OVERSTOCK.COM,INC. NONQUALIFIEDDEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

Contract Categories: Human Resources - Compensation Agreements
EX-10.1 2 a09-35594_1ex10d1.htm EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

 

OVERSTOCK.COM, INC.

 

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 



 

OVERSTOCK.COM, INC.

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

Page

 

 

Article 1 - Definitions

1

 

 

1.1

Account

1

1.2

Administrator

1

1.3

Board

1

1.4

Bonus

1

1.5

Change-in-Control

1

1.6

Code

2

1.7

Compensation

2

1.8

Deferrals

2

1.9

Deferral Election

2

1.10

Disability

2

1.11

Effective Date

2

1.12

Eligible Employee

2

1.13

Employee

3

1.14

Employer

3

1.15

Employer Discretionary Contribution

3

1.16

ERISA

3

1.17

Investment Fund

3

1.18

Participant

3

1.19

Performance-based Compensation

3

1.20

Plan Year

3

1.21

Retirement

3

1.22

Salary

3

1.23

Separation from Service

4

1.24

Service Recipient

4

1.25

Trust

4

1.26

Trustee

4

1.27

Years of Service

4

 

 

 

Article 2 - Participation

4

 

 

2.1

Commencement of Participation

4

2.2

Loss of Eligible Employee Status

4

 

 

 

Article 3 - Contributions

5

 

 

3.1

Deferral Elections - General

5

3.2

Time of Election

5

3.3

Distribution Elections

5

3.4

Additional Requirements

6

3.5

Cancellation of Deferral Election due to Disability

6

3.6

Employer Discretionary Contributions

6

 



 

3.7

Crediting of Contributions

7

 

 

 

Article 4 - Vesting

7

 

 

4.1

Vesting of Deferrals

7

4.2

Vesting of Employer Discretionary Contributions

7

4.3

Vesting due to Certain Events

7

4.4

Amounts Not Vested

7

 

 

 

Article 5 - Accounts

7

 

 

5.1

Accounts

7

5.2

Investments, Gains and Losses

8

 

 

 

Article 6 - Distributions

9

 

 

6.1

Distribution Election

9

6.2

Distributions Upon an In-Service Account Triggering Date

9

6.3

Distributions Upon Retirement

9

6.4

Substantially Equal Annual Installments

9

6.5

Distributions due to other Separation from Service

10

6.6

Distributions upon Separation from Service due to Disability

10

6.7

Distributions upon Death

10

6.8

Changes to Distribution Elections

10

6.9

Acceleration or Delay in Payments

10

6.10

Unforeseeable Emergency

11

6.11

Domestic Relations Orders

11

6.12

Minimum Distribution

11

6.13

Form of Payment

11

 

 

 

Article 7 - Beneficiaries

11

 

 

7.1

Beneficiaries

11

7.2

Lost Beneficiary

12

 

 

 

Article 8 - Funding

12

 

 

8.1

Prohibition Against Funding

12

8.2

Deposits in Trust

12

8.3

Withholding of Employee Contributions

12

 

 

 

Article 9 - Claims Administration

13

 

 

9.1

General

13

9.2

Claims Procedure

13

9.3

Right of Appeal

14

9.4

Review of Appeal

14

9.5

Designation

15

 



 

Article 10 - General Provisions

15

 

 

10.1

Administrator

15

10.2

No Assignment

15

10.3

No Employment Rights

16

10.4

Incompetence

16

10.5

Identity

16

10.6

Other Benefits

16

10.7

Expenses

16

10.8

Insolvency

16

10.9

Amendment or Modification

17

10.10

Plan Suspension

17

10.11

Plan Termination

17

10.12

Plan Termination due to a Change-in-Control

17

10.13

Construction

18

10.14

Governing Law

18

10.15

Severability

18

10.16

Headings

18

10.17

Terms

18

 



 

OVERSTOCK.COM, INC.

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

Overstock.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation, hereby adopts this Overstock.com, Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) for the benefit of a select group of management or highly compensated employees.  This Plan is an unfunded arrangement and is intended to be exempt from the participation, vesting, funding, and fiduciary requirements set forth in Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.  It is intended to comply with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A.

 

Article 1 - - Definitions

 

1.1                               Account

 

The sum of all the bookkeeping sub-accounts as may be established for each Participant as provided in Section 5.1 hereof.

 

1.2                               Administrator

 

An administrative committee appointed by the Board.  The Plan Administrator shall serve as the agent for the Employer with respect to the Trust.

 

1.3                               Board

 

The Board of Directors of the Employer.

 

1.4                               Bonus

 

Compensation which is designated as such by the Employer and which relates to services performed during an incentive period by an Eligible Employee in addition to his or her Salary, including any pretax elective deferrals from said Bonus to any Employer sponsored plan that includes amounts deferred under a Deferral Election or any elective deferral as defined in Code Section 402(g)(3) or any amount contributed or deferred at the election of the Eligible Employee in accordance with Code Section 125 or 132(f)(4).

 

1.5                               Change-in-Control

 

Provided that such term shall be interpreted within the meaning of regulations promulgated under Code Section 409A, a “Change-in-Control” of the Employer (which, for purpose of this Section 1.5 shall mean Overstock.com, Inc. but not any of its affiliates or subsidiaries) shall mean the first to occur of any of the following:

 

(a)           the date that any one person or persons acting as a group, other than Patrick M. Byrne, Dorothy M. Byrne or John J. Byrne or an individual or entity that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with Patrick M. Byrne, Dorothy M. Byrne and/or John J. Byrne, acquires ownership of Employer stock constituting more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the Employer;

 

(b)           the date that any one person or persons acting as a group acquires substantially all of the assets of the Employer; or

 

1



 

(c)           the date that a majority of members of the Employer’s Board is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or elections.

 

1.6                               Code

 

The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

1.7                               Compensation

 

The Participant’s Salary and Bonus, provided that the Administrator, in its discretion, may determine from time to time that any other remuneration (which may include Performance-based Compensation) from the Employer shall be included in the definition of “Compensation.”

 

1.8                               Deferrals

 

The portion of Compensation that a Participant elects to defer in accordance with Section 3.1 hereof.

 

1.9                               Deferral Election

 

The separate agreement, submitted to the Administrator, by which an Eligible Employee agrees to participate in the Plan and make Deferrals thereto for a Plan Year.

 

1.10                        Disability

 

Provided that such term shall be interpreted within the meaning of regulations promulgated under Code Section 409A, a Participant shall be considered to have incurred a Disability if: (i) the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; (ii) the Participant is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Participant’s Employer; or (iii) the Participant is determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration.

 

1.11                        Effective Date

 

January 1, 2010.

 

1.12                        Eligible Employee

 

An Employee shall be considered an Eligible Employee if such Employee is a member of a “select group of management or highly compensated employees,” within the meaning of Sections 201, 301 and 401 of ERISA, and is designated as an Eligible Employee by the Administrator.  The Administrator may at any time, in its sole discretion, change the eligible criteria for an Eligible Employee or determine that one or more Participants will cease to be an Eligible Employee.  The designation of an Employee as an Eligible Employee in any Plan Year shall not confer upon such Employee any right to be designated as an Eligible Employee in any future Plan Year.

 

2



 

1.13                        Employee

 

Any person employed by the Employer.

 

1.14                        Employer

 

Overstock.com, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.

 

1.15                        Employer Discretionary Contribution

 

A discretionary contribution made by the Employer that is credited to one or more Participant’s Accounts in accordance with the terms of Section 3.6 hereof.

 

1.16                        ERISA

 

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

1.17                        Investment Fund

 

Each investment(s) which serves as a means to measure value, increases or decreases with respect to a Participant’s Accounts.

 

1.18                        Participant

 

An Eligible Employee who is a Participant as provided in Article 2.

 

1.19                        Performance-based Compensation

 

Provided that such term shall be interpreted within the meaning of regulations promulgated under Code Section 409A, “Performance-based Compensation” shall mean compensation that (i) meets the definition of Code Section 409A(a)(4)(B)(iii) and related guidance and regulations, (ii) is designated as such by the Employer and relates to services performed during a performance period of at least twelve months by an Eligible Employee, including any pretax elective deferrals from said Performance-based Compensation to any Employer sponsored plan that includes amounts deferred under a Deferral Election or any elective deferral as defined in Code Section 402(g)(3) or any amount contributed or deferred at the election of the Eligible Employee in accordance with Code Section 125 or 132(f)(4).

 

1.20                        Plan Year

 

Calendar year.

 

1.21                        Retirement

 

Retirement shall mean a Participant’s Separation from Service on, or subsequent to, the applicable Participant attaining fifty-nine and one-half (59½) years of age.

 

1.22                        Salary

 

An Eligible Employee’s base salary earned during a Plan Year, including any pretax elective deferrals from said Salary to any Employer sponsored plan that includes amounts deferred under a Deferral Election or any elective deferral as defined in Code Section 402(g)(3) or any amount contributed or deferred at the election of the Eligible Employee in accordance with Code Section 125 or 132(f)(4).

 

3



 

1.23                        Separation from Service

 

Provided that such term shall be interpreted within the meaning of regulations promulgated under Code Section 409A, a Participant shall incur a Separation from Service with the Service Recipient upon his or her death, Retirement or other termination of employment with the Service Recipient, provided, however, that a Separation from Service shall not occur while the Participant is on military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence if the period of such leave does not exceed six months, or if longer, so long as the Participant retains a right to reemployment with the Service Recipient under an applicable statute or by contract.  Upon a sale or other disposition of the assets of the Employer to an unrelated purchaser, the Administrator reserves the right, to the extent permitted by Code Section 409A, to determine whether Participants providing services to the purchaser after and in connection with the purchase transaction have experienced a Separation from Service.

 

1.24                        Service Recipient

 

Provided that such term shall be interpreted within the meaning of regulations promulgated under Code Section 409A, Service Recipient shall mean the Employer and all persons with whom the Employer would be considered a single employer under Code Section 414(b) (employees of controlled group of corporations), and all persons with whom such person would be considered a single employer under Code Section 414(c) (employees of partnerships, proprietorships, etc., under common control).

 

1.25                        Trust

 

The agreement between the Employer and the Trustee under which the assets of the Plan are held, administered and managed.

 

1.26                        Trustee

 

U.S. Bank National Association or such other successor that shall become Trustee pursuant to the terms of the Trust.

 

1.27                        Years of Service

 

A Participant’s “Years of Service” shall be measured by employment during a twelve (12) month period commencing with the Participant’s date of hire and anniversaries thereof.

 

Article 2 - - Participation

 

2.1                               Commencement of Participation

 

Each Eligible Employee shall become a Participant at the earlier of the date on which his or her Deferral Election first becomes effective or the date on which an Employer Discretionary Contribution is first credited to his or her Account.

 

2.2                               Loss of Eligible Employee Status

 

A Participant who is no longer an Eligible Employee shall not be permitted to submit a Deferral Election and all Deferrals for such Participant shall cease as of the end of the Plan Year in which such Participant is determined to no longer be an Eligible Employee.  Amounts credited to the Account of a Participant who is no longer an Eligible Employee shall continue to be held pursuant to the terms of the Plan and shall be distributed as provided in Article 6.

 

4



 

Article 3 - - Contributions

 

3.1                               Deferral Elections - General

 

A Participant’s Deferral Election for a Plan Year is irrevocable for that applicable Plan Year; provided, however that a Deferral Election for a Plan Year may be canceled if required by the terms of the Employer’s qualified 401(k) plan in order for the Participant to obtain a hardship withdrawal from the 401(k) plan, or if required under Section 6.10 (Unforeseeable Emergency) of this Plan.  Such amounts deferred under the Plan shall not be made available to such Participant, except as provided in Article 6, and shall reduce such Participant’s Compensation from the Employer in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Deferral Election; provided, however, that all such amounts shall be subject to the rights of the general creditors of the Employer as provided in Article 8.  The Deferral Election, in addition to the requirements set forth below, must designate: (i) the amount of Compensation to be deferred, (ii) the time of the distribution, and (iii) the form of the distribution.

 

3.2                               Time of Election

 

A Deferral Election shall be void if it is not made in a timely manner as follows:

 

(a)           A Deferral Election with respect to any Compensation must be submitted to the Administrator before the beginning of the calendar year during which the amount to be deferred will be earned.  As of December 31 of each calendar year, said Deferral Election is irrevocable for the calendar year to which it relates.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the foregoing and in the discretion of the Employer, in a year in which an Eligible Employee is first eligible to participate, and provided that such Eligible Employee is not eligible to participate in any other similar account balance arrangement subject to Code Section 409A, such Deferral Election may be submitted within thirty (30) days after the date on which the Eligible Employee is first eligible to participate, and such Deferral Election shall apply to Compensation to be paid for services to be performed during the remainder of the calendar year after such election is made.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding the foregoing and in the discretion of the Employer, a Deferral Election with respect to any Performance-based Compensation may be submitted by the Eligible Employee or Participant provided that such Deferral Election is submitted at least six (6) months prior to the end of the performance period on which the Performance-based Compensation is based.

 

3.3                               Distribution Elections

 

At the time a Participant makes a Deferral Election, he or she must also elect the time and form of the distribution by establishing one or more In-Service Account(s) or Retirement Account(s) as provided in Sections 5.1 and 6.1.  If the Participant fails to properly designate the time and form of a distribution, the Participant’s Account shall be designated as a Retirement Account and shall be paid in a lump sum.

 

5



 

3.4                               Additional Requirements

 

The Deferral Election, subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3.1 and 3.2 hereof, shall comply with the following additional requirements, or as otherwise required by the Administrator in its sole discretion:

 

(a)           Deferrals may be made in whole percentages or stated dollar amounts with such limitations as determined by the Administrator.

 

(b)           The maximum amount that may be deferred each Plan Year is fifty percent (50%) of the Participant’s Salary, and ninety percent (90%) of the Participant’s Bonus or Performance-based Compensation.

 

(c)           The distribution year for an In-Service Account must be at least two (2) Plan Years subsequent to the Plan Year in which the Participant first establishes the In-Service subaccount to be credited with contributions.

 

3.5                               Cancellation of Deferral Election due to Disability

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, if a Participant incurs a disability as defined in this Section 3.5, said Participant may file an election to cancel a Deferral Election as of the date the election is received by the Administrator, provided that such cancellation occurs by the later of the end of the calendar year or the 15th day of the third month following the date the Participant incurs a disability.  Disability for purposes of this Section 3.5 only means that a Participant incurs a medically determinable physical or mental impairment resulting in the Participant’s inability to perform the duties of his or her position or any substantially similar position, where such impairment can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than six months, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

 

3.6                               Employer Discretionary Contributions

 

The Employer reserves the right to make discretionary contributions to some or all Participants’ Accounts in such amount and in such manner as may be determined by the Employer.  Such Employer Discretionary Contribution, at the option of the Employer, shall be credited to such sub-account(s) as may be elected by the Participant in accordance with Sections 3.3 and 5.1 and procedures established by the Administrator.  In the event no such election is made by the Participant or if Employer desires to direct Employer Discretionary Contributions to a particular Participant sub-account, the Employer, in its sole discretion, may determine which sub-account will be credited with such Employer Discretionary Contribution.  In the event the Employer does not designate which Participant sub-account shall be credited, such Employer Discretionary Contribution shall be credited to the Participant’s Retirement sub-account with the shortest payment period maintained within the Participant’s Account in accordance with Section 5.1.  If no Retirement sub-accounts are maintained within the Participant’s Account, such Employer Discretionary Contribution shall be credited to a lump sum Retirement sub-account.

 

6



 

3.7                               Crediting of Contributions

 

(a)           Salary Deferrals shall be credited to a Participant’s Account, and if applicable transferred to the Trust, at such time as the Employer shall determine but no less frequently than at the close of each month.  Bonus or Performance-based Compensation Deferrals shall be credited to a Participant’s Account, and if applicable transferred to the Trust, annually.

 

(b)           Employer Discretionary Contributions, if any, shall be credited to a Participant’s Account, and if applicable transferred to the Trust, at such time as the Employer shall determine.

 

Article 4 - - Vesting

 

4.1                               Vesting of Deferrals

 

A Participant shall be one-hundred percent (100%) vested in his or her Account attributable to Deferrals and any earnings or losses on the investment of such Deferrals.

 

4.2                               Vesting of Employer Discretionary Contributions

 

A Participant shall have a vested right to the portion of his or her Account attributable to Employer Discretionary Contribution(s) and any earnings or losses on the investment of such Employer Discretionary Contribution(s) according to such vesting schedule as the Employer shall determine at the time an Employer Discretionary Contribution is made.

 

4.3                               Vesting due to Certain Events

 

(a)           A Participant who incurs a Separation from Service due to Retirement shall be fully vested in the amounts credited to his or her Account as of the date of Retirement.

 

(b)           A Participant who incurs a Separation from Service due to Disability shall be fully vested in the amounts credited to his or her Account as of the date of Disability.

 

(c)           Upon a Participant’s death, the Participant shall be fully vested in the amounts credited to his or her Account.

 

4.4                               Amounts Not Vested

 

Any amounts credited to a Participant’s Account that are not vested at the time of his or her Separation from Service shall be forfeited.

 

Article 5 - - Accounts

 

5.1                               Accounts

 

The Administrator shall establish and maintain a bookkeeping account in the name of each Participant.  The Administrator shall also establish sub-accounts as provided in subsection (a) and (b), below, as elected by the Participant pursuant to Article 3.  A Participant may have a maximum of ten (10) sub-accounts at any time.

 

7



 

(a)           A Participant may establish one or more Retirement Account(s) (“Retirement sub-accounts”) by designating as such on the Participant’s Deferral Election.  Each Participant’s Retirement sub-account shall be credited with Deferrals (as specified in the Participant’s Deferral Election), any Employer Discretionary Contributions, and the Participant’s allocable share of any earnings or losses on the foregoing.  Each Participant’s Retirement sub-account shall be reduced by any distributions made plus any federal and state tax withholding, and any social security withholding tax as may be required by law.

 

(b)           A Participant may establish one or more In-Service Accounts (“In-Service sub-accounts”) by designating as such in the Participant’s Deferral Election the year in which payment shall be made.  Each Participant’s In-Service sub-account shall be credited with Deferrals (as specified in the Participant’s Deferral Election), any Employer Discretionary Contributions, and the Participant’s allocable share of any earnings or losses on the foregoing.  Each Participant’s In-Service sub-account shall be reduced by any distributions made plus any federal and state tax withholding and any social security withholding tax as may be required by law.

 

5.2                               Investments, Gains and Losses

 

(a)           A Participant may direct that his or her Retirement sub-accounts and or In-Service sub-accounts established pursuant to Section 5.1 may be valued as if they were invested in one or more Investment Funds as selected by the Employer in multiples of one percent (1%).  The Employer may from time to time, at the discretion of the Administrator, change the Investment Funds for purposes of this Plan.

 

(b)           The Administrator shall adjust the amounts credited to each Participant’s Account to reflect Deferrals, any Employer Discretionary Contributions, investment experience, distributions and any other appropriate adjustments.  Such adjustments shall be made as frequently as is administratively feasible.

 

(c)           A Participant may change his or her selection of Investment Funds no more than six (6) times each Plan Year with respect to his or her Account or sub-accounts by filing a new election in accordance with procedures established by the Administrator.  An election shall be effective as soon as administratively feasible following the date the change is submitted on a form prescribed by the Administrator.

 

(d)           Notwithstanding the Participant’s ability to designate the Investment Fund in which his or her deferred Compensation shall be deemed invested, the Employer shall have no obligation to invest any funds in accordance with the Participant’s election.  Participants’ Accounts shall merely be bookkeeping entries on the Employer’s books, and no Participant shall obtain any property right or interest in any Investment Fund.

 

8



 

Article 6 - - Distributions

 

6.1                               Distribution Election

 

Each Participant shall designate in his or her Deferral Election the form and timing of his or her distribution by indicating the type of sub-account as described under Section 5.1, and by designating the form in which payments shall be made from the choices available under Section 6.2 and 6.3 hereof.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein provided, no acceleration of the time or schedule of payments under the Plan shall occur except as permitted under this Plan, Code Section 409A and the regulations thereunder.

 

6.2                               Distributions Upon an In-Service Account Triggering Date

 

In-Service sub-account distributions shall begin as soon as administratively feasible but no later than ninety (90) days following January 1 of the calendar year designated by the Participant on a properly submitted Deferral Election, and are payable in either a lump-sum payment or substantially equal annual installments, as described in Section 6.4 below, over a period of up to five (5) years as elected by the Participant in his or her Deferral Election.  If the Participant fails to properly designate the form of the distribution, the sub-account shall be paid in a lump-sum payment.

 

6.3                               Distributions Upon Retirement

 

If the Participant has a Separation from Service due to Retirement, the Participant’s Retirement sub-account(s) shall be distributed as soon as administratively feasible but no later than ninety (90) days after the first day of the seventh month following Participant’s Retirement, provided that the Participant shall have no right to designate the taxable year of the payment.  Distribution shall be made either in a lump-sum payment or in substantially equal annual installments, as defined in Section 6.4 below, over a period of up to ten (10) years as elected by the Participant.  If the Participant fails to properly designate the form of the distribution, the sub-account shall be paid in a lump-sum payment.  If a Participant has any In-Service sub-accounts at the time of his or her Retirement, said sub-accounts shall be distributed in a lump sum as soon as administratively feasible but no earlier than the first day of the seventh month following Participant’s Retirement.

 

6.4                               Substantially Equal Annual Installments

 

(a)           The amount of the substantially equal payments shall be determined by multiplying the Participant’s Account or sub-account by a fraction, the denominator of which in the first year of payment equals the number of years over which benefits are to be paid, and the numerator of which is one (1).  The amounts of the payments for each succeeding year shall be determined by multiplying the Participant’s Account or sub-account as of the applicable anniversary of the payout by a fraction, the denominator of which equals the number of remaining years over which benefits are to be paid, and the numerator of which is one (1). Installment payments made pursuant to this Section 6.4 shall be made as soon as administratively feasible but no later than ninety (90) days following the distribution event and each anniversary of the distribution event, provided that the Participant shall have no right to designate the taxable year of any payment.

 

9



 

(b)           For purposes of the Plan pursuant to Code Section 409A and regulations thereunder, a series of annual installments from a particular subaccount shall be considered a single payment.

 

6.5                               Distributions due to other Separation from Service

 

If the Participant has a Separation from Service for any reason other than Retirement, death or Disability, all vested amounts credited to his or her Account shall be paid to the Participant in a lump-sum, as soon as administratively feasible but no later than ninety (90) days after the first day of the seventh month following Participant’s Separation from Service, provided that the Participant shall have no right to designate the taxable year of the payment.

 

6.6                               Distributions upon Separation from Service due to Disability

 

Upon a Participant’s Separation from Service prior to attaining age 59½ due to Disability, all amounts credited to his or her Account shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum, as soon as administratively feasible but no later than ninety (90) days after the first day of the seventh month following Participant’s Separation from Service, provided that the Participant shall have no right to designate the taxable year of the payment.

 

6.7                               Distributions upon Death

 

Upon the death of a Participant, all amounts credited to his or her Account shall be paid, as soon as administratively feasible but no later than ninety (90) days following Participant’s date of death, to his or her beneficiary or beneficiaries, as determined under Article 7 hereof, in a lump sum, provided that the beneficiary or beneficiaries shall have no right to designate the taxable year of the payment.

 

6.8                               Changes to Distribution Elections

 

A Participant will be permitted to elect to change the form or timing of the distribution of the balance of his or her one or more sub-accounts within his or her Account to the extent permitted and in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A(a)(4)(C), including the requirement that (i) a redeferral election may not take effect until at least twelve (12) months after such election is filed with the Employer, (ii) an election to further defer a distribution (other than a distribution upon death, Disability or an unforeseeable emergency) must  result in the first distribution subject to the election being made at least five (5) years after the previously elected date of distribution, and (iii) any redeferral election affecting a distribution at a fixed date must be filed with the Employer at least twelve (12) months before the first scheduled payment under the previous fixed date distribution election.  Once a sub-account begins distribution, no such changes to distributions shall be permitted.

 

6.9                               Acceleration or Delay in Payments

 

To the extent permitted by Code Section 409A, and notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may elect to (i) accelerate the time or form of payment of a benefit owed to a Participant hereunder in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-3(j)(4), or (ii) delay the time of payment of a benefit owed to a Participant hereunder in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-2(b)(7).

 

10



 

6.10                        Unforeseeable Emergency

 

The Administrator may permit an early distribution of part or all of any deferred amounts; provided, however, that such distribution shall be made only if the Administrator, in its sole discretion, determines that the Participant, or the Participant’s beneficiary, has experienced an Unforeseeable Emergency.  An Unforeseeable Emergency is defined as a severe financial hardship resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, the Participant’s beneficiary, or a dependent (as defined in Code Section 152(a)) of the Participant, loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable  circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant.  If an Unforeseeable Emergency is determined to exist, a distribution may not exceed the amounts necessary to satisfy such emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution, after taking into account the extent to which such hardship is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise or by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship).  Upon a distribution to a Participant under this Section 6.10, the Participant’s Deferrals shall cease and no further Deferrals shall be made for such Participant for the remainder of the Plan Year and for the immediately succeeding Plan Year.

 

6.11                        Domestic Relations Orders

 

The Administrator may permit the acceleration of the time or schedule of a payment under the Plan to an individual other than a Participant as may be necessary to fulfill a domestic relations order (as defined in Code Section 414(p)(1)(B)).

 

6.12                        Minimum Distribution

 

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, if the balance of a Participant’s Account at the time of a distribution event or at the time of a scheduled installment payment does not exceed $15,000 (or, if less, the applicable dollar amount under Code Section 402(g)), then the Participant shall be paid his or her Account as a single lump sum, provided that the distribution results in the termination and liquidation of the Participant’s entire interest in the Plan, including all agreements, methods, programs or other arrangements with respect to which deferrals of compensation are treated as having been deferred under a single plan under the plan aggregation rules of Code Section 409A and regulations thereunder.

 

6.13                        Form of Payment

 

All distributions shall be made in the form of cash.

 

Article 7 - - Beneficiaries

 

7.1                               Beneficiaries

 

Each Participant may from time to time designate one or more persons (who may be any one or more members of such person’s family or other persons, administrators, trusts, foundations or other entities) as his or her beneficiary under the Plan.  Such designation shall be made in a form prescribed by the Administrator.  Each Participant may at any time and from time to time, change any previous beneficiary designation, without notice to or consent of any previously designated beneficiary, by amending his or her previous designation in a form prescribed by the Administrator.  If the beneficiary does not survive the Participant (or is

 

11



 

otherwise unavailable to receive payment), or if no beneficiary is validly designated then the amounts payable under this Plan shall be paid to the Participant’s estate.  If more than one person is the beneficiary of a deceased Participant, each such person shall receive a pro rata share of any death benefit payable unless otherwise designated in the applicable form.  If a beneficiary who is receiving benefits dies, all benefits that were payable to such beneficiary shall then be payable to the estate of that beneficiary.

 

7.2                               Lost Beneficiary

 

All Participants and beneficiaries shall have the obligation to keep the Administrator informed of their current address until such time as all benefits due have been paid.  If a Participant or beneficiary cannot be located by the Administrator exercising due diligence, then, in its sole discretion, the Administrator may presume that the Participant or beneficiary is deceased for purposes of the Plan and all unpaid amounts (net of due diligence expenses) owed to the Participant or beneficiary shall be paid accordingly or, if a beneficiary cannot be so located, then such amounts may be forfeited.  Any such presumption of death shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties.

 

Article 8 - - Funding

 

8.1                               Prohibition Against Funding

 

Should any investment be acquired in connection with the liabilities assumed under this Plan, it is expressly understood and agreed that the Participants and beneficiaries shall not have any right with respect to, or claim against, such assets nor shall any such purchase be construed to create a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Employer and the Participants, their beneficiaries or any other person.  Any such assets shall be and remain a part of the general, unpledged, unrestricted assets of the Employer, subject to the claims of its general creditors.  It is the express intention of the parties hereto that this arrangement shall be unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of the ERISA.  Each Participant and beneficiary shall be required to look to the provisions of this Plan and to the Employer itself for enforcement of any and all benefits due under this Plan, and to the extent any such person acquires a right to receive payment under this Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Employer.  The Employer or the Trust shall be designated the owner and beneficiary of any investment acquired in connection with its obligation under this Plan.

 

8.2                               Deposits in Trust

 

Notwithstanding Section 8.1, or any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Employer may deposit into the Trust any amounts it deems appropriate to pay the benefits under this Plan.  The amounts so deposited may include all contributions made pursuant to a Deferral Election by a Participant and any Employer Discretionary Contributions.

 

8.3                               Withholding of Employee Contributions

 

The Administrator is authorized to make any and all necessary arrangements with the Employer in order to withhold the Participant’s Deferrals under Section 3.1 hereof from his or her Compensation.  The Administrator shall determine the amount and timing of such withholding.

 

12



 

Article 9 - - Claims Administration

 

9.1                               General

 

If a Participant, beneficiary or his or her representative is denied all or a portion of an expected Plan benefit for any reason and the Participant, beneficiary or his or her representative desires to dispute the decision of the Administrator, he or she must file a written notification of his or her claim with the Administrator.

 

9.2                               Claims Procedure

 

Upon receipt of any written claim for benefits, the Administrator shall be notified and shall give due consideration to the claim presented.  If any Participant or beneficiary claims to be entitled to benefits under the Plan and the Administrator determines that the claim should be denied in whole or in part, the Administrator shall, in writing, notify such claimant within ninety (90) days (forty-five (45) days if the claim is on account of Disability) of receipt of the claim that the claim has been denied.  The Administrator may extend the period of time for making a determination with respect to any claim for a period of up to ninety (90) days (thirty (30) days if claim is on account of Disability), provided that the Administrator determines that such an extension is necessary because of special circumstances and notifies the claimant, prior to the expiration of the initial ninety (90) day (or forty-five (45) day) period, of the circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Plan expects to render a decision.  If the claim is denied to any extent by the Administrator, the Administrator shall furnish the claimant with a written notice setting forth:

 

(a)           the specific reason or reasons for denial of the claim;

 

(b)           a specific reference to the 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;

 

(d)           an explanation of the provisions of this Article, including a statement of the claimant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination on review; and

 

(e)           if an internal rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion was relied upon in making the adverse determination, either the specific rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion, or a statement that such a rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion was relied upon in making the adverse determination and that a copy of such rule, guideline, protocol or other criterion will be provided free of charge to the claimant upon request.

 

Under no circumstances shall any failure by the Administrator to comply with the provisions of this Section 9.2 be considered to constitute an allowance of the claimant’s claim.

 

13



 

9.3                               Right of Appeal

 

A claimant who has a claim denied wholly or partially under Section 9.2 may appeal to the Administrator for reconsideration of that claim.  A request for reconsideration under this Section must be filed by written notice within sixty (60) days (one-hundred and eighty (180) days if the claim is on account of Disability) after receipt by the claimant of the notice of denial under Section 9.2.

 

9.4                               Review of Appeal

 

Upon receipt of an appeal the Administrator shall promptly take action to give due consideration to the appeal.  Such consideration may include a hearing of the parties involved, if the Administrator feels such a hearing is necessary.  In preparing for this appeal the claimant shall be given the right to review pertinent documents and the right to submit in writing a statement of issues and comments.  After consideration of the merits of the appeal the Administrator shall issue a written decision which shall be binding on all parties.  The decision shall specifically state its reasons and pertinent Plan provisions on which it relies.  The Administrator’s decision shall be issued within sixty (60) days (forty-five (45) days if the claim is on account of Disability) after the appeal is filed, except that the Administrator may extend the period of time for making a determination with respect to any claim for a period of up to sixty (60) days (forty-five (45) days if the claim is on account of Disability), provided that the Administrator determines that such an extension is necessary because of special circumstances and notifies the claimant, prior to the expiration of the initial sixty (60) day (or, if the claim is on account of Disability, initial forty-five (45) day) period, of the circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Plan expects to render a decision.  Under no circumstances shall any failure by the Administrator to comply with the provisions of this Section 9.4 be considered to constitute an allowance of the claimant’s claim.

 

In the case of a claim on account of Disability: (i) the review of the denied claim shall be conducted by an employee who is neither the individual who made the initial determination or a subordinate of such person; and (ii) no deference shall be given to the initial determination.  For issues involving medical judgment, the employee must consult with an independent health care professional who may not be the health care professional who rendered the initial claim.

 

In the case of an adverse benefit determination on review, the notification to the claimant shall set forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant:

 

(a)           the specific reason or reasons for the adverse determination;

 

(b)           reference to the specific Plan provisions on which the benefit determination is based;

 

(c)           a statement that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant to the claimant’s claim for benefits;

 

(d)           a statement of the claimant’s right to bring an action under Section 502(a) of ERISA;

 

14



 

(e)           if an internal rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion was relied upon in making the adverse determination, either the specific rule, guideline, protocol, or other similar criterion, or a statement that such a rule, guideline, protocol or other similar criterion was relied upon in making the adverse determination and that a copy of such rule, guideline, protocol or other criterion will be provided free of charge to the claimant upon request; and

 

(f)            the following statement: “You and your plan may have other voluntary alternative dispute resolution options, such as mediation.  One way to find out what may be available is to contact your local U.S. Department of Labor Office.

 

9.5                               Designation

 

The Administrator may designate any other person of its choosing to make any determination otherwise required under this Article.  Any person so designated shall have the same authority and discretion granted to the Administrator hereunder.

 

Article 10 - - General Provisions

 

10.1                        Administrator

 

(a)           The Administrator is expressly empowered to limit the amount of Compensation that may be deferred; to deposit amounts into the Trust in accordance with Section 8.2 hereof; to interpret the Plan, and to determine all questions arising in the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan; to employ actuaries, accountants, counsel, and other persons it deems necessary in connection with the administration of the Plan; to request any information from the Employer it deems necessary to determine whether the Employer would be considered insolvent or subject to a proceeding in bankruptcy; and to take all other necessary and proper actions to fulfill its duties as Administrator.

 

(b)           The Administrator shall not be liable for any actions by it hereunder, unless due to its own negligence, willful misconduct or lack of good faith.

 

(c)           The Administrator shall be indemnified and saved harmless by the Employer from and against all personal liability to which it may be subject by reason of any act done or omitted to be done in its official capacity as Administrator in good faith in the administration of the Plan and Trust, including all expenses reasonably incurred in its defense in the event the Employer fails to provide such defense upon the request of the Administrator.  The Administrator is relieved of all responsibility in connection with its duties hereunder to the fullest extent permitted by law, short of breach of duty to the beneficiaries.

 

10.2                        No Assignment

 

Benefits or payments under this Plan shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, whether voluntary or involuntary, and any attempt to so anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, attach or garnish the same shall not be valid, nor shall any such benefit or payment be in any way liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagement or torts of any Participant or beneficiary, or

 

15



 

any other person entitled to such benefit or payment pursuant to the terms of this Plan, except to such extent as may be required by law.  If any Participant or beneficiary or any other person entitled to a benefit or payment pursuant to the terms of this Plan becomes bankrupt or attempts to anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, attach or garnish any benefit or payment under this Plan, in whole or in part, or if any attempt is made to subject any such benefit or payment, in whole or in part, to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of the Participant or beneficiary or any other person entitled to any such benefit or payment pursuant to the terms of this Plan, then such benefit or payment, in the discretion of the Administrator, shall cease and terminate with respect to such Participant or beneficiary, or any other such person.

 

10.3                        No Employment Rights

 

Participation in this Plan shall not be construed to confer upon any Participant the legal right to be retained in the employ of the Employer, or give a Participant or beneficiary, or any other person, any right to any payment whatsoever, except to the extent of the benefits provided for hereunder.  Each Participant shall remain subject to discharge to the same extent as if this Plan had never been adopted.

 

10.4                        Incompetence

 

If the Administrator determines that any person to whom a benefit is payable under this Plan is incompetent by reason of physical or mental disability, the Administrator shall have the power to cause the payments becoming due to such person to be made to another for his or her benefit without responsibility of the Administrator or the Employer to see to the application of such payments.  Any payment made pursuant to such power shall, as to such payment, operate as a complete discharge of the Employer, the Administrator and the Trustee.

 

10.5                        Identity

 

If, at any time, any doubt exists as to the identity of any person entitled to any payment hereunder or the amount or time of such payment, the Administrator shall be entitled to hold such sum until such identity or amount or time is determined or until an order of a court of competent jurisdiction is obtained.  The Administrator shall also be entitled to pay such sum into court in accordance with the appropriate rules of law.  Any expenses incurred by the Employer, Administrator, and Trust incident to such proceeding or litigation shall be charged against the Account of the affected Participant.

 

10.6                        Other Benefits

 

The benefits of each Participant or beneficiary hereunder shall be in addition to any benefits paid or payable to or on account of the Participant or beneficiary under any other pension, disability, annuity or retirement plan or policy whatsoever.

 

10.7                        Expenses

 

All expenses incurred in the administration of the Plan whether incurred by the Employer or the Plan shall be paid by the Employer.

 

10.8                        Insolvency

 

Should the Employer be considered insolvent (as defined by the Trust), the Employer, through its Board and chief executive officer, shall give immediate written notice of such to the

 

16



 

Administrator of the Plan and the Trustee.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Administrator or Trustee shall cease to make any payments to Participants who were Employees of the Employer or their beneficiaries and shall hold any and all assets attributable to the Employer for the benefit of the general creditors of the Employer.

 

10.9                        Amendment or Modification

 

The Employer may, at any time, in its sole discretion, amend or modify the Plan in whole or in part, except that no such amendment or modification shall have any retroactive effect to reduce any amounts allocated to a Participant’s Accounts, and provided that such amendment or modification complies with Code Section 409A and related regulations thereunder.

 

10.10                 Plan Suspension

 

The Employer further reserves the right to suspend the Plan in whole or in part, except that no such suspension shall have any retroactive effect to reduce any amounts allocated to a Participant’s Accounts, and provided that the distribution of the vested Participant Accounts shall not be accelerated but shall be paid at such time and in such manner as determined under the terms of the Plan immediately prior to suspension as if the Plan had not been suspended.

 

10.11                 Plan Termination

 

The Employer further reserves the right to terminate the Plan in whole or in part, in the following manner, except that no such termination shall have any retroactive effect to reduce any amounts allocated to a Participant’s Accounts, and provided that any distribution in connection with such termination complies with Code Section 409A and related regulations thereunder:

 

(a)           The Employer, in its sole discretion, may terminate the Plan and distribute all vested Participants’ Accounts no earlier than twelve (12) calendar months from the date of the Plan termination and no later than twenty-four (24) calendar months from the date of the Plan termination, provided however that all other similar arrangements are also terminated by the Employer for any affected Participant and no other similar arrangements are adopted by the Employer for any affected Participant within a three (3) year period from the date of termination; or

 

(b)           The Employer may decide, in its sole discretion, to terminate the Plan in the event of a corporate dissolution taxed under Code Section 331, or with the approval of a bankruptcy court, provided that the Participants vested Account balances are distributed to Participants and are included in the Participants’ gross income in the latest of:  (i) the calendar year in which the termination occurs; (ii) the calendar year in which the amounts deferred are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture; or (iii) the first calendar year in which payment is administratively practicable.

 

10.12                 Plan Termination due to a Change-in-Control

 

The Employer may decide, in its discretion, to terminate the Plan in the event of a Change-in-Control and distribute all vested Participants Account balances no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the Change-in-Control and no later than twelve (12) months after the effective date of the Change-in-Control, provided however that the Employer terminates all other similar arrangements for any affected Participant.

 

17



 

10.13                 Construction

 

All questions of interpretation, construction or application arising under or concerning the terms of this Plan shall be decided by the Administrator, in its sole and final discretion, whose decision shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons.

 

10.14                 Governing Law

 

This Plan shall be governed by, construed and administered in accordance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, Code Section 409A, and any other applicable federal law, provided, however, that to the extent not preempted by federal law this Plan shall be governed by, construed and administered under the laws of the State of Utah other than its laws respecting choice of law.

 

10.15                 Severability

 

If any provision of this Plan is held invalid or unenforceable, its invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Plan and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provision had not been included therein.  If the inclusion of any Employee (or Employees) as a Participant under this Plan would cause the Plan to fail to comply with the requirements of sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA, or Code Section 409A, then the Plan shall be severed with respect to such Employee or Employees, who shall be considered to be participating in a separate arrangement.

 

10.16                 Headings

 

The Article headings contained herein are inserted only as a matter of convenience and for reference and in no way define, limit, enlarge or describe the scope or intent of this Plan nor in any way shall they affect this Plan or the construction of any provision thereof.

 

10.17                 Terms

 

Capitalized terms shall have meanings as defined herein.  Singular nouns shall be read as plural, masculine pronouns shall be read as feminine, and vice versa, as appropriate.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Overstock.com, Inc. has caused this instrument to be executed by its duly authorized officer, effective as of this 11th day of December, 2009.

 

 

 

Overstock.com, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Jonathan E. Johnson

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen J. Chesnut

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President, Finance

 

 

 

 

18