Excess Benefit Plan

EXHIBIT 10o
C. R. BARD, INC
EXCESS BENEFIT PLAN
as of July 13, 1988
Section 1. PURPOSE
1.1 The purpose of this Excess Benefit Plan is to aid in the recruiting and retention of key Bard employees by establishing a means of providing unfunded benefits for employees (and their spouses) which are in excess of the limitations on benefits payable from a retirement plan imposed by Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Plan is intended to be, and shall be administered as, an excess benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(36) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
Section 2. DEFINITIONS
2.1 As used herein the following terms shall have the following meanings unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:
(a) "Bard" means C.R. Bard, Inc and its affiliates and subsidiaries.
(b) board of Directors means the Board of Directors of Bard.
(c) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
(d) "Committee" means the Retirement Committee appointed by the Board of Directors to administer the Retirement Plan.
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(e) Effective Date means July 13, 1988. This Plan shall only apply to persons who retire under the Retirement Plan after July 13, 1988.
(f) participant means any person included in the membership of the Retirement Plan who has been designated a Participant by the Board of Directors or its delegate.
(g) "Plan" means this Excess Benefit Plan as set forth herein, or if hereafter amended, as so amended.
(h) "Retirement Plan" means the Employees' Retirement Plan of C.R. Bard, Inc as the same may be in effect from time to time.
(i) "Surviving Spouse" means the widow or widower of a deceased Participant who is married to the Participant on the date of the Participant's death.
2.2 Other terms used herein which are defined in the Retirement Plan shall have the same meaning when used in this Plan
Section 3. ADMINISTRATION AND PARTICIPATION
3.1 The Board of Directors or its delegate shall designate, from time to time at its discretion, those employees of Bard who are Participants hereunder. 3.2 The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. It shall be the duty of the Committee to maintain such records as will enable the Board of Directors or its delegate to determine those officers and employees who are entitled to participate in the Plan. ...