VIACOM BONUS DEFERRAL PLAN FOR DESIGNATED SENIOR EXECUTIVES
Exhibit 10.15
VIACOM BONUS DEFERRAL PLAN
FOR DESIGNATED SENIOR EXECUTIVES
EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2006
Section 1. Establishment and Purpose of the Plan.
1.1 Establishment.
(a) Effective August 28, 2002 Viacom Inc. established and maintained an unfunded plan of voluntarily deferred compensation. This plan was known as the Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan for Designated Senior Executives. The discussion below refers to Viacom Inc. prior to 2006 as Old Viacom and to the Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan for Designated Senior Executives prior to 2006 as the Old Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan for Designated Senior Executives.
(b) On December 31, 2005, Old Viacom was restructured and separated into two publicly traded companies Old Viacom, which was renamed CBS Corporation, and a new company outside the controlled group of Old Viacom, which was named Viacom Inc. (EIN 20 ###-###-####). New Viacom Inc. consists principally of the following businesses: MTV Networks, BET, Paramount Pictures, Paramount Home Entertainment, and Famous Music. This new plan the new Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan for Designated Senior Executives was created, effective January 1, 2006, to benefit the employees of the new Viacom Inc. (the Company or Viacom Inc.) and its participating subsidiaries. Old Viacom approved the spinoff of benefit liabilities associated with (1) participants in the Old Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan for Designated Senior Executives who were employees of Old Viacom and its subsidiaries on December 31, 2005 and became employees of a business which is part of the new Viacom Inc. controlled group on January 1, 2006 and (2) participants in the Old Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan for Designated Senior Executives who terminated employment with Old Viacom and its subsidiaries prior to December 31, 2005 and whose last employment with Old Viacom and its subsidiaries prior to January 1, 2006 was with a business which is part of the new Viacom Inc. controlled group on January 1, 2006 (including last employment with the Paramount Pictures corporate office, but not with the Old Viacom corporate office). The new Viacom Inc. adopted this new Plan, which was first effective on January 1, 2006. The amount of any spun-off liabilities was determined under the terms of the Old Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan for Designated Senior Executives as in effect on December 31, 2005.
1.2 Purpose. The purpose of this Plan is to provide a means by which a Reporting Employee may, in certain circumstances, elect to defer receipt of a portion of his cash bonus paid under the Viacom Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan and any other comparable annual cash bonus plan sponsored by any Employer. This Plan is intended to
1
comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the Code). However, the Plan remains subject to further modifications once final Section 409A regulations or Internal Revenue Service guidance has been issued.
1.3 Reporting Employees. Participation in this Plan is limited to employees of an Employer who are Reporting Employees. Any Bonus deferrals made under the Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan by a Reporting Employee prior to the date he becomes a Reporting Employee shall be transferred to the Plan as of the date such employee becomes a Reporting Employee. Except as provided to the contrary herein, any elections made under the Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan by a Reporting Employee prior to the date his account is transferred to the Plan shall remain in full force and effect in this Plan.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases as used in this Plan have the following meanings:
2.1 Account. The term Account shall mean a Participants individual account, as described in Section 4 of the Plan. For Participants who have a positive Account as of December 31, 2005, their Account shall equal the sum of their Grandfathered Account and their Ongoing Account.
2.2 Board of Directors. The term Board of Directors means the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.3 Bonus. The term Bonus means any cash bonus paid under the Viacom Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan and any other comparable annual cash bonus plan sponsored by any Employer.
2.4 Bonus Deferral Contributions. The term Bonus Deferral Contributions means the portion of the Participants Bonus that he elects to defer under the terms of this Plan.
2.5 Committee. The term Committee means the Retirement Committee appointed by the Board of Directors. The Committee may act on its own behalf or through the actions of its duly authorized delegate.
2.6 Company. The term Company means Viacom Inc. (EIN 20 ###-###-####).
2.7 Disability. A Participant shall be deemed to have incurred a Disability or to be Disabled if the Participant was Disabled under the terms of the Old Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan for Designated Senior Executives as of December 31, 2004 or if the Participant:
2
(a) 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; or
(b) 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 participants employer.
(c) Relationship to Termination. The date a Participant meets the definition of Disability shall be treated as the date he terminates employment for purposes of Section 5 of the Plan.
2.8 Eligible Employee. The term Eligible Employee means an employee of an Employer who is an eligible employee under the Viacom Excess 401(k) Plan for Designated Senior Executives. If an employee becomes an Eligible Employee in any Plan Year, such employee shall remain an Eligible Employee for all future Plan Years during which the Eligible Employee remains an eligible employee under the Viacom 401(k) Excess Plan for Designated Senior Executives. All Employees who were Eligible Employees under the Old Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan for Designated Senior Executives immediately prior to January 1, 2006 will remain Eligible Employees of this Plan, subject to this Section 2.8.
2.9 Employer. The term Employer means the Company and any affiliate or subsidiary that adopts the Plan on behalf of its Eligible Employees.
2.10 Grandfathered Account. Grandfathered Account means the portion of a Participants vested Account balance as of December 31, 2004 under the Old Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan for Designated Senior Executives, adjusted for earnings (or losses) thereon. The Company will keep appropriate records of the Grandfathered Account.
2.11 Grandfathered Account Payment Option. Grandfathered Account Payment Option means the payment option that applies to a Participants Grandfathered Account in this Plan (see Section 4.2) and to his Grandfathered Account in the Viacom Excess 401(k) Plan for Designated Senior Executives. A Participants Grandfathered Account Payment Option will be his Joint Payment Option in effect for the Old Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan for Designated Senior Executives unless and until he changes his Grandfathered Account Payment Option pursuant to Section 4.2(d)(1).
2.12 Investment Options. The term Investment Options means the investment funds available to participants in the Viacom 401(k) Plan, excluding the Self-Directed Brokerage Account.
2.13 Old Viacom. Old Viacom shall mean Viacom Inc., EIN ###-###-####, and its successors. Effective January 1, 2006, this entity was renamed CBS Corporation.
3
2.14 Old Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan for Designated Senior Executives. Old Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan for Designated Senior Executives shall mean the Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan for Designated Senior Executives, as sponsored by Old Viacom. Effective January 1, 2006, this plan was renamed the CBS Bonus Deferral Plan for Designated Senior Executives.
2.15 Ongoing Account. Ongoing Account means the portion of a Participants Account other than his Grandfathered Account.
2.16 Ongoing Account Payment Option. Ongoing Account Payment Option means the payment option that applies to a Participants Ongoing Account in this Plan (see Section 4.2) and to his Ongoing Account in the Viacom Excess 401(k) Plan for Designated Senior Executives. A Participants Ongoing Account Payment Option in effect for the Old Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan for Designated Senior Executives, if any, shall continue in effect under this Plan and shall be irrevocable.
2.17 Participant. The term Participant means an Eligible Employee who elects to have Bonus Deferral Contributions made to the Plan.
2.18 Plan. The term Plan means the Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan for Designated Senior Executives as set forth herein, as amended from time to time.
2.19 Reporting Employee. Reporting Employee means an Eligible Employee who is identified by the Company as a reporting person for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 or any employee of an Employer who is eligible to participate in the Plan and whose securities may be attributable to a Reporting Employee for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.
2.20 Viacom 401(k) Plan. Viacom 401(k) Plan means, effective January 1, 2006, the Viacom 401(k) Plan sponsored by the Company.
Section 3. Participation.
3.1 Election to Participate.
(a) An Eligible Employee must elect to participate in the Plan.
(b) For the Plan Year in which an employee first becomes an Eligible Employee, such Eligible Employee must elect to make a Bonus Deferral Contribution with respect to any Bonus scheduled to be paid in the next succeeding calendar year within 30 days of the date he first becomes an Eligible Employee in order for the election to be valid. Prior to December 31 of each Plan Year, an Eligible Employee may elect to make a Bonus Deferral Contribution with respect to any Bonus scheduled to be paid in the second succeeding calendar year. For example, prior to December 31, 2006, an Eligible Employee may make a Bonus Deferral Contribution election with respect to any
4
cash bonus to be earned in 2007 that is scheduled to be paid in 2008 under the Viacom Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan. An Eligible Employee may make an Excess Bonus Deferral Contribution election whether or not such employee previously has made, or currently has in effect, any Excess Salary Reduction Contribution election.
3.2 Amount of Elections.
Each election filed by an Eligible Employee must specify the amount of Bonus Deferral Contributions in a whole percentage between 1% and 15% of the Participants applicable Bonus.
Section 4. Individual Account.
4.1 Creation of Accounts. The Company will maintain an Ongoing Account in the name of each Participant. Each Participants Ongoing Account will be credited with the amount of the Participants Bonus Deferral Contributions, made in all Plan Years. The Company will also maintain a Grandfathered Account for Participants who have a vested account balance as of December 31, 2004 under the Old Viacom Bonus Deferral Plan for Designated Senior Executives.
4.2 Election of Payment Option.
(a) Any Grandfathered Account Payment Option shall continue to apply until changed by the Participant in accordance with this Section 4.
(b) Any Eligible Employee who does not have an Ongoing Account Payment Option in effect shall elect an Ongoing Account Payment Option at the same time that the Participant files his initial election to commence participation in the Plan pursuant to this Section 4.
(c) (1) A Participant may elect to receive his Ongoing Account under either of the following Payment Options: (i) a single lump sum; or (ii) annual payments over a period of two, three, four or five years beginning, in either case, the later of (I) on or about January 31 of the calendar year immediately following the end of the Plan Year in which the Participant terminates employment, or (II) as soon as practicable following the first of the month following or coincident with the six-month anniversary of the Employees separation from service, within the meaning of Code Section 409A. If no Ongoing Account Payment Option election is made in accordance with the terms of the Plan or under the Viacom Excess 401(k) Plan for Designated Senior Executives, a Participant shall be deemed to have elected to receive his Ongoing Account in a single lump sum to be paid the later of (i) on or about January 31 of the calendar year immediately following the end of the Plan Year in which the Participant terminates employment or (ii) as soon as practicable following the first of the month following or coincident with the six-month anniversary of the Employees separation from service, within the meaning of Code Section 409A, unless the Participant elects to be paid on or about January 31 of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th calendar year following the year in which the Participant terminates employment. If a Participant elects to receive annual payments over a period of two or more years, such annual payments shall be made in substantially
5
equal annual payments, unless the Participant designates, at the time of making his Ongoing Account Payment Option election, a specific percentage of his Ongoing Account to be distributed in each year. All specified percentages must be a whole multiple of 10% and the total of all designated percentages must be equal to 100%.
(2) A Participant may elect to receive his Grandfathered Account under either of the following Payment Options: (i) a single lump sum; or (ii) annual payments over a period of two, three, four or five years beginning on or about January 31 of the calendar year immediately following the end of the Plan Year in which the Participant terminates employment. If no Grandfathered Account Payment Option election is made in accordance with the terms of the Plan or under the Viacom Excess 401(k) Plan for Designated Senior Executives, a Participant shall be deemed to have elected to receive his Grandfathered Account in a single lump sum on or about January 31 of the calendar year immediately following the end of the Plan Year in which the Participant terminates employment. If a Participant makes a Grandfathered Account Payment Option election to receive payments in a single lump sum, such lump sum shall be payable on or about January 31 of the calendar year immediately following the end of the Plan Year in which the Participant terminates employment, unless the Participant elects to be paid on or about January 31 of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th calendar year following the year in which the Participant terminates employment. If a Participant elects to receive annual payments over a period of two or more years, such annual payments shall be made in substantially equal annual payments, unless the Participant designates, at the time of making his Grandfathered Account Payment Option election, a specific percentage of his Grandfathered Account to be distributed in each year. All specified percentages must be a whole multiple of 10% and the total of all designated percentages must be equal to 100%.
Example 1: If a Participant (i) elects (or is deemed to elect) a Grandfathered Account or Ongoing Account Payment Option that provides for a lump sum payment in the year following the Plan Year in which he terminates employment and (ii) terminates employment in February 2006, such lump sum shall be paid on or about January 31, 2007. A Participant alternatively could designate January 31 of 2008, 2009, 2010 or 2011 in which to receive his lump sum.
Example 2: If a Participant (i) elects a Grandfathered Account or Ongoing Account Payment Option that provides for annual payments over a period of four years and (ii) terminates employment in February 2006, the first installment from his Grandfathered Account and his Ongoing Account will be paid on or about January 31, 2007 and the subsequent payments will be made on or about January 31 of 2008 through 2010. Each payment on or about January 31 of 2007 through 2010 will be comprised of approximately 25% of the Participants Grandfathered or Ongoing Account as of December 31 of the calendar year in which the Participant terminates employment. A Participant alternatively could designate 10% of his Grandfathered or Ongoing Account to be distributed in January 2007, 20% in January 2008, 30% in January 2009 and 40% in January 2010; or, any other combination of percentages that totals 100%.
6
Example 3: If a Participant (i) elects (or is deemed to elect) a Grandfathered Account or Ongoing Account Payment Option that provides for a lump sum payment in the year following the Plan Year in which the Participate terminates employment and (ii) terminates employment in October 2006, his Grandfathered Account lump sum shall be paid on or about January 31, 2007 and his Ongoing Account lump sum shall be paid in May 2007 (as soon as administratively practicable following 6 months after his termination of employment).
Example 4: If a Participant (i) elects a Grandfathered Account or Ongoing Account Payment Option that provides for annual payments over a period of four years and (ii) terminates employment in August 2006, the first installment from his Grandfathered Account will be paid on or about January 31, 2007 and the subsequent payments will be made on or about January 31 of 2008 through 2010. Each payment on or about January 31 of 2007 through 2010 will be comprised of approximately 25% of the Participants Grandfathered Account as of December 31 of the calendar year in which the Participant terminates employment. The first installment from his Ongoing Account will be paid in March 2007 (as soon as administratively practicable following 6 months after his termination of employment) and each subsequent payment made in January of 2008 through 2010 will be comprised of approximately 25% of the Participants Ongoing Account as of the Participants date of termination.
(d) Changes.
(1) Grandfathered Account. With respect to a Grandfathered Account, a Participant may change his Grandfathered Account Payment Option no more than three times over the course of his employment with the Company or any affiliate. A Participant may change an existing Grandfathered Account Payment Option only one time in any calendar year. Any change of a Participants existing Grandfathered Account Payment Option election made less than six months prior to the Participants termination of employment for any reason shall be null and void and the Participants last valid Grandfathered Account Payment Option shall remain in effect.
(2) Excess 401(k) Plan for Designated Senior Executives Changes. Any change of Grandfathered Account Payment Option election made by a Participant under the Viacom Excess 401(k) Plan for Designated Senior Executives shall apply to the Participants Account in this Plan.
4.3 Investments.
(a) All Bonus Deferral Contributions will be credited through December 31st of the calendar year in which the Participant terminates employment with an amount equal to such amount which would have been earned had such contributions been invested in the same Investment Options and in the same proportion as the Participant may elect, from time to time, to have his Salary Reduction Contributions and Matching Employer Contributions invested under the Viacom 401(k) Plan; or if no such election has been made, in the Plan fund designated by the Committee.
7
(b) If a Participant elects (or is deemed to elect) a single lump sum Grandfathered Account or Ongoing Account Payment Option payable in the first calendar year following the calendar year in which the Participant terminates employment and such payment is made on or about January 31 of the calendar year immediately following the end of the Plan Year in which the Participant terminates employment, no additional adjustments will be made to the Participants Grandfathered Account or Ongoing Account after December 31st of the calendar year in which the Participant terminates employment. If, however, payment of the Participants Ongoing Account cannot be made until at least the six-month anniversary of the Employees separation from service within the meaning of Code Section 409A, the Participants Ongoing Account shall be credited with earnings based on the rate of return in the Plans stable value fund as designated by the Committee beginning January 1st of the calendar year following the year in which the Participant terminates employment and continuing through the end of the month of such six-month anniversary. If a Participant elects a single lump sum Grandfathered Account or Ongoing Account Payment Option payable in the second, third, fourth or fifth calendar year following the calendar year in which the Participant terminates employment, the Participants Grandfathered Account or Ongoing Account shall be credited with earnings based on the rate of return in the Plans stable value fund as designated by the Committee beginning January 1st of the calendar year following the year in which the Participant terminates employment and continuing through December 31st of the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the single lump sum is paid.
(c) If a Participant elects annual payments, no additional adjustments will be made to any amount payable in the first calendar year following the year in which the Participant terminates employment. If, however, payment of the first installment of a Participants Ongoing Account cannot be made until at least the six-month anniversary of the Employees separation from service within the meaning of Code Section 409A, the Participants Ongoing Account shall be credited with earnings based on the rate of return in the Plans stable value fund as designated by the Committee beginning January 1st of the calendar year following the year in which the Participant terminates employment and continuing through the end of the month of such six-month anniversary. For any annual payments made in the second, third, fourth or fifth year following the calendar year in which the Participant terminates employment, the Participants Grandfathered or Ongoing Account shall be credited with earnings based on the rate of return in the Plans stable value fund as designated by the Committee beginning January 1st of the calendar year following the year in which the Participant terminates employment and continuing through December 31st of the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which each payment is made.
8
(d) No provision of this Plan shall require the Company or the Employer to actually invest any amounts in any fund or in any other investment vehicle.
4.4 Account Statements. Each Participant will be given, at least annually, a statement showing (a) Bonus Deferral Contributions, (b) the balance of the Participants Account after crediting Investments.
Section 5. Payment.
5.1 Payment on Account of Termination of Employment For Reasons Other Than Disability. A Participant (or a Participants beneficiary) shall be paid the balance in his Grandfathered Account or Ongoing Account following termination of employment in accordance with the Grandfathered Account or Ongoing Account Payment Option in effect with respect to the Participant.
5.2 Payment on Account of Disability. A Participant (or a Participants beneficiary) shall be paid the balance in his Grandfathered Account or Ongoing Account following the date he meets the definition of Disability in accordance with the Grandfathered Account or Ongoing Account Payment Option in effect with respect to the Participant. If a Participant no longer meets the definition of Disability and returns to work with an Employer, no further payments shall be made on account of the prior Disability, and distribution of his remaining Grandfathered Account or Ongoing Account shall be made as otherwise provided in this Section 5 at the time of his subsequent termination of employment.
Section 6. Nature of Interest of Participant.
Participation in this Plan will not create, in favor of any Participant, any right or lien in or against any of the assets of the Company or any Employer, and all amounts of Compensation deferred hereunder shall at all times remain an unrestricted asset of the Company or the Employer. A Participants rights to benefits payable under the Plan are not subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, or encumbrance. All payments hereunder shall be paid in cash from the general funds of the Company or applicable Employer and no special or separate fund shall be established and no other segregation of assets shall be made to assure the payment of benefits hereunder. 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 any Employer and a Participant or any other person, and the Companys and each Employers promise to pay benefits hereunder shall at all times remain unfunded as to the Participant.
Section 7. Hardship Distributions.
7.1 Hardship Definition. A Participant may request the Committee to accelerate distribution of all or any part of the value of his Account solely for the purpose
9
of alleviating an immediate financial emergency. For purposes of this Section 7.1, such an immediate financial emergency shall mean a severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participants spouse, or a dependent (as defined in Section 152(a) of the Code) of the Participant, loss of the Participants property due to casualty, or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant. This requirement is met only if the amounts distributed with respect to an emergency do 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 Participants assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship), including loans and withdrawals from the Viacom 401(k) Plan.
7.2 Committee Discretion. The Committee may request that the Participant provide certifications and other evidence of qualification for such emergency hardship distribution as it determines appropriate. The decision of the Committee with respect to the grant or denial of all or any part of such request shall be in the sole discretion of the Committee, whether or not the Participant demonstrates that an immediate financial emergency exists, and shall be final and binding and not subject to review.
Section 8. Beneficiary Designation.
A Participants beneficiary designation for this Plan will automatically be the same as the Participants beneficiary designation recognized under the Viacom Excess 401(k) Plan for Designated Senior Executives, unless a separate designation of beneficiary for this Plan has been properly filed.
Section 9. Administration.
9.1 Committee. This Plan will be administered by the Committee, the members of which will be selected by the Board of Directors.
9.2 Powers of the Committee. The Committees powers will include, but will not be limited to, the power:
(a) to determine who are Eligible Employees for purposes of participation in the Plan;
(b) to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and to determine any and all questions arising under the Plan, including without limitation, the right to remedy possible ambiguities, inconsistencies, or omissions by a general rule or particular decision;
(c) to adopt rules consistent with the Plan; and
10
(d) to approve certain amendments to the Plan.
9.3 Claims Procedure. The Committee shall have the exclusive right to interpret the Plan and to decide any and all matters arising thereunder.
(a) Claim for Benefit. Claims as to the amount of any distribution or method of payment under the Plan must be submitted in writing to the Committee. The Committee shall notify the Participant of its decision by written or electronic notice, in a manner calculated to be understood by the Participant. The notice shall set forth:
(1) the specific reasons for the denial of the claim;
(2) a reference to specific provisions of the Plan on which the denial is based;
(3) a description of any additional material or information necessary to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary; and
(4) an explanation of the Plans claims review procedure for the denied or partially denied claim and any applicable time limits, and a statement that the Participant has a right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA) following an adverse benefit determination on review.
Such notification shall be given within 90 days after the claim is received by the Committee (or within 180 days, if special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the claim, and provided written notice of such extension and circumstances and the date a decision is expected is given the Participant within the initial 90-day period). The time period begins when the claim is filed, regardless of whether the Plan has all of the information necessary to decide the claim at the time of filing. A claim is considered approved only if its approval is communicated in writing to the Participant.
(b) Review or Denial of Claim. Upon denial of a claim in whole or in part, a Participant shall have the right to submit a written request to the Committee for a full and fair review of the denied claim. A request for review of a claim must be submitted within 60 days of receipt by the Participant of written notice of the denial of the claim. If the Participant fails to file a request for review within 60 days of the denial notification, the claim will be deemed abandoned and the Participant precluded from reasserting it. Also, if the Participant is not provided a notice of denial, the Participant may submit a written request for review to the Committee.
The Participant shall have, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and other information relevant to the Participants claim for benefits. The Participant may submit written comments, documents, records,
11
and other information relating to the claim for benefits. The review shall take into account all comments, documents, records, and other information submitted by the Participant relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination. Failure to raise issues or present evidence on review will preclude those issues or evidence from being presented in any subsequent proceeding or judicial review of the claim.
(c) Decision by the Committee. The Committee will advise the Participant of the results of the review within 60 days after receipt of the written request for review (or within 120 days if special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the request, and if notice of such extension and circumstances is given to such Participant within the initial 60 day period).
The decision on review shall be in written or electronic form, in a manner calculated to be understood by the Participant. The notice shall set forth:
(1) the specific reasons for the denial of the appeal of the claim;
(2) the specific reference to pertinent provisions of the Plan on which the denial is based;
(3) a statement that the Participant 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 Participants claim for benefits;
(4) a statement describing any voluntary appeal procedures offered by the Plan (if any) and the Participants right to obtain the information about such procedures and a statement of the Participants right to bring an action under Section 502(a) of ERISA.
To the extent of its responsibility to review the denial of benefit claims, the Committee shall have full authority to interpret and apply in its discretion the provisions of the Plan. The Committee may request a meeting to clarify any matters deemed appropriate.
A Participant, beneficiary, or other individual alleging a violation of or seeking any remedy under any provision of ERISA shall also be subject to the claims procedure described in this Section 9.3. Any such claim shall be filed within one year of the time the claim arises or it shall be deemed waived and abandoned. Also, any suit or legal action will be subject to a one-year limitation period, measured from the date a claim arises and tolled during the period that any claim is pending under the claims procedures of this Section 9.3.
9.4 Finality of Committee Determinations. Determinations by the Committee and any interpretation, rule, or decision adopted by the Committee under the Plan or in carrying out or administering the Plan shall be final and binding for all purposes and upon all interested persons, their heirs, and personal representatives.
12
9.5 Severability. If a provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included in the Plan.
9.6 Governing Law. The provisions of the Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, to the extent not preempted by the laws of the United States.
9.7 Gender. Wherein used herein, words in the masculine form shall be deemed to refer to females as well as males.
Section 10. No Employment Rights.
No provisions of the Plan or any action taken by the Company, the Board of Directors, or the Committee shall give any person any right to be retained in the employ of any Employer, and the right and power of the Company to dismiss or discharge any Participant is specifically reserved.
Section 11. Amendment, Suspension, and Termination.
The Committee shall have the right to amend the Plan at any time, unless provided otherwise in the Companys governing documents. The Board of Directors shall have the right to suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. No amendment, suspension or termination shall, without the consent of a Participant, adversely affect the value of such Participants Account. In the event the Plan is terminated, the Committee shall continue to administer the Plan in accordance with the relevant provisions thereof.
13
AMENDMENT TO THE
VIACOM BONUS DEFERRAL PLAN
FOR DESIGNATED SENIOR EXECUTIVES
1. | Section 2.3 is amended to read as follows: |
2.3 | Bonus. The term Bonus means (i) any cash bonus paid under the Viacom Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan and any other comparable annual cash bonus plan sponsored by any Employer and (ii) for MTV Networks employees, any Commission Overage paid on and after January 1, 2009. |
2. | Section 3.1(b) is hereby amended by deleting the first sentence thereof and updating the example therein so that it reads as follows: |
3.1 | (b) Prior to December 31 of each Plan Year, an Eligible Employee may elect to make a Bonus Deferral Contribution with respect to any Bonus scheduled to be paid in the second succeeding calendar year. For example, prior to December 31, 2007, an Eligible Employee may make a Bonus Deferral Contribution election with respect to any cash bonus to be earned in 2008 that is scheduled to be paid in 2009 under the Viacom Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan. An Eligible Employee may make an Excess Bonus Deferral Contribution election whether or not such employee previously has made, or currently has in effect, any Excess Salary Reduction Contribution election. |
14