Exhibit 10.4
_________________
CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
PAUL M. BONAIUTO
AND
JOURNAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
_________________
CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
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1. Certain Definitions
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2. Change in Control
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2
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3. Employment Period
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4. Terms of Employment
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(a) Position
and Duties
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(b)
Compensation
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5. Termination of Employment
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(a) Death or
Disability
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(b)
Cause
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(c) Good
Reason
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6. Obligations of the Company upon
Termination
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(a)
Termination by Executive for Good Reason; Termination by
the
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Company
Other Than for Cause or Disability
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(b) Death or
Disability
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(c) Cause;
Other than Good Reason
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(d)
Expiration of Employment Period
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7. Non-exclusivity of Rights
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8. Full Settlement; No Mitigation
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9. Costs of Enforcement
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10 .
Limitation of Benefits
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11. Restrictions on Conduct of Executive
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12. Arbitration
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13. Successors
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14. Miscellaneous
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(a)
Governing Law
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(b)
Captions
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(c)
Amendments
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(d)
Notices
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(e)
Severability
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(f)
Withholding
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(g)
Waivers
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(h) Status
Before and After Effective Date
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15. Code Section 409A
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ii
CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT
by and between Journal Communications, Inc., a Wisconsin
corporation (the “Company”) and Paul M. Bonaiuto
(“Executive”), dated as of the 29th day of January,
2007.
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
expectations 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 .
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(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 a Change in
Control occurs and if Executive’s employment with the Company
is terminated prior to the date on which the Change in Control
occurs, 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.
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(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.
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2.
Change in Control For the purposes of this Agreement, a
“Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of
the following events:
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(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
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(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
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(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
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(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 Acquisition 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 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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(e)
approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.
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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 .
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(a)
Position and
Duties .
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(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.
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(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. 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.
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(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.
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(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).
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(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 favorable, 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.
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(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 favorable 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.
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(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.
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(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.
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(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.
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5.
Termination of
Employment .
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(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, Executive 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.
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(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 sh
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