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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 14, 2019

 

Walker & Dunlop, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Maryland   001-35000   80-0629925
(State or other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

7501 Wisconsin Avenue
Suite 1200E
Bethesda, MD
  20814
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (301215-5500

 

Not applicable

(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class   Trading symbol   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share   WD   New York Stock Exchange

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

 

 

 

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

On November 14, 2019, Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (the “Company”) approved the Walker & Dunlop, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), pursuant to which certain key employees, including the Company’s named executive officers, and non-employee members of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) will be able to defer eligible compensation. The Plan will become effective January 1, 2020.

 

The Plan is an unfunded arrangement intended to be exempt from the participation, vesting, funding and fiduciary requirements set forth in Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).

 

The obligations of the Company under the Plan will be general unsecured obligations of the Company to pay deferred compensation in the future to eligible participants in accordance with the terms of the Plan from the general assets of the Company, although the Company intends to establish a trust to hold amounts that the Company will use to satisfy Plan distributions from time to time (the “Rabbi Trust”). The establishment of the Rabbi Trust will in no way deem the Plan to be “funded” for purposes of ERISA or the Code. The Company’s Fiduciary Committee will act as Plan administrator.

 

Pursuant to the Plan, a select group of highly compensated or management-level employees and non-employee members of the Board will be eligible to participate by making an election to defer, as applicable, up to seventy-five percent (75%) of the participant’s annual base salary, as well as one hundred percent (100%) of any discretionary or annual cash bonus award, cash long-term incentive award, commissions or cash compensation for services as a member of the Board. Participants will be 100% vested at all times in their individual deferral accounts maintained under the Plan. The Company may make discretionary contributions to the Plan on behalf of any participant; however, the Company does not currently intend to make such contributions. Any discretionary contributions will be credited to a separate contribution account, and a participant will vest in amounts credited to the participant’s contribution account based upon the schedule or schedules determined by the Company.

 

Payment of Plan accounts will occur upon a participant’s separation from service with the Company and/or pursuant to scheduled in-service distributions. The Company will require a six-month delay in the payment of Plan benefits if the participant is a “specified employee” pursuant to Section 409A of the Code at the time of his separation from service with the Company and its affiliates, and an earlier payment would result in the imposition of an excise tax on the participant if the amounts were received at the time of his separation.

 

The Company may, at any time, in its sole discretion, terminate the Plan or amend or modify the Plan, in whole or in part, except that no such termination, amendment or modification shall have any retroactive effect to reduce any amounts vested prior to such amendment.

 

The foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Plan and the Rabbi Trust, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated into this Current Report on Form 8-K by reference.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description
10.1   Walker & Dunlop, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan 
10.2   Form of Trust Agreement
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  WALKER & DUNLOP, INC.
   
     
Date: November 20, 2019 By:   /s/ Richard M. Lucas
    Name: Richard M. Lucas
    Title: Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

WALKER & DUNLOP, INC.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

Walker & Dunlop, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), hereby establishes the Walker & Dunlop, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Plan”), effective January 1, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), for the purpose of attracting and retaining high quality executives and Directors, and promoting in them increased efficiency and an interest in the successful operation of the Company. The Plan is intended to, and shall be interpreted to, comply in all respects with Code Section 409A and those provisions of ERISA applicable to an unfunded plan maintained primarily to provide deferred compensation benefits for a select group of “management or highly compensated employees.

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

1.1              Account” or “Accounts” shall mean the bookkeeping account or accounts established under this Plan pursuant to Article 4.

 

1.2              Base Salary” shall mean a Participant’s annual base salary, excluding incentive and discretionary bonuses, commissions, reimbursements and other non-regular remuneration, received from the Company prior to reduction for any salary deferrals under benefit plans sponsored by the Company, including but not limited to, plans established pursuant to Code Section 125 or qualified pursuant to Code Section 401(k).

 

1.3              Beneficiary” or “Beneficiaries” shall mean the person, persons or entity designated as such pursuant to Section 7.1.

 

1.4              Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

1.5              Bonus(es)” shall mean amounts paid to the Participant by the Company in the form of discretionary or annual incentive compensation or any other bonus designated by the Committee, before reductions for contributions to or deferrals under any pension, deferred compensation or benefit plans sponsored by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount of any Bonus subject to a deferral election under this Plan shall be calculated after reduction for any deferrals made by the Participant to the Company’s Management Deferred Stock Unit Purchase Plan with respect to the applicable incentive compensation or other bonus amount.

 

1.6              Change in Control Event” means a “change in the ownership,” “change in effective control,” or “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets,” as determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(i)(5), including without limitation the identification of the relevant corporation to which a “change in control event” must relate under Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(i)(5)(ii).

 

 

 

 

1.7             Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as interpreted by Treasury regulations and applicable authorities promulgated thereunder.

 

1.8              Committee” shall mean the person or persons appointed by the Board to administer the Plan in accordance with Article 9; provided, that, the Board and the Compensation Committee of the Board may also act as the Committee.

 

1.9             “Commissions” shall mean commissions payable to the Participant for the applicable Plan Year (as determined by the Committee in compliance with Code Section 409A) before reductions for contributions to or deferrals under any pension, deferred compensation or benefit plans sponsored by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount of any Commissions subject to a deferral election under this Plan shall be calculated after reduction for any deferrals made by the Participant to the Company’s Management Deferred Stock Unit Purchase Plan with respect to the applicable commissions.

 

1.10          Company Contributions” shall mean the discretionary contributions that may be made by the Company pursuant to Section 3.3.

 

1.11          Company Contribution Account” shall mean the Account maintained for the benefit of the Participant that is credited with Company Contributions, if any, pursuant to Section 4.2.

 

1.12           Compensation” shall mean all amounts eligible for deferral for a particular Plan Year under Section 3.1.

 

1.13           Crediting Rate” shall mean the notional gains and losses credited on the Participant’s Account balance that are based on the Participant’s choice among the investment alternatives made available by the Committee pursuant to Section 3.4 of the Plan.

 

1.14          Deferral Account” shall mean an Account maintained for each Participant that is credited with Participant deferrals pursuant to Section 4.1.

 

1.15          “Director” shall mean a non-employee member of the Board.

 

1.16          “Director’s Fees” shall mean cash compensation for services as a member of the Board, a Board committee or as Lead Director, excluding reimbursement of expenses or other non-regular forms of compensation, before reductions for contributions to or deferrals under any deferred compensation plan sponsored by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amount of any Director’s Fees subject to a deferral election under this Plan shall be calculated after reduction for any deferrals made by the Participant to the Company’s Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors with respect to such fees. The Committee may, in its discretion, provide for separate Participant Elections for the portion of the Director’s Fees that serves as a cash retainer and the portion of the Director’s Fees that reflects cash meeting fees.

 

 

 

 

1.17          Disability” or “Disabled” shall mean (consistent with the requirements of Code Section 409A) that the Participant (a) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or (b) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Participant’s Employer. For purposes of this Plan, a Participant shall be Disabled if (a) determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration, or (b) determined to be disabled in accordance with the applicable disability insurance program of such Participant’s Employer, provided that the definition of “disability” applied under such disability insurance program complies with the requirements of this definition.

 

1.18          Distributable Amount” shall mean the vested balance in the applicable Account as determined under Article 4.

 

1.19          Eligible Executive” shall mean a highly compensated or management-level employee or Director of an Employer selected by the Committee to be eligible to participate in the Plan.

 

1.20          “Employer(s)” shall be defined as follows:

 

(a)              Except as otherwise provided in part (b) of this Section, the term “Employer” shall mean the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries (now in existence or hereafter formed or acquired) that have been selected by the Board to participate in the Plan and have adopted the Plan as a sponsor.

 

(b)               For the purpose of determining whether a Participant has experienced a Separation from Service, the term “Employer” shall mean:

 

(1)               The entity for which the Participant performs services and with respect to which the legally binding right to compensation deferred or contributed under this Plan arises; and

 

(2)               All other entities with which the entity described above would be aggregated and treated as a single employer under Code Section 414(b) (controlled group of corporations) and Code Section 414(c) (a group of trades or businesses, whether or not incorporated, under common control), as applicable. In order to identify the group of entities described in the preceding sentence, the Committee shall use an ownership threshold of at least 50% as a substitute for the 80% minimum ownership threshold that appears in, and otherwise must be used when applying, the applicable provisions of (A) Code Section 1563 for determining a controlled group of corporations under Code Section 414(b), and (B) Treas. Reg. §1.414(c)-2 for determining the trades or businesses that are under common control under Code Section 414(c).

 

1.21          ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including Department of Labor and Treasury regulations and applicable authorities promulgated thereunder.

 

 

 

 

1.22          Financial Hardship” shall mean a severe financial hardship to the Participant resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, or a dependent (as defined in Code Section 152, without regard to Code Section 152(b)(1), (b)(2), and (d)(1)(B))) 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, but shall in all events correspond to the meaning of the term “unforeseeable emergency” under Code Section 409A.

 

1.23          Fund” or “Funds” shall mean one or more of the investments selected by the Committee pursuant to Section 3.4 of the Plan.

 

1.24          Hardship Distribution” shall mean an accelerated distribution of benefits or a cancellation of deferral elections pursuant to Section 6.6 to a Participant who has suffered a Financial Hardship.

 

1.25          Interest Rate” shall mean, for each Fund, the rate of return derived from the net gain or loss on the assets of such Fund, as determined by the Committee.

 

1.26          LTIP Amounts” shall mean any portion of the cash compensation attributable to a Plan Year that is earned by a Participant under a long-term incentive plan or any other long-term incentive arrangement designated by the Committee, before reductions for contributions to or deferrals under any pension, deferred compensation or benefit plans sponsored by the Company.

 

1.27          Participant” shall mean any Eligible Executive who becomes a Participant in this Plan in accordance with Article 2.

 

1.28          Participant Election(s)” shall mean the forms or procedures by which a Participant makes elections with respect to (a) voluntary deferrals of his/her Compensation, (b) the Funds in which the Participant’s Accounts shall be deemed to be invested, which shall act as the basis for crediting of interest on Account balances, and (c) the form and timing of distributions from Accounts. Participant Elections may take the form of an electronic communication followed by appropriate confirmation according to specifications established by the Committee.

 

1.29          Payment Date” shall mean the date by which a total distribution of the Distributable Amount shall become payable or the date by which installment payments of the Distributable Amount shall commence, determined as follows:

 

(a)               For benefits triggered by the Participant’s Separation from Service, the Payment Date shall be the first business day of the seventh month directly following the month in which the Separation from Service occurs, and the applicable amount shall be calculated as of the last business day of the sixth month following the month in which the Separation from Service occurs. Subsequent installments, if any, shall be made in June of each Plan Year following the Plan Year in which the initial installment payment was payable and shall be calculated as of the last business day of the preceding May;

 

 

 

 

(b)               For benefits triggered by (i) the death of a Participant or (ii) the Disability of a Participant prior to Separation from Service, the Payment Date shall be the first business day of the month commencing after the month in which the event triggering the payout occurs, and the applicable amount shall be calculated as of the last business day of the month in which the event triggering the payout occurs. In the case of death, the Committee shall be provided with documentation reasonably necessary to establish the fact of the Participant’s death; and

 

(c)               The Payment Date of a Scheduled Distribution shall be the first business day of June of the Plan Year in which the distribution is scheduled to commence, and the applicable Distributable Amount shall be calculated as of the last business day of the preceding May. Subsequent installments, if any, shall be calculated as of the last business day of May of each succeeding Plan Year after the initial calculation, and shall be made in June of each Plan Year following the Plan Year in which the initial installment payment was payable.

 

Payments may be made following the applicable Payment Date, provided such payments are made in accordance with Code Section 409A, including without limitation Treas. Reg. §1.409A-3(d).

 

1.30          Performance-Based Compensation” shall mean cash compensation the entitlement to or amount of which is contingent on the satisfaction of pre-established organizational or individual performance criteria relating to a performance period of at least 12 consecutive months, as determined by the Committee in accordance with Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(e).

 

1.31          Plan Year” shall mean the calendar year.

 

1.32          “Retirement” shall mean the Participant’s Separation from Service after having attained age sixty-two (62).

 

1.33          Scheduled Distribution” shall mean a scheduled distribution date elected by the Participant for distribution of amounts from the Deferral Account (or, where permitted by the Committee, as to a Company Contribution), including notional earnings thereon, as provided under Section 6.5.

 

1.34          Separation from Service” shall mean a termination of services provided by a Participant to his or her Employer, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, other than by reason of death or Disability, as determined by the Committee in accordance with Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(h). In determining whether a Participant has experienced a Separation from Service, the following provisions shall apply:

 

(a)               For a Participant who provides services to an Employer as an employee, except as otherwise provided in part (c) of this Section, a Separation from Service shall occur when such Participant has experienced a termination of employment with such Employer. A Participant shall be considered to have experienced a termination of employment when the facts and circumstances indicate that the Participant and his or her Employer reasonably anticipate that either (i) no further services will be performed for the Employer after a certain date, or (ii) that the level of bona fide services the Participant will perform for the Employer after such date (whether as an employee or as an independent contractor) will permanently decrease to no more than 20% of the average level of bona fide services performed by such Participant (whether as an employee or an independent contractor) over the immediately preceding 36-month period (or the full period of services to the Employer if the Participant has been providing services to the Employer less than 36 months).

 

 

 

 

If a Participant is on military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence, the employment relationship between the Participant and the Employer shall be treated as continuing intact, provided that the period of such leave does not exceed 6 months, or if longer, so long as the Participant retains a right to reemployment with the Employer under an applicable statute or by contract. If the period of a military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence exceeds 6 months and the Participant does not retain a right to reemployment under an applicable statute or by contract, the employment relationship shall be considered to be terminated for purposes of this Plan as of the first day immediately following the end of such 6-month period. In applying the provisions of this paragraph, a leave of absence shall be considered a bona fide leave of absence only if there is a reasonable expectation that the Participant will return to perform services for the Employer.

 

(b)               For a Participant, if any, who provides services to an Employer as an independent contractor, except as otherwise provided in part (c) of this Section, a Separation from Service shall occur upon the expiration of the contract (or in the case of more than one contract, all contracts) under which services are performed for such Employer, provided that the expiration of such contract(s) is determined by the Committee to constitute a good-faith and complete termination of the contractual relationship between the Participant and such Employer.

 

(c)               For a Participant, if any, who provides services to an Employer as both an employee and an independent contractor, a Separation from Service generally shall not occur until the Participant has ceased providing services for such Employer as both an employee and as an independent contractor, as determined in accordance with the provisions set forth in parts (a) and (b) of this Section, respectively.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions in this part (c), if a Participant provides services for an Employer as both an employee and as a Director, to the extent permitted by Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(h)(5) the services provided by such Participant as a Director shall not be taken into account in determining whether the Participant has experienced a Separation from Service as an employee, and the services provided by such Participant as an employee shall not be taken into account in determining whether the Participant has experienced a Separation from Service as a Director.

 

1.35          Termination of Service” shall mean a Participant’s Separation from Service that does not qualify as a Retirement.

 

1.36          Trust” shall mean a grantor trust that may be established by the Company for the purpose of providing for payment of benefits under the Plan.

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

PARTICIPATION

 

2.1              Enrollment Requirements; Commencement of Participation

 

(a)               As a condition to participation, each Eligible Executive shall complete, execute and return to the Committee the appropriate Participant Elections, as well as such other documentation and information as the Committee reasonably requests, by the deadline(s) established by the Committee. In addition, the Committee shall establish from time to time such other enrollment requirements as it determines, in its sole discretion, are necessary.

 

(b)               Each Eligible Executive shall commence participation in the Plan on the date that the Committee determines that the Eligible Executive has met all enrollment requirements set forth in this Plan and required by the Committee, including returning all required documents to the Committee within the specified time period.

 

(c)               If an Eligible Executive fails to meet all requirements established by the Committee within the period required for a particular Plan Year, that Eligible Executive shall not be eligible to participate in the Plan during such Plan Year.

 

 

ARTICLE III

CONTRIBUTIONS & DEFERRAL ELECTIONS

 

3.1              Elections to Defer Compensation. Elections to defer Compensation shall take the form of a whole percentage (which amounts shall be reduced for applicable payroll withholding requirements for Social Security and income taxes and employee benefit plans, as determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the Committee) of up to a maximum of:

 

(a) 75% of Base Salary,
(b) 100% of Bonuses,
(c) 100% of LTIP Amounts,
(d) 100% of Commissions and
(e) 100% of Director’s Fees.

 

To the extent applicable, deferrals under this Plan shall be calculated after reduction for any deferrals under the Company’s Management Deferred Stock Unit Purchase Plan and the Company’s Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors.

 

The Committee may, in its sole discretion, adjust for subsequent Plan Years on a prospective basis the maximum deferral percentages described in this Section for one or more types of Compensation (including, without limitation, for particular types of Bonuses) and for one or more subsequent Plan Years; such revised deferral percentages shall be indicated on a Participant Election form approved by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the maximum deferral percentages be adjusted after the last date on which deferral elections for the applicable type(s) of Compensation must be submitted and become irrevocable in accordance with Section 3.2 below and the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

 

 

 

In the event that, after taking into account a Participant’s deferral elections under the Company’s Management Deferred Stock Unit Purchase Plan or the Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, as applicable, the amount of Bonuses, Commissions or Director’s Fees deferred under this Plan exceeds 100% of such Participant’s Bonuses, Commissions or Director’s Fees, as applicable, the Committee shall reduce each such deferral election under this Plan so that the total amount deferred under all such plans equals 100%.

 

The Committee may determine that one or more types of Compensation shall not be made available for deferral for one or more subsequent Plan Years and, consistent with such determination, the impacted types of Compensation shall not appear on a Participant Election form.

 

3.2              Timing of Deferral Elections; Effect of Participant Election(s).

 

(a)               General Timing Rule for Deferral Elections. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3.2, in order for a Participant to make a valid election to defer Compensation, the Participant must submit Participant Election(s) on or before the deadline established by the Committee, which shall be no later than the December 31st preceding the Plan Year in which such compensation will be earned.

 

Any deferral election made in accordance with this Section 3.2(a) shall be irrevocable; provided, however, that if the Committee permits or requires Participants to make a deferral election by the deadline described above for an amount that qualifies as Performance-Based Compensation, the Committee may permit a Participant to subsequently change his or her deferral election for such compensation by submitting new Participant Election(s) in accordance with Section 3.2(c) below.

 

(b)               Timing of Deferral Elections for New Plan Participants. An Eligible Executive who first becomes eligible to participate in the Plan on or after the beginning of a Plan Year, as determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. §1.409A-2(a)(7)(ii) and the “plan aggregation” rules provided in Treas. Reg. §1.409A-1(c)(2), may be permitted to make an election to defer the portion of Compensation attributable to services to be performed after such election, provided that the Participant submits Participant Election(s) on or before the deadline established by the Committee, which in no event shall be later than thirty (30) days after the Participant first becomes eligible to participate in the Plan.

 

If a deferral election made in accordance with this Section 3.2(b) relates to Compensation earned based upon a specified performance period, the amount eligible for deferral shall be equal to (i) the total amount of Compensation for the performance period, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days remaining in the service period after the Participant’s deferral election is made, and the denominator of which is the total number of days in the performance period.

 

Any deferral election made in accordance with this Section 3.2(b) shall become irrevocable no later than the 30th day after the date the Participant first becomes eligible to participate in the Plan.

 

 

 

 

(c)               Timing of Deferral Elections for Performance-Based Compensation. Subject to the limitations described below, the Committee may determine that an irrevocable deferral election for an amount that qualifies as Performance-Based Compensation may be made by submitting Participant Election(s) on or before the deadline established by the Committee, which in no event shall be later than six (6) months before the end of the performance period on which such Performance-Based Compensation is based.

 

In order for a Participant to be eligible to make a deferral election for Performance-Based Compensation in accordance with the deadline established pursuant to this Section 3.2(c), the Participant must have performed services continuously from the later of (i) the beginning of the performance period for such compensation, or (ii) the date upon which the performance criteria for such compensation are established, through the date upon which the Participant makes the deferral election for such compensation. In no event shall a deferral election submitted under this Section 3.2(c) be permitted to apply to any amount of Performance-Based Compensation that has become readily ascertainable.

 

(d)               Timing Rule for Deferral of Compensation Subject to Risk of Forfeiture. Notwithstanding Section 3.2(a), with respect to Compensation (i) to which a Participant has a legally binding right to payment in a subsequent year, and (ii) that is subject to a forfeiture condition requiring the Participant’s continued services for a period of at least twelve (12) months from the date the Participant obtains the legally binding right, the Committee may determine that an irrevocable deferral election for such Compensation may be made by timely delivering Participant Election(s) to the Committee in accordance with its rules and procedures, no later than the 30th day after the Participant obtains the legally binding right to the Compensation, provided that the election is made at least twelve (12) months in advance of the earliest date at which the forfeiture condition could lapse, as determined in accordance with Treas. Reg. §1.409A-2(a)(5).

 

Any deferral election(s) made in accordance with this Section 3.2(d) shall become irrevocable no later than the 30th day after the Participant obtains the legally binding right to the Compensation subject to such deferral election(s).

 

(e)               Separate Deferral Elections for Each Plan Year. In order to defer Compensation for a Plan Year, a Participant must submit a separate deferral election with respect to Compensation for such Plan Year by affirmatively filing a Participant Election during the enrollment period established by the Committee prior to the beginning of such Plan Year (or at such other time contemplated under this Section 3.2), which election shall be effective on the first day of the next following Plan Year (unless otherwise specified on the Participant Election).

 

3.3              Company Contributions. The Company shall have the discretion to make Company Contributions to the Plan at any time and in any amount on behalf of any Participant, which amount shall be subject to the terms selected by the Company, including vesting terms. Company Contributions shall be made in the complete and sole discretion of the Company and no Participant shall have the right to receive any Company Contribution in any particular Plan Year regardless of whether Company Contributions are made on behalf of other Participants. The Company may, in its sole discretion, permit Participants to separately elect the time and/or form of distribution for one or more Company Contributions pursuant to a Participant Election filed during an enrollment period established by the Committee. Any such distribution election for a Company Contribution shall comply with the timing requirements under Section 3.2 above or as otherwise permitted in accordance with Code Section 409A, and such distribution election shall only apply to the identified Company Contribution.

 

 

 

 

3.4              Investment Elections.

 

(a)               Participant Designation. At the time of entering the Plan and/or of making a deferral election under the Plan, the Participant shall designate, on a Participant Election provided by the Committee, the Funds in which the Participant’s Accounts shall be deemed to be invested for purposes of determining the amount of earnings and losses to be credited to each Account. The Participant may specify that all or any percentage of his or her Accounts shall be deemed to be invested, in whole percentage increments, in one or more of the Funds selected as alternative investments under the Plan from time to time by the Committee pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. If a Participant fails to make an election among the Funds as described in this section, the Participant’s Account balance shall automatically be allocated into a Fund determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. A Participant may change any designation made under this Section as permitted by the Committee by filing a revised election, on a Participant Election provided by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose limitations on the frequency with which one or more of the Funds elected in accordance with this Section may be added or deleted by such Participant; furthermore, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may impose limitations on the frequency with which the Participant may change the portion of his or her Account balance allocated to each previously or newly elected Fund.

 

(b)               Investment Funds. The Committee may select, in its sole and absolute discretion, each of the types of commercially available investments communicated to the Participant pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section to be the Funds. The Interest Rate of each such commercially available investment shall be used to determine the amount of earnings or losses to be credited to the Participant’s Account under Article IV. The Participant’s choice among investments shall be solely for purposes of calculation of the Crediting Rate on Accounts. The Company and the Employers shall have no obligation to set aside or invest amounts as directed by the Participant and, if the Company and/or the Employer elects to invest amounts as directed by the Participant, the Participant shall have no more right to such investments than any other unsecured general creditor.

 

3.5              Distribution Elections.

 

(a)               Initial Election. At the time of making a deferral election under the Plan, the Participant shall designate the time and form of distribution of deferrals made pursuant to such election (together with any earnings credited thereon) from among the alternatives specified under Article VI for the applicable distribution. Such distribution election(s) for a given Plan Year shall relate solely to that Plan Year. A new distribution election may be made at the time of subsequent deferral elections with respect to deferrals in Plan Years beginning after the election is made, in accordance with the Participant Election forms.

 

 

 

 

(b)               Company Contribution Election. The Company may, in its sole discretion, permit a separate distribution election, including the election of a Scheduled Distribution, for one or more Company Contributions pursuant to a Participant Election filed during an enrollment period established by the Committee; any such distribution election shall comply with the timing requirements under Section 3.2 above or as otherwise permitted in accordance with Code Section 409A, and such separate distribution election shall only apply to the identified Company Contribution(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a separate distribution election is not submitted for a Company Contribution, the initial distribution election made by the Participant under sub-section (a) above for Compensation deferrals for the applicable Plan Year shall also apply to such Company Contribution, except that no portion of such Company Contribution shall be subject to or paid as a Scheduled Distribution.

 

(c)               Modification of Election. A distribution election with respect to previously deferred amounts may only be changed under the terms and conditions specified in Code Section 409A and this Section. Except as permitted under Code Section 409A, no acceleration of a distribution is permitted. A subsequent election that delays payment and/or changes the form of payment for a Scheduled Distribution or for the Retirement distribution for a Plan Year shall be permitted if and only if all of the following requirements are met:

 

(1)               the new election does not take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which the new election is made;

 

(2)               the new election delays payment for at least five (5) years from the date that payment would otherwise have been made, absent the new election; and

 

(3)               in the case of payments made according to a Scheduled Distribution, the new election is made not less than twelve (12) months before the date on which payment would have been made (or, in the case of installment payments, the first installment payment would have been made) absent the new election.

 

For purposes of application of the above change limitations, installment payments shall be treated as a single payment under Code Section 409A. Only one (1) change shall be allowed to be made by a Participant with respect to each Plan Year’s election regarding the benefits to be received by such Participant upon Retirement. Election changes made pursuant to this Section shall be made in accordance with rules established by the Committee and shall comply with all requirements of Code Section 409A and applicable authorities.

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

ACCOUNTS

 

4.1              Deferral Accounts. The Committee shall establish and maintain a Deferral Account for each Participant under the Plan. Each Participant’s Deferral Account shall be further divided into separate subaccounts (“Fund Subaccounts”), each of which corresponds to a Fund designated pursuant to Section 3.4. A Participant’s Deferral Account shall be credited as follows:

 

(a)               As soon as reasonably practicable after amounts deferred from a Participant’s Compensation that would otherwise have been payable to Participant, the Committee shall credit the Fund Subaccounts of the Participant’s Deferral Account with an amount equal to Compensation deferred by the Participant in accordance with the designation under Section 3.4; that is, the portion of the Participant’s deferred Compensation designated to be deemed to be invested in a Fund shall be credited to the Fund Subaccount to be invested in that Fund;

 

(b)               Each business day, each Fund Subaccount of a Participant’s Deferral Account shall be credited with earnings or losses in an amount equal to that determined by multiplying the balance credited to such Fund Subaccount as of the prior day, less any distributions valued as of the end of the prior day, by the Interest Rate for the corresponding Fund as determined by the Committee pursuant to Section 3.4(b); and

 

(c)               In the event that a Participant elects for a given Plan Year’s deferral of Compensation a Scheduled Distribution, all amounts attributed to the deferral of Compensation for such Plan Year shall be accounted for in a manner which allows separate accounting for the deferral of Compensation and investment gains and losses associated with amounts allocated to each such separate Scheduled Distribution.

 

4.2              Company Contribution Account. In the event that the Company determines to make a Company Contribution, the Committee shall establish and maintain a Company Contribution Account for each Participant under the Plan; provided that nothing herein shall obligate the Company to make any Company Contributions. Each Participant’s Company Contribution Account, if any, shall be further divided into separate Fund Subaccounts corresponding to the Fund designated pursuant to Section 3.4(a). A Participant’s Company Contribution Account shall be credited as follows:

 

(a)               As soon as reasonably practicable after a Company Contribution is made, the Company shall credit the Fund Subaccounts of the Participant’s Company Contribution Account with an amount equal to the Company Contributions, if any, made on behalf of that Participant, that is, the proportion of the Company Contributions, if any, designated to be deemed to be invested in a certain Fund shall be credited to the Fund Subaccount to be invested in that Fund; and

 

(b)               Each business day, each Fund Subaccount of a Participant’s Company Contribution Account shall be credited with earnings or losses in an amount equal to that determined by multiplying the balance credited to such Fund Subaccount as of the prior day, less any distributions valued as of the end of the prior day, by the Interest Rate for the corresponding Fund as determined by the Committee pursuant to Section 3.4(b).

 

(c)               In the event that a Participant is permitted to elect a Scheduled Distribution for one or more Company Contributions, such Company Contributions shall be accounted for in a manner which allows separate accounting for the Company Contribution and investment earnings, gains and losses allocated to each such separate Scheduled Distribution.

 

 

 

 

 

4.3              Trust. The Company shall be responsible for the payment of all benefits under the Plan. However, at its discretion, the Company may establish a Trust. Such Trust may be irrevocable, but the assets thereof shall be subject to the claims of the Company’s creditors. Benefits paid to the Participant from such Trust shall be considered paid by the Company for purposes of meeting the obligations of the Company under the Plan and the Company shall have no further obligation to pay them.

 

4.4              Statement of Accounts. The Committee shall make available to each Participant electronic statements at least quarterly setting forth the Participant’s Account balance as of the end of each applicable period.

 

ARTICLE V

VESTING

 

5.1              Vesting of Deferral Accounts. The Participant shall be vested at all times in amounts credited to the Participant’s Deferral Account.

 

5.2              Vesting of Company Contribution Account. Amounts credited to the Participant’s Company Contribution Account shall be vested based upon the schedule or schedules determined by the Company in its sole discretion and communicated to the Participant.

 

ARTICLE VI

DISTRIBUTIONS

 

6.1              Retirement Distributions.

 

(a)               Timing and Form of Retirement Distributions. Except as otherwise provided herein, in the event of a Participant’s Retirement, the Distributable Amount credited to the Participant’s Deferral Account and Company Contribution Account shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum on the Payment Date following the Participant’s Retirement, unless the Participant has made an alternative benefit election on a Participant Election form on a timely basis to receive substantially equal annual installments over up to fifteen (15) years. In accordance with a Participant Election approved by the Committee, for each Plan Year the Participant may elect a separate form of distribution applicable upon Retirement for the deferrals attributable to such Plan Year. In addition, in accordance with Sections 3.3 and 3.5(b), the Company may permit a separate Retirement distribution election to be submitted by a Participant for one or more Company Contributions attributable to a Plan Year. A Participant may delay and/or change the form of payment applicable upon Retirement for one or more Plan Years, provided any such revised election complies with the requirements of Section 3.5(c).

 

(b)        Retirement Following Change in Control Event. Notwithstanding any Participant election under Section 6.1(a) to the contrary, in the event that a Participant’s Retirement occurs within one (1) year following a Change in Control Event, the Distributable Amount credited to the Participant’s Deferral Account and Company Contribution Account (or remaining Distributable Amount in the event installment payments have commenced for one or more Scheduled Distributions) shall be distributed in the form of a lump sum on the Payment Date following the Participant’s Retirement.

 

 

 

6.2              Termination Distributions. Except as otherwise provided herein, in the event of a Participant’s Termination of Service, the Distributable Amount credited to the Participant’s Deferral Account and Company Contribution Account shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum on the Payment Date following the Participant’s Termination of Service. Such lump sum payment of the Distributable Amount shall not include any amounts subject to a Scheduled Distribution that commenced installment payments prior to the Participant’s Termination of Service, except where such Termination of Service occurs within one (1) year following a Change in Control Event, in which case, the remaining Distributable Amount shall include such installment payments that have commenced prior to such Termination of Service.

 

6.3              Disability Distributions. Except as otherwise provided herein, in the event of a Participant’s Disability prior to Separation from Service, the Distributable Amount credited to the Participant’s Deferral Account and Company Contribution Account shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum on the Payment Date following the Participant’s Disability. Such lump sum payment of the Distributable Amount shall not include any amounts subject to a Scheduled Distribution that commenced installment payments prior to the Participant’s Disability.

 

6.4              Death Benefits. Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Participant dies prior to complete distribution of his or her Accounts under the Plan, the Participant’s Beneficiary shall receive a death benefit equal to the Distributable Amount (or remaining Distributable Amount in the event installment payments have commenced) credited to the Participant’s Deferral Account and Company Contribution Account in a lump sum on the Payment Date following the Participant’s death.

 

6.5              Scheduled Distributions.

 

(a)               Scheduled Distribution Election. Participants shall be entitled to elect to receive a Scheduled Distribution from the Deferral Account applicable to the Participant’s Compensation deferrals for a particular Plan Year. In the case of a Participant who has elected to receive a Scheduled Distribution, commencing on the applicable Payment Date, such Participant shall receive the Distributable Amount with respect to the applicable Plan Year’s Compensation deferrals, including earnings thereon, which have been elected by the Participant on a Participant Election form. The Committee shall determine the earliest commencement date that may be elected by the Participant for each Scheduled Distribution and such date shall be indicated on the Participant Election form. No Company Contribution shall be payable as part of a Scheduled Distribution, except where the Company has authorized the filing of a Scheduled Distribution election for one or more Company Contributions in accordance with Sections 3.3 and 3.5(b). In the event the Company authorizes the submission of Scheduled Distribution elections for one or more Company Contributions, the earliest commencement date for distribution of such Company Contributions shall not precede the date upon which the applicable Company Contribution shall be fully vested. The Participant may elect to receive the Scheduled Distribution in a single lump sum or substantially equal annual installments over a period of up to five (5) years. A Participant may delay and/or change the form of a Scheduled Distribution, provided such revised election complies with the requirements of Section 3.5(c).

 

 

 

(b)               Relationship to Other Benefits.

 

(1)               In the event of a Participant’s Retirement, Termination of Service, Disability or death prior to the initial Payment Date for a Scheduled Distribution, such Scheduled Distribution shall not be distributed under this Section 6.5, but rather shall be distributed in accordance with the other applicable Section of this Article VI.

 

(2)               In the event of a Participant’s Retirement, Termination of Service or Disability after one or more Scheduled Distributions has commenced installment payments on the applicable Payment Date, such Scheduled Distribution(s) shall continue to be paid at the same time and in the same form as if the Retirement, Termination of Service or Disability, as applicable, had not occurred; provided, however, that if a Retirement or Termination of Service occurs within one (1) year of a Change in Control Event, any Scheduled Distributions that had commenced installment payments prior to such Retirement or Termination of Service shall become distributable in a lump sum in accordance with Section 6.1(b) or Section 6.2, as applicable.

 

(3)               In the event of a Participant’s death after one or more Scheduled Distributions has commenced installment payments on the applicable Payment Date, the remaining Distributable Amount of such Scheduled Distribution(s) shall be distributed in accordance with Section 6.4.

 

6.6              Hardship Distributions. Upon a finding that the Participant has suffered a Financial Hardship, in accordance with Code Section 409A, the Committee may, at the request of the Participant, accelerate distribution of benefits and/or approve cancellation of deferral elections under the Plan, subject to the following conditions:

 

(a)               The request to take a Hardship Distribution shall be made by filing a form provided by and filed with the Committee prior to the end of any calendar month.

 

(b)               Upon a finding that the Participant has suffered a Financial Hardship in accordance with Treasury Regulations promulgated under Code Section 409A, the Committee may, at the request of the Participant, accelerate distribution of benefits and/or approve cancellation of current deferral elections under the Plan in the amount reasonably necessary to alleviate such Financial Hardship. The amount distributed pursuant to this Section with respect to the Financial Hardship shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy such Financial Hardship, plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution, after taking into account the extent to which such hardship is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise or by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship).

 

 

 

(c)               The amount (if any) determined by the Committee as a Hardship Distribution shall be paid in a single cash lump sum as soon as practicable after the end of the calendar month in which the Hardship Distribution determination is made by the Committee.

 

6.7              Limited Cashouts. Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, distribute in a mandatory lump sum any Participant’s entire Deferral Account and/or Company Contribution Account under the Plan, provided that any such distribution is made in accordance with the requirements of Treas. Reg. §1.409A-3(j)(4)(v) or its successor (each such payment, a “Limited Cashout”). Specifically, any such Limited Cashout pursuant to this Section 6.7 shall be subject to the following requirements:

 

(a)               The Committee’s exercise of discretion to make the Limited Cashout shall be evidenced in writing no later than the date of the lump sum payment;

 

(b)               The lump sum payment shall result in the termination and liquidation of the entirety of the Participant's Deferral Account and/or Company Contribution Account under the Plan, as applicable, as well as the Participant’s interest in all other plans, agreements, methods, programs, or other arrangements with respect to which deferrals of compensation are treated as having been deferred under a single nonqualified deferred compensation plan under Treas. Reg. §1.409A–1(c)(2) with the Account(s) that is being distributed from this Plan; and

 

(c)       The lump sum payment (and the Participant’s entire interest in any and all other “plans” that would be aggregated with the Account(s) being distributed from this Plan in accordance with Treas. Reg. §1.409A–1(c)(2)) is not greater than the applicable dollar amount under Code Section 402(g)(1)(B) at the time of the Limited Cashout.

 

6.8              Any such Limited Cashout shall be calculated as of the last business day of the month in which the Committee’s determination to make the Limited Cashout occurs, and such lump sum payment shall be made within sixty (60) days following such determination.

 

ARTICLE VII 

PAYEE DESIGNATIONS AND LIMITATIONS

 

7.1              Beneficiaries.

 

(a)               Beneficiary Designation. The Participant shall have the right, at any time, to designate any person or persons as Beneficiary (both primary and contingent) to whom payment under the Plan shall be made in the event of the Participant’s death. If the Participant names someone other than his or her spouse as a Beneficiary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine that spousal consent is required to be provided in a form designated by the Committee, executed by such Participant's spouse and returned to the Committee. The Beneficiary designation shall be effective when it is submitted to and acknowledged by the Committee during the Participant’s lifetime in the format prescribed by the Committee.

 

 

 

(b)               Absence of Valid Designation. If a Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary as provided above, or if every person designated as Beneficiary predeceases the Participant or dies prior to complete distribution of the Participant’s benefits, then the Committee shall deem the Participant’s estate to be the Beneficiary and shall direct the distribution of such benefits to the Participant’s estate.

 

7.2              Payments to Minors. In the event any amount is payable under the Plan to a minor, payment shall not be made to the minor, but instead such payment shall be made (a) to that person’s living parent(s) to act as custodian, (b) if that person’s parents are then divorced, and one parent is the sole custodial parent, to such custodial parent, to act as custodian, or (c) if no parent of that person is then living, to a custodian selected by the Committee to hold the funds for the minor under the Uniform Transfers or Gifts to Minors Act in effect in the jurisdiction in which the minor resides. If no parent is living and the Committee decides not to select another custodian to hold the funds for the minor, then payment shall be made to the duly appointed and currently acting guardian of the estate for the minor or, if no guardian of the estate for the minor is duly appointed and currently acting within sixty (60) days after the date the amount becomes payable, payment shall be deposited with the court having jurisdiction over the estate of the minor.

 

7.3              Payments on Behalf of Persons Under Incapacity. In the event that any amount becomes payable under the Plan to a person who, in the sole judgment of the Committee, is considered by reason of physical or mental condition to be unable to give a valid receipt therefore, the Committee may direct that such payment be made to any person found by the Committee, in its sole judgment, to have assumed the care of such person. Any payment made pursuant to such determination shall constitute a full release and discharge of any and all liability of the Committee and the Company under the Plan.

 

ARTICLE VIII

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

 

8.1              Paid Leave of Absence. If a Participant is authorized by the Participant's Employer to take a paid leave of absence from the employment of the Employer, and such leave of absence does not constitute a Separation from Service, (a) the Participant shall continue to be considered eligible for the benefits provided under the Plan, and (b) deferrals shall continue to be withheld during such paid leave of absence in accordance with Article III.

 

8.2              Unpaid Leave of Absence. If a Participant is authorized by the Participant's Employer to take an unpaid leave of absence from the employment of the Employer for any reason, and such leave of absence does not constitute a Separation from Service, such Participant shall continue to be eligible for the benefits provided under the Plan. During the unpaid leave of absence, the Participant shall not be allowed to make any additional deferral elections. However, if the Participant returns to employment, the Participant may elect to defer for the Plan Year following his or her return to employment and for every Plan Year thereafter while a Participant in the Plan, provided such deferral elections are otherwise allowed and a Participant Election is delivered to and accepted by the Committee for each such election in accordance with Article III above.

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

ADMINISTRATION

 

9.1              Committee. The Plan shall be administered by a Committee appointed by the Board, which shall have the exclusive right and full discretion (a) to appoint agents to act on its behalf, (b) to select and establish Funds, (c) to interpret the Plan, (d) to decide any and all matters arising hereunder (including the right to remedy possible ambiguities, inconsistencies, or admissions), (e) to make, amend and rescind such rules as it deems necessary for the proper administration of the Plan and (f) to make all other determinations and resolve all questions of fact necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, including determinations regarding eligibility for benefits payable under the Plan. All interpretations of the Committee with respect to any matter hereunder shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons affected thereby. No member of the Committee or agent thereof shall be liable for any determination, decision, or action made in good faith with respect to the Plan. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless the members of the Committee and its agents from and against any and all liabilities, costs, and expenses incurred by such persons as a result of any act, or omission, in connection with the performance of such persons’ duties, responsibilities, and obligations under the Plan, other than such liabilities, costs, and expenses as may result from the bad faith, willful misconduct, or criminal acts of such persons.

 

9.2              Claims Procedure. Any Participant, former Participant or Beneficiary may file a written claim with the Committee setting forth the nature of the benefit claimed, the amount thereof, and the basis for claiming entitlement to such benefit. The Committee shall determine the validity of the claim and communicate a decision to the claimant promptly and, in any event, not later than ninety (90) days after the date of the claim. The claim may be deemed by the claimant to have been denied for purposes of further review described below in the event a decision is not furnished to the claimant within such ninety (90) day period. If additional information is necessary to make a determination on a claim, the claimant shall be advised of the need for such additional information within forty-five (45) days after the date of the claim. The claimant shall have up to one hundred eighty (180) days to supplement the claim information, and the claimant shall be advised of the decision on the claim within forty-five (45) days after the earlier of the date the supplemental information is supplied or the end of the one hundred eighty (180) day period. Every claim for benefits which is denied shall be denied by written notice setting forth in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant (a) the specific reason or reasons for the denial, (b) specific reference to any provisions of the Plan (including any internal rules, guidelines, protocols, criteria, etc.) on which the denial is based, (c) description of any additional material or information that is necessary to process the claim, and (d) an explanation of the procedure for further reviewing the denial of the claim and shall include an explanation of the claimant’s right to submit the claim for binding arbitration in the event of an adverse determination on review.

 

9.3              Review Procedures. Within sixty (60) days after the receipt of a denial on a claim, a claimant or his/her authorized representative may file a written request for review of such denial. Such review shall be undertaken by the Committee and shall be a full and fair review. The claimant shall have the right to review all pertinent documents. The Committee shall issue a decision not later than sixty (60) days after receipt of a request for review from a claimant unless special circumstances, such as the need to hold a hearing, require a longer period of time, in which case a decision shall be rendered as soon as possible but not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt of the claimant’s request for review. The decision on review shall be in writing and shall include specific reasons for the decision written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant with specific reference to any provisions of the Plan on which the decision is based and shall include an explanation of the claimant’s right to submit the claim for binding arbitration in the event of an adverse determination on review.

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1          Termination of Plan. Although each Employer anticipates that it will continue the Plan for an indefinite period of time, there is no guarantee that any Employer will continue the Plan or will not terminate the Plan at any time in the future. Accordingly, each Employer reserves the right to terminate the Plan with respect to all of its Participants. In the event of a Plan termination, no new deferral elections shall be permitted for the affected Participants and such Participants shall no longer be eligible to receive new Company Contributions. However, after the Plan termination the Account balances of such Participants shall continue to be credited with deferrals attributable to any deferral election that was in effect prior to the Plan termination to the extent deemed necessary to comply with Code Section 409A and related Treasury Regulations, and additional amounts shall continue to be credited or debited to such Participants’ Account balances pursuant to Article IV. In addition, following a Plan termination, Participant Account balances shall remain in the Plan and shall not be distributed until such amounts become eligible for distribution in accordance with the other applicable provisions of the Plan. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, to the extent permitted by Treas. Reg. §1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix) or as otherwise permitted under Code Section 409A, the Employer may provide that upon termination of the Plan, all Account balances of the Participants shall be distributed, subject to and in accordance with any rules established by such Employer deemed necessary to comply with the applicable requirements and limitations of Code Section 409A.

 

10.2          Amendment. Any Employer may, at any time, amend or modify the Plan in whole or in part with respect to that Employer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification shall be effective to decrease the value of a Participant's vested Account balance in existence at the time the amendment or modification is made.

 

10.3          Unsecured General Creditor. The benefits paid under the Plan shall be paid from the general assets of the Company, and the Participant and any Beneficiary or their heirs or successors shall be no more than unsecured general creditors of the Company with no special or prior right to any assets of the Company for payment of any obligations hereunder. It is the intention of the Company that this Plan be unfunded for purposes of ERISA and the Code.

 

10.4          Restriction Against Assignment. The Company shall pay all amounts payable hereunder only to the person or persons designated by the Plan and not to any other person or entity. No part of a Participant’s Accounts shall be liable for the debts, contracts, or engagements of any Participant, Beneficiary, or their successors in interest, nor shall a Participant’s Accounts be subject to execution by levy, attachment, or garnishment or by any other legal or equitable proceeding, nor shall any such person have any right to alienate, anticipate, sell, transfer, commute, pledge, encumber, or assign any benefits or payments hereunder in any manner whatsoever. No part of a Participant’s Accounts shall be subject to any right of offset against or reduction for any amount payable by the Participant or Beneficiary, whether to the Company or any other party, under any arrangement other than under the terms of this Plan.

 

10.5          Withholding. There shall be deducted from each payment made under the Plan or any other Compensation payable to the Participant (or Beneficiary) all taxes that are required to be withheld by the Company in respect to such payment or this Plan. To the extent permissible under Code Section 409A, the Company shall have the right to reduce any payment, any portion of a Participant’s Company Contribution Account or any other Compensation by the amount of cash sufficient to provide the amount of said taxes.

 

 

 

10.6          Code Section 409A. The Company intends that the Plan comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A (and all applicable Treasury Regulations and other guidance issued thereunder) and shall be operated and interpreted consistent with that intent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation that the Plan complies with Code Section 409A. Neither the Company nor the Committee will have any obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any excise tax or penalty on any Participant under Code Section 409A, and neither the Company nor the Committee will have any liability to any Participant for such tax or penalty.

 

10.7          Effect of Payment. Any payment made in good faith to a Participant or the Participant’s Beneficiary shall, to the extent thereof, be in full satisfaction of all claims against the Committee, its members, the Employer and the Company.

 

10.8          Errors in Account Statements, Deferrals or Distributions. In the event an error is made in an Account statement, such error shall be corrected on the next statement following the date such error is discovered. In the event of an operational error, including, but not limited to, errors involving deferral amounts, overpayments or underpayments, such operational error shall be corrected in a manner consistent with and as permitted by any correction procedures established under Code Section 409A. If any portion of a Participant’s Account(s) under this Plan is required to be included in income by the Participant prior to receipt due to a failure of this Plan to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A, the Committee may determine that such Participant shall receive a distribution from the Plan in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the portion of his or her Account required to be included in income as a result of the failure of the Plan to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A, or (ii) the unpaid vested Account balance.

 

10.9          Domestic Relations Orders. Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Committee receives a domestic relations order, as defined in Code Section 414(p)(1)(B), pursuant to which a court has determined that a spouse or former spouse of a Participant has an interest in the Participant’s benefits under the Plan, the Committee shall have the right to immediately distribute the spouse’s or former spouse’s vested interest in the Participant’s benefits under the Plan to such spouse or former spouse to the extent necessary to fulfill such domestic relations order, provided that such distribution is in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A.

 

10.10      Employment Not Guaranteed. Nothing contained in the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as a contract of employment or as giving any Participant any right to continue the provision of services in any capacity whatsoever to the Employer.

 

 

 

10.11      No Guarantee of Tax Consequences. The Employer, Company, Board and Committee make no commitment or guarantee to any Participant that any federal, state or local tax treatment will apply or be available to any person eligible for benefits under the Plan and assume no liability whatsoever for the tax consequences to any Participant.

 

10.12      Successors of the Company. The rights and obligations of the Company under the Plan shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the successors and assigns of the Company.

 

10.13      Notice. Any notice or filing required or permitted to be given to the Company or the Participant under this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and hand-delivered, or sent by registered or certified mail, in the case of the Company, to the principal office of the Company, directed to the attention of the Committee, and in the case of the Participant, to the last known address of the Participant indicated on the employment records of the Company. Such notice shall be deemed given as of the date of delivery or, if delivery is made by mail, as of the date shown on the postmark on the receipt for registration or certification. Notices to the Company may be permitted by electronic communication according to specifications established by the Committee.

 

10.14      Headings. Headings and subheadings in this Plan are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in the construction of the provisions hereof.

 

10.15      Gender, Singular and Plural. All pronouns and any variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, or neuter, as the identity of the person or persons may require. As the context may require, the singular may be read as the plural and the plural as the singular.

 

10.16      Governing Law. The Plan is intended to be an unfunded plan maintained primarily to provide deferred compensation benefits for a select group of “management or highly compensated employees” within the meaning of Sections 201, 301 and 401 of ERISA and therefore to be exempt from Parts 2, 3 and 4 of Title I of ERISA. To the extent any provision of, or legal issue relating to, this Plan is not fully preempted by federal law, such issue or provision shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland.

 

 

 

10.17      Entire Agreement. Unless specifically indicated otherwise, this Plan supersedes any and all prior communications, understandings, arrangements or agreements between the parties, including the Employer, the Company, the Board, the Committee and any and all Participants, whether written, oral, express or implied relating thereto.

 

10.18      Binding Arbitration. Any claim, dispute or other matter in question of any kind relating to this Plan which is not resolved by the claims procedures under this Plan shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the applicable employment dispute resolution rules of the American Arbitration Association. Notice of demand for arbitration shall be made in writing to the opposing party and to the American Arbitration Association within a reasonable time after the claim, dispute or other matter in question has arisen. In no event shall a demand for arbitration be made after the date when the applicable statute of limitations would bar the institution of a legal or equitable proceeding based on such claim, dispute or other matter in question. The decision of the arbitrators shall be final and may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction. The arbitrators may award reasonable fees and expenses to the prevailing party in any dispute hereunder and shall award reasonable fees and expenses in the event that the arbitrators find that the losing party acted in bad faith or with intent to harass, hinder or delay the prevailing party in the exercise of its rights in connection with the matter under dispute.

 

10.19      Plan and Trust Administrative Expenses/Fees. Except as otherwise provided herein, all administrative expenses, including, but not limited to, fees for accounting, third party recordkeeping, investment advisory, legal and/or trustee and custodial services, incurred in connection with the operation of the Plan or a Trust created hereunder shall be payable by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in order to defray the administrative costs of maintaining the Plan and/or a Trust created hereunder, the Company reserves the right and discretion to charge each Participant a reasonable annual administrative fee. The amount of the administrative fee shall be determined by the Committee and may be increased or decreased from time to time as determined by the Committee. Any such administrative fee may be assessed annually or pro-rated and charged more frequently at such other times as determined by the Committee. The administrative fee shall be allocated among the Participant’s Accounts on a pro-rata basis or in such other reasonable manner as may be determined by the Committee.

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Board has approved the adoption of this Plan as of the Effective Date and has caused the Plan to be executed by its duly authorized representative this 14th day of November, 2019.

 

  Walker & Dunlop, Inc.
   
  By /s/ Richard M. Lucas
  Name Richard M. Lucas
  Title EVP, General Counsel & Secretary

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

 

WALKER & DUNLOP, INC.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

RABBI TRUST DOCUMENT

 

This Trust Agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) made this           day of Select Month, Select Year (the “Effective Date”), by and between Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the “Company” or “Customer”), a Maryland corporation, and Matrix Trust Company, a Colorado corporation and non-depository trust company, as trustee (hereinafter referred to as “Trustee” or “Matrix Trust”);

 

WHEREAS, Company has adopted the nonqualified deferred compensation plan(s) (hereinafter referred to as the “Plan”) as listed in Appendix A;

 

WHEREAS, Company has incurred or expects to incur liability under the terms of such Plan with respect to the individuals participating in such Plan;

 

WHEREAS, Company wishes to establish a trust (hereinafter called "Trust") and to contribute to the Trust assets that shall be held therein, subject to the claims of Company's creditors in the event of Company's Insolvency, as herein defined, until paid to Plan participants and their beneficiaries in such manner and at such times as specified in the Plan;

 

WHEREAS, it is the intention of the parties that this Trust shall constitute an unfunded arrangement and shall not affect the status of the Plan as an unfunded plan maintained for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees for purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended;

 

WHEREAS, it is the intention of Company to make contributions to the Trust to provide itself with a source of funds to assist it in the meeting of its liabilities under the Plan;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties do hereby establish the Trust and agree that the Trust shall be comprised, held and disposed of as follows:

 

Section 1.

Establishment of Trust

 

(a) Company hereby deposits with Trustee in trust an amount, which shall become the principal of the Trust to be held, administered and disposed of by Trustee as provided in this Trust Agreement.

 

(b) The Trust hereby established shall be irrevocable.

 

(c) The Trust is intended to be a grantor trust, of which Company is the grantor, within the meaning of subpart E, part I subchapter J, chapter 1, subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and shall be construed accordingly.

 

(d) The principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon, shall be held separate and apart from other funds of Company and shall be used exclusively for the uses and purposes of Plan participants and general creditors as herein set forth. Plan participants and their beneficiaries shall have no preferred claim on, or any beneficial ownership interest in, any assets of the Trust. Any rights created under the Plan and this Trust Agreement shall be mere unsecured contractual rights of Plan participants and their beneficiaries against Company. Any assets held by the Trust will be subject to the claims of Company's general creditors under federal and state law in the event of Insolvency, as defined in Section 3(a) herein.

 

(e) Company, in its sole discretion, may at any time, or from time to time, make additional deposits of cash or other property in trust with Trustee to augment the principal to be held, administered and disposed of by Trustee as provided in this Trust Agreement. Neither Trustee nor any Plan participant or beneficiary shall have any right to compel such additional deposits.

 

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Section 2.

Payments to Plan Participants and Their Beneficiaries; Plan Expenses

 

(a) Company shall deliver to Trustee a schedule (the "Payment Schedule") that indicates the amounts payable in respect of each Plan participant (and his or her beneficiaries), that provides a formula or other instructions acceptable to Trustee for determining the amounts so payable, the form in which such amount is to be paid (as provided for or available under the Plan), and the time of commencement for payment of such amounts. Except as otherwise provided herein, Trustee shall make payments to the Plan participants and their beneficiaries in accordance with the Payment Schedule. Trustee shall make provision for the reporting and withholding of any federal or state taxes that may be required to be withheld with respect to the payment of benefits pursuant to the terms of the Plan and shall pay amounts withheld to the appropriate taxing authorities or determine that such amounts have been reported, withheld and paid by Company.

 

(b) The entitlement of a Plan participant or his or her beneficiaries to benefits under the Plan shall be determined by Company or such party as it shall designate under the Plan, and any claim for such benefits shall be considered and reviewed under the procedures set out in the Plan.

 

(c) Company may make payment of benefits directly to Plan participants or their beneficiaries as they become due under the terms of the Plan. Either directly or through the Recordkeeper (as defined in Section 7) and prior to the time amounts are payable to a Plan participant or applicable beneficiaries, Company shall notify Trustee of its decision to make payment of benefits directly to the Plan participant or applicable beneficiaries. If Company makes payments according to this subsection, Company shall make provision for the reporting and withholding of any federal, state or local taxes that may be required to be withheld with respect to the payment of benefits pursuant to the terms of the Plan and shall pay amounts withheld to the appropriate taxing authorities. If the principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon, are not sufficient to make payments of benefits in accordance with the terms of the Plan as reflected on the Payment Schedule or as otherwise directed by Company or its designee, Company shall make the balance of each such payment as it falls due. Trustee shall notify Company where principal and earnings are not sufficient to make payments as directed. In the event Company pays benefits directly to a Plan participant or an applicable beneficiary, Trustee shall distribute an equal amount (or such lesser amount available under the Trust) to Company upon Company’s request.

 

(d) Company may direct Trustee to pay Plan expenses from the Trust or reimburse Company for Plan expenses paid directly by Company.

 

Section 3.

Trustee Responsibility Regarding Payments to Trust Beneficiary When Company is Insolvent.

 

(a) Trustee shall cease payment of benefits to Plan participants and their beneficiaries if the Company is Insolvent. Company shall be considered "Insolvent" or in “Insolvency” for purposes of this Trust Agreement if (i) Company is unable to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) Company is subject to a pending proceeding as a debtor under the United States Bankruptcy Code.

 

(b) At all times during the continuance of this Trust, as provided in Section 1(d) hereof, the principal and income of the Trust shall be subject to claims of general creditors of Company under federal and state law as set forth below.

 

(1) The Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer of Company shall inform Trustee in writing of Company's Insolvency. If a person claiming to be a creditor of Company alleges in writing to Trustee that Company has become Insolvent, Trustee shall promptly determine whether Company is Insolvent with the assistance of Company and if it is determined that Company has become Insolvent, and pending a determination, Trustee shall discontinue payment of benefits to Plan participants or their beneficiaries.

 

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(2) Unless Trustee has actual knowledge of Company's Insolvency, or has received notice from Company or a person claiming to be a creditor alleging that Company is Insolvent, Trustee shall have no duty to inquire whether Company is Insolvent. Trustee may in all events rely on such evidence concerning Company's solvency as may be furnished to Trustee and that provides Trustee with a reasonable basis for making a determination concerning Company's solvency.

 

(3) If at any time Trustee has determined that Company is Insolvent, Trustee shall discontinue payments to Plan participants or their beneficiaries and shall hold the assets of the Trust for the benefit of Company's general creditors, less any Trustee fees and expenses deducted from the Trust as administrative expenses incurred in the preservation of the Insolvent estate or account or as otherwise permitted by the terms of this Trust Agreement and applicable law. Nothing in this Trust Agreement shall in any way diminish any rights of Plan participants or their beneficiaries to pursue their rights as general creditors of Company with respect to benefits due under the Plan or otherwise.

 

(4) Trustee shall resume the payment of benefits to Plan participants or their beneficiaries in accordance with Section 2 of this Trust Agreement only after Trustee has determined that Company is not Insolvent (or is no longer Insolvent).

 

(c) Provided that there are sufficient assets, if Trustee discontinues the payment of benefits from the Trust pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and subsequently resumes such payments, the first payment following such discontinuance shall include the aggregate amount of all payments due to Plan participants or their beneficiaries under the terms of the Plan for the period of such discontinuance, less the aggregate amount of any payments made to Plan participants or their beneficiaries by Company in lieu of the payments provided for hereunder during any such period of discontinuance.

 

Section 4.

Payments to Company.

 

Except as provided in Section 3 hereof, Company shall have no right or power to direct Trustee to return to Company or to divert to others any of the Trust assets before all payments of benefits have been made to Plan participants and their beneficiaries pursuant to the terms of the Plan; provided, however, that in the event the Trust holds Excess Assets, Company, at its option, may direct Trustee in writing to return to Company, or to divert to others, any of the Excess Assets of the Trust. For this purpose, “Excess Assets” means the assets of the Trust that exceed one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the sum of all Plan liabilities. Trustee is authorized, at the expense of the Trust or the Company, to obtain written documentation of the amount of such Excess Assets from an independent third party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Company may request reimbursement from the Trust for any amounts paid directly to Plan participants pursuant to Section 2(c) hereof or for any amounts paid by Company for Plan expenses by providing a certification of the amounts paid and satisfactory evidence of such payments to Trustee, and Trustee may rely on such certification and evidence and shall have no obligation for otherwise verifying payment.

 

Section 5.

Investment Authority.

 

(a) The Trust may hold assets of any kind, including shares of any registered investment company, whether or not the Trustee or any of its affiliates is an advisor to, or other service provider to, such investment company and receives compensation from such investment company for the services provided (which compensation shall be in addition to the compensation of the Trustee under this Trust.) The Company acknowledges that shares in any such investment company are not obligations of the Trustee or any other bank, are not deposits and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), the Federal Reserve or any other governmental agency. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may Trustee invest in securities (including stock or rights to acquire stock) or obligations issued by Company, other than a de minimis amount held in common investment vehicles in which Trustee invests. All rights associated with assets of the Trust shall be exercised by Trustee or the person designated by Trustee, and shall in no event be exercisable by or rest with Plan participants, except that voting and dividend rights with respect to Trust assets will be exercised by Company.

 

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(b) Company shall have the right, at any time and from time to time, in its sole discretion, to direct Trustee as to the investment and reinvestment of all or specified portions of Trust assets and the income therefrom and to appoint an investment manager or investment managers to direct Trustee as to the investment and reinvestment of all or specified portions thereof. As of the execution of this Trust Agreement, and until Trustee is notified otherwise in writing, Company shall be solely responsible for directing the investment and reinvestment of all Trust assets.

 

(c) Trustee shall have no responsibility for the selection of investment options, if applicable, under the Trust and shall not render investment advice to any person in connection with the selection of such options. Company shall direct Trustee as to the investment options in which the Trust shall be invested during the term of the Trust. Trustee shall have no responsibility or duty to diversify Trust assets.

 

(d) Trustee may hold that portion of the Trust fund as is appropriate, for the ordinary administration and for the disbursement of funds in cash, without liability for interest notwithstanding Trustee's receipt of "float" from such uninvested cash, by depositing the same in any bank (including deposits which bear a reasonable rate of interest in a bank or similar financial institution supervised by the United States or a State, even where a bank or financial institution is the Trustee, or is otherwise a fiduciary of the Plan) subject to the rules and regulations governing such deposits, and without regard to the amount of such deposit. In addition, Trustee is specifically authorized to invest idle, or otherwise uninvested, cash in a money market mutual fund selected by Trustee in its sole discretion, including any money market fund associated with Trustee as described in subparagraph (a) above.

 

Section 6.

Disposition of Income

 

During the term of this Trust, all income received by the Trust, net of expenses and taxes, shall be accumulated and reinvested.

 

Section 7.

Accounting by Trustee

 

Trustee shall keep accurate and detailed records of all investments, receipts, disbursements, and all other transactions required to be made, including such specific records as shall be agreed upon in writing between Company and Trustee. Within sixty (60) days following the close of each calendar year and within sixty (60) days after the removal or resignation of Trustee, Trustee shall deliver to Company a written account of its administration of the Trust during such year or during the period from the close of the last preceding year to the date of such removal or resignation, setting forth all investments, receipts, disbursements and other transactions effected by it, including a description of all securities and investments purchased and sold with the cost or net proceeds of such purchases or sales (accrued interest paid or receivable being shown separately), and showing all cash, securities and other property held in the Trust at the end of such year or as of the date of such removal or resignation, as the case may be. Such account statements shall be mailed to Company or, if the Company agrees, delivered via e-mail or other electronic means. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 7 to the contrary, Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the records maintained by any recordkeeper appointed by Company for the maintenance and provision of all records specified in this Section 7. The current recordkeeper appointed by Company for the Plan is Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company (“Prudential”). Prudential and each such other entity subsequently appointed by Company as recordkeeper for the Plan are hereafter collectively referred to as “Recordkeeper.”

 

Section 8.

Responsibility of Trustee.

 

(a) Trustee shall act with care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of any enterprise of a like character and with like aims, provided, however, that Trustee shall incur no liability to any person for any action taken pursuant to and in accordance with a direction, request or approval given by Company or an investment manager which is contemplated by, and in conformity with, the terms of the Plan or this Trust and is given in writing by Company or such investment manager. In the event of a dispute between Company and a party, Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to resolve the dispute.

 

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(b) If Trustee undertakes or defends any litigation arising in connection with this Trust (other than any litigation where Company is the adverse party to Trustee in the litigation), Company agrees to indemnify Trustee against Trustee's reasonable costs, expenses and liabilities (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and expenses) relating thereto and to be primarily liable for such payments. If Company does not pay such costs, expenses and liabilities in a reasonably timely manner, Trustee may obtain payment from the Trust. In no event shall Trustee have any liability or responsibility to undertake, defend or continue any litigation unless payment of related fees and expenses is ensured to the reasonable satisfaction of Trustee.

 

(c) Trustee, at the expense of the Trust or the Company provided Trustee gives Company prior written notice, may consult with legal counsel (who may also be counsel for Company generally) with respect to any of its duties or obligations hereunder.
     
  (d) Trustee, at the expense of the Trust or the Company provided Trustee gives Company prior written notice, may hire agents, accountants, actuaries, investment advisors, financial consultants or other professionals to assist it in performing any of its duties or obligations hereunder.

 

(e) Trustee shall have, without exclusion, all powers conferred on trustees by applicable law, unless expressly provided otherwise herein, provided, however, that if an insurance policy is held as an asset of the Trust, Trustee shall have no power to name a beneficiary of the policy other than the Trust, to assign the policy (as distinct from conversion of the policy to a different form) other than to a successor Trustee, or to loan to any person the proceeds of any borrowing against such policy.

 

(f) However, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8(e) above, Trustee may loan to Company the proceeds of any borrowing against an insurance policy held as an asset of the Trust.

 

(g) Notwithstanding any powers granted to Trustee pursuant to this Trust Agreement or to applicable law, Trustee shall not have any power that could give this Trust the objective of carrying on a business and dividing the gains therefrom, within the meaning of Section 301.7701-2 of the Procedure and Administrative Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.

 

(h) Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability with respect to: (i) the truth or accuracy of any representation or warranty made in any application or related document provided to the insurer in connection with the issuance or renewal of any insurance policies or insurance contracts, including any representation that the person on whose life an application is being made is eligible to have a contract issued on his or her life; (ii) the selection or monitoring (ongoing or periodic) of any insurance policies or insurance contracts held in the Trust or the insurers issuing such policies or contracts; (iii) the payment of premiums with respect to such policies or contracts; or (iv) the exercise of any rights relating to any such policies or contracts except as directed in writing by Company.

 

(i) Upon the expiration of 120 days from the date of Trustee’s annual, quarterly or any other account, the Trustee shall be forever released and discharged from all liability and further accountability to Company or any other person with respect to the accuracy of such accounting and all acts and failures to act of Trustee reflected in such account, except to the extent that Company shall, within such 120-day period, file with Trustee specific written objections to the account. None of Company, any participant or any other person shall be entitled to any additional or different accounting by Trustee and except to the extent required otherwise by applicable law, Trustee shall not be compelled to file in any court any additional or different accounting. For purposes of regulations promulgated by the FDIC or other functional regulator, Trustee’s account statements shall be sufficient information concerning securities transactions effected for the Trust, provided that Company, upon written request, shall have the right to receive at no additional cost written confirmations of such securities transactions, which shall be mailed or otherwise furnished by the Trustee within the timeframe required by applicable regulations.

 

(j) Trustee shall have no duty or responsibility not expressly set forth in this Trust Agreement. By way of example, but without limiting the matters subject to the foregoing sentence, Trustee shall have no responsibility with respect to the administration or interpretation of the Plan, payment of Plan benefits other than from the assets of the Trust, the calculation of tax to be withheld, reported and/or paid to taxing authorities and (if applicable pursuant to the fee schedule) withholding, remitting, or reporting to taxing authorities of taxes other than from payments made with Trust assets to Plan participants and other than as directed by Company, or maintaining participant records with respect to the Plan.

 

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Section 9.

Compensation and Expenses of Trustee.

 

(a) Company shall pay all administrative and Trustee's fees and expenses on a timely basis. If not so paid, the Trustee shall be entitled to deduct such fees and expenses from the Trust.

 

(b) Company shall indemnify and hold Trustee harmless from and against any and all losses, costs, damages and expenses (including attorney’s fees and disbursements) of any kind or nature (collectively, “Losses”) imposed on or incurred by Trustee by reason of its service pursuant to this Trust Agreement, including any Losses arising out of any threatened, pending or completed claim, action, suit or proceeding, except to the extent such Losses are caused by the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of Trustee; provided, that, that such indemnification shall not apply to any Company claim to enforce the terms of this Trust Agreement resulting from Trustee’s breach of this Agreement. To the extent not paid by Company, Trustee shall be entitled to deduct such amounts from the Trust.

 

(c) The Trustee shall not be responsible for any lost profits or any special, indirect or consequential damages in respect of any breach or wrongful conduct in any way related to this Agreement. The Trustee shall have no liability for any matters beyond its control such as market loss or diminution, impact of government regulations, third-party bankruptcies or otherwise.

 

(d) The provisions of this Section 9 shall survive termination of this Trust Agreement.

 

Section 10.

Resignation and Removal of Trustee.

 

(a) Trustee may resign at any time by written notice to Company, which shall be effective thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice unless Company and Trustee agree otherwise.

 

(b) Trustee may be removed by Company on thirty (30) days’ notice or upon shorter notice accepted by Trustee.

 

(c) Upon a Change of Control, as defined herein, Trustee may not be removed by Company for two year(s).

 

(d) Upon resignation or removal of Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee, all assets shall subsequently be transferred to the successor Trustee. To the extent possible, the transfer shall be completed within 30 days after receipt of notice of resignation, removal or transfer, unless Company extends the time limit.

 

(e) If Trustee resigns or is removed, a successor shall be appointed, in accordance with Section 11 hereof, by the effective date of resignation or removal under paragraph(s) (a) or (b) of this section. If no such appointment has been made, Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a successor or for instructions. All expenses of Trustee in connection with the proceeding shall be allowed as administrative expenses of the Trust.

 

Section 11.

Appointment of Successor.

 

If Trustee resigns or is removed in accordance with Section 10(a) or (b) hereof, Company may appoint any third party, such as a bank trust department or other party that may be granted corporate trustee powers under state law, as a successor to replace Trustee upon resignation or removal. The appointment shall be effective when accepted in writing by the new Trustee, who shall have all of the rights and powers of the former Trustee, including ownership rights in the Trust assets. The former Trustee shall execute any instrument necessary or reasonably requested by Company or the successor Trustee to evidence the transfer.

 

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Section 12.

Amendment or Termination.

 

(a) This Trust Agreement may be amended by a written instrument executed by Trustee and Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such amendment shall conflict with the terms of the Plan or shall make the Trust revocable.

 

(b) The Trust shall not terminate until the date on which Plan participants and their beneficiaries are no longer entitled to benefits pursuant to the terms of the Plan. Upon termination of the Trust any assets remaining in the Trust shall be returned to Company.

 

(c) Upon written approval of participants or beneficiaries entitled to a majority of the payment of benefits pursuant to the terms of the Plan, Company may terminate this Trust prior to the time all benefit payments under the Plan have been made. All assets in the Trust at termination shall be returned to Company.

 

 

Section 13.

Miscellaneous.

 

(a) Any provision of this Trust Agreement prohibited by law shall be ineffective to the extent of any such prohibition, without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof.

 

(b) Benefits payable to Plan participants and their beneficiaries under this Trust Agreement may not be anticipated, assigned (either at law or in equity), alienated, pledged, encumbered or subjected to attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or other legal or equitable process.

 

(c) This Trust Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. The parties hereto irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the applicable federal and/or New York State courts located in the Borough of Manhattan, New York County, State of New York.

 

(d) In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between the provisions of the Plan or this Trust Agreement with respect to the Trustee’s rights, responsibilities, duties, protections and/or indemnities, the provisions of this Trust Agreement shall control.

 

(e) In no event will Trustee have any obligation to provide, and in no event will Trustee be required to provide, any legal, tax, accounting, audit or other advice to Company with respect to the Plan or this Trust. Company acknowledges that it will rely exclusively on the advice of its accountants and/or attorneys with respect to all legal, tax, accounting, audit and other advice required or desired by Company with respect to the Plan or this Trust. Company acknowledges that Trustee has not made any representations of any kind, and will not be required to make any representations of any kind concerning the legal, tax, accounting, audit or other treatment of the Plan or this Trust.

 

(f) Company acknowledges that Trustee is not an advisor concerning or a promoter with respect to the Plan or the Trust, but merely is a service provider offering the Trust services expressly set forth in this Agreement. In particular, Company acknowledges that Trustee is not a joint venture or partner with Company’s accountants, auditors, consultants or with any other party, with respect to the Plan or this Trust, and that Trustee and Company’s accountants, auditors and consultants at all times remain independent parties dealing at arm’s length, and independently, with each other and with Company.

 

(g) Company represents and warrants that the Plan and the administration thereof and the establishment of this Trust comply with applicable law and shall continue to be in compliance therewith.

 

(h) Trustee shall have no liability for any losses arising out of delays in performing the services which it renders under this Trust Agreement which result from events beyond its control, including without limitation, interruption of the business of Trustee due to acts of God, acts of governmental authority, acts of war, riots, civil commotions, insurrections, labor difficulties (including, but not limited to, strikes and other work slippages due to slow-downs), or any action of any courier or utility, mechanical or other malfunction, or electronic interruption.

 

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(i) For purposes of this Trust, Change of Control shall mean: the purchase or other acquisition by any person, entity or group of persons, within the meaning of section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act"), or any comparable successor provisions, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Act) of 30 percent or more of either the outstanding shares of common stock or the combined voting power of Company's then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally, or the approval by the stockholders of Company of a reorganization, merger, or consolidation, in each case, with respect to which persons who were stockholders of Company immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation do not, immediately thereafter, own more than 50 percent of the combined voting power entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the reorganized, merged or consolidated Company's then outstanding securities, or a liquidation or dissolution of Company or of the sale of all or substantially all of Company's assets.

 

(j) The Board of Directors of Company as constituted immediately prior to the consummation of a Change of Control and the Chief Executive Officer of Company shall have the duty to inform Trustee in writing of the occurrence of a Change of Control. Trustee may rely exclusively on this writing and shall have no duty to inquire whether a Change of Control has taken place or to make any determination as to whether a Change of Control has occurred.

 

Section 14.

Confidentiality.

 

(a) Definitions. In connection with this Agreement, including without limitation the evaluation of new services contemplated by the parties to be provided by Trustee under this Agreement, information will be exchanged between Trustee and Customer. Trustee shall provide information that may include, without limitation, confidential information relating to the Trustee’s products, trade secrets, strategic information, information about systems and procedures, confidential reports, customer information, vendor and other third party information, financial information including cost and pricing, sales strategies, computer software and tapes, programs, source and object codes, and other information that is provided under circumstances reasonably indicating it is confidential (collectively, the “Trustee Information”), and Customer shall provide information required for Customer to use the services received or to be received, including customer information, which may include Personal Information (defined below), to be processed by the services, and other information that is provided under circumstances reasonably indicating it is confidential (“Customer Information”) (the Trustee Information and the Customer Information collectively referred to herein as the “Information”). Personal Information that is exchanged shall also be deemed Information hereunder. “Personal Information” means personal information about an identifiable individual including, without limitation, name, address, contact information, age, gender, income, marital status, finances, health, employment, social security number and trading activity or history. Personal Information shall not include the name, title or business address or business telephone number of an employee of an organization in relation to such individual’s capacity as an employee of an organization. The Information of each party shall remain the exclusive property of such party.

 

(b) Obligations. The receiver of Information (the “Receiver”) shall keep any Information provided by the other party (the “Provider”) strictly confidential and shall not, without the Provider’s prior written consent, disclose such Information in any manner whatsoever, in whole or in part, and shall not duplicate, copy or reproduce such Information, including, without limitation, by means of photocopying or transcribing of voice recording, except in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The Receiver shall only use the Information as reasonably required to carry out the purposes of this Agreement.

 

(c) Disclosure Generally. Trustee and Customer agree that the Information shall be disclosed by the Receiver only to: (i) the employees, agents and consultants of the Customer and the Designated Representative in connection with Receiver’s performance or use of the services, as applicable, and (ii) auditors, counsel, and other representatives of the Customer and Designated Representative for the purpose of providing assistance to the Receiver in the ordinary course of Receiver’s performance or use of the services, as applicable. Each party will take reasonable steps to prevent a breach of its obligations by any employee or third party.

 

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(d) Compelled Disclosure. If the Receiver or anyone to whom the Receiver transmits the Information pursuant to this Agreement becomes legally compelled to disclose any of the Information, then the Receiver will provide the Provider with prompt notice before such Information is disclosed (or, in the case of a disclosure by someone to whom the Receiver transmitted the Information, as soon as the Receiver becomes aware of the compelled disclosure), if not legally prohibited from doing so, so that the Provider may seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy and/or waive compliance with the provisions of this Agreement. If such protective order or other remedy is not obtained, then the Receiver will furnish only that portion of the Information which the Receiver is advised by reasonable written opinion of counsel is legally required and will exercise its reasonable efforts to assist the Provider in obtaining a protective order or other reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded to the Information that is disclosed.

 

(e) Exceptions. Except with respect to Personal Information, nothing contained herein shall in any way restrict or impair either party’s right to use, disclose or otherwise deal with:

 

(i) Information which at the time of its disclosure is publicly available, by publication or otherwise, or which the Provider publicly discloses either prior to or subsequent to its disclosure to the Receiver;

 

(ii) Information which the Receiver can show was in the possession of the Receiver, or its parent, subsidiary or affiliated company, at the time of disclosure and which was not acquired, directly or indirectly, under any obligation of confidentiality to the Provider; or

 

(iii) Information which is independently acquired or developed by the Receiver without violation of its obligations hereunder.

 

In addition, each employee of the Receiver shall be free to use for any purpose, upon completion of the services rendered under this Agreement, any general knowledge, skill or expertise that (i) is acquired by such employee in performance of those services, (ii) remains part of the general knowledge of such employee after access to the tangible embodiment of the Provider’s Information, (iii) does not contain or include any such Information, and (iv) is not otherwise specific to the Provider.

 

(f) Return or Destroy. Upon the termination of this Agreement for any reason, the parties shall return to each other, or destroy, any and all copies of Information of the other that are in their possession relating to the terminated Agreement, except for any copies reasonably required to maintain such party’s customary archives or computer back-up procedures, and as otherwise required by applicable law, rule or regulation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Trustee shall have the right to keep one copy of such Information as may be reasonably required to evidence the fact that it has provided the services to Customer. In the event that Customer requires Trustee to return any Customer Information, Customer shall pay Trustee (at the rates set forth in the applicable Schedule, or, if no such rates are set forth, at Trustee’s then current charges) for Trustee’s actual time spent and incidental expenses actually incurred in connection with such return.

 

Section 15.

Effective Date.

 

The Effective Date of this Trust Agreement shall be as set forth above.

 

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Matrix Walker Dunlop Rabbi Trust Agreement

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Trustee have caused this Trust Agreement to be executed by their respective duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

WALKER & DUNLOP, INC.  
     
     
BY:    
     
NAME:   INSERT NAME  
TITLE: INSERT TITLE  
     
Address:  
7501 Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1200E  
Bethesda, MD 20814  
Attn:  General Counsel  
Telephone:         
Telecopier:         

 

Matrix Trust Company, as Trustee  
     
     
By:  
     
Name:    
Title:    
     
To:    
Matrix Trust Company  
717 17th Street, Suite 1300  
Denver, Colorado 80202  
Attn:  Senior Vice President  
     
With a Copy to:  
Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.  
2 Journal Square Plaza  
Jersey City, NJ 07306  
Attn: General Counsel  
     
Matrix Trust Company  
P.O. Box 52129  
Phoenix, AZ 85072-2129  
Attn: Vice President – Client Services  

 

Matrix Walker Dunlop Rabbi Trust Agreement

 

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APPENDIX A

 

LIST OF PLAN(S)

 

Insert name of plan(s) - to be completed by Company

 

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