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CHANGE OF CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

Change of Control Agreement

CHANGE OF CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT | Document Parties: BJS WHOLESALE CLUB INC | Frank D. Forward You are currently viewing:
This Change of Control Agreement involves

BJS WHOLESALE CLUB INC | Frank D. Forward

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Title: CHANGE OF CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
Governing Law: Massachusetts     Date: 4/5/2007
Industry: Retail (Specialty)     Sector: Services

CHANGE OF CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT, Parties: bjs wholesale club inc , frank d. forward
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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:

 

 

1.

Benefits Upon Change of Control .

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.

 

 

2.

Noncompetition; No Mitigation of Damages; Other Severance Payments; Withholding .

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:

 

 

 

 

To the Company:

 

BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc.

 

 

One Mercer Road

 

 

Natick, MA 01760

 

 

Attention: President

 

 

To Executive:

 

At Executive’s home address, as last shown on

the records of the Company.

7.     Severability . In the event that any provision of this Agreement shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable, such provisi


 
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