COMCAST CORPORATION 2005 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN ARTICLE 1 BACKGROUND AND COVERAGE OF PLAN
Exhibit 10.6
COMCAST CORPORATION
2005 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
ARTICLE 1 BACKGROUND AND COVERAGE OF PLAN
1.1. Background and Adoption of Plan.
1.1.1. Amendment and Restatement of the Plan. In recognition of the services provided by certain key employees and in order to make additional retirement benefits and increased financial security available on a tax-favored basis to those individuals, the Board of Directors of Comcast Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (the Board), hereby amends and restates the Comcast Corporation 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan (the Plan), effective December 15, 2010. The Plan has previously been amended and restated from time to time, in light of the enactment of section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) as part of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, and the issuance of various Notices, Announcements, Proposed Regulations and Final Regulations thereunder (collectively, Section 409A), and to make desirable changes to the rules of the Plan.
1.1.2. Prior Plan. Prior to the Effective Date, the Comcast Corporation 2002 Deferred Compensation Plan (the Prior Plan) was in effect. In order to preserve the favorable tax treatment available to deferrals under the Prior Plan in light of the enactment of Section 409A, the Board has prohibited future deferrals under the Prior Plan of amounts earned and vested on and after January 1, 2005. Amounts earned and vested prior to January 1, 2005 are and will remain subject to the terms of the Prior Plan. Amounts earned and vested on and after the Effective Date will be available to be deferred pursuant to the Plan, subject to its terms and conditions.
1.2. Reservation of Right to Amend to Comply with Section 409A. In addition to the powers reserved to the Board and the Committee under Article 10 of the Plan, the Board and the Committee reserve the right to amend the Plan, either retroactively or prospectively, in whatever respect is required to achieve and maintain compliance with the requirements of Section 409A.
1.3. Plan Unfunded and Limited to Outside Directors and Select Group of Management or Highly Compensated Employees. The Plan is unfunded and is maintained primarily for the purpose of providing outside directors and a select group of management or highly compensated employees the opportunity to defer the receipt of compensation otherwise payable to such outside directors and eligible employees in accordance with the terms of the Plan.
ARTICLE 2 DEFINITIONS
2.1. Account means the bookkeeping accounts established pursuant to Section 5.1 and maintained by the Administrator in the names of the respective Participants, to which all amounts deferred and earnings allocated under the Plan shall be credited, and from which all amounts distributed pursuant to the Plan shall be debited.
2.2. Active Participant means:
(a) Each Participant who is in active service as an Outside Director; and
(b) Each Participant who is actively employed by a Participating Company as an Eligible Employee.
2.3. Administrator means the Committee.
2.4. Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, the term control, including its correlative terms controlled by and under common control with, mean, with respect to any Person, the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
2.5. Annual Rate of Pay means, as of any date, an employees annualized base pay rate. An employees Annual Rate of Pay shall not include sales commissions or other similar payments or awards.
2.6. Applicable Interest Rate means:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 2.6(b), the Applicable Interest Rate means the interest rate that, when compounded daily pursuant to rules established by the Administrator from time to time, is mathematically equivalent to 12% per annum, compounded annually.
(b) Effective for the period beginning as soon as administratively practicable following a Participants employment termination date to the date the Participants Account is distributed in full, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may designate the term Applicable Interest Rate for such Participants Account to mean the lesser of (i) the rate in effect under Section 2.6(a) or (ii) the Prime Rate plus one percent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may delegate its authority to determine the Applicable Interest Rate under this Section 2.6(b) to an officer of the Company or committee of two or more officers of the Company.
2.7. Beneficiary means such person or persons or legal entity or entities, including, but not limited to, an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Code, designated by a Participant or Beneficiary to receive benefits pursuant to the terms of the Plan after such Participants or Beneficiarys death. If no Beneficiary is designated by the Participant or Beneficiary, or if no Beneficiary survives the Participant or Beneficiary (as the case may be), the Participants Beneficiary shall be the Participants Surviving Spouse if the Participant has a Surviving Spouse and otherwise the Participants estate, and the Beneficiary of a Beneficiary shall be the Beneficiarys Surviving Spouse if the Beneficiary has a Surviving Spouse and otherwise the Beneficiarys estate.
2.8. Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
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2.9. Change of Control means any transaction or series of transactions that constitutes a change in the ownership or effective control or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company, within the meaning of Section 409A.
2.10. Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2.11. Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.12. Company means Comcast Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation, including any successor thereto by merger, consolidation, acquisition of all or substantially all the assets thereof, or otherwise.
2.13. Company Stock means with respect to amounts credited to the Company Stock Fund pursuant to deferral elections by Outside Directors made pursuant to Section 3.1(a), Comcast Corporation Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01, including a fractional share, and such other securities issued by Comcast Corporation as may be subject to adjustment in the event that shares of either class of Company Stock are changed into, or exchanged for, a different number or kind of shares of stock or other securities of the Company, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split-up or other substitution of securities of the Company. In such event, the Committee shall make appropriate equitable anti-dilution adjustments to the number and class of hypothetical shares of Company Stock credited to Participants Accounts under the Company Stock Fund. Any reference to the term Company Stock in the Plan shall be a reference to the appropriate number and class of shares of stock as adjusted pursuant to this Section 2.13. The Committees adjustment shall be effective and binding for all purposes of the Plan.
2.14. Company Stock Fund means a hypothetical investment fund pursuant to which income, gains and losses are credited to a Participants Account as if the Account, to the extent deemed invested in the Company Stock Fund, were invested in hypothetical shares of Company Stock, and all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to Company Stock were held uninvested in cash, and reinvested in additional hypothetical shares of Company Stock as of the next succeeding December 31, based on the Fair Market Value of the Company Stock for such December 31, provided that dividends and other distributions paid with respect to Company Stock after December 31, 2007 shall be deemed to be reinvested in additional hypothetical shares of Company Stock as of the payment date for such dividends and other distributions, based on the Fair Market Value of Company Stock as of such payment date.
2.15. Compensation means:
(a) In the case of an Outside Director, the total remuneration payable in cash or payable in Company Stock (as elected by the Outside Director pursuant to the Comcast Corporation 2002 Director Compensation Plan) for services as a member of the Board and as a member of any Committee of the Board; and
(b) In the case of an Eligible Employee, the total cash remuneration for services payable by a Participating Company, excluding (i) Severance Pay, (ii) sales
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commissions or other similar payments or awards, (iii) bonuses earned under any program designated by the Companys Programming Division as a long-term incentive plan and (iv) bonuses earned under any long-term incentive plan for employees of NBC Universal (as defined in Section 3.1(a)(ii).
2.16. Death Tax Clearance Date means the date upon which a Deceased Participants or a deceased Beneficiarys Personal Representative certifies to the Administrator that (i) such Deceased Participants or deceased Beneficiarys Death Taxes have been finally determined, (ii) all of such Deceased Participants or deceased Beneficiarys Death Taxes apportioned against the Deceased Participants or deceased Beneficiarys Account have been paid in full and (iii) all potential liability for Death Taxes with respect to the Deceased Participants or deceased Beneficiarys Account has been satisfied.
2.17. Death Taxes means any and all estate, inheritance, generation-skipping transfer, and other death taxes as well as any interest and penalties thereon imposed by any governmental entity (a taxing authority) as a result of the death of the Participant or the Participants Beneficiary.
2.18. Deceased Participant means a Participant whose employment, or, in the case of a Participant who was an Outside Director, a Participant whose service as an Outside Director, is terminated by death.
2.19. Disability means:
(a) an individuals inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; or
(b) circumstances under which, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, an individual is receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident or health plan covering employees of the individuals employer.
2.20. Disabled Participant means:
(a) A Participant whose employment or, in the case of a Participant who is an Outside Director, a Participant whose service as an Outside Director, is terminated by reason of Disability;
(b) The duly-appointed legal guardian of an individual described in Section 2.20(a) acting on behalf of such individual.
2.21. Eligible Employee means:
(a) Each Grandfathered Employee;
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(b) Each employee of a Participating Company whose Annual Rate of Pay is $200,000 or more as of both (i) the date on which an Initial Election is filed with the Administrator and (ii) the first day of the calendar year in which such Initial Election is filed;
(c) Each New Key Employee; and
(d) Each other employee of a Participating Company who is designated by the Committee, in its discretion, as an Eligible Employee;
provided, in each case, that such individuals Compensation is administered under the Companys common payroll system.
2.22. Fair Market Value
(a) If shares of Company Stock are listed on a stock exchange, Fair Market Value shall be determined based on the last reported sale price of a share on the principal exchange on which shares are listed on the date of determination, or if such date is not a trading day, the next trading date.
(b) If shares of Company Stock are not so listed, but trades of shares are reported on the Nasdaq National Market, Fair Market Value shall be determined based on the last quoted sale price of a share on the Nasdaq National Market on the date of determination, or if such date is not a trading day, the next trading date.
(c) If shares of Company Stock are not so listed nor trades of shares so reported, Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in good faith.
2.23. Grandfathered Employee means:
(a) Each employee of a Participating Company who, as of December 31, 1989, was eligible to participate in the Prior Plan and who has been in continuous service to the Company or an Affiliate since December 31, 1989.
(b) Each employee of a Participating Company who was, at any time before January 1, 1995, eligible to participate in the Comcast Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan and whose Annual Rate of Pay is $90,000 or more as of both (i) the date on which an Initial Election is filed with the Administrator and (ii) the first day of each calendar year beginning after December 31, 1994.
(c) Each individual who was an employee of an entity that was a Participating Company in the Prior Plan as of June 30, 2002 and who has an Annual Rate of Pay of $125,000 as of each of (i) June 30, 2002; (ii) the date on which an Initial Election is filed with the Administrator and (iii) the first day of each calendar year beginning after December 31, 2002.
(d) Each employee of a Participating Company who (i) as of December 31, 2002, was an Eligible Employee within the meaning of Section 2.34 of the AT&T Broadband Deferred Compensation Plan (as amended and restated, effective
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November 18, 2002) with respect to whom an account was maintained, and (ii) for the period beginning on December 31, 2002 and extending through any date of determination, has been actively and continuously in service to the Company or an Affiliate.
2.24. Hardship means an unforeseeable emergency, as defined in Section 409A. The Committee shall determine whether the circumstances of the Participant constitute an unforeseeable emergency and thus a Hardship within the meaning of this Paragraph 2.24. Following a uniform procedure, the Committees determination shall consider any facts or conditions deemed necessary or advisable by the Committee, and the Participant shall be required to submit any evidence of the Participants circumstances that the Committee requires. The determination as to whether the Participants circumstances are a case of Hardship shall be based on the facts of each case; provided however, that all determinations as to Hardship shall be uniformly and consistently made according to the provisions of this Paragraph 2.24 for all Participants in similar circumstances.
2.25. Inactive Participant means each Participant (other than a Retired Participant, Deceased Participant or Disabled Participant) who is not in active service as an Outside Director and is not actively employed by a Participating Company.
2.26. Income Fund means a hypothetical investment fund pursuant to which income, gains and losses are credited to a Participants Account as if the Account, to the extent deemed invested in the Income Fund, were credited with interest at the Applicable Interest Rate.
2.27. Initial Election means a written election on a form provided by the Administrator, filed with the Administrator in accordance with Article 3, pursuant to which an Outside Director or an Eligible Employee may:
(a) Elect to defer any portion of the Compensation payable for the performance of services as an Outside Director or as an Eligible Employee following the time that such election is filed, provided that the maximum amount of Base Salary available for deferral shall be determined net of required withholdings and deductions as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, but shall in no event be less than 85% of the Participants Base Salary; and
(b) Designate the time of payment of the amount of deferred Compensation to which the Initial Election relates.
2.28. New Key Employee means each employee of a Participating Company:
(a) who becomes an employee of a Participating Company and has an Annual Rate of Pay of $200,000 or more as of his employment commencement date, or
(b) who has an Annual Rate of Pay that is increased to $200,000 or more and who, immediately preceding such increase, was not an Eligible Employee.
2.29. Normal Retirement means:
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(a) For a Participant who is an employee of a Participating Company immediately preceding his termination of employment, a termination of employment that is treated by the Participating Company as a retirement under its employment policies and practices as in effect from time to time; and
(b) For a Participant who is an Outside Director immediately preceding his termination of service, his normal retirement from the Board.
2.30. Outside Director means a member of the Board, who is not an employee of a Participating Company.
2.31. Participant means each individual who has made an Initial Election, or for whom an Account is established pursuant to Section 5.1, and who has an undistributed amount credited to an Account under the Plan, including an Active Participant, a Deceased Participant and an Inactive Participant.
2.32. Participating Company means the Company and each Affiliate of the Company designated by the Committee in which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more of the voting interests or value. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may delegate its authority to designate an eligible Affiliate as a Participating Company under this Section 2.32 to an officer of the Company or committee of two or more officers of the Company.
2.33. Performance-Based Compensation means Performance-Based Compensation within the meaning of Section 409A.
2.34. Performance Period means a period of at least 12 months during which a Participant may earn Performance-Based Compensation.
2.35. Person means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a trust or any other entity or organization.
2.36. Plan means the Comcast Corporation 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan, as set forth herein, and as amended from time to time.
2.37. Prime Rate means, for any calendar year, the interest rate that, when compounded daily pursuant to rules established by the Administrator from time to time, is mathematically equivalent to the prime rate of interest (compounded annually) as published in the Eastern Edition of The Wall Street Journal on the last business day preceding the first day of such calendar year, and as adjusted as of the last business day preceding the first day of each calendar year beginning thereafter.
2.38. Prior Plan means the Comcast Corporation 2002 Deferred Compensation Plan.
2.39. Retired Participant means a Participant who has terminated service pursuant to a Normal Retirement.
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2.40. Severance Pay means any amount that is payable in cash and is identified by a Participating Company as severance pay, or any amount which is payable on account of periods beginning after the last date on which an employee (or former employee) is required to report for work for a Participating Company.
2.41. Subsequent Election means a written election on a form provided by the Administrator, filed with the Administrator in accordance with Article 3, pursuant to which a Participant or Beneficiary may elect to defer the time of payment of amounts previously deferred in accordance with the terms of a previously made Initial Election or Subsequent Election.
2.42. Surviving Spouse means the widow or widower, as the case may be, of a Deceased Participant or a Deceased Beneficiary (as applicable).
2.43. Third Party means any Person, together with such Persons Affiliates, provided that the term Third Party shall not include the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.
ARTICLE 3 INITIAL AND SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS
3.1. Elections.
(a) Initial Elections.
(i) In General. Each Outside Director and Eligible Employee shall have the right to defer Compensation by filing an Initial Election with respect to Compensation that he would otherwise be entitled to receive for a calendar year at the time and in the manner described in this Article 3. The Compensation of such Outside Director or Eligible Employee for a calendar year shall be reduced in an amount equal to the portion of the Compensation deferred by such Outside Director or Eligible Employee for such calendar year pursuant to such Outside Directors or Eligible Employees Initial Election. Such reduction shall be effected on a pro rata basis from each periodic installment payment of such Outside Directors or Eligible Employees Compensation for the calendar year (in accordance with the general pay practices of the Participating Company), and credited, as a bookkeeping entry, to such Outside Directors or Eligible Employees Account in accordance with Section 5.1. Amounts credited to the Accounts of Outside Directors in the form of Company Stock shall be credited to the Company Stock Fund and credited with income, gains and losses in accordance with Section 5.2(c).
(ii) Employees of NBC Universal, LLC and its Subsidiaries. Effective and contingent upon the closing (the Closing) of the transactions contemplated by the Master Agreement, NBC Universal, LLC and its subsidiaries (collectively, NBC Universal) shall be Participating Companies, provided that employees of NBC Universal who are Eligible Employees shall be eligible to make Initial Elections under the Plan only to the extent provided in this Section 3(a)(ii). For this purpose, the term Master Agreement means the Master Agreement, dated as of December 3, 2009, by and among: General Electric Company, a New York corporation; NBC Universal, Inc, a Delaware corporation; Comcast; and, Navy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The following employees of NBC Universal shall be eligible
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to make Initial Elections with respect to calendar years beginning after 2010, provided that they are otherwise so eligible under the rules of the Plan other than this Section 3(a)(ii):
(A) For 2011, except as otherwise provided by the Committee, (x) a First Day Employee of NBC Universal who was an Eligible Employee as of December 31, 2010 and who, on or before December 31, 2010, has not filed an Opt-In Election with the Committee or its delegate and (y) an employee of NBC Universal other than a First Day Employee, who was an Eligible Employee as of December 31, 2010 and (z) an employee of NBC Universal who (I) becomes a New Key Employee in 2011 and (II) is assigned to a payroll of Comcast Corporation, as determined by the Committee or its delegate.
(B) For years beginning after 2011, except as otherwise provided by the Committee, (x) an employee of NBC Universal other than a First-Day Employee who (I) is an Eligible Employee as of December 31, 2011 and (II) on or before December 31, 2011, has not filed an Opt-In Election with the Committee or its delegate and (y) an employee of NBC Universal who (I) is an Eligible Employee as of December 31st of any year beginning after 2011, (II) transferred employment to NBC Universal directly from the Company or a Subsidiary other than NBC Universal and (III) on or before December 31st of the year such transfer of employment becomes effective, has not filed an Opt-In Election with the Committee or its delegate.
(iii) Special Definitions and Rules Applicable to NBC Universal. For purposes of Section 3(a)(ii):
(A) A First Day Employee is an individual who is an Eligible Employee as of December 31, 2010 and who has been designated by the Committee or its delegate as an employee who is expected to have senior leadership responsibilities for NBC Universal effective on the Closing or shortly thereafter in a capacity that is different from the capacity in which such employee served immediately before the Closing.
(B) An Opt-In Election is an irrevocable one-time election by an Eligible Employee on a form approved by the Committee or its delegate to become a Participant in one or more retirement or deferred compensation arrangements expected to be sponsored for the benefit of employees of NBC Universal, as may be designated by the Committee or its delegate, effective for years beginning after the date of such Opt-In Election. For avoidance of doubt, all individuals who have filed an Opt-In Election shall be treated as an Active Participant for all other purposes of the Plan with respect such individuals Account, if any, including but not limited to the provisions of the Plan relating to Subsequent Elections, and shall be treated as actively employed for purposes of the definition of the term Applicable Interest Rate until such individual ceases to be employed by the Company or an Affiliate.
(b) Subsequent Elections. Each Participant or Beneficiary shall have the right to elect to defer the time of payment or to change the manner of payment of amounts previously deferred in accordance with the terms of a previously made Initial Election pursuant to the terms of the Plan by filing a Subsequent Election at the time, to the extent, and in the manner described in this Article 3.
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3.2. Filing of Initial Election: General. An Initial Election shall be made on the form provided by the Administrator for this purpose. Except as provided in Section 3.3, no such Initial Election shall be effective with respect to Compensation other than Performance-Based Compensation unless it is filed with the Administrator on or before December 31 of the calendar year preceding the calendar year to which the Initial Election applies. No such Initial Election shall be effective with respect to Performance-Based Compensation unless it is filed with the Administrator at least six months before the end of the Performance Period during which such Performance-Based Compensation may be earned.
3.3. Filing of Initial Election by New Key Employees and New Outside Directors.
(a) New Key Employees. Notwithstanding Section 3.1 and Section 3.2, a New Key Employee may elect to defer Compensation by filing an Initial Election with respect to (i) base salary portion of his Compensation that he would otherwise be entitled to receive based on services performed in the calendar year in which the New Key Employee was hired or promoted, beginning with the payroll period next following the filing of an Initial Election with the Administrator and before the close of such calendar year, and (ii) the Performance-Based Compensation that he would otherwise be entitled to receive based on services performed for Performance Periods that include the calendar year in which the New Key Employee was hired or promoted and after the filing of the Initial Election. Such Initial Election must be filed with the Administrator within 30 days of such New Key Employees date of hire or within 30 days of the date such New Key Employee first becomes eligible to participate in the Plan. Any Initial Election by such New Key Employee for succeeding calendar years shall be made in accordance with Section 3.1 and Section 3.2.
(b) New Outside Directors. Notwithstanding Section 3.1 and Section 3.2, an Outside Director may elect to defer Compensation by filing an Initial Election with respect to his Compensation attributable to services provided as an Outside Director in the calendar year in which an Outside Directors election as a member of the Board becomes effective (provided that such Outside Director is not a member of the Board immediately preceding such effective date), beginning with Compensation earned following the filing of an Initial Election with the Administrator and before the close of such calendar year. Such Initial Election must be filed with the Administrator within 30 days of the effective date of such Outside Directors election. Any Initial Election by such Outside Director for succeeding calendar years shall be made in accordance with Section 3.1 and Section 3.2
3.4. Calendar Years to which Initial Election May Apply. A separate Initial Election may be made for each calendar year as to which an Outside Director or Eligible Employee desires to defer such Outside Directors or Eligible Employees Compensation. The failure of an Outside Director or Eligible Employee to make an Initial Election for any calendar year shall not affect such Outside Directors or Eligible Employees right to make an Initial Election for any other calendar year.
(a) Initial Election of Distribution Date. Each Outside Director or Eligible Employee shall, contemporaneously with an Initial Election, also elect the time of payment of the amount of the deferred Compensation to which such Initial Election relates;
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provided, however, that, except as otherwise specifically provided by the Plan, no distribution may commence earlier than January 2nd of the second calendar year beginning after the date the compensation subject to the Initial Election would be paid but for the Initial Election, nor later than January 2nd of the tenth calendar year beginning after the date the date the compensation subject to the Initial Election would be paid but for the Initial Election. Further, each Outside Director or Eligible Employee may select with each Initial Election the manner of distribution in accordance with Article 4.
3.5. Subsequent Elections. No Subsequent Election shall be effective until 12 months after the date on which such Subsequent Election is made.
(a) Active Participants. Each Active Participant, who has made an Initial Election, or who has made a Subsequent Election, may elect to defer the time of payment of any part or all of such Participants Account for a minimum of five and a maximum of ten additional years from the previously-elected payment date, by filing a Subsequent Election with the Administrator at least 12 months before the lump-sum distribution or initial installment payment would otherwise be made. The number of Subsequent Elections under this Section 3.5(a) shall not be limited.
(b) Inactive Participants. The Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion, permit an Inactive Participant to make a Subsequent Election defer the time of payment of any part or all of such Inactive Participants Account for a minimum of five years and a maximum of ten additional years from the previously-elected payment date, by filing a Subsequent Election with the Administrator at least 12 months before the lump-sum distribution or initial installment payment would otherwise be made. The number of Subsequent Elections under this Section 3.5(b) shall be determined by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion.
(c) Surviving Spouses.
(i) Subsequent Election. A Surviving Spouse who is a Deceased Participants Beneficiary may elect to defer the time of payment of any part or all of such Deceased Participants Account the payment of which would be made more than 12 months after the date of such election. Such election shall be made by filing a Subsequent Election with the Administrator in which the Surviving Spouse shall specify the change in the time of payment, which shall be no less than five (5) years nor more than ten (10) years from the previously-elected payment date, or such Surviving Spouse may elect to defer payment until such Surviving Spouses death. A Surviving Spouse may make a total of two (2) Subsequent Elections under this Section 3.5(c)(ii), with respect to all or any part of the Deceased Participants Account. Subsequent Elections pursuant to this Section 3.5(c)(ii) may specify different changes with respect to different parts of the Deceased Participants Account.
(d) Beneficiary of a Deceased Participant Other Than a Surviving Spouse.
(i) Subsequent Election. A Beneficiary of a Deceased Participant other than a Surviving Spouse may elect to defer the time of payment, of any part or
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all of such Deceased Participants Account the payment of which would be made more than 12 months after the date of such election. Such election shall be made by filing a Subsequent Election with the Administrator in which the Beneficiary shall specify the deferral of the time of payment, which shall be no less than five (5) years nor more than ten (10) years from the previously-elected payment date. A Beneficiary may make one (1) Subsequent Election under this Section 3.5(d)(i), with respect to all or any part of the Deceased Participants Account. Subsequent Elections pursuant to this Section 3.5(d)(i) may specify different changes with respect to different parts of the Deceased Participants Account.
(e) Retired Participants and Disabled Participants. The Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion, permit a Retired Participant or a Disabled Participant to make a Subsequent Election to defer the time of payment of any part or all of such Retired or Disabled Participants Account that would not otherwise become payable within twelve (12) months of such Subsequent Election for a minimum of five (5) years and a maximum of ten (10) additional years from the previously-elected payment date, by filing a Subsequent Election with the Administrator on or before the close of business on the date that is at least twelve (12) months before the date on which the lump-sum distribution or initial installment payment would otherwise be made. The number of Subsequent Elections under this Section 3.5(f) shall be determined by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion.
(f) Most Recently Filed Initial Election or Subsequent Election Controlling. Except as otherwise specifically provided by the Plan, no distribution of the amounts deferred by a Participant for any calendar year shall be made before the payment date designated by the Participant or Beneficiary on the most recently filed Initial Election or Subsequent Election with respect to each deferred amount.
3.6. Discretion to Provide for Distribution in Full Upon or Following a Change of Control. To the extent permitted by Section 409A, in connection with a Change of Control, and for the 12-month period following a Change of Control, the Committee may exercise its discretion to terminate the Plan and, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or the terms of any Initial Election or Subsequent Election, distribute the Account balance of each Participant in full and thereby effect the revocation of any outstanding Initial Elections or Subsequent Elections.
3.7. Withholding and Payment of Death Taxes.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Plan to the contrary, including but not limited to the provisions of Article 3 and Article 7, or any Initial or Subsequent Election filed by a Deceased Participant or a Deceased Participants Beneficiary (for purposes of this Section, the Decedent), and to the extent permitted by Section 409A, the Administrator shall apply the terms of Section 3.7(b) to the Decedents Account unless the Decedent affirmatively has elected, in writing, filed with the Administrator, to waive the application of Section 3.7(b).
(b) Unless the Decedent affirmatively has elected, pursuant to Section 3.7(a), that the terms of this Section 3.7(b) not apply, but only to the extent permitted under Section 409A:
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(i) The Administrator shall prohibit the Decedents Beneficiary from taking any action under any of the provisions of the Plan with regard to the Decedents Account other than the Beneficiarys making of a Subsequent Election pursuant to Section 3.5;
(ii) The Administrator shall defer payment of the Decedents Account until the later of the Death Tax Clearance Date and the payment date designated in the Decedents Initial Election or Subsequent Election;
(iii) The Administrator shall withdraw from the Decedents Account such amount or amounts as the Decedents Personal Representative shall certify to the Administrator as being necessary to pay the Death Taxes apportioned against the Decedents Account; the Administrator shall remit the amounts so withdrawn to the Personal Representative, who shall apply the same to the payment of the Decedents Death Taxes, or the Administrator may pay such amounts directly to any taxing authority as payment on account of Decedents Death Taxes, as the Administrator elects;
(iv) If the Administrator makes a withdrawal from the Decedents Account to pay the Decedents Death Taxes and such withdrawal causes the recognition of income to the Beneficiary, the Administrator shall pay to the Beneficiary from the Decedents Account, within thirty (30) days of the Beneficiarys request, the amount necessary to enable the Beneficiary to pay the Beneficiarys income tax liability resulting from such recognition of income; additionally, the Administrator shall pay to the Beneficiary from the Decedents Account, within thirty (30) days of the Beneficiarys request, such additional amounts as are required to enable the Beneficiary to pay the Beneficiarys income tax liability attributable to the Beneficiarys recognition of income resulting from a distribution from the Decedents Account pursuant to this Section 3.7(b)(iv);
(v) Amounts withdrawn from the Decedents Account by the Administrator pursuant to Sections 3.7(b)(iii) and 3.7(b)(iv) shall be withdrawn from the portions of Decedents Account having the earliest distribution dates as specified in Decedents Initial Election or Subsequent Election; and
(vi) Within 30 days after the Death Tax Clearance Date or upon the payment date designated in the Decedents Initial Election or Subsequent Election, if later, the Administrator shall pay the Decedents Account to the Beneficiary.
3.8. Company Credits. In addition to the amounts credited to Participants Accounts pursuant to Initial Elections with respect to Compensation, the Committee may provide for additional amounts to be credited to the Accounts of one or more designated Eligible Employees (Company Credits) for any year. A Participant whose Account is designated to receive Company Credits may not elect to receive any portion of the Company Credits as additional Compensation in lieu of deferral as provided by this Section 3.8. The total amount of Company Credits designated with respect to an Eligible Employees Account for any Plan Year shall be credited to such Eligible Employees Account as of the time or times designated by the Committee, as a bookkeeping entry to such Eligible Employees Account in accordance with Section 5.1. From and after the date Company Credits are allocated as designated by the
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Committee, Company Credits shall be credited with income, gains and losses on the same basis as all other amounts credited to the Participants Account pursuant to Section 5.2. Company Credits and income, gains and losses credited with respect to Company Credits shall be distributable to the Participant on the same basis as if the Participant had made an Initial Election to receive a lump sum distribution of such amount on January 2nd of the third calendar year beginning after the Plan Year with respect to which the Company Credits were authorized, unless the Participant timely designates another time and form of payment that is a permissible time and form of payment for amounts subject to an Initial Election under Section 3.4(a) and Section 4.1. In addition, the Participant may make one or more Subsequent Elections with respect to such Company Credits (and income, gains and losses credited with respect to Company Credits) on the same basis as all other amounts credited to such Participants Account.
3.9. Required Suspension of Payment of Benefits. To the extent compliance with the requirements of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(i)(2) (or any successor provision) is necessary to avoid the application of an additional tax under Section 409A to payments due to a Participant upon or following his separation from service, then notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, any such payments that are otherwise due within six months following the Participants separation from service will be deferred and paid to the Participant in a lump sum immediately following that six-month period.
ARTICLE 4 MANNER OF DISTRIBUTION
4.1. Manner of Distribution.
(a) Amounts credited to an Account shall be distributed, pursuant to an Initial Election or Subsequent Election in either (i) a lump sum payment or (ii) substantially equal monthly or annual installments over a five (5), ten (10) or fifteen (15) year period. Installment distributions payable in the form of shares of Company Stock shall be rounded to the nearest whole share.
(b) To the extent permitted by Section 409A, notwithstanding any Initial Election, Subsequent Election or any other provision of the Plan to the contrary:
(i) distributions pursuant to Initial Elections or Subsequent Elections shall be made in one lump sum payment unless the portion of a Participants Account subject to distribution, as of both the date of the Initial Election or Subsequent Election and the benefit commencement date, has a value of more than $10,000;
(ii) following a Participants termination of employment for any reason, if the amount credited to the Participants Account has a value of $10,000 or less, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, direct that such amount be distributed to the Participant (or Beneficiary, as applicable) in one lump sum payment, provided that the payment is made on or before the later of (i) December 31 of the calendar year in which the Participant terminates employment or (ii) the date two and one-half months after the Participant terminates employment.
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4.2. Determination of Account Balances for Purposes of Distribution. The amount of any distribution made pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be based on the balances in the Participants Account on the date the recordkeeper appointed by the Administrator transmits the distribution request for a Participant to the Administrator for payment and processing, provided that payment with respect to such distribution shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable following the date the distribution request is transmitted to the Administrator. For this purpose, the balance in a Participants Account shall be calculated by crediting income, gains and losses under the Company Stock Fund and Income Fund, as applicable, through the date immediately preceding the date on which the distribution request is transmitted to the recordkeeper.
4.3. Plan-to-Plan Transfers; Change in Time and Form of Election Pursuant to Special Section 409A Transition Rules. The Administrator may delegate its authority to arrange for plan-to-plan transfers or to permit benefit elections as described in this Section 4.3 to an officer of the Company or committee of two or more officers of the Company.
(a) The Administrator may, with a Participants consent, make such arrangements as it may deem appropriate to transfer the Companys obligation to pay benefits with respect to such Participant which have not become payable under this Plan, to another employer, whether through a deferred compensation plan, program or arrangement sponsored by such other employer or otherwise, or to another deferred compensation plan, program or arrangement sponsored by the Company or an Affiliate. Following the completion of such transfer, with respect to the benefit transferred, the Participant shall have no further right to payment under this Plan.
(b) The Administrator may, with a Participants consent, make such arrangements as it may deem appropriate to assume another employers obligation to pay benefits with respect to such Participant which have not become payable under the deferred compensation plan, program or arrangement under which such future right to payment arose, to the Plan, or to assume a future payment obligation of the Company or an Affiliate under another plan, program or arrangement sponsored by the Company or an Affiliate. Upon the completion of the Plans assumption of such payment obligation, the Administrator shall establish an Account for such Participant, and the Account shall be subject to the rules of this Plan, as in effect from time to time.
(c) Pursuant to Final Treasury Regulations issued under section 409A of the Code, to the extent provided by the Committee or its delegate:
(i) a Participant may, during the period extending from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007, with respect to all or any portion of his or her account under the 2005 Plan that is scheduled to be paid after December 31, 2007, and with respect to all or any portion of his or her account under the Prior Plan that is scheduled to be paid after December 31, 2007, make new payment elections as to the form and timing of payment of such amounts as may be permitted under this Plan, provided that following the completion of such new payment election, amounts previously credited under the Prior Plan shall not be treated as grandfathered benefits under the Prior Plan, but instead shall be treated as non-grandfathered benefits, subject to the rules of this Plan, and provided that no portion of the benefit subject to such an election shall be payable before January 1, 2008.
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(ii) a Participant may, during the period extending from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008, with respect to all or any portion of his or her account under the 2005 Plan that is scheduled to be paid after December 31, 2008, and with respect to all or any portion of his or her account under the Prior Plan that is scheduled to be paid after December 31, 2008, make new payment elections as to the form and timing of payment of such amounts as may be permitted under this Plan, provided that following the completion of such new payment election, amounts previously credited under the Prior Plan shall not be treated as grandfathered benefits under the Prior Plan, but instead shall be treated as non-grandfathered benefits, subject to the rules of this Plan, and provided that no portion of the benefit subject to such an election shall be payable before January 1, 2009.
ARTICLE 5 BOOK ACCOUNTS
5.1. Deferred Compensation Account. A deferred Compensation Account shall be established for each Outside Director and Eligible Employee when such Outside Director or Eligible Employee becomes a Participant. Compensation deferred pursuant to the Plan shall be credited to the Account on the date such Compensation would otherwise have been payable to the Participant.
5.2. Crediting of Income, Gains and Losses on Accounts.
(a) In General. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5.2, the Administrator shall credit income, gains and losses with respect to each Participants Account as if it were invested in the Income Fund.
(b) Investment Fund Elections. Except for amounts credited to the Accounts of Participants who are Outside Directors who have elected to defer the receipt of Compensation payable in the form of Company Stock, all amounts credited to Participants Accounts shall be credited with income, gains and losses as if it were invested in the Income Fund.
(c) Outside Director Stock Fund Credits. Amounts credited to the Accounts of Outside Directors in the form of Company Stock shall be credited with income, gains and losses as if they were invested in the Company Stock Fund. No portion of such Participants Account may be deemed transferred to the Income Fund. Distributions of amounts credited to the Company Stock Fund with respect to Outside Directors Accounts shall be distributable in the form of Company Stock, rounded to the nearest whole share.
(d) Timing of Credits. Compensation deferred pursuant to the Plan shall be deemed invested in the Income Fund on the date such Compensation would otherwise have been payable to the Participant, provided that if (i) Compensation would otherwise have been payable to a Participant on a Company payroll date that falls within five days of the end of a calendar month, and (ii) based on the Administrators regular administrative practices, it is not administratively practicable for the Administrator to transmit the deferred amount of such Compensation to the Plans recordkeeper on or before the last day of the month, such deferred amount shall not be deemed invested in the Income Fund until the first day of the calendar month next following such Company payroll date. Accumulated Account balances subject to an
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investment fund election under Section 5.2(b) shall be deemed invested in the applicable investment fund as of the effective date of such election. The value of amounts deemed invested in the Company Stock Fund shall be based on hypothetical purchases and sales of Company Stock at Fair Market Value as of the effective date of an investment election.
5.3. Status of Deferred Amounts. Regardless of whether or not the Company is a Participants employer, all Compensation deferred under this Plan shall continue for all purposes to be a part of the general funds of the Company.
5.4. Participants Status as General Creditors. Regardless of whether or not the Company is a Participants employer, an Account shall at all times represent a general obligation of the Company. The Participant shall be a general creditor of the Company with respect to this obligation, and shall not have a secured or preferred position with respect to the Participants Accounts. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to create an escrow, trust, custodial account or fiduciary relationship of any kind. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to eliminate any priority or preferred position of a Participant in a bankruptcy matter with respect to claims for wages.
ARTICLE 6 NO ALIENATION OF BENEFITS; PAYEE DESIGNATION
Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the right of any Participant or Beneficiary to any benefit or interest under any of the provisions of this Plan shall not be subject to encumbrance, attachment, execution, garnishment, assignment, pledge, alienation, sale, transfer, or anticipation, either by the voluntary or involuntary act of any Participant or any Participants Beneficiary or by operation of law, nor shall such payment, right, or interest be subject to any other legal or equitable process. However, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, a Participant or Beneficiary may direct that any amount payable pursuant to an Initial Election or a Subsequent Election on any date designated for payment be paid to any person or persons or legal entity or entities, including, but not limited to, an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Code, instead of to the Participant or Beneficiary. Such a payee designation shall be provided to the Administrator by the Participant or Beneficiary in writing on a form provided by the Administrator, and shall not be effective unless it is provided immediately preceding the time of payment. The Companys payment pursuant to such a payee designation shall relieve the Company and its Affiliates of all liability for such payment.
ARTICLE 7 DEATH OF PARTICIPANT
7.1. Death of Participant. A Deceased Participants Account shall be distributed in accordance with the last Initial Election or Subsequent Election made by the Deceased Participant before the Deceased Participants death, unless the Deceased Participants Surviving Spouse or other Beneficiary timely elects to defer the time of payment pursuant to Section 3.5.
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7.2. Designation of Beneficiaries. Each Participant (and Beneficiary) shall have the right to designate one or more Beneficiaries to receive distributions in the event of the Participants (or Beneficiarys) death by filing with the Administrator a Beneficiary designation on a form that may be prescribed by the Administrator for such purpose from time to time. The designation of a Beneficiary or Beneficiaries may be changed by a Participant (or Beneficiary) at any time prior to such Participants (or Beneficiarys) death by the delivery to the Administrator of a new Beneficiary designation form. The Administrator may require that only the Beneficiary or Beneficiaries identified on the Beneficiary designation form prescribed by the Administrator be recognized as a Participants (or Beneficiarys) Beneficiary or Beneficiaries under the Plan, and that absent the completion of the currently prescribed Beneficiary designation form, the Participants (or Beneficiarys) Beneficiary designation shall be the Participants (or Beneficiarys) estate.
ARTICLE 8 HARDSHIP AND OTHER ACCELERATION EVENTS
8.1. Hardship. Notwithstanding the terms of an Initial Election or Subsequent Election, if, at the Participants request, the Board determines that the Participant has incurred a Hardship, the Board may, in its discretion, authorize the immediate distribution of all or any portion of the Participants Account.
8.2. Other Acceleration Events. To the extent permitted by Section 409A, notwithstanding the terms of an Initial Election or Subsequent Election, distribution of all or part of a Participants Account may be made:
8.2.1. To fulfill a domestic relations order (as defined in section 414(p)(1)(B) of the Code) to the extent permitted by Treasury Regulations section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ii) or any successor provision of law).
8.2.2. To the extent necessary to comply with laws relating to avoidance of conflicts of interest, as provided in Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(iii) (or any successor provision of law).
8.2.3. To pay employment taxes to the extent permitted by Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(vi) (or any successor provision of law).
8.2.4. In connection with the recognition of income as the result of a failure to comply with Section 409A, to the extent permitted by Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(vii) (or any successor provision of law).
8.2.5. To pay state, local or foreign taxes to the extent permitted by Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(xi) (or any successor provision of law).
8.2.6. In satisfaction of a debt of a Participant to a Participating Company where such debt is incurred in the ordinary course of the service relationship between the Participant and the Participating Company, to the extent permitted by Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(xiii) (or any successor provision of law).
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8.2.7. In connection with a bona fide dispute as to a Participants right to payment, to the extent permitted by Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(xiv) (or any successor provision of law).
ARTICLE 9 INTERPRETATION
9.1. Authority of Committee. The Committee shall have full and exclusive authority to construe, interpret and administer this Plan and the Committees construction and interpretation thereof shall be binding and conclusive on all persons for all purposes.
9.2. Claims Procedure. If an individual (hereinafter referred to as the Applicant, which reference shall include the legal representative, if any, of the individual) does not receive timely payment of benefits to which the Applicant believes he is entitled under the Plan, the Applicant may make a claim for benefits in the manner hereinafter provided.
An Applicant may file a claim for benefits with the Administrator on a form supplied by the Administrator. If the Administrator wholly or partially denies a claim, the Administrator shall provide the Applicant with a written notice stating:
(a) The specific reason or reasons for the denial;
(b) Specific reference to pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial is based;
(c) A description of any additional material or information necessary for the Applicant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary; and
(d) Appropriate information as to the steps to be taken in order to submit a claim for review.
Written notice of a denial of a claim shall be provided within 90 days of the receipt of the claim, provided that if special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim, the Administrator may notify the Applicant in writing that an additional period of up to 90 days will be required to process the claim.
If the Applicants claim is denied, the Applicant shall have 60 days from the date of receipt of written notice of the denial of the claim to request a review of the denial of the claim by the Administrator. Request for review of the denial of a claim must be submitted in writing. The Applicant shall have the right to review pertinent documents and submit issues and comments to the Administrator in writing. The Administrator shall provide a written decision within 60 days of its receipt of the Applicants request for review, provided that if special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the review of the Applicants claim, the Administrator may notify the Applicant in writing that an additional period of up to 60 days shall be required to process the Applicants request for review.
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It is intended that the claims procedures of this Plan be administered in accordance with the claims procedure regulations of the Department of Labor set forth in 29 CFR § 2560.503-1.
Claims for benefits under the Plan must be filed with the Administrator at the following address:
Comcast Corporation
One Comcast Center
1701 John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Attention: General Counsel
ARTICLE 10 AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION
10.1. Amendment or Termination. Except as otherwise provided by Section 10.2, the Company, by action of the Board or by action of the Committee, shall have the right at any time, or from time to time, to amend or modify this Plan. The Company, by action of the Board, shall have the right to terminate this Plan at any time.
10.2. Amendment of Rate of Credited Earnings. No amendment shall change the Applicable Interest Rate with respect to the portion of a Participants Account that is attributable to an Initial Election or Subsequent Election made with respect to Compensation earned in a calendar year and filed with the Administrator before the date of adoption of such amendment by the Board. For purposes of this Section 10.2, a Subsequent Election to defer the payment of part or all of an Account for an additional period after a previously-elected payment date (as described in Section 3.5) shall be treated as a separate Subsequent Election from any previous Initial Election or Subsequent Election with respect to such Account.
ARTICLE 11 WITHHOLDING OF TAXES
Whenever the Participating Company is required to credit deferred Compensation to the Account of a Participant, the Participating Company shall have the right to require the Participant to remit to the Participating Company an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state and local withholding tax requirements prior to the date on which the deferred Compensation shall be deemed credited to the Account of the Participant, or take any action whatever that it deems necessary to protect its interests with respect to tax liabilities. The Participating Companys obligation to credit deferred Compensation to an Account shall be conditioned on the Participants compliance, to the Participating Companys satisfaction, with any withholding requirement. To the maximum extent possible, the Participating Company shall satisfy all applicable withholding tax requirements by withholding tax from other Compensation payable by the Participating Company to the Participant, or by the Participants delivery of cash to the Participating Company in an amount equal to the applicable withholding tax.
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ARTICLE 12 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
12.1. No Right to Continued Employment. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as conferring upon any Participant the right to remain in service as an Outside Director or in the employment of a Participating Company as an executive or in any other capacity.
12.2. Expenses of Plan. All expenses of the Plan shall be paid by the Participating Companies.
12.3. Gender and Number. Whenever any words are used herein in any specific gender, they shall be construed as though they were also used in any other applicable gender. The singular form, whenever used herein, shall mean or include the plural form, and vice versa, as the context may require.
12.4. Law Governing Construction. The construction and administration of the Plan and all questions pertaining thereto, shall be governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), and other applicable federal law and, to the extent not governed by federal law, by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
12.5. Headings Not a Part Hereof. Any headings preceding the text of the several Articles, Sections, subsections, or paragraphs hereof are inserted solely for convenience of reference and shall not constitute a part of the Plan, nor shall they affect its meaning, construction, or effect.
12.6. Severability of Provisions. If any provision of this Plan is determined to be void by any court of competent jurisdiction, the Plan shall continue to operate and, for the purposes of the jurisdiction of that court only, shall be deemed not to include the provision determined to be void.
ARTICLE 13 EFFECTIVE DATE
The effective date of this amendment and restatement of the Plan shall be December 15, 2010, except to the extent otherwise provided in the Plan. The original effective date of the Plan is January 1, 2005.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, COMCAST CORPORATION has caused this Plan to be executed by its officers thereunto duly authorized, and its corporate seal to be affixed hereto, as of the 15th day of December, 2010.
COMCAST CORPORATION | ||||
BY: | /s/ David L. Cohen | |||
ATTEST: | /s/ Arthur R. Block |
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