EX-10.21 Change in Control Severance Agreement

EX-10.21 3 l03505aexv10w21.txt EX-10.21 CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT Exhibit 10.21 CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT THIS CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of ________________, is made and entered by and between Roadway Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and ______________________ (the "Executive"). WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, the Executive is a senior executive of the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries and has made and is expected to continue to make major contributions to the short- and long-term profitability, growth and financial strength of the Company; WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that, as is the case for most companies, the possibility of a Change in Control (as defined below) exists; WHEREAS, the Company desires to assure itself of both present and future continuity of management and desires to establish certain minimum severance benefits for certain of its senior executives, including the Executive, applicable in the event of a Change in Control; WHEREAS, the Company wishes to ensure that its senior executives are not practically disabled from discharging their duties in respect of a proposed or actual transaction involving a Change in Control; and WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide additional inducement for the Executive to continue to remain in the employ of the Company. NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Executive agree as follows: 1. Certain Defined Terms. In addition to terms defined elsewhere herein, the following terms have the following meanings when used in this Agreement with initial capital letters: (a) "Affiliate" means with respect to any Person, any holder of more than 10% of the outstanding shares or equity interests of such Person or any other Person which directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the "controlled" Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. (b) "Base Pay" means the Executive's annual base salary rate as in effect from time to time. (c) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company. (d) "Cause" means that, prior to any termination pursuant to Section 3(a)(iii), or Section 3(b), the Executive shall have: (i) been convicted of a criminal violation involving fraud, embezzlement, theft or violation of federal antitrust statutes or federal securities laws in connection with his duties or in the course of his employment with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company; (ii) committed intentional wrongful damage to property of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company; or (iii) committed intentional wrongful disclosure of secret processes or confidential information of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company; and any such act shall have been demonstrably and materially harmful to the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, no act or failure to act on the part of the Executive shall be deemed "intentional" if it was due primarily to an error in judgment or negligence, but shall be deemed "intentional" only if done or omitted to be done by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the Executive's action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall not be deemed to have been terminated for "Cause" hereunder unless and until there shall have been delivered to the Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than three quarters of the Board then in office at a meeting of the Board called and held for such purpose, after reasonable notice to the Executive and an opportunity for the Executive, together with the Executive's counsel (if the Executive chooses to have counsel present at such meeting), to be heard before the Board, finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Executive had committed an act constituting "Cause" as herein defined and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. Nothing herein will limit the right of the Executive or his beneficiaries to contest the validity or propriety of any such determination. (e) "Change in Control" means (i) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) (a "Person") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of voting securities of the Company where such acquisition causes such Person to own 20% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (i), the following acquisitions shall not be deemed to result in a Change of Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company that is approved by the Incumbent Board (as defined in subsection (ii) below), (B) any acquisition by the Company, or (C) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company; provided, further, that if any Person's beneficial ownership of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities reaches or exceeds 20% as 2 a result of a transaction described in clause (A) or (B) above, and such Person subsequently acquires beneficial ownership of additional voting securities of the Company, such subsequent acquisition shall be treated as an acquisition that causes such Person to own 20% or more of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities; and provided, further, that if at least a majority of the members of the Incumbent Board determines in good faith that a Person has acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% of more of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of shares so that such Person beneficially owns (within the meanings of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) less than 20% of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, then no Change of Control shall have occurred as a result of such Person's acquisition; or (ii) individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board" (as modified by this clause (ii)) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination) shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or (iii) The consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or the acquisition of assets of another corporation, or other transaction ("Business Combination") excluding, however, such a Business Combination pursuant to which (A) the individuals and entities who were the ultimate beneficial owners of voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 65% 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, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) (B) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company, the Company or such entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business Combination; or (iv) approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company except pursuant to a Business Combination described in clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subsection (iii), above. 3 (f) "Employee Benefits" means the perquisites, benefits and service credit for benefits as provided under any and all employee retirement income and welfare benefit policies, plans, programs or arrangements in which Executive is entitled to participate, including without limitation any stock option, performance share, performance unit, stock purchase, stock appreciation, savings, pension, supplemental executive retirement, or other retirement income or welfare benefit, deferred compensation, incentive compensation, group or other life, health, medical/hospital or other insurance (whether funded by actual insurance or self-insured by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company), disability, salary continuation, expense reimbursement and other employee benefit policies, plans, programs or arrangements. (g) "Incentive Pay" means an annual bonus, incentive or other payment of compensation, in addition to Base Pay, made or to be made in regard to services rendered in any year or other period pursuant to any bonus, incentive, profit-sharing, performance, discretionary pay or similar agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement (whether or not funded) of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company, or any successor thereto. (h) "Retirement Plans" means the employee pension benefit plans of the Company, and any Affiliate of the Company, whether or not qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and any other employee pension benefit plan that is a successor thereto if the Executive was a participant in such Retirement Plan on the date of the occurrence of the Change in Control. (i) "Severance Period" means the period of time commencing on the date of the first occurrence of a Change in Control and continuing until the earlier of (i) the second anniversary of the occurrence of the Change in Control, or (ii) the Executive's death; provided, however, that commencing on each anniversary of the Change in Control, the Severance Period will automatically be extended for an additional year unless, not later than 90 calendar days prior to such anniversary date, either the Company or the Executive shall have given written notice to the other that the Severance Period is not to be so extended. (j) "Subsidiary" means an entity in which the Company directly or indirectly beneficially owns 50% or more of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities. (k) "Term" means the period commencing as of the date hereof and expiring on the close of business on December 31, 2004; provided, however, that (i) commencing on January 1, 2003 and each January 1 thereafter, the term of this Agreement will automatically be extended for an additional year unless, not later than September 30 of the immediately preceding year, the Company or the Executive shall have given notice that it or the Executive, as the case may be, does not wish to have the Term extended; (ii) if a Change in Control occurs during the Term, the Term shall expire and this Agreement will terminate at the expiration of the Severance Period; and (iii) subject to the last sentence of Section 9, if, prior to a Change in Control, the Executive ceases for any reason to be an employee of the Company and any Affiliate of the Company, thereupon without further action the Term shall be deemed to have expired and this Agreement will immediately terminate and be of no further effect. For purposes of this Section 1(l), the Executive shall not be deemed to have ceased to be an employee of the Company and any Affiliate of the Company by reason of the transfer of Executive's employment between the Company and any Affiliate of the Company, or among any Affiliates of the Company. 4 (l) "Termination Date" means the date on which the Executive's employment is terminated (the effective date of which shall be the date of termination, or such other date that may be specified by the Executive if the termination is pursuant to Section 3(b)). 2. Operation of Agreement. This Agreement will be effective and binding immediately upon its execution, but, anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, except as provided in Section 9, this Agreement will not be operative unless and until a Change in Control occurs. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control at any time during the Term, without further action, this Agreement shall become immediately operative. 3. Termination Following a Change in Control. (a) In the event of the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Executive's employment may be terminated by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company during the Severance Period and the Executive shall be entitled to the benefits provided by Section 4 unless such termination is the result of the occurrence of one or more of the following events: (i) The Executive's death; (ii) If the Executive becomes permanently disabled within the meaning of, and begins actually to receive disability benefits pursuant to, the long-term disability plan in effect for, or applicable to, Executive immediately prior to the Change in Control; or (iii) Cause. If, during the Severance Period, the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company other than pursuant to Section 3(a)(i), 3(a)(ii) or 3(a)(iii), the Executive will be entitled to the benefits provided by Section 4 hereof. (b) In the event of the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Executive may terminate employment with the Company and any Affiliate of the Company during the Severance Period with the right to severance compensation as provided in Section 4 upon the occurrence of one or more of the following events (regardless of whether any other reason, other than Cause as hereinabove provided, for such termination exists or has occurred, including without limitation other employment): (i) Failure to elect or reelect or otherwise to maintain the Executive in the office or the position, or a substantially equivalent or better office or position, of or with the Company and/or an Affiliate of the Company (or any successor thereto by operation of law or otherwise), as the case may be, which the Executive held immediately prior to a Change in Control, or the removal of the Executive as a Director of the Company and/or an Affiliate of the Company (or any successor thereto) if the Executive shall have been a Director of the Company and/or an Affiliate of the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control; (ii) (A) A significant adverse change in the nature or scope of the authorities, powers, functions, responsibilities or duties attached to the position with the Company and any Affiliate of the Company which the Executive held immediately prior to the Change in Control, (B) a reduction in the Executive's Base Pay received from the Company and 5 any Affiliate of the Company, (C) a reduction in the target level of opportunity for Incentive Pay, or (D) the termination or denial of the Executive's rights to Employee Benefits or a reduction in the scope or value thereof, any of which is not remedied by the Company within 10 calendar days after receipt by the Company of written notice from the Executive of such change, reduction or termination, as the case may be; (iii) The liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Company or the transfer of all or substantially all of its business and/or assets, unless the successor or successors (by liquidation, merger, consolidation, reorganization, transfer or otherwise) to which all or substantially all of its business and/or assets have been transferred (by operation of law or otherwise) assumed all duties and obligations of the Company under this Agreement pursuant to Section 11(a); (iv) The Company relocates its principal executive offices (if such offices are the principal location of Executive's work), or requires the Executive to have his principal location of work changed, to any location that, in either case, is in excess of 50 miles from the location thereof immediately prior to the Change in Control, or requires the Executive to travel away from his office in the course of discharging his responsibilities or duties hereunder at least 20% more (in terms of aggregate days in any calendar year or in any calendar quarter when annualized for purposes of comparison to any prior year) than was required of Executive in any of the three full years immediately prior to the Change in Control without, in either case, his prior written consent; or (v) Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, any material breach of this Agreement by the Company or any successor thereto which is not remedied by the Company within 10 calendar days after receipt by the Company of written notice from the Executive of such breach. (c) A termination by the Company pursuant to Section 3(a) or by the Executive pursuant to Section 3(b) will not affect any rights that the Executive may have pursuant to any agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company providing Employee Benefits, which rights shall be governed by the terms thereof. 4. Severance Compensation. (a) If, following the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company or an Affiliate of the Company terminates the Executive's employment during the Severance Period other than pursuant to Section 3(a)(i), 3(a)(ii) or 3(a)(iii), or if the Executive terminates his employment pursuant to Section 3(b), the Company will pay to the Executive the amounts described in Annex A within five business days after the Termination Date and will continue to provide to the Executive the benefits described on Annex A for the periods described therein. (b) Without limiting the rights of the Executive at law or in equity, if the Company fails to make any payment or provide any benefit required to be made or provided hereunder on a timely basis, the Company will pay interest on the amount or value thereof at an annualized rate of interest equal to the so-called composite "prime rate" as quoted from time to 6 time during the relevant period in the Midwest Edition of The Wall Street Journal, plus 4%. Such interest will be payable as it accrues on demand. Any change in such prime rate will be effective on and as of the date of such change. (c) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the parties' respective rights and obligations under this Section 4 and under Sections 5, 7, 8 and 9 will survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement or the termination of the Executive's employment following a Change in Control for any reason whatsoever. (d) Unless otherwise expressly provided by the applicable plan, program or agreement, after the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Company shall pay in cash to the Executive a lump sum amount equal to the value of any annual bonus or long-term incentive pay (including, without limitation, incentive-based annual cash bonuses and performance units, but not including any equity-based compensation or compensation provided under a qualified plan) earned or accrued with respect to the Executive's service during the performance period or periods that includes the date on which the Change in Control occurred, disregarding any applicable vesting requirements; provided that such amount shall be calculated at the plan target or payout rate, but prorated to base payment only on the portion of the Executive's service that had elapsed during the applicable performance period. Such payment shall take into account service rendered through the payment date and shall be made at the earlier of (i) the date prescribed for payment pursuant to the applicable plan, program or agreement, or (ii) within five business days after the Termination Date. (e) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in any applicable plan, program or agreement, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, all equity incentive awards held by the Executive shall become fully vested and all stock options held by the Executive shall become fully exercisable. 5. Certain Additional Payments by the Company. (a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that this Agreement shall become operative and it shall be determined (as hereafter provided) that any payment (other than the Gross-Up payments provided for in this Section 5) or distribution by the Company or any of its Affiliates to or for the benefit of the Executive, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise pursuant to or by reason of any other agreement, policy, plan, program or arrangement, including without limitation any stock option, performance share, performance unit, stock appreciation right or similar right, or the lapse or termination of any restriction on or the vesting or exercisability of any of the foregoing (a "Payment"), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") (or any successor provision thereto) by reason of being considered "contingent on a change in ownership or control" of the Company, within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) or to any similar tax imposed by state or local law, or any interest or penalties with respect to such tax (such tax or taxes, together with any such interest and penalties, being hereafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), then the Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment or payments (collectively, a "Gross-Up Payment"); provided, however, that no Gross-up Payment shall be made with respect to the Excise Tax, if 7 any, attributable to (i) any incentive stock option, as defined by Section 422 of the Code ("ISO") granted prior to the execution of this Agreement, or (ii) any stock appreciation or similar right, whether or not limited, granted in tandem with any ISO described in clause (i). The Gross-Up Payment shall be in an amount such that, after payment by the Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed with respect to such taxes), including any Excise Tax imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the Payment. (b) Subject to the provisions of Section 5(f), all determinations required to be made under this Section 5, including whether an Excise Tax is payable by the Executive and the amount of such Excise Tax and whether a Gross-Up Payment is required to be paid by the Company to the Executive and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment, if any, shall be made by a nationally recognized accounting firm (the "Accounting Firm") selected by the Executive in his sole discretion. The Executive shall direct the Accounting Firm to submit its determination and detailed supporting calculations to both the Company and the Executive within 30 calendar days after the Termination Date, if applicable, and any such other time or times as may be requested by the Company or the Executive. If the Accounting Firm determines that any Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, the Company shall pay the required Gross-Up Payment to the Executive within five business days after receipt of such determination and calculations with respect to any Payment to the Executive. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it shall, at the same time as it makes such determination, furnish the Company and the Executive an opinion that the Executive has substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on his federal, state or local income or other tax return. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) and the possibility of similar uncertainty regarding applicable state or local tax law at the time of any determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments which will not have been made by the Company should have been made (an "Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts or fails to pursue its remedies pursuant to Section 5(f) and the Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Executive shall direct the Accounting Firm to determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and to submit its determination and detailed supporting calculations to both the Company and the Executive as promptly as possible. Any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to, or for the benefit of, the Executive within five business days after receipt of such determination and calculations. (c) The Company and the Executive shall each provide the Accounting Firm access to and copies of any books, records and documents in the possession of the Company or the Executive, as the case may be, reasonably requested by the Accounting Firm, and otherwise cooperate with the Accounting Firm in connection with the preparation and issuance of the determinations and calculations contemplated by Section 5(b). Any determination by the Accounting Firm as to the amount of the Gross-Up Payment shall be binding upon the Company and the Executive. (d) The federal, state and local income or other tax returns filed by the Executive shall be prepared and filed on a consistent basis with the determination of the Accounting Firm with respect to the Excise Tax payable by the Executive. The Executive shall make proper payment of the amount of any Excise Tax, and at the request of the Company, 8 provide to the Company true and correct copies (with any amendments) of his federal income tax return as filed with the Internal Revenue Service and corresponding state and local tax returns, if relevant, as filed with the applicable taxing authority, and such other documents reasonably requested by the Company, evidencing such payment. If prior to the filing of the Executive's federal income tax return, or corresponding state or local tax return, if relevant, the Accounting Firm determines that the amount of the Gross-Up Payment should be reduced, the Executive shall within five business days pay to the Company the amount of such reduction. (e) The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm for its services in connection with the determinations and calculations contemplated by Section 5(b) shall be borne by the Company. If such fees and expenses are initially paid by the Executive, the Company shall reimburse the Executive the full amount of such fees and expenses within five business days after receipt from the Executive of a statement therefor and reasonable evidence of his payment thereof. (f) The Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority that, if successful, would require the payment by the Company of a Gross-Up Payment. Such notification shall be given as promptly as practicable but no later than 10 business days after the Executive actually receives notice of such claim and the Executive shall further apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid (in each case, to the extent known by the Executive). The Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the 30-calendar-day period following the date on which he gives such notice to the Company and (ii) the date that any payment of an amount with respect to such claim is due. If the Company notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, the Executive shall: (i) provide the Company with any written records or documents in his possession relating to such claim reasonably requested by the Company; (ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including without limitation accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney competent in respect of the subject matter and reasonably selected by the Company; (iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order effectively to contest such claim; and (iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such claim; provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Executive, on an after-tax basis, for and against any Excise Tax or income tax, including interest and penalties with respect thereto, imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 5(f), the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with the contest 9 of any claim contemplated by this Section 5(f) and, at its sole option, may pursue or forego any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim (provided, however, that the Executive may participate therein at his own cost and expense) and may, at its option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner, and the Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided, however, that if the Company directs the Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such payment to the Executive on an interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any Excise Tax or income or other tax, including interest or penalties with respect thereto, imposed with respect to such advance; and provided further, however, that any extension of the statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of the Executive with respect to which the contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested amount. Furthermore, the Company's control of any such contested claim shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable hereunder and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority. (g) If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 5(f), the Executive receives any refund with respect to such claim, the Executive shall (subject to the Company's complying with the requirements of Section 5(f)) promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after any taxes applicable thereto). If, after the receipt by the Executive of an amount advanced by the Company pursuant to Section 5(f), a determination is made that the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify the Executive in writing of its intent to contest such denial or refund prior to the expiration of 30 calendar days after such determination, then such advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and the amount of any such advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid by the Company to the Executive pursuant to this Section 5. 6. No Mitigation Obligation. The Company hereby acknowledges that it will be difficult and may be impossible for the Executive to find reasonably comparable employment following the Termination Date. Accordingly, the payment of the severance compensation by the Company to the Executive in accordance with the terms of this Agreement is hereby acknowledged by the Company to be reasonable, and the Executive will not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor will any profits, income, earnings or other benefits from any source whatsoever create any mitigation, offset, reduction or any other obligation on the part of the Executive hereunder or otherwise, except as expressly provided in the last sentence of Paragraph 2 set forth on Annex A. 7. Legal Fees and Expenses. (a) It is the intent of the Company that the Executive not be required to incur legal fees and the related expenses associated with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of 10 Executive's rights under this Agreement by litigation or otherwise because the cost and expense thereof would substantially detract from the benefits intended to be extended to the Executive hereunder. Accordingly, if it should appear to the Executive that the Company has failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Agreement or in the event that the Company or any other person takes or threatens to take any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any litigation or other action or proceeding designed to deny, or to recover from, the Executive the benefits provided or intended to be provided to the Executive hereunder, the Company irrevocably authorizes the Executive from time to time to retain counsel of Executive's choice, at the expense of the Company as hereafter provided, to advise and represent the Executive in connection with any such interpretation, enforcement or defense, including without limitation the initiation or defense of any litigation or other legal action, whether by or against the Company or any Director, officer, stockholder or other person affiliated with the Company, in any jurisdiction. Notwithstanding any existing or prior attorney-client relationship between the Company and such counsel, the Company irrevocably consents to the Executive's entering into an attorney-client relationship with such counsel, and in that connection the Company and the Executive agree that a confidential relationship shall exist between the Executive and such counsel. Without respect to whether the Executive prevails, in whole or in part, in connection with any of the foregoing, the Company will pay and be solely financially responsible for any and all attorneys' and related fees and expenses incurred by the Executive in connection with any of the foregoing. (b) Without limiting the obligations of the Company pursuant to Section 7(a) hereof, in the event a Change in Control occurs, the performance of the Company's obligations under this Agreement, including, without limitation, this Section 7 and Annex A, shall be secured by amounts deposited or to be deposited in trust pursuant to certain trust agreements to which the Company shall be a party providing that the benefits to be provided hereunder and the fees and expenses of counsel selected from time to time by the Executive pursuant to Section 7(a) shall be paid, or reimbursed to the Executive if paid by the Executive, either in accordance with the terms of such trust agreements, or, if not so provided, on a regular, periodic basis upon presentation by the Executive to the trustee of a statement or statements prepared by such counsel in accordance with its customary practices. Any failure by the Company to satisfy any of its obligations under this Section 7(b) shall not limit the rights of the Executive hereunder. Subject to the foregoing, the Executive shall have the status of a general unsecured creditor of the Company and shall have no right to, or security interest in, any assets of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company. 8. Confidentiality; Nonsolicitation. (a) During the Term, the Company agrees that it will disclose to Executive its confidential or proprietary information (as defined in this Section 8(a)) to the extent necessary for Executive to carry out his obligations to the Company. The Executive hereby covenants and agrees that he will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, during the Term or thereafter disclose to any person not employed by the Company, or use in connection with engaging in competition with the Company, any confidential or proprietary information of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "confidential or proprietary information" will include all information of any nature and in any form that is owned by the Company and that is not publicly available (other than by Executive's breach of this Section 8(a)) or generally 11 known to persons engaged in businesses similar or related to those of the Company. Confidential or proprietary information will include, without limitation, the Company's financial matters, customers, employees, industry contracts, strategic business plans, product development (or other proprietary product data), marketing plans, and all other secrets and all other information of a confidential or proprietary nature. For purposes of the preceding two sentences, the term "Company" will also include any Subsidiary (collectively, the "Restricted Group"). The foregoing obligations imposed by this Section 8(a) will not apply (i) during the Term, in the course of the business of and for the benefit of the Company, (ii) if such confidential or proprietary information will have become, through no fault of the Executive, generally known to the public or (iii) if the Executive is required by law to make disclosure (after giving the Company notice and an opportunity to contest such requirement). (b) The Executive hereby covenants and agrees that during the Term and for two years thereafter Executive will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, on behalf of Executive or on behalf of any person, firm or company, directly or indirectly, attempt to influence, persuade or induce, or assist any other person in so persuading or inducing, any employee of the Restricted Group to give up, or to not commence, employment or a business relationship with the Restricted Group. 9. Employment Rights. Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement will create any right or duty on the part of the Company or the Executive to have the Executive remain in the employment of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company prior to or following any Change in Control. Any termination of employment of the Executive or the removal of the Executive from the office or position in the Company or any Affiliate of the Company that occurs following the commencement of any discussion with a third person that ultimately results in a Change in Control, shall be deemed to be a termination or removal of the Executive after a Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement. 10. Withholding of Taxes. The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as the Company is required to withhold pursuant to any applicable law, regulation or ruling. 11. Successors and Binding Agreement. (a) The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Executive, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor to the Company, including without limitation any persons acquiring directly or indirectly all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise (and such successor shall thereafter be deemed the "Company" for the purposes of this Agreement), but will not otherwise be assignable, transferable or delegable by the Company. 12 (b) This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees and legatees. (c) This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign, transfer or delegate this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder except as expressly provided in Sections 11(a) and 11(b). Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, the Executive's right to receive payments hereunder will not be assignable, transferable or delegable, whether by pledge, creation of a security interest, or otherwise, other than by a transfer by Executive's will or by the laws of descent and distribution and, in the event of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to this Section 11(c), the Company shall have no liability to pay any amount so attempted to be assigned, transferred or delegated. 12. Notices. For all purposes of this Agreement, all communications, including without limitation notices, consents, requests or approvals, required or permitted to be given hereunder will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when hand delivered or dispatched by electronic facsimile transmission (with receipt thereof orally confirmed), or five business days after having been mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or three business days after having been sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service such as FedEx, UPS, or Purolator, addressed to the Company (to the attention of the Secretary of the Company) at its principal executive office and to the Executive at his principal residence, or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing and in accordance herewith, except that notices of changes of address shall be effective only upon receipt. 13. Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of Ohio, without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws of such State. 14. Validity. If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any provision hereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to any other person or circumstance will not be affected, and the provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal will be reformed to the extent (and only to the extent) necessary to make it enforceable, valid or legal. 15. Miscellaneous. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by the Executive and the Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto or compliance with any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party will be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, expressed or implied with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. References to Sections are to Sections of this Agreement. 13 16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same agreement. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written. ROADWAY CORPORATION By: ____________________________________________ ________________________________________________ 14 Annex A SEVERANCE COMPENSATION (1) A lump sum payment in an amount equal to two times the sum of (A) Base Pay (at the highest rate in effect for any period within five years prior to the Termination Date), plus (B) Incentive Pay (in an amount equal to not less than the highest target or payout Incentive Pay rate in any of the five fiscal years immediately preceding the year in which the Change in Control occurred). (2) For a period of 24 months following the Termination Date (the "Continuation Period"), the Company will arrange to provide the Executive with Employee Benefits that are welfare benefits including, without limitation, life insurance (but not stock option, performance share, performance unit, stock purchase, stock appreciation or similar compensatory benefits or benefits covered by (3) below) substantially similar to those that the Executive was receiving or entitled to receive immediately prior to the Termination Date (or, if greater, immediately prior to the reduction, termination, or denial described in Section 3(b)(ii)). If and to the extent that any benefit described in this Paragraph 2 is not or cannot be paid or provided under any policy, plan, program or arrangement of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, as the case may be, then the Company will itself pay or provide for the payment to the Executive, his dependents and beneficiaries, of such Employee Benefits along with, in the case of any benefit described in this Paragraph 2 which is subject to tax because it is not or cannot be paid or provided under any such policy, plan, program or arrangement of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, an additional amount such that after payment by the Executive, or his dependents or beneficiaries, as the case may be, of all taxes so imposed, the recipient retains an amount equal to such taxes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any other provision of the Agreement, for purposes of determining the period of continuation coverage to which the Executive or any of his dependents is entitled pursuant to Section 4980B of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) under the Company's medical, dental and other group health plans, or successor plans, the Executive's "qualifying event" shall be the termination of the Continuation Period. Further, for purposes of the immediately preceding sentence and for any other purpose including, without limitation, the calculation of service or age to determine Executive's eligibility for benefits under any life insurance plan or policy, the Executive shall be considered to have remained actively employed on a full-time basis through the termination of the Continuation Period. Without otherwise limiting the purposes or effect of Section 6, Employee Benefits otherwise receivable by the Executive pursuant to this Paragraph 2 will be reduced to the extent comparable welfare benefits are actually received by the Executive from another employer during the Continuation Period following the Executive's Termination Date, and any such benefits actually received by the Executive shall be reported by the Executive to the Company. (3) In addition to the retirement income and other benefits to which Executive is entitled under the Company's Retirement Plans with respect to Executive's employment through the Termination Date, a lump sum payment in an amount equal to the present value of the excess of (x) the retirement income and other benefits that would be payable to the Executive under the Retirement Plans if Executive had continued to be employed as an active participant in the Company's Retirement Plans through the Continuation Period given the Executive's Base Pay A-1 and Incentive Pay (as determined in Paragraph 1) (without regard to any amendment to the Retirement Plans made subsequent to a Change in Control which reduces the retirement income or other benefits thereunder), over (y) the retirement income and other benefits that the Executive is entitled to receive (either immediately or on a deferred basis) under the Retirement Plans. For purposes of this Paragraph 3, present value shall be determined by applying the interest rate and mortality table used for the purpose of calculating benefits under the Company's pension benefit plan. (4) A lump sum payment in an amount equal to the cost of providing medical coverage to the Executive from the expiration of the Continuation Period until the Executive is eligible to receive Medicare. (5) Reasonable fees for outplacement services, by a firm selected by the Executive, at the expense of the Company in an amount not in excess of 20% of the Executive's Base Pay. (6) Financial counseling during the Continuation Period in a manner similar to that provided to executive officers prior to a Change in Control. A-2