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Exhibit 10.3
_________________
CHANGE IN CONTROL
AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
ELIZABETH BRENNER
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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1
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3. Employment Period
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4
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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
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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 Elizabeth Brenner ("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; or
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(f)
during such time as Executive’s primary responsibilities are
with the publishing segment of the Company’s business (the
"Publishing Group"): the sale of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Publishing Group to an unrelated entity; (ii) the
sale of all of the outstanding voting securities of the entities
holding all or substantially all of the assets of the Publishing
Group, currently consisting of Journal Sentinel Inc. and Journal
Community Publishing Group, Inc. (collectively, as such entities
may now or hereafter be configured, the "Publishing Group Entity")
to an unrelated entity; or (iii) the merger or consolidation of the
Publishing Group Entity into an unrelated entity. For purposes of
this subsection (f), an "unrelated entity" is an entity (A) with
respect to which more than fifty percent (50%) of such entity is
not owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or any of its
majority-owned Subsidiaries immediately prior to the time of the
determination of whether there has occurred a Change in Control; or
(B) which is not an employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the
Company or any of its majority-owned Subsidiaries.
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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 her 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 her
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 her 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 her 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 her
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 her 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 n
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