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.

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.

If a claim of a Participant is wholly or partially denied, the Participant or his duly authorized representative may appeal the denial of the claim to the Committee. Such appeal must be made at any time within 30 days after the Participant receives written notice from the Company of the denial of the claim. In connection therewith, the Participant or his duly authorized representative may request a review of the denied claim, may review pertinent documents, and may submit issues and comments in writing. Upon receipt of an appeal, the Committee shall make a decision with respect to the appeal and, not later than 60 days after receipt of such request for review, shall furnish the Participant with the decision on review in writing, including the specific reasons for the decision written in a manner calculated to be understood by the Participant, as well as specific references to the pertinent provisions of the Plan upon which the decision is based.

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.

If the claim is denied and a review is desired, the Participant (or beneficiary) shall notify the Committee in writing within sixty (60) days after receipt of the written notice of denial. In requesting a review, the Participant or beneficiary may request a review of pertinent documents with regard to the benefits created under this Plan, may submit any written issues and comments, may request an extension of time for such written submission of issues and comments, and may request that a hearing be held, but the decision to hold a hearing shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee.

The claimant may request a review of a denied claim by writing the Committee in care of the Plan Administrator. The appeal must, however, be made within 60 days after the claimant's receipt of notice of the denial of the claim. Pertinent documents may be reviewed in preparing an appeal, and issues and comments may be submitted in writing. An appeal shall be given a complete review by the Committee, and a written decision, including reasons, shall be provided within 60 days. If there are special circumstances requiring an extensive review, the Committee shall notify the claimant in a written notice within the original 60 day period of its receipt of the appeal and indicating that the decision will be delayed. A final decision on the appeal shall be made within 120 days of the Committee's receipt of the appeal.

If a claim is denied, in whole or in part, the Participant will be notified in writing of the specific reason(s) for the denial, the exact Plan provision(s) on which the decision was based, what additional material or information is relevant to his or her case, and what procedure the Participant should follow to get the claim reviewed again. The Participant then has 60 days to appeal the decision to the Committee.

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:

Upon request, a Participant or his or her beneficiary will be provided without charge, reasonable access to, and copies of, all non-confidential documents that are relevant to any denial of benefits. A claimant has 60 days from the day he or she receives the original denial to request a review. Such request must be made in writing and sent to the Committee. The request should state the reasons why the claim should be reviewed and may also include evidence or documentation to support the claimant’s position.

14.6Appeal and Review. A claimant for benefits whose claim has been denied in whole or in part, or the duly authorized representative of such claimant, may within sixty (60) days after receipt of written notice of such denial request an appeal of such determination. The claimant (or authorized representative) may submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim. The claimant (or 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 claim (as determined pursuant to [Section 503] of ERISA). The review by the Committee will take into account all comments, documents, records and other information submitted by the claimant (or authorized representative) relating to the claim, without regard to whether such information was submitted or considered in the initial benefit determination. The Committee will then render its final decision in writing and will transmit such written decision to the claimant within a reasonable period of time, but not later than sixty (60) days after receipt of such request for review unless # the time for such decision is postponed by agreement, or # the Committee # determines that special circumstances (such as the need to hold a hearing) require an extension (for no more than a single additional sixty (60) day period) of time for reviewing the claim, and # furnishes the claimant written notice of such extension before the termination of the initial sixty (60) day period, such notice to indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the Committee expects to render the determination on review. The Committee shall provide the claimant written notification of its determination on review. In the case of an adverse benefit determination, such notice shall set forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, # the specific reason or reasons for the adverse determination, # references to the specific Plan provision on which the benefit determination is based, # a statement that the claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable access to, and