Unifi, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (formerly known as the Unifi, Inc. Supplemental Key Employee Retirement Plan)

Account. Account means a bookkeeping account maintained by the Committee to record the payment obligation of a Participating Employer to a Participant as determined under the terms of the Plan. The Committee may maintain an Account to record the total obligation to a Participant and component Accounts to reflect amounts payable at different times and in different forms. Reference to an Account means any such Account established by the Committee, as the context requires. Accounts are intended to constitute unfunded obligations within the meaning of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA.

Account Balance. Account Balance means, with respect to any Account, the total payment obligation owed to a Participant from such Account as of the most recent Valuation Date.

Affiliate. Affiliate means a corporation, trade or business that, together with the Company, is treated as a single employer under Code Section 414(b) or (c).

Base Compensation. Base Compensation means the annual base cash remuneration earned by an Eligible Employee for employment with the Participating Employers, prior to any reduction in said cash remuneration under Section 125 or 401(k) of the Code or under any non-qualified plan of deferred compensation sponsored by a Participating Employer (including this Plan). Base Compensation shall not include any Incentive Compensation, including, but not limited to, any annual cash bonuses or cash bonuses paid under any long-term incentive compensation plan sponsored by a Participating Employer, any expense allowances or reimbursements, any car allowances, any amounts realized from the grant or exercise of any stock option, phantom stock, stock appreciation right or similar award or any benefit payments from any non-qualified plan of deferred compensation sponsored by a Participating Employer.

Beneficiary. Beneficiary means a natural person, estate, or trust designated by a Participant in accordance with Section 6.5 hereof to receive payments to which a Beneficiary is entitled in accordance with provisions of the Plan.

Board of Directors. Board of Directors means, for a Participating Employer organized as a corporation, its board of directors and for a Participating Employer organized as a limited liability company, its board of managers.

Business Day. Business Day means each day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for business.

Change of Control. Change of Control and Change in Control means the occurrence of any of the following events:

Claimant. Claimant means a Participant or Beneficiary filing a claim under Article XI of this Plan.

Code. Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

Code Section 409A. Code Section 409A means section 409A of the Code, and regulations and other guidance issued by the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service thereunder.

Committee. Committee means the Company or a committee appointed by the Company to administer the Plan.

Company. Company means UNIFI, Inc.

Company Credit. Company Credit means a credit by a Participating Employer to a Participant’s Retirement Account or SERP Account(s) in accordance with the provisions of Article V of the Plan. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, a reference to Company Credit shall include Earnings attributable to such contribution.

Compensation Deferral Agreement. Compensation Deferral Agreement means an agreement between a Participant and a Participating Employer that specifies: (i) the amount of each component of Incentive Compensation that the Participant has elected to defer to the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Article IV, (ii) the Payment Schedule applicable to one or more Accounts established under such Compensation Deferral Agreement and (iii) the allocation of Deferrals among any of such Accounts.

Deferral. Deferral means a credit to a Participant’s Account(s) that records that portion of the Participant’s Incentive Compensation that the Participant has elected to defer to the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Article IV. Unless the context of the Plan clearly indicates otherwise, a reference to Deferrals includes Earnings attributable to such Deferrals.

Earnings. Earnings means an adjustment to the value of an Account in accordance with Article VII.

Effective Date. Effective Date means November 1, 2021.

Eligible Employee. Eligible Employee means an Employee who is a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees who has been notified during an applicable enrollment of his or her status as an Eligible Employee. The Committee has the discretion to determine which Employees are Eligible Employees for each enrollment.

Employee. Employee means a common-law employee of an Employer.

Employer. Employer means the Company and each Affiliate.

ERISA. ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

Fiscal Year Compensation. Fiscal Year Compensation means Incentive Compensation earned during one or more consecutive fiscal years of a Participating Employer, all of which is paid after the last day of such fiscal year or years.

Flex Account. Flex Account means a Separation Account or Specified Date Account established under the terms of a Participant’s Compensation Deferral Agreement. Unless the Committee specifies otherwise, a Participant may maintain no more than five (5) Flex Accounts at any one time.

Incentive Compensation. Incentive Compensation means a Participant’s cash bonus, commissions, incentive awards, equity-based compensation or such other compensation (other than Base Compensation) approved by the Committee as Incentive Compensation that may be deferred under Section 4.2 of this Plan, excluding any Incentive Compensation that has been previously deferred under this Plan or any other arrangement subject to Code Section 409A and excluding any compensation that is not U.S. source income.

Participant. Participant means an individual described in Article III.

Participating Employer. Participating Employer means the Company and each Affiliate who has adopted the Plan with the consent of the Company.  Each Participating Employer shall be identified on Schedule A attached hereto.

Payment Schedule. Payment Schedule means the date as of which payment of an Account will commence and the form in which payment of such Account will be made under the terms of a payment election in effect for such Account under the terms of this Plan.

Performance-Based Compensation. Performance-Based Compensation means Incentive Compensation where the amount of, or entitlement to, the Incentive Compensation is contingent on the satisfaction of pre-established organizational or individual performance criteria relating to a performance period of at least 12 consecutive months or 52 consecutive weeks. Organizational or individual performance criteria are considered pre-established if established in writing by not later than 90 days after the commencement of the period of service to which the criteria relate, provided that the outcome is substantially uncertain at the time the criteria are established. Performance-Based Compensation shall not include any Incentive Compensation payable upon the Participant’s death or disability (as defined in Treas. Section 1.409A-1(e)) without regard to the satisfaction of the performance criteria.

Plan. Plan means “UNIFI, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan” as documented herein and as may be amended from time to time hereafter. However, to the extent permitted or required under Code Section 409A, the term Plan may in the appropriate context also means a portion of the Plan that is treated as a single plan under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(c), or the Plan or portion of the Plan and any other nonqualified deferred compensation plan or portion thereof that is treated as a single plan under such section.

Plan Year. Plan Year means January 1 through December 31.

Retirement Account.  Retirement Account means an Account established by the Committee to record Company Credits (other than SERP Credits) and Deferrals allocated to the Retirement Account pursuant to a Participant’s Compensation Deferral Agreement. The Retirement Account is payable to a Participant upon Separation from Service in accordance with Section 6.3.

Separation Account. Separation Account means an Account established by the Committee in accordance with a Participant’s Compensation Deferral Agreement to record Deferrals allocated to such Account by the Participant and which are payable upon the Participant’s Separation from Service as set forth in Section 6.3.

Separation from Service. Separation from Service means an Employee’s termination of employment with the Employer and all Affiliates.

Specified Date Account. Specified Date Account means an Account established by the Committee to record the amounts payable in a future year as specified in the Participant’s Compensation Deferral Agreement.

SERP Account. SERP Account means the Account established to record annual SERP Credits and Earnings thereon. A Participant may have up to two SERP Accounts including:

The SERP Account established under the terms of the UNIFI, Inc. Supplemental Key Employee Retirement Plan, as established effective July 26, 2006, as amended through January 23, 2018, which records SERP Credits with respect to Base Compensation earned through December 31, 2021 and Earnings thereon; and

The SERP Account established under the terms of this Plan, which records SERP credits with respect to Base Compensation earned on and after January 1, 2022.

SERP Credit. SERP Credit means an annual credit under Section 5.1 to a Participant’s SERP Account described in Section 2.36(b).

Substantial Risk of Forfeiture. Substantial Risk of Forfeiture has the meaning specified in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(d).

Unforeseeable Emergency. Unforeseeable Emergency means a severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, the Participant’s dependent (as defined in Code section 152, without regard to section 152(b)(1), (b)(2), and (d)(1)(B)), or a Beneficiary; loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty (including the need to rebuild a home following damage to a home not otherwise covered by insurance, for example,  as a result of a natural disaster); or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant. The types of events which may qualify as an Unforeseeable Emergency may be limited by the Committee.

Valuation Date. Valuation Date means each Business Day.

Eligibility and Participation. All Eligible Employees may enroll in the Plan. Eligible Employees become Participants on the first to occur of (i) the date on which the first Compensation Deferral Agreement becomes irrevocable under Article IV, or (ii) the date Company Credits (including SERP Credits) are credited to an Account on behalf of such Eligible Employee.

Duration. Only Eligible Employees may submit Compensation Deferral Agreements during an enrollment and receive Company Credits (including SERP Credits) during the Plan Year. A Participant who is no longer an Eligible Employee but has not incurred a Separation from Service will not be allowed to submit Compensation Deferral Agreements but may otherwise exercise all of the rights of a Participant under the Plan with respect to his or her Account(s). On and after a Separation from Service, a Participant shall remain a Participant as long as his or her Account Balance is greater than zero (0).  All Participants, regardless of employment status, will continue to be credited with Earnings and during such time may continue to make allocation elections as provided in Section 7.4. An individual shall cease being a Participant in the Plan when his Account has been reduced to zero (0).

Rehires.  An Eligible Employee who Separates from Service and who subsequently resumes performing services for an Employer in the same calendar year (regardless of eligibility) will have his or her Compensation Deferral Agreement for such year, if any, reinstated, but his or her eligibility to participate in the Plan in years subsequent to the year of rehire shall be governed by the provisions of Section 3.1.

Deferral Elections, Generally.

An Eligible Employee may make an initial election to defer Incentive Compensation by submitting a Compensation Deferral Agreement during the enrollment periods established by the Committee and in the manner specified by the Committee, but in any event, in accordance with Section 4.2. Unless an earlier date is specified in the Compensation Deferral Agreement, deferral elections with respect to an Incentive Compensation source (such as bonus, commissions or other Incentive Compensation) become irrevocable on the latest date applicable to such Incentive Compensation source under Section 4.2.

A Compensation Deferral Agreement that is not timely filed with respect to a service period or component of Incentive Compensation, or that is submitted by a Participant who Separates from Service prior to the latest date such agreement would become irrevocable under Section 409A, shall be considered null and void and shall not take effect with respect to such item of Incentive Compensation. The

Committee may modify or revoke any Compensation Deferral Agreement prior to the date the election becomes irrevocable under the rules of Section 4.2.

The Committee may permit different deferral amounts for each component of Incentive Compensation and may establish a minimum or maximum deferral amount for each such component. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee in the Compensation Deferral Agreement, Participants may defer a minimum of 5% and a maximum of 100% of their Incentive Compensation earned during the applicable performance period.

Deferrals of cash Incentive Compensation shall be calculated with respect to the gross cash Incentive Compensation payable to the Participant prior to any deductions or withholdings, but shall be reduced by the Committee as necessary so as not to exceed 100% of the cash Incentive Compensation of the Participant remaining after deduction of all required income and employment taxes, required employee benefit deductions, deferrals to 401(k) plans and other deductions required by law. Changes to payroll withholdings that affect the amount of Incentive Compensation being deferred to the Plan shall be allowed only to the extent permissible under Code Section 409A.

The Eligible Employee shall specify on his or her Compensation Deferral Agreement the amount of Deferrals and whether to allocate Deferrals to the Retirement Account or to one or more Flex Accounts. If no designation is made, Deferrals shall be allocated to the Retirement Account.  SERP Credits are always allocated 100% to the Participant’s SERP Account.

Initial Eligibility. The Committee may permit an Eligible Employee to defer Incentive Compensation earned in the first year of eligibility.  The Committee may also permit a Participant to make a Payment Schedule election for his or her SERP Account described in Section 2.36(b). The Compensation Deferral Agreement must be filed within 30 days after attaining Eligible Employee status and becomes irrevocable not later than the 30^th day.

A Compensation Deferral Agreement filed under this paragraph applies to Incentive Compensation and SERP Credits earned after the date that the Compensation Deferral Agreement becomes irrevocable.  No portion of a SERP Credit may be attributed to Base Compensation earned prior to the date the Compensation Deferral Agreement becomes irrevocable.

Prior Year Election. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4.2, the Committee may permit an Eligible Employee to defer Incentive Compensation and/or make the Participant’s initial Payment Schedule election for his or her SERP Account described in Section 2.36(b) by filing a Compensation Deferral Agreement no later than December 15 of the year prior to the calendar year in

which the Incentive Compensation to be deferred or Base Compensation used to determine the SERP Credit is earned. A Compensation Deferral Agreement filed under this paragraph shall become irrevocable with respect to such Incentive Compensation and SERP credit not later than the December 15 filing deadline.

Performance-Based Compensation. The Committee may permit an Eligible Employee to defer Incentive Compensation which qualifies as Performance-Based Compensation by filing a Compensation Deferral Agreement no later than the date that is six months before the end of the applicable performance period, provided that:

the Participant performs services continuously from the later of the beginning of the performance period or the date the performance criteria are established through the date the Compensation Deferral Agreement is submitted; and

the Incentive Compensation is not readily ascertainable as of the date the Compensation Deferral Agreement is filed.

Fiscal Year Compensation. The Committee may permit an Eligible Employee to defer Incentive Compensation that is Fiscal Year Compensation by filing a Compensation Deferral Agreement prior to the first day of the fiscal year or years in which such Fiscal Year Compensation is earned. A Compensation Deferral Agreement submitted in accordance with this paragraph becomes irrevocable on the last day of the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year to which the Compensation Deferral Agreement applies.

“Evergreen” Deferral Elections. The Committee, in its discretion, may provide that Compensation Deferral Agreements will continue in effect for subsequent years or performance periods by communicating that intention to Participants in writing prior to the date Compensation Deferral Agreements become irrevocable under this Section 4.2. An evergreen Compensation Deferral Agreement may be revoked or modified in writing prospectively by the Participant or the Committee with respect to Incentive Compensation for which such election remains revocable under this Section 4.2.

A Compensation Deferral Agreement is deemed to be revoked for subsequent years if the Participant is not an Eligible Employee as of the last permissible date

for making elections under this Section 4.2 or if the Compensation Deferral Agreement is cancelled in accordance with Section 4.6.

Allocation of Deferrals. A Compensation Deferral Agreement may allocate Deferrals to the Retirement Account or to one or more Flex Accounts. The Committee may, in its discretion, establish in a written communication during enrollment a minimum deferral period for the establishment of a Specified Date Account (for example, the second Plan Year following the year Incentive Compensation is first allocated to such Accounts). In the event a Participant’s Compensation Deferral Agreement allocates a component of Incentive Compensation to a Specified Date Account that commences payment in the year such Incentive Compensation is earned, the Compensation Deferral Agreement shall be deemed to allocate the Deferral to the Participant’s Specified Date Account having the next earliest payment year. If the Participant has no other Specified Date Accounts, the Committee will allocate the Deferral to the Retirement Account.

Deductions from Pay. The Committee has the authority to determine the payroll practices under which any component of Incentive Compensation subject to a Compensation Deferral Agreement will be deducted from a Participant’s Incentive Compensation.

Vesting. Participant Deferrals of cash Incentive Compensation shall be 100% vested at all times.  Deferrals of vesting awards of Incentive Compensation shall become vested in accordance with the provisions of the underlying award.

Cancellation of Deferrals. The Committee may cancel a Participant’s Deferrals: (i) for the balance of the Plan Year in which an Unforeseeable Emergency occurs, and (ii) during periods in which the Participant is unable to perform the duties of his or her position or any substantially similar position due to a mental or physical impairment that can be expected to result in death or last for a continuous period of at least six months, provided cancellation occurs by the later of the end of the taxable year of the Participant or the 15^th day of the third month following the date the Participant incurs the disability (as defined in this paragraph (ii)).

SERP Credit. Following the close of each calendar year and as soon as administratively practicable, the Company will credit Eligible Employees’ SERP Account described in Section 2.36(b) with a SERP Credit in the following amount:

to an Eligible Employee who is not an executive officer of a Participating Employer, 5 and 1/2% of Base Compensation earned during the immediately preceding calendar year subject to pro-rate at the discretion of the Committee; and

to an Eligible Employee who is an executive officer of a Participating Employer, 8 and 1/2% of Base Compensation earned during the immediately preceding calendar year subject to pro-rate at the discretion of the Committee.

Discretionary Company Credits. A Participating Employer may, from time to time in its sole and absolute discretion, credit discretionary Company Credits in the form of matching, profit sharing or other contributions to any Participant in any amount determined by the Participating Employer. Company Credits are credited to the Participant’s Retirement Account.

Make-Up Matching Contribution. Company Credits may take the form of “make-up” matching contributions, at the same matching contribution rate provided under the Company 401(k) plan with respect to Deferrals that reduce 401(k) plan compensation below the limitation set forth in Code Section 401(a)(17).

Vesting.

All Company Credits hereunder become 100% vested, if while employed by an Employer, a Participant dies, becomes disabled, his or her Employer experiences a Change in Control or the Participant attains age 65.

General Rules. A Participant’s Accounts become payable upon the first to occur of the payment events applicable to such Account under (i) Sections 6.2 or 6.3 (as elected) and (ii) Sections 6.4 through 6.6.

Payment events and Payment Schedules elected by the Participant shall be set forth in a valid Compensation Deferral Agreement that establishes the Account to which such elections apply in accordance with Article IV or in a valid modification election applicable to such Account as described in Section 6.9.

Payment amounts are based on Account Balances as of the last Valuation Date of the month preceding the month actual payment is made.

Specified Date Accounts.

Commencement. Payment is made or begins in the calendar year designated by the Participant.

Form of Payment. Payment will be made in a lump sum, unless the Participant elected to receive a designated number of annual installments up to 10 years.

The time and form of payment of Specified Date Accounts is unaffected by an earlier Separation from Service described in Section 6.3.

Separation from Service. Upon a Participant’s Separation from Service other than death, the Participant is entitled to receive his or her vested Retirement Account, Separation Accounts and SERP Accounts.

Commencement. A Participant’s Retirement Account, Separation Accounts and SERP Account described in Section 2.36(b) commence payment on the later of

the calendar year next following the calendar year in which Separation from Service occurs, (unless the Participant elected to receive an Account in a later calendar year) and

six months and one day following the Participant’s Separation from Service.  

A Participant’s SERP Account described in Section 2.36(a) commences payment six months and one day following his or her Separation from Service.

Form of Payment. The Retirement Account, Separation Accounts and SERP Account described in Section 2.36(b) will be paid in a single lump sum unless the Participant

elected with respect to an Account to receive a designated number of annual installments up to 10 years.  

Death.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VI, upon the death of the Participant (regardless of whether such Participant is an Employee at the time of death), all remaining vested Account Balances shall be paid to his or her Beneficiary in a single lump sum no later than December 31 of the calendar year following the year of the Participant’s death.

Designation of Beneficiary in General.  The Participant shall designate a Beneficiary in the manner and on such terms and conditions as the Committee may prescribe.  No such designation shall become effective unless filed with the Committee during the Participant’s lifetime.  Any designation shall remain in effect until a new designation is filed with the Committee; provided, however, that in the event a Participant designates his or her spouse as a Beneficiary, such designation shall be automatically revoked upon the dissolution of the marriage unless, following such dissolution, the Participant submits a new designation naming the former spouse as a Beneficiary.  A Participant may from time to time change his or her designated Beneficiary without the consent of a previously-designated Beneficiary by filing a new designation with the Committee.

No Beneficiary.  If a designated Beneficiary does not survive the Participant, or if there is no valid Beneficiary designation, amounts payable under the Plan upon the death of the Participant shall be paid to the Participant’s spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse, then to the duly appointed and currently acting personal representative of the Participant’s estate.  

Unforeseeable Emergency.  A Participant who experiences an Unforeseeable Emergency may submit a written request to the Committee to receive payment of all or any portion of his or her vested Retirement and Flex Accounts. If the emergency need cannot be relieved by cessation of Deferrals to the Plan, the Committee may approve an emergency payment therefrom not to exceed the amount reasonably necessary to satisfy the need, taking into account the additional compensation that is available to the Participant as the result of cancellation of deferrals to the Plan, including amounts necessary to pay any taxes or penalties that the Participant reasonably anticipates will result from the payment. The amount of the emergency payment shall be subtracted from the Retirement Account, then Separation Accounts and then from the Specified Date Accounts, starting with the Account having the latest commencement date until fully distributed, then continuing in this manner with the next latest Account until the full amount of the distribution is made. Emergency payments shall be paid in a single lump sum within the 90-day period following the date the payment is approved by the Committee.  The Committee may specify that Deferrals will be distributed before any Company Credits.  In no event will the SERP Accounts become payable due to an Unforeseeable Emergency.

Administrative Cash-Out of Small Balances.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VI, the Committee may at any time and without regard to whether a payment event has occurred, direct in writing an immediate lump sum payment of the Participant’s Accounts if the balance of such Accounts, combined with any other amounts required to be treated as deferred under a single plan pursuant to Code Section 409A, does not exceed the applicable dollar amount under Code Section 402(g)(1)(B), provided any other such aggregated amounts are also distributed in a lump sum at the same time.

The foregoing rule may be applied separately to (a) a Participant’s vested Company Credits and Earnings thereon, and (b) a Participant’s Deferrals and Earnings thereon, if recorded separately on the Company’s books and records.

Acceleration of or Delay in Payments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VI, the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, may elect to accelerate the time or form of payment of an Account, provided such acceleration is permitted under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4). The Committee may also, in its sole and absolute discretion, delay the time for payment of an Account, to the extent permitted under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-2(b)(7).

Rules Applicable to Installment Payments.  If a Payment Schedule specifies installment payments, payments will be made beginning as of the payment commencement date for such installments and shall continue to be made in each subsequent payment period until the number of installment payments specified in the Payment Schedule has been paid. The amount of each installment payment shall be determined by dividing (a) by (b), where (a) equals the Account Balance as of the last Valuation Date in the month preceding the month of payment and (b) equals the remaining number of installment payments.  For purposes of Section 6.9, installment payments will be treated as a single payment. If an Account is payable in installments, the Account will continue to be credited with Earnings in accordance with Article VII hereof until the Account is completely distributed.

Modifications to Payment Schedules.  A Participant may modify the Payment Schedule with respect to an Account, consistent with the permissible Payment Schedules available under the Plan for the applicable payment event, provided such modification complies with the requirements of this Section 6.9. A Participant may modify his or her SERP Account described in Section 2.36(a) to pay in any form of payment available to the SERP Account described in Section 2.36(b).

Time of Election. The modification election must be submitted to the Committee not less than 12 months prior to the date payments would have commenced under the Payment Schedule in effect prior to modification (the “Prior Election”).

Date of Payment under Modified Payment Schedule. The date payments are to commence under the modified Payment Schedule must be no earlier than five years after the date payment would have commenced under the Prior Election. Under no circumstances may a modification election result in an acceleration of

payments in violation of Code Section 409A.  If the Participant modifies only the form, and not the commencement date for payment, payments shall commence on the fifth anniversary of the date payment would have commenced under the Prior Election.

Irrevocability; Effective Date. A modification election is irrevocable when filed and becomes effective 12 months after the filing date.

Effect on Accounts. An election to modify a Payment Schedule is specific to the Account or payment event to which it applies, and shall not be construed to affect the Payment Schedules or payment events of any other Accounts.

Valuation. Deferrals shall be credited to appropriate Accounts on the date such Incentive Compensation would have been paid to the Participant absent the Compensation Deferral Agreement. Valuation of Accounts shall be performed under procedures approved by the Committee.

Earnings Credit. Each Account will be credited with Earnings on each Business Day, based upon the Participant’s investment allocation among a menu of investment options selected in advance by the Committee, in accordance with the provisions of this Article VII (“investment allocation”).

Investment Options. Investment options will be determined by the Committee. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall be permitted to add or remove investment options from the Plan menu from time to time, provided that any such additions or removals of investment options shall not be effective with respect to any period prior to the effective date of such change.

Investment Allocations. A Participant’s investment allocation constitutes a deemed, not actual, investment among the investment options comprising the investment menu. At no time shall a Participant have any real or beneficial ownership in any investment option included in the investment menu, nor shall the Participating Employer or any trustee acting on its behalf have any obligation to purchase actual securities as a result of a Participant’s investment allocation. A Participant’s investment allocation shall be used solely for purposes of adjusting the value of a Participant’s Account Balances.

Unallocated Deferrals and Accounts. If the Participant fails to make an investment allocation with respect to an Account, such Account shall be invested in an investment option, the primary objective of which is the preservation of capital, as determined by the Committee.

Valuations Final After 180 Days. The Participant shall have 180 days following the Valuation Date on which the Participant failed to receive the full amount of Earnings and to file a claim under Article XI for the correction of such error.

Plan Administration. This Plan shall be administered by the Committee which shall have discretionary authority to make, amend, interpret and enforce all appropriate rules and regulations for the administration of this Plan and to utilize its discretion to decide or resolve any and all questions, including but not limited to eligibility for benefits and interpretations of this Plan and its terms, as may arise in connection with the Plan. Claims for benefits shall be filed with the Committee and resolved in accordance with the claims procedures in Article XI.

Administration Upon Change in Control. Upon a change in control affecting the Company, the Committee, as constituted immediately prior to such change in control, shall continue to act as the Committee. The Committee, by a vote of a majority of its members, shall have the authority (but shall not be obligated) to appoint an independent third party to act as the Committee. For purposes of this Section 8.2, a “change in control” means a change in control within the meaning of the rabbi trust agreement associated with the Plan or if no such definition is provided, the term shall have the meaning under Code Section 409A.

Withholding. The Participating Employer shall have the right to withhold from any payment due under the Plan (or with respect to any amounts credited to the Plan) any taxes required by law to be withheld in respect of such payment (or credit). Withholdings with respect to amounts credited to the Plan shall be deducted from compensation that has not been deferred to the Plan.

Indemnification. The Participating Employers shall indemnify and hold harmless each employee, officer, director, agent or organization, to whom or to which are delegated duties, responsibilities, and authority under the Plan or otherwise with respect to administration of the Plan, including, without limitation, the Committee, its delegees and its agents, against all claims, liabilities, fines and penalties, and all expenses reasonably incurred by or imposed upon him or it (including but not limited to reasonable attorney fees) which arise as a result of his or its actions or failure to act in connection with the operation and administration of the Plan to the extent lawfully allowable and to the extent that such claim, liability, fine, penalty, or expense is not paid for by liability insurance purchased or paid for by the Participating Employer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Participating Employer shall not indemnify any person or organization if his or its actions or failure to act are due to gross negligence or willful misconduct or for any such amount incurred through any settlement or compromise of any action unless the Participating Employer consents in writing to such settlement or compromise.

Delegation of Authority. In the administration of this Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, employ agents and delegate to them such administrative duties as it sees fit, and may from time to time consult with legal counsel who shall be legal counsel to the Company.

Binding Decisions or Actions. The decision or action of the Committee in respect of any question arising out of or in connection with the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan and the rules and regulations thereunder shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all persons having any interest in the Plan.

Amendment and Termination. The Company may at any time and from time to time amend the Plan or may terminate the Plan as provided in this Article IX. Each Participating Employer may also terminate its participation in the Plan.

Amendments. The Company, by action taken by its Board of Directors, may amend the Plan at any time and for any reason, provided that any such amendment shall not reduce the vested Account Balances of any Participant accrued as of the date of any such amendment or restatement (as if the Participant had incurred a voluntary Separation from Service on such date). The Board of Directors of the Company may delegate to the

Committee the authority to amend the Plan without the consent of the Board of Directors for the purpose of: (i) conforming the Plan to the requirements of law; (ii) facilitating the administration of the Plan; (iii) clarifying provisions based on the Committee’s interpretation of the Plan documents; and (iv) making such other amendments as the Board of Directors may authorize.  No amendment is needed to revise the list of Participating Employers set forth on Schedule A attached hereto.

Termination. The Company, by action taken by its Board of Directors, may terminate the Plan and pay Participants and Beneficiaries their Account Balances in a single lump sum at any time, to the extent and in accordance with Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix).

Accounts Taxable Under Code Section 409A. The Plan is intended to constitute a plan of deferred compensation that meets the requirements for deferral of income taxation under Code Section 409A. The Committee, pursuant to its authority to interpret the Plan, may sever from the Plan or any Compensation Deferral Agreement any provision or exercise of a right that otherwise would result in a violation of Code Section 409A.

General Assets. Obligations established under the terms of the Plan may be satisfied from the general funds of the Participating Employers, or a trust described in this Article X. No Participant, spouse or Beneficiary shall have any right, title or interest whatever in assets of the Participating Employers. Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship, between the Participating Employers and any Employee, spouse, or Beneficiary. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments hereunder, such rights are no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Participating Employer.

Rabbi Trust. A Participating Employer may, in its sole discretion, establish a grantor trust, commonly known as a rabbi trust, as a vehicle for accumulating assets to pay benefits under the Plan. Payments under the Plan may be paid from the general assets of the Participating Employer or from the assets of any such rabbi trust. Payment from any such source shall reduce the obligation owed to the Participant or Beneficiary under the Plan.

Filing a Claim. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to the Plan shall be filed in writing with the Committee which shall make all determinations concerning such claim. Any claim filed with the Committee and any decision by the Committee denying such claim shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the Participant or Beneficiary filing the claim (the “Claimant”).  Notice of a claim for payments shall be delivered to the Committee within 90 days of the latest date upon which the payment could have been timely made in accordance with the terms of the Plan and Code Section 409A, and if not paid, the Participant or Beneficiary must file a claim under this Article XI not later than 180 days after such latest date. If the Participant or Beneficiary fails to file a timely claim, the Participant forfeits any amounts to which he or she may have been entitled to receive under the claim.

In General. Notice of a denial of benefits (other than claims based on disability) will be provided within 90 days of the Committee’s receipt of the Claimant's claim for benefits. If the Committee determines that it needs additional time to review the claim, the Committee will provide the Claimant with a notice of the extension before the end of the initial 90-day period. The extension will not be more than 90 days from the end of the initial 90-day period and the notice of extension will explain the special circumstances that require the extension and the date by which the Committee expects to make a decision.

Disability Benefits. Notice of denial of claims based on disability will be provided within forty-five (45) days of the Committee’s receipt of the Claimant’s claim for disability benefits. If the Committee determines that it needs additional time to review the disability claim, the Committee will provide the Claimant with a notice of the extension before the end of the initial 45-day period. If the Committee determines that a decision cannot be made within the first extension period due to matters beyond the control of the Committee, the time period for making a determination may be further extended for an additional 30 days. If such an additional extension is necessary, the Committee shall notify the Claimant prior to the expiration of the initial 30-day extension. Any notice of extension shall indicate the circumstances necessitating the extension of time, the date by which the Committee expects to furnish a notice of decision, the specific standards on which such entitlement to a benefit is based, the unresolved issues that prevent a decision on the claim and any additional information needed to resolve those issues. A Claimant will be provided a minimum of 45 days to submit any necessary additional information to the Committee. In the event that a 30-day extension is necessary due to a Claimant’s failure to submit information necessary to decide a claim, the period for furnishing a notice of decision shall be tolled from the date on which the notice of the extension is sent to the Claimant until the earlier of the date the Claimant responds to the request for additional information or the response deadline.

Contents of Notice. If a claim for benefits is completely or partially denied, notice of such denial shall be in writing. Any electronic notification shall comply with the standards imposed by Department of Labor Regulation 29 CFR 2520.104b-1(c)(1)(i), (iii), and (iv). The notice of denial shall set forth the specific reasons for denial in plain language. The notice shall: (i) cite the pertinent provisions of the Plan document, and (ii) explain, where appropriate, how the Claimant can perfect the claim, including a description of any additional material or information necessary to complete the claim and why such material or information is necessary. The claim denial also shall include an explanation of the claims review procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures, including the right to appeal the decision, the deadline by which such appeal must be filed and a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse decision on appeal and the specific date by which such a civil action must commence under Section 11.4.

In the case of a complete or partial denial of a disability benefit claim, the notice shall provide such information and shall be communicated in the manner required under applicable Department of Labor regulations.

Appeal of Denied Claims. A Claimant whose claim has been completely or partially denied shall be entitled to appeal the claim denial by filing a written appeal with a committee designated to hear such appeals (the “Appeals Committee”). A Claimant who timely requests a review of the denied claim (or his or her authorized representative) may review, upon request and free of charge, copies of all documents, records and other information relevant to the denial and may submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim to the Appeals Committee. All written comments, documents, records, and other information shall be considered “relevant” if the information: (i) was relied upon in making a benefits determination, (ii) was submitted, considered or generated in the course of making a benefits decision regardless of whether it was relied upon to make the decision, or (iii) demonstrates compliance with administrative processes and safeguards established for making benefit decisions. The review shall take into account all comments, documents, records, and other information submitted by the Claimant relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination. The Appeals Committee may, in its sole discretion and if it deems appropriate or necessary, decide to hold a hearing with respect to the claim appeal.

In General. Appeal of a denied benefits claim (other than a disability benefits claim) must be filed in writing with the Appeals Committee no later than 60 days after receipt of the written notification of such claim denial. The Appeals Committee shall make its decision regarding the merits of the denied claim within 60 days following receipt of the appeal (or within 120 days after such receipt, in a case where there are special circumstances requiring extension of time for reviewing the appealed claim). If an extension of time for reviewing the appeal is required because of special circumstances, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the Claimant prior to the commencement of the extension. The notice

will indicate the special circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Appeals Committee expects to render the determination on review. The review will take into account comments, documents, records and other information submitted by the Claimant relating to the claim without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

Disability Benefits. Appeal of a denied disability benefits claim must be filed in writing with the Appeals Committee no later than 180 days after receipt of the written notification of such claim denial. The review shall be conducted in accordance with applicable Department of Labor regulations.

The Appeals Committee shall make its decision regarding the merits of the denied claim within 45 days following receipt of the appeal (or within 90 days after such receipt, in a case where there are special circumstances requiring extension of time for reviewing the appealed claim). If an extension of time for reviewing the appeal is required because of special circumstances, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the Claimant prior to the commencement of the extension. The notice will indicate the special circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Appeals Committee expects to render the determination on review. Following its review of any additional information submitted by the Claimant, the Appeals Committee shall render a decision on its review of the denied claim.

Contents of Notice. If a benefits claim is completely or partially denied on review, notice of such denial shall be in writing. Any electronic notification shall comply with the standards imposed by Department of Labor Regulation 29 CFR 2520.104b-1(c)(1)(i), (iii), and (iv). Such notice shall set forth the reasons for denial in plain language.

Claims Appeals Upon Change in Control. Upon a change in control, the Appeals Committee, as constituted immediately prior to such change in control, shall continue to act as the Appeals Committee. The Company may not remove any member of the

Appeals Committee, but may replace resigning members if 2/3rds of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company and a majority of Participants and Beneficiaries with Account Balances consent to the replacement. For purposes of this Section 11.3, a “change in control” means a change in control within the meaning of the rabbi trust agreement associated with the Plan or if no such definition is provided, the term shall have the meaning under Code Section 409A.

Legal Action. A Claimant may not bring any legal action, including commencement of any arbitration, relating to a claim for benefits under the Plan unless and until the Claimant has followed the claims procedures under the Plan and exhausted his or administrative remedies under Sections 11.1 and 11.2. No such legal action may be brought more than twelve (12) months following the notice of denial of benefits under Section 11.2, or if no appeal is filed by the applicable appeals deadline, twelve (12) months following the appeals deadline.

Discretion of Appeals Committee. All interpretations, determinations and decisions of the Appeals Committee with respect to any claim shall be made in its sole discretion, and shall be final and conclusive.

Arbitration.

Prior to Change in Control. If, prior to a change in control as defined in Section 11.3, any claim or controversy between a Participating Employer and a Participant or Beneficiary is not resolved through the claims procedure set forth in Article XI, such claim shall be submitted to and resolved exclusively by expedited binding arbitration by a single arbitrator.  Arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the following procedures:

Upon Change in Control. Upon a change in control as defined in Section 11.3, Section 11.6(a) shall not apply and any legal action initiated by a Participant or Beneficiary to enforce his or her rights under the Plan may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the Appeals Committee’s discretion under Sections 11.3 and 11.5, the court shall apply a de novo standard of review to any prior claims decision under Sections 11.1 through 11.3 or any other determination made by the Company, its Board of Directors, a Participating Employer, the Committee, or the Appeals Committee.

Assignment. No interest of any Participant, spouse or Beneficiary under this Plan and no benefit payable hereunder shall be assigned as security for a loan, and any such purported assignment shall be null, void and of no effect, nor shall any such interest or any such benefit be subject in any manner, either voluntarily or involuntarily, to anticipation, sale, transfer, assignment or encumbrance by or through any Participant, spouse or Beneficiary. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, however, the Committee has the discretion to make payments to an alternate payee in accordance with the terms of a domestic relations order (as defined in Code Section 414(p)(1)(B)).

The Company may assign any or all of its liabilities under this Plan in connection with any restructuring, recapitalization, sale of assets or other similar transactions affecting a Participating Employer without the consent of the Participant.

No Legal or Equitable Rights or Interest. No Participant or other person shall have any legal or equitable rights or interest in this Plan that are not expressly granted in this Plan. Participation in this Plan does not give any person any right to be retained in the service of the Participating Employer. The right and power of a Participating Employer to dismiss or discharge an Employee is expressly reserved. The Participating Employers make no representations or warranties as to the tax consequences to a Participant or a Participant’s beneficiaries resulting from a deferral of income pursuant to the Plan.

No Employment Contract. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to constitute a contract of employment between an Employee and a Participating Employer.

Notice. Any notice or filing required or permitted to be delivered to the Committee under this Plan shall be delivered in writing, in person, or through such electronic means as is established by the Committee. Notice shall be deemed given as of the date of delivery or, if delivery is made by mail, as of the date shown on the postmark on the receipt for registration or certification. Written transmission shall be sent by certified mail to:

Headings. The headings of Sections are included solely for convenience of reference, and if there is any conflict between such headings and the text of this Plan, the text shall control.

Invalid or Unenforceable 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 the Committee may elect in its sole discretion to construe such invalid or unenforceable provisions in a manner that conforms to applicable law or as if such provisions, to the extent invalid or unenforceable, had not been included.

Lost Participants or Beneficiaries. Any Participant or Beneficiary who is entitled to a benefit from the Plan has the duty to keep the Committee advised of his or her current mailing address. If benefit payments are returned to the Plan or are not presented for payment after a reasonable amount of time, the Committee shall presume that the payee is missing. The Committee, after making such efforts as in its discretion it deems reasonable and appropriate to locate the payee, shall stop payment on any uncashed checks and may discontinue making future payments until contact with the payee is restored. If the Committee is unable to locate the Participant or Beneficiary after five years of the date payment is scheduled to be made the Participant’s Account will be forfeited, provided that a Participant’s Account shall not be credited with Earnings following the first anniversary of such date on which payment is to be made and further provided, however, that such benefit shall be reinstated, without further adjustment for interest, if a valid claim is made by or on behalf of the Participant or Beneficiary for all or part of the forfeited benefit.

Facility of Payment to a Minor.  If a distribution is to be made to a minor, or to a person who is otherwise incompetent, then the Committee may, in its discretion, make such distribution: (i) to the legal guardian, or if none, to a parent of a minor payee with whom the payee maintains his or her residence, or (ii) to the conservator or committee or, if none, to the person having custody of an incompetent payee. Any such distribution shall fully discharge the Committee, the Company, and the Plan from further liability on account thereof.

Governing Law. To the extent not preempted by ERISA, the laws of the State of North Carolina shall govern the construction and administration of the Plan.

Compliance With Code Section 409A; No Guarantee.  This Plan is intended to be administered in compliance with Code Section 409A and each provision of the Plan shall be interpreted consistent with Code Section 409A.  Although intended to comply with Code Section 409A, this Plan shall not constitute a guarantee to any Participant or Beneficiary that the Plan in form or in operation will result in the deferral of federal or state income tax liabilities or that the Participant or Beneficiary will not be subject to the additional taxes imposed under Section 409A. No Employer shall have any legal obligation to a Participant with respect to taxes imposed under Code Section 409A.