UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended May 28, 2016

 

Commission File Number 0-20214

 

BED BATH & BEYOND INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

New York   11-2250488
(State of incorporation)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
     
650 Liberty Avenue, Union, New Jersey    07083
(Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 908/688-0888

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

  Yes  ☒      No  ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

  Yes  ☒      No  ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer  ☒   Accelerated filer  ☐
Non-accelerated filer  ☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   Smaller reporting company  ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

  Yes  ☐      No  ☒

 

Number of shares outstanding of the issuer’s Common Stock:

 

Class   Outstanding at May 28, 2016
Common Stock - $0.01 par value   154,462,206

 

 
 

BED BATH & BEYOND INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

INDEX

 

       
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION  
       
  Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited)  
       
  Consolidated Balance Sheets
May 28, 2016 and February 27, 2016
 
       
  Consolidated Statements of Earnings
Three Months Ended May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015
 
       
  Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Three Months Ended May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015
 
       
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Three Months Ended May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015
 
       
  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements  
       
  Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations  
       
  Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk  
       
  Item 4. Controls and Procedures  
       
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION  
       
  Item 1. Legal Proceedings  
       
  Item 1A. Risk Factors  
       
  Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds  
       
  Item 6. Exhibits  
       
  Signatures  
       
  Exhibit Index  
       
  Certifications  

 

 

  - 2 -  
 

BED BATH & BEYOND INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

    May 28,
2016
  February 27,
2016
                 
Assets                
Current assets:                
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 544,269     $ 515,573  
Short term investment securities     22,495       86,197  
Merchandise inventories     2,923,043       2,848,119  
Other current assets     408,224       376,073  
                 
Total current assets     3,898,031       3,825,962  
                 
Long term investment securities     78,349       71,289  
Property and equipment, net     1,723,429       1,725,043  
Goodwill     487,169       487,169  
Other assets     391,999       380,614  
                 
Total assets   $ 6,578,977     $ 6,490,077  
                 
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity                
Current liabilities:                
Accounts payable   $ 1,145,055     $ 1,100,958  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     471,728       409,445  
Merchandise credit and gift card liabilities     306,431       297,930  
Current income taxes payable     53,933       58,892  
                 
Total current liabilities     1,977,147       1,867,225  
                 
Deferred rent and other liabilities     505,512       499,368  
Income taxes payable     75,977       72,807  
Long term debt     1,491,254       1,491,137  
                 
Total liabilities     4,049,890       3,930,537  
                 
Shareholders' equity:                
Preferred stock - $0.01 par value; authorized - 1,000 shares; no shares issued or outstanding     -       -  
                 
Common stock - $0.01 par value; authorized - 900,000 shares; issued 339,150 and 337,613 shares, respectively; outstanding 154,462 and 156,690 shares, respectively     3,392       3,377  
Additional paid-in capital     1,921,970       1,884,813  
Retained earnings     10,498,036       10,394,865  
Treasury stock, at cost; 184,688 and 180,923 shares, respectively     (9,846,641 )     (9,668,517 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (47,670 )     (54,998 )
                 
Total shareholders' equity     2,529,087       2,559,540  
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity   $ 6,578,977     $ 6,490,077  

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  - 3 -  
 

BED BATH & BEYOND INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

 

    Three Months Ended
    May 28,
2016
  May 30,
2015
Net sales   $ 2,738,084     $ 2,738,495  
                 
Cost of sales     1,714,492       1,694,362  
                 
Gross profit     1,023,592       1,044,133  
                 
Selling, general and administrative expenses     810,566       770,864  
                 
Operating profit     213,026       273,269  
                 
Interest expense, net     16,315       19,901  
                 
Earnings before provision for income taxes     196,711       253,368  
                 
Provision for income taxes     74,092       94,917  
                 
Net earnings   $ 122,619     $ 158,451  
                 
Net earnings per share - Basic   $ 0.81     $ 0.94  
Net earnings per share - Diluted   $ 0.80     $ 0.93  
                 
Weighted average shares outstanding - Basic     152,157       168,772  
Weighted average shares outstanding - Diluted     153,752       171,133  
                 
Dividends declared per share   $ 0.125     $ -  

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  - 4 -  
 

BED BATH & BEYOND INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(in thousands, unaudited)

 

    Three Months Ended
    May 28,
2016
  May 30,
2015
         
Net earnings   $ 122,619     $ 158,451  
                 
Other comprehensive income (loss):                
                 
Change in temporary impairment of auction rate securities, net of taxes     (276 )     (36 )
Pension adjustment, net of taxes     241       (9 )
Currency translation adjustment     7,363       977  
                 
Other comprehensive income     7,328       932  
                 
Comprehensive income   $ 129,947     $ 159,383  

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  - 5 -  
 

BED BATH & BEYOND INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands, unaudited)

 

    Three Months Ended
    May 28,
2016
  May 30,
2015
         
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:                
                 
Net earnings   $ 122,619     $ 158,451  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:                
Depreciation and amortization     70,445       62,617  
Stock-based compensation     20,748       17,740  
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation     (1,325 )     (9,335 )
Deferred income taxes     4,153       (4,234 )
Other     (479 )     (403 )
Increase in assets:                
Merchandise inventories     (71,933 )     (112,188 )
Trading investment securities     (7,515 )     (3,363 )
Other current assets     (32,502 )     (26,846 )
Other assets     (11,946 )     (6,909 )
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:                
Accounts payable     66,260       7,307  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     42,631       27,779  
Merchandise credit and gift card liabilities     8,319       11,718  
Income taxes payable     (4,932 )     25,591  
Deferred rent and other liabilities     3,300       (1,017 )
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities     207,843       146,908  
                 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:                
                 
Purchase of held-to-maturity investment securities     -       (16,873 )
Redemption of held-to-maturity investment securities     63,742       50,000  
Capital expenditures     (89,455 )     (72,364 )
                 
Net cash used in investing activities     (25,713 )     (39,237 )
                 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:                
                 
Proceeds from exercise of stock options     19,246       7,536  
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation     1,325       9,335  
Repurchase of common stock, including fees     (178,124 )     (385,349 )
                 
Net cash used in financing activities     (157,553 )     (368,478 )
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents     4,119       463  
                 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents     28,696       (260,344 )
                 
Cash and cash equivalents:                
                 
Beginning of period     515,573       875,574  
End of period   $ 544,269     $ 615,230  

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  - 6 -  
 

BED BATH & BEYOND INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

 

1) Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared without audit. In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring accruals and elimination of intercompany balances and transactions) necessary to present fairly the financial position of Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of May 28, 2016 and February 27, 2016 and the results of its operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for the three months ended May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015, respectively.

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with the requirements for Form 10-Q and consequently do not include all the disclosures normally required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Reference should be made to Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 27, 2016 for additional disclosures, including a summary of the Company's significant accounting policies, and to subsequently filed Forms 8-K.

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to the fiscal 2015 consolidated balance sheet and statement of cash flows to conform to the fiscal 2016 consolidated balance sheet and statement of cash flows presentation.

 

The Company accounts for its operations as two operating segments: North American Retail and Institutional Sales. The Institutional Sales operating segment, which is comprised of Linen Holdings, does not meet the quantitative thresholds under GAAP and therefore is not a reportable segment. Net sales outside of the U.S. were not material for the three months ended May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015.

 

The Company sells a wide assortment of domestics merchandise and home furnishings. Domestics merchandise includes categories such as bed linens and related items, bath items and kitchen textiles. Home furnishings include categories such as kitchen and tabletop items, fine tabletop, basic housewares, general home furnishings, consumables and certain juvenile products. Sales of domestics merchandise and home furnishings accounted for approximately 36.6% and 63.4% of net sales, respectively, for the three months ended May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015. As the Company operates in the retail industry, its results of operations are affected by general economic conditions and consumer spending habits.

 

2) Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-03, Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. This guidance requires an entity to present debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability on the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. Costs associated with line-of-credit arrangements may continue to be recorded as deferred assets. ASU 2015-03 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods within that reporting period, with earlier adoption permitted. ASU 2015-03 must be adopted retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented. The Company adopted this guidance at the beginning of the first quarter of fiscal 2016 and reclassified debt issuance costs from other assets to long term debt on a retrospective basis. The adoption of this guidance and prior fiscal year reclassifications did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

 

3) Fair Value Measurements

 

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (i.e., “the exit price”) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In determining fair value, the Company uses various valuation approaches, including quoted market prices and discounted cash flows. The hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from independent sources. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect a company’s judgment concerning the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available under the circumstances. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, an asset or liability must be classified in its entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the measurement of fair value. The fair value hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the reliability of inputs as follows:

 

  - 7 -  
 

• Level 1 – Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments that the Company is able to access. Since valuations are based on quoted prices that are readily and regularly available in an active market, valuation of these products does not entail a significant degree of judgment.

 

• Level 2 – Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for instruments that are similar, or quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar instruments, and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets.

 

• Level 3 – Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

 

As of May 28, 2016, the Company’s financial assets utilizing Level 1 inputs include long term trading investment securities traded on active securities exchanges. The Company did not have any financial assets utilizing Level 2 inputs. Financial assets utilizing Level 3 inputs included long term investments in auction rate securities consisting of preferred shares of closed end municipal bond funds (See “Investment Securities,” Note 5). 

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, investment securities, accounts payable, long term debt and certain other liabilities. The Company’s investment securities consist primarily of U.S. Treasury securities, which are stated at amortized cost, and auction rate securities, which are stated at their approximate fair value. The book value of the financial instruments, excluding the Company’s long term debt, is representative of their fair values. The fair value of the Company’s long term debt is approximately $1.400 billion, which is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments (i.e., Level 1 valuation), compared to the carrying value of approximately $1.500 billion.

 

4) Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Included in cash and cash equivalents are credit and debit card receivables from banks, which typically settle within five business days, of $101.0 million and $89.4 million as of May 28, 2016 and February 27, 2016, respectively.

 

5) Investment Securities

 

The Company’s investment securities as of May 28, 2016 and February 27, 2016 are as follows:

 

(in millions)  

May 28,

2016

 

February 27,

2016

Available-for-sale securities:                
Long term   $ 19.4     $ 19.8  
                 
Trading securities:                
Long term     59.0       51.5  
                 
Held-to-maturity securities:                
Short term     22.5       86.2  
Total investment securities   $ 100.9     $ 157.5  

 

Auction Rate Securities

 

As of May 28, 2016 and February 27, 2016, the Company’s long term available-for-sale investment securities represented approximately $20.3 million par value of auction rate securities, respectively, consisting of preferred shares of closed end municipal bond funds, less temporary valuation adjustments of approximately $0.9 million and $0.5 million, respectively. Since these valuation adjustments are deemed to be temporary, they are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of a related tax benefit, and did not affect the Company’s net earnings.

 

  - 8 -  
 

U.S. Treasury Securities

 

As of May 28, 2016 and February 27, 2016, the Company’s short term held-to-maturity securities included approximately $22.5 million and $86.2 million of U.S. Treasury Bills with remaining maturities of less than one year. These securities are stated at their amortized cost which approximates fair value, which is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments (i.e., Level 1 valuation).

 

Long Term Trading Investment Securities

 

The Company’s long term trading investment securities, which are provided as investment options to the participants of the nonqualified deferred compensation plan, are stated at fair market value. The values of these trading investment securities included in the table above are approximately $59.0 million and $51.5 million as of May 28, 2016 and February 27, 2016, respectively.

 

6) Property and Equipment

 

As of May 28, 2016 and February 27, 2016, included in property and equipment, net is accumulated depreciation of approximately $2.6 billion and $2.5 billion, respectively.

 

7) Long Term Debt

 

Senior Unsecured Notes

 

On July 17, 2014, the Company issued $300 million aggregate principal amount of 3.749% senior unsecured notes due August 1, 2024, $300 million aggregate principal amount of 4.915% senior unsecured notes due August 1, 2034 and $900 million aggregate principal amount of 5.165% senior unsecured notes due August 1, 2044 (collectively, the “Notes”). Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually on February 1 and August 1 of each year.

 

The Notes were issued under an indenture (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture (together, with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), which contains various restrictive covenants, which are subject to important limitations and exceptions that are described in the Indenture. The Company was in compliance with all covenants related to the Notes as of May 28, 2016.

 

Revolving Credit Agreement

 

On August 6, 2014, the Company entered into a $250 million five year senior unsecured revolving credit facility agreement (“Revolver”) with various lenders. During the three months ended May 28, 2016, the Company did not have any borrowings under the Revolver.

 

The Revolver contains customary affirmative and negative covenants and also requires the Company to maintain a minimum leverage ratio. The Company was in compliance with all covenants related to the Revolver as of May 28, 2016.

 

Deferred financing costs associated with the Notes and the Revolver of approximately $10.1 million were capitalized. In the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, the deferred financing costs are included in long term debt, net of amortization, for the Notes and are included in other assets, net of amortization, for the Revolver. These deferred financing costs for the Notes and the Revolver are being amortized over the term of each of the Notes and the term of the Revolver and such amortization is included in interest expense, net in the Consolidated Statement of Earnings. Interest expense related to the Notes and the Revolver, including the commitment fee and the amortization of deferred financing costs, was approximately $18.7 million for the three months ended May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015.

 

Lines of Credit

 

At May 28, 2016, the Company maintained two uncommitted lines of credit of $100 million each, with expiration dates of August 31, 2016 and February 26, 2017, respectively. These uncommitted lines of credit are currently and are expected to be used for letters of credit in the ordinary course of business. During the first three months of fiscal 2016, the Company did not have any direct borrowings under the uncommitted lines of credit. Although no assurances can be provided, the Company intends to renew both uncommitted lines of credit before the respective expiration dates.

 

  - 9 -  
 

8) Shareholders’ Equity

 

The Company has authorization to make repurchases from time to time in the open market or through other parameters approved by the Board of Directors pursuant to existing rules and regulations.

 

Between December 2004 and September 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized, through several share repurchase programs, the repurchase of $11.950 billion of its shares of common stock. The Company also acquires shares of its common stock to cover employee related taxes withheld on vested restricted stock and performance stock unit awards. In the first three months of fiscal 2016, the Company repurchased approximately 3.8 million shares of its common stock for a total cost of approximately $178.1 million, bringing the aggregate total of common stock repurchased to approximately 184.7 million shares for a total cost of approximately $9.847 billion since the initial authorization in December 2004. The Company has approximately $2.1 billion remaining of authorized share repurchases as of May 28, 2016.

 

On April 6, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a quarterly dividend program, and declared an initial quarterly dividend of $0.125 per share to be paid on July 19, 2016 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 17, 2016. Subsequent to the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2016, on June 22, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.125 per share to be paid on October 18, 2016 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 16, 2016. Future cash dividends on the Company’s common stock are subject to the determination by the Board of Directors based on an evaluation of the Company’s earnings, financial condition and requirements, business conditions and other factors.

 

9) Stock-Based Compensation

 

The Company measures all employee stock-based compensation awards using a fair value method and records such expense, net of estimated forfeitures, in its consolidated financial statements. Currently, the Company’s stock-based compensation relates to restricted stock awards, stock options and performance stock units. The Company’s restricted stock awards are considered nonvested share awards.

 

Stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015 was approximately $20.7 million ($12.9 million after tax or $0.08 per diluted share) and $17.7 million ($11.1 million after tax or $0.06 per diluted share), respectively. In addition, the amount of stock-based compensation cost capitalized for the three months ended May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015 was approximately $0.5 million.

 

Incentive Compensation Plans

 

The Company currently grants awards under the Bed Bath & Beyond 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2012 Plan”), which amended and restated the Bed Bath & Beyond 2004 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2004 Plan”). The 2012 Plan includes an aggregate of 43.2 million common shares authorized for issuance and the ability to grant incentive stock options. Outstanding awards that were covered by the 2004 Plan continue to be in effect under the 2012 Plan.

 

The 2012 Plan is a flexible compensation plan that enables the Company to offer incentive compensation through stock options (whether nonqualified stock options or incentive stock options), restricted stock awards, stock appreciation rights, performance awards and other stock based awards, including cash awards. Under the 2012 Plan, grants are determined by the Compensation Committee for those awards granted to executive officers and by an appropriate committee for all other awards granted. Awards of stock options and restricted stock generally vest in five equal annual installments beginning one to three years from the date of grant. Awards of performance stock units generally vest over a period of four years from the date of grant dependent on the Company’s achievement of performance-based tests and subject, in general, to the executive remaining in the Company’s service on specified vesting dates.

 

The Company generally issues new shares for stock option exercises, restricted stock awards and vesting of performance stock units.

 

  - 10 -  
 

Stock Options

 

Stock option grants are issued at fair market value on the date of grant and generally become exercisable in either three or five equal annual installments beginning one year from the date of grant for options issued since May 10, 2010, and beginning one to three years from the date of grant for options issued prior to May 10, 2010, in each case, subject, in general to the recipient remaining in the Company’s service on specified vesting dates. Option grants expire eight years after the date of grant. All option grants are nonqualified. As of May 28, 2016, unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested portion of the Company’s stock options was $28.8 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 3.6 years.

 

The fair value of the stock options granted was estimated on the date of the grant using a Black-Scholes option-pricing model that uses the assumptions noted in the following table.

 

    Three Months Ended
Black-Scholes Valuation Assumptions  (1)   May 28,
2016
  May 30,
2015
         
Weighted Average Expected Life (in years)  (2)     6.6       6.7  
Weighted Average Expected Volatility  (3)     26.96 %     27.59 %
Weighted Average Risk Free Interest Rates  (4)     1.46 %     1.93 %
Expected Dividend Yield (5)     1.10 %     -  

 

(1) Forfeitures are estimated based on historical experience.

(2) The expected life of stock options is estimated based on historical experience.

(3) Expected volatility is based on the average of historical and implied volatility. The historical volatility is determined by observing actual prices of the Company’s stock over a period commensurate with the expected life of the awards. The implied volatility represents the implied volatility of the Company’s call options, which are actively traded on multiple exchanges, had remaining maturities in excess of twelve months, had market prices close to the exercise prices of the employee stock options and were measured on the stock option grant date.

(4) Based on the U.S. Treasury constant maturity interest rate whose term is consistent with the expected life of the stock options.

(5) Expected dividend yield is estimated based on anticipated dividend payouts.

 

Changes in the Company’s stock options for the three months ended May 28, 2016 were as follows:

 

(Shares in thousands)   Number of Stock Options   Weighted Average Exercise Price
Options outstanding, beginning of period     3,838     $ 54.43  
Granted     703       45.53  
Exercised     (598 )     32.16  
Forfeited or expired     -       -  
Options outstanding, end of period     3,943     $ 56.22  
Options exercisable, end of period     2,292     $ 54.58  

 

The weighted average fair value for the stock options granted during the first three months of fiscal 2016 and 2015 was $11.87 and $23.12, respectively. The weighted average remaining contractual term and the aggregate intrinsic value for options outstanding as of May 28, 2016 was 4.8 years and $6.4 million, respectively. The weighted average remaining contractual term and the aggregate intrinsic value for options exercisable as of May 28, 2016 was 3.3 years and $6.4 million, respectively. The total intrinsic value for stock options exercised during the first three months of fiscal 2016 and 2015 was $8.3 million and $8.2 million, respectively.

 

Net cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options for the first three months of fiscal 2016 were $19.2 million and the net associated income tax benefit was $3.3 million.

 

  - 11 -  
 

Restricted Stock

 

Restricted stock awards are issued and measured at fair market value on the date of grant and generally become vested in five equal annual installments beginning one to three years from the date of grant, subject, in general, to the recipient remaining in the Company’s service on specified vesting dates. Vesting of restricted stock awarded to certain of the Company’s executives is dependent on the Company’s achievement of a performance-based test for the fiscal year of grant and, assuming achievement of the performance-based test, time vesting, subject, in general, to the executive remaining in the Company’s service on specified vesting dates. The Company recognizes compensation expense related to these awards based on the assumption that the performance-based test will be achieved. Vesting of restricted stock awarded to the Company’s other employees is based solely on time vesting. As of May 28, 2016, unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested portion of the Company’s restricted stock awards was $151.2 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 4.5 years.

 

Changes in the Company’s restricted stock for the three months ended May 28, 2016 were as follows:

 

(Shares in thousands)   Number of Restricted Shares   Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested restricted stock, beginning of period     3,230     $ 62.71  
Granted     808       45.61  
Vested     (626 )     53.81  
Forfeited     (49 )     63.74  
Unvested restricted stock, end of period     3,363     $ 60.24  

 

Performance Stock Units

 

Performance stock units (“PSUs”) are issued and measured at fair market value on the date of grant. Vesting of PSUs awarded to certain of the Company’s executives is dependent on the Company’s achievement of a performance-based test during a one-year period from the date of grant and during a three-year period from the date of grant and, assuming achievement of the performance-based test, time vesting over periods of up to four years, subject, in general, to the executive remaining in the Company’s service on specified vesting dates. Performance during the one-year period will be based on Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (“EBIT”) margin relative to a peer group of the Company and performance during the three-year period will be based on Return on Invested Capital (“ROIC”) relative to such peer group. The awards based on EBIT margin and ROIC range from a floor of zero to a cap of 150% of target achievement. PSUs are converted into shares of common stock upon payment following vesting. Upon grant of the PSUs, the Company recognizes compensation expense related to these awards based on the assumption that 100% of the target award will be achieved. The Company evaluates the target assumption on a quarterly basis and adjusts compensation expense related to these awards, as appropriate. As of May 28, 2016, unrecognized compensation expense related to the unvested portion of the Company’s performance stock units was $41.3 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.5 years.

 

Changes in the Company’s PSUs for the three months ended May 28, 2016 were as follows:

 

(Shares in thousands)   Number of Performance Stock Units   Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested performance stock units, beginning of period     627     $ 67.15  
Granted     566       45.53  
Vested     (179 )     66.53  
Forfeited     -       -  
Unvested performance stock units, end of period     1,014     $ 55.19  

 

10) Earnings per Share

 

The Company presents earnings per share on a basic and diluted basis. Basic earnings per share has been computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share has been computed by dividing net earnings by the weighted average number of shares outstanding, including the dilutive effect of stock-based awards as calculated under the treasury stock method.

 

  - 12 -  
 

Stock-based awards for the three months ended May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015 of approximately 4.7 million and 1.5 million, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share as the effect would be anti-dilutive.

 

11) Supplemental Cash Flow Information

 

The Company paid income taxes of $75.2 million and $71.7 million in the first three months of fiscal 2016 and 2015, respectively. In addition, the Company had interest payments of approximately $2.2 million and $2.3 million in the first three months of fiscal 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

The Company recorded an accrual for capital expenditures of $29.1 million and $28.4 million as of May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015, respectively.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  - 13 -  
 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Overview

 

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) is a retailer which operates under the names Bed Bath & Beyond (“BBB”), Christmas Tree Shops, Christmas Tree Shops andThat! or andThat! (collectively, “CTS”), Harmon or Harmon Face Values (collectively, “Harmon”), buybuy BABY (“Baby”) and World Market, Cost Plus World Market or Cost Plus (collectively, “Cost Plus World Market”). Customers can purchase products from the Company either in-store, online, with a mobile device or through a contact center. The Company generally has the ability to have customer purchases picked up in-store or shipped direct to the customer from the Company’s distribution facilities, stores or vendors. In addition, the Company operates Of a Kind, an e-commerce website that features specially commissioned, limited edition items from emerging fashion and home designers, which was acquired in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. Subsequent to the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company purchased One Kings Lane, an authority in home décor and design offering a unique collection of select home goods, designer and vintage items. The Company also operates Linen Holdings, a provider of a variety of textile products, amenities and other goods to institutional customers in the hospitality, cruise line, healthcare and other industries. Additionally, the Company is a partner in a joint venture which operates seven retail stores in Mexico under the name Bed Bath & Beyond.

 

The Company accounts for its operations as two operating segments: North American Retail and Institutional Sales. The Institutional Sales operating segment, which is comprised of Linen Holdings, does not meet the quantitative thresholds under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and therefore is not a reportable segment.

 

The Company sells a wide assortment of domestics merchandise and home furnishings. Domestics merchandise includes categories such as bed linens and related items, bath items and kitchen textiles. Home furnishings include categories such as kitchen and tabletop items, fine tabletop, basic housewares, general home furnishings, consumables and certain juvenile products.

 

The Company’s strategy is centered on its customer-centric culture and commitment to customer service, supported by significant investments to strengthen the Company’s foundation for future growth:

 

To do more for and with its customers wherever, whenever and however they wish to interact with the Company;

 

To provide its customers a seamless experience whether they interact with the Company in a store, through one of its contact centers, on a desktop, tablet, smartphone or through social media;

 

To be viewed as the expert for the home, including the accompanying life stages that make a house a home, and to become the destination for customers’ needs and wants as they express their life interests and travel through their life stages; all through the expanding and differentiated products, services and solutions the Company offers.

 

The Company’s objective is to be its customers’ first choice for products and services in the categories offered, in the markets, channels and countries in which the Company operates, as those customers express their life interests and travel through their various life stages. The Company strives to accomplish this objective through excellent customer service, including new products, services and solutions, and by offering an extensive breadth and depth of differentiated merchandise at the right value. The Company is also enhancing its ability to achieve this objective through its ongoing commitment to a world class information technology system, comprehensive analytics and targeted marketing and communications.

 

Operating in the highly competitive retail industry, the Company, along with other retail companies, is influenced by a number of factors including, but not limited to, general economic conditions including the housing market, unemployment levels and commodity prices; the overall macroeconomic environment and related changes in the retailing environment; consumer preferences, spending habits and adoption of new technologies; unusual weather patterns and natural disasters; competition from existing and potential competitors across all channels of distribution; potential supply chain disruption; the ability to find suitable locations at acceptable occupancy costs and other terms to support the Company’s plans for new stores; and the ability to assess and implement technologies in support of the Company’s development of its omnichannel capabilities. The Company cannot predict whether, when or the manner in which these factors could affect the Company’s operating results.

 

  - 14 -  
 

The following represents an overview of the Company’s financial performance for the periods indicated:

 

For the three months ended May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015, the Company’s net sales were $2.738 billion.

 

Comparable sales for the three months ended May 28, 2016 decreased by approximately 0.5%, as compared to an increase of approximately 2.2% for the three months ended May 30, 2015. For the three months ended May 28, 2016, comparable sales consummated through customer facing online websites and mobile applications increased in excess of 20% over the corresponding three month period in the prior year, while comparable sales consummated in-store declined in the low single-digit percentage range.

 

Comparable sales include sales consummated through all retail channels which have been operating for twelve full months following the opening period (typically four to six weeks). The Company is an omnichannel retailer with capabilities that allow a customer to use more than one channel when making a purchase, including in-store, online, with a mobile device or through a contact center, and have it fulfilled, in most cases, either through in-store customer pickup or by direct shipment to the customer from one of the Company’s distribution facilities, stores or vendors.

 

Sales consummated on a mobile device while physically in a store location are recorded as customer facing online websites and mobile applications sales. Customer orders reserved online and picked up in a store are recorded as in-store sales. In-store sales are reduced by sales originally consummated from customer facing online websites and mobile applications and subsequently returned in-store.

 

Stores relocated or expanded are excluded from comparable sales if the change in square footage would cause meaningful disparity in sales over the prior period. In the case of a store to be closed, such store’s sales are not considered comparable once the store closing process has commenced. Of a Kind is excluded from the comparable sales calculation for first quarter of fiscal 2016, and will continue to be excluded until after the anniversary of the acquisition. Linen Holdings is excluded from the comparable sales calculations and will continue to be excluded on an ongoing basis as it represents non-retail activity.

 

Gross profit for the three months ended May 28, 2016 was $1.024 billion, or 37.4% of net sales, compared with $1.044 billion, or 38.1% of net sales, for the three months ended May 30, 2015.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) for the three months ended May 28, 2016 were $810.6 million, or 29.6% of net sales, compared with $770.9 million, or 28.1% of net sales, for the three months ended May 30, 2015.

 

Interest expense for the three months ended May 28, 2016 was $16.3 million compared with $19.9 million for the three months ended May 30, 2015.

 

The effective tax rate for the three months ended May 28, 2016 was 37.7% compared with 37.5% for the three months ended May 30, 2015. The tax rates included discrete tax items resulting in net benefits of approximately $0.5 million and $1.5 million, respectively, for the three months ended May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015.

 

For the three months ended May 28, 2016, net earnings per diluted share were $0.80 ($122.6 million) as compared with net earnings per diluted share of $0.93 ($158.5 million) for the three months ended May 30, 2015. The decrease in net earnings per diluted share for the three months ended May 28, 2016 is the result of the decrease in net earnings due to the items described above, partially offset by the impact of the Company’s repurchases of its common stock.

 

Capital expenditures for the three months ended May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015 were $89.5 million and $72.4 million, respectively. In the first quarter of fiscal 2016 capital expenditures included expenditures for enhancements to the Company’s digital, web and mobile capabilities, ongoing investments in data analytics, expenditures for the continued development and deployment of new systems and equipment in stores including a new POS system, spending related to the new distribution facility in Lewisville, Texas, investments in new stores, store relocations and store refurbishments and other projects. The Company continues to review and prioritize its capital needs and remains committed to making the required investments in its infrastructure to help position the Company for continued growth and success.

 

  - 15 -  
 

Several of the Company’s key initiatives include: continuing to add new functionality and assortment to its selling websites, mobile sites and applications; improving customer data integration and customer relations management capabilities; continuing to enhance service offerings to its customers; continuing to strengthen and deepen its information technology, analytics, marketing and e-commerce groups; and creating more flexible fulfillment options that will improve the Company’s delivery capabilities and lower the Company’s shipping costs. These and other investments are expected to, among other things, provide a seamless and compelling customer experience across the Company’s physical and digital shopping environments.

 

During the three months ended May 28, 2016, the Company opened a total of four new stores and closed one store. The Company plans to continue to actively manage its real estate portfolio in order to permit store sizes, layouts, locations and offerings to evolve over time to optimize market profitability and will renovate or reposition stores within markets when appropriate. During fiscal 2016, including the stores opened through May 28, 2016, the Company expects company-wide to open approximately 30 new stores, most of which are planned for new markets, close approximately 15 stores and open a new distribution facility. Additionally, during fiscal 2016, the Company expects to continue to invest in technology related projects and new stores, store relocations and store refurbishments.

 

During the three months ended May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015, the Company repurchased approximately 3.8 million and 5.3 million shares, respectively, of its common stock at a total cost of approximately $178.1 million and $385.3 million, respectively.

 

On April 6, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a quarterly dividend program, and declared an initial quarterly dividend of $0.125 per share to be paid on July 19, 2016 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on June 17, 2016. Subsequent to the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2016, on June 22, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.125 per share to be paid on October 18, 2016 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 16, 2016. The Company expects to pay quarterly cash dividends on its common stock in the future, subject to the determination by the Board of Directors, based on an evaluation of the Company’s earnings, financial condition and requirements, business conditions and other factors.

 

In addition to the quarterly dividend program, the Company’s share repurchase program may be influenced by several factors, including business and market conditions. In addition, the Company reviews its alternatives with respect to its capital structure on an ongoing basis.

 

Results of Operations

 

Net Sales

 

Net sales for the three months ended May 28, 2016 were $2.738 billion, flat compared to the net sales for the corresponding quarter last year, due to an increase in net sales from new stores offset by a decrease in comparable sales.

 

The decrease in comparable sales for the three months ended May 28, 2016 was approximately 0.5% as compared to an increase of approximately 2.2%, for the three months ended May 30, 2015. The decrease in comparable sales for the three months ended May 28, 2016 was due to a decrease in the number of transactions, partially offset by an increase in the average transaction amount.

 

The Company’s comparable sales metric considers sales consummated through all retail channels – in-store, online, with a mobile device or through a contact center. Customers today may take advantage of the Company’s omnichannel environment by using more than one channel when making a purchase. The Company believes an integrated experience must exist among these channels to provide a seamless customer experience. A few examples are: a customer may be assisted by an in-store associate to create a wedding or baby registry, while the guests may ultimately purchase a gift from the Company’s websites; or, a customer may research a particular item, and read other customer reviews on the Company’s websites before visiting a store to consummate the actual purchase; or a customer may reserve an item online for in-store pick up; or while in a store, a customer may make the purchase on a mobile device for in home delivery from either a distribution facility, a store or directly from a vendor. In addition, the Company accepts returns in-store without regard to the channel in which the purchase was consummated, therefore resulting in reducing store sales by sales originally consummated through customer facing online websites and mobile applications. As the Company’s retail operations are integrated and it cannot reasonably track the channel in which the ultimate sale is initiated, the Company can however provide directional information on where the sale was consummated.

 

For the three months ended May 28, 2016, comparable sales consummated through customer facing online websites and mobile applications increased in excess of 20% over the corresponding three month period in the prior year, while comparable sales consummated in-store declined in the low single-digit percentage range.

 

  - 16 -  
 

For the three months ended May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015, comparable sales represented $2.651 billion and $2.649 billion of net sales, respectively.

 

Sales of domestics merchandise and home furnishings for the Company accounted for approximately 36.6% and 63.4% of net sales, respectively, for the three months ended May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015.

 

Gross Profit

 

Gross profit for the three months ended May 28, 2016 was $1.024 billion, or 37.4% of net sales, compared with $1.044 billion, or 38.1% of net sales, for the three months ended May 30, 2015. The decrease in the gross profit margin as a percentage of net sales for the three months ended May 28, 2016 was primarily attributed to, in order of magnitude, a decrease in merchandise margin and an increase in coupon expense, resulting from increases in both redemptions and the average coupon amount. Also contributing to the decrease in gross profit margin as a percentage of net sales, to a lesser extent, was an increase in net direct to customer shipping expense.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

SG&A for the three months ended May 28, 2016 was $810.6 million, or 29.6% of net sales, compared with $770.9 million, or 28.1% of net sales, for the three months ended May 30, 2015. The increase in SG&A, as a percentage of net sales, in order of magnitude, was attributable to an increase in payroll and payroll related items (including salaries) and an increase in technology expenses and related depreciation. Also contributing to the increase in SG&A as a percentage of net sales, to a lesser extent, was an increase in advertising expense due in part to the growth in digital advertising.

 

Operating Profit

 

Operating profit for the three months ended May 28, 2016 was $213.0 million, or 7.8% of net sales, compared with $273.3 million, or 10.0% of net sales, during the comparable period last year. The changes in operating profit as a percentage of net sales were the result of the changes in gross profit margin and SG&A as a percentage of net sales as described above.

 

The Company believes operating margin compression is likely to continue in fiscal 2016 as a result of several items, including increases in, as a percentage of net sales, coupon expense, net direct to customer shipping expense, additional payroll start-up costs associated with the opening of the Company’s Lewisville, Texas distribution facility, investments in compensation and benefits, and technology-related expenses, including depreciation related to the Company’s ongoing investments. In addition, the year-over-year comparison of operating margin will be impacted by the non-recurring benefit related to the state audit settlement which occurred in fiscal 2015.

 

Interest Expense, net

 

Interest expense, net for the three months ended May 28, 2016 was $16.3 million compared to $19.9 million for the three months ended May 30, 2015. For the three months ended May 28, 2016 and May 30, 2015, interest expense, net primarily related to interest on the senior unsecured notes issued in July 2014.

 

Income Taxes

 

The effective tax rate for the three months ended May 28, 2016 was 37.7% compared with 37.5% for the three months ended May 30, 2015. The tax rate for the three months ended May 28, 2016 included a net benefit of approximately $0.5 million and the tax rate for the three months ended May 30, 2015 included a net benefit of approximately $1.5 million, primarily due to the recognition of favorable discrete state tax items.

 

Potential volatility in the effective tax rate from quarter to quarter may occur as the Company is required each quarter to determine whether new information changes the assessment of both the probability that a tax position will effectively be sustained and the appropriateness of the amount of recognized benefit.

 

Net Earnings

 

As a result of the factors described above, net earnings for the three months ended May 28, 2016 were $122.6 million compared with $158.5 million for the corresponding period in fiscal 2015.

 

  - 17 -  
 

Growth

 

The Company strives to do more for and with its customers by: offering an extensive breadth and depth of differentiated assortment of merchandise at the right value; presenting merchandise in a distinctive manner designed to maximize customer convenience and reinforce customer perception of a wide selection; and providing excellent customer service, including new products, services and solutions. The Company is pursuing its growth objectives by investing in its omnichannel capabilities, optimizing its store operations and market coverage, including international expansion; leveraging its combined expertise and product knowledge to provide products and services to hospitality, travel and other institutional customers; and continuously reviewing opportunities for strategic acquisitions.

 

The Company continues to expand, differentiate and leverage its merchandise assortment across all channels, concepts and countries in which it operates, to better engage with its customers wherever, whenever and however they express their life interests and travel through their life stages. Through its growing analytic capabilities and omnichannel marketing approaches, the Company strives to more efficiently and effectively understand and satisfy its customers’ needs.

 

As of May 28, 2016, the Company operated 1,533 stores plus its various websites, other interactive platforms and distribution facilities. The Company’s 1,533 stores operate in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada, including: 1,021 BBB stores, 277 Cost Plus World Market stores, 105 Baby stores, 79 CTS stores and 51 Harmon stores. During the three months ended May 28, 2016, the Company opened a total of four new stores and closed one store. At the end of the first quarter of 2016, Company-wide total store square footage, net of openings and closings, for all of its concepts, was approximately 43.4 million square feet. In addition, the Company has distribution facilities totaling 6.1 million square feet. In addition, the Company has entered into a lease for a new distribution facility in Lewisville, Texas, which is planned to open in the fall of 2016, which will be approximately 800,000 square feet. The Company will continue to assess sites throughout the country in order to gain greater distribution efficiencies. The Company also operates websites including bedbathandbeyond.com, bedbathandbeyond.ca, worldmarket.com, buybuybaby.com, buybuybaby.ca, christmastreeshops.com, harmondiscount.com, ofakind.com, harborlinen.com and t-ygroup.com. Additionally, the Company is a partner in a joint venture which operated a total of seven stores as of May 28, 2016 in Mexico under the name Bed Bath & Beyond.

 

The Company plans to continue to expand its operations and invest in its infrastructure to reach its long-term objectives. During fiscal 2016, including the stores opened through May 28, 2016, the Company expects company-wide to open approximately 30 new stores, most of which are planned for new markets, close approximately 15 stores and open a new distribution facility. Additionally, in connection with leveraging its merchandise offerings and optimizing its operations, the Company continues to expand, across selected stores, the number of specialty departments such as health and beauty care, baby, specialty food, and beverage. Also, the Company is committed to the continued growth of its merchandise categories and channels and is growing the number of items it is able to have shipped directly to customers from a vendor. The continued growth of the Company is dependent, in part, upon the Company’s ability to execute these and other key initiatives successfully.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The Company has been able to finance its operations, including its growth, through internally generated funds. For fiscal 2016, the Company believes that it can continue to finance its operations, including its growth, share repurchases, cash dividends, planned capital expenditures and debt service obligations, through existing and internally generated funds. In addition, if necessary, the Company could borrow under its revolving credit facility. Capital expenditures for fiscal 2016 are planned to be approximately $400 million to $425 million, with a significant portion for technology related projects, which includes enhancements to the Company’s digital, web and mobile capabilities, the continued deployment of new systems and equipment to the stores and other projects, and the remainder of the spend would be for the new distribution facility, new stores, store relocations and store refurbishments, and other projects. These planned capital expenditures are subject to the timing and composition of the projects. In addition, the Company reviews its alternatives with respect to its capital structure on an ongoing basis.

 

  - 18 -  
 

Fiscal 2016 compared to Fiscal 2015

 

Net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended May 28, 2016 was $207.8 million, compared with $146.9 million in the corresponding period in fiscal 2015. Year over year, the Company experienced a decrease in cash used in the net components of working capital (primarily accounts payable and merchandise inventories) partially offset by a decrease in net earnings.

 

Retail inventory, which includes inventory in the Company’s distribution facilities for direct to customer shipments, was approximately $2.9 billion, an increase of approximately 2.3% compared to retail inventory as of May 30, 2015. The percentage increase was due in part to the growth in the inventory in the Company’s distribution facilities for direct to customer shipments.

 

Net cash used in investing activities for the three months ended May 28, 2016 was $25.7 million, compared with $39.2 million in the corresponding period of fiscal 2015. For the three months ended May 28, 2016, net cash used in investing activities was due to $89.5 million of capital expenditures, partially offset by $63.7 million of redemptions of investment securities. For the three months ended May 30, 2015, net cash used in investing activities was primarily due to $72.4 million of capital expenditures, partially offset by $33.1 million of redemptions of investment securities, net of purchases.

 

Net cash used in financing activities for the three months ended May 28, 2016 was $157.6 million, compared with $368.5 million in the corresponding period of fiscal 2015. The decrease in net cash used in financing activities was primarily due to a decrease in common stock repurchases of $207.2 million.

 

Seasonality

 

The Company’s sales exhibit seasonality with sales levels generally higher in the calendar months of August, November and December, and generally lower in February.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

See “Critical Accounting Policies” under Item 7 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 27, 2016 (“2015 Form 10-K”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and incorporated by reference herein. There were no changes to the Company’s critical accounting policies during the first three months of fiscal 2016.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Form 10-Q may contain forward-looking statements. Many of these forward-looking statements can be identified by use of words such as may, will, expect, anticipate, approximate, estimate, assume, continue, model, project, plan, and similar words and phrases. The Company’s actual results and future financial condition may differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. Such factors include, without limitation: general economic conditions including the housing market, a challenging overall macroeconomic environment and related changes in the retailing environment; consumer preferences, spending habits and adoption of new technologies; demographics and other macroeconomic factors that may impact the level of spending for the types of merchandise sold by the Company; civil disturbances and terrorist acts; unusual weather patterns and natural disasters; competition from existing and potential competitors; competition from other channels of distribution; pricing pressures; liquidity; the ability to attract and retain qualified employees in all areas of the organization; the cost of labor, merchandise and other costs and expenses; potential supply chain disruption due to political instability, labor disturbances, product recalls, financial or operational instability of suppliers or carriers, and other items; the ability to find suitable locations at acceptable occupancy costs and other terms to support the Company’s plans for new stores; the ability to assess and implement technologies in support of the Company’s development of its omnichannel capabilities; the ability to establish and profitably maintain the appropriate mix of digital and physical presence in the markets it serves; uncertainty in financial markets; disruptions to the Company’s information technology systems including but not limited to security breaches of systems protecting consumer and employee information; reputational risk arising from challenges to the Company’s or a third party supplier’s compliance with various laws, regulations or standards, including those related to labor, health, safety, privacy or the environment; reputational risk arising from third-party merchandise or service vendor performance in direct home delivery or assembly of product for customers; changes to statutory, regulatory and legal requirements; new, or developments in existing, litigation, claims or assessments; changes to, or new, tax laws or interpretation of existing tax laws; changes to, or new, accounting standards; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; and the integration of acquired businesses. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update its forward-looking statements.

 

  - 19 -  
 

Available Information

 

The Company makes available as soon as reasonably practicable after filing with the SEC, free of charge, through its website, www.bedbathandbeyond.com, the Company’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports, electronically filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

The Company’s exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to the Company’s investment securities. The Company’s market risks at May 28, 2016 are similar to those disclosed in Item 7A of the Company’s 2015 Form 10-K.

 

As of May 28, 2016, the Company’s investments include cash and cash equivalents of approximately $544.3 million, short term investment securities of approximately $22.5 and long term investments in auction rate securities of approximately $19.4 million at weighted average interest rates of 0.16%, 0.37% and 0.15%, respectively. The book value of these investments is representative of their fair values.

 

The Company’s senior unsecured notes have fixed interest rates and are not subject to interest rate risk. As of May 28, 2016, the fair value of the senior unsecured notes was $1.400 billion, which is based on quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments compared to the carrying value of approximately $1.500 billion.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

(a)  Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

The Company’s management, with the participation of its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, have reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 240.13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of May 28, 2016 (the end of the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q). Based on that evaluation, the Principal Executive Officer and the Principal Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s current disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

(b)  Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 

  - 20 -  
 

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

The Company is party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, which the Company does not believe to be material to the Company’s business or financial condition.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

In addition to the other information set forth in this Form 10-Q, carefully consider the factors discussed under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s 2015 Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. These risks are not the only risks the Company faces. The Company’s operations could also be affected by additional factors that are not presently known to the Company or by factors that the Company currently considers immaterial to its business.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

The Company’s purchases of its common stock during the first quarter of fiscal 2016 were as follows:

 

Period   Total Number of Shares Purchased (1)     Average Price Paid per Share (2)     Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans
or Programs (1)
    Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (1) (2)  
February 28, 2016 - March 26, 2016     861,700     $ 49.22       861,700     $ 2,241,063,800  
March 27, 2016 - April 23, 2016     837,100     $ 48.57       837,100     $ 2,200,403,624  
April 24, 2016 - May 28, 2016     2,066,900     $ 45.97       2,066,900     $ 2,105,384,173  
Total     3,765,700     $ 47.29       3,765,700     $ 2,105,384,173  

 

(1) Between December 2004 and September 2015, the Company's Board of Directors authorized, through several share repurchase programs, the repurchase of $11.950 billion of its shares of common stock. The Company has authorization to make repurchases from time to time in the open market or through other parameters approved by the Board of Directors pursuant to existing rules and regulations. Shares purchased indicated in this table also include shares withheld to cover employee related taxes on vested restricted shares and performance stock unit awards.

(2) Excludes brokerage commissions paid by the Company.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

The exhibits to this Report are listed in the Exhibit Index included elsewhere herein.

 

 

  - 21 -  
 

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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

  BED BATH & BEYOND INC.
  (Registrant)
   
   
Date: July 6, 2016 By:   /s/ Susan E. Lattmann                                         
  Susan E. Lattmann
  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  - 22 -  
 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

Exhibit No. Exhibit
   
10.1 Amended and Restated Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (effective January 1, 2016)

 

10.2 Amended and Restated Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (effective January 1, 2008)

 

10.3 Form of Performance Stock Unit Agreement under 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan (effective 2016)

 

31.1 Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

31.2 Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

32 Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

101.INS XBRL Instance Document

 

101.SCH XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

 

101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

 

101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

 

101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

101.DEF XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

 

 

 

- 23 -

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan

 

Table of Contents

 

      Page
       
Article 1 - Definitions 1
   
  1.1 Account 1
  1.2 Administrator 1
  1.3 Board 2
  1.4 Change-in-Control 2
  1.5 Code 2
  1.6 Compensation 2
  1.7 Deferrals 2
  1.8 Deferral Election 3
  1.9 Disability 3
  1.10 Effective Date 3
  1.11 Eligible Employee 3
  1.12 Employee 3
  1.13 Employer 3
  1.14 Employer Discretionary Contribution 3
  1.15 ERISA 3
  1.16 Fixed Date Account 3
  1.17 Investment Fund 4
  1.18 Matching Contribution 4
  1.19 Participant 4
  1.20 Plan Year 4
  1.21 Separation from Service 4
  1.22 Separation from Service Account 4
  1.23 Service Recipient 4
  1.24 Trust 4
  1.25 Trustee 4
  1.26 Years of Service 5
       
Article 2 - Participation 5
       
  2.1 Commencement of Participation 5
  2.2 Loss of Eligible Employee Status 5
       
Article 3 - Contributions 5
       
  3.1 Deferral Elections - General 5
  3.2 Time of Election 6
  3.3 Distribution Elections 6
  3.4 Additional Requirements 6
  3.5 Matching Contribution 6
  3.6 Employer Discretionary Contributions 7
  3.7 Crediting of Contributions 7
       

 

 
       
Article 4 - Vesting 7
       
  4.1 Vesting of Deferrals 7
  4.2 Vesting of Matching Contributions 8
  4.3 Vesting of Employer Discretionary Contributions 8
  4.4 Vesting in Event of Attainment of Sixty-Five (65) Years of Age, Disability, Death or Change-in-Control 8
  4.5 Amounts Not Vested 9
  4.6 Forfeitures 9
       
Article 5 - Accounts 9
       
  5.1 Accounts 9
  5.2 Investments, Gains and Losses 9
       
Article 6 - Distributions 10
       
  6.1 Distribution Election 10
  6.2 Distributions from a Fixed Date Account 10
  6.3 Distributions Upon Participant’s Separation from Service 10
  6.4 Substantially Equal Annual Installments 11
  6.5 Distributions upon a Participant’s Disability 11
  6.6 Distributions upon Death 11
  6.7 Changes to Distribution Elections 11
  6.8 Acceleration or Delay in Payments 11
  6.9 Unforeseeable Emergency 12
  6.10 Delayed Distributions 12
  6.11 Exception to Separation from Service 12
  6.12 Minimum Distribution 13
  6.13 Domestic Relations Orders 13
  6.14 Separation from Service for Cause 13
       
Article 7 - Beneficiaries 13
       
  7.1 Beneficiaries 13
  7.2 Lost Beneficiary 14
       
Article 8 - Funding 14
       
  8.1 Prohibition Against Funding 14
  8.2 Deposits in Trust 14
  8.3 Withholding of Employee Contributions 14
       
Article 9 - Claims Administration 14
       
  9.1 General 15
  9.2 Claims Procedure 15
  9.3 Right of Appeal 15
  9.4 Review of Appeal 15
  9.5 Designation 16
       

 

 
       
Article 10 - General Provisions 16
       
  10.1 Administrator 16
  10.2 No Assignment 16
  10.3 No Employment Rights 17
  10.4 Incompetence 17
  10.5 Identity 17
  10.6 Other Benefits 17
  10.7 Indemnity 17
  10.8 Expenses 18
  10.9 Insolvency 18
  10.10 Amendment or Modification 18
  10.11 Plan Suspension 18
  10.12 Plan Termination 18
  10.13 Plan Termination due to a Change-in-Control 19
  10.14 Construction 19
  10.15 Governing Law 19
  10.16 Severability 19
  10.17 Headings 19
  10.18 Terms 19
  10.19 Code Section 409A Fail Safe Provision 19
  10.20 No Guarantee of Tax Consequences 20
  10.21 Limitation on Actions 20
  10.22 Right of Setoff 20

 

 

 

Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan

 

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., a New York corporation, adopted the Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan on January 1, 2006 (referred to as “BB&B Prior Plan”).

 

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., pursuant to Article 10 of the BB&B Prior Plan, amended and restated the BB&B Prior Plan into the Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (hereafter referred to as “2008 Plan”) for the benefit of a select group of management or highly compensated employees. The 2008 Plan represents the restatement and continuation of the BB&B Prior Plan with the administration of such Plan performed in compliance with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the regulations promulgated thereto. This Plan is an unfunded arrangement and is 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. It is intended to comply with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A.

 

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. now wishes to further amend and restate the 2008 Plan to incorporate amendments executed subsequent to the effective date of 2008 Plan adoption and provide for updated compliant language to maintain a plan that continues to be an unfunded arrangement that is 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 and compliant with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A. This new restated Plan shall be referred to as the Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan 2016 Restatement (“2016 Restatement”). The 2016 Restatement effective date shall be January 1, 2016.

 

This 2016 Restatement shall govern and control all Participant deferrals and associated accounts created on and after the 2016 Restatement effective date of January 1, 2016. All Participant deferrals and Participant accounts in existence prior to January 1, 2016 shall be governed and controlled by the prior 2008 Plan a copy of which is attached hereto at Exhibit B and made a part hereof. The 2008 Plan shall be considered frozen with respect to deferrals subsequent to January 1, 2016. The 2008 Plan may be amended from time to time pursuant to 2008 Plan Section 10.10.

 

 

Article 1 - Definitions

 

1.1 Account.

The bookkeeping account established for each Participant as provided in Section 5.1 hereof.

 

1.2 Administrator.

An administrative committee appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Employer, said committee to include at least three individuals. The Administrator shall serve as the agent for the Employer with respect to the Trust.

 

1
 

 

1.3 Board.

The Board of Directors of the Employer.

 

1.4 Change-in-Control.

Provided that such definition shall be interpreted in a manner that is consistent with Code Section 409A and regulations thereunder, a “Change-in-Control” of the Employer (which, for purpose of this Section 1.4 shall mean Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. but not any of its affiliates or subsidiaries) shall mean the first to occur of any of the following:

 

(a) the date that any one person or persons acting as a group acquires ownership of Employer stock constituting more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the Employer;

 

(b) the date that any one person or persons acting as a group acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) ownership of the stock of the Employer possessing thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Employer;

 

(c) the date that any one person or persons acting as a group acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Employer that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than forty percent (40%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Employer immediately prior to such acquisition; or

 

(d) the date that a majority of members of the Employer’s Board is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or elections.

 

1.5 Code.

The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

1.6 Compensation.

The Participant’s regular earnings, cash bonuses and commission compensation (defined as “sales commission compensation” in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-2(a)(12)(i) and subject to Section 3.1 herein), including any pretax elective deferrals to any Employer sponsored plan that includes amounts deferred under a Deferral Election, a qualified cash or deferred arrangement under Code Section 401(k) or a cafeteria plan under Code Section 125. Compensation shall exclude (i) equity incentive compensation, (ii) severance benefits, (iii) welfare benefits, fringe benefits and any other noncash remuneration, (iv) amounts realized from sale, exchange or other disposition of stock acquired under a stock option, a stock grant or any other similar arrangement, and (v) moving/relocation, fuel/auto expenses.

 

1.7 Deferrals.

The portion of Compensation that a Participant elects to defer in accordance with Section 3.1 hereof.

 

2
 

 

1.8 Deferral Election.

The separate agreement, submitted to the Administrator, by which an Eligible Employee agrees to participate in the Plan and make Deferrals thereto.

 

1.9 Disability.

A Participant shall be considered disabled if: (i) the Participant 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; (ii) the Participant is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Participant’s Employer; or (iii) determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration.

 

1.10 Effective Date.

The 2016 Restatement is effective January 1, 2016 and is adopted by Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. on the date executed by an authorized representative of Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., which date is set forth below such signature. The 2008 Plan shall remain in effect and controls Participant deferrals and Account balances within the 2008 Plan prior to January 1, 2016.

 

1.11 Eligible Employee.

An Employee shall be considered an Eligible Employee if such Employee is (i) a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees and (ii) is designated by the Administrator as able to participate in the Plan. The designation of an Employee as an Eligible Employee in any year shall not confer upon such Employee any right to be designated as an Eligible Employee in any future Plan Year.

 

1.12 Employee.

Any person employed by the Employer in the US.

 

1.13 Employer.

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. and its adopting affiliates and subsidiaries as evidenced by their inclusion on Plan on the attached Exhibit A, attached hereto, which may be appropriately modified by the Employer to reflect the participating entities.

 

1.14 Employer Discretionary Contribution.

A discretionary contribution made by the Employer that is credited to one or more Participant’s Accounts in accordance with the terms of Section 3.6 hereof.

 

1.15 ERISA.

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

1.16 Fixed Date Account.

One or more bookkeeping accounts established pursuant to Section 5.1(b).

 

3
 

 

1.17 Investment Fund.

Each investment(s) which serves as a means to measure value, increases or decreases with respect to a Participant’s Accounts.

 

1.18 Matching Contribution.

A contribution made by the Employer that is credited to one or more Participant’s Accounts in accordance with the terms of Section 3.5 hereof.

 

1.19 Participant.

An Eligible Employee who is a Participant as provided in Article 2.

 

1.20 Plan Year.

The calendar year of January 1 through December 31.

 

1.21 Separation from Service.

As provided by regulations promulgated under Code Section 409A, a Participant shall incur a Separation from Service with the Service Recipient due to death, retirement or other termination of employment with the Service Recipient unless the employment relationship is treated as continuing intact while the individual is on military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence if the period of such leave does not to exceed twelve months, or if longer, so long as the individual retains a right to reemployment with the Service Recipient under an applicable statute or by contract.

 

1.22 Separation from Service Account

One or more bookkeeping accounts established pursuant to Section 5.1(a).

 

1.23 Service Recipient.

As provided by regulations promulgated under Code Section 409A, Service Recipient shall mean the Employer or person for whom the services are performed and with respect to whom the legally binding right to compensation arises, and all persons with whom such person would be considered a single employer under Code Section 414(b) (employees of controlled group of corporations), and all persons with whom such person would be considered a single employer under Code Section 414(c) (employees of partnerships, proprietorships, etc., under common control).

 

1.24 Trust.

The agreement between the Employer and the Trustee under which the assets of the Plan are held, administered and managed, which shall conform to the terms of Rev. Proc. 92-64.

 

1.25 Trustee.

State Street Bank and Trust Company or such other successor that shall become trustee pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

 

4
 

1.26 Years of Service.

A Participant’s “Years of Service” shall be measured by employment during a twelve (12) month period commencing with the Participant’s date of hire and anniversaries thereof.

 

 

Article 2 - Participa t ion

 

2.1 Commencement of Participation.

Each Eligible Employee shall become a Participant at the earlier of the date on which his or her Deferral Election first becomes effective or the date on which an or Employer Discretionary Contribution is first credited to his or her Account.

 

2.2 Loss of Eligible Employee Status.

A Participant who is no longer an Eligible Employee shall not be permitted to submit a Deferral Election and all Deferrals for such Participant shall cease as of the end of the Plan Year in which such Participant is determined to no longer be an Eligible Employee. Amounts credited to the Account of a Participant who is no longer an Eligible Employee shall continue to be held pursuant to the terms of the Plan and shall be distributed as provided in Article 6.

 

 

Article 3 - Contributions

 

3.1 Deferral Elections - General.

A Participant’s Deferral Election for a Plan Year is irrevocable for that applicable Plan Year; provided, however that a cessation of Deferrals shall be allowed if such deferral is permitted by the terms of the Employer’s qualified 401(k) plan in order for the Participant to obtain a hardship withdrawal from the 401(k) plan, or if required under Section 6.9 (Unforeseeable Emergency) of this Plan. Such amounts deferred under the Plan shall not be made available to such Participant, except as provided in Article 6, and shall reduce such Participant’s Compensation from the Employer in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Deferral Election; provided, however, that all such amounts shall be subject to the rights of the general creditors of the Employer as provided in Article 8. The Deferral Election, in addition to the requirements set forth below, must designate: (i) the amount of Compensation to be deferred, (ii) the time of the distribution, and (iii) the form of the distribution. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Deferral Election(s) with respect to commission compensation (as defined in Section 1.6 herein) will be made in a manner consistent with Code Section 409A and the regulations thereunder. Deferral Election(s) with respect to commission compensation must be made in the Plan Year preceding the Plan Year in which the services with respect to such commission compensation is rendered. The commission compensation to which a Deferral Election relates will be allocated to a Participant’s Account with respect to the Plan Year for which such services relate (regardless of when commission compensation is paid).

 

5
 

3.2 Time of Election.

A Deferral Election shall be void if it is not made in a timely manner as follows:

 

(a) A Deferral Election with respect to any Compensation must be submitted to the Administrator before the beginning of the calendar year during which the amount to be deferred will be earned. As of December 31 of each calendar year, said Deferral Election is irrevocable for the calendar year.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing and in the discretion of the Employer, in a year in which an Employee is first eligible to participate, and provided that such Employee is not eligible to participate in any other similar account balance arrangement subject to Code Section 409A, such Deferral Election shall be submitted within thirty (30) days after the date on which an Employee is first eligible to participate, and such Deferral Election shall apply to Compensation to be earned during the remainder of the calendar year after such election is made.

 

3.3 Distribution Elections.

At the time a Participant makes a Deferral Election, he or she must also elect the time and form of the distribution by establishing one or more Fixed Date Account(s) or Separation from Service Accounts as provided in Sections 5.1 and 6.1. If the Participant fails to properly designate the time and form of a distribution, the Participant’s Account shall be designated as a Separation from Service Account and shall be paid in a lump sum.

 

3.4 Additional Requirements.

The Deferral Election, subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3.1 and 3.2 hereof, shall comply with the following additional requirements, or as otherwise required by the Administrator in its sole discretion:

 

(a) Deferrals may be made in whole percentages or stated dollar amounts with such limitations as determined by the Administrator.

 

(b) The maximum amount that may be deferred each Plan Year is one hundred percent (100%) of the Participant’s Compensation.

 

3.5 Matching Contribution.

 

(a) Subject to subsection (b) below, the Employer, in its sole and absolute discretion, may credit to the Account of each Participant who makes Deferrals a Matching Contribution in an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the Deferrals contributed by the Participant, up to a maximum Deferral of six percent (6%) of each Participant’s eligible Compensation, offset dollar for dollar by any matching contribution that the Employer makes to the Employer’s qualified 401(k) plan on behalf of the Participant, or in an amount as may be determined by the Employer and communicated to Participants prior to the beginning of a Plan Year for which the Matching Contribution is to be made. A Participant must be employed by the Employer on the date the Matching Contribution is credited to the Plan in order to be eligible for the Matching Contribution for a given Plan Year. Such Matching Contribution shall be credited

 

6
 

to such sub-account(s) as may be elected by the Participant for his or her Deferrals in accordance with Section 5.1 and procedures established by the Plan Administrator.

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the combined maximum annual matching contribution that may be made on behalf of a Participant to this Plan and to the Employer’s 401(k) qualified plan is fifty percent (50%) of the Deferrals contributed by the Participant up to a maximum Deferral of six percent (6%) of each Participant’s eligible Compensation where Compensation is limited to the Code Section 401(a)(17) amount for the applicable Plan Year. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Matching Contributions hereunder shall not exceed the dollar limitation under Code Section 402(g)(1) and (ii) in no event shall the combined amount of the annual matching contributions that the Employer makes to the Employer’s qualified 401(k) plan on behalf of the Participant and the amount of Matching Contributions made hereunder exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the matching contributions that could have been made on behalf of the Participant under the Employer’s qualified 401(k) plan without respect to the limitation under Code Section 402(g).

 

3.6 Employer Discretionary Contributions.

The Employer reserves the right to make discretionary contributions to some or all Participants’ Accounts in such amount and in such manner as may be determined by the Employer. Such Employer Discretionary Contribution, at the option of the Employer shall be credited to such sub-account(s) as may be elected by the Participant in accordance with Sections 3.1 and 5.1 and procedures established by the Administrator, or if no such election is made by the Participant, then to such sub-account(s) as may be elected by the Participant for his or her Deferrals, or if no Deferrals, then to the Participant’s Separation from Service sub-account with the shortest payment period maintained within the Participant’s Account in accordance with Section 5.1.

 

3.7 Crediting of Contributions.

 

(a) Deferrals shall be credited to a Participant’s Account, and if applicable transferred to the Trust, as soon administratively feasible following each payroll period.

 

(b) Matching Contributions shall be credited to a Participant’s Account, and if applicable transferred to the Trust, on or before June 1 of the Plan Year following the Plan Year for which such Matching Contribution is being credited.

 

(c) Employer Discretionary Contributions shall be credited to a Participant’s Account, and if applicable transferred to the Trust, at such time as the Employer shall determine.

 

 

Article 4 - Vesting

 

4.1 Vesting of Deferrals.

A Participant shall be one-hundred percent (100%) vested in his or her Account attributable to Deferrals and any earning or losses on the investment of such Deferrals.

 

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4.2 Vesting of Matching Contributions.

Except as otherwise provided herein, a Participant shall have a vested right to the portion of his or her Account attributable to Matching Contributions and any earnings or losses on the investment of such Matching Contributions in accordance with the following schedule:

 

  Completed Vested
  Years of Service Percentage
     
  Less than 1 0%
  1 but fewer than 2 20%
  2 but fewer than 3 40%
  3 but fewer than 4 60%
  4 but fewer than 5 80%
  5 years or more 100%

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Participant who is employed by Cost Plus, Inc., Cost Plus of Texas, Inc., Cost Plus of Idaho, Inc., and Cost Plus Management Services, Inc. on December 31, 2013 will have a fully vested right to the portion of his or her Account attributable to Matching Contributions and any earnings or losses on the investment of such Matching Contributions.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Participant who is employed by Harbor Linen, LLC and T-Y Group, LLC on December 31, 2013 will have a fully vested right to the portion of his or her Account attributable to Matching Contributions and any earnings or losses on the investment of such Matching Contributions.

 

4.3 Vesting of Employer Discretionary Contributions.

A Participant shall have a vested right to the portion of his or her Account attributable to Employer Discretionary Contribution(s) and any earnings or losses on the investment of such Employer Discretionary Contribution(s) according to such vesting schedule as the Employer shall determine at the time an Employer Discretionary Contribution is made.

 

4.4 Vesting in Event of Attainment of Sixty-Five (65) Years of Age, Disability, Death or Change-in-Control.

 

(a) Upon Participant’s attainment of sixty-five (65) years of age the Participant shall be fully vested in the amounts credited to his or her Account.

 

(b) Upon a Participant’s Disability, the Participant shall be fully vested in the amounts credited to his or her Account as of the Disability determination.

 

(c) Upon a Participant’s death, the Participant shall be fully vested in the amounts credited to his or her Account.

 

(d) Upon a Change-in-Control, all Participants shall be fully vested in the amounts credited to their Accounts as of the date of the Change-in-Control.

 

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(e) Upon a Plan termination, all Participants shall be fully vested in the amounts credited to their Accounts as of the date of the Plan termination.

 

4.5 Amounts Not Vested.

Any amounts credited to a Participant’s Account that are not vested at the time of his or her Separation from Service or at the time of a scheduled Fixed Date sub-account payment commencement date shall be forfeited.

 

4.6 Forfeitures.

At the discretion of the Employer, any forfeitures from a Participant’s Account (i) shall continue to be held in the Trust, shall be separately invested, and shall be used to reduce succeeding Deferrals and any Employer Contributions, or (ii) shall be returned to the Employer as soon as administratively feasible.

 

 

Article 5 - Accounts

 

5.1 Accounts.

The Administrator shall establish and maintain a bookkeeping account in the name of each Participant. The Administrator shall also establish sub-accounts as provided in subsection (a) and (b), below, as elected by the Participant pursuant to Article 3. A Participant may not have any more than ten (10) 2016 Restatement sub-accounts at any time during their participation in this 2016 Restatement plan.

 

(a) A Participant may establish one or more Separation from Service sub-accounts by designating as such on the Participant’s Deferral Election. Each Participant’s Separation from Service sub-account shall be credited with Deferrals (as specified in the Participant’s Deferral Election), any Matching Contributions allocable thereto, any Employer Discretionary Contributions, and the Participant’s allocable share of any earnings or losses on the foregoing. Each Participant’s Separation from Service sub-account shall be reduced by any distributions made plus any federal and state tax withholding, social security withholding tax, and any other withholding as may be required by law.

 

(b) A Participant may elect to establish one or more Fixed Date sub-accounts by designating as such in the Participant’s Deferral Election the year in which payment shall be made. Each Participant’s Fixed Date sub-account shall be credited with Deferrals (as specified in the Participant’s Deferral Election), any Matching Contributions allocable thereto, any Employer Discretionary Contributions, and the Participant’s allocable share of any earnings or losses on the foregoing. Each Participant’s Fixed Date sub-account shall be reduced by any distributions made plus any federal and state tax withholding, social security withholding tax, and any other withholding as may be required by law.

 

5.2 Investments, Gains and Losses.

 

(a) General Rule . A Participant may direct that his or her Separation from Service sub-account(s) and or Fixed Date sub-account(s) established pursuant to Section 5.1 may be valued as if they were invested in one or more Investment Funds as selected by the Employer

 

9
 

in multiples of one percent (1%). The Administrator shall adjust the amounts credited to each Participant’s Account to reflect Deferrals, Matching Contributions, any Employer Discretionary Contributions, investment experience, distributions and any other appropriate adjustments. Such adjustments shall be made as frequently as is administratively feasible.

 

(b) Changing an Investment Fund Election. A Participant may change his or her selection of Investment Funds no more than six (6) times each Plan Year with respect to his or her Account or sub-accounts by filing a new election in accordance with procedures established by the Administrator. An election shall be effective as soon as administratively feasible following the date the change is submitted on a form prescribed by the Administrator.

 

(c) Changing Available Investment Funds. The Employer may from time to time, at the discretion of the Administrator, change the Investment Funds and increase or decrease the number of Investment Funds for purposes of this Plan.

 

(d) No Participant Interest in Fund. Notwithstanding the Participant’s ability to designate the Investment Fund in which his or her deferred Compensation shall be deemed invested, the Employer shall have no obligation to invest any funds in accordance with the Participant’s election. Participants’ Accounts shall merely be bookkeeping entries on the Employer’s books, and no Participant shall obtain any property right or interest in any Investment Fund.

 

 

Article 6 - Distributions

 

6.1 Distribution Election.

Each Participant shall designate in his or her Deferral Election the form and timing of his or her distribution by indicating the type of sub-account as described under Section 5.1, and by designating the form in which payments shall be made from the choices available under Section 6.2 and 6.3 hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein provided, no acceleration of the time or schedule of payments under the Plan shall occur except as permitted under both this Plan and Code Section 409A.

 

6.2 Distributions from a Fixed Date Account.

Fixed Date sub-account distributions shall begin as soon as administratively feasible but no later than ninety (90) days following January 1 of the calendar year designated by the Participant on a properly submitted Deferral Election, and are payable in either a lump-sum payment or substantially equal annual installments, as described in Section 6.4 below, over a period of up to five (5) years as elected by the Participant in his or her Deferral Election. If the Participant fails to properly designate the form of the distribution, the sub-account shall be paid in a lump-sum payment.

 

6.3 Distributions Upon Participant’s Separation from Service.

If the Participant has a Separation from Service, the Participant’s Separation from Service sub-account(s) shall be distributed as soon as administratively feasible but no later than ninety (90) days following the Participant’s Separation from Service, subject to Section 6.10 (Delayed Distributions). Distribution shall be made either in a lump-sum payment or in substantially equal annual installments, as defined in Section 6.4 below, over a period of up to ten (10) years as

 

10
 

elected by the Participant. If the Participant fails to properly designate the form of the distribution, the sub-account shall be paid in a lump-sum payment.

 

6.4 Substantially Equal Annual Installments.

 

(a) The amount of the substantially equal payments shall be determined by multiplying the Participant’s Account or applicable sub-account by a fraction, the denominator of which in the first year of payment equals the number of years over which benefits are to be paid, and the numerator of which is one (1). The amounts of the payments for each succeeding year shall be determined by multiplying the Participant’s Account or applicable sub-account as of the applicable anniversary of the payout by a fraction, the denominator of which equals the number of remaining years over which benefits are to be paid, and the numerator of which is one (1). Installment payments made pursuant to this Section 6.4 shall be made as soon as administratively feasible, but no later than ninety (90) days following the anniversary of the distribution event.

 

(b) For purposes of the Plan pursuant to Code Section 409A and regulations thereunder, a series of annual installments shall be considered a single payment.

 

6.5 Distributions upon a Participant’s Disability.

Upon a Participant’s Disability, all amounts credited to his or her Account shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum, as soon as administratively feasible but no later than ninety (90) days following the effective date of Participant’s Disability.

 

6.6 Distributions upon Death.

Upon the death of a Participant, all amounts credited to his or her Account shall be paid, as soon as administratively feasible but no later than ninety (90) days following Participant’s date of death, to his or her beneficiary or beneficiaries, as determined under Article 7 hereof, in a lump sum.

 

6.7 Changes to Distribution Elections.

A Participant will be permitted to elect to change the form or timing of the distribution of the balance of his or her one or more sub-accounts within his or her Account to the extent permitted and in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A(a)(4)(C), including the requirement that (i) a redeferral election may not take effect until at least twelve (12) months after such election is filed with the Employer, (ii) an election to further defer a distribution (other than a distribution upon death, Disability or an unforeseeable emergency) must result in the first distribution subject to the election being made at least five (5) years after the previously elected date of distribution, and (iii) any redeferral election affecting a distribution at a fixed date must be filed with the Employer at least twelve (12) months before the first scheduled payment under the previous fixed date distribution election. Once a sub-account begins distribution, no such changes to distributions shall be permitted.

 

6.8 Acceleration or Delay in Payments

To the extent permitted by Code Section 409A, and notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may elect to (i) accelerate the time

 

11
 

or form of payment of a benefit owed to a Participant hereunder in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-3(j)(4), or (ii) delay the time of payment of a benefit owed to a Participant hereunder in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-2(b)(7). By way of example, and at the sole discretion of the Administrator, if a Participant’s entire Account balance is less than the applicable Code Section 402(g) annual limit, the Employer may distribute the Participant’s Account in a lump sum provided that the distribution results in the termination of the participant’s entire interest in the Plan, subject to the plan aggregation rules of Code Section 409A and regulations thereunder.

 

6.9 Unforeseeable Emergency.

The Administrator may permit an early distribution of part or all of any deferred amounts; provided, however, that such distribution shall be made only if the Administrator, in its sole discretion, determines that the Participant, or the Participant’s beneficiary, has experienced an Unforeseeable Emergency. An Unforeseeable Emergency is defined as a severe financial hardship resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, or a dependent (as defined in Code Section 152(a)) of the Participant, loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant. If an Unforeseeable Emergency is determined to exist, a distribution may not exceed the amounts necessary to satisfy such emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution, after taking into account the extent to which such hardship is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise or by liquidation of the Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship). Upon a distribution to a Participant under this Section 6.09, the Participant’s Deferrals shall cease and no further Deferrals shall be made for such Participant for the remainder of the Plan Year.

 

6.10 Delayed Distributions.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if any Participant holds the title of Vice President or above for any Employer (hereafter Group), provided that such Group includes no more than 200 Participants, upon a Separation from Service for any reason other than death , distributions to such Group Participant shall not commence until the first day of the seventh month following the date of Separation from Service (or, if earlier, the date of death of the Participant). If distributions are to be made in annual installments, the second installment and all those thereafter will be made on the applicable anniversaries of the Participant’s Separation from Service.

 

6.11 Exception to Separation from Service

At the discretion of Employer, a third-party unrelated to Employer that acquires substantially all the assets of a subsidiary or business unit, may apply the “same desk” rule so that Participants shall not incur a Separation from Service upon the sale or transfer of the subsidiary or business unit provided the following conditions are met: (i) the asset purchase or transfer results from bona fide arm’s length negotiations, (ii) all Participants providing services to the Employer prior to and after the transfer are treated consistently, and (iii) such treatment is specified in writing no later than the close date of the asset purchase transaction.

 

12
 

 

6.12 Minimum Distribution.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, in the event the balance of a Participant’s sub-account at the time Participant initially becomes entitled to a distribution from such sub-account is $25,000 or less, the Participant shall be paid his or her applicable sub-account in a single lump sum distribution.

 

6.13 Domestic Relations Orders

The Administrator may permit such acceleration of the time or schedule of a payment under the arrangement to an individual other than a Participant as may be necessary to fulfill a domestic relations order (as defined in Code Section 414(p)(1)(B)).

 

6.14 Separation from Service for Cause

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event the Participant has an involuntary Separation from Service for Cause, Participant shall only receive the return of their Deferrals including the Participant’s allocable share of any earnings or losses credited on those Deferrals pursuant to Section 5.2 and subject to Section 6.10 (Delayed Distributions) above. Upon a Participant’s Separation from Service for Cause, all amounts credited to Participant’s Account amounts relating to Employer Matching Contribution(s), Employer Discretionary Contribution(s), including the Participant’s allocable share of any earnings or losses credited on the foregoing pursuant to Section 5.2, hereinabove, shall be forfeited back to the Employer. For purposes of this Plan, “Cause” shall mean (i) engaging in willful or grossly negligent misconduct that is materially injurious to the Company and/or affiliate, (ii) embezzlement or misappropriation of funds or property of the Company and/or affiliate, (iii) conviction of a felony or the entrance of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony, and (iv) conviction of any crime involving fraud, dishonesty or breach of trust or the entrance of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to such a crime.

 

 

Article 7 - Beneficiaries

 

7.1 Beneficiaries.

Each Participant may from time to time designate one or more persons (who may be any one or more members of such person’s family or other persons, administrators, trusts, foundations or other entities) as his or her beneficiary under the Plan. Such designation shall be made in a form prescribed by the Administrator. Each Participant may at any time and from time to time, change any previous beneficiary designation, without notice to or consent of any previously designated beneficiary, by amending his or her previous designation in a form prescribed by the Administrator. If the beneficiary does not survive the Participant (or is otherwise unavailable to receive payment) or if no beneficiary is validly designated, then the amounts payable under this Plan shall be paid to the Participant’s estate. If more than one person is the beneficiary of a deceased Participant, each such person shall receive a pro rata share of any death benefit payable unless otherwise designated in the applicable form. If a beneficiary who is receiving benefits dies, all benefits that were payable to such beneficiary shall then be payable to the estate of that beneficiary.

 

13
 

 

7.2 Lost Beneficiary.

All Participants and beneficiaries shall have the obligation to keep the Administrator informed of their current address until such time as all benefits due have been paid. If a Participant or beneficiary cannot be located by the Administrator exercising due diligence, then, in its sole discretion, the Administrator may presume that the Participant or beneficiary is deceased for purposes of the Plan and all unpaid amounts (net of due diligence expenses) owed to the Participant or beneficiary shall be paid accordingly or, if a beneficiary cannot be so located, then such amounts may be forfeited. Any such presumption of death shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties.

 

 

Article 8 - Funding

 

8.1 Prohibition Against Funding.

Should any investment be acquired in connection with the liabilities assumed under this Plan, it is expressly understood and agreed that the Participants and beneficiaries shall not have any right with respect to, or claim against, such assets nor shall any such purchase be construed to create a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Employer and the Participants, their beneficiaries or any other person. Any such assets shall be and remain a part of the general, unpledged, unrestricted assets of the Employer, subject to the claims of its general creditors. It is the express intention of the parties hereto that this arrangement shall be unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of the ERISA. Each Participant and beneficiary shall be required to look to the provisions of this Plan and to the Employer itself for enforcement of any and all benefits due under this Plan, and to the extent any such person acquires a right to receive payment under this Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Employer. The Employer or the Trust shall be designated the owner and beneficiary of any investment acquired in connection with its obligation under this Plan.

 

8.2 Deposits in Trust.

Notwithstanding Section 8.1, or any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Employer may deposit into the Trust any amounts it deems appropriate to pay the benefits under this Plan. The amounts so deposited may include all contributions made pursuant to a Deferral Election by a Participant, all Matching Contributions, and any Employer Discretionary Contributions.

 

8.3 Withholding of Employee Contributions.

The Administrator is authorized to make any and all necessary arrangements with the Employer in order to withhold the Participant’s Deferrals under Section 3.1 hereof from his or her Compensation. The Administrator shall determine the amount and timing of such withholding.

 

 

Article 9 - Claims Administration

 

14
 

 

9.1 General.

If a Participant, beneficiary or his or her representative is denied all or a portion of an expected Plan benefit for any reason and the Participant, beneficiary or his or her representative desires to dispute the decision of the Administrator, he or she must file a written notification of his or her claim with the Administrator.

 

9.2 Claims Procedure.

Upon receipt of any written claim for benefits, the Employer’s Vice President of Human Resources (the “Claim Officer”) shall be notified and shall give due consideration to the claim presented. If any Participant or beneficiary claims to be entitled to benefits under the Plan and the Claim Officer determines that the claim should be denied in whole or in part, the Claim Officer shall, in writing, notify such claimant within ninety (90) days (forty-five (45) days if the claim is on account of Disability) of receipt of the claim that the claim has been denied. The Claim Officer may extend the period of time for making a determination with respect to any claim for a period of up to ninety (90) days (thirty (30) days if claim is on account of Disability), provided that the Administrator determines that such an extension is necessary because of special circumstances and notifies the claimant, prior to the expiration of the initial ninety (90) day (or forty-five (45) day) period, of the circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Plan expects to render a decision. If the claim is denied to any extent by the Claim Officer, the Claim Officer shall furnish the claimant with a written notice setting forth:

 

(a) the specific reason or reasons for denial of the claim;

 

(b) a specific reference to the Plan provisions on which the denial is based;

 

(c) a description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary; and

 

(d) an explanation of the provisions of this Article.

 

Under no circumstances shall any failure by the Administrator to comply with the provisions of this Section 9.2 be considered to constitute an allowance of the claimant’s claim.

 

9.3 Right of Appeal.

A claimant who has a claim denied wholly or partially under Section 9.2 may appeal to the Administrator for reconsideration of that claim. A request for reconsideration under this Section must be filed by written notice within sixty (60) days (one-hundred and eighty (180) days if the claim is on account of Disability) after receipt by the claimant of the notice of denial under Section 9.2.

 

9.4 Review of Appeal.

Upon receipt of an appeal the Administrator shall promptly take action to give due consideration to the appeal. Such consideration may include a hearing of the parties involved, if the Administrator feels such a hearing is necessary. In preparing for this appeal, the claimant shall be given the right to review pertinent documents and the right to submit in writing a

 

15
 

statement of issues and comments. After consideration of the merits of the appeal, the Administrator shall issue a written decision, which shall be binding on all parties. The decision shall specifically state its reasons and pertinent Plan provisions on which it relies. The Administrator’s decision shall be issued within sixty (60) days (forty-five (45) days if the claim is on account of Disability) after the appeal is filed, except that the Administrator may extend the period of time for making a determination with respect to any claim for a period of up one-hundred and twenty (120) days (ninety (90) days if the claim is on account of Disability), provided that the Administrator determines that such an extension is necessary because of special circumstances and notifies the claimant, prior to the expiration of the initial one-hundred and twenty (120) day (or, if the claim is on account of Disability, initial ninety (90) day) period, of the circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Plan expects to render a decision. Under no circumstances shall any failure by the Administrator to comply with the provisions of this Section 9.4 be considered to constitute an allowance of the claimant’s claim. In the case of a claim on account of Disability: (i) the review of the denied claim shall be conducted by an employee who is neither the individual who made the initial determination or a subordinate of such person; and (ii) no deference shall be given to the initial determination. For issues involving medical judgment, the employee must consult with an independent health care professional who may not be the health care professional who rendered the initial claim.

 

9.5 Designation.

The Administrator may designate any other person of its choosing to make any determination otherwise required under this Article. Any person so designated shall have the same authority and discretion granted to the Administrator hereunder.

 

 

Article 10 - General Provisions

 

10.1 Administrator.

The Administrator is expressly empowered to limit the amount of Compensation that may be deferred; to deposit amounts into the Trust in accordance with Section 8.2 hereof; to interpret the Plan, and to determine all questions arising in the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan; to employ actuaries, accountants, counsel, and other persons it deems necessary in connection with the administration of the Plan; to request any information from the Employer it deems necessary to determine whether the Employer would be considered insolvent or subject to a proceeding in bankruptcy; and to take all other necessary and proper actions to fulfill its duties as Administrator.

 

10.2 No Assignment.

Benefits or payments under this Plan shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, whether voluntary or involuntary, and any attempt to so anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, attach or garnish the same shall not be valid, nor shall any such benefit or payment be in any way liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagement or torts of any Participant or beneficiary, or any other person entitled to such benefit or payment pursuant to the terms of this Plan, except to such extent as may be required by law. If any Participant or beneficiary or any other person entitled to a benefit or payment pursuant to the terms of this Plan becomes bankrupt or attempts

 

16
 

to anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, attach or garnish any benefit or payment under this Plan, in whole or in part, or if any attempt is made to subject any such benefit or payment, in whole or in part, to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of the Participant or beneficiary or any other person entitled to any such benefit or payment pursuant to the terms of this Plan, then such benefit or payment, in the discretion of the Administrator, shall cease and terminate with respect to such Participant or beneficiary, or any other such person.

 

10.3 No Employment Rights.

Participation in this Plan shall not be construed to confer upon any Participant the legal right to be retained in the employ of the Employer, or give a Participant or beneficiary, or any other person, any right to any payment whatsoever, except to the extent of the benefits provided for hereunder. Each Participant shall remain subject to discharge to the same extent as if this Plan had never been adopted.

 

10.4 Incompetence.

If the Administrator determines that any person to whom a benefit is payable under this Plan is incompetent by reason of physical or mental disability, the Administrator shall have the power to cause the payments becoming due to such person to be made to another for his or her benefit without responsibility of the Administrator or the Employer to see to the application of such payments. Any payment made pursuant to such power shall, as to such payment, operate as a complete discharge of the Employer, the Administrator and the Trustee.

 

10.5 Identity.

If, at any time, any doubt exists as to the identity of any person entitled to any payment hereunder or the amount or time of such payment, the Administrator shall be entitled to hold such sum until such identity or amount or time is determined or until an order of a court of competent jurisdiction is obtained. The Administrator shall also be entitled to pay such sum into court in accordance with the appropriate rules of law. Any expenses incurred by the Employer, Administrator, and Trust incident to such proceeding or litigation shall be charged against the Account of the affected Participant.

 

10.6 Other Benefits.

The benefits of each Participant or beneficiary hereunder shall be in addition to any benefits paid or payable to or on account of the Participant or beneficiary under any other pension, disability, annuity or retirement plan or policy whatsoever.

 

10.7 Indemnity

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable state law and to the extent not covered by insurance, the Employer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Claim Officer, the Administrator and each member thereof, the Board of Directors and each member thereof, and delegates of the Administrator who are employees of the Employer, against any and all expenses, liabilities and claims, including legal fees to defend against such liabilities and claims arising out of their discharge, in good faith, of responsibilities under or incident to the Plan, other than expenses and liabilities arising out of willful misconduct. This indemnity shall not preclude such further indemnities as may be available under insurance purchased by the Employer or provided

 

17
 

by the Employer under any bylaw, agreement or otherwise, as such indemnities are permitted under state law.

 

10.8 Expenses.

All expenses incurred in the administration of the Plan, whether incurred by the Employer or the Plan, shall be paid by the Employee.

 

10.9 Insolvency.

Should the Employer be considered insolvent (as defined by the Trust), the Employer, through its Board and chief executive officer, shall give immediate written notice of such to the Administrator of the Plan and the Trustee. Upon receipt of such notice, the Administrator or Trustee shall cease to make any payments to Participants who were Employees of the Employer or their beneficiaries and shall hold any and all assets attributable to the Employer for the benefit of the general creditors of the Employer.

 

10.10 Amendment or Modification.

The Employer may, at any time, in its sole discretion, amend or modify the Plan in whole or in part, except that no such amendment or modification shall have any retroactive effect to reduce any amounts allocated to a Participant’s Accounts, and provided that such amendment or modification complies with Codes Section 409A and related regulations thereunder.

 

10.11 Plan Suspension.

The Employer further reserves the right to suspend the Plan in whole or in part, except that no such suspension shall have any retroactive effect to reduce any amounts allocated to a Participant’s Accounts, and provided that that distribution of the vested Participant Accounts shall not be accelerated but shall be paid at such time and in such manner as determined under the terms of the Plan immediately prior to suspension as if the Plan had not been suspended.

 

10.12 Plan Termination.

The Employer further reserves the right to terminate the Plan in whole or in part, in the following manner, except that no such termination shall have any retroactive effect to reduce any amounts allocated to a Participant’s Accounts, and provided that such termination complies with Codes Section 409A and related regulations thereunder:

 

(a) The Employer, in its sole discretion, may terminate the Plan and distribute all vested Participants’ Accounts no earlier than twelve (12) calendar months from the date of the Plan termination and no later than twenty-four (24) calendar months from the date of the Plan termination, provided however that all other similar arrangements are also terminated by the Employer for any affected Participant and no other similar arrangements are adopted by the Employer for any affected Participant within a three year period from the date of termination;

 

(b) The Employer may decide, in its sole discretion, to terminate the Plan in the event of a corporate dissolution taxed under Code Section 331, or with the approval of a bankruptcy court, provided that the Participants vested Account balances are distributed to Participants and are included in the Participants’ gross income in the latest of: (i) the calendar year in which the termination occurs; (ii) the calendar year in which the amounts deferred are no

 

18
 

longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture; or (iii) the first calendar year in which payment is administratively practicable.

 

10.13 Plan Termination due to a Change-in-Control

The Employer may decide, in its discretion, to terminate the Plan in the event of a Change-in-Control and distribute all vested Participants Account balances no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the Change-in-Control and no later than twelve (12) months after the effective date of the Change-in-Control, provided however that the Employer terminates all other similar arrangements for any affected Participant. Any corporation or other business organization that is a successor to the Employer by reason of a Change-in-Control shall have the right to become a party to the Plan by appropriate entity action. If within thirty (30) days from the effective date of the Change-in-Control such new entity does not become a party hereto, as above provided, the full amount of the Participant’s Account shall become immediately distributable to the Participant pursuant to this subsection.

 

10.14 Construction.

All questions of interpretation, construction or application arising under or concerning the terms of this Plan shall be decided by the Administrator, in its sole and final discretion, whose decision shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons.

 

10.15 Governing Law.

This Plan shall be governed by, construed and administered in accordance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, Code Section 409A, and any other applicable federal law, provided, however, that to the extent not preempted by federal law this Plan shall be governed by, construed and administered under the laws of the State of New Jersey, other than its laws respecting choice of law.

 

10.16 Severability.

If any provision of this Plan is held invalid or unenforceable, its invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Plan and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provision had not been included therein. If the inclusion of any Employee (or Employees) as a Participant under this Plan would cause the Plan to fail to comply with the requirements of sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA, or Code Section 409A, then the Plan shall be severed with respect to such Employee or Employees, who shall be considered to be participating in a separate arrangement.

 

10.17 Headings.

The Article headings contained herein are inserted only as a matter of convenience and for reference and in no way define, limit, enlarge or describe the scope or intent of this Plan nor in any way shall they affect this Plan or the construction of any provision thereof.

 

10.18 Terms.

Capitalized terms shall have meanings as defined herein. Singular nouns shall be read as plural, masculine pronouns shall be read as feminine, and vice versa, as appropriate.

 

10.19 Code Section 409A Fail Safe Provision

 

19
 

If any provision of this Plan violates Code Section 409A, the regulations promulgated thereunder, regulatory interpretations, announcements or mandatory judicial precedent construing Code Section 409A (collectively “Applicable Law”), then such provision shall be void and have no effect. At all times, this Plan shall be interpreted in such manner that it complies with Applicable Law.

 

10.20 No Guarantee of Tax Consequences

While the Plan is intended to provide tax deferral for Participants, the Plan is not a guarantee that the intended tax deferral will be achieved. Participants are solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may arise in connection with this Plan (including any taxes arising under Section 409A of the Code). Neither the Employer nor any of its directors, officers or employees shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold any Participant harmless from any such taxes.

 

10.21 Limitation on Actions.

Any Participant or Beneficiary who disagrees with a denial of his appealed claim under Article 9 of this Plan must file any complaint in a federal District Court to dispute such determination (a) within three (3) years of the earlier of the date on which such claim for benefits first accrued or arose under the terms of the Plan, or (b) within one (1) year after the such claim was denied upon appeal, or deemed denied under Article 9 hereof.

 

10.22 Right of Setoff

The Employer may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, deduct from and setoff against any amounts payable to a Participant from this Plan such amounts as may be owed by a Participant to the Employer, although the Participant shall remain liable for any part of the Participant’s payment obligation not satisfied through such deduction and setoff; provided, however, that this setoff may occur only at the date on which the amount would otherwise be distributed to the Participant as required by Code Section 409A. By electing to participate in the Plan and deferring compensation hereunder, the Participant agrees to any deduction or setoff under this Section 10.22, which is allowed by law.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has caused this instrument to be executed by its duly authorized officer, as of the year and day set forth below.

 

    Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.
     
    By:   /s/ Laura M. Crossen
       
    Name:  Laura M. Crossen
       
    Title: Vice President – Financial Management
       
    Date: December 30, 2015
     

 

 

20
 

 

Exhibit A

 

 

 

Harmon Stores, Inc.

Christmas Tree Shops, Inc.

Buy Buy Baby, Inc.

BBB Value Services Inc.

Liberty Procurement Co. Inc.

Bed Bath & Beyond of California LLC

Cost Plus, Inc.

Cost Plus of Texas, Inc.

Cost Plus of Idaho, Inc.

Cost Plus Management Services, Inc.

Harbor Linen, LLC

T-Y Group, LLC

Cost Plus of Massachusetts, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

21
 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

 

The 2008 Restatement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.

 

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan

 

Table of Contents

 

                     Page
       
Article 1 - Definitions
   
  1.1 Account 1
  1.2 Administrator 1
  1.3 Board 1
  1.4 Change-in-Control 1
  1.5 Code 2
  1.6 Compensation 2
  1.7 Deferrals 2
  1.8 Deferral Election 2
  1.9 Disability 2
  1.10 Effective Date 3
  1.11 Eligible Employee 3
  1.12 Employee 3
  1.13 Employer 3
  1.14 Employer Discretionary Contribution 3
  1.15 ERISA 3
  1.16 In-Service Account 3
  1.17 Investment Fund 3
  1.18 Matching Contribution 3
  1.19 Participant 3
  1.20 Plan Year 3
  1.21 Retirement 3
  1.22 Retirement Account 4
  1.23 Separation from Service 4
  1.24 Service Recipient 4
  1.25 Trust 4
  1.26 Trustee 4
  1.27 Years of Service 4
       
Article 2 - Participation
       
  2.1 Commencement of Participation 4
  2.2 Loss of Eligible Employee Status 5
       
Article 3 - Contributions
   
  3.1 Deferral Elections - General 5
  3.2 Time of Election 5
  3.3 Distribution Elections 5
  3.4 Additional Requirements 6
       

 

 
       
  3.5 Matching Contribution 6
  3.6 Employer Discretionary Contributions 6
  3.7 Crediting of Contributions 7
                      
Article 4 - Vesting
   
  4.1 Vesting of Deferrals 7
  4.2 Vesting of Matching Contributions 7
  4.3 Vesting of Employer Discretionary Contributions 7
  4.4 Vesting in Event of Retirement, Disability, Death or Change-in-Control 7
  4.5 Amounts Not Vested 8
  4.6 Forfeitures 8
       
Article 5 - Accounts
   
  5.1 Accounts 8
  5.2 Investments, Gains and Losses 9
       
Article 6 - Distributions
   
  6.1 Distribution Election 9
  6.2 Distributions from an In-Service Account 9
  6.3 Distributions Upon Retirement 10
  6.4 Substantially Equal Annual Installments 10
  6.5 Distributions due to other Separation from Service 10
  6.6 Distributions upon Separation from Service due to Disability 10
  6.7 Distributions upon Death 11
  6.8 Changes to Distribution Elections 11
  6.9 Acceleration or Delay in Payments 11
  6.10 Unforeseeable Emergency 11
  6.11 Delayed Distributions 12
  6.12 Exception to Separation from Service 12
  6.13 Minimum Distribution 12
  6.14 Domestic Relations Orders 12
  6.15 Separation from Service for Cause 12
       
Article 7 - Beneficiaries
   
  7.1 Beneficiaries 13
  7.2 Lost Beneficiary 13
       
Article 8 - Funding
   
  8.1 Prohibition Against Funding 13
  8.2 Deposits in Trust 14
  8.3 Withholding of Employee Contributions 14
       

 

 
                     
Article 9 - Claims Administration
   
  9.1 General 14
  9.2 Claims Procedure 14
  9.3 Right of Appeal 15
  9.4 Review of Appeal 15
  9.5 Designation 15
       
Article 10 - General Provisions
   
  10.1 Administrator 15
  10.2 No Assignment 15
  10.3 No Employment Rights 16
  10.4 Incompetence 16
  10.5 Identity 16
  10.6 Other Benefits 16
  10.7 Indemnity 16
  10.8 Expenses 17
  10.9 Insolvency 17
  10.10 Amendment or Modification 17
  10.11 Plan Suspension 17
  10.12 Plan Termination 17
  10.13 Plan Termination due to a Change-in-Control 18
  10.14 Construction 18
  10.15 Governing Law 18
  10.16 Severability 18
  10.17 Headings 19
  10.18 Terms 19

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan

 

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., a New York corporation, adopted the Bed Bath & Beyond Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan on January 1, 2006 (referred to as BB&B Prior Plan), and its subsidiary Christmas Tree Shops, Inc. adopted the Christmas Tree Shops, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (referred to as CTS Prior Plan) effective December 1, 1994 (collectively referred to as Prior Plans). Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. pursuant to Article 10 of the BB&B Prior Plan, and Article 19 of the CTS Prior Plan, hereby amends and restates the Prior Plans into this Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (hereafter referred to as Plan) for the benefit of a select group of management or highly compensated employees. This Plan amendment and restatement is effective January 1, 2006 for the BB&B Prior Plan. and effective January 1, 2005 for the CTS Prior Plan, and is adopted by Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. on December 18, 2008. This Plan represents the restatement and continuation of the Prior Plans with the administration of such Prior Plans performed in compliance with Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and the regulations promulgated thereto. This Plan is an unfunded arrangement and is 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.

 

 

Article 1 - Definitions

 

1.1 Account.

The bookkeeping account established for each Participant as provided in Section 5.1 hereof.

 

1.2 Administrator.

An administrative committee appointed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Employer, said committee to include at least three individuals. The Administrator shall serve as the agent for the Employer with respect to the Trust.

 

1.3 Board.

The Board of Directors of the Employer.

 

1.4 Change-in-Control.

Provided that such definition shall be interpreted in a manner that is consistent with Code Section 409A and regulations thereunder, a “Change-in-Control” of the Employer (which, for purpose of this Section 1.4 shall mean Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. but not any of its affiliates or subsidiaries) shall mean the first to occur of any of the following:

 

(a) the date that any one person or persons acting as a group acquires ownership of Employer stock constituting more than fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value or total voting power of the Employer;

 

(b) the date that any one person or persons acting as a group acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such

 

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person or persons) ownership of the stock of the Employer possessing thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Employer;

 

(c) the date that any one person or persons acting as a group acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Employer that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than forty percent (40%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Employer immediately prior to such acquisition; or

 

(d) the date that a majority of members of the Employer’s Board is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or elections.

 

1.5 Code.

The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

1.6 Compensation.

The Participant’s regular earnings including any pretax elective deferrals from said Compensation to any Employer sponsored plan that includes amounts deferred under a Deferral Election or a qualified cash or deferred arrangement under Code Section 401(k) or cafeteria plan under Code Section 125, and excluding (i) bonus or incentive compensation, (ii) severance benefits, (iii) welfare benefits, fringe benefits and any other noncash remuneration, (iv) amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of stock acquired under a stock option, a stock grant or any other similar arrangement, and (v) moving expenses.

 

1.7 Deferrals.

The portion of Compensation that a Participant elects to defer in accordance with Section 3.1 hereof.

 

1.8 Deferral Election.

The separate agreement, submitted to the Administrator, by which an Eligible Employee agrees to participate in the Plan and make Deferrals thereto.

 

1.9 Disability.

A Participant shall be considered disabled if: (i) the Participant 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; (ii) the Participant is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Participant’s Employer; or (iii) the Participant is determined to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration.

 

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1.10 Effective Date.

This Plan amendment and restatement is effective January 1, 2006 for the BB&B Prior Plan and effective January 1, 2005 for the CTS Prior Plan, and is adopted by Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. on December 15, 2008.

 

1.11 Eligible Employee.

An Employee shall be considered an Eligible Employee if such Employee is a member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees and is designated as an Eligible Employee by the Administrator. The designation of an Employee as an Eligible Employee in any year shall not confer upon such Employee any right to be designated as an Eligible Employee in any future Plan Year.

 

1.12 Employee.

Any person employed with US income by the Employer.

 

1.13 Employer.

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries in the United States.

 

1.14 Employer Discretionary Contribution.

A discretionary contribution made by the Employer that is credited to one or more Participant’s Accounts in accordance with the terms of Section 3.6 hereof.

 

1.15 ERISA.

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

1.16 In-Service Account.

One or more bookkeeping accounts established pursuant to Section 5.1(b).

 

1.17 Investment Fund.

Each investment(s) which serves as a means to measure value, increases or decreases with respect to a Participant’s Accounts.

 

1.18 Matching Contribution.

A contribution made by the Employer that is credited to one or more Participant’s Accounts in accordance with the terms of Section 3.5 hereof.

 

1.19 Participant.

An Eligible Employee who is a Participant as provided in Article 2.

 

1.20 Plan Year.

The calendar year of January 1 through December 31.

 

1.21 Retirement.

Retirement means a Participant has reached age sixty-five (65) and has a Separation from Service.

 

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1.22 Retirement Account

One or more bookkeeping accounts established pursuant to Section 5.1(a).

 

1.23 Separation from Service.

As provided by regulations promulgated under Code Section 409A, a Participant shall incur a Separation from Service with the Service Recipient due to death, retirement or other termination of employment with the Service Recipient unless the employment relationship is treated as continuing intact while the individual is on military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence if the period of such leave does not to exceed six months, or if longer, so long as the individual retains a right to reemployment with the Service Recipient under an applicable statute or by contract. Upon a sale or other disposition of the assets of the Employer to an unrelated purchaser, the Administrator reserves the right, to the extent permitted by Code section 409A to determine whether Participants providing services to the purchaser after and in connection with the purchase transaction have experienced a Separation from Service.

 

1.24 Service Recipient.

As provided by regulations promulgated under Code Section 409A, Service Recipient shall mean the Employer or person for whom the services are performed and with respect to whom the legally binding right to compensation arises, and all persons with whom such person would be considered a single employer under Code Section 414(b) (employees of controlled group of corporations), and all persons with whom such person would be considered a single employer under Code Section 414(c) (employees of partnerships, proprietorships, etc., under common control).

 

1.25 Trust.

The agreement between the Employer and the Trustee under which the assets of the Plan are held, administered and managed, which shall conform to the terms of Rev. Proc. 92-64.

 

1.26 Trustee.

State Street Bank and Trust Company or such other successor that shall become trustee pursuant to the terms of the Plan.

 

1.27 Years of Service.

A Participant’s “Years of Service” shall be measured by employment during a twelve (12) month period commencing with the Participant’s date of hire and anniversaries thereof.

 

 

Article 2 - Participa t ion

 

2.1 Commencement of Participation.

Each Eligible Employee shall become a Participant at the earlier of the date on which his or her Deferral Election first becomes effective or the date on which an Employer Discretionary Contribution is first credited to his or her Account.

 

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2.2 Loss of Eligible Employee Status.

A Participant who is no longer an Eligible Employee shall not be permitted to submit a Deferral Election and all Deferrals for such Participant shall cease as of the end of the Plan Year in which such Participant is determined to no longer be an Eligible Employee. Amounts credited to the Account of a Participant who is no longer an Eligible Employee shall continue to be held pursuant to the terms of the Plan and shall be distributed as provided in Article 6.

 

 

Article 3 - Contributions

 

3.1 Deferral Elections - General.

A Participant’s Deferral Election for a Plan Year is irrevocable for that applicable Plan Year; provided, however that a cessation of Deferrals shall be allowed if required by the terms of the Employer’s qualified 401(k) plan in order for the Participant to obtain a hardship withdrawal from the 401(k) plan, or if required under Section 6.10 (Unforeseeable Emergency) of this Plan. If a Participant is designated as an Eligible Employee for the Plan Year immediately following the lifting of the deferral suspension period under the Employer’s qualified 401(k) Plan, such Participant will be eligible to make deferrals into the Plan for said Plan Year. Such amounts deferred under the Plan shall not be made available to such Participant, except as provided in Article 6, and shall reduce such Participant’s Compensation from the Employer in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Deferral Election; provided, however, that all such amounts shall be subject to the rights of the general creditors of the Employer as provided in Article 8. The Deferral Election, in addition to the requirements set forth below, must designate: (i) the amount of Compensation to be deferred, (ii) the time of the distribution, and (iii) the form of the distribution.

 

3.2 Time of Election.

A Deferral Election shall be void if it is not made in a timely manner as follows:

 

(a) A Deferral Election with respect to any Compensation must be submitted to the Administrator before the beginning of the calendar year during which the amount to be deferred will be earned. As of December 31 of each calendar year, said Deferral Election is irrevocable for the calendar year.

 

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing and in the discretion of the Employer, in a year in which an Employee is first eligible to participate, and provided that such Employee is not eligible to participate in any other similar account balance arrangement subject to Code Section 409A, such Deferral Election shall be submitted within thirty (30) days after the date on which an Employee is first eligible to participate, and such Deferral Election shall apply to Compensation to be earned during the remainder of the calendar year after such election is made.

 

3.3 Distribution Elections.

At the time a Participant makes a Deferral Election, he or she must also elect the time and form of the distribution by establishing one or more In-Service Account(s) or Retirement Account(s) as provided in Sections 5.1 and 6.1. If the Participant fails to properly designate the

 

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time and form of a distribution, the Participant’s Account shall be designated as a Retirement Account and shall be paid in a lump sum.

 

3.4 Additional Requirements.

The Deferral Election, subject to the limitations set forth in Sections 3.1 and 3.2 hereof, shall comply with the following additional requirements, or as otherwise required by the Administrator in its sole discretion:

 

(a) Deferrals may be made in whole percentages or stated dollar amounts with such limitations as determined by the Administrator.

 

(b) The maximum amount that may be deferred each Plan Year is twenty-five percent (25%) of the Participant’s Compensation.

 

(c) The distribution year for an In-Service Account must be at least three (3) Plan Years subsequent to the Plan Year in which the Participant first establishes the In-Service subaccount to be credited with contributions.

 

3.5 Matching Contribution.

 

(a) Subject to subsection (b) below, the Employer shall credit to the Account of each Participant who makes Deferrals a Matching Contribution in an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the Deferrals contributed by the Participant, up to a maximum Deferral of six percent (6%) of each Participant’s eligible Compensation, offset dollar for dollar by any matching contribution that the Employer makes to the Employer’s qualified 401(k) plan on behalf of the Participant. A Participant must be employed by the Employer on the date the Matching Contribution is credited to the Plan in order to be eligible for the Matching Contribution for a given Plan Year. Such Matching Contribution shall be credited to such sub-account(s) as may be elected by the Participant for his or her Deferrals in accordance with Section 5.1 and procedures established by the Plan Administrator.

 

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the combined maximum annual matching contribution that may be made on behalf of a Participant to this Plan and to the 401(k) qualified plan is fifty percent (50%) of the Deferrals contributed by the Participant up to a maximum Deferral of six percent (6%) of each Participant’s eligible Compensation where Compensation is limited to the Code Section 401(a)(17) amount for the applicable Plan Year. Thus, the maximum Matching Contribution between both plans cannot exceed three percent (3%) (50% of a maximum matched Deferral of 6%) of the Participant’s eligible Compensation.

 

3.6 Employer Discretionary Contributions.

The Employer reserves the right to make discretionary contributions to some or all Participants’ Accounts in such amount and in such manner as may be determined by the Employer. Such Employer Discretionary Contribution, at the option of the Employer shall be credited to such sub-account(s) as may be elected by the Participant in accordance with Sections 3.1 and 5.1 and procedures established by the Administrator, or if no such election is made by the

 

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Participant, then to such sub-account(s) as may be elected by the Participant for his or her Deferrals, or if no Deferrals, then to the Participant’s Retirement sub-account with the shortest payment period maintained within the Participant’s Account in accordance with Section 5.1.

 

3.7 Crediting of Contributions.

 

(a) Deferrals shall be credited to a Participant’s Account, and if applicable transferred to the Trust, as soon administratively feasible following each payroll period.

 

(b) Matching Contributions shall be credited to a Participant’s Account, and if applicable transferred to the Trust, on or before June 1 of the Plan Year following the Plan Year for which such Matching Contribution is being credited.

 

(c) Employer Discretionary Contributions shall be credited to a Participant’s Account, and if applicable transferred to the Trust, at such time as the Employer shall determine.

 

 

Article 4 - Vesting

 

4.1 Vesting of Deferrals.

A Participant shall be one-hundred percent (100%) vested in his or her Account attributable to Deferrals and any earning or losses on the investment of such Deferrals.

 

4.2 Vesting of Matching Contributions.

Except as otherwise provided herein, a Participant shall have a vested right to the portion of his or her Account attributable to Matching Contributions and any earning or losses on the investment of such Matching Contributions in accordance with the following schedule:

  Completed Vested
  Years of Service Percentage
  1 but fewer than 2 20%
  2 but fewer than 3 40%
  3 but fewer than 4 60%
  4 but fewer than 5 80%
  5 years or more 100%

 

4.3 Vesting of Employer Discretionary Contributions.

A Participant shall have a vested right to the portion of his or her Account attributable to Employer Discretionary Contribution(s) and any earnings or losses on the investment of such Employer Discretionary Contribution(s) according to such vesting schedule as the Employer shall determine at the time an Employer Discretionary Contribution is made.

 

4.4 Vesting in Event of Retirement, Disability, Death or Change-in-Control.

 

(a) A Participant who incurs a Separation from Service due to Retirement shall be fully vested in the amounts credited to his or her Account as of the date of Retirement.

 

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(b) A Participant who incurs a Separation from Service due to Disability shall be fully vested in the amounts credited to his or her Account as of the date of Disability.

 

(c) Upon a Participant’s death, the Participant shall be fully vested in the amounts credited to his or her Account.

 

(d) Upon a Change-in-Control, all Participants shall be fully vested in the amounts credited to their Accounts as of the date of the Change-in-Control.

 

(e) Upon a Plan termination, all Participants shall be fully vested in the amounts credited to their Accounts as of the date of the Plan termination.

 

4.5 Amounts Not Vested.

Any amounts credited to a Participant’s Account that are not vested at the time of his or her Separation from Service shall be forfeited.

 

4.6 Forfeitures.

At the discretion of the Employer, any forfeitures from a Participant’s Account (i) shall continue to be held in the Trust, shall be separately invested, and shall be used to reduce succeeding Deferrals and any Employer Contributions, or (ii) shall be returned to the Employer as soon as administratively feasible.

 

 

Article 5 - Accounts

 

5.1 Accounts.

The Administrator shall establish and maintain a bookkeeping account in the name of each Participant. The Administrator shall also establish sub-accounts as provided in subsection (a) and (b), below, as elected by the Participant pursuant to Article 3. A Participant may have a maximum of ten (10) sub-accounts at any time.

 

(a) A Participant may establish one or more Retirement Account(s) (“Retirement sub-accounts”) by designating as such on the Participant’s Deferral Election. Each Participant’s Retirement sub-account shall be credited with Deferrals (as specified in the Participant’s Deferral Election), any Matching Contributions allocable thereto, any Employer Discretionary Contributions, and the Participant’s allocable share of any earnings or losses on the foregoing. Each Participant’s Retirement sub-account shall be reduced by any distributions made plus any federal and state tax withholding, and any social security withholding tax as may be required by law.

 

(b) A Participant may elect to establish one or more In-Service Accounts (“In-Service sub-accounts”) by designating as such in the Participant’s Deferral Election the year in which payment shall be made. Each Participant’s In-Service sub-account shall be credited with Deferrals (as specified in the Participant’s Deferral Election), any Matching Contributions allocable thereto, any Employer Discretionary Contributions, and the Participant’s allocable share of any earnings or losses on the foregoing. Each Participant’s In-Service sub-account shall

 

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be reduced by any distributions made plus any federal and state tax withholding and any social security withholding tax as may be required by law.

 

5.2 Investments, Gains and Losses.

 

(a) General Rule . A Participant may direct that his or her Retirement sub-accounts and or In-Service sub-accounts established pursuant to Section 5.1 may be valued as if they were invested in one or more Investment Funds as selected by the Employer in multiples of one percent (1%). The Administrator shall adjust the amounts credited to each Participant’s Account to reflect Deferrals, Matching Contributions, any Employer Discretionary Contributions, investment experience, distributions and any other appropriate adjustments. Such adjustments shall be made as frequently as is administratively feasible

 

(b) Changing an Investment Index Election. A Participant may change his or her selection of Investment Funds no more than six (6) times each Plan Year with respect to his or her Account or sub-accounts by filing a new election in accordance with procedures established by the Administrator. An election shall be effective as soon as administratively feasible following the date the change is submitted on a form prescribed by the Administrator.

 

(c) Changing Available Investment Indexes. The Employer may from time to time, at the discretion of the Administrator, change the Investment Indexes and increase or decrease the number of Investment Indexes for purposes of this Plan.

 

(d) No Participant Interest in Index. Notwithstanding the Participant’s ability to designate the Investment Fund in which his or her deferred Compensation shall be deemed invested, the Employer shall have no obligation to invest any funds in accordance with the Participant’s election. Participants’ Accounts shall merely be bookkeeping entries on the Employer’s books, and no Participant shall obtain any property right or interest in any Investment Fund.

 

 

Article 6 - Distributions

 

6.1 Distribution Election.

Each Participant shall designate in his or her Deferral Election the form and timing of his or her distribution by indicating the type of sub-account as described under Section 5.1, and by designating the form in which payments shall be made from the choices available under Section 6.2 and 6.3 hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein provided, no acceleration of the time or schedule of payments under the Plan shall occur except as permitted under both this Plan and Code Section 409A.

 

6.2 Distributions from an In-Service Account.

In-Service sub-account distributions shall begin as soon as administratively feasible but no later than ninety (90) days following January 1 of the calendar year designated by the Participant on a properly submitted Deferral Election, and are payable in either a lump-sum payment or substantially equal annual installments, as described in Section 6.4 below, over a

 

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period of up to five (5) years as elected by the Participant in his or her Deferral Election. If the Participant fails to properly designate the form of the distribution, the sub-account shall be paid in a lump-sum payment. If a Participant has any In-Service sub-accounts at the time of his or her Retirement, said sub-accounts shall be distributed in a lump sum as soon as administratively feasible but no later than ninety (90) days following Participant’s Retirement, subject to Section 6.11 (Delayed Distributions).

 

6.3 Distributions Upon Retirement.

If the Participant has a Separation from Service due to Retirement, the Participant’s Retirement sub-account(s) shall be distributed as soon as administratively feasible but no later than ninety (90) days following the Participant’s Retirement, subject to Section 6.11 (Delayed Distributions). Distribution shall be made either in a lump-sum payment or in substantially equal annual installments, as defined in Section 6.4 below, over a period of up to ten (10) years as elected by the Participant. If the Participant fails to properly designate the form of the distribution, the sub-account shall be paid in a lump-sum payment.

 

6.4 Substantially Equal Annual Installments.

 

(a) The amount of the substantially equal payments shall be determined by multiplying the Participant’s Account or sub-account by a fraction, the denominator of which in the first year of payment equals the number of years over which benefits are to be paid, and the numerator of which is one (1). The amounts of the payments for each succeeding year shall be determined by multiplying the Participant’s Account or sub-account as of the applicable anniversary of the payout by a fraction, the denominator of which equals the number of remaining years over which benefits are to be paid, and the numerator of which is one (1). Installment payments made pursuant to this Section 6.4 shall be made as soon as administratively feasible, but no later than ninety (90) days, following the anniversary of the distribution event.

 

(b) For purposes of the Plan pursuant to Code Section 409A and regulations thereunder, a series of annual installments shall be considered a single payment.

 

6.5 Distributions due to other Separation from Service.

Upon a Participant’s Separation from Service for any reason other than Retirement, death or Disability, all vested amounts credited to his or her Account shall be paid to the Participant in a lump-sum, as soon as administratively feasible, but no later than ninety (90) days, following the date of Separation from Service, subject to Section 6.11 (Delayed Distributions).

 

6.6 Distributions upon Separation from Service due to Disability.

Upon a Participant’s Separation from Service due to Disability, all amounts credited to his or her Account shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum, as soon as administratively feasible but no later than ninety (90) days following the date of Separation from Service due to Disability, subject to Section 6.11 (Delayed Distributions).

 

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6.7 Distributions upon Death.

Upon the death of a Participant, all amounts credited to his or her Account shall be paid, as soon as administratively feasible but no later than ninety (90) days following Participant’s date of death, to his or her beneficiary or beneficiaries, as determined under Article 7 hereof, in a lump sum.

 

6.8 Changes to Distribution Elections.

A Participant will be permitted to elect to change the form or timing of the distribution of the balance of his or her one or more sub-accounts within his or her Account to the extent permitted and in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A(a)(4)(C), including the requirement that (i) a redeferral election may not take effect until at least twelve (12) months after such election is filed with the Employer, (ii) an election to further defer a distribution (other than a distribution upon death, Disability or an unforeseeable emergency) must result in the first distribution subject to the election being made at least five (5) years after the previously elected date of distribution, and (iii) any redeferral election affecting a distribution at a fixed date must be filed with the Employer at least twelve (12) months before the first scheduled payment under the previous fixed date distribution election. Once a sub-account begins distribution, no such changes to distributions shall be permitted.

 

6.9 Acceleration or Delay in Payments

To the extent permitted by Code Section 409A, and notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may elect to (i) accelerate the time or form of payment of a benefit owed to a Participant hereunder in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-3(j)(4), or (ii) delay the time of payment of a benefit owed to a Participant hereunder in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-2(b)(7). By way of example, and at the sole discretion of the Administrator, if a Participant’s entire Account balance is less than the applicable Code Section 402(g) annual limit, the Employer may distribute the Participant’s Account in a lump sum provided that the distribution results in the termination of the participant’s entire interest in the Plan, subject to the plan aggregation rules of Code Section 409A and regulations thereunder.

 

6.10 Unforeseeable Emergency.

The Administrator may permit an early distribution of part or all of any deferred amounts; provided, however, that such distribution shall be made only if the Administrator, in its sole discretion, determines that the Participant, or the Participant’s beneficiary, has experienced an Unforeseeable Emergency. An Unforeseeable Emergency is defined as a severe financial hardship resulting from an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participant’s spouse, or a dependent (as defined in Code Section 152(a)) of the Participant, loss of the Participant’s property due to casualty or other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant. If an Unforeseeable Emergency is determined to exist, a distribution may not exceed the amounts necessary to satisfy such emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes reasonably anticipated as a result of the distribution, after taking into account the extent to which such hardship is or may be relieved through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise or by liquidation of the

 

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Participant’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship).

 

6.11 Delayed Distributions.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if any Participant holds the title of Vice President or above (hereafter Group), provided that such Group includes no more than 200 Participants, upon a Separation from Service for any reason other than death , distributions to such Group Participant shall not commence until the first day of the seventh month following the date of Separation from Service (or, if earlier, the date of death of the Participant). If distributions are to be made in annual installments, the second installment and all those thereafter will be made on the applicable anniversaries of the Participant’s Separation from Service.

 

6.12 Exception to Separation from Service

At the discretion of Employer, a third-party unrelated to Employer that acquires substantially all the assets of a subsidiary or business unit, may apply the “same desk” rule so that Participants shall not incur a Separation from Service upon the sale or transfer of the subsidiary or business unit provided the following conditions are met: (i) the asset purchase or transfer results from bona fide arm’s length negotiations, (ii) all Participants providing services to the Employer prior to and after the transfer are treated consistently, and (iii) such treatment is specified in writing no later than the close date of the asset purchase transaction.

 

6.13 Minimum Distribution.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, if the balance of a Participant’s Account or sub-account at the time of a distribution event or at the time of a scheduled installment payment is $25,000 or less, then the Participant shall be paid his or her Account or sub-account as a single lump sum.

 

6.14 Domestic Relations Orders

The Administrator may permit such acceleration of the time or schedule of a payment under the arrangement to an individual other than a Participant as may be necessary to fulfill a domestic relations order (as defined in Code Section 414(p)(1)(B)).

 

6.15 Separation from Service for Cause

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event the Participant has an involuntary Separation from Service for Cause, Participant shall only receive the return of their Deferrals including the Participant’s allocable share of any earnings or losses credited on those Deferrals pursuant to Section 5.2 and subject to Section 6.11 (Delayed Distributions). Upon a Participant’s Separation from Service for Cause, all amounts credited to Participant’s Account relating to Employer Matching Contribution(s), Employer Supplemental Contributions, Employer Discretionary Contribution(s), including the Participant’s allocable share of any earnings or losses credited on the foregoing pursuant to Section 5.2, hereinabove, shall be forfeited back to the Employer. For purposes of this Plan, “Cause” shall mean (i) engaging in willful or grossly negligent misconduct that is materially injurious to the Company and/or affiliate, (ii) embezzlement or misappropriation of funds or property of the Company and/or affiliate, (iii) conviction of a felony or the entrance of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a

 

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felony, and (iv) conviction of any crime involving fraud, dishonesty or breach of trust or the entrance of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to such a crime.

 

 

Article 7 - Beneficiaries

 

7.1 Beneficiaries.

Each Participant may from time to time designate one or more persons (who may be any one or more members of such person’s family or other persons, administrators, trusts, foundations or other entities) as his or her beneficiary under the Plan. Such designation shall be made in a form prescribed by the Administrator. Each Participant may at any time and from time to time, change any previous beneficiary designation, without notice to or consent of any previously designated beneficiary, by amending his or her previous designation in a form prescribed by the Administrator. If the beneficiary does not survive the Participant (or is otherwise unavailable to receive payment) or if no beneficiary is validly designated, then the amounts payable under this Plan shall be paid to the Participant’s estate. If more than one person is the beneficiary of a deceased Participant, each such person shall receive a pro rata share of any death benefit payable unless otherwise designated in the applicable form. If a beneficiary who is receiving benefits dies, all benefits that were payable to such beneficiary shall then be payable to the estate of that beneficiary.

 

7.2 Lost Beneficiary.

All Participants and beneficiaries shall have the obligation to keep the Administrator informed of their current address until such time as all benefits due have been paid. If a Participant or beneficiary cannot be located by the Administrator exercising due diligence, then, in its sole discretion, the Administrator may presume that the Participant or beneficiary is deceased for purposes of the Plan and all unpaid amounts (net of due diligence expenses) owed to the Participant or beneficiary shall be paid accordingly or, if a beneficiary cannot be so located, then such amounts may be forfeited. Any such presumption of death shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties.

 

 

Article 8 - Funding

 

8.1 Prohibition Against Funding.

Should any investment be acquired in connection with the liabilities assumed under this Plan, it is expressly understood and agreed that the Participants and beneficiaries shall not have any right with respect to, or claim against, such assets nor shall any such purchase be construed to create a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Employer and the Participants, their beneficiaries or any other person. Any such assets shall be and remain a part of the general, unpledged, unrestricted assets of the Employer, subject to the claims of its general creditors. It is the express intention of the parties hereto that this arrangement shall be unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of the ERISA. Each Participant and beneficiary shall be required to look to the provisions of this Plan and to the Employer itself for enforcement of any and all benefits due under this Plan, and to the extent any such person acquires a right to receive payment under this Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured

 

13
 

general creditor of the Employer. The Employer or the Trust shall be designated the owner and beneficiary of any investment acquired in connection with its obligation under this Plan.

 

8.2 Deposits in Trust.

Notwithstanding Section 8.1, or any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Employer may deposit into the Trust any amounts it deems appropriate to pay the benefits under this Plan. The amounts so deposited may include all contributions made pursuant to a Deferral Election by a Participant, all Matching Contributions, and any Employer Discretionary Contributions.

 

8.3 Withholding of Employee Contributions.

The Administrator is authorized to make any and all necessary arrangements with the Employer in order to withhold the Participant’s Deferrals under Section 3.1 hereof from his or her Compensation. The Administrator shall determine the amount and timing of such withholding.

 

 

Article 9 - Claims Administration

 

9.1 General.

If a Participant, beneficiary or his or her representative is denied all or a portion of an expected Plan benefit for any reason and the Participant, beneficiary or his or her representative desires to dispute the decision of the Administrator, he or she must file a written notification of his or her claim with the Administrator.

 

9.2 Claims Procedure.

Upon receipt of any written claim for benefits, the Employer’s Vice President of Human Resources (the “Claim Officer”) shall be notified and shall give due consideration to the claim presented. If any Participant or beneficiary claims to be entitled to benefits under the Plan and the Claim Officer determines that the claim should be denied in whole or in part, the Claim Officer shall, in writing, notify such claimant within ninety (90) days of receipt of the claim that the claim has been denied. The Claim Officer may extend the period of time for making a determination with respect to any claim for a period of up to ninety (90) days, provided that the Claim Officer determines that such an extension is necessary because of special circumstances and notifies the claimant, prior to the expiration of the initial ninety (90) day period, of the circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Plan expects to render a decision. If the claim is denied to any extent by the Claim Officer, the Claim Officer shall furnish the claimant with a written notice setting forth:

 

(a) the specific reason or reasons for denial of the claim;

 

(b) a specific reference to the Plan provisions on which the denial is based;

 

(c) a description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary; and

 

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(d) an explanation of the provisions of this Article.

 

9.3 Right of Appeal.

A claimant who has a claim denied wholly or partially under Section 9.2 may appeal to the Administrator for reconsideration of that claim. A request for reconsideration under this Section must be filed by written notice within sixty (60) days after receipt by the claimant of the notice of denial under Section 9.2.

 

9.4 Review of Appeal.

Upon receipt of an appeal the Administrator shall promptly take action to give due consideration to the appeal. Such consideration may include a hearing of the parties involved, if the Administrator feels such a hearing is necessary. In preparing for this appeal the claimant shall be given the right to review pertinent documents and the right to submit in writing a statement of issues and comments. After consideration of the merits of the appeal the Administrator shall issue a written decision which shall be binding on all parties. The decision shall specifically state its reasons and pertinent Plan provisions on which it relies. The Administrator’s decision shall be issued within sixty (60) days after the appeal is filed, except that the Administrator may extend the period of time for making a determination with respect to any claim for a period of up to sixty (60) days, provided that the Administrator determines that such an extension is necessary because of special circumstances and notifies the claimant, prior to the expiration of the initial sixty (60) day period, of the circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Plan expects to render a decision.

 

9.5 Designation.

The Administrator may designate any other person of its choosing to make any determination otherwise required under this Article. Any person so designated shall have the same authority and discretion granted to the Administrator hereunder.

 

 

Article 10 - General Provisions

 

10.1 Administrator.

The Administrator is expressly empowered to limit the amount of Compensation that may be deferred; to deposit amounts into the Trust in accordance with Section 8.2 hereof; to interpret the Plan, and to determine all questions arising in the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan; to employ actuaries, accountants, counsel, and other persons it deems necessary in connection with the administration of the Plan; to request any information from the Employer it deems necessary to determine whether the Employer would be considered insolvent or subject to a proceeding in bankruptcy; and to take all other necessary and proper actions to fulfill its duties as Administrator.

 

10.2 No Assignment.

Benefits or payments under this Plan shall not be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment, or garnishment by creditors of the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary, whether voluntary or involuntary, and

 

15
 

any attempt to so anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, attach or garnish the same shall not be valid, nor shall any such benefit or payment be in any way liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagement or torts of any Participant or beneficiary, or any other person entitled to such benefit or payment pursuant to the terms of this Plan, except to such extent as may be required by law. If any Participant or beneficiary or any other person entitled to a benefit or payment pursuant to the terms of this Plan becomes bankrupt or attempts to anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, attach or garnish any benefit or payment under this Plan, in whole or in part, or if any attempt is made to subject any such benefit or payment, in whole or in part, to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of the Participant or beneficiary or any other person entitled to any such benefit or payment pursuant to the terms of this Plan, then such benefit or payment, in the discretion of the Administrator, shall cease and terminate with respect to such Participant or beneficiary, or any other such person.

 

10.3 No Employment Rights.

Participation in this Plan shall not be construed to confer upon any Participant the legal right to be retained in the employ of the Employer, or give a Participant or beneficiary, or any other person, any right to any payment whatsoever, except to the extent of the benefits provided for hereunder. Each Participant shall remain subject to discharge to the same extent as if this Plan had never been adopted.

 

10.4 Incompetence.

If the Administrator determines that any person to whom a benefit is payable under this Plan is incompetent by reason of physical or mental disability, the Administrator shall have the power to cause the payments becoming due to such person to be made to another for his or her benefit without responsibility of the Administrator or the Employer to see to the application of such payments. Any payment made pursuant to such power shall, as to such payment, operate as a complete discharge of the Employer, the Administrator and the Trustee.

 

10.5 Identity.

If, at any time, any doubt exists as to the identity of any person entitled to any payment hereunder or the amount or time of such payment, the Administrator shall be entitled to hold such sum until such identity or amount or time is determined or until an order of a court of competent jurisdiction is obtained. The Administrator shall also be entitled to pay such sum into court in accordance with the appropriate rules of law. Any expenses incurred by the Employer, Administrator, and Trust incident to such proceeding or litigation shall be charged against the Account of the affected Participant.

 

10.6 Other Benefits.

The benefits of each Participant or beneficiary hereunder shall be in addition to any benefits paid or payable to or on account of the Participant or beneficiary under any other pension, disability, annuity or retirement plan or policy whatsoever.

 

10.7 Indemnity

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable state law and to the extent not covered by insurance, the Employer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Claim Officer, the

 

16
 

Administrator and each member thereof, the Board of Directors and each member thereof, and delegates of the Administrator who are employees of the Employer, against any and all expenses, liabilities and claims, including legal fees to defend against such liabilities and claims arising out of their discharge, in good faith, of responsibilities under or incident to the Plan, other than expenses and liabilities arising out of willful misconduct. This indemnity shall not preclude such further indemnities as may be available under insurance purchased by the Employer or provided by the Employer under any bylaw, agreement or otherwise, as such indemnities are permitted under state law.

 

10.8 Expenses.

All expenses incurred in the administration of the Plan, whether incurred by the Employer or the Plan, shall be paid by the Employer.

 

10.9 Insolvency.

Should the Employer be considered insolvent (as defined by the Trust), the Employer, through its Board and chief executive officer, shall give immediate written notice of such to the Administrator of the Plan and the Trustee. Upon receipt of such notice, the Administrator or Trustee shall cease to make any payments to Participants who were Employees of the Employer or their beneficiaries and shall hold any and all assets attributable to the Employer for the benefit of the general creditors of the Employer.

 

10.10 Amendment or Modification.

The Employer may, at any time, in its sole discretion, amend or modify the Plan in whole or in part, except that no such amendment or modification shall have any retroactive effect to reduce any amounts allocated to a Participant’s Accounts, and provided that such amendment or modification complies with Codes Section 409A and related regulations thereunder.

 

10.11 Plan Suspension.

The Employer further reserves the right to suspend the Plan in whole or in part, except that no such suspension shall have any retroactive effect to reduce any amounts allocated to a Participant’s Accounts, and provided that that distribution of the vested Participant Accounts shall not be accelerated but shall be paid at such time and in such manner as determined under the terms of the Plan immediately prior to suspension as if the Plan had not been suspended.

 

10.12 Plan Termination.

The Employer further reserves the right to terminate the Plan in whole or in part, in the following manner, except that no such termination shall have any retroactive effect to reduce any amounts allocated to a Participant’s Accounts, and provided that such termination complies with Code Section 409A and related regulations thereunder:

 

(a) The Employer, in its sole discretion, may terminate the Plan and distribute all vested Participants’ Accounts no earlier than twelve (12) calendar months from the date of the Plan termination and no later than twenty-four (24) calendar months from the date of the Plan termination, provided however that all other similar arrangements are also terminated by the

 

17
 

Employer for any affected Participant and no other similar arrangements are adopted by the Employer for any affected Participant within a three year period from the date of termination;

 

(b) The Employer may decide, in its sole discretion, to terminate the Plan in the event of a corporate dissolution taxed under Code Section 331, or with the approval of a bankruptcy court, provided that the Participants vested Account balances are distributed to Participants and are included in the Participants’ gross income in the latest of: (i) the calendar year in which the termination occurs; (ii) the calendar year in which the amounts deferred are no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture; or (iii) the first calendar year in which payment is administratively practicable.

 

10.13 Plan Termination due to a Change-in-Control.

The Employer may decide, in its discretion, to terminate the Plan in the event of a Change-in-Control and distribute all vested Participants Account balances no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the Change-in-Control and no later than twelve (12) months after the effective date of the Change-in-Control, provided however that the Employer terminates all other similar arrangements for any affected Participant. Any corporation or other business organization that is a successor to the Employer by reason of a Change-in-Control shall have the right to become a party to the Plan by appropriate entity action. If within thirty (30) days from the effective date of the Change-in-Control such new entity does not become a party hereto, as above provided, the full amount of the Participant’s Account shall become immediately distributable to the Participant pursuant to this subsection.

 

10.14 Construction.

All questions of interpretation, construction or application arising under or concerning the terms of this Plan shall be decided by the Administrator, in its sole and final discretion, whose decision shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all persons.

 

10.15 Governing Law.

This Plan shall be governed by, construed and administered in accordance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, Code Section 409A, and any other applicable federal law, provided, however, that to the extent not preempted by federal law this Plan shall be governed by, construed and administered under the laws of the State of New Jersey, other than its laws respecting choice of law.

 

10.16 Severability.

If any provision of this Plan is held invalid or unenforceable, its invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Plan and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if such provision had not been included therein. If the inclusion of any Employee (or Employees) as a Participant under this Plan would cause the Plan to fail to comply with the requirements of sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA, or Code Section 409A, then the Plan shall be severed with respect to such Employee or Employees, who shall be considered to be participating in a separate arrangement.

 

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10.17 Headings.

The Article headings contained herein are inserted only as a matter of convenience and for reference and in no way define, limit, enlarge or describe the scope or intent of this Plan nor in any way shall they affect this Plan or the construction of any provision thereof.

 

10.18 Terms.

Capitalized terms shall have meanings as defined herein. Singular nouns shall be read as plural, masculine pronouns shall be read as feminine, and vice versa, as appropriate.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has caused this instrument to be executed by its duly authorized officer, effective as of this 23rd day of December, 2008.

 

 

    Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.
     
    By:   /s/ Eugene A. Castagna
       
    Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Exhibit 10.3

 

This PERFORMANCE STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of ____________, 20__ (the “ Grant Date ”), between BED BATH & BEYOND INC. (the “ Company ”) and ____________________ (“ you ”).

 

1.       Performance Stock Unit Grant . Subject to the restrictions, terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, the Company hereby awards you the number of Performance Stock Units (the “ Performance Stock Units ”) specified in paragraph 7 below. The Performance Stock Units are subject to certain restrictions as set forth in the Plan and this Agreement.

 

2.       The Plan . The Performance Stock Units are entirely subject to the terms of the Company’s 2012 Incentive Compensation Plan , as amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”). A description of key terms of the Plan is set forth in the Prospectus for the Plan. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

 

3.       Restrictions on Transfer . You will not sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate, assign or otherwise dispose of (any such action, a “ Transfer ”) the Performance Stock Units, except as set forth in the Plan or this Agreement. Any attempted Transfer in violation of the Plan or this Agreement will be void and of no effect.

 

4.       Payment . With respect to each Performance Stock Unit that vests in accordance with the schedule set forth in paragraph 8 below, you will be entitled to receive a number of shares of Common Stock equal to one times the Payment Percentage set forth opposite the Achievement Percentage in paragraph 7 below. Subject to paragraph 5 below, and further subject to satisfaction of the Performance Goals, you will be paid such share(s) of Common Stock with respect to each vested Performance Stock Unit within thirty (30) days following the later of: (i) the applicable vesting date set forth in paragraph 7 below; and (ii) the date of certification of the Achievement Percentage attained with respect to the applicable Performance Goal (as defined below) by the Committee, to the extent administratively practicable.

 

5.       Forfeiture; Certain Terminations . Except as provided in this paragraph: (i) upon your Termination, all unvested Performance Stock Units shall immediately be forfeited without compensation; and (ii) upon the failure to attain a Performance Goal (as defined below), any unvested Performance Stock Units subject to any such unachieved Performance Goal shall immediately be forfeited without compensation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Performance Stock Units will vest in full upon a Termination by reason of your death or Disability. In the event of your Termination by the Company without Cause or, if provided in an agreement between you and the Company in effect as of the Grant Date, by you for Good Reason or due to a Constructive Termination without Cause, as each such term (or concept of like import) is defined in that agreement, the Performance Stock Units will vest upon, and subject to, the certification by the Committee of attainment of the applicable Performance Goal regardless of whether or not you are employed on the date of certification.

 

6.       Rights with Regard to Performance Stock Units . On and after the Grant Date, you will have the right to receive dividend equivalents with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying the Performance Stock Units ultimately achieved under the Performance Goal described in paragraph 7, subject to the terms and conditions of this paragraph. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall a dividend equivalent be issued or paid with respect to any Performance Stock Unit that has been forfeited pursuant to paragraph 5. If the Company pays a dividend (whether in cash or stock) on its Common Stock shares, or its Common Stock shares are split, or the Company pays to holders of its Common Stock other shares, securities, monies, warrants, rights, options or property representing a dividend or distribution in respect of the Common Stock, then the Company will credit a deemed dividend or distribution to a book entry account on your behalf with respect to each share of Common Stock underlying the Performance Stock Units held by you, provided that your right to actually receive such cash or property shall be subject to the same restrictions as the Performance Stock Units to which the cash or property relates, and the cash or property shall be paid to you at the same time you receive the payment of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Performance Stock Units. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, dividend equivalents shall not be deemed to be reinvested in Common Stock and shall be treated as uninvested at all times, without crediting any interest or earnings. Except as provided in this paragraph, you will have no rights as a holder of Common Stock with respect to the Performance Stock Units unless and until the Performance Stock Units become vested hereunder and you become the holder of record of the Common Stock underlying the Performance Stock Units.

 

 

 

 

7.       Grant Size; Performance Goals . Performance Stock Units covered by this award: _____________. Fifty percent (50%) of the Performance Stock Units will be subject to a one-year performance goal (the “ One-Year Goal ”) and the remaining fifty percent (50%) of the Performance Stock Units will be subject to a three-year performance goal (the “ Three-Year Goal ”). In allocating the Performance Stock Units between the One-Year Goal and the Three-Year Goal, any remaining fractional share of Common Stock underlying the Performance Stock Units shall be allocated to the Three-Year Goal. The One-Year Goal and the Three-Year Goal (each a “ Performance Goal ”) have been set forth in a resolution adopted by the Committee and separately communicated to you (the “ Resolution ”). The following schedules set forth the Achievement Percentages and Payment Percentages applicable to Performance Stock Units subject to each Performance Goal, in the event that over the periods in which the Performance Stock Units are subject to a One-Year Goal and a Three-Year Goal, as applicable (the “ Performance Period ”), the Company’s Total Shareholder Return (as calculated pursuant to the formula described in the Resolution) is either flat or positive:

 

Performance Stock Units Subject to One-Year Goal Performance Stock Units Subject to Three-Year Goal
Achievement
Percentage (% of Peer
Group Average) 1

Payment Percentage of
Common Stock
Underlying PSUs

 

Achievement
Percentage (% of Peer
Group Average)
Payment Percentage of
Common Stock
Underlying PSUs
200% or Greater 150% 180% or Greater 150%
185-199% 110% 145-179% 110%
125-184% 100% 100-144% 100%
100-124% 90% 70-99% 90%
80-99% 75% 60-69% 75%
70-79% 50% 50-59% 50%
60-69% 25% 40-49% 25%
<60% 0% <40% 0%

 

The following schedules set forth the Achievement Percentages and Payment Percentages applicable to Performance Stock Units subject to each Performance Goal, in the event that over the Performance Period, the Company’s Total Shareholder Return (as calculated pursuant to the formula described in the Resolution) is negative:

 

 

Performance Stock Units Subject to One-Year Goal Performance Stock Units Subject to Three-Year Goal
Achievement
Percentage (% of Peer
Group Average) 2

Payment Percentage of
Common Stock
Underlying PSUs

 

Achievement
Percentage (% of Peer
Group Average)
Payment Percentage of
Common Stock
Underlying PSUs
200% or Greater 100% 180% or Greater 100%
185-199% 100% 145-179% 100%
125-184% 100% 100-144% 100%
100-124% 90% 70-99% 90%
80-99% 75% 60-69% 75%
70-79% 50% 50-59% 50%
60-69% 25% 40-49% 25%
<60% 0% <40% 0%

 

8.       Vesting Schedule . Except in the case of death or Disability, your vesting in any portion of the Performance Stock Units is contingent on attainment of the applicable Performance Goal before the first applicable Vesting Date and on the subsequent certification of that attainment by the Committee. In the event a Performance Goal is not attained during the one-year performance period or the three-year performance period, as applicable, all of the Performance Stock Units subject to such Performance Goal shall be forfeited without compensation. Subject to the attainment of the applicable Performance Goal and the subsequent certification described above, unless you experience a Termination before the applicable Vesting Date, the Performance Stock Units will become vested in accordance with the following vesting schedules:

 

__________________________ 

1 The “Peer Group Average” applicable to the One-Year Goal and the Three-Year Goal is based on the peer group of companies selected by the Committee prior to the Grant Date and separately communicated to you.

2 The “Peer Group Average” applicable to the One-Year Goal and the Three-Year Goal is based on the peer group of companies selected by the Committee prior to the Grant Date and separately communicated to you.

 

 

 

 

 

Vesting Date

Percent Vested Subject to

One-Year Goal

Percent Vested Subject to

Three-Year Goal

1st anniversary of Grant Date 50% N/A
2nd anniversary of Grant Date 50% N/A
3rd anniversary of Grant Date N/A 50%
4th anniversary of Grant Date N/A 50%

 

For purposes of the payment of applicable withholding taxes required by applicable law, the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Performance Stock Units to which you become entitled on payment shall be automatically reduced by the Company to cover the applicable minimum statutorily required withholding obligation, except that you may elect to pay some or all of the amount of such obligation in cash in a manner acceptable to the Company. In the event that the amount of tax withholding is automatically reduced, it is the intent of this Agreement that any deemed “sale” of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Performance Stock Units withheld will be exempt from liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act pursuant to Rule 16b-3. Fractional Performance Stock Units shall not vest but shall instead be accumulated for vesting as whole Performance Stock Units in accordance with Company policy, with vesting scheduled to occur on the next succeeding Vesting Date and in no event later than the final Vesting Date. All unscheduled and scheduled blackout periods (each, a “BP”) are determined by the Company. If any shares of Common Stock underlying vested Performance Stock Units are scheduled to be paid during a BP to which you are subject, (i) you will be paid the applicable shares of Common Stock on the scheduled payment date (net of any shares withheld by the Company to pay minimum required taxes), but (ii) you will be unable to sell such shares of Common Stock until the earliest date on which all BPs to which you are subject have expired.

 

Subject to paragraph 5 above, all vesting will occur only on the appropriate Vesting Dates, with no proportionate or partial vesting in the period prior to any such date. Except as otherwise provided in the preceding paragraph, when any Performance Stock Unit becomes vested, the Company (unless it determines a delay is required under applicable law or rules) will, on the payment date described in paragraph 4 above (or promptly thereafter) issue and deliver to you a stock certificate registered in your name or will promptly recognize ownership of your shares through uncertificated book entry or another similar method, subject to applicable federal, state and local tax withholding in the manner described herein or otherwise acceptable to the Committee. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, you will be permitted to transfer shares of Common Stock following your receipt thereof, but only to the extent permitted by applicable law or rule.

 

9.       Code Section 409A . Although the Company does not guarantee the particular tax treatment of any payment under this Agreement, payments made under this Agreement are intended to comply with, or be exempt from, the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and the Plan and this Agreement shall be limited, construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent.  To the extent any payment made under this Agreement constitutes “non-qualified deferred compensation” pursuant to Section 409A of the Code, the provisions of Section 13.13(b) of the Plan (including, without limitation, the six-month delay relating to “specified employees”) shall apply.

 

10.    Notice . Any notice or communication to the Company concerning the Performance Stock Units must be in writing and delivered in person, or by U.S. mail, to the following address (or another address specified by the Company): Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., Finance Department – Stock Administration, 650 Liberty Avenue, Union, New Jersey 07083 .

 

BED BATH & BEYOND INC.    
By:        
  An Authorized Officer   Recipient (You)
     
     

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Steven H. Temares, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and 

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date:  July 6, 2016 /s/ Steven H. Temares  
  Steven H. Temares
  Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Susan E. Lattmann, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Bed Bath & Beyond Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

a. Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b. Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c. Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d. Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and 

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a. All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date:  July 6, 2016 /s/ Susan E. Lattmann  
  Susan E. Lattmann
  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

Exhibit 32

 

CERTIFICATION

 

The undersigned, the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (the “Company”), hereby certify, to the best of their knowledge and belief, that the Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarterly period ended May 28, 2016, (the “Periodic Report”) accompanying this certification fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)) and that the information contained in the Periodic Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. The foregoing certification is provided solely for purposes of complying with the provisions of Section 906 of the Sarbanes - Oxley Act of 2002 and is not intended to be used for any other purposes.

 

 

Date:  July 6, 2016 /s/ Steven H. Temares  
  Steven H. Temares
  Chief Executive Officer
   
   
  /s/ Susan E. Lattmann  
  Susan E. Lattmann
  Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
  (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)