Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 4(m)

                                AMENDMENT NO. 10
                                       TO
                          THE LINCOLN ELECTRIC COMPANY
                              EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN
                          (EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1, 1994)

                  The Lincoln Electric Company, an Ohio corporation, hereby
adopts this Amendment No. 10 to the Lincoln Electric Company Employee Savings
Plan (Effective November 1, 1994) (the "Plan"). The provisions of this Amendment
shall be effective as of the dates set forth herein.

                                       I.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1997, the second sentence of
Section 1.1(14)(b) of the Plan is hereby deleted.

                                       II.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1999, the first sentence of Section
1.1(21) of the Plan is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

         "Any distribution of all or any portion of the balance to the credit of
         the distributee from a qualified trust (as hereinafter defined), except
         (a) any distribution that is one of a series of substantially equal
         periodic payments (not less frequently than annually) made for the life
         (or life expectancy) of the distributee or the joint lives (or joint
         life expectancies) of the distributee and the distributee's designated
         beneficiary, or for a specified period of ten years or more, (b) any
         distribution to the extent the distribution is required under section
         401(a)(9) of the Code, (c) the portion of any distribution that is not
         includible in gross income, (d) any `hardship' distribution (as defined
         in section 401(k) of the Code), and (e) such other amounts specified in
         Treasury regulations or Internal Revenue Service rulings, notices or
         announcements issued under section 402(c) of the Code."

                                      III.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1997, the second sentence of
Section 1.1(22) of the Plan is hereby amended to read as follows:

         "For purposes of this Subsection, a 'leased employee' means any person
         who, pursuant to an agreement between a Controlled Group Member and any
         other person (`leasing organization'),

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         has performed services for the Controlled Group Member on a
         substantially full-time basis for a period of at least one year, and
         such services are performed under the primary direction and control of
         the Controlled Group Member."

                                       IV.

                  Effective as of January 1, 2000, Section 1.1(22) of the Plan
is hereby amended by the addition of the following new sentence at the end
thereof:

         "The term `Employee' shall not include (a) any person rendering
         services solely as a director, (b) any person who is classified by the
         Employer or a Controlled Group Member as an independent contractor, or
         (c) any person who is a nonresident alien and who receives no earned
         income (within the meaning of section 911(b) of the Code from the
         Employer or a Controlled Group Member which constitutes income from
         sources within the United States (within the meaning of section
         861(a)(3) of the Code)."

                                       V.

                  Effective as of January 1, 2000, clause (a) of the second
sentence of Section 1.1(28B) of the Plan is hereby amended by inserting the
following immediately before the word "and" at the end thereof:

         "provided, however, that FSP Compensation shall include amounts
         received from Lincoln Global, Inc. by a Member who continues to be an
         FSP Participant after a transfer of employment from The Lincoln
         Electric Company, as provided in Section 2.4 of the Plan."

                                       VI.

                  Effective as of November 1, 1994, Section 1.1(27) of the Plan
is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                  "(27) Enrollment Date: November 16, 1994, and (a) with respect
         to elections to reduce Base Compensation, the first day of each
         January, April, July and October thereafter, and (b) with respect to
         elections to reduce Bonus Compensation the Wednesday immediately
         preceding each Thanksgiving Day after 1994."

                                      VII.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1997, Section 1.1(31) of the Plan
is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                                       2

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                  "(31) Highly Compensated Employee:

                  (a) For a particular Plan Year, any Employee (i) who, during
         the current or preceding Plan Year, was at any time a 5-percent owner
         (as such term is defined in section 416(i)(1) of the Code), or (ii) for
         the preceding Plan Year, received compensation from the Controlled
         Group in excess of the amount in effect for such Plan Year under
         section 414(q)(1)(B) of the Code.

                  (b) 'Highly Compensated Employee' shall include a former
         Employee whose Employment with the Controlled Group terminated prior to
         the Plan Year and who was a Highly Compensated Employee for the Plan
         Year in which his employment terminated or for any Plan Year ending on
         or after his 55th birthday.

                  (c) For purposes of this Subsection, the term `compensation'
         shall mean (i) for the period prior to January 1, 1998, the sum of an
         Employee's compensation under Section 4.9(3) and the Employee's
         Before-Tax Contributions (subject to the limitation described in
         Section 1.1(14)(b) and elective or salary reduction contributions
         pursuant to a cafeteria plan under section 125 of the Code or a
         tax-sheltered annuity under section 403(b) of the Code, and (ii) for
         the period commencing on and after January 1, 1998, an Employee
         compensation under Section 4.9(3) (subject to the limitation described
         in Section 1.1(14)(b))."

                                      VIII.

                  Effective as of January 1, 2000 Section 2.4 of the Plan is
hereby amended by the addition of the following new sentence at the end thereof:

         "A Member who (a) transfers employment from The Lincoln Electric
         Company to the department of Lincoln Global, Inc. that manages
         licensing activities with third parties and (b) was an FSP Participant
         immediately prior to such transfer of employment, shall continue to be
         an FSP Participant following such transfer of employment (so long as he
         is otherwise eligible to be an FSP Participant without regard to the
         transfer of employment)."

                                       IX.

                  Effective as of November 1, 1994, the first sentence of
Section 3.1 of the Plan is hereby amended to read as follows:

         "Upon enrollment pursuant to Section 2.2, a Member shall agree pursuant
         to a Salary Reduction Agreement to have his Employer make Before-Tax
         Contributions for him to the Trust of (1) a specified percentage of his
         Base Compensation (in 1% increments) through equal percentage pay
         period reductions and/or (2) a specified percentage (in  1% increments)
         or a whole dollar amount of his Bonus Compensation through payroll
         deduction."

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                                       X.

                  Effective as of November 1, 1994, Section 3.3 of the Plan is
hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                  "3.3 Changes in Contributions. The percentage designated by a
         Member with regard to Base Compensation pursuant to Section 3.1 shall
         continue in effect, notwithstanding any changes in the Member's
         Compensation. A Member may, however, in accordance with the percentages
         permitted by Section 3.1, change the percentage of his Base
         Compensation to be made as Before-Tax Contributions effective as of the
         next applicable Enrollment Date upon such prior written notice filed
         with the Administrative Committee as the Committee may require,
         provided that a Member may not make such a change more frequently than
         once each calendar quarter. A Member shall make an annual election with
         respect to the percentage, or amount, if any, of his Bonus Compensation
         for the Plan Year to be made as Before-Tax Contributions effective as
         of the applicable Enrollment Date during such Plan Year, upon such
         prior written notice filed with the Administrative Committee, and on
         such form as the Committee may require.

                                       XI.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1997, the second sentence of
Section 3.6(2) of the Plan is hereby amended to read as follows:

         "For purposes of this Subsection (2), the term `compensation' shall
         mean (a) for the period prior to January 1, 1998, the sum of an
         Eligible Employees compensation under Section 4.9(3) and his Before Tax
         Contributions (subject to the limitations described in Section
         1.1(14)(b) and (b) for the period commencing on and after January 1,
         1998, an Eligible Employees compensation under Section 4.9(3) (subject
         to the limitations described in Section 1.1(14)(b))."

                                      XII.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1997, the last three sentences of
Section 3.6(2) of the Plan are hereby deleted.

                                      XIII.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1997, the second sentence of
Section 3.6(4) of the Plan is hereby amended to read as follows:

         "For the purposes of this Subsection (4), the term `excess
         contributions' shall mean, for any Plan Year, the excess of (a) the
         aggregate amount of Before-Tax Contributions actually paid to the Trust
         on behalf of Highly Compensated Eligible Employees for such Plan Year
         over (b) the maximum amount of such Before-Tax Contributions permitted
         for such Plan Year under Subsection (1) of this Section, determined by
         reducing Before-Tax Contributions made on behalf

                                       4

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         of Highly Compensated Eligible Employees beginning with the Highly
         Compensated Eligible Employee with the highest dollar amount of
         Before-Tax Contributions."

                                      XIV.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1997, the last sentence of Section
3.6(4) of the Plan is hereby deleted.

                                      XV.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1997, the last two sentences of
Section 3.7(2) of the Plan are hereby deleted.

                                      XVI.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1997, the second sentence of
Section 3.7(3) of the Plan is hereby amended to read as follows:

         "For the purposes of this Subsection (3), the term `excess aggregate
         contributions' shall mean, for any Plan Year, the excess of (a) the
         aggregate amount of the Matching Employer Contributions actually paid
         to the Trust by or on behalf of Highly Compensated Eligible Employees
         for such Plan Year over (b) the maximum amount of such Matching
         Employer Contributions permitted for such Plan Year under Subsection
         (1) of this Section, determined by reducing Matching Employer
         Contributions made by or on behalf of Highly Compensated Eligible
         Employees beginning with the Highly Compensated Eligible Employee with
         the highest dollar amount of Matching Employer Contributions."

                                      XVII.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1997, the last sentence of Section
3.7(3) of the Plan is hereby deleted.

                                     XVIII.

                  Effective January 1, 1999, Section 3.9(3) of the Plan is
hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                  "(3)     In applying the limitations set forth in Sections
         3.6, 3.7 and 3.8, the Company may, at is option, utilize such testing
         procedures as may be permitted under sections 401(a)(4), 401(k), 401(m)
         or 410(b) of the Code, including, without limitation, (a) aggregation
         of the Plan with one or more other qualified plans of the Controlled
         Group, (b) inclusion of qualified matching contributions, qualified
         nonelective contributions or elective deferrals described in, and
         meeting the requirements of, Treasury regulations under sections 401(k)
         and 401(m) of the Code to any

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         other qualified plan of the Controlled Group in applying the
         limitations set forth in Section 3.6, 3.7 and 3.8, (c) effective
         January 1, 1999, exclusion of all Eligible Employees (other than Highly
         Compensated Eligible Employees) who have not met the minimum age and
         service requirements of section 410(a)(1)(A) of the Code in applying
         the limitations set forth in Sections 3.6, 3.7 and 3.8, or (d) any
         permissible combination thereof."

                                      XIX.

                  Effective as of January 1, 2000, the last sentence of Section
4.3 of the Plan (as amended by Amendment No. 9) is hereby amended by inserting
the following before the period at the end thereof:

                  "provided, however, that an Employee who transfers employment
                  from The Lincoln Electric Company to the department of Lincoln
                  Global, Inc. that manages licensing activities with third
                  parties shall be entitled to receive an allocation of Matching
                  Employer Contributions in accordance with the preceding
                  sentence."

                                       XX.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1998, Section 4.9(3) of the Plan is
hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                  "(3)     For the purposes of this Section, the term
         `compensation' shall mean compensation within the meaning of section
         415(c)(3) of the Code and the Treasury regulations thereunder."

                                      XXI.

                  Effective as of January 1, 2000, Section 4.10 of the Plan is
hereby amended by inserting the following sentence immediately following the
heading:

                  "The provisions of this Section shall be effective prior to
January 1, 2000."

                                      XXII.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1999, Section 5.7(2) of the Plan is
hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                  "(2)     A member shall not be entitled to a loan under this
         Section unless the Member (and the Member's Spouse, if any) consents
         (with respect to the spouse, in the form and manner provided in Section
         1.1(18)) to (a) the use of the Member's Account as security as provided
         in Subsection (5)(c) of This Section and (b) the possible reduction of
         the Member's Account as provided in Subsection (6) of this Section."

                                     XXIII.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1999, Section 5.7(5)(d)(iv) of the
Plan is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

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                  "(iv)    repayment in equal payments over the term of the
         loan, with payments not less frequently than quarterly, provided,
         however, that the Administrative Committee may waive such requirement
         for a period of not longer than one year in the case of a Member who is
         on an unpaid leave of absence in accordance with Treasury regulations
         issued under section 72(p) of the Code; and"

                                      XIV.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1998, Section 5.7(6) of the Plan is
hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                  "(6)     Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, a
         loan made pursuant to this Section shall be a first lien against the
         Member's Loan Account. Any amount of principal or interest due and
         unpaid on the loan at the time of any default on the loan shall be
         satisfied by deduction from the Member's Loan Account, and shall be
         deemed to have been distributed to the Member, as follows:

                           (a)      in the case of a Member who is an Employee
                  and who is not, at the time of the default, eligible to
                  receive distribution of his Account under the provisions of
                  Article VI, other than Section 6.7, or by order of a court, at
                  such time as he first becomes eligible to receive distribution
                  of his Account under the provisions of Article VI, other than
                  Section 6.7, or by order of a court; or

                           (b)      in the case of any other Member, immediately
                  upon such default."

                                      XXV.

                  Effective as of December 12, 1994, Section 5.7 of the Plan is
hereby amended by the addition of the following new subsection at the end
thereof:

                  "(7)     Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, loan
         repayments will be suspended under the Plan as permitted under section
         414(u)(4) of the Code (for Members on a leave of absence for `qualified
         military service' (as defined in Section 11.8))."

                                      XXVI.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1999, Section 6.1 of the Plan is
hereby amended by inserting the following new sentences at the end thereof:

         "A Member's Spouse, if any, must consent to such Member's application
         for distribution. Such consent shall be in the form and manner provided
         in Section 1.1(18)."

                                     XXVII.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1999, Section 6.2 of the Plan is
hereby amended by the addition of the following new sentence at the end thereof:

         "Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Member's Death Beneficiary is
         his Spouse, such distribution shall be made no later than the date on
         which the Member would have attained age 70 1/2, or if the

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<PAGE>

         Member's Death Beneficiary is not his Spouse, such distribution shall
         be made within the one year period commencing on the date of the
         Member's death."

                                     XXVIII.

                  Section 6.3(2) of the Plan is hereby amended by the addition
of the following new sentences at the end thereof:

         "Notwithstanding the previous sentence, a Member who begins to receive
         a distribution of his entire Vested Interest in annual installments
         pursuant to Subsection (1)(b) of this Section may elect at any time
         prior to his receipt of his entire Vested Interest to receive the
         remainder of his Vested Interest in a lump sum in cash. Such an
         election shall be made by the Member in writing on an application
         prescribed by the Administrative Committee pursuant to Section 6.1,
         signed by the Member and filed with the Administrative Committee."

                                      XXIX.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1998, Section 6.3(4) of the Plan is
hereby amended by deleting the term "$3,500" and substituting therefor the term
"$5,000".

                                      XXX.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1999, the first sentence of Section
6.4 of the Plan is hereby amended to read as follows:

         "If a Member dies after his Employment Severance and before his entire
         Vested Interest has been paid to him, the undistributed portion of his
         Vested Interest valued as of the Valuation Date described in Section
         6.2, shall continue to be paid to his Death Beneficiary in the same
         manner as it was being paid to the Member, or if the Death Beneficiary
         so elects, shall be paid in a lump sum in cash within 60 days after the
         Valuation Date coinciding with or next following the date on which the
         Death Beneficiary makes such election."

                                      XXXI.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1999, Sections 6.6(2) of the Plan
is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

         "(2)     (a)      Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, to
         the extent required under section 401(a)(9) of the Code, the entire
         Vested Interest of a Member who is a 5% owner (as defined in section
         416 of the Code) or who attains age 70 1/2 prior to January 1, 2000 (i)
         shall be distributed to him in a lump sum in cash not later than April
         1 of the calendar year following the

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<PAGE>

         calendar year in which he attains age 70 1/2 and, with respect to
         Members who are Employees, on December 31 of such year and each
         succeeding year or (ii) shall commence to be distributed to him in one
         of the forms permitted under Section 6.3(1) not later than the time
         specified in clause (i) of this Section; provided, however, that in the
         case of a Member who attains age 70 1/2 during the 1999 Plan Year, such
         Member may elect to delay such distribution or the commencement of such
         distributions until the time provided in the following sentence. In
         addition, the Vested Interest of any other Participant must be
         distributed or commence to be distributed not later than the later of
         April 1 of the calendar year following the later of (i) the calendar
         year in which he attains age 70 1/2 or (ii) the calendar year in which
         his employment with the Controlled Group terminates.

                  (b)      Notwithstanding the foregoing, distributions under
         this Section shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Section
         401(a)(9) of the Code and Treasury regulations issued thereunder,
         including Treasury regulation section 1.401(a)(9)-2, which provisions
         are hereby incorporated herein by reference, provided that such
         provisions shall override the other distribution provisions of the Plan
         only to the extent that such other Plan provisions provide for
         distribution that is less rapid than required under such provisions of
         the Code and regulations. Nothing contained in this Section shall be
         construed as providing any optional form of payment that is not
         available under the other distribution provisions of the Plan."

                                     XXXII.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1999, Section 6.7(1) of the Plan is
hereby amended by inserting the following new sentence immediately after the
first sentence of such Section:

         "The Member's Spouse, if any, must consent to such Member's withdrawal
         on account of Hardship. Such consent shall be in the form and manner
         provided in Section 1.1(18)."

                                     XXXIII.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1999, Section 8.5(2) of the Plan is
hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

                  "(2)     The Administrative Committee shall have the sole and
         absolute discretion to interpret the provisions of the Plan (including,
         without limitation, by supplying omissions from, correcting
         deficiencies in, or resolving inconsistencies or ambiguities in, the
         language of the Plan), to make factual findings with respect to any
         issue arising under the Plan, to determine the rights and status under
         the Plan of Members or other persons, to decide disputes arising under
         the Plan and to make any determinations and findings (including factual
         findings) with respect to the benefits payable thereunder and the
         persons entitled thereto as may be required for the purposes of the
         Plan. In furtherance of, but without limiting, the foregoing, the
         Administrative Committee is hereby granted the following specific
         authorities, which it shall discharge in its sole and absolute
         discretion in accordance with the terms of the Plan (as interpreted, to
         the extent necessary, by the Administrative Committee):

                           (a)      To resolve all questions (including factual
                  questions) arising under the provisions of the Plan as to any
                  individual's entitlement to become a Member;

                           (b)      To determine the amount of benefits, if any,
                  payable with respect to any person under the Plan (including,
                  to the extent necessary, making any factual findings with
                  respect thereto);

                           (c)      To determine the amount of an Employee's
                  Compensation; and

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<PAGE>

                           (d)      To conduct the review procedure specified in
                  Section 9.3.

         All decisions of the Administrative Committee as to the facts of any
         case, as to the interpretation of any provision of the Plan or its
         application to any case, and as to any other interpretation, matter or
         other determination or question under the Plan shall be final and
         binding on all parties affected thereby subject to the provisions of
         Sections 8.7 and 9.3. The Administrative Committee shall instruct the
         Trustee as to the benefits to be paid under the Plan and shall furnish
         the Trustee with any information reasonably required by it for the
         purpose of the payment of such benefits."

                                     XXXIV.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1999, Section 9.3 of the Plan is
hereby amended by the addition of the following new sentence at the end thereof:

         "The Named Fiduciary appointed to conduct the review procedure set
         forth in this Section shall have the same powers to interpret the Plan
         and make factual findings with respect thereto as are granted to the
         Administrative Committee under section 8.5."

                                      XXXV.

                  Effective for orders issued on or after August 5, 1997,
Section 11.1 of the Plan is hereby amended by the addition of the following new
sentence at the end thereof:

         "Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Plan
         shall honor a judgment, order, decree or settlement providing for the
         offset of all or a part of a Member's benefit under the Plan, to the
         extent permitted under section 401(a)(13)(C) of the Code; provided that
         the requirements of section 401(a)(13)(C)(ii) of the Code relating to
         the protection of the Participant's Spouse (if any) are satisfied."

                                     XXXVI.

                  Effective as of December 12, 1994, Article XI of the Plan is
hereby amended by the addition of the following new Section at the end thereof:

                  "11.8    Military Service. Notwithstanding any provisions of
         the Plan to the contrary, contributions, benefits and service credit
         with respect to qualified military service will be provided in
         accordance with section 414(u) of the Code. 'Qualified military
         service' means any service in the uniformed services (as defined in
         chapter 43 of title 38 of the United States Code) by any individual if
         such individual is entitled to reemployment rights under such chapter
         with respect to such service."

                                       10
<PAGE>

                                     XXXVII.

                  Effective as of January 1, 1997, the last sentence of Section
15.1(9) of the Plan is hereby amended by deleting "section 414(q)(7) of the
Code" where it appears therein and substituting therefor "section 414(q)(4) of
the Code".

                                    XXXVIII.

                  Effective as of January 1, 2000, Section 15.3 of the Plan is
hereby amended by the addition of the following new sentence immediately after
the heading:

         "The provisions of this Section shall be effective prior to January 1,
2000."

                                     XXXIX.

                  Effective as of January 1, 2000, Section 15.7 of the Plan is
hereby amended by inserting the following new sentence immediately after the
heading:

         "The provisions of this Section shall be effective prior to January 1,
2000."

                                       11
<PAGE>

                  EXECUTED at Cleveland, Ohio, this 23rd day of December, 1999.

                                                   THE LINCOLN ELECTRIC COMPANY

                                                   By: /s/ Frederick G. Stueber
                                                       -------------------------

                                                   Title: Senior Vice President

                                       12<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 4(n)

                                AMENDMENT NO. 11
                                       TO
                          THE LINCOLN ELECTRIC COMPANY
                              EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN
                          (EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1, 1994)

                  The Lincoln Electric Company, an Ohio corporation, hereby
adopts this Amendment No. 11 to the Lincoln Electric Company Employee Savings
Plan (Effective November 1, 1994) (the "Plan"). The provisions of this Amendment
shall be effective as of the dates set forth herein.

                                       I.

                  Effective as of January 1, 2001, Section 1.1(17) of the Plan
is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

         "(17) Covered Employee: An Employee of an Employer, excluding, however,
         (a) any 'leased employee' (as defined in Section 1.1(22)) of such
         Employer and (b) prior to July 1, 1995, any Employees of the Harris
         Calorific Division of the Company."

                                       II.

                  Effective as of January 1, 2001, Article I of the Plan is
hereby amended by inserting the following new Subsection immediately following
Section 1.1(24):

         "(24A) Employment: An Employee's Employment shall equal the total
         aggregate periods of his regular, full-time employment with an
         Employer. Periods of Employment are aggregated on the basis that one
         calendar month of Employment equals one month and each additional 30
         days of Employment equals one month."

                                      III.

                  Effective as of January 1, 2001, paragraph (a) of Section
1.1(32) of the Plan is hereby amended to read as follows:

         "(a) For all purposes other than determining whether an Employee has
         been credited with a Year of Eligibility Service, an "Hour of Service"
         shall mean an hour for which an Employee is paid, or entitled to
         payment, by one or more Controlled Group Members for the performance of
         duties as an Employee."

<PAGE>

                                       IV.

                  Effective as of January 1, 2001, the first sentence of
paragraph (b) of Section 1.1(32) of the Plan is hereby amended by deleting all
of the language preceding the colon and substituting therefor the following:

         "For purposes of determining whether an Employee has been credited with
         a Year of Eligibility Service, an 'Hour of Service' shall mean"

                                       V.

                  Effective as of January 1, 2000, Section 1.1(36) of the Plan
is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

         "(36) Matching Employer Contribution Percentage: Twenty-five (25)
         percent to apply against Members' Before-Tax Contributions deducted
         from Base Compensation and thirty-five (35) percent to apply against
         Members' Before-Tax Contributions deducted from Bonus Compensation to
         determine the Matching Employer Contributions for a Plan Year, or such
         other percentage as the Company shall establish for the Plan Year on or
         before the date or dates on which Matching Employer Contributions, if
         any, are made for such Plan Year."

                                       VI.

                  Effective as of January 1, 2001, Section 1.1(36) of the Plan
is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

         "(36) Matching Employer Contribution Percentage: Thirty-five (35)
         percent or such other percentage as the Company shall establish for a
         Plan Year on or before the date or dates on which Matching Employer
         Contributions, if any, are made for such Plan Year, to apply against
         Members' Before-Tax Contributions to determine the Matching Employer
         Contribution for such Plan Year."

                                      VII.

                  Effective as of January 1, 2001, the first sentence of Section
1.1 (54A) of the Plan is hereby amended to read as follows:

         "An Employee shall be credited with a Year of Eligibility Service when
         he is credited with at least 1,000 Hours of Service in the 12-month
         period beginning with his Employment Commencement

                                       2
<PAGE>

         Date and, if applicable, his Reemployment Commencement Date, either of
         which 12-month periods shall be the "Initial Eligibility Computation
         Period."

                                      VIII.

                  Effective as of January 1, 2001, Section 2.1 of the Plan is
hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

         "2.1 Eligible Employees. Each Covered Employee who is an Eligible
         Employee under the Plan on December 31,2000 shall continue to be an
         Eligible Employee under the Plan after December 31, 2000 so long as he
         remains a Covered Employee. Each other Employee shall become an
         Eligible Employee under the Plan on the first Enrollment Date on which
         he meets the following requirements:

                  (1) he is a Covered Employee, and

                  (2) either (a) he has been in Employment for at least six
         consecutive months, or (b) he has accumulated one Year of Eligibility
         Service."

                  EXECUTED at Cleveland, Ohio this 4th day of December, 2000.

                                           THE LINCOLN ELECTRIC COMPANY

                                           By: /s/ Frederick G. Stueber
                                               ---------------------------------

                                           Title: Senior Vice President, General
                                                  Counsel and Secretary

                                       3

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