(A)
TO DETERMINE ALL QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE ELIGIBILITY OF
PARTICIPANTS TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE;
(B)
TO MAINTAIN ALL RECORDS AND BOOKS OF ACCOUNT NECESSARY FOR THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN;
(C)
TO INTERPRET THE PROVISIONS OF THE PLAN AND TO MAKE AND TO PUBLISH
SUCH INTERPRETIVE OR PROCEDURAL RULES AS ARE NOT INCONSISTENT WITH THE PLAN AND
APPLICABLE LAW;
(D)
TO COMPUTE, CERTIFY AND ARRANGE FOR THE PAYMENT OF BENEFITS TO
WHICH THE PARTICIPANT OR ANY BENEFICIARY IS ENTITLED;
(E)
TO PROCESS CLAIMS FOR BENEFITS UNDER THE PLAN BY THE PARTICIPANT
OR ANY BENEFICIARY;
(F)
TO ENGAGE CONSULTANTS AND PROFESSIONALS TO ASSIST THE PLAN
ADMINISTRATOR IN CARRYING OUT ITS DUTIES UNDER THIS PLAN; AND
(G)
TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN SUCH INSTRUMENTS AS MAY BE DEEMED
NECESSARY FROM TIME TO TIME BY THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR TO FACILITATE PAYMENT OF
BENEFITS UNDER THE PLAN.
(2)
THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR MAY DESIGNATE EMPLOYEES OF THE COMPANY TO
ASSIST THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN AND PERFORM THE
DUTIES REQUIRED OF THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR HEREUNDER.
(B)
PLAN ADMINISTRATOR'S AUTHORITY.
THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR MAY
CONSULT WITH COMPANY'S OFFICERS, LEGAL AND FINANCIAL ADVISERS AND OTHERS, BUT
NEVERTHELESS THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR SHALL HAVE THE FULL AUTHORITY AND DISCRETION
TO ACT, AND THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR'S ACTIONS SHALL BE FINAL AND CONCLUSIVE ON
ALL PARTIES.
(C)
CLAIMS AND APPEAL PROCEDURE FOR DENIAL OF BENEFITS.
A PARTICIPANT
OR A BENEFICIARY (THE "CLAIMANT") MAY FILE WITH THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR A WRITTEN
CLAIM FOR BENEFITS IF THE PARTICIPANT DETERMINES THE DISTRIBUTION PROCEDURES OF
THE PLAN HAVE NOT PROVIDED HIM HIS PROPER INTEREST IN THE PLAN.
THE PLAN
ADMINISTRATOR MUST RENDER A DECISION ON THE CLAIM WITHIN A REASONABLE PERIOD OF
TIME OF THE CLAIMANT'S WRITTEN CLAIM
III-1
FOR BENEFITS.
THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR MUST PROVIDE ADEQUATE NOTICE IN WRITING TO
THE CLAIMANT WHOSE CLAIM FOR BENEFITS UNDER THE PLAN THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR HAS
DENIED.
NOTICE MUST BE PROVIDED TO THE CLAIMANT WITHIN A REASONABLE PERIOD OF
TIME, BUT NOT LATER THAN 90 DAYS (45 DAYS IN THE CASE OF A CLAIM FOR DISABILITY
BENEFITS) AFTER THE RECEIPT OF A CLAIM.
IF THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR DETERMINES
THE ADDITIONAL TIME IS NEEDED, WRITTEN NOTICE WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE
PARTICIPANT PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE 90-DAY PERIOD (45 DAYS IN THE CASE OF
A CLAIM FOR DISABILITY BENEFITS).
THE EXTENSION WILL NOT EXCEED 90 DAYS (30
DAYS IN THE CASE OF A CLAIM FOR DISABILITY BENEFITS) FROM THE END OF THE INITIAL
PERIOD.
THE PLAN ADMINISTRATOR'S NOTICE TO THE CLAIMANT MUST SET FORTH:
(1)
THE SPECIFIC REASON FOR THE DENIAL;
(2)
SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO PERTINENT PLAN PROVISIONS ON WHICH THE PLAN
ADMINISTRATOR BASED ITS DENIAL;
(3)
A DESCRIPTION OF ANY ADDITIONAL MATERIAL AND INFORMATION NEEDED
FOR THE CLAIMANT TO PERFECT HIS CLAIM AND AN EXPLANATION OF WHY THE MATERIAL OR
INFORMATION IS NEEDED;
(4)
APPROPRIATE INFORMATION AS TO THE STEPS TO BE TAKEN IF THE
CLAIMANT WANTS TO SUBMIT THE CLAIM FOR REVIEW; AND
(5)
IN THE CASE OF DISABILITY