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.

If a claim for a Plan benefit is wholly or partially denied, notice of the decision shall be furnished to the claimant by the Committee within a reasonable period of time after receipt of the claim by the Committee.

Notice of Denial of Claim. Any notice of denial shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant and shall:

Review of Claims (Other than Disability Claims). If any claim, other than a Disability Claim, is denied, the Claimant or the Claimant’s duly authorized representative, upon written application, may request a review of such denial, may review pertinent documents, and may submit issues and comments in writing. The request must be addressed to the General Counsel of the Company at its then principal place of business. A Claimant must file such written request for review within sixty (60) days after the receipt by the Claimant of a notice denying the initial claim or within sixty (60) days after the claim is deemed to be denied. Upon its receipt of the request for review, the General Counsel will notify the Company of the request. Upon its receipt of notice of a request for review, the Company will appoint a person other than a member of the Committee to be the claims reviewer. The decision on review shall be rendered not later than sixty (60) days after the Committee’s receipt of the Claimant’s request for review, unless special circumstances require an extension of time for processing, in which case the sixty (60) day period may be extended to one-hundred-twenty (120) days if notice is provided to the Claimant in writing within the initial sixty (60) day period stating the reason for the extension. If notice of the decision on the review is not furnished in accordance with this paragraph (i), the claim will be deemed denied and the Claimant will be permitted to exercise his or her right to legal remedy pursuant to paragraph # of this [Section 6.6].

Timing for Review of Claim Denial. The following time periods shall apply for the decision on review of a Claim:

Claims (Other than Disability Claims). The Committee will provide to every Claimant who is denied a claim for benefits notice setting forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant, the following:

Review Procedure. If the Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the Claimant shall have the opportunity for a full and fair review by the Administrator of the denial as follows.

Exhaustion of Claims Procedures and Right to Bring Legal Claim. No action at law or equity shall be brought more than one year after the Administrator’s affirmation of a denial of a claim, or, if earlier, more than four years after the facts or events giving rising to the claimant’s allegation(s) or claim(s) first occurred.

If the claim is denied in whole or in part, the Company shall inform the Claimant in writing, and set forth: # the specified reason or reasons for such denial; # the specific reference to pertinent provisions of this Plan on which such denial is based; # a description of any additional material or information necessary for the Claimant to perfect his or her claim and an explanation of why such material or such information is necessary; # appropriate information as to the steps to be taken if the Claimant wishes to submit the claim for review; and # the time limits for requesting a review under [subsection (c)].

The claimant may request a review of any denial of his or her claim by written application to the Committee within 60 days after receipt of the notice of denial of such claim. Within 60 days (or, if special circumstances require an extension of time for processing, 120 days, in which case notice of such special circumstances should be provided within the initial 60-day period) after receipt of written application for review, the Committee will provide the claimant with its decision in writing, including, if the claimant's claim is not approved, specific reasons for the decision and specific references to the Plan provisions on which the decision is based.

If a Benefit Claim is Denied, the Administrator shall provide the claimant with written or electronic notice containing # the specific reasons for the Denial, # references to the applicable Plan provisions on which the Denial is based, # a description of any additional material or information needed and why such material or information is necessary, and # a description of the applicable review process and time limits.

Upon receipt of the denied claim, the Participant (or the Participant’s authorized representative) may file a request for review of the claim in writing with the Administrator. This request for review must be filed no later than 60 days after the Participant has received written notification of the denial.

Notice of Decision. If the Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the Administrator shall notify the Claimant in writing of such denial. The Administrator shall write the notification in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant. The notification shall set forth: # the specific reasons for the denial; # a reference to the specific provisions of this Agreement on which the denial is based; # a description of any additional information or material necessary for the Claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why it is needed; # an explanation of this Agreement’s review procedures and the time limits applicable to such procedures; and # a statement of the Claimant’s right to bring a civil action under ERISA [Section 502(a)] following an adverse benefit determination on review.

Appeal of Claims That Are Denied or Partially Denied. The claimant may request review of the Claims Administrator's denial or partial denial of a claim for Plan benefits. Such request must be made in writing within sixty (60) days after claimant has received notice of the Claims Administrator's decision and shall include with the written request for an appeal any and all documents, materials, or other evidence which claimant believes supports his claim for benefits. The written request for an appeal, together with all documents, materials, or other evidence which claimant believes supports his claim for benefits should be addressed to the Claims Administrator, who will be responsible for submitting the appeal for review to the Claims Appeal Administrator.

A claimant who has a claim denied wholly or partially under Section 9.2 may appeal to the Administrator for reconsideration of that claim. A request for reconsideration under this Section must be filed by written notice within sixty (60) days (one-hundred and eighty (180) days if the claim is on account of Disability) after receipt by the claimant of the notice of denial under Section 9.2.

If the claim is not a Disability Benefit Claim, within ninety (90) days following receipt of such claim by the Committee, notice of any approval or denial thereof, in whole or in part, shall be delivered to the Claimant or his duly authorized representative or such notice of denial shall be sent by mail (postage prepaid) to the Claimant or his duly authorized representative at the address shown on the claim form or such individual’s last known address. The aforesaid ninety (90) day response period may be extended to one hundred eighty (180) days after receipt of the Claimant’s claim if special circumstances exist and if written notice of the extension to one hundred eighty (180) days indicating the special circumstances involved and the date by which a decision is expected to be made is furnished to the Claimant or his duly authorized representative within ninety (90) days after receipt of the Claimant’s claim.