Appeals. If a claimant wishes to appeal the denial of a claim, he or she must file a written appeal with the Committee on or before the 60th day after he receives the Committee’s written notice that the claim has been wholly or partially denied. The written appeal must identify both the grounds and specific Plan provisions upon which the appeal is based. A written appeal may also include any comments, statements or documents that the claimant may desire to provide. The claimant shall lose the right to appeal if the appeal is not timely made. The Committee shall rule on an appeal within a reasonable period of time, ordinarily within 60 days of receipt of the appeal, unless the Committee determines additional time is required to make a determination. If an appeal is wholly or partially denied, the Committee shall provide the claimant with a notice identifying the reason or reasons for such denial. The determination rendered by the Committee shall be binding upon all parties.

Claims Review Procedure. Within sixty (60) days after receipt of notice that his or her claim has been denied in whole or in part, the claimant may file with the Committee a written request for a review and may, in conjunction therewith, submit written issues and comments. Within thirty (30) days after the filing of such a request for review, the Committee shall notify the claimant in writing whether, upon review, the claim was upheld or denied in whole or in part or shall furnish the claimant a written notice describing specific special circumstances requiring a specified amount of additional time (but not more than sixty days from the date the request for review was filed) to reach a decision on the request for review.

Appeal Procedures. A request for appeal of a denied claim must be made in writing to the Plan Administrator within 60 days after receiving notice of denial. The decision on appeal shall be made within 60 days after the Plan Administrator’s receipt of a request for appeal, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing, in which case a decision shall be rendered not later than 120 days after receipt of a request for appeal. A notice of such an extension must be provided to the Claimant within the initial 60-day period and must explain the special circumstances and provide an expected date of decision. The reviewer shall afford the Claimant an opportunity to review and receive, upon request and without charge, all relevant all documents, records, and other information relevant to the Claimant’s claim for benefits and to submit to the Plan Administrator written comments, documents, records, and other information relating to the claim for benefits. The reviewer shall take into account all comments, documents, records, and other information submitted by the Claimant relating to the claim regardless of whether the information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination.

Each Claimant shall have the opportunity to appeal the claims official’s denial of a claim in writing to the Chair of the Compensation Committee, and the Compensation Committee shall serve as the appeals official. A Claimant must appeal a denied claim within 60 days after receipt of written notice of denial of the claim, or within 60 days after it was due if the Claimant did not receive it by its due date. The Claimant (or the Claimant’s duly authorized representative) shall be provided upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant to the Claimant’s claim. The appeals official shall take into account during its review all comments, documents, records and other information submitted by the Clamant (or the Claimant’s duly authorized representative) relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefits review. 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, shall be treated as having been irrevocably waived.

The claimant also shall be advised that he or his duly authorized representative may request a review by the Committee of the decision denying the claim by filing with the Committee, within 60 days after such notice has been received by the claimant, a written request for such review, and that he may review pertinent documents, and submit issues and comments in writing within the same 60-day period. If such request is so filed, such review shall be made by the Committee within 60 days after receipt of such request, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing, in which case the claimant shall be so notified within the original 60-day period and a decision shall be rendered as soon as possible, but not later than 120 days after receipt of the request for review. The Member or Beneficiary shall be given written notice of the decision resulting from such review, which notice shall include specific reasons for the decision, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, and specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the decision is based.

If a claimant wishes to appeal the denial of his claim, the claimant or his duly authorized representative shall file a written notice of appeal with the Administrator. In order that the Administrator may expeditiously decide such appeal, the written notice of appeal should contain # a statement of the ground(s) for the appeal, # a specific reference to the Plan provisions on which the appeal is based, # a statement of the arguments and authority (if any) supporting each ground for appeal, and # any other pertinent documents or comments which the appellant desires to submit in support of his appeal. The Administrator shall decide the appellant’s appeal within 60 days of its receipt of the appeal. The Administrator’s written decision shall contain the reasons for the decision and reference to the Plan provisions on which the decision is based. A copy of the Committee’s decision shall be mailed promptly to the claimant.

Review of a Denied Claim. On or before 60 days after receiving a notice from the Committee that a claim has been denied, in whole or in part, a Claimant (or the Claimant’s duly authorized representative) may file with the Committee a written request for a review of the denial of the claim. The Claimant (or the Claimant’s duly authorized representative):

REVIEW OF A DENIED CLAIM. Within 60 days after receiving a notice from the Committee that a claim has been denied, in whole or in part, a Claimant (or the Claimant’s duly authorized representative) may file with the Committee a written request for a review of the denial of the claim. Thereafter, but not later than 30 days after the review procedure begins, the Claimant (or the Claimant’s duly authorized representative):

The claimant also shall be advised that he or his duly authorized representative may request a review by the Committee of the decision denying the claim by filing with the Committee, within 60 days after such notice has been received by the claimant, a written request for such review, and that he may review pertinent documents, and submit issues and comments in writing within the same 60-day period. If such request is so filed, such review shall be made by the Committee within 60 days after receipt of such request, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing, in which case the claimant shall be so notified and a decision shall be rendered as soon as possible, but not later than 120 days after receipt of the request for review. The Member or Beneficiary shall be given written notice of the decision resulting from such review, which notice shall include specific reasons for the decision, written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, and specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the decision is based.

Disposition of Claim. The Committee will deliver to the individual a written decision on the claim promptly, but not later than 60 days after the receipt of the individual’s written request for review, except that if there are special circumstances which require an extension of time for processing, the 60-day period will be extended to 120 days; provided that the appeal reviewer sends written notice of the extension before the expiration of the original 60-day period. If the appeal is wholly or partially denied, the denial notice will: # be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the individual, # contain references to the specific plan provision(s) upon which the decision was based; # contain a statement that, upon request and free of charge, the individual will be provided reasonable access to and copies of all documents, records and other information relevant to the claim for benefits; and # contain a statement of the individual’s right to bring a civil action under [section 502(a)] of ERISA.

Claims Procedure. Any employee or other person who believes he or she is entitled to any payment under the Plan may submit a claim in writing to the Committee within 90 days of the earlier of # the date the claimant learned the amount of his or her benefits under the Plan or # the date the claimant learned that he or she will not be entitled to any benefits under the Plan. If the claim is denied (in full or in part), the claimant will be provided a written notice explaining the specific reasons for the denial and referring to the provisions of the Plan on which the denial is based. The notice also will describe any additional information needed to support the claim and the Plan’s procedures for appealing the denial. The denial notice will be provided within 90 days after the claim is received. If special circumstances require an extension of time (up to 90 days), written notice of the extension will be given within the initial 90-day period. This notice of extension will indicate the special circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Committee expects to render its decision on the claim.