Exhibit 10.4
Frank D. Forward
CHANGE OF CONTROL SEVERANCE
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT between BJ’s
Wholesale Club, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), and Frank D. Forward
(“Executive”), dated as of April 3,
2007.
Executive is a key executive of the
Company or a Subsidiary and an integral part of its
management.
The Company recognizes that the
possibility of a Change of Control or Potential Change of Control
of the Company may result in the departure or distraction of
management to the detriment of the Company and its shareholders and
wishes to modify and restate the agreement previously applicable
under such circumstances.
The Company wishes to assure
Executive of fair severance should Executive’s employment
terminate in specified circumstances following a Change of Control
or Potential Change of Control of the Company and to assure
Executive of certain other benefits upon such event.
In consideration of
Executive’s continued employment with the Company or a
Subsidiary and other good and valuable consideration, the parties
agree as follows:
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1.
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Benefits
Upon Change of Control .
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1.1 In General . Within 30
days following the earlier of a Change of Control or Potential
Change of Control (such earlier event to be a “Control
Event”) as long as this Agreement had not been terminated
under Section 8.6 at the time of the Control Event, then
whether or not Executive’s employment has been terminated
following the Control Event, the Company shall pay to Executive the
following in a lump sum:
(a) an amount equal to the product
of (i) the “Target Bonus” under the
Company’s Management Incentive Plan or any other annual
incentive plan which is applicable to Executive for the fiscal year
in which the Control Event occurs (or if the Target Bonus is
reduced within 180 days before the commencement of a Standstill
Period, the “Target Bonus” applicable to Executive for
the fiscal year in which such reduction occurred) and (ii) a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in such
fiscal year prior to the Control Event and the denominator of which
is 365; and
(b) if Executive is a participant in
a performance-based long-range incentive plan at the time of a
Control Event, such amount as is required to be paid to Executive
upon a Control Event pursuant to the provisions of such plan;
provided, that if such incentive
plan does not provide for an
automatic payment on the earlier of a Change of Control or a
Potential Change of Control, then any payment under such incentive
plan shall be made only as and when provided for in such incentive
plan even though the benefit under Section 1.1(a) above has
been paid previously.
1.2 Benefits Following Qualified
Termination of Employment . Executive shall be entitled to the
following benefits upon a Qualified Termination:
(a) Within 30 days following the
Date of Termination, the Company shall pay to Executive the
following in a lump sum:
(i) an amount equal to three times
Executive’s Base Salary for one year at the rate in effect
immediately prior to the Date of Termination or, if higher, the
Control Event (or if Executive’s Base Salary was reduced
within 180 days before the commencement of a Standstill Period, the
rate in effect immediately prior to such reduction), plus the
accrued and unpaid portion of Executive’s Base Salary through
the Date of Termination. Any payments made to Executive under any
long term disability plan of the Company with respect to the two
and one-half years following termination of employment shall be
offset against such two and one-half times Base Salary payment.
Executive shall promptly make reimbursement payments to the Company
to the extent any such disability payments are received by
Executive after the Base Salary payment; and
(ii) an amount equal to three times
Executive’s automobile allowance for one year at the rate in
effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination or, if higher,
the Control Event (or if such automobile allowance was reduced
within 180 days before the commencement of a Standstill Period, the
rate in effect immediately prior to such reduction unless such
reduction was offset by an increase in Base Salary during such
180-day period), plus any portion of Executive’s automobile
allowance payable but unpaid through the Date of Termination;
and
(iii) an amount equal to three times
the Target Bonus amount, as defined and determined under
Section 1.1(a) above without any fractional
adjustment.
(b) For a period of thirty-six
(36) months after the Date of Termination, the Company shall
maintain in full force and effect for the continued benefit of
Executive and Executive’s family all life insurance and
medical insurance (other than long-term disability) plans and
programs in which Executive was entitled to participate immediately
prior to the Control Event (or if Executive’s title was
changed to a level below that of Executive’s Current Title
within 180 days before the commencement of a Standstill Period, all
such plans and programs in which Executive was entitled to
participate immediately prior to such change, if the benefits
thereunder are greater), provided that Executive’s continued
participation is possible under the general terms and provisions of
such plans and programs. In the event that participation in such
plans or programs is not available to Executive for any reason,
including termination of the plan, the Company shall arrange upon
comparable terms to provide Executive with benefits
substantially
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similar to those which Executive is
entitled to receive under such plans and programs. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Company’s obligations hereunder with
respect to life insurance or medical insurance plans and programs
shall be deemed satisfied to the extent (but only to the extent) of
any such insurance coverage or benefits provided by another
employer.
(c) If Qualified Termination occurs
by reason of Disability, the Company shall maintain in full force
and effect for the continued benefit of Executive, disability
benefits and/or disability insurance at the same level to which
Executive was entitled immediately prior to the Qualified
Termination.
1.3 Coordination With Certain Tax
Rules .
(a) Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, in the event that the Company
undergoes a Change in Ownership or Control (as defined below), the
Company shall not be obligated to provide to Executive a portion of
any “Contingent Compensation Payments” that Executive
would otherwise be entitled to receive to the extent necessary to
eliminate any “excess parachute payments” (as defined
in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the “Code”)) for Executive. For purposes of
this Section 1.3, the Contingent Compensation Payments so
eliminated shall be referred to as the “Eliminated
Payments” and the aggregate amount (determined in accordance
with Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q/A-30 or
any successor provision) of the Contingent Compensation Payments so
eliminated shall be referred to as the “Eliminated
Amount.”
(b) For purposes of this
Section 1.3, the following terms shall have the following
respective meanings:
(i) “Change in Ownership or
Control” shall mean a change in the ownership or effective
control of the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion
of the assets of the Company determined in accordance with
Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code.
(ii) “Contingent Compensation
Payments” shall mean any payment (or benefit) in the nature
of compensation that is made or made available (under this
Agreement or otherwise) to a “disqualified individual”
(as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Code) and that is
contingent (within the meaning of Section 280G
(b) (2) (A) (i) of the Code) on a Change in
Ownership or Control of the Company.
(c) Any payments or other benefits
otherwise due to the Executive following a Change in Ownership or
Control that could be characterized (as reasonably determined by
the Company) as Contingent Compensation Payments shall not be made
until the determination, pursuant to this Section 1.3(c), of
which Contingent Compensation Payments shall be treated as
Eliminated Payments. Within 30 days after each date on which the
Executive first becomes entitled to receive (whether or not then
due) a Contingent Compensation Payment relating to such Change in
Ownership or Control, the
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Company shall determine and notify
Executive (with reasonable detail regarding the basis for its
determinations) (i) which of such payments and benefits
constitute Contingent Compensation Payments and (ii) the
Eliminated Amount. Within 30 days after delivery of such notice to
Executive, Executive shall notify the Company which Contingent
Compensation Payments, or portions thereof (the aggregate amount of
which, determined in accordance with Proposed Treasury Regulation
Section 1.280G-1, Q/A-30 or any successor provision, shall be
equal to the Eliminated Amount), shall be treated as Eliminated
Payments. In the event that Executive fails to notify the Company
pursuant to the preceding sentence on or before the required date,
the Contingent Compensation Payments (or portions thereof) that
shall be treated as Eliminated Payments shall be determined by the
Company in its absolute discretion.
(d) The provisions of this
Section 1.3 are intended to apply to any and all payments or
benefits available to Executive under this Agreement or any other
agreement or plan of the Company under which Executive receives
Contingent Compensation Payments.
1.4 Definitions . The terms
defined in Exhibits A and B hereto are used herein as so
defined.
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2.
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Noncompetition; No Mitigation of Damages; Other
Severance Payments; Withholding .
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2.1 Noncompetition . Upon a
Qualified Termination, any agreement by Executive not to engage in
competition with the Company subsequent to the termination of
Executive’s employment, whether contained in an employment
contract or other agreement shall no longer be
effective.
2.2 No Duty to Mitigate
Damages . Executive’s benefits under this Agreement shall
be considered severance pay in consideration of Executive’s
past service and Executive’s continued service from the date
of this Agreement, and Executive’s entitlement thereto shall
neither be governed by any duty to mitigate Executive’s
damages by seeking further employment nor offset by any
compensation which Executive may receive from future
employment.
2.3 Other Severance Payments
. In the event that Executive has an employment contract or any
other agreement with the Company (or a Subsidiary) which entitles
Executive to severance payments upon the termination of
Executive’s employment with the Company, the amount of any
such severance payments shall be deducted from the payments to be
made under this Agreement.
2.4 Withholding . Anything to
the contrary notwithstanding, all payments required to be made by
the Company hereunder to Executive shall be subject to the
withholding of such amounts, if any, relating to tax and other
payroll deductions as the Company may reasonably determine it
should withhold pursuant to any applicable law or
regulation.
3.
Arbitration . Any
controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement,
or the breach thereof, shall be settled exclusively by arbitration
in Boston, Massachusetts in accordance with the Commercial
Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association then in
effect, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s)
may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
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4.
Legal Fees and Expenses . The Company shall pay all legal fees and
expenses, including, but not limited to, counsel fees, stenographer
fees, printing costs, etc. reasonably incurred by Executive in
contesting or disputing that the termination of Executive’s
employment during a Standstill Period is for Cause or other than
for good reason (as defined in paragraph (k) of Exhibit A) or
in obtaining any right or benefit to which Executive is entitled
under this Agreement. Any amount payable under this Agreement that
is not paid when due shall accrue interest at the prime rate as
from time to time in effect at BankBoston, N.A., or its successor,
until paid in full.
5. Notice of
Termination . During a Standstill Period, Executive’s
employment may be terminated by the Company (or a Subsidiary) only
upon 30 days’ written notice to Executive.
6.
Notices . All
notices shall be in writing and shall be deemed given five days
after mailing in the continental United States by registered or
certified mail, or upon personal receipt after delivery, telex,
telecopy or telegram, to the party entitled thereto at the address
stated below or to such changed address as the addressee may have
given by a similar notice:
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To the
Company:
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BJ’s
Wholesale Club, Inc.
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One Mercer
Road
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Natick, MA
01760
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Attention:
President
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To
Executive:
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At Executive’s home address, as last shown
on
the records of the
Company.
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7.
Severability . In
the event that any provision of this Agreement shall be determined
to be invalid or unenforceable, such provisi