EX-10.5.B.I






EXHIBIT 10.5(b)(i)




TRUST AGREEMENT




Between




 






THE SCOTTS COMPANY




And




FIDELITY MANAGEMENT TRUST COMPANY




 






THE SCOTTS COMPANY NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION




TRUST




Dated as of January 1, 1998





 









 








TABLE OF CONTENTS




	 	 	 	 	 
	Section	 	Page
	1 Trust
	 	 	2	 
	(a) Establishment
	 	 	 	 
	(b) Grantor Trust
	 	 	 	 
	(c) Trust Assets
	 	 	 	 
	(d) Non-Assignment
	 	 	 	 
	(e) Irrevocability
	 	 	 	 
	(f) Income
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	2 Payments to Sponsor
	 	 	3	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	3 Disbursements
	 	 	3	 
	(a) Directions from Sponsor
	 	 	 	 
	(b) Plan Claims
	 	 	 	 
	(c) Limitations
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	4 Investment of Trust
	 	 	4	 
	(a) Selection of investment Options
	 	 	 	 
	(b) Available Investment Options
	 	 	 	 
	(c) Investment Directions
	 	 	 	 
	(d) Mutual Funds
	 	 	 	 
	(e) Sponsor Stock
	 	 	 	 
	(f) Trustee Powers
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	5 Recordkeeping and Administrative Services to Be Performed
	 	 	10	 
	(a) General
	 	 	 	 
	(b) Accounts
	 	 	 	 
	(c) Inspection and Audit
	 	 	 	 
	(d) Effect of Plan Amendment
	 	 	 	 
	(e) Returns, Reports and Information
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	6 Compensation and Expenses
	 	 	11	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	7 Directions and Indemnification
	 	 	11	 
	(a) Identity of Administrator
	 	 	 	 
	(b) Directions from Administrator
	 	 	 	 
	(c) Directions from Participants
	 	 	 	 
	(d) Indemnification
	 	 	 	 
	(e) Survival
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	8 Resignation or Removal of Trustee
	 	 	12	 
	(a) Resignation
	 	 	 	 
	(b) Removal
	 	 	 	 
	(c) Transfer of Trust Assets
	 	 	 	 
	(d) Successor
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	9 Successor Trustee
	 	 	13	 
	(a) Appointment
	 	 	 	 






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	Section	 	Page
	9 Successor Trustee
	 	 	 	 
	(b) Acceptance
	 	 	 	 
	(c) Corporate Action
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	10 Termination
	 	 	13	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	11 Resignation, Removal, and Termination Notices
	 	 	13	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	12 Duration
	 	 	13	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	13 Insolvency of Sponsor
	 	 	13	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	14 Amendment or Modification
	 	 	15	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	15 General
	 	 	15	 
	(a) Performance by Trustee, its Agents or Affiliates
	 	 	 	 
	(b) Entire Agreement
	 	 	 	 
	(c) Waiver
	 	 	 	 
	(d) Successors and Assigns
	 	 	 	 
	(e) Partial Invalidity
	 	 	 	 
	(f) Section Headings
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	16
Governing Law
	 	 	16	 
	(a) Massachusetts Controls
	 	 	 	 
	(b) Trust Agreement Controls
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	Schedules
	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	A. Recordkeeping and Administrative Services
	 	 	 	 
	B. Fee Schedule
	 	 	 	 
	C. Administrator’s Authorization Letter
	 	 	 	 
	D. Telephone Exchange Guidelines
	 	 	 	 
	E. Operational Guidelines for Non-Fidelity Mutual Funds
	 	 	 	 






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     TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of the 1st day of January, 1998, between THE SCOTTS COMPANY, a
Delaware corporation, having an office at 14111 Scottslawn Road, Marysville, OH 43041 (the
“Sponsor”), and FIDELITY MANAGEMENT TRUST COMPANY, a Massachusetts trust company, having an
office at 82 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 (the “Trustee”).



WITNESSETH:




     WHEREAS, the Sponsor is the sponsor of The Scotts Company Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
Plan (the “Plan”); and



     WHEREAS, the Sponsor desires to establish an irrevocable trust (the “Trust”, as hereinafter
defined) with the Trustee as trustee, and contribute to the Trust assets that shall be held
therein, subject to the claims of Sponsor’s creditors in the event of Sponsor’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; and



     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 (“ERISA”);
and



     WHEREAS, it is the intention of the Sponsor 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; and



     WHEREAS, the Trustee is willing to hold and invest the aforesaid plan assets in trust among
several investment options selected by the Sponsor; and



     WHEREAS, the Sponsor wishes to have the Trustee perform certain ministerial recordkeeping and
administrative functions under the Trust; and



     WHEREAS, the Administrative Committee (the “Administrator”) is the administrator of
the Plan; and




 









 






     WHEREAS, the Trustee is willing to perform recordkeeping and administrative services for the
Trust if the services are purely ministerial in nature and are provided within a framework of
provisions, guidelines and interpretations conveyed in writing to the Trustee by the Administrator.



     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants and
agreements set forth below, the Sponsor and the Trustee agree as follows:



Section 1. Trust.




     (a) Establishment. The Sponsor establishes The Scotts Company Nonqualified Deferred
Compensation Trust (the “Trust”), with the Trustee.  The Trust shall consist of an initial
contribution of money made by the Sponsor
which shall become the principal of the Trust.
The Trust shall also include any additional
sums of money as shall from time to time be delivered to the Trustee by the Sponsor, all
investments made therewith and proceeds thereof, and all earnings and profits thereon, less the
payments that are made by the Trustee as provided herein, without distinction between principal and
income. The Trustee hereby accepts the Trust and agrees that it shall be held, administered and
disposed of by the Trustee as provided in this Trust Agreement. In accepting this Trust, the
Trustee shall be accountable for the assets received by it, subject to the terms and conditions of
this Trust Agreement.



     (b) Grantor
Trust. The Trust is intended to be a grantor trust, of which the Sponsor
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.



     (c) Trust Assets. The principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon shall be held
separate and apart from other funds of the Sponsor 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 rights created under the Plan and this Trust Agreement shall be mere
unsecured contractual rights of Plan participants and their beneficiaries against the Sponsor. Any
assets held by the Trust will be subject to the claims of the Sponsor’s general creditors under
federal and state law in the event of Insolvency, as defined in Section 13(a).



     (d) Non-Assignment. 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.




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     (e) Irrevocability. The Trust hereby established shall be irrevocable.



     (f) Income. During the term of this Trust, all income received by the Trust, net of
expenses and taxes, shall be accumulated and reinvested.


Section 2. Payments to Sponsor. Except as provided under Section 13, the Sponsor shall
have no right or power to direct the Trustee to return to the Sponsor 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.



Section 3. Disbursements.




     (a) Directions from Sponsor. The Sponsor shall deliver to the 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 the 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, the
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 the
Sponsor. The Trustee shall have no responsibility to ascertain any direction’s compliance with the
terms of the Plan or of any applicable law.



     (b) Plan Claims. The entitlement of a Plan participant or his or her beneficiaries to
benefits under the Plan shall be determined by the Administrator and any claim for such benefits
shall be considered and reviewed under the procedures set out in the Plan.



     (c) Limitations. The Sponsor may make payment of benefits directly to Plan
participants or their beneficiaries as they become due under the terms of the Plan. The Sponsor
shall notify the 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, the Sponsor shall make the balance of each such payment as it falls due.
The



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Trustee shall notify the sponsor if principal and earnings are not sufficient. The Trustee
shall not be required to make any disbursement in cash unless the Administrator has provided a
written direction as to the assets to be converted to cash for the purpose of making the
disbursement.



Section 4. Investment of Trust.




     (a) Selection of investment Options. The Trustee shall have no responsibility for the
selection of investment options under the Trust and shall not render investment advice to any
person in connection with the selection of such options.



     (b) Available Investment Options. The Sponsor shall direct the Trustee as to what
investment option(s) the Trust shall be invested in subject to the following limitations. The
Sponsor may determine to offer as investment options only (i) publicly-traded common stock issued
by the Sponsor (“Sponsor Stock”), and (ii) securities issued by any investment companies advised by
Fidelity Management & Research Company and certain investment companies not advised by Fidelity
Management & Research Company (“Mutual Funds”) identified on Schedule “A” attached hereto;
provided, however, that the Trustee shall not be considered a fiduciary with investment discretion.
The Sponsor may add additional investment options upon notification of the Trustee and upon
amendment of this Trust Agreement and the Schedules thereto to reflect such additions.



     (c) Investment Directions. In order to provide for an accumulation of assets
comparable to the contractual liabilities accruing under the Plan, the Sponsor may direct the
Trustee to invest the assets held in the Trust to correspond to the hypothetical investments made
for Participants under the Plan. To the extent that the Sponsor elects to direct investments of
the Trust in this manner, directions regarding
hypothetical Plan investments may be made by Plan participants by use of the Telephone
Exchange System (as described in Schedule “D”) maintained for such purpose by the Trustee or its
agent. In the event that the Trustee fails to receive an investment direction, the assets in
question shall be invested in the Fidelity Retirement Money Market Fund until the Trustee receives
a direction.



     (d) Mutual Funds. The Sponsor hereby acknowledges that it has received from the
Trustee a copy of the prospectus for each Mutual Fund selected by the Sponsor as a Plan investment
option. Trust investments in Mutual Funds shall be subject to the following limitations:



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          (i) Execution of Purchases and Sales. Purchases and sales of Mutual Funds (other than
for exchanges) shall be made on the date on which the Trustee receives from the Sponsor in good
order all information and documentation necessary to accurately effect such purchases and sales (or
in the case of a purchase, the subsequent date on which the Trustee has received a wire transfer of
funds necessary to make such purchase). Exchanges of Mutual Funds shall be made on the same
business day that the Trustee receives a proper direction if received before 4:00 p.m. eastern
time; if the direction is received after 4:00 p.m. eastern time, the exchange shall be made the
following day. Notwithstanding any provision contained herein, transactions involving Mutual Funds
not advised by Fidelity Management & Research Company shall follow the procedures set forth in
Schedule “E” attached hereto.




          (ii) Voting. At the time of mailing of notice of each annual or special stockholders’
meeting of any Mutual Fund, the Trustee shall send a copy of the notice and all proxy solicitation
materials to the Administrator, together with a voting direction form for return to the Trustee or
its designee. The Administrator shall have the right to direct the Trustee as to the manner in
which the Trustee is to vote the shares held in the Trust. The Trustee shall vote the shares held
in the Trust in the same manner as directed by the Administrator. The Trustee shall not vote
shares for which it has received no directions from the Administrator. With respect to all other
rights regarding the Mutual Funds held in the Trust, the Trustee shall follow the directions of the
Administrator. The Trustee shall have no additional duty to solicit directions from the
Administrator.




     (e) Sponsor Stock. Trust investments in Sponsor Stock shall be made via the Sponsor
Stock Fund (the “Stock Fund”). Investments in the Stock Fund shall consist primarily of shares of
Sponsor Stock. In order to satisfy daily participant exchange or withdrawal requests for transfers
and payments, the Stock Fund shall also include cash or short-term liquid investments in accordance
with this paragraph. Such holdings will include Fidelity Institutional Cash Portfolios: Money
Market Portfolio: Class I or such other Mutual Fund or commingled money market pool as agreed to by
the Sponsor and Trustee. The Named Fiduciary shall, after consultation with the Trustee, establish
and communicate to the Trustee in writing a target percentage and drift allowance for such
short-term liquid investments. The Trustee shall be responsible for ensuring that the actual cash
held in the Stock Fund falls within the agreed upon range over time. Trust interests in the Stock
Fund shall be measured in units of participation, rather than shares of Sponsor Stock. Such units
shall represent a proportionate interest in all of the assets of the Stock Fund, which includes
shares of Sponsor Stock, short-temp investments and at times, receivables for dividends and/or
Sponsor
Stock sold and payables for Sponsor Stock purchased. The Trustee



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shall determine a daily net
asset value (“NAV”) for each unit outstanding of the Stock Fund. Valuation of the Stock Fund shall
be based upon the 4:00 p.m. New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) closing price of the stock, or if
unavailable, the latest available price as reported by the principal national securities exchange
on which the Sponsor Stock is traded. The NAV shall be adjusted by dividends paid on the shares of
Sponsor Stock held by the Stock Fund, gains or losses realized on sales of Sponsor Stock,
appreciation or depreciation in the market price of those shares owned, and interest on the
short-term investments held by the Stock Fund, expenses that, pursuant to Sponsor direction, the
Trustee accrues from the Stock Fund, and commissions on purchases and sales of Sponsor Stock.
Trust investments in Sponsor Stock shall be subject to the following limitations:



          (i) Acquisition Limit. The Trust shall be invested in Sponsor Stock to the extent
necessary to comply with investment directions under Section 4 of this Agreement. The Sponsor
shall have the responsibility to determine and monitor the suitability of Sponsor Stock as an
investment medium under the Trust.




          (ii) Execution of Purchases and Sales.




               (A) Transactions. Purchases and sales of units in the Sponsor Stock Fund shall be
made on the date on which the Trustee receives from the Sponsor in good order all information and
documentation necessary to accurately effect such purchases and sales (or, in the case of
purchases, the subsequent date on which the Trustee has received a wire transfer of the funds
necessary to make such purchases). Exchanges of units in the Stock Fund shall be made in accordance
with the Telephone Exchange Guidelines attached hereto as Schedule “D”. Purchases and sales of
Sponsor Stock for the Stock Fund shall be made on the open market as necessary to maintain the
target cash percentage and drift allowances for the Stock Fund, unless the following applies:



                    (1) the Trustee is unable to determine the number of shares required to be purchased or sold
on such day; or



                    (2) If the Trustee is unable to purchase or sell the total number of shares required to be
purchased or sold on such day as a result of market conditions; or




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                    (3) If the Trustee is prohibited by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York Stock
Exchange, or any other regulatory body from purchasing or selling any or all of the shares required
to be purchased or sold on such days.


In the event of the occurrence of the circumstances described in (1), (2), or (3) above, the
Trustee shall purchase or sell such shares as soon as possible thereafter. The Trustee may
purchase and sell shares of Sponsor Stock wherever Sponsor Stock is traded. The Trustee shall
purchase and sell Sponsor Stock for the Trust on such terms as to price, delivery and otherwise as
the Trustee determines in its sole discretion. Neither the Sponsor nor any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates nor the Administrator may exercise any control or influence over the times when, or the
prices at which, shares of Sponsor Stock are purchased or sold by the Trustee, the amount of
Sponsor Stock to be purchased or sold, the manner in which purchases or sales are made or the
selection of the broker or dealer through, from or to whom the purchases or sales are executed or
made. It
is the intent of the Sponsor and the Trustee that the Trustee shall at all times qualify as an
“agent independent of the issuer,” as that term is used in Rule 10b-18 promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.




               (B) Use of an Affiliated Broker. The Sponsor hereby authorizes the Trustee to use
Fidelity Brokerage Services, Inc. (“FBSI”) to provide brokerage services in connection with any
purchase or sale of Sponsor Stock. FBSI shall execute such directions directly or through its
affiliate, National Financial Services Company (“NFSC”). The provision of brokerage services shall
be subject to the following:



                    (i) To the extent such services are utilized, as consideration for such brokerage services,
the Sponsor agrees that FBSI shall be entitled to remuneration under this authorization provision
in the amount of five cents ($.05) commission on each share of Sponsor Stock up to 10,000 shares in
a singular transaction, four cents ($.04) commission on each share of Sponsor Stock from 10,001 to
20,000 shares in a singular transaction, and three and one-half cents ($.035) commission on each
share of Sponsor Stock in excess of 20,000 shares in a singular transaction. Any change in such
remuneration may be made only by a signed agreement between Sponsor and Trustee.



                    (ii) Any successor organization of FBSI, through reorganization, consolidation, merger or
similar transactions, shall, upon consummation of such transaction, become the successor broker in
accordance with the terms of this authorization provision.




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                    (iii) The Trustee and FBSI shall continue to rely on this authorization provision until
notified to the contrary. The Sponsor reserves the right to terminate this authorization upon
sixty (60) days written notice to FBSI (or its successor) and the Trustee.



          (iii) Securities Law Reports. The Sponsor shall be responsible for filing all reports
required under Federal or state securities laws with respect to the Trust’s ownership of Sponsor
Stock, including, without limitation, any reports required under section 13 or 16 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, and shall immediately notify the Trustee in writing of any requirement to
stop purchases or sales of Sponsor Stock pending the filing of any report. The Sponsor shall be
responsible for the registration of any Plan interests required under Federal or state securities
laws. The Trustee shall provide to the Sponsor such information on the Trust’s ownership of
Sponsor Stock as the Sponsor may reasonably request in order to comply with Federal or state
securities laws.




          (iv) Rights in Sponsor Stock. With respect to all rights including the right to vote,
the right to tender, and the right to withdraw shares previously tendered, in the case of Sponsor
Stock held by the Trust, the Trustee shall follow the directions of the Administrator.




          (v) Conversion. All provisions in this Section 4(e) shall also apply to any
securities received as a result of a conversion of Sponsor Stock.




     (f) Trustee Powers and Responsibility. The Trustee shall have the following powers
and authority:



          (i) Subject to the preceding provisions of this Section 4, to sell, exchange, convey,
transfer, or otherwise dispose of any property held in the Trust, by private contract or at public
auction. No person dealing with the Trustee shall be bound to see to the application of the
purchase money or other property delivered to the Trustee or to inquire into the validity,
expediency, or propriety of any such sale or other disposition.





          (ii) To cause any securities or other property held as part of the Trust to be registered in
the Trustee’s own name, in the name of one or more of its nominees, or in the Trustee’s account
with the Depository Trust Company of New York and to hold any investments in bearer form, but the
books and records of the Trustee shall at all times show that all such investments are part of the
Trust.




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          (iii) To keep that portion of the Trust in cash or cash balances as the Sponsor or
Administrator may, from time to time, deem to be in the best interest of the Trust.




          (iv) To make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all documents of transfer or
conveyance and to carry out the powers herein granted.




          (v) With the prior written consent of the Sponsor, to settle, compromise, or submit to
arbitration any claims, debts, or damages due to or arising from the Trust; to commence or defend
suits or legal or administrative proceedings; to represent the Trust in all suits and legal and
administrative hearings; and to pay all reasonable expenses arising from any such action, from the
Trust if not paid by the Sponsor.




          (vi) With the prior written consent of the Sponsor, to employ legal, accounting, clerical, and
other assistance as may be required in carrying out the provisions of this Agreement and to pay
their reasonable expenses and compensation from the Trust if not paid by the Sponsor.




          (vii) To do all other acts although not specifically mentioned herein, as the Trustee may deem
necessary to carry out any of the foregoing powers and the purposes of the Trust.




     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.
The determination regarding whether an annual fiduciary tax return should be filed for the Trust
shall rest solely with the Sponsor and the Trustee shall incur no liability with respect to such
determination.



     Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Trust Agreement, the Sponsor shall have the
right 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 the Sponsor in a nonfiduciary capacity
without the approval or consent of any person in a fiduciary capacity.




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Section 5. Recordkeeping and Administrative Services to Be Performed.




          (a) General. The Trustee shall perform those recordkeeping and administrative
functions described in Schedule “A” attached hereto. These recordkeeping and administrative
functions shall be performed within the framework of the Administrator’s written directions
regarding the Plan’s provisions, guidelines and interpretations.



          (b)
Accounts. The Trustee shall keep accurate accounts of all
investments, receipts, disbursements, and other transactions hereunder, and shall report to the Administrator and
individual participants the value of the assets held in the Trust as of the last day of each fiscal
quarter of the Plan and, if not on the last day of a fiscal quarter, the date on which the Trustee
resigns or is removed as provided in Section 8 of this Agreement or is terminated as provided in
Section 10 (the “Reporting Date”). Within thirty (30) days following each Reporting Date or within
sixty (60) days in the case of a Reporting Date caused by the resignation or removal of the
Trustee, or the termination of this Agreement, the Trustee shall file with the Administrator a
written account setting forth all investments, receipts, disbursements, and other transactions
effected by the Trustee between the Reporting Date and the prior Reporting Date, and setting forth
the value of the Trust as of the Reporting Date. Except as otherwise required under applicable law
and except in the event of gross negligence of the Trustee, upon the expiration of six (6) months
from the date of filing such account with the Administrator, the Trustee shall have no liability or
further accountability to anyone with respect to the propriety of its acts or transactions shown in
such account, except with respect to such acts or transactions as to which the Administrator shall
within such six (6) month period file with the Trustee written objections.




          (c) Inspection and Audit. All records generated by the Trustee in accordance with
paragraphs (a) and (b) shall be open to inspection and audit, during the Trustee’s regular business
hours prior to the termination of this Agreement and within a reasonable period thereafter, by the
Administrator or any person designated by the Administrator. Upon the resignation or removal of
the Trustee or the termination of this Agreement, the Trustee shall, upon written direction of the
Sponsor, provide to the Administrator, at no expense to the Sponsor, in the format regularly
provided to the Administrator, a statement of each participant’s accounts as of the resignation,
removal, or termination, and the Trustee shall, upon written direction of the Sponsor, provide to
the Administrator or the Plan’s new recordkeeper such further records as are reasonable, at the
Sponsor’s expense.



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          (d) Effect of Plan Amendment. The Sponsor shall deliver to the Trustee a copy of any
amendment to the Plan as soon as administratively feasible following the amendment’s adoption, and
the Administrator shall provide the Trustee, on a timely basis, with all the information the
Administrator deems necessary for the Trustee to perform the recordkeeping and administrative
services and with such other information as the Trustee may reasonably request.




          (e) Returns, Reports and Information. The Administrator shall be responsible for the
preparation and filing of all returns,
reports, and information required of the Trust or Plan by law. The Trustee shall provide the
Administrator with such information as the Administrator may reasonably request to make these
filings. The Administrator shall also be responsible for making any disclosures to participants
required by law.



Section 6. Compensation and Expenses. Within thirty (30) days of receipt of the Trustee’s
bill, which shall be computed and billed in accordance with Schedule “B” attached hereto and made a
part hereof, as amended from time to time, the Sponsor shall send to the Trustee a payment in such
amount or the Sponsor may direct the Trustee to deduct such amount from participants’ accounts.
All expenses of the Trustee relating directly to the acquisition and disposition of investments
constituting part of the Trust, any portion of the Trustee’s bill not paid by the Sponsor, and all
taxes of any kind whatsoever that may be levied or assessed under existing or future laws upon or
in respect of the Trust or the income thereof, shall be a charge against and paid from the
appropriate Plan participants’ accounts.




Section 7. Directions and indemnification.




     (a) Identity of Administrator. The Trustee shall be fully protected in relying on the
fact that the Administrator under the Plan is the individual or persons named as such above or such
other individuals or persons as the Sponsor may notify the Trustee, from time to time, in writing.



     (b) Directions from Administrator. Whenever the Administrator provides a direction to
the Trustee, the Trustee shall not be liable for any loss, or by reason of any breach, arising from
the direction if the direction is contained in a writing (or is oral and immediately confirmed in a
writing) signed by any individual whose name and signature have been submitted (and not withdrawn)
in writing to the Trustee by the Administrator in the form attached hereto as Schedule “C”,
provided the Trustee reasonably believes the signature of the individual to be genuine. Such
direction may be made via EDT in accordance with procedures agreed to by the Administrator and




11









 




the Trustee; provided, however, that the Trustee shall be fully protected in relying on such direction
as if it were a direction made in writing by the Administrator. Provided that the Trustee
reasonably believes the signature on a written direction to be genuine, the Trustee shall have no
responsibility to ascertain any direction’s (i) accuracy, (ii) compliance with the terms of the
Plan or any applicable law, or (iii) effect for tax purposes or otherwise.



     (c) Directions from Participants. The Trustee shall not be liable for any loss which
arises from any participant’s exercise or non-exercise of rights under Section 4 hereof; provided
that the Trustee shall have performed its obligations hereunder with respect to the investment of
trust assets.



     (d) Indemnification. The Sponsor shall indemnify the Trustee against, and hold the
Trustee harmless from, any and all loss, damage, penalty, liability, cost, and expense, including
without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, that may be incurred by, imposed
upon, or asserted against the Trustee by reason
of any claim, regulatory proceeding, or litigation arising from any act done or omitted to be
done by any individual or person with respect to the Plan or Trust, excepting only any and all
loss, etc., arising solely from the negligence, gross negligence or willful misconduct of the
Trustee or any of its employees, agents or assigns.



     (e) Survival. The provisions of this Section 7 shall survive the termination of this
Agreement.



Section 8. Resignation or Removal of Trustee.




     (a) Resignation. The Trustee may resign at any time upon sixty (60) days’ notice in
writing to the Sponsor, unless a shorter period of notice is agreed upon by the Sponsor.



     (b) Removal. The Sponsor may remove the Trustee at any time upon sixty (60) days’
notice in writing to the Trustee, unless a shorter period of notice is agreed upon by the Trustee.



     (c) Transfer of Trust Assets. Upon resignation or removal of the Trustee and
appointment of a successor Trustee, all assets shall subsequently be transferred to the successor
Trustee. The transfer shall be completed within sixty (60) days after receipt of notice of
resignation, removal or transfer, unless the Sponsor extends the time limit.




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     (d) Successor. If the trustee resigns or is removed, a successor shall be appointed,
in accordance with Section 9 hereof, by the effective date of resignation or removal under
paragraph (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 the Trustee in connection with the proceedings shall be allowed as administrative expenses of
the Trust.



Section 9. Successor Trustee.




     (a) Appointment. If the office of Trustee becomes vacant for any reason, the Sponsor
may in writing appoint a successor trustee under this Agreement. The successor Trustee shall have
all of the rights, powers, privileges, obligations, duties, liabilities, and immunities granted to
the Trustee under this Agreement. The successor Trustee and predecessor Trustee shall not be
liable for the acts or omissions of the other with respect to the Trust.



     (b) Acceptance. When the successor Trustee accepts its appointment under this
Agreement, title to and possession of the Trust assets shall immediately vest in the successor
Trustee without any further action on the part of the predecessor Trustee. The predecessor Trustee
shall execute all instruments and do all acts that reasonably may be necessary or reasonably may be
requested in writing by the Sponsor or the successor Trustee to vest title to all Trust assets in
the successor Trustee or to deliver all Trust assets to the successor Trustee.



     (c) Corporate Action. Any successor of the Trustee or successor Trustee, through sale
or transfer of the business or trust department of the Trustee or successor Trustee, or through
reorganization, consolidation, or merger, or any similar transaction, shall, upon consummation of
the transaction, become the successor Trustee under this Agreement and shall be subject to the
terms of this Trust Agreement.


Section 10. Termination. This Trust Agreement may be terminated at any time by the Sponsor
upon sixty (60) days’ notice in writing to the Trustee, provided that the termination of the Trust
shall not be effective 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 the Sponsor. On the date of the termination of
this Trust Agreement, the Trustee shall comply with the provisions of paragraph (c) of Section 8.



13









 




Section 11. Resignation, Removal, and Termination Notices. All notices of resignation,
removal, or termination under this Trust Agreement must be in writing and mailed to the party to
which the notice is being given by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the
Sponsor c/o Christina Frenzer, The Scotts Company, 14111 Scottslawn Road, Marysville, OH 43011, and
to the Trustee c/o John M. Kimpel, Fidelity Investments, 82 Devonshire Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02109, or to such other addresses as the parties have notified each other of in the
foregoing manner.



Section 12. Duration. This Trust shall continue in effect without limit as to time,
subject, however, to the provisions of this Trust Agreement relating to amendment, modification,
and termination thereof.




Section 13. Insolvency of Sponsor.




     (a) Trustee shall cease disbursement of funds for payment of benefits to Plan participants and
their beneficiaries if the Sponsor is insolvent. Sponsor shall be considered “Insolvent” for
purposes of this Trust Agreement if (i) Sponsor is unable to pay its debts as they become due, or
(ii) Sponsor is subject to a pending proceeding as a debtor under the United States Bankruptcy
Code.



     (b) All times during the continuance of this Trust, the principal and income of the Trust
shall be subject to claims of general creditors of the Sponsor under federal and state law as set
forth below.



          (i) The Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of the Sponsor shall have the duty
to inform Trustee in writing of Sponsor’s Insolvency. If a person claiming to be a creditor of the
Sponsor alleges in writing to Trustee that Sponsor has become Insolvent, Trustee shall determine
whether Sponsor is Insolvent and, pending such determination, Trustee shall discontinue
disbursements for payment of benefits to Plan participants or their beneficiaries.




          (ii) Unless Trustee has actual knowledge of Sponsor’s Insolvency, or has received notice from
Sponsor or a person claiming to be a creditor alleging that Sponsor is
Insolvent, Trustee shall have no duty to inquire whether Sponsor is Insolvent. Trustee may in
all events rely on such evidence concerning Sponsor’s solvency as may be furnished to Trustee and




14









 





that provides Trustee with a reasonable basis for making a determination concerning Sponsor’s
solvency.




          (iii) If any time Trustee has determined that Sponsor is Insolvent, Trustee shall discontinue
disbursements for payments to Plan participants or their beneficiaries and shall hold the assets of
the Trust for the benefit of Sponsor’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 Sponsor with respect to benefits due under the Plan or otherwise.




          (iv) Trustee shall resume disbursement for the payment of benefits to Plan participants or
their beneficiaries in accordance with Section 3 of this Trust Agreement only after Trustee has
determined that Sponsor 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 (a) 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 Sponsor in lieu of the payments provided for hereunder during any such period of
discontinuance.


Section 14. Amendment or Modification. This Agreement may be amended or modified at any
time and from time to time only by an instrument executed by both the Sponsor and the Trustee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) no such amendment or modification shall conflict with the terms
of the Plan or shall make the Trust revocable; and (b) to reflect increased operating costs; the
Trustee may once each calendar year, amend Schedule “B” without the Sponsor’s consent upon ninety
(90) days’ prior written notice to the Sponsor.




Section 15. General.




     (a) Performance by Trustee, its Agents or Affiliates. The Sponsor acknowledges and
authorizes that the services to be provided under this Trust Agreement shall be provided by the
Trustee, its agents or affiliates, including Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company
or its successor, and that certain of such services may be provided pursuant to one or more other
contractual agreements or relationships.



15









 





     (b) Entire Agreement. This Trust Agreement contains all of the terms agreed upon
between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.



     (c) Waiver. No waiver by either party of any failure or refusal to comply with an
obligation hereunder shall be deemed a waiver of any other or subsequent failure or refusal to so
comply.



     (d) Successors and Assigns. The stipulations in this Trust Agreement shall inure to
the benefit of, and shall bind, the successors and assigns of the respective parties.



     (e) Partial Invalidity. If any term or provision of this Trust Agreement or the
application thereof to any person or circumstances shall, to any extent, be invalid or
unenforceable, the remainder of this Trust Agreement, or the application of such term or provision
to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable, shall
not be affected thereby, and each term and provision of this Trust Agreement shall be valid and
enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.



     (f) Section Headings. The headings of the various sections and subsections of this
Trust Agreement have been inserted only for the purposes of convenience and are not part of this
Trust Agreement and shall not be deemed in any manner to modify, explain, expand or restrict any of
the provisions of this Trust Agreement.



Section 16. Governing Levy.




     (a) Massachusetts Law Controls. This Trust Agreement is being made in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Trust shall be administered as a Massachusetts trust. The
validity, construction, effect, and administration of this Trust Agreement shall be governed by and
interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, except to the extent
those laws are superseded under section 514 of ERISA.



     (b) Trust Agreement Controls. The Trustee is not a party to the Plan, and, with
respect to the rights, duties and obligations of the Trustee, in the event of any conflict between
the provisions of the Plan and the provisions of this Trust Agreement, the provisions of this Trust
Agreement shall control.




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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly
authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	THE SCOTTS COMPANY	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Attest:

	 	/s/ Susan Duvall	 	By:	 	/s/ Rosemary L. Smith	 	 
	 

	 	 

Witness	 	 	 	 

Vice President
	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	FIDELITY MANAGEMENT TRUST	 	 
	 	 	 	 	COMPANY	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Attest:

	 	/s/ Douglas O. Kent	 	By:	 	/s/ Joseph DiBenedetto	 	 
	 

	 	 

Assistant Clerk
	 	 	 	 

Vice President
	 	 





17








 





Schedule “A”




RECORDKEEPING AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES




Administration





	•	 	Establishment and maintenance of participant account and election percentages.
	 
	•	 	Maintenance of 12 plan investment options:






	 	•	 	Fidelity Puritan
	 
	 	•	 	Fidelity Spartan US Equity Index
	 
	 	•	 	Fidelity Blue Chip Growth
	 
	 	•	 	Fidelity Contrafund
	 
	 	•	 	Barron Asset Fund
	 
	 	•	 	Fidelity World Wide
	 
	 	•	 	Scotts Stock Fund
	 
	 	•	 	Freedom Retirement Income
	 
	 	•	 	Freedom 2000
	 
	 	•	 	Freedom 2010
	 
	 	•	 	Freedom 2020
	 
	 	•	 	Freedom 2030






	•	 	Maintenance of 6 money classifications:






	 	•	 	Employee Pre-Tax
	 
	 	•	 	Employee After-Tax
	 
	 	•	 	Bonus Deferral
	 
	 	•	 	Rollover
	 
	 	•	 	Employer Match
	 
	 	•	 	Retirement Contributions






	•	 	Processing of mutual fund trades.
	 
	•	 	The Trustee will provide only the recordkeeping and administrative services set forth on
this Schedule “A” and no others.





Processing





	•	 	Monthly processing of contribution data.
	 
	•	 	Daily processing of transfers and changes of future allocations.
	 
	•	 	Monthly processing of withdrawals.
	 
	•	 	Monthly processing of transfers and changes of future allocations from stock fund





Other





	•	 	Prepare and mail to the participant, a confirmation of the transactions (exchanges and
changes to investment mix elections) within five (5) business days of the participants
instructions.




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	•	 	Prepare, reconcile and deliver a monthly Trial Balance Report presenting all money classes
and investments. This report is based on the market value as of the last business day of the
month. The report will be delivered not later than thirty (30) days after the end of each
month in the absence of unusual circumstances.
	 
	•	 	Prepare, reconcile and deliver a Quarterly Administrative Report presenting both on a
participant and a total plan basis all money classes, investment positions and a summary of
all activity of the participant and plan as of the last business day of the quarter. The
report will be delivered not later that thirty (30) days after the end of each quarter in the
absence of unusual circumstances.
	 
	•	 	Prepare and distribute, either to the Sponsor or to each plan participant directly, a
quarterly detailed participant statement reflecting all activity for the period. Statements
will be delivered not later than thirty (30) days after each quarter in the absence of unusual
circumstances.
	 
	•	 	Reconcile and process, on a quarterly basis, participant withdrawal requests as approved
and directed by the Sponsor.
	 
	•	 	Handle Federal and State income tax reporting and withholding on benefit payments to
participants and their beneficiaries.
	 
	•	 	Issuance of a Form 1099-DIV and Form 1099-B to the Sponsor for each mutual fund for the
calendar year end.
	 
	•	 	Employee communications describing available investment options, including multimedia
informational materials and group presentations.





	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ADMINISTRATOR	 	FIDELITY MANAGEMENT TRUST	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	COMPANY	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ Rosemary L.
Smith   1/7/97	 	By:	 	/s/ Joseph DiBenedetto	 	1/23/98	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Date
	 	 	 	Vice President
	 	Date	 	 






19









 






Schedule “B”




FEE SCHEDULE




	 	 	 	 	 
	•

	 	Annual Participant Fee
	 	$5,000 per year*, billed and payable quarterly.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	•

	 	Remote Access Fee (optional)
	 	$1,000 per year, plus a monthly charge for TYMNET usage. A
one-time installation fee of $1,500 will also be charged to the Sponsor in the first year.







	•	 	This fee will be imposed pro rata for each calendar quarter, or any part thereof,
that it remains necessary to maintain a participant’s account(s) as part of the Plan’s
records, e.g., vested, deferred, forfeiture, top-heavy and terminated participants who must
remain on file through calendar year-end for reporting purposes.





	 	 	 	 	 
	•

	 	Outside Mutual Funds
	 	An annual administrative service fee shall be paid to Fidelity by each
mutual fund not advised by Fidelity Management & Research Company equal to a percentage
(currently 25 basis points) of the Plan assets invested in that mutual fund.






Trustee Fees





	•	 	An annual fee equal to .02 percent of the assets held in the Trust, subject to a $2,500.00
minimum and a $5,000.00 maximum per year, billed and payable quarterly.





	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	ADMINISTRATOR	 	FIDELITY MANAGEMENT TRUST	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	COMPANY	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ Rosemary L.
Smith   1/7/97	 	By:	 	/s/ Joseph DiBenedetto	 	1/23/98	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Date
	 	 	 	Vice President
	 	Date	 	 






20









 



[page intentionally omitted]




21








 






Schedule “D”




TELEPHONE EXCHANGE GUIDELINES



The following telephone exchange procedures are currently employed by Fidelity Institutional
Retirement Services Company (FIRSCO), an affiliate of the Trustee.



Telephone exchange hours are 8:30 a.m. (ET) to 8:00 p.m. (ET) on each business day. A “business
day” is any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open.



FIRSCO reserves the right to change these telephone exchange procedures at its discretion.




Mutual Funds





	 	 	Exchanges Between Mutual Funds
	 
	 	 	Participants may call on any business day to exchange between the mutual funds. If the
request is received before 4:00 p.m. (ET), it will receive that day’s trade date. Calls
received after 4:00 p.m. (ET) will be processed on a next business day basis.





Sponsor Stock





	I.	 	Exchanges from Mutual Funds Into Sponsor Stock
	 
	 	 	Sponsor Stock exchanges are processed on a monthly cycle. Participants who wish to exchange
out of a mutual fund into Sponsor Stock may call at any time. However, such requests shall
be processed only between the 1st and the 15th of the month. No calls will be accepted
after 4:00 p.m. (ET) on the 15th (or previous business day if the 15th is not a business
day).
	 
	 	 	Mutual fund shares are sold on the 15th of the month (or the previous business day if the
15th is not a business day) and the Sponsor Stock is purchased within two (2) business days
after the date on which the mutual fund shares are sold.
	 
	II.	 	Exchanges from Sponsor Stock into Mutual Funds
	 
	 	 	Participants who wish to exchange out of Sponsor Stock into mutual funds may call at any
time. However, such requests shall be processed only between the 1st and the 15th of the
month. No calls will be accepted after 4:00 p.m. (ET) on the 15th (or previous business day
if the 15th is not a business day).
	 
	 	 	The Sponsor Stock is sold on the 16th (or the next business day if the 16th is not a
business day) and the subsequent purchase into mutual funds will take place three (3)
business days later. This allows for settlement of the stock trade at the custodian and the
corresponding transfer to Fidelity.





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Schedule “E”




OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR NON-FIDELITY MUTUAL FUNDS




Pricing



By 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) each Business Day, the Non-Fidelity Mutual Fund Vendor (Fund
Vendor) will input the following information (“Price Information”) into the Fidelity Participant
Recordkeeping System (“FPRS”) via the remote access price screen that Fidelity Investments
Institutional Operations Company, Inc. (“FIIOC”), an affiliate of the Trustee, has provided to the
Fund Vendor: (1) the net asset value for each Fund at the Close of Trading, (2) the change in each
Fund’s net asset value from the Close of Trading on the prior Business Day, and (3) in the case of
an income fund or funds, the daily accrual for interest rate factor (“mil rate”). FIIOC must
receive Price Information each Business Day (a “Business Day” is any day the New York Stock
Exchange is open). If on any Business Day the Fund Vendor does not provide such Price Information
to FIIOC, FIIOC shall pend all associated transaction activity in the Fidelity Participant
Recordkeeping System (“FPRS”) until the relevant Price Information is made available by Fund
Vendor.




Trade Activity and Wire Transfers 



By 7:00 a.m. ET each Business Day following Trade Date (“Trade Date plus One”), FIIOC will
provide, via facsimile, to the Fund Vendor a consolidated report of net purchase or net redemption
activity that occurred in each of the Funds up to 4:00 p.m. ET on the prior Business Day. The
report will reflect the dollar amount of assets and shares to be invested or withdrawn for each
Fund. FIIOC will transmit this report to the Fund Vendor each Business Day, regardless of
processing activity. In the event that data contained in the 7:00 a.m. ET facsimile transmission
represents estimated trade activity, FIIOC shall provide a final facsimile to the Fund Vendor by no
later than 9:00 a.m. ET. Any resulting adjustments shall be processed by the Fund Vendor at the
net asset value for the prior Business Day.



The Fund Vendor shall send via regular mail to FIIOC transaction confirms for all daily activity in
each of the Funds. The Fund Vendor shall also send via regular mail to FIIOC, by no later than the
fifth Business Day following calendar month close, a monthly statement for each Fund. FIIOC agrees
to notify the Fund Vendor of any balance discrepancies within twenty (20) Business Days of receipt
of the monthly statement.



For purposes of wire transfers, FIIOC shall transmit a daily wire for aggregate purchase activity
and the Fund Vendor shall transmit a daily wire for aggregate redemption activity, in each case
including all activity across all Funds occurring on the same day.




Prospectus Delivery 



FIIOC shall be responsible for the timely delivery of Fund prospectuses and periodic Fund reports
(“Required Materials”) to Plan participants, and shall retain the services of a third-party vendor
to handle such mailings. The Fund Vendor shall be responsible for all materials and production
costs, and hereby agrees to provide the Required Materials to the third-party vendor


23









 






selected by FIIOC. The Fund Vendor shall bear the costs of mailing annual Fund reports to Plan
participants. FIIOC shall bear the costs of mailing prospectuses to Plan participants.




Proxies



The Fund Vendor shall be responsible for all costs associated with the production of proxy
materials. FIIOC shall retain the services of a third-party vendor to handle proxy solicitation
mailings and vote tabulation. Expenses associated with such services shall be billed directly to
the Fund Vendor by the third-party vendor.




Participant Communications



The Fund Vendor shall provide internally-prepared fund descriptive information approved by the
Funds’ legal counsel for use by FIIOC in its written participant communication materials. FIIOC
shall utilize historical performance data obtained from third-party vendors (currently Morningstar,
Inc., FACTSET Research Systems and Lipper Analytical Services) in telephone conversations with plan
participants and in quarterly participant statements. The Sponsor hereby consents to FIIOC’s use
of such materials and acknowledges that FIIOC is not responsible for the accuracy of such
third-party information. FIIOC shall seek the approval of the Fund Vendor prior to retaining any
other third-party vendor to render such data or materials under this Agreement.




Compensation



FIIOC shall be entitled to fees as set forth in a separate agreement with the Fund Vendor.




Indemnification



The Fund Vendor shall be responsible for compensating participants and/or FIIOC in the event that
losses occur as a result of (1) the Fund Vendor’s failure to provide FIIOC with Price Information
or (2) providing FIIOC with incorrect Price Information.





24