UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 8-K

 


CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) March 9, 2007

 


YRC Worldwide Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   0-12255   48-0948788

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

10990 Roe Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas 66211

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (913) 696-6100

 


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 



Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

LTIP

On March 9, 2007, the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of YRC Worldwide Inc. (the “Company”) approved awards under the YRC Worldwide Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”). The Committee, at management’s request, exercised its discretion to reduce the cash portion of the awards approved for the 2004-2006 performance cycle due to the Company’s performance versus financial goals. This reduction was applicable to awards to all NEOs (as defined below), as well as other LTIP participants. Had this reduction not been made, NEOs would have received awards equal to 137% of their respective target percentage; however, after applying the reduction, NEOs received awards equal to 75% of their respective target percentage. As a result, the following officers (each an “NEO”) received the following cash payments: William D. Zollars (Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer), $297,793; Donald G. Barger, Jr. (Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer), $52,114; James D. Staley (President, YRC Regional Transportation), $92,502; James L. Welch (President and Chief Executive Officer, Yellow Transportation) (retired in January 2007), $70,465; and Michael J. Smid (President of YRC National Transportation), $59,258.

In addition, the Committee amended the LTIP to reflect, among other changes, the items summarized below. Under the LTIP, payments are made to executives depending upon the Company attaining certain financial performance objectives during a three-year performance cycle, as compared to companies in the S&P MidCap 400 Index. Unless otherwise indicated, all amendments are effective beginning with the grants for the 2005 – 2007 performance cycle.

 

   

The Committee changed the performance measures and weighting of those measures to 60% based upon return on committed capital (“ROC”) and 40% based upon net operating profit after tax (“NOPAT”) growth from the prior weighting of 70% ROC and 30% NOPAT growth as compared to the performance of companies in the S&P MidCap 400 Index.

 

 

 

If the Company performs at or above the 25 th percentile, the executive will now receive awards at 25% of the executive’s LTIP target rather than at 50% of the executive’s LTIP target, while 50 th percentile performance will continue to generate awards at 100% of an executive’s target, 75 th percentile performance will continue to generate awards at a maximum of 200% of an executive’s target, and performance below the 25 th percentile will continue to generate no award.

 

   

The executive will receive awards 1/3 in cash and 2/3 in performance share units rather than 1/2 in cash and 1/2 in performance share units.

 

   

For grants beginning with the 2004 – 2006 performance cycle, the Committee reduced the vesting period on all performance share unit awards to three years from the date of grant, with no holding restrictions at the end of that three-year period. The previous vesting period for grants included a three year vesting period on 50% of the units and a six year holding period from the date of grant on those units, and a six year vesting on the remaining 50% of the units, with no additional holding period. In addition, holding period restrictions on performance share units that the Company granted for the 2003 – 2005 performance cycle and before will terminate effective January 1, 2008, the date such restrictions could cease pursuant to the transitional rules under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. Vesting will continue to accelerate with respect to the performance share units upon retirement, death, disability or a change in control of the Company.

 

   

The Committee changed the weighting of the comparative performance for the awards from equal annual weighting over the three-year performance cycle to 25% weighting for each of the first two years of the cycle and 50% weighting for the final year of the three-year cycle.

 

   

The Committee may award restricted stock in lieu of cash that an executive receives under the LTIP and the Company’s Annual Incentive Compensation Program as necessary to bring a participant into or move the participant towards compliance with the Company’s Executive Ownership Guidelines.

 

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The amended LTIP is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference, and the foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of the amended LTIP. Performance share units are granted pursuant to the Yellow Roadway Corporation 2004 Long-Term Incentive and Equity Award Plan attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2.

The Committee approved amendment of the form of YRC Worldwide Inc. Share Unit Agreement to reflect the new vesting schedule for performance share unit awards. That form is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Annual Performance-Based Incentive Bonus Program

On March 9, 2007, the Committee approved awards under the Company’s annual performance-based incentive bonus program for 2006. The Committee, at management’s request, reduced the annual incentive payouts from actual to 15% of the target incentive bonus. Had the reduction not been made, the actual payouts would have been below target but greater than the 15% level. As a result, the NEOs received the following cash payments: Mr. Zollars, $187,500; Mr. Barger, $36,094; Mr. Staley, $79,875; Mr. Welch, $39,043; and Mr. Smid $37,249.

In addition, the Committee set the criteria for determining payouts under the annual performance-based incentive bonus program to the NEOs (other than Mr. Welch, who retired in January 2007) for 2007. Like previous years, payouts will be dependent largely on the satisfaction of performance objectives tied to the operating income and NOPAT for the Company and the achievement of personal objectives and business unit objectives for the business unit to which the executive is assigned. The Committee has set the following percentage of target incentive bonus payouts upon achievement of the stated objectives in 2007:

 

Threshold

 

85% Plan Goal

 

Target

 

Maximum

75% of Financial Plan Goal   85% of Financial Plan Goal   100% of Financial Plan Goal   130% of Financial Plan Goal

10% of Target

Incentive Bonus

 

30% of Target

Incentive Bonus

 

100% of Target

Incentive Bonus

 

200% of Target

Incentive Bonus

Actual achievement of objectives between threshold and 85% of the financial plan goal, between 85% of the financial plan goal and target and between target and maximum would provide executives with payouts that are proportionately between the percentage of target incentive bonus for each of those objectives.

Executive Severance Agreements

On March 9, 2007, the Company, upon the Committee’s approval, entered into a revised Executive Severance Agreement with each of Mr. Zollars, Mr. Barger, Mr. Staley and Mr. Smid. Each Executive Severance Agreement, which provides for certain payments to the officers upon a change of control (as defined in the agreement) and upon termination of employment after a change of control, supersedes and replaces the prior Executive Severance Agreement between the officer and the Company.

The prior Executive Severance Agreements were modified, among other things, to address the timing of payments as a result of recent IRS regulations and guidance issued under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and to provide that cash and equity awards under the LTIP that are paid out upon a change of control, will be based on the greater of (1) estimated actual performance for each period as the Committee (as it exits prior to the change of control) determines, and (2) target performance. The prior Executive Severance Agreements assumed target performance for purposes of determining payment under the LTIP.

The form of Executive Severance Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.4 and is incorporated herein by reference, and the foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of such form of Executive Severance Agreement.

 

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Indemnification Agreements

On March 9, 2007, the Company, upon approval by the Committee, entered into an indemnification agreement with each of Mr. Zollars, Mr. Barger, Mr. Staley, Mr. Smid and each of the Company’s directors to supplement the indemnity to which the officers and directors are entitled pursuant the Company’s Bylaws and Delaware General Corporation Law. Among other things, the indemnification agreements:

 

   

Require the Company to indemnify the officers and directors to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law for liabilities arising out of the officer’s or director’s service to the Company or another entity at the request of the Company.

 

   

Provide for the advancement by the Company of expenses reasonably incurred by the officers and directors in the investigation, defense, prosecution of or other involvement in any proceeding.

 

   

Contain a procedure for determining an officer’s and director’s entitlement to indemnification and enforcement remedies for the officers and directors.

 

   

Require the Company to cover the officers and directors under any policy providing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance maintained by the Company.

The form of Indemnification Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.5 and is incorporated herein by reference, and the foregoing summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of such form of Indemnification Agreement.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (d) Exhibits

 

  10.1 YRC Worldwide Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

  10.2 Yellow Roadway Corporation 2004 Long-Term Incentive and Equity Award Plan

 

  10.3 Form of YRC Worldwide Inc. Share Unit Agreement

 

  10.4 Form of Executive Severance Agreement

 

  10.5 Form of Indemnification Agreement

 

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

    YRC WORLDWIDE INC.
Date: March 15, 2007   By:  

/S/ DANIEL J. CHURAY

    Daniel J. Churay
   

Executive Vice President,

General Counsel and Secretary

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

10.1    YRC Worldwide Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan
10.2    Yellow Roadway Corporation 2004 Long-Term Incentive and Equity Award Plan
10.3    Form of YRC Worldwide Inc. Share Unit Agreement
10.4    Form of Executive Severance Agreement
10.5    Form of Indemnification Agreement

 

6

Exhibit 10.1

YRC WORLDWIDE INC.

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

(As amended with effect from March 9, 2007)

 

 

Plan Provision

Performance Focus

Consolidated YRC Worldwide Inc. (“Company”) performance

 

Eligibility

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Committee”) shall determine who may participate in this Plan. Generally, grades 120-126 may be eligible for the Committee’s determination; however, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, omit those in those grade levels or add participants from outside of those grade levels. The Committee shall determine the award target percentages by grade level. The Committee may remove any participant from further participation in this Plan. For incomplete performance cycles upon termination of participation, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine to pay cash awards and issue Share Units to a terminating participant at the end of one or more relevant performance periods on a pro rata basis based on the length of time he or she was actively participating prior to termination during the performance period.

 

Performance Period

Overlapping three-year performance periods

 

Performance Criteria

Company performance measured against the S&P Mid Cap Index (400 companies) with target at the 50 th percentile, threshold at the 25 th percentile and maximum at the 75 th percentile. In addition, the Committee may reduce any potential payment or Share Unit issuance, under the Plan, based upon peer company performance relative to the Company or other performance factors that the Committee deems relevant.

 

Performance Measures and Weights

60% return on committed capital

 

40% net operating profit after taxes (“NOPAT”) growth

 

The first and second years of each performance cycle shall each be weighted 25%, and the third year of each performance cycle shall be weighted 50%.

 

Thresholds and Maximums

Threshold is 25% of target at the 25 th percentile.

 

Target is 100% at 50 th percentile.

 

Maximum is 200% of target at the 75 th percentile.

 

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At and above the 75 th percentile on an individual component, the return on committed capital and NOPAT growth components may be over-weighted up to 230% of the component performance; provided that the overall payout on both components is capped at 200% of target.

Plan Formula

Form of Payments and Issuances

50% cash and 50% Share Units, awarded at the end of performance period through the 2004-06 performance cycle. 33-1/3% cash and 66-2/3% Share Units beginning with the 2005-07 performance cycle. For grants after April 21, 2005, Share Units are determined by dividing the cash value by the average daily closing share price for the 30-trading day period ending on the day immediately prior to the date of grant. Share Units are converted to shares of stock and delivered to the participant upon becoming fully vested and all holding periods are fully satisfied. The Committee may, based upon an estimated calculation, pay out a percentage of any earned cash award and issue a portion of Share Units in the first quarter of the year following the performance period with the balance to be paid and issued by the end of the 3 rd quarter in that year once the final calculations can be made. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine the sample size of the comparison companies in the applicable S&P index.

 

 

Reference is made to the Company’s Executive Ownership Guidelines (the “Ownership Guidelines”). For any grant having a cash component, the Committee may award restricted stock in lieu of cash as necessary to bring a participant into or move the participant towards compliance with the Ownership Guidelines.

 

Vesting of Share Units

For grants through the 2003-05 performance cycle, 50% of the Share Units vest after three years and the remaining 50% of the Share Units vest after six years, in each case, from the date of grant. For grants beginning with the 2004-06 performance cycle, 100% of the Share Units vest after three years from the date of grant. Prior restrictions on previously granted Share Units that provided that the participant will not receive any stock on the vesting of the first 50% until the holding period is satisfied on the 6 th anniversary of the date of grant or termination of employment after vesting, whichever occurs earlier, are hereby removed effective as of the first trading day in 2008.

 

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Termination of Employment

Vested Share Units are converted to stock and delivered to the participant. Non-vested Share Units are forfeited, and no payment or issuance is made for incomplete performance periods. The Committee, at its sole discretion, may determine to deliver non-vested Share Units to the terminating participant based on the circumstances of his or her separation from the Company.

 

Retirement and Disability

If the participant is age 65 upon termination of employment or is deemed to be totally or permanently disabled, both vested and non-vested Share Units are converted to stock and delivered to the participant.

 

 

A participant shall be considered “permanently and totally disabled” if the participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months or is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the participant’s employer The existence of a permanent and total disability shall be evidenced by such medical certification as the Secretary of the Company shall require and as the Committee approves.

 

 

If the participant terminates employment prior to age 65 and the participant is at least 55 years of age with the participant’s age plus years of service equal to at least 75, the Share Units shall continue to vest on the same schedule as if the participant remained employed until age 65, and upon age 65 after such retirement all remaining Share Units shall become fully vested and convert to shares of stock; provided , that the participant does not breach the non-competition covenant contained in the Share Unit agreement.

 

 

For incomplete performance cycles, only for those participants who entered the Plan on a pro rata basis for initial performance cycles (as described below in “New Participants”), upon such retirement or disability, the participant will be paid both cash and stock at the end of the performance period on a pro rata basis based on the length of time he or she was actively employed during the performance period. For those participants who entered the Plan on a full target participation basis, there will be no payout or issuance for incomplete performance cycles upon retirement or disability.

 

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Death

Vested and non-vested Share Units are converted to stock and delivered to the person’s estate. For incomplete performance cycles, only for those participants who entered the Plan on a pro rata basis for initial performance cycles (as described below in “New Participants”), the participant’s estate will be paid both cash and stock at the end of the performance period on a pro rata basis based on the length of time he or she was employed during the performance period. For those participants who entered the Plan on a full target participation basis, there will be no payout or issuance to the participant’s estate for incomplete performance cycles.

 

Change of Control of the Company

Vested and non-vested Share Units are converted to shares of stock and delivered to the participant in the event of a Change of Control (defined below). For incomplete performance cycles, only for those participants who entered the Plan on a pro rata basis for initial performance cycles (as described below in “New Participants”), the participant will be paid both cash and stock on the date of the Change of Control on a pro rata basis based on the length of time he or she was actively employed during the performance period, assuming that the Company would meet estimated actual performance for each period as the Committee determines (but in no event less than Target performance). For those participants who entered the Plan on a full target participation basis, there will be no payout or issuance for incomplete performance cycles upon a Change of Control. For the purposes of this Plan, “Change of Control” shall have the meaning that term is given in the Executive Severance Agreement between the participant and the Company, as it may be amended from time to time; or, if no such agreement exists, the meaning that term is given in the latest Executive Severance Agreement between the Company and its Chief Executive Officer.

 

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New Participants

New participants in the Plan will enter the Plan at the effective date determined by the Committee. The Committee may either determine to adjust new participant target percentages for partially completed performance periods pro rata based upon the length of time of their service during the performance period or provide the new participant full target participation.

Impact of Acquisitions and Implementation of Plan Amendments

Because of the impact of the Company’s acquisitions of Roadway Corporation and USF Corporation on the 2004 and 2005 years, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine the methodology for determining NOPAT growth and average portions of the applicable performance periods to determine the different performance against NOPAT growth and return on committed capital before and after each acquisition. This Long Term Incentive Plan (this “Plan”) amends and restates the 2004 Long Term Incentive Plan as previously adopted and amended in its entirety.

Deferred Compensation

This Plan is intended to meet the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and may be administered in a manner that is intended to meet those requirements and shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that an award or payment, or the settlement or deferral thereof, is subject to Section 409A of the Code, except as the Committee otherwise determines in writing, the award shall be granted, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that will meet the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, including regulations or other guidance issued with respect thereto, such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral shall not be subject to the excise tax applicable under Section 409A of the Code. Any provision of this Plan that would cause the award or the payment, settlement or deferral thereof to fail to satisfy Section 409A of the Code shall be amended to comply with Section 409A of the Code on a timely basis, which may be made on a retroactive basis, in accordance with regulations and other guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code.

Amendments and Modifications

The Committee, in its sole discretion, may terminate, amend or modify this Plan; provided , that any such termination, amendment or modification may not affect any previous grants or any rights of a participant after the occurrence of that participant’s death, disability or retirement as this Plan provides or after the occurrence of a Change of Control of the Company.

 

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Exhibit 10.2

YELLOW ROADWAY CORPORATION

2004 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE AND EQUITY AWARD PLAN

1. Definitions . In this Plan, except where the context otherwise indicates, the following definitions shall apply:

1.1 “Affiliate” means a corporation, partnership, business trust, limited liability company, or other form of business organization at least a majority of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or other equity interests of which is owned by the Company, either directly or indirectly.

1.2 “Agreement” means a written agreement or other document evidencing an Award that shall be in such form as the Committee may specify. The Committee in its discretion may, but need not, require a Participant to sign an Agreement.

1.3 “Automatic Adjustment Event” means a change in the outstanding Common Stock by reason of a stock dividend, stock split, or reverse stock split.

1.4 “Award” means a grant of:

(a) an Option;

(b) a SAR;

(c) Restricted Stock;

(d) a Restricted Stock Unit;

(e) a Performance Award; or

(f) an Other Stock-Based Award.

1.5 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

1.6 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

1.7 “Committee” means the committee(s), subcommittee(s), or person(s) the Board appoints to administer this Plan or to make or administer specific Awards hereunder. If no appointment is in effect at any time, “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Committee” means the Board for purposes of granting Awards to Non-Employee Directors and administering this Plan with respect to those Awards, unless the Board determines otherwise.

1.8 “Common Stock” means the Company’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share.

1.9 “Company” means Yellow Roadway Corporation and any successor thereto.

1.10 “Date of Exercise” means the date on which the Company receives notice of the exercise of an Option or SAR in accordance with the terms of Section 8.

1.11 “Date of Grant” means the date on which an Award is granted under this Plan.

1.12 “Eligible Person” means any person who is:

(a) an Employee;

(b) hired to be an Employee;

(c) a Non-Employee Director; or

(d) a consultant or independent contractor to the Company or an Affiliate.

 


1.13 “Employee” means any person that the Committee determines to be an employee of the Company or an Affiliate.

1.14 “Exercise Price” means the price per Share at which an Option may be exercised.

1.15 “Fair Market Value” means an amount equal to the then fair market value of a Share as determined by the Committee pursuant to a reasonable method adopted in good faith for such purpose. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, if the Common Stock is traded on a securities exchange or automated dealer quotation system, fair market value shall be the last sale price for a Share, as of the relevant date, on such securities exchange or automated dealer quotation system as reported by such source as the Committee may select.

1.16 “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option granted under this Plan that the Committee designates as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.

1.17 “Non-Employee Director” means any member of the Company’s or an Affiliate’s Board of Directors who is not an Employee.

1.18 “Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option granted under this Plan that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

1.19 “Option” means an option to purchase Shares granted under this Plan in accordance with the terms of Section 6.

1.20 “Option Period” means the period during which an Option may be exercised.

1.21 “Other Stock-Based Award” means an Other Stock Based Award as defined in Section 13.

1.22 “Participant” means an Eligible Person who has been granted an Award hereunder.

1.23 “Performance Award” means a performance award granted under this Plan in accordance with the terms of Section 11.

1.24 “Performance Goals” means performance goals that the Committee establishes, which may be based on:

(a) accounts receivable targets;

(b) satisfactory internal or external audits;

(c) achievement of balance sheet or income statement objectives;

(d) cash flow (including operating cash flow and free cash flow);

(e) customer satisfaction metrics and achievement of customer satisfaction goals;

(f) dividend payments;

(g) earnings (including before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, and amortization);

(h) earnings growth;

(i) earnings per share;

(j) economic value added;

(k) expenses;

(l) improvement of financial ratings;

(m) internal rate of return;

 

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(n) market share;

(o) net asset value;

(p) net income;

(q) net operating gross margin;

(r) net operating profit after taxes (“NOPAT”);

(s) net sales growth;

(t) NOPAT growth;

(u) operating income;

(v) operating margin;

(w) comparisons to the performance of other companies;

(x) pro forma income;

(y) regulatory compliance;

(z) return measures (including return on assets, designated assets, capital, committed capital, net capital employed, equity, sales, or stockholder equity, and return versus the Company’s cost of capital);

(aa) revenues;

(bb) sales;

(cc) stock price (including growth measures and total stockholder return);

(dd) comparison to stock market indices;

(ee) implementation or completion of one or more projects or transactions;

(ff) working capital; or

(gg) any other objective goals that the Committee establishes.

Performance Goals may be absolute in their terms or measured against or in relationship to other companies comparably, similarly or otherwise situated. Performance Goals may be particular to an Eligible Person or the department, branch, Affiliate, or division in which the Eligible Person works, or may be based on the performance of the Company, one or more Affiliates, or the Company and one or more Affiliates, and may cover such period as the Committee may specify.

1.25 “Plan” means this Yellow Roadway Corporation 2004 Long-Term Incentive and Equity Award Plan, as amended from time to time.

1.26 “Related Option” means an Option in connection with which, or by amendment to which, a SAR is granted.

1.27 “Related SAR” means a SAR granted in connection with, or by amendment to, an Option.

1.28 “Restricted Stock” means Shares granted under this Plan pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.

1.29 “Restricted Stock Units” means an award providing for the contingent grant of Shares (or the cash equivalent thereof) pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.

1.30 “SAR” means a stock appreciation right granted under this Plan in accordance with the terms of Section 7.

 

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1.31 “Section 422 Employee” means an Employee who is employed by the Company or a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” (both as defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code) with respect to the Company.

1.32 “Share” means a share of Common Stock.

1.33 “Ten-Percent Stockholder” means a Section 422 Employee who (applying the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) owns stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” (both as defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code) with respect to the Company.

1.34 Construction . Unless the context expressly requires the contrary, references in this Plan to (a) the term “Section” refers to the sections of this Plan, and (b) the word “including” means “including (without limitation).”

2. Purpose. This Plan is intended to assist the Company and its Affiliates in attracting and retaining Eligible Persons of outstanding ability and to promote the identification of their interests with those of the stockholders of the Company and its Affiliates.

3. Administration . The Committee shall administer this Plan and shall have plenary authority, in its discretion, to grant Awards to Eligible Persons, subject to the provisions of this Plan. The Committee shall have plenary authority and discretion, subject to the provisions of this Plan, to determine the Eligible Persons to whom it grants Awards, the terms (which terms need not be identical) of all Awards, including the Exercise Price of Options, the time or times at which Awards are granted, the number of Shares covered by Awards, whether an Option shall be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, any exceptions to nontransferability, and any Performance Goals applicable to Awards. In making these determinations, the Committee may take into account the nature of the services rendered or to be rendered by Award recipients, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Company and its Affiliates, and such other factors as the Committee in its discretion shall deem relevant. Subject to the provisions of this Plan, the Committee shall have plenary authority to interpret this Plan and Agreements, prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to them, and make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Plan and Awards granted hereunder. The determinations of the Committee on the matters referred to in this Section 3 shall be binding and final. The Committee may delegate its authority under this Section 3 and the terms of this Plan to such extent it deems desirable and is consistent with the requirements of applicable law.

4. Eligibility. Awards may be granted only to Eligible Persons.

5. Stock Subject to Plan.

5.1 Number of Shares . Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 14, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued under this Plan is 3.0 million Shares, plus (a) the number of Shares (not to exceed 0.43 million shares) authorized but not issued under the Yellow Corporation Directors’ Stock Compensation Plan, the Yellow Corporation 2002 Stock Option and Share Award Plan, or the Yellow Corporation 1999 Stock Option Plan and (b) the number of Shares, if any, delivered to the Company as payment of the Exercise Price of Options. Shares issued under this Plan may, in whole or in part, be authorized but unissued Shares or Shares that shall have been, or may be, reacquired by the Company in the open market, in private transactions or otherwise. The number of Shares authorized for issuance under this Plan shall be decreased by two Shares for each Share issued pursuant to Awards that are Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards (any of the foregoing Awards are “Full Value Awards”).

5.2 Maximum Grant . Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 14, the maximum number of Shares with respect to which an Employee may be granted Awards under this Plan during any calendar year is 1.0 million Shares. The maximum number of Shares with respect to which an Employee has been granted Awards shall be determined in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code.

5.3 Adjustments to Number of Shares . If shares of Restricted Stock are forfeited or if an Award (including a Full Value Award) otherwise terminates, expires, or is settled without all or a portion of the Shares covered by the Award being issued (including Shares not issued in order to satisfy withholding taxes),

 

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the forfeited or unissued Shares under the terminated, expired, or settled Award shall again be available for the grant of Awards under this Plan. In the case of Full Value Awards, the number of Shares that again become available for the grant of Awards under this Plan shall reflect the last sentence of Section 5.1, so that, by way of example, if ten shares of Restricted Stock are forfeited, twenty Shares shall again be available for the grant of Awards, subject to the last sentence of Section 5.1.

6. Options .

6.1 Types of Option Grants . Options granted under this Plan shall be either Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options, as the Committee designates; provided, that Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to Eligible Persons who are Section 422 Employees on the Date of Grant. Each Option granted under this Plan shall be identified either as a Nonqualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option, and each Option shall be evidenced by an Agreement that specifies the terms and conditions of the Option. Options shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6 and such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with this Plan as the Committee may specify. The Committee may, in its discretion, condition the grant or vesting of an Option upon the achievement of one or more specified Performance Goals.

6.2 Exercise Price . The Exercise Price of an Option granted under this Plan shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Date of Grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an Employee who, on the Date of Grant is a Ten-Percent Shareholder, the Exercise Price shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Date of Grant.

6.3 Option Exercise Period . The Committee shall determine the Option Period for an Option, which shall be specifically set forth in the Agreement; provided, that an Option shall not be exercisable after ten years (five years in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten-Percent Stockholder) from its Date of Grant.

6.4 Surrender of Option . The Participant shall have the right to surrender to the Company an Option (or a portion thereof) that has become exercisable and to receive upon the surrender, without any payment to the Company (other than required tax withholding amounts paid in accordance with Section 20) that number of Shares (equal to the highest whole number of Shares) having an aggregate Fair Market Value as of the date of surrender equal to that number of Shares subject to the Option (or portion thereof) being surrendered multiplied by an amount equal to the excess of (a) the Fair Market Value on the date of surrender, over (b) the Exercise Price, plus an amount of cash equal to the fair market value of any fractional Share to which the Participant would be entitled but for the parenthetical above relating to whole number of Shares.

7. SARs .

7.1 Terms and Conditions of SAR . A SAR granted under this Plan shall be evidenced by an Agreement specifying the terms and conditions of the Award.

7.2 Grant of SAR . A SAR may be granted under this Plan:

(a) in connection with, and at the same time as, the grant of an Option under this Plan;

(b) by amendment of an outstanding Option granted under this Plan; or

(c) independently of any Option granted under this Plan.

A SAR described in clause (a) or (b) of the preceding sentence is a Related SAR. A Related SAR may, in the Committee’s discretion, apply to all or any portion of the Shares subject to the Related Option.

7.3 Exercise of SAR . A SAR may be exercised in whole or in part as provided in the applicable Agreement. Subject to the terms of the Agreement, a SAR entitles a Participant to receive, upon exercise and without payment to the Company (but subject to required tax withholding), either cash or that number of Shares (equal to the highest whole number of Shares), or a combination thereof, in an amount or having an aggregate Fair Market Value as of the Date of Exercise not to exceed the number of Shares subject to the portion of the SAR exercised multiplied by an amount equal to the excess of:

 

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(a) the Fair Market Value on the Date of Exercise of the SAR; over

(b) either (i) the Fair Market Value on the Date of Grant (or such amount in excess of the Fair Market Value as the Committee may specify) of the SAR if it is not a Related SAR, or (ii) the Exercise Price as provided in the Related Option if the SAR is a Related SAR.

7.4 SAR Exercise Period . The Committee shall determine the period during which a SAR may be exercised, which period shall be specifically set forth in the Agreement; provided, that:

(a) a SAR will expire no later than the earlier of (i) ten years from the Date of Grant, or (ii) in the case of a Related SAR, the expiration of the Related Option; and

(b) a Related SAR that is related to an Incentive Stock Option may be exercised only when and to the extent the Related Option is exercisable.

7.5 Share Adjustment with Related SAR or Related Option . The exercise, in whole or in part, of a Related SAR shall cause a reduction in the number of Shares subject to the Related Option equal to the number of Shares with respect to which the Related SAR is exercised. The exercise, in whole or in part, of a Related Option shall cause a reduction in the number of Shares subject to the Related SAR equal to the number of Shares with respect to which the Related Option is exercised.

8. Exercise of Options and SARs .

8.1 Methods of Exercise . An Option or SAR may be exercised, in whole or in part and subject to the terms of the applicable Agreement evidencing the Award, by the Participant’s delivering to the Company a notice of the exercise, in such form as the Committee may prescribe, accompanied, in the case of an Option, by:

(a) the Participant’s full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised; or

(b) to the extent provided in the applicable Agreement or otherwise authorized by the Committee,

(i) for Participants other than the Company’s designated executive officers and directors, payment may be effected by irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver promptly to the Company cash equal to the exercise price of the Option (a broker-assisted cashless exercise); or

(ii) payment may be made by delivery (including constructive delivery) of unencumbered Shares (provided that if the Shares were acquired pursuant to another option or other award granted under this Plan or under any other compensation plan maintained by the Company or any Affiliate, the Shares shall have been held for such period, if any, as the Committee may specify) valued at Fair Market Value on the Date of Exercise.

9. Restricted Stock Awards . Each grant of Restricted Stock under this Plan shall be subject to an Agreement, stock certificate transfer legend, or stop transfer instructions to the Company’s stock transfer agent, specifying the terms and conditions of the Award. Restricted Stock granted under this Plan shall consist of Shares that are restricted as to transfer, subject to forfeiture, and subject to such other terms and conditions as the Committee may specify. The terms and conditions may provide, in the discretion of the Committee, for the lapse of transfer restrictions or forfeiture provisions to be accelerated or contingent upon the achievement of one or more specified Performance Goals.

10. Restricted Stock Unit Awards . Each grant of Restricted Stock Units under this Plan shall be evidenced by an Agreement that (a) provides for the issuance of Shares to a Participant at such time(s) as the Committee may specify, and (b) contains such other terms and conditions as the Committee may specify, including terms that condition the issuance of Shares upon the achievement of one or more specified Performance Goals.

11. Performance Awards . Each Performance Award granted under this Plan shall be evidenced by an Agreement that (a) provides for the payment of cash or issuance of Shares, Options, or SARs contingent upon the attainment of one or more specified Performance Goals over such period as the Committee may specify, and (b) contains such other terms and conditions as the Committee may specify. For purposes of Section 5.2, a

 

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Performance Award shall be deemed to cover a number of Shares equal to the maximum number of Shares that may be issued upon payment of the Award. The maximum cash amount payable to any Employee pursuant to all Performance Awards granted to an Employee during a calendar year shall not exceed $5 million.

12. Dividends and Dividend Equivalents . The terms of an Award may, subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify, provide a Participant with the right to receive dividend payments or dividend equivalent payments with respect to Shares covered by the Award, which payments may be either made currently or credited to an account established for the Participant, and may be settled in cash or Shares, as determined by the Committee.

13. Other Stock-Based Awards . The Committee may in its discretion grant stock-based awards of a type other than those otherwise provided for in this Plan, including the issuance or offer for sale of unrestricted Shares (“Other Stock-Based Awards”). Other Stock-Based Awards shall cover such number of Shares and have such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine, including terms that condition the payment or vesting the Other Stock-Based Award upon the achievement of one or more Performance Goals.

14. Capital Events and Adjustments .

14.1 Automatic Adjustments . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee on or prior to the date of an Automatic Adjustment Event, upon the occurrence of an Automatic Adjustment Event, each of the following shall, automatically and without need for Committee action, be proportionately adjusted:

(a) the number of Shares subject to outstanding Awards;

(b) the per Share Exercise Price of Options and the per Share base price upon which payments under SARs that are not Related SARs are determined;

(c) the aggregate number Shares as to which Awards thereafter may be granted under this Plan; and

(d) the maximum number of Shares with respect to which an Employee may be granted Awards during any calendar year.

14.2 Discretionary Adjustments . Subject to Section 14.1, in the event of any change in the outstanding Common Stock by reason of a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off, recapitalization, reclassification, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation, liquidation or the like, the Committee may, as it deems equitable in its discretion, provide for a substitution for or adjustment in:

(a) the number and class of securities subject to outstanding Awards or the type of consideration to be received upon the exercise or vesting of outstanding Awards;

(b) the Exercise Price of Options and the base price upon which payments under SARs that are not Related SARs are determined;

(c) the aggregate number and class of securities for which Awards thereafter may be granted under this Plan; and

(d) the maximum number of securities with respect to which an Employee may be granted Awards during any calendar year.

Any provision of this Plan or any Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event of a merger or consolidation to which the Company is a party, the Committee shall take such actions, if any, as it deems necessary or appropriate to prevent the enlargement or diminishment of Participants’ rights under this Plan and Awards granted hereunder, and may, in its discretion, cause any Award granted hereunder to be canceled in consideration of a cash payment equal to the fair value of the canceled Award, as the Committee determines in its discretion.

15. Deferrals . The Committee may permit or require a Participant to defer the Participant’s receipt of Shares or cash that would otherwise be due to the Participant pursuant to the terms of an Award upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may establish.

 

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16. Termination or Amendment . The Board may amend or terminate this Plan in any respect at any time; provided, that after the stockholders of the Company have approved this Plan, the Board shall not amend or terminate this Plan without approval of (a) the Company’s stockholders to the extent applicable law or regulations or the requirements of the principal exchange or interdealer quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted, if any, requires stockholder approval of the amendment, and (b) each affected Participant if the amendment or termination would adversely affect the Participant’s rights or obligations under any Award granted prior to the date of the amendment or termination.

17. Modification, Substitution of Awards .

17.1 Modification of Awards; No Reduction in Exercise Price . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan, the Committee may modify the terms of any outstanding Awards; provided, that (a) no modification of an Award shall, without the consent of the Participant, alter or impair any of the Participant’s rights or obligations under the Award, and (b) subject to Section 14, in no event may (i) an Option be modified to reduce the Exercise Price of the Option, (ii) a SAR be modified to reduce the applicable Exercise Price (in the case of a Related SAR) or base price (in the case of other SARs), or (iii) an Option or SAR be cancelled or surrendered in consideration for the grant of a new Option or SAR with a lower Exercise Price or base price.

17.2 Substitution of Awards . Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, Awards may, in the Committee’s discretion, be granted under this Plan in substitution for stock options and other awards covering capital stock of another corporation which is merged into, consolidated with, or all or a substantial portion of the property or stock of which is acquired by, the Company or one of its Affiliates. The terms and conditions of the substitute Awards so granted may vary from the terms and conditions set forth in this Plan to such extent as the Committee may deem appropriate to conform, in whole or part, to the provisions of the awards in substitution for which they are granted. Substitute Awards granted hereunder shall not be counted toward the Share limit imposed by Section 5.2, except to the extent the Committee determines that counting those Awards is required for Awards granted hereunder to be eligible to qualify as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

18. Foreign Employees . Without amendment of this Plan, the Committee may grant Awards to Eligible Persons who are subject to the laws of foreign countries or jurisdictions on such terms and conditions different from those specified in this Plan as may in the judgment of the Committee be necessary or desirable to foster and promote achievement of the purposes of this Plan. The Committee may make such modifications, amendments, procedures, sub-plans and the like as may be necessary or advisable to comply with provisions of laws of other countries or jurisdictions in which the Company or any of its Affiliates operates or has employees.

19. Stockholder Approval . This Plan and any amendments to the Plan requiring stockholder approval pursuant to Section 16 are subject to approval by vote of the stockholders of the Company at the next annual or special meeting of stockholders following adoption by the Board.

20. Withholding . The Company’s obligation to issue or deliver Shares or pay any amount pursuant to the terms of any Award granted hereunder shall be subject to satisfaction of applicable federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding requirements. In accordance with such rules as the Committee may prescribe, a Participant may satisfy any withholding tax requirements by one or any combination of the following means:

(a) tendering a cash payment;

(b) authorizing the Company to withhold Shares otherwise issuable to the Participant; or

(c) delivering to the Company already-owned and unencumbered Shares.

21. No Loans . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, no loans will be permitted by the Company to the Company’s designated executive officers and directors, including without limitation a loan in conjunction with the exercise of an Option or SAR and a transaction structured as a broker-assisted cashless exercise.

 

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22. Term of Plan . Unless the Board terminates this Plan pursuant to Section 16 on an earlier date, this Plan shall terminate on the date that is ten years after the earlier of that date that the Board adopts this Plan or the Company’s stockholders approve this Plan, and no Awards may be granted after that date. The termination of this Plan shall not affect the validity of any Award outstanding on the date of termination.

23. Indemnification of Committee . In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or Committee, the Company shall indemnify members of the Committee against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with this Plan or any Award granted hereunder, and against all amounts reasonably paid by them in settlement thereof or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, if those members acted in good faith and in a manner which they believed to be in, and not opposed to, the best interests of the Company.

24. General Provisions .

24.1 No Legal or Equitable Rights Conferred . The establishment of this Plan shall not confer upon any Eligible Person any legal or equitable right against the Company, any Affiliate or the Committee, except as expressly provided in this Plan. Participation in this Plan shall not give an Eligible Person any right to be retained in the service of the Company or any Affiliate.

24.2 Power of Company to Issue Awards or Adopt Other Plans . Neither the adoption of this Plan nor its submission to the Company’s stockholders shall be taken to impose any limitations on the powers of the Company or its Affiliates to issue, grant, or assume options, warrants, rights, or restricted stock, or other awards otherwise than under this Plan, or to adopt other stock option, restricted stock, or other plans, or to impose any requirement of stockholder approval upon the same.

24.3 Non-Transferability of Awards . The interests of any Eligible Person under this Plan or Awards granted hereunder are not subject to the claims of creditors and may not, in any way, be transferred, assigned, alienated or encumbered, except to the extent provided in an Agreement.

24.4 Governing Law . This Plan shall be governed, construed and administered in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the conflict of laws principles.

24.5 Award Restrictions . The Committee may require each person acquiring Shares pursuant to Awards granted hereunder to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that the person is acquiring the Shares without a view to distribution thereof. The certificates for the Shares may include any legend which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer. All certificates for Shares issued pursuant to this Plan shall be subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is then listed or interdealer quotation system upon which the Common Stock is then quoted, and any applicable federal or state securities laws. The Committee may place a legend or legends on certificates for Shares to make appropriate reference to the restrictions.

24.6 Regulatory Approvals and Compliance with Securities Laws . The Company shall not be required to issue any certificate or certificates for Shares with respect to Awards granted under this Plan, or record any person as a holder of record of Shares, without obtaining, to the complete satisfaction of the Committee, the approval of all regulatory bodies the Committee deems necessary, and without complying to the Board’s or Committee’s complete satisfaction, with all rules and regulations, under federal, state or local law the Committee deems applicable.

24.7 Non-certificated Awards; No Fractional Shares . To the extent that this Plan provides for issuance of stock certificates to reflect the issuance of Shares, the issuance may be effected on a non-certificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated dealer quotation system on which the Shares are traded. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to this Plan or any award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, other Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether any fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

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Exhibit 10.3

LOGO

YRC W ORLDWIDE I NC .

S HARE U NIT A GREEMENT

[NAME OF GRANTEE]

G RANTEE

D ATE   OF  G RANT :

T OTAL N UMBER OF

U NITS G RANTED :

 

V ESTING  S CHEDULE :    [Long-Term Incentive Program and Executive Share Program: 100% of the Units vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant]

G RANT OF S HARE U NITS

Pursuant to action taken by the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of YRC W ORLDWIDE I NC . , a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for the purposes of administration of the Yellow Roadway Corporation 2004 Long-Term Incentive and Equity Award Plan or any successor thereto (the “Plan”), the above-named Grantee is hereby granted rights to receive the above number of shares of the Company’s $1 par value per share common stock in accordance with the Vesting Schedule described above on a one share per one unit basis and subject to the other terms and conditions described in this Share Unit Agreement (this “Agreement”).

By your acceptance of the Share Units (the “Units”) represented by this Agreement, you agree that the Units are granted under and governed by the terms of the Plan, this Agreement and the Terms and Conditions of Share Agreements (March 9, 2007) attached to this Agreement; you acknowledge that you have received, reviewed and understand the Plan, including the provisions that the Committee’s decision on any matter arising under the Plan is conclusive and binding; and you agree that this Agreement amends and supercedes any other agreement or statement, oral or written, in its entirety regarding the vesting or holding period of these Units.

 

YRC W ORLDWIDE I NC .

 

Name:
Title:

Agreement agreed and

accepted by:

 

 

Grantee Name:

 

 


YRC W ORLDWIDE I NC .

T ERMS AND C ONDITIONS

OF

S HARE U NIT A GREEMENTS

March 9, 2007

These Terms and Conditions are applicable to Share Units (the “Units”) granted pursuant to the Yellow Roadway Corporation 2004 Long-Term Incentive and Equity Award Plan or any successor thereto (the “Plan”).

 

1. Acceleration of Vesting . Notwithstanding the provisions of the vesting schedule provided in the Share Unit Agreement, the vesting of the underlying shares for each Unit shall be accelerated and all units shall vest upon the following circumstances:

 

  1.1 Death or Permanent and Total Disability . If the Grantee dies or is deemed to be “permanently and totally disabled” (as defined herein) while in the employ of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company (a “Subsidiary”) and prior to the time the Units vest, the Units shall become fully vested and convert to shares of YRC Worldwide Inc. common stock. For purposes of this Section, a Grantee shall be considered “permanently and totally disabled” if the Grantee is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months or is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Grantee’s employer. The existence of a permanent and total disability shall be evidenced by such medical certification as the Secretary of the Company shall require and as the Committee approves.

 

  1.2 Change of Control of the Company . If a “Change of Control” of the Company occurs while the Grantee is in the employ of the Company or a Subsidiary prior to the time the Units vest, the Units shall become fully vested and convert to shares of YRC Worldwide Inc. common stock. For the purposes of this Section, a “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have taken place if:

 

  1.2.1 a third person, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), purchases or otherwise acquires shares of the Company after the date of grant that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50 percent of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the Company;

 

  1.2.2 a third person, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act purchases or otherwise acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or group) shares of the Company after the date of grant and as a result thereof becomes the beneficial owner of shares of the Company having 35% or more of the total number of votes that may be cast for election of directors of the Company; or

 

  1.2.3

as the result of, or in connection with any cash tender or exchange offer, merger or other Business Combination, or contested election, or any combination of the

 

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foregoing transactions, the Continuing Directors shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company or any successor to the Company during any 12-month period.

For the purposes of this Section, “Business Combination” means any transaction that is referred to in any one or more of clauses (a) through (e) of Section 1 of Subparagraph A of Article Seventh of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company; and “Continuing Director” means a director of the Company who meets the definition of Continuing Director contained in Section 7 of Subparagraph C of Article Seventh of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.

 

1.3 Retirement . If the Grantee terminates employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries and is at least 65 years of age upon that termination, the Units shall become fully vested and convert to shares of YRC Worldwide Inc. common stock. If the Grantee terminates employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries prior to age 65 and the Grantee is at least 55 years of age with the Grantee’s age plus years of service equal to at least 75, the Units shall continue to vest on the same schedule as if the Grantee remained employed with the Company and its Subsidiaries until age 65, and upon age 65 after such retirement all remaining Units shall become fully vested and convert to shares of YRC Worldwide Inc. common stock; provided , that the Grantee does not breach the following covenant in Section 1.4.

 

1.4 Prohibited Activities . Notwithstanding any other provision of these Terms and Conditions and the Share Unit Agreement, if the Grantee engages in a “Prohibited Activity” (defined below) while in the employment of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or during the period from the date of retirement under Section 1.3 until all units vest pursuant to that section, then Grantee shall forfeit the right to any further vesting of the Grantee’s units and shall not receive any undelivered shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Share Unit Agreement, and the Share Unit Agreement shall immediately thereupon wholly and completely terminate. If the Company receives an allegation of a Prohibited Activity, the Company, in its discretion, may suspend delivery of shares with respect to Units for up to three months to permit the investigation of the allegation. If the Company determines that the Grantee did not engage in any Prohibited Activities, the Company shall deliver shares with respect to any Units that have vested for which all restrictions have lapsed. A “Prohibited Activity” shall be deemed to have occurred, if the Grantee:

 

  1.4.1 divulges any non-public, confidential or proprietary information of the Company or of its past or present subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company Group”), but excluding information that

 

  1.4.1.1 becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of the Grantee’s public use, disclosure, or fault, or

 

  1.4.1.2 becomes available to the Grantee on a non-confidential basis after the Grantee’s employment termination date from a source other than a member of the Company Group prior to the public use or disclosure by the Grantee; provided that the source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement or otherwise prohibited from transmitting the information by a contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation; or

 

  1.4.2 directly or indirectly, consults or becomes affiliated with, conducts, participates or engages in, or becomes employed by, any business that is competitive with the business of any current member of the Company Group, wherever from time to time conducted throughout the world, including situations where the Grantee solicits or participates in or assists in any way in the solicitation or recruitment, directly or indirectly, of any employees of any current member of the Company Group.

 

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2. Lapse of Rights upon Termination of Employment .

Except as provided above, upon termination of the Grantee’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, the Grantee shall forfeit any unvested Unit.

 

3. Transfers of Employment; Authorized Leave .

 

  3.1 Transfers of Employment . Transfers of employment between the Company and a Subsidiary, or between Subsidiaries, shall not constitute a termination of employment for purposes of the Unit.

 

  3.2 Authorized Leave . Authorized leaves of absence from the Company shall not constitute a termination of employment for purposes of the Unit. For purposes of the Unit, an authorized leave of absence shall be an absence while the Grantee is on military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence so long as the Grantee’s right to employment with the Company is guaranteed by statute, a contract or Company policy.

 

  3.3 Withholding . To the extent the Grantee has taxable income in connection with the grant or vesting of the Unit or the delivery of shares of Company common stock, the Company is authorized to withhold from any compensation payable to Grantee, including shares of common stock that the Company is to deliver to the Grantee, any taxes required to be withheld by foreign, federal, state, provincial or local law. By executing the Share Unit Agreement, the Grantee authorizes the Company to withhold any applicable taxes.

 

4. Non-transferability . No rights under the Share Unit Agreement shall be transferable otherwise than by will, the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (“QDRO”), and, except to the extent otherwise provided herein, the rights and the benefits of the Share Unit Agreement may be exercised and received, respectively, during the lifetime of the Grantee only by the Grantee or by the Grantee’s guardian or legal representative or by an “alternate payee” pursuant to a QDRO.

 

5. Limitation of Liability . Under no circumstances will the Company be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential or special damages (including lost profits) of any form incurred by any person, whether or not foreseeable and regardless of the form of the act in which such a claim may be brought, with respect to the Plan or the Company’s role as Plan sponsor.

 

6. Units Subject to Plan . A copy of the Plan is included with the Share Unit Agreement. The provisions of the Plan as now in effect and as the Plan may be amended in the future (but only to the extent such amendments are allowed by the provisions of the Plan) are hereby incorporated in the Share Unit Agreement by reference as though fully set forth herein. Upon request to the Secretary of the Company, a Grantee may obtain a copy of the Plan and any amendments.

 

7. Definitions . Unless redefined herein, all terms defined in the Plan have the same meaning when used as capitalized terms in this Agreement.

 

8. Compliance with Regulatory Requirements . Notwithstanding anything else in the Plan, the shares received upon vesting of the Units may not be sold, pledged or hypothecated until such time as the Company complies with all regulatory requirements regarding registration of the Shares to be issued under the terms of the Plan.

 

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9. Deferred Compensation. This Agreement is intended to meet the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and may be administered in a manner that is intended to meet those requirements and shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that an award or payment, or the settlement or deferral thereof, is subject to Section 409A of the Code, except as the Committee otherwise determines in writing, the award shall be granted, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that will meet the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, including regulations or other guidance issued with respect thereto, such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral shall not be subject to the excise tax applicable under Section 409A of the Code. Any provision of this Agreement that would cause the award or the payment, settlement or deferral thereof to fail to satisfy Section 409A of the Code shall be amended to comply with Section 409A of the Code on a timely basis, which may be made on a retroactive basis, in accordance with regulations and other guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code.

 

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Exhibit 10.4

EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

THIS EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) between YRC Worldwide Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ YRC ”) and [name of executive] (the “ Executive ”),

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS , the duly authorized Compensation Committee (the “ Committee ”) of the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of YRC or the Board, has approved YRC entering into revised severance agreements with key executives of YRC and its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “ Corporation ”);

WHEREAS , the duly authorized Committee or the Board has selected the Executive as a key executive of the Corporation; and

WHEREAS , should YRC receive any proposal from a third person concerning a possible Business Combination (defined below) with, or acquisition of equity securities of, YRC, the Board believes it important that the Corporation and the Board be able to rely upon the Executive to continue in his position, and that YRC have the benefit of the Executive performing his duties without his being distracted by the personal uncertainties and risks created by such a proposal;

NOW, THEREFORE , the parties agree as follows:

1. Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the meanings given the terms in this Section 1.

 

(a) Business Combination ” means any transaction that is referred to as such in the Certificate of Incorporation of YRC, as amended.

 

(b) Cause ” means

 

  (1) a conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude by a court of competent jurisdiction that is no longer subject to direct appeal,

 

  (2) conduct that is materially and demonstrably injurious to YRC, or

 

  (3) the Executive’s willful engagement in one or more acts of dishonesty resulting in material personal gain to the Executive at the expense of YRC.

 

(c) Change of Control ,” for the purposes of this Agreement, shall be deemed to have taken place if:

 

  (1)

a third person, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), purchases or


 

otherwise acquires shares of YRC after the date of this Agreement that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of YRC;

 

  (2) a third person, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act purchases or otherwise acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or group) shares of YRC after the date of this Agreement and as a result thereof becomes the beneficial owner of shares of YRC having 35% or more of the total number of votes that may be cast for election of directors of YRC; or

 

  (3) as the result of, or in connection with any cash tender or exchange offer, merger or other Business Combination, or contested election, or any combination of the foregoing transactions, the Continuing Directors shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of YRC or any successor to YRC during any 12-month period.

 

(d) Continuing Director ” means a director of YRC who meets the definition of Continuing Director contained in the Certificate of Incorporation of YRC, as amended.

 

(e) Normal Retirement Age ” means the last day of the calendar month in which the Executive’s 65th birthday occurs.

 

(f) Permanent Disability ” means, as determined in the reasonable discretion of the Board or the duly authorized Committee, Executive is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months or is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Executive’s employer.

 

(g) Subsidiary ” means any domestic or foreign entity, of which YRC or its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly owns a majority of the entity’s shares or other equity interests normally entitled to vote in electing directors or selecting management.

 

(h) Target Bonus ” means the incentive compensation that the Board or the duly authorized Committee set or approved, that the Corporation has targeted to pay the Executive if the Executive, the Corporation or a Subsidiary achieves certain specified objectives that the Board or the duly authorized Committee has outlined or approved. The term “ Target Bonus ” for the year of a Termination means the Target Bonus of the Executive calculated as if the Executive were entitled to receive the entire Target Bonus for the relevant period without regard to whether the specified objectives are actually achieved.

 

(i)

Construction & Interpretation. As used in this Agreement, unless the context expressly requires the contrary, references to Sections shall mean the sections and subsections of this Agreement; references to “including” shall mean “including (without

 

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limitation)”; references to a “person” shall mean both legal entities and natural persons; references to the singular shall include the plural and vice versa ; and references to the masculine shall include the feminine and neutral, and vice versa .

2. Services During Certain Events . If a third person begins a tender or exchange offer for the shares of the Corporation, circulates a proxy to shareholders of the Corporation, or takes other steps seeking to effect a Change of Control, the Executive agrees that the Executive will not voluntarily leave the employ of the Corporation without the consent of the Corporation and will render the services contemplated in the recitals to this Agreement, until the third person has abandoned or terminated the third person’s efforts to effect a Change of Control or until 90 days after a Change of Control has occurred. If the Executive fails to comply with the provisions of this Section 2, the Corporation will suffer damages that are difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain. Accordingly, should the Executive fail to comply with the provisions of this Section 2, the Corporation shall retain the amounts that would otherwise be payable to the Executive (other than accrued salary under Section 4(a) and normal health, welfare and retirement benefits until the date of the Executive’s termination) under this Agreement as fixed, agreed and liquidated damages but shall have no other recourse against the Executive.

3. Termination After or in Connection With a Change of Control . For purposes of this Agreement, the term “ Termination ” shall include the following in this Section 3:

 

(a) the Corporation’s termination of the Executive’s employment with the Corporation within two years after a Change of Control for any reason other than death, Permanent Disability, retirement at or after his Normal Retirement Age or Cause;

 

(b) the Corporation’s termination of the employment of the Executive with the Corporation, for any reason other than death, Permanent Disability, retirement at or after his Normal Retirement Age or Cause, if the termination occurs at any time between:

 

  (1) the date the Corporation enters into a definitive agreement or files a proxy statement, or the date a third person begins a tender or exchange offer, in each case, in connection with a transaction that would constitute a Change of Control, or the date the Corporation takes other steps seeking to effect a Change of Control, and

 

  (2) the date the Change of Control transaction is either consummated, abandoned or terminated (for this purpose, the Board shall have the sole and absolute discretion to determine that a proposed transaction has been abandoned), or

 

(c) the resignation of the Executive after the occurrence of any of the following events within two years after a Change of Control:

 

  (1) an adverse change of the Executive’s title or a reduction or adverse change in the nature or scope of the Executive’s authority or duties from those the Executive exercised and performed immediately prior to the Change of Control;

 

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  (2) a transfer of the Executive to a location that is more than 35 miles away from the location where the Executive was employed immediately prior to the Change of Control;

 

  (3) a substantial increase occurs in the amount of time the Executive is required to spend traveling (for this purpose, a “substantial increase” will be deemed to occur if the Executive is required to travel in an amount greater than 30% more in any calendar year, measured in number of days, as compared to the average number of days the Executive was required to travel during the three preceding calendar years).

 

  (4) any reduction in the rate of the Executive’s annual salary below his rate of annual salary immediately prior to the Change of Control; or

 

  (5) any reduction in the level of the Executive’s fringe benefits or bonus below a level consistent with the Corporation’s practice prior to the Change of Control, other than changes applicable to all similarly situated executives of the Corporation.

4. Termination Payments . In the event of a Termination, YRC shall provide to the Executive the following benefits:

 

(a) YRC shall pay to the Executive, in accordance with its normal payroll policies, the compensation and benefits that the Executive accrued through the date of Termination. This amount shall include the pro rata amount of the Executive’s Target Bonus for the year that includes the date of Termination.

 

(b) YRC shall pay to the Executive, on the “ Termination Payment Commencement Date ” (defined below), as additional compensation for services rendered to the Corporation, a lump sum cash amount (subject to the minimum applicable federal, state or local lump sum withholding requirements, if any, unless the Executive requests that a greater amount be withheld) equal to two times the sum of:

 

  (1) the Executive’s current base salary, and

 

  (2) the Executive’s Target Bonus in effect for the year that includes the date of the Executive’s Termination (or if no such Target Bonus has been set, the Target Bonus for the prior year).

If there are fewer than 120 whole or partial months remaining from the date of the Executive’s Termination to his Normal Retirement Age, in lieu of the amount described above in this Section 4(b), YRC shall pay to the Executive, on the Termination Payment Commencement Date, as additional compensation for services rendered to the Corporation, a lump sum cash amount (subject to the minimum applicable federal, state or local lump sum withholding requirements, if any, unless the Executive requests that a greater amount be withheld) equal to three times the sum of:

 

  (3) the Executive’s current base salary, and

 

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  (4) the Executive’s Target Bonus in effect for the year that includes the date of the Executive’s Termination.

With respect to a payment to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, the “ Termination Payment Commencement Date ” shall mean (x) if the Board (or its delegate) determines in its sole discretion that as of the date of the Executive’s Termination the Executive is a “specified employee” (as defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder) as of the date of the Executive’s Termination and that Section 409A of the Code applies with respect to such payment, the first business day following the six-month anniversary of the date of the Executive’s Termination; or (y) if the Board (or its delegate) determines in its sole discretion that the Executive is not such a “specified employee” as of the date of the Executive’s Termination (or that Section 409A of the Code does not apply with respect to such payment), the date of the Executive’s Termination. The period commencing on the Executive’s date of Termination and ending on the six-month anniversary of such date is referred to herein as the “ Six-Month Delay Period ”)

 

(c) During the “ Applicable Period ” (defined below), following the Executive’s Termination, the Corporation shall arrange to provide the Executive with substantially similar benefits to the benefits the Executive would have received if the Executive had remained an employee of the Corporation, including the applicable medical, dental, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability and perquisite plans and programs covering key executives of the Corporation; provided that the Executive shall not be entitled to accrue any benefits after Termination under any 401(k) plan or defined benefit or contribution pension plan of the Corporation. Any benefits accrued under any such 401(k) or defined benefit or contribution pension plan shall be governed by those plans.

If the Board (or its delegate) determines in its sole discretion that Section 409A of the Code applies with respect to any amount payable to or on behalf of the Executive under a perquisite plan or other similar program of the Corporation, then any amount payable to or on behalf of the Executive under such perquisite plan or other similar program of the Corporation for each calendar month during the Applicable Period shall be paid in monthly installments on the last business day of the calendar month following such month; provided, however , that if the Board (or its delegate) also determines in its sole discretion that the Executive is a “specified employee” as of the date of the Executive’s Termination, any such amount(s) payable during the Six-Month Delay Period shall be paid in a lump sum on the Termination Payment Commencement Date, and for each calendar month during the Applicable Period thereafter shall be paid in monthly installments on the last business day of the calendar month following such month. In addition, if the Board (or its delegate) determines in its sole discretion that Section 409A of the Code applies to any medical, dental or life insurance benefit that is to be provided to Executive pursuant to this Section and that the Executive is a “specified employee” as of the date of the Executive’s Termination, such benefit(s) shall not be provided during the Six-Month Delay Period; provided, however, that, Executive and his dependent shall be eligible to participate in and may elect to receive continued coverage under the

 

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Corporation’s medical and dental plans in which he previously participated in accordance with the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“ COBRA ”) or any successor law during the Six-Month Delay Period, and YRC will reimburse Executive on the Termination Payment Commencement Date the total amount of COBRA premiums Executive paid during such period; provided, further , that thereafter, for the remainder of the Applicable Period, the Corporation shall arrange to provide the Executive with substantially similar benefits to the medical and dental benefits the Executive would have received if the Executive had remained an employee of the Corporation.

Applicable Period ” means:

 

  (1) if there are fewer than 120 whole or partial months remaining from the date of the Executive’s Termination to his Normal Retirement Date, three years, or

 

  (2) if Section 4(c)(1) above is not applicable, two years,

in each case, from the date of the Executive’s Termination.

 

(d) The Executive shall be entitled to the Gross-Up Payment, if any, described in Section 6.

5. Change of Control—Equity Grants and Awards . In the event of a Change of Control, all options to acquire shares of YRC, all shares of restricted YRC stock, all performance or share units and all other equity or phantom equity incentives that the Corporation granted the Executive under any agreement between Executive and Corporation or any plan of the Corporation, including YRC’s 1992, 1996, 1997 and 1999 Stock Option Plans, YRC’s 2002 Stock Option and Share Award Plan, YRC’s Executive Performance Plan, as amended, YRC’s 2004 Long-Term Incentive and Equity Award Plan, and the 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time, shall become immediately vested, exercisable and non-forfeitable and all conditions of any grant or award (including any required holding periods) shall be deemed to have been satisfied. If the Executive is a participant in YRC’s 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan or any similar or successor plan,

 

(a) for any incomplete performance period under the plan, the Corporation shall pay the Executive any cash or equity component upon the Change of Control that the plan provides only if the plan so provides, assuming that the Corporation would meet estimated actual performance for each period as the Committee (as it exists prior to the Change of Control) determines (but in no event less than Target performance);

 

(b) for any completed performance period under the plan, to the extent the Executive has not received the grant for the period assuming that the Corporation would meet estimated actual performance for each period as the Committee (as it exists prior to the Change of Control) determines (but in no event less than Target performance); provided that if the Executive had previously received a partial grant and that grant exceeded a grant for Target performance, the Executive shall not be required to return the prior grant; and, in each case, any equity component shall be treated in accordance with the first sentence of this Section 5.

 

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[For William D. Zollars only: In addition to the foregoing, in the event of a Change of Control, YRC shall pay the Executive the Supplemental Retirement Benefit provided for under Section 4(h) of the Employment Agreement by and between YRC and Executive dated January 25, 2006 in one lump sum payment within 30 days following such Change of Control; provided that such benefit shall be determined by taking into account the reduction for early payment as described in Section 4(h)(i) and applying the Moody’s Corporate Bond Rate in existence at the time of the lump sum payment as the “Discount Rate.”]

6. Additional Payments by YRC .

 

(a) Gross-Up Payment. If it shall be determined that the Corporation’s payment or provision of any payment or benefit of any type 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 (determined without regard to any additional payments required under this Section 6) (the “ Total Payments ”) would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code(or any similar tax that may hereafter be imposed) or any interest or penalties with respect to the excise tax (the excise tax, together with any interest and penalties, are collectively referred to as the “ Excise Tax ”), then YRC shall pay the Executive an additional payment (a “ Gross-Up Payment ”) in an amount such that after the Executive’s payment of all taxes (including all federal, state or local taxes and any interest or penalties imposed with respect to those 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 Total Payments. YRC shall pay the Gross-Up Payment promptly following the Accounting Firm’s (defined below) determination described in Section 6(b) or in accordance with Sections 6(c) or 6(e).

 

(b) Accounting Firm Determination. An independent accounting firm that YRC retains (the “ Accounting Firm ”) shall make all determinations that this Section 6 requires, including whether a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of the Gross-Up Payment. YRC shall cause the Accounting Firm to provide detailed supporting calculations both to YRC and the Executive within 15 business days of the date of Termination, if applicable, or such earlier time that YRC requests. If the Accounting Firm determines that the Executive is not required to pay an Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall furnish the Executive with an opinion that the Executive has substantial authority not to report any Excise Tax on his federal income tax return. The Accounting Firm’s determination shall be binding upon YRC and the Executive. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Section 4999 of the Code at the time of the Accounting Firm’s initial determination, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments that YRC will not have been made should have been made (“ Underpayment ”) consistent with the calculations that this Agreement requires. If YRC exhausts its remedies pursuant to Section 6(c) and the Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Excise Tax, the Accounting Firm shall determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and YRC shall pay the Underpayment promptly to or for the benefit of the Executive. YRC shall promptly pay all expenses of the Accounting Firm.

 

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(c) Notification Required. The Executive shall notify YRC in writing of any Internal Revenue Service claim that, if successful, would require YRC’s payment of the Gross-Up Payment. The Executive shall give YRC the notification as soon as practicable but no later than ten business days after the Executive knows of the claim and shall apprise YRC of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid; provided that the Executive’s failure to give the notice within the 10-day period shall only prejudice the Executive’s rights pursuant to Section 6 to the extent that YRC’s ability to reduce the amount of the Gross-Up Payment have been prejudiced. The Executive shall not pay the claim prior to the expiration of the 30-day period following the date on which the Executive gives notice to YRC (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to the claim is due). If YRC notifies the Executive in writing prior to the expiration of the period that it desires to contest the claim, the Executive shall:

 

  (1) give YRC any information that YRC reasonably requests relating to the claim,

 

  (2) take such action in connection with contesting the claim as YRC shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including, accepting legal representation with respect to the claim by an attorney that YRC reasonably selects,

 

  (3) cooperate with YRC in good faith to effectively contest the claim,

 

  (4) permit YRC to participate in any proceedings relating to the claim; provided , that YRC shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection with the contest and shall indemnify and hold the Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any Excise Tax or income tax, including interest and penalties, imposed as a result of the representation and payment of costs and expenses.

 

  Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(c), YRC shall control all proceedings taken in connection with the contest 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 a claim and may, at its sole option, either direct the Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund, or contest the claim in any permissible manner. The Executive agrees to prosecute the contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as YRC shall determine; provided , that if YRC directs the Executive to pay the claim and sue for a refund, YRC shall advance the amount of the 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 tax, including interest or penalties, imposed with respect to the advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to the advance; and further provided 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 the contested amount. YRC’s control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Payment would be payable under this Agreement and the Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue that the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority raises.

 

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(d) Repayment. If, after the Executive’s receipt of an amount that YRC paid or advanced pursuant to this Section 6, the Executive becomes entitled to receive a refund with respect to the claim, the Executive shall (subject to YRC’s complying with the requirements of this Section 6), promptly pay to YRC the amount of the refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto). If, after the Executive’s receipt of an amount that YRC paid or advanced pursuant to this Section 6, a determination is made that the Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to the claim and YRC does not notify the Executive in writing of its intent to contest the denial of refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after the determination, then the payment or advance shall be forgiven and shall not be required to be repaid and the amount of the payment or advance shall offset, to the extent thereof, the amount of Gross-Up Payment required to be paid.

 

(e) Section 409A . If any Gross-Up Payment required pursuant to this Section 6 is determined by the Board (or its delegate) to be subject to Section 409A of the Code, such payment shall be made as follows:

 

  (i) if such Gross-Up Payment is made due to a Change in Control ( i.e. , such payment or provision is made without taking into account Executive’s Termination), then YRC shall pay such Gross-Up Payment on the date of the Change of Control or, if later, as soon as administratively practicable following the Accounting Firm’s determination described in Section 6(b);

 

  (ii) if such Gross-Up Payment is made on or after, and due to, Executive’s Termination, then YRC shall pay such Gross-Up Payment incurred during the Six-Month Delay Period in a lump sum on the Termination Payment Commencement Date, and for each calendar month thereafter in which such a Gross-Up Payment becomes due in monthly installments on the last business day of the calendar month following the month such payment becomes due; and

 

  (iii) if such Gross-Up Payment is due pursuant to Section 6(c), then YRC shall pay such Gross-Up Payment no later than March 15th of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the alleged obligation of Executive, as reflected by Executive’s receipt of a claim by the Internal Revenue Service, is received by Executive; and

 

  (iii) notwithstanding Sections 6(e)(i) or (ii), if a Gross-Up Payment due under Section 6 is paid pursuant to Section 6(b) or (c), such payment will be considered a distribution payable on the date of the Change in Control or the Executive’s date of Termination, respectively, as permitted under Section 409A and proposed Treasury Regulation § 1.409-3(d) (because such payment was not administratively practicable due to events beyond the control of the Executive) and, as such, shall be made as soon as administratively practicable (but in no event shall it be made later than the end of the first calendar year in which the payment becomes administratively practicable).

 

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7. General .

 

(a) Confidentiality. The Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Corporation all data, reports and other information relating to the business of the Corporation that comes into the possession of the Executive during the Executive’s employment with the Corporation (collectively, “ Confidential Information ”). During the Executive’s employment with the Corporation and after termination of the Executive’s employment, the Executive agrees:

 

  (i) to take all such precautions as may be reasonably necessary to prevent the disclosure to any third person of any of the Confidential Information;

 

  (ii) not to use for the Executive’s own benefit any of the Confidential Information; and

 

  (iii) not to aid any other person in the use of the Confidential Information in competition with the Corporation; provided that nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit the Executive from disclosing or using any Confidential Information:

 

  (A) in the performance of the Executive’s duties as an employee of the Corporation,

 

  (B) as required by applicable law,

 

  (C) in connection with the enforcement of the Executive’s rights under this Agreement or any other agreement with the Corporation,

 

  (D) in connection with the defense or settlement of any claim, suit or action brought or threatened against the Executive by or in the right of the Corporation, or

 

  (E) with the prior written consent of the Board.

 

  Notwithstanding any provision contained herein to the contrary, the term “ Confidential Information ” shall not be deemed to include any general knowledge, skills or experience acquired by the Executive or any knowledge or information known or available to the public in general. The Executive further agrees that, within 90 days after termination of the Executive’s employment for any reason, the Executive will surrender to the Corporation all Confidential Information, and any copies of Confidential Information, in his possession and agrees that all the materials and copies, are at all times the property of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall be permitted to retain copies of, or have access to, all Confidential Information relating to any disagreement, dispute or litigation (pending or threatened) involving the Executive.

 

(b)

Remedies. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by the Executive of the provisions of Section 7(a), the Corporation shall be entitled to an injunction restraining the Executive from violating Section 7(a) without the necessity of posting a bond. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Corporation from pursuing any other

 

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remedies available to it at law or in equity. The parties agree that the provisions of this Section 7(a) shall survive the termination of the Executive’s employment with the Corporation, as the continuation of this covenant is necessary for the protection of the Corporation.

 

(c) Payment Obligations Absolute. YRC’s obligation to pay the Executive the compensation and to make the arrangements provided herein shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that the Corporation may have against the Executive or anyone else. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to withhold all applicable federal, state or local taxes on any amount paid or payable under this Agreement. All amounts that YRC owes under this Agreement shall be paid without notice or demand. Each and every payment that YRC makes under this Agreement shall be final, and YRC will not seek to recover all or any part of the payment from the Executive or from whosoever may be entitled to the payment, for any reason whatsoever. The Executive shall not be obligated to seek other employment in mitigation of the amounts payable or arrangements made under any provision of this Agreement, and the obtaining of any such other employment shall in no event affect any reduction of YRC’s obligations to make the payments that this Agreement requires.

 

(d) Obligations to Pay Costs. If the Corporation terminates the Executive, and if the Executive successfully asserts a claim, action or proceeding against the Corporation for benefits under this Agreement or any other agreement between the Executive and the Corporation, the Corporation shall promptly pay or reimburse the Executive for all costs and expenses, including court costs and attorneys’ fees, that the Executive incurs in connection with the claim, action or proceeding. For purposes of this Section 7(e), the Executive will be deemed to have successfully asserted a claim, action or proceeding against the Corporation if, as a result of the claim, action or proceeding, the Corporation pays to the Executive, under this Agreement or any other agreement between the Executive and the Corporation, any amounts in addition to the amounts the Executive would be entitled to receive upon a termination for Cause.

 

(e) Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon and insure to the benefit of the Executive and his estate and the Corporation and any successor of the Corporation, but the Executive may neither assign nor pledge this Agreement or any rights arising under this Agreement.

 

(f) Severability. Any provision in this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to the jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of the prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating or affecting the remaining provisions of this Agreement, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable the provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

(g) Controlling Law. The laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to its law on conflicts of law, shall govern this Agreement shall in all respects.

 

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(h) Termination. A majority of the Continuing Directors may terminate this Agreement upon notifying the Executive; except that a termination shall not be made, and if made shall have no effect,

 

  (1) within two years after the Change of Control in question, or

 

  (2) during any period of time when YRC has knowledge that any third person has taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change of Control until, in the opinion of a majority of the Continuing Directors the third person has abandoned or terminated his efforts to effect a Change of Control. Any decision by a majority of the Continuing Directors that the third person has abandoned or terminated his efforts to effect a Change of Control shall be conclusive and binding on the Executive.

 

(i) This Agreement amends, restates, replaces and supercedes those Executive Severance Agreements dated as of                      between the Corporation and the Executive in their entirety.

 

(j) Deferred Compensation. This Agreement is intended to meet the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and may be administered in a manner that is intended to meet those requirements and shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that an award or payment, or the settlement or deferral thereof, is subject to Section 409A of the Code, except as the Committee otherwise determines in writing, the award shall be granted, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that will meet the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, including regulations or other guidance issued with respect thereto, such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral shall not be subject to the excise tax applicable under Section 409A of the Code. Any provision of this Agreement that would cause the award or the payment, settlement or deferral thereof to fail to satisfy Section 409A of the Code shall be amended (in a manner that as closely as practicable achieves the original intent of this Agreement) to comply with Section 409A of the Code on a timely basis, which may be made on a retroactive basis, in accordance with regulations and other guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code. In the event additional regulations or other guidance is issued under Section 409A of the Code or a court of competent jurisdiction provides additional authority concerning the application of Section 409A with respect to the payments described in Sections 4 and 6 of the Agreement, then the provisions of such Sections shall be amended to permit such payments to be made at the earliest time permitted under such additional regulations, guidance or authority that is practicable and achieves the original intent of this Agreement. Any payments made under the Agreement due to the Executive’s Termination as defined in Section 3 hereof are intended to be payments made upon a “separation from service” as described in Section 409A of the Code.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have executed this Agreement as of the      day of              , 20      .

 

EXECUTIVE:     YRC WORLDWIDE INC.

 

    By:  

 

[Executive name]     [name]  
      [title]  

 

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Exhibit 10.5

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of the      day of              , 20      , between YRC Worldwide Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                              (“Indemnified Party”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, Indemnified Party is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”), or is an officer of the Company or one of its subsidiaries or is an employee of the Company that is licensed to practice law (“Counsel”), and in such capacity is performing a valuable service for the Company;

WHEREAS, Indemnified Party may from time to time serve as a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent of other corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, trusts or other enterprises, entities or plans at the request of the Company in order to pursue the Company’s interests;

WHEREAS, highly skilled and competent persons are becoming more reluctant to serve public companies as directors, officers or counsel unless they are provided with adequate protection through insurance and indemnification against inordinate risks of claims and actions against them arising out of their service to and activities on behalf of such companies;

WHEREAS, uncertainties relating to indemnification increase the difficulty of attracting and retaining such persons;

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has determined that an inability to attract and retain such persons is detrimental to the best interests of the Company and that the Company should act to assure such persons that there will be increased certainty of such protection in the future;

WHEREAS, Indemnified Party is willing to serve, continue to serve and to take on additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the condition that Indemnified Party be so indemnified;

WHEREAS, the Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) of the Company provide for the mandatory indemnification of the officers, directors, agents and employees (including Counsel) of the Company to the fullest extent authorized by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended hereafter (the “DGCL”);

 

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WHEREAS, in accordance with the authorization provided by the DGCL, the Company maintains a policy of Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance (“D&O Insurance”), covering certain liabilities which may be incurred by its directors and officers in the performance of their services for the Company, possibly including certain liabilities for which indemnification by the Company is not authorized or permitted under the DGCL;

[For Counsel only: WHEREAS, in accordance with the authorization provided by the DGCL, the Company maintains an employed lawyers insurance policy (“E&O Insurance”), covering certain liabilities which may be incurred by its Counsel in the performance of their professional legal services for the Company;] and

WHEREAS, uncertainties with respect to the terms and availability of D&O Insurance [and E&O Insurance] and with respect to the application, amendment and enforcement of statutory and bylaw indemnification provisions make it desirable to supplement and enhance the adequacy and reliability of the protection afforded to directors, officers [and Counsel] thereby;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Indemnified Party’s continued service as a director, officer or Counsel of the Company after the date hereof the parties hereto agree as follows:

1) Definitions .

a) “ Litigation Costs ” means costs, charges, expenses and obligations, including, without limitation, all bonds, expenses of investigation, fees and expenses of experts, accountants or other professionals, travel and lodging expenses, and attorneys’ fees and expenses, reasonably incurred or contracted for in the investigation, defense or prosecution of or other involvement in any Proceeding and any appeal therefrom, and all costs of appeal, attachment, supersedeas and other bonds that may be relevant to any Proceeding.

b) “ Losses ” means the total of all amounts which Indemnified Party becomes, or may become, legally obligated to pay in connection with any Proceeding, including (without limitation) judgments, penalties, fines, court or investigative costs, amounts paid in settlement, amounts lost or ordered forfeited pursuant to injunctive sanctions, and all Litigation Costs.

c) “ Proceeding ” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, proceeding, subpoena compliance, inquiry or investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (whether external and involving outside parties or internal to the Company, including, but not limited to, an action by or in the right of the Company and any internal investigation conducted by the Board of Directors or any committee or other designee thereof or any other person), and whether formal or informal.

2) Indemnity of Indemnified Party . The Company hereby agrees to indemnify Indemnified Party to the fullest extent authorized or permitted by the provisions of the DGCL, including, but not limited to, (a) the maximum extent permitted by the provisions of the DGCL which provide that the DGCL is not the exclusive basis for indemnification of directors, officers and employees and (ii) the maximum extent authorized or permitted by any amendment thereof or other statutory provision authorizing or permitting such indemnification which is adopted after the date hereof.

 

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3) Additional Indemnity . In addition to and not in substitution for or diminution of the obligations of indemnification set forth in Section 2 hereof, the Company hereby further agrees to indemnify Indemnified Party, to the fullest extent permitted by law, against any and all Litigation Costs and Losses of Indemnified Party in connection with any Proceeding to which Indemnified Party is, was or at any time becomes a party, or is threatened to be made a party or otherwise becomes involved (other than as plaintiff except where being a plaintiff or intervenor is necessary to avoid res judicata or collateral estoppel or other estoppel or other result as to matters which may adversely impact Indemnified Party) by reason of the fact that Indemnified Party is, was or at any time becomes a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or was serving or at any time serves at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or any benefit plan related to the business and affairs of the Company, and specifically including any Proceeding brought pursuant to the provisions of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “1934 Act”) or any other provision under the 1934 Act and the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations thereunder.

4) Limitations on Indemnity . No amounts of Indemnity pursuant to Sections 2 or 3 hereof shall be paid by the Company:

a) Except to the extent the aggregate of Litigation Costs and Losses in any Proceeding or group of related Proceedings to be indemnified thereunder exceeds the amount of Litigation Costs and Losses for which the Indemnified Party actually receives indemnification payments or on whose behalf indemnification payments are made pursuant to any D&O Insurance policy or from any other source;

b) On account of any payments required to be paid by an Indemnified Party as a result of any Proceeding in which a final, non-appealable judgment is rendered against Indemnified Party for an accounting or disgorgement of profits made from the purchase or sale by Indemnified Party of securities of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act;

c) On account of any claim made against Indemnified Party brought about or contributed to by the dishonesty of Indemnified Party seeking payment hereunder; however, notwithstanding the foregoing, Indemnified Party shall be protected under this Agreement as to any claims upon which suit may be brought against him by reason of any alleged dishonesty on his part unless a final adjudication adverse to Indemnified Party shall establish that he committed (i) acts of active and deliberate dishonesty (ii) with actual dishonest purpose and intent, which acts were material to the cause of action so adjudicated;

d) If a final non-appealable decision by a court having jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter shall determine that such indemnification is not lawful.

5) Continuation of Indemnity . All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein and in the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the Company and the Bylaws shall continue during the period Indemnified Party is a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or any benefit

 

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plan related to the business and affairs of the Company or of any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, associates or other entities in which it is interested) and shall continue thereafter so long as Indemnified Party shall be subject to any possible Litigation Costs or Losses in any Proceeding by reason of the fact that Indemnified Party was a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent of the Company (or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, trustee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or any such benefit plan).

6) Notification and Defense of Claim . Promptly after receipt by Indemnified Party of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding, Indemnified Party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Company under this Agreement, give reasonable notice to the Company of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the Company will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnified Party unless the Company can demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that it was materially prejudiced by the failure to receive such notice. With respect to any such Proceeding as to which Indemnified Party becomes involved:

a) The Company will be entitled to participate therein at its own expense; and

b) Except as otherwise provided below, to the extent that it may wish, the Company may, jointly with any other indemnifying party, assume the defense thereof, with outside counsel which must be reasonably satisfactory to Indemnified Party. After notice from the Company to Indemnified Party of its election to so assume the defense thereof (and consent of Indemnified Party as to the Company’s choice of outside counsel, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld), the Company will be liable to Indemnified Party under this Agreement for all Litigation Costs (subject to Section 4 above and other than as provided below with respect to attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection therewith. Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ personal counsel in such Proceeding, but the fees and expenses of such counsel incurred after notice from the Company of its assumption of the defense thereof (and consent of Indemnified Party as to the Company’s choice of outside counsel) shall be at the expense of Indemnified Party, unless (i) the employment of counsel for Indemnified Party has been authorized by the Company, (ii) Indemnified Party shall have concluded in good faith that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnified Party in the conduct of the defense (or part of the defense) of such action, or (iii) the Company shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of such action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the Company. The Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any Proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Company or as to which Indemnified Party shall have made the conclusion provided for in (ii) above; and

c) The Company shall not be liable to indemnify Indemnified Party under this Agreement for any Losses paid in settlement of any Proceeding or claim effected without its written consent. The Company shall not settle any Proceeding or claim in any manner which would impose any penalty, sanction or limitation on Indemnified Party, or otherwise effectively indicate the existence of any wrongful act by Indemnified Party, without Indemnified Party’s written consent. Neither the Company nor Indemnified Party will unreasonably withhold its consent to any proposed settlement. Without intending to limit the circumstances in which it would be unreasonable for the Company to withhold its consent to a settlement, the parties

 

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hereto agree it would be unreasonable for the Company to withhold its consent to a settlement in an amount that did not exceed, in the business judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, the estimated amount of Litigation Costs of Indemnified Party to litigate the Proceeding to conclusion, provided that there is no other materially adverse consequence to the Company from such settlement.

7) No Presumptions . The termination of any Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption (i) that Indemnified Party did not act in good faith, (ii) with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, that Indemnified Party had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct constituted a criminal violation or (iii) that Indemnified Party was knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or committed an act, or made an omission, involving willful misconduct.

8) Mandatory Advancement of Expenses . At the request of Indemnified Party, Litigation Costs incurred or contracted for by him in any Proceeding shall be paid by the Company on a continuing and current basis, in advance of the final disposition of such matter, with the undertaking which Indemnified Party makes hereby that if it shall be ultimately determined that Indemnified Party was not entitled to be indemnified therefor, or was not entitled to be fully indemnified therefor, Indemnified Party shall repay to the Company the amount, or appropriate portion thereof, so advanced. Such advancement and current payment of Litigation Costs by the Company shall be made promptly (but in any event within 10 days) after receipt by the Company of Indemnified Party’s request therefor.

9) Repayment of Expenses . Indemnified Party agrees that Indemnified Party will reimburse the Company for all Litigation Costs paid by the Company in connection with any Proceeding in which Indemnified Party is involved in the event and only to the extent that it shall be ultimately determined by final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company for such Litigation Costs under the provisions of the DGCL, the Bylaws and this Agreement.

10) Procedure .

a) Indemnification hereunder shall be made promptly, and in any event within thirty days of Indemnified Party’s written request therefor, unless (i) an affirmative determination is made reasonably and within such thirty-day period by the Company in the manner provided in subsection (b) below, that Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnity hereunder for any reason other than as contemplated by clause (ii) of this Section 10(a), or (ii) an affirmative determination is required by the DGCL or other applicable law that the Indemnified Party met an applicable standard of conduct, in which case the Company will cause such determination to be made within sixty days from the date of the written request for indemnity.

b) The determination to be made by the Company under subsection (a) above shall be based on the facts known at the time and shall be made (i) by the Board, by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to the Proceeding (“disinterested directors”), or (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iii) even if such a quorum is obtainable, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion if the

 

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Board, by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of disinterested directors, so directs. Any such determination may be contested by Indemnified Party as hereinafter contemplated.

c) A failure to make any required determination within the period of time specified shall be deemed to be a determination favorable to the Indemnified Party.

11) Enforcement .

a) The Company expressly confirms and agrees that it has entered into this Agreement and assumed the obligations imposed on the Company hereby and has obtained the approval of its Board of Directors in order to induce Indemnified Party to serve as a director, officer or Counsel of the Company and acknowledges that Indemnified Party is relying upon this Agreement in agreeing to serve in such capacity.

b) In the event Indemnified Party is required to bring any action to enforce rights or to collect moneys due under this Agreement, the Company shall reimburse Indemnified Party, on a continuing and current basis, for all of Indemnified Party’s reasonable fees and expenses in bringing and pursuing such action and Indemnified Party shall have no obligation to reimburse the Company therefor unless Indemnified Party is not successful in such action after rendition of a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction.

c) The right to indemnification hereunder shall be enforceable by Indemnified Party in any court of competent jurisdiction if Indemnified Party’s claim therefor is denied, in whole or in part, in the manner provided herein, or if no disposition of such claim is made within sixty days from the receipt by the Company of Indemnified Party’s request for indemnification hereunder.

12) Insurance . To the extent the Company maintains an insurance policy or policies providing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, an Indemnified Party that is a director or officer of the Company shall be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any Company director or officer. [To the extent the Company maintains an E&O Insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance in connection with rendering professional legal services, an Indemnified Party that is a Counsel of the Company shall be covered by such policy or policies, in accordance with its or their terms, to the maximum extent of the coverage available for any Company Counsel.]

13) Severability . Each of the provisions of this Agreement is a separate and distinct agreement and independent of the others so that if any provision hereof shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof. To the extent necessary to effectuate this Agreement, should any provision hereof be held invalid or unenforceable, this Agreement shall be reformed in such manner as to provide the maximum indemnity contemplated hereby to Indemnified Party, it being the intention of the parties hereto that this Agreement be otherwise given its maximum effect consistent with the laws of the State of Delaware.

14) Obligation to Amend . The Company agrees to take all actions necessary to amend this Agreement in the future to increase or otherwise maximize the indemnity protections intended to be afforded hereby to the extent then permitted by law.

 

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15) Notice . Any notice, request or other communication hereunder to Company or Indemnified Party shall be in writing and delivered or sent by postage prepaid first class mail or by hand delivery or express mail service or by facsimile copy to Company’s facsimile phone number as follows: (i) if to Company, addressed to YRC Worldwide Inc., [notice address], and (ii) if to Indemnified Party, to the address shown on the signature page hereof or at such other address as Indemnified Party shall designate from time to time to Company in writing.

16) Governing Law; Binding Effect; Amendment and Termination .

a) This Agreement shall be interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

b) This Agreement shall be binding upon Indemnified Party and upon the Company, its successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnified Party, his heirs, personal representatives and assigns and to the benefit of the Company, its successors and assigns. The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or any substantial part of the business and/or assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnified Party, to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. Failure of the Company to obtain such agreement prior to effectiveness of any succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle Indemnified Party to appropriate equitable relief or monetary damages from the Company in an amount necessary to provide Indemnified Party with the protections to which he would be entitled hereunder. As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid that executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this Section 16 or that otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this Agreement by operation of law.

c) No amendment, modification, termination or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing signed by both parties hereto.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

YRC WORLDWIDE INC.

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

INDEMNIFIED PARTY

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Address:

 

 

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