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CARDINAL REALTY SERVICES, INC.
EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION
RABBI TRUST AGREEMENT
(a) This Agreement made this 27th day of November, 1996, by and between
Cardinal Realty Services, Inc. (Company) and The Provident Bank, a state
chartered bank (Trustee);
(b) WHEREAS, Company has adopted the Cardinal Realty Services, Inc.
Executive Deferred Compensation Plan.
(c) WHEREAS, Company wishes to establish a trust (hereinafter called
"Trust") and to contribute to the Trust assets that shall be held therein,
subject to the claims of Company's creditors in the event of Company's
Insolvency, as herein defined, until paid to Plan participants and their
beneficiaries in such manner and at such times as specified in the Plan;
(d) WHEREAS, it is the intention of the parties that this Trust shall
constitute an unfunded arrangement and shall not affect the status of the Plan
as an unfunded plan maintained for the purpose of providing deferred
compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees
for purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974;
(e) WHEREAS, it is the intention of Company to make contributions to
the Trust to provide itself with a source of funds to assist it in the meeting
of its liabilities under the Plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties do hereby establish the Trust and agree
that the Trust shall be comprised, held and disposed of as follows:
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST
(a) Company hereby deposits with Trustee in trust the sum of Ten
Dollars ($10.00), which shall become the principal of the Trust to be held,
administered and disposed of by Trustee as provided in this Trust Agreement.
(b) The Trust hereby established shall be irrevocable.
(c) The Trust is intended to be a grantor trust, of which Company is
the grantor, within the meaning of subpart E, part I, subchapter J, chapter 1,
subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and shall be
construed accordingly.
(d) The principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon shall be held
separate and apart from other funds of Company and shall be used exclusively for
the uses and purposes of Plan participants and general creditors as herein set
forth. Plan participants and their beneficiaries shall have no preferred claim
on, or any beneficial ownership interest in, any assets of the Trust. Any
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rights created under the Plan and this Trust Agreement shall be mere unsecured
contractual rights of Plan participants and their beneficiaries against Company.
Any assets held by the Trust will be subject to the claims of Company's general
creditors under federal and state law in the event of Insolvency, as defined in
Section 3(a) herein.
(e) As required under the terms of the Plan, Company shall be required
to irrevocably deposit additional cash or other property to the Trust in an
amount sufficient to pay each Plan participant or beneficiary the benefits
payable pursuant to the terms of the Plan as of the close of the Plan year(s).
SECTION 2. PAYMENTS TO PLAN PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR BENEFICIARIES.
(a) Company shall deliver to Trustee a schedule (the "Payment
Schedule") that indicates the amounts payable in respect of each Plan
participant (and his or her beneficiaries), that provides a formula or other
instructions acceptable to Trustee for determining the amounts so payable, the
form in which such amount is to be paid (as provided for or available under the
Plan), and the time of commencement for payment of such amounts. Except as
otherwise provided herein, Trustee shall make payments to the Plan participants
and their beneficiaries in accordance with such Payment Schedule. The Trustee
shall make provision for the reporting and withholding of any federal, state or
local taxes that may be required to be withheld with respect to the payment of
benefits pursuant to the terms of the Plan and shall pay amounts withheld to the
appropriate taxing authorities or determine that such amounts have been
reported, withheld and paid by Company.
(b) The entitlement of a Plan participant or his or her beneficiaries
to benefits under the Plan shall be determined by Company or such party as it
shall designate under the Plan, and any claim for such benefits shall be
considered and reviewed under the procedures set out in the Plan.
(c) Company may make payment of benefits directly to Plan participants
or their beneficiaries as they become due under the terms of the Plan. Company
shall notify Trustee of its decision to make payment of benefits directly prior
to the time amounts are payable to participants or their beneficiaries. In
addition, if the principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon, are not
sufficient to make payments of benefits in accordance with the terms of the
Plan, Company shall make the balance of each such payment as it falls due.
Trustee shall notify Company where principal and earnings are not sufficient.
SECTION 3. TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITY REGARDING PAYMENTS TO TRUST
BENEFICIARY WHEN COMPANY IS INSOLVENT.
(a) Trustee shall cease payment of benefits to Plan participants and
their beneficiaries if the Company is Insolvent. Company shall be considered
"Insolvent" for purposes of this Trust Agreement if (i) Company is unable to pay
its debts as they become due, or (ii) Company is subject to a pending proceeding
as a debtor under the United States Bankruptcy Code.
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(b) At all times during the continuance of this Trust, as provided in
Section 1(d) hereof, the principal and income of the Trust shall be subject to
claims of general creditors of Company under federal and state law as set forth
below.
(1) The Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of
Company shall have the duty to inform Trustee in writing of Company's
Insolvency. If a person claiming to be a creditor of Company alleges in
writing to Trustee that Company has become Insolvent, Trustee shall
determine whether Company is Insolvent and, pending such determination,
Trustee shall discontinue payment of benefits to Plan participants or
their beneficiaries.
(2) Unless Trustee has actual knowledge of Company's
Insolvency, or has received notice from Company or a person claiming to
be a creditor alleging that Company is Insolvent, Trustee shall have no
duty to inquire whether Company is Insolvent. Trustee may in all events
rely on such evidence concerning Company's solvency as may be furnished
to Trustee and that provides Trustee with a reasonable basis for making
a determination concerning Company's solvency.
(3) If at any time Trustee has determined that Company is
Insolvent, Trustee shall discontinue payments to Plan participants or
their beneficiaries and shall hold the assets of the Trust for the
benefit of Company's general creditors. Nothing in this Trust Agreement
shall in any way diminish any rights of Plan participants or their
beneficiaries to pursue their rights as general creditors of Company
with respect to benefits due under the Plan or otherwise.
(4) Trustee shall resume the payment of benefits to Plan
participants or their beneficiaries in accordance with Section 2 of
this Trust Agreement only after Trustee has determined that Company is
not Insolvent (or is no longer Insolvent).
(c) Provided that there are sufficient assets, if Trustee discontinues
the payment of benefits from the Trust pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and
subsequently resumes such payments, the first payment following such
discontinuance shall include the aggregate amount of all payments due to Plan
participants or their beneficiaries under the terms of the Plan for the period
of such discontinuance, less the aggregate amount of any payments made to Plan
participants or their beneficiaries by Company in lieu of the payments provided
for hereunder during any such period of discontinuance.
SECTION 4. PAYMENTS TO COMPANY.
Except as provided in Section 3 hereof, after the Trust has become
irrevocable, Company shall have no right or power to direct Trustee to return to
Company or to divert to others any of the Trust assets before all payment of
benefits have been made to Plan participants and their beneficiaries pursuant to
the terms of the Plan.
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SECTION 5. INVESTMENT AUTHORITY.
(a) Except as required under clause (b) below, Trustee shall invest in
shares of Company common stock. Any cash received by Trustee, including amounts
received as dividends on Company common stock, shall be invested in such common
stock as soon as practicable after receipt. Any amounts held pending investment
into Company common stock shall be invested in an investment vehicle selected by
Trustee. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this clause (a), Trustee
shall have no obligation or authority with respect to engaging in a transaction
in Company common stock that would violate any restriction or limitation imposed
by applicable state or federal securities laws and regulations. All rights
associated with assets of the Trust shall be exercised by Trustee or the person
designated by Trustee, and shall in no event be exercisable by or rest with Plan
participants.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a), above, Company shall
have the right at any time, and from time to time in its sole discretion, to
substitute assets of equal fair market value for any asset held by the Trust.
This right is exercisable by Company in a non-fiduciary capacity without the
approval or consent of any person in a fiduciary capacity.
(c) Trustee shall maintain bookkeeping accounts for each Plan
participant representing his or her interests under the Plan.
SECTION 6. DISPOSITION OF INCOME.
(a) During the term of this Trust, all income received by the Trust,
net of expenses and taxes, shall be accumulated and reinvested.
SECTION 7. ACCOUNTING BY TRUSTEE.
Trustee shall keep accurate and detailed records of all investments,
receipts, disbursements and all other transactions required to be made,
including such specific records as shall be agreed upon in writing between
Company and Trustee. Within Ninety (90) days following the close of each
calendar year and within Thirty (30) days after the removal or resignation of
Trustee, Trustee shall deliver to company a written account of its
administration of the Trust during such year or during the period from the close
of the last preceding year to the date of such removal or resignation, setting
forth all investments, receipts, disbursements and other transactions effected
by it, including a description of all securities and investments purchased and
sold with the cost or net proceeds of such purchases or sales (accrued interest
paid or receivable being shown separately), and showing all cash, securities and
other property held in the Trust at the end of such year or as of the date of
such removal or resignation, as the case may be.
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SECTION 8. RESPONSIBILITY OF TRUSTEE.
(a) Trustee shall act with the care, skill, prudence and diligence
under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in like
capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an
enterprise of a like character and with like aims, provided, however, that
Trustee shall incur no liability to any person for any action taken pursuant to
a direction, request or approval given by Company which is contemplated by, and
in conformity with, the terms of the Plan or this Trust and is given in writing
by Company. In the event of a dispute between Company and a party, Trustee may
apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to resolve the dispute.
(b) If Trustee undertakes or defends any litigation arising in
connection with this Trust, Company agrees to indemnify Trustee against
Trustee's costs, expenses and liabilities (including, without limitation,
attorneys' fees and expenses) relating thereto and to be primarily liable for
such payments. If Company does not pay such costs, expenses and liabilities in a
reasonably timely manner, Trustee may obtain payment from the Trust.
(c) Trustee may consult with legal counsel (who may also be counsel for
Company generally) with respect to any of its duties or obligations hereunder.
(d) Trustee may hire agents, accountants, actuaries, investment
advisors, financial consultants or other professionals to assist it in
performing any of its duties or obligations hereunder.
(e) Trustee shall have, without exclusion, all powers conferred on
Trustees by applicable law, unless expressly provided otherwise herein,
provided, however, that if an insurance policy is held as an asset of the Trust,
Trustee shall have no power to name a beneficiary of the policy other than the
Trust, to assign the policy (as distinct from conversion of the policy to a
different form) other than to a successor Trustee, or to loan to any person the
proceeds of any borrowing against such policy.
(f) Notwithstanding any powers granted to Trustee pursuant to this
Trust Agreement or to applicable law, Trustee shall not have any power that
could give this Trust the objective of carrying on a business and dividing the
gains therefrom, within the meaning of section 301.7701-2 of the Procedure and
Administrative Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.
SECTION 9. COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES OF TRUSTEE.
Company shall pay all administrative and Trustee's fees and expenses.
If not so paid, the fees and expenses shall be paid from the Trust.
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SECTION 10. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF TRUSTEE.
(a) Trustee may resign at any time by written notice to Company, which
shall be effective Thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice unless Company
and Trustee agree otherwise.
(b) Trustee may be removed by Company on Thirty (30) days notice or
upon shorter notice accepted by Trustee.
(c) Upon resignation or removal of Trustee and appointment of a
successor Trustee, all assets shall subsequently be transferred to the successor
Trustee. The transfer shall be completed within Ten (10) days after receipt of
notice of resignation, removal or transfer, unless Company extends the time
limit.
(d) If Trustee resigns or is removed, a successor shall be appointed,
in accordance with Section 11 hereof, by the effective date of resignation or
removal under paragraph(s) (a) or (b) of this section. If no such appointment
has been made, Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for
appointment of a successor or for instructions. All expenses of Trustee in
connection with the proceeding shall be allowed as administrative expenses of
the Trust.
SECTION 11. APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR
(a) If Trustee resigns or is removed in accordance with Section 10(a)
or (b) hereof, Company may appoint any third party, such as a bank trust
department or other party that may be granted corporate trustee powers under
state law, as a successor to replace Trustee upon resignation or removal. The
appointment shall be effective when accepted in writing by the new Trustee, who
shall have all of the rights and powers of the former Trustee, including
ownership rights in the Trust assets. The former Trustee shall execute any
instrument necessary or reasonably requested by Company or the successor Trustee
to evidence the transfer.
(b) The successor Trustee need not examine the records and acts of any
prior Trustee and may retain or dispose of existing Trust assets, subject to
Sections 7 and 8 hereof. The successor Trustee shall not be responsible for and
Company shall indemnify and defend the successor Trustee from any claim or
liability resulting from any action or inaction of any prior Trustee or from any
other past event, or any condition existing at the time it becomes successor
Trustee.
SECTION 12. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION.
(a) This Trust Agreement may be amended by a written instrument
executed by Trustee and Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such
amendment shall conflict with the terms of the Plan or shall make the Trust
revocable after it has become irrevocable in accordance with Section 1(b)
hereof.
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(b) The Trust shall not terminate until the date on which Plan
participants and their beneficiaries are no longer entitled to benefits pursuant
to the terms of the Plan. Upon termination of the Trust, any assets remaining in
the Trust shall be returned to Company.
(c) Upon written approval of participants or beneficiaries entitled to
payment of benefits pursuant to the terms of the Plan, Company may terminate
this Trust prior to the time all benefit payments under the Plan have been made.
All assets in the Trust at termination shall be returned to Company.
SECTION 13. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Any provision of this Trust Agreement prohibited by law shall be
ineffective to the extent of any such prohibition, without invalidating the
remaining provisions hereof.
(b) Benefits payable to Plan participants and their beneficiaries under
this Trust Agreement may not be anticipated, assigned (either at law or in
equity), alienated, pledged, encumbered or subjected to attachment, garnishment,
levy, execution or other legal or equitable process.
(c) This Trust Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of Ohio.
SECTION 14. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The effective date of this Trust Agreement shall be November 27, 1997.
CARDINAL REALTY SERVICES, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Executive Vice President
THE PROVIDENT BANK
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Vice President
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