Benefit Equalization Plan - Ford Motor Co.
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(a)
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is not engaged in regular employment or occupation for remuneration or profit (including employment with the Company and/or its Subsidiaries, but excluding employment or occupation which the Plan Administrator determines to be for purposes of rehabilitation);
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(b)
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is determined by the Plan Administrator, on the basis of medical evidence, to be totally disabled by bodily injury or disease so as to be prevented thereby from engaging in any regular occupation with the Company, where such disability has been continuous for at least 5 months, and where the Plan Administrator determines such disability will be permanent and continuous during the remainder of such Eligible Employee's life; and
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(c)
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has earned at least 10 years of credited service under the GRP.
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(a)
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A Periodic GRP Equalization Benefit shall be provided to any Eligible Employee (i) whose GRP benefit is subject to the Limitations or delayed pursuant to provisions set forth in (b)(iii), and (ii) who, at the time of Separation From Service, has earned at least 5 years of credited service under the GRP (or, if age 65 or older, has earned at least 1 year of credited service under the GRP).
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(b)
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The Periodic GRP Equalization Benefit:
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(i)
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Shall be equal in amount to the difference between the GRP benefit the Eligible Employee would receive if the Eligible Employee commenced GRP benefits upon Separation From Service and the corresponding benefit that would be payable under the GRP without regard to the Limitations. For purposes of determining such amount, the Eligible Employee shall be treated as if he or she elected to receive his or her GRP benefit in the form of the qualified joint and survivor annuity benefit under the GRP if married, or the single life annuity form of benefit under the GRP if unmarried (including, a divorced or widowed Eligible Employee). The amount of any Periodic GRP Equalization Benefit payable to an Eligible Employee whose benefit under the ESAP is not offset or reduced by the amount of any GRP benefit payable to such Eligible Employee prior to age 65 shall be increased upon the Eligible Employee's attainment of age 65 to reflect an unreduced normal retirement benefit under the GRP. In determining the amount of the Periodic GRP Equalization Benefit, the Eligible Employee's salary shall be the Eligible Employee's salary (as that term is defined in the GRP) plus BEP Salary Reductions for periods before January 1, 1985 which are credited under this Plan pursuant to Section 3.02(a)(ii)(C) below, but the Eligible Employee shall not make contributions hereunder based on such BEP Salary Reductions.
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(ii)
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Shall be paid monthly by the Company to an Eligible Employee who has had a Separation From Service and, for distributions commencing on and after January 1, 2005, shall be paid commencing on the first day of the month following the earliest of the following dates:
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(iii)
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Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, if a Specified Employee incurs a Separation From Service, other than as a result of such Specified Employee's death, payment of any Periodic GRP Equalization Benefit, shall not commence (or be paid) earlier than the first day of the seventh month following Separation From Service. Any Periodic GRP Equalization Benefit payments to which a Specified Employee otherwise would have been entitled during the first six months following such Specified Employee's Separation From Service shall be accumulated and paid in a lump sum payment on or after the first day of the seventh month following such Separation From Service. The payment delayed under this Section shall not bear interest.
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(c)
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Upon an Eligible Employee's death, the Eligible Employee's Eligible Surviving Spouse will receive a monthly benefit under the Plan in an amount equal to the difference between any GRP benefit the Eligible Surviving Spouse receives and the corresponding benefit that would be payable to the Eligible Surviving Spouse under the GRP without regard to the Limitations. Payment of any such Eligible Surviving Spouse benefit shall commence as soon as administratively practicable following the Eligible Employee's death, but in no event after the later of: (i) the December 31st immediately following the Eligible Employee's death, or (ii) the 15th day of the third month immediately following the Eligible Employee's death. Any such Eligible Surviving Spouse benefit shall cease upon the death of the Eligible Surviving Spouse.
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(d)
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GRP Equalization Benefits commencing on or before December 31, 2004, shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan in effect at the time of such commencement. GRP Equalization Benefits commencing on and after January 1, 2005 shall be made as periodic payments pursuant to Section 3.01(b).
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(a)
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Pre-1985 Subaccount.
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(i)
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For an Eligible Employee who made the election regarding payroll deductions provided in this Subsection, or who elected to have credited under this Plan BEP Salary Reductions, a SSIP Equalization Benefit shall be provided with respect to any class or classes of the SSIP before January 1, 1985 with respect to which Company or Eligible Employee contributions were subject to the Limitations.
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(ii)
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If at any time during a plan year ending before January 1, 1985 it appeared that contributions by or on behalf of an Eligible Employee (including any related Company matching contributions) to the SSIP would be subject to the Limitations, such Eligible Employee may have elected to have the Company retain in its general funds and have credited for purposes of computing the Eligible Employee's subaccount of the SSIP Equalization Benefit under this Subsection 3.02(a):
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(A)
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by payroll deduction authorization under this Plan that portion of the amount the Eligible Employee had elected to contribute as employee regular savings contributions to the SSIP for such pay period (by a payroll deduction authorization in effect for such pay period under the SSIP) which, when added to all other actual and projected Annual Additions as defined under the SSIP during such plan year, exceeded the Limitations.
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(B)
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that portion of regular savings and related earnings which have been returned to the Eligible Employee pursuant to the SSIP, and
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(C)
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the Eligible Employee's BEP Salary Reductions.
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(iii)
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There has been established for each Eligible Employee a subaccount for periods of participation under this Subsection 3.02(a) under the SSIP Equalization Benefit Account. This subaccount shall be equal to the amounts retained by the Company pursuant to Subsection 3.02(a)(ii), adjusted on the basis of investment performance and the Eligible Employee's election as to investment of funds under the SSIP and transfer of the value of employee and Company contributions under the SSIP as though contributions and credits to the Eligible Employee's account hereunder had been so invested, less any withdrawals pursuant to Subsection 3.02(a)(iv); provided, however, that an election by a Company officer of investment in Company common stock shall not apply under this Plan with respect to contributions pursuant to Subsection 3.02(a)(ii) (other than related Company matching contributions) which were made or credited hereunder by or on behalf of such Company officer; and the officer will be required to make any other investment election permitted under the SSIP with respect to such amounts.
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(iv)
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An Eligible Employee may not withdraw any amounts in excess of the Eligible Employee's regular savings contributions under this Plan and may not borrow against the subaccount of the Eligible Employee's SSIP Equalization Benefit.
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(v)
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The SSIP Equalization Benefit under this Subsection 3.02(a) shall be equal to the amount at the time of distribution credited to the Eligible Employee's subaccount of the SSIP Benefit Equalization Account as determined under Subsection 3.02(a)(iii).
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(i)
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If at any time during a plan year beginning on or after January 1, 1985 contributions by or on behalf of an Eligible Employee and related Company matching contributions to the SSIP are subject to the Limitations, there shall be credited for purposes of computing the Eligible Employee's SSIP Equalization Benefit under this Subsection 3.02(b) an amount equal to the Company matching contributions which would have been made under the SSIP based upon the Eligible Employee's SSIP elections, except that such Company matching contributions cannot be made because of the Limitations. For plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2005, if the amount credited as an Eligible Employee's SSIP Equalization Benefit for a plan year increases or decreases as a result of a change in the Eligible Employee's SSIP deferral elections for such plan year, such increase or decrease in the SSIP Equalization Benefit shall be adjusted to the extent necessary to prevent such increase or decrease, when aggregated with all SSIP Equalization Benefits credited for such plan year, from exceeding the amount of Company matching contributions that would have been contributed to the SSIP had the Limitations not applied.
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(ii)
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If at any time during a plan year an Eligible Employee elects to defer base salary amounts to the DCP, there shall be credited for purposes of computing the Eligible Employee's SSIP Equalization Benefit under this Subsection 3.02(b) an amount equal to the Company matching contributions that would have been contributed to the SSIP had the Eligible Employee not made base salary deferrals to the DCP.
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(iii)
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For periods on or after October 1, 1995 until May 31, 2007, any Company matching contributions credited for purposes of computing an Eligible Employee's SSIP Equalization Benefit shall be credited in the form of units in the Ford Stock Fund rather than shares of Ford common stock. For periods on or after June 1, 2007, any Company matching contributions so credited shall be credited in the form of cash.
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(iv)
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There shall be established for each Eligible Employee a subaccount for periods of participation under this Subsection 3.02(b) under the SSIP Equalization Benefit Account. For periods prior to May 1, 1996, this subaccount shall be equal to the amounts credited by the Company pursuant to Subsection 3.02(b)(i), adjusted on the basis of investment performance and any election by the Eligible Employee to transfer the value of matured Company matching contributions under the SSIP, as though credits to the Eligible Employee's account hereunder had been so invested. For periods May 1, 1996 and after, this subaccount shall be equal to the amounts credited by the Company pursuant to Subsection 3.02(b)(i), and adjusted on the basis of investment performance attributable to any separate investment election made by an Eligible Employee (other than a Company officer) on or after May 1, 1996. The investment options for managing the subaccount shall be identical to the investment options specified in the SSIP, although they will have separate fund codes. Any BEP credits earned will be based on the investment options available under the SSIP. The Designated Third Party Administrator will maintain the accounts and process the elections and otherwise be the record keeper with respect to this subaccount. Company officers with this subaccount are not eligible to reallocate or transfer credits under the subaccount from the Ford Stock Fund to other investment options, or from other investment options to the Ford Stock Fund.
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(v)
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An Eligible Employee may not withdraw any amounts credited under this Subsection 3.02(b) and may not borrow against this subaccount of the Eligible Employee's SSIP Equalization Benefit. This subaccount will not accept rollovers from other plans.
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(vi)
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The SSIP Equalization Benefit under this Subsection 3.02(b) shall be equal to the amount at the time of distribution credited to the Eligible Employee's subaccount of the SSIP Benefit Equalization Account as determined under Subsection 3.02(b)(ii).
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(vii)
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In the event of death of an Eligible Employee with an SSIP Benefit Equalization subaccount, the balance of the subaccount shall be payable to the same beneficiary as the Eligible Employee has designated under the SSIP, unless the Eligible Employee makes a separate designation under this Plan pursuant to the rules established by the Committee.
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(c)
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Payment of SSIP Equalization Benefit.
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(i)
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Shall be paid in a lump sum cash payment by the Company to the Eligible Employee or, if the Eligible Employee is deceased, to the Eligible Employee's beneficiary under the SSIP, and shall be made as soon as practicable after the earlier of the Eligible Employee’s Separation From Service or death, but in no event shall such payment be made after the later of (i) the December 31st following the Eligible Employee's Separation From Service or death, or (ii) the 15th day of the third month following the Eligible Employee's Separation From Service or death. In the event of an Eligible Employee’s death, the balance of the Eligible Employee’s SSIP Equalization Benefit book entry account, if any, shall be payable to the same beneficiary as the Eligible Employee's beneficiary under the SSIP, unless the Eligible Employee makes a separate designation under this Plan pursuant to the rules established by the Committee.
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(ii)
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Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, if a Specified Employee incurs a Separation From Service, other than as a result of death, payment of the amount credited to such Specified Employee’s SSIP Equalization Benefit subaccount, accrued or vested after December 31, 2004, shall be paid no earlier than the first day of the seventh month following such Separation From Service. A Specified Employee who is subject to a six-month distribution delay pursuant to this Subsection 3.02(c)(ii) will be permitted to continue to manage the investment elections applicable to such Specified Employee’s subaccount during the six-month distribution delay.
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(iii)
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The SSIP Equalization Benefit under this Subsection 3.02(c) shall be equal to the amount credited to the Eligible Employee's book entry account at the time of distribution, as determined under Subsection 3.03(a) or (b), as applicable.
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(i)
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The Company shall establish a book entry account for each Eligible Employee for purposes of computing the Eligible Employee's FRP Equalization Benefit under this Section 3.03. The Eligible Employee's FRP Equalization Benefit under this Subsection 3.03(a) shall be equal to the amount(s) credited to the book entry account at the time of distribution.
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(ii)
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If, at any time during a plan year beginning on or after January 1, 2004, contributions made to the FRP on behalf of an Eligible Employee are limited due to the application of the Limitations, there shall be credited to the book entry account established for the Eligible Employee pursuant to this Subsection 3.03(a) an amount equal to the amount of Company contributions that would have been made under the FRP on behalf of the Eligible Employee but for the application of the Limitations.
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(iii)
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Each Eligible Employee's book entry account also will be credited or debited with amounts determined based on investment options selected by the Eligible Employee under this Subsection 3.03(a)(iii). The investment options available for selection under this Subsection 3.03(a)(iii) shall be identical to the investment options available under the FRP, but will have separate fund codes. Each Eligible Employee shall select which investment options are to be used in determining the Eligible Employee's FRP Equalization Benefit. In the absence of an investment selection by an Eligible Employee, the Eligible Employee's book entry account will be credited or debited with amounts based on the appropriate target date – retirement fund offered under the FRP as identified by the Company for the Eligible Employee. The Designated Third Party Administrator will maintain a record of each book entry account, process investment selections, and otherwise be the record keeper of the book entry accounts. Investment options selected under this Section 3.03 shall be used solely for purposes of determining an Eligible Employee's FRP Equalization Benefit. An Eligible Employee's FRP Equalization Benefit will be based on the value of the Eligible Employee's book entry account as if the amounts in the book entry account had been invested in actual investments selected by the Eligible Employee; however, no such investments shall be made on behalf of the Eligible Employee. Eligible Employees shall not have voting rights or any other ownership rights with respect to any investment options selected as the measuring mechanism for book entry accounts established under this Section 3.03.
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(iv)
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Eligible Employees may not withdraw or borrow against amounts credited to any book account under this Subsection 3.03(a). Book entry accounts will not accept rollovers from other plans.
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(b)
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Payment of FRP Equalization Benefit.
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(i)
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Shall be paid in a lump sum cash payment by the Company to the Eligible Employee or, if the Eligible Employee is deceased, to the Eligible Employee's beneficiary under the FRP, and shall be made as soon as practicable after the earlier of the Eligible Employee's Separation From Service or death, but in no event shall such payment be made after the later of (i) the December 31st following the Eligible Employee's Separation From Service or death, or (ii) the 15th day of the third month following the Eligible Employee's Separation From Service or death. In the event of an Eligible Employee’s death, the balance of the Eligible Employee’s FRP Equalization Benefit book entry account, if any, shall be payable to the same beneficiary as the Eligible Employee designated under the FRP, unless the Eligible Employee makes a separate designation under this Plan pursuant to the rules established by the Committee.
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(ii)
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Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, if a Specified Employee incurs a Separation From Service, other than as a result of death, payment of any amount credited to the Specified Employee's FRP Equalization Benefit book entry account, accrued or vested after December 31, 2004, shall not be made earlier than the first day of the seventh month following Separation From Service. A Specified Employee
who is subject to a six-month distribution delay pursuant to this Subsection 3.02(c)(ii) will be permitted to continue to manage the investment elections applicable to such Specified Employee’s book entry account during the six-month distribution delay.
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(iii)
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The FRP Equalization Benefit under this Subsection 3.03(b) shall be equal to the amount credited to the Eligible Employee's book entry account at the time of distribution, as determined under Subsection 3.03(a).
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(a)
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Group I and Group II Employees
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(b)
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Group III Employees.
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(a)
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With respect to Equalization Benefits, the Company reserves the right to take such action, on a uniform basis, as the Company deems necessary or desirable to ensure compliance with Code Section 409A, and applicable additional regulatory guidance thereunder, or to achieve the goals of the Plan without having adverse tax consequences under this Plan for any employee or beneficiary.
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(b)
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In no event shall any transfer of liabilities to or from this Plan result in an impermissible acceleration or deferral of Equalization Benefits under Code Section 409A. In the event such a transfer would cause an impermissible acceleration or deferral under Code Section 409A, such transfer shall not occur.
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(c)
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In no event will application of any eligibility requirements under this Plan cause an impermissible acceleration or deferral of any Plan benefits under Code Section 409A.
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(d)
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In the event an Eligible Employee is reemployed following a Separation From Service, distribution of any Equalization Benefit shall not cease upon such Eligible Employee's reemployment.
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(e)
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After receipt of any Equalization Benefits, the obligations of the Company with respect to such Equalization Benefits shall be satisfied and no Eligible Employee, Eligible Surviving Spouse, or other beneficiary shall have any further claims against the Plan or the Company with respect to Equalization Benefits.
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(a)
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Denial of a Claim
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(b)
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Review of Denial of the Claim to the Committee
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(c)
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Decision of the Committee
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(d)
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Limitations Period
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1.01
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"Eligible Employee" shall mean a former salaried employee of FERCO, excluding any former salaried employee of FERCO who transferred to Visteon Corporation as part of its spin-off from the Company in June 2000, whose benefits under the FERCO SRP were limited as a result of the application of the Limitations.
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1.02
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“FERCO” shall mean the Ford Electronics and Refrigeration Corporation.
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1.03
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“FERCO Equalization Benefit” shall mean any of the benefits described in this Appendix.
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1.04
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"PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
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