Computation and Review of Claims. All benefits shall be computed by the Committee or its delegate. All claims shall be approved or denied by the Committee (or its delegate) as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 90 days after application by the Participant. The Committee may take an additional 90 days to review the claim, provided that the Participant is notified in writing within the initial 90-day period.

Notification by Committee. Within 90 days after receiving a claim for benefits (or within 180 days, if special circumstances require an extension of time and written notice of the extension is given to the Participant or Beneficiary within 90 days after receiving the claim for benefits), the Committee shall notify the Participant or Beneficiary whether the claim has been approved or denied. If the Committee denies a claim in any respect, the Committee shall set forth in a written notice to the Participant or Beneficiary:

Denial of Claim. In the case of the denial of a claim respecting benefits paid or payable with respect to a Participant, a written notice will be furnished to the Claimant within 90 days of the date on which the claim is received by the Committee. If special circumstances (such as for a hearing) require a longer period, the Claimant will be notified in writing, prior to the expiration of the 90-day period, of the reasons for an extension of time; provided, however, that no extensions will be permitted beyond 90 days after the expiration of the initial 90-day period.

A Participant or his or her beneficiary (if applicable) may file a written claim with the Committee with respect to his or her rights to receive a benefit from the Plan. The Participant will be informed of the decision of the Committee with respect to the claim within 90 days after it is filed. Under special circumstances, the Committee may require an additional period of not more than 90 days to review a claim. If this occurs, the Participant will be notified in writing as to the length of the extension, the reason for the extension, and any other information needed in order to process the claim. If a Participant is not notified within the 90-day (or 180-day, if so extended) period, he or she may consider the claim to be denied.

A Participant or his or her beneficiary (if applicable) may file a written claim with the Committee with respect to his or her rights to receive a benefit from the Plan. [[Participant:Person]] will be informed of the decision of the Committee with respect to the claim within 90 days after it is filed. Under special circumstances, the Committee may require an additional period of not more than 90 days to review a claim. If this occurs, [[Participant:Person]] will be notified in writing as to the length of the extension, the reason for the extension, and any other information needed in order to process the claim. If a Participant is not notified within the 90-day (or 180-day, if so extended) period, he or she may consider the claim to be denied.

Claim Procedure. The Committee procedure for handling all claims hereunder and review of denied claims shall be consistent with the provisions of ERISA. If a claim for Plan benefits is denied, the Committee shall provide a written notice within 90 days to the person claiming the benefits that contains the specific reasons for the denial, specific references to Plan provisions on which the Committee based its denial and a statement that the claimant may # request a review upon written application to the Committee within 60 days, # may review pertinent Plan documents and # may submit issues and comments in writing. If a claim is denied because of incomplete information, the notice shall also indicate what additional information is required. If additional time is required to make a decision on the claim, the Committee shall notify the claimant of the delay within the original 90 day period. This notice will also indicate the special circumstances requiring the extension and the date by which a decision is expected. This extension period may not exceed 90 days beyond the end of the first 90-day period.

Claims Review Procedure: If an application filed by a Participant or Beneficiary under Section 2.15 above shall result in a denial by the Committee of the benefit applied for, either in whole or in part, such applicant shall have the right, to be exercised by written request filed with the Committee within sixty (60) days after receipt of notice of the denial of his application or, if no such notice has been given, within sixty (60) days after the application is deemed denied under Section 2.15, for the review of his application and of his entitlement to the benefit for which he applied. Such request for review may contain such additional information and comments as the applicant may wish to present. Within sixty (60) days after receipt of any such request for review, the Committee shall reconsider the application in light of such additional information and comments as the applicant may have presented, and if the applicant shall have so requested, shall afford the applicant a hearing before the Committee. The Committee shall also permit the applicant or his designated representative to review pertinent documents in its possession, including copies of the Plan document and information provided by the Employer relating to the applicant's entitlement to such benefit. The Committee shall make a final determination with respect to the applicant's application for review as soon as practicable, and in any event not later am sixty (60) days after receipt of the aforesaid request for review, except that under special circumstances, such as the necessity for holding a hearing, such sixty-day period may be extended to the extent necessary, but in no event beyond the expiration of one hundred twenty (120) days after receipt by the Committee of such request. If such an extension of time for review is required because of special circumstances, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the applicant before the commencement of the extension. Notice of such final determination of the Committee shall be furnished to the applicant in writing, in a manner calculated to be understood by him, and shall set forth the specific reasons for the decision and specific references to the pertinent provisions of the Plan on which the decision is based. If the decision on review is not furnished within the time period set forth above, the claim shall be deemed denied on review.

Claim Review. Any Participant, Beneficiary or other claimant who does not agree with the decision rendered on the application may request that the Committee review the decision. Each request for review must be made in a writing addressed to and filed with the Committee within sixty (60) days after the claimant receives the decision, or if the application has neither been approved nor denied within the 90-day period specified in [subsection (b)], then the request must be made within 60 days after expiration of the 90-day period. Concurrently with filing the request for review the claimant may submit in writing to the Committee a statement of the issues raised by his appeal and supporting arguments and comments. Where the Committee believes that the issues raised by the claimant’s appeal may be more efficiently or fairly processed by taking testimony of the claimant or others, it will set the matter for oral hearing and give the claimant reasonable notice of the time and place. The Committee will proceed promptly to resolve all issues raised by the claimant’s appeal and will render a written decision on the merits within 60 days following the claimant’s request for review. Any determination by the Committee after completion of the review process set forth herein shall be binding upon the Company and the claimant.

Procedures for Review of Claim Denial. A Participant or Beneficiary whose claim filed pursuant to [Section 15.1] has been denied, in whole or in part, may, within sixty (60) days (or one hundred eighty (180) days in the case of a Disability Benefit Claim) following receipt of notice of such denial, make written application to the Committee for a review of such claim, which application shall be filed with the Committee. For purposes of such review, the following procedure shall apply:

Claims Review Procedure. Within 60 days after a Participant or Beneficiary receives notice from the Committee that his or her claim for benefits has been denied in any respect, he may file with the Committee a written notice of appeal setting forth his or her reasons for disputing the Committee’s determination. In connection with his or her appeal the Participant or Beneficiary or his or her representative may inspect or purchase copies of pertinent documents and records to the extent not inconsistent with other Participants’ and Beneficiaries’ rights of privacy. Within 60 days after receiving a notice of appeal from a prior determination (or within 120 days, if special circumstances require an extension of time and written notice of the extension is given to the Participant or Beneficiary and his or her representative within 60 days after receiving the notice of appeal), the Committee shall furnish to the Participant or Beneficiary and his or her representative, if any, a written statement of the Committee’s final decision with respect to his or her claim, including the reasons for such decision and the particular Plan provisions upon which it is based.