrative Committee.
 
(c)   If a Member ceases to be an Eligible Executive but continues to be employed by the Company, he shall continue to be a Member and his Deferral Agreement currently in effect (i) for Base Salary for services performed in the Plan Year shall remain in force of the remainder of such Plan Year and (ii) for Bonus for services performed in the Company’s fiscal year in which the Member ceases to be an Eligible Executive shall remain in force for the remainder of such fiscal year. However, the Member shall not be eligible to defer any portion of his Base Salary paid for services performed in a subsequent Plan Year or Bonus for services performed in a subsequent fiscal year, until such time as he shall once again become an Eligible Executive and files a new Deferral Agreement with the Administrative Committee in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.01 and this Section 3.04.

 


 

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(d)   Notwithstanding anything in this plan to the contrary, if an Eligible Executive
  (i)   receives a withdrawal of any pre-tax contributions on account of hardships from any plan which is maintained by the Company and which meets the requirements of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (or any successor thereto) and
 
  (ii)   is precluded from making contributions to such 401(k) plan for at least six months after receipt of the hardship withdrawal,
    his election to defer Base Salary or Bonus under his Deferral Agreement shall be cancelled and no amount shall be deferred under this Plan under the Eligible Executive’s Deferral Agreement with respect to Base Salary or Bonus until such time as the Eligible Executive is again permitted to contribute to such 401(k) plan. Any Base Salary or Bonus payment which would have been deferred pursuant to a Deferral Agreement but for the application of this Section 3.01(d) shall be paid to the Eligible Executive as if he had not entered into the Deferral Agreement. An Eligible Executive who’s deferral election under his Deferral Agreement is cancelled in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.04(d) may elect to defer Base Salary and Bonus for periods commencing after he is again permitted to contribute to such 401(k) plan by filing a new Deferral Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.0 1 and this Section 3.04.
 
(e)   Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, an election to defer any part of Base Salary or Bonus payable in the 1995 Plan Year filed with the Administrative

 


 

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    Committee on or before the Effective Date shall be effective only with respect to Base Salary earned and payable on or after the Effective Date and Bonus paid after the Effective Date; provided, however, that Bonus may be deferred only if the amount of Bonus for the Plan Year has not already been determined by appropriate action of the Chairman of the Board of the Company.
 
3.06   Crediting to Account
 
    The amount of Base Salary or Bonus which an Eligible Executive has elected to defer shall be credited to his Deferral Account no later than the first business day of the first calendar month following the date the Base Salary or Bonus would have been paid to the Eligible Executive in the absence of a Deferral Agreement with respect to such amount.
 
3.07   Vesting
 
    A member shall at all times be 100% vested in his Deferral Account except as otherwise provided in Section 3.03.

 


 

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ARTICLE 4. COMPANY ACCOUNT
4.01   Amount of Company Contribution
 
    To the extent the Company is prevented from making Company Basic Retirement Contributions or Company Supplemental Retirement Contributions under the Savings Plan on behalf of a Member in any calendar year in which he is a Member hereunder by reason of the deferral of his Base Salary or Bonus pursuant to an election under Article 3 or by reason of the limitation imposed on compensation by Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code; such Company Basic Retirement Contributions and Company Supplement Retirement Contributions will be deemed to be made under this Plan and credited to his Company Account pursuant to Section 4.02.
 
4.02   Crediting to Account
 
    The Company Contributions determined pursuant to Section 4.01 on behalf of a Member shall be credited to such Member’s Company Account as soon as administratively practicable following the close of each calendar year.
 
4.03   Vesting
 
    A Member shall vest in the Company Contributions made on his behalf under Section 4.01, adjusted pursuant to Article 5, at the same rate at which such contributions would have vested under the Savings Plan had they been contributed thereunder. In the event a Member terminates employment prior to vesting in all or any part of the Company Contributions made on his behalf, such Company Account shall be forfeited and shall not be restored if the Member is subsequently re-employed by the Company.

 


 

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ARTICLE 5. MAINTENANCE OF ACCOUNTS
5.01   Adjustment of Account
 
(a)   As of each Valuation Date, each Deferral Account (and any sub-account thereof) and each Company Account shall be credited or debited with the amount of earnings or losses with which such accounts would have been credited or debited, assuming it had been invested in one or more investment funds, or earned the rate of return of one or more indices of investment performance, designated by the Administrative Committee and elected by the Member pursuant to Section 5.02 for purposes of measuring the investment performance of his accounts.
 
(b)   The Administrative Committee shall designate at least one investment fund or index of investment performance and may designate other investment funds or investment indices to be used to measure the investment performance of a Member’s accounts. The designation of any such investment funds or indices shall not require the Company to invest or earmark their general assets in any specific manner. The Administrative Committee may change the designation of investment funds or indices from time to time, in its sole discretion, and any such change shall not be deemed to be an amendment affecting Member’s rights under Section 7.02.

 


 

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5.02   Investment Performance Elections
 
    In the event the Administrative Committee designates more than one investment fund or index of investment performance under Section 5.01, each Member shall file an investment election with the Administrative Committee with respect to the investment of his Deferrals and Company Contributions within such time period and on such form as the Administrative Committee may prescribe. The election shall designate the investment fund or funds or index or indices of investment performance which shall be used to measure the investment performance of the Member’s Deferrals. The election shall be in increments of 10%.
 
5.03   Changing Investment Elections
 
(a)   A Member may change his election in Section 5.02 used to measure the investment performance of his future Deferrals and Company Contributions, no more than four times in any calendar year, by filing an appropriate written notice with the Administrative Committee at least 15 days in advance of the date such election is effective. The notice shall be effective as of the beginning of the first payroll period of the first calendar quarter following the date the notice is filed with the Administrative Committee.
 
(b)   A Member may change his election of the investment fund or funds or index or indices of investment performance used to measure the future investment performance of his existing account balance, by filing an appropriate written notice with the Administrative Committee at least 15 days in advance of the date such election is effective. The election shall be effective as of the first business day of the calendar quarter following the month in which the notice is filed.

 


 

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5.04   Individual Accounts
 
    The Administrative Committee shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, records showing the balances of each Member’s Deferral Account (and any sub-account thereof) and Company Account. At least once a year, each Member shall be furnished with a statement setting forth the value of his Deferral Account and Company Account.
 
5.05   Valuation of Accounts
 
(a)   The Administrative Committee shall value or cause to be valued each Member’s accounts at least quarterly. On each Valuation Date there shall be allocated to the accounts of each Member the appropriate amount determined in accordance with Section 5.01.
 
(b)   Whenever an event requires a determination of the value of a Member’s Deferral Account (or any sub-account thereof) or his Company Account, the value shall be computed as of the Valuation Date coincident with, or immediately following, the date of the event.

 


 

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ARTICLE 6. PAYMENT OF BENEFITS
6.01   Payment Commencement Date for Deferral Accounts
 
(a)   Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6.06 and 6.08, distribution of the Member’s Deferral Account (or any sub-account thereof) shall commence to be paid, in the form determined pursuant to Section 6.03, on the first day of the first month following the Valuation Date coincident with or immediately following (i) the Member’s termination of employment with the Company and all Affiliated Companies; or (ii) with respect to a Member’s Pre-2005 Deferrals, on the date designated by the Member on the Deferral Agreement in which he elected to defer such amounts if the Member elected this option on that Deferral Agreement.
 
(b)   In the event a Member’s Pre-2005 Deferrals shall commence in accordance with clause (ii) above, the Member shall not have designated a date earlier than three years subsequent to the date he executed the Deferral Agreement or later than his attainment of age 701/2. Any designation of an earlier or later commencement date shall be void and the Member’s Pre-2005 Deferrals shall be paid in accordance with clause (i) above. In the event a Member who’s Pre-2005 Deferrals shall commence in accordance with clause (ii) above terminates employment prior to such designated date, the distribution of his Deferred Account shall commence to be paid in the form determined pursuant to Section 6.03 on the first day of the first month immediately following the Member’s termination of employment with the Company and all Affiliated Companies. A Member may not change his designation of the date on which payment of his Pre-2005 Deferrals shall commence.

 


 

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6.02   Payment Commencement Date for Company Accounts
 
    Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6.06 and 6.08, the distribution of the amount credited to a Member’s Company Account, to the extent vested under the terms of the Savings Plan, shall commence to be paid, in the form determined pursuant to Section 6.04, on the first day of the first month following the Valuation Date coincident with or immediately following the Member’s termination of employment with the Company and all Affiliated Companies.
 
6.03   Form of Payment — Deferral Account
 
(a)   Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (c) below, payment of a Member’s Deferral Account (or any applicable sub-account thereof) shall be in single lump sum cash payment; provided, however, payment of a Member’s Pre-2005 Deferrals shall be paid in approximately equal annual cash installments for a period of years, not to exceed 10 years, designated by the Member on his Deferral Agreement; if the Member elected this option on the Deferral Agreement in which he elected to defer such amounts.
 
(b)   If a Member’s Pre-2005 Deferrals are paid in installments, the Member’s Deferral Account shall continue to be credited with earnings or losses as described in Section 5.01 during the installment payment period. The first installment or lump sum payment shall be made on the date determined under Section 6.01(a)(i) and subsequent installments

 


 

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    shall be determined as of the last business day of each calendar year and shall be paid on the following January 15th. The amount of each installment shall equal the balance of the Member’s Pre-2005 Deferrals as of each Valuation Date of determination divided by the number of remaining installments (including the installment being determined).
 
6.04   Form of Payment — Company Account
 
(a)   Upon his termination of employment with the Company and all Affiliated Companies, the amount credited to a Member’s Company Account, to the extent vested under the terms of the Savings Plan, shall be distributed to the Member in a single cash lump sum payment.
 
(b)   In the event the Member terminates employment for reasons other than death prior to vesting in all or any part of the amount to the credit of his Company Account, such nonvested amount shall be forfeited.
 
6.05   Death Benefits
 
    If a Member dies before payment of the entire balance of his Deferred Account or Company Account, an amount equal to the unpaid portion of his Deferred Account and of his Company Account shall be paid in a single cash lump sum to his Beneficiary on the first day of the first month following the Valuation Date coincident with or next following the Member’s date of death. The Company Account shall be paid to his Beneficiary in a single cash lump sum payment.

 


 

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6.06   Payments to Specified Employees
 
(a)   Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article 6 to the contrary, if (i) the Company becomes a company whose stock is publicly traded on an established securities market or otherwise, and (ii) a Member who is a “specified employee” terminates his employment with the Company thereafter for reasons other than death, any payments due during the first six months following the specified employee’s termination of employment, other than payments of Pre-2005 Deferrals, shall be withheld by the Plan until the earlier of (iii) the first day of the seventh month following the specified employee’s termination of employment with the Company, or (iv) his death. At that time, the withheld amounts shall be paid to the specified employee or, in the event of his death, to his Beneficiary. The withheld amounts shall not be credited with interest during the period they are withheld.
 
(b)   For purposes of this Section 6.06, a “specified employeeshall mean a Member who, when he terminates employment with the Company, (i) met the requirements of Section 416(i)(1)(A)(i), (ii) or (iii) of the Internal Revenue Code, applied in accordance with the regulations thereunder and disregarding Section 416(i)(5), at any time during the 12-month period ending on the identification date and (ii) terminated his employment with the Company at any time during the 12-month period beginning on the April 1st next following the identification date. For purposes of this Section 6.06, the definition of compensation under Treasury Regulation §1.415(c)-2(a) shall be used when determining whether a Member meets the requirements of clause (i) above, applied without use of any safe harbor provided in Treasury Regulation §1.415(c)-2(d), any of the special timing

 


 

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    rules provided in Treasury Regulation §1.415(c)-2(e) or any of the special rules in Treasury Regulation §1.415(c)-2(g) and the identification date shall be the December 31st immediately preceding the date the Participant terminates employment with the Company. A Member who meets the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 6.06 shall be a specified employee regardless of whether the Member meets the requirements of clause (i) on the date he terminates his employment with the Company.
 
6.07   Termination of Employment
 
(a)   A Member shall not be treated as retiring or terminating his employment with the Company for purposes of this Article 6 if:
  (i)   the Member is employed by an Affiliated Company;
 
  (ii)   the Member is on military leave, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence if the period of such leave does not exceed six months or, if longer, so long as the Member retains a right to reemployment with the Company or an Affiliated Company under an applicable statute or contract. If a Member’s leave exceeds six months and he does not retain a right to reemployment under an applicable statute or contract, the Member is deemed to have terminated his employment with the Company on the first day following the end of the six-month period; or
 
  (iii)   the Member continues to provide service to the Company in a capacity other than as an employee if the Member is providing service at a level that is at least 50% of the average level of services performed by the Member during the immediately preceding 36-month period.

 


 

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(b)   A Member who continues to provide services to the Company shall nevertheless be treated as having terminated his employment with the Company if the Member continues to provide service to the Company at a level that is 20% or less than the average level of services performed by the Member during the immediately preceding 36-month period.
 
6.08   Unforeseeable Emergency
 
(a)   While employed by the Company, a Member may, in the event of an unforeseeable emergency, request a withdrawal from his Deferral Account. The request shall be made in a time and manner determined by the Administrative Committee, shall not be for a greater amount than the lesser of (i) the amount required to meet the unforeseeable emergency, including amounts necessary to pay any federal, state or local income taxes, or (ii) the amount of his Deferral Account, and shall be subject to approval by the Administrative Committee.
 
(b)   For purposes of this Section 6.08, an unforeseeable emergency shall include a severe financial hardship to the Member resulting from:
  (i)   sudden and unexpected illness of the Member, his spouse or his dependents (as defined in Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code without regard to Sections 152(b)(1), (b)(2) and (d)(1)(B));
 
  (ii)   loss of the Member’s property due to a casualty,
 
  (iii)   other similar extraordinary circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Member approved by the Administrative Committee if such circumstances would result in a present or impending critical financial need which the Member is unable to satisfy with funds reasonably available from other sources.

 


 

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(c)   Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6.08, no portion of a Member’s Deferral Account may be withdrawn prior to the date the Member elected in the Deferral Agreement and no portion of a Member’s Company Account may be withdrawn prior to the date the Member terminates employment.
 
6.09   Designation of Beneficiary
 
    A Member may, in a time and manner determined by the Administrative Committee, designate a beneficiary and one or more contingent beneficiaries (which may include the Member’s estate) as his Beneficiary under this Plan to receive any benefits which may be payable under this Plan upon his death. If the Member fails to designate a Beneficiary or contingent Beneficiary, or if the Beneficiary and the contingent Beneficiaries fail to survive the Member, such benefits shall be paid to the Member’s estate. A Member may revoke or change any designation made under this Section 6.05 in a time and manner determined by the Administrative Committee.
 
6.10   Receipt and Release
 
    Any final payment or distribution to a Member or his Beneficiary or their legal representative shall be in full satisfaction of all claims against the Plan, the Administrative Committee and the Company. The Administrative Committee may, in its sole discretion, require the Member or his Beneficiary or their legal representative to execute a receipt and

 


 

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    release, in such form as the Administrative Committee may determine, upon final payment of all claims under the Plan or distribution, or a receipt to the extent of any partial payment or distribution, as a condition of receiving such payment or distribution. However, nothing in this Section 6.10 shall cause any required payment or distribution under the Plan to be made later than the last day permitted under Section 6.12.
 
6.11   Delays in Payment
 
    Notwithstanding anything in this Article 6 to the contrary, payment of a member’s benefit under the Plan may be delayed beyond the date it would otherwise have been made under the terms of this Article 6 if the Company reasonably anticipates that making the payment will violate Federal securities laws or other applicable laws. In such an event, payment shall be delayed until the earliest date the Company reasonably anticipates the payment will not cause such a violation. The inclusion of any amounts in gross income or the application of any penalty or other provision of the Code shall not be a violation for purposes of this Section.
 
6.12   Administrative Delay
 
    Payment of a Member’s benefit under the Plan shall be deemed to have commenced on a specified date if the payment commences as soon as administratively practicable following such date, but no later than the later of (i) the last day of the Plan Year in which the specified date occurs or (ii) the 15th day of the third calendar month following the month the specified date occurs.

 


 

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ARTICLE 7 — AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION
7.01   Right to Terminate
 
(a)   Allegro Microsystems, Inc. may, by action of its Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, terminate this Plan and the related Deferral Agreements at any time. In the event the Plan and related Deferral Agreements are terminated, each Member and Beneficiary shall receive a single sum payment in cash equal to the balance of his Pre-2005 Deferrals. Any remaining amounts in the Member’s Deferral Account and Company Account shall be paid to the Member in accordance with the provisions of Article 6. Any action to terminate the Plan by the Board of Directors shall be taken in such manner as may be permitted under the by-laws of the Company.
 
(b)   If the Board terminates the Plan within 12 months of a corporate dissolution taxed under Section 331 of the Code or with the approval of bankruptcy court pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 503(b)(1)(A), the remaining portion of a Participant’s vested Supplemental Benefit will be paid to him in a lump sum on the first day of the first calendar month following such termination.
 
7.02   Right to Amend
 
    Allegro Microsystems, Inc. may, by action of its Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, amend this Plan and the related Deferral Agreements in any way on 30 days prior notice to the Members. If any amendment to this Plan or to the Deferral Agreements shall

 


 

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    adversely affect the rights of a Member, such individual must consent in writing to such amendment prior to its effective date. If such individual does not consent to the amendment, the Plan and related Deferral Agreements shall be deemed to be terminated with respect to such individual and he shall receive a single sum payment of his Deferral Account and Company Account in cash as soon thereafter as is practicable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Committee’s change in any investment funds or investment index under Section 5.01, or the restriction of future Bonuses (and the opportunity to defer Bonuses) shall not be deemed to adversely affect any Member’s rights. Any action to amend the Plan by the Board of Directors shall be taken in such manner as may be permitted under the by-laws of the Company.
7.03   Uniform Action
 
    Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, any action to amend or terminate the Plan or the Deferral Agreements must be taken in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner.

 


 

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ARTICLE 8. GENERAL PROVISIONS
8.01   Funding
 
(b)   All amounts payable in accordance with this Plan shall constitute a general unsecured obligation of the Company. Such amounts, as well as any administrative costs relating to the Plan, shall be paid out of the general assets of the Company, to the extent not paid by a grantor trust established pursuant to paragraph (b) below.
 
(b)   The Company may, for administrative reasons, establish a grantor trust for the benefit of Members participating in the Plan. The assets of said trust will be held separate and apart from other Company funds, and shall be used exclusively for the purposes set forth in the Plan and the applicable trust agreement, subject to the following conditions:
  (i)   the creation of said trust shall not cause the Plan to be other than “unfunded” for purposes of Title I of ERISA;
 
  (ii)   the Company shall be treated as “grantor” of said trust for purposes of Section 677 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); and
 
  (iii)   said trust agreement shall provide that its assets may be used to satisfy claims of the Company’s general creditors, and the rights of such general creditors are enforceable by them under federal and state law.

 


 

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8.02   No Contract of Employment
 
    The existence of this Plan or of a Deferral Agreement does not constitute a contract for continued employment between an Eligible Executive or a Member and the Company. Except as otherwise limited by the terms of any valid employment contract or agreement entered into between the Company and an Eligible Executive or Member, the Company reserve the right to modify an Eligible Executive’s or Member’s remuneration and to terminate an Eligible Executive or a Member for any reason and at any time, notwithstanding the existence of this Plan or of a Deferral Agreement.
 
8.03   Withholding Taxes
 
    All payments under this Plan shall be net of an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state or local withholding tax requirements.
 
8.04   Nonalienation
 
    Subject to applicable law, the right to receive any benefit under this Plan may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or encumbered by a Member, Beneficiary or contingent Beneficiary in any manner and any attempt to do so shall be void. No such benefit shall be subject to garnishment, attachment or other legal or equitable process without the prior written consent of the Company.
 
8.05   Administration
 
(a)   This Plan shall be administered by the Administrative Committee. The Administrative Committee shall establish rules for the administration of the Plan, shall have

 


 

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    discretionary authority to interpret and construe the Plan and shall take any other action necessary to the proper operation of the Plan. The members of the Administrative Committee may allocate among themselves or delegate to other persons all or such portion of their duties under the Plan as they, in their sole discretion, shall determine.
 
(b)   Prior to paying any benefit under this Plan, the Administrative Committee may require the Member, Beneficiary or contingent Beneficiary to provide such information or material as the Administrative Committee, in its sole discretion, shall deem necessary for it to make any determination it may be required to make under this Plan. The Administrative Committee may withhold payment of any benefit under this Plan until it receives all such information and material and is reasonably satisfied of its correctness and genuineness.
 
(c)   All acts and decisions of the Administrative Committee shall be final and binding upon all Members, former Members, Beneficiaries, contingent Beneficiaries and employees of the Company.
 
8.06   Claims Procedure
 
    The Administrative Committee shall provide adequate notice in writing to any Member, former Member, Beneficiary or contingent Beneficiary whose claim for benefits under this Plan has been denied, setting forth the specific reasons for such denial. A reasonable opportunity shall be afforded to any such Member, former Member, Beneficiary or contingent Beneficiary for a full and fair review by the Administrative Committee of its

 


 

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    decision denying the claim. The Administrative Committee’s decision on any such review shall be final and binding on the Member, former Member, Beneficiary or contingent Beneficiary and all other interested persons.
 
8.07   Facility of Payment
 
    In the event the Administrative Committee shall find that a Member or his Beneficiary is unable to care for his affairs because of illness or accident, the Administrative Committee may direct that any benefit payment due him, unless claim shall have been made therefore by a duly appointed legal representative, be paid to his spouse, a child, a parent or other blood relative, or to a person with whom he resides, and any such payment so made shall be a complete discharge of the liabilities of the Plan therefore.
 
8.08   Limitation of Liability
 
    The Company, the members of the Administrative Committee, and any officer, employee or agent of the Company shall not incur any liability individually or on behalf of any other individuals or on behalf of the Company for any act or failure to act, made in good faith in relation to the Plan.
 
8.09   Indemnification
 
    The Company, the members of the Administrative Committee and the officers, employees and agents of the Company shall, unless prohibited by any applicable law, be indemnified against any and all liabilities arising by reason of any act, or failure to act, in relation to the Plan including, without limitation, expenses reasonably incurred in the

 


 

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    defense of any claim relating to the Plan, amounts paid in any compromise or settlement relating to the Plan and any civil penalty or excise tax imposed by any applicable statute, if:
  (a)   the act or failure to act shall have occurred
  (i)   in the course of the person’s service as an officer of the Company or member of the Administrative Committee, or
 
  (ii)   in connection with a service provided without compensation to the Plan or to the Members or Beneficiaries of the Plan, if such service was requested by the Administrative Committee, and
  (b)   the act or failure to act is in good faith and in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company.
    This determination shall be made by the Company and, if such determination is made in good faith and not arbitrarily or capriciously, shall be conclusive.
The foregoing indemnification shall be from the assets of the Company. However, the Company’s obligation hereunder shall be offset to the extent of any otherwise applicable insurance coverage under a policy maintained by the Company or any other person, or other source of indemnification.
 
8.10   Payment of Expenses
 
    All administrative expenses of the Plan and all benefits under the Plan shall be paid from the general assets of the Company.

 


 

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8.11   Construction
 
(a)   The Plan is intended to constitute an unfunded deferred compensation arrangement for a select group of management or highly compensated personnel. All rights hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and laws of the commonwealth of Massachusetts.
 
(b)   The masculine pronoun shall mean the feminine wherever appropriate.
 
(c)   The captions inserted in the Plan are inserted as a matter of convenience and shall not affect the construction of the Plan.

 


 

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ARTICLE 9. SIGNATURE AND VERIFICATION
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Allegro Microsystems, Inc. has caused this Plan to be executed this 3rd day of October 2007.
         
 
  /s/ Dennis H. Fitzgerald    
 
   
 
   
 
  Dennis H. Fitzgerald
President & CEO
   
 
       
 
   
 
   
         
Attest:
  /s/ Richard T. Kneeland
 
   
 
  Richard T. Kneeland
Associate General Counsel
Allegro Microsystems, Inc.