BALL CORPORATION 2005 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
Published on December 23, 2005
Exhibit
10.1
Ball
Corporation
2005
Deferred Compensation
Plan
Effective
January 1, 2005
Ball
Corporation 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan
Article
I
Establishment
and Purpose
Article
II
Definitions
Article
III
Eligibility
and Participation
Article
IV
Deferral
Elections
Article
V
Company
Awards
Article
VI
Valuation
of Accounts; Deemed Investments
Article
VII
Distribution
and Withdrawals
Article
VIII
Administration
Article
IX
Amendment
and Termination
Article
X
Informal
Funding
Article
XI
Claims
Article
XII
General
Conditions
Article
I
Establishment
and Purpose
Ball
Corporation (the “Company”) has maintained and will continue to maintain the
Ball Corporation 2001 Deferred Compensation Plan, the Ball Corporation 2000
Deferred Compensation Company Stock Plan, and the Ball Corporation 2002 Deferred
Compensation Plan for Directors (the “Grandfathered Plans”).
Effective
January 1, 2005 the Company hereby adopts the Ball Corporation 2005 Deferred
Compensation Plan (the “2005 Plan” or the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to
continue to provide Participants with an opportunity to defer receipt of a
portion of their salary, bonus and other specified cash compensation in
compliance with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A.
In
addition, proposed Treasury regulations published on October 4, 2005, require
the Company to adopt written amendments prior to December 31, 2005 with respect
to items of transition relief described in Notice 2005-1 that expire on December
31, 2005. This Plan document is intended to satisfy the amendment requirements
of the proposed regulations without the amendment constituting a “material
modification” to the Grandfathered Plans. The Company expects to review and
restate the Plan in 2006 in accordance with the extended transition relief
deadlines set forth in the proposed regulations.
The
Plan
is not intended to meet the qualification requirements of Code Section 401(a),
but is intended to meet the requirements Code Section 409A, and to be an
unfunded arrangement providing deferred compensation to eligible employees
who
are part of a select group of management or highly compensated employees of
the
Company, its subsidiaries and affiliates, within the meaning of Sections 201,
301 and 401 of ERISA. The Plan is intended to be exempt from the requirements
of
Parts 2, 3 and 4 of Title I of ERISA as a "top hat" plan, and to be eligible
for
the alternative method of compliance for reporting and disclosure available
for
unfunded "top hat" plans.
Article
II
Definitions
2.1
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Account.
Account means a bookkeeping account maintained by the Plan Administrator
to record deferrals allocated to it by the Participant, the Company
in the
form of Company Awards (if any), returns on Deemed Investments, payments,
and such other transactions, if any, that may be required to properly
administer the Plan. Without limiting the Plan Administrator’s authority
to establish Accounts as it deems necessary, Accounts may include,
for
each Participant, (a) Separation Accounts (b) Specified Date Accounts
and/or (c) any Deferred Disability Account. Such Accounts shall be
used to
determine the amount of benefits payable to a Participant or Beneficiary
in accordance with the form of payment and timing requirements specified
in the Participant’s Compensation Deferral Agreements and subject to the
terms of the Plan. The Account shall not constitute or be treated
as an
escrow, trust fund, or any other type of funded account for Code
or ERISA
purposes and amounts credited thereto shall not be considered “plan
assets” for federal income tax or ERISA purposes. Accounts under this Plan
shall reflect only those amounts considered to be Deferrals as defined
in
this Plan.
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1
The
provisions of this Plan shall apply only to such Accounts and shall not apply
to
any Grandfathered Plan accounts.
2.2
|
Account
Balance.
Account Balance means, with respect to any Account, the value on
each
Business Day of such Account. The Account Balance is determined as
of the
Payment Date (or Business Day next preceding the Payment Date if
not on a
Business Day) for the purpose of paying any benefit under the provisions
of Article VII.
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2.3
|
Allocation
Election.
Allocation Election means a choice by a Participant of one or more
Investment Options, and the allocation among them, in which future
Participant deferrals and/or existing Account Balances are Deemed
Invested
for purposes of determining earnings in a particular
Account.
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2.4
|
Beneficiary.
Beneficiary means a person, estate, or trust designated by a Participant
to receive benefits to which such Beneficiary is entitled in accordance
with provisions of the Plan. The Participant’s spouse, if living,
otherwise the Participant’s estate, shall be the Beneficiary
if
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a.
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the
Participant has not designated a person or trust as Beneficiary,
or
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b.
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the
designated Beneficiary(ies) has/have all predeceased the
Participant.
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2.5
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Business
Day.
A
Business Day is each day on which the New York Stock Exchange is
open for
business.
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2.6
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Change
in Control.
Change of Control shall have the meaning given to a “change in control” or
similar term as defined in the trust established under Section 10.2.
If
such trust does not define “change in control” or a similar term, Change
in Control shall have the same definition as the definition under
Section
409A of the Code.
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2.7
|
Code.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to
time, the Treasury Department regulations issued thereunder, and
applicable Notices, Revenue Rulings and similar guidance issued by
the
Internal Revenue Service.
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2.8
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Committee.
Committee means the Deferred Compensation Committee of the Company.
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2.9
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Company.
Company means Ball Corporation, its subsidiares and its
successors.
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2.10
|
Company
Award.
Company Award means a credit by the Company to a Separation or Specified
Date Account as specified by the Company in accordance with the provisions
of Article V of the Plan. Company Awards are made or not made in
the sole
discretion of the Company and the fact that a Company Award is made
in one
year shall not obligate the Company to continue to make such Company
Award
in subsequent years.
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2.11
|
Compensation.
Compensation means, for purposes of this Plan, annual incentive awards
and
long-term incentive compensation. Compensation may also include,
without
limitation, base salary (including any deferred salary under a Code
Section 401(k) or 125 plan) and such other cash or equity-based
compensation (if any) that is determined by the Plan Administrator,
in its
sole discretion, as eligible for deferral under the terms of this
Plan.
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2
2.12
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Compensation
Deferral Agreement.
Compensation Deferral Agreement means an agreement submitted to the
Plan
Administrator in which a Participant (a) makes an election to defer
Compensation in accordance with Article IV, (b) makes an Allocation
Election with respect to his or her Accounts, (c) specifies the Accounts
that will be credited with deferrals under the Agreement, (d) specifies
the Payment Dates for each such Account and (e) specifies a Payment
Schedule with respect to payments from each such Account. A Compensation
Deferral Agreement is effective (and irrevocable, subject to the
provisions of the Plan) with respect to a service period or Company
Contribution as of the first day following the election period specified
in Article IV or as provided under Treasury Department regulations.
A
Compensation Deferral Agreement remains in effect until modified
in
accordance with the Plan.
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Notwithstanding
the foregoing, and subject to the provisions of Section 3.3, the Plan
Administrator may modify a Participant’s Compensation Deferral Agreement at any
time to conform the Compensation Deferral Agreement and the Plan to applicable
law. The Compensation Deferral Agreement will consist of an agreement prepared
under the authority of the Plan Administrator which may be modified from time
to
time, consistent with the material terms of the Plan and the Plan
Administrator’s authority as delegated by the HR Committee of the Board of
Directors of the Company. A completed Compensation Deferral Agreement, and
any
modifications thereto authorized under the Plan, may be submitted to the Plan
Administrator in paper or electronic form, under procedures prescribed by the
Plan Administrator.
2.13
|
Death
Distribution.
Death Distribution shall mean the payment of the Participant’s Account
Balances, to the Participant's Beneficiary(ies) in accordance with
Article
VII of the Plan.
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2.14
|
Deemed
Investment.
A
Deemed Investment means the conversion of a dollar amount of deferred
Compensation and Company Awards (if any) credited to a Participant’s
Deferred Compensation Account into notional shares or units of ownership
(or a fraction of such measures of ownership, if applicable) of a
security
(e.g. mutual fund, company stock, or other investment) which is referred
to by the Investment Option(s) selected by the Participant. The conversion
shall occur as if shares (or units) of the designated investment
were
being purchased (or sold, in the case of a distribution) at the purchase
price as of the close of business of the day on which the Deemed
Investment occurs. At no time shall a Participant have any real or
beneficial ownership in the actual security to which the Investment
Option
refers, irrespective of whether such a Deemed Investment is mirrored
by an
actual identical investment by the Company or a trustee acting on
behalf
of the Company.
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2.15
|
Deferral.
Deferral means a deferral of Compensation that is subject to the
deferral
election and payment requirements of Code Section
409A.
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2.16
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Deferred
Compensation Account.
Deferred Compensation Account means the Account maintained by the
Plan
Administrator that records the total amount of liability of the Company
to
a Participant at any point in time, and includes all unpaid Account
Balances.
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3
2.17
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Deferred
Disability Account.
Deferred Disability Account means the Account established to record
the
Deferred Disability Contribution specified in Section 5.3 and to
pay the
Deferred Disability Benefit under Section
7.5.
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2.18
|
Disability.
Disability means disability under the Company’s long-term disability
programs for Eligible Employees.
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2.19
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Effective
Date.
Effective Date means January 1, 2005 with respect to Deferrals occurring
on or after such date.
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2.20
|
Eligible
Employee.
Eligible Employee means an Employee of the Company or its subsidiaries
who
is part of a select group of management or highly compensated employees
of
the Company (which also includes for this purpose its subsidiaries
and
affiliated companies) within the meaning of Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3)
and
401(a)(1) of ERISA, and who is selected by the Plan Administrator
to
participate in the Plan.
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2.21
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Employee.
Employee means a common law employee of the Company or its
subsidiaries.
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2.22
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ERISA.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as
amended from time to time.
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2.23
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Investment
Option.
Investment Option means a notional investment approved by the Plan
Administrator for use as part of an Investment Option menu, which
a
Participant may elect as a measuring device to determine Deemed Investment
earnings (positive or negative) to be valued in the Participant's
Account(s). The Participant has no legal or beneficial ownership
in the
security or other investment represented by the Investment
Option.
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2.24
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Participant.
Participant means an Eligible Employee employed by the Company or
its
subsidiaries who: (a) has elected to defer Compensation in accordance
with
the Plan; (b) has received a Company Award; or (c) has a Deferred
Compensation Account Balance greater than zero regardless of whether
the
Participant is still employed by the Company or its subsidiaries.
A
Participant’s continued participation in the Plan shall be governed by
Section 3.2 of the Plan.
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2.25
|
Payment
Date.
Payment Date means the date on which payments from an Account are
scheduled to commence.
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a.
Separation
Accounts.
A
Participant may elect in a Compensation Deferral Agreement that establishes
a
Separation Account the number of years following Separation from Service when
payment will be made from the Account (e.g., “Third year following Separation
from Service”). The Payment Date is January 1 of such year. If no Payment Date
is designated, the Payment Date is January 1 of the year following the year
in
which the Participant has a Separation from Service.
b.
Specified
Date Accounts. The
Payment Date for a Specified Date Account is January 1 of the year specified
for
such Account.
4
c.
Separation
Prior to Age 55. In
the
event a Participant Separates from Service prior to attaining age 55, the
Payment Date for all Accounts is January 1 of the year following the year in
which the Separation from Service occurred.
d.
Death.
In
the
event of the Participant’s death, the Payment Date for payments to Beneficiaries
is January 1 of the year following the year in which the Participant
died.
e.
Deferred
Disability Benefit. A
Participant entitled to a Deferred Disability Benefit will receive payment
commencing January 1 of the year following the year in which the Participant
attains age 65.
f.
Administration.
Pursuant
to Code Section 409A, payment will be treated as made upon the applicable
Payment Date if the payment is made by the later of the first date it is
administratively feasible to do so after such Payment Date or the end of the
calendar year containing such Payment Date. The Plan Administrator shall adopt
such administrative procedures as are necessary to reasonably ensure that
payments scheduled for January 1 of a given year will be made after January
1 of
such year and before February 15 of such year.
In
addition, to facilitate administration of the Plan, all Participants shall
be
treated as “specified employees” as defined in Code Section 409A. Accordingly,
if
a
Payment Date occurs in the year following a Separation from Service, payment
will be made as follows:
1.
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If
Separation from Service occurs prior to July 1, actual payment will
be
made no earlier than January 1 of the year next following the year
in
which the Separation from Service occurred, and, except where required
for
administrative necessity, no later than February 15 of such
year.
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2.
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If
Separation from Service occurs on or after July 1 and before December
31,
actual payment will be made no earlier than July 1 of the year next
following the year in which the Separation from Service occurred,
and,
except where required for administrative necessity, no later than
August
15 of such year.
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2.26
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Payment
Schedule.
Payment Schedule means the form in which payments will be made from
the
Account established under the Plan. The Payment Schedule for an Account
will be a single lump sum unless the Participant elects an alternative
Payment Schedule at the time(s) and in the manner specified in this
Plan.
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A
Participant may elect to receive a Separation Account or Specified Date Account
(a) in a lump sum from 0% to 100% of the Account Balance, and (b) the balance,
if any, in annual installments from two (2) to fifteen (15) years. If the lump
sum is less than 100%, then (i) the lump sum and (ii) the series of annual
installments will each be treated as separate Payment Schedules for purposes
of
the payment modification provisions of Section 4.6c.
All
Accounts will be paid to a Participant who Separates from Service prior to
attaining age 55 in a single lump sum, regardless of any other Payment Schedule
that may be in effect for the Accounts.
5
A
Death
Distribution will be paid from each Account pursuant to the Payment Schedule
in
effect for each such Account.
A
Deferred Disability Benefit will be paid in a single lump sum.
Notwithstanding
any Payment Schedule elected by a Participant, distributions shall not be made
in such a manner as to cause the acceleration of a payment in violation of
Code
Section 409A. The Plan Administrator retains the authority to determine when
and
to what extent a payment option, unless modified, would result in acceleration
of a payment and to make corresponding adjustments to the Participant’s Payment
Schedule to avoid an impermissible acceleration.
2.27
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Performance-Based
Compensation.
Performance-Based Compensation means Compensation based on services
performed over a period of not less than twelve months and which
meets the
following requirements: (a) the payment of the Compensation or the
amount
of the Compensation is contingent upon the satisfaction of organizational
or individual performance criteria that are established within the
first
90 days of the performance period, and (b) the performance criteria
are
not substantially certain to be met at the time a Compensation Deferral
Agreement is submitted to the Plan Administrator. Performance criteria
may
be subjective but must relate to the performance of the Participant,
a
group of Employees that includes the Participant or a business unit
(which
may include the Company) for which the Participant provides services.
The
determination that any subjective performance criteria have been
met shall
not be made by the Participant or by a family member of the Participant.
Performance-Based Compensation does not include any amount or portion
of
any amount that will be paid regardless of performance or which is
based
on a level of performance that is substantially certain to be met
at the
time the criteria is established. The definition of Performance-Based
Compensation shall at all times be applied consistently with the
provisions of Code Section 409A, which are incorporated by
reference.
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2.28
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Plan.
Plan means the Ball Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan as documented
herein and as may be amended from time to time
hereafter.
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2.29
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Plan
Administrator.
Plan Administrator means the Deferred Compensation Committee of the
Company.
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2.30
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Separation
from Service.
Separation from Service or Separates from Service shall mean a
Participant’s termination of employment with the Company or its
subsidiaries for any reason. The foregoing not withstanding, if a
Participant transfers to the employ of the Company or any other entity
that is within the controlled group of entities described in Section
414(b),(c),(m) or (o) of the Code that includes the Company, no Separation
from Service shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of this
Plan.
Whether a Separation from Service has occurred will be subject to
Treasury
Department regulations promulgated under Code Section
409A.
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2.31
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Separation
Account.
A
Separation Account is an Account established to record amounts subject
to
payment upon Separation from Service as described in Section
4.6a.
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6
2.32
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Specified
Date Account.
A
Specified Date Account is an Account established to record amounts
subject
to specified Payment Dates as described in Section
4.6b.
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2.33
|
Target
Total Annual Compensation.
Target Total Annual Compensation means, with respect to a Participant,
the
total of the Participant’s annual salary for the calendar year, plus the
target annual incentive award established pursuant to the Ball Corporation
Economic Value Added Incentive Compensation Plan, or any successor
plan.
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2.34
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Unforeseeable
Emergency.
An unforeseeable emergency is a severe financial hardship to the
Participant resulting from a sudden and unexpected illness or accident
of
the Participant or of 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, as defined
in
Prop. Treas. Reg. 1.409A-3(g)(3). The Plan Administrator, in its
sole
discretion and subject to the requirements of Code Section 409A,
shall
determine whether a Participant has experienced an Unforeseeable
Emergency. Imminent foreclosure or eviction from the Participant’s or
Beneficiary’s primary residence, the need to pay medical expenses, and
funeral expenses of a spouse or dependent may constitute an Unforeseeable
Emergency. The purchase of a home and the payment of college tuition
are
not Unforeseeable Emergencies.
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Article
III
Eligibility
and Participation
3.1
|
Eligibility
and Participation.
Each Eligible Employee shall be eligible to participate in this Plan.
An
Eligible Employee becomes a Participant upon submission of a Compensation
Deferral Agreement to the Plan
Administrator.
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3.2
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Duration.
A
Participant shall be eligible to defer Compensation and receive
allocations of Company Awards subject to the terms of the Plan as
long as
such Participant is an Eligible
Employee.
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A
Participant who is an Eligible Employee at the time he or she is placed on
a
disability leave of absence in accordance with the Company’s policies and
procedures shall continue to be a Participant eligible to receive Company Awards
under Section 5.3 during such leave of absence.
A
Participant who is no longer an Eligible Employee but continues to be employed
by the Company may not defer Compensation but may otherwise exercise all of
the
rights of a Participant under the Plan with respect to his or her Deferred
Compensation Account. On and after a Separation from Service, a Participant
shall remain a Participant as long as his or her Compensation Deferral Account
is greater than zero and during such time may continue to make Allocation
Elections. An individual shall cease participation in the Plan when all benefits
under the Plan to which he or she is entitled have been paid.
7
3.3
|
Revocation
of Future Participation.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.2, the Committee may,
in its
discretion, revoke such Participant’s eligibility to make future deferrals
under this Plan. Such revocation will not affect in any manner a
Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account or other terms of this
Plan.
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3.4
|
Notification.
Each newly Eligible Employee shall be notified by the Plan Administrator,
in writing, of the date of his or her initial eligibility to participate
in this Plan.
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Article
IV
Deferral
Elections
4.1
|
Deferral
Elections.
A
Participant shall make Deferral elections by completing and submitting
to
the Plan Administrator the Compensation Deferral Agreement which
shall
specify the amount of the Deferral, Account designation for the Deferral
(Specified Date Account or Separation Account), Allocation Election,
Payment Date and Payment Schedule, as described in this Article IV.
A
Participant may establish up to six Accounts which may be designated
as
Separation Accounts or Specified Date
Accounts.
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4.2
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Time
of Election.
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a.
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Initial
Eligibility.
In the case of the calendar year in which an Employee first becomes
an
Eligible Employee, a Compensation Deferral Agreement that defers
Compensation with respect to services to be performed in such calendar
year and subsequent to the election may be submitted to the Plan
Administrator within 30 days after such Eligible Employee becomes
eligible
to participate in the Plan.
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Eligible
Employees who became Employees after January 1 of the calendar year may defer
an
annual incentive award for such calendar year. The election will be deemed
to
apply to services after the election if the maximum deferral is no greater
than
the portion
of the Compensation equal to the total amount of the Compensation for the
service period multiplied by the ratio of the number of days remaining in the
performance period after the election over the total number of days in the
performance period.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, an Employee who was performing services for the Company as of
January 1 and who became and Eligible Employee prior to June 1 may elect to
defer an annual incentive award that qualifies as Performance-Based
Compensation, in accordance with the requirements of paragraph c., below.
Subject to Code Section 409A, such Eligible Employee may defer the maximum
bonus
permitted by the Plan Administrator for all Participants in such
year.
If
an
Eligible Employee does not submit a Compensation Deferral Agreement within
the
first 30 days of his or her eligibility to participate in the Plan, such
Eligible Employee may submit a Compensation Deferral Agreement at such other
times as are specified in this Plan. Such Compensation Deferral Agreement shall
constitute the initial deferral election with respect to the Payment Schedule
applicable to the Participant’s Separation and/or Specified Date Accounts
established under such Compensation Deferral Agreement.
8
b.
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Subsequent
Years.
For any subsequent year, the Compensation Deferral Agreement containing
the election to defer Compensation (other than Performance-Based
Compensation described in Section 4.2c. below) for services performed
during such year must be submitted to the Plan Administrator no later
than
December 31 of the preceding calendar
year.
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c.
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Performance-Based
Compensation.
In
the case of any Performance-Based Compensation based upon a performance
period of at least 12 months, provided that the Participant performed
services continuously from a date no later than the date upon which
the
performance criteria are established through a date no earlier than
the
date upon which the service provider makes an initial deferral election,
an initial deferral election may be made with respect to such
Performance-Based Compensation no later than the date that is six
months
before the end of the performance period, provided that in no event
may an
election to defer Performance-Based Compensation be made after such
Compensation has become both substantially certain to be paid and
readily
ascertainable. A
Participant may elect to defer Performance-Based Compensation in
his or
her initial year of eligibility or any subsequent year, provided
the
requirements of this paragraph c. are
satisfied.
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d.
Automatic
Renewals. The
Plan
Administrator may, in its discretion, provide for automatically renewable
Compensation Deferral Agreements. An automatically renewable Compensation
Deferral Agreement deferring annual incentive awards and other Compensation
permitted by the Plan Administrator will remain in effect for all future
calendar years and performance periods unless modified or revoked during the
applicable enrollment period specified in a. through c. above.
e.
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Non-elective
Deferrals.
The HR Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors may specify deferrals
of Compensation that, if paid, would be non-deductible under the
provisions of Code Section 162(m). Such amounts will be credited
to a
Separation Account designated by the
Company.
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f.
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Awards
Subject to Forfeiture.
A
Participant may elect to defer Compensation awarded during the calendar
year, provided (i) the initial election with respect to such award
is
filed with the Plan Administrator no later than 30 days after the
award is
made, (ii) such award is subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture
for a
period of not less than thirteen (13) months from the date of the
award
and (iii) the award would, absent the deferral, be payable no later
than
2-1/2 months following the calendar year in which such award is no
longer
subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture.
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An
election to defer Compensation after the 30-day period described above may
be
filed no later than a date that is twelve (12) months prior to the date on
which
such award or portion thereof is no longer subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture (the “vesting date”), provided that the payment under the
Compensation Deferral Agreement occurs no earlier than five (5) years after
the
vesting date.
g.
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2005
Elections.
The Plan Administrator has the authority, effective January 1, 2005
to
allow any or all Participants to make or modify a Compensation Deferral
Agreement with respect to deferrals subject to Code Section 409A,
which
relate all or in part to services performed prior to December 31,
2005.
Such election or modification must be filed with the Plan Administrator
no
later than March 15, 2005.
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9
4.3
|
Amount
of Deferral.
The deferral election under a Compensation Deferral Agreement shall
designate a dollar amount or whole percentage of Compensation to
be
deferred. The Plan Administrator may establish a minimum or maximum
deferral amount for each component of Compensation and may permit
separate
elections for each component of Compensation.
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4.4
|
Changes
To A Deferral Election.
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a.
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Reductions
for Withholding.
A
Participant’s Deferral Election may be reduced by such amount as is
necessary to enable the Company to satisfy any tax withholding and
payroll
deduction obligations of the Participant and the Company as are required
by law, the requirements of any benefit programs sponsored by the
Company
and Company procedures. Such reductions shall not be required if
the
Participant makes alternative arrangements with the Company for payment
of
such amounts.
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b.
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Participant’s
Right to Modify or Revoke.
An election to defer Compensation described in Section 4.2b. may
be
modified or revoked no later than the day preceding the first day
of the
calendar year to which such election applies. An election to defer
Performance-Based Compensation may be modified or revoked no later
than
the last day a deferral election may be filed under Section 4.2c
with
respect to such Compensation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant
may revoke an election as provided in Section 4.4c. Modifications
and
revocations must be submitted during such times as are specified
by the
Plan Administrator.
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c.
|
Unforeseeable
Emergency.
A
Participant may revoke an election to defer Compensation during the
calendar year in which such Compensation is earned (or, in the case
of
Performance-Based Compensation, after the deadline specified in the
enrollment materials) in the case of (a) an Unforeseeable Emergency
or (b)
a hardship distribution to the Participant described in Treas. Reg.
Section 1.401(k)-1(d)(3).
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4.5
|
Allocation
Elections.
A
Participant’s deferral election may also specify the Investment Options in
which deferrals will be deemed to be invested in accordance with
Section
6.2.
|
4.6
|
Payment
Dates and Payment Schedules.
|
a.
|
Separation
Payments.
A
Participant’s Compensation Deferral Agreement may designate one or more
specified Payment Dates for payment of Deferrals after Separation
from
Service. The Plan Administrator shall create a Separation Account
for each
such Payment Date, to be credited with the portion of Deferrals allocated
to such Separation Account. A Participant may maintain up to six
Separation Accounts, reduced by the number of Specified Date Accounts
established under paragraph 4.6b.,
below.
|
In
the
case of a Separation from Service prior to the date the Participant attains
age
55, all Separation Accounts will be paid as of the Payment Date specified in
Section 2.25 in the form of a single lump sum.
10
In
the
case of a Separation from Service on or after a Participant attains age 55,
payment will be made as of the Payment Date and under the Payment Schedule
designated by the Participant. The Participant may designate the Payment Date
and Payment Schedule for a Separation Account no later than the applicable
submission deadline described in Section 4.2 for the Compensation Deferral
Agreement that establishes such Separation Account. If no Payment Date is
specified, the Payment Date is the date specified in Section 2.25. If no Payment
Schedule is specified, payment shall be made in a single lump sum.
Deferrals
that are not allocated to a Separation Account or Specified Date Account under
the terms of a Deferred Compensation Agreement will be allocated to the
Separation Account with the earliest Payment Date. If a Participant has more
than one Separation Account with the same Payment Date, the allocation will
be
made to the Separation Account with the shortest Payment Schedule. The
determination of the Payment Date and Payment Schedules for purposes of this
paragraph shall be determined at the time the Compensation Deferral Agreement
authorizing the Deferral was filed with the Plan Administrator. If a Separation
Account has not been established, the Administrator shall establish a Separation
Account payable as of the Payment Date specified in 2.25 and payable in a single
lump sum.
b.
|
Specified
Date Payment.
A
Participant’s Compensation Deferral Agreement may designate specified
Payment Dates which may occur no earlier than the minimum deferral
period
specified by the Plan Administrator from time to time. The Plan
Administrator shall create a Specified Date Account for each Payment
Date,
to be credited with the portion of Deferrals allocated to such Specified
Date Account under the Compensation Deferral Agreement. A Participant
may
maintain up to six Specified Date Accounts, reduced by the number
of
Separation Accounts established under paragraph 4.6a.,
above.
|
The
Participant must designate a Payment Date and Payment Schedule for each
Specified Date Account no later than the applicable submission deadline
described in Section 4.2 for the Deferred Compensation Agreement that
establishes the Specified Date Account. If a Payment Date is not specified,
the
Specified Date Account will be converted to a Separation Account and such
Account will be paid in a single lump sum as of the Payment Date specified
in
Section 2.25.
c.
|
Modification
to Payment Date and/or Payment Schedule.
The Participant may modify a Payment Date and/or a Payment Schedule
for a
Separation Account or Specified Date Account as
follows:
|
i.
|
An
existing Payment Date and/or Payment Schedule may be changed so long
as
(i) the election may not take effect until at least twelve (12) months
after the date on which the election is made, (ii) the date that
such
election is submitted to the Plan Administrator is at least twelve
(12)
months prior to the current Payment Date, and (iii) the Payment Date
after
modification is at least five (5) years after the current Payment
Date.
|
11
ii.
|
A
modification that does not conform to the requirements of this paragraph
c. shall be deemed not to have been made and will be disregarded
by the
Plan Administrator. In such a case, the Plan Administrator will pay
benefits as of the Payment Date and under the Payment Schedule in
effect
prior to the nonconforming
modification.
|
iii.
|
An
election to change Payment Date and/or Payment Schedule is specific
to the
Account to which it refers, and shall not affect other Accounts or
the
ability of the Participant to designate new Payment Dates and Payment
Schedules with respect to future
Deferrals.
|
iv.
|
The
modification of a Payment Date shall be further subject to the
requirements of Code Section 409A.
|
d.
|
2005
and 2006 Modifications to Payment Elections.
During 2005 and 2006, the Plan Administrator may, in its discretion,
permit Participants to establish Separation Accounts and/or Specified
Date
Accounts, to designate a Payment Date and Payment Schedule for each
such
Account and to allocate existing Account balances among such Accounts.
Participants may also be permitted to modify any Payment Date and/or
Payment Schedule associated with a Separation Account or Specified
Date
Account. Elections may be filed with the Plan Administrator pursuant
to
this paragraph without regard to (i) the requirements in paragraph
c.,
above and (ii) the prohibition on acceleration of payments under
Code
Section 409A.
|
Modification
elections filed pursuant to this paragraph d. shall be subject to the following
rules. A modification to a Payment Date scheduled in 2005 or 2006 must be filed
prior to the scheduled Payment Date and no later than December 31, 2005. A
modification to a Payment Date scheduled in 2007 or later must be filed no
later
than December 31, 2006. A modification filed on or after January 1, 2006 may
not
accelerate a payment from a later year into 2006. Subject to the foregoing
limitations, the Plan Administrator has the authority to prescribe the time,
manner and scope of any election to modify a Payment Date or Payment Schedule
under the terms of this paragraph.
e.
|
Company’s
Right to Modify.
The Plan Administrator may modify a Payment Schedule election as
necessary
(and only as necessary) to conform the Payment Schedule to applicable
law.
|
12
Article
V
Company
Contributions
5.1
|
Company
Awards.
The HR Committee of the Board of Directors may, in its sole and absolute
discretion, authorize Company Awards to one, some, or all of the
Participant(s) in an amount determined in the sole and absolute discretion
of the Committee. A Company Award may be made at any time during
the
calendar year and may consist of “matching” contributions. The HR
Committee of the Board of Directors shall be under no obligation
to make
contributions to the Plan unless the Company has entered into a separate
agreement (such as an employment agreement) to make such
contributions.
|
5.2
|
Vesting.
Company Awards and the Deemed Investment earnings thereon, shall
vest in
accordance with the vesting schedule(s) established by the Plan
Administrator at the time that the Company Award is made. The unvested
portion shall be forfeited upon Separation from Service. The Committee
may, at any time, in its sole discretion, increase a Participant’s vested
interest in a Company Award or restore any
forfeiture.
|
5.3
|
Deferred
Disability Contribution.
The Company will make an annual contribution to a Participant’s Account
(known as a Deferred Disability Account) during each year in which
a
Participant is receiving disability benefits from the Company. The
amount of the Disability Contribution will equal 12.5% of the
Participant’s Target Total Annual Compensation (defined below), up to a
maximum of $70,000. The Disability Contribution Account will be 100%
vested at all times. Payment from the Disability Contribution
Account will be made on the earliest to occur of (a) the date a
Participant attains age 65, (b) Unforeseeable Emergency or (c)
death. Payment will be made under the Payment Schedule in effect for
the Participant’s Separation and Specified Date Accounts. Contributions
under this Section 5.3 shall be made during such times as the Company
is
receiving payments under a policy of insurance that are payable due
to the
Participant’s disability.
|
For
purposes of this Section 5.3, Target Total Annual Compensation means, as of
the
last date prior to salary continuance, the total of (i) Participant’s annualized
salary and the (ii) the Participant’s target annual incentive award under the
Ball Corporation Economic Value Added Incentive Compensation Plan.
Article
VI
Valuation
of Accounts; Deemed Investments
6.1
|
Valuation.
The valuation of a Participant’s Accounts will be adjusted as of each
Business Day to reflect deferrals, earnings on Deemed Investments
and
distributions since the previous Business Day. The valuation of a
benefit
payable under Article VII will be determined as of the Business Day
prior
to the date payment is made from the Plan. The Plan Administrator
may
adopt such additional or alternative procedures as it may reasonably
determine are appropriate for the valuation of Participant
Accounts.
|
13
Deferrals
pertaining to base salary shall be deducted on a proportionate basis from each
paycheck the Participant receives during the calendar year and credited to
the
Participant’s Accounts as of the date such Compensation would have otherwise
been paid. Deferrals pertaining to other forms of Compensation shall be credited
to the Participant’s Accounts as of the day such Compensation otherwise would
have been paid.
6.2
|
Allocation
Elections.
Participants may make an Allocation Election pursuant to which their
Accounts will be credited with earnings on Deemed Investments. A
Participant may make a new Allocation Election with respect to future
deferrals or current Account Balances (or both), provided that such
new
allocations shall be in increments of one percent (1%) of each Account
and
apply to such Account Balance. Subject to restrictions on the timing
and
number of permitted changes to Allocation Elections within certain
time
periods (if any) established by the Plan Administrator, new Allocation
Elections may be made on any Business Day, and will become effective
on
the same Business Day or, in the case of Allocation Elections received
after a cut-off time established by the Plan Administrator, the following
Business Day. All deferrals shall be credited to the appropriate
Account
and a Deemed Investment shall be made in the investment(s) represented
by
the Investment Option(s) elected by the Participant as of the close
of
business on the deferral date or as otherwise provided by the Plan
Administrator.
|
6.3
|
Investment
Options.
Deemed Investments shall consist of a menu of Investment Options
provided
by the Plan Administrator. Investment Options do not represent actual
ownership of, nor ownership rights in or to, the securities or other
investments to which the Investment Options refer. The Plan Administrator,
in its sole discretion, shall be permitted to add or remove Investment
Options 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. Any portion of an Account or new deferrals which
has
not been allocated or which cannot be allocated under a Participant’s
Allocation Election shall be deemed to be invested in a money market
fund
or such other default Investment Option specified by the Plan
Administrator. Such Investment Option shall have, as its primary
objective, the preservation of
capital.
|
6.4
|
Notional
Investments.
Notwithstanding anything in this section to the contrary, the Plan
Administrator shall have the sole and exclusive authority to direct
the
investment of any or all amounts deferred in any manner, regardless
of any
Allocation Elections by any Participant. A Participant’s Allocation
Election and Deemed Investments shall be used solely for purposes
of
determining the value of such Participant’s Account Balances and the
amount of the corresponding liability of the Company in accordance
with
this Plan.
|
14
Article
VII
Distribution
and Withdrawals
7.1
|
Separation
Accounts.
|
a.
|
In
the event that a Participant Separates from Service, any Separation
Account will be paid to such Participant in accordance with the Payment
Date and Payment Schedule elections in effect for each such Account.
The
amount of such payments shall be determined as of the Business Day
preceding the date on which payment is made. In the event a Participant
has elected installment payments, the installment payments shall
be
determined as set forth in Section 7.3 of the
Plan.
|
b.
|
Notwithstanding
a Participant’s election to receive a Separation Account as of a specified
year, all Separation Account Balances shall be distributed upon Separation
from Service under the provisions of Section 2.25(c) in a single
lump sum.
The amount of such payments shall be determined as of the Business
Day
preceding the date on which payment is
made.
|
7.2
|
Specified
Date Accounts.
|
a.
|
Each
Specified Date Account shall be paid in accordance with the Payment
Date
and Payment Schedule elections in effect for such Account. The amount
of
such payments shall be determined as of the Business Day preceding
the
date on which payment is made. In the event a Participant has elected
installment payments, the installment payments shall be determined
as set
forth in Section 7.3 of the Plan.
|
b.
|
Notwithstanding
a Participant’s election to receive a Specified Date Account as of a
specified year, all Specified Date Account Balances shall be distributed
upon Separation from Service under the provisions of Section 2.25(c)
in a
single lump sum. The amount of such payments shall be determined
as of the
Business Day preceding the date on which payment is
made.
|
7.3
|
Installment
Payments.
Installment payments will be made as of the applicable Payment Date
and
each anniversary thereof. For payments described in Section 2.25(f)(2),
payments will be made as of the July 1 payment date and each anniversary
thereof. The amount of an installment payment is the applicable Account
Balance as of the Payment Date (or anniversary thereof) determined
on the
Business Day prior to the date a payment is made divided by the remaining
number of installments under the Payment
Schedule.
|
7.4
|
Small
Account Balance Lump Sum Payment.
Anything to the contrary in this Plan notwithstanding, in the event
that a
Participant’s Deferred Compensation Account Balance is less than $25,000
as of the January 1 following the year in which the Participant Separates
from Service, the Participant’s Accounts shall be paid in a single lump
sum in such following year at the time specified in Section 2.25f,
and any
form of payment election to the contrary shall be null and void.
The
amount of such payments shall be determined as of the Business Day
preceding the date on which payment is
made.
|
15
7.5
|
Deferred
Disability Benefit.
The Company shall pay or commence payment of the Deferred Disability
Benefit as of the Deferred Disability Payment
Date.
|
7.6
|
Death
Distribution.
In the event of a Participant’s death, the Participant’s Beneficiary shall
be paid a Death Distribution as of the Payment Date specified in
Section
2.25d and under the Payment Schedule in effect for each of the
Participant’s Accounts. The amount of such payments shall be determined as
of the Business Day preceding the date on which payment is
made.
|
7.7
|
Unforeseeable
Emergency.
A
Participant may request, in writing to the Plan Administrator, a
withdrawal from his or her Accounts if the Participant experiences
an
Unforeseeable Emergency. Withdrawals of amounts because of an
Unforeseeable Emergency are limited to the extent reasonably needed
to
satisfy the emergency need, which cannot be met with other resources
of
the Participant. The amount of such withdrawal shall be subtracted
first
from the vested portion of the Account with the latest Payment Date
at the
time of the withdrawal request and then from the Account with the
next
latest Payment Date until the withdrawal is completed. Values for
purposes
of determining the source of the withdrawal under this Section shall
be
determined on the date the Plan Administrator approves the amount
of the
Unforeseeable Emergency withdrawal, or such other date determined
by the
Plan Administrator.
|
A
withdrawal under this Section 7.7 by a Participant who is a “16b Officer” must
be approved by the HR Committee of the Board of Directors.
7.8
|
Domestic
Relations Order.
Notwithstanding the Payment Dates and Payment Schedule selected by
a
Participant with respect to his or her Accounts and any other provision
of
this Plan, the Plan Administrator is authorized to divide such
Participant’s Accounts with and distribute a portion of such Participant’s
Accounts to one or more “alternate payees” at the time and in the manner
specified in a court order described in Section 414(p)(1)(B) of the
Code.
|
7.9
|
Permitted
Delays.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall delay any payment
to a
Participant under the Plan upon the Plan Administrator’s reasonable
anticipation of one or more of the following events:
|
a.
|
The
Company’s deduction with respect to such payment otherwise would be
limited or eliminated by application of Code Section
162(m);
|
b.
|
The
making of the payment would violate a term of a loan agreement to
which
the Company or one of its subsidiaries is a party, or other similar
contract to which the Company or one of its subsidiaries is a party,
and
such violation would cause material harm to the Company or one of
its
subsidiaries; or
|
c.
|
The
making of the payment would violate Federal securities laws or other
applicable law;
|
provided,
that any payment subject to this Section 7.9 shall be paid in accordance with
Code Section 409A.
16
Article
VIII
Administration
8.1
|
Plan
Administration.
This Plan shall be administered by the Plan Administrator, 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 Plan Administrator and
resolved in accordance with the claims procedures in Article
XI.
|
8.2
|
Withholding.
The Company shall have the right to withhold from any payment made
under
the Plan (or any amount deferred into the Plan) any taxes required
by law
to be withheld in respect of such payment (or
deferral).
|
8.3
|
Indemnification.
The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each employee, officer,
or
director to whom or to which it delegated duties, responsibilities,
and
authority under the Plan or otherwise with respect to administration
of
the Plan, including, without limitation, the Plan Administrator,
the
Committee and their 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
Company.
|
8.4
|
Expenses.
The expenses of administering the Plan shall be paid by the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may indirectly allocate
expenses, in its discretion, to Participants through a reduction
to any or
all Participant Accounts.
|
8.5
|
Delegation
of Authority.
In the administration of this Plan, the Plan Administrator 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 may
be legal counsel to the Company.
|
8.6
|
Binding
Decisions or Actions.
The decision or action of the Plan Administrator 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.
|
17
Article
IX
Amendment
and Termination
9.1
|
Amendment
and Termination.
The Plan is intended to be permanent, but the HR Committee of the
Board of
Directors of the Company may at any time modify, amend, or terminate
the
Plan, provided that such modification, amendment or termination shall
not
cancel, reduce, or otherwise adversely affect the amount of benefits
of
any Participant accrued (and any form of payment elected) as of the
date
of any such modification, amendment, or termination, without the
consent
of the Participant. A termination of the Plan shall not, by itself,
result
in payments to Participants under the Plan, except to the extent
permitted
under Code Section 409A. Unless distributions are otherwise permissible
under such regulations, payments to Participants shall be made at
the
times specified in a Participant’s Compensation Deferral Agreements and
the terms of the Plan applicable to such Agreements prior to the
Plan’s
termination.
|
9.2
|
Adverse
Income Tax Determination.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, if any Participant
receives a deficiency notice from the United States Internal Revenue
Service asserting constructive receipt of deferrals under the Plan,
Company Awards, and/or the investment earnings attributed thereto
due to
any Participant withdrawal right or other Plan provision, the Plan
Administrator, in its sole discretion, may declare null and void
any Plan
provision with respect to affected Participants that causes such
Participant to be in constructive receipt of income. If the laws
of the
United States or of any relevant state are amended or construed in
such a
way as to make this Plan (or its intended deferral of compensation
and
taxes) in whole or in part void, then the Plan Administrator, in
its sole
discretion, may give effect to the Plan in such a manner as it deems
will
best carry out the purposes and intentions of this Plan. Nothing
in this
Section 9.2 shall be construed to limit the Plan Administrator or
Company’s authority under applicable law to take any such action as may be
necessary to accomplish the objective of the Plan to defer the recognition
of compensation for the purpose of the taxation of
income.
|
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Plan document or the provisions of any Compensation
Deferral Agreement, a Participant will receive a distribution from the Plan
in a
single lump sum equal to the amount required to be included in income as a
result of a violation of the terms and conditions of Code Section 409A and
the
Treasury Department Regulations promulgated thereunder.
18
Article
X
Informal
Funding
10.1
|
General
Assets.
All benefits in respect of a Participant under this Plan shall be
paid
directly from the general funds of the Company or a Rabbi Trust created
for the purpose of informally funding the Plan, and other than such
Rabbi
Trust, if created, no special or separate fund shall be established
and no
other segregation of assets shall be made to assure payment. No
Participant, spouse or Beneficiary shall have any right, title or
interest
whatever in or to any investments that the Company or its subsidiaries
may
make to aid the Company in meeting its obligation 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 the Company, or any if its subsidiaries or
affiliated companies and any Employee, spouse, or Beneficiary. To
the
extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from
the
Company hereunder, such rights are no greater than the right of an
unsecured general creditor of the
Company.
|
10.2
|
Rabbi
Trust.
The Company may, at its sole discretion, establish a grantor trust,
commonly known as a Rabbi Trust, as a vehicle for accumulating the
assets
needed to pay the promised benefit, but the Company shall be under
no
obligation to establish any such trust or any other informal funding
vehicle.
|
Article
XI
Claims
11.1
|
Filing
a Claim.
Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to the Plan shall
be
filed with the Plan Administrator which shall make all determinations
concerning such claim. Any decision by the Plan Administrator denying
such
claim shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the Participant
or
Beneficiary filing the claim (‘Claimant’).
|
a.
|
In
General.
Notice of a denial of benefits (other than Disability benefits) will
be
provided within 90 days of the Plan Administrator’s receipt of the
Claimant's claim for benefits. If the Plan Administrator determines
that
it needs additional time to review the claim, the Plan Administrator
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 Plan Administrator expects to make a
decision.
|
b.
|
Disability
Benefits.
Notice of denial of Disability benefits will be provided within forty-five
(45) days of the Plan Administrator’s receipt of the Claimant’s claim for
Disability benefits. If the Plan Administrator determines that it
needs
additional time to review the Disability claim, the Plan Administrator
will provide the Claimant with a notice of the extension before the
end of
the initial 45-day period. If the Plan Administrator determines that
a
decision cannot be made within the first extension period due to
matters
beyond the control of the Plan Administrator, the time period for
making a
determination may be further extended for an additional 30 days.
If
|
19
such
an
additional extension is necessary, the Plan Administrator 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 Plan Administrator 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 Plan Administrator. 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.
c.
|
Contents
of Notice.
If a claim for benefits is completely or partially denied, notice
of such
denial shall be in writing and shall set forth the reasons for denial
in
plain language. The notice shall (1) cite the pertinent provisions
of the
Plan document and (2) 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 a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring
a civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse
decision
on review. In the case of a complete or partial denial of a Disability
benefit claim, the notice shall provide a statement that the Plan
Administrator will provide to the Claimant, upon request and free
of
charge, a copy of any internal rule, guideline, protocol, or other
similar
criterion that was relied upon in making the
decision.
|
11.2
|
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
the HR
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 relevant to the claim to the HR Committee. All written
comments, documents, records, and other information shall be considered
“relevant” if the information (1) was relied upon in making a benefits
determination, (2) 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 (3) demonstrates compliance with administrative
processes and safeguards established for making benefit decisions.
The HR
Committee may, in its sole discretion and if it deems appropriate
or
necessary, decide to hold a hearing with respect to the claim
appeal.
|
a.
|
In
General.
Appeal of a denied benefits claim (other than a Disability benefits
claim)
must be filed in writing with the HR Committee no later than sixty
(60)
days after receipt of the written notification of such claim denial.
The
HR Committee shall make its decision regarding the merits of the
denied
claim within sixty (60) days following receipt of the appeal (or
within
one hundred and twenty (120) days after such receipt, in a case where
there are special circumstances requiring extension of
|
20
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 HR 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.
b.
|
Disability
Benefits.
Appeal of a denied Disability benefits claim must be filed in writing
with
the HR Committee no later than one hundred eighty (180) days after
receipt
of the written notification of such claim denial. The review shall
be
conducted by the HR Committee (exclusive of the person who made the
initial adverse decision or such person’s subordinate). In reviewing the
appeal, the HR Committee shall (1) not afford deference to the initial
denial of the claim, (2) consult a medical professional who has
appropriate training and experience in the field of medicine relating
to
the Claimant’s disability and who was neither consulted as part of the
initial denial nor is the subordinate of such individual and (3)
identify
the medical or vocational experts whose advice was obtained with
respect
to the initial benefit denial, without regard to whether the advice
was
relied upon in making the decision. The HR Committee shall make its
decision regarding the merits of the denied claim within forty-five
(45)
days following receipt of the appeal (or within ninety (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 HR Committee expects to render the determination
on
review. Following its review of any additional information submitted
by
the Claimant, the HR Committee shall render a decision on its review
of
the denied claim.
|
c.
|
Contents
of Notice.
If a benefits claim is completely or partially denied on review,
notice of
such denial shall be in writing and shall set forth the reasons for
denial
in plain language.
|
i.
|
The
decision on review shall set forth (a) the specific reason or reasons
for
the denial, (b) specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions
on
which the denial 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, or other information relevant (as
defined above) to the Claimant’s claim, and (d) a statement describing any
voluntary appeal procedures offered by the plan and a statement of
the
Claimant’s right to bring an action under Section 502(a) of ERISA.
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ii.
|
For
the denial of a Disability benefit, the notice will also include
a
statement that the HR Committee will provide, upon request and free
of
charge, (a) any internal rule, guideline, protocol or other similar
criterion relied upon in making the decision, (b) any medical opinion
relied upon to make the decision and (c) the required statement under
Section 2560.503-1(j)(5)(iii) of the Department of Labor
regulations.
|
11.3
|
Legal
Action.
A
Claimant may not bring any legal action 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 her administrative
remedies
under such claims procedures.
|
11.4
|
Discretion
of Committee.
All interpretations, determinations and decisions of the Committee
with
respect to any claim shall be made in its sole discretion, and shall
be
final and conclusive.
|
11.5
|
Administration
Upon Change in Control.
|
Committee.
For
purposes of this Plan, the Committee shall be the Plan Administrator at all
times prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control. Upon and after the
occurrence of a Change in Control, the Plan Administrator shall be an
independent third party selected by the individual who, immediately prior to
such event, was the Company’s CEO or, if not so identified, the Company’s
highest ranking officer (the “Ex-CEO”); provided, however, the Committee, as
constituted immediately prior to a Change in Control, shall continue to act
as
the Plan Administrator of this Plan until the date on which the independent
third party selected by the CEO accepts the responsibilities of Plan
Administrator under this Plan. Upon and after a Change in Control, the Plan
Administrator shall have the discretionary power to determine all questions
arising in connection with the administration of the Plan and the interpretation
of the Plan and Trust except benefit entitlement determinations upon appeal;
provided, however, upon and after the occurrence of a Change in Control, the
Plan Administrator shall have no power to direct the investment of Plan or
Trust
assets or select any investment manager or custodial firm for the Plan or Trust.
Upon and after the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company must: (1)
pay
all reasonable administrative expenses and fees of the Plan Administrator;
(2)
indemnify the Plan Administrator against any costs, expenses and liabilities
including, without limitation, attorney’s fees and expenses arising in
connection with the performance of the Plan Administrator hereunder, except
with
respect to matters resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct
of
the Plan Administrator or its employees or agents; and (3) supply full and
timely information to the Plan Administrator on all matters relating to the
Plan, the Trust, the Participants and their Beneficiaries, the Account Balances
of the Participants, the date and circumstances of the Disability, death or
Separation
from Service
of the
Participants, and such other pertinent information as the Plan Administrator
may
reasonably require. Upon and after a Change in Control, the Plan Administrator
may only be terminated (and a replacement appointed) by the Ex-CEO or, if not
so
identified, the Company’s highest ranking officer prior to the Change in
Control. Upon and after a Change in Control, the Plan Administrator may not
be
terminated by the Company.
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Benefit
Review Committee.
Upon
and after the occurrence of a Change in Control, the HR Committee, as
constituted immediately prior to a Change in Control, shall continue to review
denied claims as provided in Article 14 of this Plan. In the event any member
of
the HR Committee resigns or is unable to perform the duties of a member of
the
HR Committee, successors to such members shall be selected by the Ex-CEO. Upon
and after a Change in Control, the Benefits Review Committee shall have the
discretionary power and authority to determine all questions arising in
connection with the review of a denied claim as provided in Section 11.2 Upon
and after the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company must: (1) pay
all
reasonable administrative expenses and fees of the HR Committee; (2) indemnify
the HR Committee against any costs, expenses and liabilities including, without
limitation, attorney’s fees and expenses arising in connection with the
performance of the HR Committee hereunder, except with respect to matters
resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the HR Committee
or
its employees or agents; and (3) supply full and timely information to the
HR
Committee on all matters relating to the Plan, the Trust, the Participants
and
their Beneficiaries, the Account Balances of the Participants, the date and
circumstances of the Disability, death or Separation
from Service
of the
Participants, and such other pertinent information as the HR Committee may
reasonably require. Upon and after a Change in Control, a member of the HR
Committee may not be removed by the Company but may only be removed (and a
replacement appointed) by the Ex-CEO.
Article
XII
General
Conditions
12.1
|
Anti-assignment
Rule.
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.
|
12.2
|
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 Company or any of its subsidiaries
or
affiliated companies. The right and power of the Company or its
subsidiaries to dismiss or discharge an Employee is expressly reserved.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9.2, the Company makes
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 or that the Plan complies in form or operation
with
Section 409A of the Code and regulations issued
thereunder.
|
12.3
|
No
Employment Contract.
Nothing contained herein shall be construed to constitute a contract
of
employment between an Employee and the Company or any of its subsidiaries
or affiliated companies.
|
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12.4
|
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.
|
12.5
|
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 Plan Administrator 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.
|
12.6
|
Governing
Law.
To the extent not preempted by ERISA, the laws of the State of Indiana
shall govern the construction and administration of the
Plan.
|
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned executed this Plan as of the day
of ,
2005, to be effective as of the Effective Date.
Ball
Corporation
By: __________________________________________
Its: __________________________________________
24