EX-10 5 a10a77.htm a10a77.htm
Exhibit 10(a)77<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 SYSTEM EXECUTIVE CONTINUITY PLAN
 
OF ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
(As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2009)
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Executed:  December 18, 2008
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

System executive continuity plan
 
of entergy corporation and subsidiaries
 
(As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2009)
 
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
 
 
ARTICLE I -- DEFINITIONS.................................................................................................. - 2 -
 
 
 
ARTICLE II - PARTICIPATION............................................................................................ - 9 -
 
 
 
2.01     Eligible Employees........................................................................................................ - 9 -
 
2.02     Participation............................................................................................................... - 10 -
 
2.03     Participant Eligibility for Benefits................................................................................. - 10 -
 
2.04     Termination of Participation........................................................................................ - 10 -
 
 
 
ARTICLE III - BENEFITS..................................................................................................... - 10 -
 
 
 
3.01     Compensation and Benefit Continuation...................................................................... - 10 -
 
3.02     Cash Payment............................................................................................................ - 11 -
 
3.03     Additional Benefits..................................................................................................... - 12 -
 
3.04     Written Statement Explaining Benefits......................................................................... - 14 -
 
3.05     Legal Fees and Expenses............................................................................................ - 14 -
 
3.06     Forfeiture and Repayment of Benefits.......................................................................... - 15 -
 
3.07     Death of Participant.................................................................................................... - 15 -
 
3.08     Provisions of Referenced Plans................................................................................... - 15 -
 
3.09     Benefit Limitation........................................................................................................ - 15 -
 
3.10     Required Six-Month Delay for Certain Distributions.................................................... - 16 -
 
 
 
ARTICLE IV - SOURCE OF PAYMENTS........................................................................... - 16 -
 
 
 
4.01     Unfunded Plan............................................................................................................ - 16 -
 
4.02     Employer Liability....................................................................................................... - 16 -
 
4.03     Establishment of Trust................................................................................................. - 16 -
 
 
 
ARTICLE V - TERMINATION OF BENEFITS.................................................................. - 17 -
 
 
 
5.01     Termination of Benefits............................................................................................... - 17 -
 
 
 
ARTICLE VI - PLAN ADMINISTRATION......................................................................... - 18 -
 
 
 
6.01     Administration of Plan................................................................................................. - 18 -
 
6.02     Powers of the Administrator....................................................................................... - 18 -
 
6.03     Reliance on Reports and Certificates........................................................................... - 19 -
 
6.04     Claims Administration................................................................................................. - 19 -
 
6.05     Filing Benefit Claims................................................................................................... - 20 -
 
6.06     Claim of Good Reason or Cause for Termination........................................................ - 20 -
 
6.07     Denial or Partial Denial of Benefit Claims.................................................................... - 20 -
 
6.08     Appeal of Claims That Are Denied or Partially Denied................................................ - 20 -
 
6.09     The Appeal Process................................................................................................... - 21 -
 
6.10     Judicial Proceedings for Benefits................................................................................. - 21 -
 
6.11     Code Section 409A Compliance................................................................................ - 21 -
 
 
 
ARTICLE VII - TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN............................ - 22 -
 
 
 
7.01     General...................................................................................................................... - 22 -
 
7.02     Restrictions on Amendment or Termination................................................................. - 22 -
 
7.03     Successors................................................................................................................. - 22 -
 
 
 
ARTICLE VIII - MISCELLANEOUS................................................................................... - 23 -
 
 
 
8.01     No Mitigation............................................................................................................. - 23 -
 
8.02     Notices...................................................................................................................... - 23 -
 
8.03     Gender and Number................................................................................................... - 23 -
 
8.04     Captions.................................................................................................................... - 23 -
 
8.05     Severability................................................................................................................ - 23 -
 
8.06     Controlling Law.......................................................................................................... - 23 -
 
8.07     No Right to Employment............................................................................................ - 23 -
 
8.08     Indemnification........................................................................................................... - 24 -
 
8.09     No Alienation............................................................................................................. - 24 -
 
8.10     Code Section 409A Compliance................................................................................ - 24 -
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

SYSTEM EXECUTIVE CONTINUITY PLAN
 
OF ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
(As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2009)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Plan, initially established by Entergy Corporation effective January 1, 2000, was thereafter amended from time to time and was amended and restated in its entirety effective March 8, 2004, to allow only those individuals who were participating in the Plan as of March 8, 2004 to remain eligible to continue participation in the Plan, in accordance with its restated terms and conditions.  The restated Plan was amended from time to time to incorporate certain changes authorized by the Personnel Committee of the Board of Directors of Entergy Corporation, and the Executive Continuity Plan II of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries was amended to merge such plan into this Plan, effective December 31, 2008.
 
 
 
 
The Plan is now hereby further amended and restated in its entirety, effective January 1, 2009, except as otherwise noted, in order to:  (1) incorporate into one restated document all amendments made to this Plan since it was last restated, (2) implement changes required pursuant to and consistent with Code Section 409A, and (3) pursuant to Personnel Committee resolutions adopted at its meeting held on June 16, 2008, recognize automatic Plan enrollment of eligible Participants and the merger of the System Executive Continuity Plan II of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries into this Plan, effective December 31, 2008.  Pursuant to changes to the Plan payment provisions, benefit payments commencing on or after January 1, 2009 are governed by this Plan document as amended and restated effective January 1, 2009.  Plan benefit payments commencing prior to January 1, 2009 are governed by the terms of the Plan as they existed prior to this amendment and restatement and are payable pursuant to a fixed schedule as required by, and in accordance with, Code Section 409A.  Between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2008 the Plan has been operated in accordance with transition relief established by the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service pursuant to Code Section 409A.  This amendment and restatement is adopted in conformity with final regulations under Code Section 409A issued by the Treasury Department on April 10, 2007 and effective January 1, 2009.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1.01          “Administrator” shall mean the Personnel Committee of the Board of Directors, or such other individual or committee as shall from time to time be designated in writing as the administrator of the Plan by the Personnel Committee.  The Administrator shall be the "plan administrator" for the Plan within the meaning of ERISA.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, from and after the date immediately preceding the commencement of a Change in Control Period, the “Administrator” shall mean (a) the individuals (not fewer than three in number) who, on the date six months before the commencement of the Change in Control Period, constitute the Administrator, plus (b) in the event that fewer than three individuals are available from the group specified in clause (a) above for any reason, such individuals as may be appointed by the individual or individuals so available (including for this purpose any individual or individuals previously so appointed under this clause (b)); provided, however, that the maximum number of individuals constituting the Administrator shall not exceed six.  The term “Administrator” shall for Plan administrative purposes include the Entergy Corporation Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Administration, to whom the Personnel Committee has delegated the authority to act on its behalf with respect to all Plan administrative matters.
 
 
1.02          “Base Salary” shall mean the Participant’s annual rate of base salary as in effect immediately prior to commencement of a Change in Control Period or, if higher, as in effect at any time within one year immediately prior to the commencement of the Change in Control Period, which shall be calculated exclusive of any bonuses, overtime, or other special payments, but including the amount, if any, the Participant elects to defer under: (a) a cash or deferred arrangement qualified under Code Section 401(k); (b) a cafeteria plan under Code Section 125; (c) the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries, or any successor or replacement plan; and (d) any other nonqualified or statutory deferred compensation plan, agreement, or arrangement in which the Participant may hereafter participate or be a party.
 
 
 
 
1.04          “Benefit Continuation Period” shall mean:
 
 
 
(a)    thirty-six (36) months for Participants at System Management Levels 1 and 2 at the commencement of the Change in Control Period;
 
 
 
(b)   twenty-four (24) months for Participants at System Management Level 3 at the commencement of the Change in Control Period; and
 
 
 
(c)    twelve (12) months for Participants at System Management Level 4 at the commencement of the Change in Control Period.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(d)   any change in the composition of the Board of Directors such that during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors and any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of Entergy Corporation) whose appointment or election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by Entergy Corporation's stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors  at the beginning of such two consecutive year period or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof.
 
 
Provided, however, that no Change in Control shall be deemed to occur solely by virtue of (1) the insolvency or bankruptcy of Entergy Corporation; or (2) the transfer of assets of Entergy Corporation to an affiliate of Entergy Corporation, provided such affiliate assumes the obligations of the Plan and agrees to continue uninterrupted the rights of the Participants under the Plan; or (3) the consummation of any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the common stock of Entergy Corporation immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of Entergy Corporation immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1.13          "Date of Termination," with respect to any purported termination of Participant’s employment within a Change in Control Period shall mean (a) if Participant’s employment is terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination is given (provided that Participant shall not have returned to the full‑time performance of his duties during such thirty (30) day period), and (b) if Participant's employment is terminated for any other reason, the date specified in the Notice of Termination (which, in the case of a termination by Employer, shall not be less than thirty (30) days (except in the case of a termination for Cause) and, in the case of a termination by Participant, shall not be less than fifteen (15) days nor more than sixty (60) days, respectively, from the date such Notice of Termination is given.  Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, for all purposes of this Plan, a Participant shall not be deemed to have a Date of Termination unless the Participant has incurred a “separation from service” within the meaning of Code Section 409A.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(d)   failure by System Company employer to continue in effect any compensation plan in which Participant participates immediately prior to the commencement of the Change in Control Period which is material to Participant’s total compensation, including but not limited to compensation plans in effect, including stock option, restricted stock, stock appreciation right, incentive compensation, bonus and other plans or any substitute plans adopted prior to the Change in Control Period, unless an equitable arrangement (embodied in an ongoing substitute or alternative plan) has been made with respect to such plan, or the failure by System Company employer to continue Participant's participation therein (or in such substitute or alternative plan) on a basis not materially less favorable, both in terms of the amount or timing of payment of benefits provided and the level of the Participant’s participation relative to other participants, as existed immediately prior to the Change in Control;
 
 
(e)    failure by System Company employer to continue to provide Participant with benefits substantially similar to those enjoyed by Participant under any of the System Company's pension, savings, life insurance, medical, health and accident, or disability plans in which Participant was participating immediately prior to the Change in Control Period, the taking of any other action by System Company employer which would directly or indirectly materially reduce any of such benefits or deprive Participant of any material fringe benefit enjoyed by Participant immediately prior to commencement of the Change in Control Period, or the failure by System Company employer to provide Participant with the number of paid vacation days to which Participant is entitled on the basis of years of service with the System in accordance with the System Company's normal vacation policy in effect at the time of the Change in Control; or
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1.23          "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice that shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Plan relied upon and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Eligible Employee's employment under the provision so indicated.  Further, a Notice of Termination for Cause is required to include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three‑quarters (3/4) of the entire membership of the terminating employer’s board of directors at a meeting of such board of directors which was called and held for the purpose of considering such termination (after reasonable notice to Participant and an opportunity for Participant, together with Participant's counsel, to be heard before that board) finding that, in the good faith opinion of the board, Participant was guilty of conduct set forth in the definition of Cause herein, and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1.30          "Surviving Spouse" shall mean the person to whom the Participant was legally married as of the date of such Participant's death.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.01     Eligible Employees.  Only active, full-time Employees who on the day immediately preceding the commencement of a Change in Control Period are at one of the following System Management Levels (which constitute a select group of management or highly compensated employees) shall be Eligible Employees under this Plan:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a)    Prior to Commencement of Change in Control Period.  An individual shall cease to be a Participant in this Plan and thereafter shall not be eligible for any benefits otherwise payable under this Plan if, prior to commencement of the Change in Control Period, for whatever reason (including, but not limited to, death, other loss of active employment status, loss of eligible System Management Level), such individual no longer satisfies the eligibility requirements set forth in Section 2.01.  If such individual thereafter  again becomes an Eligible Employee, he shall at such time automatically again become a Participant in the Plan. An individual also shall cease to be a Participant in the Plan prior to commencement of a Change in Control Period for either reason set forth in Section 5.01(c) or (d).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(a)    If there should occur a Change in Control and if, within the Change in Control Period, a Participant has a Qualifying Event, Employer shall pay Participant’s full salary to him through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination or, if higher, the rate in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason, together with all additional compensation and benefits payable to Participant through the Date of Termination under the terms and conditions of the Employer’s compensation and benefit plans, programs or arrangements as in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination or, if more favorable to Participant, as in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(d)   Notwithstanding the foregoing, the total cash benefit payable in accordance with this Section 3.02 shall only be paid in a lump sum to the extent consistent with the requirements of Code Section 409A.  For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that any cash payment pursuant to this Section 3.02 constitutes a substitute for severance otherwise payable over time and subject to the requirements of Code Section 409A, pursuant to a “separation from service” other than a separation from service within twenty-four (24) months following a “change in control” (both as defined for purposes of Code Section 409A), such amounts shall not be paid in a lump sum but instead shall be paid pursuant to the otherwise applicable payment schedule.  However, cash benefits subject to the restrictions under Code Section 409A and payable under this Section 3.02, pursuant to a “separation from service” within 24 months following a “change in control” (both as defined for purposes of Code Section 409A), shall be paid in a lump sum subject to the delay requirements of Section 3.10, to the extent applicable.
 
 
 
 
 
(a)  If a Participant would have been entitled to post-retirement medical and dental benefits under the Employer’s medical and dental plans, as in effect immediately prior to a Qualifying Event or, if more favorable to the Participant, as in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason, had the Participant’s employment terminated at any time on or before the date of his Date of Termination following a Qualifying Event, then the Employer shall make available such post-retirement medical and dental benefits to the Participant and the Participant’s eligible dependents, if applicable, commencing on the Participant’s Date of Termination.  If a Participant is not entitled to post-retirement medical and dental coverage under the Employer’s medical and dental plans as of his Date of Termination, but is entitled to COBRA continuation coverage as a result of such Qualifying Event, then until the earlier of (1) termination of the Participant’s COBRA continuation coverage, or (2) the end of the Participant’s Benefit Continuation Period, the Employer shall pay to the Participant a cash amount at the beginning of each calendar month equal to that portion of any COBRA premiums paid by the Participant for himself and his covered dependents, if applicable, in excess of the amount paid by similarly situated active employees for the same medical and dental coverage. If the Participant would have become entitled to post-retirement medical and dental benefits under the Employer’s medical and dental plans, as in effect immediately prior to the Qualifying Event or, if more favorable to the Participant, as in effect immediately prior to the first occurrence of an event or circumstance constituting Good Reason, had the Participant’s employment terminated at any time during his COBRA continuation coverage period, the Employer shall make available such post-retirement medical and dental benefits to the Participant and the Participant’s eligible dependents, if applicable, commencing on the date on which such coverage would have first become available.
(b)    If any of the payments or benefits received or to be received by a Participant in connection with a Change in Control or the Participant’s termination of employment (whether pursuant to the terms of this Plan or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with a System Company) (all such payments and benefits, excluding the Gross-Up Payment, being hereinafter referred to as the “Total Payments”) will be subject to any excise tax imposed under Code Section 4999 (“Excise Tax”), the Employer shall pay to the Participant an additional amount  (the “Gross-Up Payment”) such that the net amount retained by the Participant, after deduction of any Excise Tax on the Total Payments and any federal, state and local income and employment taxes and Excise Tax upon the Gross-Up Payment, shall be equal to the Total Payments.   
 
 
 
 
All determinations to be made under this Subsection 3.03(b) shall be made by an independent public accounting firm selected by Entergy Corporation (the “Outside Accountants”) immediately prior to the Change in Control Period.  For purposes of determining whether any of the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax:
 
 
 
(1)  all of the Total Payments shall be treated as “parachute payments” (within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(2)) unless, in the opinion of tax counsel (“Tax Counsel”), selected by the Outside Accountants and reasonably acceptable to the Participant, such payments or benefits (in whole or in part) do not constitute parachute payments, including by reason of Code Section 280G(b)(4)(A);
 
 
 
 (2) all “excess parachute payments” (within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(1)) shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax unless, in the opinion of Tax Counsel, such excess parachute payments (in whole or in part) represent reasonable compensation for services actually rendered (within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(4)(B)) in excess of the “Base Amount” (within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(3)) allocable to such reasonable compensation, or are otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax; and
 
 
 
 (3) the value of any noncash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Outside Accountants in accordance with the principles of Code Section 280G(d)(3) and (4). 
 
 
 
In the event that the Excise Tax is finally determined to exceed the amount taken into account hereunder in calculating the Gross-Up Payment (including by reason of any payment the existence or amount of which cannot be determined at the time of the Gross-Up Payment), the Employer shall make an additional Gross-Up Payment in respect of such excess (plus any interest, penalties or additions payable by the Participant with respect to such excess) within five (5) business days following the time that the amount is remitted to the applicable tax authority by the Participant and the Participant notifies the Employer. The Participant and the Employer shall each reasonably cooperate with the other in connection with any administrative or judicial proceedings concerning the existence or amount of liability for Excise Tax with respect to the Total Payments.   
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.05     Legal Fees and Expenses.  On or after the commencement of a Change in Control Period, the Employer shall also pay to the Participant all legal fees and expenses incurred by the Participant in disputing in good faith any issue hereunder relating to the termination of the Participant’s employment, in seeking in good faith to obtain or enforce any benefit or right provided by this Plan or in connection with any tax audit or proceeding to the extent attributable to the application of Code Section 4999 to any payment or benefit provided hereunder.  Such payments shall be made within five (5) business days after delivery of the Participant’s written requests for payment accompanied with such evidence of fees and expenses incurred as the Employer  reasonably may require; provided, however, that in no event shall any such payments be made later than the last day of the Participant's taxable year following the taxable year in which the fee or expense was incurred.
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.08     Provisions of Referenced Plans.  To the extent this Plan references or incorporates provisions of any other System Company plan and (a) such other plan is amended, supplemented, modified or terminated during the two-year period commencing on the date of a Potential Change in Control, (b) the Change in Control event contemplated by the Potential Change in Control is not terminated, and (b) such amendment, supplementation, modification or termination adversely affects any benefit under this Plan, whether it be in the method of calculation or otherwise, then for purposes of determining benefits under this Plan, the Administrator shall rely upon the version of such other plan in existence immediately prior to any such amendment, supplementation, modification or termination, unless such change is agreed to in writing and signed by the affected Participant and by the Administrator, or by their legal representatives and successors.
 
 
3.09     Benefit Limitation.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary and except for those named Participants in the immediately following sentence to whom this Section 3.09 does not apply, the value of the benefits payable to a Participant under the terms of Section 3.02 shall not in the aggregate exceed 2.99 times the sum of: (a) Participant’s annual base salary as in effect at any time within one year prior to commencement of a Change in Control Period or, if higher, immediately prior to a circumstance constituting Good Reason plus (b) the higher of: (i) the annual incentive award actually awarded to the Participant under the EAIP for the fiscal year of Entergy Corporation immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Participant’s termination of employment occurs; (ii) the Target Award for such Participant for the fiscal year of Entergy Corporation in which the Participant’s termination of employment occurs; or (iii) the Target Award for such Participant for the fiscal year of Entergy Corporation in which the Change in Control Period commences.  The benefit limitation set forth in this Section 3.09 shall not apply to the following named Participants for as long as they continuously remain a Participant in the Plan at their current or higher System Management Level:  Curtis L. Hebert, Gary J. Taylor, Robert D. Sloan and Mark T. Savoff.
 
 
 
3.10     Required Six-Month Delay for Certain DistributionsNotwithstanding any Plan provision to the contrary, no Plan benefits shall be paid to a Participant who is a Specified Employee at the time of his “separation from service” (within the meaning of Code Section 409A) until the earlier of the Participant’s death or six months following the Participant’s “separation from Service.”  If distribution is delayed pursuant to this Section 3.10, the delayed distribution amount shall be credited with investment returns during the period of delay as if such amount were invested in the T. Rowe Price Stable Income Fund or such other investment fund as from time-to-time may be designated in advance and in writing by the Administrator.  Immediately following the six-month delay period, the full amount of the Participant’s delayed distribution amount, including investment returns deemed credited pursuant to this Section 3.10, shall be distributed in a single-sum payment to the Participant.  Any payments that are delayed pursuant to this Section shall be paid by the Employer in the seventh month after the date the Participant separates from service.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.02     Employer Liability.  At its own discretion, a System Company may purchase such insurance or annuity contracts or other types of investments as it deems desirable in order to accumulate the necessary funds to provide for the future benefit payments under the Plan.  However, (a) a System Company shall be under no obligation to fund the benefits provided under this Plan; (b) the investment of  System Company funds credited to a special account established hereunder shall not be restricted in any way; and (c) such funds may be available for any purpose the System Company may choose.  Nothing stated herein shall prohibit a System Company from adopting or establishing a trust or other means as a source for paying any obligations created hereunder provided, however, any and all rights that any such Participants shall have with respect to any such trust or other fund shall be governed by the terms thereof.
 
 
4.03     Establishment of Trust.  Notwithstanding any provisions of this Article IV to the contrary, within thirty (30) days following the date of a Change in Control, each System Company shall make a single irrevocable lump sum contribution to the Trust for Deferred Payments of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries (“Trust”) pursuant to the terms and conditions described in such Trust, but only to the extent consistent with the requirements of Code Section 409A.  Each System Company’s contribution shall be in an amount equal to the total amount of additional benefits payable to such System Company’s Plan Participants in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.02 of the Plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section to the contrary, a System Company may make contributions to the Trust prior to a Change in Control in such amounts as it shall determine in its complete discretion.  The Trust is intended as a “grantor” trust under the Internal Revenue Code and the establishment and funding of such Trust is not intended to cause Participants to realize current income on amounts contributed thereto, and the Trust shall be so interpreted.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6.02     Powers of the Administrator.  The Administrator and any of its delegates shall administer the Plan in accordance with its terms and shall have all powers, authority, and discretion necessary or proper for such purpose.  In furtherance of this duty, the Administrator shall have the sole and exclusive power and discretion to make factual determinations, construe and interpret the Plan, including the intent of the Plan and any ambiguous, disputed or doubtful provisions of the Plan.  All findings, decisions, or determinations of any type made by the Administrator, including factual determinations and any interpretation or construction of the Plan, shall be final and binding on all parties and shall not be disturbed unless the Administrator’s decisions are arbitrary and capricious.  The Administrator shall be the sole judge of the standard of proof required in any claim for benefits and/or in any question of eligibility for a benefit.  By way of example, the Administrator shall have the sole and exclusive power and discretion:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6.07     Denial or Partial Denial of Benefit Claims.  If the Claims Administrator denies a claim for benefits in whole or part, the Claims Administrator shall notify the claimant in writing of the decision within ninety (90) days after the Claims Administrator has received the claim.  In the Claim Administrator's sole discretion, the Claims Administrator may extend the time to decide the claim for an additional ninety (90) days, by giving written notice of the need for such an extension any time prior to the expiration of the initial ninety-day period.  The Claims Administrator, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to request specific information from the claimant, and reserves the right to have the claimant examined or tested by person(s) employed or compensated by the Employer.  If the claim is denied or partially denied, the Claims Administrator shall provide the claimant with written notice stating:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6.08     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 or her claim for benefits.  The written request for an appeal, together with all documents, materials, or other evidence which claimant believes supports his or her 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.
 
 
6.09     The Appeal Process.  The Claims Administrator will submit the appeal to the Claims Appeal Administrator for review of the denial or partial denial of the claim.  Within sixty (60) days after the receipt of claimant’s appeal, claimant will be notified of the final decision of the Claims Appeal Administrator, unless, in the Claims Appeal Administrator’s sole discretion, circumstances require an extension of this period for up to an additional sixty (60) days.  If such an extension is required, the Claims Appeal Administrator shall notify claimant of this extension in writing before the expiration of the initial 60-day period.  During the appeal, the Claims Appeal Administrator, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to request specific information from the claimant, and reserves the right to have the claimant examined or tested by person(s) employed or compensated by the Employer.  The final decision of the Claims Appeal Administrator shall set forth in writing the facts and plan provisions upon which the decision is based.  All decisions of the Claims Appeal Administrator are final and binding on all employees, Participants, their Beneficiaries, or other claimants. 
 
 
 
 
6.11     Code Section 409A Compliance.  This Plan shall be governed by and subject to the requirements of Code Section 409A and shall be interpreted and administered in accordance with that intent.  If any provision of this Plan would otherwise conflict with or frustrate this intent, that provision will be interpreted and deemed amended so as to avoid the conflict.  The Administrator reserves the right to take any action it deems appropriate or necessary to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A and may take advantage of such transition rules under Code Section 409A as it deems necessary or appropriate. For purposes of the limitations on nonqualified deferred compensation under Code Section 409A, each payment of compensation under this Plan shall be treated as a separate payment of compensation for purposes of applying the Code Section 409A deferral election rules and the exclusion from Code Section 409A for certain short-term deferral amounts.  Any amounts payable under this Plan solely on account of an involuntary separation from service within the meaning of Code Section 409A shall be excludible from the requirements of Code Section 409A, either as involuntary separation pay or as short-term deferral amounts (e.g., amounts payable under the schedule prior to March 15 of the calendar year following the calendar year of involuntary separation) to the maximum possible extent.  Further, any reimbursements or in-kind benefits provided under this Plan that are subject to Code Section 409A shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A, including, where applicable, the requirement that (i) any reimbursement is for expenses incurred during the period of time specified, (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other calendar year, (iii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made no later than the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred, and (iv) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7.01     General.  The Board of Directors or the Personnel Committee shall have the right, in its absolute discretion and consistent with the requirements of Code Section 409A, at any time and from time to time, to modify or amend, in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of this Plan, or suspend or terminate it entirely, subject to the provisions of Section 7.02 hereof.  Any such action shall be evidenced by the minutes of the Board of Directors or the Personnel Committee or a written certificate of amendment or termination executed by any person or persons so authorized by the Board of Directors or the Personnel Committee. The provisions of this Article <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />VII shall survive a termination of the Plan unless such termination is agreed to by the Participants.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7.03     Successors.  A System Employer shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise) of all or substantially all of its business and/or assets to expressly assume and agree to perform this Plan in the same manner and to the same extent that the System Employer would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.  If the System Employer fails to obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession, then the System Employer shall be liable for payment of all Plan benefits to which Participants are entitled upon their Separation from Service.  Any successor or surviving entity that assumes or otherwise adopts this Plan as contemplated in this Section 7.03 shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the Employer and the Board of Directors hereunder, subject to the restrictions on amendment or termination of the Plan as set forth in Section 7.02.
 
 
 
 
 
 
8.02     Notices.  Every notice authorized or required by the Plan shall be deemed delivered to the Administrator on the date it is personally delivered to the Administrator or three business days after it is sent by registered mail, postage prepaid, and properly addressed to Entergy Services, Inc., Total Rewards, Attention: Plan Administrator, System Executive Continuity Plan, 639 Loyola Avenue, 14th Floor, New Orleans, Louisiana 70113 and shall be deemed delivered to a Participant on the date it is personally delivered to him or three business days after it is sent by registered or certificate mail, postage prepaid, addressed to him at the last address shown for him on the records of his System Company employer.
 
 
 
8.03     Gender and Number.  The masculine pronoun whenever used in the Plan shall include the feminine.  Similarly, the feminine pronoun whenever used in the Plan shall include the masculine as the context or facts may require.  Whenever any words are used herein in the singular, they shall be construed as if they were also used in the plural in all cases where the context so applies.
 
 
 
8.04     Captions.  The captions of this Plan are not part of the provisions of the Plan and shall have no force and effect.
 
 
 
8.05     Severability.  In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
 
 
 
8.06     Controlling Law  The administration of the Plan, and any Trust established thereunder, shall be governed by applicable federal law, including ERISA, to the extent applicable, and to the extent federal law is inapplicable, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of law principles of any state. Any persons or corporations who now are or shall subsequently become parties to the Plan shall be deemed to consent to this provision.
 
 
 
8.07     No Right to Employment.  This Plan does not confer nor shall be construed as creating an express or implied contract of employment.
 
 
 
8.08     Indemnification.  To the extent not covered by insurance, or if there is a failure to provide full insurance coverage for any reason, and to the extent permissible under applicable laws and regulations, the System employers agree to hold harmless and indemnify the Administrator, its members and its employee delegates against any and all claims and causes of action by or on behalf of any and all parties whomsoever, and all losses therefrom, including, without limitation, costs of defense and attorneys’ fees, based upon or arising out of any act or omission relating to or in connection with the Plan and Trust other than losses resulting from any such person’s fraud or willful misconduct.
 
 
 
 
 
8.10     Code Section 409A Compliance.  The Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and regulations thereunder. Any provision of this document that is contrary to the requirements of Code Section 409A and the regulations thereunder shall be null, void and of no effect and the Administrator shall interpret the document consistent with the requirements of Code Section 409A, which shall govern the administration of the Plan in the event of any conflict between Plan terms and the requirements of Code Section 409A and the regulations thereunder.
 
 
 
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE