5.3 计划修订;终止. The Board may amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan at any time and for any reason. No amendment, suspension, or termination will, without the consent of the Director, materially impair rights or obligations under any Deferred Stock Units previously awarded to the Director under the Plan, except as provided below. The Board may terminate the Plan and distribute the Deferred Compensation Accounts to participants in accordance with and subject to the rules of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ix), or successor provisions, and any generally applicable guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service permitting such termination and distribution.
5.4 ERISA Plan; Claims for Benefits.
(a) ERISA计划. This Plan is intended to be an unfunded “top hat” welfare plan within the meaning of Department of Labor Regulation Section 2520.104-24 and shall be interpreted, administered, and enforced as such in accordance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”).
(b) 福利索赔. Generally, Directors are not required to present a formal claim in order to receive benefits under the Plan. However, if any Director or other person (each, a “申请人”) believes that benefits under the Plan are being denied improperly, that this Plan is not being operated properly, that fiduciaries of this Plan have breached their duties, or that the Claimant’s legal rights are being violated with respect to this Plan, the Claimant must file a formal claim, in writing, with the Board. This requirement applies to all claims that any Claimant has with respect to this Plan, including claims against fiduciaries and former fiduciaries, except to the extent the Board determines, in its sole discretion that it does not have the power to grant all relief reasonably being sought by the Claimant. A formal claim must be filed within ninety (90) days after the date the Claimant first knew or should have known of the facts on which the claim is based, unless the Board consents otherwise in writing. The Plan Administrator shall provide a Claimant, on request, with a copy of the claims procedures established under Section 5.4(c).
7
(c) 理赔程序. Any claims under or relating to this Plan will be subject to the procedures adopted by the Board for considering claims as set forth on 附件A hereto, which the Board may amend or modify from time to time in its discretion. These procedures shall (and shall be interpreted to) comply with all applicable legal requirements. These procedures may provide that final and binding arbitration shall be the ultimate means of contesting a denied claim (even if the Board has failed to follow the prescribed procedures with respect to the claim). The right to receive benefits under this Plan is contingent on a Claimant using the prescribed claims and arbitration procedures to resolve any claim.
B.索赔拒绝. 如果索赔部分或全部被拒绝(“不利福利判定””), then the Claims Administrator will provide written notice of the decision to the Claimant within ninety (90) days after receipt of the claim, unless the Board determines that any extension of time for processing is required, in which case the Claims Administrator may extend the determination period by up to an additional ninety (90) days upon written notice to the Claimant (or longer with the consent of the Claimant). The notice will set forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant: (i) the specific reason or reasons for the adverse benefit determination; (ii) the specific Plan provisions on which the determination is based; (iii) a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation as to why such information is necessary; and (iv) an explanation of the Plan’s appeal procedure and the applicable time limits, including a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring an action under Section 502(a) of ERISA after receiving a final adverse benefit determination upon appeal.
C.Appeal of Denial. The Claimant may appeal an initial adverse benefit determination by submitting a written appeal to the Claims Administrator within sixty (60) days of receiving notice of the denial of the claim. The Claimant: (i) may submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim; (ii) will be provided, upon request and without charge, reasonable access to and copies of all documents, records and other information relevant to the Claimant’s claim; and (iii) will receive a review that takes into account all comments, documents, records and other information submitted by the Claimant relating to the appeal, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination. Any claims that the Claimant does not pursue in good faith through the appeals stage, such as by failing to file a timely appeal request, will be treated as having been irrevocably waived.