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Exhibit 10(w)
[TRUST FOR NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION PLAN]
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TRUST AGREEMENT NO. 10
Between
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC
and
KEY TRUST COMPANY OF OHIO, N.A.
_________________
November 20, 1996
_________________
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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I. TRUST FUND.......................................................... 2
II. PAYMENTS TO TRUST BENEFICIARIES..................................... 6
III. THE TRUSTEE'S RESPONSIBILITY REGARDING PAYMENTS TO
A TRUST BENEFICIARY WHEN THE COMPANY IS INSOLVENT................... 8
IV. PAYMENTS TO COMPANY................................................. 10
V. INVESTMENT OF TRUST FUND............................................ 10
VI. INCOME OF THE TRUST................................................. 11
VII. ACCOUNTING BY TRUSTEE............................................... 11
VIII. RESPONSIBILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUSTEE....................... 13
IX. AMENDMENTS, ETC., TO PLAN AND EXHIBITS.............................. 18
X. REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE.............................................. 19
XI. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT............................... 21
XII. GENERAL PROVISIONS.................................................. 22
XIII. NOTICES............................................................. 24
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TRUST AGREEMENT NO. 10
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This Trust Agreement ("Agreement") made as of the 20th day of
November, 1996 by and between Cleveland-Cliffs Inc, an Ohio corporation
("Company"), and Key Trust Company of Ohio, N.A., an Ohio corporation
("Trustee").
WITNESSETH:
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WHEREAS, certain benefits are or may become payable to the
nonemployee directors of the Company listed (from time to time as provided in
Sections 1.6 and 9.2 hereof) on Exhibit A hereto ("Directors") under the
provisions of the Cleveland-Cliffs Inc Nonemployee Directors' Compensation Plan,
effective July 1, 1996 ("Effective Date") as the same have been or in the future
may be amended or restated, or any successor thereto ("Plan"), a copy of which
is appended to this Agreement as Exhibit B;
WHEREAS, the Plan provides for the payment of cash and/or common
shares of the Company ("Common Shares") to Directors who elect to defer their
compensation on or after the Effective Date, and to their beneficiaries, if
applicable, as provided in the Plan, and the Company wishes to assure the
payment to the Directors and to their beneficiaries (the Directors and their
respective beneficiaries are collectively referred to as the "Trust
Beneficiaries") of amounts due under the Plan (the amounts so payable are
collectively referred to as the "Benefits");
WHEREAS, the Company wishes to establish a trust ("Trust") and to
transfer to the Trust assets which shall be held subject to the claims of the
creditors of the Company to the extent set forth in Article III until (i) paid
in full to all Trust
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Beneficiaries as Benefits in such manner and as specified in this Agreement
unless the Company is Insolvent (as that term is defined below) at the time that
such Benefits become payable or (ii) otherwise disposed of pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Company shall be considered "Insolvent" for purposes
of this Agreement at such time as the Company (i) is subject to a pending
proceeding as a debtor under the United States Bankruptcy Code, as amended from
time to time, or (ii) is unable to pay its debts as they become due.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Trustee establish the Trust
and agree that the Trust shall be comprised, held and disposed of as follows:
I. TRUST FUND
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1.1 Subject to the claims of creditors to the extent set forth in
Article III, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee in trust One Hundred
Dollars ($100), which shall become the principal of this Trust, to be held,
administered and disposed of by the Trustee as provided in this Agreement.
1.2 This Trust shall be irrevocable.
1.3 In the event that a Change in Control has occurred, the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company ("CEO") or the Secretary of the Company shall
notify the Trustee promptly. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon such
notice as to whether and when a Change in Control has occurred and shall not be
required to make any independent verification of a Change in Control.
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1.4 The principal of the Trust and any earnings shall be held in
trust separate and apart from other funds of the Company and shall be used
exclusively for the uses and purposes set forth in this Agreement. No Trust
Beneficiary shall have any preferred claim on, or any beneficial ownership
interest in, any assets of the Trust prior to the time that such assets are paid
to a Trust Beneficiary as Benefits. Any rights created under the Plan and this
Agreement shall be mere unsecured contractual rights of Trust Beneficiaries with
respect to the Company. The obligation of the Trustee to pay Benefits pursuant
to this Agreement constitutes merely an unfunded and unsecured promise to pay
such benefits.
1.5 (a) The Company may at any time or from time to time make
additional deposits of cash or other property (including Common Shares of the
Company) as may be acceptable to the Trustee in the Trust, or make provision for
cash or other property (including Common Shares of the Company) as may be
acceptable to the Trustee to be transferred to the Trust, such as by means of a
letter of credit or otherwise, to augment the principal to be held, administered
and disposed of by the Trustee, but no payment of all or any portion of the
principal of the Trust or earnings shall be made to the Company or any other
person or entity on behalf of the Company except as expressly provided in this
Agreement.
(b) Within 10 days following the occurrence of a Potential
Change in Control (as that term is defined in this Section 1.5), the Company
shall make a contribution to the Trust
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that is sufficient, taking into account the assets of the Trust prior to such
contribution, to provide for the payment of all Benefits and any other amounts
payable or reimbursable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
(c) Within 30 days after the end of any calendar year ending
after a Change of Control, the Company shall make a contribution to the Trust
that is sufficient, taking into account the assets of the Trust prior to such
contribution, to provide for the payment of all Benefits and any other amounts
payable or reimbursable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
(d) A "Potential Change in Control" means the occurrence of
any of the following events:
(i) The Company enters into a letter of intent, agreement
in principle or other agreement, the consummation of which would constitute a
Change in Control; or
(ii) any person (including the Company) makes a public
announcement (including, without limitation, an announcement made by filing a
Schedule 13D or Schedule 14D-1 (or any successor schedule, form, report or
item), each as promulgated pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
"Exchange Act")) stating a present intention to take actions that, if
consummated, would constitute a Change in Control.
1.6 Not later than the date of any Change of Control, the
Company shall (a) provide any corresponding revisions to Exhibits A and B that
may be required and (b) provide the Trustee with copies of the Plan and any
amendments thereto.
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1.7 The Trust is intended to be a grantor trust, within the
meaning of section 671 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), or any successor provision, and shall be construed accordingly. The
purpose of the Trust is to assure that the Company's obligations to the Trust
Beneficiaries pursuant to the Plan are fulfilled. The Trust is neither intended
nor designed to qualify under section 401(a) of the Code or to be subject to the
provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA").
1.8 As used in this Agreement, the term "Change in Control" shall
mean the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a) The Company shall merge into itself, or be merged or
consolidated with, another corporation and as a result of such merger or
consolidation less than 70% of the outstanding voting securities of the
surviving or resulting corporation shall be owned in the aggregate by the former
shareholders of the Company as the same shall have existed immediately prior to
such merger or consolidation;
(b) The Company shall sell or otherwise transfer all or
substantially all of its assets to any other corporation or other legal person,
and immediately after such sale or transfer less than 70% of the combined voting
power of the outstanding voting securities of such corporation or person is held
in the aggregate by the former shareholders of the Company as the same shall
have existed immediately prior to such sale or transfer;
(c) A person, within the meaning of Section 3(a)(9) or of
Section 13(d)(3) (as in effect on the date hereof) of the
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Securities Exchange Act of 1934, shall become the beneficial owner (as defined
in Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934) of 30% or more of the outstanding voting
securities of the Company (whether directly or indirectly); or
(d) During any period of three consecutive years,
individuals who at the beginning of any such period constitute the Board of
Directors of the Company cease, for any reason, to constitute at least a
majority thereof, unless the election, or the nomination for election by the
shareholders of the Company, of each director first elected during any such
period was approved by a vote of at least one-third of the directors of the
Company who are directors of the Company on the date of the beginning of any
such period.
II. PAYMENTS TO TRUST BENEFICIARIES
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2.1 Provided that the Company is not Insolvent and commencing
with the earlier to occur of (a) appropriate notice to the Trustee by the
Company, or (b) the date on which the Trustee has been notified in accordance
with Section 1.3 that a Change of Control has occurred, the Trustee shall make
payments of Benefits to each Trust Beneficiary from the assets of the Trust in
compliance and conformity with the terms of the Plan and subject to Article IX.
2.2 The Trustee shall continue to pay Benefits to the Trust
Beneficiaries until the assets of the Trust are depleted, subject to Section
11.2. If any current payment by the Trustee under the terms of this Agreement
would deplete the assets of the Trust
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below the amount necessary to provide adequately for Benefits known to the
Trustee to be payable in the future, the Trustee shall nevertheless make the
current payment when due. If, after application of the preceding sentence,
amounts in the Trust are not sufficient to provide for full payment of the
Benefits to which any Trust Beneficiary is entitled as provided in this
Agreement, the Company shall make the balance of each such payment directly to
the Trust Beneficiary as it becomes due.
2.3 The Company may make payments of Benefits directly to each or
any Trust Beneficiary. The Company shall notify the Trustee of its decision to
pay Benefits directly at least 3 days prior to the time amounts are due to be
paid to a Trust Beneficiary.
2.4 Nothing in this Agreement shall in any way diminish any
rights of any Trust Beneficiary to pursue such Trust Beneficiary's rights as a
general creditor of the Company with respect to Benefits or otherwise, and the
rights of each Trust Beneficiary under the Plan shall in no way be affected or
diminished by any provision of this Agreement or action taken pursuant to this
Agreement, except that any payment actually received by any Trust Beneficiary
shall reduce dollar-per-dollar amounts otherwise due to such Trust Beneficiary
pursuant to the Plan.
2.5 The Trustee shall withhold from any payment to a Trust
Beneficiary the amount required by law to be so withheld under federal, state
and local tax withholding requirements, and shall
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pay over to the appropriate government authority the amounts
withheld.
III. THE TRUSTEE'S RESPONSIBILITY REGARDING PAYMENTS
TO A TRUST BENEFICIARY WHEN THE COMPANY IS INSOLVENT
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3.1 At all times during the continuance of this Trust, the
principal and income of the Trust shall be subject to claims of creditors of the
Company as set forth in this Section 3.1. The Board of Directors of the Company
("Board") and the CEO shall have the duty to inform the Trustee in writing if
either the Board or the CEO believes that the Company is Insolvent. If the
Trustee receives a notice in writing from the Board or the CEO stating that the
Company is Insolvent or if a person claiming to be a creditor of the Company
alleges in writing to the Trustee that the Company has become Insolvent, the
Trustee shall independently determine within 30 days after receipt of such
notice whether the Company is Insolvent. In making this determination, the
Trustee may engage the outside accountants of the Company to render an opinion
as to the solvency of the Company and shall be fully protected under Section 8.7
in relying upon the advice of such accountants. In addition, the Company shall
provide the Trustee or its agents, including the outside accountants of the
Company, with any information reasonably requested, and otherwise cooperate with
the Company or its agents in making the determination. Pending such
determination, or if the Trustee has actual knowledge or has determined that the
Company is Insolvent, the Trustee shall discontinue or refrain from making
payments to any Trust Beneficiary and hold the Trust assets for the benefit of
the general creditors of the Company.
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The Trustee shall pay any undistributed principal and income in the Trust to the
extent necessary to satisfy the claims of the creditors of the Company as a
court of competent jurisdiction may direct. If the Trustee has discontinued or
refrained from making payments to any Trust Beneficiary pursuant to this Section
3.1, the Trustee shall pay or resume payments to such Trust Beneficiary in
accordance with this Agreement if the Trustee has determined that the Company is
not Insolvent, or is no longer Insolvent (if the Trustee initially determined
the Company to be Insolvent), or pursuant to the order of a court of competent
jurisdiction. Unless the Trustee has actual knowledge of Insolvency, or has
received notice from the Board, the CEO or a person claiming to be a creditor of
the Company alleging that the Company is Insolvent, the Trustee shall have no
duty to inquire as to whether the Company is Insolvent and may rely on
information concerning the Insolvency of the Company that has been furnished to
the Trustee by any creditor of the Company or by any person (other than an
employee or director of the Company) acting with apparent or actual authority
with respect to the Company.
3.2. If the Trustee is precluded from paying Benefits from the
Trust assets pursuant to Section 3.1 and such prohibition is subsequently
removed, the Trustee shall pay the aggregate amount of all Benefits that would
have been paid to the Trust Beneficiaries in accordance with this Agreement
during the period of such prohibition, less the aggregate amount of Benefits
otherwise paid to any Trust Beneficiary by the Company during any
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such period, together with interest on the delayed amount determined at a rate
equal to the rate actually earned (including, without limitation, market
appreciation or depreciation, plus receipt of interest and dividends) during
such period with respect to the assets of the Trust corresponding to such net
amount delayed.
IV. PAYMENTS TO COMPANY
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4.1 Except to the extent expressly contemplated by this Article
IV, the Company shall have no right or power to direct the Trustee to return any
of the Trust assets to the Company before all payments of Benefits have been
made to all Trust Beneficiaries as provided in this Agreement.
V. INVESTMENT OF TRUST FUND
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5.1 Prior to a Change of Control, the Trustee shall invest and
reinvest the assets of the Trust as the Company shall prescribe in writing from
time to time.
5.2 On or after the date of a Change of Control, or in the
absence of the instructions from the Company specified in Section 5.1, the
provisions of this Section 5.2 shall apply to the investment of the Trust
assets. The investment objective of the Trustee shall be to preserve the
principal of the Trust while obtaining a reasonable total rate of return,
measurement of which shall include, without limitation, market appreciation or
depreciation plus receipt of interest and dividends. The Trustee shall be
mindful, in the course of its management of the Trust, of the liquidity demands
on the Trust.
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5.3 The Trustee shall have the sole power to invest the assets of
the Trust, in accordance with the provisions of Sections 5.1 and 5.2. The
Trustee shall not be liable for any failure to maximize income on such portion
of the Trust assets as may be from time to time invested or reinvested as set
forth above, nor for any loss of principal or income due to the liquidation of
any investment that the Trustee, in its sole discretion, believes necessary to
make payments or to reimburse expenses under the terms of this Agreement. The
Trustee shall have the right to invest assets of the Trust for short-term
investment periods, pending distribution, or long-term investment of such
assets, as the Trustee may deem proper in the circumstances.
VI. INCOME OF THE TRUST
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6.1 During the continuance of this Trust, all net income of the
Trust shall be retained in the Trust.
VII. ACCOUNTING BY TRUSTEE
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7.1 The Trustee shall maintain such books, records and accounts
as may be necessary for the proper administration of the Trust assets, including
such specific records as shall be agreed upon in writing by the Company and the
Trustee. Within 60 days following the close of each calendar year that includes
or commences after the date of this Trust until the termination of this Trust or
the removal or resignation of the Trustee (and within 60 days after the date of
such termination, removal or resignation), the Trustee shall render to the
Company an accounting with respect to the Trust assets as of the end of the
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then most recent calendar year (and as of the date of such termination, removal
or resignation, as the case may be). The Trustee shall furnish to the Company on
a quarterly basis (or as the Company shall direct from time to time) and in a
timely manner such information regarding the Trust as the Company shall require
for purposes of preparing its statements of financial condition. The Trustee
shall at all times maintain separate bookkeeping accounts for each Director as
prescribed in Section 7.2 hereof, and, upon the written request of a Director,
shall provide to the Director an annual statement of the Director's account.
Upon the written request of the Company or, on or after the date of a Change of
Control, a Director, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company or the Director,
as the case may be, a written report setting forth the amount held in the Trust
and a record of the deposits made to the Trust by the Company.
Unless the Company or any Director shall have filed with the
Trustee written exception or objection to any such statement and account within
90 days after receipt thereof, the Company and the Directors shall be deemed to
have approved such statement and account, and in such case, the Trustee shall be
forever released and discharged with respect to all matters and things reported
in such statement and account as though it had been settled by a decree of a
court of competent jurisdiction in an action or proceeding to which the Company
and the Directors were parties.
7.2 The Trustee shall maintain a separate account for each
Director. The Trustee shall credit or debit each Director's
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account as appropriate to reflect such Director's allocable portion of the Trust
assets, as such Trust assets may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement. Except as provided in this Section 7.2, all allocations
shall be made in proportion to the balances of the separate accounts of the
Directors. Prior to the date of a Change of Control, all deposits of principal
pursuant to Section 1.1 and 1.5 hereof shall be allocated as directed by the
Company. On or after such date, deposits of principal once allocated may not be
reallocated. Income, expense, gain or loss on assets allocated to the separate
accounts of the Directors shall be allocated separately to such accounts by the
Trustee in proportion to the balances of the separate accounts of the Directors.
7.3 Nothing in this Article VII shall preclude the commingling
of Trust assets for investment.
VIII. RESPONSIBILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUSTEE
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8.1 The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be
limited to those expressly set forth in this Agreement, and no implied covenants
or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Trustee.
8.2 In addition to and without limiting any other provision of
this Agreement, on or after the date of a Change of Control, the Trustee shall,
in its sole discretion, based upon the information furnished to it by the
Company and/or the Directors and any additional information that it may
reasonably request, (a) make all decisions regarding whether a Trust Beneficiary
is eligible for the payment of Benefits, the nature, amount and
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timing of such benefits, and any other decisions pertinent to the exercise of
the Trustee's duties and responsibilities under this Agreement, and (b) exercise
any power or discretion granted pursuant to the Plan to the Board, any committee
of the Board, or to any other committee, entity or person. On or before the date
of a Change in Control, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with calculations
and supporting schedules showing in detail the payments required under the
Agreement in the event of the termination of each of the Director's service with
the Company immediately following the Change in Control. The Trustee shall
determine amounts due under this Agreement in a manner consistent with these
calculations and supporting schedules. In connection with the exercise of the
duties, responsibilities, power and discretion of the Trustee under this
Agreement, the Trustee may employ legal counsel to aid its determinations and
shall be fully protected under Section 8.7 in relying upon the advice of counsel
in making such determinations.
8.3 If all or any part of the Trust assets are at any time
attached, garnished, or levied upon by any court order, or in case the payment,
assignment, transfer, conveyance or delivery of any such property shall be
stayed or enjoined by any court order, or in case any order, judgment or decree
shall be made or entered by a court affecting such property or any part of such
property, then and in any of such events the Trustee shall be authorized, in its
sole discretion, to rely upon and comply with any such order, judgment or
decree, and it shall not be liable to the Company or any Trust Beneficiary by
reason of such compliance
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even though such order, judgment or decree subsequently may be reversed,
modified, annulled, set aside or vacated.
8.4 The Trustee shall act with the care, skill, prudence and
diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent man 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; provided, however, that the
Trustee shall incur no liability to anyone for any action taken pursuant to a
direction, request, or approval given by the Company or any Director or other
Trust Beneficiary contemplated by and complying with the terms of this
Agreement. The Trustee shall discharge its responsibility for the investment,
management and control of the Trust assets solely in the interest of the Trust
Beneficiaries and for the exclusive purpose of assuring that, to the extent of
available Trust assets, and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, all
payments of Benefits are made when due to the Trust Beneficiaries.
8.5 The Trustee may consult with legal counsel (who shall not
be counsel for the Company) to be selected by it.
8.6 The Trustee shall be reimbursed by the Company for its
reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its duties
(including, but not limited to, the fees and expenses of counsel, accountants
and others incurred pursuant to Section 8.5 or 8.11) and shall be paid
reasonable fees for the performance of such duties in the manner provided by
Section 8.7.
8.7 The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Trustee from and against any and all damages, losses, claims or
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expenses as incurred (including expenses of investigation and fees and
disbursements of counsel to the Trustee and any taxes imposed on the Trust
assets or income of the Trust) arising out of or in connection with the
performance by the Trustee of its duties, other than such damages, losses,
claims or expenses arising out of the Trustee's gross negligence or willful
misconduct. The Trustee shall not be required to undertake or to defend any
litigation arising in connection with this Agreement unless it be first
indemnified by the Company against its prospective costs, expenses and
liabilities (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and expenses), and
the Company agrees to indemnify the Trustee and be primarily liable for such
costs, expenses, and liabilities. Any amount payable to the Trustee under
Section 8.6 or this Section 8.7 shall be paid by the Company promptly upon
demand by the Trustee or, in the event that the Company fails to make such
payment within 30 days of such demand, from the Trust assets. In the event that
payment is made to the Trustee from the Trust assets, the Trustee shall promptly
notify the Company in writing of the amount of such payment. The Company agrees
that, upon receipt of such notice, it will deliver to the Trustee to be held in
the Trust an amount in cash equal to any payments made from the Trust assets to
the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.6 or this Section 8.7. The failure of the
Company to transfer any such amount shall not in any way impair the Trustee's
right to indemnification, reimbursement and payment pursuant to Section 8.6 or
this Section 8.7.
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8.8 The Trustee may vote any stock (other than Common Shares of
the Company for which it receives instructions as provided below) or other
securities and exercise any right appurtenant to any such stock, other
securities or other property it holds, either in person or by general or limited
proxy, power of attorney or other instrument. Each Director shall be entitled to
instruct the Trustee as to the voting of any full or partial Common Shares of
the Company allocated to his account as of the applicable record date. Prior to
such voting, the Director shall receive a copy of the proxy solicitation
materials and a blank form to instruct confidentially the Trustee how to vote
the Common Shares of the Company allocated to his account as of the applicable
record date. Upon receipt of such instructions, the Trustee shall vote the
shares (or, as applicable, exercise any dissenter's rights) as instructed. The
Trustee shall vote all other Common Shares of the Company in its possession
(including shares for which it does not receive instruction from Directors) in
accordance with the first sentence of this Section 8.8.
8.9 The Trustee may hold securities in bearer form and may
register securities and other property held in the Trust fund in its own name or
in the name of a nominee, combine certificates representing securities with
certificates of the same issue held by the Trustee in other fiduciary
capacities, and deposit, or arrange for deposit of, property with any
depository; provided that the books and records of the Trustee shall at all
times show that all such securities are part of the assets of the Trust.
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8.10 The Trustee may exercise all rights appurtenant to any
letter of credit made payable to the Trustee of the Trust for the benefit of the
Trust in accordance with the terms of such letter of credit.
8.11 The Trustee may hire agents, accountants, actuaries,
investment advisors, financial consultants or other professionals, who may be
agents, accountants, actuaries, investment advisors, financial consultants, or
otherwise act in a professional capacity, as the case may be, for the Company or
with respect to the Plan, to assist the Trustee in performing any of its duties.
8.12 The Trustee shall have, without exclusion, all powers
conferred on trustees by applicable law unless expressly provided otherwise in
this Agreement.
8.13 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in
the event of the termination of the Trust, or the resignation or discharge of
the Trustee, the Trustee shall have the right to a settlement of its accounts in
accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 7.1, which may be made, at
the option of the Trustee, either (a) by a judicial settlement in a court of
competent jurisdiction, or (b) by agreement of settlement, release and indemnity
from the Company to the Trustee.
IX. AMENDMENTS, ETC., TO PLAN AND EXHIBITS
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9.1 On or after the date of a Change of Control, the Company
shall, and any Trust Beneficiary may, promptly furnish the Trustee true and
correct copies of any amendment, restatement or successor to the Plan. Upon
written notification to the
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Trustee by the Company or any Director of the failure of the Company and such
Director to agree on the amount of Benefits to be paid such Director, the
Trustee shall, to the extent necessary in the sole judgment of the Trustee, (a)
compute the amount of Benefits payable to any Trust Beneficiary, and (b) notify
the Company and the Director in writing of its computations. In making these
determinations, the Trustee may employ legal counsel and shall be fully
protected under Section 8.7 in relying upon the advice of counsel in relying on
such determinations. Thereafter, this Agreement and all Exhibits shall be
amended to the extent of such Trustee determinations without further action;
provided, however, that the failure of the Company to furnish any such
amendment, restatement, successor or compensation information shall in no way
diminish the rights of any Trust Beneficiary.
9.2 Amendments to Exhibit A (and directly corresponding
amendments to Exhibit B) that modify one or more lists of Directors shall be
made only in accordance with Section 1.6. No amendment to Exhibit A (and no
amendment to Exhibit B that would delete a Director may be made on or after the
date on which a Change of Control occurs, except in accordance with Article XI.
X. REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE
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10.1 The Trustee may resign and be discharged from its duties
after providing not less than 90 days' notice in writing to the Company. On or
after the date of a Change of Control, the Trustee shall also provide notice of
its resignation to all of the Directors. Prior to the date of a Change of
Control, the
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Trustee may be removed at any time upon notice in writing by the Company. On or
after such date, removal shall also require the agreement of the Directors.
Prior to the date of a Change of Control, a replacement or successor trustee
shall be appointed by the Company. On or after such date, appointment shall also
require the agreement of the Directors. No such removal or resignation shall
become effective until the effectiveness of the acceptance of the Trust by a
successor trustee designated in accordance with this Article X. If, after making
reasonable efforts to appoint a successor trustee, the Trustee has been unable
to do so, the Trustee shall petition a court of competent jurisdiction to
appoint a successor trustee. Upon the acceptance of the Trust by a successor
trustee, the Trustee shall release all of the moneys and other property in the
Trust to its successor, who after such time shall for all purposes of this
Agreement be considered to be the "Trustee." In the event of its removal or
resignation, the Trustee shall duly file with the Company and, after a Change of
Control, all of the Directors, a written statement or statements of accounts and
proceedings as provided in Section 7.1 for the period since the last previous
accounting of the Trust.
10.2 For purposes of Section 10.1 and Section 11.2, a Director
shall not participate if all Benefits then currently due or payable in the
future have been made to such Director.
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XI. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT
-------------------------------------
11.1 This Agreement may be amended at any time and to any extent
by a written instrument executed by the Trustee and the Company; provided,
however, that no amendment shall have the effect of altering Section 11.2.
11.2 The Trust shall terminate on or after a Change of Control
upon the earliest to occur of (i) a joint determination by the Trustee and the
Directors made on or after the fifth anniversary of the date of a Change of
Control that no Trust Beneficiary is or will be entitled to any further payment
of Benefits or (ii) such time as the Trustee shall have received consents from
all of the Directors to the termination of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the
previous sentence, if payments under the Plan with respect to any Trust
Beneficiary are the subject of litigation or arbitration, the Trust shall not
terminate and the funds held in the Trust with respect to such Trust Beneficiary
shall continue to be held by the Trustee until the final resolution of such
litigation or arbitration. The Trustee may assume that the Plan is not the
subject of such litigation or arbitration unless the Trustee receives written
notice from a Trust Beneficiary or the Company with respect to such litigation
or arbitration. The Trustee may rely upon written notice from a Trust
Beneficiary as to the final resolution of such litigation or arbitration.
11.3 Upon a termination of the Trust as provided in Section
11.2, any assets remaining in the Trust, less all payments,
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expenses, taxes and other charges under this Agreement as of such date of
termination, shall be returned to the Company.
XII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
------------------
12.1 The Company shall, at any time and from time to time, upon the
reasonable request of the Trustee, provide information, execute and deliver such
further instruments and do such further acts as may be necessary or proper to
effectuate the purposes of this Trust.
12.2 Each Exhibit referred to in this Agreement shall become a part
of this Agreement and is expressly incorporated by reference.
12.3 This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the
parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes any and all prior
agreements, arrangements and understandings. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and
legal representatives.
12.4 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.
12.5 In the event that any provision of this Agreement or the
application of any provision to any person or circumstances shall be determined
by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable to any
extent, the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such provision to
persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid or
unenforceable, shall not be affected, and each provision of this
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Agreement shall be valid and enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law.
12.6 (a) The preamble to this Agreement shall be considered a part
of the agreement of the parties as if set forth in a section of this Agreement.
(b) The headings and table of contents contained in this
Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part of the agreement
of the parties and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.
12.7 The right of any Trust Beneficiary to any benefit or to any
payment may not be anticipated, assigned (either at law or in equity), alienated
or subject to attachment, garnishment, levy, execution or other legal or
equitable process except as required by law. Any attempt by any Trust
Beneficiary. to anticipate, alienate, assign, sell, transfer, pledge, encumber
or charge the same shall be void. The Trust assets shall not in any manner be
subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of any Trust
Beneficiary.
12.8 Any dispute between the Directors and the Company or the
Trustee as to the interpretation or application of the provisions of this
Agreement and amounts payable may, at the election of any party to such dispute
(or, if more than one Director is such a party, at the election of two-thirds of
such Directors), be determined by binding arbitration in accordance with the
rules of the American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may be
entered on the arbitrator's award in any court of competent jurisdiction. All
fees and expenses of such
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arbitration shall be paid by the Trustee and considered an expense of the Trust
under Section 8.7.
12.9 Each Director is an intended beneficiary under this Trust, and
as an intended beneficiary shall be entitled to enforce all terms and provisions
with the same force and effect as if such person had been a party to the
Agreement.
12.10 The Trustee shall be permitted to withhold from any payment
due to a Director the amount required by law to be so withheld under federal,
state and local withholding requirements or otherwise, and shall pay over to the
appropriate government authority the amounts so withheld. The Trustee may rely
on reasonable instructions from the Company as to any required withholding and
shall be fully protected under Section 8.7 in relying on such instructions.
12.11 Notwithstanding any other provision, the parties' respective
rights and obligations under Section 12.9 shall survive any termination or
expiration of this Agreement.
XIII. NOTICES
-------
13.1 For all purposes of this Agreement, any communication,
including without limitation, any notice, consent, report, demand or waiver
required or permitted to be given shall be in writing and, unless otherwise
provided in this Agreement, shall be deemed to have been duly given when hand
delivered or dispatched by telegram or electronic facsimile transfer (confirmed
in writing by mail simultaneously dispatched), or two business days after having
been mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, or one business day
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after having been dispatched by a nationally recognized overnight courier
service to the appropriate party at the address specified below:
If to the Company, to: Cleveland-Cliffs Inc
---------------------- 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attention: Secretary
If to the Trustee, to: Key Trust Company of Ohio, N.A.
--------------------- 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000-0000
Attention:
If to a Director, to: the address of such Director as
-------------------- listed next to such Director's
name on Exhibit A,
provided, however, that if any party or such party's successors shall have
designated a different address by notice to the other parties, then to the last
address so designated.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Trustee caused this
Agreement to be executed on its behalf as of the date first above
written.
Attested CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC
By: /s/ X.X. Xxxxxxx By: /s/ X.X. Xxxxx
--------------------------- ---------------------------
Its: Secretary Its: Vice President
----------------------- --------------------------
Attested Key Trust Company of Ohio, N.A.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxx
--------------------------- ---------------------------
Its: Vice President Its: Vice President
----------------------- --------------------------
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EXHIBIT A
11/20/96
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC
--------------------
NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION PLAN PARTICIPANTS
-----------------------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx
Newmont Mining Corporation ASARCO Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 0000 Xxxxx 0xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000 Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Partners, LLC 00000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 Xxxxx 000X
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Xxxxx X. Ireland III Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Citizens Building Saltash Ltd.
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 Xxxxxx, XX 00000
G. Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 Yale Law School
00 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx, XX 00000 Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
E. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
00000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxxxx
Suite 104W 53 State Street, 34th Floor
Pepper Pike, OH 44124 Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
00 Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, #0X 00000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 Xxxxx 000X
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
* * * * * * * * * * *
Directors presently electing to defer fees as of July 1, 1996:
Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxxx
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Ireland III
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EXHIBIT B
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC NONEMPLOYEE
DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION PLAN
The Cleveland-Cliffs Inc Nonemployee Directors' Compensation Plan
("Plan") is effective as of July 1, 1996, subject to approval of shareholders at
the 1996 annual meeting.
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS
Whenever the following terms are used in this Plan they shall have the
meanings specified below unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary:
(a) "Account": A Deferred Fee Account and/or a Deferred Share
Account, as the context may require.
(b) "Accounting Date": December 31 of each year and the last day
of each calendar quarter.
(c) "Accounting Period": The quarterly period beginning on the date
immediately following an Accounting Date and ending the next following
Accounting Date.
(d) "Administrator": The Board Affairs Committee of the Board or
any successor committee designated by the Board.
(e) "Beneficiary": The person or persons (natural or otherwise)
designated pursuant to Section 7.7.
(f) "Board": The Board of Directors of the Company.
(g) "Change of Control": The meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).
(h) "Code": The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(i) "Company": Cleveland-Cliffs Inc or any successor or successors
thereto.
(j) "Declared Rate": The Xxxxx'x Corporate Average Bond Yield as
adjusted on the first business day of January, April, July and October
or such other rate as the Adninistrator shall determine from time to
time.
(k) "Deferral Commitment": An agreement made by a Director in a
Participation Agreement to have all or a specified portion of his or her
Fees. Required Retainer Shares and/or Voluntary Shares deferred under
the Plan for a specified period in the future.
(l) "Deferral Period": The Plan Year for which a Director has
elected to defer all or a portion of his or her Fees, Required Retainer
Shares and/or Voluntary Shares.
(m) "Deferred Fees": The Fees credited to a Director's Deferred Fee
Account pursuant to Articles IV and V and payable to a Director pursuant
to Article VII.
(n) "Deferred Fee Account": The account maintained on the books of
the Company for each Director pursuant to Article V.
(o) "Deferred Shares": The Required Retainer Shares and Voluntary
Shares credited to a Director's Deferred Share Account pursuant to
Articles IV and VI and payable to a Director pursuant to Article VII.
(p) "Deferred Share Account": The account maintained on the books
of the Company for each Director pursuant to Article VI.
(q) "Director": An individual duly elected or chosen as a Director
of the Company who is not also an employee of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries.
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(r) "Fair Market Value": With respect to a Share, the last reported
closing price for a Share on the New York Stock Exchange (or any
appropriate over-the-counter market if the Shares are no longer listed
on such Exchange) for a day specified herein for which such fair market
value is to be calculated, or if there was no sale of Shares so reported
for such day, on the most recently preceding day on which there was such
a sale.
(s) "Fees": The portion of the annual Retainer and other Director
compensation payable in cash.
(t) "Participation Agreement": The agreement submitted by a
Director to the Administrator in which a Director may specify an amount
of Voluntary Shares, or may elect to defer receipt of all or any portion
of his or her Fees, Required Retainer Shares and/or Voluntary Shares for
a specified period in the future.
(u) "Plan": The Plan set forth in this instrument as it may from
time to time be amended.
(v) "Plan Year": The 12-month period beginning January 1 and ending
December 31.
(w) "Prior Plan": The Company's existing Plan for Deferred Payment
of Directors' Fees originally adopted in 1981.
(x) "Restricted Shares": Shares automatically awarded pursuant to
Section 3.1 as to which neither the substantial risk of forfeiture nor
the restrictions on transfer referred to in Section 3.1 hereof have
expired.
(y) "Retainer": The portion of a Director's annual compensation
that is payable without regard to number of Board or committee meetings
attended or committee positions.
(z) "Required Retainer Shares": An amount, payable in Shares.
constituting 50% of a Director's Retainer.
(aa) "Rule 16b-3": Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (or any successor rule to the same effect), as in
effect from time to time.
(bb) "Settlement Date": The date on which a Director terminates as
a Director. Settlement Date shall also include with respect to any
Deferral Period the date prior to the date of termination as a Director
selected by a Director in a Participation Agreement for distribution of
all or a portion of the Fees, Required Retainer Shares and Voluntary
Shares deferred during such Deferral Period as provided in Section 7.3.
(cc) "Shares": The Company's fully paid, non-assessable Common
Shares, par value $1.00 per share. Shares may be shares of original
issuance or treasury shares or a combination of the foregoing.
(dd) "Voluntary Shares": The meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b).
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
The purpose of this Plan is to provide for the award of Restricted
Shares to Directors and for the payment to Directors of at least one-half of the
Retainer earned by them for services as Directors in Shares in order to further
align the interests of Directors with the shareholders of the Company and there
by promote the long-term success and growth of the Company. In addition, the
Plan is intended to provide Directors with opportunities to invest additional
amounts of their compensation payable for services as a Director in Shares and
defer receipt of any or all of such compensation, other than Restricted Shares.
ARTICLE III. RESTRICTED SHARES, REQUIRED RETAINER SHARES
AND VOLUNTARY SHARES
3.1 Automatic Awards of Restricted Shares.
(a) Restricted Shares shall be automatically awarded to Directors as
follows:
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(i) Each individual who is first elected or appointed to the Board
as a Director after June 30, 1995 and before July 1, 1996 shall be
awarded 1,000 Restricted Shares on July 1, 1996.
(ii) Each individual who is first elected or appointed to the
Board as a Director on or after July 1, 1996 shall be awarded 1,000
Restricted Shares on July 1 of the following year.
(b) The Restricted Shares may not be assigned, exchanged, pledged,
sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by a Director, except to the
Company, and shall be subject to forfeiture as herein provided until the
earliest to occur of the following ("Vesting Event"): (a) the fifth anniversary
of the date of award; (b) a Change of Control (as defined below); or (c) death
or permanent disability. Any purported transfer in violation of the provisions
of this paragraph shall be null and void, and the purported transferee shall
obtain no rights with respect to such Restricted Shares. For purposes of this
Section 3.1, "Change of Control" shall mean the occurrence of any of the
following events:
(i) The Company shall merge into itself, or be merged or
consolidated with, another corporation and as a result of such merger
or consolidation less than 70% of the outstanding voting securities of
the surviving or resulting corporation shall be owned in the aggregate
by the former shareholders of the Company as the same shall have
existed immediately prior to such merger or consolidation;
(ii) The Company shall sell or otherwise transfer all or
substantially all of its assets to any other corporation or other legal
person, and immediately after such sale or transfer less than 70% of
the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of such
corporation or person is held in the aggregate by the former
shareholders of the Company as the same shall have existed immediately
prior to such sale or transfer;
(iii) A person, within the meaning of Section 3(a)(9) or of
Section 13(d)(3) (as in effect on the date hereof) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, shall become the beneficial owner (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934) of 30% or more of the outstanding
voting securities of the Company (whether directly or indirectly); or
(iv) During any period of three consecutive years, individuals who
at the beginning of any such period constitute the Board of Directors
of the Company cease, for any reason, to constitute at least a majority
thereof, unless the election, or the nomination for election by the
shareholders of the Company, of each Director first elected during any
such period was approved by a vote of at least one-third of the
Directors of the Company who are Directors of the Company on the date
of the beginning of any such period.
(c) All of the Restricted Shares shall be forfeited by a Director who
is terminated before a Vesting Event; provided, however, if service as a
Director is terminated by the Company owing to removal as a Director without
cause before the fifth anniversary of the date of an award, a portion of the
Restricted Shares covered by such award that then remain forfeitable shall
become freely transferable and nonforfeitable as follows: that number of
Restricted Shares shall become freely transferable and nonforfeitable which
bears the same ratio to the total number of Restricted Shares subject to such
award that then remain forfeitable and would have become forfeitable at the
Vesting Date as the number of full months from the date of award to the date of
termination of such service bears to 60, and the balance of the Restricted
Shares subject to such award shall be forfeited to the Company.
(d) Unless otherwise directed by the Administrator, all certificates
representing Restricted Shares shall be held in custody by the Company until the
occurrence of a Vesting Event. As a condition to each award of Restricted
Shares, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, each Director shall
have delivered to the Company a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the
Restricted Shares covered by such award. After the occurrence of a Vesting
Event, assuming no event has occurred that would effect a forfeiture of a
Director's Restricted Shares, a certificate or certificates evidencing
unrestricted ownership of such Shares shall be delivered to the Director.
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3.2 Required Retainer Shares and Voluntary Shares.
(a) Retainer. Commencing with the Retainer for the third Accounting
Period during 1996, 50% of the Retainer established by the Board from time to
time shall be payable in cash and 50% of such Retainer shall be payable as
Required Retainer Shares payable on January 1 of the following year (unless
deferred in accordance with this Plan).
(b) Voluntary Shares. Prior to the commencement of any calendar
quarter, a Director may elect by the filing of a Participation Agreement to have
up to 100% of his or her Fees for such quarter paid bv the Company in the form
of Voluntary Shares and in lieu of the cash payment. Such Participation
Agreement must be filed as a one-time election. Such election, unless
subsequently terminated, shall apply to a Director's Fees for the remainder of
the current Plan Year and each subsequent Plan Year. Once an election has been
terminated another election may not be made.
(c) Issuance of Shares. On January 1 of each year beginning with
January 1, 1997, the Company shall issue (i) to each Director a number of
Required Retainer Shares equal to 50% of such Director's Retainer for each
Accounting Period during the prior Plan Year divided by the Fair Market Value
per Share on the first day of such Accounting Period and (ii) to each Director
who has made an election under Section 3.2(b) a number of Voluntary Shares for
each such Accounting Period equal to the portion of such Director's Fees in
excess of 50% of such Director's Retainer for such Accounting Period that such
Director has elected to receive as Voluntary Shares for such Accounting Period
divided by the Fair Market Value per Share on the first day of such Accounting
Period (less, in each case, the portion of the Required Retainer Shares and
Voluntary Shares the Director elected to defer under Section 4.3). To the extent
that the application of the foregoing formula would result in the issuance of
fractional Shares, no fractional Shares shall be issued, but instead, the
Company shall maintain two separate non-interest-bearing accounts for each
Director, which accounts shall be credited with the amount of any Required
Retainer Shares or Voluntary Shares, as the case may be, not convertible into
whole Shares, which amounts shall be combined with Required Retainer Shares and
Voluntary Shares, respectively, which are paid for the next following Plan Year.
When whole Shares are issued by the Company to the Director on January 1, the
amounts in such accounts shall be reduced by that amount which (when added to
the Required Retainer Shares and Voluntary Shares for such Director for such
quarter) results in the issuance of the maximum number of Shares to such
Director. The Company shall pay any and all fees and commissions incurred in
connection with the payment of Required Retainer Shares and Voluntary Shares to
a Director in Shares.
ARTICLE IV. DEFERRAL OF FEES, REQUIRED REQUIRED SHARES
AND VOLUNTARY SHARES
4.1 Deferral of Fees. A Director may elect to defer all or a specified
percentage of his or her Fees, and may change such percentage by filing a
Participation Agreement with the Administrator, which shall be effective as of
the first day of the Plan Year which commences after the date such Participation
Agreement is filed with the Administrator.
4.2 Crediting of Deferred Fees. The portion of a Director's Fees that
is deferred pursuant to a Deferral Commitment shall be credited promptly
following each Plan Year to the Director's Deferred Fee Account as of the date
the corresponding non-deferred portion of his or her Fees would have been paid
to the Director.
4.3 Deferral of Required Retainer Shares and Voluntary Shares. A
Director may elect to defer all or a specified percentage of his or her Required
Retainer Shares and his or her Voluntary Shares, and may change such percentage
by filing a Participation Agreement with the Administrator, which shall be
effective as of the first day of the Plan Year which commences after the date
such Participation Agreement is filed with the Administrator.
4.4 Crediting of Deferred Shares. The portion of a Directors Required
Retainer Shares and Voluntary Shares that is deferred pursuant to a Deferral
Commitment shall be credited promptly following each Plan Year to the Director's
Deferred Share Account as of the date the corresponding non-deferred portion of
his or her Required Retainer Shares and Voluntary Shares would have been issued
to the Director.
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4.5 Withholding Taxes. If the Company is required to withhold any
taxes or other amounts from a Director's Deferred Fees or Deferred Shares
pursuant to any state, Federal or local law, such amounts shall, to the extent
possible, be deducted from the Director's Fees or Required Retainer Shares or
Voluntary Shares before such amounts are credited as described in Sections 4.2
and 4.4 above. Any additional withholding amount required shall be paid by the
Director to the Company as a condition of crediting his or her Accounts.
ARTICLE V. DEFERRED FEE ACCOUNT
5.1 Determination of Deferred Fee Account. On any particular date, a
Director's Deferred Fee Account shall consist of the aggregate amount credited
thereto pursuant to Section 4.2, plus any interest credited pursuant to Section
5.2, minus the aggregate amount of distributions, if any, made from such
Deferred Fee Account.
5.2 Crediting of Interest. Each Deferred Fee Account to which Fees have
been credited in dollar amounts shall be increased by the amount of interest
earned since the immediately preceding Accounting Date. Interest shall be
credited at the Declared Rate as of each Accounting Date based on the average
daily balance of the Director's Deferred Fee Account since the immediately
preceding Accounting Date, but after the Deferred Fee Account has been adjusted
for any contributions or distributions to be credited or deducted for such
period. Interest for the period prior to the first Accounting Date applicable to
a Deferred Fee Account shall be prorated.
5.3 Adjustments to Deferred Fee Accounts. Each Director's Deferred Fee
Account shall be immediately debited with the amount of anv distributions
under the Plan to or on behalf of the Director or, in the event of his or her
death, his or her Beneficiary.
5.4 Statements of Deferred Fee Accounts. As soon as practicable after
the end of each Plan Year, a statement shall be furnished to each Director or,
in the event of his or her death, to his or her Beneficiary showing the status
of his or her Deferred Fee Account as of the end of the Accounting Period, any
changes in such Account since the end of the immediately preceding Accounting
Period, and such other information as the Administrator shall determine.
5.5 Vesting of Deferred Fee Account. A Director shall be 100% vested in
his or her Deferred Fee Account at all times.
ARTICLE VI. DEFERRED SHARE ACCOUNT
6.1 Determination of Deferred Share Account. On any particular date, a
Director's Deferred Share Account shall consist of the aggregate number of
Deferred Shares credited thereto pursuant to Section 4.4, plus any dividend
equivalents credited pursuant to Section 6.2, minus the aggregate amount of
distributions, if any, made from such Deferred Share Account.
6.2 Crediting of Dividend Equivalents. Each Deferred Share Account
shall be credited as of the end of each Accounting Period with additional
Deferred Shares equal in value to the amount of cash dividends paid by the
Company during such Accounting Period on that number of Shares equivalent to the
number of Deferred Shares in such Deferred Share Account during such Accounting
Period. The dividend equivalents shall be valued by dividing the dollar value of
such dividend equivalents by the Fair Market Value on the Accounting Date next
following the dividend payment date. Until a Director or his or her Beneficiary
receives his or her entire Deferred Share Account, the unpaid balance thereof
credited in Deferred Shares shall be credited with dividend equivalents as
provided in this Section 6.2.
6.3 Adjustments to Deferred Share Accounts. Each Director's Deferred
Share Account shall be immediately debited with the amount of any distributions
under the Plan to or on behalf of the Director or, in the event of his or her
death, his or her Beneficiary.
6.4 Statements of Deferred Share Accounts. As soon as practicable after
the end of each Plan Year, a statement shall be furnished to each Director
or, in the event of his or her death, to his or her Beneficiary showing the
status of his or her Deferred Share Account as of the end of the Accounting
Period, any changes
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in such Account since the end of the immediately preceding Accounting Period,
and such other information as the Administrator shall determine.
6.5 Vesting of Deferred Share Account. A Director shall be 100% vested
in his or her Deferred Share Account at all times.
ARTICLE VII. DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS
7.1 Settlement Date. A Director, or in the event of such Director's
death, his or her Beneficiary shall be entitled to all or a portion of the
balance in such Director's Deferred Fee Account and Deferred Share Account, as
provided in this Article VII, following such Director's Settlement Date or
Dates.
7.2 Amount to be Distributed. The amount to which a Director, or in the
event of such Director's death, his or her Beneficiary is entitled in accordance
with the following provisions of this Article VII shall be based on the
Director's adjusted balances in his or her Deferred Fee Account and Deferred
Share Account determined as of the Accounting Date coincident with or next
following his or her Settlement Date or Dates.
7.3 In-Service Distribution. A Director may irrevocably elect to
receive a pre-termination distribution of all or any specified percentage of
his or her Deferred Fees or Deferred Shares for any Plan Year on or commencing
not earlier than the beginning of the third Plan Year following the Plan Year
such Fees and Shares otherwise would have been payable. A Director's election of
a pre-termination distribution shall he made in a Participation Agreement filed
for the Plan Year as provided in Section 4.1 or Section 4.3. A Director shall
elect irrevocably to receive such Deferred Fees and/or Deferred Shares as a
pre-termination distribution under one of the forms provided in Section 7.4 or
Section 7.5.
7.4 Form of Distribution - Deferred Fees. As soon as practicable after
the end of the Accounting Period in which a Director's Settlement Date occurs,
but in no event later than thirty days following the end of such Accounting
Period, the Company shall distribute or cause to be distributed, to the Director
the balance of the Director's Deferred Fee Account as determined under Section
7.2, under one of the forms provided in this Section 7.4. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if elected by the Director, the distribution of all or a portion of
the Director's Deferred Fee Account may be made or may commence at the
beginning of the Plan Year next following his or her Settlement Date. In the
event of a Director's death, the balance of his or her Deferred Fee Account
shall be distributed to his or her Beneficiary in a lump sum.
Distribution of a Director's Deferred Fee Account shall be made in one
of the following forms as elected by the Director.
(a) by payment in cash in a single lump sum;
(b) by payment in cash in not greater than ten annual
installments; or
(c) a combination of (a) and (b) above. The Director shall
designate the percentage payable under each option.
The Director's election of the form of distribution shall be made by written
notice filed with the Administrator at least one year prior to the Director's
voluntary retirement as a Director. Any such election may be changed by the
Director at any time and from time to time without the consent of any other
person by filing a later signed written election with the Administrator,
provided that any election made less than one year prior to the Director's
voluntary termination as a Director shall not be valid, and in such case payment
shall be made in accordance with the Director's prior election.
The amount of cash to be distributed in each installment shall be
equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the Director's Deferred Fee Account
balance as of the date of such installment payment by the number of installment
payments remaining to be made to or in respect of such Director at the time of
calculation.
If a Director falls to make an election in a timely manner as provided
in this Section 7.4, distribution shall be made in cash in a lump sum.
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35
7.5 Form of Distribution - Deferred Shares. As soon as practicable
after the end of the Accounting Period in which a Director's Settlement Date
occurs, but in no event later than thirty days following the end of such
Accounting Period, the Company shall distribute or cause to be distributed, to
the Director a number of Shares equal to the number of Deferred Shares in the
Director's Deferred Share Account as determined under Section 7.2, under one of
the forms provided in this Section 7.5. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if
elected by the Director, the distribution of all or a portion of the Director's
Deferred Share Account may be made or may commence at the beginning of the Plan
Year next following his or her Settlement Date. In the event of a Director's
death, the number of Shares equal to the number of Deferred Shares in his or her
Deferred Share Account shall be distributed to his or her Beneficiary in a
single distribution.
Distribution of a Director's Deferred Share Account shall be made in
one of the following forms as elected by the Director.
(a) by payment in Shares or cash in a single distribution;
(b) by payment in Shares or cash in not greater than ten annual
installments; or
(c) a combination of (a) and (b) above. The Director shall
designate the percentage payable under each option.
The Director's election of the form of distribution shall be made by written
notice filed with the Administrator at least one year prior to the Director's
voluntary retirement as a Director. Any such election may be changed by the
Director at any time and from time to time without the consent of any other
person by filing a later signed written election with the Administrator,
provided that any election made less than one year prior to the Director's
voluntary termination as a Director shall not be valid, and in such case
payment shall be made in accordance with the Director's prior election.
The number of Shares to be distributed in each installment shall be
equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the number of Deferred Shares in the
Director's Deferred Share Account as of the date of such installment payment by
the number of installment payments remaining to be made to or in respect of such
Director at the time of calculation. Fractional Shares shall be rounded down to
the nearest whole Share, and such fractional amount shall be re-credited as a
fractional Deferred Share in the Director's Deferred Share Account.
If a Director elects payment in a single distribution in cash, the
amount of the payout shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the Deferred
Shares in the Director's Deferred Share Account on the Settlement Date. If such
Director elects payout in installments in cash, an amount equal to the Fair
Market Value of the Deferred Shares in the Director's Deferred Share Account on
the Settlement Date shall be transferred to the Director's Deferred Fee Account
pending distribution.
If a Director fails to make an election in a timely manner as provided
in this Section 7.5, distribution of the Director's Deferred Share Account shall
be made in Shares in a single distribution.
7.6 Special Distributions. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Article VII, a Director may elect to receive a distribution of part or all of
his or her Deferred Fee Account and/or Deferred Share Account in one or more
distributions if (and only if) the amount in the Director's Deferred Fee Account
and/or the number of the Shares in the Director's Deferred Share Account subject
to such distribution is reduced by 10 percent. Any distribution made pursuant to
such an election shall be made within sixty days of the date such election is
submitted to the Administrator. The remaining 10 percent of the portion of the
electing Director's Deferred Fee Account and/or Deferred Share Account subject
to such distribution shall be forfeited.
7.7 Beneficiary Designation. As used in the Plan the term "Beneficiary"
means:
(a) The person last designated as Beneficiary by the Director in
writing on a form prescribed by the Administrator;
(b) If there is no designated Beneficiary or if the person so
designated shall not survive the Director, such Director's spouse; or
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(c) If no such designated Beneficiary and no such spouse is
living upon the death of a Director, or if all such persons die prior
to the distribution of the Director's balance in his or her Deferred
Fee Account and Deferred Share Account, then the legal representative
of the last survivor of the Director and such persons, or, if the
Administrator shall not receive notice of the appointment of any such
legal representative within one year after such death, the heirs-at-law
of such survivor shall be the Beneficiaries to whom the then remaining
balance of such Accounts shall be distributed (in the proportions in
which they would inherit his or her intestate personal property).
Any Beneficiary designation may be changed from time to time by the filing of a
new form. No notice given under this Section 7.7 shall be effective unless and
until the Administrator actually receives such notice.
7.8 Facility of Payment. Whenever and as often as any Director or his
or her Beneficiary entitled to payments hereunder shall be under a legal
disability or, in the sole judgment of the Administrator, shall otherwise be
unable to apply such payments to his or her own best interests and advantage,
the Administrator in the exercise of its discretion may direct all or any
portion of such payments to be made in any one or more of the following ways:
(i) directly to him or her; (ii) to his or her legal guardian or conservator, or
(iii) to his or her spouse or to any other person, to be expended for his or her
benefit; and the decision of the Administrator, shall in each case be final and
binding upon all persons in interest.
ARTICLE VIII. ADMINISTRATION, AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
8.1 Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the
Administrator. The Administrator shall have such powers as may be necessary to
discharge its duties hereunder. The Administrator may, from time to time,
employ, appoint or delegate to an agent or agents (who may be an officer or
officers of the Company) and delegate to them such administrative duties as it
sees fit, and may from time to time consult with legal counsel who may be
counsel to the Company. The Administrator shall have no power to add to,
subtract from or modify any of the terms of the Plan, or to change or add to any
benefits provided under the Plan, or to waive or fail to apply any requirements
of eligibility for a benefit under the Plan. No member of the Administrator
shall act in respect of his or her own Deferred Fee Account or his or her own
Deferred Share Account. All decisions and determinations by the Administrator
shall be final and binding on all parties. No member of the Administrator shall
be liable for any such action taken or determination made in good faith. All
decisions of the Administrator shall be made by the vote of the majority,
including actions and writing taken without a meeting. All elections, notices
and directions under the Plan by a Director shall be made on such forms as the
Administrator shall prescribe.
8.2 Amendment and Termination. The Board may alter or amend this Plan
from time to time or may terminate it in its entirety; provided, however, that
no such action shall, without the consent of a Director, affect the rights in
any Shares issued or to be issued to such Director, in any Deferred Shares in a
Director's Deferred Share Account or in any amounts in a Director's Deferred Fee
Account; and further provided, that, without further approval by the
shareholders of the Company no such action shall (a) increase the total number
of Shares available for issuance under this Plan specified in Article X or (b)
otherwise cause Rule 16b-3 to become inapplicable to this Plan.
ARTICLE IX. FINANCING OF BENEFITS
9.1 Financing of Benefits. The Shares and benefits payable in cash
under the Plan to a Director or, in the event of his or her death, to his or her
Beneficiary shall he paid by the Company from its general assets. The right to
receive payment of the Shares and benefits payable in cash represents an
unfunded, unsecured obligation of the Company. No person entitled to payment
under the Plan shall have any claim, right, security interest or other interest
in any fund, trust, account, insurance contract, or asset of the Company which
may be responsible for such payment.
9.2 Security for Benefits. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section
9.1, nothing in this Plan shall preclude the Company from setting aside Shares
or funds in trust ("Trust") pursuant to one or more trust agreements between a
trustee and the Company. However, no Director or Beneficiary shall have any
secured
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interest or claim in any assets or property of the Company or the Trust and all
Shares or funds contained in the Trust shall remain subject to the claims of the
Company's general creditors.
ARTICLE X. SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN
10.1 Shares Subject to Plan. Subject to adjustment as provided in this
Plan, the total number of Shares which may be issued under this Plan shall be
50,000.
10.2 Adjustments. In the event of any change in the outstanding Shares
by reason of (a) any stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares,
recapitalization or any other change in the capital structure of the Company,
(b) any merger, consolidation, spin-off, split-off, spin-out, split-up,
reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets,
issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities, or (c) any other
corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing,
the number and kind of shares specified in Article III, the number or kind of
Shares that may be issued under the Plan as specified in Article X and the
number of Deferred Shares in a Director's Deferred Share Account shall
automatically be adjusted so that the proportionate interest of the Directors
shall be maintained as before the occurrence of such event. Such adjustment
shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes with respect to the Plan.
ARTICLE XI. PRIOR PLANS
11.1 1992 Incentive Equity Plan. No further options shall be issued to
the Directors under Section 8 of the Company's 1992 Incentive Equity Plan on or
after July 1, 1996.
11.2 Plan for Deferred Payment of Director's Fees. Upon the approval of
this Plan by the shareholders of the Company, the Prior Plan shall be
discontinued, except that any amount remaining payable to former Directors in
the Prior Plan shall be paid in accordance with its terms. Participants in the
Prior Plan who are currently Directors shall be covered by this Plan and the
bookkeeping entries representing Shares theretofore credited to the account of
any current Director in the Prior Plan prior to such discontinuance shall be
transferred to a Deferred Share Account for such Director. Any deferral
election by a Director in force under the Prior Plan shall continue in effect
in accordance with its terms.
ARTICLE XII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
12.1 Interests Not Transferable; Restrictions on Shares and Rights to
Shares. No rights to Shares or other benefits payable in cash shall be assigned,
pledged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred by a Director or any other
person, voluntarily or involuntarily, other than (i) by will or the laws of
descent and distribution, or (ii) pursuant to a domestic relations order meeting
the definition of a qualified domestic relations order under the Code. No person
shall have any right to commute, encumber, pledge or dispose of any other
interest herein or right to receive payments hereunder, nor shall such interests
or payments be subject to seizure, attachment or garnishment for the payments of
any debts, judgments, alimony or separate maintenance obligations or be
transferable by operation of law in the event of bankruptcy, insolvency or
otherwise, all payments and rights hereunder being expressly declared to be
nonassignable and nontransferable.
12.2 Governing Law. The provisions of this Plan shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.
12.3 Withholding Taxes. To the extent that the Company is required to
withhold Federal, state or local taxes in connection with any component of a
Director's compensation in cash or Shares and the amounts available to the
Company for such withholding are insufficient, it shall be a condition to the
receipt of any Shares that the Director make arrangements satisfactory to the
Company for the payment of the balance of such taxes required to be withheld,
which arrangement may include relinquishment of the Shares. The Company and a
Director may also make similar arrangements with respect to payment of any other
taxes derived from or related to the payment of Shares with the respect to which
withholding is not required.
12.4 Rule 16b-3. This Plan is intended to comply with Rule 16b-3 as in
effect prior to May 1, 1991. The Administrator may, however, elect at any time
to have some other version of Rule 16b-3 apply if permitted by
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applicable law. If at any time Rule 16b-3 as promulgated on February 8, 1991 or
at any later date shall become applicable to the Plan, if necessary for
acquisition of Shares under the Plan to continue to be exempt under Rule 16b-3,
no election to have Fees paid in Shares shall become effective pursuant to
Section 3.2 (b) hereof until 6 months after such election is made. In addition,
the Board may make such other changes in the terms or operation of the Plan as
may then be necessary or appropriate to comply with such Rule including,
without limitation, by eliminating any restriction originally included in the
Plan to comply with Rule 16b-3 that may no longer be required. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the Board may change the number of Restricted
Shares to be awarded under Section 3.1 from time to time if such change would
not cause Directors participating in the Plan to cease to be "disinterested
persons" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, and the Board may provide for annual
election of Voluntary Shares pursuant to Section 3.2 if such election would be
permitted by Rule 16b-3.
12.5 Miscellaneous. Headings are given to the sections of this Plan
soley as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings, numbering an
paragraphing shall not in any case be deemed in any way material or relevant to
the construction of this Plan or any provision thereof. The use of the singular
shall also include within its meaning the plural, and vice versa.
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