-Year Rule - General If the Participant dies before distributions begin and there is a designated Beneficiary, distribution to the designated Beneficiary is not required to begin by the date specified in Section 9.2(b)(2)(ii), but the Participant’s entire interest will be distributed to the designated Beneficiary by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the Participant’s death. If the Participant’s surviving Spouse is the Participant’s sole designated Beneficiary and the surviving Spouse dies after the Participant but before distributions to either the Participant or the surviving Spouse begin, the rule in this [Section 9.2(b)(5)(i)] (“5-year rule”) will apply as if the surviving Spouse were the Participant and will apply to all distributions.

Distribution Election. Participants or Beneficiaries may elect on an individual basis whether the 5-year rule or the rule in [Section 9.2(b)(2)(ii) and 9.2(b)(4)(ii)] (the “life expectancy rule”) applies to distributions after the death of a Participant who has a designated Beneficiary. The election must be made no later than the earlier of September 30 of the calendar year in which distribution would be required to begin under Section 9.2(b)(2)(ii), or by September 30 of the calendar year which contains the fifth anniversary of the Participant’s (or, if applicable, surviving Spouse’s) death. If neither the Participant nor the Beneficiary makes an election under this [Section 9.2(b)(5)(ii)], distributions will be made in accordance with [Sections 9.2(b)(2)(ii), 9.2(b)(4)(ii) and 9.2(b)(5)(i)])].

If the participant's surviving spouse is the participant's sole designated beneficiary, then distributions to the surviving spouse will begin by December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the participant died, or by December 31 of the calendar year in which the participant would have attained age 70½, if later. If the surviving spouse so elects, the participant's entire interest will be distributed to such surviving spouse by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the participant's death. If no election is received, distributions to the surviving spouse will begin by December 31 of the calendar year in which the participant would have attained age 70½, or the participant's entire interest will be distributed to such surviving spouse by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the participant's death, if later.

If the participant's surviving spouse is not the participant's sole designated beneficiary, then distributions to the designated beneficiary will begin by December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the participant died. If the designated beneficiary so elects or if no election is received, the participant's entire interest will be distributed to such designated beneficiary by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the participant's death.

If the Participant’s surviving Spouse is the Participant’s sole designated Beneficiary, then distributions to the surviving Spouse will begin by December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the Participant died, or by December 31 of the calendar year in which the Participant would have attained age 70½, if later.

If the Participant's surviving spouse is the Participant's sole designated Beneficiary, then distributions to the surviving spouse will begin by December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the Participant died, or by December 31 of the calendar year in which the Participant would have attained age 70½, if later.

No "designated Beneficiary." If the Participant dies before the date distributions begin and there is no "designated Beneficiary" as of September 30 of the year following the year of the Participant's death, distribution of the Participant's entire interest will be completed by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the Participant's death.