AMENDED AND RESTATED CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
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EX-10.2 3 g08996exv10w2.htm EX-10.2 AMENDED AND RESTATED CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN Ex-10.2
Exhibit 10.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA
EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA
EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
RECITALS:
A. Corrections Corporation of America (the Company) has established and currently maintains the Corrections Corporation of America Executive Deferred Compensation Plan (the Plan). The Plan is administered by the Committee (as herein defined), which has the right, subject to certain limitations, to amend the Plan. The Committee desires to amend and restate the Plan on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
B. The Plan is designed primarily for purposes of providing benefits for a select group of management and highly compensated employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries that adopt the Plan. It is intended to qualify as a top hat plan under Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
ARTICLE I
GENERAL
GENERAL
Section 1.1 Purpose of the Plan. The purpose of this Plan is to reward certain management and highly compensated employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries who have contributed to the Companys success and are expected to continue to contribute to such success in the future. The Plan generally provides such employees with the opportunity to defer a portion of their compensation on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
Section 1.2 Effective Date. The effective date of the Plan was originally April 1, 2002. Except as set forth herein or as otherwise required by the context, the effective date of this amendment and restatement of the Plan is January 1, 2005.
Section 1.3 Gender and Number. For purposes of interpreting the provisions of this Plan, the masculine gender shall be deemed to include the feminine, the feminine gender shall be deemed to include the masculine, and the singular shall include the plural unless otherwise clearly required by the context.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
DEFINITIONS
Section 2.1 Account. Account means, with respect to each Participant, such Participants Deferral Account and Matching Contributions Account.
Section 2.2 Base Salary. Base Salary means, with respect to each Plan Year, the base salary of each Participant for such year, including for this purpose salary reduction contributions
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pursuant to this Plan and any Employer-sponsored plan governed by Code Section 125, but excluding Bonuses, if any.
Section 2.3 Beneficiary. Beneficiary means the person or persons designated by a Participant as his or her beneficiary hereunder in accordance with the provisions of Article IV.
Section 2.4 Board. Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
Section 2.5 Bonus. Bonus means any cash bonus earned by an Executive, whether pursuant to a bonus plan or otherwise.
Section 2.6 CCA 401(k) Plan. CCA 401(k) Plan means the Corrections Corporation of America 401(k) Savings and Retirement Plan, as the same may from time to time be amended, and any successor plan thereto.
Section 2.7 Change in Control. Change in Control means the happening of any of the following:
(a) any person or entity, including a group as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, other than the Company or a wholly-owned subsidiary thereof or any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, becomes the beneficial owner of the Companys securities having 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company that may be cast for the election of directors of the Company (other than as a result of an issuance of securities initiated by the Company in the ordinary course of business); or
(b) as the result of, or in connection with, any cash tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sale of assets or contested election, or any combination of the foregoing transactions less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company or any successor corporation or entity entitled to vote generally in the election of the directors of the Company or such other corporation or entity after such transaction are held in the aggregate by the holders of the Companys securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company immediately prior to such transaction; or
(c) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of any such period constitute the Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election, or the nomination for election by the Companys stockholders, of each director of the Company first elected during such period was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors of the Company then still in office who were directors of the Company at the beginning of any such period.
Section 2.8 Code. Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as the same may from time to time be amended.
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Section 2.9 Committee. Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board or, if none, the Board or another committee designated by the Board to discharge the duties of the Committee hereunder.
Section 2.10 Company. Company means Corrections Corporation of America, a Maryland corporation, or any successor thereto.
Section 2.11 Deferral Account. Deferral Account means the Account maintained by each Employer for each Participant in accordance with Article III hereof.
Section 2.12 Deferrals. Deferrals has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.1(a) hereof.
Section 2.13 Deferred Compensation Benefit. Deferred Compensation Benefit means, with respect to each Participant as of any date, such Participants vested benefit as determined pursuant to Article III hereof.
Section 2.14 Disability. Disability means (i) a Participants inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less that twelve (12) months or (ii) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, the Participant is receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering the Companys employees.
Section 2.15 Earnings. Earnings means the earnings credited to each Participants Account in accordance with Section 3.1(c) hereof.
Section 2.16 Employer. Employer means the Company and any Subsidiary of the Company which, with the written consent of the Company, adopts the Plan.
Section 2.17 Executive. Executive means a management or highly compensated employee of an Employer designated by the Committee as eligible to participate in the Plan. The Committee also may from time to time, in its sole discretion with or without cause, revoke an Executives eligibility to participate in the Plan upon ninety (90) days written notice. Any such revocation shall not, however, reduce any Deferred Compensation Benefits to which the Executive may be entitled at the time of such revocation. In addition, any such revocation shall not be effective until the first day of the Plan Year following the Plan Year in which such revocation occurs.
Section 2.18 Matching Contributions. Matching Contributions has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.1(b) hereof.
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Section 2.19 Matching Contributions Account. Matching Contributions Account means the Account maintained by each Employer for each Participant in accordance with Article III hereof.
Section 2.20 Participant. Participant means any Executive who elects to participate in the Plan by making Deferrals hereunder.
Section 2.21 Payment Date(s). Payment Date(s) means, with respect to each Participant, the commencement date(s) of the payment of such Participants Deferred Compensation Benefits as elected in accordance with Section 3.2(a), as the same may be modified pursuant to Section 3.3(c)(iii).
Section 2.22 Plan. Plan means the Corrections Corporation of America Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended herein and as may from time to time be amended hereafter.
Section 2.23 Plan Year. Plan Year means the calendar year, except that the first Plan Year shall commence April 1, 2002 and end December 31, 2002.
Section 2.24 Retirement. Retirement means a Participants Separation from Service for any reason on or after the date such Participant attains age sixty-two (62).
Section 2.25 Separation from Service. Separation from Service shall mean a Participants separation from service as such term is defined under Section 1.409A-1(h) of the U.S. Treasury Regulations.
Section 2.26 Specified Employee. Specified Employee has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.409A-1(i)(1) of the U.S. Treasury Regulations.
Section 2.27 Subsidiary. Subsidiary means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if each of the corporations (other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain) owns stock possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain.
Section 2.28 Trust Agreement. Trust Agreement means any trust agreement entered into in connection with the Plan, as the same may from time to time be amended.
Section 2.29 Trust Fund. Trust Fund means the amounts contributed from time to time by the Company to the Trustee in accordance with Section 6.3 hereof, plus any earnings thereon. The Trust Fund shall be held, administered and distributed by the Trustee pursuant to the Trust Agreement.
Section 2.30 Trustee. Trustee means the persons or person designated as trustee under the Trust Agreement.
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Section 2.31 Unforeseeable Emergency. Unforeseeable Emergency means an event which results (or will result) in severe financial hardship to the Participant as a consequence of an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participants spouse, the Participants Beneficiary or the Participants dependent (as determined under Section 152 of the Code, without regard to Sections 152(b)(1), (b)(2) and (d)(1)(B)) or loss of the Participants property due to casualty or other similar extraordinary and unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the Participant. Examples of what is not considered to be an Unforeseeable Emergency include the need to send a Participants child to college and the desire to purchase a house.
Section 2.32 Year(s) of Service. Year of Service means, with respect to each Participant, any Plan Year throughout which the Participant is employed by an Employer on a full-time basis, as determined by the Committee in its discretion. In determining Years of Service hereunder, the Committee may (but need not) give service credit to any Participant who takes an authorized leave of absence from his employment.
ARTICLE III
DEFERRED COMPENSATION BENEFITS
DEFERRED COMPENSATION BENEFITS
Section 3.1 Deferred Compensation Benefits.
(a) Deferrals. From time to time, each Participant shall file a written election with the Committee directing his Employer to reduce his Salary and/or Bonuses and to credit the amount of any such reduction (the Deferrals) to the Deferral Account established and maintained for such Participant pursuant to Section 3.6. Written elections hereunder shall be made in accordance with rules established by the Committee, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 3.3, and shall include the information described in Section 3.2. Deferrals shall be credited to each Participants Deferral Account as of such time or times determined by the Committee; provided, however, that Deferrals of Base Salary shall be credited to each Participants Deferral Account not less often than monthly, and Deferrals of Bonuses shall be credited to each Participants Deferral Account not later than thirty (30) days after the date on which such Bonuses otherwise would have been paid.
(b) Employer Matching Contributions. From time to time, there shall be credited to the Matching Contributions Account established and maintained for each Participant pursuant to Section 3.6 an amount equal to a percentage of such Participants Deferrals, such percentage (which may be zero) to be determined by the Committee in its discretion (the Matching Contributions). Until such time as the Committee determines otherwise, the amount of Matching Contributions for each Plan Year shall equal 100% of each Participants Deferrals for such Plan Year, up to a maximum of 5% of Base Salary and Bonuses earned by the Participant during the Plan Year. Matching Contributions shall be credited to each Participants Matching Contributions Account as of such time or times determined by the Committee, but not later than the date on which the related Deferrals are credited to the Participants Deferral Account. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 3.1(b), any Matching Contributions credited to a Participants Matching Contributions Account under this Section 3.1(b) for a Plan Year shall be reduced by any matching contributions (as such term is defined under the CCA 401(k) Plan) credited to the Participant under the CCA 401(k) Plan for such Plan Year.
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(c) Earnings. From time to time, there shall be credited to the Deferral Account and the Matching Contributions Account established and maintained for each Participant pursuant to Section 3.6 Earnings with respect to Deferrals, Matching Contributions and Earnings previously credited to such Accounts in accordance herewith. The rate of Earnings shall be determined from time to time by the Committee and may be commensurate with the rate of return (positive or negative) on securities (including Company stock) selected by the Committee; provided, however, that after the occurrence of a Change in Control, the rate of Earnings shall not be less than 8% per annum. Until such time as the Committee determines otherwise, the rate of Earnings for any Plan Year shall equal the actual rate of return earned on any investments held as part of the Trust Fund and designated by the Committee as a funding mechanism for meeting each Employers obligations under this Plan. Earnings shall be credited to each Participants Deferral Account and Matching Contributions Account as of such time or times determined by the Committee.
(d) Vesting.
(i) Each Participant shall at all times be 100% vested in Deferrals and Earnings credited to his Deferral Account.
(ii) As to Matching Contributions with respect to each Plan Year ending on or before December 31, 2004 and any Earnings on such contributions, each Participant shall become vested based upon the Participants Years of Service with his Employer following completion of such Plan Year. Such vesting shall be determined in accordance with the following table:
Years of Service | ||
after Plan Year to which Matching | Percentage Vested in such Matching | |
Contributions Relate | Contributions and Earnings thereon | |
1 | 33 1/3% | |
2 | 66 2/3% | |
3 | 100% |
(iii) As to Matching Contributions with respect to each Plan Year beginning on or after January 1, 2005 and any Earnings on such contributions, each Participant shall become vested based upon the Participants total years of service (as determined under the CCA 401(k) Plan) in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the CCA 401(k) Plan.
(iv) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each Participant shall become 100% vested in amounts credited to his Matching Contributions Account upon termination of such Participants employment with the Employer by reason of death, Disability or Retirement or upon the occurrence of a Change in Control; provided,
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however, that the Participant shall not become vested upon the occurrence of a Change in Control to the extent such vesting would cause any portion of his Deferred Compensation Benefits to constitute an excess parachute payment under Code Section 280G. The Committee in its discretion shall determine whether and to what extent any Deferred Compensation Benefits constitute excess parachute payments hereunder.
3.2 Payment of Deferred Compensation Benefits.
(a) Payment Dates Generally. Each deferral election described in Section 3.1(a) shall also contain the Participants election regarding the Payment Date for the portion of his Deferred Compensation Benefits to which such election relates. The Payment Date may be any date or time specified by the Participant and permitted by the Committee, subject to the following limitations:
(i) Except as otherwise set forth in Section 3.4, a Participant shall not be entitled to receive payment of any portion of his Deferred Compensation Benefits earlier than the first to occur of (A) sixty (60) days after the Participants Separation from Service; (B) the date of the Participants Disability; (C) the date of the Participants death; or (D) the first day of the sixth (6th) Plan Year following the Plan Year in which such Participant first began participating in the Plan.
(ii) Payment of a Participants Deferred Compensation Benefits must commence on or before the later of (A) sixty (60) days after the Participants Separation from Service, or (B) the fifteenth (15th) day of the month next following the month in which such Participant attains age sixty-five (65).
(iii) Payment of a Participants Deferred Compensation Benefits may begin on as many as, but not more than, three (3) different Payment Dates.
(iv) The form of payment of any Deferred Compensation Benefits (as determined under subparagraph (b) below) that begin on a particular Payment Date must be the same.
(b) Form of Payment. Each deferral election described in Section 3.1(a) shall also contain the Participants election regarding the form of payment of the portion of his Account to which such election applies. In each election form, the Participant may elect to receive payment of the portion of his Deferred Compensation Benefits to which such election relates in one (but not more than one) of the following forms:
(i) a lump sum payment; or
(ii) to the extent permitted by the Committee in its discretion, in equal monthly installments over a period not exceeding sixty (60) months.
Deferred Compensation Benefits shall be paid in cash, unless the Participant or Beneficiary consents to payment in the form of other property.
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3.3 Deferral Elections; Modifications.
(a) Deferral Elections Generally. Each written election described in Section 3.1(a) shall be made at such time and in such manner as determined by the Committee, but in no event later than December 31 of the year prior to the beginning of the Plan Year for which it is to be effective; provided, however, that in the year in which a Participant first becomes eligible to participate in the Plan, such election may be made within thirty (30) days after the Participant becomes eligible to participate, but such election shall be effective only with respect to compensation for services performed after the date the election is made. Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (c) or on an election form, any elections as to Payment Dates or form of benefit made pursuant to Section 3.2 shall be irrevocable as to any Deferred Compensation Benefits that accrue while such elections are in effect.
(b) Certain Limitations on Deferrals. For any Plan Year, a Participant may defer an amount up to 50% of the Base Salary and 100% of the Bonuses earned by the Participant during the Plan Year, provided that for the initial Plan Year, Base Salary and Bonuses earned prior to the effective date of the Plan shall be taken into account in determining these limitations. Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (a), a Participant may defer hereunder only Base Salary and Bonuses that are earned on or after the date the election is filed with the Committee.
(c) Termination or Modification of Elections. Notwithstanding the last sentence of subparagraph (a):
(i) no revocation of a written election described in Section 3.1(a) shall take effect until the first day of the Plan Year following the Plan Year in which the Committee receives such revocation;
(ii) a written election described in Section 3.1(a) shall automatically terminate on the earliest to occur of (A) the termination of a Participants employment by his Employer for any reason or (B) the termination of the Plan; and
(iii) if permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion, a Participant may change any Payment Date (but not the form of benefit) previously designated by the Participant pursuant to Section 3.2, provided, however, that: (A) the Participant must make an election designating the new Payment Date at least twelve (12) months prior to the Payment Date previously designated; (B) such election shall not take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which it is made; (C) the new Payment Date must be at least five (5) years later in time than the Payment Date previously designated; (D) all payments that otherwise would have begun on the Payment Date previously designated must, after such change, begin on the new Payment Date; and (E) the new Payment Date designated by the Participant must otherwise comply with the requirements of Section 3.2.
Section 3.4 Special Rules Related to Distributions.
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(a) Unforeseeable Emergency Distributions. The Committee may at any time, upon written request of the Participant, cause to be paid to such Participant an amount equal to all or any part of such Participants Deferred Compensation Benefits if the Committee determines, in its absolute discretion based on such reasonable evidence that it shall require, that such a payment or payments is necessary for the purpose of alleviating the consequences of an Unforeseeable Emergency occurring with respect to the Participant. This decision will be determined based upon the relevant facts and circumstances of each case. Payments of amounts because of an Unforeseeable Emergency shall be permitted only to the extent reasonably necessary to satisfy the emergency need (including amounts necessary to pay any Federal, state, local or foreign income taxes or penalties reasonably anticipated to result from the distribution) and shall not be permitted to the extent such need may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation from insurance or otherwise, by liquidation of the Participants assets (to the extent liquidation would not itself cause severe financial hardship), or by the cessation of deferrals under the Plan.
(b) Small Accounts. If a Participants Account is $15,500 (this amount shall be adjusted for cost-of-living increases pursuant to Section 402(g)(4) of the Code) or less at the time of the Participants Separation from Service, such Participants Deferred Compensation Benefits shall automatically be paid to him in a single lump sum payment as soon as practicable following his Separation from Service.
Section 3.5 Withholding. Each Employer shall withhold from a Participants Base Salary or Bonus such amounts as are necessary to satisfy its withholding obligations thereunder as to any Deferrals by the Participant. In addition, each Employer shall deduct from any distributions hereunder any taxes or other amounts required by law to be withheld therefrom.
Section 3.6 Participants Accounts. Each Employer shall establish and maintain a Deferral Account and a Matching Contributions Account for each Participant and such sub-accounts as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate. Each Deferral Account so established shall be credited as appropriate for Deferrals and Earnings with respect to such Deferrals and debited for any distributions from such Account. Each Matching Contributions Account so established shall be credited as appropriate for Matching Contributions and Earnings with respect to such Matching Contributions and debited for any distributions from such Account.
Section 3.7 Delay of Payment for Specified Employees. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, if the Committee determines that upon a Participants Separation from Service from the Company (or at such other time that the Committee determines to be relevant) the Participant is a Specified Employee of the Company and that any payments to be provided to the Participant pursuant to this Plan upon the Participants Separation from Service are or may become subject to the additional tax under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code or any other taxes or penalties imposed under Section 409A of the Code (Section 409A Taxes) if provided at the time otherwise required under this Plan, then such payments shall be delayed until the date that is six months after the date of the Participants Separation from Service from the Company, or such shorter period that, as determined by the Committee, is sufficient to avoid the imposition of Section 409A Taxes (the Payment Delay Period). Any payments delayed
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pursuant to this Section 3.7 shall be made in a lump sum on the first day of the seventh month following the Participants Separation from Service, or such earlier date that, as determined by the Committee, is sufficient to avoid the imposition of any Section 409A Taxes.
ARTICLE IV
BENEFICIARIES
BENEFICIARIES
Section 4.1 Beneficiary Designations. A designation of a Beneficiary hereunder may be made only by an instrument (in form acceptable to the Committee) signed by the Participant and filed with the Committee prior to the Participants death. In the absence of such a designation and at any other time when there is no existing Beneficiary designated hereunder, the Beneficiary of a Participant shall be his estate. A person designated by a Participant as his Beneficiary who dies or which ceases to exist shall not be entitled to any part of any payment thereafter to be made to the Participants Beneficiary unless the Participants designation specifically provides to the contrary. If two or more persons designated as a Participants Beneficiary are in existence with respect to a single Deferred Compensation Benefit, the amount of any payment to the Beneficiary under this Plan shall be divided equally among such persons, unless the Participants designation specifically provided to the contrary.
Section 4.2 Change in Beneficiary. A Participant may, at any time and from time to time, change a Beneficiary designation hereunder without the consent of any existing Beneficiary or any other person. Any change in Beneficiary shall be made by giving written notice thereof to the Committee and any change shall be effective only if received by the Committee prior to the death of the Participant.
Section 4.3 Distributions to Beneficiaries. The Beneficiary or Beneficiaries of a Participant shall be entitled to receive the unpaid Deferred Compensation Benefits to which the Participant was entitled at his death payable in a lump sum as soon as practicable following the date of the Participants death.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 5.1 Liability of Employer. Nothing in this Plan shall constitute the creation of a trust or other fiduciary relationship between an Employer and any Participant, Beneficiary or any other person.
Section 5.2 Ownership of Assets; Relationship with Company. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Participants shall have no right, title or interest whatsoever in or to the Accounts or the Deferred Compensation Benefits. Nothing contained in the Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant or any other person. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under this Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.
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Section 5.3 No Guarantee of Employment. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed as guaranteeing future employment to any Participant. Without limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, except as otherwise set forth in a written agreement, an Executive who elects to become a Participant continues to be an employee of an Employer solely at the will of such Employer subject to discharge at any time, with or without cause.
Section 5.4 Payment to Guardian. If a benefit payable hereunder is payable to a minor, to a person declared incompetent or to a person incapable of handling the disposition of his property, the Committee may direct payment of such benefit to the guardian, legal representative or person having the care and custody of such minor, incompetent or person. The Committee may require such proof of incompetency, minority, incapacity or guardianship as it may deem appropriate prior to distribution of the benefit. Such distribution shall completely discharge the Employers from all liability with respect to such benefit.
Section 5.5 Assignment. No right or interest under this Plan of any Participant or Beneficiary shall be assignable or transferable in any manner or be subject to alienation, anticipation, sale, pledge, encumbrance or other legal process or in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts or liabilities of the Participant or Beneficiary.
Section 5.6 Severability. If any provision of this Plan or the application thereof to any circumstance(s) or person(s) is held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of the Plan and the application of such provision to other circumstances or persons shall not be affected thereby.
Section 5.7 Expenses; Liability for Benefits. Each Employer shall be liable for the payment of the Deferred Compensation Benefits which are payable hereunder to its employees and for its pro rata portion of the expenses of administering the Plan, as determined by the Committee.
Section 5.8 Top Hat Plan. The Plan is designed primarily for purposes of providing benefits for a select group of management and highly compensated employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries that adopt the Plan. It is intended to qualify as a top hat plan under Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
ARTICLE VI
ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN
ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN
Section 6.1 Administration.
(a) General. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have sole and absolute discretion to interpret where necessary all provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, by supplying omissions from, correcting deficiencies in, or resolving inconsistencies or ambiguities in, the language of the Plan), to determine the rights and status under the Plan of Participants or other persons, to resolve questions or disputes arising under the Plan and to make any determinations with respect to the benefits payable under the
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Plan and the persons entitled thereto as may be necessary for the purposes of the Plan. The Committees determination of the rights of any employee or former employee hereunder shall be final and binding on all persons, subject only to the appeal provisions outlined in Section 6.4 hereof.
(b) Compliance with Tax Provisions. The Plan is intended to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code (including the U.S. Treasury Regulations and other guidance issued thereunder), and the Committee shall interpret the Plan in a manner consistent therewith.
(c) Delegation of Duties. The Committee may delegate any of its administrative duties, including, without limitation, duties with respect to the processing, review, investigation, approval and payment of Deferred Compensation Benefits, to a named administrator or administrators.
Section 6.2 Regulations. The Committee may promulgate any rules and regulations it deems necessary in order to carry out the purposes of the Plan or to interpret the provisions of the Plan; provided, however, that no rule, regulation or interpretation shall be contrary to the provisions of the Plan. The rules, regulations and interpretations made by the Committee shall, subject only to the appeal provisions outlined in Section 6.4 hereof, be final and binding on all persons.
Section 6.3 Trust Fund. The Company shall, from time to time, contribute to the Trustee such amounts as the Company deems necessary or appropriate to fund the full amount of Deferred Compensation Benefits accrued hereunder. The Trustee shall invest and reinvest the Trust Fund in accordance with the terms of this Plan and the Trust Agreement. At the option of the Company, the Company may pay from its funds, or may direct the Trustee to pay from the Trust Fund, all expenses of administering the Trust Fund, including Trustees fees and expenses, and all taxes and other expenses attributable to the Trust Fund, all as determined by the Company.
Section 6.4 Appeal Provisions. The Committee shall determine the rights of any employee or former employee to any Deferred Compensation Benefits hereunder. Any employee or former employee who believes that he has not received the Deferred Compensation Benefits to which he is entitled under the Plan may file a claim in writing with the Committee. The Committee shall, no later than 90 days after the receipt of a claim (unless special circumstances require an extension of up to 90 additional days, provided that written notice of the extension of time is given to the claimant within the first 90 day period), either allow or deny the claim in writing. If a claimant does not receive written notice of the Committees decision on his claim within the above-mentioned period, the claim shall be deemed to have been denied in full.
A denial of a claim by the Committee, wholly or partially, shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant and shall include:
(a) the specific reasons for the denial;
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(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 claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary; and
(d) an explanation of the claim review procedure.
A claimant whose claim is denied (or his duly authorized representative) may within 60 days after receipt of denial of a claim file with the Committee a written request for a review of such claim. If the claimant does not file a request for review of his claim within such 60-day period, the claimant shall be deemed to have acquiesced in the original decision of the Committee on his claim. If such an appeal is so filed within such 60-day period, the Company (or its delegate) shall conduct a full and fair review of such claim. During such review, the claimant shall be given the opportunity to review documents that are pertinent to his claim and to submit issues and comments in writing.
The Company shall mail or deliver to the claimant a written decision on the matter based on the facts and the pertinent provisions of the Plan within 60 days after the receipt of the request for review (unless special circumstances require an extension of up to 60 additional days, in which case written notice of such extension shall be given to the claimant prior to the commencement of such extension). Such decision shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, shall state the specific reasons for the decision and the specific Plan provisions on which the decision was based and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be final and binding on all interested persons. If the decision on review is not furnished to the claimant within the above-mentioned time period, the claim shall be deemed to have been denied on review.
Section 6.5 Revocability of Committee/Company Action. Any action taken by the Committee with respect to the rights or benefits under the Plan of any employee or former employee shall be revocable by the Committee as to payments not yet made to such person, and acceptance of any Deferred Compensation Benefits under the Plan constitutes acceptance of and agreement to the Committees or the Companys making any appropriate adjustments in future payments to such person (or to recover from such person) any excess payment or underpayment previously made to him.
Section 6.6 Amendment. The Committee may at any time (without the consent of any Subsidiary which adopts the Plan) amend any or all of the provisions of this Plan, except that no such amendment may (a) reduce the balance of any Participants Account as of the date of such amendment, (b) change the time or form of distribution from a Participants Account or (c) change the provisions of the Plan applicable to a Participants Account upon a Change in Control, without the prior written consent of such Participant. Any amendment shall be in the form of a written instrument executed by an officer of the Company pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Committee. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.6, such amendment shall become effective as of the date specified in such instrument or, if no such date is specified, on the date of its execution.
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Section 6.7 Termination. The Committee, in its discretion (without the consent of any Subsidiary which adopts the Plan), may terminate this Plan and pay amounts due hereunder to the full extent permitted by and in accordance with Section 409A of the Code (including, but not limited to, Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix) of the U.S. Treasury Regulations), except that no such termination may (a) reduce the balance of any Participants Account as of the date of such termination or (b) materially change the provisions of the Plan applicable to a Participants Account upon a Change in Control, without the prior written consent of such Participant. Any such termination shall be expressed in the form of a written instrument executed by an officer of the Company pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Committee. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.7, such termination shall become effective as of the date specified in such instrument or, if no such date is specified, on the date of its execution. Written notice of any termination shall be given to the Participants as soon as practicable after the instrument is executed.
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Executed this 15th day of August, 2007.
CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA | ||||||
By: | /s/ David M. Garfinkle | |||||
Its: | Vice President, Finance and Controller | |||||
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