Suborbital rockets that are used as target and interceptor vehicles for missile defense systems

EX-10.12 3 w94556exv10w12.htm EX-10.12 exv10w12

Exhibit 10.12

ORBITAL SCIENCES CORPORATION

NONQUALIFIED

MANAGEMENT DEFERRED

COMPENSATION PLAN

EFFECTIVE AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2003

ORBITAL SCIENCES CORPORATION
NONQUALIFIED MANAGEMENT DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

EFFECTIVE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2003

WHEREAS, Orbital Sciences Corporation (“Orbital”) has decided to establish a deferred compensation plan for a select group of its key management and highly compensated employees; and

WHEREAS, the purpose of this Plan is to provide a select group of management or highly compensated employees with a tax-deferred capital accumulation program through their voluntary deferrals of Base Salary and Bonus and the allocation of Company Discretionary Contributions; and

WHEREAS, this Plan of deferred compensation is intended to be a “top-hat plan” (i.e., an unfunded deferred compensation plan maintained for a select group of management or highly compensated employees) pursuant to Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).

NOW, THEREFORE, the Orbital Sciences Corporation Nonqualified Management Deferred Compensation Plan is hereby adopted in accordance with the following terms and conditions:

ARTICLE 1 - Definitions

Unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires, the following definitions shall govern the Plan:

Section 1.01 Base Salary — the base salary established by the Company to be earned by a Participant during a calendar year.

Section 1.02 Beneficiary — a person (other than the Participant) who is entitled to receive benefits under the Plan because of his designation for such benefits by the Participant under the provisions of this Plan.

Section 1.03 Board — the Board of Directors of Orbital Sciences Corporation.

Section 1.04 Bonus — Management Incentive Plan compensation (or any successor plan).

Section 1.05 Committee — the Human Resources and Compensation Committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

Section 1.06 Company — Orbital Sciences Corporation and its successors.

Section 1.07 Company Discretionary Contributions — the contributions made by the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.02 of the Plan.

Section 1.08 Deferrals — the portion of a Participant’s Base Salary and/or Bonus that is deferred pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 of the Plan.

Section 1.09 Deferral Account — the separate unfunded account established and maintained on the books of the Company for each Participant pursuant to the provisions of Article 6 of the Plan, which is credited with Company Discretionary Contributions and Deferrals made on the Participant’s behalf. The Deferral Account shall include account balances accumulated under the Prior Plan that have been transferred to this Plan. To the extent necessary to reflect different vesting schedules and/or distribution dates, a Participant’s Deferral Account can include multiple sub-accounts.

Section 1.10 Deferral Election Form — the form designated by the Company for use by Participants to (a) contribute Deferrals to the Plan, (b) designate the deemed investment of the Deferral Account, and (c) select the timing and form of the distribution of Deferrals, Company Discretionary Contributions and/or amounts transferred to the Plan from the Prior Plan. The Committee may change the form at any time.

Section 1.11 Effective Date — September 1, 2003.

Section 1.12 First Plan Year — September 1, 2003-December 31, 2003.

Section 1.13 Forfeiture — that portion of a Participant’s Deferral Account that is attributable to Company Discretionary Contributions and that is not Vested as of the date the Participant terminates employment with the Company.

Section 1.14 Involuntary Termination of Employment — events which result in a separation from service with the Company and which are generally not initiated by a Participant, including but not limited to a layoff, disability or discharge by the Company for any reason.

Section 1.15 Participant — an employee of the Company who is (a) determined by the Company to be a member of a select group of the Company’s management or highly compensated employees; and (b) designated by the Committee as a Participant under the Plan.

Section 1.16 Plan — this Nonqualified Management Deferred Compensation Plan and any modification, amendment, extension or renewal thereof.

Section 1.17 Plan Year — the calendar year ending each December 31.

Section 1.18 Prior Plan — the Orbital Sciences Corporation 1995 Deferred Compensation Plan as in existence immediately prior to the transfer of assets and liabilities from such plan to this Plan, effective as of September 1, 2003.

Section 1.19 Valuation Date — the date on which a Participant’s Deferral Account is credited with Deferrals and earnings. For purposes of this Plan, and in accordance with the terms set forth by CIGNA, the Plan’s third-party administrator, a Participant’s Deferral Account will be subject to daily valuation.

Section 1.20 Vested — a Participant’s nonforfeitable interest in a portion of his Deferral Account. A Participant’s Vested interest shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Article 5 of the Plan.

Section 1.21 Voluntary Termination of Employment — events, other than those classified as an Involuntary Termination of Employment, which are initiated by the Participant and which result in a separation from service with the Company. For purposes of this Plan, a Participant’s death will constitute a Voluntary Termination of Employment.

ARTICLE 2 — Eligibility and Participation

Section 2.01 Eligible Persons. Eligibility to participate in the Plan is limited to (a) those management or highly compensated employees of the Company with a Base Salary of $125,000 or greater on January 1 of any Plan Year, and (b) any additional management or highly compensated employees of the Company who are designated as Participants by the Committee.

Section 2.02 Notice of Participation. The Committee shall notify in writing each Participant of his designation to participate in the Plan.

Section 2.03 Date of Entry. A person eligible to participate in the Prior Plan as of August 31, 2003 shall become a Participant on the Effective Date of this Plan. Those persons who are designated to participate in the Plan on or after the Effective Date shall become a Participant thirty (30) days after they are notified in writing of their designation to participate in the Plan.

Section 2.04 Application for Participation. A person who is eligible to participate in this Plan must initially complete a Deferral Election Form. If, with respect to any Plan Year, a Participant fails to submit the form in a timely manner, he will be ineligible to make Deferrals in that Plan Year.

Section 2.05 Limitation on Participants. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine who qualifies as a Participant and may change the criteria (including salary requirements) at any time. The effective date of such change shall be determined by the

Committee.

Section 2.06 Removal from Participation. The Committee may terminate a Participant’s participation for any reason. A Participant who is prospectively terminated from participating in this Plan is ineligible to make Deferrals or receive an allocation of Company Discretionary Contributions effective as of the date of termination in the Plan as determined by the Committee.

ARTICLE 3 — Participant Deferrals and Company Contributions

Section 3.01 Participant Deferrals. As set forth more fully below, a Participant may defer a portion of his Base Salary, which would otherwise be earned and payable during the First Plan Year and any subsequent Plan Year, by executing a Deferral Election Form pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section. A Participant may defer a portion of his Bonus, which would otherwise be earned and payable during any Plan Year, by executing a Deferral Election Form pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. Subject to the rules set forth by the Committee and the limitations set forth below, the maximum Deferral is one hundred percent (100%) of the Participant’s Base Salary and Bonus. No deferral election shall reduce a Participant’s compensation below the amount necessary to satisfy the following obligations: applicable employment taxes (e.g., FICA/Medicare) on amounts paid or deferred; withholding requirements of a Company-sponsored benefit plan; or income tax withholding for compensation that is not deferred.

(a) Salary Deferral Contribution.

(i) Submission of Deferral Election Form.

(A) First Plan Year. Each Participant who wishes to participate in the Plan and defer a portion of his Base Salary must submit a Deferral Election Form to the Committee no later than August 15, 2003 or as otherwise determined by the Committee. The Deferral Election Form, once properly completed and submitted to the Committee, shall be effective as of the first pay period for that portion of a Participant’s Base Salary earned between September 1, 2003 and December 31, 2003. In the case of a person who becomes a Participant after the Effective Date, but within the First Plan Year, the Deferral Election Form must be filed with the Committee no later than thirty (30) days after he becomes eligible to participate in the Plan or as otherwise determined by the Committee. However, such election shall be prospective and shall apply only to Base Salary earned after the election is made. If, with respect to the First Plan Year, a Participant fails to submit the form in a timely manner, he will be ineligible to make Deferrals in the First Plan Year. Unless a Participant files a new Deferral Election Form by December 15, 2003, the existing Deferral Election Form shall only remain effective until December 31, 2003 and shall not be effective for subsequent Plan Years.

(B) Plan Years On and After January 1, 2004. Each Participant who wishes to participate in the Plan and defer a portion of his Base Salary must submit a Deferral Election Form to the Committee no later than December 15 of the year immediately prior to the Plan Year with respect to which the election is to be effective or as otherwise determined by the Committee. The Deferral Election Form, once properly completed and submitted to the Committee, shall be effective as of the first pay period of the following Plan Year. In the case of a person who becomes a Participant after the first day of a Plan Year, the Deferral Election Form must be filed with the Committee no later than thirty (30) days after he becomes eligible to participate in the Plan or as otherwise determined by the Committee. However, such election shall be prospective and shall apply only to Base Salary earned after the election is made. If, with respect to any Plan Year, a Participant fails to submit the form in a timely manner, he will be ineligible to make Deferrals in that Plan Year. The Deferral Election Form is effective for one 12-month period only. A Participant must file a new Deferral Election Form each year as determined by the Committee.

(ii) Modification of Salary Deferral Contribution. An election under Section 3.01(a) may only be modified or continued by filing a new Deferral Election Form by December 15th of the Plan Year (or First Plan Year, if applicable) prior to the effective date of the change. Any such modification or continuation will become effective as of the first pay period of the following Plan Year. Notwithstanding the forgoing, once during a Plan Year (or First Plan Year, if applicable), an election under Section 3.01(a) may be decreased by filing a new Deferral Election Form. Any such decrease will be effective as of the first pay period beginning after the date the election form is received by the Committee and shall remain in effect until the end of the Plan Year (or First Plan Year, if applicable).

(iii) Deferral Period. The Deferral Election Form will establish the deferral period for the Base Salary. The deferral period shall begin on the first day of the Plan Year (or First Plan Year, if applicable) with respect to which the Deferral Election Form is filed (or, in the case of Participants becoming eligible after the Effective Date, on the first day of a pay period following the filing of a Deferral Election Form). The deferral period shall end on the earlier of: (A) a Participant’s termination of employment; or (B) the scheduled in-service withdrawal date specified on the Deferral Election Form (such scheduled in-service withdrawal dates shall be a minimum of two years from the date the deferral period commenced). The Participant may designate different deferral periods for the Base Salary contributed in the First Plan Year and each subsequent Plan Year by filing a separate Deferral Election Form in accordance with Section 3.01(a)(i).

(b) Bonus Deferral Contribution.

(i) Submission of Deferral Election Form. Each Participant who wishes to defer a portion of his Bonus must submit a Deferral Election Form to the Committee in accordance with procedures determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Deferral Election Form with respect to Bonuses is effective for one 12-month period only. A Participant

must file a new Deferral Election Form in order to defer the Bonus that is earned during the subsequent 12-month period commencing each January 1.

(ii) Deferral Period. If a Participant has elected to defer his Base Salary, the deferral period corresponding to the Base Salary deferred in a Plan Year (or for the First Plan Year, if applicable) will govern the deferral period for the Bonus earned with respect to that Plan Year. If a Participant has not elected to defer his Base Salary, the Deferral Election Form with respect to the Bonus will establish the deferral period for the Bonus. Such deferral period shall begin on the January 1 following the Plan Year with respect to which the Bonus was earned and shall end on the earlier of: (A) a Participant’s termination of employment; or (B) the scheduled in-service withdrawal date specified on the Deferral Election Form (such scheduled in-service withdrawal dates shall be a minimum of two years from the date the deferral period commenced). If a Participant has not elected to defer his Base Salary, the Participant may designate different deferral periods by filing a separate Deferral Election Form for each Bonus.

Section 3.02 Company Discretionary Contributions. The Company, in its sole and absolute discretion, may at any time commencing with and including the First Plan Year credit a Company Discretionary Contribution to a Participant’s Deferral Account. The Company shall determine the amount of the Company Discretionary Contribution, which Participants are eligible to share in the allocation of the Company Discretionary Contribution, and the vesting of the Company Discretionary Contribution. Participants who, with respect to any Plan Year, are not making Deferrals may, in the sole discretion of the Committee, be eligible for the allocation of a Company Discretionary Contribution for such Plan Year. In the event a Participant has not established a Deferral Account, the Company shall determine how the Company Discretionary Contribution will be deemed invested until such time as the Participant directs otherwise.

Section 3.03 Amounts Transferred from Prior Plan. Effective September 1, 2003, all assets and liabilities attributable to the Prior Plan were transferred to and became payable under this Plan. Each Participant who was a participant in the Prior Plan must submit a Deferral Election Form to the Committee no later than September 1, 2003 establishing the deferral period for amounts attributable to the Prior Plan held in his Deferral Account. The deferral period shall begin on September 1, 2003 and shall end on the earlier of: (A) a Participant’s termination from employment; or (B) the scheduled in-service withdrawal date specified on the Deferral Election Form (which date shall not be prior to September 1, 2005). If a Participant fails to submit such a Deferral Election Form, the amount held in Deferral Account attributable to the Prior Plan shall be paid in a lump sum following his termination from employment (whether on account of an Involuntary Termination of Employment or a Voluntary Termination of Employment).

ARTICLE 4 — Investment of Deferral Account

Section 4.01 Participant Election. The Participant may elect in writing to have a specified percentage of his Deferral Account deemed invested in one or more investment fund(s) made available by the Company from time to time provided that the specified percentage is in

whole numbers, the minimum designation is one percent (1%) and the sum of the percentages allocated does not exceed one hundred percent (100%). The Participant agrees on behalf of himself and his Beneficiary to assume all risks in connection with any decrease in the value of funds credited to the Participant’s Deferral Account that are deemed so invested or which continue to be deemed to be invested in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The Committee may add, delete or otherwise alter the deemed investments allowed under this Plan at any time.

Section 4.02 Change of Deemed Investment Election. In accordance with any procedures established by the Committee, each Participant may elect to change the deemed investment of all or a portion of his Deferral Account among the investments then allowed by the Plan on a daily basis by providing the Committee with such completed forms as the Committee may require.

Section 4.03 Investment Options. In addition to those investment funds made available by the Company from time to time, any funds credited to the Deferral Account may be kept in cash or invested and reinvested in mutual funds, stocks, bonds, securities, insurance contracts, or any other assets as may be selected by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may (but is not required to) invest the funds reflected in the Deferral Account of a Participant in accordance with the Participant’s deemed investment directions.

ARTICLE 5 — Vesting and Forfeiture of Benefits

Section 5.01 Participant Deferral. Each Participant will be Vested in the amounts in his Deferral Account attributable to Deferrals and his account balance accumulated under the Prior Plan (and associated earnings thereof) at all times.

Section 5.02 Company Contributions. Each Participant will be Vested in the amounts in his Deferral Account attributable to Company Discretionary Contributions upon the earlier of: (i) the date the Participant satisfies the vesting schedule established below; (ii) the date the Participant reaches age sixty (60) provided the Participant is still employed by the Company; or (iii) the date the Participant becomes disabled (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion). Notwithstanding the above, if a Participant dies while in the employ of the Company, all amounts credited to the Participant’s Deferral Account will be Vested.

Each Participant shall vest in the Company Discretionary Contributions credited to his Deferral Account in accordance with the following schedule: a Participant who completes one year of service with the Company will be 33% Vested in all Company Discretionary Contributions allocated to his Deferral Account; a Participant who completes two years of service with the Company will be 66% Vested in all Company Discretionary Contributions allocated to his Deferral Account; and a Participant who completes three years of service with the Company will be 100% Vested in all Company Discretionary Contributions allocated to his

Deferral Account.

For purposes of calculating years of service under the aforementioned vesting schedule, a Participant will be credited with one year of service for each Plan Year in which he works 1,000 hours of service. The term “hours of service” shall have the same meaning ascribed thereto in the Deferred Salary & Profit Sharing Plan For Employees of Orbital Sciences Corporation.

Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may modify the aforementioned vesting schedule for Company Discretionary Contributions not yet made to the Plan at any time.

Section 5.03 Forfeitures. All Forfeitures in a Participant’s Deferral Account as of the date the Participant terminates employment with the Company shall be cancelled, and the Participant shall forfeit any right to the payment to him of such Forfeitures.

ARTICLE 6 — Deferral Account

Section 6.01 Deferral Accounts. The Committee shall establish and maintain a Deferral Account for each Participant under the Plan. Each Participant’s Deferral Account shall be further divided into separate sub-accounts (“investment fund sub-accounts”), each of which corresponds to a deemed investment fund elected by the Participant pursuant to Section 4.01. The Participant’s Deferral Account shall be credited as follows:

(a) As of each Valuation Date, the Committee shall credit the investment fund sub-accounts of the Participant’s Deferral Account with (i) an amount equal to the Deferrals made by the Participant during each pay period in accordance with the Participant’s elections under Section 4.01 and (ii) an amount equal to the Company Discretionary Contributions allocated to the Participant during any such pay period. The portion of the Participant’s Deferrals or Company Discretionary Contributions that the Participant has elected to be deemed to be invested in a certain type of investment fund shall be credited to the investment fund sub-account corresponding to that investment fund.

(b) As of each Valuation Date, each deemed investment fund sub-account of the Participant’s Deferral Account shall be credited with earnings or losses.

Section 6.02 Quarterly Reports. The Committee shall make available Deferral Account information to Participants at least quarterly.

Section 6.03 Title to Assets. The Company shall not be required to segregate any assets of any kind to meet the obligation of the Plan. Any claim of title to and beneficial ownership of any assets which the Company has designated to pay the deferred compensation benefits hereunder shall at all times be that of a general unsecured creditor of the Company, and a Participant shall have no property rights in those assets.

ARTICLE 7- Benefit Distributions

Section 7.01 In General. Unless they are forfeited in accordance with Article 5, the terms and conditions of benefit payments to a Participant who is eligible to receive benefits under the Plan are set forth in this Article. Distributions pursuant to Section 7.02, 7.03 and 7.08 will commence as soon as administratively feasible after the last day of the month following the month that contains the Participant’s separation from service date. Distributions pursuant to Section 7.04, 7.05 and 7.06 shall be made as soon as administratively feasible after the requested distribution is approved by the Committee.

Section 7.02 Voluntary Termination of Employment. Upon a Participant’s Voluntary Termination of Employment, the Participant is entitled to a distribution of benefits from the Vested portion of his Deferral Account. The form of distribution is elected on the Deferral Election Form. The Participant may request a change to the form of distribution previously elected by submitting a written request to the Committee. The Committee may approve or deny the request at its sole discretion. The forms of distribution permitted are set forth below:

(a) Normal Form of Distribution. The normal form of distribution is a lump sum payment.

(b) Optional Forms of Distribution. Participants who properly complete and submit a Deferral Election Form in accordance with Article 3 may elect to receive their distribution of benefits in monthly installment payments not to exceed six years and/or 72 installment payments. Such monthly installment payments must be paid out in 12-month increments, e.g., a Participant may only request 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 or 72 installment payments.

(c) Distribution of Small Benefits. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participant’s Deferral Account is twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or less, a distribution for any reason shall be made in the form of a lump-sum payment.

Section 7.03 Involuntary Termination of Employment. Upon a Participant’s Involuntary Termination of Employment, the Participant is entitled to a distribution of benefits from the Vested portion of his Deferral Account. The form of distribution is elected on the Deferral Election Form. The Participant may request a change to the form of distribution previously elected by submitting a written request to the Committee. The Committee may approve or deny the request at its sole discretion. The forms of distribution permitted are set forth in Sections 7.02(a), (b) and (c) above.

Section 7.04 Scheduled In-Service Withdrawals. Subject to Section 7.04(a), a Participant who properly completes and submits a Deferral Election Form and elects to receive a distribution prior to his termination of employment will receive benefits in one (1) lump sum

payment or in monthly installment payments not to exceed six years and/or 72 installment payments. Such monthly installment payments must be paid out in 12-month increments, e.g., a Participant may only request 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 or 72 installment payments.

(a) Criteria to Elect Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal. In order to select a scheduled in-service withdrawal date, a Participant must complete a Deferral Election Form and elect a distribution date that is at least two (2) years from the date the deferral period commenced. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, a Participant shall not be entitled to receive the unvested portion of his Deferral Account. In this case, the deferral period with respect to the unvested portion shall be automatically extended until the Participant becomes Vested in such amount. If the Participant elected to receive a lump sum payment prior to becoming Vested, the portion of his Deferral Account that was unvested at his scheduled in-service withdrawal date shall be paid in a lump sum as soon as practical after he becomes Vested in such amount. If the Participant elected to receive monthly installment payments prior to becoming Vested, the portion of his Deferral Account that was unvested at his scheduled in-service withdrawal date shall be paid out after he becomes Vested in monthly installments equal to the number of payments remaining in the scheduled in-service withdrawal.

(b) Election to Extend Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal. Subject to the consent of the Committee, a Participant may elect to postpone or terminate the scheduled in-service withdrawal date (and form of distribution) specified on a Deferral Election Form by filing with the Committee a subsequent Deferral Election Form specifying a later scheduled in-service withdrawal date (and, if necessary a new form of distribution) or cancel the in-service withdrawal and elect to receive a distribution upon termination from employment.

Such an election to postpone or terminate the scheduled in-service withdrawal date must be made at least one year prior to the scheduled in-service withdrawal date and may only be made once. The extension of the scheduled in-service withdrawal must be for a minimum period of two years.

(c) Termination of Employment Prior to Scheduled In-Service Withdrawal Date. In the event the Participant terminates employment prior to his scheduled in-service withdrawal date, the Committee has the discretion to distribute the benefits in the Participant’s Deferral Account in one (1) lump sum payment.

Section 7.05 Nonscheduled In-Service Withdrawals. A Participant may request to receive all the benefits in the Vested portion of his Deferral Account in the form of a lump sum payment at any time. Subject to the approval of the Committee, a Participant who elects this type of benefit distribution will receive ninety percent (90%) of the Vested portion of his Deferral Account and will forfeit the remaining ten-percent (10%). As a result of such non-scheduled in-service withdrawal, the Participant will be ineligible to participate in the Plan for purposes of making Deferrals for the duration of the Plan Year in which he received the lump

sum payment and for the following Plan Year.

Section 7.06 Hardship Distributions — Withdrawal of Deferrals. Upon application, the Committee may, when in its sole discretion it determines that a Participant has incurred a hardship, permit such Participant to withdraw all or part of the Vested portion of his Deferral Account. While such a determination shall be within the discretion of the Committee, a hardship withdrawal request shall only be considered upon satisfactory demonstration that the Participant has incurred an immediate financial need arising out of unforeseeable events beyond the control of the Participant.

Section 7.07 Forfeiture of Company Discretionary Contributions. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Plan to the contrary, if (a) a Participant’s termination from employment (whether on account of an Involuntary Termination of Employment or a Voluntary Termination of Employment) is due to theft, proven dishonesty, gross misconduct, embezzlement, fraud, conviction of a felony (whether or not related to the employment relationship), disclosure of trade secrets or business information of the Company or use of the facilities, premises or other assets of the Company to conduct unlawful or unauthorized activities or transactions, or (b) a Participant, subsequent to termination of employment, violates the terms of any restrictive covenant applicable to the Participant, then all unpaid amounts credited to the Participant’s Deferral Account attributable to Company Discretionary Contributions shall be forfeited. All determinations as to the applicability of this Section 7.07 shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and shall be conclusive.

Section 7.08 Death Benefits.

(a) Death Before Separation from Service. In the event that a Participant incurs a Voluntary Termination of Employment because of death, his Beneficiary shall be entitled to receive a death benefit that shall equal the value of the Participant’s Deferral Account, as of the Valuation Date immediately preceding the distribution date. The portion of the death benefit attributable to the Participant’s Deferral Account shall be paid in accordance with the distribution form selected by the Participant (but subject to 7.02(c)).

(b) Death After Separation from Service. In the event that a Participant who is receiving a monthly distribution of benefits after incurring a Voluntary or Involuntary Termination of Employment dies, his Beneficiary shall be entitled to receive the remaining installment payments from the Participant’s Deferral Account as they become due. Payment of benefits under this Section shall be made in the form of payment selected by the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may elect to pay any remaining benefit payable to the Beneficiary in the form of a lump sum payment as soon as reasonably practicable after the date of death.

Section 7.09 Tax Liability. In the event the Plan is required to distribute benefits to any Participant in compliance with a change in the law, the Participant shall bear all tax

consequences associated with the premature payment of his Deferral Account. Notwithstanding the above, the Participant will be responsible for all taxes in conjunction with the deferral or distribution of his benefits.

ARTICLE 8 — Administration

Section 8.01 Responsibilities and Powers of Committee. The Committee shall be the agent for service of legal process regarding any litigation arising out of the operation and administration of the Plan. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall have the authority to delegate some or all of its powers with respect to the Plan to designated representatives, including, but not limited to, the Company’s Pension and Retirement Committee. The Committee shall also have the discretionary power to establish and revise rules and procedures relating to the administration of the Plan, interpret the provisions of the Plan and answer all questions and settle all disputes which may arise in connection with the Plan.

Section 8.02 Interpretation of Plan. The Committee shall, subject to the requirements of the law, be the sole judge of the standard of proof required in any case and the application and interpretation of this Plan, and decisions of the Committee shall be final and binding on all parties. The Committee shall have the exclusive right and discretionary authority to construe the terms of the Plan, to resolve any ambiguities, and to determine any questions which may arise with the Plan’s application or administration, including but not limited to, determination of eligibility for benefits. Whenever in the Plan the Committee is given discretionary powers, the Committee shall exercise such powers in a uniform and nondiscriminatory manner. The Committee shall process a claim for benefits as speedily as is feasible, consistent with the need for adequate information and proof necessary to establish the Participant’s benefit rights and to commence payment of benefits.

ARTICLE 9 — Application for Benefits and Claims Procedure

Section 9.01 Notice of Denial of Benefit. In the event that a request for distribution of benefits is denied in whole or in part, a Participant whose request for benefits has been denied shall be notified of such denial in writing by the Committee. The denial notice shall specify the reason or reasons for the denial, make specific references to pertinent Plan provisions, describe any additional material or information necessary for the Participant to perfect the claim, and shall advise the Participant of the procedure for the appeal of such denial.

Section 9.02 Appeals Procedure. All appeals shall be made in accordance with the following procedure:

(a) The Participant or his duly authorized representative shall file with the Committee a request to appeal the denial within sixty (60) days of notification by the Committee of the claim denial. The request shall be made in writing, and shall set forth all of the facts upon

which the appeal is based. Appeals not timely filed shall be barred.

(b) The Committee shall consider the merits of the Participant’s written presentations, the merits of any facts or evidence in support of the denial of benefits, and such other facts and circumstances as it shall deem relevant.

(c) Within forty-five (45) days after a request for review has been received, the Committee shall render a decision upon the appealed claim that shall be in writing and shall include specific reasons for the decision and specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the decision was based. The decision rendered by the Committee shall be binding on all parties.

ARTICLE 10 — General Provisions

Section 10.01 No Alienation or Assignment of Benefits. Payments of benefits under this Plan to any Participant shall not be subject to any claim of any creditor of such Participant, and, in particular, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all such payments shall be free from attachment, garnishments, trustee’s process, or any other legal or equitable process available to any creditor of such Participant. No Participant shall have the right to alienate, anticipate, commute, pledge, encumber, assign, sell, or transfer any potential payment of benefits hereunder.

Section 10.02 No Contract of Employment. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as conferring upon a Participant the right to continue in the employ of the Company.

Section 10.03 Other Retirement Plans. Any compensation deferred under this Plan shall not be deemed salary or other compensation to a Participant for the purpose of computing benefits to which he may be entitled under any ERISA-covered benefit plan of the Company, provided it is permissible to do so under such plan.

Section 10.04 Heirs, Assigns and Successors. This agreement is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns and the Participant and his heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives.

Section 10.05 Amendment or Termination. The Committee has the right to amend the Plan with retroactive effect if necessary, at any time; provided that, in no event shall the Committee have the authority to adopt any amendment having a significant cost to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board retains the right to modify the powers of the Committee to amend the Plan, to amend the Plan (with retroactive effect if necessary) or to terminate the Plan, at any time.

Section 10.06 Severability of Provisions. If any provision of this Plan shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions

hereof, and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.

Section 10.07 Controlling Law. This Plan shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Section 10.08 Grammatical Construction. Pronouns or other words indicating the masculine gender shall be deemed to include the feminine gender, and singular words shall include the plural in all cases where such meaning would be appropriate.

Section 10.9 Unauthorized Representations. The Company shall not be bound by the representations of any person, other than the Committee, regarding eligibility for benefits under the Plan or any other matter relating to the Plan.

Section 10.10 Designation of Death Benefit Beneficiary. Each Participant may designate any person or persons (primarily or contingently) as his Beneficiary to whom his Plan benefits shall be paid if he dies prior to receipt of all such benefits. Such Beneficiary designation shall be effective only if in writing on forms provided by the Committee and if such form is delivered to the Committee during the lifetime of the Participant. If a Participant has a spouse, an election to name a primary designated Beneficiary other than or in addition to the spouse shall be ineffective unless the Participant’s spouse consents in writing on a form provided by the Committee to such designation.