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):

December 9, 2015

 

 

GANNETT CO., INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-36874   47-2390983

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean,

Virginia

  22107-0910
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(703) 854-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

 

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 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On December 9, 2015, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Gannett Co., Inc. (the “Company”) approved a form of indemnification agreement (the “Indemnification Agreement”) and authorized the Company to enter into an indemnification agreement in substantially the form of the Indemnification Agreement with each of its directors and executive officers (each, an “Indemnitee”).

The Indemnification Agreement clarifies and supplements the indemnification rights and obligations of the Indemnitee and Company already included in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. Under the terms of the Indemnification Agreement, subject to certain exceptions specified in the Indemnification Agreement, the Company will indemnify the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law in the event the Indemnitee becomes subject to or a participant in certain claims or proceedings as a result of the Indemnitee’s service as a director or officer. The Company will also, subject to certain exceptions and repayment conditions, advance to the Indemnitee specified indemnifiable expenses incurred in connection with such claims or proceedings.

The foregoing description of the Indemnification Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full and complete terms of the Indemnification Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

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

On December 9, 2015, the Company terminated its 2015 Transitional Compensation Plan, effective as of December 31, 2016 (the “Effective Date”). This termination does not affect the rights of participants under the plan with respect to any change in control of the Company that occurs on or before the Effective Date.

On December 9, 2015, the Board also adopted the Gannett Co., Inc. Clawback Policy effective December 9, 2015. The new clawback policy applies to all executive officers (as defined under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), and any individual who served as an executive officer of the Company in the three year period prior to the date of the event that triggered the clawback policy (each, an “Executive”). The Board has discretion to apply the new clawback policy in a number of circumstances, including the following: (i) the Company is required to restate its financial statements due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement as a result of misconduct by the Executive (a “Restatement Event”); (ii) the Board (or designated Board committee) determines that the Executive engaged in fraud, theft, misappropriation, embezzlement or misrepresentation to the material detriment of the Company’s reported financial results (a “Material Detriment Event”); or (iii) the Executive is terminated from employment by the Company due to a felony conviction (including a plea of guilty or no contest to the charge) which is directly and materially harmful to the business or reputation of the Company (a “Felony Event”).

In the event the new clawback policy is applied, the Board (or designated Board committee) may take any or all of the following actions with respect to the Executive: (i) for a Restatement Event, require the reimbursement and/or forfeiture of any bonus, incentive compensation or equity-based compensation awarded by the Company (collectively, “Incentive Compensation”) and paid to the Executive in excess of what would have been paid absent the restatement; (ii) for a Material Detriment Event, require the reimbursement and/or forfeiture of any Incentive Compensation vested or paid to the Executive during a 12-month period after the Executive first engaged in an act that related to the Material Detriment Event (as well as any profits realized from the sale of any Company securities during such period); and (iii) for a Felony Event, require the reimbursement and/or forfeiture of any Incentive Compensation paid to the Executive during the 12-month period prior to the Executive’s termination (as well as any profits realized from the sale of any Company securities during such period).

The foregoing description of the new clawback policy does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Gannett Co., Inc. Clawback Policy, effective December 9, 2015, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 8.01. Other Events.

The form of Executive Officer Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K replaces the form of Executive Officer Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 30, 2015.

The form of Executive Officer Performance Share Unit Award Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

See Index to Exhibits attached hereto.


SIGNATURE

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

 

    Gannett Co., Inc.

Date: December 14, 2015

    By:  

/s/ Barbara W. Wall

      Barbara W. Wall
      Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

10.1    Form of Indemnification Agreement
10.2    Gannett Co., Inc. Clawback Policy, effective December 9, 2015
10.3    Form of Executive Officer Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement
10.4    Form of Executive Officer Performance Share Unit Award Agreement

Exhibit 10.1

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT, dated as of [            ] [    ], 201[    ], by and between GANNETT CO., INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and [ ] (the “ Indemnitee ”).

WHEREAS, it is essential to the Company to retain and attract as directors and officers the most capable persons available;

WHEREAS, the Indemnitee is a director and/or officer of the Company;

WHEREAS, the Company and the Indemnitee recognize the increased risk of litigation and other claims being asserted against directors and officers of companies in today’s environment;

WHEREAS, the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (“ Certificate of Incorporation ”) and Amended and Restated Bylaws (“ Bylaws ”) require the Company to indemnify and advance expenses to its directors and officers to the extent provided therein, and the Indemnitee serves as a director and/or officer of the Company, in part, in reliance on such provisions in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws;

WHEREAS, the Company has determined that its inability to retain and attract as directors and officers the most capable persons would be detrimental to the interests of the Company, and that Company therefore should seek to assure such persons that indemnification and insurance coverage will be available in the future; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of the Indemnitee’s need for substantial protection against personal liability in order to enhance the Indemnitee’s continued service to the Company in an effective manner and the Indemnitee’s reliance on the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, and in part to provide the Indemnitee with specific contractual assurance that the protection promised by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws will be available to the Indemnitee (regardless of, among other things, any amendment to or revocation of the applicable provisions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws or any change in the composition of the governing bodies of the Company or any acquisition transaction relating to the Company), the Company wishes to provide in this Agreement for the indemnification of and the advancing of expenses to the Indemnitee to the fullest extent (whether partial or complete) permitted by law and as set forth in this Agreement, and, to the extent insurance is maintained, for the continued coverage of the Indemnitee under the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy of the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the Indemnitee continuing to serve the Company directly or, on its behalf or at its request, as an officer, director, manager, member, partner, tax matters partner, fiduciary or trustee of, or in any other capacity with, another Person (as defined below) or any employee benefit plan, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:


1. Certain Definitions . In addition to terms defined elsewhere herein, the following terms have the following meanings when used in this Agreement:

 

  (a) Agreement : shall mean this Indemnification Agreement, as amended from time to time hereafter.

 

  (b) Board of Directors : shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

  (c) Claim : means any threatened, asserted, pending or completed civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other action, suit or proceeding of any kind whatsoever, including any arbitration or other alternative dispute resolution mechanism, or any appeal of any kind thereof, or any inquiry or investigation, whether instituted by the Company, any governmental agency or any other party, that the Indemnitee in good faith believes might lead to the institution of any such action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other, including any arbitration or other alternative dispute resolution mechanism.

 

  (d) Disinterested Director : means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the matter in respect of which indemnification is sought by the Indemnitee.

 

  (e)

Indemnifiable Expenses : means (i) all expenses and liabilities, including judgments, fines, penalties, interest, amounts paid in settlement with the approval of the Company, and counsel fees and disbursements (including, without limitation, experts’ fees, court costs, retainers, transcript fees, duplicating, printing and binding costs, as well as telecommunications, postage and courier charges) paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to investigate, defend, be a witness in or participate in, any Claim by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was or has agreed to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or while serving as a director or officer of the Company, is or was serving or has agreed to serve on behalf of or at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent (which, for purposes hereof, shall include a trustee, fiduciary, partner or manager or similar capacity) of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in any such capacity, whether

 

2


  occurring before, on or after the date of this Agreement (any such event, an “ Indemnifiable Event ”), (ii) any liability pursuant to a loan guaranty or otherwise, for any indebtedness of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, including, without limitation, any indebtedness which the Company or any subsidiary of the Company has assumed or taken subject to, and (iii) any liabilities which an Indemnitee incurs as a result of acting on behalf of the Company (whether as a fiduciary or otherwise) in connection with the operation, administration or maintenance of an employee benefit plan or any related trust or funding mechanism (whether such liabilities are in the form of excise taxes assessed by the United States Internal Revenue Service, penalties assessed by the Department of Labor, restitutions to such a plan or trust or other funding mechanism or to a participant or beneficiary of such plan, trust or other funding mechanism, or otherwise).

 

  (f) Indemnitee-Related Entities : means any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise (other than the Company or any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise Indemnitee has agreed, on behalf of the Company or at the Company’s request, to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent and which service is covered by the indemnity described in this Agreement) from whom an Indemnitee may be entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to which, in whole or in part, the Company may also have an indemnification or advancement obligation (other than as a result of obligations under an insurance policy).

 

  (g) Independent Counsel : means a law firm, a member of a law firm, or an independent practitioner, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and shall include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would not have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or the Indemnitee in an action to determine the Indemnitee’s rights under the Agreement.

 

  (h) Jointly Indemnifiable Claim : means any Claim for which the Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification from both an Indemnitee-Related Entity and the Company pursuant to applicable law, any indemnification agreement or the certificate of incorporation, bylaws, partnership agreement, operating agreement, certificate of formation, certificate of limited partnership or comparable organizational documents of the Company and an Indemnitee-Related Entity.

 

3


  (i) Person : means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, governmental entity or other entity.

2. Basic Indemnification Arrangement; Advancement of Expenses .

(a) In the event that the Indemnitee was, is or becomes subject to, a party to or witness or other participant in, or is threatened to be made subject to, a party to or witness or other participant in, a Claim by reason of (or arising in part out of) an Indemnifiable Event, the Company shall indemnify the Indemnitee, or cause such Indemnitee to be indemnified, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law in effect on the date hereof and as amended from time to time; provided , however , that no change in Delaware law shall have the effect of reducing the benefits available to the Indemnitee hereunder based on Delaware law as in effect on the date hereof or as such benefits may improve as a result of amendments after the date hereof. The rights of the Indemnitee provided in this Section 2 shall include, without limitation, the rights set forth in the other sections of this Agreement. Payments of Indemnifiable Expenses shall be made as soon as practicable but in any event no later than ten (10) days after written demand is presented to the Company, against any and all Indemnifiable Expenses.

(b) If so requested by the Indemnitee, the Company shall advance, or cause to be advanced (within twenty (20) days of such request), any and all Indemnifiable Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee (an “ Expense Advance ”). The Company shall, in accordance with such request (but without duplication), either (i) pay, or cause to be paid, such Indemnifiable Expenses on behalf of the Indemnitee, or (ii) reimburse, or cause the reimbursement of, the Indemnitee for such Indemnifiable Expenses. The Indemnitee’s right to an Expense Advance is absolute and shall not be subject to any condition that the Board of Directors shall not have determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under applicable law. However, the obligation of the Company to make an Expense Advance pursuant to this Section 2(b) shall be subject to the condition that, if, when and to the extent that a final judicial determination is made (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be so indemnified under applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company) for all such amounts theretofore paid (it being understood and agreed that the foregoing agreement by the Indemnitee shall be deemed to satisfy any requirement that the Indemnitee provide the Company with an undertaking to repay any Expense Advance if it is ultimately determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under applicable law). The Indemnitee’s undertaking to repay such Expense Advances shall be unsecured and interest-free.

(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification or advancement of Indemnifiable Expenses pursuant to this Agreement in connection with any Claim initiated by the Indemnitee unless (i) the Company has joined in or the Board of Directors of the Company has authorized or consented to the initiation of such Claim or (ii) the Claim

 

4


is one to enforce the Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement (including an action pursued by the Indemnitee to secure a determination that the Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law).

(d) The indemnification obligations of the Company under Section 2(a) shall be subject to the condition that it shall not have been determined that the indemnification of the Indemnitee is not proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under applicable law. Upon request by the Indemnitee for indemnification, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to the Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall be made as follows: (i) if requested by the Indemnitee, by Independent Counsel, or (ii) if no request is made by the Indemnitee for a determination by Independent Counsel, (1) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors, or (2) if a quorum of the Board of Directors consisting of Disinterested Directors is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, such quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to the Indemnitee, or (3) if a quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by a majority vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors unless there shall have occurred within two years prior to the date of the commencement of the Proceeding for which indemnification is claimed a “ Change of Control ” as defined in the Company’s Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, in which case the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Indemnitee unless the Indemnitee shall request that such selection be made by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors or other appropriate persons listed above, as applicable, determine that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified in whole or in part under applicable law, the Indemnitee shall have the right to commence litigation in any court in the States of New York or Delaware having subject matter jurisdiction thereof and in which venue is proper, seeking an initial determination by the court or challenging any such determination or any aspect thereof, including the legal or factual bases therefor, and the Company hereby consents to service of process and to appear in any such proceeding. If the Indemnitee commences legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to secure a determination that the Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law, any previous determination that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under applicable law shall not be binding, the Indemnitee shall continue to be entitled to receive Expense Advances, and the Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any Expense Advance, until a final judicial determination is made (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be so indemnified under applicable law. Any determination by the Board of Directors or other appropriate persons listed above otherwise shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and the Indemnitee.

(e) To the extent that the Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any or all Claims relating in whole or in part to an Indemnifiable Event or in defense of any issue or matter therein, including dismissal

 

5


without prejudice, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Indemnifiable Expenses actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith, notwithstanding an earlier determination by the Board of Directors that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under applicable law.

3. Indemnification for Additional Expenses . The Company shall indemnify, or cause the indemnification of, the Indemnitee against any and all Indemnifiable Expenses and, if requested by the Indemnitee, shall advance such Indemnifiable Expenses to the Indemnitee subject to and in accordance with Section 2(b) and (d), which are incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with any action brought by the Indemnitee, the Company or any other Person with respect to the Indemnitee’s right to: (i) indemnification or an Expense Advance by the Company under this Agreement or any provision of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and/or Bylaws and/or (ii) recovery under any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained by the Company, regardless of whether the Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, Expense Advance or insurance recovery, as the case may be; provided that the Indemnitee shall be required to reimburse such Indemnifiable Expenses in the event that a final judicial determination is made (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that such action brought by the Indemnitee, or the defense by the Indemnitee of an action brought by the Company or any other Person, as applicable, was frivolous or in bad faith.

4. Partial Indemnity, Etc. If the Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for some or a portion of the Indemnifiable Expenses in respect of a Claim but not, however, for all of the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify the Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which the Indemnitee is entitled.

5. Burden of Proof . In connection with any determination by the Board of Directors, any court or otherwise as to whether the Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder, the Board of Directors or court shall presume that the Indemnitee has satisfied the applicable standard of conduct and is entitled to indemnification, and the burden of proof shall be on the Company or its representative to establish, by clear and convincing evidence, that the Indemnitee is not so entitled.

6. Reliance as Safe Harbor . The Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification for any action or omission to act undertaken (a) in good faith reliance upon the records of the Company, including its financial statements, or upon information, opinions, reports or statements furnished to the Indemnitee by the officers or employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries in the course of their duties, or by committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other Person as to matters the Indemnitee reasonably believes are within such other Person’s professional or expert competence, or (b) on behalf of the Company in furtherance of the interests of the Company in good faith in reliance upon, and in accordance with, the advice of legal counsel or accountants, provided such legal counsel or accountants were selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company. In addition, the knowledge and/or actions, or failures to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company shall not be imputed to the Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnity hereunder.

 

6


7. No Other Presumptions . For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any claim, action, suit or proceeding, by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not meet any particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or that a court has determined that indemnification is not permitted by applicable law. In addition, neither the failure of the Board of Directors to have made a determination as to whether the Indemnitee has met any particular standard of conduct or had any particular belief, nor an actual determination by the Board of Directors that the Indemnitee has not met such standard of conduct or did not have such belief, prior to the commencement of legal proceedings by the Indemnitee to secure a judicial determination that the Indemnitee should be indemnified under applicable law shall be a defense to the Indemnitee’s claim or create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met any particular standard of conduct or did not have any particular belief.

8. Nonexclusivity, Etc. The rights of the Indemnitee hereunder shall be in addition to any other rights the Indemnitee may have under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, the laws of the State of Delaware, or otherwise. To the extent that a change in Delaware law or the interpretation thereof (whether by statute or judicial decision) permits greater indemnification by agreement than would be afforded currently under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, it is the intent of the parties hereto that the Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits so afforded by such change. To the extent that there is a conflict or inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, it is the intent of the parties hereto that the Indemnitee shall enjoy the greater benefits regardless of whether contained herein, in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws. No amendment or alteration of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws or any other agreement shall adversely affect the rights provided to Indemnitee under this Agreement.

9. Liability Insurance . The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to purchase and maintain a policy or policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies with A.M. Best ratings of “A” or better, providing Indemnitee with coverage for any liability asserted against, or incurred by, Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was or has agreed to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or while serving as a director or officer of the Company, is or was serving or has agreed to serve on behalf of or at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent (which, for purposes hereof, shall include a trustee, fiduciary, partner or manager or similar capacity) of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, or arising out of Indemnitee’s status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify Indemnitee against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement. Such insurance policies shall

 

7


have coverage terms and policy limits at least as favorable to Indemnitee as the insurance coverage provided to any other director or officer of the Company. If the Company has such insurance in effect at the time the Company receives from Indemnitee any notice of the commencement of an action, suit or proceeding, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such action, suit or proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the policy. The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policy.

10. Period of Limitations . No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or in the right of the Company against the Indemnitee, the Indemnitee’s spouse, heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of two years from the date of accrual of such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Company shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such two-year period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action such shorter period shall govern.

11. Amendments, Etc. No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver. In the event the Company or any of its subsidiaries enters into an indemnification agreement with another director, officer, agent, fiduciary or manager of the Company or any of its subsidiaries containing a term or terms more favorable to the indemnitee than the terms contained herein (as determined by the Indemnitee), the Indemnitee shall be afforded the benefit of such more favorable term or terms and such more favorable term or terms shall be deemed incorporated by reference herein as if set forth in full herein. As promptly as practicable following the execution by the Company or the relevant subsidiary of each indemnity agreement with any such other director, officer or manager (i) the Company shall send a copy of the indemnity agreement to the Indemnitee, and (ii) if requested by the Indemnitee, the Company shall prepare, execute and deliver to the Indemnitee an amendment to this Agreement containing such more favorable term or terms.

12. Subrogation . Subject to Section 13, in the event of payment by the Company under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee with respect to any insurance policy. Indemnitee shall execute all papers reasonably required and shall do everything that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. The Company shall pay or reimburse all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such subrogation.

13. Jointly Indemnifiable Claims . Given that certain Jointly Indemnifiable Claims may arise due to the relationship between the Indemnitee-Related Entities

 

8


and the Company and the service of the Indemnitee as a director and/or officer of the Company at the request of the Indemnitee-Related Entities, the Company acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall be fully and primarily responsible for the payment to the Indemnitee in respect of indemnification and advancement of expenses in connection with any such Jointly Indemnifiable Claim, pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, irrespective of any right of recovery the Indemnitee may have from the Indemnitee-Related Entities. Under no circumstance shall the Company be entitled to any right of subrogation or contribution by the Indemnitee-Related Entities and no right of recovery the Indemnitee may have from the Indemnitee-Related Entities shall reduce or otherwise alter the rights of the Indemnitee or the obligations of the Company hereunder. In the event that any of the Indemnitee-Related Entities shall make any payment to the Indemnitee in respect of indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to any Jointly Indemnifiable Claim, the Indemnitee-Related Entity making such payment shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Indemnitee against the Company, and the Indemnitee shall execute all papers reasonably required and shall do all things that may be reasonably necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents as may be necessary to enable the Indemnitee-Related Entities effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. Each of the Indemnitee-Related Entities shall be third-party beneficiaries with respect to this Paragraph 13, entitled to enforce this Paragraph 13 against the Company as though each such Indemnitee-Related Entity were a party to this Agreement.

14. No Duplication of Payments . Subject to Paragraph 13 hereof, the Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Claim made against the Indemnitee to the extent the Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment (under any insurance policy, any provision of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.

15. Defense of Claims . The Company shall be entitled to participate in the defense of any Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event or to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee; provided that if the Indemnitee believes, after consultation with counsel selected by the Indemnitee, that (i) the use of counsel chosen by the Company to represent the Indemnitee would present such counsel with an actual or potential conflict of interest, (ii) the named parties in any such Claim (including any impleaded parties) include the Company or any subsidiary of the Company and the Indemnitee and the Indemnitee concludes that there may be one or more legal defenses available to him that are different from or in addition to those available to the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or (iii) any such representation by such counsel would be precluded under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, then the Indemnitee shall be entitled to retain separate counsel (but not more than one law firm plus, if applicable, local counsel in respect of any particular Claim) at the Company’s expense. The Company shall not be liable to the Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event

 

9


effected without the Company’s prior written consent. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee, effect any settlement of any Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event which the Indemnitee is or could have been a party unless such settlement solely involves the payment of money and includes a complete and unconditional release of the Indemnitee from all liability on all claims that are the subject matter of such Claim. Neither the Company nor the Indemnitee shall unreasonably withhold its or his consent to any proposed settlement; provided that the Indemnitee may withhold consent to any settlement that does not provide a complete and unconditional release of the Indemnitee. To the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, the Company’s assumption of the defense of a Claim pursuant to this Section 15 will constitute an irrevocable acknowledgement by the Company that any Indemnifiable Expenses incurred by or for the account of Indemnitee incurred in connection therewith are indemnifiable by the Company under Section 2 of this Agreement.

16. Binding Effect, Etc. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company), assigns, spouses, heirs, executors and personal and legal representatives. The Company shall require and cause any successor(s) (whether directly or indirectly, whether in one or a series of transactions, and whether by purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise) to all or a significant portion of the business and/or assets of the Company and/or its subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis), by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Indemnitee and his or her counsel, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place; provided that no such assumption shall relieve the Company from its obligations hereunder and any obligations shall thereafter be joint and several. This Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of whether the Indemnitee continues to serve as a director or officer of the Company and/or on behalf of or at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent (which, for purposes hereof, shall include a trustee, fiduciary, partner or manager or similar capacity) of another corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. Neither this Agreement nor any duties or responsibilities pursuant hereto may be assigned by the Company to any other person or entity without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee.

17. Security . To the extent requested by the Indemnitee, the Company shall at any time and from time to time provide security to the Indemnitee for the obligations of the Company hereunder through an irrevocable bank line of credit, funded trust or other collateral or by other means. Any such security, once provided to the Indemnitee, may not be revoked or released without the prior written consent of such Indemnitee.

 

10


18. Severability . If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, all portions of any paragraph of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (b) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, all portions of any paragraph of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable and to give effect to the terms of this Agreement.

19. Specific Performance, Etc. The parties recognize that if any provision of this Agreement is violated by the parties hereto, the Indemnitee may be without an adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, in the event of any such violation, the Indemnitee shall be entitled, if the Indemnitee so elects, to institute proceedings, either in law or at equity, to obtain damages, to enforce specific performance, to enjoin such violation, or to obtain any relief or any combination of the foregoing as the Indemnitee may elect to pursue. If any payment to be made by the Company to the Indemnitee is delayed by more than ninety (90) days from the date of request, interest shall be paid by the Company to the Indemnitee at the legal rate under Delaware law for amounts which the Company indemnifies or is obligated to indemnify for the period commencing with the date on which Indemnitee actually incurs the Indemnifiable Expenses and ending with the date on which such payment is made to Indemnitee; provided , however , that no interest shall be paid if the delay in payment is due to a good faith dispute by the Company of the Indemnitee’s right to indemnification or the amounts thereof.

20. Notices . All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder to any party shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written document delivered in person or sent by telecopy, nationally recognized overnight courier or personal delivery, addressed to such party at the address set forth below or such other address as may hereafter be designated on the signature pages of this Agreement or in writing by such party to the other parties:

(a) If to the Company, to:

Gannett Co., Inc.

7950 Jones Branch Drive

McLean, Virginia 22107

Attn: General Counsel

(b) If to the Indemnitee, to the address set forth on Annex A hereto.

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been given or made if and when received (including by overnight courier) by the parties at the above addresses or sent by electronic transmission, with confirmation received, to the telecopy numbers specified above (or at such other address or

 

11


telecopy number for a party as shall be specified by like notice). Any notice delivered by any party hereto to any other party hereto shall also be delivered to each other party hereto simultaneously with delivery to the first party receiving such notice.

21. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Only one such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought needs to be produced to evidence the existence of this Agreement.

22. Headings . The headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction or interpretation thereof.

23. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed in such state without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

12


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

 

GANNETT CO., INC.
By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

[Indemnitee]


Annex A

 

Name and Business Address.

     

 

     

 

     

 

     

 

     
Attn:  

 

     
Tel:  

 

     
Fax:  

 

     

Exhibit 10.2

Gannett Co., Inc.

Clawback Policy

Effective December 9, 2015

The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Gannett Co., Inc. (the “Company”) believes it is appropriate for the Company to adopt the following clawback policy (the “Policy”) to be applied to any Company officer who is subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or an individual who was such a Company officer in the three year period prior to the date of the event that triggered this Policy (each, an “Executive”):

The Board may decide to apply the Policy to any Executive in the following circumstances:

 

    The Company is required to restate its financial statements due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement as a result of Misconduct by an Executive (hereinafter referred to as a “Restatement Event”). For purposes of this policy, “Misconduct” shall mean fraud, intentional misconduct or gross negligence, as determined in the sole discretion of the Board (or designated Committee);

 

    The Board’s (or designated Committee’s) determination that an Executive engaged in fraud, theft, misappropriation, embezzlement or misrepresentation to the material detriment of the Company’s financial results as filed with the SEC (hereinafter referred to as a “Material Detriment Event”); or

 

    An Executive is terminated from employment by the Company due to a felony conviction (including a plea of guilty or of nolo contendere), which is directly and materially harmful to the business or reputation of the Company (hereinafter referred to as a “Felony Event”).

In the event the Policy is applied, then the Board (or a Board committee designated by the Board) may take any or all of the following actions with respect to an Executive:

 

  (i) for a Restatement Event, require the reimbursement and/or forfeiture of any bonus, incentive compensation, or equity-based compensation (collectively “Incentive Compensation”) paid to the Executive in excess of what would have been paid absent the restatement;


  (ii) for a Material Detriment Event, with respect to any Executive whose actions triggered the Material Detriment Event, require the reimbursement and/or forfeiture of any Incentive Compensation vested or paid to such Executive during a 12 month period, as determined by the Board, after the Executive first engaged in an act that related to the Material Detriment Event (as well as any profits realized, directly or indirectly, from the sale of Company securities during such period); and

 

  (iii) for a Felony Event, with respect to the Executive who is terminated in connection with the Felony Event, require the reimbursement and/or forfeiture of any Incentive Compensation paid to such Executive during the 12 month period prior to the Executive’s termination (as well as any profits realized, directly or indirectly, from the sale of Company securities during such period).

In determining whether to require reimbursement or forfeiture and, if so, the amount of such reimbursement or forfeiture, the Board (or Board committee) shall take into account such factors as it deems appropriate, including (A) whether any bonus, incentive or equity compensation earned with respect to the period covered by the restatement was based on the achievement of specified performance targets and, if so, whether any such compensation would have been reduced had the financial results been properly reported at the time such compensation was determined, (B) the extent and nature of the Executive’s involvement in and accountability for (1) the Misconduct that directly or indirectly resulted in the need to prepare the restatement, or (2) the conduct that caused a material detriment to the Company’s financial results as filed with the SEC, (C) the likelihood of success in seeking reimbursement or forfeiture under governing law relative to the effort involved, (D) whether the assertion of a reimbursement or forfeiture claim may prejudice the interests of the Company in any related proceeding or investigation, or otherwise, (E) whether the expense of seeking reimbursement or forfeiture is likely to exceed the amount sought or likely to be recovered, (F) the passage of time since the occurrence of the act in respect of the applicable conduct that triggers this Policy, (G) any pending or threatened legal proceeding relating to the applicable conduct that triggers this Policy, and any actual or anticipated resolution (including any settlement) relating thereto, (H) the tax consequences to the affected Executive and (I) such other factors as it may deem appropriate under the circumstances.

Before the Board (or Board committee) determines to seek recovery pursuant to this Policy, it shall provide to the applicable executive officer written notice and the opportunity to be heard, at a meeting of the Board (or Board committee), which may be in-person or telephonic, as determined by the Board (or Board committee).

Any determination of the Board (or Board committee) shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and the applicable Executives. The determination of the Board (or Board committee) need not be uniform with respect to one or more Executives.

 

2


To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company may enforce the recoupment of any or all amounts determined to be recoverable under this Policy by withholding future payment of incentive compensation or salary, canceling outstanding stock-based awards (whether or not then vested) or the scheduled grant of future stock-based awards, seeking reimbursement of previously paid incentive compensation, demanding direct cash payment, reducing compensation owed by the Company to the Executive, and/or such other means determined by the Board (or Board committee). The Company’s right of recoupment under this Policy is in addition to any remedy available to the Company with respect to any Executive, including, but not limited to, disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment, the initiation of civil or criminal proceedings, and any right to repayment under applicable law.

This Policy shall apply to bonus, incentive and equity compensation awarded to each Executive (while such individual is an Executive) and to any profits realized from the sale of Company securities, from and after the date of adoption of this Policy by the Board.

 

3

Exhibit 10.3

Form of RSU Award Agreement for US Executive Officers

AWARD AGREEMENT

STOCK UNITS

The Executive Compensation Committee of the Gannett Co., Inc. Board of Directors has approved an award of Restricted Stock Units (referred to herein as “Stock Units”) to you under the Gannett Co., Inc. 2015 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, as set forth below.

This Award Agreement and the enclosed Terms and Conditions effective as of January 1, 2016, constitute the formal agreement governing this award.

Please sign both copies of this Award Agreement to evidence your agreement with the terms hereof. Keep one copy and return the other to the undersigned. Please keep the enclosed Terms and Conditions for future reference.

 

 

 

Employee:    Location:   
Grant Date:        /    /       
Stock Unit Commencement Date:        /    /       
Stock Unit Expiration Date:    12/31/       
Stock Unit Vesting Schedule:    25% of the Stock Units shall vest on 12/31/    *   
   25% of the Stock Units shall vest on 12/31/    *   
   25% of the Stock Units shall vest on 12/31/    *   
   25% of the Stock Units shall vest on 12/31/    *   
Payment Date:    25% of the Stock Units shall be paid on 1/2/        *   
   25% of the Stock Units shall be paid on 1/2/        *   
   25% of the Stock Units shall be paid on 1/2/        *   
   25% of the Stock Units shall be paid on 1/2/        *   


* Provided the Employee is continuously employed until such dates and has not terminated employment on or before such dates. Such dates are hereinafter referred to as the “Vesting Date” or “Payment Date” for the Stock Units that vest or are paid on such dates.

Number of Stock Units:

 

 

 

    Gannett Co., Inc.

 

    By:  

 

Employee’s Signature       David Harmon
      Chief People Officer


STOCK UNITS

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Under the

Gannett Co., Inc.

2015 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan

These Terms and Conditions, dated January 1, 2016, govern the grant of Restricted Stock Units (referred to herein as “Stock Units”) to the employee (the “Employee”) designated in the Award Agreement dated coincident with these Terms and Conditions. The Stock Units are granted under, and are subject to, the Gannett Co., Inc. (the “Company”) 2015 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”). Terms used herein that are defined in the Plan shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Plan. If there is any inconsistency between these Terms and Conditions and the terms of the Plan, the Plan’s terms shall supersede and replace the conflicting terms herein.

1. Grant of Stock Units . Pursuant to the provisions of (i) the Plan, (ii) the individual Award Agreement governing the grant, and (iii) these Terms and Conditions, the Company has granted to the Employee the number of Stock Units set forth on the applicable Award Agreement. Each vested Stock Unit shall entitle the Employee to receive from the Company one share of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”) upon the earliest of the Employee’s termination of employment, a Change in Control (but only to the extent provided in Section 14) or the Payment Date, as defined below. The Employee shall not be entitled to receive any shares of Common Stock with respect to unvested Stock Units, and the Employee shall have no further rights with regard to a Stock Unit once the underlying share of Common Stock has been delivered with respect to that Stock Unit.

 

-3-


2. Payment Date . The Payment Date shall be the dates specified in the Award Agreement with respect to the Stock Units that vest on such date under the schedule set forth in the Award Agreement.

3. Vesting Schedule . Subject to the special vesting rules set forth in Sections 7, 14 and 15, the Stock Units shall vest in accordance with the Vesting Schedule specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the Employee is continuously employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries until the Vesting Dates specified in the Vesting Schedule and has not terminated employment on or before such dates. An Employee will not be treated as remaining in continuous employment if the Employee’s employer ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company.

4. No Dividend Equivalents . No dividend equivalents shall be paid to the Employee with regard to the Stock Units.

5. Delivery of Shares . The Company shall deliver to the Employee a certificate or certificates, or at the election of the Company make an appropriate book-entry, for the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of vested Stock Units as soon as administratively practicable (but always by the 30th day) after the earliest of the Employee’s termination of employment, a Change in Control (but only to the extent provided in Section 14) or the Payment Date; provided that the number of shares shall be reduced by the value of all taxes which the Company is required by law to withhold by reason of such delivery. The Employee shall not be entitled to receive any shares of Common Stock with respect to unvested Stock Units, and the Employee shall have no further rights with regard to a Stock Unit once the underlying share of Common Stock has been delivered with respect to that Stock Unit.

6. Cancellation of Stock Units .

 

-4-


(a) Termination of Employment . All Stock Units granted to the Employee that have not vested as of the date of the Employee’s termination of employment shall automatically be cancelled upon the Employee’s termination of employment. Unvested Stock Units shall also be cancelled in connection with an event that results in the Employee’s employer ceasing to be a Subsidiary of the Company.

(b) Forfeiture of Stock Units/Recovery of Common Stock . Stock Units granted under this Award Agreement are subject to the Company’s Clawback Policy, dated as of December 9, 2015, which may be amended from time-to-time with retroactive effect. In addition, the Company may assert any other remedies that may be available to the Company under applicable law.

7. Death, Disability, Retirement . In lieu of the Vesting Schedule set forth in the Award Agreement, in the event that the Employee’s employment terminates on or prior to the Stock Unit Expiration Date by reason of termination of employment after attaining age 65, or termination of employment after both attaining age 55 and completing at least 5 years of service, the Employee shall become vested in a number of Stock Units equal to the product of (i) the total number of Stock Units in which the Employee would have become vested upon the Stock Unit Expiration Date set forth in the Award Agreement had the Employee’s employment not terminated, and (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of full calendar months between the Stock Unit Commencement Date and the date that employment terminated, and the denominator of which shall be the number of full calendar months from the Stock Unit Commencement Date to the Stock Unit Expiration Date; provided such number of Stock Units so vested shall be reduced by the number of Stock Units that had previously become vested. In lieu of the Vesting Schedule set forth in the Award Agreement, in the event that the Employee’s employment terminates on or prior to the Stock Unit Expiration Date by reason of death or permanent disability (as determined under the Company’s Long Term Disability Plan), the Employee (or in the case of the Employee’s death, the Employee’s estate or designated beneficiary) shall be become fully vested in all of the Employee’s unvested Stock Units.

 

-5-


8. Non-Assignability . Stock Units may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, whether by operation of law or otherwise, nor may the Stock Units be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process.

9. Rights as a Shareholder . The Employee shall have no rights as a shareholder by reason of the Stock Units.

10. Discretionary Plan; Employment . The Plan is discretionary in nature and may be suspended or terminated by the Company at any time. With respect to the Plan, (a) each grant of Stock Units is a one-time benefit which does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of Stock Units, or benefits in lieu of Stock Units; (b) all determinations with respect to any such future grants, including, but not limited to, the times when the Stock Units shall be granted, the number of Stock Units, the Payment Dates and the Vesting Dates, will be at the sole discretion of the Company; (c) the Employee’s participation in the Plan shall not create a right to further employment with the Employee’s employer and shall not interfere with the ability of the Employee’s employer to terminate the Employee’s employment relationship at any time with or without cause; (d) the Employee’s participation in the Plan is voluntary; (e) the Stock Units are not part of normal and expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, resignation, redundancy, end of service payment, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits, or similar payments; and (f) the future value of the Stock Units is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty.

11. Effect of Plan and these Terms and Conditions . The Plan is hereby incorporated by reference into these Terms and Conditions, and these Terms and Conditions are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Plan, including without limitation the authority of the

 

-6-


Executive Compensation Committee of the Company (the “Committee”) in its sole discretion to adjust awards and to make interpretations and other determinations with respect to all matters relating to the applicable Award Agreements, these Terms and Conditions, the Plan and awards made pursuant thereto. These Terms and Conditions shall apply to the grant of Stock Units made to the Employee on the date hereof and shall not apply to any future grants of Stock Units made to the Employee.

12. Notices . Notices hereunder shall be in writing and, if to the Company, shall be addressed to the Secretary of the Company at 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, Virginia 22107, and, if to the Employee, shall be addressed to the Employee at his or her address as it appears on the Company’s records.

13. Successors and Assigns . The applicable Award Agreement and these Terms and Conditions shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company and, to the extent provided in Section 7 hereof, to the estate or designated beneficiary of the Employee.

14. Change in Control Provisions .

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Terms and Conditions, the following provisions shall apply to all Stock Units granted under the attached Award Agreement.

 

-7-


(a) Definitions .

As used in Article 15 of the Plan and in these Terms and Conditions, a “Change in Control” shall mean the first to occur of the following:

(i) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of either (A) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (B) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that, for purposes of this Section, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or one of its affiliates or (iv) any acquisition pursuant to a transaction that complies with Sections 14(a)(iii)(A), 14(a)(iii)(B) and 14(a)(iii)(C);

(ii) individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

 

-8-


(iii) consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (each, a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation or entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation or entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or any corporation or entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation or entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation or entity, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business Combination, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation or entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such Business Combination; or

 

-9-


(iv) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

(b) Acceleration Provisions . (i) In the event of the occurrence of a Change in Control in which the Stock Units are not continued or assumed (i.e., the Stock Units are not equitably converted into, or substituted for, a right to receive cash and/or equity of a successor entity or its affiliate), the Stock Units that have not been cancelled or paid out shall become fully vested.

(A) In the event of the occurrence of a Change in Control in which the Stock Units are not continued or assumed and such vested Stock Units are not treated as deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) and the regulations and guidance issued thereunder (“Section 409A”), as soon as administratively practicable on or following the effective date of the Change in Control (but in no event later than 30 days after such event), the Stock Units shall be paid out to the Employee.

(B) In the event of the occurrence of a Change in Control in which the Stock Units are not continued or assumed and such vested Stock Units are treated as deferred compensation under Section 409A, the vested Stock Units shall be paid out to the Employee as soon as administratively practicable on or following the effective date of the Change in Control (but in no event later than 30 days after such event); provided that the Change in Control also constitutes a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A, and such payout will not result in additional taxes under Section 409A. Otherwise, the vested Stock Units shall be paid out as soon as administratively practicable after the earlier of the Employee’s termination of employment or the applicable Payment Date for such Stock Units (but in no event later than 30 days after such events).

 

-10-


(ii) In the event of the occurrence of a Change in Control in which the Stock Units are continued or assumed (i.e., the Stock Units are equitably converted into, or substituted for, a right to receive cash and/or equity of a successor entity or its affiliate), the Stock Units shall not vest upon the Change in Control, provided that the Stock Units that are not subsequently vested and paid under the other provisions of this Award shall become fully vested in the event that the Employee has a “qualifying termination of employment” within two years following the date of the Change in Control. In the event of the occurrence of a Change in Control in which the Stock Units are continued or assumed, vested Stock Units shall be paid out soon as administratively practicable after the earlier of the Employee’s termination of employment or the applicable Payment Date for such Stock Units (but in no event later than 30 days after such events).

A “qualifying termination of employment” shall occur if the Company involuntarily terminates the Employee without “Cause” or the Employee voluntarily terminates for “Good Reason”. For this purpose, “Cause” shall mean:

 

    any material misappropriation of funds or property of the Company or its affiliate by the Employee;

 

    unreasonable and persistent neglect or refusal by the Employee to perform his or her duties which is demonstrably willful and deliberate on the Employee’s part, which is committed in bad faith or without reasonable belief that such breach is in the best interests of the Company and which is not remedied in a reasonable period of time after receipt of written notice from the Company specifying such breach;

 

    conviction of the Employee of a securities law violation or a felony involving moral turpitude; or

 

    the Employee being found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Securities and Exchange Commission to have violated any Federal or State securities law.

For this purpose, “Good Reason” means the occurrence after a Change in Control of any of the following circumstances without the Employee’s express written consent, unless such circumstances are fully corrected within 90 days of the Notice of Termination described below:

 

-11-


    the material diminution of the Employee’s duties, authorities or responsibilities from those in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control;

 

    a material reduction in the Employee’s base salary or target bonus opportunity as in effect on the date immediately prior to the Change in Control;

 

    the relocation of the Employee’s office from the location at which the Employee is principally employed immediately prior to the date of the Change in Control to a location 35 or more miles farther from the Employee’s residence immediately prior to the Change in Control, and recognizing that the Employee shall be expected to travel on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with the Employee’s business travel obligations prior to the Change in Control; or

 

    the failure by the Company or its affiliate to pay any material compensation or benefits due to the Employee.

Any termination by the Employee for Good Reason shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination that (x) indicates the specific termination provision in the Award Agreement relied upon, and (y) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Employee’s employment under the provision so indicated. Such notice must be provided to the Company within ninety (90) days after the event that created the “Good Reason”.

(iii) If in connection with a Change in Control, the Stock Units are assumed (i.e., the Stock Units are equitably converted into, or substituted for, a right to receive cash and/or equity of a successor entity or its affiliate), the Stock Units shall refer to the right to receive such cash and/or equity. An assumption of this Stock Unit award must satisfy the following requirements:

 

    The converted or substituted award must be a right to receive an amount of cash and/or equity that has a value, measured at the time of such conversion or substitution, that is equal to the value of this Award as of the date of the Change in Control;

 

-12-


    Any equity payable in connection with a converted or substituted award must be publicly traded equity securities of the Company, a successor company or their direct or indirect parent company, and such equity issuable with respect to a converted or substituted award must be covered by a registration statement filed with the Securities Exchange Commission that permits the immediate sale of such shares on a national exchange;

 

    The vesting terms of any converted or substituted award must be substantially identical to the terms of this Award; and

 

    The other terms and conditions of any converted or substituted award must be no less favorable to the Employee than the terms of this Award are as of the date of the Change in Control (including the provisions that would apply in the event of a subsequent Change in Control).

The determination of whether the conditions of this Section 14(b)(iii) are satisfied shall be made by the Committee, as constituted immediately before the Change in Control, in its sole discretion.

(c) Legal Fees. The Company shall pay all legal fees, court costs, fees of experts and other costs and expenses when incurred by Employee in connection with any actual, threatened or contemplated litigation or legal, administrative or other proceedings involving the provisions of this Section 14, whether or not initiated by the Employee. The Company agrees to pay such amounts within 10 days following the Company’s receipt of an invoice from the Employee, provided that the Employee shall have submitted an invoice for such amounts at least 30 days before the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which such fees and disbursements were incurred.

15. Employment or Similar Agreements. The provisions of Sections 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 14 of these Terms and Conditions shall not be applied to or interpreted in a manner which would decrease the rights held by, or the payments owing to, an Employee under an employment agreement, termination benefits agreement or similar agreement with the Company that pre-exists the Grant Date and contains specific provisions applying to Plan awards in the case of any change in control or similar event or termination of employment, and if there is any conflict between the terms of such employment agreement, termination benefits agreement or similar agreement and the terms of Sections 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 14, the employment agreement, termination benefits agreement or similar agreement shall control.

 

-13-


16. Grant Subject to Applicable Regulatory Approvals . Any grant of Stock Units under the Plan is specifically conditioned on, and subject to, any regulatory approvals required in the Employee’s country. These approvals cannot be assured. If necessary approvals for grant or payment are not obtained, the Stock Units may be cancelled or rescinded, or they may expire, as determined by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion.

17. Applicable Laws and Consent to Jurisdiction . The validity, construction, interpretation and enforceability of this Agreement shall be determined and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law. For the purpose of litigating any dispute that arises under this Agreement, the parties hereby consent to exclusive jurisdiction in Virginia and agree that such litigation shall be conducted in the courts of Fairfax County, Virginia or the federal courts of the United States for the Eastern District of Virginia.

18. Section 409A . This Award is intended to either be exempt from or comply with the requirements of Section 409A so that no taxes under Section 409A are triggered, and shall be interpreted and administered in accordance with that intent (e.g., the definition of “termination of employment” (or similar term used herein) shall have the meaning ascribed to “separation from service” under Section 409A). If any provision of these Terms and Conditions would otherwise conflict with or frustrate this intent, the provision shall not apply. Notwithstanding any provision in this Award Agreement to the contrary and solely to the extent required by Section 409A, if the Employee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A and if delivery of shares is being made in connection with the Employee’s

 

-14-


separation from service other than by reason of the Employee’s death, delivery of the shares shall be delayed until six months and one day after the Employee’s separation from service with the Company (or, if earlier than the end of the six-month period, the date of the Employee’s death). The Company shall not be responsible or liable for the consequences of any failure of the Award to avoid taxation under Section 409A.

 

-15-

Exhibit 10.4

Form of Executive Officer Performance Share Award Agreement

AWARD AGREEMENT

PERFORMANCE SHARES

The Executive Compensation Committee of the Gannett Board of Directors has approved your opportunity to receive Performance Shares (referred to herein as “Performance Shares”) under the Gannett Co., Inc. 2015 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, as set forth below.

This Award Agreement and the enclosed Terms and Conditions effective as of January 1, 2016, constitute the formal agreement governing this award.

Please sign both copies of this Award Agreement to evidence your agreement with the terms hereof. Keep one copy and return the other to the undersigned.

Please keep the enclosed Terms and Conditions for future reference.

 

 

 

Employee:

   Location:

Grant Date:

   1/1/    

Performance Period Commencement Date:

   1/1/    

Performance Period End Date:

   12/31/    

Performance Share Payment Date:

   On a date specified by the Committee that is within the first 90 days of         

Target Number of Performance Shares:

               *

 

* The actual number of Performance Shares you may receive will be higher or lower depending on the Company’s performance versus certain designated companies and your continued employment with the Company, as more fully explained in the enclosed Terms and Conditions.

 

 

 

    Gannett Co., Inc.

 

    By:  

 

Employee’s Signature       David Harmon
      Chief People Officer


PERFORMANCE SHARES

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Under the

Gannett Co., Inc.

2015 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan

These Terms and Conditions, dated January 1, 2016, govern the right of the employee (the “Employee”) designated in the Award Agreement dated coincident with these Terms and Conditions to receive Performance Shares (referred to herein as “Performance Shares”). Generally, the Employee will not receive any Performance Shares unless the specified service and performance requirements set forth herein are satisfied. The Performance Shares are granted under, and are subject to, the Gannett Co., Inc. (the “Company”) 2015 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”). Terms used herein that are defined in the Plan shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Plan. If there is any inconsistency between these Terms and Conditions and the terms of the Plan, the Plan’s terms shall supersede and replace the conflicting terms herein.

1. Grant of Performance Shares . Pursuant to the provisions of (i) the Plan, (ii) the individual Award Agreement governing the grant, and (iii) these Terms and Conditions, the Employee may be entitled to receive Performance Shares. Each Performance Share that becomes payable shall entitle the Employee to receive from the Company one share of the Company’s common stock (“Common Stock”) upon the expiration of the Incentive Period, except as provided in Section 13. The actual number of Performance Shares an Employee will receive will be calculated in the manner described in these Terms and Conditions, including Exhibit A, and may be different than the Target Number of Performance Shares set forth in the Award Agreement.


2. Incentive Period . Except as otherwise provided in Section 13 below, the Incentive Period in respect of the Performance Shares shall commence on the Performance Period Commencement Date specified in the Award Agreement and end on the Performance Period End Date specified in the Award Agreement.

3. No Dividend Equivalents . No dividend equivalents shall be paid to the Employee with regard to the Performance Shares.

4. Delivery of Shares . The Company shall deliver to the Employee a certificate or certificates, or at the election of the Company make an appropriate book-entry, for the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of Performance Shares that have been earned based on the Company’s performance during the Incentive Period as set forth in Exhibit A and satisfaction of the Terms and Conditions set forth herein, which number of shares shall be reduced by the value of all taxes which the Company is required by law to withhold by reason of such delivery. Except as provided in Sections 13 or 14, such delivery shall take place on the Performance Share Payment Date. An Employee shall have no further rights with regard to the Performance Shares once the underlying shares of Common Stock have been delivered.

5. Forfeiture and Cancellation of Right to Receive Performance Shares .

(a) Termination of Employment . Except as provided in Sections 6, 13, and 14, an Employee’s right to receive Performance Shares shall automatically be cancelled upon the Employee’s termination of employment (as well as an event that results in the Employee’s employer ceasing to be a subsidiary of the Company) prior to the Performance Period End Date, and in such event the Employee shall not be entitled to receive any shares of Common Stock in respect thereof.

 

-2-


(b) Forfeiture of Performance Shares/Recovery of Common Stock . Performance Shares granted under this Award Agreement are subject to the Company’s Clawback Policy, dated as of December 9, 2015, which may be amended from time-to-time with retroactive effect. In addition, the Company may assert any other remedies that may be available to the Company under applicable law.

6. Death, Disability, Retirement . Except as provided in Sections 13 or 14 below, in the event that the employment of the Employee shall terminate prior to the Performance Period End Date by reason of death, permanent disability (as determined under the Company’s Long Term Disability Plan), termination of employment after attaining age 65, or termination of employment after both attaining age 55 and completing at least 5 years of service, the Employee (or in the case of the Employee’s death, the Employee’s estate or designated beneficiary) shall be entitled to receive at the Performance Share Payment Date the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the total number of shares in respect of such Performance Shares which the Employee would have been entitled to receive upon the expiration of the Incentive Period had the Employee’s employment not terminated, and (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of full calendar months between the Performance Period Commencement Date and the date that employment terminated, and the denominator of which shall be the number of full calendar months from the Performance Period Commencement Date to the Performance Period End Date. [Alternative Section 6 for awards of Performance Shares to the Company’s CEO: Termination of Employment . Any right to receive Performance Shares shall not be partially or fully cancelled upon a voluntary or involuntary termination of employment during the Incentive Period. Instead, the Employee’s right to receive Performance Shares will be determined as if the Employee had remained in continuous employment through the Incentive Period.]

 

-3-


7. Non-Assignability . Performance Shares may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated, whether by operation of law or otherwise, nor may the Performance Shares be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process.

8. Rights as a Shareholder . The Employee shall have no rights as a shareholder by reason of the Performance Shares.

9. Discretionary Plan; Employment . The Plan is discretionary in nature and may be suspended or terminated by the Company at any time. With respect to the Plan, (a) each grant of Performance Shares is a one-time benefit which does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of Performance Shares, or benefits in lieu of Performance Shares; (b) all determinations with respect to any such future grants, including, but not limited to, the times when the Performance Shares shall be granted, the number of Performance Shares, and the Incentive Period, will be at the sole discretion of the Company; (c) the Employee’s participation in the Plan shall not create a right to further employment with the Employee’s employer and shall not interfere with the ability of the Employee’s employer to terminate the Employee’s employment relationship at any time with or without cause; (d) the Employee’s participation in the Plan is voluntary; (e) the Performance Shares are not part of normal and expected compensation for purposes of calculating any severance, resignation, redundancy, end of service payment, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits, or similar payments; and (f) the future value of the Performance Shares is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty.

 

-4-


10. Effect of Plan and these Terms and Conditions . The Plan is hereby incorporated by reference into these Terms and Conditions, and these Terms and Conditions are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Plan, including without limitation the authority of the Executive Compensation Committee of the Company (the “Committee”) in its sole discretion to make interpretations and other determinations with respect to all matters relating to the applicable Award Agreements, these Terms and Conditions, the Plan and awards made pursuant thereto. These Terms and Conditions shall apply to the grant of Performance Shares made to the Employee on the date hereof and shall not apply to any future grants of Performance Shares made to the Employee.

11. Notices . Notices hereunder shall be in writing and, if to the Company, shall be addressed to the Secretary of the Company at 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, Virginia 22107, and, if to the Employee, shall be addressed to the Employee at his or her address as it appears on the Company’s records.

12. Successors and Assigns . The applicable Award Agreement and these Terms and Conditions shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company and, to the extent provided in Section 6 hereof, to the estate or designated beneficiary of the Employee.

13. Change in Control Provisions .

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Terms and Conditions, the following provisions shall apply to the right of an Employee to receive Performance Shares under the attached Award Agreement.

 

-5-


(a) Definitions .

As used in Article 15 of the Plan and in these Terms and Conditions, a “Change in Control” shall mean the first to occur of the following:

(i) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 20% or more of either (A) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (B) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that, for purposes of this Section, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or one of its affiliates, or (iv) any acquisition pursuant to a transaction that complies with Sections 13(a)(iii)(A), 13(a)(iii)(B) and 13(a)(iii)(C);

(ii) individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

 

-6-


(iii) consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (each, a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities that were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation or entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation or entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or any corporation or entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation or entity resulting from such Business Combination or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of such corporation or entity, except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the Business

 

-7-


Combination, and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation or entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such Business Combination; or

(iv) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

(b) Acceleration Provisions . In the event of a Change in Control, the number of Performance Shares payable to an Employee shall be calculated in accordance with the Change in Control rules set forth in Exhibit A, subject to the vesting rules set forth below.

(i) In the event of the occurrence of a Change in Control in which the Performance Shares are not continued or assumed (i.e., the Performance Shares are not equitably converted into, or substituted for, a right to receive cash and/or equity of a successor entity or its affiliate), the Performance Shares that have not been cancelled shall become fully vested and shall be paid out to the Employee as soon as administratively practicable on or following the effective date of the Change in Control (but in no event later than 30 days after such event), provided that the Change in Control also constitutes a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”) and the regulations and guidance issued thereunder (“Section 409A”), and such payout will not result in additional taxes under Section 409A. Otherwise, in the event of the occurrence of a Change in Control in which the Performance Shares are not continued or assumed, the vested Performance Shares shall be paid out at the earlier of the Employee’s termination of employment or the Performance Share Payment Date.

 

-8-


(ii) In the event of the occurrence of a Change in Control in which the Performance Shares are continued or assumed (i.e., the Performance Shares are equitably converted into, or substituted for, a right to receive cash and/or equity of a successor entity or its affiliate), the Performance Shares shall not vest upon the Change in Control, provided that the Performance Shares that have not vested under the other provisions of this Award shall become fully vested in the event that the Employee has a “qualifying termination of employment” within two years following the date of the Change in Control. In the event of the occurrence of a Change in Control in which the Performance Shares are continued or assumed, vested Performance Shares shall be paid out to the Employee at the earlier of the Employee’s termination of employment or the Performance Share Payment Date.

A “qualifying termination of employment” shall occur if the Company involuntarily terminates the Employee without “Cause” or the Employee voluntarily terminates for “Good Reason”. For this purpose, “Cause” shall mean:

 

    any material misappropriation of funds or property of the Company or its affiliate by the Employee;

 

    unreasonable and persistent neglect or refusal by the Employee to perform his or her duties which is demonstrably willful and deliberate on the Employee’s part, which is committed in bad faith or without reasonable belief that such breach is in the best interests of the Company and which is not remedied in a reasonable period of time after receipt of written notice from the Company specifying such breach;

 

    conviction of the Employee of a securities law violation or a felony involving moral turpitude; or

 

    the Employee being found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Securities and Exchange Commission to have violated any Federal or State securities law.

For this purpose, “Good Reason” means the occurrence after a Change in Control of any of the following circumstances without the Employee’s express written consent, unless such circumstances are fully corrected within 90 days of the Notice of Termination described below:

 

-9-


    the material diminution of the Employee’s duties, authorities or responsibilities from those in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control;

 

    a material reduction in the Employee’s base salary or target bonus opportunity as in effect on the date immediately prior to the Change in Control;

 

    the relocation of the Employee’s office from the location at which the Employee is principally employed immediately prior to the date of the Change in Control to a location 35 or more miles farther from the Employee’s residence immediately prior to the Change in Control, and recognizing that the Employee shall be expected to travel on the Company’s business to an extent substantially consistent with the Employee’s business travel obligations prior to the Change in Control; or

 

    the failure by the Company or its affiliate to pay any material compensation or benefits due to the Employee.

Any termination by the Employee for Good Reason shall be communicated by a Notice of Termination that (x) indicates the specific termination provision in the Award Agreement relied upon, and (y) to the extent applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Employee’s employment under the provision so indicated. Such notice must be provided to the Company within ninety (90) days after the event that created the “Good Reason”.

(iii) If in connection with a Change in Control, the Performance Shares are assumed (i.e., the Performance Shares are equitably converted into, or substituted for, a right to receive cash and/or equity of a successor entity or its affiliate), the Performance Shares shall refer to the right to receive such cash and/or equity. An assumption of this Performance Share award must satisfy the following requirements:

 

    The converted or substituted award must be a right to receive an amount of cash and/or equity that has a value, measured at the time of such conversion or substitution, that is equal to the value of this Award as of the date of the Change in Control;

 

    Any equity payable in connection with a converted or substituted award must be publicly traded equity securities of the Company, a successor company or their direct or indirect parent company, and such equity issuable with respect to a converted or substituted award must be covered by a registration statement filed with the Securities Exchange Commission that permits the immediate sale of such shares on a national exchange;

 

-10-


    The vesting terms of any converted or substituted award must be substantially identical to the terms of this Award; and

 

    The other terms and conditions of any converted or substituted award must be no less favorable to the Employee than the terms of this Award are as of the date of the Change in Control (including the provisions that would apply in the event of a subsequent Change in Control).

The determination of whether the conditions of this Section 13(b)(iii) are satisfied shall be made by the Committee, as constituted immediately before the Change in Control, in its sole discretion.

(c) Legal Fees. The Company shall pay all legal fees, court costs, fees of experts and other costs and expenses when incurred by Employee in connection with any actual, threatened or contemplated litigation or legal, administrative or other proceedings involving the provisions of this Section 13, whether or not initiated by the Employee. The Company agrees to pay such amounts within 10 days following the Company’s receipt of an invoice from the Employee, provided that the Employee shall have submitted an invoice for such amounts at least 30 days before the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which such fees and disbursements were incurred.

14. Employment or Similar Agreements . The provisions of Sections 1, 4, 5, 6 and 13 of these Terms and Conditions shall not be applied to or interpreted in a manner which would decrease the rights held by, or the payments owing to, an Employee under an employment agreement, termination benefits agreement or similar agreement with the Company that pre-exists the Grant Date and contains specific provisions applying to Plan awards in the case of any change in control or similar event or termination of employment, and if there is any conflict between the terms of such employment agreement, termination benefits agreement or similar agreement and the terms of Sections 1, 4, 5, 6 or 13, the employment agreement or termination benefits agreement shall control.

 

-11-


15. Grant Subject to Applicable Regulatory Approvals . Any grant of Performance Shares under the Plan is specifically conditioned on, and subject to, any regulatory approvals required in the Employee’s country. These approvals cannot be assured. If necessary approvals for grant or payment are not obtained, the Performance Shares may be cancelled or rescinded, or they may expire, as determined by the Company in its sole and absolute discretion.

16. Applicable Laws and Consent to Jurisdiction . The validity, construction, interpretation and enforceability of this Agreement shall be determined and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law. For the purpose of litigating any dispute that arises under this Agreement, the parties hereby consent to exclusive jurisdiction in Virginia and agree that such litigation shall be conducted in the courts of Fairfax County, Virginia or the federal courts of the United States for the Eastern District of Virginia.

17. Compliance with Section 409A . This Award is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A so that no taxes under Section 409A are triggered, and shall be interpreted and administered in accordance with that intent (e.g., the definition of “termination of employment” (or similar term used herein) shall have the meaning ascribed to “separation from service” under Section 409A). If any provision of these Terms and Conditions would otherwise conflict with or frustrate this intent, the provision shall not apply. Notwithstanding any provision in this Award Agreement to the contrary and solely to the extent required by Section 409A, if the Employee is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section 409A and if delivery of shares is being made in connection with the Employee’s separation from service other than by

 

-12-


reason of the Employee’s death, delivery of the shares shall be delayed until six months and one day after the Employee’s separation from service with the Company (or, if earlier than the end of the six-month period, the date of the Employee’s death). The Company shall not be responsible or liable for the consequences of any failure of the Award to avoid taxation under Section 409A.

 

-13-


Exhibit A

Performance Share Calculation

The number of Performance Shares that the Employee will be entitled to receive if the Employee satisfies the applicable service requirements will be calculated based on how the Company’s Total Shareholder Return compares to the Total Shareholder Return of the Comparator Companies during the Incentive Period (i.e., the Company’s Total Shareholder Return will be ranked against the Total Shareholder Return of the Comparator Companies). Specifically, the Committee shall calculate the number of Performance Shares that may be paid to the Employee by multiplying the Employee’s Target Number of Performance Shares by the applicable percentage determined under the following chart:

 

Company’s Percentile in 3-Year

TSR vs. Comparator Companies

  

Resulting Shares Earned (% of

Target)

 

Value of Each Share Earned

90 th or above

   200%   Each share earned is also impacted by
share price change during the cycle

70 th

   150%  

50 th

   100%  

30 th

   50%  

<30 th

   0%  

Straight-line interpolation between points

Total Shareholder Return will be calculated from the first day of the Incentive Period to the applicable measurement date. For purposes of calculating the payout, the Company’s performance versus the Comparator Companies will be based on the average payout that would be made based on the Company’s cumulative Total Shareholder Return relative to the Comparator Companies at the end of each of the last 4 quarters of the Incentive Period.

Other Rules :

1. In the event that the price of a share of the Company’s Common Stock on the Performance Share Payment Date is more than 300% of the price of a share of the Company’s Common Stock on the Performance Period Commencement Date, the number of shares delivered under the Award will be reduced so the value of the Award does not exceed 300% of the price of a share of the Company’s Common Stock on the Performance Period Commencement Date multiplied by the number of Performance Shares earned. For example, if (i) the Company’s share price is $10 on the Performance Period Commencement Date, (ii) the Employee’s Target Number of Shares is 100, (iii) the Employee earns 100% of the Target Number of Shares (or 100 shares), and (iv) the value of such shares on the Performance Share Payment Date is $50, the number of the shares will be reduced because the value of the shares on the Performance Share Payment Date exceeds 300% of the value of the shares on the Performance Period Commencement Date. Specifically, the award to the Employee would be reduced to 60 shares (i.e., (100 shares x (300% x $10)/$50)).

2. Comparator Companies that are involved in bankruptcy proceedings (and thus no longer traded on a national securities exchange) during the Incentive Period will remain in the group at -100% Total Shareholder Return.

 

-14-


3. The following rules shall apply to Comparator Companies during the Incentive Period:

(a) If a Comparator Company enters into or becomes subject to a definitive agreement to be acquired (whether by acquisition, merger, tender offer or otherwise) on or before the last day of the second year of the Incentive Period, the Comparator Company will be eliminated from the Total Shareholder Return calculations for the entire period. If, however, such an agreement is rescinded, revoked or abandoned by the end of the second year of the Incentive Period and no new agreement is entered into by the end of the second year, the Comparator Company will be taken into account unless it is subject to another rule set forth below.

(b) If a Comparator Company is subject to a public announcement of a takeover attempt or enters into or is subject to a definitive agreement to be acquired in the third year of the Incentive Period, the Comparator Company will be fixed above or below Gannett using 30-trading day average prices for both companies up to the day before the announcement of the takeover attempt or definitive agreement.

(c) If a Comparator Company enters into or is subject to a definitive agreement to be acquired by Gannett or one its subsidiaries, it will be eliminated for the entire measurement period.

Definitions :

“Total Shareholder Return” means a fraction whose numerator is the stock price change plus dividends paid on such stock (which are assumed to be reinvested in the stock) and whose denominator is the stock price on the Performance Period Commencement Date.

“Comparator Companies” means:

 

A.H. Belo Corp.    Angie’s List, Inc.    Constant Contact, Inc.
Harte Hanks, Inc.    Lee Enterprises, Inc.    McClatchy Co./CLA
Meredith Corp.    New Media Investment Group    New York Times Co./CLA
News Corp.    Reachlocal, Inc.    Time, Inc.
Tribune Publishing Co.    Yelp, Inc.   

The Committee, in its sole discretion, is responsible for making the above calculations.

Change In Control

In the event of a Change in Control to the Company and provided that the Employee’s right to receive Performance Shares has not previously been cancelled, the number of Performance Shares an Employee may be paid will be calculated based on the Company’s relative Total Shareholder Return positioning on the date of the Change in Control and there will be no four quarter averaging. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Change in Control occurs in the first twelve (12) months of the Incentive Period, the Employee will, instead, receive the Target Number of Performance Shares as set forth in the Employee’s Award Agreement; provided that the Employee’s right to receive Performance Shares has not previously been cancelled.

 

-15-


Code Section 162(m)

This Award is intended to comply with the requirements of Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m) and the provisions of this Award shall be interpreted and administered consistently with that intent. In that light, the following rules shall apply to the award:

 

  (a) To the extent permitted by Code Section 162(m) and the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to adjust the number of Performance Shares that are payable under the Award Agreement, adjust the Total Shareholder Return calculations or alter the methodology for calculating the number of Performance Shares to take into account the effects of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, spin-off, reorganization, recapitalization or similar transaction.

 

  (b) The aggregate grant with respect to awards of Performance Shares or Restricted Stock Units made in any one fiscal year to any one participant under the Plan may not exceed the value of five hundred thousand (500,000) Shares.

 

  (c) Before any Performance Shares are paid to the Employee, the Committee will certify, in writing, the Company’s satisfaction of the pre-established performance target and the number of Performance Shares payable to the Employee.

 

-16-