-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, TWxwRniQnC7YYL8y4pf5fV1XHmISwtpuFFASHdksM6FCn1WNNQurUjoRJEv+CisR 8hSqvcxx7kaZKgq61WPSTA== 0001140361-10-041159.txt : 20101014 0001140361-10-041159.hdr.sgml : 20101014 20101014121839 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001140361-10-041159 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20101011 ITEM INFORMATION: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20101014 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20101014 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: JOURNAL COMMUNICATIONS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001232241 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NEWSPAPERS: PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING [2711] IRS NUMBER: 200020198 FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-31805 FILM NUMBER: 101123309 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 333 WEST STATE STREET CITY: MILWAUKEE STATE: WI ZIP: 83203 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: JOURNAL CO DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20030512 8-K 1 form8k.htm JOURNAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC 8-K 10-11-2010 form8k.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_______________________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

_______________________
 
 
 
Date of Report
(Date of earliest
event reported):
 
October 11, 2010
 

Journal Communications, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Wisconsin
 
1-31805
 
20-0020198
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)


333 West State Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203
(Address of principal executive offices, including ZIP code)


(414) 224-2000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

£
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 C.F.R. §230.425)
£
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 C.F.R. §240.14a-12)
£
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 C.F.R. §240.14d-2(b))
£
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 C.F.R. §240.13e-4(c))
 


 
 

 
 
Item 5.02.
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers..

(e)            Amendment to Change in Control Agreement with Andre J. Fernandez.  On October 11, 2010, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Journal Communications, Inc. (the “Company”) approved an amendment to the Change in Control Agreement, dated December 9, 2008, between the Company and Andre J. Fernandez (the “Agreement”).  Pursuant to the Agreement, in the event Mr. Fernandez’ employment is terminated by the Company without “cause” or Mr. Fernandez resigns for “good reason” within two years after the occurrence of a change in control of the Company, he will be entitled, among other things, to receive a cash severanc e payment and the continuation of subsidized group health benefits for a period of time.  The amendment to the Agreement (i) increased the severance multiple from 150% to 200% times the sum of Mr. Fernandez’ annual base salary and target annual incentive bonus for the year in which the date of termination occurs, (ii) increased the period for post-termination group health benefits from 18 to 24 months, (ii) added a non-competition covenant for the term of employment plus two years following termination, and (iv) increased Mr. Fernandez’ current employee non-solicitation covenant period from 18 months to 24 months following termination of his employment.  Other amendments were technical in nature to address compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

A copy of the Agreement, as so amended and restated, is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

(e)            Amendment to 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan.  On October 11, 2010, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company approved certain amendments to the Journal Communications, Inc. 2007 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) which, among minor technical clarifications: (i) prohibit the inclusion of dividend equivalents in awards of stock options or stock appreciation rights, (ii) provide that any dividends or dividend equivalents paid on full-value performance awards be subject to the same vesting conditions as the underlying shares or units, and (ii) prohibit accelerated vesting of certain performance-based awards in the case of retirement, in order to preserve deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.  None of the amendments to the Plan require shareholder approval under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.

A copy of the Plan, as so amended and restated, is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 
(a)
Not applicable.

 
(b)
Not applicable.

 
(c)
Not applicable.

 
(d)
Exhibits.  The following exhibits are being filed herewith:

 
Change in Control Agreement, amended and restated effective as of October 11, 2010, between Journal Communications, Inc. and Andre J. Fernandez.

 
Journal Communications, Inc. 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, amended and restated effective as of October 11, 2010.

 
-2-

 
 
SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


 
JOURNAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
       
       
Dated:  October 14, 2010
By:
/s/ Mary Hill Leahy
 
   
Mary Hill Leahy
   
Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer

 
-3-

 
 
JOURNAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

EXHIBIT INDEX TO FORM 8-K
Report Dated October 11, 2010


Exhibit No.

 
(10.1)
Change in Control Agreement, amended and restated effective as of October 11, 2010, between Journal Communications, Inc. and Andre J. Fernandez.

 
(10.2)
Journal Communications, Inc. 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, amended and restated effective as of October 11, 2010.
 
 
-4-

EX-10.1 2 ex10_1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 ex10_1.htm

Exhibit 10.1
 
_________________________________


CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
ANDRE J. FERNANDEZ
AND
JOURNAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.


_________________________________________________________________

 
 

 

CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

1.
Certain Definitions
1
2.
Change in Control
2
3.
Employment Period
3
4.
Terms of Employment
3
   
(a)
Position and Duties
3
   
(b)
Compensation
4
5.
Termination of Employment
6
   
(a)
Death or Disability
6
   
(b)
Cause
6
   
(c)
Good Reason
7
6.
Obligations of the Company upon Termination
8
   
(a)
Termination by Executive for Good Reason; Termination by the Company Other Than for Cause or Disability
8
   
(b)
Death or Disability
9
   
(c)
Cause; Other than Good Reason
10
   
(d)
Expiration of Employment Period
10
7.
Non-exclusivity of Rights
10
8.
Full Settlement; No Mitigation
10
9.
Costs of Enforcement
10
10.
Limitation of Benefits
11
11.
Restrictions on Conduct of Executive
12
12.
Arbitration
14
13.
Successors
16
14.
Miscellaneous
16
   
(a)
Governing Law
16
   
(b)
Captions
16
   
(c)
Amendments
16
   
(d)
Notices
16
   
(e)
Severability
17
   
(f)
Withholding
17
   
(g)
Waivers
17
   
(h)
Status Before and After Effective Date
17
15.
Code Section 409A
17

 
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CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT by and between Journal Communications, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (the “Company”) and Andre J. Fernandez (“Executive”), dated as of the 9th day of December, 2008, as amended and restated as of October 11, 2010.

The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to assure that the Company will have the continued dedication of Executive, notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined below) of the Company.  The Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change in Control and to encourage Executive’s full attention and dedication to the Company currently and in the event of any threatened or pending Change in Control, and to provide Executive with compensation and benefits arrangements upon a Change in Control which ensure that the compensation and benefits expectation s of Executive will be satisfied and which are competitive with those of other corporations.  Therefore, in order to accomplish these objectives, the Board has caused the Company to enter into this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

1.              Certain Definitions.

(a)            The “Effective Date” shall mean the first date during the Change in Control Period (as defined in Section l(b)) on which a Change in Control (as defined in Section 2) occurs.  Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated, and if it is reasonably demonstrated by Executive that such termination of employment (i) was at the request of a third party who has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control or (ii) otherwise arose in connection with or anticipation of a Change in Control, then for all purposes of this Agreement the “Effective Date” shall mean the date immediately prior to the date of such termination of employment.

(b)            The “Change in Control Period” shall mean the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the second anniversary of the date hereof; provided, however, that commencing on the date one year after the date hereof, and on each annual anniversary of such date (such date and each annual anniversary thereof shall be hereinafter referred to as the “Renewal Date”), unless previously terminated, the Change in Control Period shall be automatically extended so as to terminate two years from such Renewal Date, unless at least 60 days prior to the Renewal Date the Company shall give notice to Executive that the Change in Control Period shall not be so extended.

 
 

 

2.              Change in Control  For the purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events:

(a)            individuals who, on the date of this Agreement, constitute the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of such Board, provided that any person becoming a director after the date of this Agreement and whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board shall be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors (“Election Contest”) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any “Person” (such term for purposes of this definition being as defined in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”) and as used in Section 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act) other than the Board (“Proxy Contest”), including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Election Contest or Proxy Contest, shall be deemed an Incumbent Director; or

(b)            any Person becomes a “Beneficial Owner” (such term for purposes of this definition being as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of directors (the “Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (b), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (v) an acquisition directly from the Company, (w) an acquisition by the Company or a subsidiary of the Company (a “Subsidiary”), (x) an acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary, (y) an acquisition by a Person who as of December 31, 2006 was a Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the Company Voting Securities, or (z) an acquisition pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as defined in subsection (d) below); or

(c)            any Person who as of December 31, 2006 was a Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the Company Voting Securities becomes a Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 40% or more of the Company Voting Securities; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (c), an acquisition directly from the Company shall not constitute a Change in Control; or

(d)            the consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company or a Subsidiary (a “Reorganization”), or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (a “Sale”) or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity (an “Acquisition”), unless immediately following such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition: (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (“Company Common Stock”) and outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Reorganization, Sale or Acqui sition beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or stock either directly or through one or more subsidiaries, the “Surviving Entity”) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition, of the outstanding Company Common Stock and the outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, and (B) no Person (other than (w) any Person who as of December 31, 2006 is a Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the Company Voting Secu rities, (x) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (y) the Surviving Entity or its ultimate parent, or (z) any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by any of the foregoing) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 20% or more of the total common stock or 20% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors of the Surviving Entity, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Surviving Entity were Incumbent Directors at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition (any Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition which satisfies all of the criteria specified in (A), (B) and (C) above shall be deemed to be a “Non-Qualifying Transaction”); or

 
- 2 -

 

(e)            approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

3.              Employment Period.  The Company hereby agrees to continue Executive in its employ, and Executive hereby agrees to remain in the employ of the Company subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of such date (the “Employment Period”).

4.              Terms of Employment.

(a)            Position and Duties.

(i)  During the Employment Period, (A) Executive’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties and responsibilities shall be at least commensurate in all material respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and assigned at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date and (B) Executive’s services shall be performed at the location where Executive was employed immediately preceding the Effective Date or any office or location less than 35 miles from such location.

 
- 3 -

 

(ii)  During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and sick leave to which Executive is entitled, Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time, attention and effort to the business and affairs of the Company and its affiliates and, to the extent necessary to discharge the responsibilities assigned to Executive under this Agreement, use Executive’s reasonable best efforts to carry out such responsibilities faithfully and efficiently. It shall not be considered a violation of the foregoing for Executive to serve on corporate, industry, civic or charitable boards or committees, so long as such activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of Executive’s responsibilities as an employee of the Company and its affiliates in accordance with this Agreement. & #160;It is expressly understood and agreed that to the extent that any such activities have been conducted by Executive prior to the Effective Date, the continued conduct of such activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto) subsequent to the Effective Date shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with the performance of Executive’s responsibilities to the Company.

(b)            Compensation.

(i)             Base Salary.  During the Employment Period, Executive shall receive an annual base salary (“Annual Base Salary”) at a rate at least equal to the rate of base salary in effect on the date of this Agreement or, if greater, on the Effective Date, paid or payable (including any base salary which has been earned but deferred) to Executive by the Company and its affiliated companies.  The Annual Base Salary shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll practice for its senior executives, as in effect from time to time.  During the Employment Period, the Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed for possible increase no more than 12 months after the last salary increase awarded to Executive prior to the Effective Date and thereafter at least annually.  Any increase in the Annual Base Salary shall not limit or reduce any other obligation of the Company under this Agreement.  The Annual Base Salary shall not be reduced after any such increase, and the term “Annual Base Salary” shall thereafter refer to the Annual Base Salary as so increased. As used in this Agreement, the term “affiliated companies” shall include any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company.

(ii)            Annual Bonus.  In addition to Annual Base Salary, Executive shall be provided, for each fiscal year ending during the Employment Period, an annual bonus opportunity at least equal to Executive’s highest bonus opportunity under the Company’s Annual Management Incentive Plan, or any comparable bonus opportunity under any predecessor or successor plans, for the last full fiscal year prior to the Effective Date (annualized in the event that Executive was not employed by the Company for the whole of such fiscal year).

(iii)           Incentive, Savings and Retirement Plans.  Without limiting the foregoing, during the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to participate in all applicable incentive, savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs applicable generally to other senior executives of the Company and its affiliated companies (“Peer Executives”), but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide Executive with incentive opportunities (measured with respect to both regular and special incentive opportunities, to the extent, if any, that such distinction is applicable), savings opportunities and retirement benefit opportunities, in each case, less favor able, in the aggregate, than the most favorable of those provided by the Company and its affiliated companies for Executive under such plans, practices, policies and programs as in effect at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or if more favorable to Executive, those provided generally at any time after the Effective Date to Peer Executives.

 
- 4 -

 

(iv)           Welfare Benefit Plans.  During the Employment Period, Executive and/or Executive’s eligible dependents, as the case may be, shall be eligible for participation in and shall receive all benefits under welfare benefit plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Company and its affiliated companies (including, without limitation, medical, prescription, dental, disability, employee life, group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs) to the extent applicable generally to Peer Executives, but in no event shall such plans, practices, policies and programs provide Executive with benefits which are less favorable, in the aggregate, than the most favo rable of such plans, practices, policies and programs in effect for Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to Executive, those provided generally at any time after the Effective Date to Peer Executives.

(v)            Expenses.  During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by Executive in accordance with the most favorable policies, practices and procedures of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to Peer Executives.

(vi)           Fringe Benefits and Perquisites.  During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to fringe benefits and perquisites in accordance with the most favorable plans, practices, programs and policies of the Company and its affiliated companies in effect for Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to Peer Executives.

 
- 5 -

 

(vii)          Vacation.  During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the most favorable plans, policies, programs and practices of the Company and its affiliated companies as in effect for Executive at any time during the 120-day period immediately preceding the Effective Date or, if more favorable to Executive, as in effect generally at any time thereafter with respect to Peer Executives.

5.              Termination of Employment.

(a)            Death or Disability.  Executive’s employment shall terminate automatically upon Executive’s death during the Employment Period.  If the Company determines in good faith that the Disability of Executive has occurred during the Employment Period (pursuant to the definition of Disability set forth below), it may give to Executive written notice of its intention to terminate Executive’s employment.  In such event, Executive’s employment with the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such written notice by Executive (the “Disability Effective Date”), provided that, within the 30 days after such receipt, Execu tive shall not have returned to full-time performance of Executive’s duties.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” shall mean the inability of Executive, as determined by the Board, to perform the essential functions of his regular duties and responsibilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, due to a medically determinable physical or mental illness which has lasted (or can reasonably be expected to last) for a period of six consecutive months.  At the request of Executive or his personal representative, the Board’s determination that the Disability of Executive has occurred shall be certified by two physicians mutually agreed upon by Executive, or his personal representative, and the Company.  If Executive requests such independent certification of the Board’s determination and either (i) the Company does not seek such independent certification, or (ii) the two physicians do not certify the Board’s determination of Executive ’s Disability, then, Executive’s termination shall be deemed a termination by the Company without Cause and not a termination by reason of his Disability.

(b)            Cause.  The Company may terminate Executive’s employment during the Employment Period for Cause or without Cause.  For purposes of this Agreement, a termination shall be considered to be for “Cause” if it occurs in conjunction with a determination by the Board that Executive has committed or engaged in either (i) any act that constitutes, on the part of Executive, fraud, dishonesty, breach of fiduciary duty, misappropriation, embezzlement or gross misfeasance of duty; (ii) willful disregard of published Company policies and procedures or codes of ethics; or (iii) conduct by Executive in his office with the Company that is grossly inappropriate and demonstrably likely to lead to material injury to the Company, as determined by the Board acting reasonably and in good faith; provided, that in the case of (ii) or (iii) above, such conduct shall not constitute “Cause” unless the Board shall have delivered to Executive notice setting forth with specificity (A) the conduct deemed to qualify as “Cause”, (B) reasonable action that would remedy such objection, and (C) a reasonable time (not less than 30 days) within which Executive may take such remedial action, and Executive shall not have taken such specified remedial action within the specified time.

 
- 6 -

 

(c)            Good Reason.  Executive’s employment may be terminated by Executive for Good Reason or without Good Reason.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean:

(i)             the assignment to Executive of any duties inconsistent in any material respect with Executive’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as contemplated by Section 4(a) of this Agreement, or any other action by the Company that results in a material diminution in Executive’s position, authority, duties or responsibilities, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action that is not taken in bad faith and is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof from Executive;

(ii)            any material breach by the Company of Section 4(b)(i) or (ii) of this Agreement, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure that is not taken in bad faith and is remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof from Executive;

(iii)           any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy Section 13(c) of this Agreement; or

(iv)           any other material breach of this Agreement by the Company that either is not taken in good faith or is not remedied by the Company promptly after receipt of notice thereof from Executive.

A termination of employment by Executive for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice (“Notice of Termination for Good Reason”) of the termination within 90 days after the event constituting Good Reason, setting forth in reasonable detail the specific conduct of the Company that constitutes Good Reason and the specific provisions of this Agreement on which Executive relies.  The Company shall have 30 days from the receipt of such notice within which to correct, rescind or otherwise substantially reverse the occurrence supporting termination for Good Reason as identified by Executive.  If such event has not been cured within such 30-day period, the termination of employment by Executive for Good Reason shall be effective as of the expiration of such 30-day period.   If the event of Good Reason is cured within such 30-day period, the Notice of Termination for Good Reason shall have no effect.  Any dispute as to whether a claimed event of Good Reason has been cured within the 30-day period shall be submitted to mediation by a third party selected by Executive and the Board.  If no mediated resolution is reach within 30-days after the end of the original 30-day cure period, the Notice of Termination for Good Reason shall have no effect.  The parties intend, believe and take the position that a resignation by the Executive for Good Reason as defined above effectively constitutes an involuntary separation from service within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and Treas. Reg §1.409A-1(n)(2).

 
- 7 -

 

6.              Obligations of the Company upon Termination.

(a) Termination by Executive for Good Reason; Termination by the Company Other Than for Cause or Disability.  If, during the Employment Period, the Company shall terminate Executive’s employment other than for Cause or Disability, or Executive shall terminate employment for Good Reason:

(i)  the Company shall pay to Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days after the date of termination (or any later date required by Section 15) the aggregate of the following amounts:

A.            Executive’s Annual Base Salary through the date of termination to the extent not theretofore paid (the “Accrued Obligations”); and

B.             a severance payment equal to 200% times the sum of (i) Executive’s Annual Base Salary as then in effect, plus (ii) Executive’s target annual incentive bonus for the year in which the date of termination occurs; and

(ii)  the Company shall pay to Executive a pro-rata bonus for the annual incentive plan performance period (“Plan Year”) in which the date of termination occurs (the “Prorata Final Year Bonus”), the calculation and payment of which shall depend upon when the date of termination occurs, as follows:

A.            if the date of termination occurs during the same Plan Year in which the Change in Control occurs, the Prorata Final Year Bonus shall equal the product of (x) Executive’s target annual bonus for the year of termination, and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the Plan Year through the date of termination, and the denominator of which is 365; and such Prorata Final Year Bonus shall be paid a single lump sum cash payment within 30 days after the date of termination (or any later date that may be required pursuant to Section 15 hereof);

B.             if the date of termination occurs after the end of the Plan Year in which the Change in Control occurs, the Prorata Final Year Bonus shall equal product of (x) the amount Executive would have earned, if any, under the annual incentive bonus plan for the year of termination based on actual financial performance (as if the sole performance metrics were the financial performance metrics) for such Plan Year, and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the Plan Year through the date of termination, and the denominator of which is 365; and such Prorata Final Year Bonus shall be paid a single lump sum cash payment at the time such bonus awards are normally paid for such Plan Year (or any later date that may be required pursuant to Section 15 h ereof); and

(iii)  the Company shall continue to provide, for twenty-four (24) months after Executive’s date of termination (the “Welfare Benefits Continuation Period”), or such longer period as may be provided by the terms of the appropriate plan, program, practice or policy, any group health benefits to which Executive and/or Executive’s eligible dependents would otherwise be entitled to continue under COBRA, or benefits substantially equivalent to those group health benefits which would have been provided to them in accordance with the Welfare Plans described in Section 4(b)(iv) of this Agreement if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, provided, however, that (A) if Executive becomes employed with another employer (including self-employ ment) and receives group health benefits under another employer provided plan, the Company’s obligation to provide group health benefits described herein shall cease, except as otherwise provided by law; (B) the Welfare Benefits Continuation Period shall run concurrently with any period for which Executive is eligible to elect health coverage under COBRA; (C) for all months after the initial 18 months of the Welfare Benefits Continuation Period, the applicable monthly COBRA premium for such group health benefits, determined in accordance with Code Section 4980B and the regulations thereunder, shall be reimbursed to Executive by the Company as taxable compensation by including such amount in Executive’s income in accordance with applicable rules and regulations; (D) during the Welfare Benefits Continuation Period, the benefits provided in any one calendar year shall not affect the amount of benefits to be provided in any other calendar year; (E) the reimbursement of an eligible taxable expense sha ll be made on or before December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred; and (F) Executive’s rights pursuant to this Section 6(a)(iii) shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit; and

 
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(iv)  all of Executive’s equity or incentive awards outstanding on the date of termination shall be treated as follows: (A) all time-based restrictions on awards of restricted stock or unit awards shall lapse as of the date of termination, (B) each such option shall be fully vested and exercisable as of the date of termination and shall remain in effect and exercisable through the end of its original term, without regard to the termination of Executive’s employment; and (C) any performance shares or units shall be governed by the terms and conditions of the Company’s long-term incentive plan under which they were awarded; and

(v)  to the extent not theretofore paid or provided, the Company shall timely pay or provide to Executive any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or which Executive is eligible to receive under any plan, program, policy or practice or contract or agreement of the Company and its affiliated companies (such other amounts and benefits shall be hereinafter referred to as the “Other Benefits”).

(b)            Death or Disability.  If Executive’s employment is terminated by reason of Executive’s death or Disability during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to Executive or Executive’s legal representatives under this Agreement, other than for payment of Accrued Obligations and the Prorata Final Year Bonus (calculated as described in Section 6(a)(ii)(A), regardless of when the date of termination occurs) and the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits.  Accrued Obligations and the Prorata Final Year Bonus shall be paid to Executive or Executive’s estate or beneficiary, as applicable, in a lump sum in cash with in 30 days of the date of termination (or any later date required by Section 15).  With respect to the provision of Other Benefits, the term Other Benefits as used in this Section 6(b) shall include without limitation, and Executive or Executive’s estate and/or beneficiaries shall be entitled to receive, benefits under such plans, programs, practices and policies relating to death or disability benefits, if any, as are applicable to Executive on the date of termination.

 
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(c)            Cause; Other than for Good Reason.  If Executive’s employment shall be terminated for Cause, or if Executive voluntarily terminates employment other than for Good Reason, during the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to Executive other than for payment of Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits.

(d)            Expiration of Employment Period.  If Executive’s employment shall be terminated due to the normal expiration of the Employment Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to Executive, other than for payment of Accrued Obligations and the timely payment or provision of Other Benefits.

7.              Non-exclusivity of Rights.  Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit Executive’s continuing or future participation in any employee benefit plan, program, policy or practice provided by Parent or its affiliated companies and for which Executive may qualify, except as specifically provided herein.  Amounts that are vested benefits or which Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan, policy, practice or program of the Company or any of its affiliated companies at or subsequent to the date of termination shall be payable in accordance with such plan, policy, practice or program except as explicitly modified by this Agreement.

8.              Full Settlement; No Mitigation.  The Company’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against Executive or others.  In no event shall Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not Executive obtains other employment.

9.              Costs of Enforcement.  The Company shall reimburse Executive, on a current basis, up to $200,000 per year (not to exceed two years) for reasonable legal fees and related expenses incurred by Executive in connection with this Agreement, including without limitation, (i) such fees and expenses, if any, incurred by Executive in connection with any tax audit or proceeding to the extent attributable to the application of Section 4999 of the Code to any payment or benefit hereunder, or (ii) such fees and expenses, if any, incurred by Executive in contesting or disputing any termination of Executive’s employment, or Executive’s seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement, in each case, regardless of whether or not Executive’s claim is upheld by an arbitral panel or a court of competent jurisdiction; provided, however, Executive shall be required to repay to the Company any such amounts to the extent that an arbitral panel or a court issues a final and non-appealable order, judgment, decree or award setting forth the determination that the position taken by Executive was frivolous or advanced by Executive in bad faith.  The amount reimbursable by the Company under this Section 9 in any one calendar year shall not affect the amount reimbursable in any other calendar year, and the reimbursement of an eligible expense shall be made within five business days after delivery of Executive’s respective written requests for payment accompanied with such evidence of fees and expenses incurred as the Company reasonably may require, but in any event no later than December 31 of the year after the year in which the expense was incurred.  Executive’s rights pursuant to this Section 9 shall expire at the end of five years after the date of termination and shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 
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10.            Limitation of Benefits.

(a)            Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event it shall be determined that any benefit, payment or distribution by the Company to or for the benefit of Executive (whether payable or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise) (such benefits, payments or distributions are hereinafter referred to as “Payments”) would, if paid, be subject to the excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, then the aggregate present value of the Payments shall be reduced (but not below zero) to an amount expressed in present value that maximizes the aggregate present value of the Payments without causing the Payments or any part thereof to be subject to the Excise Tax and therefore nond eductible by the Company because of Section 280G of the Code (the “Reduced Amount”).  The reduction of the Payments due hereunder, if applicable, shall be made by first reducing cash Payments and then, to the extent necessary, reducing those Payments having the next highest ratio of Parachute Value to actual present value of such Payments as of the date of the change of control.  For purposes of this Section 10, present value shall be determined in accordance with Section 280G(d)(4) of the Code.  For purposes of this Section 10, the “Parachute Value” of a Payment means the present value as of the date of the change of control of the portion of such Payment that constitutes a “parachute payment” under Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code.

(b)            All determinations required to be made under this Section 10, including whether an Excise Tax would otherwise be imposed, whether the Payments shall be reduced, the amount of the Reduced Amount, and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determinations, shall be made by an independent, nationally recognized accounting firm or compensation consulting firm mutually acceptable to the Company and Executive (the “Determination Firm”) which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and Executive within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from Executive that a Payment is due to be made, or such earlier time as is requested by the Company.  All fees and expenses of the Determination Firm shall be borne so lely by the Company.  Any determination by the Determination Firm shall be binding upon the Company and Executive.  As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the initial determination by the Determination Firm hereunder, it is possible that Payments hereunder will have been unnecessarily limited by this Section 10 (“Underpayment”), consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder.  The Determination Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to or for the benefit of Executive together with interest at the applicable Federal rate provided for in Section 7872(f)(2) of the Code, but no later than March 15 of the year after the year in which the Underpayment is determined to exist.

 
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(c)            In the event that the provisions of Code Section 280G and 4999 or any successor provisions are repealed without succession, this Section 10 shall be of no further force or effect.

11.            Restrictions on Conduct of Executive.

(a)            For purposes of this Section 11, the following definitions apply:

(i)             “Company” means the Company and/or any one or more of its affiliates that were within Executive’s management responsibility, including the responsibility of personnel reporting to Executive, at any time within two (2) years prior to Executive’s termination.

(ii)            “Competitive Business” means any corporation, partnership, association or other person or entity which directly competes or is planning to directly compete with the Company with respect to the operations of the Company that were within Executive’s management responsibility, including the responsibility of personnel reporting to Executive, at any time within two (2) years prior to Executive’s termination.

(iii)           “Confidential Information” means information of the Company that meets one or more of the following three conditions: (i) it has not been made available generally to the public or to the trade or industry by the Company or by another with the Company’s consent; (ii) it is related to, and useful or valuable in, the current or anticipated business of the Company and its value could be diminished by unauthorized disclosure or use; or (iii) it either has been identified as confidential to Executive by the Company (orally or in writing) or it has been maintained as confidential from outside parties or is recognized as intended for internal disclosure only.  Confidential Information includes but is not limited to strategic and other business plans and budgets, non-public financial data and forecasts, know-how, research and development programs, personnel information (including information about the identity, responsibilities, competence, compensation and satisfaction of the Company’s employees), information about planned or pending acquisitions or divestitures, sales methods, customer lists, customer usages and requirements, customer purchase histories, marketing programs, computer programs and other confidential technical or business information or data.

 
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(iv)           “Trade Secret” means information of the Company, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique or process, that derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use, and that is the subject of efforts to maintain its secrecy that are reasonable under the circumstances.

(b)            During employment with the Company, including employment prior to the Effective Date, Executive shall preserve and protect Confidential Information from unauthorized use or disclosure, and for a period of two (2) years after termination of such employment, Executive shall not use or disclose any Confidential Information in connection with or to benefit any person, company or other enterprise (including Executive) which is engaged in or is planning to become engaged in direct competition with the Company in any state of the United States of America where, at the time this Agreement is to be enforced, the Company is engaged, or has demonstrable plans to engage that were known to Executive during employment, in substantial business activities.

(c)            During employment with the Company, including employment prior to the Effective Date, Executive shall preserve and protect Trade Secrets from unauthorized use or disclosure, and after termination of such employment, Executive shall not use or disclose any Trade Secret indefinitely, or for so long as that Trade Secret remains a Trade Secret under applicable law.

(d)            The provisions of this Section 11(d) shall not apply: (i) if a Change in Control has not occurred, or (ii) if within 30 days after having received notice from the Company that a Change in Control has occurred, Executive shall have irrevocably waived his right to payments and benefits under Sections 6(a)(i)(B), 6(a)(ii), 6(a)(iii) and 6(a)(iv) of this Agreement (but not his rights to receive Accrued Obligations or Other Benefits, as defined in Sections 6(a)(i)(A) and 6(a)(v)).  If this Section 11(d) applies, Executive agrees that, at all times during the Employment Period, and for a period ending two (2) years following the date of termination of his employment for any reason, Executive will not directly or indirectly, participate in or assist in, the organization, planning, preparation, ownership, financing, management, operation or control, nor have any beneficial interest in more than 5% of the equity, of a Competitive Business, if:

(i)  said Competitive Business would utilize Executive’s services for the benefit of any broadcast, cable, print or other mass communications media operations serving any Metropolitan Statistical Area, as that term is defined by the United States Government, within the State of Wisconsin where, during two (2) years preceding Executive’s termination and at the time this Agreement is to be enforced, the Company is engaged, or has demonstrable plans to engage that were known to Executive during employment, in broadcast, cable, print or other mass communications media operations; and

 
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(ii)  Confidential Information acquired by Executive during the two (2) years preceding Executive’s termination would reasonably be expected to be useful to the performance of Executive’s duties in such employment.

(e)            Executive acknowledges that a duty of loyalty to the Company and a duty to protect the Company’s confidential information are imposed upon Executive by law, including section 134.90 of the Wisconsin Statutes.

(f)             Regardless of whether the Effective Date shall have occurred, for a period of two (2) years following the date of termination of his employment, Executive agrees not to solicit or induce, or to assist anyone else in soliciting or inducing, directly or indirectly, any employee of the Company who was supervised by Executive, or about whom Executive obtained any Confidential Information, during the last two (2) years of Executive’s employment by the Company, to terminate their employment with the Company or to accept employment with a Competitive Business.  This provision is not intended to restrict the employment opportunities of any employees of the Company who seek employment with a Competitive Business without any solicitation or inducement by Executive.

(g)            Executive acknowledges that the Company has disclosed that the Company is now, and may be in the future, subject to duties to third parties to maintain information in confidence and secrecy.  By executing this Agreement, Executive consents to be bound by any such duty owed by the Company to any third party.

(h)            At the date of termination, Executive shall deliver to the Company the original and all copies of all documents, records and property of any nature whatsoever which are in Executive’s possession or control and which are the property of the Company or which relate to the business activities, facilities or customers of the Company, including any records, documents or property created by Executive in said capacity.  Executive agrees to attend an exit interview upon termination of employment to ensure that the terms of this Agreement are complied with.

(i)             For the period of two (2) years immediately following the date of termination, Executive will inform each new employer, prior to accepting employment, of the existence of this Section 11 and provide that employer with a copy of it.  In addition, Executive hereby authorizes the Company to forward a copy of this Section 11 to any actual or prospective new employer.

12.            Arbitration.

(a)            The Company and Executive agree that any dispute in connection with this Agreement shall be settled by binding arbitration conducted pursuant to the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the assessment of legal fees and related costs of such arbitration incurred by Executive shall be governed by the provisions of Section 9 of this Agreement; (ii) the arbitration shall be determined by a single arbitrator, not a panel; (iii) both the Company and Executive shall be permitted to seek summary disposition prior to hearing; and (iv) the decision rendered by the arbitrator shall be in writing and set forth findings of fact and conclusions o f law.

 
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(b)            Executive agrees that his agreement to submit legal disputes through binding arbitration, includes any claim for any liability or obligation in any way related to this Agreement, for any expense, damage, or losses he might claim based on, among other things, the following: (i) any discipline, demotion, denied promotion, or discharge; (ii) any Company policy, practice, contract or agreement; (iii) any tort or personal injury; (iv) any policies, practices, laws or agreements governing the payment of wages, commissions or other compensation; (v) any laws governing employment discrimination including, but not limited to, Sections 1981, 1983 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, any state laws or statutes (including, but not limited to, the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act), and any ordinance or local authority; (vi) any laws or agreements that provide for punitive, exemplary or statutory damages; (vii) any laws or agreements that provide for payment of attorney fees, costs or expenses; and (viii) any claim contesting or seeking declaratory relief regarding the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of its provisions.

(c)            The Company agrees that it too shall submit all legal disputes that it may have against Executive in any way related to this Agreement for exclusive resolution through binding arbitration, and that the resolution of Executive’s legal dispute(s) through arbitration shall be binding upon it.

(d)            The Company and Executive acknowledge and agree that the agreement to arbitrate contained in this Section 12 does not apply to the following: (i) claims under any state worker’s compensation law; (ii) claims under any state unemployment compensation law; (iii) claims for injunctive relief that may otherwise be available for the violation of any state trade secrets act or unfair competition law; (iv) any claim that by law may not be required to be resolved by binding arbitration; or (v) any request to a court for a temporary restraining order or temporary or preliminary injunction to enforce this Agreement pending submission of the merits of the parties’ dispute to arbitration.

(e)            The Company and Executive acknowledge and agree that damages awarded, if any, in any arbitration shall be limited to those damages that are otherwise available at law.

(f)            The Company and Executive acknowledge and agree that by signing this Agreement, they release and waive any right either may have to resolve their legal disputes (including employment disputes and claims of discrimination or unlawful discharge) by filing a lawsuit in court, and to have the potential opportunity of having their claim heard by a jury, and agree instead that the disputes will be resolved exclusively through binding arbitration.  The Company and Executive acknowledge that although Executive agrees to resolve Executive’s legal dispute(s) exclusively through binding arbitration, nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted as prohibiting Executive from filing a charge of discrimination with an appropriate administrative agency or par ticipating in the investigation or prosecution of such a charge by an appropriate administrative agency; however, this Agreement does prohibit Executive from seeking and recovering an award on his own behalf through any administrative process.

 
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13.            Successors.

(a)            This Agreement is personal to Executive and without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be assignable by Executive.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s legal representatives.

(b)            This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and assigns.

(c)            The Company shall require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.  In the event of any such succession and assumption of this Agreement by the successor, the term “the Company” as used in this Agreement shall thereafter include such successor.

14.            Miscellaneous.

(a)            Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin, without reference to principles of conflict of laws.

(b)            Captions. The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect.

(c)            Amendments.  This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than-by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.

(d)            Notices.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

 
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If to Executive:                  Andre J. Fernandez
P.O. Box 170865
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53217

If to the Company:               Journal Communications, Inc.
333 West State Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53203
Attention: Corporate Secretary

or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith.  Notice and communications shall be effective when actually received by the addressee.

(e)            Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.

(f)             Withholding.  The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such Federal, state, local or foreign taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

(g)            Waivers.  Executive’s or the Company’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any right Executive or the Company may have hereunder, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement.

(h)            Status Before and After Effective Date.  Executive and the Company acknowledge that, except as may otherwise be provided under any other written agreement between Executive and the Company, the employment of Executive by the Company is “at will” and, subject to Section 1(a) hereof, Executive’s employment and/or this Agreement may be terminated by either Executive or the Company at any time prior to the Effective Date, in which case Executive shall have no further rights under this Agreement and no further obligations other than the applicable covenants in Section 11.  From and after the Effective Date this Agreement shall supersede any other agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

15.            Code Section 409A.

(a)            General.  This Agreement shall be interpreted and administered in a manner so that any amount or benefit payable hereunder shall be paid or provided in a manner that is either exempt from or compliant with the requirements Section 409A of the Code and applicable Internal Revenue Service guidance and Treasury Regulations issued thereunder (and any applicable transition relief under Section 409A of the Code). Nevertheless, the tax treatment of the benefits provided under the Agreement is not warranted or guaranteed.  Neither the Company nor its directors, officers, employees or advisers shall be held liable for any taxes, interest, penalties or other monetary amounts owed by Exec utive as a result of the application of Section 409A of the Code.

 
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(b)            Definitional Restrictions.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any amount or benefit that would constitute non-exempt “deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code would otherwise be payable or distributable hereunder by reason of Executive’s termination of employment, such amount or benefit will not be payable or distributable to Executive by reason of such circumstance unless (i) the circumstances giving rise to such termination of employment meet any description or definition of “separation from service” in Section 409A of the Code and applicable regulations (without giving effect to any elect ive provisions that may be available under such definition), or (ii) the payment or distribution of such amount or benefit would be exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code by reason of the short-term deferral exemption or otherwise.  This provision does not prohibit the vesting of any amount upon a termination of employment, however defined.  If this provision prevents the payment or distribution of any amount or benefit, such payment or distribution shall be made on the date, if any, on which an event occurs that constitutes a Section 409A-compliant “separation from service” or such later date as may be required by Subsection 15(c) below.

(c)            Six-Month Delay in Certain Circumstances.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any amount or benefit that would constitute non-exempt “deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code would otherwise be payable or distributable under this Agreement by reason of Executive’s Separation from Service during a period in which he is a Specified Employee (as defined below), then, subject to any permissible acceleration of payment by the Company under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ii) (domestic relations order), (j)(4)(iii) (conflicts of interest), or (j)(4)(vi) (payment of employment taxes):

 
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(i)             if the payment or distribution is payable in a lump sum, Executive’s right to receive payment or distribution of such non-exempt deferred compensation will be delayed until the earlier of Executive’s death or the first day of the seventh month following Executive’s Separation from Service; and

(ii)            if the payment or distribution is payable over time, the amount of such non-exempt deferred compensation that would otherwise be payable during the six-month period immediately following Executive’s Separation from Service will be accumulated and Executive’s right to receive payment or distribution of such accumulated amount will be delayed until the earlier of Executive’s death or the first day of the seventh month following Executive’s Separation from Service, whereupon the accumulated amount will be paid or distributed to Executive and the normal payment or distribution schedule for any remaining payments or distributions will resume.

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Specified Employee” has the meaning given such term in Code Section 409A and the final regulations thereunder (“Final 409A Regulations”), provided, however, that, as permitted in the Final 409A Regulations, the Company’s Specified Employees and its application of the six-month delay rule of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) shall be determined in accordance with rules adopted by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, which shall be applied consistently with respect to all nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements of the Company, including this Agreement.

(signatures on following page)

 
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Executive has hereunto set Executive’s hand and, pursuant to the authorization from its Board of Directors, the Company has caused these presents to be executed in its name on its behalf.


 
/s/ Andre J. Fernandez
 
Andre J. Fernandez
     
     
 
JOURNAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
     
     
 
By:
/s/ Steven J. Smith
   
Steven J. Smith
   
Chief Executive Officer
 
 
20

EX-10.2 3 ex10_2.htm EXHIBIT 10.2 ex10_2.htm

Exhibit 10.2
 
JOURNAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
2007 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN
(as amended and restated as of October 11, 2010)

ARTICLE 1
PURPOSE

1.1. GENERAL. The purpose of the Journal Communications, Inc. 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) is to promote the success, and enhance the value, of Journal Communications, Inc. (the “Company”), by linking the personal interests of employees, officers, and directors of the Company or any Affiliate (as defined below) to those of Company shareholders and by providing such persons with an incentive for outstanding performance. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of employees, officers, and directors upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Company’s operation is largely depe ndent. Accordingly, the Plan permits the grant of incentive awards from time to time to selected employees, officers, and directors of the Company and its Affiliates.

ARTICLE 2
DEFINITIONS

2.1. DEFINITIONS. When a word or phrase appears in this Plan with the initial letter capitalized, and the word or phrase does not commence a sentence, the word or phrase shall generally be given the meaning ascribed to it in this Section or in Section 1.1 unless a clearly different meaning is required by the context. The following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

(a) “Affiliate” means (i) any Subsidiary or Parent, or (ii) an entity that directly or through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Company, as determined by the Committee.

(b) “Award” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Deferred Stock Unit Award, Performance Award, Dividend Equivalent Award, Other Stock-Based Award, or any other right or interest relating to Stock or cash, granted to a Participant under the Plan.

(c) “Award Certificate” means a written document, in such form as the Committee prescribes from time to time, setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award. Award Certificates may be in the form of individual Award agreements or certificates or a program document describing the terms and provisions of an Award or series of Awards under the Plan. The Committee may provide for the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper Award Certificates, and the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper means for the acceptance thereof and actions thereunder by a Participant.

(d) “Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning given such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the 1934 Act.

(e) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 
 

 

(f) “Cause” as a reason for a Participant’s termination of employment shall have the meaning assigned such term in the employment, severance or similar agreement, if any, between such Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, provided, however that if there is no such employment, severance or similar agreement in which such term is defined, and unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Certificate, “Cause” shall mean any of the following acts by the Participant, as determined by the Committee: gross neglect of duty, prolonged absence from duty without the consent of the Company, material breach by the Participant of any published Company code of conduct or code of ethics; or willful misconduct, misfeasance or malfeasance of duty which is reasonably determined to be detrimental to the Company. With respect to a Participant’s termination of directorship, “Cause” means an act or failure to act that constitutes cause for removal of a director under applicable Wisconsin law. The determination of the Committee as to the existence of “Cause” shall be conclusive on the Participant and the Company.

(g) “Change in Control” means and includes the occurrence of any one of the following events:

(i) individuals who, on December 31, 2006, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director after December 31, 2006 and whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board shall be an Incumbent Director; provided, however, that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors (“Election Contest”) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any Person other than the Board (“Proxy Contest”), including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Election Contest or Proxy Contest, shall be deemed an Incumbent Director; or

(ii) any Person becomes a Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of directors (the “Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (ii), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) an acquisition directly from the Company, (B) an acquisition by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, (C) an acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (D) an acquisition by a Person who as of December 31, 2006 was a Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the Company Voting Securities, or (E) an acq uisition pursuant to a Non-Qualifying Transaction (as defined in subsection (iv) below); or

(iii) any Person who as of December 31, 2006 was a Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the Company Voting Securities becomes a Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 40% or more of the Company Voting Securities; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (iii), an acquisition directly from the Company shall not constitute a Change in Control; or

(iv) the consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company or a Subsidiary (a “Reorganization”), or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (a “Sale”) or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity (an “Acquisition”), unless immediately following such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition: (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (“Company Common Stock”) and outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respec tively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or stock either directly or through one or more subsidiaries, the “Surviving Entity”) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition, of the outstanding Company Common Stock and the outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, and (B) no Person (other than (w) any Person who as of December 31, 2006 is a Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 15% or more of the Company Voting Securities, (x) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (y) the Surviving Entity or its ultimate parent, or (z) any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by any of the foregoing) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 20% or more of the total common stock or 20% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors of the Surviving Entity, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Surviving Entity were Incumbent Directors at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition (any Reorganization, Sale or Acquisition which satisfies all of the criteria specified in (A), (B) and (C) above shall be deemed to be a “Non-Qualifying Transaction”); or

 
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(v) approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

(h) “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. For purposes of this Plan, references to sections of the Code shall be deemed to include references to any applicable regulations thereunder and any successor or similar provision.

(i) “Committee” means the committee of the Board described in Article 4.

(j) “Company” means Journal Communications, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation, or any successor corporation.

(k) “Continuous Status as a Participant” means the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an employee, officer, or director of the Company or any Affiliate, as applicable; provided, however, that for purposes of an Incentive Stock Option “Continuous Status as a Participant” means the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an employee of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, as applicable, pursuant to applicable tax regulations. Continuous Status as a Participant shall not be considered interrupted in the following cases: (ii) a Participant transfers employment between the Company and an Affiliate or between Affiliates, or (ii) in the discretion of the Committee as specified at or prior to such occurrence, in the case of a spin-off, sale or disposition of the Participant’ ;s employer from the Company or any Affiliate, or (iii) any leave of absence authorized in writing by the Company prior to its commencement; provided, however, that for purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed 90 days, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, on the 91st day of such leave any Incentive Stock Option held by the Participant shall cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option. Whether military, government or other service or other leave of absence shall constitute a termination of Continuous Status as a Participant shall be determined in each case by the Committee at its discretion, and any determination by the Committee shall be final and conclusive.

 
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(l) “Covered Employee” means a covered employee as defined in Code Section 162(m)(3).

(m) “Deferred Stock Unit” means a right granted to a Participant under Article 9 to receive Shares of Stock (or the equivalent value in cash or other property if the Committee so provides) at a future time as determined by the Committee, or as determined by the Participant within guidelines established by the Committee in the case of voluntary deferral elections.

(n) “Disability” of a Participant means that the Participant (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Participant’s employer. If the determination of Disability relates to an Incentive Stock Option, Disability means Permanent and Total Disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) o f the Code. In the event of a dispute, the determination whether a Participant is Disabled will be made by the Committee and may be supported by the advice of a physician competent in the area to which such Disability relates.

(o) “Dividend Equivalent” means a right granted to a Participant under Article 12.

(p) “Effective Date” has the meaning assigned such term in Section 3.1.

(q) “Eligible Participant” means an employee, officer, or director of the Company or any Affiliate.

(r) “Exchange” means any national securities exchange on which the Stock may from time to time be listed or traded.

(s) “Fair Market Value,” on any date, means (i) if the Stock is listed on a securities exchange, the closing sales price on such exchange or over such system on such date or, in the absence of reported sales on such date, the closing sales price on the immediately preceding date on which sales were reported, or (ii) if the Stock is not listed on a securities exchange, the mean between the bid and offered prices as quoted by the applicable interdealer quotation system for such date, provided that if it is determined that the fair market value is not properly reflected by such interdealer quotations, Fair Market Value will be determined by such other method as the Committee determines in good faith to be reasonable and in compliance with Code Section 409A.

 
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(t) “Full-Value Award” means an Award other than in the form of an Option or SAR, and which is settled by the issuance of Stock (or at the discretion of the Committee, settled in cash valued by reference to Stock value).

(u) “Good Reason” (or a similar term denoting constructive termination) has the meaning, if any, assigned such term in the employment, severance or similar agreement, if any, between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate, provided, however that if there is no such employment, severance or similar agreement in which such term is defined, “Good Reason” shall have the meaning, if any, given such term in the applicable Award Certificate. If not defined in each such document, the term “Good Reason” as used herein shall not apply to a particular Award.

(v) “Grant Date” of an Award means the first date on which all necessary corporate action has been taken to approve the grant of the Award as provided in the Plan, or such later date as is determined and specified as part of that authorization process. Notice of the grant shall be provided to the grantee within a reasonable time after the Grant Date.

(w) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to be an incentive stock option and meets the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.

(x) “Independent Directors” means those members of the Board of Directors who qualify at any given time as “independent” directors under Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, “non-employee” directors under Rule 16b-3 of the 1934 Act, and “outside” directors under Section 162(m) of the Code.

(y) “Non-Employee Director” means a director of the Company who is not a common law employee of the Company or an Affiliate.

(z) “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

(aa) “Option” means a right granted to a Participant under Article 7 of the Plan to purchase Stock at a specified price during specified time periods. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

(bb) “Other Stock-Based Award” means a right, granted to a Participant under Article 13, that relates to or is valued by reference to Stock or other Awards relating to Stock.

(cc) “Parent” means a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity which owns or beneficially owns a majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting power of the Company. Notwithstanding the above, with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, Parent shall have the meaning set forth in Section 424(e) of the Code.

(dd) “Participant” means a person who, as an employee, officer, or director of the Company or any Affiliate, has been granted an Award under the Plan; provided that in the case of the death or Disability of a Participant, the term “Participant” refers to the Participant’s estate or other legal representative acting in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of the Participant under applicable state law and court supervision.

(ee) “Performance Award” means any award granted under the Plan pursuant to Article 10.

 
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(ff) “Person” means any individual, entity or group, within the meaning of Section 3(a)(9) of the 1934 Act and as used in Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the 1934 Act.

(gg) “Plan” means the Journal Communications, Inc. 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

(hh) “Prior Plan” means the Company’s 2003 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.

(ii) “Qualified Performance-Based Award” means an Award that is either (i) intended to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption and is made subject to performance goals based on Qualified Business Criteria as set forth in Section 11.2, or (ii) an Option or SAR having an exercise price equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of the underlying Stock as of the Grant Date.

(jj) “Qualified Business Criteria” means one or more of the Business Criteria listed in Section 11.2 upon which performance goals for certain Qualified Performance-Based Awards may be established by the Committee.

(kk) “Restricted Stock Award” means Stock granted to a Participant under Article 9 that is subject to certain restrictions and to risk of forfeiture.

(ll) “Restricted Stock Unit Award” means the right granted to a Participant under Article 9 to receive shares of Stock (or the equivalent value in cash or other property if the Committee so provides) in the future, which right is subject to certain restrictions and to risk of forfeiture.

(mm) “Retirement” with respect to an employee Participant means termination of employment with the Company or an Affiliate after attaining age 60 and 10 years of service. With respect to a Participant’s termination of service as a Non-Employee Director, Retirement means a termination from service as a director upon completion of the director’s entire term.

(nn) “Section 162(m) Exemption” means the exemption from the limitation on deductibility imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code that is set forth in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code or any successor provision thereto.

(oo) “Shares” means shares of the Company’s Stock. If there has been an adjustment or substitution pursuant to Article 15, the term “Shares” shall also include any shares of stock or other securities that are substituted for Shares or into which Shares are adjusted pursuant to Article 15.

(pp) “Stock” means (i) the $0.01 par value Class A Common Stock of the Company, (ii) the $0.01 par value Class B Common Stock of the Company, and (iii) such other securities of the Company as may be substituted for either such class of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to Section 15.1.

(qq) “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted to a Participant under Article 8 to receive a payment equal to the difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the date of exercise of the SAR over the grant price of the SAR, all as determined pursuant to Article 8.

 
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(rr) “Subsidiary” means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity, domestic or foreign, of which a majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Company. Notwithstanding the above, with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, Subsidiary shall have the meaning set forth in Section 424(f) of the Code.

(ss) “1933 Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

(tt) “1934 Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

ARTICLE 3
EFFECTIVE TERM OF PLAN

3.1. EFFECTIVE DATE. The Plan shall be effective as of the date it is approved by the shareholders of the Company (the “Effective Date”).

3.2. TERMINATION OF PLAN. The Plan shall terminate on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date unless earlier terminated as provided herein. The termination of the Plan on such date shall not affect the validity of any Award outstanding on the date of termination, which shall continue to be governed by the applicable terms and conditions of this Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Incentive Stock Options may be granted more than ten (10) years after the earlier of (a) adoption of this Plan by the Board, or (b) the Effective Date.

ARTICLE 4
ADMINISTRATION

4.1. COMMITTEE. The Plan shall be administered by a Committee appointed by the Board (which Committee shall consist of at least two directors) or, at the discretion of the Board from time to time, the Plan may be administered by the Board. It is intended that at least two of the directors appointed to serve on the Committee shall be Independent Directors and that any such members of the Committee who do not so qualify shall abstain from participating in any decision to make or administer Awards that are made to Eligible Participants who at the time of consideration for such Award (i) are persons subject to the short-swing profit rules of Section 16 of the 1934 Act, or (ii) are reasonably anticipated to become Covered Employees during the term of the Award. However, the mere fact that a Committee member shall fail to qualify as an Independent Director or shall fail to abstain from such action shall not invalidate any Award made by the Committee which Award is otherwise validly made under the Plan. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by, and may be changed at any time and from time to time in the discretion of, the Board. Unless and until changed by the Board, the Compensation Committee of the Board is designated as the Committee to administer the Plan.  The Board may reserve to itself any or all of the authority and responsibility of the Committee under the Plan or may act as administrator of the Plan for any and all purposes. To the extent the Board has reserved any authority and responsibility or during any time that the Board is acting as administrator of the Plan, it shall have all the powers of the Committee hereunder, and any reference herein to the Committee (other than in this Section 4.1) shall include the Boar d. To the extent any action of the Board under the Plan conflicts with actions taken by the Committee, the actions of the Board shall control.

4.2. ACTION AND INTERPRETATIONS BY THE COMMITTEE. For purposes of administering the Plan, the Committee may from time to time adopt rules, regulations, guidelines and procedures for carrying out the provisions and purposes of the Plan and make such other determinations, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Committee may deem appropriate. The Committee’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted under the Plan, any Award Certificate and all decisions and determinations by the Committee with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties. Each member of the Committee is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Affiliate, the Company’s or an Affiliate’s independent certified public accountants, Company counsel or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company or the Committee to assist in the administration of the Plan.

 
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4.3. AUTHORITY OF COMMITTEE. Except as provided in Section 4.1 hereof, the Committee has the exclusive power, authority and discretion to:

(a) Grant Awards;

(b) Designate Participants;

(c) Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;

(d) Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares or dollar amount to which an Award will relate;

(e) Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted under the Plan;

(f) Prescribe the form of each Award Certificate, which need not be identical for each Participant;

(g) Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;

(h) Establish, adopt or revise any rules, regulations, guidelines or procedures as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;

(i) Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required under the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;

(j) Amend the Plan or any Award Certificate as provided herein; and

(k) Adopt such modifications, procedures, and subplans as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws of the United States or any non-U.S. jurisdictions in which the Company or any Affiliate may operate, in order to assure the viability of the benefits of Awards granted to participants located in the United States or any such other jurisdictions and to meet the objectives of the Plan.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, grants of Awards to Non-Employee Directors hereunder shall be made only in accordance with the terms, conditions and parameters of a plan, program or policy for the compensation of Non-Employee Directors as in effect from time to time, and the Committee may not make discretionary grants hereunder to Non-Employee Directors.

4.4. DELEGATION. Subject to Wisconsin law as in effect from time to time, the Board may, by resolution, expressly delegate to a special committee, consisting of one or more directors who may but need not be officers of the Company, the authority, within specified parameters as to the number and terms of Awards, to (i) designate officers and/or employees of the Company or any of its Affiliates to be recipients of Awards under the Plan, and (ii) to determine the number of such Awards to be received by any such Participants; provided, however, that such delegation of duties and responsibilities to an officer of the Company may not be made with respect to the grant of Awards to eligible participants (a) who are subject to Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act at the Grant Date, or (b) who as of the Grant Date are reasonably anticipated to be become Covered Employees during the term of the Award. The acts of such delegates shall be treated hereunder as acts of the Board and such delegates shall report regularly to the Board and the Compensation Committee regarding the delegated duties and responsibilities and any Awards so granted.

 
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4.5. AWARD CERTIFICATES. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Certificate. Each Award Certificate shall include such provisions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as may be specified by the Committee.

ARTICLE 5
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

5.1. NUMBER OF SHARES. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.2 and Section 15.1, the aggregate number of Shares reserved and available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall be 4,800,000. The maximum number of Shares that may be issued upon exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be 4,800,000.

5.2. SHARE COUNTING. Shares covered by an Award shall be subtracted from the Plan share reserve as of the date of grant, but shall be added back to the Plan share reserve in accordance with this Section 5.2.

(a) To the extent that an Award is canceled, terminates, expires, is forfeited or lapses for any reason, any unissued or forfeited Shares subject to the Award will again be available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.

(b) Shares subject to Awards settled in cash will again be available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.

(c) Shares withheld from an Award or delivered by a Participant to satisfy minimum tax withholding requirements will again be available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.

(d) If the exercise price of an Option is satisfied by delivering Shares to the Company (by either actual delivery or attestation), only the number of Shares issued to the Participant in excess of the Shares tendered (by delivery or attestation) shall be considered for purposes of determining the number of Shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.

(e) To the extent that the full number of Shares subject to an Option or SAR is not issued upon exercise of the Option or SAR for any reason, including by reason of net-settlement of the Award, only the number of Shares issued and delivered upon exercise of the Option or SAR shall be considered for purposes of determining the number of Shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.

 
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(f) To the extent that the maximum number of Shares subject to an Award other than an Option or SAR is not issued for any reason, including by reason of failure to achieve maximum performance goals, only the number of Shares issued and delivered shall be considered for purposes of determining the number of Shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan.

(g) Substitute Awards granted pursuant to Section 14.7 of the Plan shall not count against the Shares otherwise available for issuance under the Plan under Section 5.1.

5.3. STOCK DISTRIBUTED. Any Stock distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Stock, treasury Stock or Stock purchased on the open market.

5.4. LIMITATION ON AWARDS. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary (but subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15.1):

(a) Options. The maximum aggregate number of Shares subject to Options granted under the Plan in any 12-month period to any one Participant shall be 750,000.

(b) SARs. The maximum number of Shares subject to Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan in any 12-month period to any one Participant shall be 750,000.

(c) Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units. The maximum aggregate number of Shares underlying Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units under the Plan in any 12-month period to any one Participant shall be 750,000.

(d) Other Stock-Based Awards. The maximum aggregate grant with respect to Other Stock-Based Awards under the Plan in any 12-month period to any one Participant shall be 750,000 Shares.

(e) Cash-Based Awards. The maximum aggregate amount that may be paid with respect to cash-based Awards under the Plan to any one Participant in any fiscal year of the Company shall be three percent (3%) of the Company’s consolidated net earnings from continuing operations for such year as shown in the Company’s consolidated statements of earnings and filed with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

5.5. LIMITATION ON ANNUAL “BURN RATE”. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary (but subject to adjustment as provided in Section 15.1), the maximum aggregate number of Shares with respect to Awards that may be granted during any one fiscal year under the Plan is two percent (2%) of the total shares of Class A Stock and Class B Stock outstanding as of the last day of the prior fiscal year.

ARTICLE 6
ELIGIBILITY

6.1. GENERAL. Awards may be granted only to Eligible Participants. Incentive Stock Options may be granted to only to Eligible Participants who are employees of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary as defined in Section 424(e) and (f) of the Code.

 
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ARTICLE 7
STOCK OPTIONS
 
7.1. GENERAL. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

(a) EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price per Share under an Option shall be determined by the Committee, provided that the exercise price for any Option (other than an Option issued as a substitute Award pursuant to Section 14.7) shall not be less than the Fair Market Value as of the Grant Date.

(b) PROHIBITION ON REPRICING. Except as otherwise provided in Section 15.1, the exercise price of an Option may not be reduced, directly or indirectly by cancellation and regrant or otherwise, without the prior approval of the shareholders of the Company.

(c) TIME AND CONDITIONS OF EXERCISE. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part, subject to Section 7.1(e). The Committee shall also determine the performance or other conditions, if any, that must be satisfied before all or part of an Option may be exercised or vested.

(d) PAYMENT. The Committee shall determine the methods by which the exercise price of an Option may be paid, the form of payment, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, or other property (including “cashless exercise” arrangements), and the methods by which Shares shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants.

(e) EXERCISE TERM. Except for Nonstatutory Options granted to Participants outside the United States, no Option granted under the Plan shall be exercisable for more than ten years from the Grant Date.

(f) NO DEFERRAL FEATURE. No Option shall provide for any feature for the deferral of compensation other than the deferral of recognition of income until the exercise or disposition of the Option.

(g)       NO DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS.  No Option shall provide for Dividend Equivalents.

7.2. INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. The terms of any Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan must comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. If all of the requirements of Section 422 of the Code are not met, the Option shall automatically become a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

ARTICLE 8
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

8.1. GRANT OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. The Committee is authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

(a) RIGHT TO PAYMENT. Upon the exercise of a SAR, the Participant to whom it is granted has the right to receive, for each Share with respect to which the SAR is being exercised, the excess, if any, of:

(1) The Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise; over

 
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(2) The base price of the SAR as determined by the Committee, which shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of one Share on the Grant Date.

(b) PROHIBITION ON REPRICING. Except as otherwise provided in Section 15.1, the base price of a SAR may not be reduced, directly or indirectly by cancellation and regrant or otherwise, without the prior approval of the shareholders of the Company.

(c) EXERCISE TERM. Except for SARs granted to Participants outside the United States, no SAR shall be exercisable for more than ten years from the Grant Date.

(d) NO DEFERRAL FEATURE. No SAR shall provide for any feature for the deferral of compensation other than the deferral of recognition of income until the exercise of the SAR.

(e)       NO DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS.  No SAR shall provide for Dividend Equivalents.

(f) OTHER TERMS. All SARs shall be evidenced by an Award Certificate. Subject to the limitations of this Article 8, the terms, methods of exercise, methods of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, and any other terms and conditions of any SAR shall be determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award and shall be reflected in the Award Certificate.

ARTICLE 9
RESTRICTED STOCK, RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
AND DEFERRED STOCK UNITS

9.1. GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK, RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS AND DEFERRED STOCK UNITS. The Committee is authorized to make Awards of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units to Participants in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as may be selected by the Committee. An Award of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units shall be evidenced by an Award Certificate setting forth the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to the Award.

9.2. ISSUANCE AND RESTRICTIONS. Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, limitations on the right to vote Restricted Stock or the right to receive dividends on the Restricted Stock). These restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances, in such installments, upon the satisfaction of performance goals or otherwise, as the Committee determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Certificate or any special Plan document governing an Award, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a shareholder with respect to the Restricted Stock, and the Participant shall have none of the rights of a shareholder with respect to Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units until such time as Shares of Stock are paid in settlement of the Restricted Stock Units or Deferred Stock Units. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Certificate, Awards of Restricted Stock will be entitled to full dividend rights and any dividends paid thereon will be paid or distributed to the holder no later than the end of the calendar year in which the dividends are paid to shareholders or, if later, the 15th day of the third month following the date the dividends are paid to shareholders.

 
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9.3. FORFEITURE. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, upon termination of Continuous Status as a Participant during the applicable restriction period or upon failure to satisfy a performance goal during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units that are at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited.

9.4. DELIVERY OF RESTRICTED STOCK. Shares of Restricted Stock shall be delivered to the Participant at the time of grant either by book-entry registration or by delivering to the Participant, or a custodian or escrow agent (including, without limitation, the Company or one or more of its employees) designated by the Committee, a stock certificate or certificates registered in the name of the Participant. If physical certificates representing shares of Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, such certificates must bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock.

ARTICLE 10
PERFORMANCE AWARDS

10.1. GRANT OF PERFORMANCE AWARDS. The Committee is authorized to grant any Award under this Plan, including cash-based Awards, with performance-based vesting criteria, on such terms and conditions as may be selected by the Committee. Any such Awards with performance-based vesting criteria are referred to herein as Performance Awards, and may be referred to by any other appropriate descriptive name in the Award Certificate. The Committee shall have the complete discretion to determine the number of Performance Awards granted to each Participant, subject to Section 5.4, and to designate the provisions of such Performance Awards as provided in Section 4.3. All Performance Awards shall be evidenced by an Award Certificate or a written pro gram established by the Committee, pursuant to which Performance Awards are awarded under the Plan under uniform terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in such written program.

10.2. PERFORMANCE GOALS. The Committee may establish performance goals for Performance Awards which may be based on any criteria selected by the Committee. Such performance goals may be described in terms of Company-wide objectives or in terms of objectives that relate to the performance of the Participant, an Affiliate or a division, region, department or function within the Company or an Affiliate. If the Committee determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company or the manner in which the Company or an Affiliate conducts its business, or other events or circumstances render performance goals to be unsuitable, the Committee may modify such performance goals in whole or in p art, as the Committee deems appropriate. If a Participant is promoted, demoted or transferred to a different business unit or function during a performance period, the Committee may determine that the performance goals or performance period are no longer appropriate and may (i) adjust, change or eliminate the performance goals or the applicable performance period as it deems appropriate to make such goals and period comparable to the initial goals and period, or (ii) make a cash payment to the participant in an amount determined by the Committee. The foregoing two sentences shall not apply with respect to a Performance Award that is intended to be a Qualified Performance-Based Award if the recipient of such award (a) was a Covered Employee on the date of the modification, adjustment, change or elimination of the performance goals or performance period, or (b) in the reasonable judgment of the Committee, may be a Covered Employee on the date the Performance Award is expected to be paid.
 
 
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ARTICLE 11
QUALIFIED PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS

11.1. OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. The provisions of the Plan are intended to ensure that all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted hereunder to any Covered Employee shall qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption.

11.2. OTHER AWARDS. When granting any other Award, including cash-based Awards, the Committee may designate such Award as a Qualified Performance-Based Award, based upon a determination that the recipient is or may be a Covered Employee with respect to such Award, and the Committee wishes such Award to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption. If an Award is so designated, the Committee shall establish performance goals for such Award, within the time period prescribed by Section 162(m) of the Code, based on one or more of the following Qualified Business Criteria, which performance goals may be expressed in terms of Company-wide objectives or in terms of objectives that relate to the performance of an Affiliate or a division, region, department or function within the Company or an Affiliate:

—Revenue

—Sales

—Profit (net profit, gross profit, operating profit, economic profit, profit margins or other corporate profit measures)

—Earnings (EBIT, EBITDA, earnings per share, or other corporate earnings measures)

—Net income (before or after taxes, operating income or other income measures)

—Cash (cash flow, cash generation or other cash measures)

—Stock price or performance

—Total shareholder return (stock price appreciation plus reinvested dividends divided by beginning share price)

—Economic value added

—Return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, equity, investments or sales, and cash flow return on assets, capital, equity, or sales);

—Operating margins

—Dividend payments

—Market share

—Improvements in capital structure

—Expenses (expense management, expense ratio, expense efficiency ratios or other expense measures)

 
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—Business expansion or consolidation (acquisitions and divestitures)

—Internal rate of return or increase in net present value

—Working capital targets relating to inventory and/or accounts receivable

—Productivity measures

—Cost reduction measures

—Strategic plan development and implementation

—Operating measures such as growth in circulation, television and radio ratings and market share

—Internal measures such as achieving a diverse workforce

—Growth in digital products or competencies

—New product development.

Performance goals with respect to the foregoing Qualified Business Criteria may be specified in absolute terms, in percentages, or in terms of growth from period to period or growth rates over time, as well as measured relative to the performance of a group of comparator companies, or a published or special index, or a stock market index, that the Committee deems appropriate. Any member of a comparator group or an index that disappears during a measurement period shall be disregarded for the entire measurement period. Performance Goals need not be based upon an increase or positive result under a business criterion and could include, for example, the maintenance of the status quo or the limitation of economic losses (measured, in each case, by reference to a specific business criterion).

11.3. PERFORMANCE GOALS. Each Qualified Performance-Based Award (other than a market-priced Option or SAR) shall be earned, vested and payable (as applicable) only upon the achievement of performance goals established by the Committee based upon one or more of the Qualified Business Criteria, together with the satisfaction of any other conditions, such as continued employment, as the Committee may determine to be appropriate; provided, however, that the Committee may provide, either in connection with the grant thereof or by amendment thereafter, that achievement of such performance goals will be waived, in whole or in part, upon (i) the termination of employment of a Participant by reason of death or Disability, or (ii) the occurrence of a Change in Control. Performance periods established by the Committee for any such Qualified Performance-Based Award may be as short as three months and may be any longer period. In addition, the Committee has the right, in connection with the grant of a Qualified Performance-Based Award, to exercise negative discretion to determine that the portion of such Award actually earned, vested and/or payable (as applicable) shall be less than the portion that would be earned, vested and/or payable based solely upon application of the applicable performance goals.

11.4. INCLUSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS FROM PERFORMANCE CRITERIA. The Committee may provide in any Qualified Performance-Based Award, at the time the performance goals are established, that any evaluation of performance shall exclude or otherwise objectively adjust for any of the following events that occurs during a performance period (a) asset write-downs or impairment charges; (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles or other laws or provisions affecting reported results; (d) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs; (e) extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30; (f) extraordinary nonrecurring items as descr ibed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to shareholders for the applicable year; (g) acquisitions or divestitures; (h) share buy-back programs, and (i) foreign exchange gains and losses. To the extent such inclusions or exclusions affect Awards to Covered Employees, they shall be prescribed in a form that meets the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for deductibility.

 
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11.5. CERTIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE GOALS. Any payment of a Qualified Performance-Based Award granted with performance goals pursuant to Section 11.3 above shall be conditioned on the written certification of the Committee in each case that the performance goals and any other material conditions were satisfied. Except as specifically provided in Section 11.3, no Qualified Performance-Based Award held by a Covered Employee or by an employee who in the reasonable judgment of the Committee may be a Covered Employee on the date of payment, may be amended, nor may the Committee exercise any discretionary authority it may otherwise have under the Plan with respect to a Qualified Performance-Based Award under the Plan, in any manner to waive t he achievement of the applicable performance goal based on Qualified Business Criteria or to increase the amount payable pursuant thereto or the value thereof, or otherwise in a manner that would cause the Qualified Performance-Based Award to cease to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption.

11.6. AWARD LIMITS. Section 5.4 sets forth (i) the maximum number of Shares that may be granted in any one-year period to a Participant in designated forms of stock-based Awards, and (ii) the maximum aggregate dollar amount that may be paid with respect to cash-based Awards under the Plan to any one Participant in any fiscal year of the Company.

 
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ARTICLE 12
DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS

12.1. GRANT OF DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS. The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents with respect to Full-Value Awards granted hereunder, subject to such terms and conditions as may be selected by the Committee. Dividend Equivalents shall entitle the Participant to receive payments equal to dividends with respect to all or a portion of the number of Shares subject to a Full-Value Award, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may provide that Dividend Equivalents will be paid or distributed when accrued or will be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares, or otherwise reinvested. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, if Dividend Equivalents are granted with respect to a Performance Award, such Dividend Equi valents shall, as provided in the Award Certificate, either (i) be reinvested in the form of additional Shares or units equivalent to Shares, which shall be subject to the same performance and vesting provisions as provided for the host Performance Award, or (ii) be credited by the Company to an account for the Participant and accumulated without interest until the date upon which the host Performance Award becomes earned and vested.  Dividend Equivalents credited to a Participant’s account with respect to vested Performance Awards shall be distributed to the Participant at the same time as the distribution of cash or Shares under the host Performance Award.  A Participant shall have no right to Dividend Equivalents accumulated with respect to Performance Awards that are forfeited, and any such unearned Dividend Equivalents will be reconveyed to the Company without further consideration or any act or action by the Participant.  Unless otherwise provided in the applicable A ward Certificate, Dividend Equivalents paid on Full-Value Awards that are not Performance Awards will be paid or distributed no later than the 15th day of the 3rd month following the later of (i) the calendar year in which the corresponding dividends were paid to shareholders, or (ii) the first calendar year in which the Participant’s right to such Dividends Equivalents is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.

ARTICLE 13
STOCK OR OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

13.1. GRANT OF STOCK OR OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS. The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that are payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to Shares, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including without limitation Shares awarded purely as a “bonus” and not subject to any restrictions or conditions, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Shares, and Awards valued by reference to book value of Shares or the value of securities of or the performance of specified Parents or Subsidiaries. The Committee shall determ ine the terms and conditions of such Awards.

ARTICLE 14
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS

14.1. PAYMENT OF AWARDS. At the discretion of the Committee, payment of Awards may be made in cash, Stock, a combination of cash and Stock, or any other form of property as the Committee shall determine. In addition, payment of Awards may include such terms, conditions, restrictions and/or limitations, if any, as the Committee deems appropriate, including, in the case of Awards paid in the form of Stock, restrictions on transfer and forfeiture provisions. Further, payment of Awards may be made in the form of a lump sum, or in installments, as determined by the Committee.

 
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14.2. LIMITS ON TRANSFER. No right or interest of a Participant in any unexercised or restricted Award may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other than the Company or an Affiliate, or shall be subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant to any other party other than the Company or an Affiliate. No unexercised or restricted Award shall be assignable or transferable by a Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however, that the Committee may (but need not) permit other transfers (other than transfers for value) where the Committee concludes that such transferability (i) does not result in accelerated taxation, (ii) does not cause any Option intended to be an Incentive Stock Option to fail to be described in Code Section 422(b), and (iii) is otherwise appropriate and desirable, taking into account any factors deemed relevant, including without limitation, state or federal tax or securities laws applicable to transferable Awards.

14.3. STOCK TRADING RESTRICTIONS. All Stock issuable under the Plan is subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal or state securities laws, rules and regulations and the rules of any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted, or traded. The Committee may place legends on any Stock certificate or issue instructions to the transfer agent to reference restrictions applicable to the Stock.

14.4. ACCELERATION UPON DEATH OR DISABILITY. Except as otherwise provided in the Award Certificate or any special Plan document governing an Award, upon the termination of a person’s Continuous Status as a Participant by reason of death or Disability:

(i) all of that Participant’s outstanding Options and SARs shall become fully exercisable, and shall thereafter remain exercisable for a period of one (1) year or until the earlier expiration of the original term of the Option or SAR;

(ii) all time-based vesting restrictions on that Participant’s outstanding Awards shall lapse as of the date of termination; and

(iii) the payout opportunities attainable under all of that Participant’s outstanding performance-based Awards shall be deemed to have been fully earned as of the date of termination as follows:

(A) if the date of termination occurs during the first half of the applicable performance period, all relevant performance goals will be deemed to have been achieved at the “target” level, and

(B) if the date of termination occurs during the second half of the applicable performance period, the actual level of achievement of all relevant performance goals against target will be measured as of the end of the calendar quarter immediately preceding the date of termination, and

(C) in either such case, there shall be a prorata payout to the Participant or his or her estate within thirty (30) days following the date of termination (unless a later date is required by Section 17.3 hereof) based upon the length of time within the performance period that has elapsed prior to the date of termination.

 
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To the extent that this provision causes Incentive Stock Options to exceed the dollar limitation set forth in Code Section 422(d), the excess Options shall be deemed to be Nonstatutory Stock Options.

14.5. RETIREMENT. Except as otherwise provided in the Award Certificate or any special Plan document governing an Award, upon a Participant’s Retirement, all of his or her unvested Awards shall terminate as of the date of Retirement, and any vested Options or SARs held by the Participant as of the date of Retirement shall remain exercisable until the expiration of the original term of the Option or SAR. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may in its sole discretion at any time determine that, upon the Retirement of a Participant, all or a portion of such Participant’s Options and SARs shall become fully or partially exercisable, that all or a part of the time-based vesting restrictions on all or a portion of the Pa rticipant’s outstanding Awards shall lapse, and/or that any performance-based criteria with respect to any Awards held by that Participant (other than Awards that are intended to remain as Qualified Performance-Based Awards) shall be deemed to be wholly or partially satisfied, in each case, as of such date as the Committee may, in its sole discretion, declare. The Committee may discriminate among Participants and among Awards granted to a Participant in exercising its discretion pursuant to this Section 14.5. To the extent that, pursuant to this provision, any Incentive Stock Options are exercised more than three months after the date of termination, such Options shall be deemed to be Nonstatutory Stock Options.

14.6. EFFECT OF A CHANGE IN CONTROL. The provisions of this Section 14.6 shall apply in the case of a Change in Control, unless otherwise provided in the Award Certificate or any special Plan document or separate agreement with a Participant governing an Award.

(a) Awards not Assumed or Substituted by Surviving Entity. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, and except with respect to any Awards assumed by the Surviving Entity or otherwise equitably converted or substituted in connection with the Change in Control in a manner approved by the Committee or the Board:

(i) all outstanding Options and SARs shall become fully exercisable, and shall thereafter remain exercisable or lapse as provided in the Plan or the applicable Award Certificate;

(ii) all time-based vesting restrictions on outstanding Awards shall lapse as of the date of the Change in Control; and

(iii) the payout level under all outstanding performance-based Awards shall be determined and deemed to have been earned as of the effective date of the Change in Control as follows:

(A) if the Change in Control occurs during the first half of the applicable performance period, all relevant performance goals will be deemed to have been achieved at the “target” level, and

(B) if the Change in Control occurs during the second half of the applicable performance period, the actual level of achievement of all relevant performance goals against target will be measured as of the end of the calendar quarter immediately preceding the Change in Control, and

 
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(C) in either such case, there shall be a prorata payout to Participants within thirty (30) days following the Change in Control (unless a later date is required by Section 17.3 hereof) based upon the length of time within the performance period that has elapsed prior to the date of the Change in Control.

To the extent that this provision causes Incentive Stock Options to exceed the dollar limitation set forth in Code Section 422(d), the excess Options shall be deemed to be Nonstatutory Stock Options.

(b) Awards Assumed or Substituted by Surviving Entity. With respect to Awards assumed by the Surviving Entity or otherwise equitably converted or substituted in connection with a Change in Control: if within two years after the effective date of the Change in Control, a Participant’s employment is terminated without Cause or the Participant resigns for Good Reason, then:

(i) all of that Participant’s outstanding Options and SARs shall become fully exercisable, and shall thereafter remain exercisable for a period of one (1) year or until the earlier expiration of the original term of the Option or SAR;

(ii) all time-based vesting restrictions on that Participant’s outstanding Awards shall lapse as of the date of such employment termination; and

(iii) the payout level under all of that Participant’s performance-based Awards that were outstanding immediately prior to effective time of the Change in Control shall be determined and deemed to have been earned as of the date of such employment termination as follows:

(A) if the date of termination occurs during the first half of the applicable performance period, all relevant performance goals will be deemed to have been achieved at the “target” level, and

(B) if the date of termination occurs during the second half of the applicable performance period, the actual level of achievement of all relevant performance goals against target will be measured as of the end of the calendar quarter immediately preceding the date of termination, and

(C) in either such case, there shall be a prorata payout to the Participant or his or her estate within thirty (30) days following the date of termination (unless a later date is required by Section 17.3 hereof) based upon the length of time within the performance period that has elapsed prior to the date of termination.

With regard to each Award, a Participant shall not be considered to have resigned for Good Reason unless either (i) the Award Certificate includes such provision or (ii) the Participant is party to an employment, change-in-control, severance or similar agreement with the Company or an Affiliate that includes provisions in which the Participant is permitted to resign for Good Reason. To the extent that this provision causes Incentive Stock Options to exceed the dollar limitation set forth in Code Section 422(d), the excess Options shall be deemed to be Nonstatutory Stock Options.

14.7. SUBSTITUTE AWARDS. The Committee may grant Awards under the Plan in substitution for stock and stock-based awards held by employees of another entity who become employees of the Company or an Affiliate as a result of a merger or consolidation of the former employing entity with the Company or an Affiliate or the acquisition by the Company or an Affiliate of property or stock of the former employing corporation. The Committee may direct that the substitute awards be granted on such terms and conditions as the Committee considers appropriate in the circumstances.

 
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14.8. BENEFICIARIES.  Notwithstanding Section 14.2, a Participant may, in the manner determined by the Committee, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Participant’s death.  A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights under the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Certificate applicable to the Participant, except to the extent the Plan and Award Certificate otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.  If no beneficiary has been designated or su rvives the Participant, any payment due to the Participant shall be made to the Participant’s estate.  Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Participant, in the manner provided by the Company, at any time provided the change or revocation is filed with the Committee.

ARTICLE 15
CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE

15.1. MANDATORY ADJUSTMENTS. In the event of a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its shareholders that causes the per-share value of the Stock to change (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering, or large nonrecurring cash dividend), the authorization limits under Section 5.1 and 5.4 shall be adjusted proportionately, and the Committee shall make such adjustments to the Plan and Awards as it deems necessary, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights immediately resulting from such transaction. Action by the Committee may include: (i) adjustment of the number and kind of shares that may be delivered under the Plan; (ii) adjustment of the number a nd kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards; (iii) adjustment of the exercise price of outstanding Awards or the measure to be used to determine the amount of the benefit payable on an Award; and (iv) any other adjustments that the Committee determines to be equitable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall not make any adjustments to outstanding Options or SARs that would constitute a modification or substitution of the stock right under Treas. Reg. Sections 1.409A-1(b)(5)(v) that would be treated as the grant of a new stock right or change in the form of payment for purposes of Code Section 409A. Without limiting the foregoing, in the event of a subdivision of the outstanding Stock (stock-split), a declaration of a dividend payable in Shares, or a combination or consolidation of the outstanding Stock into a lesser number of Shares, the authorization limits under Section 5.1 and 5.4 shall automatically be adjusted proportionately, and the Shares then subject to each Award shall automatically , without the necessity for any additional action by the Committee, be adjusted proportionately without any change in the aggregate purchase price therefor.

15.2. DISCRETIONARY ADJUSTMENTS. Upon the occurrence or in anticipation of any corporate event or transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any merger, reorganization, recapitalization, combination or exchange of shares, or any transaction described in Section 15.1), the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide (i) that Awards will be settled in cash rather than Stock, (ii) that Awards will become immediately vested and exercisable and will expire after a designated period of time to the extent not then exercised, (iii) that Awards will be assumed by another party to a transaction or otherwise be equitably converted or substituted in connection with such transaction, (iv) that outstanding Awards may be set tled by payment in cash or cash equivalents equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the underlying Stock, as of a specified date associated with the transaction, over the exercise price of the Award, (v) that performance targets and performance periods for Performance Awards will be modified, consistent with Code Section 162(m) where applicable, or (vi) any combination of the foregoing. The Committee’s determination need not be uniform and may be different for different Participants whether or not such Participants are similarly situated.

 
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15.3. GENERAL. Any discretionary adjustments made pursuant to this Article 15 shall be subject to the provisions of Section 16.2. To the extent that any adjustments made pursuant to this Article 15 cause Incentive Stock Options to cease to qualify as Incentive Stock Options, such Options shall be deemed to be Nonstatutory Stock Options.

ARTICLE 16
AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION

16.1. AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION. The Board or the Committee may, at any time and from time to time, amend, modify or terminate the Plan without shareholder approval; provided, however, that if an amendment to the Plan would, in the reasonable opinion of the Board or the Committee, either (i) materially increase the number of Shares available under the Plan, (ii) expand the types of awards under the Plan, (iii) materially expand the class of participants eligible to participate in the Plan, (iv) materially extend the term of the Plan, or (v) otherwise constitute a material change requiring shareholder approval under applicable laws, policies or regulations or the applicable listing or other requirements of an Exchange, the n such amendment shall be subject to shareholder approval; and provided, further, that the Board or Committee may condition any other amendment or modification on the approval of shareholders of the Company for any reason, including by reason of such approval being necessary or deemed advisable (i) to comply with the listing or other requirements of an Exchange, or (ii) to satisfy any other tax, securities or other applicable laws, policies or regulations.

16.2. AWARDS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED. At any time and from time to time, the Committee may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award without approval of the Participant; provided, however:

(a) Subject to the terms of the applicable Award Certificate, such amendment, modification or termination shall not, without the Participant’s consent, reduce or diminish the value of such Award as of the date of such action;

(b) The original term of an Option or SAR may not be extended without the prior approval of the shareholders of the Company;

(c) Except as otherwise provided in Section 15.1, the exercise price of an Option or SAR may not be reduced, directly or indirectly, without the prior approval of the shareholders of the Company; and

(d) No termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan shall reduce or diminish the value of any Award previously granted under the Plan, without the written consent of the Participant affected thereby.

16.3. COMPLIANCE AMENDMENTS. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or in any Award Certificate to the contrary, the Board may amend the Plan or an Award Certificate, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming the Plan or Award Certificate to any present or future law relating to plans of this or similar nature (including, but not limited to, Section 409A of the Code), and to the administrative regulations and rulings promulgated thereunder. By accepting an Award under this Plan, a Participant agrees to any amendment made pursuant to this Section 16.3 to any Award granted under the Plan without further consideration or action.

 
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ARTICLE 17
GENERAL PROVISIONS

17.1. RIGHTS OF PARTICIPANTS.

(a) No Participant or any Eligible Participant shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan. Neither the Company, its Affiliates nor the Committee is obligated to treat Participants or Eligible Participants uniformly, and determinations made under the Plan may be made by the Committee selectively among Eligible Participants who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards (whether or not such Eligible Participants are similarly situated).

(b) Nothing in the Plan, any Award Certificate or any other document or statement made with respect to the Plan, shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate any Participant’s employment or status as an officer, or any Participant’s service as a director, at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue as an employee, officer, or director of the Company or any Affiliate, whether for the duration of a Participant’s Award or otherwise.

(c) Neither an Award nor any benefits arising under this Plan shall constitute an employment contract with the Company or any Affiliate and, accordingly, subject to Article 16, this Plan and the benefits hereunder may be terminated at any time in the sole and exclusive discretion of the Committee without giving rise to any liability on the part of the Company or an of its Affiliates.

(d) No Award gives a Participant any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company unless and until Shares are in fact issued to such person in connection with such Award.

17.2. WITHHOLDING. The Company or any Affiliate shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any exercise, lapse of restriction or other taxable event arising as a result of the Plan. With respect to withholding required upon any taxable event under the Plan, the Committee may, at the time the Award is granted or thereafter, require or permit that any such withholding requirement be satisfied, in whole or in part, by withholding from the Award Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding equal to the minimum amount (and not any greater amount) required to be withheld for tax purposes, all in accordance with such procedures as the Committee establishes. All such elections shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

 
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17.3. SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATED TO SECTION 409A OF THE CODE.

(a) General. It is intended that the payments and benefits provided under the Plan and any Award shall either be exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  The Plan and all Award Certificates shall be construed in a manner that effects such intent.  Nevertheless, the tax treatment of the benefits provided under the Plan or any Award is not warranted or guaranteed.  Neither the Company, its Affiliates nor their respective directors, officers, employees or advisers (other than in his or her capacity as a Participant) shall be held liable for any taxes, interest, penalties or other monetary amounts owed by any Participant or other taxpayer as a result of the Plan or any Award.

(b) Definitional Restrictions.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or in any Award Certificate to the contrary, to the extent that any amount or benefit that would constitute non-exempt “deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code would otherwise be payable or distributable under the Plan or any Award Certificate by reason of the occurrence of a Change in Control, or the Participant’s Disability or separation from service, such amount or benefit will not be payable or distributable to the Participant by reason of such circumstance unless (i) the circumstances giving rise to such Change in Control, Disability or separation from service meet any description or definition of “change in control event”, “disabil ity” or “separation from service”, as the case may be, in Section 409A of the Code and applicable regulations (without giving effect to any elective provisions that may be available under such definition), or (ii) the payment or distribution of such amount or benefit would be exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code by reason of the short-term deferral exemption or otherwise.  This provision does not prohibit the vesting of any Award upon a Change in Control, Disability or separation from service, however defined.  If this provision prevents the payment or distribution of any amount or benefit, such payment or distribution shall be made on the next earliest payment or distribution date or event specified in the Award Certificate that is permissible under Section 409A.

(c) Allocation among Possible Exemptions.  If any one or more Awards granted under the Plan to a Participant could qualify for any separation pay exemption described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(9), but such Awards in the aggregate exceed the dollar limit permitted for the separation pay exemptions, the Company (acting through the Committee or the General Counsel) shall determine which Awards or portions thereof will be subject to such exemptions.

(d) Six-Month Delay in Certain Circumstances.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or in any Award Certificate to the contrary, if any amount or benefit that would constitute non-exempt “deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code would otherwise be payable or distributable under this Plan or any Award Certificate by reason of a Participant’s separation from service during a period in which the Participant is a Specified Employee (as defined below), then, subject to any permissible acceleration of payment by the Committee under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(j)(4)(ii) (domestic relations order), (j)(4)(iii) (conflicts of interest), or (j)(4)(vi) (payment of employment taxes):

(i) if the payment or distribution is payable in a lump sum, the Participant’s right to receive payment or distribution of such non-exempt deferred compensation will be delayed until the earlier of the Participant’s death or the first day of the seventh month following the Participant’s separation from service; and

(ii) if the payment or distribution is payable over time, the amount of such non-exempt deferred compensation that would otherwise be payable during the six-month period immediately following the Participant’s separation from service will be accumulated and the Participant’s right to receive payment or distribution of such accumulated amount will be delayed until the earlier of the Participant’s death or the first day of the seventh month following the Participant’s separation from service, whereupon the accumulated amount will be paid or distributed to the Participant and the normal payment or distribution schedule for any remaining payments or distributions will resume.

 
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For purposes of this Plan, the term “Specified Employee” has the meaning given such term in Code Section 409A and the final regulations thereunder, provided, however, that, as permitted in such final regulations, the Company’s Specified Employees and its application of the six-month delay rule of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) shall be determined in accordance with rules adopted by the Board or any committee of the Board, which shall be applied consistently with respect to all nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements of the Company, including this Plan.

(e) Installment Payments.  If, pursuant to an Award granted after October 1, 2010, a Participant is entitled to a series of installment payments, such Participant’s right to the series of installment payments shall be treated as a right to a series of separate payments and not to a single payment.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term “series of installment payments” has the meaning provided in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii) (or any successor thereto).

(f) Eligibility Requirements.  Eligible Participants who are service providers to an Affiliate may be granted Options or SARs under this Plan only if the Affiliate qualifies as an “eligible issuer of service recipient stock” within the meaning of §1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E) of the final regulations under Code Section 409A.

17.4. UNFUNDED STATUS OF AWARDS. The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Certificate shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate. This Plan is not intended to be subject to ERISA.

17.5. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER BENEFITS. No payment under the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate unless provided otherwise in such other plan.

17.6. EXPENSES. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Affiliates.

17.7. TITLES AND HEADINGS. The titles and headings of the Sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only, and in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.

17.8. GENDER AND NUMBER. Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.

17.9. FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional Shares shall be issued and the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares shall be eliminated by rounding up or down.

 
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17.10. GOVERNMENT AND OTHER REGULATIONS.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, no Participant who acquires Shares pursuant to the Plan may, during any period of time that such Participant is an affiliate of the Company (within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the 1933 Act), sell such Shares, unless such offer and sale is made (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the 1933 Act, which is current and includes the Shares to be sold, or (ii) pursuant to an appropriate exemption from the registration requirement of the 1933 Act, such as that set forth in Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, if at any time the Committee shall determine that the registration, listing or qualification of the Shares covered by an Award upon any Exchange or under any foreign, federal, state or local law or practice, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of such Award or the purchase or receipt of Shares thereunder, no Shares may be purchased, delivered or received pursuant to such Award unless and until such registration, listing, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any condition not acceptable to the Committee. Any Participant receiving or purchasing Shares pursuant to an Award shall make such representations and agreements and furnish such inf ormation as the Committee may request to assure compliance with the foregoing or any other applicable legal requirements. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for Shares under the Plan prior to the Committee’s determination that all related requirements have been fulfilled. The Company shall in no event be obligated to register any securities pursuant to the 1933 Act or applicable state or foreign law or to take any other action in order to cause the issuance and delivery of such certificates to comply with any such law, regulation or requirement.

17.11. GOVERNING LAW. To the extent not governed by federal law, the Plan and all Award Certificates shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the internal laws of the State of Wisconsin.

17.12. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS. Each Award Certificate may contain such other terms and conditions as the Committee may determine; provided that such other terms and conditions are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.

17.13. NO LIMITATIONS ON RIGHTS OF COMPANY. The grant of any Award shall not in any way affect the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassification or changes in its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets. The Plan shall not restrict the authority of the Company, for proper corporate purposes, to draft or assume awards, other than under the Plan, to or with respect to any person. If the Committee so directs, the Company may issue or transfer Shares to an Affiliate, for such lawful consideration as the Committee may specify, upon the condition or understanding that the Affiliate will transfer such Shares to a Participant i n accordance with the terms of an Award granted to such Participant and specified by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.

 
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17.14. INDEMNIFICATION. Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, or of the Board, or an officer of the Company to whom authority was delegated in accordance with Article 4, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any jud gment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf, unless such loss, cost, liability, or expense is a result of his or her own willful misconduct or except as expressly provided by statute. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s charter or bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
 
 
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