Exhibit 10.1
CDW COMPUTER CENTERS, INC.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
CDW COMPUTER CENTERS, INC.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
Table of Contents
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| 1. |
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INTRODUCTION |
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1.1. |
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Adoption and Name of Plan |
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1.2. |
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Purposes of Plan |
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1.3. |
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Top Hat Pension Benefit Plan |
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1.4. |
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Plan Unfunded |
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1.5. |
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Effective Date |
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1.6. |
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Administration |
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| 2. |
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DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION |
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2.1. |
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Definitions |
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2.1.1. |
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Account |
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2.1.2. |
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Affiliate |
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2.1.3. |
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Base Salary |
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2.1.4. |
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Base Salary Deferral |
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2.1.5. |
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Beneficiary |
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2.1.6. |
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Board |
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2.1.7. |
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Bonus Compensation |
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2.1.8. |
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Bonus Deferral |
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2.1.9. |
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Code. |
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2.1.10. |
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Committee. |
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2.1.11. |
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Commissions. |
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2.1.12. |
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Commission Deferral |
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2.1.13. |
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Company |
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2.1.14. |
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Company Contribution |
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2.1.15. |
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Deferral |
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2.1.16. |
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Effective Date |
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2.1.17. |
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Employee |
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2.1.18. |
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ERISA |
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2.1.19. |
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401(k) Plan |
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2.1.20. |
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Matching Contribution. |
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2.1.21. |
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Participant |
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2.1.22. |
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Participation Agreement |
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2.1.23. |
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Plan |
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2.1.24. |
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Plan Year |
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2.1.25. |
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Retirement Date |
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2.1.26. |
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Valuation Date |
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2.1.27. |
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Year of Service |
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2.2. |
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Number and Gender |
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2.3. |
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Headings |
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| 3. |
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PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY |
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3.1. |
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Participation |
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3.2. |
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Commencement of Participation |
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3.3. |
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Cessation of Active Participation |
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| 4. |
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DEFERRALS, MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS AND COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS |
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4.1. |
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Deferrals by Participants |
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4.2. |
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Effective Date of Participation Agreement |
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4.3. |
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Modification or Revocation of Election by Participant |
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4.4. |
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Matching Contributions |
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4.5. |
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Company Contribution |
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4.6. |
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Hardship Distribution Under 401(k) Plan |
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| 5. |
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VESTING, IN-SERVICE DISTRIBUTIONS AND INVESTMENT ELECTIONS |
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5.1. |
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Vesting |
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5.2. |
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Election of In-Service Distribution |
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5.3. |
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Investment Elections |
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| 6. |
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ACCOUNTS |
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6.1. |
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Establishment of Bookkeeping Accounts |
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6.2. |
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Subaccounts |
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6.3. |
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Hypothetical Nature of Accounts |
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PAYMENT OF ACCOUNT |
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7.1. |
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In-Service Distribution or Distribution Upon Termination of Employment |
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7.2. |
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Time of Distribution and Valuation |
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7.3. |
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Form of Payment or Payments |
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7.4. |
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Accelerated Distribution |
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7.5. |
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Designation of Beneficiaries |
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7.6. |
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Amendments |
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7.7. |
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Change in Marital Status |
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7.8. |
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No Beneficiary Designation. |
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7.9. |
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Unclaimed Benefits |
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7.10. |
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Hardship Withdrawals |
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7.11. |
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Withholding |
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| 8. |
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ADMINISTRATION |
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8.1. |
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Committee |
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8.2. |
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General Powers of Administration |
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8.3. |
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Indemnification of Committee |
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DETERMINATION OF BENEFITS, CLAIMS PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION |
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9.1. |
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Claims |
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9.2. |
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Claim Decision |
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9.3. |
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Request for Review |
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9.4. |
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Review of Decision |
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9.5. |
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Discretionary Authority |
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| 10. |
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MISCELLANEOUS |
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10.1. |
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Plan Not a Contract of Employment |
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10.2. |
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Non-Assignability of Benefits |
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10.3. |
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Amendment and Termination |
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10.4. |
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Unsecured General Creditor Status of Employee |
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10.5. |
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Severability |
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10.6. |
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Governing Laws |
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10.7. |
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Binding Effect |
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10.8. |
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Entire Agreement |
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10.9. |
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No Guarantee of Tax Consequences |
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10.10. |
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Sole Obligor |
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iii
CDW COMPUTER CENTERS, INC.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
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1.1. |
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Adoption and Name of Plan. |
The Company adopts the CDW Computer Centers, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan.
The purposes of the Plan are to provide deferred compensation for a select group of
management or highly compensated Employees of the Company and to permit them to make
deferrals in excess of the elective contributions they are permitted to make to the 401(k)
Plan due to limitations imposed by the Code.
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1.3. |
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Top Hat Pension Benefit Plan. |
The Plan is an employee pension benefit plan within the meaning of ERISA Section
3(2). However, the Plan is an unfunded deferred compensation plan maintained only for a
select group of management or highly compensated employees and, therefore, is exempt from
Parts 2, 3 and 4 of Title 1 of ERISA. The Plan is not intended to qualify under Code
Section 401(a).
The Plan is unfunded. All benefits will be paid from the general assets of the
Company, which will continue to be subject to the claims of the Companys creditors. No
amounts will be set aside for the benefit of Plan Participants or their Beneficiaries.
The Plan, as amended and restated herein, is effective as of January 1, 2002.
The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.
| 2. |
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DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION |
For purposes of the Plan, the following words and phrases shall have the respective
meanings set forth below, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning:
Account means the bookkeeping account maintained on behalf of each
Participant pursuant to Section 6.1.
Affiliate means any entity that directly, or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, CDW
Computer Centers, Inc.
Base Salary means the base rate of cash compensation paid by the Company to
or for the benefit of a Participant for services rendered.
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2.1.4. |
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Base Salary Deferral. |
Base Salary Deferral means the amount of a Participants Base Salary which
the Participant elects to have withheld on a pre-tax basis and credited to his
Account pursuant to Section 4.1.
Beneficiary means the person or entity designated by the Participant in
accordance with Section 7.5 or, in the absence of an effective designation, the
person or entity described in Section 7.8.
Board means the board of directors of CDW Computer Centers, Inc.
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2.1.7. |
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Bonus Compensation. |
Bonus Compensation means the amount paid to a Participant under the regular
bonus arrangement maintained by the Company. Bonus Compensation shall not include
special bonuses as defined by the Company.
Bonus Deferral means the amount of a Participants Bonus Compensation which
the Participant elects to have withheld on a pre-tax basis and credited to his
account pursuant to Section 4.1.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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Committee means the committee which administers the Plan as described in
Section 8.
Commissions means remuneration paid by the Company to a Participant based on
sales of the Companys products and/or services.
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2.1.12. |
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Commission Deferral. |
Commission Deferral means the amount of a Participants Commissions which the
Participant elects to have withheld on a pre-tax basis and credited to his Account
pursuant to Section 4.1.
Company means CDW Computer Centers, Inc. and any Affiliate.
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2.1.14. |
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Company Contribution. |
Company Contribution means the contribution made by the Company for a
Participant which is based on such criteria as the Company shall determine.
Deferral means a Base Salary Deferral, Bonus Deferral and/or a Commission
Deferral.
Effective Date means January 1, 2002.
Employee means any common-law employee of the Company.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
401(k) Plan means the CDW Computer Centers, Inc. Employees Profit Sharing
Plan & Trust, as amended from time to time, or any successor qualified 401(k) plan
maintained by the Company.
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2.1.20. |
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Matching Contribution. |
Matching Contribution means the contribution made by the Company for a
Participant based on a Deferral made by the Participant.
Participant means each Employee who has been selected for participation in
the Plan and who has become a Participant pursuant to Section 3.
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2.1.22. |
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Participation Agreement. |
Participation Agreement means the written agreement pursuant to which the
Participant elects the amount of his Base Salary, Bonus Compensation, and/or
Commissions to be deferred pursuant to the Plan, the deemed investment of amounts
credited to his Account, and such other matters as the Committee shall determine
from time to time.
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2.1.23. |
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Plan. |
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Plan means the CDW Computer Centers, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, as
amended from time to time. |
Plan Year means the twelve-consecutive month period commencing January 1 of
each year ending on the following December 31.
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2.1.25. |
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Retirement Date. |
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Retirement Date means the date a Participant |
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(a) |
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voluntarily terminates his employment with the Company |
(i) on or after he has attained at least sixty-two (62) years of age
and completed at least ten (10) Years of Service, or
(ii) with the Committees consent; or
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(b) |
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qualifies for disability under the Companys group long-term disability
plan. |
Valuation Date means the last business day of each calendar month and each
special valuation date designated by the Committee.
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Year of Service has the same meaning as in the 401(k) Plan for purposes of
vesting.
Wherever appropriate, words used in the singular shall be considered to include the
plural and words used in the plural shall be considered to include the singular. The
masculine gender, where appearing in the Plan, shall be deemed to include the feminine
gender.
The headings are included solely for convenience, and if there is any conflict between
any heading and the text of the Plan, the Plan text shall control.
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PARTICIPATION AND ELIGIBILITY |
Participants in the Plan for a Plan Year are those Employees who
(a) are subject to the income tax laws of the United States,
(b) are members of a select group of highly compensated or management
Employees,
(c) have elected to contribute to the 401(k) Plan the maximum amount of
elective contributions permitted under the Code for such Plan Year, and
(d) are selected by the Committee, in its sole discretion, as Participants.
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The Committee shall notify each Participant of his selection as a Participant. Subject to
provisions of Section 3.3, a Participant who continues to satisfy the requirements of
3.1(a), (b) and (c) above shall remain eligible to continue participation in the Plan for
each Plan Year following his initial year of selection to participate in the Plan. |
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3.2. |
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Commencement of Participation. |
An Employee shall become a Participant effective as of the date on which his
Participation Agreement becomes effective under Section 4.2.
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3.3. |
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Cessation of Active Participation. |
Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, an individual who has become
a Participant in the Plan shall cease to be a Participant effective as of any date
designated by the Committee. In the event of such cessation, the second to last sentence
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of Section 4.1 shall apply as if such cessation had been a termination of employment.
Any such Committee action shall be communicated to such Participant prior to the effective
date of such action. Such cessation shall have no effect upon amounts then credited to his
Account and shall not preclude the individual from subsequently being selected to be a
Participant. |
| 4. |
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DEFERRALS, MATCHING CONTRIBUTIONS AND COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS |
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4.1. |
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Deferrals by Participants. |
Before the first day of each Plan Year, a Participant may file with the Committee a
Participation Agreement pursuant to which such Participant elects to make Deferrals. The
minimum Deferral for a Plan Year is Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), and, unless otherwise
permitted by the Committee, the maximum Deferral for a Plan Year is One Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($100,000.00). The minimum Deferral amount shall be prorated for any Plan Year in
which an individual is not a Participant for the entire Plan Year, based on full months of
participation, and, if the Plan Year is less than twelve (12) months, based on the number of
months in the Plan Year. Deferrals must be in whole percentages and cannot exceed
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(a) |
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fifty percent (50%) of Base Salary, |
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(b) |
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fifty percent (50%) of Commissions, and |
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(c) |
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one hundred percent (100%) of Bonus Compensation. |
Any Participant Deferral election shall be subject to rules prescribed by the Committee.
Deferrals will be credited to the Account of each Participant at the time they would have
been paid to the Participant in cash but for the election to defer. If a Participants
employment has terminated when a Deferral would otherwise be credited to his Account, the
amount which would have been deferred and credited will be paid to him in cash. In the case
of a Bonus Deferral, the election must be made at least ninety (90) days before the Bonus
which is to be deferred would otherwise be paid.
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4.2. |
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Effective Date of Participation Agreement. |
A Participants Participation Agreement shall normally become effective on the first
day of the Plan Year to which it relates. The Participation Agreement of Employees who are
first eligible during a Plan Year shall become effective as of the first day of the month
following completion of a Participation Agreement provided the Participation Agreement is
completed within thirty (30) days of the date the Employee first becomes eligible.
Participation Agreements shall relate only to compensation earned after such agreement is
completed and executed. If a Participant fails to complete a Participation Agreement before
the first day of the Plan Year in which Participant shall earn the compensation to which the
Participation Agreement relates, the Participant shall be deemed to have elected not to make
any Deferrals for such Plan Year.
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4.3. |
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Modification or Revocation of Election by Participant. |
A Participant may reduce or suspend his Deferrals at any time during a Plan Year on a
prospective basis if the Committee determines that he has suffered a severe, sudden and
unforeseeable hardship as is more fully described in Section 7.10. Under no circumstances
may a Participants Participation Agreement be made, modified or revoked retroactively.
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4.4. |
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Matching Contribution. |
For each Plan Year, the Account of each Participant shall be credited with a Matching
Contribution equal to such amount, if any, as the Company shall determine.
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4.5. |
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Company Contribution. |
For each Plan Year, the Account of each Participant shall be credited with a Company
Contribution equal to such amount, if any, as the Company shall determine.
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4.6. |
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Hardship Distribution Under 401(k) Plan. |
If required by the terms of the 401(k) Plan, a Participant who receives a hardship
distribution under the 401(k) Plan shall not be eligible to make Deferrals for the period of
suspension after receipt of the hardship distribution that is required under the 401(k)
Plan.
| 5. |
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VESTING, IN-SERVICE DISTRIBUTIONS AND INVESTMENT ELECTIONS |
A Participant shall be 100% vested at all times in the amount credited to his Account
which is attributable to his Deferrals. The amount credited to his Account attributable to
Matching Contributions shall vest in accordance with the vesting provisions of the 401(k)
Plan applicable to the vesting of matching contributions. The amount credited to a
Participants Account attributable to Company Contributions for each Plan Year shall vest in
accordance with the schedule determined by the Committee from time to time. Such
determination for a Plan Year shall be made no later than the time the Company Contribution,
if any, for the Plan Year is determined. In addition, to the extent not already vested,
amounts credited to a Participants Account attributable to Matching Contributions and
Company Contributions shall be fully vested upon a Participants Retirement Date or his
death while employed. All provisions of the Plan relating to the distribution of a
Participants Account shall mean only the vested portion of such Account. Since the Plan is
unfunded, the portion of a Participants Account which is not vested and therefore not
distributed with the vested portion of his Account shall remain property of the Company and
not be allocated to Accounts of other Participants or otherwise inure to their benefit.
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5.2. |
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Election of In-Service Distribution. |
If a Participant desires an in-service distribution of all or a percentage of his
Deferrals for a Plan Year and earnings on such Deferrals, he must so elect on his
Participation Agreement for such Plan Year. In the case of any such election, the
in-service distribution must be at least five (5) years after the end of the Plan Year for
which the Deferrals are made. If the Participant elects an in-service distribution, such
election shall not include Matching Contributions, Company Contributions, and earnings on
such contributions. All in-service distributions shall be paid in a lump sum.
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5.3. |
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Investment Elections. |
Amounts credited to a Participants Account shall be credited and charged with gains
and losses, as the case may be, based on hypothetical investments elected by the
Participant. A Participant may elect different investment allocations for new contributions
and existing Account balances. Only whole percentages may be elected, the minimum
percentage for any allocation is ten percent (10%), and the total elections must allocate
one hundred percent (100%) of all new contributions and one hundred percent (100%) of all
existing Account balances. Investment elections may be changed once per calendar quarter,
effective as of the first day of such quarter, by written direction given at least seven (7)
days before the start of such quarter. The hypothetical investment alternatives and the
procedures relating to the election of such investments, other than those set forth in this
Section 5.3, shall be determined by the Committee from time to time. A Participants
Account shall be adjusted as of each Valuation Date to reflect hypothetical investment gains
and losses.
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6.1. |
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Establishment of Bookkeeping Accounts. |
A separate bookkeeping Account shall be maintained for each Participant. Such account
shall be credited with the Deferrals, Matching Contributions and Company Contributions,
credited (or charged, as the case may be) with the hypothetical investment gain and losses
determined pursuant to Section 5.3, and charged with distributions made to or with respect
to the Participant.
Within each Participants bookkeeping Account, separate subaccounts shall be maintained
to the extent necessary for the administration of the Plan.
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6.3. |
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Hypothetical Nature of Accounts. |
The Account established under this Section 6 shall be hypothetical in nature and shall
be maintained for bookkeeping purposes only, so that Deferrals, Matching Contributions and
Company Contributions can be credited to the Participant and so that hypothetical investment
gains and losses on such amounts so credited can be credited (or charged, as the case may
be). Neither the Plan nor any of the Accounts (or subaccounts)
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shall hold any actual funds or assets. The right of any person to receive one or more
payments under the Plan shall be an unsecured claim against the general assets of the
Company. Any liability of the Company to any Participant, former Participant, or
Beneficiary with respect to a right to payment shall be based solely upon contractual
obligations created by the Plan. Neither the Company, the Board, nor any other person shall
be deemed to be a trustee of any amounts to be paid under the Plan. Nothing contained in
the 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 and a
Participant, former Participant, Beneficiary, or any other person.
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7.1. |
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In-Service Distribution or Distribution Upon Termination of Employment. |
Distribution of that portion of a Participants Account for which an in-service
distribution has been elected pursuant to Section 5.2 shall be made at the time specified in
such election unless the Participants employment terminates prior to such time, in which
event the remaining provisions of this Section 7.1, shall apply. Except as provided below,
a Participants entire Account shall be distributed to him (or his Beneficiary in the event
of his death) following the earliest to occur of the following:
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(i) |
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the Participants death; |
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(ii) |
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the Participants Retirement Date; or |
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(iii) |
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the Participants other termination of employment. |
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Participants Retirement Date is as defined in Section
2.1.25(b), if requested by the Participant and permitted by the Committee, distribution may
be deferred up until the earlier of the date the Participant attains age sixty two (62) or
the Participants death. |
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7.2. |
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Time of Distribution and Valuation. |
Upon a distributable event described in Section 7.1, the balance of a Participants
Account shall be determined as of the Valuation Date immediately following such event.
Distribution will be made or begin to be made as soon as practical after such Valuation Date
but in no event later than sixty (60) days following the distributable event.
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7.3. |
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Form of Payment or Payments. |
If the value of the Participants Account as of the Valuation Date described in Section
7.2 is at least Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), benefits which become payable after the
Participants Retirement Date or his death shall be paid in the form elected by the
Participant. The form elected shall apply to the entire Account. The election may be
amended, provided that the amended election does not increase the duration of payments in
the previous election and the election is made no later than twelve (12) months prior to his
Retirement Date or death. The forms of distribution are:
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(a) A lump sum amount; or
(b) Substantially equal monthly installments over a period of sixty (60), one hundred
twenty (120), or one hundred eighty (180) months or substantially equal annual installments
over a period of five (5), ten (10), or fifteen (15) years. The Committee shall have the
right from time to time to change the amount of each installment to reflect any differential
between earnings credited to the Account and those assumed when the initial or last
determination of the amount of each installment was made. Hypothetical investment gains and
losses on the unpaid balance shall continue to be credited and charged to subaccounts in
accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3.
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In all cases other than those described in the first sentence of this Section 7.3, the form
of benefit shall be a lump sum. If a former Participant is receiving an installment form of
distribution and dies prior to the distribution of his entire Account, distributions will be
continued to his Beneficiary. |
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7.4. |
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Accelerated Distribution. |
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, a Participant shall be entitled to
receive, upon written request to the Committee, a lump sum distribution of all or a portion
of his Account balance, valued as of the end of the month immediately prior to the month in
which such request is made, subject to a penalty of ten percent (10%) of the gross amount of
such distribution, which shall be forfeited. A Participant who receives a distribution
under this Section 7.4 shall not be eligible to make Deferrals until the first day of the
second Plan Year which begins after such distribution. The amount payable under this
section shall be paid in a lump sum as soon as practical following the receipt of the
Participants written request by the Committee and the valuation of his Account.
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7.5. |
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Designation of Beneficiaries. |
Each Participant shall have the right, at any time, to designate one (1) or more
persons or an entity as Beneficiary (both primary as well as secondary) to whom benefits
under this Plan shall be paid in the event of a Participants death prior to complete
distribution of the Participants Account. Each Beneficiary designation shall be in a
written form prescribed by the Committee and will be effective only when filed with the
Committee during the Participants lifetime. Designation by a married Participant who is a
resident of a community property state of a Beneficiary other than the Participants spouse
shall not be effective unless the spouse executes a written consent that acknowledges the
effect of the designation and is witnessed by a notary public, or the consent cannot be
obtained because the spouse cannot be located.
Except as provided below, any nonspousal designation of Beneficiary may be changed by a
Participant without the consent of such Beneficiary by the filing of a new designation with
the Committee. The filing of a new designation shall cancel all designations previously
filed.
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7.7. |
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Change in Marital Status. |
If the marital status of a Participant residing in a community property state changes
after the Participant has designated a Beneficiary, the following shall apply:
(a) If the Participant is married at death but was unmarried when the designation was
made, the designation shall be void unless the spouse has consented to it in the manner
prescribed above.
(b) If the Participant is unmarried at death but was married when the designation was
made:
(i) The designation shall be void if the spouse was named as Beneficiary.
(ii) The designation shall remain valid if a nonspouse Beneficiary was named.
(c) If the Participant was married when the designation was made and is married to a
different spouse at death, the designation shall be void unless the new spouse has consented
to it in the manner prescribed above.
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7.8. |
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No Beneficiary Designation. |
If any Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary in the manner provided above, or if
the Beneficiary designated by a deceased Participant dies before the Participant or before
complete distribution of the Participants benefits, the Participants Beneficiary shall be
the person in the first of the following classes in which there is a survivor:
(a) The Participants surviving spouse;
(b) The Participants children in equal shares, except that if any of the children
predeceases the Participant but leaves issue surviving, then such issue shall take by right
of representation the share the parent would have taken if living;
(c) The Participants estate.
If the Committee is unable to locate the Participant or Beneficiary to whom a benefit
is payable, such benefit may be forfeited to the Company, upon the Committees
determination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if subsequent to any such forfeiture the
Participant or Beneficiary to whom such benefit is payable makes a valid claim for such
benefit, such forfeited benefit shall be paid by the Company or restored to the Plan by the
Company.
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7.10. |
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Hardship Withdrawals. |
A Participant may apply in writing to the Committee for, and the Committee may permit,
a hardship withdrawal of all (valued as of the last Valuation Date prior to the month in
which the application is made) or any part of a Participants Account if the Committee, in
its sole discretion, determines that the Participant has incurred a severe financial
hardship resulting from a sudden and unexpected illness or accident of the Participant or of
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, as
determined by the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion. The amount that may be
withdrawn shall be limited to the amount reasonably necessary to relieve the hardship or
financial emergency upon which the request is based, plus the federal and state taxes due on
the withdrawal, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may require a Participant who
requests a hardship withdrawal to submit such evidence as the Committee, in its sole
discretion, deems necessary or appropriate to substantiate the circumstances upon which the
request is based. A Participant who receives a distribution under this Section 7.10 shall
not be eligible to make Deferrals until the first day of the second Plan Year which begins
after such distribution.
All Deferrals and distributions shall be subject to legally required income and
employment tax withholding.
The Plan shall be administered by a Committee, the members of which shall be designated
by the Compensation Committee of the Board. The Committee shall be responsible for the
general operation and administration of the Plan and for carrying out the provisions
thereof. The Committee may delegate to others certain aspects of the management and
operational responsibilities of the Plan including the employment of advisors and the
delegation of ministerial duties to qualified individuals, provided that such delegation is
in writing. No member of the Committee who is a Participant shall participate in any matter
relating to his status as a Participant or his rights or entitlement to benefits as a
Participant.
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8.2. |
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General Powers of Administration. |
The Committee shall have all powers necessary or appropriate to enable it to carry out
its administrative duties. Not in limitation, but in application of the foregoing, the
Committee shall have discretionary authority to construe and interpret the Plan and
determine all questions that may arise hereunder as to the status and rights of Employees,
Participants, and Beneficiaries. The Committee may exercise the powers hereby granted in
its sole and absolute discretion. The Committee may promulgate such regulations as it deems
appropriate for the operation and administration of the Plan. No member of the
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Committee shall be personally liable for any actions taken by the Committee unless the
members action involves gross negligence or willful misconduct.
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8.3. |
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Indemnification of Committee. |
The Company shall indemnify the members of the Committee against any and all claims,
losses, damages, expenses, including attorneys fees, incurred by them, and any liability,
including any amounts paid in settlement with the Companys approval, arising from their
action or failure to act, except when the same is judicially determined to be attributable
to their gross negligence or willful misconduct.
| 9. |
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DETERMINATION OF BENEFITS, CLAIMS PROCEDURE AND ADMINISTRATION |
A Participant, beneficiary or other person who believes that he or she is being denied
a benefit to which he is entitled (hereinafter referred to as Claimant), or his duly
authorized representative, may file a written request for such benefit with the Committee
setting forth his claim, including the nature of the claim, the facts supporting the claim,
the amount claimed and the address of the Claimant. The request must be addressed to the
Committee at the Company at its then principal place of business.
Upon receipt of a claim, the Committee shall review the claim and, unless special
circumstances require an extension of time, within 90 days after receipt of the claim, give
written or electronic notice of its decision with respect to the claim. If special
circumstances require an extension of time, the Committee shall advise the Claimant in
writing during the initial 90-day period, indicating the special circumstances requiring an
extension and the date by which the Committee expects to render the benefit determination.
In no event, however, shall such extension exceed 90 days.
If the claim is denied in whole or in part, the Committee will provide written or
electronic notice of its decision with respect to such claim, using language calculated to
be understood by the Claimant, setting forth:
(a) the specific reason or reasons for the denial;
(b) the specific references to pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial is based;
(c) a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant
to perfect the claim and an explanation as to why such material or such information is
necessary;
(d) appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the Claimant wishes to
submit the claim for review, including a statement of the Claimants right to bring a
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civil action under Section 502(a) of ERISA following an adverse benefit determination
on review; and
(e) the time limits for requesting a review of the denial under Section 9.3 and for the
actual review of the denial under Section 9.4.
Within sixty days after the receipt by the Claimant of the denial notice described
above, the Claimant may request in writing that the Secretary of the Company (Secretary)
review the Committees prior determination. Such request must be addressed to the Secretary
at the Company at its then principal place of business. Within the same 60-day period, the
Claimant or his duly authorized representative may submit written comments, documents,
records or other information relating to the denied claim, which such information shall be
considered in the review under this Section without regard to whether such information was
submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.
The Claimant or his duly authorized representative also shall be provided, upon request
and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other
information which (i) was relied upon by the Committee in making its initial claim decision,
(ii) was submitted, considered or generated in the course of the Committee making its
initial claim decision, without regard to whether such instrument was actually relied upon
by the Committee in making its decision or (iii) demonstrates compliance by the Committee
with its administrative processes and safeguards designed to ensure and to verify that
benefit claim determinations are made in accordance with governing Plan documents and that,
where appropriate, the Plan provisions have been applied consistently with respect to
similarly situated claimants. If the Claimant does not request a review of the Committees
determination within such 60-day period, he or she shall be barred and estopped from
challenging such determination.
Within a reasonable period of time, ordinarily not later than 60 days, after the
Secretarys receipt of a request for review, it will review the Committees prior
determination. If special circumstances require that the 60-day time period be extended,
the Secretary will so notify the Claimant within the initial 60-day period indicating the
special circumstances requiring an extension and the date by which the Secretary expects to
render its decision on review, which shall be as soon as possible but not later than 120
days after receipt of the request for review. In the event that the Secretary extends the
determination period on review due to a Claimants failure to submit information necessary
to decide a claim, the period for making the benefit determination on review shall not take
into account the period beginning on the date on which notification of extension is sent to
the Claimant and ending on the date on which the Claimant responds to the request for
additional information.
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Benefits under the Plan will be paid only if the Secretary decides in its discretion
that the Claimant is entitled to such benefits. The decision of the Secretary shall be
final and non-reviewable, unless found to be arbitrary and capricious by a court of
competent review. Such decision will be binding upon all parties, including but not limited
to, the Company and the Claimant.
If the Secretary makes an adverse benefit determination on review, the Secretary will
provide written or electronic notice of the Secretarys determination, using language
calculated to be understood by the Claimant, setting forth:
(a) the specific reason or reasons for the denial;
(b) the specific references to 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 and other information
which (i) was relied upon by the Secretary in making its decision, (ii) was submitted,
considered or generated in the course of the Secretary making its decision, without regard
to whether such instrument was actually relied upon by the Secretary in making its decision
or (iii) demonstrates compliance by the Secretary with its administrative processes and
safeguards designed to ensure and to verify that benefit claim determinations are made in
accordance with governing Plan documents, and that, where appropriate, the Plan provisions
have been applied consistently with respect to similarly situated claimants; and
(d) a statement of the Claimants right to bring a civil action under Section 502(a) of
ERISA following the adverse benefit determination on such review.
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9.5. |
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Discretionary Authority. |
The Committee and Secretary shall both have discretionary authority to determine a
Claimants entitlement to benefits upon his claim or his request for review of a denied
claim, respectively.
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10.1. |
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Plan Not a Contract of Employment. |
The adoption and maintenance of the Plan shall not be or be deemed to be a contract
between the Company and any person or to be consideration for the employment of any person.
Nothing herein contained shall give or be deemed to give any person the right to be retained
in the employ of the Company or to restrict the right of the Company to discharge any person
at any time; nor shall the Plan give or be deemed to give the Company the right to require
any person to remain in the employ of the Company or to restrict any persons right to
terminate his employment at any time.
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10.2. |
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Non-Assignability of Benefits. |
15
No Participant, Beneficiary or distributee of benefits under the Plan shall have any
power or right to transfer, assign, anticipate, hypothecate or otherwise encumber any part
or all of the amounts payable hereunder, which are expressly declared to be unassignable and
non-transferable. Any such attempted assignment or transfer shall be void. No amount
payable hereunder shall, prior to actual payment thereof, be subject to seizure by any
creditor of any such Participant, Beneficiary or other distributee for the payment of any
debt, judgment, or other obligation, by a proceeding at law or in equity, nor transferable
by operation of law in the event of the bankruptcy, insolvency or death of such Participant,
Beneficiary or other distributee hereunder.
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10.3. |
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Amendment and Termination. |
The Board may from time to time, in its discretion, amend, in whole or in part, any or
all of the provisions of the Plan; provided, however, that no amendment may be made which
would impair the rights of a Participant with respect to amounts already allocated to his
Account. The Board may terminate the Plan at any time. In the event that the Plan is
terminated, the balance in a Participants Account shall be paid to such Participant or his
Beneficiary in a lump sum or in equal monthly installments as the Committee determines.
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10.4. |
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Unsecured General Creditor Status of Employee. |
The payments to Participant, his Beneficiary or any other distributee hereunder shall
be made from assets which shall continue, for all purposes, to be a part of the general,
unrestricted assets of the Company; no person shall have nor acquire any interest in any
such assets by virtue of the provisions of this Plan. The Companys obligation hereunder
shall be an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay money in the future. To the extent that
the Participant, a Beneficiary, or other distributee acquires a right to receive payments
from the Company under the provisions hereof, such right shall be no greater than the right
of any unsecured general creditor of the Company; no such person shall have nor require any
legal or equitable right, interest or claim in or to any property or assets of the Company.
In the event that, in its discretion, the Company purchases an insurance policy or policies
insuring the life of the Participant (or any other property) to allow the Company to recover
the cost of providing the benefits, in whole, or in part, hereunder, neither the
Participant, his Beneficiary or other distributee shall have or acquire any rights
whatsoever therein or in the proceeds therefrom. The Company shall be the sole owner and
beneficiary of any such policy or policies and, as such, shall possess and may exercise all
incidents of ownership therein. No such policy, policies or other property shall be held in
any trust for a Participant, Beneficiary or other distributee or held as collateral security
for any obligation of the Company hereunder.
If any provision of this Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, said
illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof; instead, each
provision shall be fully severable and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if said
illegal or invalid provision had never been included herein.
16
All provisions of the Plan shall be construed in accordance with the laws of Illinois
except to the extent preempted by federal law.
This Plan shall be binding on each Participant and his heirs and legal representatives
and on the Company and its successors and assigns.
This document and any amendments contain all the terms and provisions of the Plan and
shall constitute the entire Plan, any other alleged terms or provisions being of no effect.
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10.9. |
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No Guarantee of Tax Consequences. |
While the Company has established and will maintain the Plan, the Company makes no
representation, warranty, commitment, or guaranty concerning the income, employment, or
other tax consequences of participation in the Plan under federal, state, or local law.
Each Company shall be the sole obligor with respect to Plan benefits that are owed to a
Participant which arise by virtue of contributions made by such Company or the Participants
employment by such Company.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Plan, as amended and restated herein, to be
executed on
the ___day of ______, _____.
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CDW COMPUTER CENTERS, INC.
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By: |
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Title: |
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