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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 
x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934	
For the third twelve week accounting period ended September 8, 2012
OR
 
¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934	
For the transition period from                    to                    
Commission File Number: 001-06024

WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 
 	 	 	
Delaware	 	38-1185150	
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)	 	(IRS Employer
Identification No.)	
 	 	
9341 Courtland Drive N.E.,
Rockford, Michigan	 	49351	
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	 	(Zip Code)	
(616) 866-5500
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes   x     No   ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes   x     No   ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer	 	x	  	Accelerated filer	 	¨	
 	 	 	 	
Non-accelerated filer	 	¨	  	Smaller reporting company	 	¨	
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date.
There were 49,015,654 shares of Common Stock, $1 par value, outstanding as of October 12, 2012.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part I. Financial Information	  	 	5	  	
 	 	
Item 1. Financial Statements	  	 	5	  	
 	 	
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	  	 	17	  	
 	 	
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	  	 	26	  	
 	 	
Item 4. Controls and Procedures	  	 	27	  	
 	 	
Part II. Other Information	  	 	28	  	
 	 	
Item 1A. Risk Factors	  	 	28	  	
 	 	
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	  	 	37	  	
 	 	
Item 6. Exhibits	  	 	38	  	
 	 	
Signatures	  	 	39	  	
 
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This document contains “forward-looking statements,” which are statements relating to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address management’s current beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates and projections about future business and financial performance, global political, economic and market conditions, and the Company itself. Such statements often contain words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “forecasts,” “intends,” “is likely,” “plans,” “predicts,” “projects,” “should,” “will,” variations of such words, and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements, by their nature, address matters that are, to varying degrees, uncertain. Uncertainties that could cause the Company’s performance to differ materially from what is expressed in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:
 
 	•	 	changes in national, regional or global economic and market conditions;	
 
 	•	 	the impact of financial and credit markets on the Company, its suppliers and customers;	
 
 	•	 	changes in interest rates, tax laws, duties, tariffs, quotas or applicable assessments in countries of import and export;	
 
 	•	 	the impact of regulation, regulatory and legal proceedings and legal compliance risks;	
 
 	•	 	currency fluctuations;	
 
 	•	 	currency restrictions;	
 
 	•	 	changes in future pension funding requirements and pension expenses;	
 
 	•	 	the risks of doing business in developing countries, and politically or economically volatile areas;	
 
 	•	 	the ability to secure and protect owned intellectual property or use licensed intellectual property;	
 
 	•	 	changes in consumer preferences, spending patterns, buying patterns, price sensitivity or demand for the Company’s products;	
 
 	•	 	the impact of seasonality and unpredictable weather conditions;	
 
 	•	 	changes in relationships with, including the loss of, significant customers;	
 
 	•	 	the cancellation of orders for future delivery;	
 
 	•	 	the failure of the Department of Defense to exercise future purchase options or award new contracts, or the cancellation or modification of existing contracts by the Department of Defense or other military purchasers;	
 
 	•	 	matters relating to the Company’s recent acquisition of the Performance + Lifestyle Group (“PLG”) business of Collective Brands, Inc., including the Company's ability to realize the benefits of the PLG acquisition or to do so on a timely basis, the Company's ability to combine its business with PLG successfully or in a timely and cost-efficient manner, the degree of business disruption relating to the PLG acquisition, and the Company’s increased indebtedness following the PLG acquisition;	
 
 	•	 	the cost, availability and management of raw materials, inventories, services and labor for owned and contract manufacturers;	
 
 	•	 	problems affecting the Company’s distribution system, including service interruptions at shipping and receiving ports;	
 
 	•	 	the failure to maintain the security of personally identifiable and other information of the Company’s customers and employees;	
 
 	•	 	the inability for any reason to effectively compete in global footwear, apparel and consumer-direct markets; and	
 
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 	•	 	strategic actions, including new initiatives and ventures, acquisitions and dispositions, and our success in integrating acquired businesses and implementing new initiatives and ventures.	
These uncertainties could cause a material difference between an actual outcome and a forward-looking statement. The uncertainties included here are not exhaustive and are described in more detail in Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any information regarding such Risk Factors included in the Company’s subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these risks and uncertainties, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. The Company does not undertake an obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
 
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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.	Financial Statements	
WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(Thousands of Dollars, Except Share and Per Share Data)
(Unaudited)

 	  	September 8,
2012	 	 	December 31,
2011	 	 	September 10,
2011	 	
ASSETS	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Current assets:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	  	$	144,346	  	 	$	140,012	  	 	$	97,902	  	
Accounts receivable, less allowances:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
September 8, 2012 – $14,750	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
December 31, 2011 – $12,688	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
September 10, 2011 – $10,954	  	 	280,457	  	 	 	219,963	  	 	 	278,360	  	
Inventories:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Finished products	  	 	241,534	  	 	 	208,164	  	 	 	249,026	  	
Raw materials and work-in-process	  	 	28,142	  	 	 	23,574	  	 	 	26,222	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	  	 	269,676	  	 	 	231,738	  	 	 	275,248	  	
 	 	 	 	
Deferred income taxes	  	 	14,293	  	 	 	9,801	  	 	 	12,452	  	
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	  	 	18,590	  	 	 	32,982	  	 	 	17,697	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total current assets	  	 	727,362	  	 	 	634,496	  	 	 	681,659	  	
 	 	 	 	
Property, plant and equipment:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gross cost	  	 	300,963	  	 	 	293,679	  	 	 	295,082	  	
Accumulated depreciation	  	 	(225,014	) 	 	 	(215,190	) 	 	 	(217,783	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	  	 	75,949	  	 	 	78,489	  	 	 	77,299	  	
Other assets:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Goodwill	  	 	39,617	  	 	 	38,894	  	 	 	39,590	  	
Other non-amortizable intangibles	  	 	17,836	  	 	 	17,375	  	 	 	16,612	  	
Cash surrender value of life insurance	  	 	40,409	  	 	 	38,203	  	 	 	38,321	  	
Deferred income taxes	  	 	43,105	  	 	 	42,349	  	 	 	39,456	  	
Other	  	 	3,768	  	 	 	1,846	  	 	 	2,612	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	  	 	144,735	  	 	 	138,667	  	 	 	136,591	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total assets	  	$	948,046	  	 	$	851,652	  	 	$	895,549	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.
 
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WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets – continued
(Thousands of Dollars, Except Share and Per Share Data)
(Unaudited)

 	  	September 8,
2012	 	 	December 31,
2011	 	 	September 10,
2011	 	
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	
Current liabilities:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Accounts payable	  	$	59,450	  	 	$	57,099	  	 	$	62,252	  	
Accrued salaries and wages	  	 	17,109	  	 	 	22,635	  	 	 	20,810	  	
Income taxes	  	 	7,324	  	 	 	2,822	  	 	 	19,823	  	
Taxes, other than income taxes	  	 	9,670	  	 	 	8,093	  	 	 	11,741	  	
Other accrued liabilities	  	 	48,273	  	 	 	44,363	  	 	 	37,509	  	
Accrued pension liabilities	  	 	2,151	  	 	 	2,151	  	 	 	2,018	  	
Current maturities of long-term debt	  	 	—  	  	 	 	515	  	 	 	531	  	
Borrowings under revolving credit agreement	  	 	27,000	  	 	 	11,000	  	 	 	59,500	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total current liabilities	  	 	170,977	  	 	 	148,678	  	 	 	214,184	  	
 	 	 	 	
Deferred compensation	  	 	3,560	  	 	 	4,113	  	 	 	4,309	  	
Accrued pension liabilities	  	 	95,287	  	 	 	103,825	  	 	 	62,715	  	
Other liabilities	  	 	10,525	  	 	 	16,386	  	 	 	13,375	  	
 	 	 	 	
Stockholders’ equity	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. stockholders’ equity:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Common Stock—par value $1, authorized 160,000,000 shares; shares issued (including shares in treasury):	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
September 8, 2012 – 66,038,072 shares	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
December 31, 2011 – 65,019,406 shares	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
September 10, 2011 – 64,918,487 shares	  	 	66,038	  	 	 	65,019	  	 	 	64,918	  	
Additional paid-in capital	  	 	164,383	  	 	 	138,585	  	 	 	132,763	  	
Retained earnings	  	 	956,911	  	 	 	889,765	  	 	 	872,655	  	
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	  	 	(69,393	) 	 	 	(71,029	) 	 	 	(35,263	) 	
Cost of shares in treasury:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
September 8, 2012 – 17,039,543shares	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
December 31, 2011 – 16,848,374 shares	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
September 10, 2011 – 16,578,741shares	  	 	(451,323	) 	 	 	(443,690	) 	 	 	(434,107	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total Wolverine World Wide, Inc. stockholders’ equity	  	 	666,616	  	 	 	578,650	  	 	 	600,966	  	
Non-controlling interest	  	 	1,081	  	 	 	—  	  	 	 	—  	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total stockholders’ equity	  	 	667,697	  	 	 	578,650	  	 	 	600,966	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	  	$	948,046	  	 	$	851,652	  	 	$	895,549	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.
 
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WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
(Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Share Data)
(Unaudited)

 	  	12 Weeks Ended	 	 	36 Weeks Ended	 	
 	  	September 8,
2012	 	 	September 10,
2011	 	 	September 8,
2012	 	 	September 10,
2011	 	
Revenue	  	$	353,067	  	 	$	361,590	  	 	$	988,595	  	 	$	1,002,601	  	
Cost of goods sold	  	 	214,512	  	 	 	214,907	  	 	 	599,776	  	 	 	596,003	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gross profit	  	 	138,555	  	 	 	146,683	  	 	 	388,819	  	 	 	406,598	  	
 	 	 	 	 	
Selling, general and administrative expenses	  	 	92,230	  	 	 	90,242	  	 	 	282,682	  	 	 	267,325	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Operating profit	  	 	46,325	  	 	 	56,441	  	 	 	106,137	  	 	 	139,273	  	
 	 	 	 	 	
Other expenses:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Interest expense—net	  	 	1,726	  	 	 	293	  	 	 	2,474	  	 	 	647	  	
Other (income) expense—net	  	 	(320	) 	 	 	(257	) 	 	 	1,295	  	 	 	136	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	  	 	1,406	  	 	 	36	  	 	 	3,769	  	 	 	783	  	
Earnings before income taxes	  	 	44,919	  	 	 	56,405	  	 	 	102,368	  	 	 	138,490	  	
 	 	 	 	 	
Income taxes	  	 	12,153	  	 	 	15,970	  	 	 	18,109	  	 	 	38,216	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net earnings	  	 	32,766	  	 	 	40,435	  	 	 	84,259	  	 	 	100,274	  	
 	 	 	 	 	
Net earnings (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests	  	 	39	  	 	 	—  	  	 	 	(144	) 	 	 	—  	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net earnings attributable to Wolverine World Wide, Inc.	  	$	32,727	  	 	$	40,435	  	 	$	84,403	  	 	$	100,274	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net earnings per share (see Note 2):	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	  	$	0.68	  	 	$	0.84	  	 	$	1.75	  	 	$	2.06	  	
Diluted	  	$	0.66	  	 	$	0.82	  	 	$	1.71	  	 	$	2.01	  	
 	 	 	 	 	
Comprehensive income	  	$	37,187	  	 	$	38,935	  	 	$	85,895	  	 	$	106,134	  	
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	  	 	39	  	 	 	—  	  	 	 	(144	) 	 	 	—  	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Comprehensive income attributable to Wolverine World Wide, Inc.	  	$	37,148	  	 	$	38,935	  	 	$	86,039	  	 	$	106,134	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash dividends declared per share	  	$	0.12	  	 	$	0.12	  	 	$	0.36	  	 	$	0.36	  	
See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.
 
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WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flow
(Thousands of Dollars)
(Unaudited)

 	  	36 Weeks Ended	 	
 	  	September 8,
2012	 	 	September 10,
2011	 	
OPERATING ACTIVITIES	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net earnings	  	$	84,259	  	 	$	100,274	  	
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Depreciation	  	 	11,099	  	 	 	10,700	  	
Amortization	  	 	355	  	 	 	713	  	
Deferred income tax credit	  	 	(3,557	) 	 	 	(1,893	) 	
Stock-based compensation expense	  	 	10,977	  	 	 	10,160	  	
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	  	 	(6,042	) 	 	 	(2,271	) 	
Pension contribution	  	 	(26,657	) 	 	 	(31,800	) 	
Pension expense	  	 	19,423	  	 	 	12,117	  	
Other	  	 	(4,981	) 	 	 	1,686	  	
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Accounts receivable	  	 	(58,986	) 	 	 	(81,679	) 	
Inventories	  	 	(37,557	) 	 	 	(67,774	) 	
Other operating assets	  	 	10,749	  	 	 	(4,106	) 	
Accounts payable	  	 	2,339	  	 	 	(2,175	) 	
Income taxes payable	  	 	4,502	  	 	 	17,077	  	
Other operating liabilities	  	 	2,726	  	 	 	(142	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	  	 	8,649	  	 	 	(39,113	) 	
 	 	 	
INVESTING ACTIVITIES	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Additions to property, plant and equipment	  	 	(8,340	) 	 	 	(13,470	) 	
Investment in joint venture	  	 	(2,484	) 	 	 	—  	  	
Other	  	 	(1,831	) 	 	 	(1,858	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash used in investing activities	  	 	(12,655	) 	 	 	(15,328	) 	
 	 	 	
FINANCING ACTIVITIES	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net borrowings under revolver	  	 	16,000	  	 	 	59,500	  	
Payments of long-term debt	  	 	(526	) 	 	 	(530	) 	
Cash dividends paid	  	 	(17,605	) 	 	 	(17,018	) 	
Purchase of common stock for treasury	  	 	(2,399	) 	 	 	(55,795	) 	
Surrender of common stock for treasury	  	 	(5,668	) 	 	 	(1,828	) 	
Proceeds from shares issued under stock incentive plans	  	 	9,135	  	 	 	12,535	  	
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	  	 	6,042	  	 	 	2,271	  	
Contributions from non-controlling interests	  	 	1,225	  	 	 	—  	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	  	 	6,204	  	 	 	(865	) 	
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes	  	 	2,136	  	 	 	2,808	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	  	 	4,334	  	 	 	(52,498	) 	
 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	  	 	140,012	  	 	 	150,400	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	  	$	144,346	  	 	$	97,902	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.
 
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WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011
(Unaudited)
All amounts are in thousands of dollars except share and per share data, and elsewhere as noted.
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Nature of Operations
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (the “Company”) is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of quality casual footwear and apparel; performance outdoor footwear and apparel; industrial work shoes, boots and apparel; and uniform shoes and boots. The Company’s portfolio of owned and licensed brands includes:  Bates ® ,  Cat ®  Footwear,  Chaco ® ,  Cushe ® ,  Harley-Davidson ®  Footwear,  Hush Puppies ® ,  HyTest ® ,  Merrell ® ,  Patagonia ®  Footwear,  Sebago ® ,  Soft Style ®  and  Wolverine ® . Licensing and distribution arrangements with third parties extend the global reach of the Company’s brand portfolio. The Company also operates a consumer-direct division to market both its own brands and branded footwear and apparel from other manufacturers and a leathers division that markets  Wolverine Performance Leathers ™.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for a complete presentation of the financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for fair presentation have been included in the accompanying financial statements. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized on the sale of products manufactured or sourced by the Company when the related goods have been shipped, legal title has passed to the customer and collectability is reasonably assured. Revenue generated through licensees and distributors involving products bearing the Company’s trademarks is recognized as earned according to stated contractual terms upon either the purchase or shipment of branded products by licensees and distributors.
The Company records provisions for estimated sales returns and allowances at the time of sale based on historical rates of returns and allowances and specific identification of outstanding returns not yet received from customers. However, estimates of actual returns and allowances in any future period are inherently uncertain and actual returns and allowances may differ from these estimates. If actual or expected future returns and allowances were significantly greater or lower than established reserves, a reduction or increase to net revenues would be recorded in the period this determination was made.
Cost of Goods Sold
Cost of goods sold includes the actual product costs, including inbound and outbound freight charges, purchasing, sourcing, inspection and receiving costs. Warehousing costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
Seasonality
The Company’s business is subject to seasonal influences and the Company’s fiscal year has twelve weeks in each of the first three quarters and, depending on the fiscal calendar, sixteen or seventeen weeks in the fourth quarter. Both of these factors can cause significant differences in revenue, earnings and cash flows from quarter to quarter; however, the differences have followed a consistent pattern in previous years.
Reclassifications
Certain prior period amounts on the consolidated condensed financial statements have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. These reclassifications did not affect net earnings.
 
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WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011
(Unaudited)
 
2. EARNINGS PER SHARE
The Company calculates earnings per share in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 260, Earnings Per Share (“ASC 260”). ASC 260 addresses whether instruments granted in share-based payment transactions are participating securities prior to vesting, and therefore need to be included in the earnings allocation in computing earnings per share under the two-class method. Under the guidance in ASC 260, the Company’s unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents, whether paid or unpaid, are participating securities and must be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method.
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

 	  	12 Weeks Ended	 	 	36 weeks Ended	 	
 	  	September 8,
2012	 	 	September 10,
2011	 	 	September 8,
2012	 	 	September 10,
2011	 	
Numerator:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net earnings attributable to Wolverine World Wide, Inc.	  	$	32,727	  	 	$	40,435	  	 	$	84,403	  	 	$	100,274	  	
Adjustment for earnings allocated to non-vested restricted common stock	  	 	(537	) 	 	 	(667	) 	 	 	(1,463	) 	 	 	(1,660	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net earnings used in calculating basic earnings per share	  	 	32,190	  	 	 	39,768	  	 	 	82,940	  	 	 	98,614	  	
Adjustment for earnings reallocated from non-vested restricted common stock	  	 	22	  	 	 	22	  	 	 	59	  	 	 	54	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net earnings used in calculating diluted earnings per share	  	$	32,212	  	 	$	39,790	  	 	$	82,999	  	 	$	98,668	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Denominator:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Weighted average shares outstanding	  	 	48,871,922	  	 	 	48,935,385	  	 	 	48,666,772	  	 	 	49,222,489	  	
Adjustment for non-vested restricted common stock	  	 	(1,379,484	) 	 	 	(1,472,537	) 	 	 	(1,392,401	) 	 	 	(1,447,687	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Shares used in calculating basic earnings per share	  	 	47,492,438	  	 	 	47,462,848	  	 	 	47,274,371	  	 	 	47,774,802	  	
Effect of dilutive stock options	  	 	1,122,179	  	 	 	1,267,681	  	 	 	1,126,277	  	 	 	1,298,245	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Shares used in calculating diluted earnings per share	  	 	48,614,617	  	 	 	48,730,529	  	 	 	48,400,648	  	 	 	49,073,047	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net earnings per share:	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Basic	  	$	0.68	  	 	$	0.84	  	 	$	1.75	  	 	$	2.06	  	
Diluted	  	$	0.66	  	 	$	0.82	  	 	$	1.71	  	 	$	2.01	  	
For the 12 and 36 weeks ended September 8, 2012, share-based awards relating to 263,445 and 526,798 shares of common stock outstanding, respectively, have not been included in the denominator for the computation of diluted earnings per share because the related exercise prices of these shares were greater than the average market price for the periods then-ended, and they were, therefore, anti-dilutive. For the 12 and 36 weeks ended September 10, 2011, share-based awards relating to 388,522 and 321,915 shares of common stock outstanding, respectively, have not been included in the denominator for the computation of diluted earnings per share because the related exercise prices of these shares were greater than the average market price for the periods then-ended, and they were, therefore, anti-dilutive.
 
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WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011
(Unaudited)
 
3. GOODWILL AND OTHER NON-AMORTIZABLE INTANGIBLES
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill and other non-amortizable intangibles are as follows:

 	  	Goodwill	 	 	Other  Non-
Amortizable
Intangibles	 	
Balance at September 10, 2011	  	$	39,590	  	 	$	16,612	  	
Intangibles acquired	  	 	—  	  	 	 	969	  	
Foreign currency translation effects	  	 	(696	) 	 	 	(206	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at December 31, 2011	  	 	38,894	  	 	 	17,375	  	
Intangibles acquired	  	 	—  	  	 	 	465	  	
Foreign currency translation effects	  	 	723	  	 	 	(4	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at September 8, 2012	  	$	39,617	  	 	$	17,836	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
4. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Comprehensive income (loss) represents net earnings and any revenue, expenses, gains and losses that, under U.S. GAAP, are excluded from net earnings and recognized directly as a component of stockholders’ equity.
The ending accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is as follows:

 	  	Foreign
Currency	 	 	Foreign
Exchange
Contracts	 	 	Defined
Benefit
Pension Plans	 	 	Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)	 	
Balance at January 1, 2011	  	$	11,548	  	 	$	(1,815	) 	 	$	(50,856	) 	 	$	(41,123	) 	
Current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	  	 	7,298	  	 	 	62	  	 	 	—  	  	 	 	7,360	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at June 18, 2011	  	 	18,846	  	 	 	(1,753	) 	 	 	(50,856	) 	 	 	(33,763	) 	
Current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	  	 	(3,371	) 	 	 	1,871	  	 	 	—  	  	 	 	(1,500	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at September 10, 2011	  	 	15,475	  	 	 	118	  	 	 	(50,856	) 	 	 	(35,263	) 	
Current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	  	 	(15,217	) 	 	 	3,177	  	 	 	(23,726	) 	 	 	(35,766	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at December 31, 2011	  	 	258	  	 	 	3,295	  	 	 	(74,582	) 	 	 	(71,029	) 	
Current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	  	 	(1,507	) 	 	 	(1,278	) 	 	 	—  	  	 	 	(2,785	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at June 16, 2012	  	 	(1,249	) 	 	 	2,017	  	 	 	(74,582	) 	 	 	(73,814	) 	
Current-period other comprehensive income (loss)	  	 	6,183	  	 	 	(1,762	) 	 	 	—  	  	 	 	4,421	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Balance at September 8, 2012	  	$	4,934	  	 	$	255	  	 	$	(74,582	) 	 	$	(69,393	) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
5. BUSINESS SEGMENTS
The Company has one reportable segment that is engaged in designing, manufacturing, sourcing, marketing, licensing and distributing branded footwear, apparel and accessories. Revenue from this segment is derived from the sale of branded footwear, apparel and accessories to third-party customers and income from the licensing and distribution agreements for the Company’s trademarks and brand names with third-party licensees and distributors. The operating units aggregated into the branded footwear, apparel and licensing reportable segment all source, market and distribute products in a similar manner.
The other business units in the following tables consist of the Company’s consumer-direct business and the Company’s leather marketing operations, Wolverine Leathers. These other operations do not collectively form a reportable segment at September 8, 2012 because their respective operations are dissimilar and they do not meet the applicable quantitative requirements. At September 8, 2012, the Company owned and operated 100 brick-and-mortar retail stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom and operated 38 consumer-direct websites. The other business units distribute products through retail and wholesale channels.
The Company measures segment profits as earnings before income taxes. The accounting policies used to determine profitability and total assets of the branded footwear, apparel and licensing reportable segment and other business units are the same as disclosed in Note 1.
 
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WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011
(Unaudited)
 
Business segment information is as follows:

 	  	12 Weeks Ended September 8, 2012	 	
 	  	Branded
Footwear,
Apparel and
Licensing	 	  	Other
Business  Units	 	  	Corporate	 	 	Consolidated	 	
Revenue	  	$	318,262	  	  	$	34,805	  	  	$	—  	  	 	$	353,067	  	
Intersegment revenue	  	$	18,013	  	  	$	997	  	  	$	—  	  	 	$	19,010	  	
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	  	$	56,666	  	  	$	1,423	  	  	$	(13,170	) 	 	$	44,919	  	
Total assets	  	$	767,910	  	  	$	59,080	  	  	$	121,056	  	 	$	948,046	  	
 	 	
 	  	36 Weeks Ended September 8, 2012	 	
 	  	Branded
Footwear,
Apparel and
Licensing	 	  	Other
Business Units	 	  	
Corporate	 	 	
Consolidated	 	
Revenue	  	$	888,119	  	  	$	100,476	  	  	$	—  	  	 	$	988,595	  	
Intersegment revenue	  	$	42,679	  	  	$	2,544	  	  	$	—  	  	 	$	45,223	  	
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	  	$	144,164	  	  	$	2,884	  	  	$	(44,680	) 	 	$	102,368	  	
Total assets	  	$	767,910	  	  	$	59,080	  	  	$	121,056	  	 	$	948,046	  	
 	 	
 	  	12 Weeks Ended September 10, 2011	 	
 	  	Branded
Footwear,
Apparel and
Licensing	 	  	Other
Business Units	 	  	
Corporate	 	 	
Consolidated	 	
Revenue	  	$	332,696	  	  	$	28,894	  	  	$	—  	  	 	$	361,590	  	
Intersegment revenue	  	$	14,016	  	  	$	597	  	  	$	—  	  	 	$	14,613	  	
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	  	$	64,669	  	  	$	806	  	  	$	(9,070	) 	 	$	56,405	  	
Total assets	  	$	717,392	  	  	$	61,956	  	  	$	116,201	  	 	$	895,549	  	
 	 	
 	  	36 Weeks Ended September 10, 2011	 	
 	  	Branded
Footwear,
Apparel and
Licensing	 	  	Other
Business Units	 	  	
Corporate	 	 	
Consolidated	 	
Revenue	  	$	912,286	  	  	$	90,315	  	  	$	—  	  	 	$	1,002,601	  	
Intersegment revenue	  	$	33,923	  	  	$	1,469	  	  	$	—  	  	 	$	35,392	  	
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	  	$	163,610	  	  	$	2,268	  	  	$	(27,388	) 	 	$	138,490	  	
Total assets	  	$	717,392	  	  	$	61,956	  	  	$	116,201	  	 	$	895,549	  	
 
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WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011
(Unaudited)
 
6. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT
The Company follows FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”), which provides a consistent definition of fair value, focuses on exit price, prioritizes the use of market-based inputs over entity-specific inputs for measuring fair value and establishes a three-tier hierarchy for fair value measurements. This topic requires fair value measurements to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:
 
 	Level 1:	Fair value is measured using quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.	
 
 	Level 2:	Fair value is measured using either direct or indirect inputs, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, which are observable for similar assets or liabilities.	
 
 	Level 3:	Fair value is measured using valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs are unobservable.	
The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable, foreign currency forward exchange contracts and borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit agreement. The carrying amount of the Company’s financial instruments is historical cost, which approximates their fair value, except for the foreign currency exchange contracts, which are carried at fair value. The Company does not hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes.
At September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011, a liability of $1,545 and an asset of $1,334 respectively, have been recognized for the fair value of the Company’s foreign exchange contracts. In accordance with ASC 820, this asset and liability fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The prices for the financial instruments are determined using prices for recently-traded financial instruments with similar underlying terms as well as directly or indirectly observable inputs. The Company did not have any additional assets or liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011.
The Company follows FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, which is intended to improve transparency in financial reporting and requires that all derivative instruments be recorded on the consolidated balance sheets at fair value by establishing criteria for designation and effectiveness of hedging relationships. The Company utilizes foreign currency forward exchange contracts to manage the volatility associated with U.S. dollar inventory purchases made by non-U.S. wholesale operations in the normal course of business. At September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011, foreign exchange contracts with a notional value of $83,080 and $69,413 respectively, were outstanding to purchase U.S. dollars with maturities ranging up to 336 days. These contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges.
The fair value of the foreign currency forward exchange contracts represents the estimated receipts or payments necessary to terminate the contracts. Hedge effectiveness is evaluated by the hypothetical derivative method. Any hedge ineffectiveness is reported within the cost of goods sold caption of the consolidated condensed statements of operations. Hedge ineffectiveness was not material to the Company’s consolidated condensed financial statements for the 12 and 36 weeks ended September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011. If, in the future, the foreign exchange contracts are determined to be ineffective hedges or terminated before their contractual termination dates, the Company would be required to reclassify into earnings all or a portion of the unrealized amounts related to the cash flow hedges that are currently included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within stockholders’ equity.
For the 12 weeks ended September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011, the Company recognized a net gain of $790 and a net loss of $469, respectively, in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to the effective portion of its foreign exchange contracts. For the 12 weeks ended September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011, the Company reclassified a loss of $697 and a gain of $581, respectively, from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into cost of goods sold related to the effective portion of its foreign exchange contracts designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges. For the 36 weeks ended September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011, the Company recognized a net gain of $2,295 and a net loss of $2,024, respectively, in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to the effective portion of its foreign exchange contracts. For the 36 weeks ended September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011, the Company reclassified a loss of $1,925 and a gain of $2,176, respectively, from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into cost of goods sold related to the effective portion of its foreign exchange contracts designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges.
 
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WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011
(Unaudited)
 
7. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with the fair value recognition provisions of FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation  (“ASC 718”). The Company recognized compensation expense of $3,119 and $10,977 and related income tax benefits of $1,047 and $3,591 for grants under its stock-based compensation plans in the statements of operations for the 12 and 36 weeks ended September 8, 2012, respectively. For the 12 and 36 weeks ended September 10, 2011, the Company recognized compensation expense of $2,783 and $10,160, respectively, and related income tax benefits of $908 and $3,278, respectively, for grants under its stock-based compensation plans.
Stock-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated condensed statements of operations for the 12 and 36 weeks ended September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011, is based on awards ultimately expected to vest and, as such, has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. ASC 718 requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Forfeitures were estimated based on historical experience.
The Company estimated the fair value of employee stock options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes model. The estimated weighted-average fair value for each option granted was $10.72 and $10.47 for the 36 weeks ended September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011, respectively, with the following weighted-average assumptions:

 	  	12 Weeks Ended	 	 	36 weeks Ended	 	
 	  	September 8,	 	 	September 10,	 	 	September 8,	 	 	September 10,	 	
 	  	2012	 	 	2011	 	 	2012	 	 	2011	 	
Expected market price volatility(1)	  	 	36.9	% 	 	 	38.8	% 	 	 	37.8	% 	 	 	38.6	% 	
Risk-free interest rate(2)	  	 	0.5	% 	 	 	1.1	% 	 	 	0.6	% 	 	 	1.8	% 	
Dividend yield(3)	  	 	1.3	% 	 	 	1.4	% 	 	 	1.3	% 	 	 	1.6	% 	
Expected term(4)	  	 	4 years	  	 	 	4 years	  	 	 	4 years	  	 	 	4 years	  	
 
(1)	Based on historical volatility of the Company's common stock. The expected volatility is based on the daily percentage change in the price of the stock over the four years prior to the grant.	
(2)	Represents the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect for the expected term of the option at the time of grant.	
(3)	Represents the Company's cash dividend yield for the expected term.	
(4)	Represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. As part of the determination of the expected term, the Company concluded that all employee groups exhibit similar exercise and post-vesting termination behavior.	
The Company issued 354,867 and 1,192,750 shares of common stock in connection with the exercise of stock options and new restricted stock grants made during the 12 and 36 weeks ended September 8, 2012, respectively. During the 12 and 36 weeks ended September 8, 2012, the Company cancelled 20,737 and 36,346 shares, respectively, of common stock issued under restricted stock awards as a result of forfeitures. The Company issued 160,209 and 1,055,325 shares of common stock in connection with the exercise of stock options and restricted stock grants made during the 12 and 36 weeks ended September 10, 2011, respectively. During the 12 and 36 weeks ended September 10, 2011, the Company cancelled 75,423 and 84,951 shares, respectively, of common stock issued under restricted stock awards as a result of forfeitures.
8. PENSION EXPENSE
A summary of net pension and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan expense recognized by the Company is as follows:

 	  	12 Weeks Ended	 	 	36 weeks Ended	 	
 	  	September 8,
2012	 	 	September 10,
2011	 	 	September 8,
2012	 	 	September 10,
2011	 	
Service cost pertaining to benefits earned during the period	  	$	1,779	  	 	$	1,500	  	 	$	5,337	  	 	$	4,500	  	
Interest cost on projected benefit obligations	  	 	3,289	  	 	 	3,075	  	 	 	9,867	  	 	 	9,225	  	
Expected return on pension assets	  	 	(3,431	) 	 	 	(3,323	) 	 	 	(10,295	) 	 	 	(9,969	) 	
Net amortization loss	  	 	4,838	  	 	 	2,787	  	 	 	14,514	  	 	 	8,361	  	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net pension expense	  	$	6,475	  	 	$	4,039	  	 	$	19,423	  	 	$	12,117	  	

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WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011
(Unaudited)
 
9. INCOME TAXES
For the 12 weeks ended September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011, the Company’s effective tax rate was 27.1% and 28.3%, respectively. For the 36 weeks ended September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011, the Company’s effective tax rate was 17.7% and 27.6%, respectively. The lower effective tax rates reflect the on-going benefits of a favorable court decision in the first half of fiscal 2012 in a foreign tax jurisdiction supporting the Company’s long-term global tax planning strategies.
The Company maintains certain strategic management and operational activities in overseas subsidiaries, and its foreign earnings are taxed at rates that are generally lower than the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate. A significant amount of the Company’s earnings are generated by its Canadian, European and Asia Pacific subsidiaries and, to a lesser extent, in jurisdictions that are not subject to income tax and free trade zones where the Company owns manufacturing operations. The Company has not provided for U.S. taxes for earnings generated in foreign jurisdictions because it plans to reinvest these earnings indefinitely outside the U.S. However, if certain foreign earnings previously treated as permanently reinvested are repatriated, the additional U.S. tax liability could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s after-tax results of operations and financial position.
The Company is subject to periodic audits by domestic and foreign tax authorities. Currently, the Company is undergoing routine periodic audits in both domestic and foreign tax jurisdictions. It is reasonably possible that the amounts of unrecognized tax benefits could change in the next 12 months as a result of the audits; however, any payment of tax is not expected to be significant to the consolidated financial statements.
For the majority of tax jurisdictions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2007.
10. LITIGATION AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company is involved in various environmental claims and other legal actions arising in the normal course of business. The environmental claims include sites where the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has notified the Company that it is a potentially responsible party with respect to environmental remediation. These remediation claims are subject to ongoing environmental impact studies, assessment of remediation alternatives, allocation of costs between responsible parties and concurrence by regulatory authorities and have not yet advanced to a stage where the Company’s liability is fixed. However, after taking into consideration legal counsel’s evaluation of all actions and claims against the Company, it is management’s opinion that the outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
The Company is involved in routine litigation incidental to its business and is a party to legal actions and claims, including, but not limited to, those related to employment and intellectual property. Some of the legal proceedings include claims for compensatory as well as punitive damages. While the final outcome of these matters cannot be predicted with certainty, considering, among other things, the meritorious legal defenses available and liabilities that have been recorded along with applicable insurance, it is management’s opinion that the outcome of these items will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
During the second quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company entered into agreements to acquire the Performance + Lifestyle Group (“PLG”) business of Collective Brands, Inc. (“CBI”). This acquisition, which closed on October 9, 2012, was conditioned upon the prior or concurrent consummation of the merger (“Merger”) contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 1, 2012 (“Merger Agreement”). The Company and the other parties to the Merger Agreement, among others, were named as defendants in five lawsuits filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and one lawsuit filed in the District Court of Shawnee County, Kansas, in connection with the Merger. The Delaware lawsuits were consolidated, and the parties to the Kansas litigation agreed to stay those proceedings pending final resolution of the Delaware litigation. These lawsuits generally alleged, among other things, that CBI’s board of directors and certain of its executive officers violated various fiduciary duties relating to maximizing stockholder value in negotiating and approving the Merger, and that the Company and certain other defendants aided and abetted such alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. The Delaware plaintiffs sought to enjoin defendants from taking any action to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement as well as monetary damages including attorneys’ fees and expenses. The Company and the other defendants to these lawsuits have entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Delaware and Kansas plaintiffs pursuant to which CBI agreed to amend its proxy materials. The memorandum of understanding contemplates that the parties will enter into a stipulation of settlement, which must be approved by the Delaware court. Pursuant to that stipulation as currently drafted, a class will be certified in the consolidated Delaware action, the defendants will not object to an award of attorneys fees up to a not yet defined amount to be paid by CBI and steps will be taken to dismiss the Kansas lawsuit. The contemplated settlement is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
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The Company has future minimum royalty and advertising obligations due under the terms of certain licenses held by the Company. These minimum future obligations are as follows:

 	  	2012	 	  	2013	 	  	2014	 	  	2015	 	  	2016	 	  	Thereafter	 	
Minimum royalties	  	$	750	  	  	$	900	  	  	$	1,200	  	  	$	1,500	  	  	$	—  	  	  	$	—  	  	
Minimum advertising	  	$	2,360	  	  	$	2,645	  	  	$	2,724	  	  	$	2,806	  	  	$	2,890	  	  	$	5,236	  	
Minimum royalties are based on both fixed obligations and assumptions regarding the consumer price index. Royalty obligations in excess of minimum requirements are based upon future sales levels. In accordance with the applicable agreements, the Company incurred royalty expense of $430 and $1,295, respectively, for the 12 and 36 weeks ended September 8, 2012, and has met the minimum royalties required for fiscal 2012. For the 12 and 36 weeks ended September 10, 2011, the Company incurred royalty expense of $743 and $2,407, respectively.
The terms of certain license agreements also require the Company to make advertising expenditures based on the level of sales. In accordance with these agreements, the Company incurred advertising expense of $884 and $2,627 for the 12 and 36 weeks ended September 8, 2012, and has met the minimum advertising required for fiscal 2012. For the 12 and 36 weeks ended September 10, 2011, the Company incurred advertising expense of $794 and $2,245, respectively.
11. NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU 2012-02, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (ASC Topic 350) Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment  (“ASU 2012-02”). ASU 2012-02 amends prior indefinite-lived intangible asset impairment testing guidance. Under ASU 2012-02, the Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not (a likelihood of more than 50%) that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired. If, after considering the totality of events and circumstances, an entity determines it is more likely than not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset is not impaired, then calculating the fair value of such asset is unnecessary. ASU 2012-02 will be effective for the Company during the interim and annual periods beginning after September 15, 2012. The adoption of ASU 2012-02 is not expected to have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”). ASU 2011-05 eliminates the option to present other comprehensive income (“OCI”) in the statement of stockholders’ equity. Under ASU 2011-05, the Company has the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of OCI in either a continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate continuous statements. Earnings per share would continue to be based on net income. Also in December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12,  Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05  (“ASU 2011-12”). ASU 2011-12 defers the ASU 2011-05 requirement that companies present reclassification adjustments for each component of accumulated other comprehensive income in both net income and OCI on the face of the financial statements. The Company adopted the current required provisions of ASU 2011-05 in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 as noted in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income. The adoption of ASU 2011-12 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Amendments to achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRS  (“ASU 2011-04”). ASU 2011-04 amends the fair value measurement and disclosure guidance in ASC 820,  Fair Value Measurement , to converge U.S. GAAP and IFRS requirements for measuring amounts at fair value as well as disclosures about these measurements. ASU 2011-04 was effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and was adopted in the first quarter of fiscal 2012. The applicable disclosures have been provided in Note 6. The adoption of ASU 2011-04 did not affect the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
12. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On October 9, 2012, subsequent to the end of the third quarter, the Company acquired PLG. PLG markets casual and athletic footwear, apparel and related accessories for adults and children under well-known brand names including  Sperry Top-Sider ® ,  Stride Rite ® ,  Saucony ®  and Keds ® . Subject to the finalization of post-closing adjustments set forth in the purchase agreement related to PLG’s net assets, the consideration paid to acquire PLG was approximately $1,237 million in cash. Subsequent to the announcement of the acquisition agreement in the second quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company incurred $9.4 million of expenses attributable to the PLG acquisition, including $4.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012.
Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, the Company entered into a new credit agreement (“New Credit Agreement”) with a bank syndicate. The New Credit Agreement provides the Company with a $1.1 billion secured credit facility consisting of a term loan A facility in an aggregate amount of up to $550.0 million, a term loan B facility in an aggregate amount up to $350.0 million and a revolving credit facility in an aggregate amount of up to $200.0 million. The New Credit Agreement is subject to increase up to a maximum aggregate amount of $1.3 billion under certain circumstances. In addition to the New Credit Agreement, the Company issued $375.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% senior notes in a private offering.
 
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ITEM 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	
OVERVIEW
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
The Company is a leading global designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded footwear, apparel and accessories. The Company’s stated mission is to “ Excite Consumers Around the World with Innovative Footwear and Apparel that Bring Style to Purpose .” The Company seeks to fulfill this mission by offering innovative products and compelling brand propositions; complementing its footwear brands with strong apparel and accessories offerings; expanding its global consumer-direct footprint; and delivering supply chain excellence.
The Company’s portfolio consisted of 12 brands that were marketed in more than 190 countries and territories at September 8, 2012. This diverse brand portfolio and broad geographic reach position the Company for continued organic growth. The Company’s brands are distributed via owned operations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and certain countries in continental Europe. In other regions (Asia Pacific, Latin America and certain other counties in continental Europe), the Company relies on a network of third-party distributors and licensees to market its brands. At September 8, 2012, the Company operated 100 brick-and-mortar retail stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom and operated 38 consumer-direct websites.
2012 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
 
 	•	 	Revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was $353.1 million, a decrease of 2.4% compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011 when revenue grew 12.9% over revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2010.	
 
 	•	 	Gross margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was 39.2%, a decrease of 140 basis points from the comparable period in the prior year, as higher product costs and unfavorable sales mix related to increased closeout sales were only partially offset by strategic selling price increases and benefits from foreign exchange rates.	
 
 	•	 	Operating expenses as a percentage of revenue increased to 26.1% for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to 25.0% for the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The increase was driven by incremental non-cash pension expense and costs associated with the acquisition of PLG.	
 
 	•	 	The effective tax rate in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was 27.1% compared to 28.3 % in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The lower effective tax rate reflects the ongoing benefits of a favorable court decision in a foreign jurisdiction in the first half of fiscal 2012 supporting the Company’s long-term global tax planning strategies.	
 
 	•	 	Reported diluted earnings per share for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 were $0.66 compared to $0.82 per share for the third quarter of fiscal 2011, including the impact of $0.06 per share of PLG acquisition-related costs.	
 
 	•	 	Inventory decreased $5.6 million, or 2.0%, as of the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2011.	
 
 	•	 	The Company declared cash dividends of $0.12 per share for both the third quarter of fiscal 2012 and the third quarter of fiscal 2011.	
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
On May 1, 2012, the Company entered into several agreements relating to the Company’s acquisition of PLG. The acquisition closed on October 9, 2012. The cash consideration paid by the Company for PLG, subject to certain adjustments as set forth in the Separation Agreement dated as of May 1, 2012, was approximately $1.24 billion. PLG markets casual and athletic footwear, apparel and related accessories for adults and children under well-known brand names including  Sperry Top-Sider ® ,  Stride Rite ® ,  Saucony ®  and  Keds ® . The Company financed the acquisition in part by entering into a credit agreement for a new $1.1 billion senior secured credit facility and issuing $375 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% senior notes in a private offering. The principal transaction-related agreements, including the Company’s debt financing commitments, are described in the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed May 4, 2012, August 1, 2012, October 4, 2012 and October 9, 2012.
OUTLOOK FOR REMAINDER OF FISCAL 2012
The macroeconomic environment in Europe is not showing near-term signs of improvement and the Company expects the soft business environment experienced in Europe during the third quarter of fiscal 2012 to continue through the remainder of the fiscal year.
 
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The following is a discussion of the Company’s results of operations and liquidity and capital resources. This section should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – THIRD QUARTER 2012 COMPARED TO THIRD QUARTER 2011
FINANCIAL SUMMARY – THIRD QUARTER 2012 VERSUS THIRD QUARTER 2011

 	  	2012	 	 	2011	 	 	Change	 	
(Millions of Dollars, Except Per Share Data)	  	$	 	 	% of
Total	 	 	$	 	 	% of
Total	 	 	$	 	 	%	 	
Revenue	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Branded footwear, apparel and licensing	  	$	318.3	  	 	 	90.1	% 	 	$	332.7	  	 	 	92.0	% 	 	$	(14.4	) 	 	 	(4.3	%) 	
Other business units	  	 	34.8	  	 	 	9.9	% 	 	 	28.9	  	 	 	8.0	% 	 	 	5.9	  	 	 	20.4	% 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total revenue	  	$	353.1	  	 	 	100.0	% 	 	$	361.6	  	 	 	100.0	% 	 	$	(8.5	) 	 	 	(2.4	%) 	

 	  	$	 	 	% of
Revenue	 	 	$	 	 	% of
Revenue	 	 	$	 	 	%	 	
Gross profit	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Branded footwear, apparel and licensing	  	$	124.4	  	 	 	39.1	% 	 	$	133.7	  	 	 	40.2	% 	 	$	(9.3	) 	 	 	(7.0	%) 	
Other business units	  	 	14.2	  	 	 	40.8	% 	 	 	13.0	  	 	 	45.0	% 	 	 	1.2	  	 	 	9.2	% 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total gross profit	  	$	138.6	  	 	 	39.3	% 	 	$	146.7	  	 	 	40.6	% 	 	$	(8.1	) 	 	 	(5.5	%) 	
 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Selling, general and administrative expenses	  	$	92.2	  	 	 	26.1	% 	 	$	90.2	  	 	 	24.9	% 	 	$	2.0	  	 	 	2.2	% 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Interest expense – net	  	$	1.7	  	 	 	0.5	% 	 	$	0.3	  	 	 	0.1	% 	 	$	1.4	  	 	 	466.7	% 	
Other income – net	  	 	(0.2	) 	 	 	(0.1	%) 	 	 	(0.2	) 	 	 	(0.1	%) 	 	 	–	  	 	 	0.0	% 	
Earnings before income taxes	  	 	44.9	  	 	 	12.7	% 	 	 	56.4	  	 	 	15.6	% 	 	 	(11.5	) 	 	 	(20.4	%) 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net earnings attributable to Wolverine World Wide, Inc.	  	$	32.7	  	 	 	9.3	% 	 	$	40.4	  	 	 	11.2	% 	 	$	(7.7	) 	 	 	(19.1	%) 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Diluted earnings per share	  	$	0.66	  	 	 	—  	  	 	$	0.82	  	 	 	—  	  	 	$	(0.16	) 	 	 	(19.5	%) 	
The Company has one reportable segment that is engaged in designing, manufacturing, sourcing, marketing, licensing and distributing branded footwear, apparel and accessories. This reportable segment is organized into three primary operating units:
 
 	•	 	Outdoor Group, consisting of Merrell®, Chaco® and Patagonia® footwear and Merrell® brand apparel;	
 
 	•	 	Heritage Group, consisting of Wolverine® boots and shoes and Wolverine® brand apparel, Cat® footwear, Bates®, Harley-Davidson ®  footwear ,  and  HyTest ® ; and	
 
 	•	 	Lifestyle Group, consisting of Hush Puppies® footwear and apparel, Sebago® footwear and apparel, Cushe® and Soft Style ® .	
The Company’s other operating units, which do not collectively comprise a separate reportable segment, consist of the Company’s consumer-direct business and the Company’s leather marketing operations, Wolverine Leathers.
 
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The following is supplemental information on total revenue:
TOTAL REVENUE – THIRD QUARTER

 	  	2012	 	 	2011	 	 	Change	 	
 	  	$	 	  	% of
Total	 	 	$	 	  	% of
Total	 	 	$	 	 	%	 	
(Millions of Dollars)	  	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Outdoor Group	  	$	134.0	  	  	 	37.9	% 	 	$	145.4	  	  	 	40.2	% 	 	$	(11.4	) 	 	 	(7.8	%) 	
Heritage Group	  	 	129.6	  	  	 	36.7	% 	 	 	128.0	  	  	 	35.4	% 	 	 	1.6	  	 	 	1.3	% 	
Lifestyle Group	  	 	52.6	  	  	 	14.9	% 	 	 	55.5	  	  	 	15.3	% 	 	 	(2.9	) 	 	 	(5.2	%) 	
Other	  	 	2.1	  	  	 	0.6	% 	 	 	3.8	  	  	 	1.1	% 	 	 	(1.7	) 	 	 	(44.7	%) 	
 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total branded footwear, apparel and licensing revenue	  	$	318.3	  	  	 	90.1	% 	 	$	332.7	  	  	 	92.0	% 	 	$	(14.4	) 	 	 	(4.3	%) 	
Other business units	  	 	34.8	  	  	 	9.9	% 	 	 	28.9	  	  	 	8.0	% 	 	 	5.9	  	 	 	20.4	% 	
 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total revenue	  	$	353.1	  	  	 	100.0	% 	 	$	361.6	  	  	 	100.0	% 	 	$	(8.5	) 	 	 	(2.4	%) 	
 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
REVENUE
Revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 decreased $8.5 million from the third quarter of fiscal 2011, to $353.1 million, as ongoing challenges in the European and Canadian markets were partially offset by low teens growth in the Company’s consumer-direct business and mid single digit growth in the U.S. wholesale businesses. Changes in foreign exchange rates decreased reported revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 by $5.4 million. Revenue from the other business units increased $5.9 million, due to a low teens rate increase in revenue from the Company’s consumer-direct business and an increase at a rate in the mid sixties in the Company’s leathers business. International revenue decreased to 39.1% of total revenue in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to 44.1% in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 due to revenue declines in Europe and Canada, at rates in the low twenties and mid single digits, respectively.
The Outdoor Group’s revenue decreased 7.8% in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Merrell® revenue decreased at a high single digit rate compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011, as the revenue increase from the expanded  Merrell ®  Barefoot Collection was more than offset by a revenue decline at a rate in the mid thirties in the European market and a mid single digit decline in the Canadian market.  Chaco ®  revenue decreased at a mid single digit rate compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011 due to fewer closeout shipments in the current year.  Patagonia ®  footwear’s revenue decreased at a rate in the low teens in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011 due to challenges in the outdoor retail segment and declines in the European market.
The Heritage Group’s revenue increased 1.3% in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Wolverine® revenue increased at a high single digit rate compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011, driven by continued organic growth in the core work boot and rugged casual business as well as expansion of the  Wolverine ®  apparel brand.  Cat ®  footwear’s revenue decreased at a rate in the mid teens compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011, as growth at a rate in the mid teens in both third-party distributor and U.S. markets were more than offset by a high thirties rate decline in the European market.  Bates ®  revenue increased at a rate in the mid teens compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011 due to strong civilian shipments and a previously awarded military hiker program.  Harley-Davidson ®  footwear’s revenue decreased at a mid single digit rate compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011 reflecting the negative impact of more restrictive distribution channels.
The Lifestyle Group’s revenue decreased 5.2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Hush Puppies® revenue decreased at a low teens rate, as mid teens revenue growth in the U.S. was more than offset by a revenue decline in the European market at a rate in the mid twenties, a mid teens decline in the Canadian market, and a low single digit decline in the third-party licensee business.  Cushe ® revenue decreased at a high single digit rate in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011, as growth in the U.S. market was more than offset by declines in the European market.  Sebago ®  revenue increased at a rate in the low twenties for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011, as mid thirties growth in the U.S. market and mid forties growth in the third-party distributor market was partially offset by a high single digit decline in the European market.
Within the Company’s other business units, the consumer-direct business reported a revenue increase in the low teens compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011 as a result of growth from the Company’s e-commerce channel and the addition of 8 new Company-owned stores since the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The Company’s consumer-direct business operated 100 retail stores worldwide and operated 38 consumer-direct websites as of September 8, 2012. The Wolverine Leathers business reported a revenue increase at a rate in the mid sixties compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011, as the business recovered from supply issues at a third-party tannery in Asia experienced in the first half of fiscal 2012.
 
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GROSS MARGIN
For the third quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company’s consolidated gross margin was 39.3% compared to 40.6% in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The decrease compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011 was due to product cost increases exceeding selling price increases by approximately 70 basis points and an 80 basis point unfavorable shift in the mix of product sold, due to lower margin close out sales.
OPERATING EXPENSES
Operating expenses increased $2.0 million, from $90.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 to $92.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012. Higher operating expense was driven by $3.0 million of expenses related to the PLG acquisition and $2.4 million of incremental non-cash pension expense. These increases were partially offset by decreased bonus accruals of $2.0 million and $1.6 million from the favorable impact of foreign exchange rate changes on reported operating expenses.
INTEREST, OTHER AND TAXES
The increase in net interest expense in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was driven by $1.4 million of non-capitalizable financing costs incurred in the quarter related to the PLG acquisition.
The Company’s effective tax rate in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was 27.1%, compared to 28.3% in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The lower effective tax rate in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 reflects the ongoing benefits related to a favorable court decision in a foreign tax jurisdiction in the first half of fiscal 2012 supporting the Company’s long-term global tax planning strategies. The Company maintains certain strategic management and operational activities in overseas subsidiaries, and its foreign earnings are taxed at rates that are generally lower than the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate. A significant amount of the Company’s earnings are generated by its Canadian, European and Asia Pacific subsidiaries and, to a lesser extent, in jurisdictions that are not subject to income tax and free trade zones where the Company owns manufacturing operations. The Company has not provided for U.S. taxes for earnings generated in foreign jurisdictions because it plans to reinvest these earnings indefinitely outside the U.S. However, if certain foreign earnings previously treated as permanently reinvested are repatriated, the additional U.S. tax liability could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s after-tax results of operations and financial position.
NET EARNINGS AND EARNINGS PER SHARE
As a result of the previously described lower revenue and gross margin and higher operating expenses, partially offset by the lower effective tax rate, net earnings attributable to Wolverine World Wide, Inc. decreased $7.7 million, or 19.1%, to $32.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to $40.4 million in the third quarter of 2011.
Diluted net earnings per share decreased 19.5% in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 to $0.66 from $0.82 in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The decrease was attributable to the decline in net earnings, partially offset by lower weighted average shares outstanding.
 
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS – FIRST THREE QUARTERS 2012 COMPARED TO FIRST THREE QUARTERS 2011
FINANCIAL SUMMARY – FIRST THREE QUARTERS 2012 VERSUS FIRST THREE QUARTERS 2011

 	  	2012	 	 	2011	 	 	Change	 	
(Millions of Dollars, Except Per Share Data)	  	$	 	  	% of
Total	 	 	$	 	  	% of
Total	 	 	$	 	 	%	 	
Revenue	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Branded footwear, apparel and licensing	  	$	888.1	  	  	 	89.8	% 	 	$	912.3	  	  	 	91.0	% 	 	$	(24.2	) 	 	 	(2.7	%) 	
Other business units	  	 	100.5	  	  	 	10.2	% 	 	 	90.3	  	  	 	9.0	% 	 	 	10.2	  	 	 	11.3	% 	
 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total revenue	  	$	988.6	  	  	 	100.0	% 	 	$	1,002.6	  	  	 	100.0	% 	 	$	(14.0	) 	 	 	(1.4	%) 	

 	  	$	 	  	% of
Revenue	 	 	$	 	  	% of
Revenue	 	 	$	 	 	%	 	
Gross Profit	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Branded footwear, apparel and licensing	  	$	347.4	  	  	 	39.1	% 	 	$	368.1	  	  	 	40.3	% 	 	$	(20.7	) 	 	 	(5.6	%) 	
Other business units	  	 	41.4	  	  	 	41.2	% 	 	 	38.5	  	  	 	42.6	% 	 	 	2.9	  	 	 	7.5	% 	
 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total gross profit	  	$	388.8	  	  	 	39.3	% 	 	$	406.6	  	  	 	40.6	% 	 	$	(17.8	) 	 	 	(4.4	%) 	
 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Selling, general and administrative expenses	  	$	282.7	  	  	 	28.6	% 	 	$	267.3	  	  	 	26.7	% 	 	$	15.4	  	 	 	5.8	% 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Interest expense – net	  	$	2.5	  	  	 	0.3	% 	 	$	0.7	  	  	 	0.1	% 	 	$	1.8	  	 	 	257.1	% 	
Other expense – net	  	 	1.2	  	  	 	0.1	% 	 	 	0.1	  	  	 	0.0	% 	 	 	1.1	  	 	 	1,100	% 	
Earnings before income taxes	  	 	102.4	  	  	 	10.4	% 	 	 	138.5	  	  	 	13.8	% 	 	 	(36.1	) 	 	 	(26.1	%) 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Net earnings attributable to Wolverine World Wide, Inc.	  	$	84.4	  	  	 	8.5	% 	 	$	100.3	  	  	 	10.0	% 	 	$	(15.9	) 	 	 	(15.9	%) 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Diluted earnings per share	  	$	1.71	  	  	 	—  	  	 	$	2.01	  	  	 	—  	  	 	$	(0.30	) 	 	 	(14.9	%) 	
 
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The following is supplemental information on total revenue:
TOTAL REVENUE – FIRST THREE QUARTERS

 	  	2012	 	 	2011	 	 	Change	 	
 	  	$	 	  	% of
Total	 	 	$	 	  	% of
Total	 	 	$	 	 	%	 	
(Millions of Dollars)	  	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Outdoor Group	  	$	401.8	  	  	 	40.6	% 	 	$	410.7	  	  	 	41.0	% 	 	$	(8.9	) 	 	 	(2.2	%) 	
Heritage Group	  	 	331.9	  	  	 	33.6	% 	 	 	341.9	  	  	 	34.1	% 	 	 	(10.0	) 	 	 	(2.9	%) 	
Lifestyle Group	  	 	144.5	  	  	 	14.6	% 	 	 	149.0	  	  	 	14.8	% 	 	 	(4.5	) 	 	 	(3.0	%) 	
Other	  	 	9.9	  	  	 	1.0	% 	 	 	10.7	  	  	 	1.1	% 	 	 	(0.8	) 	 	 	(7.5	%) 	
 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total branded footwear, apparel and licensing revenue	  	$	888.1	  	  	 	89.8	% 	 	$	912.3	  	  	 	91.0	% 	 	$	(24.2	) 	 	 	(2.7	%) 	
Other business units	  	 	100.5	  	  	 	10.2	% 	 	 	90.3	  	  	 	9.0	% 	 	 	10.2	  	 	 	11.3	% 	
 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Total Revenue	  	$	988.6	  	  	 	100.0	% 	 	$	1,002.6	  	  	 	100.0	% 	 	$	(14.0	) 	 	 	(1.4	%) 	
 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
REVENUE
Revenue for the first three quarters of fiscal 2012 decreased $14.0 million from the first three quarters of fiscal 2011, to $988.6 million. Macroeconomic challenges in the European and Canadian markets more than offset mid teens growth in the consumer-direct business and mid single digit growth in the U.S. wholesale business. Changes in foreign exchange rates decreased reported revenue for the first three quarters of fiscal 2012 by $11.3 million. Revenue from the other business units increased $10.2 million, led by solid growth in the consumer-direct business. International revenue decreased to 38.1% of total revenue in the first three quarters of fiscal 2012 compared to 41.7 % in the first three quarters of fiscal 2011, due to a mid teens decrease in Europe and a high single digit decrease in Canada.
The Outdoor Group generated revenue of $401.8 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2012, an $8.9 million decrease from 2011. Merrell® footwear revenue decreased at a mid single digit rate compared to the first three quarters of 2011, as increased revenue from the expanded  Merrell ® Barefoot Collection was offset by declines in the low teens in both the Canadian and European markets, and a mid single digit decline in the third-party distributor markets.  Merrell ®  apparel revenue grew at a rate in the mid single digits due to improved timing of international factory-direct shipments and expanded distribution in the U.S. and Canadian markets.  Patagonia ®  footwear’s revenue decreased at a mid single digit rate in the first three quarters of 2012 compared to the first three quarters of 2011 due to slower retail conditions and a decline at a rate in the low twenties in the European market.  Chaco ®  revenue grew at a rate in the low teens compared to the first three quarters of fiscal 2011 due to a strong spring sandal season and the Company’s continued expansion of the brand’s distribution in the U.S.
The Heritage Group generated revenue of $331.9 million during the first three quarters of fiscal 2012, a $10.0 million decrease over the first three quarters of 2011. Revenue for the  Wolverine ®  brand increased at a high single digit rate compared to the first three quarters of fiscal 2011, due to growth in the brand’s core work and rugged casual businesses and expansion of the  Wolverine ®  apparel brand.  Cat ®  footwear’s revenue decreased at a high single digit rate compared to the first three quarters of fiscal 2011, as double digit growth in the United States and third-party distributor markets was more than offset by double digit declines in Canada and Europe.  Bates ®  footwear revenue decreased at a mid single digit rate as growth in the civilian market was more than offset by the later timing of Department of Defense contract awards in fiscal 2012, and the absence this year of a major contract award in fiscal 2011.  Harley-Davidson ®  footwear’s revenue decreased at a rate in the low thirties compared to the first three quarters of fiscal 2011 due to the negative impact of more restrictive distribution channels.
The Lifestyle Group recorded revenue of $144.5 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2012, a $4.5 million decrease from the first three quarters of fiscal 2011.  Hush Puppies ®  revenue decreased at a rate in the high single digits compared to the first three quarters of fiscal 2011, driven by a decline at a rate in the low twenties in the European market and a high single digit decline in the Canadian market.  Sebago ®  revenue increased at a mid single digit rate for the first three quarters of fiscal 2012 compared to the first three quarters of fiscal 2011, driven by growth in the mid twenties in both the U.S. and third-party distributor markets, partially offset by a decline in the low teens in the European market.  Cushe ®  revenue increased at a mid single digit rate compared to the first three quarters of fiscal 2011, driven by excellent placement in specialty, outdoor and action sports retail accounts and growth from new product initiatives.
Within the Company’s other business units, the consumer-direct business reported a sales increase in the mid teens compared to the first three quarters of fiscal 2011, driven by continued growth from the Company’s e-commerce channel and low single digit growth in comparable store sales from Company-owned stores. The Company’s consumer-direct business operated 100 retail stores worldwide and operated 38 consumer-direct Internet sites as of September 8, 2012. The Wolverine Leathers business reported a revenue increase at a mid single digit rate compared to the first three quarters of fiscal 2011, as the business recovered from supply issues at a third-party tannery in Asia experienced in the first two quarters of fiscal 2012.
 
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GROSS MARGIN
Gross margin for the first three quarters of fiscal 2012 was 39.3% compared to 40.6% for the first three quarters of fiscal 2011. The decrease compared to the first three quarters of fiscal 2011 was due to product cost increases exceeding selling price increases by approximately 90 basis points and 100 basis points of unfavorable shift in the mix of product sold. These decreases were partially offset by a 50 basis point impact from favorable changes in foreign exchange rates.
OPERATING EXPENSES
Operating expenses of $282.7 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2012 increased $15.4 million from $267.3 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2011. The higher operating expense was due to $7.9 million of expenses related to the PLG acquisition, $7.6 million of incremental brand-building investments, $7.3 million of incremental non-cash pension expense and $1.3 million of employee separation costs. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in bonus accruals of $3.7 million, $3.6 million from the favorable impact of foreign exchange rate changes on reported operating expenses and the benefits of ongoing global efficiency initiatives.
INTEREST, OTHER AND TAXES
The increase in net interest expense in the first three quarters of fiscal 2012 compared to the first three quarters of 2011 was driven by $1.4 million in non-capitalizable financing costs incurred in the third quarter related to the PLG acquisition and an increase in average borrowings on the Company’s revolving line of credit over the first three quarters of fiscal 2012 compared to the first three quarters of fiscal 2011.
The increase in other expense was due to the change in realized gains or losses on foreign denominated assets and liabilities.
The Company’s effective tax rate for the first three quarters of fiscal 2012 was 17.7%, compared to 27.6% in the first three quarters of fiscal 2011. The lower effective tax rate is the result of a favorable court decision in the first half of fiscal 2012 in a foreign tax jurisdiction supporting the Company’s long-term global tax planning strategies. As a result of these decisions, the Company recognized a decrease of income tax expense in the amount of $9.0 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2012. The Company maintains certain strategic management and operational activities in overseas subsidiaries, and its foreign earnings are taxed at rates that are generally lower than the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate. A significant amount of the Company’s earnings are generated by its Canadian, European and Asia Pacific subsidiaries and, to a lesser extent, in jurisdictions that are not subject to income tax and free trade zones where the Company owns manufacturing operations. The Company has not provided for U.S. taxes for earnings generated in foreign jurisdictions because it plans to reinvest these earnings indefinitely outside the U.S. However, if certain foreign earnings previously treated as permanently reinvested are repatriated, the additional U.S. tax liability could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s after-tax results of operations and financial position.
NET EARNINGS AND EARNINGS PER SHARE
As a result of the revenue, gross margin and operating expense changes discussed above, net earnings attributable to Wolverine World Wide, Inc. was $84.4 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2012 compared to $100.3 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2011, a decrease of $15.9 million, or 15.9%.
Diluted net earnings per share decreased 14.9% in the first three quarters of fiscal 2012 to $1.71 from $2.01 in the first three quarters of fiscal 2011. The decrease was attributable to the decline in net earnings, partially offset by lower weighted average shares outstanding.
 
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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 	  	 	 	  	 	 	  	 	 	 	Change from	 	
(Millions of dollars)	  	September 8,
2012	 	  	December 31,
2011	 	  	September 10,
2011	 	 	December 31,
2011	 	  	September 10,
2011	 	
Cash and cash equivalents	  	$	144.3	  	  	$	140.0	  	  	$	97.9	  	 	$	4.3	  	  	$	46.4	  	
Accounts receivable	  	 	280.5	  	  	 	220.0	  	  	 	278.4	  	 	 	60.5	  	  	 	2.1	  	
Inventories	  	 	269.7	  	  	 	231.7	  	  	 	275.2	  	 	 	38.0	  	  	 	(5.5	) 	
Accounts payable	  	 	59.5	  	  	 	57.1	  	  	 	62.3	  	 	 	2.4	  	  	 	(2.8	) 	
Current accrued liabilities	  	 	84.5	  	  	 	80.1	  	  	 	91.9	  	 	 	4.4	  	  	 	(7.4	) 	
Interest-bearing debt	  	 	27.0	  	  	 	11.5	  	  	 	60.0	  	 	 	15.5	  	  	 	(33.0	) 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cash provided by (used in) operating activities	  	 	8.6	  	  	 	 	 	  	 	(39.1	) 	 	 	 	 	  	 	47.7	  	
Additions to property, plant and equipment	  	 	8.3	  	  	 	 	 	  	 	13.5	  	 	 	 	 	  	 	(5.2	) 	
Depreciation and amortization	  	 	11.5	  	  	 	 	 	  	 	11.4	  	 	 	 	 	  	 	0.1	  	
Cash and cash equivalents of $144.3 million at September 8, 2012 were $46.4 million higher than the balance at September 10, 2011. The increase was due to lower working capital requirements, fewer share repurchases and a lower pension contribution. Accounts receivable increased $60.5 million compared to the balance at December 31, 2011, driven by seasonal changes in the Company’s business. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of the outstanding accounts receivable balance at September 8, 2012. Inventory levels at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012 decreased $5.5 million from the third quarter of fiscal 2011, driven by an increase in the Company’s LIFO reserve. Inventory levels at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012 increased from the end of fiscal 2011 by $38 million, due to new product offerings and higher product costs.
Current accrued liabilities decreased $7.4 million, or 8.1%, compared to the balance at September 8, 2011 due to a decrease in income taxes payable and bonus accruals.
The Company’s former credit agreement with a bank syndicate provided the Company with access to capital under a revolving credit facility, including a swing-line facility and letter of credit facility, in an initial aggregate amount of up to $150.0 million. This amount was subject to increase up to a maximum aggregate amount of $225.0 million under certain circumstances. The Company used the former revolving credit facility to support working capital requirements and other business needs. There was $27.0 million drawn under the former revolving credit facility at September 8, 2012 compared to $59.5 million at September 10, 2011. The Company considered balances drawn on the revolving credit facility, if any, to be short-term in nature. The Company was in compliance with all debt covenant requirements under the former revolving credit facility at both September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011. Effective October 9, 2012, subsequent to the end of the third quarter, the former revolving credit facility was closed and replaced with a new credit agreement (“New Credit Agreement”).
Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, the Company entered into the New Credit Agreement with a bank syndicate. The New Credit Agreement provides the Company with a $1.1 billion secured credit facility consisting of a term loan A facility in an aggregate amount of up to $550.0 million, a term loan B facility in an aggregate amount up to $350.0 million and a revolving credit facility in an aggregate amount of up to $200.0 million. The New Credit Agreement is subject to increase up to a maximum aggregate amount of $1.3 billion under certain circumstances. In addition to the New Credit Agreement, the Company issued $375 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes (“Notes”) due in fiscal 2020. The Company financed the PLG acquisition with cash-on-hand and proceeds from the new term loan facilities and Notes. Cash flows from operations, along with proceeds from the revolving credit facility, if needed, are expected to be sufficient to meet working capital needs for the foreseeable future. Any excess cash flows from operating activities are expected to be used to fund growth initiatives, pay down debt, or pay dividends.
Net cash provided by operating activities in the first three quarters of fiscal 2012 was $8.6 million versus net cash used in operating activities of $39.1 million in the first three quarters of fiscal 2011, an improvement of $47.7 million, as lower earnings were more than offset by lower investments in working capital and lower pension contributions.
The majority of the capital expenditures during the first three quarters of fiscal 2012 were for information system enhancements, manufacturing equipment and building improvements. The Company leases machinery, equipment and certain warehouse, office and retail store space under operating lease agreements that expire at various dates through 2023.
 
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The Company’s Board of Directors approved a common stock repurchase program on February 11, 2010. This program authorizes the repurchase of up to $200.0 million in common stock over a four-year period. The Company repurchased 64,612 shares at an average price of $37.09 in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 and did not repurchase any shares in the second or third quarter of fiscal 2012. The Company repurchased 142,198 shares at an average price of $35.57 in the first quarter of fiscal 2011, 478,747 shares at an average price of $37.74 in the second quarter of fiscal 2011 and 948,256 shares at an average price of $34.45 in the third quarter of 2011. The primary purpose of the Company’s stock repurchase programs is to increase stockholder value.
The Company declared dividends of $0.12 per share, or $5.8 million and $5.7 million, for both the third quarter of fiscal 2012 and the third quarter of fiscal 2011, respectively. The 2012 dividend is payable on November 1, 2012 to shareholders of record on October 1, 2012.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates these estimates. Estimates are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Historically, actual results have not been materially different from the Company’s estimates. However, actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
The Company has identified the critical accounting policies used in determining estimates and assumptions in the amounts reported in its Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. Management believes there have been no changes in those critical accounting policies.
 
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ITEM 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	
The information concerning quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 is incorporated herein by reference.
The Company faces market risk to the extent that changes in foreign currency exchange rates affect the Company’s foreign assets, liabilities and inventory purchase commitments and to the extent that its long-term debt requirements are affected by changes in interest rates. The Company manages these risks by attempting to denominate contractual and other foreign arrangements in U.S. dollars. The Company does not believe that there has been a material change in the nature of the Company’s primary market risk exposures, including the categories of market risk to which the Company is exposed and the particular markets that present the primary risk of loss to the Company. As of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company does not know of or expect there to be any material change in the near-term in the general nature of its primary market risk exposure.
Under the provisions of FASB ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, the Company is required to recognize all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not qualifying hedges must be adjusted to fair value through earnings. If a derivative is a qualifying hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of derivatives are either offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities or firm commitments through earnings or recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings.
The Company conducts wholesale operations outside of the United States in the United Kingdom, continental Europe and Canada where the functional currencies are primarily the British pound, euro and Canadian dollar, respectively. The Company utilizes foreign currency forward exchange contracts to manage the volatility associated with U.S. dollar inventory purchases made by non-U.S. wholesale operations in the normal course of business. At September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011, the Company had outstanding forward currency exchange contracts to purchase $83.1 million and $69.4 million, respectively, of U.S. dollars, with maturities ranging up to 336 days.
The Company also has production facilities in the Dominican Republic and sourcing locations in Asia, where financial statements reflect the U.S. dollar as the functional currency. However, operating costs are paid in the local currency. Royalty revenue generated by the Company from third-party foreign licensees is calculated in the licensees’ local currencies, but paid in U.S. dollars. Accordingly, the Company’s reported results are subject to foreign currency exposure for this stream of revenue and expenses.
Assets and liabilities outside the United States are primarily located in the United Kingdom, Canada and the Netherlands. The Company’s investments in foreign subsidiaries with a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar are generally considered long-term. Accordingly, the Company currently does not hedge these net investments. At September 8, 2012, a weaker U.S. dollar compared to foreign currencies increased the value of these investments in net assets by $6.2 million from their fair value at September 10, 2011. At September 10, 2011, a stronger U.S. dollar compared to foreign currencies decreased the value of these investments in net assets by $3.4 million from their fair value at September 11, 2010. These changes resulted in cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments at September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011 of $4.9 million and $15.5 million, respectively, that are deferred and recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity.
Because the Company markets, sells and licenses its products throughout the world, it could be affected by weak economic conditions in foreign markets that could reduce demand for its products.
The Company is exposed to changes in interest rates primarily as a result of its credit facilities. At September 8, 2012, the Company had $27.0 million outstanding on its former revolving credit facility. At September 10, 2011, the Company had $59.5 million outstanding on its former revolving credit facility. As of October 9, 2012, following the PLG acquisition and the Company’s entrance in the New Credit Agreement, the Company had $900 million outstanding on its new term loan facilities and no amounts outstanding under its new revolving credit facility. As of October 9, 2012 the Company entered into an interest rate swap arrangement, as required by the new credit agreement, to reduce the Company’s exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on its variable rate debt.
The Company does not enter into contracts for speculative or trading purposes, nor is it a party to any leveraged derivative instruments.
 
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ITEM 4.	Controls and Procedures	
An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on, and as of the time of such evaluation, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e), were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report. There have been no changes during the quarter ended September 8, 2012 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1A.	Risk Factors	
Risks related to the Company’s business
Changes in general economic conditions and other factors affecting consumer spending could adversely affect the Company’s sales, operating results or financial position.
The Company’s global operations depend on factors affecting consumer disposable income and spending patterns. These factors include general economic conditions, employment rates, business conditions, interest rates and tax policy in each of the markets and regions in which the Company operates. Customers may defer or cancel purchases of the Company’s products due to uncertainty about global economic conditions. Consumer confidence may decline due to recessionary economic cycles, high interest rates on consumer or business borrowings, restricted credit availability, inflation, high levels of unemployment or consumer debt, high tax rates or other economic factors. For example, the challenging economic environment in Europe has adversely impacted the Company’s results of operations in this fiscal year and the Company expects the adverse economic environment will continue to affect its sales and earnings across that region in the near future as the result of austerity measures imposed by certain governments and higher levels of unemployment, as well as a general loss of consumer confidence. Declining consumer confidence could adversely affect demand for the Company’s products. Changes in the amount or severity of bad weather and the growth or decline of global footwear, apparel or consumer-direct markets could negatively affect consumer spending. A decline in demand for the Company’s products could reduce its revenues or profit margins.
General economic conditions and other factors such as those listed above may increase the Company’s cost of sales and operating expenses. The Company’s profitability is also dependent on the prices of commodities, such as cotton, rubber and petroleum, used to make and transport its products, as well as the prices of labor, insurance and health care, all of which may be affected by general economic conditions.
The Company operates in competitive industries and markets.
The Company competes with a large number of marketers of footwear or apparel, and consumer-direct companies. Some of these competitors are larger, and have greater resources than, the Company. Important elements of such competition are product performance and quality, including technological improvements, product identity, competitive pricing and the ability to adapt to style changes. Consumer preferences and, as a result, the popularity of particular designs and categories of footwear and apparel, generally change over time. The Company strives to maintain and improve its competitive position by monitoring and responding to changes in consumer preferences, increasing brand awareness, gaining sourcing efficiencies, and enhancing the style, comfort and perceived value of its products. The Company’s continued ability to sell its products at competitive prices and to meet shifts in consumer preferences will affect its future sales. If the Company is unable to respond effectively to competitive pressures and changes in consumer spending, its results of operations and financial position may be adversely affected.
Many of the Company’s competitors have more developed consumer and customer bases, are able to sell their products at lower prices, or have greater financial, technical or marketing resources than the Company, particularly its competitors in the apparel and consumer-direct businesses. The Company’s competitors may own more recognized brands; implement more effective marketing campaigns; adopt more aggressive pricing policies; make more attractive offers to potential employees, distribution partners and manufacturers; or respond more quickly to changes in consumer preferences. The Company’s results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected if its businesses are not successful.
The Company’s operating results could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain its brands’ images or adjust to changing footwear and apparel trends.
The Company’s success depends in part on its brands’ images. If the Company is unable to timely and appropriately respond to changing consumer preferences and evolving footwear and apparel trends, the names and images of its brands may be impaired. If the Company fails to react appropriately to changes in consumer preferences, consumers may consider its brands’ images to be outdated or associate its brands with styles that are no longer popular. Such failures could result in substantial unsold inventory and adversely affect the Company’s operating results.
The Company’s operating results depend on effectively managing inventory levels.
The Company’s ability to manage its inventories effectively is an important factor in its operations. Inventory shortages can impede the Company’s ability to meet demand, adversely affect the timing of shipments to customers, and, consequently, diminish brand loyalty and decrease sales. Conversely, excess inventories can result in lower gross margins if the Company lowers prices in order to liquidate excess inventories. In addition, inventory may become obsolete as a result of changes in consumer preferences or otherwise. The Company’s business, results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected if it is unable to effectively manage its inventory.
 
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Increases or changes in duties, quotas, tariffs and other trade restrictions could adversely impact the Company’s sales and profitability.
All of the Company’s products manufactured overseas and imported into the United States, the European Union and other countries are subject to customs duties collected by customs authorities. The customs information submitted by the Company is routinely subject to review by customs authorities. Additional U.S. or foreign customs duties, quotas, tariffs, anti-dumping duties, safeguard measures, cargo restrictions to prevent terrorism or other trade restrictions may be imposed on the importation of the Company’s products in the future. The imposition of such costs or restrictions in foreign countries where the Company operates, as well as in countries where its third-party distributors and licensees operate, could result in increases in the cost of the Company’s products generally and could adversely affect its sales and profitability.
Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations could adversely impact the Company’s business.
Foreign currency fluctuations affect the Company’s reported revenue and profitability. Changes in currency exchange rates may impact the Company’s financial results positively or negatively in one period and not another, which may make it difficult to compare its operating results from different periods. Currency exchange rate fluctuations may also adversely impact third parties who manufacture the Company’s products by making their costs of raw materials or other production costs more expensive and more difficult to finance, thereby raising prices for the Company, its distributors and its licensees. The Company’s hedging strategy may not be effective in reducing all risks, and no hedging strategy can completely insulate the Company from foreign exchange risk. The Company does not hedge foreign currency translation rate changes.
Significant supplier capacity constraints, supplier production disruptions, supplier quality issues or price increases could increase the Company’s operating costs and adversely impact the Company’s business.
The Company currently sources most of its products from third-party manufacturers in foreign countries, predominantly China. As is common in the industry, the Company does not have long-term contracts with its third-party suppliers. There can be no assurance that the Company will not experience difficulties with such suppliers, including reductions in the availability of production capacity, failures to meet production deadlines or increases in manufacturing costs. The Company’s future results will depend partly on its ability to maintain positive working relationships with third-party suppliers.
Foreign manufacturing is subject to a number of risks, including work stoppages, transportation delays and interruptions, political instability, foreign currency fluctuations, changing economic conditions, expropriation, nationalization, the imposition of tariffs, import and export controls and other non-tariff barriers and changes in governmental policies. Various factors could significantly interfere with the Company’s ability to source its products, including adverse developments in trade or political relations with China or other countries where it sources its products, or a shift in China’s manufacturing capacity away from footwear and apparel to other industries. Any of these events could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial position and, in particular, on the Company’s ability to meet customer demands and produce its products in a cost-effective manner.
The cost of raw materials and services could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.
The Company’s ability to competitively price its products depends on the cost of components, services, labor, equipment and raw materials, including leather and materials used in the production of footwear outsoles. The cost of services and materials is subject to change based on availability and market conditions that are difficult to predict. Various conditions, such as diseases affecting the availability of leather, affect the cost of the footwear marketed by the Company. In addition, fuel prices and numerous other factors, such as the possibility of service interruptions at shipping and receiving ports, affect the Company’s shipping costs. Increases in cost for services and materials used in production could have a negative impact on the Company’s results of operations and financial position. The Company purchases raw pigskins for its leathers operations from a single domestic source pursuant to short-term contracts. If this source fails to continue to supply the Company with raw pigskin or supplies the Company with raw pigskin on less favorable terms, the Company’s cost of raw materials for its leathers operations could increase and, as a result, have a negative impact on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
 
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Labor disruptions could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company’s business depends on its ability to source and distribute products in a timely manner. Labor disputes at or that affect independent factories where the Company’s goods are produced, shipping ports, tanneries, transportation carriers, retail stores or distribution centers create significant risks for the Company’s business, particularly if these disputes result in work slowdowns, lockouts, strikes or other disruptions during its peak manufacturing and importing seasons. Any labor dispute may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, potentially resulting in cancelled orders by customers and unanticipated inventory accumulation, and may negatively impact the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
A significant reduction in customer purchases of the Company’s products or failure of customers to pay for the Company’s products in a timely manner could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company’s financial success is directly related to its customers continuing to purchase its products. The Company does not typically have long-term contracts with its customers. Sales to the Company’s customers are generally on an order-by-order basis and are subject to rights of cancellation and rescheduling by the customers. Failure to fill customers’ orders in a timely manner could harm the Company’s relationships with its customers. Furthermore, if any of the Company’s major customers experience a significant downturn in their business, or fail to remain committed to the Company’s products or brands, they may reduce or discontinue purchases from the Company, which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
The Company sells its products to customers and extends credit based on an evaluation of each customer’s financial condition. The financial difficulties of a customer could cause the Company to stop doing business with that customer or reduce its business with that customer. The Company’s inability to collect from its customers or a cessation or reduction of sales to certain customers because of credit concerns could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial position.
The general trend toward consolidation in retail and specialty retail could lead to fewer customers, customers seeking more favorable price, payment or other terms from the Company and a decrease in the number of stores that carry its products. In addition, changes in the channels of distribution, such as the continued growth of Internet commerce and the trend toward the sale of private label products by major retailers, could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
The Company has been awarded a number of U.S. Department of Defense contracts that include future purchase options for Bates® footwear. Failure by the Department of Defense to exercise these purchase options or the Company’s failure to secure future U.S. Department of Defense contracts could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
Seasonality and weather conditions affect the Company’s business.
The Company markets and sells footwear and apparel suited for particular seasons, such as sandals in the summer season and boots in the winter season. If the weather conditions for a particular season vary significantly from those typical for the season, such as an unusually cold summer or an unusually warm winter, consumer demand for seasonally appropriate merchandise could be adversely affected. Lower demand for seasonally appropriate merchandise may result in excess inventory of seasonally appropriate products, forcing the Company to sell these products at significantly discounted prices, which would adversely affect the Company’s results of operations. Conversely, if weather conditions permit the Company to sell seasonal products early in the season, this may reduce inventory levels needed to meet customers’ needs later in that same season. Consequently, the Company’s results of operations are highly dependent on somewhat predictable weather conditions and its ability to react to changes in weather conditions.
Changes in the credit markets could adversely affect the Company’s financial success.
Changes in the credit markets could adversely impact the Company’s future results of operations and financial position. If the Company’s third-party distributors, suppliers and retailers are not able to obtain financing on favorable terms, or at all, they may delay or cancel orders for the Company’s products, or fail to meet their obligations to the Company in a timely manner, either of which could adversely impact the Company’s sales, cash flow and operating results. In addition, the lack of available credit and/or the increased cost of credit may significantly impair the Company’s ability to obtain additional credit to finance future expansion plans, or refinance existing credit, on favorable terms, or at all.
 
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Unfavorable findings resulting from a government audit could subject the Company to a variety of penalties and sanctions, and could negatively impact its future revenues.
The federal government has the right to audit the Company’s performance under its government contracts. If a government audit discovers improper or illegal activities, the Company could be subject to civil and criminal penalties and administrative sanctions, including termination of contracts, forfeiture of profits, suspension of payments, fines, and suspension or debarment from doing business with U.S. federal government agencies. The Company could also suffer serious harm to its reputation if the government alleges that the Company acted in an improper or illegal manner, whether or not any such allegations have merit. If, as the result of an audit or for any other reason, the Company is suspended or barred from contracting with the federal government generally, or any specific agency, if the Company’s reputation or relationship with government agencies is impaired, or if the government otherwise ceases doing business with the Company or significantly decreases the amount of business it does with the Company, the Company’s revenue and profitability would decrease. The Company is also subject to customs and other audits in various jurisdictions where it operates. Negative audit findings could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
An increase in the Company’s effective tax rate or negative determinations by domestic or foreign tax authorities could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
A significant amount of the Company’s earnings are generated by its Canadian, European and Asia Pacific subsidiaries and, to a lesser extent, in jurisdictions that are not subject to income tax and free trade zones where it owns manufacturing operations. As a result, the Company’s income tax expense has historically differed from the tax computed at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate due to discrete items and because the Company does not provide for U.S. taxes on earnings it considers to be permanently reinvested in foreign operations. The Company’s future effective tax rates could be unfavorably affected by a number of factors including: changes in the tax rates in jurisdictions in which the Company generates income; changes in, or in the interpretation of, tax rules and regulations in the jurisdictions in which the Company does business; decreases in the amount of earnings in countries with low statutory tax rates; or if the Company repatriates foreign earnings for which no provision for U.S. taxes has previously been made. An increase in the Company’s effective tax rate could have a material adverse effect on its after-tax results of operations and financial position.
In addition, the Company’s income tax returns are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and other domestic and foreign tax authorities. The Company regularly assesses the likelihood of outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of its provision for income taxes, and establishes reserves for potential adjustments that may result from these examinations. While the Company believes the estimates used to establish these reserves are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the final determination of any of these examinations will not have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position.
Failure of the Company’s international licensees and distributors to meet sales goals or to make timely payments on amounts owed to the Company could adversely affect the Company’s financial performance.
In many international markets, independent licensees or distributors sell the Company’s products. Failure by the Company’s licensees or distributors to meet planned annual sales goals or to make timely payments on amounts owed to the Company could have an adverse effect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial position, and it may be difficult and costly to locate an acceptable substitute distributor or licensee. If a change in licensee or distributor becomes necessary, the Company may experience increased costs, as well as substantial disruption and a resulting loss of sales and brand equity in the market where such licensee or distributor operates.
The Company’s reputation and competitive position are dependent on its third-party manufacturers, distributors, licensees and others complying with applicable laws and the Company’s ethical standards.
The Company requires its independent contract manufacturers, distributors, licensees and others with which it does business to comply with its ethical standards and applicable laws relating to working conditions and other matters. If a party with whom the Company does business is found to have violated the Company’s ethical standards or applicable laws, the Company could receive negative publicity that could damage its reputation and negatively affect the value of its brands.
In addition, the Company relies on its licensees to help preserve the value of the Company’s brands. Although the Company attempts to protect its brands through approval rights over design, production processes, quality, packaging, merchandising, distribution, advertising and promotion of its licensed products, the Company cannot completely control the use by its licensees of its licensed brands. The misuse of a brand by a licensee could adversely affect the value of such brand.
Global political and economic uncertainty could adversely impact the Company’s business.
Concerns regarding acts of terrorism and regional and international conflicts have created significant global economic and political uncertainties that may have material and adverse effects on consumer demand, acceptance of U.S. brands in international markets, foreign sourcing of products, shipping and transportation, product imports and exports and the sale of products in foreign markets, any of which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to source, manufacture, distribute and sell its products. The Company is subject to risks related to doing business in developing countries and economically volatile areas. These risks include social, political and economic instability; nationalization of the Company’s, or its distributors’ and licensees’, assets and operations by local government authorities; slower payment of invoices; and restrictions on the Company’s ability to repatriate foreign currency or receive payment of amounts owed by third-party distributors and licensees. In addition, commercial laws in these areas may not be well developed or consistently administered, and new laws may be retroactively applied. Any of these risks could have an adverse impact on the Company’s prospects and results of operations in these areas.
 
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Concerns regarding the European debt crisis, market perceptions and euro instability could adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financing.
Concerns persist regarding the debt burden of certain countries in the Eurozone, in particular Greece, Italy, Ireland, Portugal and Spain, and their ability to meet future financial obligations, as well as the overall stability of the euro and the suitability of the euro as a single currency given the diverse economic and political circumstances in individual Eurozone countries. These concerns could lead to the re-introduction of individual currencies in one or more Eurozone countries, or, in more extreme circumstances, the possible dissolution of the euro as a currency. Should the euro be dissolved, the legal and contractual consequences for holders of euro-denominated obligations would be determined by laws in effect at that time. These potential developments, or market perceptions concerning these and related issues, could adversely affect the value of the Company’s euro-denominated assets and obligations. In addition, concerns over the effect of this financial crisis on financial institutions in Europe and elsewhere could have an adverse impact on the capital markets generally, and more specifically on the ability of the Company’s customers, suppliers and lenders to finance their respective businesses.
If the Company is unsuccessful in establishing and protecting its intellectual property, the value of its brands could be adversely affected.
The Company invests significant resources to develop and protect its intellectual property, and it believes that its trademarks and other intellectual property rights are important to its future success. The Company’s ability to remain competitive is dependent upon its continued ability to secure and protect trademarks, patents and other intellectual property rights in the United States and internationally for all of the Company’s lines of business. The Company relies on a combination of trade secret, patent, trademark, copyright and other laws, license agreements and other contractual provisions and technical measures to protect its intellectual property rights; however, some countries’ laws do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as do U.S. laws.
The Company’s business could be significantly harmed if it is not able to protect its intellectual property, or if a court found it to be infringing on other persons’ intellectual property rights. Any intellectual property lawsuits or threatened lawsuits in which the Company is involved, either as a plaintiff or as a defendant, could cost the Company a significant amount of time and money and distract management’s attention from operating the Company’s business. In addition, if the Company does not prevail on any intellectual property claims, then it may have to change its manufacturing processes, products or trade names, any of which could reduce its profitability. In addition, some of the Company’s branded footwear operations are operated pursuant to licensing agreements with third-party trademark owners. These agreements are subject to early termination for breach. Expiration or early termination of any of these license agreements by the licensor could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial position.
The Company periodically discovers products that are counterfeit reproductions of its products or that it believes otherwise infringe on its intellectual property rights. The Company has not always been able to stop production and sales of counterfeit products and infringement of its intellectual property rights. The actions the Company takes to establish and protect trademarks, patents and other intellectual property rights both inside and outside of the United States may not be adequate to prevent imitation of its products by others. Continued sales of products that infringe the Company’s intellectual property rights could adversely affect its sales, devalue its brands and result in the shift of consumer preference away from its products.
The Company’s inability to attract and retain executive managers and other key employees, or the loss of one or more executive managers or other key employees, could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company depends on its executive management and other key employees. In the footwear, apparel and consumer-direct industries, competition for key executive talent is intense, and the Company’s failure to identify, attract or retain executive managers or other key employees could adversely affect its business. The Company must offer and maintain competitive compensation packages to effectively recruit and retain such individuals. Further, the loss of one or more executive managers or other key employees, or the Company’s failure to successfully implement succession planning, could adversely affect the Company, its results of operations or financial position.
 
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Inflationary pressures and other pressures may lead to higher employment and pension costs for the Company.
General inflationary pressures, changes in employment laws and regulations, and other factors could increase the Company’s overall employment costs. The Company’s employment costs include costs relating to health care benefits and benefits under its retirement plans, including a U.S.-based defined benefit plan. The annual cost of benefits can vary significantly depending on a number of factors, including changes in the assumed or actual rate of return on pension plan assets, a change in the discount rate used to determine the annual service cost related to the defined benefit plans, a change in method or timing of meeting pension funding obligations and the rate of health care cost inflation. Increases in the Company’s overall employment and pension costs could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial position.
Disruption of the Company’s information technology systems could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company’s information technology systems are critical to the operations of its business. Any interruption, unauthorized access, impairment or loss of data integrity or malfunction of these systems could severely impact the Company’s business, including as a result of delays in product fulfillment and reduced efficiency in operations. In addition, costs and potential problems and interruptions associated with the implementation of new or upgraded systems, or with maintenance or adequate support of existing systems, could disrupt or reduce the efficiency of the Company’s operations.
If the Company encounters problems affecting its distribution system, its ability to deliver its products to the market could be adversely affected.
The Company relies on owned or independently operated distribution facilities to warehouse and ship products to its customers. The Company’s distribution system includes computer-controlled and automated equipment, which may be subject to a number of risks related to security or computer viruses, the proper operation of software and hardware, power interruptions or other system failures. Because substantially all of the Company’s products are distributed from a relatively small number of locations, its operations could also be interrupted by earthquakes, floods, fires or other natural disasters near its distribution centers. The Company maintains business interruption insurance, but it may not adequately protect the Company from the adverse effects that could be caused by significant disruptions affecting its distribution facilities, such as the long-term loss of customers or an erosion of brand image. In addition, the Company’s distribution capacity is dependent on the timely performance of services by third parties, including the transportation of products to and from the Company’s distribution facilities. If the Company encounters problems affecting its distribution system, its ability to meet customer expectations, manage inventory, complete sales and achieve operating efficiencies could be materially adversely affected.
Failure to maintain the security of personally identifiable and other information of the Company’s customers and employees could negatively impact its business.
In connection with the Company’s business, it collects and retains significant volumes of certain types of personally identifiable and other information pertaining to its customers and employees. Theft, loss, fraudulent use or misuse of customer, employee or the Company’s other data as a result of cybercrime or otherwise could adversely impact the Company’s reputation and could result in significant costs, fines, litigation or regulatory action against the Company.
The Company faces risks associated with its growth strategy and acquiring businesses.
The Company has expanded its products and markets in part through strategic acquisitions, and it may continue to do so in the future, depending on its ability to identify and successfully pursue suitable acquisition candidates. Acquisitions, including the acquisition of the Performance + Lifestyle Group (“PLG”) of Collective Brands, Inc. (“CBI”), involve numerous risks, including risks inherent in entering new markets in which the Company may not have prior experience; potential loss of significant customers or key personnel of the acquired business; managing geographically-remote operations; and potential diversion of management’s attention from other aspects of the Company’s business operations. Acquisitions may also cause the Company to incur debt or result in dilutive issuances of its equity securities, write-offs of goodwill and substantial amortization expenses associated with other intangible assets. The Company may not be able to obtain financing that may be necessary to finance future acquisitions, on favorable terms, making any such acquisitions more expensive. Any such financing may have onerous terms that restrict the Company’s operations. The Company cannot provide assurance that it will be able to successfully integrate the operations of any acquired businesses into its operations and achieve the expected benefits of any acquisitions. The failure to successfully integrate newly acquired businesses or achieve the expected benefits of strategic acquisitions in the future could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position. The Company may not consummate a potential acquisition for a variety of reasons, but it may nonetheless incur material costs in the preliminary stages of such an acquisition that it cannot recover.
 
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Maintenance and growth of the Company’s business depends upon the availability of adequate capital.
The maintenance and growth of the Company’s business depends on the availability of adequate capital, which in turn depends in large part on cash flow generated by the Company’s business and the availability of equity and debt financing. The Company cannot provide assurance that its operations will generate positive cash flow or that it will be able to obtain equity or debt financing on acceptable terms or at all. Further, the Company cannot provide assurance that it will be able to finance any expansion plans.
Expanding the Company’s brands into new markets and expanding its owned consumer-direct operations may be difficult and costly, and unsuccessful efforts to do so may adversely affect the Company’s brands and business.
As part of the Company’s growth strategy, it seeks to enhance the positioning of its brands, to extend its brands into complementary product categories, to expand geographically, and to expand its owned consumer-direct operations. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully implement any or all of these growth strategies, which could have an adverse effect on its results of operations and financial position.
Part of the future growth of the Company’s owned consumer-direct operations is significantly dependent on the Company’s ability to operate stores in desirable locations at reasonable lease costs. The Company cannot be sure as to when or whether such desirable locations will become available at reasonable costs. Further, if the Company is unable to renew or replace its existing store leases or enter into leases for new stores at attractive locations on favorable terms, or if the Company violates any of the terms of its current leases, its growth and profitability could be harmed.
Changes in government regulation may increase the Company’s costs of compliance and failure to comply with government regulations or other standards may adversely affect its brands and business.
The Company’s business is affected by changes in government and regulatory policies in the United States and in foreign jurisdictions. New requirements relating to product safety and testing and new environmental requirements, as well as changes in tax laws, duties, tariffs and quotas, could have a negative impact on the Company’s ability to produce and market footwear at competitive prices. Failure to comply with such regulations, as well as with ethical, social, product, labor and environmental standards, could also jeopardize the Company’s reputation and potentially lead to various adverse consumer actions, including boycotts. Any negative publicity about these types of concerns may reduce demand for the Company’s merchandise. Damage to the Company’s reputation or loss of consumer confidence for any of these or other reasons could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations, as well as require additional resources to rebuild its reputation.
The Company’s operations are subject to environmental and workplace safety laws and regulations, and costs or claims related to these requirements could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The Company’s operations are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, including those governing the discharge of pollutants into the air, soil and water, the management and disposal of solid and hazardous materials and wastes, employee exposure to hazards in the workplace, and the investigation and remediation of contamination resulting from releases of hazardous materials. Failure to comply with legal requirements could result in, among other things, revocation of required licenses, administrative enforcement actions, fines and civil and criminal liability. The Company may incur investigation, remediation or other costs related to releases of hazardous materials or other environmental conditions at its currently or formerly owned or operated properties, regardless of whether such environmental conditions were created by the Company or a third party, such as a prior owner or tenant. The Company has incurred, and continues to incur, costs to address soil and groundwater contamination at some locations. If such issues become more expensive to address, or if new issues arise, they could increase the Company’s expenses, generate negative publicity, or otherwise adversely affect the Company.
The disruption, expense and potential liability associated with existing and future litigation against the Company could adversely affect its reputation, financial position or results of operations.
The Company is a defendant from time to time in lawsuits and regulatory actions relating to its business. Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation and regulatory proceedings, the Company cannot accurately predict the ultimate outcome of any such proceedings. An unfavorable outcome could have an adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial position and results of operations. In addition, regardless of the outcome of any litigation or regulatory proceedings, such proceedings are expensive and may require that the Company devote substantial resources and executive time to the defense of such proceedings.
 
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Provisions of Delaware law and the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws could prevent or delay a change in control or change in management that could be beneficial to the Company’s stockholders.
Provisions of the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as well as provisions of Delaware law, could discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control of the Company. These provisions are intended to protect stockholders’ interests by providing the Board of Directors a means to attempt to deny coercive takeover attempts or to negotiate with a potential acquirer in order to obtain more favorable terms. Such provisions include a board of directors that is classified so that only one-third of directors stand for election each year. These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for stockholders to elect directors and take other corporate actions.
There are risks, including stock market volatility, inherent in owning the Company’s common stock.
The market price and volume of the Company’s common stock have been, and may continue to be, subject to significant fluctuations. These fluctuations may arise from general stock market conditions, the impact of risk factors described in this Item 1A on the Company’s financial position and results of operations, a change in sentiment in the market regarding the Company’s business prospects or other factors, many of which may be outside the Company’s immediate control. Changes in the amounts and frequency of share repurchases or dividends could adversely affect the value of the Company’s common stock.
Risks related to the acquisition of PLG
The Company’s failure to successfully integrate PLG or realize the benefits of the transaction in a timely and cost-efficient manner could adversely affect the Company’s business.
The success of the PLG acquisition will depend, in part, on the Company’s ability to fully realize the anticipated benefits and synergies from combining its business and PLG. To realize these anticipated benefits and synergies, the Company must successfully integrate its business with PLG. Any failure to timely realize these anticipated benefits and synergies could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial position. The integration process could result in the following: loss of key employees, suppliers, distributors, other business partners or significant customers; decreases in revenues; increases in taxes or operating or other costs; and/or the disruption of the Company’s business, any of which could limit the Company’s ability to achieve the anticipated benefits and synergies of the acquisition and could have an adverse effect on the Company’s operating results. Integration efforts will also require substantial commitments of management attention and other resources, which could otherwise have been allocated to different uses that may have been beneficial to the Company.
The Company’s indebtedness increased following the completion of the PLG acquisition, which could adversely affect the Company.
The Company’s current indebtedness is significantly greater than the Company’s indebtedness prior to the PLG acquisition, which could adversely affect the Company by decreasing its business flexibility and increasing its borrowing costs. In connection with the acquisition, the Company entered into a credit agreement for a new $1.1 billion senior security credit facility and issued $375 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% senior notes in a private offering. The new credit agreement and the indenture governing the senior notes contain customary restrictive covenants imposing operating and financial restrictions on the Company, including restrictions that may limit the Company’s ability to engage in acts that may be in its long-term best interests. These covenants restrict the ability of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, among other things, to: incur or guarantee indebtedness; incur liens; pay dividends or repurchase stock; enter into transactions with affiliates; consummate asset sales, acquisitions or mergers; prepay certain other indebtedness; or make investments. In addition, the restrictive covenants in the credit agreement require the Company to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy other financial condition tests.
These restrictive covenants may limit the Company’s ability to finance future operations or capital needs or to engage in other business activities. The Company’s ability to comply with any financial covenants could be materially affected by events beyond its control, and there can be no assurance that the Company will satisfy any such requirements. If the Company fails to comply with these covenants, it may need to seek waivers or amendments of such covenants, seek alternative or additional sources of financing or reduce its expenditures. The Company may be unable to obtain such waivers, amendments or alternative or additional financing on favorable terms or at all.
 
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The Company will incur significant transaction and integration costs as a result of the PLG acquisition.
The Company has incurred significant one-time transaction costs related to the PLG acquisition, including investment banking, legal and accounting fees and expenses and other related charges. In addition, the Company expects to incur
significant costs in connection with integrating the Company’s business with PLG. Costs incurred in connection with the PLG integration may be higher than expected. These costs could adversely affect the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
The Company has made certain assumptions relating to the PLG acquisition in its forecasts that may prove to be materially inaccurate.
The Company has made certain assumptions relating to the forecast level of cost savings, synergies and associated costs of the PLG acquisition. These assumptions may be inaccurate based on the information available to the Company, the failure to realize the expected benefits of the PLG acquisition, higher than expected transaction and integration costs and/or unknown liabilities as well as general economic and business conditions that may adversely affect the combined company.
The Company may have to devote substantial resources and time to lawsuits challenging the merger related the PLG acquisition.
In connection with the PLG acquisition, the Company entered into several agreements, including an Agreement and Plan of Merger (“Merger Agreement”), dated as of May 1, 2012, and a Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2012, to acquire PLG from the surviving entity in the merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement (the “Merger”). The Company and the other parties to the Merger Agreement, among others, were been named as defendants in five lawsuits filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and one lawsuit filed in the District Court of Shawnee County, Kansas, in connection with the Merger. The Delaware lawsuits were consolidated, and the parties to the Kansas litigation agreed to stay those proceedings pending final resolution of the Delaware litigation. The consolidated Delaware complaint generally alleged, among other things, that CBI’s board of directors and certain of its executive officers violated various fiduciary duties relating to maximizing stockholder value in negotiating and approving the Merger, and that the Company and other parties aided and abetted such alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. The Kansas complaint set forth similar allegations, among others claims. The Company and the other defendants to these lawsuits have entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Delaware and Kansas plaintiffs pursuant to which CBI agreed to amend its proxy materials. The memorandum of understanding contemplates that the parties will enter into a stipulation of settlement, which must be approved by the Delawere court. The Company may have to devote substantial resources and time to the defense of these or similar lawsuits.
 
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ITEM 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Period	  	Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased	 	  	Average
Price
Paid per
Share	 	  	Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs	 	  	Maximum
Dollar  Amount
that
May Yet
Be Purchased
Under the
Plans
or Programs	 	
Period 1 (June 17, 2012 to July 14, 2012)	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Common Stock Repurchase Program(1)	  	 	—  	  	  	$	—  	  	  	 	—  	  	  	$	86,416,818	  	
Employee Transactions(2)	  	 	269	  	  	 	39.17	  	  	 	—  	  	  	 	 	 	
Period 2 (July 15, 2012 to August 11, 2012)	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Common Stock Repurchase Program(1)	  	 	—  	  	  	$	—  	  	  	 	—  	  	  	$	86,416,818	  	
Employee Transactions(2)	  	 	112,856	  	  	 	42.85	  	  	 	—  	  	  	 	 	 	
Period 3 (August 12, 2012 to September 8, 2012)	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Common Stock Repurchase Program(1)	  	 	—  	  	  	$	—  	  	  	 	—  	  	  	$	86,416,818	  	
Employee Transactions(2)	  	 	3,620	  	  	 	46.38	  	  	 	—  	  	  	 	 	 	
Total for Quarter ended September 8, 2012	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	  	 	 	 	
Common Stock Repurchase Program(1)	  	 	—  	  	  	$	—  	  	  	 	—  	  	  	$	86,416,818	  	
Employee Transactions(2)	  	 	116,745	  	  	 	42.95	  	  	 	—  	  	  	 	 	 	
 
(1)	The Company’s Board of Directors approved a common stock repurchase program on February 11, 2010. This program authorized the repurchase of up to $200.0 million of common stock over a four-year period, commencing on the effective date of the program. There were no shares repurchased during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, other than repurchases pursuant to the “Employee Transactions” set forth above.	
(2)	Employee transactions include: (1) shares delivered or attested in satisfaction of the exercise price and/or tax withholding obligations by holders of employee stock options who exercised options, and (2) restricted shares withheld to offset statutory minimum tax withholding that occurs upon vesting of restricted shares. The Company’s employee stock compensation plans provide that the shares delivered or attested to, or withheld, shall be valued at the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date the relevant transaction occurs.	
 
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ITEM 6.	Exhibits	
Exhibits filed as a part of this Form 10-Q are listed on the Exhibit Index, which is incorporated by reference herein.
 
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 	 	 	 	WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES	
 	 	 	
October 18, 2012	 	 	 	/s/ Blake W. Krueger	
Date	 	 	 	Blake W. Krueger
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
(Duly Authorized Signatory for Registrant)	
 	 	 	
October 18, 2012	 	 	 	/s/ Donald T. Grimes	
Date	 	 	 	Donald T. Grimes
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
(Principal Financial Officer and Duly Authorized Signatory for
Registrant)	
 
39

Table of Contents
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number	  	Document	
 	 	
3.1	  	Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2006. Here incorporated by reference.	
 	 	
3.2	  	Amended and Restated Bylaws. Previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 16, 2012. Here incorporated by reference.	
 	 	
4.1	  	Senior Notes Indenture, dated October 9, 2012, among Wolverine World Wide, Inc., the guarantors named therein, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association. Previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 9, 2012. Here incorporated by reference.	
 	 	
4.2	  	Form of 6.125% Senior Note due 2020. Previously filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 9, 2012. Here incorporated by reference.	
 	 	
4.3	  	Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 9, 2012, among the Wolverine World Wide, Inc., the guarantors named therein and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representative of the several initial purchasers. Previously filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 9, 2012. Here incorporated by reference.	
 	 	
10.1	  	Credit Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2012, by and among Wolverine World Wide, Inc., as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and as a lender, J.P. Morgan Europe Limited, as foreign currency agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as syndication agent and as a lender, Fifth Third Bank as documentation agent and as a lender, and PNC Bank, National Association, as documentation agent and as a lender. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 1, 2012. Here incorporated by reference.	
 	 	
10.2	  	First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of September 28, 2012, by and among Wolverine World Wide, Inc., as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and as a lender;, J.P. Morgan Europe Limited, as foreign currency agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as syndication agent and as a lender, Fifth Third Bank as documentation agent and as a lender, and PNC Bank, National Association, as documentation agent and as a lender. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 4, 2012. Here incorporated by reference.	
 	 	
10.3	  	Second Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 8, 2012, among Wolverine World Wide, Inc., as borrower, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and as a lender, J.P. Morgan Europe Limited, as foreign currency agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as syndication agent and as a lender, Fifth Third Bank, as documentation agent and as a lender, and PNC Bank, National Association, as documentation agent and as a lender. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 9, 2012. Here incorporated by reference.	
 	 	
10.4	  	Amendment No. 1 to Separation Agreement, dated as of October 9, 2012, by and between the Company and WBG–PSS Holdings LLC. Previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 9, 2012. Here incorporated by reference.	
 	 	
10.5	  	Amendment No. 1 to Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 9, 2012, by and between Open Water Ventures, LLC and WBG–PSS Holdings LLC.	
 	 	
10.6	  	Employees’ Pension Plan (Restated as amended through September 1, 2012).*	
 	 	
10.7	  	Form of Restricted Stock Agreement.* Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 16, 2012. Here incorporated by reference.	
 	 	
31.1	  	Certification of Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.	
 	 	
31.2	  	Certification of Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.	
 	 	
32	  	Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350.	
 	 	
101	  	The following materials from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2012, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of September 8, 2012, December 31, 2011 and September 10, 2011, (ii) Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011 and 36 weeks ended September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the twelve weeks ended September 8, 2012 and September 10, 2011, and (iv) Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.*	
 
*	Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.	
 
40

Exhibit 10.5
EXECUTION VERSION
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Amendment No. 1 to Purchase Agreement (this “Amendment”) is entered into as of October 9, 2012, by and between Open Water Ventures, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Buyer ”), and WBG-PSS Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Parent ”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Purchase Agreement entered into by Buyer and Parent as of May 1, 2012 (the  “Agreement” ).
WHEREAS, the Parties entered into the Agreement to provide for the acquisition by Buyer or one or more of its subsidiaries of the PLG Securities at the Closing;
WHEREAS, one of the PLG Subsidiaries whose capital stock was to be acquired by Buyer or one of its subsidiaries under the Agreement is Stride Rite Canada Limited, an Ontario corporation ( “SR Canada” );
WHEREAS, in lieu of the acquisition by Buyer or one of its subsidiaries of all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of SR Canada, the Parties desire to amend the Agreement to provide that all of the assets of SR Canada (other than Intercompany Accounts cancelled or terminated pursuant to Section 3(c)(i) of that certain Separation Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2012 (as amended or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, the “ Separation Agreement ”), by and between Parent and Wolverine World Wide, Inc., a Delaware corporation) (the  “SR Assets” ) shall be purchased by Wolverine World Wide Canada ULC, an Alberta unlimited liability corporation ( “Wolverine Canada” );
WHEREAS, the Agreement provides that, prior to Closing, Parent shall cause certain assets of the Retained Companies that are used primarily in the conduct of the PLG Business as agreed between Parent and Buyer to be conveyed to the PLG Subsidiaries; and
WHEREAS, in lieu of Parent causing the Retained Companies to convey to the PLG Subsidiaries the assets set forth on Schedule A attached hereto (collectively, the  “Robeez IP” ), the Parties desire to amend the Agreement to provide that at the Closing the Robeez IP shall be purchased by Wolverine International L.P., a Cayman limited partnership ( “Wolverine International” ).
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:
1. Exhibit A to the Agreement shall be amended to delete SR Canada as a PLG Subsidiary.
2. §1(a) of the Agreement shall be amended by adding at the end of such section the following sentence:
“In addition, on and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, (i) Wolverine Canada shall purchase from SR Canada, and Parent shall cause SR Canada to sell and transfer to Wolverine Canada, the SR Assets pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Asset Purchase Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ SR Canada APA ”), (ii) Wolverine International shall purchase from Collective Brands Holdings, Limited, and Parent shall cause Collective Brands Holdings, Limited, to sell and transfer to Wolverine International, the Robeez IP pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Asset Purchase Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “ Robeez APA ”) and (iii) certain Affiliates of Buyer shall purchase from the applicable Retained Companies, and Parent shall cause the applicable Retained Companies to sell and transfer to the Affiliates of Buyer designated by it, the Other PLG Assets (as defined in the Separation Agreement). The transactions described in this §1(a) are collectively referred to herein as the “ Carveout Sale .””

3. §1(b) of the Agreement shall be amended by adding at the end of such section the following sentence:
“The Parties acknowledge and agree that (i) $85,000,000 of the Purchase Price shall be paid by Wolverine Canada in consideration of its purchase of the SR Assets, (ii) $3,800,000 of the Purchase Price shall be paid by Wolverine International in consideration of its purchase of the Robeez IP and (iii) $10,086,316 of the Purchase Price shall be paid by Buyer as paying agent of Wolverine Distribution, Inc. in consideration of its purchase of the Other PLG Assets (as defined in the Separation Agreement).”
4. The instruments of conveyance to be deposited with the Exchange Agent pursuant to §1(d) of the Agreement shall include instruments conveying the PLG Securities, the SR Canada APA and the Robeez APA, together with the conveyance and assignment documents specifically referenced therein, and a bill of sale from Payless ShoeSource International Limited (Shenzhen) to Wolverine Consulting Services (Zhuhai) Company Limited, a bill of sale from Collective Brands Services, Ltd. to Wolverine World Wide HK Limited, a bill of sale from Payless ShoeSource Worldwide, Inc. to Wolverine Distribution, Inc. and a bill of sale from Payless ShoeSource Distribution, Inc. to Wolverine Distribution, Inc.
5. Following Closing, for a period not exceeding seven years, each of Parent and Buyer shall, and shall cause their Affiliates to (a) except as otherwise provided herein, retain the books and records of the PLG Business and PSS Business, respectively, relating to periods prior to Closing and (b) upon the request of a Party, grant to such Party and its respective representatives during regular business hours and subject to reasonable rules and regulations access to such books and records and the right, at the expense of the requesting Party, to inspect and copy such books and records;  provided , however , that in no event shall the requesting Party have access to any information that, based on advice of legal counsel, would cause a loss of legal privilege to the non-requesting Party or its Affiliates or result in any contravention of any confidentiality obligation or any Law (provided that in any such instance, the non-requesting Party and its Affiliates shall endeavor to provide such information to the requesting Party in a manner that would not result in such loss or contravention). If a Party or an Affiliate wishes to destroy any books and records required to be held and made available to the other Party pursuant to this section prior to the seventh anniversary of Closing, the Party wishing to destroy such books and records shall provide at least 120 days’ prior written notice to the other Party indicating in such notice the books and records proposed to be destroyed and offering to transfer such books and records to the other Party at its expense. If such Party does not provide notice within such 120-day period that it desires to take possession of the indicated books and records, the other Party or its Affiliate may destroy the indicated books and records.
 
2

6. Except as set forth herein, the terms and provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Any reference to the Agreement contained in any notice, request, certificate, or other document executed concurrently with or after the execution and delivery of this Amendment shall be deemed to include this Amendment unless the context shall otherwise require. Reference in any of this Amendment or the Agreement shall be a reference to the Agreement as amended hereby.
7. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties on separate counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of the executed counterpart of this Amendment by telecopy or electronic mail shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart to this Amendment.
8. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.
* * * * *
 
3

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

OPEN WATER VENTURES, LLC	
 	 	
By:	 	/s/ Donald T. Grimes	
 	 	Donald T. Grimes	
 	 	Manager	
 	
WBG - PSS HOLDINGS LLC	
 	 	
By:	 	/s/ David Chung	
 	 	David Chung	
 	 	Vice President	
{Amendment No. 1 to Purchase Agreement}
S-1

Schedule A

Mark	  	Country	  	Status	  	Application
No.	  	Filing
Date	  	Registration
No.	  	Registration
Date	
ROBEEZ	  	Australia	  	Registered	  	938813	  	12/23/2002	  	938813	  	12/23/2002	
ROBEEZ	  	Brazil	  	Registered	  	828293228	  	4/20/2006	  	828293228	  	8/12/2008	
ROBEEZ	  	China P.R.	  	Registered	  	4833261	  	8/12/2005	  	4833261	  	4/21/2009	
ROBEEZ TREDZ	  	China P.R.	  	Registered	  	5279651	  	4/11/2006	  	5279651	  	7/28/2009	
TREDZ	  	China P.R.	  	Registered	  	5279649	  	4/11/2006	  	5279649	  	7/28/2009	
TREDZ BY ROBEEZ	  	China P.R.	  	Registered	  	5279650	  	4/11/2006	  	5279650	  	7/28/2009	
ROBEEZ	  	Community Trademark	  	Registered	  	1866987	  	9/21/2000	  	1866987	  	11/29/2001	
ROBEEZ	  	Hong Kong	  	Registered	  	301562463	  	3/12/2010	  	301562463	  	3/12/2010	
ROBEEZ	  	India	  	Registered	  	1368442	  	7/1/2005	  	136/442	  	11/23/2006	
ROBEEZ	  	Indonesia	  	Registered	  	D0001314	  	7/27/2005	  	IDM000118825	  	4/25/2007	
ROBEEZ	  	Israel	  	Registered	  	223680	  	9/22/2009	  	223680	  	1/9/2011	
ROBEEZ	  	Japan	  	Registered	  	2002-37715	  	5/9/2002	  	4641786	  	1/31/2003	
ROBEEZ	  	Macao	  	Registered	  	048204	  	3/15/2010	  	N048204	  	10/25/2010	
ROBEEZ	  	Malaysia	  	Registered	  	05015761	  	9/20/2005	  	05015761	  	10/22/2007	
ROBEEZ	  	Mexico	  	Registered	  	666349	  	7/14/2004	  	857040	  	10/27/2004	
ROBEEZ	  	New Zealand	  	Registered	  	709853	  	3/19/2004	  	709853	  	9/23/2004	
ROBEEZ	  	Norway	  	Registered	  	200400842	  	2/6/2004	  	225647	  	1/25/2005	
ROBEEZ	  	Philippines	  	Registered	  	042005005913	  	6/27/2005	  	42005005913	  	8/17/2006	
ROBEEZ	  	Singapore	  	Registered	  	T02/19640C	  	12/24/2002	  	T02/19640C	  	12/24/2002	
ROBEEZ	  	South Korea	  	Registered	  	40-2002-0022117	  	5/14/2002	  	4005642360000	  	10/31/2003	
ROBEEZ	  	Switzerland	  	Registered	  	50748/2004	  	2/6/2004	  	521290	  	5/18/2004	
ROBEEZ	  	Taiwan	  	Registered	  	94033370	  	7/12/2005	  	1200169	  	3/16/2006	
ROBEEZ	  	Thailand	  	Registered	  	596337	  	7/12/2005	  	242568	  	6/5/2006	
ROBEEZ	  	Turkey	  	Registered	  	2010/04841	  	1/27/2010	  	201004841	  	3/23/2011	
ROBEEZ	  	Vietnam	  	Registered	  	4-2006-06262	  	4/21/2006	  	40106932000	  	8/11/2008	

Exhibit A
SR Canada APA

Exhibit B
Robeez APA

Exhibit 10.6
WOLVERINE
EMPLOYEES’ PENSION PLAN
(Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2011)
Warner Norcross & Judd LLP
316 Morris Avenue, Suite 400
Muskegon, Michigan 49440
P.O. Box 900
Muskegon, Michigan 49443-0900
(231) 727-2600
4461686-4-8/31/2012
1st Amd. 001621.052471

WOLVERINE
EMPLOYEES’ PENSION PLAN
TABLE OF CONTENTS

 	  	Page	 	
ARTICLE 1 - Establishment of Plan and Trust	  	 	1-1	  	
 	 	
1.1 Establishment of Plan	  	 	1-1	  	
(a) Employer	  	 	1-1	  	
(b) Plan History	  	 	1-1	  	
(c) Adoption by Affiliated Employer	  	 	1-1	  	
(d) Administration	  	 	1-1	  	
1.2 Declaration of Trust	  	 	1-2	  	
1.3 Compliance With Law	  	 	1-2	  	
1.4 Effective Dates of Plan Provisions	  	 	1-2	  	
1.5 Application to Inactive and Former Participants	  	 	1-2	  	
 	 	
ARTICLE 2 - Definitions	  	 	2-1	  	
 	 	
2.1 Break in Service	  	 	2-1	  	
2.2 Employer Contributions	  	 	2-1	  	
2.3 5% Owner	  	 	2-1	  	
(a) Corporation	  	 	2-1	  	
(b) Partnership	  	 	2-1	  	
(c) Proprietorship	  	 	2-1	  	
2.4 Highly Compensated Employee	  	 	2-2	  	
(a) Definition	  	 	2-2	  	
(b) Determination Rules	  	 	2-2	  	
2.5 Hour of Service	  	 	2-3	  	
(a) Definition	  	 	2-3	  	
(b) Back Pay	  	 	2-3	  	
(c) No Duties Performed	  	 	2-3	  	
(d) Qualified Maternity or Paternity Absence	  	 	2-3	  	
(e) Qualified Military Service	  	 	2-4	  	
(f) No Duplication	  	 	2-4	  	
(g) Non-Covered Employment	  	 	2-4	  	
(h) Periods Credited	  	 	2-4	  	
(i) Additional Hours	  	 	2-5	  	
(j) Predecessor Plan	  	 	2-5	  	
(k) Leased Employee	  	 	2-5	  	
(l) Equivalency	  	 	2-5	  	
2.6 Person	  	 	2-5	  	
2.7 Plan Year	  	 	2-5	  	
2.8 Related Employer	  	 	2-5	  	
2.9 Valuation Date	  	 	2-5	  	
 
-i-

 	 	 	 	 	
 	  	Page	 	
ARTICLE 3 - Eligibility to Participate	  	 	3-1	  	
 	 	
3.1 Eligibility Requirements	  	 	3-1	  	
(a) Employee Definitions	  	 	3-1	  	
(b) Entry Date	  	 	3-1	  	
(c) Year of Eligibility Service	  	 	3-1	  	
(d) Eligibility Period	  	 	3-1	  	
(e) Breaks in Service	  	 	3-1	  	
3.2 Requirement of Covered Employment	  	 	3-2	  	
3.3 Participation Rules	  	 	3-2	  	
(a) Termination of Participation	  	 	3-2	  	
(b) Cancellation of Years of Eligibility Service	  	 	3-2	  	
(c) Resumption of Participation	  	 	3-2	  	
3.4 Leased Employee	  	 	3-3	  	
(a) Definition	  	 	3-3	  	
(b) Exceptions	  	 	3-3	  	
 	 	
ARTICLE 4 - Contributions	  	 	4-1	  	
 	 	
4.1 Contributions/Amount	  	 	4-1	  	
4.2 Limits on Employer Contributions	  	 	4-1	  	
4.3 Return of Employer Contributions	  	 	4-1	  	
(a) Mistake of Fact	  	 	4-1	  	
(b) Nondeductible	  	 	4-1	  	
(c) Amount	  	 	4-1	  	
4.4 Reduction of Contribution for Leased Employees	  	 	4-2	  	
4.5 Timing of Contributions	  	 	4-2	  	
(a) Quarterly Payments	  	 	4-2	  	
(b) Final Payment	  	 	4-2	  	
 	 	
ARTICLE 5 - Amount of Benefits	  	 	5-1	  	
 	 	
5.1 Normal Retirement	  	 	5-1	  	
(a) Normal Retirement Date	  	 	5-1	  	
(b) Normal Retirement Benefit	  	 	5-1	  	
(c) Accrued Benefit	  	 	5-1	  	
(d) Average Monthly Compensation.	  	 	5-3	  	
(e) Compensation	  	 	5-3	  	
(f) Benefit Service	  	 	5-4	  	
5.2 Early Retirement	  	 	5-4	  	
(a) Early Retirement Date	  	 	5-4	  	
(b) Early Retirement Benefit	  	 	5-5	  	
(c) Early Payment	  	 	5-5	  	
5.3 Late Retirement	  	 	5-5	  	
(a) Late Retirement Date	  	 	5-5	  	
(b) Late Retirement Benefit	  	 	5-6	  	
 
-ii-

 	 	 	 	 	
 	  	Page	 	
5.4 Deferred Vested Retirement	  	 	5-6	  	
(a) Deferred Vested Benefit	  	 	5-6	  	
(b) Vested Accrued Benefit	  	 	5-6	  	
(c) Early Payment	  	 	5-6	  	
5.5 Death Benefits	  	 	5-6	  	
(a) Death Before Vesting	  	 	5-6	  	
(b) Death Before Annuity Starting Date	  	 	5-7	  	
(c) Death After Annuity Starting Date	  	 	5-7	  	
(d) Death While Performing Qualified Military Service	  	 	5-8	  	
5.6 Pension Offsets	  	 	5-8	  	
(a) Workers Compensation	  	 	5-8	  	
(b) Disability Pension	  	 	5-8	  	
5.7 Special Benefit Schedules	  	 	5-8	  	
5.8 Benefit Rules	  	 	5-9	  	
(a) Single Benefit	  	 	5-9	  	
(b) Previously Paid Benefits	  	 	5-9	  	
(c) Transfer	  	 	5-9	  	
5.9 Maximum Annual Benefits	  	 	5-9	  	
(a) Annual Benefit	  	 	5-9	  	
(b) Defined Benefit Dollar Limit	  	 	5-9	  	
(c) Compensation Limit	  	 	5-10	  	
(d) Section 415 Compensation	  	 	5-10	  	
(e) Limitation Year	  	 	5-11	  	
(f) Aggregation	  	 	5-11	  	
5.10 Adjustments to Maximum Annual Benefits	  	 	5-13	  	
(a) Annual Benefit Actuarial Adjustment	  	 	5-13	  	
(b) Adjustments to Defined Benefit Dollar Limit and Compensation Limit	  	 	5-14	  	
(c) $10,000 Limitation	  	 	5-16	  	
(d) Grandfathered Annual Benefit	  	 	5-17	  	
(e) Cost of Living Adjustment	  	 	5-17	  	
 	 	
ARTICLE 6 - Determination of Vested Percentage	  	 	6-1	  	
 	 	
6.1 Year of Vesting Service	  	 	6-1	  	
(a) Credit	  	 	6-1	  	
(b) No Credit	  	 	6-1	  	
6.2 Vested Percentage	  	 	6-1	  	
(a) Vesting Schedule	  	 	6-1	  	
(b) Normal Retirement Date	  	 	6-1	  	
6.3 Cashout	  	 	6-1	  	
6.4 Five Breaks in Service	  	 	6-2	  	
(a) Cancellation of Vesting Service	  	 	6-2	  	
(b) Forfeiture of Nonvested Accrued Benefit	  	 	6-2	  	
6.5 Death After Termination/Lost Recipient	  	 	6-2	  	
(a) Death After Termination	  	 	6-2	  	
(b) Lost Recipient	  	 	6-2	  	
 
-iii-

 	 	 	 	 	
 	  	Page	 	
ARTICLE 7 - Payment of Benefits	  	 	7-1	  	
 	 	
7.1 Time of Payment	  	 	7-1	  	
(a) Normal Retirement Benefit	  	 	7-1	  	
(b) Early Retirement Benefit	  	 	7-1	  	
(c) Late Retirement Benefit	  	 	7-1	  	
(d) Deferred Vested Benefit	  	 	7-1	  	
(e) Death Benefit	  	 	7-1	  	
(f) Disability Benefit	  	 	7-1	  	
(g) Immediate Payment	  	 	7-2	  	
(h) QDRO	  	 	7-2	  	
(i) Plan Termination; Partial Termination	  	 	7-3	  	
7.2 Determination of Benefits	  	 	7-3	  	
(a) Lump Sum	  	 	7-3	  	
(b) Optional Forms	  	 	7-3	  	
7.3 Form of Payment	  	 	7-3	  	
(a) Standard Form	  	 	7-3	  	
(b) Optional Forms of Payment	  	 	7-4	  	
(c) Direct Transfer	  	 	7-5	  	
7.4 Required Distribution Rules	  	 	7-6	  	
(a) Time of Distribution	  	 	7-6	  	
(b) General Annuity Requirements	  	 	7-7	  	
(c) Requirements For Annuity Distributions That Commence During Participant's Lifetime	  	 	7-8	  	
(d) Requirements For Minimum Distributions Where Participant Dies Before Date Distributions Begin	  	 	7-9	  	
(e) Definitions	  	 	7-10	  	
(f) Actuarial Increase	  	 	7-10	  	
(g) TEFRA Election	  	 	7-11	  	
7.5 Waiver of QJSA or QPSA; Election of Method and Time of Benefit Payments	  	 	7-11	  	
(a) Waiver of QJSA	  	 	7-11	  	
(b) Waiver of QPSA	  	 	7-11	  	
(c) Spousal Consent	  	 	7-13	  	
(d) Permitted Elections	  	 	7-13	  	
(e) Participant Consent	  	 	7-13	  	
(f) Exceptions	  	 	7-14	  	
(g) Election Requirements	  	 	7-15	  	
(h) Failure to Elect	  	 	7-15	  	
(i) Additional Information	  	 	7-15	  	
(j) No Reduction or Delay of Payments	  	 	7-15	  	
(k) No Retroactive Payment	  	 	7-15	  	
7.6 Determination of Beneficiary	  	 	7-16	  	
(a) Beneficiary	  	 	7-16	  	
(b) Successor Beneficiaries	  	 	7-16	  	
(c) Married Participant; Spousal Consent	  	 	7-16	  	
(d) Default Determination	  	 	7-17	  	
(e) Death of Beneficiary	  	 	7-17	  	
(f) No Surviving Beneficiary	  	 	7-17	  	
(g) Alternate Payee	  	 	7-17	  	
(h) Determination	  	 	7-17	  	
 
-iv-

 	 	 	 	 	
 	  	Page	 	
7.7 Facility of Payment	  	 	7-18	  	
(a) Minimum Payments	  	 	7-18	  	
(b) Incapacity	  	 	7-18	  	
(c) Legal Representative	  	 	7-18	  	
(d) Annuity Contract Purchase	  	 	7-18	  	
7.8 Penalties	  	 	7-18	  	
(a) Payment Before Age 59 1/2	  	 	7-18	  	
(b) Failure to Receive Minimum Payments	  	 	7-18	  	
7.9 Suspension of Benefit Payments	  	 	7-19	  	
(a) Normal/Early Retirement Benefits	  	 	7-19	  	
(b) Disability	  	 	7-19	  	
 	 	
ARTICLE 8 - Administration of the Plan	  	 	8-1	  	
 	 	
8.1 Duties, Powers, and Responsibilities of the Employer	  	 	8-1	  	
(a) Required	  	 	8-1	  	
(b) Discretionary	  	 	8-1	  	
8.2 Employer Action	  	 	8-2	  	
8.3 Plan Administrator	  	 	8-2	  	
8.4 Administrative Committee	  	 	8-2	  	
(a) Appointment	  	 	8-2	  	
(b) Agent; Powers and Duties	  	 	8-2	  	
(c) Not Fiduciary	  	 	8-3	  	
(d) Membership	  	 	8-3	  	
(e) Records	  	 	8-3	  	
(f) Actions	  	 	8-3	  	
(g) Report to Administrator	  	 	8-3	  	
(h) Compensation	  	 	8-3	  	
(i) Conflict of Interest	  	 	8-3	  	
8.5 Duties, Powers, and Responsibilities of the Administrator	  	 	8-3	  	
(a) Plan Interpretation	  	 	8-3	  	
(b) Participant Rights	  	 	8-3	  	
(c) Limits; Tests	  	 	8-4	  	
(d) Benefits and Vesting	  	 	8-4	  	
(e) Errors	  	 	8-4	  	
(f) Claims and Elections	  	 	8-4	  	
(g) Benefit Payments	  	 	8-4	  	
(h) QDRO Determination	  	 	8-4	  	
(i) Administration Information	  	 	8-4	  	
(j) Recordkeeping	  	 	8-4	  	
(k) Reporting and Disclosure	  	 	8-4	  	
(l) Penalties; Excise Taxes	  	 	8-4	  	
(m) Advisers	  	 	8-4	  	
(n) Expenses, Fees, and Charges	  	 	8-5	  	
(o) Nondiscrimination	  	 	8-5	  	
(p) Bonding	  	 	8-5	  	
(q) Other Powers and Duties	  	 	8-5	  	
 
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 	  	Page	 	
8.6 Delegation of Administrative Duties	  	 	8-5	  	
(a) In Writing	  	 	8-5	  	
(b) Acceptance of Responsibility	  	 	8-5	  	
(c) Conflict	  	 	8-5	  	
8.7 Interrelationship of Fiduciaries; Discretionary Authority	  	 	8-5	  	
(a) Performance of Duties	  	 	8-5	  	
(b) Reliance on Others	  	 	8-6	  	
(c) Discretionary Authority of Fiduciaries	  	 	8-6	  	
8.8 Compensation; Indemnification	  	 	8-6	  	
8.9 Fiduciary Standards	  	 	8-6	  	
(a) Prudence	  	 	8-6	  	
(b) Exclusive Purpose	  	 	8-6	  	
(c) Prohibited Transaction	  	 	8-6	  	
8.10 Benefit Applications; Appeal Procedures	  	 	8-7	  	
(a) Application for Benefits	  	 	8-7	  	
(b) Notification of Adverse Determination for Application	  	 	8-7	  	
(c) Appeal	  	 	8-7	  	
(d) Final Decision	  	 	8-7	  	
(e) Notification of Adverse Determination on Appeal	  	 	8-7	  	
(f) Disability Claims	  	 	8-7	  	
(g) Extensions	  	 	8-8	  	
(h) Full and Fair Review	  	 	8-8	  	
(i) Authorized Representative; Hearings	  	 	8-8	  	
8.11 Participant's Responsibilities	  	 	8-8	  	
8.12 Electronic Administration	  	 	8-8	  	
 	 	
ARTICLE 9 - Investment of Funds	  	 	9-1	  	
 	 	
9.1 Investment Responsibility	  	 	9-1	  	
9.2 Authorized Investments	  	 	9-1	  	
(a) Specific Investments	  	 	9-1	  	
(b) Right of Trustee To Hold Cash	  	 	9-2	  	
9.3 Commingled Investment	  	 	9-2	  	
 	 	
ARTICLE 10 - Administration of the Trust	  	 	10-1	  	
 	 	
10.1 Duties and Powers of the Trustee	  	 	10-1	  	
(a) Duties of the Trustee	  	 	10-1	  	
(b) Powers of the Trustee	  	 	10-1	  	
(c) Limitation on Duties and Powers of the Trustee	  	 	10-3	  	
10.2 Accounting	  	 	10-4	  	
(a) Report	  	 	10-4	  	
(b) Judicial Settlement	  	 	10-4	  	
 
-vi-

 	 	 	 	 	
 	  	Page	 	
10.3 Appointment, Resignation, and Removal of Trustee	  	 	10-4	  	
(a) Resignation	  	 	10-4	  	
(b) Removal	  	 	10-4	  	
(c) Successor Trustee	  	 	10-4	  	
(d) Effective Date of Resignation or Removal	  	 	10-4	  	
(e) Procedure Upon Transfer	  	 	10-4	  	
(f) Earlier Transfer	  	 	10-5	  	
(g) Final Transfer	  	 	10-5	  	
(h) In Kind Transfer	  	 	10-5	  	
(i) Limitation on Liability of Successor	  	 	10-5	  	
10.4 Trustee Action	  	 	10-5	  	
10.5 Exculpation of Nonfiduciary	  	 	10-5	  	
 	 	
ARTICLE 11 - Amendment, Mergers, Successor Employer	  	 	11-1	  	
 	 	
11.1 Amendment	  	 	11-1	  	
(a) Prohibitions	  	 	11-1	  	
(b) Notice	  	 	11-1	  	
11.2 Amendment by WN&J	  	 	11-2	  	
(a) Authorized Amendments	  	 	11-2	  	
(b) Termination of Authority	  	 	11-2	  	
(c) Authority Conditioned on Favorable Determination Letter	  	 	11-2	  	
11.3 Merger of Plans	  	 	11-2	  	
(a) Preservation of Accrued Benefits	  	 	11-2	  	
(b) Actuarial Statement	  	 	11-2	  	
(c) Authorization	  	 	11-2	  	
11.4 Successor Employer	  	 	11-3	  	
 	 	
ARTICLE 12 - Termination	  	 	12-1	  	
 	 	
12.1 Right to Terminate	  	 	12-1	  	
(a) Employer	  	 	12-1	  	
(b) Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation	  	 	12-1	  	
12.2 Automatic Termination	  	 	12-1	  	
12.3 Termination or Partial Termination of Plan	  	 	12-2	  	
(a) Termination	  	 	12-2	  	
(b) Partial Termination	  	 	12-2	  	
(c) Priorities	  	 	12-2	  	
(d) Rules For Application	  	 	12-3	  	
12.4 Effect of Termination or Partial Termination	  	 	12-4	  	
(a) Nonforfeitability	  	 	12-4	  	
(b) Distribution	  	 	12-4	  	
(c) Recourse Only Against Trust Assets	  	 	12-4	  	
12.5 Reversion of Assets	  	 	12-4	  	
 
-vii-

 	 	 	 	 	
 	  	Page	 	
12.6 Highest Paid Restriction	  	 	12-4	  	
(a) Restrictions on Termination	  	 	12-4	  	
(b) Restrictions on Distributions	  	 	12-4	  	
(c) Payment of Restricted Benefit in Full	  	 	12-5	  	
(d) Payments Prior to January 1, 1994	  	 	12-6	  	
12.7 Special Restriction	  	 	12-6	  	
(a) Restricted Date	  	 	12-6	  	
(b) Change in Control	  	 	12-6	  	
(c) Unrestricted Date	  	 	12-7	  	
(d) Termination/Partial Termination	  	 	12-7	  	
(e) Merger Consolidation	  	 	12-7	  	
(f) Amendment	  	 	12-8	  	
 	 	
ARTICLE 13—General Provisions	  	 	13-1	  	
 	 	
13.1 Spendthrift Provision	  	 	13-1	  	
(a) Not Security	  	 	13-1	  	
(b) Crimes and ERISA Violations	  	 	13-1	  	
(c) Attempts Void	  	 	13-2	  	
13.2 Effect Upon Employment Relationship	  	 	13-2	  	
13.3 No Interest in Employer Assets	  	 	13-2	  	
13.4 Construction	  	 	13-2	  	
13.5 Severability	  	 	13-3	  	
13.6 Governing Law	  	 	13-3	  	
13.7 Nondiversion	  	 	13-3	  	
13.8 Limitations for Underfunded Plans	  	 	13-3	  	
(a) Limitation on Benefit Accruals	  	 	13-3	  	
(b) Limitation on Benefit Payments	  	 	13-4	  	
(c) Limitation on Unpredictable Contingent Event Benefits	  	 	13-5	  	
(d) Limitation on Plan Amendments	  	 	13-6	  	
(e) Automatic Resumption/Restoration	  	 	13-6	  	
(f) Definitions	  	 	13-7	  	
 	 	
ARTICLE 14—Top-Heavy Plan Provisions	  	 	14-1	  	
 	 	
14.1 Top-Heavy Plan	  	 	14-1	  	
(a) Not Required or Permissive Aggregation Group	  	 	14-1	  	
(b) Required Aggregation Group	  	 	14-1	  	
(c) Permissive Aggregation Group	  	 	14-1	  	
14.2 Top-Heavy Determination	  	 	14-1	  	
(a) Top-Heavy Ratio	  	 	14-1	  	
(b) Present Value of Accrued Benefits	  	 	14-2	  	
(c) Required Aggregation Group	  	 	14-3	  	
(d) Permissive Aggregation Group	  	 	14-3	  	
(e) Determination Date	  	 	14-3	  	
(f) Key Employee	  	 	14-3	  	
(g) Top-Heavy Valuation Date	  	 	14-4	  	
 
-viii-

 	 	 	 	 	
 	  	Page	 	
14.3 Minimum Benefits	  	 	14-4	  	
(a) Minimum Accrued Benefit	  	 	14-4	  	
(b) Minimum Average Monthly Compensation	  	 	14-4	  	
14.4 Vesting Schedule	  	 	14-5	  	
(a) Cessation	  	 	14-5	  	
(b) Vesting Schedule Change	  	 	14-5	  	
 	 	
SCHEDULE A	  	 	 	 	
 	 	
SCHEDULE B	  	 	 	 	
 	 	
SCHEDULE C-1—FORMER PARTICIPANTS UNDER WEBSTER MANUFACTURING UNIT HOURLY RATED EMPLOYEES PENSION PLAN	  	 	 	 	
 	 	
SCHEDULE C-2—BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN FORMER EMPLOYEES 1994 SPECIAL SEVERANCE PROGRAM	  	 	 	 	
 	 	
SCHEDULE C-3—NONDISCRIMINATORY EXECUTIVE BENEFITS	  	 	 	 	
 	 	
SCHEDULE C-4—BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN FORMER EMPLOYEES OF FROLIC FOOTWEAR DIVISION OR THE WOLVERINE SLIPPER GROUP	  	 	 	 	
 	 	
SCHEDULE C-5—2000 EARLY RETIREMENT WINDOW	  	 	 	 	
 	 	
SCHEDULE C-6—HY-TEST MERGER	  	 	 	 	
 	 	
SCHEDULE C-7—SPECIAL SERVICE CREDIT TRU STITCH DIVISION/WOLVERINE PROCUREMENT INC	  	 	 	 	
 	 	
SCHEDULE C-8 – SERVICE CREDIT AND INCLUSION OF CERTAIN FORMER SEBAGO, INC. EMPLOYEES	  	 	 	 	
 	 	
SCHEDULE D – PLAN HISTORY	  	 	 	 	

 

 

 

 
-ix-

TABLE OF DEFINITIONS

Term	  	Location	 	
Accrued Benefit	  	 	5.1	(c) 	
Actuaries	  	 	8.5	(m) 	
Administrator	  	 	8.3	  	
Annual Benefit	  	 	5.9	(a) 	
Annual Compensation Limit	  	 	5.1	(e)(ii) 	
 	 	
Annuity Starting Date	  	 	7.5	(e)(ii) 	
Average Monthly Compensation	  	 	5.1	(d) 	
Beneficiary	  	 	7.6	(a) 	
Benefit Commitments	  	 	12.1	(b)(iii) 	
Break in Service	  	 	2.1	  	
 	 	
Code	  	 	1.3	  	
Compensation	  	 	5.1	(e) 	
Compensation Limit	  	 	5.9	(c) 	
Covered Employment	  	 	3.2	  	
Deferred Vested Benefit	  	 	5.4	(a) 	
 	 	
Defined Benefit Dollar Limit	  	 	5.9	(b) 	
Determination Date	  	 	14.2	(e) 	
Early Retirement Benefit	  	 	5.2	(b) 	
Early Retirement Date	  	 	5.2	(a) 	
Effective Date	  	 	1.4	  	
 	 	
Eligibility Period	  	 	3.1	(d) 	
Elective Deferrals	  	 	5.11	(e)(i) 	
Employee	  	 	3.1	(a) 	
Employer	  	 	1.1	(a) 	
Employer Contributions	  	 	2.2	  	
 	 	
Entry Date	  	 	3.1	(b) 	
ERISA	  	 	1.3	  	
5% Owner	  	 	2.3	  	
417(e) Interest Rate	  	 	7.2	(a)(i) 	
417(e) Mortality Table	  	 	7.2	(a)(ii) 	
 	 	
Highly Compensated Employee	  	 	2.4	(a) 	
Hour of Service	  	 	2.5	(a) 	
Investment Manager	  	 	8.1	(b)(i)(B) 	
Key Employee	  	 	14.2	(f) 	
Late Retirement Benefit	  	 	5.3	(b) 	
 
-x-

 	 	 	 	 	
Term	  	Location	 	
Late Retirement Date	  	 	5.3	(a) 	
Leased Employee	  	 	3.4	(a) 	
Limitation Year	  	 	5.8	(e) 	
Look-Back Year	  	 	2.4	(b)(i) 	
Minimum Accrued Benefit	  	 	14.3	(a) 	
 	 	
Minimum Average Monthly Compensation	  	 	14.3	(b) 	
Normal Retirement Benefit	  	 	5.1	(b) 	
Normal Retirement Date	  	 	5.1	(a) 	
Participant	  	 	3.1	  	
PBGC	  	 	12.1	(b) 	
 	 	
Permissive Aggregation Group	  	 	14.2	(d) 	
Person	  	 	2.6	  	
Plan Year	  	 	2.7	  	
Present Value of Accrued Benefits	  	 	14.2	(b)(i) 	
QDRO	  	 	7.1	(h) 	
 	 	
QJSA	  	 	7.3	(a)(i)(A) 	
QPSA	  	 	5.5	(b)(i)(C) 	
Qualified Maternity or Paternity Absence	  	 	2.5	(d)(i) 	
Qualified Military Service	  	 	2.5	(e)(i) 	
Regulations	  	 	1.3	  	
 	 	
Related Employer	  	 	2.8	  	
Required Aggregation Group	  	 	14.2	(c) 	
Required Beginning Date	  	 	7.4	(a)(i) 	
Section 415 Compensation	  	 	5.9	(d) 	
Single Life Annuity	  	 	7.3	(b)(i) 	
 	 	
Spouse	  	 	5.5	(b)(i)(A) 	
Surviving Spouse	  	 	5.5	(b)(i)(B) 	
Top-Heavy Plan	  	 	14.1	  	
Top-Heavy Ratio	  	 	14.2	(a) 	
Top-Heavy Valuation Date	  	 	14.2	(g) 	
 	 	
Trustee	  	 	1.2	  	
USERRA	  	 	2.5	(e)(ii) 	
Valuation Date	  	 	2.9	  	
Vested Accrued Benefit	  	 	5.4	(b) 	
Vesting Period	  	 	6.1	  	
 	 	
Year of Benefit Service	  	 	5.1	(f) 	
Year of Eligibility Service	  	 	3.1	(c) 	
Year of Vesting Service	  	 	6.1	  	
 
-xi-

WOLVERINE
EMPLOYEES’ PENSION PLAN
Wolverine World Wide, Inc., a Delaware corporation, amends and restates the Wolverine Employees’ Pension Plan.
ARTICLE 1
Establishment of Plan and Trust
1.1 Establishment of Plan.
This defined benefit plan is established by the Employer for the exclusive benefit of eligible Employees and their beneficiaries.
(a) Employer. “Employer” means Wolverine World Wide, Inc.
(b) Plan History. A schedule of the effective dates of this plan and certain amendments may be attached.
(c) Adoption by Affiliated Employer. Adoption of this plan by an Affiliated Employer shall be effective as of the date specified by the Employer in Schedule A. Adoption of this plan by an Affiliated Employer shall not create a separate plan.
(i) Conditions/Special Provisions. In approving adoption of this plan by an Affiliated Employer, the Employer may specify special eligibility rules, entry dates, prior service credits or other provisions that apply to employees of the Affiliated Employer. The Employer may limit participation to, or exclude from participation, employees of any division, facility, subsidiary or other economic or administrative unit of the Employer or Affiliated Employer.
(ii) Affiliated Employer. An “Affiliated Employer” may be a subsidiary, which is an entity of which 50% or more of the voting control is owned directly or indirectly by the Employer, or an affiliate which is an entity of which 50% or more of the voting control is owned by owners of 50% or more of the voting stock of the Employer.
(d) Administration. For purposes of administration of this plan, “Employer” means only Wolverine World Wide, Inc.

1.2 Declaration of Trust.
The Employer may establish one or more Trusts to fund the benefits under the Plan. A trust so established shall be operated for the exclusive benefit of Participants and their beneficiaries. Trust assets shall not be used for any other purpose except payment of reasonable administrative expenses.
1.3 Compliance With Law.
This benefit program is intended to continue a qualified retirement plan and trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (“Code”) and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), as amended, and all applicable Regulations issued under the Code and ERISA (“Regulations”).
1.4 Effective Dates of Plan Provisions.
“Effective Date” of this restated plan means January 1, 2011, unless a provision specifies a different effective date. Each plan provision applies from its effective date until the effective date of an amendment.
Notwithstanding the Effective Date specified in the preceding paragraph, the provisions of this restated plan complying with the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, including technical corrections made under the Job Creation and Workers Assistance Act of 2002, are retroactively effective as of the first day of the Plan Year beginning after December 31, 2001.
1.5 Application to Inactive and Former Participants.
An amendment to this plan shall apply to former Participants and to Participants not employed in Covered Employment on the effective date of the amendment only if it amends a provision of the plan that continues to apply to those Participants or only to the extent it expressly states that it is applicable. Except as specified in the preceding sentence, if a Participant is not employed in Covered Employment on the effective date of an amendment, the amendment shall not become applicable to the Participant unless the Participant has an Hour of Service in Covered Employment after the effective date of the amendment.
 
1-2

ARTICLE 2
Definitions
Except for the following general definitions, defined terms are located at or near the first major use of the term in this plan. A table showing the location of all definitions appears immediately after the table of contents. When used as defined, the first letter of each defined term is capitalized.
2.1 Break in Service.
“Break in Service” means an Employee’s failure to complete more than 500 Hours of Service during a 12-consecutive-month period. An unpaid leave of absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 shall not be treated as or counted toward a Break in Service. Any other leave of absence (for sickness, accident, vacation or similar reasons governed by rules uniformly applied to similarly situated Employees by the Employer) shall not cause a Break in Service.
2.2 Employer Contributions.
“Employer Contributions” means all contributions paid to the trust by the Employer under Article 4.
2.3 5% Owner.
“5% Owner” means:
(a) Corporation. An individual who owns (or is considered to own under Code Section 318) either more than 5% of the outstanding stock of a corporate Employer or Related Employer, or stock possessing more than 5% of the total combined voting power of all stock of a corporate Employer or Related Employer;
(b) Partnership. A partner who owns more than 5% of the capital or profits interest in an Employer or Related Employer that is a partnership; or
(c) Proprietorship. An Employer or Related Employer that is a sole proprietor.
Notwithstanding aggregation of the Employer and all Related Employers as required by Code Sections 414(b), (c) and (m), the percentage of ownership for purposes of this definition shall be determined separately for each entity that is an Employer or Related Employer.
 
2-1

2.4 Highly Compensated Employee.
(a) Definition. “Highly Compensated Employee” for a Plan Year means any Employee who:
(i) 5% Owner. Was a 5% Owner at any time during the current Plan Year or the 12-month period immediately preceding the current Plan Year; or
(ii) Other. Is described in (A) and (B) during the Look-Back Year.
(A) Compensation. Received Section 415 Compensation in excess of $110,000 (as adjusted under Code Section 415(d)); and
(B) Top-Paid 20%. Was among the top-paid 20% of Employees when ranked by Section 415 Compensation.
(b) Determination Rules. The determination of who is a Highly Compensated Employee for a Plan Year shall be made under Code Section 414(q) and Regulations, including the following rules:
(i) Look-Back Year. “Look-Back Year” means the 12-month period immediately preceding the current Plan Year.
(ii) Top-Paid 20%. The following Employees are excluded before determining the top-paid 20% of Employees:
(A) Age and Service. Employees who have not attained age 21 or completed six months of service by the last day of the Look-Back Year;
(B) Part-Time/Seasonal. Employees who normally work less than 17 1/2 hours per week or normally work six months or less in any Plan Year;
(C) Nonresident Aliens. Employees who are nonresident aliens receiving no earned income from sources within the United States; and
(D) Collective Bargaining Employees. Employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement if more than 90% of all Employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement and this plan excludes them.
(iii) Former Employees. A former Employee who was a Highly Compensated Employee at termination of employment or at any time after attaining age 55 shall be a Highly Compensated Employee at all times thereafter.
 
2-2

(iv) Consistency. The determination of Highly Compensated Employees shall be applied consistently to the determination years of all qualified retirement and non-retirement plans maintained by the Employer (and any Related Employer) that begin with or within the same calendar year. For purposes of this provision, determination year means the plan year for which the determination of Highly Compensated Employees is being made.
2.5 Hour of Service.
(a) Definition. “Hour of Service” means each hour that an Employee is directly or indirectly paid or entitled to be paid by the Employer for the performance of duties during the applicable period. These hours will be credited for the period in which the duties are performed.
(b) Back Pay. Hours of Service include each hour for which back pay, irrespective of mitigation of damages, is awarded or agreed to by the Employer. Back pay hours shall be credited to the Employee for the period or periods to which the award or agreement pertains.
(c) No Duties Performed. For all purposes under this plan, an Employee shall be credited with the first 501 Hours of Service for which the Employee is directly or indirectly paid or entitled to be paid by the Employer (including back pay) for each single period of absence from work, even if no duties are performed due to vacation, holiday, illness, incapacity (including disability), layoff, jury duty, military service, leave of absence, or other similar reasons, even if employment terminates. However, an Employee is not required to be credited with Hours of Service for periods in which no duties are performed if the Employee is compensated solely as required by worker’s compensation, unemployment compensation, or disability insurance laws. Hours described in this subsection (c) shall be credited to the Employee for the period in which payment is made or amounts payable to the Employee become due.
(d) Qualified Maternity or Paternity Absence. Only for purposes of determining whether the Employee has a Break in Service, an Employee shall be credited with the first 501 Hours of Service during a Qualified Maternity or Paternity Absence.
(i) Definition of Qualified Maternity or Paternity Absence. “Qualified Maternity or Paternity Absence” means an absence from work due to pregnancy of the Employee, birth of a child of the Employee, placement of a child with the Employee in connection with adoption of the child, or caring for a child immediately after the birth or placement of the child with the Employee.
 
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(ii) Credit. If necessary to avoid a Break in Service, Hours of Service shall be credited for the period in which the absence begins. If the hours are not necessary to prevent a Break in Service for that period, the hours shall be credited for the next period. Hours of Service are credited at the rate the Employee normally would have earned Hours of Service. If these hours cannot be determined, the hours shall be credited at the rate of eight hours per day of absence.
(e) Qualified Military Service. If employment terminates due to Qualified Military Service, the Employee shall be credited with Hours of Service for the hours the Employee would have been scheduled to work during the period of Qualified Military Service.
(i) Definition of Qualified Military Service. “Qualified Military Service” means the performance of duty, on a voluntary or involuntary basis, in a uniformed service under competent authority and includes active duty, active duty for training, initial active duty for training, inactive duty training, full-time National Guard duty, and a period for which a person is absent from a position of employment for the purpose of an examination to determine the fitness of the person to perform any such duty. For purposes of this definition, a uniformed service means the Armed Forces, the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard when engaged in active duty for training, inactive duty training, or full-time National Guard duty, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, or any other category of persons designated by the President in time of war or national emergency.
(ii) Qualification/Reemployment. To qualify for this credit, the Employee must return to employment with the Employer in accordance with and within the time limits established by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (“USERRA”) (Chapter 43 of Title 38 of the United States Code).
(f) No Duplication. There shall be no duplication in the crediting of Hours of Service. An Employee shall not be credited with more than one Hour of Service for each hour paid at a premium rate.
(g) Non-Covered Employment. Hours of Service earned in employment with the Employer or a Related Employer that is not Covered Employment count toward Years of Eligibility and Vesting Service, but not toward Years of Benefit Service.
(h) Periods Credited. Generally, Hours of Service shall be credited as provided in Section 2530.200b of the ERISA Regulations. Hours of Service under (c) above shall be credited under the rules of this section and as provided in Section 2530.200b-2(b) of those Regulations. Hours of Service shall be credited to appropriate periods determined under the rules set forth in Section 2530.200b-2(c) of those Regulations.
 
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(i) Additional Hours. The Administrator may adopt additional written, uniform, and nondiscriminatory rules that credit more Hours of Service than those required under the rules set forth in this section.
(j) Predecessor Plan. If this plan is required to be treated as a continuation of the plan of a predecessor employer under Code Section 414(a), an Employee shall be credited with all Hours of Service credited to the Employee under the predecessor’s plan.
(k) Leased Employee. Hours of Service shall be credited for any period for which an individual is a Leased Employee or would have been a Leased Employee but for the requirement that the individual perform services as described in Section 3.4(a)(i) on a full-time basis for at least a one-year period.
(l) Equivalency. If an Employee is not paid on an hourly basis and records of hours worked are not maintained, Hours of Service shall be credited at the rate of 10 hours per day that the Employee would be credited with at least one Hour of Service under this section.
2.6 Person.
“Person” means an individual, committee, proprietorship, partnership, corporation, trust, estate, association, organization, or similar entity.
2.7 Plan Year.
“Plan Year” means the 12-month period beginning each January 1.
2.8 Related Employer.
“Related Employer” means (i) each corporation, other than the Employer, that is a member of a controlled group of corporations, as defined in Code Section 414(b), of which the Employer is a member; (ii) each trade or business, other than the Employer, whether or not incorporated, under common control of or with the Employer within the meaning of Code Section 414(c); (iii) each member, other than the Employer, of an affiliated service group, as defined in Code Section 414(m), of which the Employer is a member; and (iv) any other entity required to be aggregated with the Employer by Regulations under Code Section 414(o). An entity shall not be considered a Related Employer for any purpose under this plan during any period it is not described in (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) in the preceding sentence.
2.9 Valuation Date.
“Valuation Date” means the last day of the Plan Year and any other date specified as a Valuation Date by the Administrator.
 
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ARTICLE 3
Eligibility to Participate
3.1 Eligibility Requirements.
The eligibility requirements for participation in this plan are as to Regular Employees, the completion of one Hour of Service and as to all other Employees the completion of one Year of Eligibility Service. An Employee in Covered Employment shall become a Participant (“Participant”) on the first Entry Date following the date the Employee satisfies the eligibility requirements.
(a) Employee Definitions. “Employee” means an individual who is employed by the Employer or a Related Employer and who receives compensation for personal services to the Employer or Related Employer that is subject to withholding for federal income tax purposes. “Regular Employee” means an Employee who normally renders, or is scheduled to render, personal services for at least 1,000 hours per Plan Year.
(b) Entry Date. “Entry Date” means each January 1, or July 1.
(c) Year of Eligibility Service. “Year of Eligibility Service” means completion of at least 1,000 Hours of Service during an Eligibility Period. A Year of Eligibility Service is credited only at the end of the Eligibility Period.
An Employee who is credited with at least 1,000 Hours of Service in both the initial Eligibility Period and the second Eligibility Period (the Plan Year beginning during the initial Eligibility Period) shall be credited with two Years of Eligibility Service.
(d) Eligibility Period. The initial “Eligibility Period” means the 12-month period beginning on the date the Employee first has an Hour of Service. For an Employee who has a Break in Service due to termination of employment before completing the eligibility service requirements, the initial Eligibility Period begins on the date the Employee has an Hour of Service due to reemployment. The second “Eligibility Period” means the Plan Year beginning within the initial Eligibility Period. Each later Eligibility Period shall coincide with each later Plan Year.
(e) Breaks in Service. Breaks in Service under this article shall be determined by reference to Eligibility Periods.
 
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3.2 Requirement of Covered Employment.
If an eligible Employee is not employed in Covered Employment on the applicable Entry Date and the Employee’s Years of Eligibility Service are not canceled under Section 3.3(b), the Employee shall become a Participant on the first subsequent day on which the Employee has an Hour of Service in Covered Employment.
“Covered Employment” means all employment with the Employer except employment with a Related Employer, employment as a Leased Employee, employment in a unit of employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement which does not extend the Plan to Employees within the unit under which the Employer has engaged in good faith negotiations about retirement benefits, employment of individuals employed by Sebago, Inc. on the date of the asset acquisition by the Employer (except as provided under Schedule C-9 or unless the Employee is subsequently hired independently of the acquisition by the Employer), employment as an employee of Wolverine Colorado, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or employment as a nonresident alien receiving no earned income from sources within the United States or, for Employees hired on or after August 1, 2011, employment as a retail store Employee. “Covered Employment” also excludes any person who is classified by the Employer as other than an Employee even if it is later determined that the classification is not correct.
3.3 Participation Rules.
(a) Termination of Participation. Participation shall terminate upon the earliest of the date the Participant is not an Employee and has been paid the full amount due under this plan, the date of the Participant’s death, or the date the Participant’s Years of Eligibility Service are canceled under (b) below.
(b) Cancellation of Years of Eligibility Service. An Employee’s Years of Eligibility Service shall be canceled if the Employee’s vested percentage is zero and the Employee has at least five consecutive Breaks in Service.
(c) Resumption of Participation. If an Employee’s Years of Eligibility Service are canceled under (b) above, the Employee must satisfy the eligibility requirements of Section 3.1 again to participate or to resume participation in this plan. If the Years of Eligibility Service of a former Participant are not canceled, the former Participant shall resume participation immediately upon completion of an Hour of Service in Covered Employment.
 
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3.4 Leased Employee.
(a) Definition. “Leased Employee” means an individual described in and required to be treated as employed by the recipient under Code Sections 414(n) and 414(o) and Regulations. For this definition, the term recipient includes the Employer and any Related Employer for whom the individual performs services.
(i) Code Section 414(n). A Leased Employee under Code Section 414(n) is an individual who is not an Employee but who performs services for the recipient under the primary direction or control of the recipient, pursuant to an agreement between the recipient and a leasing organization, on a full-time basis for at least a one-year period.
(ii) Code Section 414(o). A Leased Employee includes a leased owner or a leased manager determined to be a Leased Employee under Code Section 414(o) and the Regulations.
 
(b)	Exceptions. A Leased Employee shall not be treated as employed by the recipient if:	
(i) Less Than 20%. Leased Employees determined under (a) above do not constitute more than 20% of the recipient’s non-highly compensated work force, and
(ii) Covered by Plan Described in Code Section 414(n). The individual is covered by a money purchase pension plan described in Code Section 414(n) maintained by the leasing organization with a nonintegrated employer contribution rate of at least 10% of compensation, immediate participation for all employees of the leasing organization, and full and immediate vesting. Immediate participation shall not be required for employees who received less than $1,000 in compensation from the leasing organization in each Plan Year during the four-year period ending with the current Plan Year. For purposes of this provision, compensation means Section 415 Compensation.
 
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ARTICLE 4
Contributions
4.1 Contributions/Amount.
Each Plan Year the Employer shall contribute to the trust an amount determined by a funding policy consistent with plan objectives and in accordance with the funding method adopted on the advice of the Actuary. The funding method shall not be changed except with the automatic or prior approval of the Internal Revenue Service. The Employer Contribution for any Plan Year need not be sufficient to fully fund any benefit. The Employer Contribution shall meet the minimum funding requirements of the Code, unless the Employer obtains a waiver of that requirement. Forfeitures shall be applied to reduce the cost of this plan in the calculations of the Actuary and shall not be applied to increase the benefits otherwise payable to a Participant.
4.2 Limits on Employer Contributions.
Employer Contributions for a Plan Year shall not exceed the amount allowable as a deduction under Code Section 404 and shall not exceed the full funding limitation under Code Section 412. A nondeductible Employer Contribution may be subject to a 10% excise tax.
4.3 Return of Employer Contributions.
(a) Mistake of Fact. Part or all of any Employer Contribution made by mistake of fact shall be returned to the Employer, upon demand, within one year after payment of the contribution.
(b) Nondeductible. Each Employer Contribution is conditioned on its deductibility under Code Section 404. A nondeductible Employer Contribution shall be returned to the Employer, upon demand, before the due date for the Employer’s federal income tax return for the taxable year for which the contribution was made or if later, within one year after the date of disallowance of the deduction. The portion of the contribution to be returned shall not exceed the amount determined to be nondeductible.
(c) Amount. The amount that may be returned shall be determined as of the Valuation Date coinciding with or most recently preceding the date of repayment. The amount shall be the excess of the amount contributed over the amount that is deductible or the amount that would have been contributed if the mistake of fact had not occurred. Earnings attributable to the excess amount shall not be returned. Losses attributable to the excess amount shall reduce the amount returned.
 
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4.4 Reduction of Contribution for Leased Employees.
If a Leased Employee becomes a Participant in this plan, the Employer Contribution shall be reduced by the Actuarially Equivalent value of contributions made by the leasing organization on behalf of the Participant to a qualified retirement plan for services performed by the Leased Employee for the Employer.
4.5 Timing of Contributions.
(a) Quarterly Payments. The Employer Contribution may be made at any time during the Plan Year to which it relates. When required by Code Section 412, the Employer shall contribute four equal, quarterly installments (not more than 15 days after the end of each quarter) during the Plan Year. If the Employer fails to pay the full amount of a required installment for a Plan Year, interest on the underpayment shall be charged in accordance with Code Section 412.
(b) Final Payment. The entire Employer Contribution shall be made by the due date (including extensions) of the Employer’s federal income tax return, but not later than 8 1/2 months after the end of the Plan Year unless the Employer obtains a waiver of the minimum funding requirement.
 
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ARTICLE 5
Amount of Benefits
5.1 Normal Retirement.
A Participant whose employment terminates, for reasons other than death or Disability, on the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date is eligible for a Normal Retirement Benefit.
(a) Normal Retirement Date. “Normal Retirement Date” means the date the Participant attains age 65.
(b) Normal Retirement Benefit. “Normal Retirement Benefit” means the Participant’s Accrued Benefit. The monthly Normal Retirement Benefit shall be not less than the amount of any Early Retirement Benefit to which the Participant was entitled if the Participant had retired at any time under the provisions of Section 5.2.
(c) Accrued Benefit. “Accrued Benefit” means a monthly pension benefit, payable as a Single Life Annuity, beginning on the first day of the month following the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date reduced by any charge.
(i) Base Monthly Amount. The monthly amount shall be the greater of:
(A) Unit. 1.6% of Average Monthly Compensation multiplied by the Participant’s Years of Benefit Service (not exceeding 30) less the Participant’s Monthly Social Security Allowance, or
(B) Flat Dollar. The applicable dollar amount set forth in Schedule B multiplied by the Participant’s Years of Benefit Service (not exceeding 30).
(ii) Monthly Social Security Allowance. A Participant’s Monthly Social Security Allowance shall be the lesser of:
(A)  3/4 Unit.  3/4 of 1% of the lesser of the Participant’s Final Average Monthly Compensation or Covered Compensation multiplied by the Participant’s Years of Benefit Service.
(B)  1/2 Benefit.  1/2 of the Participant’s Accrued Benefit calculated under 5.1(c)(i)(A) above but based upon the smallest of the Participant’s Monthly Average Compensation, Final Average Compensation or Covered Compensation.
If payment begins after normal retirement age but before Social Security Retirement Age, the monthly Social Security Allowance shall be reduced by .5555% (1/180 th ) for each month by which payment precedes the Participant’s attainment of Social Security Retirement Age.

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(iii) Covered Compensation. “Covered Compensation” is the monthly average of the Social Security taxable wage bases in effect for each of the 35 calendar years ending with the year in which the Participant attains Social Security Retirement Age assuming that the wage base is the same as that for the current year.
(iv) Final Average Compensation. “Final Average Compensation” means the monthly average of the Participant’s Compensation (not exceeding the Social Security Taxable Wage Base) for the three consecutive calendar years preceding retirement or earlier termination of employment.
(v) Preserved Benefits. A Participant’s Accrued Benefit shall not be less than:
(A) 1989. The Accrued Benefit determined under the terms of the Plan as of December 31, 1988, or
(B) 1994. The sum of the Participant’s Accrued Benefit as of December 31, 1993, (based on the then terms of the Plan and the Participant’s Credited Service and earnings) plus the benefit accrued since December 31, 1993.
(vi) Fresh Start Extended Wear Away. Benefit determined under 5.1(c)(i)(A) above shall be the greater of the actual benefit amount or the sum of the Adjusted Accrued Benefit and Future Service Benefit.
(A) 401(a)(17) Participant. A 401(a)(17) Participant is a Participant with accrued benefits before January 1, 1994, that were determined taking into account Compensation in excess of $150,000.
(B) Adjusted Accrued Benefit. The “Adjusted Accrued Benefit” shall mean the Participant’s Accrued Benefit determined as of December 31, 1993, determined without regard to the $150,000 Code Section 401(a)(127) compensation limit adjusted as permitted under Section 415(d) of the Code.
(C) Future Service Benefit. The “Future Service Benefit” shall be equal to the benefit computed under 5.1(c)(i)(A) above for Years of Benefit Service after December 31, 1993. In calculating the benefit:
(1) Less Than 30 Years. For a Participant who would have less than 30 Years of Benefit Service as of the later of December 31, 1993, or Normal Retirement Date, future service benefit credits shall equal the excess of 1.6% of Average Monthly Compensation multiplied by Years of Benefit Service after December 31, 1993. The Participant’s Monthly Social Security Allowance utilizing only Years of Benefit Service after December 31, 1993. The post-December 31, 1993, Years of Benefit Service shall not exceed the difference between 30 years and the Years of Benefit Service used in determining the Adjusted Accrued Benefit.

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(2) 30 Years or More. For a Participant not described in (1) above, the Future Service Benefit shall be determined by multiplying the excess of 1.6% of Monthly Average compensation multiplied by Years of Benefit Service (not exceeding 30) over the Monthly Social Security Allowance by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the Participant’s years of Benefit Service credited before December 31, 1993, and the denominator is the Participant’s total Years of Benefit Service at Normal Retirement Date.
(d) Average Monthly Compensation. “Average Monthly Compensation” means the monthly average of the Participant’s Compensation for the four consecutive Plan Years that yield the highest average during the 10-year period preceding the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date (or earlier termination of employment). A Participant’s Compensation for the calendar year of retirement or earlier termination of employment shall be annualized (based upon current pay plus non-deferral bonus).
(i) Less Than 4 Years. If the Participant does not have four complete consecutive Plan Years of Compensation, Average Monthly Compensation shall be the average of the Participant’s total Compensation during the Participant’s completed consecutive Plan Years of employment.
(ii) Calculation. The average shall be determined and expressed as a monthly amount by adding the Participant’s total Compensation for the period of four or fewer consecutive Plan Years and dividing the sum by 48 or by the lesser number of months of total service. Average Monthly Compensation shall be determined as of the date the Participant’s employment terminates.
(e) Compensation. “Compensation” means the gross salary or wages paid to a Participant in a Plan Year for personal services performed for the Employer that are required to be reported under Code Sections 6041, 6051, and 6052 (Wages, tips and other compensation as reported on Form W-2) for the Participant plus Elective Deferrals and any amount that is excluded from gross income pursuant to Code Section 125, but excluding, whether or not includable in income, reimbursements or other expense allowances, cash and noncash fringe benefits, moving expenses, deferred compensation, welfare benefits, and payments under the Wolverine World Wide, Inc. Executive Long Term Incentive Plan.
(i) Elective Deferrals. “Elective Deferrals” means any portion of the Participant’s income deferred and excluded from current taxation under Code Sections 401(k) (a qualified cash or deferred arrangement); 408(k)(6) (a simplified employee pension plan); 403(b) (a tax-sheltered annuity); 408(p)(2)(A)(ii) (a SIMPLE retirement plan); 457 (a deferred compensation plan of governments and tax-exempts); or 501(c)(18) (a pre-June 25, 1959, employee contributions only plan).
(ii) Adjusted Annual Compensation Limit. Compensation for any Plan Year shall not exceed the Annual Compensation Limit. For Plan Years beginning on or after January 1, 2002, the “Annual Compensation Limit” means $200,000 (as adjusted under Code Section 401(a)(17)(B)).
 
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If Compensation for any prior Plan Year is used to determine a Participant’s benefit accruing in a Plan Year beginning on or after January 1, 2002, the Participant’s Compensation for that prior Plan Year is subject to the Annual Compensation Limit. For this purpose, for Plan Years beginning before January 1, 2002, the Annual Compensation Limit is $200,000.
(iii) Compensation For Period of Qualified Military Service. Effective December 12, 1994, if a Participant returns from Qualified Military Service to employment with the Employer within the time limits established by USERRA, the Participant shall be treated as receiving Compensation from the Employer at the rate of pay the Participant would have received during the period of qualified military Service. If the Participant’s Compensation during the period of qualified Military Service cannot be determined with reasonable certainty, the Participant’s Compensation shall equal the Participant’s average compensation from the Employer for the 12-month period immediately preceding the Qualified Military Service (or, if shorter than 12 months, the period of employment immediately preceding the Qualified Military Service).
(iv) Commissioned Salesperson. Compensation, for a salesperson compensated on a commission basis, shall be 70% of the amount otherwise determined in this subsection.
(f) Benefit Service. A Participant shall earn a “Year of Benefit Service” for each full or fractional year of Credited Service to which the Participant was entitled under the terms of the Plan prior to January 1, 1976, and Plan Years after December 31, 1975, in which the Participant completes at least 1,000 Hours of Service in Covered Employment.
(i) Maximum. A Participant shall not be credited with more than 30 Years of Benefit Service.
(ii) Restoration. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6.4(b), if a Participant has completed at least four years of continuous employment at termination of employment and the Participant is reemployed after attaining age 55 and remains employed until attainment of Normal Retirement Age or subsequently is credited with at least 10 Years of Vesting Service, all years of the Participant’s Benefit Service (including those which would have otherwise been cancelled) shall be included in determining the Participant’s Benefit Service.
5.2 Early Retirement.
A Participant whose employment terminates, for reasons other than death or Disability, on or after the Participant’s Early Retirement Date and before the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date is eligible for an Early Retirement Benefit.
(a) Early Retirement Date. “Early Retirement Date” means the date the Participant attains age 60, or if later, the date the Participant completes 10 Years of Vesting Service.
 
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(b) Early Retirement Benefit. “Early Retirement Benefit” means the Participant’s Accrued Benefit determined as of the date that the Participant’s employment terminated. In determining the benefit under 5.1(c)(i)(A):
(i) Tentative Benefit. The tentative benefit shall be calculated utilizing what the Participant’s Years of Benefit Service (not exceeding 30) and Compensation would have been had the Participant continued in employment until the Normal Retirement Date.
(ii) Compensation. The Participant’s Compensation shall be assumed to have continued at the same amount immediately before the Participant’s early retirement.
(iii) Fraction. The tentative benefit shall be multiplied by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction shall be the Participant’s Years of Benefit Service at the Early Retirement Date (not limited to 30) and the denominator shall be the total number of Years of Benefit Service (not limited to 30) that the Participant would have had at Normal Retirement Date.
(c) Early Payment. If the Participant elects payment of the Early Retirement Benefit beginning earlier than the first day of the month after the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date, the monthly amount of the benefit shall be reduced for each additional month that the benefit is payable by the percentage determined below:

 	  	Percentage Reduction	
1.6% or Dollar Formula	  	.3333 (1/3 of 1%)	
Social Security Allowance First 60 months	  	.5555 (5/9% per month)	
Preceding Social Security Retirement Age	  	 	
Social Security Allowance Next 60 months	  	.2777 (5/18% per month)	
Preceding Social Security Retirement Age	  	 	
5.3 Late Retirement.
A Participant whose employment terminates or whose employment continues after the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date is eligible for a Late Retirement Benefit.
(a) Late Retirement Date. “Late Retirement Date” means the date that the Participant’s employment terminates or, if earlier, the Participant’s Required Beginning Date.
 
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(b) Late Retirement Benefit. “Late Retirement Benefit” means a monthly pension benefit equal to:
(i) Before Required Beginning Date. If the Participant’s employment terminates on or before the Participant’s Required Beginning Date, the greater of:
(A) Actuarially Equivalent. The monthly benefit that is Actuarially Equivalent to the Normal Retirement Benefit that would have been payable on the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date; or
(B) Additional Accrual. The monthly benefit that is determined as of the Late Retirement Date, including any additional benefits accrued for the period of employment after the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date.
(ii) After Required Beginning Date. If the Participant’s employment terminates after the Participant’s Required Beginning Date, the amount determined in (i) above reduced by the Actuarially Equivalent value of the total plan distributions made to the Participant up to the Participant’s Late Retirement Date.
5.4 Deferred Vested Retirement.
A Participant whose vested percentage is greater than zero and whose employment terminates before the Participant’s Normal or Early Retirement Date, for reasons other than death or Disability, is eligible for a Deferred Vested Benefit.
(a) Deferred Vested Benefit. “Deferred Vested Benefit” means the Participant’s Vested Accrued Benefit determined under Section 5.2(b) (Early Retirement Benefit).
(b) Vested Accrued Benefit. “Vested Accrued Benefit” means the Participant’s Deferred Vested Benefit multiplied by the Participant’s vested percentage. The nonvested portion of a Participant’s Accrued Benefit is the difference between the Participant’s Accrued Benefit and the Participant’s Vested Accrued Benefit.
(c) Early Payment. If the Participant is eligible to elect and elects payment of the Deferred Vested Benefit beginning earlier than the first day of the month after the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date, the monthly amount of the benefit shall be reduced for each additional month that the benefit is payable in the same manner as provided for early payment of the Early Retirement Benefit.
5.5 Death Benefits.
A death benefit shall be paid only as provided in this section.
(a) Death Before Vesting. If a Participant whose vested percentage is zero dies, a benefit shall not be payable under this plan.
 
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(b) Death Before Annuity Starting Date. If a Participant who has a Vested Accrued Benefit dies before the Annuity Starting Date benefits, if any, will be paid as follows:
(i) Surviving Spouse. If the Participant has a Surviving Spouse, the Surviving Spouse shall receive a QPSA unless the Surviving Spouse waives the QPSA and elects another available form of payment.
(A) Spouse Defined. “Spouse” means the husband or wife to whom the Participant was married at any specified time. A former Spouse shall not be a Spouse except to the extent specified in a QDRO.
(B) Surviving Spouse Defined. “Surviving Spouse” means the Spouse to whom the Participant was married at the time of death and who survives the Participant. If the Participant dies before benefit payments begin, “Surviving Spouse” means the Spouse to whom the Participant was married for at least 6 consecutive months at the Participant’s death and who survives the Participant.
(C) QPSA Defined. “QPSA” means a qualified pre-retirement survivor annuity that is a monthly Single Life Annuity payable to the Surviving Spouse of a Participant. The monthly amount of the QPSA is:
(1) Employee—10 Years. If the Participant had three years of Vesting Service by December 31, 2003, and had completed at least 10 Years of Vesting Service and was an Employee on the Date of Death, 50% of the monthly pension which should have been provided under the standard form of payment computed as though the Participant had continued in covered Employment until the Normal Retirement Date based on his Average Monthly Compensation at the date of death.
(2) Non-Employee —10 Years. If the Participant had three years of Vesting Service by December 31, 2003, was not employed but had completed at least 10 years of Vesting Service on the date of death, 50% of the Deferred Vested Benefit payable without reduction for early payment; or
(3) Other. As to any other Participant, 50% of the benefit that would have been payable to the Participant if the Participant had retired on the day before the Participant died and had elected to have benefit payments begin on the earliest permitted payment date in the form of an immediate QJSA. The monthly amount is subject to reasonable actuarial adjustments to reflect a payment earlier or later than the date as of which the QPSA was determined.
(ii) No Surviving Spouse. If the Participant does not have a Surviving Spouse, a benefit shall not be payable under this plan.
(c) Death After Annuity Starting Date. If a Participant who has a Vested Accrued Benefit dies after the Annuity Starting Date, the Beneficiary shall be paid any remaining benefits payable under the form of payment the Participant was receiving before death.
 
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(d) Death While Performing Qualified Military Service. If a Participant dies on or after January 1, 2007, while performing Qualified Military Service and the Participant was entitled to reemployment rights under USERRA immediately before the Participant’s death, the Participant’s Beneficiary shall be entitled to any additional benefits (including, without limitation, accelerated vesting, credit for service for vesting purposes, and any survivor benefit, but not including benefit accruals relating to the period of Qualified Military Service) that would have been provided under the plan had the Participant resumed employment with the Employer and then terminated employment due to death.
5.6 Pension Offsets.
The amount of any retirement benefit shall be reduced by payments (other than reimbursement for medical expenses) to the Participant.
(a) Workers Compensation. On account of disability due to injury or occupational disease for which an Employer is liable under workers compensation for occupational disease law received after becoming eligible for and meeting all requirements to commence benefits.
(i) Lump Sum. A lump sum payment of amounts under this paragraph shall be charged in full on a monthly basis against the benefit otherwise payable until the amount received is exhausted.
(ii) Offset Limited. A lump sum shall not be charged to the extent that the lump sum would have been previously exhausted if the Participant has been receiving benefits and the payment has been charged since the earlier of the Participant’s receipt of disability benefits or the date the Participant last completed an Hour of Service.
(b) Disability Pension. In the nature of a disability pension under Federal or State law (other than a military service pension, disability insurance benefits under the Social Security Act or payments under State law enacted pursuant to Title I of the Social Security Act).
Payments due to dismemberment or loss of sight or payments arising from disability provisions of group life insurance policies shall not reduce any retirement benefit.
5.7 Special Benefit Schedules.
The provisions of this Article (and, if necessary Articles 3 and 6) may be modified and superceded as specified in Schedule C to apply to any identified group or classification of Employees.
 
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5.8 Benefit Rules.
(a) Single Benefit. A Participant shall not receive more than one type of benefit in any month.
(b) Previously Paid Benefits. The amount of a benefit payable under this article shall be reduced by the amount of benefits previously paid to or with respect to the Participant, including a lump-sum payment of the Participant’s entire Vested Accrued Benefit after the Participant’s employment terminates. All reductions shall be computed on a uniform basis by calculating and offsetting the Actuarially Equivalent value of the benefit previously paid from the Participant’s final benefit.
(c) Transfer. A transfer between Covered Employment and any other employment with the Employer (including employment as a Leased Employee), or a transfer between the Employer and a Related Employer, is not termination of employment.
5.9 Maximum Annual Benefits.
The Annual Benefit accrued by or payable to a Participant in a Limitation Year, from all defined benefit plans maintained by the Employer and each Related Employer, may not exceed the lesser of the Defined Benefit Dollar Limit or the Compensation Limit. If the benefit that a Participant would otherwise accrue in a Limitation Year would produce an Annual Benefit in excess of the permissible amount under Code Section 415 and Regulations, the benefit shall be limited (or the rate of accrual reduced) to a benefit that does not exceed the limits. The limitations of this section apply for Limitation Years beginning on or after July 1, 2007, unless otherwise provided.
(a) Annual Benefit. “Annual Benefit” means a benefit payable annually in the form of a Single Life Annuity. Annual Benefit includes social security supplements described in Code Section 411(a)(9) and benefits transferred from another defined benefit plan (other than transfers of distributable benefits pursuant to Regulations Section 1.411(d)-4, Q&A-3(c)), but does not include benefits attributable to after-tax employee contributions or rollover contributions. The treatment of benefits that are transferred to this plan is determined pursuant to Regulations Section 1.415(b)-1(b)(3).
(b) Defined Benefit Dollar Limit. “Defined Benefit Dollar Limit” means $195,000, as adjusted, effective January 1 of each year, under Code Section 415(d) in such manner as the Secretary shall prescribe, and payable in the form of a straight life annuity. The limit as adjusted under Code Section 415(d) will apply to Limitation Years ending with or within the calendar year for which the adjustment applies, however, a Participant’s benefit shall not reflect the adjusted limit prior to January 1 of that calendar year.
 
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(c) Compensation Limit. Effective for Limitation Years beginning after December 31, 2005, “Compensation Limit” means 100% of the average of the Participant’s Section 415 Compensation for the three consecutive years of service (or, if the Participant has less than three consecutive years, the Participant’s longest consecutive period of service, including fractions thereof, but not less than one year) that produce the highest average. The period for determining a year of service under this provision shall be the Plan Year.
(i) Termination of Employment. If a Participant’s employment terminates, the Participant’s highest average compensation shall be automatically adjusted by the cost-of-living adjustment factor under Code Section 415(d) in the manner prescribed by the Secretary of Treasury. The adjusted compensation amount shall apply to Limitation Years ending with or within the calendar year of the date of the adjustment, however, a Participant’s benefit shall not reflect the adjusted limit prior to January 1 of that calendar year.
(ii) Reemployment. If a Participant is subsequently reemployed following a termination of employment, the “Compensation Limit” for the Participant is the greater of (A) 100% of the average of the Participant’s Section 415 Compensation for the three consecutive years that produced the highest average determined at the time the Participant’s employment terminated (as adjusted under (i) above) or (b) 100% of average of the Participant’s Section 415 Compensation for the three consecutive years that produce the highest average determined by excluding all years for which the Participant performed no services for, and received no compensation from, the Employer or any Related Employer and by treating the years immediately preceding the date of termination and the years following the date of reemployment as consecutive.
(d) Section 415 Compensation. “Section 415 Compensation” means the gross salary or wages paid to a Participant in a Plan Year for personal services performed for the Employer that are required to be reported under Code Sections 6041, 6051, and 6052 (wages, tips and other compensation as reported on Form W-2) for the Participant. Differential wage payments as defined under Code Section 3401(h)(2) made by the Employer to an Employee with respect to any period during which the Employee is performing Qualified Military Service for a period of more than 30 days shall be included in Section 415 Compensation. Differential wage payments as described in the preceding sentence shall be included only for purposes of determining compliance with Code Section 415 and Regulations and in no event, notwithstanding any other provision of this plan to the contrary, shall any benefit under this plan be based on the differential wage payment.
(i) Inclusions. Section 415 Compensation includes:
(A) Elective Contributions. Elective contributions that are excluded from gross income by Code Sections 125, 132(f)(4), 402(g)(3) or 457;
(B) Deemed Section 125 Compensation. Elective contributions for payment of group health coverage that are not available to a Participant in cash because the Participant is unable to certify to alternative health coverage but only if the Employer does not request or collect information regarding the Participant’s alternative health coverage as part of the enrollment process for the group health plan;
 
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(C) Compensation Paid after Employment Terminates. For Limitation Years beginning on or after July 1, 2007, the following amounts provided they are paid by the later of 2 1/2 months after the Participant’s employment terminates or the end of the Limitation Year that includes the date of termination:
(1) Regular Compensation. Regular compensation for services performed during the Participant’s regular working hours, or compensation for services performed outside the Participant’s regular working hours (such as overtime or shift differential), commissions, bonuses or other similar payments, provided they would have been made had the Participant continued in employment with the Employer;
(2) Leave Cashouts. Payments made for unused accrued bona fide sick, vacation, or other leave that the Participant would have been able to use if employment had continued; or
(3) Deferred Compensation. Payments made pursuant to a nonqualified unfunded deferred compensation plan that would have been paid at the same time had employment continued, but only to the extent the payment is includible in the Participant’s gross income.
(ii) Limitation. Section 415 Compensation shall not exceed the Annual Compensation Limit.
(iii) Estimation. Until Section 415 Compensation is actually determinable, the Employer may use a reasonable estimate of Section 415 Compensation. As soon as administratively feasible, actual Section 415 Compensation shall be determined.
(e) Limitation Year. “Limitation Year” means the Plan Year. If the Limitation Year is amended to a different 12-month period, the new Limitation Year must begin on a date within the Limitation Year in which the amendment is made.
(f) Aggregation Rules.
(i) General Rule. In accordance with Regulations Section 1.415(f)-1, all defined benefit plans maintained by the Employer and any Related Employer (as modified by Code Section 415(h)), all benefits under those plans, and Section 415 Compensation from the Employer and any Related Employer (as modified by Code Section 415(h)) shall be aggregated for purposes of applying this section and the remainder of this article. In applying the limitations of this article, if this plan is aggregated with another plan, a Participant’s benefits shall not be counted more than once in determining the Participant’s aggregate Annual Benefit pursuant to Regulations Section 1.415(f)-1(d)(1).
(ii) Terminated Plan. The benefits provided under a terminated defined benefit plan maintained by the Employer or any Related Employer shall be taken into account in applying the limitations of this article in accordance with Regulations Section 1.415(b)-(1)(b)(5).
 
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(iii) Formerly Affiliated Plan. A formerly affiliated plan shall be treated as a plan maintained by the Employer but the formerly affiliated plan shall be treated as if it had terminated immediately prior to the cessation of affiliation with sufficient assets to pay benefit liabilities under the plan and had purchased annuities to provide benefits. For purposes of this provision, a formerly affiliated plan is a plan that, immediately prior to the cessation of affiliation, was actually maintained by an entity that constitutes the Employer (as determined under Regulations Sections 1.415(a)-1(f)(1) and (2)) and immediately after the cessation of affiliation, is not actually maintained by the entity. Cessation of affiliation under the preceding sentence means the event that causes an entity to no longer be aggregated with the Employer under the affiliation rules described in Regulations Sections 1.415(a)-1(f)(1) and (2) (such as the sale of a subsidiary to an unrelated corporation) or that causes a plan to not actually be maintained by an entity that constitutes the Employer under the affiliation rules described in Regulations Sections 1.415(a)-1(f)(1) and (2) (such as a transfer of plan sponsorship to an unrelated corporation).
(iv) Predecessor Employer. If the Employer maintains a defined benefit plan that provides benefits accrued by a Participant while performing services for a former employer (for example, the Employer assumed sponsorship of the former employer’s plan or this plan received a transfer of benefits from the former employer’s plan), the Participant’s benefit under plan maintained by the former employer shall be treated as provided under a plan maintained by the Employer as provided under Regulations Section 1.415(f)-1(c). A former entity that existed before the Employer will be considered a predecessor employer with respect to a Participant if, under the facts and circumstances, the Employer constitutes a continuation of all or a portion of the trade or business of the former entity.
(v) Previously Unaggregated Plans. In accordance with Regulations Section 1.415(f)-1(e), two or more defined benefit plans that were not required to be aggregated as of the first day of a Limitation Year will satisfy the requirements of Code Section 415 with respect to a Participant for the Limitation Year if the plans are aggregated later in that Limitation Year, provided that no plan amendments increasing benefits with respect to the Participant under either plan are made after the occurrence of the event causing the plans to be aggregated. Two or more defined benefit plans that are required to be aggregated pursuant to Code Section 415(f) during a Limitation Year subsequent to the Limitation Year during which the plans were first aggregated will satisfy the requirements of Code Section 415 with respect to a Participant for the Limitation Year if they are aggregated, provided there have been no increases in the Participant’s benefit (including increases as a result of increased compensation or service) under any of the plans at any time during which the plans have been aggregated.
 
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5.10 Adjustments to Maximum Annual Benefits.
The Annual Benefit and limitations described in Section 5.9 shall be adjusted in accordance with this section and applicable Regulations. The provisions of this section shall apply for Limitation Years beginning on or after July 1, 2007, unless otherwise provided.
(a) Annual Benefit Actuarial Adjustment.
(i) Actuarial Adjustment. Except as specified in (ii) below, an Annual Benefit payable in form other than a Single Life Annuity must be adjusted to the actuarially equivalent value of the Single Life Annuity in accordance with the following.
(A) Benefits Not Subject To 417(e). For any benefit paid in a form to which Code Section 417(e) does not apply, the actuarially equivalent value of the Single Life Annuity shall be the greater of (1) the annual amount of the Single Life Annuity (if any) payable to the Participant under the plan commencing at the same Annuity Starting Date as the form of benefit payable to the Participant, or (2) annual amount of the Single Life Annuity commencing at the Annuity Starting Date that has the same actuarial present value as the form of benefit payable to the Participant, computed using an interest rate assumption of 5% and the 417(e) Mortality Table for that Annuity Starting Date.
(B) Benefits Subject To 417(e). For any benefit paid in a form to which Code Section 417(e) applies, the actuarially equivalent value of the Single Life Annuity shall be determined as follows:
(1) After December 31, 2005. If the Annuity Starting Date occurs in a Limitation Year beginning after December 31, 2005, the value shall equal the greatest annual amount of the Single Life Annuity commencing at the same Annuity Starting Date that has the same actuarial present value as the form of benefit payable to the Participant computed by: (i) using the interest rate and mortality table specified in this plan for adjusting benefits in the same form, (ii) using an interest rate assumption of 5.5% and the 417(e) Mortality Table, or (iii) using the 417(e) Interest Rate and the 417(e) Mortality Table and then dividing the result by 1.05.
(2) 2004 or 2005. If the Annuity Starting Date occurs in a Limitation Year beginning in 2004 or 2005, the value shall be the largest amount determined under (1) above using the actuarial equivalence factors specified in (i) and (ii) only.
(3) PFEA Transition Rule. Notwithstanding (2) above, if the Annuity Starting Date occurs after December 31, 2003 and before January 1, 2005, the value shall not be less than the greatest benefit determined by (i) using the interest rate and mortality table specified in this plan for adjusting benefits in the same form, (ii) using the 30-Year Treasury Rate as defined and determined under the provisions of this plan then in effect and the 417(e) Mortality Table, or (iii) using the 30-Year Treasury Rate on the last day of the last Limitation Year beginning before January 1, 2004 under the provisions of this plan then in effect and the 417(e) Mortality Table.
 
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(ii) No Actuarial Adjustment. Actuarial adjustments are not required for:
(A) Survivor Benefits. Survivor benefits payable to a Surviving Spouse under a QJSA to the extent such benefits would not be payable if the Participant’s benefit were paid in another form;
(B) Ancillary Benefits. Benefits that are not directly related to retirement benefits (such as a qualified disability benefit, preretirement incidental death benefits, and post-retirement medical benefits); and
(C) Automatic Benefit Increase. The inclusion in the form of benefit of an automatic benefit increase feature, provided the form of benefit is not subject to Code Section 417(e)(3) and would otherwise satisfy the limitations of Code Section 415(b) and Regulations, and in no event would the amount payable to the Participant under the form of benefit in any Limitation Year exceed the limits of Code Section 415(b) and Regulations applicable at the Annuity Starting Date, as increased in subsequent years pursuant to Code Section 415(d) and Regulations Section 1.415(d)-1. For purposes of the preceding sentence, an automatic benefit increase feature is included in a form of benefit if the benefit provides for automatic, periodic increases to the benefits paid in that form, such as a form of benefit that automatically increases the benefit annually according to a specified percentage or objective index, or a form of benefit that automatically increases the benefit to share favorable investment returns on plan assets.
(iii) Adjustment For Multiple Annuity Starting Dates. If a Participant has or will have payments commencing at more than one Annuity Starting Date, the limitations of Code Section 415 must be satisfied as of each of the Annuity Starting Dates, taking into account the benefits that have been or will be provided at all of the Annuity Starting Dates. In determining the Annual Benefit for such a Participant as of a particular Annuity Starting Date, the plan must actuarially adjust the past and future payments with respect to the benefits that commenced at the other Annuity Starting Dates. The determination of whether a new Annuity Starting Date has occurred is made pursuant to Regulations Section 1.415(b)-1(b)(1)(iii) and without regard to Regulations Section 1.410(a)(20), Q&A-10(d) (under which the commencement of certain distributions may not give rise to a new Annuity Starting Date).
(b) Adjustments to Defined Benefit Dollar Limit and Compensation Limit.
(i) Service Adjustment. If the Annual Benefit begins when the Participant has less than 10 years of participation (as defined below), the Defined Benefit Dollar Limit shall be multiplied by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the number of the Participant’s years of participation (not less than one) and the denominator is 10. If the Participant has less than 10 years of service (as defined below) when the Annual Benefit begins, the Compensation Limit shall be multiplied by a fraction. The numerator of the fraction is the number of the Participant’s years of service (not less than one) and the denominator is 10.
 
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(A) Year of Participation. A Participant shall be credited with a year of participation (computed to fractional parts of a year) for each Plan Year during which the Participant is credited with the service required for benefit accrual purposes beginning with the Plan Year in which the Participant first becomes a Participant.
(B) Year of Service. A Participant shall be credited with a year of service (computed to fractional parts of a year) for each Plan Year during which the Participant is credited with the service required for benefit accrual purposes taking into account only service with the Employer or a predecessor employer (as defined in Regulations Section 1.415(f)-1(c)).
(C) General Rules. A Participant who is permanently and totally disabled within the meaning of Code Section 415(c)(3)(C)(i) for a Plan Year shall be credited with a year of participation and/or service for that Plan Year. A Participant will not be credited with more than one year of participation and/or year of service for each Plan Year. If two or more defined benefit plans are required to be aggregated for a Limitation Year, periods that are counted as years of participation or years of service, as applicable, under any of the plans are counted in computing the reduction for the plans as aggregated.
(ii) Age Adjustment.
(A) Before Age 62. If the Annual Benefit begins before the date the Participant attains age 62 and the plan does not have an immediately commencing Single Life Annuity payable at both age 62 and the age of benefit commencement, the Defined Benefit Dollar Limit at that Annuity Starting Date is the annual amount of a benefit payable as a Single Life Annuity commencing on the Participant’s Annuity Starting Date that is the actuarially equivalent of the Defined Benefit Dollar Limit (as reduced under (i) above if necessary) with actuarial equivalence computed using an interest rate assumption of 5% and the 417(e) Mortality Table in effect for that Annuity Starting Date (and expressing the Participant’s age based on completed calendar months as of the Annuity Starting Date). If, however, the plan has an immediately commencing Single Life Annuity payable both at age 62 and at the age of benefit commencement, the Defined Benefit Dollar Limit at the Participant’s Annuity Starting Date is the lesser of (1) the reduced Defined Benefit Dollar Limit as determined under the preceding sentence or (2) the Defined Benefit Dollar Limit (as reduced under (i) above if necessary) multiplied by the ratio of the annual amount of the immediately commencing Single Life Annuity under the plan at the Participant’s Annuity Starting Date to the annual amount of the immediately commencing Single Life Annuity under the plan at age 62, with both annual amounts determined without applying the rules of Code Section 415.
 
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(B) After Age 65. If the Annual Benefit begins after the Participant attains age 65 and the plan does not have an immediately commencing Single Life Annuity payable at both age 65 and the age of benefit commencement, the Defined Benefit Dollar Limit at that Annuity Starting Date is the annual amount of a benefit payable as a Single Life Annuity commencing on the Participant’s Annuity Starting Date that is the actuarially equivalent of the Defined Benefit Dollar Limit (as reduced under (i) above if necessary) with actuarial equivalence computed using an interest rate assumption of 5% and the 417(e) Mortality Table in effect for that Annuity Starting Date (and expressing the Participant’s age based on completed calendar months as of the Annuity Starting Date). If, however, the plan has an immediately commencing Single Life Annuity payable both at age 65 and at the age of benefit commencement, the Defined Benefit Dollar Limit at the Participant’s Annuity Starting Date is the lesser of (1) the increased Defined Benefit Dollar Limit as determined under the preceding sentence or (2) the Defined Benefit Dollar Limit (as reduced under (i) above if necessary) multiplied by the ratio of the annual amount of the adjusted immediately commencing Single Life Annuity under the plan at the Participant’s Annuity Starting Date to the annual amount of the adjusted immediately commencing Single Life Annuity under the plan at age 65, with both annual amounts determined without applying the rules of Code Section 415. For this purpose, the adjusted immediately commencing Single Life Annuity under the plan at the Participant’s Annuity Starting Date is the annual amount of such annuity payable to the Participant computed disregarding the Participant’s accruals after age 65 but including actuarial adjustments, even if those actuarial adjustments are applied to offset accruals, and the adjusted immediately commencing Single Life Annuity under the plan at age 65 is the annual amount of such annuity that would be payable under the plan to a hypothetical participant who is age 65 and has the same accrued benefit (with no actuarial increases for commencement after age 65) as the Participant receiving the payment (determined disregarding the Participant’s accruals after age 65).
(iii) Mortality Adjustment. In adjusting the Defined Benefit Dollar Limit for the Participant’s Annuity Starting Date under (ii) above, no adjustment shall be made to reflect the probability of a Participant’s death between the Annuity Starting Date and age 62, or between age 65 and the Annuity Starting Date, if benefits will not be forfeited upon the Participant’s death before the Annuity Starting Date. To the extent that a forfeiture occurs upon the Participant’s death before the Annuity Starting Date, an adjustment must be made to reflect the probability of the Participant’s death. A forfeiture shall not be treated as occurring upon the Participant’s death If the plan does not charge Participants for providing the QPSA on the Participant’s death.
(c) $10,000 Minimum Benefit. A benefit shall not be deemed to exceed the Compensation Limit if benefits payable for a Limitation Year under any form of benefit with respect to the Participant under this plan and all other defined benefit plans (regardless of whether terminated) of the Employer and all Related Employers does not at any time exceed $1,000 multiplied by the Participant’s years of service or parts thereof (not to exceed 10) with the Employer and any Related Employer. This limitation shall be applicable only to a Participant who has never participated in a defined contribution plan maintained by the Employer or a Related Employer.
 
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(d) Grandfathered Annual Benefit. The maximum Annual Benefit shall be the greatest of the maximum Annual Benefit as specified in this Article that applies to a Participant at the time of application under Code Section 415, ERISA Section 2004, Section 235(g) of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, Section 1106 of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the Retirement Protection Act of 1994, Section 1449(a) of the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996, Revenue Ruling 98-1, Section 611 of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, Section 101 of the Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004, the Pension Protection Act of 2006, and Regulations under the acts and Final Regulations under Code Section 415, including all effective dates, transitional rules and alternate limitations contained in those acts and Regulations.
(e) Cost of Living Adjustment. If the Annual Benefit payable to a terminated Participant who has not received a complete distribution of the Participant’s Accrued Benefit is limited by either the Defined Benefit Dollar Limit or the Compensation Limit, such benefit, may, as determined by the Employer in a nondiscriminatory and uniform manner, be increased in accordance with the cost of living adjustments under Code Section 415(d).
 
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ARTICLE 6
Determination of Vested Percentage
6.1 Year of Vesting Service.
(a) Credit. An Employee shall be credited with a “Year of Vesting Service” for each Vesting Period in which the Employee completes at least 1,000 Hours of Service, including periods before the Employee became a Participant and before the original effective date of this plan.
(b) No Credit. An Employee shall not be credited with Years of Vesting Service for service before the date that ERISA became effective for this plan, if that service would have been disregarded under the rules of the plan then in effect with respect to breaks in service.
The “Vesting Period” for determining Years of Vesting Service and the existence of Breaks in Service under this article shall be the Plan Year.
6.2 Vested Percentage.
(a) Vesting Schedule. A Participant’s vested percentage shall be determined as follows:

Years of Vesting Service	  	Vested Percentage	 	
Less than 5 years	  	 	-0-	  	
5 years or more	  	 	100	% 	
(b) Normal Retirement Date. The vested percentage of a Participant who is employed in Covered Employment on the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date shall be 100%.
6.3 Cashout.
If a Participant’s employment terminates and the Participant’s vested percentage under Section 6.2(b) is zero, the nonvested amount shall be forfeited as of the date that the Participant’s employment terminates. If the former Participant is reemployed by the Employer or a Related Employer before the Participant has five consecutive Breaks in Service, the forfeited amount shall be restored as of the date the Participant is reemployed.
 
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6.4 Five Breaks in Service.
(a) Cancellation of Vesting Service. If an Employee whose vested percentage is zero has five consecutive Breaks in Service, the Participant’s Years of Vesting Service and years of Benefit Service credited before the Breaks in Service shall be permanently canceled except as provided in Section 5.1(f)(ii).
(b) Forfeiture of Nonvested Accrued Benefit. Unless previously forfeited, a Participant’s nonvested Accrued Benefit shall be permanently forfeited as of the end of the period that includes the Participant’s fifth consecutive Break in Service except as provided in Section 5.1(f)(ii).
6.5 Death After Termination/Lost Recipient.
(a) Death After Termination. If a Participant whose vested percentage is not 100% dies after termination of employment but before the Participant has five consecutive Breaks in Service, any nonvested amount shall be forfeited as of the date of the Participant’s death.
(b) Lost Recipient. If a Person entitled to a payment cannot be located after the Administrator has made a diligent search, the Participant’s account shall be forfeited as of the date the Administrator certifies to the Trustee that the Person cannot be located. The Participant’s Vested Accrued Benefit shall be restored to the Participant’s account if the Person entitled to the payment submits a written election of method of payment.
 
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ARTICLE 7
Payment of Benefits
7.1 Time of Payment.
Subject to the QJSA and QPSA provisions of this plan and the required distribution rules of Section 7.4, benefit payments shall begin not later than the time required under Code Section 401(a)(14). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a Participant may elect to defer benefit payments scheduled to begin at the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date or Late Retirement Date to any date not later than the Participant’s Required Beginning Date as defined in Section 7.4(a).
(a) Normal Retirement Benefit. The Normal Retirement Benefit shall begin on the first day of the month following the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date.
(b) Early Retirement Benefit. The Early Retirement Benefit shall begin on the first day of the month following the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date. The Participant may elect earlier payment beginning on the first day of any month following the Participant’s Early Retirement Date.
(c) Late Retirement Benefit. The Late Retirement Benefit shall begin on the first day of the month following the Participant’s termination of employment or, if earlier, the Participant’s Required Beginning Date.
(d) Deferred Vested Benefit. The Deferred Vested Benefit shall begin on the first day of the month following the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date. If the Participant had completed at least 10 Years of Vesting Service at termination of employment, the Participant may elect earlier payment beginning on the first day of any month following the date the Participant attains age 60.
(e) Death Benefit.
(i) Before Annuity Starting Date. The QPSA shall begin on the first day of the month following the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date. The Surviving Spouse may elect earlier payment beginning on the first day of the month following the date of death, or if later, the first day a Participant could have elected early payment of an Early Retirement Benefit or a Deferred Vested Benefit, if applicable.
(ii) After Annuity Starting Date. If the form of payment to the Participant provides for benefits after the Participant’s death, the continuing benefit shall be paid to the Beneficiary as provided.
(f) Disability Benefit. The Disability Benefit shall begin on the first day of the month following the date of Disability.
 
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(g) Immediate Payment.
(i) $1,000 or Less. If the Actuarially Equivalent present value of the Participant’s Vested Accrued Benefit or the Alternate Payee’s benefit payable under a QDRO is $1,000 or less and the Participant’s employment terminates for any reason, or the QDRO provides for immediate payment, the Administrator shall direct payment of the Actuarially Equivalent present value of the Participant’s Vested Accrued Benefit or the Alternate Payee’s assigned benefit in a lump sum as soon as administratively feasible following termination of employment for determination of a valid QDRO.
(ii) Over $1,000 But Not More Than $10,000. If the Actuarially Equivalent present value of the Participant’s Vested Accrued Benefit or the Alternate Payee’s benefit payable under a QDRO is more than $1,000 but does not exceed $10,000, and the Participant’s employment terminates for any reason and the Participant (and the spouse, if required) consent or the QDRO provides for immediate payment, the Administrator shall direct payment of the Actuarially Equivalent present value of the Participant’s Vested Accrued Benefit or the Alternate Payee’s assigned benefit in a lump sum as soon as administratively feasible after the Participant elects a lump sum payment or determination of a valid QDRO.
(h) QDRO. If the plan receives a QDRO, benefits to an alternate payee shall begin as specified in the QDRO, but not before benefits could have otherwise been payable.
“QDRO” means a qualified domestic relations order, as defined in Code Section 414(p), that is issued by a competent state court and that meets the following conditions:
(i) Alternate Payee. The alternate payee must be the Spouse or former Spouse or a child or other dependent of the Participant.
(ii) Reason for Payments. The payments must relate to alimony, support of a child or other dependent, or a division of marital property.
(iii) Contents. The QDRO must contain the name and address of the Participant and the alternate payee, the amount of benefits or percentage of the Participant’s Vested Accrued Benefit to be paid to the alternate payee, the Valuation Date as of which the amount or percentage is to be determined, and instructions concerning the timing and method of payment.
(iv) Restrictions. A QDRO may not require (A) this plan to pay more than the Actuarially Equivalent present value of the Participant’s Vested Accrued Benefit to the Participant and all alternate payees; (B) a method, payment date, or duration of payment not otherwise permitted under this article; or (C) cancellation of the prior rights of another alternate payee.
 
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(i) Plan Termination; Partial Termination. Benefits shall be paid in accordance with Article 12 as soon as administratively feasible following termination or partial termination of this plan.
7.2 Determination of Benefits.
The age of the individuals to whom benefits are payable shall be determined as of the date the benefit is payable. All forms of payment shall be Actuarially Equivalent to the benefit payable as a Single Life Annuity.
(a) Lump Sum. For purposes of determining the lump sum present value of a benefit:
(i) Interest Rate. The interest rate shall be the 417(e) Interest Rate. “417(e) Interest Rate” means the applicable interest rate determined in accordance with Code Section 417(e). The 417(e) Interest Rate shall be the interest rate determined under the preceding sentence for the month that is three months preceding the first day of the Plan Year that includes the Annuity Starting Date.
(ii) Mortality Table. The mortality table shall be the 417(e) Mortality Table. “417(e) Mortality Table” means the applicable mortality table prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service to be used for purposes of Code Section 417(e).
(b) Optional Forms. For purposes of determining the amount of optional forms of benefit, the interest rate shall be 8% and the mortality table shall be the 417(e) Mortality Table. The amount of an optional form of benefit shall not be less than the amount determined as of June 30, 2004.
7.3 Form of Payment.
(a) Standard Form. Generally, benefits under this plan shall be paid as follows:
(i) Married. If the Participant is married when benefit payments are to begin, the Participant’s benefit shall be paid as a QJSA unless the Participant waives the QJSA, with consent of the Spouse, and properly elects another available form of payment.
(A) Definition. “QJSA” means an immediate qualified joint and survivor annuity under which a reduced (compared to the amount of the Participant’s Vested Accrued Benefit payable as a Single Life Annuity) amount is payable to the Participant for life and 50% of the reduced amount is payable to the Surviving Spouse, if any, for life after the Participant’s death.
 
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(B) Monthly Payments. The monthly amount payable to the Participant and the monthly amount payable to the Surviving Spouse shall not increase after payments begin. The monthly payments under the QJSA shall be such that the value of the expected payments to the Participant and the Surviving Spouse is Actuarially Equivalent to the benefit payable as a Single Life Annuity.
(ii) Not Married. If the Participant is not married when benefit payments are to begin, the Participant’s benefit shall be paid as a Single Life Annuity, unless the Participant waives that form and properly elects another available form of payment.
(b) Optional Forms of Payment. Upon waiver of the QJSA (or Single Life Annuity for an unmarried Participant), the Participant may elect one of the following optional forms of benefit payment. Upon waiver of the QPSA by the Surviving Spouse, the Surviving Spouse may elect one of the following optional forms of benefit payment. A Beneficiary other than the Surviving Spouse shall not be permitted to elect an alternative form of payment. A lump sum shall be the only available optional form of benefit payment for payment prior to the Participant’s earliest Early Retirement Date.
(i) Single Life Annuity. A “Single Life Annuity” is a monthly benefit payable in equal installments for the life of the Participant or other individual with no payments to be made for any periods after the recipient’s death.
(ii) 75% or 100% Joint and Survivor Annuity. A 75% or 100% joint and survivor annuity is an Actuarially Equivalent monthly benefit payable to the Participant for life with a continuation of 75% or 100% of the Participant’s monthly benefit to the Surviving Spouse for the remainder of the Spouse’s life after the Participant’s death.
(iii) 60 or 120 Months Certain and Life Annuity. A 60 or 120 months certain and life annuity is an Actuarially Equivalent monthly benefit payable to the Participant for life while the Participant is alive. If the Participant dies before receiving 60 or 120 monthly payments, the Participant’s Beneficiary shall receive the monthly benefit the Participant was receiving until a total of 60 or 120 monthly payments have been paid.
(iv) Lump Sum. A lump sum is an Actuarially Equivalent benefit payable in a single payment, or if necessary, in one or more payments, within one taxable year of the recipient. The Actuarially Equivalent present value of a Participant’s Vested Accrued Benefit paid as a lump sum before a Participant’s Normal Retirement Date shall be Actuarially Equivalent to the Vested Accrued Benefit payable at Normal Retirement Date (without regard to any early retirement subsidies). The lump sum shall be available only if the Participant’s consent is not required pursuant to Section 7.6(f)(i) or for a QDRO or benefit for which the present value does not exceed $10,000.
 
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(c) Direct Transfer. A distributee may elect to have any portion of an eligible rollover distribution paid directly to an eligible retirement plan.
(i) Eligible Rollover Distribution. An eligible rollover distribution is a distribution of any portion of the balance to the credit of a distributee, except that an eligible rollover distribution does not include: any distribution that is one of a series of substantially equal periodic payments (not less frequently than annually) made for the life (or life expectancy) of the distributee or the joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of the distributee and the distributee’s designated beneficiary, or for a specified period of ten years or more; any distribution to the extent that the distribution is required under Code Section 401(a)(9); any hardship distribution; and any other distribution that is reasonably expected to total less than $200 during a year.
(ii) Eligible Retirement Plan. An eligible retirement plan is an individual retirement account described in Code Section 408(a), an individual retirement annuity described in Code Section 408(b), an annuity plan described in Code Section 403(a), an annuity contract described in Code Section 403(b), or a qualified trust described in Code Section 401(a), that accepts the distributee’s eligible rollover distribution. An eligible retirement plan also includes an eligible plan under Code Section 457(b) which is maintained by a state, political subdivision of a state, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or political subdivision of a state and which agrees to separately account for amounts transferred into such plan from this plan. For any portion of an eligible rollover distribution consisting of after-tax contributions that are not includable in gross income, an eligible retirement plan is an individual retirement account or annuity described in Code Section 408(a) or 408(b), a qualified defined contribution plan described in Code Section 401(a) or 403(a) and effective January 1, 2007, a qualified defined benefit plan described in Code Section 401(a) or an annuity contract described in Code Section 403(b) that agrees to separately account for such portion (including attributable earnings).
(iii) Distributee. A distributee includes a Participant or former Participant, the Participant’s or former Participant’s Surviving Spouse, and the Participant’s or former Participant’s Spouse or former Spouse who is an alternate payee under a QDRO.
(iv) Non-Spouse Beneficiary. Effective January 1, 2007, a Beneficiary who is not a Spouse may elect to transfer all or any portion of a distribution deemed to be an eligible rollover distribution to an individual retirement account or annuity described in Code Section 408(a) or (b) that is established for the purpose of receiving the distribution on behalf of the designated Beneficiary and which is treated as an inherited IRA within the meaning of Code Section 408(d)(3)(C). Additional rules, including the determination of any distribution required under Code Section 401(a)(9), apply as provided under Code Section 402(c)(11) and Regulations and any other applicable guidance published by the Internal Revenue Service.
 
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7.4 Required Distribution Rules.
Subject to the QJSA and QPSA provisions, this section generally states the requirements of Code Section 401(a)(9) and the Regulations and shall take precedence over any other provision of this plan that permits payment at a later time or in a smaller amount. The provisions of this section apply to calendar years beginning on or after January 1, 2003. All payments shall be determined and made in accordance with the Regulations under Code Section 401(a)(9), including the minimum incidental benefit requirement under Code Section 401(a)(9)(G).
(a) Time of Distribution.
(i) Required Beginning Date. Unless payments begin earlier, the entire interest of the Participant must be distributed or distribution must begin not later than the Participant’s Required Beginning Date. “Required Beginning Date” means:
(A) 5% Owner. For a Participant who is a 5% Owner, the April 1 following the calendar year in which the Participant attains age 70 1/2. Once distribution begins to a 5% Owner, it shall continue even if the Participant ceases to be a 5% Owner.
(B) Non-5% Owner. For a Participant who is not a 5% Owner, the April 1 following the calendar year in which the Participant attains age 70 1/2, or, if later, following the calendar year in which the Participant’s employment terminates.
(ii) Death Before Required Beginning Date. If the Participant dies before the Required Beginning Date and before distributions begin, the Participant’s entire interest will be distributed, or begin to be distributed, no later than as follows:
(A) Spouse is Only Beneficiary. If the Participant’s Surviving Spouse is the Participant’s sole designated beneficiary, then distributions to the Surviving Spouse will begin by December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the Participant died, or by December 31 of the calendar year in which the Participant would have attained age 70 1/2, if later.
(B) Other Beneficiary. If the Participant’s Surviving Spouse is not the Participant’s sole designated beneficiary, then distributions to the designated beneficiary will begin by December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the Participant died.
(C) No Beneficiary. If there is no designated beneficiary as of September 30 of the year following the year of the Participant’s death, the Participant’s entire interest will be distributed by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the Participant’s death.
 
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(D) Death of Spouse Prior to Payment. If the Participant’s Surviving Spouse is the Participant’s sole designated beneficiary and the Surviving Spouse dies after the Participant but before distributions to the Surviving Spouse begin, this section (other than (A) above), will apply as if the Surviving Spouse were the Participant.
For purposes of this provision and (d) below, distributions are considered to begin on the Participant’s Required Beginning Date (or, if (D) above applies, the date distributions are required to begin to the Surviving Spouse under (A) above). If annuity payments irrevocably commence to the Participant before the Participant’s Required Beginning Date (or to the Participant’s Surviving Spouse before the date distributions are required to begin to the Surviving Spouse under (A) above), the date distributions are considered to begin is the date distributions actually commence.
(iii) Death After Required Beginning Date. If the Participant dies after the Required Beginning Date, or if earlier, the date payment begins in the form of an irrevocable annuity, payments shall be made at least as rapidly as benefit payments were being paid to the Participant before death.
(b) General Annuity Requirements.
(i) Annuity Payments. If benefit payments under this plan are paid in the form of an annuity, the annuity payments shall comply with the following requirements:
(A) Payment Intervals. The annuity payments will be paid in periodic payments made at uniform intervals not longer than one year;
(B) Payment Period. The distribution period will be over a life (or lives) or over a period certain not longer than the period described in (c) or (d) below;
(C) No Recalculation. Once payments have begun over a period certain, the period certain will not be changed even if the period certain is shorter than the maximum permitted; and
(D) Nonincreasing or Permissible Increase. Payments will either be nonincreasing or increase only as permitted under Regulation Section 1.401(a)9)-6, Q&A-14.
 
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(ii) Amount Required to be Distributed by Required Beginning Date. The amount that must be distributed on or before the Participant’s Required Beginning Date (or, if the Participant dies before distributions begin, the date distributions are required to begin under (a)(ii) above) is the payment that is required for one payment interval. The second payment need not be made until the end of the next payment interval even if that payment interval ends in the next calendar year. Payment intervals are the periods for which payments are received, e.g., bi-monthly, monthly, semi-annually, or annually. All of the Participant’s benefit accruals as of the last day of the first distribution calendar year will be included in the calculation of the amount of the annuity payments for payment intervals ending on or after the Participant’s Required Beginning Date.
(iii) Additional Accruals After First Distribution Calendar Year. Any additional benefits accruing to the Participant in a calendar year after the first distribution calendar year will be distributed beginning with the first payment interval ending in the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which such amount accrues.
(c) Requirements For Annuity Distributions That Commence During Participant’s Lifetime.
(i) Joint Life Annuities Where the Beneficiary Is Not the Participant’s Spouse. If the Participant’s interest is being distributed in the form of a joint and survivor annuity for the joint lives of the Participant and a nonspouse beneficiary, annuity payments to be made on or after the Participant’s Required Beginning Date to the designated beneficiary after the Participant’s death must not at any time exceed the applicable percentage of the annuity payment for such period that would have been payable to the Participant using the table set forth in Q&A-2(c)(2) of Regulations Section 1.401(a)(9)-6, in the manner described in Q&A-2(c) of those Regulations, to determine the applicable percentage. If the form of distribution combines a joint and survivor annuity for the joint lives of the participant and a nonspouse beneficiary and a period certain annuity, the requirement in the preceding sentence will apply to annuity payments to be made to the designated beneficiary after the expiration of the period certain.
(ii) Period Certain Annuities. Unless the Participant’s Spouse is the sole designated beneficiary and the form of distribution is a period certain and no life annuity, the period certain for an annuity distribution commencing during the Participant’s lifetime may not exceed the applicable distribution period for the Participant under the Uniform Lifetime Table set forth in Regulations Section 1.401(a)(9)-9, Q&A-2, for the calendar year that contains the Annuity Starting Date. If the Annuity Starting Date precedes the year in which the Participant reaches age 70, the applicable distribution period for the Participant is the distribution period for age 70 under the Uniform Lifetime Table set forth in Regulations Section 1.401(a)(9)-9, Q&A-2, plus the excess of 70 over the age of the Participant as of the Participant’s birthday in the year that contains the Annuity Starting Date. If the Participant’s Spouse is the Participant’s sole designated beneficiary and the form of distribution is a period certain and no life annuity, the period certain may not exceed the longer of the Participant’s applicable distribution period, as determined under this section, or the joint life and last survivor expectancy of the Participant and the Participant’s Spouse as determined under the Joint and Last Survivor Table set forth in Regulations Section 1.401(a)(9)-9, Q&A-3, using the Participant’s and Spouse’s attained ages as of the Participant’s and Spouse’s birthdays in the calendar year that contains the Annuity Starting Date.
 
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(d) Requirements For Minimum Distributions Where Participant Dies Before Date Distributions Begin.
(i) Participant Survived by Designated Beneficiary. If the Participant dies before the date distribution begins and there is a designated beneficiary, the Participant’s entire interest will be distributed, beginning no later than the time described in (a)(ii)(A) or (B) above, over the life of the designated beneficiary or over a period certain not exceeding:
(A) Annuity Starting Date After First Distribution Calendar Year. If the Annuity Starting Date is after the first distribution calendar year, the life expectancy of the designated beneficiary determined using the beneficiary’s age as of the beneficiary’s birthday in the calendar year immediately following the calendar year of the Participant’s death; or
(B) Annuity Starting Date Before First Distribution Calendar Year. If the Annuity Starting Date is before the first distribution calendar year, the life expectancy of the designated beneficiary determined using the beneficiary’s age as of the beneficiary’s birthday in the calendar year that contains the Annuity Starting Date.
(ii) No Designated Beneficiary. If the Participant dies before the date distributions begin and there is no designated beneficiary as of September 30 of the year following the year of the Participant’s death, distribution of the Participant’s entire interest will be completed by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the Participant’s death.
(iii) Death of Surviving Spouse Before Distributions to Surviving Spouse Begin. If the Participant dies before the date distribution begins, the Participant’s Surviving Spouse is the Participant’s sole designated beneficiary, and the Surviving Spouse dies before distributions to the Surviving Spouse begin, this section will apply as if the Surviving Spouse were the Participant, except that the time by which distributions must begin will be determined without regard to (a)(ii)(A) above.
 
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(iv) Payments to Surviving Child. Payments made to a Participant’s surviving child until the child reaches the age of majority, as determined under Regulations Section 1.401(a)(9)-6, Q&A-15, or the child dies, if earlier, may be treated as if such payments were made to the Surviving Spouse to the extent the payments become payable to the Surviving Spouse upon cessation of the payments to the child.
(e) Definitions.
(i) Designated Beneficiary. The designated beneficiary is the individual who is designated as the beneficiary under Section 7.6 and is the designated beneficiary under Code Section 401(a)(9) and Regulations Section 1.401(a)(9)-4.
(ii) Distribution Calendar Year. A distribution calendar year is a calendar year for which a minimum distribution is required. For distributions beginning before the Participant’s death, the first distribution calendar year is the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year which contains the Participant’s Required Beginning Date. For distributions beginning after the Participant’s death, the first distribution calendar year is the calendar year in which distributions are required to begin pursuant to (a) above.
(iii) Life Expectancy. Life expectancy is the life expectancy computed by use of the Single Life Table in Regulations Section 1.401(a)(9)-9, Q&A-1.
(f) Actuarial Increase. If benefit payments to a Participant who is not a 5% Owner begin on a Required Beginning Date that is later than the April 1 following the calendar year in which the Participant attains age 70 1/2, the benefit shall be actuarially increased to reflect the delay in payment to the date on which benefit payments commence.
The period for the actuarial increase shall begin on April 1 following the calendar year in which the Participant attains age 70 1/2 (or January 1, 1997, in the case of an Employee who attained age 70 1/2 prior to 1996) and shall end on the date on which benefits commence after termination of employment in an amount sufficient to satisfy Code Section 401(a)(9). The amount of the increase for the period for the actuarial increase must result in a benefit that is Actuarially Equivalent to the benefit payable on the April 1 following the calendar year in which the Participant attains age 70 1/2 plus the Actuarially Equivalent value of all additional benefits accrued after that date minus the Actuarially Equivalent value of any benefit payments made after that date. The actuarial increase is generally the same as, and not in addition to, the actuarial increase required for that same period under Code Section 411 to reflect a delay in payments after normal retirement, except that the actuarial increase required under Code Section 401(a)(9)(C) must be provided even during the period during which a Participant is in Section 203(a)(3)(B) Service.
 
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For purposes of Code Section 411(b)(1)(H), the actuarial increase will be treated as an adjustment attributable to the delay in payment of benefits after the attainment of normal retirement age. Accordingly, to the extent permitted under Code Section 411(b)(1)(H), the actuarial increase required under Code Section 401(a)(9)(C)(iii) may reduce the benefit accrual otherwise required under Code Section 411(b)(1)(H)(i), except that the rules on suspension of benefits are not applicable.
(g) TEFRA Election. Benefit payments may begin or may be made at the time and by the method specified in a TEFRA Election even if later than the Required Beginning Date. “TEFRA Election” means a written election made before January 1, 1984, pursuant to the transitional rules of Section 242(b)(2) of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982. An amendment or revocation of a TEFRA Election shall void the election, and the Participant’s benefits shall be paid pursuant to this article. Designation of a different or additional beneficiary shall not void a TEFRA Election if the designation does not directly or indirectly alter the time when benefits begin or the period over which benefits are to be paid.
7.5 Waiver of QJSA or QPSA; Election of Method and Time of Benefit Payments.
(a) Waiver of QJSA.
(i) Notice. At least 30 days, but not more than 180 days, before the Annuity Starting Date, the Administrator shall provide each Participant, in writing, a reasonable explanation of (A) the terms and conditions of the QJSA; (B) the Participant’s right to waive, and the effect of the waiver of, the QJSA; (C) the rights of the Spouse; and (D) the right to revoke, and the effect of a revocation of, a previous waiver of the QJSA.
(ii) Waiver. During the 180-day period before the Annuity Starting Date, a Participant may waive the QJSA, or the Single Life Annuity if the Participant is not married, and may revoke a prior waiver. A waiver of a QJSA shall not be effective unless the Spouse consents to the waiver. The Participant may revoke the waiver without the Spouse’s consent. The waiver may be in the form of a written election under (g) below containing the Spouse’s consent.
(b) Waiver of QPSA.
(i) Notice. The Administrator shall provide each Participant with a written notice containing an explanation of the QPSA and other benefits available upon the death of the Participant. The explanation shall be comparable to the explanation described above with respect to the QJSA. The notice shall be provided to each Participant within the period described below that ends last:
 
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(A) Age Related. The period beginning with the first day of the Plan Year that includes the date the Participant attains age 32 and ending with the last day of the Plan Year preceding the Plan Year in which the Participant attains age 35; or
(B) Participation. A reasonable period that includes the date the Employee becomes a Participant. A reasonable period is the two-year period beginning one year before, and ending one year after, the occurrence of the described event.
If a Participant’s employment terminates before the Plan Year that includes the date the Participant attains age 35, notice shall be provided within the two-year period beginning one year before termination of employment and ending one year after termination of employment. If the Participant later returns to employment with the Employer, the applicable period for the Participant shall be redetermined.
(ii) Waiver. At any time during the period beginning on the first day of the Plan Year that includes the date a Participant attains age 35 (or the date the Participant’s employment terminates, if earlier) and ending on the earlier of the date the first payment is made to the Participant or the Participant’s death, the Participant may waive the QPSA with the written consent of the Spouse and elect an optional form of benefit payment. The waiver shall be in the form of a written election by the Participant and consent by the Spouse. The Participant may not designate a different Beneficiary without a new consent by the Spouse. If the Participant does not waive the QPSA during the Participant’s lifetime, the Spouse may waive the QPSA and elect an optional form of benefit payment at any time after the Participant’s death and before payment begins. A Participant or Spouse may waive the QPSA as to the entire benefit or any portion of the otherwise payable benefit.
(iii) Pre-Age 35 Waiver. A Participant who has not attained age 35 as of the last day of any current Plan Year may make a special waiver of the QPSA for the period beginning on the date of the waiver and ending on the first day of the Plan Year in which the Participant attains age 35. The waiver is subject to (i) and (ii) above except that the notice under (i) above must be provided to the Participant before the date of the waiver. The waiver shall not be valid unless the Participant receives the notice before the date of the waiver.
The QPSA shall be automatically reinstated as of the first day of the Plan Year in which the Participant attains age 35. Any new waiver on or after that date is subject to (i) and (ii) above.
 
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(c) Spousal Consent . A consent by a Spouse shall not be effective unless the consent is in writing, signed by the Spouse and witnessed by an individual designated for this purpose by the Administrator or by a notary public. The consent must acknowledge the effect of the waiver of the QJSA or the QPSA. If it is established to the satisfaction of the Administrator that the Spouse cannot be located or if other circumstances set forth in Regulations issued under Code Section 417 exist, the Spouse’s consent is not required. The consent is effective only with respect to the consenting Spouse and not with respect to a subsequent Spouse. Consent by the Spouse will be irrevocable with respect to the Participant’s election, waiver, or designation of a Beneficiary to which the consent relates.
(i) Specific Beneficiary or Form of Payment. The consent may be limited to payment to a specific alternate Beneficiary, including any class of Beneficiaries or any contingent Beneficiaries, and a specified form of payment. Any waiver after the revocation of a prior waiver or change of Beneficiary will require a new spousal consent.
(ii) General Consent. The consent may permit the Participant to designate a Beneficiary, or elect an optional form of benefit payment, or to change either or both without a further consent by the Spouse. This form of consent is not valid unless the Spouse expressly and voluntarily permits such designations and elections without any further spousal consent. The consent may be limited to certain Beneficiaries or to certain forms of payment.
(iii) Consent Not Required. This subsection (c) shall apply only to a Participant whose payments had not actually begun on or before August 23, 1984, who was alive on August 23, 1984, and who had at least one Hour of Service on or after September 2, 1974.
(d) Permitted Elections . To the extent permitted under this article and subject to waiver of the QJSA or QPSA, the Participant or other recipient may elect the method and time of payment. To the extent satisfied under subsections (a), (b), or (c), the requirements under (e) and (g) need not be met again.
(e) Participant Consent . If payment is due to termination of employment prior to the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date for any reason other than death, payment of benefits shall not begin without the Participant’s consent. The consent shall be given by an election of benefit payments. An election of payment shall be made within the 180-day period ending on the Annuity Starting Date.
(i) Notice. When consent is required, the Participant shall be notified of the right to elect benefit payments and the right (if any) to defer payments and the consequences of failing to defer. The written notice shall provide an explanation of the material features and relative values of the available forms of payment. The notice shall be provided at least 30 days and not more than 180 days before the Annuity Starting Date.
 
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(ii) Annuity Starting Date. “Annuity Starting Date” means the first day of the first period for which an amount is payable in any form. Generally, the Annuity Starting Date is the date on which benefit payments may begin after all conditions and requirements for payment have been met.
(A) Disability. The Annuity Starting Date for Disability Benefits shall be the date they begin if the Disability Benefit is not an auxiliary benefit. An auxiliary benefit is a Disability Benefit that does not reduce the benefit payable at Normal Retirement Date. Payment of a Disability Benefit that is an auxiliary benefit is disregarded in determining the Annuity Starting Date.
(B) Suspension of Benefits. If benefit payments are suspended pursuant to Section 7.9 for an Employee who continues to be employed without terminating employment and without receiving benefit payments under this plan, the date benefit payments start shall be the Annuity Starting Date for the Participant. Benefit payments that commence on the Participant’s Required Beginning Date and before the Participant terminates employment shall be disregarded in determining the Annuity Starting Date.
(f) Exceptions.
(i) Small Balance Exceptions. The waiver of the QJSA or QPSA and the Participant’s consent are not required with respect to a payment made when the Actuarially Equivalent present value of the Participant’s Vested Accrued Benefit is $5,000 (or such larger amount as may be specified in Code Section 411(a)(11)(A)) or less unless the distribution is one of a series of scheduled periodic payments and the Participant’s consent was required at the time the initial payment was made.
(ii) Waiver of Notice Period. Payments may commence less than 30 days after the notices required under (a)(i) and (e)(i) above are given, provided:
(A) Right to 30-day Period. The Administrator clearly informs the Participant that the Participant has a right to a period of at least 30 days after receiving the notices to consider the decision of whether or not to elect payment or to waive the QJSA and consent to a form of payment other than the QJSA;
(B) Election. The Participant, after receiving the notices, affirmatively elects an optional form of payment;
(C) Right to Revoke. The Participant is permitted to revoke the affirmative election until the Annuity Starting Date or, if later, at any time prior to the end of the 7-day period that begins the day after the notices are given to the Participant; and
(D) Benefit Payments. Benefit payments in accordance with the affirmative election do not commence before the end of the 7-day period described in (C) above.
 
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(g) Election Requirements .
(i) Time. The election shall be made not later than the date benefit payments begin or, if earlier, the date when benefit payments must begin. An election may be revoked or changed before benefit payments begin.
(ii) Form. An election shall be made in a form acceptable to the Administrator.
(iii) Other Conditions. An election shall become void upon the death of the Participant prior to the date the first monthly payment is required to be paid to the Participant. If a benefit is payable to a Surviving Spouse and conditioned upon the survival of and measured by the life of the Surviving Spouse, death of the Surviving Spouse prior to the date the first monthly benefit is required to be paid to the Participant shall void the election.
(h) Failure to Elect . If a Person fails to elect (or multiple recipients cannot agree):
(i) Method. The form of benefit payment shall be a QJSA or QPSA if the Participant is married or a Single Life Annuity if the Participant is not married.
(ii) Time. Benefit payments shall begin at the time specified in this article.
(i) Additional Information . The Administrator may require additional forms or information when required by law or deemed necessary or appropriate in connection with any benefit payment.
(j) No Reduction or Delay of Payments . An election or failure to elect shall not cause noncompliance with the QJSA or QPSA provisions, the requirements of Section 7.4, the requirements of Code Section 415, or the terms of a QDRO.
(k) No Retroactive Payment . Payment shall not be made for any period prior to the date the notice under (a)(i) is provided and the Participant has properly completed a written application for the benefit on the form provided for such purpose by the Administrator. If the written application as originally filed with the Administrator is not completed properly, benefit payments shall not begin until a properly completed application has been filed. If the notice under (a)(i) is properly provided to the Participant at the Participant’s Normal or Late Retirement Date and the Participant fails to make an election, the Participant shall be deemed to have made an election to defer payment to a later date, but not later than the Participant’s Required Beginning Date. If the Participant makes or is deemed to make an election to defer payment beyond the Participant’s Normal or Late Retirement Date, the amount of the benefit payment shall be Actuarially Equivalent to the benefit that would have been payable but for the deferral.
 
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7.6 Determination of Beneficiary .
A Participant’s Beneficiary and successor Beneficiaries are determined under this section. The determination of a designated beneficiary under Section 7.4 is not only determined under this section but also is subject to and determined under Code Section 401(a)(9) and Regulations. A Participant may designate or change a Beneficiary by filing a signed designation with the Administrator in a form approved by the Administrator. The Participant’s Will is not effective for this purpose.
(a) Beneficiary . “Beneficiary” means the Person designated by the Participant, or determined under this section, to receive the Participant’s benefits, if any, that are provided by this plan or by the form of payment in effect under this plan after the Participant’s death. The rules of this section apply to a designation by the Participant and in the absence of a valid designation or upon the failure of a designation by the Participant.
(b) Successor Beneficiaries . One or more successor Beneficiaries may be designated by the Participant or determined under this section.
(c) Married Participant; Spousal Consent . The Beneficiary of a married Participant shall be the Spouse unless the Spouse consents to designation of a Beneficiary other than the Spouse. If a married Participant designates or changes a Beneficiary other than the Spouse without the Spouse’s consent, the designation will be void. A consent that permits further designations without consent is void unless the consent expressly permits such designations without additional spousal consent.
(i) Consent. Consent by the Spouse must be voluntary and must acknowledge and accept the consequences of the designation of a Beneficiary other than the Spouse. Consent by the Spouse is irrevocable. The consent and acknowledgment must be witnessed by an individual designated by the Administrator or by a notary public. If the Spouse cannot be located or if any of the other exceptions set forth in Regulations issued under Code Section 417 apply, a consent is not required.
(ii) Successors. Spousal consent is not required for the designation or determination under this section of successor Beneficiaries to the Spouse.
(iii) Change of Marital Status. An existing Beneficiary designation by a Participant will be void upon the Participant’s subsequent marriage or remarriage unless the new Spouse consents to the designation.
 
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(d) Default Determination . If a Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary, or if there is no Beneficiary or successor at the Participant’s death or at any later payment date for the reason specified in (e) below or for any other reason, the Beneficiary shall be the surviving Spouse at the time of the Participant’s death and the Spouse’s estate with respect to any amount remaining undistributed at the subsequent death of the Spouse. If the Participant is not survived by a Spouse, the Beneficiary shall be the members of the first of the following classes with a living member on the date a benefit payment is due:
(i) Children. The Participant’s children, including those by adoption, dividing the distribution equally among the Participant’s children with the living issue of any deceased child taking their parent’s share by right of representation;
(ii) Parents. The Participant’s parents, dividing the distribution equally if both parents are living;
(iii) Brothers and Sisters. The Participant’s brothers and sisters, dividing the distribution equally among the Participant’s living brothers and sisters.
(e) Death of Beneficiary . If payment to one Beneficiary is pending or has begun and the Beneficiary dies before all payments have been made, the remaining payments shall be paid to the successor Beneficiary designated by the Participant or, if no successor Beneficiary has been designated, to the Beneficiary determined under (d) above. If payment is pending or has begun to more than one Beneficiary, payments shall continue to the survivor or survivors of them, and any amount remaining upon the death of the last survivor shall be paid to the successor Beneficiary designated by the Participant or, if no successor Beneficiary has been designated, to the Beneficiary determined under (d) above. Survivors shall include the issue of any deceased child who shall take the deceased child’s share by right of representation.
(f) No Surviving Beneficiary . If a deceased Participant has no surviving Beneficiary or successor Beneficiaries as designated by the Participant or as determined under (d) above on the date of the Participant’s death, or on any subsequent date on which a payment is due, all remaining payments shall be paid to the Participant’s estate, if then under the active administration applicable probate or similar laws, or if not, to those Persons who would then take the Participant’s personal property under the Michigan intestate laws then in force, and in the proportions provided by those laws, as though the Participant had died at that time.
(g) Alternate Payee . An alternate payee awarded an independent benefit under this plan shall be considered a Participant for purposes of determining the alternate payee’s Beneficiary under this section.
(h) Determination . The Administrator shall apply the rules of this section to determine the proper Persons to whom payment should be made. The decision of the Administrator shall be final and binding on all Persons.
 
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7.7 Facility of Payment.
A payment under this section shall fully discharge the Employer and Trustee from all future liability with respect to that payment.
(a) Minimum Payments. When the amount of a benefit payment is less than $25 per month, the Administrator may direct payment of accumulated amounts at less frequent intervals, but at least annually, in order to minimize the administrative expense of the payment.
(b) Incapacity. If a recipient entitled to a payment is legally, physically, or mentally incapable of receiving or acknowledging payment, the Administrator may direct the payment to the recipient; or, for the benefit of the recipient, to the recipient’s legal representative or any other Person who is legally entitled to receive payments on behalf of the recipient under the laws of the state in which the recipient resides; or to a custodian for the recipient under any applicable uniform transfers to minors act.
(c) Legal Representative. Neither the Employer nor the Trustee shall be required to commence probate proceedings or to secure the appointment of a legal representative.
(d) Annuity Contract Purchase. An annuity contract purchased and distributed by the plan shall comply with the requirements of this plan and shall be nontransferable.
7.8 Penalties.
The following penalties apply to payment of, or failure to make payment of, certain amounts under this plan.
(a) Payment Before Age 59 1/2. A Participant who receives a payment of benefits before attaining age 59 1/2 may be liable for an additional 10% federal income tax on any portion of the benefit payments included in gross income.
(b) Failure to Receive Minimum Payments. For a calendar year in which a Participant or Beneficiary fails to receive the minimum payments required under Code Section 401(a)(9), the recipient shall be subject to an additional tax equal to 50% of the difference between the minimum payments and the amount the recipient actually received.
 
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7.9 Suspension of Benefit Payments.
(a) Normal/Early Retirement Benefits. Normal or Early or Deferred Vested Retirement Benefits in pay status will be suspended at the first day of the first Plan Year following a Plan Year in which the Participant is credited with at least 500 Hours of Service.
(i) Resumption of Payment. If benefit payments have been suspended, payments shall resume at the earlier of the first day of the Plan Year following a Plan Year in which the Participant incurs a Break in Service or the month after the calendar month in which the Participant ceases to be employed. The initial payment upon resumption shall occur in the calendar month when payments resume and shall include any amounts withheld during the period between the cessation of employment and the resumption of payments.
(ii) Amount of Benefit Payment at Resumption of Payments. When a Participant whose retirement benefit payments have been in pay status and were then suspended ceases to be employed with the Employer and resumes receipt of benefit payments, the benefits shall be increased to the Actuarially Equivalent value of the benefits at the date payments were suspended (but not in excess of the maximum Annual Benefit).
(iii) Death During Suspension of Benefits. If a Participant dies while benefit payments are suspended, benefit payments to the Surviving Spouse or other Beneficiary shall be determined as if the Participant had ceased employment the day before death. If the Participant had begun receiving benefit payments before the suspension of benefit payments, payment to the Surviving Spouse or other Beneficiary shall be made in the manner required under the form of benefit payment the Participant elected before the suspension. If the benefit payments had been paid as a Single Life Annuity, the Surviving Spouse or other Beneficiary shall receive a lump-sum payment in the amount of the sum of the benefit payments suspended before the Participant died. If benefit payments had not begun before the suspension of benefits, the Surviving Spouse shall receive benefit payments under the death benefit or the QPSA.
(b) Disability. Disability Benefits shall be suspended:
(i) Employment. If the Employee engages in a regular occupation or employment (except for rehabilitation as determined by the Administrator) for remuneration or profit;
(ii) Recovery. If the Administrator determines on the basis of a medical examination that the Employee has sufficiently recovered to return to regular work; or
(iii) Refuse Examination. If the Employee refuses to undergo a medical examination ordered by the Administrator. The Employee shall not be required to undergo medical examinations more frequently than once during each six-month period or after attaining age 65.
 
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ARTICLE 8
Administration of the Plan
8.1 Duties, Powers, and Responsibilities of the Employer.
(a) Required. The Employer shall be responsible for:
(i) Employer Contributions.
(A) Amount. Determining the amount of Employer Contributions,
(B) Payment. Paying Employer Contributions (including additional contributions if necessary to correct an error); and
(C) Compliance. Determining that the amount and time of Employer Contributions comply with this plan;
(ii) Agent for Service of Process. Serving as the agent for service of process;
(iii) Trustee. Appointing the Trustee;
(iv) Amendment. Amending this plan and trust;
(v) Plan Termination. Revoking this instrument and terminating this plan and trust; and
(vi) Mergers; Spin-Offs. Merging this plan with another qualified retirement plan maintained by the Employer or dividing this plan into multiple plans.
(b) Discretionary. The Employer may exercise the following responsibilities:
(i) Investment Manager. Appointing one or more Investment Managers who shall have the power to acquire, manage, or dispose of any or all trust assets subject to:
(A) Functions. The functions of the Investment Manager shall be limited to those specified services and duties for which the Investment Manager is engaged, and the Investment Manager shall have no other duties, obligations, or responsibilities under this plan or trust;
 
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(B) Qualification. “Investment Manager” means a Person that is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, a bank (as defined in the Investment Advisors Act of 1940), or an insurance company licensed to manage, acquire, and dispose of assets of qualified retirement plans under the laws of more than one state; and
(C) Acknowledgment. A prospective Investment Manager must acknowledge in writing that it is a fiduciary with respect to this plan and trust;
(ii) Custodian. Appointing one or more agents to act as custodians of trust assets transferred to the custodian;
(iii) Alternate Administrator. Designating a Person other than the Employer as the Administrator; and
(iv) Payment of Administrative Expenses. Paying administrative expenses incurred in the operation, administration, management, and control of this plan or the trust. These expenses shall be the obligation of the trust unless paid by the Employer.
8.2 Employer Action.
An action required to be taken by the Employer shall be taken by its board of directors, by resolution of an authorized committee of the Board of Directors, or by a person authorized to act on behalf of the Employer.
8.3 Plan Administrator.
“Administrator” means the Employer or a Person designated by the Employer. The Administrator is a named fiduciary for operation and management of this plan and shall have the responsibilities conferred by ERISA upon the “Administrator” as defined in ERISA Section 3(16).
8.4 Administrative Committee.
(a) Appointment. The Employer may, but shall not be required to, appoint an administrative committee to perform the duties involved in the daily operation of this plan.
(b) Agent; Powers and Duties. The administrative committee is an agent of the Employer. The administrative committee shall have the powers and duties delegated to it by the Administrator.

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(c) Not Fiduciary. Except to the extent the administrative committee is expressly delegated a fiduciary responsibility with respect to this plan, the administrative committee will be responsible to the Employer for its actions and will not be a named fiduciary for operation and management of this plan.
(d) Membership. The number of members of the administrative committee shall be determined by the Employer and shall be not less than three nor more than seven. The Employer shall appoint the members of the administrative committee and may remove or replace them at any time.
(e) Records. The administrative committee shall keep records of its proceedings.
(f) Actions. The administrative committee shall act by a majority of its members then in office. Action may be taken either by a vote at a meeting or in writing without a meeting. Any or all members may participate in a meeting by a conference telephone or similar electronic equipment. Actions of the administrative committee may be evidenced by written instrument executed by the chairman or the secretary of the administrative committee.
(g) Report to Administrator. The administrative committee shall report to the Administrator when requested with respect to the administration, operation, and management of this plan.
(h) Compensation. Any member of the administrative committee who is an Employee shall serve without compensation.
(i) Conflict of Interest. Any member of the administrative committee who is a Participant shall not vote or act on a matter that relates solely to that Participant. If that Participant is the only member of the administrative committee, the necessary action shall be exercised by the Administrator.
8.5 Duties, Powers, and Responsibilities of the Administrator.
Except to the extent properly delegated, the Administrator shall have the following duties, powers, and responsibilities and shall:
(a) Plan Interpretation. Interpret all provisions of this instrument (including resolving an inconsistency or ambiguity or correcting an error or an omission);
(b) Participant Rights. Subject to Section 8.10, determine the rights of Participants and Beneficiaries under the terms of this plan and communicate that information to the Trustee;
 
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(c) Limits; Tests. Be responsible for determining that this plan complies with all limitations and tests (including, without limitation, nondiscrimination tests, coverage tests, and top-heavy tests) under the Code and Regulations and maintain records necessary to demonstrate compliance with such limits and tests;
(d) Benefits and Vesting. Determine which Participants are entitled to additional benefit accruals for a Plan Year, the amount of each eligible Participant’s Compensation for the Plan Year, and a Participant’s vested percentage;
(e) Errors. Correct an error, including (but not limited to) errors in the calculation of benefits, allocation of investment experience, or in determination of vesting or payment of a Participant’s benefits;
(f) Claims and Elections. Establish or approve the manner of making an election, designation, application, claim for benefits, and review of claims;
(g) Benefit Payments. Direct the Trustee as to the recipient, time payments are to be made or to begin, and the elected form of payment;
(h) QDRO Determination. Establish procedures to determine whether or not a domestic relations order is a QDRO, to notify the Participant and any alternate payee of this determination, and to administer benefit payments pursuant to a QDRO;
(i) AdministrationInformation. Obtain to the extent reasonably possible all information necessary for the proper administration of this plan;
(j) Recordkeeping. Establish procedures for and supervise the establishment and maintenance of all records necessary and appropriate for the proper administration of this plan;
(k) Reporting and Disclosure. Prepare and (i) file annual and periodic reports required under ERISA and Regulations; and (ii) distribute disclosure documents including (but not limited to) the summary plan description, an explanation to recipients of payments eligible for rollover treatment, the summary annual report, Form 5500 series, requested and required benefit statements, and notices to Employees of applications for determination;
(l) Penalties; Excise Taxes. Report and pay any penalty tax or excise taxes incurred by this plan or the Employer in connection with this plan on the proper tax form designated by the Internal Revenue Service and within the time limits specified for the tax form;
(m) Advisers. Employ attorneys, “Actuaries” (an individual or firm employed to provide actuarial services for this plan), accountants, clerical employees, agents, or other Persons who are necessary for operation, administration, and management of this plan;
 
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(n) Expenses, Fees, and Charges. Present to the Trustee for payment (if not paid by the Employer) or reimbursement (if advanced by the Employer) all reasonable and necessary expenses, fees and charges, including fees for attorneys, Actuaries, accountants, clerical employees, agents, or other Persons, incurred in connection with the administration, management, or operation of this plan;
(o) Nondiscrimination. Apply all rules, policies, procedures, and other acts without discrimination among Participants;
(p) Bonding. Review compliance with the bonding requirements of ERISA; and
(q) Other Powers and Duties. Exercise all other powers and duties necessary or appropriate under this plan, except those powers and duties allocated to another named fiduciary.
8.6 Delegation of Administrative Duties.
The powers and duties of the Employer and the Administrator set forth in Sections 8.1 and 8.5 may be delegated to another fiduciary.
(a) In Writing. The written delegation shall specify (i) the date of the action and the effective date of the delegation; (ii) the responsibility delegated; (iii) the name, office, or other reference of each fiduciary to whom the responsibility is delegated; and (iv) if a responsibility is delegated to more than one fiduciary, the allocation of the responsibility among the fiduciaries.
(b) Acceptance of Responsibility. The delegation shall be communicated to the fiduciary to whom the responsibility is assigned, and written acceptance of the responsibility shall be made by the fiduciary. A fiduciary shall retain the responsibility until the fiduciary resigns or rejects the responsibility in writing, or the Administrator takes a superseding action.
(c) Conflict. If a fiduciary’s powers or actions conflict with those of the Administrator, the powers of and actions of the Administrator will control.
8.7 Interrelationship of Fiduciaries; Discretionary Authority.
A Person may serve in more than one fiduciary capacity with respect to this plan and trust.
(a) Performance of Duties. Each fiduciary shall act in accordance with this plan and trust. Each fiduciary shall be responsible for the proper exercise of its responsibilities.
 
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(b) Reliance on Others. Except as required by ERISA Section 405(b), each fiduciary may rely upon the action of another fiduciary and is not required to inquire into the propriety of any action.
(c) Discretionary Authority of Fiduciaries. Each fiduciary shall have full discretionary authority in the exercise of the powers, duties, and responsibilities allocated or delegated to that fiduciary under this instrument.
8.8 Compensation; Indemnification.
An Employee fiduciary who is compensated on a full-time basis by the Employer shall not receive compensation from this plan, except for reimbursement of expenses, unless permitted under a prohibited transaction exemption issued by the Department of Labor. The Employer shall indemnify and hold harmless each member of the Board of Directors and each Employee to whom fiduciary duties or other responsibilities for the operation and administration of this plan and trust have been assigned or delegated, from any and all claims, losses, damages, expenses, and liabilities arising from any action or failure to act with respect to any matter related to this plan and trust. Indemnification shall not apply if the action or inaction is due to gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Employer may purchase and maintain liability insurance covering itself, any Related Employer, and any other Person against claims, losses, damages, expenses, and liabilities arising from the performance or failure to perform any power, duty, or responsibility with respect to this plan and trust.
8.9 Fiduciary Standards.
Each fiduciary shall act solely in the interest of Participants and Beneficiaries:
(a) Prudence. With the care, skill, prudence, and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent Person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims;
(b) Exclusive Purpose. For the exclusive purpose of providing benefits and paying expenses of administration; and
(c) Prohibited Transaction. To avoid engaging in a prohibited transaction under the Code or ERISA unless an exemption for the transaction is available or obtained.
 
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8.10	Benefit Applications; Appeal Procedures.	
(a) Application for Benefits. The Administrator will process an application for benefits by a Participant or Beneficiary and provide written notification of the determination to the Participant or Beneficiary not later than 90 days after receipt of the application unless the Administrator determines that special circumstances require an extension of time for processing the application.
(b) Notification of Adverse Determination for Application. Notification of an adverse determination shall be written in a manner that can be understood by the Participant or Beneficiary and shall include: (i) the specific reasons for the denial; (ii) specific reference to pertinent plan provisions on which the denial is based; (iii) a statement outlining additional material or information necessary to enable approval of the claim and the reasons why such material is necessary; and (iv) an explanation of the appeal procedures, including a statement of the Participant’s or Beneficiary’s right to initiate a lawsuit under ERISA Section 502(a) in the event of a denial on appeal.
(c) Appeal. Any Participant or Beneficiary asserting entitlement to a benefit different from the benefit approved by the Administrator in response to the application for payment, or who has received an adverse determination from the Administrator, whether relating to the amount, form of payment or time of payment, may, within 60 days after notice of the determination, file a written appeal for a full and fair review by the Administrator.
(d) Final Decision. The Administrator shall render a final determination and provide written notification to the Participant or Beneficiary within 60 days after receipt of the appeal, unless the Administrator determines that circumstances require an extension of time for processing the appeal.
(e) Notification of Adverse Determination on Appeal. Notification of an adverse determination on appeal shall be written in a manner that can be understood by the Participant or Beneficiary and shall include: (i) the specific reasons for the denial; (ii) specific reference to pertinent plan provisions on which the denial is based; (iii) a statement of the Participant’s or Beneficiary’s right to reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records and information relevant to the claim at no cost; and (iv) an explanation of the additional appeal procedures, if any are available, including a statement of the Participant’s or Beneficiary’s right to initiate a lawsuit under ERISA Section 502(a).
(f) Disability Claims. For the application and any appeal involving a claim for benefit payments due to Disability, the alternative and additional requirements and the shorter response times specified in Regulations Section 2560.503-1 shall apply.
 
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(g) Extensions. If the response time in (a) or (d) is extended, written notice of the extension must be provided within the original response period and the extension cannot be longer than the original response period – i.e., 90 or 60 days. Notice of the extension must specify the circumstances requiring the extension and the date by which the Administrator expects to complete the determination.
Except as provided in (f), the initial and extended response times in (d) are automatically extended, to the extent permitted under Regulations Section 2560.503-1(i), if appeals are processed by a committee or board that holds regular meetings at least quarterly.
(h) Full and Fair Review. A full and fair review provides the Participant or Beneficiary with (i) reasonable access to, and copies of, all documents, records, and information relevant to the claim at no cost, (ii) the opportunity to submit written comments, documents or information relating to the claim, and (iii) the right to have such comments, documents or information taken into account, even if not submitted or considered in the preceding determination.
(i) Authorized Representative; Hearings. A Participant or Beneficiary may designate an authorized representative to act on behalf of, or with, the Participant or Beneficiary at all stages of an appeal. There shall be no right to a hearing or other presentation before the Administrator or its committee. The Administrator or its committee may, in its sole discretion, require a hearing or other presentation if deemed necessary for full and fair review and adjudication of the claim.
 
8.11	Participant’s Responsibilities.	
All requests for action of any kind by a Participant or Beneficiary under this plan shall be in writing, executed by the Participant or Beneficiary, sent to the Plan Administrator by registered mail, and shall be subject to any other plan rules applicable to any specific type of request.
 
8.12	Electronic Administration.	
Notwithstanding the requirement set forth in this plan that certain transactions, notices, elections, consents and disclosures be evidenced in the form of written documentation, documentation for such transactions, notices, elections, consents or disclosures may be provided or obtained through electronic media to the extent consistent with Regulations and other guidance.
 
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ARTICLE 9
Investment of Funds
9.1 Investment Responsibility.
Except to the extent investment responsibility is granted to an Investment Manager, the Trustee shall have sole and complete authority and responsibility for the investment, management, and control of trust assets.
9.2 Authorized Investments.
The trust may be invested and reinvested in common or preferred stocks, bonds, mortgages, leases, notes, debentures, mutual funds, guaranteed investment contracts and other contracts and funds of insurance companies, other securities, and other real or personal property including, without limitation, the investments described in (a) below.
(a) Specific Investments.
(i) Interest-Bearing Deposits. The trust may be invested in deposits, certificates, or share accounts of a bank, savings and loan association, credit union, or similar financial institution, including a fiduciary, if the deposits bear a reasonable rate of interest, whether or not the deposits or certificates are insured or guaranteed by an agency of the United States Government.
(ii) Pooled Investment Funds. The trust may be invested through ownership of assets or shares in a common trust fund, pooled investment fund, mutual fund, or other commingled investment, including any pooled or common fund or mutual fund maintained, sponsored, or provided investment management services by, or otherwise associated with, the Trustee, custodian, or other fiduciary, or affiliate of the Trustee or custodian, that allows participation or investment by a trust fund established under a qualified retirement plan. For this purpose, the terms and provisions of the declaration of trust or other governing documents through which the common trust fund, pooled investment fund or mutual fund is maintained are incorporated in, and made applicable to, this plan.
(iii) Qualifying Employer Securities. The trust may be invested in Qualifying Employer Securities in an amount which, together with all other qualifying employer securities held by the trust on the date of the investment, does not exceed 10% of the fair market value of the trust. Fair market value shall be determined as of the most recent Valuation Date coinciding with or preceding the date of investment.
“Qualifying Employer Security” means stock of the Employer or a marketable obligation of the Employer, as defined in ERISA Section 407.
 
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(b) Right of Trustee To Hold Cash. The Trustee may hold a reasonable portion of the trust in cash pending investment or payment of expenses and benefits.
9.3 Commingled Investment.
The trust and separate accounts may be commingled for investment without distinction between principal and income.
 
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ARTICLE 10
Administration of the Trust
10.1 Duties and Powers of the Trustee.
(a) Duties of the Trustee. The Trustee shall be a named fiduciary having the following duties:
(i) Control, Manage, and Invest Assets. To control, manage, and invest trust assets;
(ii) Administrator’s Instructions. To carry out the instructions of the Administrator; and
(iii) Records; Reports. To maintain records and to prepare and file reports required by law or Regulations, other than those for which the Administrator is responsible under the terms of this plan.
(b) Powers of the Trustee. The Trustee shall have the following powers:
(i) Control Property. To hold, manage, improve, repair, and control all property, real or personal, forming part of the trust;
(ii) Asset Investment. To invest trust assets subject to the limitations in this plan;
(iii) Disposition of Asset. To sell, convey, transfer, exchange, partition, lease for any term (even extending beyond the duration of the trust), or otherwise dispose of a trust asset from time to time, in the manner, for the consideration, and upon the terms and conditions that the Trustee, in its discretion, determines;
(iv) Agents, Advisers, and Counsel. To employ and to compensate from the trust agents, advisers, and legal counsel reasonably necessary in managing the trust and advising the Trustee as to its powers, duties, and liabilities;
(v) Claims. To prosecute, defend, settle, arbitrate, compromise, or abandon all claims and demands in favor of or against the trust, with or without the assistance of legal counsel;
(vi) Vote Securities. To vote a corporation’s stock or other securities, either in person or by proxy, for any purpose;
(vii) Exercise Trust Rights. To exercise, refrain from the exercise of, or convey a conversion privilege or subscription right applicable to a trust asset;
 
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(viii) Collection. To demand, collect, and receive the principal, dividends, interest, income, and all other moneys or other property due upon trust assets;
(ix) Change of Structure. To consent to, oppose, or take another action in connection with a bankruptcy, composition, arrangement, reorganization, consolidation, merger, liquidation, readjustment of the financial structure, or sale of assets of a corporation or other organization, the securities of which may constitute a portion of the trust;
(x) Issue, Hold, or Register Securities. To cause securities or other property forming part of the trust to be issued, held, or registered in the individual name of the Trustee or its nominee; provided, however, any securities held in a nominee or street name must be held on behalf of the plan by (a) a bank or trust company that is subject to supervision by the US or a state, or a nominee of such bank or trust company; (b) a broker or dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or a nominee of such broker or dealer; or (c) a clearing agency as defined in Section 3(a)(23) of the Securities Exchange Act, or its nominee;
(xi) Borrowing. To borrow money for the benefit of the trust without binding itself individually, and to secure the loan by pledge, mortgage, or creation of another security interest in the property;
(xii) Benefit Payments. To make benefit payments from the trust as directed by the Administrator;
(xiii) Expenses. Unless paid by the Employer, to pay from the trust all reasonable fees, taxes, commissions, charges, premiums and other expenses, including expenses described in Section 8.5(n) and reasonable fees of the Trustee and any other custodian or Investment Manager, incurred in connection with the administration of this plan or trust;
(xiv) Insure Assets. To insure trust assets through a policy or contract of insurance;
(xv) Incorporate. To incorporate (or participate in an incorporation) under the laws of any state for the purpose of acquiring and holding title to any property that is part of the trust;
(xvi) Depository. To keep any part of the trust on deposit with a custodian in the United States; and
(xvii) Other Acts. To perform all other acts the Trustee deems necessary, suitable, or desirable for the control and management of the trust and discharge of its duties.
 
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(c) Limitation on Duties and Powers of the Trustee. Unless properly delegated and assumed by agreement of the Trustee, the Trustee shall not be required to exercise a duty or power of the Employer, Administrator, or any other fiduciary under this instrument.
If an Investment Manager is appointed to manage and invest some or all of the trust assets, the Investment Manager shall have, and the Trustee shall not have, the specified duties and powers with respect to investment of trust assets subject to the Investment Manager’s control. The Trustee shall have no obligation or power to exercise discretionary authority or control with respect to investment of the assets subject to management by the Investment Manager or to render advice regarding the investment of such assets, unless required by ERISA Section 405. The Trustee shall not be liable for the investment performance of the assets subject to management by the Investment Manager. The powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to such assets shall be limited to the following:
(i) Custody and Protection. To act as custodian of the trust assets not transferred to the custody of the Investment Manager or another custodian, and to protect the assets in its custody from loss by theft, fire, or other cause;
(ii) Acquisitions. To acquire additional assets for the trust in accordance with the direction of the Investment Manager;
(iii) Dispositions. To sell or otherwise dispose of trust assets in accordance with the direction of the Investment Manager;
(iv) Accountings. To account for and render accountings with respect to the trust (except for assets held by another custodian);
(v) Authorized Actions. To take authorized actions for and on behalf of the trust in accordance with the direction of the Investment Manager; and
(vi) Ministerial and Custodial Tasks. To perform other ministerial and custodial tasks in accordance with the direction of the Investment Manager.
If trust assets are transferred to another custodian, that custodian shall have, and the Trustee shall not have, the foregoing duties and powers with respect to those assets.
 
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10.2 Accounting.
The Trustee shall maintain accurate and detailed records of all investments, receipts, disbursements, and other transactions for the trust. The records shall be available for inspection at all reasonable times by Persons designated by the Administrator.
(a) Report. As soon as administratively feasible after the last day of each Plan Year and each other date agreed to by the Administrator and the Trustee, the Trustee shall prepare and furnish to the Administrator a statement of account containing the information required by ERISA Section 103(b)(3).
(b) Judicial Settlement. A dispute concerning the Trustee’s records or statement of account may be settled by a suit for an accounting brought by a Person having an interest in the trust.
The accounting and reporting responsibilities shall not apply with respect to assets held by another custodian except to the extent assumed by the Trustee at the direction of the Administrator.
10.3 Appointment, Resignation, and Removal of Trustee.
The Trustee shall be at least one individual or eligible corporation with trust powers appointed in writing by the Employer and authorized to act as Trustee by ERISA and the Code.
(a) Resignation. The Trustee may resign with at least 60 days’ written notice to the Employer, effective as of the date specified in the notice.
(b) Removal. The Employer may remove the Trustee with at least 60 days’ written notice to the Trustee, effective as of the date specified in the notice.
(c) Successor Trustee. At least 10 days before the effective date of the resignation or removal, the Employer shall appoint a successor Trustee by written instrument delivered to the Trustee with the acceptance of the successor Trustee endorsed on the instrument.
(d) Effective Date of Resignation or Removal. The resignation or removal of the Trustee shall not be effective before the appointment is made and accepted by the successor Trustee. The parties, by agreement, may waive the time requirements.
(e) Procedure Upon Transfer. Upon the resignation or removal of the Trustee, the Trustee shall pay from the trust all accrued fees and expenses of the trust, including its own fees, and, as of the effective date of its resignation or removal, shall deliver a statement of account to the Administrator and the successor Trustee.
 
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(f) Earlier Transfer. In order to facilitate the prompt transfer of fiduciary responsibility and trust assets to the successor Trustee, the Administrator and the Trustee may agree upon a procedure by which the Trustee shall deliver all trust assets (less a reasonable reserve for fees and expenses) to the successor Trustee as soon as administratively feasible after receipt of notice of appointment of the successor Trustee and acceptance of trust by the successor Trustee. The Administrator and the Trustee may agree to the transfer of trust assets to the successor Trustee pending preparation and approval of the final trust accountings.
(g) Final Transfer. As soon as administratively feasible, the Trustee shall deliver the remaining trust assets to the successor Trustee, together with records maintained by the Trustee.
(h) In Kind Transfer. The Trustee shall consult with the Administrator concerning the liquidation of trust assets to be transferred for the purpose of determining the feasibility of the transfer of certain trust assets in kind before implementing the liquidation.
(i) Limitation on Liability of Successor. The successor Trustee shall not be liable for the acts or omissions of any prior Trustee.
10.4 Trustee Action.
Actions by a corporate Trustee shall be either by a resolution of its board of directors or by a written instrument executed by one of its authorized officers. Actions taken by any other Trustee shall be by a written instrument executed by the Trustee.
10.5 Exculpation of Nonfiduciary.
A transfer agent, brokerage, clearing house, insurance company, or any other Person that is not a fiduciary with respect to this plan and who has paid money or delivered property to the Trustee shall not be responsible for its application or for determining the propriety of the actions of the Trustee concerning the money or other property.
 
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ARTICLE 11
Amendment, Mergers, Successor Employer
11.1 Amendment.
The Employer may amend this plan and trust. An amendment may be retroactive or prospective, in the sole discretion of the Employer, except where prohibited by ERISA or the Code.
(a) Prohibitions. An amendment may be made without the consent of any other Person, except that an amendment shall not:
(i) Exclude Participant. Exclude an Employee who previously became a Participant;
(ii) Decrease Benefit. Decrease a Participant’s Vested Accrued Benefit, determined as of the later of the date the amendment is adopted or becomes effective, except as permitted by ERISA Section 302(c)(8) and Code Section 412(c)(8) (for Plan Years beginning on or before December 31, 2007), and Code Section 412(d)(2) (for Plan Years beginning after December 31, 2007);
(iii) Reduce Vested Percentage. Reduce a Participant’s vested percentage as of the later of the adoption of the amendment or the effective date of the amendment;
(iv) Vesting Schedule. Modify the vesting schedule for a Participant who was a Participant on the later of the effective date or the date of adoption of the amendment, except to increase the Participant’s vested percentage (for each Year of Vesting Service);
(v) Elimination of Protected Benefits. Eliminate any early retirement benefits and retirement-type subsidy under Code Section 411(d)(6)(B)(i) or any optional forms of distribution with respect to benefits attributable to service earned before the amendment, except as may be permitted under Code Sections 401(a)(4) and 411; and
(vi) Alter Duties. Alter the duties, responsibilities, or liabilities of the Trustee or the Committee without the consent of the affected party; and
(vii) Special Restrictions. Violate the special restrictions of Section 12.7.
(b) Notice. An amendment which provides for a significant reduction in future benefit accruals shall require at least 15 days prior notice to affected Participants and alternate payees under a QDRO before becoming effective.
 
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11.2 Amendment by WN&J.
(a) Authorized Amendments. Warner Norcross & Judd LLP (“WN&J”) adopted an amendment on June 30, 2006, which permits WN&J to amend this plan on behalf of the Employer for changes in the Code, Regulations, revenue rulings, other statements published by the Internal Revenue Service (including model, sample, or other required good faith amendments, but only if their adoption will not cause the plan to be individually designed), and for corrections of prior approved plans.
(b) Termination of Authority. WN&J will no longer have the authority to amend the plan on behalf of the Employer as of:
(i) Form 5300. The date the Internal Revenue Service requires the Employer to file Form 5300 as an individually designed plan as a result of an amendment by the Employer to incorporate a type of plan not allowable in the volume submitter program (as described in Revenue Procedure 2005-16); or
(ii) Individually Designed. The date the plan is otherwise considered an individually designed plan due to the nature and extent of amendments by the Employer.
(c) Authority Conditioned on Favorable Determination Letter. If the Employer is required to obtain a determination letter for any reason in order to maintain reliance on the advisory letter for the volume submitter plan, WN&J’s authority to amend this plan on behalf of the Employer is conditioned on the receipt of a favorable determination letter.
11.3 Merger of Plans.
This plan may be merged or consolidated, or its assets and liabilities may be transferred, in whole or in part, to another qualified retirement plan if:
(a) Preservation of Accrued Benefits. Each Participant’s Accrued Benefit would be equal to or greater than the Participant’s Accrued Benefit as of the date immediately before the merger, consolidation, or transfer, assuming that this plan had terminated at that time.
(b) Actuarial Statement. If required, at least 30 days before the merger, consolidation, or transfer, the Administrator shall file an actuarial statement of valuation, in accordance with Code Section 6058, that the requirements of (a) will be met upon consummation of the merger, consolidation, or transfer.
(c) Authorization. The Employer and any new or successor employer shall authorize the merger, consolidation, or transfer.
 
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11.4 Successor Employer.
If an Employer is dissolved, merged, consolidated, restructured, or reorganized, or if the assets of the Employer are transferred, this plan and trust may be continued by the successor, and in that event, the successor will be substituted for the Employer.
 
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ARTICLE 12
Termination
12.1 Right to Terminate.
(a) Employer. The Employer reserves the right to revoke this instrument and terminate this plan and trust. The right to terminate is subject to, and conditioned upon, proper and timely notice to the Participants before the effective date of plan termination, including, if applicable, advance notice of the effective date of an amendment which ceases the accrual of benefits under this plan.
(b) Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Unless this plan meets the exception described in ERISA Section 4021(b)(13), termination of this plan is also subject to the requirements of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”). These requirements include:
(i) Intent to Terminate. A notice of the intention to terminate this plan to the affected parties at least 60 days and not more than 90 days before the proposed termination date;
(ii) PBGC Certification. An actuarial certification to the PBGC stating the projected amount of plan assets, the Actuarially Equivalent present value of Benefit Commitments, and either that this plan is projected to be sufficient for all Benefit Commitments or that this plan meets the criteria for a distress termination together with a certification by the Administrator of the accuracy of the information underlying the actuarial certification; and
(iii) Benefit Commitments. As soon as possible after issuance of the notice of intent to terminate, a notice to each Participant and Beneficiary of the amount of Benefit Commitments or benefits payable, the amount and availability of alternative benefits or forms of payment, and the specific personal data (retirement age, spouse’s age, and service) used to calculate the benefit. “Benefit Commitments” consist of all amounts set forth in subparagraphs (i)-(v) of Section 12.3(c).
12.2 Automatic Termination.
This plan shall automatically terminate, or partially terminate when applicable, and contributions to the trust shall cease upon the Employer’s legal dissolution or when required by ERISA or the Code.
 
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12.3	Termination or Partial Termination of Plan.	
(a) Termination. Upon plan termination, the trust assets shall be liquidated over a reasonable period determined by the Trustee after consultation with the Administrator and, if covered by ERISA Section 4021(a), upon expiration of the statutory 60-day period after filing of the PBGC certification or extension of that period (for a standard termination), or upon the consent and approval of the PBGC (for a distress termination). The net assets (after provision is made for administrative expenses and expenses of liquidation) shall be applied and paid as provided in this section.
(b) Partial Termination. If there is a partial termination of this plan, trust assets representing the interests of affected Participants shall be segregated by the Trustee. The proportionate interest of the affected Participants shall be determined by the Actuary on the basis of the funding method used by this plan, the assumptions used by the Actuary in making actuarial valuations of this plan, and other factors as the Actuary deems appropriate and equitable.
(c) Priorities. Assets remaining after reserving sufficient assets to pay the expenses of administration and termination shall be applied as required under ERISA Section 4044 in the following order of priority:
(i) After-Tax Employee Contribution Benefits. First, to the portion of Participant’s Accrued Benefits derived from the Participant’s after-tax employee contributions.
(ii) Mandatory Contribution Benefits. Second, to the portion of Participant’s Accrued Benefits derived from Participants’ mandatory contributions. The amount of mandatory contributions shall be reduced by amounts paid to the Participant before the termination of this plan.
(iii) Benefits Payable. Third, to benefits payable to a Participant or Beneficiary who at the date which is three years before termination either had begun to receive benefit payments or would have begun receiving benefit payments had the Participant elected to retire and begin receiving benefits as of that date.
(A) Benefit. For this purpose, the benefit shall be the smaller of the benefit that was being received or the benefit that would have been received had the Participant retired based on the least benefit in effect during the five-year period ending at termination.
(B) Benefit Decrease. If benefits under this plan had been reduced during the three-year period ending at termination by amendment or due to the form of payment, the lowest payment received during that period shall be considered as the benefit that was being received three years before termination.
 
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(iv) Benefits Guaranteed. Fourth, to benefits to a Participant (or Beneficiary) if, on the effective date of plan termination, the Participant’s employment had terminated with a pension payable or the Participant would have had a pension payable had the Participant’s employment terminated other than by death on that date.
(A) Benefit. The benefit shall be the benefit not covered in the previous priority category which was provided by this plan at the date five years prior to the effective date of plan termination and a prorated portion of any benefit increase from that period to the effective date of termination. The prorated portion of a benefit increase shall be determined by multiplying the amount of the increase by 20% for each Plan Year that the increase was in effect.
(B) Limitation. A benefit payable under this subsection shall not be greater than the actuarial value of a monthly single life annuity benefit of $750 beginning at age 65. The amount shall be increased by cost of living and other adjustments after 1974.
(v) Other Vested Benefits. Fifth, to benefits to a Participant (or Beneficiary) if, on the effective date of plan termination, the Participant’s employment had terminated with a benefit payable or the Participant would have had a benefit payable had such Participant’s employment terminated other than by death on that date. The benefit shall be the benefit provided by this plan as in effect on the date of termination.
(vi) Other Nonvested Benefits. Sixth, to benefits to a nonvested Participant whose employment had not terminated as of the effective date of plan termination. The benefit shall be the Actuarially Equivalent present value of the Participant’s Accrued Benefit determined without regard to the vesting schedule under this plan.
(d) Rules For Application. The liability established by each priority shall be fully satisfied before provision for payment may be made under the next priority.
(i) Distress Termination. If the assets of the trust fund are insufficient to satisfy the benefits payable under priorities (c)(i) through (v), this plan shall be subject to the distress termination provisions of ERISA.
(ii) Insufficiency Within Priority. If the assets of the trust are insufficient within a priority to provide full benefits for all persons included within priorities (c)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), and (vi), the benefits shall be proportionately reduced based upon the present value of the full benefit payable. If the insufficiency occurs in priority (c)(v), benefits in effect for the entire five-year period shall first be satisfied. Then benefit increases shall be satisfied in the chronological order of their effective dates.
 
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12.4 Effect of Termination or Partial Termination.
(a) Nonforfeitability. Upon termination or partial termination of this plan, the rights of all affected Participants to Accrued Benefits as of the date of termination shall be nonforfeitable, except to the extent that they are subject to limitations with respect to maximum benefits.
(b) Distribution. Upon satisfaction of the procedural termination (or partial termination) requirements, the Administrator shall direct payment of benefits under the payment provisions of this plan, providing the benefits, where appropriate or required, through the purchase of annuity contracts.
(c) Recourse Only Against Trust Assets. Except as required under ERISA, Participants shall not have recourse for the payment of Accrued Benefits as of the date of plan termination other than against the trust assets and the Employer shall have no further liability for contributions to this plan or for payment of benefits for affected Participants upon plan termination.
12.5 Reversion of Assets.
The Employer shall not receive an amount from the trust due to plan termination, except that, the Employer shall receive all amounts, if any, remaining after payment of the present value of (or application to purchase annuities to pay) the Benefit Commitments under this plan to Participants and Beneficiaries. Any excess remaining after payment or application of these amounts shall be considered to result from a variation between actual experience and expected actuarial experience.
12.6 Highest Paid Restriction.
(a) Restrictions on Termination. If this plan terminates, the benefit of any present or former Highly Compensated Employee shall be limited to a benefit that is nondiscriminatory under Code Section 401(a)(4).
(b) Restrictions on Distributions. The benefits payable to any of the 25 present and former Highly Compensated Employees paid the most compensation in the current or any prior Plan Year shall be restricted to annual payments no greater than (1) the annual payment that would be made to or with respect to the Participant under a life annuity that is Actuarially Equivalent to the sum of the Participant’s Vested Accrued Benefit and the Participant’s other benefits under this plan (other than a social security supplement) plus (2) the amount the Participant is entitled to receive under a social security supplement.
 
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(i) Exceptions. The restriction shall not apply if: after payment of the benefit the value of the plan assets equals or exceeds 110% of the value of current liabilities as defined in Code Section 412(l)(7); the value of the benefits for the Participant is less than 1% of the value of current liabilities before distribution; the value of the benefit payable does not exceed the amount described in Code Section 411(a)(11)(A); or the plan terminates and the benefit is nondiscriminatory under Code Section 401(a)(4).
(ii) Benefit. For purposes of the restriction, the Participant’s benefit includes loans in excess of the amount set forth in Code Section 72(p)(2)(A), any periodic income, any withdrawal values paid to a Participant, and any death benefits not provided for by insurance on the Participant’s life.
(c) Payment of Restricted Benefit in Full. A Participant’s otherwise restricted benefit may be paid in full if the Participant enters into a written agreement with the Administrator to secure repayment of the restricted amount. The restricted amount is the excess of the amount paid to the Participant (accumulated with reasonable interest) over the amount that could have been paid under the restriction (accumulated with reasonable interest). The Participant may secure repayment of the restricted amount by one of the following methods.
(i) Deposit in Escrow. The Participant may deposit in escrow, with an acceptable depository, property having a fair market value equal to at least 125% of the restricted amount. The escrow arrangement may permit the Participant to withdraw amounts in excess of 125% of the restricted amount. If the market value of the property falls below 110% of the remaining restricted amount, the Participant must deposit additional property to bring the value of the property held by the depository up to 125% of the restricted amount. The escrow arrangement may provide that the Participant may have the right to receive any income from the property placed in escrow, subject to the Participant’s obligation to deposit additional property.
(ii) Letter of Credit. The Participant may provide a bank letter of credit in an amount equal to at least 100% of the restricted amount.
(iii) Bond. The Participant may post a bond equal to at least 100% of the restricted amount. If a bond is posted, the bond must be furnished by an insurance company, bonding company or other surety for federal bonds.
A surety or bank may release any liability on a bond or letter of credit in excess of 100% of the restricted amount. If the Administrator certifies to the depository, surety, or bank that the Participant (or the Participant’s estate) is no longer obligated to repay any restricted amount, a depository may redeliver any property held under the escrow arrangement, and a surety or bank may release any liability on the Participant’s bond or letter of credit. The Administrator shall make such a certification only upon an occurrence described in (b)(i) above.
 
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(d) Payments Prior to January 1, 1994. Payments that were made or began before January 1, 1994, and that were restricted under Regulations Section 1.401-4(c) will not continue to be restricted unless the payments also would be subject to restriction under the rules of this section. Any payment that remains restricted will be restricted in accordance with Regulations Section 1.401-4(c), but the Participant may receive payment of an amount in escrow or release of any bond or letter of credit if the amount could be released under either Regulations Section 1.401-4(c) or 1.401(a)(4)-5(b).
12.7 Special Restriction.
If the Plan is terminated or merged during the period from a Restricted Date to the following Unrestricted Date (“a Restricted Period”), the provisions of this section shall govern any termination, partial termination or merger or consolidation of the Plan.
(a) Restricted Date. “Restricted Date” means the first date on which the Employer enters into an agreement which could constitute a Change in Control; a person (including the Employer) publicly announces an intention to take or consider taking actions which would, if consummated, constitute a Change in Control; a Person (other than the Trustee or a fiduciary holding Employer securities under an employee benefit plan or any entity owned directly or indirectly by shareholders of the Employer in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Employer) increases beneficial ownership of the combined voting power of the Employer’s then outstanding securities by 5% or more over the percentage owned on May 19, 1987, and after the increase the Person holds as beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, 9.5% or more of securities of the Employer; or the Board of Directors of the Employer adopts a resolution to the effect that a Potential Change in Control has occurred for purposes of this Agreement.
(b) Change in Control. “Change in Control” means:
(i) the acquisition of 20% or more of either (1) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the employer or (2) the combined voting power entitled to vote for the Board of Directors of the Employer, excluding: (A) an acquisition by the Employer, (B) an acquisition by an employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Employer, (C) an acquisition where, afterwards the ownership is substantially the same (in accordance with (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (iii) of this Section), or (D) an acquisition by an executive or group of executives of the Employer;
(ii) a change in majority of the incumbent Board of Directors of the Employer as of May 9, 1987, except that a board member approved by a three-quarters vote of the directors shall be defined as an incumbent and a board member elected out of a proxy contest is deemed not to be an incumbent;
 
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(iii) approval by the stockholders of the Employer of a reorganization, merger, consolidation plan of complete liquidation or distribution or sale of substantially all of the Employer’s assets unless the ownership afterwards is substantially the same including, (1) more than 50% of common stock and voting power is the same and in roughly the same proportion, (2) no Person except the Employer, an Employer employee benefit plan (or related trust) or stockholder who held 20% before such transaction, owns 20% of the common stock or voting power of the new company, and (3) at least a majority of the new board members were members of the incumbent board.
(c) Unrestricted Date. “Unrestricted Date” means the last day of the two-year period following the Restricted Date.
(d) Termination/Partial Termination. Upon termination (or partial termination) during a Restricted Period, if assets remain in the Trust which could otherwise be reverted to the Employer, the assets shall instead be applied:
(i) Retiree Benefits. First, to the purchase of retiree medical and life insurance to Participants and their beneficiaries in full (or partial prorata) satisfaction of the Employers’ obligation then existing obligation; and
(ii) Benefit Increase. To increase benefits on a prorata basis to Participants and beneficiaries to the maximum extent permissible under the Plan.
(e) Merger Consolidation. If the Plan is merged or consolidated with another plan or a transfer of plan assets and liabilities is effected during a Restricted Period:
(i) Full Vesting. The Accrued Benefit of each Participant whose benefit may be affected and is in Covered Employment on the proposed effective date of the merger, consolidation or transfer shall be fully vested.
(ii) Benefit Increase. The vested accrued benefit of each Participant or beneficiary shall be increased under subsection (d) above (including retiree benefits) as though the Plan had terminated immediately prior to the effective date of the merger, consolidation or transfer shall be fully vested.
(iii) Payment/Purchase. The increased fully-vested benefit provided by this Section shall be satisfied before the consummation of the merger, consolidation or transfer by, at the Participant or beneficiary’s election: a lump sum payment of the present value of the benefits calculated on a termination basis or by the purchase of an annuity contract which represents an irrevocable commitment to satisfy the increased, fully-vested benefit and satisfies applicable provisions of law regarding selection of an annuity provider.
 
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(f) Amendment. During a Restricted Period, the Plan my not be amended to:
(i) Adversely Impact. Adversely affect the computation or amount of or entitlement to benefits under this Section including any adverse change in or to: the rate at which benefit accrue or vest; the determination of compensation; optimal forms of payment; the time of commencement of benefits; or actuarial factors utilized to compute benefits.
(ii) Modify Section 12.7. Modify this Section 12.7 without the consent of a majority of the Participants in Covered Employment immediately prior to the Restricted Date in both number and interest (calculated based upon the present value of the benefits provided by this Section).
 
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ARTICLE 13
General Provisions
13.1 Spendthrift Provision.
An interest in the trust shall not be subject to assignment, conveyance, transfer, anticipation, pledge, alienation, sale, encumbrance, or charge, whether voluntary or involuntary, by a Participant or Beneficiary except under a QDRO or as permitted in subsection (a) or (b).
(a) Not Security. An interest shall not provide collateral or security for a debt of a Participant or Beneficiary or be subject to garnishment, execution, assignment, levy, or to another form of judicial or administrative process or to the claim of a creditor of a Participant or Beneficiary, through legal process or otherwise, except for a claim under a voluntary revocable assignment permitted by Regulation Section 1.401(a)-13.
(b) Crimes and ERISA Violations. A Participant’s interest in the trust may be offset to pay an amount that the Participant is required to pay to the plan for certain crimes and ERISA violations in accordance with the following rules:
(i) Express Provision. An offset may be made if it is expressly provided for by:
(A) Judgment of Conviction. A judgment of conviction for a crime involving this plan;
(B) Civil Judgment. A civil judgment (including a consent order or decree) entered by a court in an action brought in connection with a violation (or alleged violation) of the fiduciary responsibility provisions under ERISA; or
(C) IRS/PBGC Settlement. A settlement agreement between the Participant and the Internal Revenue Service or Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in connection with a violation (or alleged violation) of the fiduciary responsibility provisions under ERISA by a fiduciary or any other person.
(ii) Spousal Consent. A Participant’s interest in the trust shall not be offset if the Participant has a Spouse on the date of the offset unless the QJSA and QPSA have been waived or the Spouse consents in writing to the offset. The consent must be witnessed by an individual named by the Administrator or by a notary public. If the Spouse cannot be located or if other circumstances set forth in Regulations issued under Code Section 417 exist, the consent is not required.
 
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(iii) Waiver of Consent Requirement. The consent of the Spouse is not required if the judgment or settlement agreement in (i) above:
(A) Payment Ordered. Orders or requires the Spouse to pay an amount to this plan in connection with a violation of the fiduciary responsibility provisions under ERISA; or
(B) Rights Retained. Retains the Spouse’s right to the QJSA or QPSA determined in accordance with Code Section 401(a)(13)(D).
(c) Attempts Void. Any other attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, charge, or otherwise dispose of benefits payable, before actual receipt of the benefits, or a right to receive benefits, shall be void. The trust shall not be liable for, or subject to, the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements, or torts of a Person entitled to benefits. The benefits and trust assets under this plan shall not be considered an asset of a Participant or Beneficiary in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy.
13.2 Effect Upon Employment Relationship.
The adoption of this plan shall not create a contract of employment between the Employer and an Employee, confer upon an Employee a legal right to continuation of employment, limit or qualify the right of the Employer to discharge or retire an Employee, or affect the right of an Employee to remain in service after the Normal Retirement Date.
13.3 No Interest in Employer Assets.
Nothing in this plan and trust shall be construed to give an Employee, Participant, or Beneficiary an interest in the assets or the business affairs of the Employer or the right to examine the books and records of the Employer. A Participant’s rights are solely those granted by this instrument.
13.4 Construction.
The singular includes the plural, and the plural includes the singular, unless the context clearly indicates the contrary. Capitalized terms have the meaning specified in this plan. If a term is not defined, the term shall have the general, accepted meaning of the term.
Any period of time described in this plan shall consist of consecutive days, months, or years, as appropriate.
 
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13.5 Severability.
If any provision of this plan is invalid, unenforceable, or disqualified under the Code, ERISA, or Regulations, for any period of time, the affected provision shall be ineffective, but the remaining provisions shall be unaffected.
 
13.6	Governing Law.	
This plan and trust shall be interpreted, administered, and managed in compliance with the Code, ERISA, and Regulations. To the extent not preempted by federal law, this plan and trust shall be interpreted, administered, and managed in compliance with the laws of the State of Michigan.
13.7 Nondiversion.
Except for reversion of assets permitted upon plan termination, all of the trust assets shall be retained for the exclusive benefit of Participants and their Beneficiaries, shall be used to pay benefits to such Persons and to pay administrative expenses to the extent not paid by the Employer and shall not revert to or inure to the benefit of the Employer.
13.8 Limitations for Underfunded Plans.
This section generally states the requirements of Code Section 436 and the Regulations and shall take precedence over any other provision of this plan. The applicability of Code Section 436 and its limitations shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.436-1, including, but not limited to, the application of Code Section 436 to the plan as determined under Regulations Section 1.436-1(a) and the methods for avoiding the benefit limitations of Code Section 436 specified in Regulations Section 1.436-1(f).
(a) Limitation on Benefit Accruals. If the AFTAP for a Plan Year is less than 60%, benefit accruals under this plan will cease as of the Applicable Measurement Date in accordance with Regulations Section 1.436-1(e). If benefit accruals must cease under this provision, the plan may not be amended in a manner that would increase the liabilities of the plan by reason of an increase in benefits or establishment of new benefits, regardless of whether such amendment would otherwise be permitted under Code Section 436(c)(3).
 
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(b) Limitation on Benefit Payments. Benefit payments to a Participant or Beneficiary will be limited as specified below.
(i) AFTAP Less Than 60%. If the AFTAP for a Plan Year is less than 60%, a Participant or Beneficiary may not elect an optional form of benefit payment that includes a Prohibited Payment, and the plan will not pay any Prohibited Payment, with an Annuity Starting Date that is on or after the Applicable Measurement Date.
(ii) Bankruptcy. A Participant or Beneficiary may not elect an optional form of benefit payment that includes a Prohibited Payment, and the plan will not pay any Prohibited Payment, with an Annuity Starting Date that occurs during any period in which the Employer is a debtor in a case under Title 11 of the United States Code or similar federal or state law. The preceding sentence shall not apply to payments made within a Plan Year with an Annuity Starting Date that occurs on or after the date on which the Actuary certifies that the AFTAP for that Plan Year is not less than 100%.
(iii) AFTAP Between 60% and 80%. If the AFTAP for a Plan Year is 60% or more but less than 80%, a Participant or Beneficiary may not elect an optional form of benefit that includes a Prohibited Payment, and the plan will not pay any Prohibited Payment, with an Annuity Starting Date that is on or after the Applicable Measurement Date, unless the present value, determined in accordance with Code Section 417(e)(3), of the Restricted Portion of the benefit does not exceed the lesser of (A) 50% of the present value (determined in accordance with Code Section 417(e)(3)) of the benefit payable in the optional form of benefit payment that includes the Prohibited Payment or (B) 100% of the PBGC Maximum Benefit Guarantee Amount.
(A) Election Options. If an optional form of benefit payment that is otherwise available under this plan is not available as of the Annuity Starting Date due to (iii) above, the Participant or Beneficiary may elect to:
(1) Bifurcation. Receive the Unrestricted Portion of that optional form at that Annuity Starting Date, determined by treating the Unrestricted Portion of the benefit as if it were the Participant’s or Beneficiary’s entire benefit under this plan, and to receive payment of the remainder of the benefit in any optional form of benefit at the same Annuity Starting Date otherwise available that would not have included a Prohibited Payment if that optional form applied to the Participant or Beneficiary’s entire benefit; provided the rules of Code Section 1.417(e)-1 are applied separately to the separate optional forms of payment for the Unrestricted Portion of the benefit and the remainder of the benefit;
(2) Other Optional Form. Commence benefit payments with respect to the Participant’s or Beneficiary’s entire benefit in any other optional form of benefit available under this plan at the same Annuity Starting Date that is not restricted under (iii) above; or
 
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(3) Defer Payment. Defer commencement of the benefit payments if permitted and in accordance with the terms of this plan.
(B) One Time Application. If a Prohibited Payment (or series of Prohibited Payments under a single optional form of benefit payment) is made to a Participant in accordance with the above provisions, no additional Prohibited Payment may be made with respect to that Participant during any period of consecutive Plan Years for which the limitations on benefit payments under (b) above apply.
(C) Alternative Election Option. With respect to an optional form of benefit payment that includes a Prohibited Payment that is not permitted to be paid under (iii) above, for which no additional information from the Participant or Beneficiary is needed, rather than wait for the Participant or Beneficiary to elect such optional form of benefit payment, the Administrator may determine to provide for separate elections with respect to the Restricted and Unrestricted Portions of that optional form of benefit provided this rule is applied to all such optional forms and the option that the separate election replaces is identified.
(iv) Special Election Options. The Administrator may determine, on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis, to offer optional forms of benefit in accordance with Regulations Section 1.436-1(d)(6) including, but not limited to, the options listed in (A) and (B) below that will be available solely during the period in which subsections (i), (ii), or (iii) apply to limit Prohibited Payments under this plan.
(A) Single Sum Payment. A Participant or Beneficiary who commences benefit payments during the period in which (i) or (ii) above applies to limit Prohibited Payments under this plan may be permitted to elect (when the restricted period expires) to receive the remaining benefit in the form of a single-sum payment equal to the present value of the remaining benefit, but only to the extent then permitted under this section.
(B) Deferral of Restricted Portion. A Participant or Beneficiary who commences benefit payments during the period in which (iii) above applies to restrict Prohibited Payments under this plan may be permitted to elect payment in an optional form of benefit payment that provides for the current payment of the Unrestricted Portion of the benefit with a delayed commencement for the Restricted Portion of the benefit, subject to the other requirements of this plan.
(c) Limitation on Unpredictable Contingent Event Benefits. Unpredictable Contingent Event Benefits with respect to an Unpredictable Contingent Event occurring during a Plan Year shall not be paid if the AFTAP for the Plan Year is (i) less than 60%, or (ii) 60% or more, but would be less than 60% if the AFTAP were redetermined applying an actuarial assumption that the likelihood of occurrence of the Unpredictable Contingent Event during the Plan Year is 100%.
 
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(d) Limitation on Plan Amendments. In accordance with Regulations Section 1.436-1(c) and except as otherwise provided therein, no amendment to the plan that has the effect of increasing liabilities of the plan by reason of increases in benefits, establishment of new benefits, changing the rate of benefit accrual, or changing the rate at which benefits become nonforfeitable will take effect in a Plan Year if the AFTAP for the Plan Year is (i) less than 80%; or (ii) 80% or more, but would be less than 80% if the benefits attributable to the amendment were taken into account in determining the AFTAP.
(e) Automatic Resumption/Restoration.
(i) Benefit Accruals. Benefit accruals that had been limited under (a) above shall be automatically restored as of the Applicable Measurement Date that the limitation ceases to apply. The restoration of benefit accrual is treated as a plan amendment subject to the limitations under (d) above, unless the continuous period of the limitation was 12 months or less and the plan’s Actuary certifies that the AFTAP would not be less than 60% taking into account the restored benefit accruals for the prior Plan Year.
(ii) Benefit Payments. If a limitation on Prohibited Payments under (b) above applied to the plan as of an Applicable Measurement Date, but that limit no longer applies as of a later Applicable Measurement Date, the limitation on Prohibited Payments does not apply to benefits with Annuity Starting Dates that are on or after that later Applicable Measurement Date. Notwithstanding any other provision of this plan to the contrary, the Administrator may determine, on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis, to provide a Participant who had an Annuity Starting Date within a period during which a limitation under (b) above applied to the plan with the opportunity to have a new Annuity Starting Date (which would constitute a new Annuity Starting Date under Code Sections 415 and 417) under which the form of benefit payment previously elected may be modified once the limitations cease to apply.
(iii) Unpredictable Contingent Event Benefits. If Unpredictable Contingent Event Benefits with respect to an Unpredictable Contingent Event that occurs during the Plan Year are not permitted to be paid after the occurrence of the event in accordance with (c) above, but are permitted to be paid later in the Plan Year as a result of additional contributions under Regulations Section 1.436-1(f)(2) or pursuant to the Actuary’s certification of the AFTAP for the Plan Year that meets the requirements of Regulations Section 1.436-1(g)(5)(ii)(B), the Unpredictable Contingent Event Benefits will automatically become payable, retroactive to the period those benefits would have been payable under the terms of this plan. If the benefits do not become payable during the Plan Year in accordance with the preceding sentence, the plan is treated as if it does not provide those benefits; provided, however, that all or any portion of those benefits can be restored pursuant to an amendment that meets the requirements of (d) above.
 
13-6

(iv) Plan Amendments. If an amendment to the plan does not take effect as of the effective date of the amendment in accordance with (d) above, but is permitted to take effect later in the Plan Year as a result of additional contributions under Regulations Section 1.436-1(f)(2) or pursuant to the Actuary’s certification of the AFTAP for the Plan Year that meets the requirements of Regulations Section 1.436-1(g)(5)(ii)(C), the amendment will automatically take effect as of the first day of the Plan Year (or, if later, the original effective date of the amendment). If the amendment cannot take effect during the Plan Year, it will be treated as if it were never adopted, unless the amendment provides otherwise.
(f) Definitions. The following definitions apply for purposes of this section only.
(i) AFTAP. “AFTAP” means the adjusted funding target attainment percentage as defined in Regulations Section 1.436-1(j)(1), including all applicable assumptions, elections, and transition rules specified in Code Section 436 and Regulations Section 1.436-1.
(ii) Annuity Starting Date. “Annuity Starting Date” generally means the first day of the first period for which an amount is payable as an annuity as described in Code Section 417(f)(2)(A)(i). The Annuity Starting Date shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.436-1(j)(2).
(iii) Applicable Measurement Date. “Applicable Measurement Date” means the date used to determine when the limitations of this article apply or cease to apply, and also for calculations with respect to applying the limitations of this article, as defined in Regulations Section 1.436-1(j)(8).
(iv) PBGC Maximum Benefit Guarantee Amount. “PBCG Maximum Benefit Guarantee Amount” means the present value (determined under guidance prescribed by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, using the interest and mortality assumptions under Code Section 417(e)) of the maximum benefit guarantee with respect to a Participant (based on the Participant’s age or the Beneficiary’s age at the Annuity Starting Date) under ERISA Section 4022 for the year in which the Annuity Starting Date occurs.
(v) Prohibited Payment. “Prohibited Payment” means any payment for a month that is in excess of the monthly amount paid under a Single Life Annuity (plus any social security supplements described in the last sentence of Code Section 411(a)(9)) to a Participant or Beneficiary whose Annuity Starting Date occurs during any period that a limitation on Prohibited Payments is in effect, as well as any payment for the purchase of an irrevocable commitment from an insurer to pay benefits. Prohibited Payment includes any transfer of assets and liabilities to another plan maintained by the Employer or any Related Employer that is made to avoid or terminate the application Code Section 436 and any other amount that is identified as a Prohibited Payment in guidance published by the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service. Prohibited Payment does not include the payment of a benefit which may be distributed without the consent of the Participant in accordance with Code Section 411(a)(11).
 
13-7

(vi) Restricted Portion. “Restricted Portion” means, with respect to a benefit being paid in an optional form for which any of the payments is greater than the amount payable under a Single Life Annuity to the Participant or Beneficiary (plus any social security supplements described in the last sentence of Code Section 411(a)(9) payable to the Participant or Beneficiary) with the same Annuity Starting Date, the excess of each payment over the smallest payment during the Participant’s lifetime under the optional form of benefit (treating a period after the Annuity Starting Date and during the Participant’s lifetime in which no payments are made as a payment of zero).
(vii) Unpredictable Contingent Event. “Unpredictable Contingent Event” means a plant shutdown (whether full or partial) or similar event, or an event (including the absence of an event) other than the attainment of any age, performance of any service, receipt or derivation of any compensation, or the occurrence of death or Disability.
(viii) Unpredictable Contingent Event Benefits. “Unpredictable Contingent Event Benefits” means any benefit or increase in benefits to the extent the benefit or increase would not be payable but for the occurrence of an Unpredictable Contingent Event.
(ix) Unrestricted Portion. “Unrestricted Portion” generally means 50% of the amount payable under the optional form of benefit. The Unrestricted Portion of the benefit shall be determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.436-1(d)(3)(iii)(D).
 
13-8

ARTICLE 14
Top-Heavy Plan Provisions
14.1 Top-Heavy Plan.
If this plan is or becomes a Top-Heavy Plan in a Plan Year, the provisions of this article shall supersede all conflicting plan provisions. “Top-Heavy Plan” means this plan for a Plan Year if:
(a) Not Required or Permissive Aggregation Group. This plan is not part of a Required Aggregation Group or a Permissive Aggregation Group, and the Top-Heavy Ratio exceeds 60%;
(b) Required Aggregation Group. This plan is part of a Required Aggregation Group (but not part of a Permissive Aggregation Group), and the Top-Heavy Ratio for the Required Aggregation Group exceeds 60%; or
(c) Permissive Aggregation Group. This plan is part of a Permissive Aggregation Group, and the Top-Heavy Ratio for the Permissive Aggregation Group exceeds 60%.
14.2 Top-Heavy Determination.
The determination of the Top-Heavy Ratio and the extent to which distributions, rollovers, and transfers are taken into account will be made in accordance with Code Section 416 and Regulations.
(a) Top-Heavy Ratio. “Top-Heavy Ratio” means the ratio, as of this plan’s Determination Date, calculated by dividing the aggregate Present Value of Accrued Benefits of all Key Employees of each plan in the Required Aggregation Group (and each other plan in the Permissive Aggregation Group, if necessary or desirable) by the aggregate Present Value of Accrued Benefits of all Participants under all plans in the Required (or Permissive) Aggregation Group.
(i) Disregard Certain Employees. In calculating the Top-Heavy Ratio, the account balance or Accrued Benefit of a Participant who was a Key Employee in a prior year but is no longer a Key Employee or has not performed services for an Employer maintaining this plan at any time during the one-year period ending on the Determination Date(s) will be disregarded.
(ii) Ownership. Ownership shall be determined under Code Section 318 as modified by Code Section 416(i)(1)(B)(iii) without regard to the aggregation rules under Code Section 414.
 
14-1

(b) Present Value of Accrued Benefits.
(i) This Plan. “Present Value of Accrued Benefits” under this plan means the Actuarially Equivalent present value of the Accrued Benefits of all Participants and Beneficiaries determined as of the most recent Top-Heavy Valuation Date within the 12-month period ending on the Determination Date. The Present Value of Accrued Benefits includes:
(A) One-Year Period. The amount of benefit payments made from this plan due to severance from employment, death or disability during the one-year period ending on the Determination Date; and
(B) Five-Year Period. The amount of benefit payments made from this plan for any other reason during the five-year period ending on the Determination Date.
(ii) Accrual Method. The Accrued Benefit of any Participant who is not a Key Employee shall be determined (i) under the method, if any, that applies uniformly with respect to all defined benefit plans maintained by the Employer, or (ii) if there is no uniform method, as if the benefit accrued not more rapidly than the slowest accrual rate permitted under the fractional rule of Code Section 411(b)(1)(C).
(iii) Multiple Plans. The Present Value of Accrued Benefits shall be determined with respect to, and pursuant to the provisions of, all qualified retirement plans (including a simplified employee pension plan) in the aggregation group. When aggregating plans, the Present Value of Accrued Benefits will be calculated with reference to the Determination Dates that fall within the same calendar year.
(iv) Unpaid Contribution. A contribution not paid as of a Determination Date for any plan in the aggregation group shall be included in the determination of the Present Value of Accrued Benefits as required in Code Section 416 and Regulations.
(v) Actuarial Assumptions. If this plan is part of a Permissive Aggregation Group or a Required Aggregation Group and at least one of the qualified retirement plans aggregated with this plan is a defined benefit plan, the Present Value of Accrued Benefits under any such defined benefit plan shall be determined based on the interest rates and mortality tables set forth in Section 7.2.
 
14-2

(vi) Rollovers and Transfers. A distribution rolled over or an amount transferred from this plan to another qualified retirement plan of the Employer or a Related Employer shall not be included in the Present Value of Accrued Benefits under this plan. A distribution rolled over or an amount transferred from another qualified retirement plan of the Employer or a Related Employer to this plan shall be included in the Present Value of Accrued Benefits under this plan. If a rollover or transfer to a qualified retirement plan of an unrelated employer was initiated by the former Participant, it shall be deemed a distribution from this plan. If a rollover or transfer from a qualified retirement plan of an unrelated employer to this plan for a Participant was initiated by the Participant, it shall not be included in the Present Value of Accrued Benefits under this plan.
(c) Required Aggregation Group. “Required Aggregation Group” means all qualified retirement plans, including terminated plans, of the Employer and each Related Employer in which at least one Key Employee is a participant at any time during the Plan Year containing the Determination Date or any of the four preceding Plan Years (regardless of whether the plan has terminated), plus all other qualified retirement plans of the Employer and each Related Employer, that enable one or more of the plans covering at least one Key Employee to meet the requirements of Code Sections 401(a)(4) or 410.
(d) Permissive Aggregation Group. “Permissive Aggregation Group” means all qualified retirement plans, including terminated plans, if any, of the Employer and each Related Employer that are part of a Required Aggregation Group that includes this plan, plus any other qualified retirement plan (designated by the Employer) of the Employer and each Related Employer that is not part of the Required Aggregation Group but that, when considered part of the Permissive Aggregation Group, does not prevent the group from meeting the requirements of Code Sections 401(a)(4) and 410.
(e) Determination Date. For any Plan Year after the initial Plan Year, “Determination Date” means the last day of the preceding Plan Year. For the initial Plan Year, “Determination Date” means the last day of the initial Plan Year.
(f) Key Employee. “Key Employee” means an Employee or former Employee (including any deceased Employee or the Beneficiary of any deceased Employee) who, under Code Section 416(i), is or was, during the Plan Year that includes the Determination Date, one of the following:
(i) Officer. An officer of an Employer or Related Employer if the officer’s Section 415 Compensation exceeds $160,000 (as adjusted under Code Section 416(i)(1) for Plan Years beginning after December 31, 2010);
(ii) 5% Owner. A 5% Owner; or
 
14-3

(iii) 1% Owner; $150,000 Compensation. A 1% owner, determined under the definition of 5% Owner but replacing “5%” with “1%,” whose Section 415 Compensation exceeds $150,000.
Ownership under (ii) and (iii) shall be determined separately for each Employer and Related Employer. Compensation for (i) and (iii) above for a Plan Year is determined without regard to the Annual Compensation Limit.
(g) Top-Heavy Valuation Date. “Top-Heavy Valuation Date” means, for a defined contribution plan (including a simplified employee pension plan), the date for revaluation of the assets to market value coinciding with, or occurring most recently within the 12-month period ending on, the Determination Date. For a defined benefit plan, the term means the most recent date used for computing the plan costs for minimum funding purposes (whether or not an actuarial valuation is performed during that Plan Year) occurring within the 12-month period ending on the Determination Date.
14.3 Minimum Benefits.
For each Plan Year in which this plan is or becomes a Top-Heavy Plan, each Participant who is not a Key Employee and who completes at least 1,000 Hours of Service shall accrue a Minimum Accrued Benefit.
(a) Minimum Accrued Benefit. The “Minimum Accrued Benefit” for a Participant who is not a Key Employee means the monthly amount of a pension benefit payable as a Single Life Annuity beginning on the first day of the first month following the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date. The monthly amount shall be 2% of Minimum Average Monthly Compensation multiplied by Years of Vesting Service (maximum of 10 years) earned for Plan Years beginning on or after January 1, 1984, during which this plan is a Top-Heavy Plan.
(b) Minimum Average Monthly Compensation. “Minimum Average Monthly Compensation” means the Participant’s Average Monthly Compensation, provided that Minimum Average Monthly Compensation shall not be less than the average of the Participant’s Section 415 Compensation for the five consecutive Plan Years during the Participant’s period of employment that yield the highest amount. The five consecutive Plan Years shall not include Plan Years beginning before January 1, 1984, and any Plan Year after the last Plan Year in which this plan is a Top-Heavy Plan, and shall not include or be deemed interrupted by, Plan Years during which the Participant does not earn a Year of Vesting Service.
 
14-4

14.4 Vesting Schedule.
The vesting schedule for each Participant who has an Hour of Service during a Plan Year in which this plan is or becomes a Top-Heavy Plan shall be replaced with the following schedule:

Years of Vesting Service	  	Vested Percentage	 	
Less than 2 years	  	 	-0-	  	
2 years	  	 	20	% 	
3 years	  	 	40	% 	
4 years	  	 	60	% 	
5 years	  	 	100	% 	
(a) Cessation. If this plan ceases to be a Top-Heavy Plan, vested percentages shall continue to be determined under this schedule.
(b) Vesting Schedule Change. Any change in the vesting schedule due to this plan becoming, or ceasing to be, a Top-Heavy Plan shall be treated as an amendment to this plan, and all rules applying to the amendment of a vesting schedule shall apply.
 
14-5

The Employer has executed this instrument this             day of             , 20        .

WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC.	
 	 	 	
By	 	 	 	 	
 	 	Its	 	 	
 	 	 	 	Employer	

SCHEDULE A
COVERED EMPLOYEE GROUPS/ADOPTING EMPLOYERS
(Except Sections 4.6 and 4.7)

UNIT	  	EFFECTIVE DATE
UNDER PLAN	 	
Frolic Footwear Division— Salaried	  	 	02-01-70	  	
Hush Puppies Retail, Inc.— Division 5	  	 	01-01-77	  	
Tru-Stitch Footwear Division— Salaried D	  	 	01-01-70	  	
Tru-Stitch Footwear Division— Hourly—Non Union	  	 	01-01-85	  	
Wolverine Employees	  	 	01-01-69	  	
Brooks Shoe Company, Inc.	  	 	01-01-82	  	
Viner Bros., Inc.	  	 	04-01-84	  	
Town & Country Shoes, Inc.	  	 	06-01-81	  	
Wolverine Hy-Test, Inc. non-collectively bargained employees	  	 	04-17-96	  	
COVERED EMPLOYEE GROUPS/ADOPTING EMPLOYERS
(Section 4.6 and 4.7)

 	  	EFFECTIVE DATE	 	
Wolverine World Wide, Inc.	  	 	01-01-94	  	
Town & Country Shoes, Inc.	  	 	01-01-94	  	
Brooks Shoe Company, Inc.	  	 	01-01-94	  	
Viner Bros, Inc.	  	 	01-01-94	  	
Little Falls Footwear Division	  	 	01-01-94	  	
Hush Puppies Retail, Inc.—Division 05	  	 	01-01-94	  	
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. Salaried at Puerto Rico	  	 	01-01-94	  	
Wolverine Procurement, Inc.	  	 	01-01-94	  	
B&B Shoe Division.	  	 	01-01-94	  	
Wolverine Hy-Test, Inc. non-collectively bargained employees	  	 	04-17-96	  	
 
A-1

SCHEDULE B

Retirement Date (Normal/Deferred Benefit),
Date of Disability (Disability Retirement
Benefit) or Termination of Employment Date
(Early Retirement/Monthly Deferred	  	Dollar Benefit
Multiplier	 	
January 1, 1976—December 31, 1978	  	 

 	$4 (pre-1/1/76
Service)/ $6
(post-12/31/75
Service)	  

  	
 	 	
January 1, 1979—December 31, 1983	  	$	6.00	  	
January 1, 1984—December 31, 1975	  	$	7.00	  	
January 1, 1986—December 31, 1988	  	$	8.00	  	
January 1, 1989—December 31, 1989	  	$	8.50	  	
January 1, 1990—December 31, 1991	  	$	9.00	  	
January 1, 1992—December 31, 1992	  	$	11.00	  	
January 1, 1993—December 31, 1993	  	$	12.00	  	
January 1, 1994—December 31, 1994	  	$	14.00	  	
January 1, 1995—December 31, 1995	  	$	15.00	  	
January 1, 1996—December 31, 1997	  	$	16.00	  	
January 1, 1998—December 31, 1998	  	$	18.00	  	
January 1, 1999—December 31, 1999	  	$	20.00	  	
January 1, 2000 —December 31, 2000	  	$	21.00	  	
January 1, 2001 – December 31, 2001	  	$	23.00	  	
January 1, 2002 or after	  	$	24.00	  	
 
B-1

SCHEDULE C-1
FORMER PARTICIPANTS UNDER
WEBSTER MANUFACTURING UNIT
HOURLY RATED EMPLOYEES PENSION PLAN
C1.1 Purpose. This Schedule recognizes and preserves certain benefits resulting from the merger of the above Plan (“Webster Plan”) with this Plan effective May 31, 1988.
C1.2 Participant. Each Participant in the Webster Plan on May 31, 1988, shall be a C-1 Participant.
C1.3 Benefit. Each C-1 Participant’s Accrued Benefit shall be equal to the sum of:
(a) Post-May 31, 1998. $3 multiplied by Years of Benefit Service after May 31, 1988 (utilizing a full year of Benefit Service for 1998).
(b) 1970 – June 1, 1988. $3 multiplied by Years of Benefit Service between January 1, 1970, and June 1, 1988, under the Webster Plan, and
(c) Pre-1970. $1.20 multiplied by the Participant’s Years of Benefit Service under the Webster Plan before January 1, 1970.
C1.4 Supplemental Benefit. Each C-1 Participant who terminates employment after May 31, 1988, shall be entitled to a monthly accrued benefit in addition to the benefit set forth above equal to the actuarially equivalent of the following applicable single sum amount.
(a) 1-10 Years of Service. If the C1 Participant had completed 1 but less than 10 Years of Service, $111 multiplied by the by the Participant’s Years of Service.
(b) 10-20 Years of Service. If the C1 Participant had completed 10 but less than 20 Years of Service, $166.50 multiplied by the by the Participant’s Years of Service.
(c) At Least 20 Years of Service. If the C1 Participant had completed at least 20 Years of Service, $222 multiplied by the by the Participant’s Years of Service.
 
C-1-1

SCHEDULE C-2
BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN FORMER EMPLOYEES
1994 SPECIAL SEVERANCE PROGRAM
C2.l Purpose. The purpose of this Schedule is to provide benefits for certain Participants of the Plan who retire under the 1994 Wolverine Special Severance Program (the “1994 Program”).
C2.2 C-2 Participant. A Participant shall be a “C-2 Participant” if the Participant is eligible for and elects between November 3, 1994 and December 18, 1994 to retire under the 1994 Program.
C2.3 Highly Compensated Exclusion. The benefits under this Schedule shall not be available to a Participant who is a “Highly Compensated Employee.”
C2.4 Amount of Pension. Each C-2 Participant shall be entitled to a monthly pension computed under Section 5.1 of the Plan, based on final average earnings and years of credited service at the date that employment with the Employers terminates. If the pension of a C-2 Participant is determined under subsection 4.2(a) of the Plan, then the amount payable to the C-2 Participant as of the first day of any month coincident with or preceding the date the C-2 Participant attains age 62 shall be calculated without reduction of the monthly Social Security Allowance.
C2.5 Full Vesting. Each C-2 Participant shall be fully vested in the Participant’s benefits under the Plan.
C2.6 Commencement of Pension. Payment of the monthly pension to a C-2 Participant shall begin as of the first day of the month coincident with or next following the date that employment terminates. The pension of a C-2 Participant shall not be reduced for commencement prior to normal retirement date.
 
C-2-1

SCHEDULE C-3
NONDISCRIMINATORY EXECUTIVE BENEFITS
C3.1 Purpose. The purpose of this Supplement is to define and designate certain executives of the Company to receive benefits under a nondiscriminatory enhancement of the Plans’ benefit formula.
C3.2 A Executive. An “A Executive” is a Participant whose name is listed below in this section:
• G. Bloom (Normal Retirement 5/1/2000)
• W. Brown (Through 12/31/2003)
• J. Deem (Deferred vested as of 10/30/2001)
• L. Dubrow (Deferred vested as of 10/30/2001)
• S. Duffy
• D. Estes
• S. Gulis
• B. Krueger
• T. O’Donovan
• R. Sedrowski
C3.3 B Executive. A “B Executive” is a Participant whose name is listed below in this Section:
• O. Baxter (for benefits accrued through 12/31/2003)
• A. Croci
• R. DeBlasio
• T. Gedra
• B. Jungers
• J. Lovejoy(Normal retirement / /2000)
• T. Mundt
• N. Ottenwess
• D. West
• G. Fountain
• J. Lavertue
• A.T. Payne, III
• S. Zimmerman
• J. Weston
• W. Brown (Beginning 1/1/2004)
• S. Sible
• J. Zwiers
• D. Grimes
• P. Linton
• M. Jeppesen
 
C-3-1

C3.4 Benefit. The Accrued Benefit for:
(a) A Executive. A Supplement A Executive shall be the greatest of the Accrued Benefit at Section 5.1(c) or 2.4 percent of Final Average Compensation multiplied by the A Executive’s Years of Benefit Service (not in excess of 25 years).
(b) B Executive. A Supplement B Executive shall be the greatest of the Accrued Benefit at Section 5.1(c) or 2.0 percent of Final Average Compensation multiplied by the B Executive’s Years of Benefit Service (not in excess of 25 years).
C3.5 Modifications. The Company may add, remove, or reclassify a Participant under this Schedule. The modification of a Participant’s status may not reduce a Participant’s benefit or become effective until the date which is 45 days after the Participant receives notice of the modification.
 
C-3-2

SCHEDULE C-4
BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN FORMER EMPLOYEES
OF FROLIC FOOTWEAR DIVISION
OR THE WOLVERINE SLIPPER GROUP
C4.l Purpose. The purposes of this Schedule C-4 is to provide benefits for certain Participants of Wolverine Employees’ Pension Plan (the “Plan”) who terminate employment under The Frolic Footwear Special Severance Program dated August 4, 1997, (the “Frolic Program”) and the Wolverine Slipper Group Special Severance Program (the “Slipper Program”) dated December 1997.
C4.2 C-4 Participant. A Participant will be a “C-4 Participant” if the Participant is eligible for and elects to terminate employment under the “Frolic Program” no later than September 15, 1997, or under the “Slipper Program” no later than January 30, 1998.
C4.3 Highly Compensated Employees Excluded. A Participant who is a “Highly Compensated Employee” shall not be entitled to any benefits under this Schedule.
C4.4 Amount of Pension. Each C-4 Participant shall be entitled to a monthly pension computed under subsection 4.1 of the Plan based on final average earnings and years of credited service at the date that employment terminates. If the pension of a C-4 Participant is determined under subparagraph 5.1(c)(i)(A) of the Plan, then the amount payable as of the first day of any month on or before the date the Participant attains age 62 shall be calculated without reduction for the Social Security Allowance.
C4.5 Full Vesting. Each C-4 Participant shall be fully vested in his benefits under the Plan.
C4.6 Commencement of Pension. Payment of the monthly pension to a C-4 Participant shall begin as of the first day of the month coincident with or next following the date that his employment with the employers terminates, in the full amount determined under paragraph G-4 above. The pension of a Supplement G Participant shall not be reduced for commencement prior to normal retirement date.
 
C-4-1

SCHEDULE C-5
2000 EARLY RETIREMENT WINDOW
C5.1 Purpose. The purpose of this Schedule C-5 is to provide benefits for TruStitch employee Participants of the Wolverine Employees’ Pension Plan who were eligible to terminate employment under the Wolverine Early Retirement Window-2000, dated July 12, 2000. (2000 Window) but remained employed as of June 1, 2001, Participants who terminated employment under the 2000 Window, or members who terminated under the reduction in force dated July 12, 2000, and were listed as severance only in the listing maintained by the Employer (the RIF).
C5.2 C-5 Participant. A Participant will be a C-5 Participant if the Participant is eligible and retired under the 2000 Window or was terminated under the RIF.
C5.3 Calculation of Pension. For purposes of calculating the Normal, Late, Early, or Deferred Vested Benefit and for purposes of commencing benefits under those sections, a C-5 Participant shall be deemed to be 5 years older or age 65 whichever is less. However, this increase in age shall not change a Participant’s normal retirement date.
C5.4 Amount of Pension. In addition to the increased age: a C-5 Participant shall be entitled to;
(a) Lump Sum. The following Lump Sum payment

Health Care Plan Status	  	Lump Sum Amount	 	
(as of July 12, 2000)	  	 	 	 	
Employee Only	  	$	1576.08	  	
Employee & Child	  	$	3050.22	  	
Employee & Spouse	  	$	3874.92	  	
Employee & Family	  	$	4932.42	  	
This benefit shall not apply to C-5 Participants who remained employed on June 1, 2001.
(b) Age 60-65. If the Participant is at least age 60, an additional percentage increase in the benefit calculated under C5.3 above, as follows;

Age	  	Percentage Increase
in Benefit	 	
(as of July 12, 2000)	  	 	 	 	
60 but less than 61	  	 	2	% 	
61 but less than 62	  	 	4	% 	
62 but less than 63	  	 	6	% 	
63 but less than 64	  	 	8	% 	
64 or more	  	 	10	% 	
 
C-5-1

C5.5 4.7 Transfer. For purposes of former Section 4.7:
(a) Allocation of Transfer. A C-5 Participant shall be treated as having retired during the year of termination of employment.
(b) Vesting. A C-5 Participant shall be fully, 100% vested in the Participant’s Section 4.7 account.
C5.6 Full Vesting. A Participant who is terminated under the RIF and listed in the “Severance Only” classification shall be fully vested in the accrued benefits under the Plan (including the benefits provided by this Schedule).
C5.7 Commencement of Pension. Benefits shall be paid as follows:
(a) Lump Sum. The lump sum benefit, as soon as administratively feasible after the expiration of the revocation period following written acceptance of the 2000 Window.
(b) Monthly Pension. The monthly pension at the first day of any month following the latest of: expiration of the revocation period following written acceptance of the 2000 Window; the attainment of the deemed age of 60 by a C-5 Participant; or a C-5 Participant’s termination of employment on or after June 1, 2001.
 
C-5-2

SCHEDULE C-6
HY-TEST MERGER
C6.1 Purpose. The purpose of this Schedule is to reflect the merger of the Wolverine Hy-Test, Inc. Collectively Bargained Pension Plan (Hy-Test Plan) with this Plan and to provide enhanced pension benefits for members formerly included within the drivers unit represented by Teamsters Local 406 (Teamsters Unit).
C6.2 Participants Included. This Schedule shall apply to Participants formerly included within the Hy-Test Plan and formerly covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the Employer and Local 160A, UNITE!, AFL/CIO/CLC and, only where specifically designated, to Participants within the Teamsters Unit.
C6.3 Teamsters Unit Members. Each Participant included within the Teamsters Unit shall be fully vested in the Participants accrued benefit as of the member’s termination of employment. Each Participant between ages 55 and 60 as of September 30, 2000, shall receive an additional seven Years of Vesting Service for purposes of determining the Participant’s eligibility for monthly pension benefits.
C6.4 Hy-Test Members. The following provisions apply to former Participants of the Hy-Test Plan.
(a) Normal Retirement. A Participant whose employment terminates, other than by death or Disability, on the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date is eligible for a Normal Retirement Benefit.
(i) Normal Retirement Date. “Normal Retirement Date” means the date the Participant attains age 62.
(ii) Normal Retirement Benefit. “Normal Retirement Benefit” means the Participant’s Accrued Benefit. The monthly Normal Retirement Benefit shall be not less than the amount of any Early Retirement Benefit to which the Participant was entitled if the Participant had retired at any time under the provisions of C6.4(b).
(iii) Accrued Benefit. “Accrued Benefit” means a monthly pension benefit, payable as a Single Life Annuity, beginning on the first day of the month following the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date. The monthly amount shall be equal to the Participant’s Years of Benefit Service multiplied by the applicable Benefit Rate set forth in this subsection.

Retirement Date	  	Benefit Rate	 	
On or after January 1, 1996	  	$	10.25	  	
On or after January 1, 1997	  	$	10.75	  	
On or after January 1, 1998	  	$	11.00	  	
On or after March 1, 1999	  	$	12.00	  	
On or after January 1, 2000	  	$	13.00	  	
 
C-6-1

(iv) Benefit Service. A Participant earns a “Year of Benefit Service” for each Plan Year under the following schedule:

Hours of Service
in Covered Employment	  	Percentage of
Year of Service	 	
0 - 199	  	 	0	  	
200 - 499	  	 	25	% 	
500 - 799	  	 	50	% 	
800 - 999	  	 	75	% 	
1,000 or more	  	 	100	% 	
(b) Early Retirement. A Participant whose employment terminates, other than by death or Disability, on or after the Participant’s Early Retirement Date and before the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date is eligible for an Early Retirement Benefit.
(i) Early Retirement Date. “Early Retirement Date” means the date the Participant attains age 55, or if later, the date the Participant completes 25 Years of Vesting Service.
(ii) Early Retirement Benefit. “Early Retirement Benefit” means the Participant’s Accrued Benefit determined as of the date that the Participant’s employment terminated.
(iii) Early Payment. A Participant who is eligible for Early Retirement may elect to begin payment on the first day of any month following the termination of employment after the Participant’s Early Retirement Date. If the Participant elects and payment begins before the first day of the month after the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date, the monthly amount of the benefit shall be reduced and shall be the actuarial equivalent of the Accrued Benefit payable at the Participant’s Normal Retirement Age.
(c) Late Retirement. A Participant whose employment terminates after the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date is eligible for a Late Retirement Benefit.
(i) Late Retirement Date. “Late Retirement Date” means the date that the Participant’s employment terminates or, if earlier, the Participant’s Required Beginning Date.
(ii) Late Retirement Benefit. “Late Retirement Benefit” means a monthly pension equal to:
(A) Pre-Age 70 1/2. If the Participant’s employment terminated on or before the Required Beginning Date, the Normal Retirement Benefit determined as of the Late Retirement Date, including any additional benefits accrued for the period of the Participant’s employment after the Normal Retirement Date.
 
C-6-2

(B) Post-Age 70 1/2. If the Participant’s employment terminated after the Required Beginning Date, the amount determined in (A) above reduced by the actuarial equivalent of the total plan distributions made to the Participant up to the Participant’s Late Retirement Date. The benefit shall not be reduced to an amount less than the Participant’s Accrued Benefit determined as of the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date.
(d) Deferred Vested Retirement. A Participant who has an Accrued Benefit and whose employment terminated before the Participant’s Normal or Early Retirement Date, other than by death or Disability, is eligible for a Deferred Vested Benefit.
(i) Deferred Vested Benefit. “Deferred Vested Benefit” means the Participant’s Accrued Benefit determined as of the date that the Participant’s employment terminated.
(ii) Early Payment. If the Participant is eligible and elects payment of the Deferred Vested Benefit before the first day of the month following the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date, the monthly amount of the benefit shall be reduced and shall be determined in the same manner as provided for early payment of the Early Retirement Benefit.
(e) Death Benefits. A death benefit shall be paid only as provided in this section.
(i) Death Before Annuity Starting Date. If a Participant who has an Accrued Benefit dies before the Annuity Starting Date, benefits will be paid as follows:
(A) Surviving Spouse. If the Participant has a Surviving Spouse, the Surviving Spouse shall receive a QPSA unless the Surviving Spouse waives the QPSA and elects another available form of payment.
(1) Spouse Defined. “Spouse” means the husband or wife to whom the Participant was married at any specified time. A former Spouse shall not be a Spouse except to the extent specified in a QDRO.
(2) Surviving Spouse Defined. “Surviving Spouse” means the Spouse to whom the Participant was married at the time of death and who survives the Participant. If the Participant dies before benefit payments begin, “Surviving Spouse” means the Spouse to whom the Participant was married for at least 12 consecutive months at the Participant’s death and who survives the Participant.
 
C-6-3

(3) QPSA Defined. “QPSA” means a qualified pre-retirement survivor annuity that is a monthly Single Life Annuity payable to the Surviving Spouse of a Participant. The monthly amount of the QPSA is 50% of the benefit that would have been payable to the Participant if the Participant had retired on the day before the Participant died and had elected to have benefit payments begin on the earliest permitted payment date in the form of an immediate QJSA.
(B) No Surviving Spouse. If the Participant does not have a Surviving Spouse, a benefit shall not be payable under this plan.
(ii) Death After Annuity Starting Date. If a Participant who has a Vested Accrued Benefit dies after the Annuity Starting Date, the Beneficiary shall be paid any remaining benefits payable under the form of payment the Participant was receiving before death.
(f) Benefit Rules.
(i) Single Benefit. A Participant shall not receive more than one type of benefit in any month.
(ii) Previously Paid Benefits. The amount of a benefit payable under this article shall be reduced by the amount of benefits previously paid to or with respect to the Participant, including a lump-sum payment of the Participant’s entire Vested Accrued Benefit after the Participant’s employment terminates. All reductions shall be computed on a uniform basis by calculating and offsetting the Actuarially Equivalent value of the benefit previously paid from the Participant’s final benefit.
(iii) Transfer. A transfer between Covered Employment and employment with the Employer other than Covered Employment, or a transfer between the Employer and a Related Employer, is not termination of employment.
(iv) Pay Status. Benefits in pay status on or after the merger shall continue to be paid in the form provided by the Plan.
(g) Vested Percentage. A Participant’s Accrued Benefit shall be 100% vested. A Participant shall be credited with Vesting Service for full years of benefit service under the Florsheim Shoe Company Retirement Plan as of April 17, 1996.
(h) Time of Payment. Subject to the QJSA and QPSA provisions of this plan and the required distribution, benefit payments shall begin not later than 60 days after the end of the Plan Year that includes the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date or, if later, the end of the Plan Year in which employment terminates.
(i) Normal Retirement Benefit. The Normal Retirement Benefit shall begin on the first day of the month following the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date.
 
C-6-4

(ii) Early Retirement Benefit. The Early Retirement Benefit shall begin on the first day of the month following the Participant’s Normal Retirement date. The Participant may elect earlier payment beginning on the first day of any month following the Participant’s Early Retirement Date.
(iii) Late Retirement. The Late Retirement Benefit shall begin on the first day of the month following the Participant’s termination of employment or, if earlier, the Participant’s Required Beginning Date.
(iv) Deferred Vested Benefit. The Deferred Vested Benefit shall begin on the first day of the month following the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date. If the Participant is credited with at least 25 (or 10 if the Participant’s termination is due to permanent closing of the facility in which the Participant was employed) Years of Vesting Service at termination of employment, the Participant may elect earlier payment beginning on the first day of any month following the date the Participant attains age 55.
(v) Death Benefit.
(A) Before Annuity Starting Date. The QPSA shall begin on the first day of the month following the date of death, or if later, the first day a Participant could have elected early payment of an Early Retirement Benefit or a Deferred Vested Benefit, if applicable. The Surviving Spouse may elect to delay commencement of the benefit to the first day of any later month but not later than the first day of the month following the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date.
(B) After Annuity Starting Date. If the form of payment to the Participant provides for benefits after the Participant’s death, the continuing benefit shall be paid to the Beneficiary as provided.
(vi) Immediate Payment. If the Participant’s employment terminates for any reason before the Participant’s Normal Retirement Date and the Actuarially Equivalent present value of the Participant’s Vested Accrued Benefit, including any earlier payments, is $5,000 or less, the Administrator shall direct payment of the present value as soon as administratively feasible following termination of employment.
(i) Determination of Benefits. The age of the individuals to whom benefits are payable shall be determined as of the date the benefit is payable. All forms of payment under this Schedule shall be Actuarially Equivalent to the benefit payable as a Single Life Annuity. “Actuarially Equivalent” means equal in value based on the following actuarial assumptions:
(i) Interest Rate. 6 1/2% per annum, compounded annually.
(ii) Mortality Table. 1971 Group Annuity Mortality Table assuming three males for every seven females
(iii) Lump Sum Determination. Actuarial Equivalence of a lump-sum payment shall be determined based on.
 
C-6-5

(A) Mortality. The 1983 Group Annuity Mortality Table weighted 50% male and 50% female.
(B) Interest Rate. An interest rate for the Plan Year consisting of the annual rate of interest on 30-year Treasury securities for the month of December preceding the Plan Year in which the lump sum is calculated.
(j) Form of Payment.
(i) Standard Form. Benefits under this Schedule shall be paid as follows:
(A) Married. If the Participant is married when benefit payments are to begin, the Participant’s benefit shall be paid as a QJSA unless the Participant waives the QJSA, with consent of the Spouse, and properly elects another available form of payment.
(1) Definition. “QJSA” means an immediate qualified joint and survivor annuity under which a reduced (compared to amount of the Participant’s Vested Accrued Benefit payable as a Single Life Annuity) amount is payable to the Participant for life and 50% of the reduced amount is payable to the Surviving Spouse, if any, for life after the Participant’s death.
(2) Monthly Payments. The monthly amount payable to the Participant and the monthly amount payable to the Surviving Spouse shall not increase after payments begin. The monthly payments under the QJSA shall be such that the value of the expected payments to the Participant and the Surviving Spouse is Actuarially Equivalent to the benefit payable as a Single Life Annuity.
(B) Not Married. If the Participant is not married when benefit payments are to begin, the Participant’s benefit shall be paid as a Single Life Annuity, unless the Participant waives that form and properly elects another available form of payment.
(ii) Optional Forms of Payment. Upon waiver of the QJSA, Participant may elect a Single Life Annuity. A “Single Life Annuity” is a monthly benefit payable in equal installments for the life of the Participant or other individual with no payments to be made for any periods after the recipient’s death.
(k) Merger Schedule. The Company shall, as required by Code Section 414(l), maintain a special schedule of benefits payable on a termination basis for Hy-Test Participants as required under Regulation 1.414(l)-1(h). The special benefits shall be payable in the priority required by Regulation 1.414(l)-1(h) if the Plan terminates on or before December 31, 2005. If the liabilities attributable to benefits payable under this Schedule are spun off or transferred to another plan on or before December 31, 2005, the Plan shall transfer assets to the spun off or transferee plan sufficient to satisfy the liabilities in full.
 
C-6-6

SCHEDULE C-7
SPECIAL SERVICE CREDIT
TRU STITCH DIVISION/WOLVERINE PROCUREMENT INC.
C7.1 Purpose. The purpose of this Schedule is to recognize certain service before extension of the Plan to TruStitch Division and Wolverine Procurement, Inc. Employees for purposes of determining Years of Benefit and Vesting Service.
C7.2 TruStitch Division. An hourly nonunion employee of the TruStitch Division who became a Participant in the Plan on January 1, 1985, shall be credited with Years of Benefit Service and Vesting Service for the period of service (including union service) beginning on or after January 1, 1970, under the rules of the Plan in effect during those periods.
C7.3 Wolverine Procurement, Inc. An Employee of Wolverine Procurement, Inc. shall be credited with Years of Benefit Service and Vesting Service for service on or after July 1, 1989, under the rules of the Plan in effect during those periods.
 
C-7-1

SCHEDULE C-8
SERVICE CREDIT AND INCLUSION OF
CERTAIN FORMER SEBAGO, INC. EMPLOYEES
C8.1 Purpose. The purpose of this Schedule is to recognize eligibility and vesting service of certain former employees of Sebago, Inc. who have become permanent, regular employees of the Employer.
C8.2 Designated Employees. The following individuals shall be covered by this Schedule (Schedule C-8 individuals).
Name
Belsak, Harald
Charron, Elayne
Cremer, Vivian
Delaware, Marie
Dufault, Victor
Josselyn, Marvin
Kriner, Debora
Mowatt, Timothy
Walls, Michael
Warren, Joseph
C8.3 Eligibility/Participation. A Schedule C-8 individual shall become eligible and a Participant in the Plan under Section 3.1 as of July 1, 2004.
C8.4 Covered Employment. A Schedule C-8 individual shall not be excluded from Covered Employment under Section 3.2 as a former employee of Sebago, Inc.
C8.5 Vesting Service. A Schedule C-8 individual shall be credited with Years of Vesting Service under Section 6.1 for all periods of service beginning with their most recent date of hire with Sebago, Inc.
 
C-8-1

SCHEDULE D
PLAN HISTORY

  	  	Adopted	  	Effective	
 	 	 	
D.1 Gust Restatement.	  	September 25, 2003	  	January 1, 1997	
 	 	 	
(a) First Amendment.	  	September 25,
2003	  	January 1, 2002	
 	 	 	
(b) Second Amendment.	  	December 19, 2003	  	July 1, 2004	
 	 	 	
(c) Third Amendment.	  	July 7, 2004	  	July 1, 2004	
 	 	 	
(d) Fourth Amendment.	  	                     , 2004	  	January 1, 1997	
 	 	 	
(e) Fifth Amendment.	  	September 26,
2005	  	March 28, 2005	
 	 	 	
(f) Implementing Amendment	  	June 30, 2006	  	June 30, 2006	
 	 	 	
(g) Sixth Amendment.	  	November 30, 2007	  	January 1, 2003	
 	 	 	
(h) Seventh Amendment.	  	November 30, 2007	  	January 1, 2000/
January 1, 2008	
 	 	 	
(i) Eighth Amendment.	  	June 16, 2008	  	January 1, 2008	
 	 	 	
(j) Ninth Amendment.	  	January 19, 2009	  	January 20, 2009	
 	 	 	
(k) Tenth Amendment.	  	December 3, 2009	  	January 1, 2007	
 	 	 	
(l) Eleventh Amendment.	  	November 29, 2011	  	January 1, 2007/
December 31, 2008	
 	 	 	
D.2 EGTRRA Restatement.	  	March 12, 2012	  	January 1, 2011	
 	 	 	
(a) First Amendment	  	September 1, 2012	  	September 1, 2012	
 
D -1

Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATIONS
I, Blake W. Krueger, certify that:
 
1.	I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Wolverine World Wide, Inc.;	
 
2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;	
 
3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;	
 
4.	The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:	
 
 	(a)	Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;	
 
 	(b)	Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;	
 
 	(c)	Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and	
 
 	(d)	Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and	
 
5.	The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):	
 
 	(a)	All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and	
 
 	(b)	Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.	

Date: October 18, 2012	
 	
/s/ Blake W. Krueger	
Blake W. Krueger	
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President	
Wolverine World Wide, Inc.	

Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATIONS
I, Donald T. Grimes, certify that:
 
1.	I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Wolverine World Wide, Inc.;	
 
2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;	
 
3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;	
 
4.	The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:	
 
 	(a)	Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;	
 
 	(b)	Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;	
 
 	(c)	Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and	
 
 	(d)	Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and	
 
5.	The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):	
 
 	(a)	All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and	
 
 	(b)	Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.	

Date: October 18, 2012	
 	
/s/ Donald T. Grimes	
Donald T. Grimes	
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer	
Wolverine World Wide, Inc.	

Exhibit 32
CERTIFICATION
Solely for the purpose of complying with 18 U.S.C. § 1350, each of the undersigned hereby certifies in his capacity as an officer of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (the "Company") that the Quarterly Report of the Company on Form 10-Q for the accounting period ended September 8, 2012 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that information contained in such report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition of the Company at the end of such period and the results of operations of the Company for such period.

 	 	 	 	
Date: October 18, 2012	 	 	 	 	 	/s/ Blake W. Krueger	
 	 	 	 	 	 	Blake W. Krueger	
 	 	 	 	 	 	Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President	
 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	/s/ Donald T. Grimes	
 	 	 	 	 	 	Donald T. Grimes	
 	 	 	 	 	 	Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer