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Exhibit 4.6
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TRUST AGREEMENT UNDER
THE PLANTRONICS, INC.
BASIC DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
WHEREAS, Plantronics, Inc. ("Company") has adopted the Plantronics,
Inc. Basic Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan");
WHEREAS, Company wishes to establish a trust (hereinafter "Trust") and
to contribute to the Trust assets that shall be held therein, subject to the
claims of Company's creditors in the event of Company's Insolvency, as defined
in Section 3(a), until paid to Plan participants and their beneficiaries in such
manner and at such times as specified in the Plan;
WHEREAS, Company has appointed Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx trustee of the Trust
("Trustee"), and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx has agreed to serve in such capacity;
WHEREAS, it is the intention of the parties that this Trust shall
constitute an unfunded arrangement and shall not affect the status of the Plan
as an unfunded plan maintained for the purpose of providing deferred
compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees
for purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974;
WHEREAS, it is the intention of Company to make contributions to the
Trust to provide itself with a source of funds to assist it in the meeting of
its liabilities under the Plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties do hereby establish the Trust and agree
that the Trust shall be comprised, held and disposed of as follows:
Section 1. Establishment of Trust.
(a) Company hereby deposits with Trustee in trust $100, which shall
become the principal of the Trust to be held, administered and disposed of by
Trustee as provided in this Trust Agreement.
(b) The Trust hereby established shall be irrevocable.
(c) The Trust is intended to be a grantor of which Company is the
grantor, within the meaning of subpart E, part I, subchapter I, chapter 1,
subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and shall be
construed accordingly.
(d) The principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon shall be held
separate and apart from other funds of Company and shall be used solely for the
uses and purposes of Plan participants and general creditors as herein set
forth. Plan participants and their beneficiaries shall have no preferred claim
on, or any beneficial ownership interest in, any assets of the Trust. Any rights
created under the Plan and this Trust Agreement shall be mere unsecured
contractual rights of Plan participants and their beneficiaries against Company.
Any assets held by the Trust will be subject to the claims of Company's general
creditors under federal and state law in the event of Insolvency.
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(e) Company, in its sole discretion, may at any time, or from time to
time, make additional deposits of cash or other property in trust with Trustee
to augment the principal to be held, administered and disposed of by Trustee as
provided in this Trust Agreement. Neither Trustee nor any Plan participant or
beneficiary shall have any right to compel such additional deposits.
Section 2. Payments to Plan Participants and Their Beneficiaries.
(a) Company shall deliver to Trustee a schedule (the "Payment
Schedule") that indicates the amounts payable in respect of each Plan
participant (and his or her beneficiaries), that provides a formula or other
instructions acceptable to Trustee for determining the amounts so payable, the
form in which such amount is to be paid (as provided for or available under the
Plan), and the time of commencement for payment of such amounts. Except as
otherwise provided herein, Trustee shall make payments to the Plan participants
and their beneficiaries in accordance with such Payment Schedule. The Trustee
shall make provision for the reporting and withholding of any federal, state or
local taxes that may be required to be withheld with respect to the payment of
benefits pursuant to the terms of the Plan and shall pay amounts withheld to the
appropriate taxing authorities or determine that such amounts have been
reported, withheld and paid by Company.
(b) The entitlement of a Plan participant or his or her beneficiaries
to benefits under the Plan shall be determined by Company or such party as it
shall designate under the Plan, and any claim for such benefits shall be
considered and reviewed under the procedures set out in the Plan.
(c) Company may make payment of benefits directly to Plan participants
or their beneficiaries as they become due under the terms of the Plan. Company
shall notify Trustee of its decision to make payment of benefits directly prior
to the time amounts are payable to participants or their beneficiaries. In
addition, if the principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon, are not
sufficient to make payments of benefits in accordance with the terms of the
Plan, Company shall make the balance of each such payment as it falls due.
Trustee shall notify Company where principal and earnings are not sufficient.
Section 3. Trustee Responsibility Regarding Payments to Trust Beneficiary When
Company is Insolvent.
(a) Trustee shall cease payment of benefits to Plan participants and
their beneficiaries if the Company is Insolvent. Company shall be considered
"Insolvent" for purposes of this Trust Agreement if (i) Company is unable to pay
its debts as they become due, or (ii) Company is subject to a pending proceeding
as a debtor under the United States Bankruptcy Code.
(b) At all times during the continuance of this Trust, as provided in
Section l(d) hereof, the principal and income of the Trust shall be subject to
claims of general creditors of Company under federal and state law as set forth
below.
(1) The Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of
Company shall have the duty to inform Trustee in writing of Company's
Insolvency. If a person claiming to be a creditor of
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Company alleges in writing to Trustee that Company has become Insolvent, Trustee
shall determine whether Company is Insolvent and, pending such determination,
Trustee shall discontinue payment of benefits to Plan participants or their
beneficiaries.
(2) Unless Trustee has actual knowledge of Company's
Insolvency, or has received notice from Company or a person claiming to be a
creditor that Company is Insolvent, Trustee shall have no duty to inquire
whether Company is Insolvent. Trustee may in all events rely on such evidence
concerning Company's solvency as may be furnished to Trustee and that provides
Trustee with a reasonable basis for a determination concerning Company's
solvency.
(3) If at any time Trustee has determined that Company is
Insolvent, Trustee shall discontinue payments to Plan participants or their
beneficiaries and shall hold the assets of the Trust for the benefit of
Company's general creditors. Nothing in this Trust Agreement shall in any way
diminish any rights of Plan participants or their beneficiaries to pursue their
rights as general creditors of Company with respect to benefits due under the
Plan or otherwise.
(4) Trustee shall resume the payment of benefits to Plan
participants or their beneficiaries in accordance with Section 2 of this Trust
Agreement only after Trustee has determined that Company is not Insolvent (or is
no longer Insolvent).
(c) Provided that there are sufficient assets, if Trustee discontinues
the payment of benefits from the Trust pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and
subsequently resumes such payments, the first payment following such
discontinuance shall include the aggregate amount of all payments due to Plan
participants or their beneficiaries under the terms of the Plan for the period
of such discontinuance, less the aggregate amount of any payments made to Plan
participants or their beneficiaries by Company in lieu of the payments provided
for hereunder during any such period of discontinuance.
Section 4. Payments to Company. Except as provided in Section 3 hereof, after
the Trust has become irrevocable, Company shall have no right or power to direct
Trustee to return to Company or to divert to others any of the Trust assets
before all payment of benefits have been made to Plan participants and their
beneficiaries pursuant to the terms of the Plan.
Section 5. Investment Authority. Trustee shall invest the assets of the Trust in
accordance with the directions of the Company, provided that, if the Company
fails to so direct, then the Trustee shall invest the assets of the Trust in any
short-term investment fund (such as a money market fund) as the Trustee shall
determine in its sole discretion.
Section 6. Disposition of Income. During the term of this Trust, all income
received by the Trust, net of expenses and taxes, shall be accumulated and
reinvested.
Section 7. Accounting by Trustee. Trustee shall keep accurate and detailed
records of all investments, receipts, disbursements, and all other transactions
required to be made, including such specific records as shall be agreed upon in
writing between Company and Trustee. Trustee shall not be
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responsible for keeping participant-level records within the Trust. Within 90
days following the close of each calendar year and within 90 days after the
removal or resignation of Trustee, Trustee shall deliver to Company a written
account of its administration of the Trust during such year or during the period
from the close of the last preceding year to the date of such removal or
resignation, setting forth all investments, receipts, disbursements and other
transactions effected by it, including a description of all securities and
investments purchased and sold with the cost or net proceeds of such purchases
or sales (accrued interest paid or receivable being shown separately), and
showing all cash, securities and other property held in the Trust at the end of
such year or as of the date of such removal or resignation, as the case may be.
The Trustee shall not be liable for errors in such written account unless the
Company makes known to the Trustee in writing, within the 60-day period
beginning on the date the written account was received by the Company, of the
existence of such errors.
Section 8. Responsibility of Trustee.
(a) Trustee shall act with the care, skill, prudence and diligence
under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in like
capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an
enterprise of a like character and with like aims, provided, however, that
Trustee shall incur no liability to any person for any action taken pursuant to
a direction, request or approval given by Company which is contemplated by, and
in conformity with, the terms of the Plan or this Trust and is given in writing
by Company. In the event of a dispute between Company and a party, Trustee may
apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to resolve the dispute.
(b) If Trustee undertakes or defends any litigation arising in
connection with this Trust, Company agrees to indemnify Trustee against
Trustee's costs, expenses and liabilities (including, without limitation,
attorneys' fees and expenses) relating thereto and to be primarily liable for
such payments. If Company does not pay such costs, expenses and liabilities in a
reasonably timely manner, Trustee may obtain payment from the Trust.
(c) Trustee may consult with legal counsel (who may also be counsel for
Company generally) with respect to any of its duties or obligations hereunder.
(d) Trustee may hire agents, accountants, actuaries, investment
advisors, financial consultants or other professionals to assist it in
performing any of its duties or obligations hereunder.
(e) Trustee shall have, without exclusion, all powers conferred on
Trustee by applicable law, unless expressly provided otherwise herein, provided,
however, that if an insurance policy is held as an asset of the Trust, Trustee
shall have no power to assign the policy (as distinct from conversion of the
policy to a different form) other than to a successor Trustee.
(f) However, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 8(e) above,
Trustee may loan to Company the proceeds of any borrowing against an insurance
policy held as an asset of the Trust.
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(g) Notwithstanding any powers granted to Trustee pursuant to this
Trust Agreement or to applicable law, Trustee shall not have any power that
could give this Trust the objective of carrying on a business and dividing the
gains therefrom, within the meaning of section 301.7701-2 of the Procedure and
Administrative Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.
Section 9. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee. Company shall pay all
administrative and Trustee's fees and expenses. If not so paid, the fees and
expenses shall be paid from the Trust.
Section 10. Resignation and Removal of Trustee.
(a) Trustee may resign at any time by written notice to Company, which
shall be effective 30 days after receipt of such notice unless Company and
Trustee agree otherwise.
(b) Trustee may be removed by Company on 30 days notice or upon shorter
notice accepted by Trustee.
(c) Upon resignation or removal of Trustee and appointment of a
successor Trustee, all assets shall subsequently be transferred to the successor
Trustee. The transfer shall be completed within 30 days after receipt of notice
of resignation, removal or transfer, unless Company extends the time limit.
(d) If Trustee resigns or is removed, a successor shall be appointed,
in accordance with Section 11 hereof by the effective date of resignation or
removal under paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section. If no such appointment has
been made, Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for
appointment of a successor or for instructions. All expenses of Trustee in
connection with the proceeding shall be allowed as administrative expenses of
the Trust.
Section 11. Appointment of Successor.
(a) If Trustee resigns or is removed in accordance with Section 10(a)
or (b) hereof, Company may appoint any third party, such as a bank trust
department or other party including any individual, as a successor to replace
Trustee upon resignation or removal. The appointment shall be effective when
accepted in writing by the new Trustee, who shall have all of the origins and
powers of the former Trustee, including ownership rights in the Trust assets.
The former Trustee shall execute any instrument necessary or reasonably
requested by Company or the successor Trustee to evidence the transfer.
(b) If Trustee resigns or is removed pursuant to the provisions of
Section 10(c) hereof and selects a successor Trustee, Trustee may appoint any
third party such as a bank trust department or other party that may be granted
corporate trustee powers under state law. The appointment of a successor Trustee
shall be effective when accepted in writing by the new Trustee. The new Trustee
shall have all the rights and powers of the former Trustee, including ownership
rights in Trust assets. The former Trustee shall execute any instrument
necessary or reasonably requested by the successor Trustee to evidence the
transfer.
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(c) The successor Trustee need not examine the records and acts of any
prior Trustee and may retain or dispose of existing Trust assets, subject to
Sections 7 and 8 hereof. The successor Trustee shall not be responsible for and
Company shall indemnity and defend the successor Trustee from any claim or
liability resulting from any action or inaction of any prior Trustee or from any
other past event, or any condition existing at the time it becomes successor
Trustee.
Section 12. Amendment or Termination.
(a) This Trust Agreement may be amended by a written instrument
executed by Trustee and Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such
amendment shall conflict with the terms of the Plan or shall make the Trust
revocable after it has become irrevocable in accordance with Section 1(b)
hereof.
(b) The Trust shall not terminate until the date on which Plan
participants and their beneficiaries are no longer entitled to benefits pursuant
to the terms of the Plan. Upon termination of the Trust any assets remaining in
the Trust shall be returned to Company.
Section 13. Miscellaneous.
(a) Any provision of this Trust Agreement prohibited by law shall be
ineffective to the extent of any such prohibition, without invalidating the
remaining provisions hereof.
(b) Benefits payable to Plan participants and their beneficiaries under
this Trust Agreement may not be anticipated, assigned (either at law or in
equity), alienated, pledged, encumbered or subjected to attachment, garnishment,
levy, execution or other legal or equitable process.
(c) This Trust Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of California.
Section 14. Effective Date. The effective date of this Trust Agreement shall be
January 2, 1997.
AGREED:
PLANTRONICS, INC. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Trustee
By:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Vice President - Legal, Senior General
Counsel and Secretary
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