exv10wxgy






Exhibit (10)(g)




Executive Severance Agreement

for Senior Officers




Tier I




 









 





Contents




	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Article 1.

	 	Establishment, Term, and Purpose
	 	 	1	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Article 2.

	 	Definitions
	 	 	2	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Article 3.

	 	Severance Benefits
	 	 	7	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Article 4.

	 	Other Terminations
	 	 	12	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Article 5.

	 	Noncompetition and Confidentiality
	 	 	13	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Article 6.

	 	Excise Tax Equalization Payment
	 	 	15	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Article 7.

	 	Dispute Resolution and Notice
	 	 	16	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Article 8.

	 	Successors and Assignment
	 	 	16	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Article 9.

	 	Miscellaneous
	 	 	17	 






 









 






Executive Severance Agreement




     THIS EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made, entered into, and is effective as of                     , 2004 (hereinafter referred to as the “Effective Date”), by
and between,                                         , a Michigan corporation, (hereinafter referred to as the “Employer”) and                      
                    (hereinafter referred to as the “Executive”).



     WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of CMS Energy Corporation has approved entering into severance
agreements with certain key executives as being necessary and advisable for the success of CMS
Energy Corporation;



     WHEREAS, the Executive is currently employed at                                         , by the Employer in a key management position
as                                         ;



     WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of CMS Energy Corporation wants to provide the Executive with
a measure of financial security in the event of certain terminations of employment; and



     WHEREAS, both the Employer and the Executive are desirous that any proposal involving Change
in Control as defined in this Agreement will be considered by the Executive objectively and with
reference only to the business interests of CMS Energy Corporation and its shareholders.



     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants and agreements
of the parties set forth in this Agreement and of other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intended to be
legally bound, agree as follows:



Article 1. Establishment, Term, and Purpose




     This Agreement will commence on the Effective Date and shall continue in effect for three (3)
full years through March           , 2007. However, at the end of such three (3) year period and, if
extended, at the end of each additional year thereafter, the term of this Agreement shall be
extended automatically for one (1) additional year, unless the Executive delivers written notice
six (6) months prior to the end of such term, or extended term, to the Committee, stating that the
Agreement will not be extended by Executive. In such case, the Agreement will terminate at the end
of the term, or extended term, then in progress. However, in the event of a Change in Control (as
defined in Section 2.7 herein) of CMS Energy Corporation, the term of this Agreement shall
automatically be extended for two (2) years from the date of the Change in Control if the current
term of the Agreement has less than two (2) full years remaining until its expiration. If the term
of this Agreement is not extended, the Employer is not obligated to pay any severance benefits
under Section 3.2 for a Change in Control that happens after the expiration of the term and is not
obligated to pay any severance benefits under Section 3.3 with respect to any other termination
that happens after the expiration of the term.



 









 





Article 2. Definitions




     Whenever used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below
and, when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word is capitalized.




	 	2.1	 	“Affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12B-2 promulgated under
Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
	 
	 	2.2	 	“Base Salary” means the greater of the Executive’s full annual rate of salary,
whether or not any portion thereof is paid on a deferred basis, at: (i) the Effective
Date of Termination, or (ii) at the date of the Change in Control. It does not include
any incentive compensation in any form, bonuses of any type or any other form of monetary
or nonmonetary compensation other than salary.
	 
	 	2.3	 	“Beneficial Owner” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of
the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.
	 
	 	2.4	 	“Beneficiary” means the persons or entities designated or deemed designated by the
Executive pursuant to Section 9.5 herein.
	 
	 	2.5	 	“Board” means the Board of Directors of CMS Energy Corporation.
	 
	 	2.6	 	“Cause” shall be determined solely by the Committee in the exercise of good faith
and reasonable judgment, and shall mean the occurrence of any one or more of the
following:






	 	(a)	 	The willful and continued failure by the Executive to substantially
perform his or her duties of employment (other than any such failure resulting from
the Executive’s Disability), after a written demand for substantial performance is
delivered to the Executive that specifically identifies the manner in which the
Committee believes that the Executive has not substantially performed his or her
duties, and the Executive has failed to remedy the situation within a reasonable
period of time specified by the Committee which shall not be less than 30 days; or
	 
	 	(b)	 	The Executive’s arrest for committing an act of fraud, embezzlement,
theft, or other act constituting a felony involving moral turpitude; or
	 
	 	(c)	 	The willful engaging by the Executive in misconduct materially and
demonstrably injurious to CMS Energy Corporation or its Affiliates, monetarily or
otherwise.






However, for purposes of clauses (a) and (c), no act or failure to act on the
Executive’s part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by



 









 






the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his or her action or
omission was in the best interest of CMS Energy Corporation or its Affiliates.




	 	2.7	 	“Change in Control” means a change in control of CMS Energy Corporation, and shall
be deemed to have occurred upon the first to occur of any of the following events:






	 	(a)	 	Any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly,
of securities of CMS Energy Corporation (not including in the securities
beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from CMS Energy
Corporation or its Affiliates) representing twenty-five percent (25%) or more of
the combined voting power of CMS Energy Corporation’s then outstanding securities,
excluding any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a
transaction described in clause (i) of paragraph (c) below; or
	 
	 	(b)	 	The following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a
majority of directors then serving: individuals who, on the Effective Date,
constitute the Board and any new director (other than a director whose initial
assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election
contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the
election of directors of CMS Energy Corporation) whose appointment or election by
the Board or nomination for election by CMS Energy Corporation’s stockholders was
approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors
then still in office who either were directors on the Effective Date or whose
appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved or
recommended; or
	 
	 	(c)	 	The consummation of a merger or consolidation of CMS Energy Corporation
or any direct or indirect subsidiary of CMS Energy Corporation with any other
corporation or other entity, other than: (i) any such merger or consolidation which
involves either CMS Energy Corporation or any such subsidiary and would result in
the voting securities of CMS Energy Corporation outstanding immediately prior
thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof), in
combination with the ownership of any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities
under an employee benefit plan of CMS Energy Corporation or its Affiliates, at
least sixty percent (60%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of
CMS Energy Corporation or the surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation and immediately following which the
individuals who comprise the Board immediately prior thereto constitute at least a
majority of the board of directors of CMS Energy Corporation, the entity surviving
such merger or consolidation or, if CMS Energy Corporation or the entity surviving
such merger is then a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof; or (ii) a merger or
consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of CMS Energy Corporation
(or similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner,
directly or indirectly, of




 









 






	 	 	 	securities of CMS Energy Corporation (not including in the securities
beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from CMS
Energy Corporation or its Affiliates) representing twenty-five percent (25%) or
more of the combined voting power of CMS Energy Corporation’s then outstanding
securities; or






	 	(d)	 	Either (1) the stockholders of CMS Energy Corporation approve a plan of
complete liquidation or dissolution of CMS Energy Corporation, or (2) there is
consummated an agreement for the sale, transfer or disposition by CMS Energy
Corporation of all or substantially all of CMS Energy Corporation’s assets (or any
transaction having a similar effect). For purposes of clause (d)(2), (i) the sale,
transfer or disposition of a majority of the shares of common stock of Consumers
Energy Company shall constitute a sale, transfer or disposition of substantially
all of the assets of CMS Energy Corporation and (ii) the sale, transfer or
disposition of subsidiaries or affiliates of CMS Energy Corporation, singly or in
combinations, or their assets, only qualifies as a Change in Control if it
satisfies the substantiality test contained in that clause and the Board of CMS
Energy Corporation’s determination in that regard is final. In addition, for
purposes of clause (d)(2), the sale, transfer or disposition of assets has to be in
a transaction or series of transactions closing within six months after the closing
of the first transaction in the series, other than with an entity in which at least
60% of the combined voting power of the voting securities is owned by stockholders
of CMS Energy Corporation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership
of CMS Energy Corporation immediately prior to such transaction or transactions and
immediately following which the individuals who comprise the Board immediately
prior thereto constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the
entity to which such assets are sold, transferred or disposed or, if such entity is
a subsidiary, the ultimate parent thereof.






Notwithstanding the foregoing clauses (a), (c) and (d), a “Change in Control” shall not
be deemed to have occurred by virtue of the consummation of any transaction or series
of integrated transactions closing within six months after the closing of the first
transaction in the series immediately following which the record holders of the common
stock of CMS Energy Corporation immediately prior to such transaction or series of
transactions continue to have substantially the same proportionate ownership in an
entity which owns all or substantially all of the assets of CMS Energy Corporation
immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.




	 	2.8	 	“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any
successors thereto.
	 
	 	2.9	 	“Committee” means the Organization and Compensation Committee of the Board of CMS
Energy Corporation or any other committee appointed by the Board of CMS Energy
Corporation to perform the functions of the Organization and Compensation Committee.
	 
	 	2.10	 	“Disability” means for all purposes of this Agreement, the incapacity of the
Executive, due to injury, illness, disease, or bodily or mental infirmity, which causes
the Executive not to engage in the performance of a substantial or material portion of
the Executive’s usual duties of employment associated with such Executive’s position.
Such Disability shall be determined based on competent medical advice.




 









 












	 	2.11	 	“Effective Date” means the date of this Agreement as specified in the opening
sentence of this Agreement.
	 
	 	2.12	 	“Effective Date of Termination” means the date on which a Qualifying Termination
occurs, as provided under Section 2.17 hereunder, which triggers the payment of
Severance Benefits hereunder.
	 
	 	2.13	 	“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
	 
	 	2.14	 	“Good Reason” exists only on the date of a Change in Control or during the
twenty-four (24) months which follow a Change in Control and shall mean, without the
Executive’s express written consent, the occurrence of any one or more of the following:






	 	(a)	 	The assignment to the Executive of duties materially inconsistent
with the Executive’s position (including status, offices, titles, and reporting
requirements), authority, or responsibilities as in effect on the Effective Date,
or any action by the Employer which results in a diminution of the Executive’s
position, authority, duties, or responsibilities as constituted as of the
Effective Date (excluding an isolated, insubstantial, and inadvertent action which
is remedied by the Employer promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the
Executive); or
	 
	 	(b)	 	Reducing the Executive’s Base Salary; or
	 
	 	(c)	 	Reducing the Executive’s targeted annual incentive opportunity; or
	 
	 	(d)	 	Failing to maintain the Executive’s participation in a long-term
incentive plan in a manner that is consistent with the Executive’s position,
authority, or responsibilities; or
	 
	 	(e)	 	Failing to maintain the Executive’s amount of benefits under, or
relative level of participation in, employee benefit or retirement plans,
policies, practices, or arrangements of a material nature available to employees
of CMS Energy Corporation and its Affiliates and in which the Executive
participates as of the Effective Date; or
	 
	 	(f)	 	A material breach of this Agreement by the Employer which is not
remedied by the Employer within ten (10) business days of receipt of written
notice of such breach delivered by the Executive to the Committee; or
	 
	 	(g)	 	Any successor company fails or refuses to assume the obligations owed
to Executive under this Agreement in their entirety, as required by Section 8.1
hereunder; or




 









 












	 	(h)	 	The Executive is required to be based at a location in excess of
thirty-five (35) miles from the location of the Executive’s principal job location
or office immediately prior to a Change in Control except for required travel on
the Employer’s or CMS Energy Corporation’s business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive’s prior business travel obligations; or
	 
	 	(i)	 	The Executive ceases being an executive officer of a company (other
than by reason of death, Disability or Cause) whose common stock is publicly owned
if immediately prior to the Change in Control the Executive was an executive
officer of a company whose common stock was publicly owned.






For purposes of applying clauses (a) through (i) of this Agreement, the Executive’s
Retirement shall not constitute a waiver of the Executive’s rights with respect to any
circumstance constituting Good Reason, and the Executive’s continued employment shall
not constitute a waiver of the Executive’s rights with respect to any circumstance
constituting Good Reason or constitute Executive’s consent to the circumstances
constituting Good Reason unless Executive has provided express written consent to the
circumstance that would otherwise constitute Good Reason under this Agreement.
Finally, for purposes of implementing this Agreement, any claim by Executive that Good
Reason exists shall be presumed to be correct unless the Committee determines by clear
and convincing evidence that Good Reason does not exist, which evidence shall be
presented by the person disputing the claim that Good Reason exists.




	 	2.15	 	“Notice of Termination” shall be provided for a Qualifying Termination and shall
mean a written notice which shall indicate the specific termination provision in this
Agreement relied upon, and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and
circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment
under the provision so indicated. The notice shall provide a specific date on which a
Qualifying Termination has occurred and is effective for purposes of this Agreement.
	 
	 	2.16	 	“Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the
Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a “group” as
provided in Section 13(d).
	 
	 	2.17	 	“Qualifying Termination” means:






	 	(a)	 	An involuntary termination of the Executive’s employment by the
Employer on the date of a Change in Control or during the twenty-four (24) months
which follow a Change in Control for reasons other than death, Disability,
Retirement, or Cause pursuant to a Notice of Termination delivered to the
Executive by the Employer; or
	 
	 	(b)	 	A voluntary termination by the Executive for Good Reason on the
date of a Change in Control or during the twenty-four (24) months which follow a
Change in Control pursuant to a Notice of Termination delivered to the Employer
by the Executive.




 









 












	 	(c)	 	A termination (not involving death, Disability, Retirement or
Cause), which takes place before the date of a Change in Control or after the
first twenty-four (24) months immediately following a Change in Control, pursuant
to a Notice of Termination delivered to Executive or pursuant to a request that
Executive submit a resignation as an officer. A termination for failure of the
Executive to comply in material respects with CMS Energy’s Code of Conduct and
Statement of Ethics Handbook (June 2003 edition) or other corporate policies, as
the handbook and those documents may be amended from time to time, does not
satisfy the definition of a Qualifying Termination under this clause (c).






	 	2.18	 	“Release Date” occurs after the delivery of the Notice of Termination required
by Section 2.15 and means the date on which the release contained in Exhibit A to this
Agreement is first provided to Executive for signature.
	 
	 	2.19	 	“Retirement” shall have the meanings ascribed under the terms of the pension plan
applicable to Executive and entitled “Pension Plan for Employees of Consumers Energy
Company,” dated September 1, 2000, as amended, other than under Section 7 thereof, or
under the successor or replacement of such pension plan if it is then no longer in
effect.
	 
	 	2.20	 	“SERP” shall mean the retirement plan applicable to Executive and entitled
“Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for Employees of CMS Energy/Consumers Energy
Company,” dated May 1, 1998, as amended, or under the successor or replacement of such
retirement plan if it is then no longer in effect.
	 
	 	2.21	 	“Severance Benefits” means the payment of Change-in-Control Severance Benefits
or General Severance Benefits as provided in Article 3 herein.





Article 3. Severance Benefits





	 	3.1	 	Right to Severance Benefits.






	 	(a)	 	Change-in-Control Severance Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled
to receive from the Employer Change-in-Control Severance Benefits, as described in
Section 3.2 herein, if a Qualifying Termination of the Executive’s employment
satisfying the definitions contained in Section 2.17(a) or (b) has occurred on the
date of a Change in Control of CMS Energy Corporation or within twenty-four (24)
months immediately following a Change in Control of CMS Energy Corporation.
Further, Executive’s Retirement under the pension plan and SERP shall not
constitute a waiver of the Executive’s rights with respect to receipt of
Change-in-Control Severance Benefits. Nor shall benefits received for Retirement
under the pension plan and SERP (or any replacement or successor plans thereto) be
used as an offset to the level of Change-in-Control Severance Benefits owed to
Executive.




 









 












	 	(b)	 	General Severance Benefits. The Executive shall be entitled to receive
from the Employer General Severance Benefits, as described in Section 3.3 herein,
if the Executive’s employment is terminated for reasons satisfying the definition
contained in Section 2.17(c) and such termination has occurred either before a
Change of Control of CMS Energy Corporation or during the period that begins after
the expiration of twenty-four (24) months immediately following a Change in Control
of CMS Energy Corporation. Further, Executive’s Retirement under the pension plan
and SERP shall not constitute a waiver of the Executive’s rights with respect to
receipt of General Severance Benefits. Nor shall benefits received for Retirement
under the pension plan and SERP (or any replacement or successor plans thereto) be
used as an offset to the level of General Severance Benefits owed to Executive.
	 
	 	(c)	 	No Severance Benefits. Other than in a situation involving a
Retirement, the Executive shall not be entitled to receive Severance Benefits if
the Executive’s employment with the Employer ends for reasons other than a
Qualifying Termination.
	 
	 	(d)	 	General Release. As a condition precedent to receiving Severance
Benefits under Section 3.3 herein, the Executive shall be obligated to execute
and deliver to the Employer on a timely basis duplicate originals of a general
release of claims in the form included as Exhibit A hereto.
	 
	 	(e)	 	Waiver and Release. The Executive’s act of accepting payment of
Severance Benefits payable under Section 3.2 of this Agreement shall constitute and
is deemed an express waiver, release and discharge by Executive of any and all
claims for damages or other remedies, regardless of when they arose or when they
are discovered, against CMS Energy Corporation and its Affiliates arising out of or
in any way connected with Executive’s employment relationship with them or the
termination of such employment relationship except for claims and rights of
Executive preserved under Section 3.2 of this Agreement and applicable rights to
indemnification.
	 
	 	(f)	 	No Duplication of Severance Benefits. If the Executive becomes entitled
to Change-in-Control Severance Benefits, the benefits provided for under Section
3.2 hereunder shall be in lieu of all other benefits provided to the Executive
under the provisions of this Agreement including, but not limited to, the benefits
under Section 3.3. Likewise, if the Executive becomes entitled to General
Severance Benefits, the benefits provided under Section 3.3 hereunder shall be in
lieu of all other benefits provided to the Executive under the provisions of this
Agreement including, but not limited to, the benefits under Section 3.2. If the
Executive receives either Change-in-Control Severance Benefits under Section 3.2 or
General Severance Benefits under Section 3.3, any other severance benefits received
by employees not covered by this Agreement to which the Executive is entitled will
be subtracted from the Severance Benefits paid pursuant to this Agreement.




 









 












	 	3.2	 	Description of Change-in-Control Severance Benefits. In the event the Executive
becomes entitled to receive Change-in-Control Severance Benefits, as provided in Section
3.1(a) herein, the Employer shall provide the Executive with the following:






	 	(a)	 	A lump-sum amount paid within fifteen (15) calendar days following
delivery to the Employer or delivery to the Executive, as applicable, of a Notice
of Termination, equal to the sum of the Executive’s unpaid Base Salary, accrued
vacation pay, unreimbursed business expenses, and unreimbursed allowances owed to
the Executive through and including the Effective Date of Termination.
	 
	 	(b)	 	A lump-sum amount, paid within fifteen (15) calendar days following
delivery to the Employer or delivery to the Executive, as applicable, of a Notice
of Termination, equal to two (2) times the sum of the following: (A) the
Executive’s Base Salary and (B) the greater of the Executive’s: (i) annual target
bonus opportunity in the year in which the Qualifying Termination occurs or (ii)
the actual annual bonus payment paid or due to be paid the Executive in respect of
the year prior to the year in which the Qualifying Termination occurs.
	 
	 	(c)	 	A lump-sum amount, paid within fifteen (15) calendar days following
delivery to the Employer or delivery to the Executive, as applicable, of a Notice
of Termination, equal to the Executive’s then current target bonus opportunity
established under the bonus plan in which the Executive is then participating, for
the plan year in which the Qualifying Termination occurs, adjusted on a pro rata
basis for the number of days that have elapsed to the Effective Date of
Termination during the bonus plan year in which the Qualifying Termination occurs.
	 
	 	(d)	 	A lump-sum amount, paid within fifteen (15) calendar days following
delivery to the Employer or delivery to the Executive, as applicable, of a Notice
of Termination, equal to one (1) times the sum of the following: (A) the
Executive’s Base Salary and (B) the greater of the Executive’s: (i) annual target
bonus opportunity in the year in which the Qualifying Termination occurs or (ii)
the actual annual bonus payment paid or due to be paid the Executive in respect of
the year prior to the year in which the Qualifying Termination occurs. Such
amount shall be consideration for the Executive entering into the noncompete
agreement as described in Section 5(a).
	 
	 	(e)	 	Equivalent payment to Executive in a lump sum amount within
forty-five (45) calendar days following delivery of the Notice of Termination for
continued medical coverage for a period of thirty-six (36) months. Such
equivalent payment shall be computed based on the same coverage level as in effect
for Executive under the general health care plan available to all employees on the
Effective Date of Termination by providing a lump sum payment of the Employer’s
portion of the monthly COBRA premium in effect on the Effective Date of
Termination times thirty-six (36). Nothing herein amends or provides




 









 






	 	 	 	Executive any rights to health care coverage other than as provided in the
applicable group health care plan. If the Executive has waived coverage under
the applicable group health care plan, no equivalent payment shall be made under
this Agreement.






	 	(f)	 	Immediate extension (as allowable by Section 6.10 of Article VI of
the plan entitled “CMS Energy Corporation Performance Incentive Stock Plan,” dated
December 3, 1999, as amended) by one year after the Effective Date of Termination
of the period for Executive to exercise any outstanding stock options or stock
appreciation rights granted by the Committee to Executive pursuant to said Article
VI. Otherwise, the terms of said plan shall govern and be applied.
	 
	 	(g)	 	Immediate vesting and distribution to Executive (as allowable by the
second sentence of Section 7.2(h) of Article VII of the plan entitled “CMS Energy
Corporation Performance Incentive Stock Plan,” dated December 3, 1999, as amended)
within forty-five (45) days after delivery of the Notice of Termination of all
outstanding shares of restricted stock previously awarded to Executive pursuant to
said Article VII. For any award of restricted stock to which there are future
performance goals attached, the number of shares distributed to Executive shall
assume that the goals have been achieved in full and the award fully earned based
on target performance without deductions or additions to the number of shares then
held by Executive. For any award of restricted stock that is tenure based, the
number of shares distributed to Executive shall assume that all requirements with
respect to tenure are satisfied by Executive. Otherwise, the terms of said plan
shall govern and be applied.
	 
	 	(h)	 	For an Executive included in SERP, the Executive’s retirement
benefits under the SERP will become fully vested as of the Effective Date of
Termination and shall not be subject to further vesting requirements or to any
forfeiture provisions. In addition, said Executive shall be provided the
following: (i) an additional thirty-six (36) months of Preference Service (as
defined in SERP) for purposes of the SERP in accordance with Section III(1) of
SERP, subject, however, to the total of Preference Service plus Accredited Service
being limited to a maximum of thirty-five (35) years under SERP, and (ii) only the
amounts paid to Executive pursuant to clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this
Section 3.2 shall be considered a “severance payment under an employment
agreement” for purposes of computing Final Executive Pay under SERP. Since the
Executive is over the age of 55, the provisions of the last complete paragraph of
Section V(3) of SERP shall not be operative. The enhanced SERP benefits under
this Section 3.2(h) shall be in lieu of any Change-in-Control enhancements
provided for in the SERP.
	 
	 	(i)	 	For purposes of (1) Retirement, (2) SERP and (3) benefits not
expressly discussed in clauses (a) through (h) of this Section 3.2, but which are
available to the general employee population or available only to officers and




 









 






	 	 	 	implemented with contracts with third parties, the benefit plan descriptions
covering all employees and the retirement plan and SERP plan descriptions and
contracts with third parties covering officers in place at the time of the
Effective Date of Termination control Executive’s treatment under those plans and
contracts. For any other benefits only available to officers, if those benefits
are not expressly discussed in clauses (a) through (h) of this Section 3.2, those
benefits are terminated for Executive as of the Effective Date of Termination.






	 	3.3	 	Description of General Severance Benefits. In the event the Executive becomes
entitled to receive General Severance Benefits as provided in Section 3.1(b) herein, the
Employer shall provide the Executive with the following:






	 	(a)	 	A lump-sum amount paid within fifteen (15) calendar days following
delivery to the Executive of a Notice of Termination with respect to a Qualifying
Termination as described in Section 2.17 (c) of this Agreement, equal to the sum
of the Executive’s unpaid Base Salary, accrued vacation pay, unreimbursed business
expenses, and unreimbursed allowances owed to the Executive through and including
the Effective Date of Termination.
	 
	 	(b)	 	An amount, paid following the Release Date on an installment basis over
a period of twelve (12) months on a twice a month schedule in accordance with the
normal payroll procedures of the Employer, equal to two (2) times the sum of: (A)
the Executive’s Base Salary and (B) the greater of the Executive’s: (i) annual
target bonus opportunity in the year in which the Qualifying Termination occurs or
(ii) the actual annual bonus payment paid or due to be paid the Executive in
respect of the year prior to the year in which the Qualifying Termination occurs.
The first of the twenty-four (24) installment payments called for by this section
shall be made within forty-five (45) days following the Release Date.
	 
	 	(c)	 	A lump-sum amount, paid within forty-five (45) calendar days following
the Release Date, equal to the Executive’s then current target bonus opportunity
established under the bonus plan in which the Executive is then participating, for
the plan year in which the Qualifying Termination occurs, adjusted on a pro rata
basis for the number of days that have elapsed to the Effective Date of Termination
during the bonus plan year in which the Qualifying Termination occurs.
	 
	 	(d)	 	Equivalent payment to Executive in a lump-sum amount within forty-five
(45) days following the Release Date for continued medical coverage for a period of
twenty-four (24) months. Such equivalent payment shall be computed based on the
same coverage level as in effect for Executive under the general health care plan
available to all employees on the Effective Date of Termination by providing a
lump-sum payment of the Employer’s portion of the monthly COBRA premium in effect
on the Effective Date of Termination times




 









 






	 	 	 	twenty-four (24). Nothing herein amends or provides Executive any rights to
health care coverage other than as provided in the applicable group health care
plan. If the Executive has waived coverage under the applicable group health
care plan, no equivalent payment shall be made under this Agreement.






	 	(e)	 	Outstanding stock options and stock appreciation rights previously
granted by the Committee to Executive pursuant to Article VI of the plan entitled
“CMS Energy Corporation Performance Incentive Stock Plan,” dated December 3, 1999,
as amended, shall be treated as a “termination of employment” in accordance with
Section 6.10 of Article VI, provided however that Employee will not be eligible to
seek or receive from the Committee any extensions of the period for their exercise.
For outstanding shares of restricted stock held by Executive, they shall be
forfeited to CMS Energy Corporation in accordance with the provisions of the first
sentence of Section 7.2(h) of Article VII of said plan.) For purposes of (1)
Retirement, (2) SERP and (3) benefits not expressly discussed in clauses (a)
through (d) of this Section 3.3, but which are available to the general employee
population or available only to officers and implemented with contracts with third
parties, the benefit plan descriptions covering all employees and the retirement
plan and SERP plan descriptions and contracts with third parties covering officers
in place at the time of the Effective Date of Termination control Executive’s
treatment under those plans and contracts. For any other benefits only available
to officers, if those benefits are not expressly discussed in clauses (a) through
(d) of this Section 3.3, those benefits are terminated for Executive as of the
Effective Date of Termination.





Article 4. Other Terminations





	 	4.1	 	Termination for Disability. If the Executive’s employment is terminated with the
Employer due to Disability, the Executive’s benefits shall be determined in accordance
with the Employer’s retirement, insurance, and other applicable plans and programs then
in effect.
	 
	 	4.2	 	Termination for Retirement or Death. If the Executive’s employment with the
Employer is terminated by reason of his Retirement or death, the Executive’s benefits
shall be determined in accordance with the Employer’s retirement and SERP plans,
survivor’s benefits, insurance, and other applicable programs then in effect.
	 
	 	4.3	 	Termination for Cause or by Employer or the Executive for Other Than Good Reason.
If the Executive’s employment is terminated either: (a) by the Employer for Cause as
defined in Section 2.6 of this Agreement; or (b) voluntarily by the Executive for reasons
other than those specified in Section 2.14 herein, or (c) by the Employer for the reasons
stated in the last sentence of Section 2.17(c) of this Agreement, the Employer shall pay
the Executive the sum of any unpaid Base




 









 






	 	 	 	Salary, accrued vacation, unreimbursed business expenses and unreimbursed allowances
owed to the Executive through the effective date of termination. The terms of the
benefit plan descriptions, compensation plan descriptions and contracts with third
parties covering officers shall control the disposition to Executive and timing of all
other amounts to which the Executive may be entitled, and neither the Employer nor CMS
Energy Corporation nor any of its Affiliates shall have any further obligations to the
Executive thereunder as a result of the existence of this Agreement. No other
severance benefits of any type shall be made available to Executive. Notwithstanding
the above, if the Executive’s employment terminates pursuant to this Section 4.3, the
Executive shall be bound by the provisions contained in Article 5(a), 5(b), 5(c), 5(d),
and 5(e) hereof.






	 	4.4	 	Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executive’s employment in accordance
with Section 4.3 of this Agreement shall be communicated by Notice of Termination
delivered to the other party, which shall include a specific date on which the
termination has occurred and is effective.





Article 5. Noncompetition and Confidentiality




     In the event the Executive becomes entitled to receive Change-in-Control Severance Benefits as
provided in Section 3.2 herein or General Severance Benefits as provided in Section 3.3 herein, the
following shall apply:




	 	(a)	 	Noncompetition. During the term of employment and for a period of
twelve (12) months after the Effective Date of Termination, the Executive shall
not: (i) directly or indirectly act in concert or conspire with any person employed
by CMS Energy Corporation or any of its Affiliates in order to engage in or prepare
to engage in or to have a financial or other interest in any business which is a
Direct Competitor (as defined below); or (ii) serve as an employee, agent, partner,
shareholder, director or consultant for, or in any other capacity participate,
engage, or have a financial or other interest in any business which is a Direct
Competitor (provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Agreement, the Executive may own up to two percent (2%) of the
outstanding shares of the capital stock of a company whose securities are
registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
	 
	 	 	 	For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Direct Competitor” shall mean any person
or entity engaged in the business of selling electric power or natural gas at
retail within the State of Michigan.
	 
	 	 	 	The Committee also reserves the right to designate, prior to the termination date
specified in a Notice of Termination, any Person that it believes, in good faith,
is a significant competitive threat to CMS Energy Corporation or its Affiliates.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Confidentiality. The Employer has advised the Executive and the
Executive




 









 






	 	 	 	acknowledges that it is the policy of CMS Energy Corporation and its Affiliates to
maintain as secret and confidential all Protected Information (as defined below),
and that Protected Information has been and will be developed at substantial cost
and effort to CMS Energy Corporation and its Affiliates. The Executive shall not
at any time, directly or indirectly, divulge, furnish, or make accessible to any
person, firm, corporation, association, or other entity (other than as may be
required in the regular course of the Executive’s employment), nor use in any
manner, either during the term of employment or after termination, for any reason,
any Protected Information, or cause any such information of CMS Energy Corporation
and its Affiliates to enter the public domain.
	 
	 	 	 	For purposes of this Agreement, “Protected Information” means trade secrets,
confidential and proprietary business information of CMS Energy Corporation and
its Affiliates and any other information of CMS Energy Corporation and its
Affiliates, including, but not limited to, customer lists (including potential
customers), sources of supply, processes, plans, materials, pricing information,
internal memoranda, marketing plans, internal policies, and products and services
which may be developed from time to time by CMS Energy Corporation and its
Affiliates and their agents or employees, including the Executive; provided,
however, that information that is in the public domain (other than as a result of
a breach of this Agreement), approved for release by CMS Energy Corporation or its
Affiliates or lawfully obtained from third parties who are not bound by a
confidentiality agreement with CMS Energy Corporation or its Affiliates, is not
Protected Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this subsection
is to be construed as prohibiting Executive from freely providing information to a
state or federal agency, legislative body or one of its committees or a court with
jurisdiction when Executive is requested or required to do so by such entity.






	 	(c)	 	Nonsolicitation. During the term of employment and for a period of
twelve (12) months after the Effective Date of Termination, the Executive shall
not: (i) employ or retain or solicit for employment or arrange to have any other
person, firm, or other entity employ or retain or solicit for employment or
otherwise participate in the employment or retention of any person who is an
employee or consultant of CMS Energy Corporation or its Affiliates; or (ii) solicit
suppliers or customers of CMS Energy Corporation or its Affiliates or induce any
such person to terminate their relationship with them.
	 
	 	(d)	 	Cooperation. Executive agrees to fully and unconditionally
cooperate with CMS Energy Corporation and its Affiliates and their attorneys in
connection with any and all lawsuits, claims, investigations, or similar
proceedings that have been or could be asserted at any time arising out of or
related in any way to Executive’s employment or activities on behalf of CMS Energy
Corporation and its Affiliates.
	 
	 	(e)	 	Nondisparagement. At all times, the Executive agrees not to disparage
CMS Energy Corporation or its Affiliates or otherwise make comments harmful to
their reputations. While receiving any payments pursuant to this Agreement,




 









 






	 	 	 	Executive further agrees not to testify or act in any capacity as a paid or unpaid
expert witness, advisor or consultant on behalf of any person, individual,
partnership, firm, corporation or any other person or entity that has or may have
any claim, demand, action, suit, cause of action, or judgment against CMS Energy
Corporation or its Affiliates, or from agreeing to do so after the payments under
this Agreement have ceased. Further, CMS Energy Corporation and its Affiliates
agree not to disparage Executive or otherwise make comments harmful to Executive’s
reputation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section prohibits
Executive or representatives of CMS Energy Corporation or its Affiliates from
testifying truthfully under oath in any judicial, administrative or legislative
proceedings or in any arbitration, mediation or other similar proceedings.





Article 6. Excise Tax Equalization Payment





	 	6.1	 	Excise Tax Equalization Payment. In the event that the Executive becomes entitled
to Severance Benefits or any other payment or benefit under this Agreement, or under any
other agreement, plan or arrangement for which Executive is eligible with (1) the
Employer, (2) any Person whose actions result in a Change in Control, or (3) CMS Energy
Corporation or any of its Affiliates (all of such payments and benefits collectively
referred to as the “Total Payments”), and if all or any part of the Total Payments will
be subject to the tax (the “Excise Tax”) imposed by Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code
(or any similar tax that may hereafter be imposed), the Employer shall pay to the
Executive in cash an additional amount (the “Gross-Up Payment”) such that the net amount
retained by the Executive after deduction of any Excise Tax upon the Total Payments and
any federal, state, and local income tax, penalties, interest, and Excise Tax upon the
Gross-Up Payment provided for by this Section 6.1 (including FICA and FUTA), shall be
equal to the Total Payments. Such payment shall be made by the Employer to the Executive
within forty-five (45) calendar days following the Effective Date of Termination.
	 
	 	 	 	For purposes of determining the amount of the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive shall be
deemed to pay federal income taxes at the highest marginal rate of federal income
taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made, and state and
local income taxes at the highest marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of
the Executive’s residence on the Effective Date of Termination, net of the maximum
reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from deduction of such state
and local taxes.




 









 












	 	6.2	 	Subsequent Recalculation. In the event the Internal Revenue Service adjusts the
computation under Section 6.1 herein so that the Executive did not receive the greatest
net benefit, the Employer shall reimburse the Executive for the full amount necessary to
make the Executive whole, plus interest on the reimbursed amount at 120% of the rate
provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code. In the event that the Excise Tax is
finally determined to be less than the amount taken into account hereunder in calculating
the Gross-Up Payment, the Executive shall repay the Employer within thirty (30) business
days following the time that the amount of such reduction in the Excise Tax is finally
determined, the portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to such reduction (plus that
portion of the Gross-Up Payment attributable to the Excise Tax and federal, state and
local income and employment taxes imposed on the Gross-Up Payment being repaid by the
Executive) to the extent that such repayment results in a reduction in the Excise Tax and
a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the Executive’s taxable income and wages for purposes of
federal, state and local income and employment taxes, plus interest on the amount of such
repayment at 120% of the rate provided in section 1274(b)(2)(B) of the Code.





Article 7. Dispute Resolution and Notice





	 	7.1	 	Dispute Resolution. Any dispute or controversy between the parties arising under or in
connection with this Agreement shall be settled by final and binding arbitration after
first being submitted in writing to the Committee for attempted resolution. If that does
not result in mutually agreeable resolution, the arbitration proceeding shall be conducted
before a single arbitrator selected by the parties to be conducted in Jackson, Michigan.
The arbitration will be conducted in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration
Association then in effect and be finished within ninety (90) days after the selection of
the arbitrator. The arbitrator shall not have authority to fashion a remedy that includes
consequential, exemplary or punitive damages of any type whatsoever, and the arbitrator is
hereby prohibited from awarding injunctive relief of any kind, whether mandatory or
prohibitory. Judgment may be entered on the award of the arbitrators in any court having
competent jurisdiction. The parties shall share equally the cost of the arbitrator and of
conducting the arbitration proceeding, but each party shall bear the cost of its own legal
counsel and experts and other out-of-pocket expenditures.
	 
	 	7.2	 	Notice. Any notices, requests, demands, or other communications provided for by
this Agreement shall be in writing and sent by registered or certified mail to the
Executive at the last address he or she has filed in writing with the Employer or, in the
case of the Employer, at One Energy Plaza, Jackson, Michigan 49201, Attention: Corporate
Secretary. Notices, requests, demands or other communications may also be delivered by
messenger, courier service or other electronic means and are sufficient if actually
received by the party for whom it is intended.





 









 





     Article 8. Successors and Assignment






	 	8.1	 	Successors. Any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger,
reorganization, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, liquidation, or
otherwise) to the business of CMS Energy Corporation or purchaser of all or substantially
all of the assets of CMS Energy Corporation shall be required to expressly assume and
agree to perform under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Employer would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. Failure to
obtain such assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession or
asset sale shall entitle the Executive to the Change-in-Control Severance Benefits
specified in Section 3.2 of this Agreement. The effective date of the succession or the
sale shall be deemed the date of delivery to Executive of the Notice of Termination for
purposes of administering Section 3.2. Regardless of whether such agreement is
executed, this Agreement shall be binding upon any successor in accordance with the
operation of law.
	 
	 	8.2	 	Assignment by the Executive. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees. If the
Executive dies while any amount would still be payable to him or her hereunder had he or
she continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive’s Beneficiary. If the
Executive has not named a Beneficiary, then such amounts shall be paid to the Executive’s
devisee, legatee, or other designee, or if there is no such designee, to the Executive’s
estate.





Article 9. Miscellaneous





	 	9.1	 	Employment Status. The employment of the Executive by the Employer is “at will”
and may be terminated by either the Executive or the Employer at any time, subject to
applicable law. Further, Executive has no right to be an officer of CMS Energy
Corporation or any of its Affiliates and serves as an officer entirely at the discretion
of the Board.
	 
	 	9.2	 	Entire Agreement. This Agreement supersedes any prior agreements or understandings,
oral or written, between the parties hereto, with respect to the subject matter hereof,
and constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect thereto. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, this Agreement completely supersedes,
cancels, voids and renders of no further force and effect any and all employment
agreements, change in control agreements, and other similar agreements, communications,
representations, promises, covenants and arrangements, whether oral or written, between
the Employer and Executive and between the Executive and CMS Energy Corporation or any of
its Affiliates that may have taken place or been executed prior to the Effective Date of
this Agreement and which may address the subject matters contained herein, including but
not by way of limitation Employment Agreement between CMS Energy Corporation and
Executive dated the 13th day of March, 2000.




 









 












	 	9.3	 	Severability. In the event that any provision or portion of this Agreement shall be
determined to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason, the remaining provisions of
this Agreement shall be unaffected thereby and shall remain in full force and effect.
	 
	 	9.4	 	Tax Withholding. The Employer may withhold from any benefits payable under this
Agreement any authorized deductions and all federal, state, city, or other taxes as may
be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.
	 
	 	9.5	 	Beneficiaries. The Executive may designate one (1) or more persons or entities as
the primary and/or contingent beneficiaries of any amounts to be received under this
Agreement. Such designation must be in the form of a signed writing on a form provided
by the Employer. The Executive may make or change such designation at any time.
	 
	 	9.6	 	Payment Obligation Absolute. Except as provided in the last sentence of this
paragraph, the Employer’s and CMS Energy Corporation’s obligations to make the payments
and provide the benefits to Executive specified herein shall be absolute and
unconditional, and shall not be affected by any circumstances, including, without
limitation, any offset, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other right which the
Employer, CMS Energy Corporation or any of its Affiliates may have against the Executive
or anyone else. All amounts payable by the Employer hereunder shall be paid without
notice or demand. Each and every payment made hereunder by the Employer shall be final,
but subject to the provisions of the next sentence. If the Executive should seek to
bypass arbitration and litigate about this Agreement or the subject matters addressed
herein in a state or federal court, Executive agrees (i) at least 10 days prior to filing
in court to tender back to the Employer all cash consideration paid to Executive under
this Agreement prior thereto and (ii) any payments due Executive under this Agreement
after said tender shall be suspended until said litigation is finally resolved.
	 
	 	 	 	The Executive shall not be obligated to seek other employment in mitigation of the
amounts payable or arrangements made under any provision of this Agreement, and the
obtaining of any such other employment shall in no event effect any reduction of the
Employer’s obligations to make the payments and arrangements required to be made under
this Agreement.
	 
	 	9.7	 	Contractual Rights to Benefits. Subject to approval and ratification by the
Committee, this Agreement establishes and vests in the Executive a contractual right to
the benefits to which he or she is entitled hereunder. However, nothing herein contained
shall require or be deemed to require, or prohibit or be deemed to prohibit, the Employer
to segregate, earmark, or otherwise set aside any funds or other assets, in trust or
otherwise, to provide for any payments to be made or required hereunder.
	 
	 	9.8	 	Modification. This Agreement shall not be varied, altered, modified, canceled,
changed, or in any way amended except by mutual agreement of the parties in a




 









 






	 	 	 	written instrument executed by the parties hereto or their legal representatives.






	 	9.9	 	Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one (1) or more counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one
and the same Agreement. Signatures transmitted via facsimile shall be regarded by the
parties as original signatures.
	 
	 	9.10	 	Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Michigan, without regard to its conflicts of laws principles.






     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of this          day
of                                         , 2004.



	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	EXECUTIVE:	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Signature:	 	 
	 

	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Its:
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	Printed Name:	 	 	 
	 
	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 





 









 






Addendum to the Executive Severance Agreement for Senior Officers.



Whereas the Board of Directors of CMS Energy Corporation approved entering into severance
agreements with certain key employees; and



Whereas                                          and the Executive have entered into an Executive Severance Agreement (the
“Agreement”) dated                      , 2004 pursuant to that authority; and



Whereas the Agreement requires that any modification or alteration may only be made by mutual
agreement of the parties in a written instrument executed by the parties or their legal
representatives; and



Whereas the parties mutually agree to modify the Agreement to comply with Internal Revenue Code
Section 409A (“Code Section 409A”) under the short term deferral rules.



Now Therefore the parties agree to modify the Executive Severance Agreement to comply with the
requirements of Section 409A to qualify as a short term deferral by making the following changes to
the Agreement:





	I.	 	Section 2.14 “Good Reason” is modified as follows:





“Good Reason” exists only on the date of a Change in Control or during the twenty-four
(24) months which follow a Change in Control and shall mean, without the Executive’s
express written consent, the occurrence of any one or more of the following:




	 	(a)	 	The assignment to the Executive of duties materially inconsistent
with the Executive’s position (including status, offices, titles, and reporting
requirements), authority, or responsibilities as in effect on the Effective Date,
or any action by the Employer which results in a material diminution of the
Executive’s position, authority, duties, or responsibilities as constituted as of
the Effective Date (excluding an isolated, insubstantial, and inadvertent action
which is remedied by the Employer promptly after receipt of notice thereof given
by the Executive); or
	 
	 	(b)	 	Materially reducing the Executive’s Base Salary; or
	 
	 	(c)	 	Materially reducing the Executive’s targeted annual incentive
opportunity; or
	 
	 	(d)	 	A material failure to maintain the Executive’s participation in a
long-term incentive plan in a manner that is consistent with the Executive’s
position, authority, or responsibilities; or




 









 












	 	(e)	 	A material failure to maintain the Executive’s amount of benefits
under, or relative level of participation in, employee benefit or retirement
plans, policies, practices, or arrangements of a material nature available to
employees of CMS Energy Corporation and its Affiliates and in which the Executive
participates as of the date of a Change in Control, provided however that any such
change must result in a material negative change to the employee in the employment
relationship; or
	 
	 	(f)	 	A material breach of this Agreement by the Employer which is not
remedied by the Employer after receipt of written notice of such breach delivered
by the Executive to the Committee; or
	 
	 	(g)	 	Any successor company fails or refuses to assume the obligations owed
to Executive under this Agreement in their entirety, as required by Section 8.1
hereunder; or
	 
	 	(h)	 	The Executive is required to be based at a location in excess of
thirty-five (35) miles from the location of the Executive’s principal job location
or office immediately prior to a Change in Control except for required travel on
the Employer’s or CMS Energy Corporation’s business to an extent substantially
consistent with the Executive’s prior business travel obligations.






For purposes of applying clauses (a) through (h) of this Agreement, the Executive’s
Retirement shall not constitute a waiver of the Executive’s rights with respect to any
circumstance constituting Good Reason, and the Executive’s continued employment shall
not constitute a waiver of the Executive’s rights with respect to any circumstance
constituting Good Reason or constitute Executive’s consent to the circumstances
constituting Good Reason unless Executive has provided express written consent to the
circumstance that would otherwise constitute Good Reason under this Agreement.
Notwithstanding the above, the Executive must provide notice to the Employer of the
existence of Good Reason not more than 90 days after the initial existence of the
circumstance that constitutes Good Reason as set forth above and provide a period of 30
days for the Employer to remedy the circumstance giving rise to Good Reason and thus
not have to pay the Change in control severance benefits as provided for under Section
3.2. All provisions and interpretations relating to good Reason are to be applied
consistent with Section 409A and the applicable Treasury regulations at Section
1.409A-1(n)(2) or its successor.




	II.	 	Section 2.15 “Notice of Termination” shall be amended to add the following sentences at the
end:






Notwithstanding the above, the date of the Qualifying Termination will be the date the
Executive experiences a separation from service from the Employer, as that term is defined
under Section 409A and any applicable regulations. Such Notice of Termination when provided
by the Executive for Good Reason as set forth in Section 2.14 (after the expiration of the
90 day notice and 30 day cure period described in Section 2.14) shall be



 









 









	 	 	consistent with the requirements of Section 409A and applicable requirements. For all other
Qualifying Terminations, the Notice shall be provided not more than 10 days after the date
of the separation from service with the Employer as that term is defined under Section 409A
and any applicable regulations.
	 
	III.	 	Section 2.18 “Release Date” shall add the following sentence at the end:
	 
	 	 	In no event will a Release Date be a date that is more than 15 days following a separation
from service as that term is defined under IRC Section 409A and any applicable regulations.
	 
	IV.	 	Section 3.1(d) General Release is modified to require a general release be submitted with in
45 days as follows:






	 	(d)	 	General Release. As a condition precedent to receiving Severance Benefits
under Section 3.3 herein, the Executive shall be obligated to execute and deliver to
the Employer on a timely basis, but not more than 45 days after the Release Date,
duplicate originals of a general release of claims in the form included as Exhibit A
hereto.






	V.	 	Section 3.2(c) is modified to add the following sentence at the end:
	 
	 	 	To the extent, if any, the Executive has elected to defer any bonus under the applicable
bonus plan, any payments due under this provisions corresponding to the amount of the
deferral shall be paid in accordance with the payment terms elected by the Executive under
the plan wherein the bonus is deferred.
	 
	VI.	 	Section 3.3(b) is modified to add the following sentence at the end:
	 
	 	 	Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, the final installment will be
paid no later than March 10 of the year following the year in which the Qualifying
Termination occurs, and such final installment will include the value of all remaining
installments under this provision.
	 
	VII.	 	Section 3.3(c) is modified to add the following sentence at the end:
To the extent, if any, the Executive has elected to defer any bonus
under the applicable bonus plan, any payments due under this
provisions corresponding to the amount of the deferral shall be paid
in accordance with the payment terms elected by the Executive under
the plan wherein the bonus is deferred.
	 
	VIII.	 	Section 6.1 shall be modified to change the final sentence of the
first paragraph to read as follows:




 









 






	 	 	Such payment shall be made by the Employer to the Executive by the end of the taxable year
of the Executive next following the taxable year in which the Executive remits the related
taxes.
	 
	IX.	 	Section 6.2 shall be modified to add the following as the second sentence:
	 
	 	 	Any such reimbursement shall be paid to the Executive by the end of the taxable year of the Executive next following the
taxable year in which the Executive remits the related taxes.
	 
	X.	 	The final sentence of the first paragraph of Section 9.6 Payment Obligation Absolute shall be
amended to read as follows:
	 
	 	 	If the Executive should seek to bypass arbitration and litigate about this
Agreement or the subject matters addressed herein in a state or federal court, subject
to the requirements of Section 409A, to the extent applicable, Executive agrees (i) at
least 10 days prior to filing in court to tender back to the Employer all cash
consideration paid to Executive under this Agreement prior thereto and (ii) any
payments due Executive under this Agreement after said tender shall be suspended until
said litigation is finally resolved.








	 	 	 
	Accepted by                                         :

	 	Accepted by Executive:
	 
	 	 
	 
	 	 
	 

	 	 

	 
	 	 
	 
	 	 
	Date:                                         

	 	Date:                                         






 











 





Executive Severance Agreement




for Senior Officers




 









 





EXHIBIT A TO EXECUTIVE

SEVERANCE AGREEMENT,

Page 1 of 4




GENERAL RELEASE AGREEMENT




This
General Release Agreement (“Agreement”), made as of the                      day of ___,
20 ___, pursuant to Michigan law, among                                                             
 (the “Executive”), an individual, and CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY, a Michigan
corporation (the “Employer”) is a general release of claims against Employer, CMS Energy
Corporation and all of their subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively the “CMS Companies”).



WHEREAS, Executive is eligible for the receipt of General Severance Benefits under an Executive
Severance Agreement, dated as of March                     , 2004 between Executive and Employer, provided
that Executive first executes and delivers to Employer a prescribed form of general release
attached as Exhibit A to said Executive Severance Agreement;



WHEREAS, terms used in this Agreement that are also used and defined in the aforementioned
Executive Severance Agreement shall have the same definition in this Agreement if not separately
and differently defined herein, such terms being recognizable by initial caps; and



WHEREAS, this General Release Agreement satisfies the condition for receipt of Severance Benefits
under Section 3.3 of the Executive Severance Agreement:



NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants undertaken and the releases contained in this
Agreement, the Executive and Employer agree as follows:



1. CESSATION OF EMPLOYMENT




Executive agrees that his or her employment as an employee and officer from all CMS
Companies was fully and completely terminated effective as of                                         , 20 ___, the date
specified as the date of Qualifying Termination in the Notice of Termination required by the
aforementioned Executive Severance Agreement. Further, Executive waives any right to object to such
termination.



2. MONETARY AND OTHER CONSIDERATION




In consideration for the releases and the other covenants in this Agreement, Executive agrees and
reaffirms that the only monetary and other consideration to which he or she is entitled due to the
termination of employment is that provided to Executive pursuant to the aforementioned Executive
Severance Agreement. The parties hereto agree that ninety-five percent of the General Severance
Benefits received by Executive pursuant to the aforementioned Executive



 









 





Severance Agreement shall be consideration for the General Release and Discharge by Executive (see
Section 4), and five percent of the total amount shall be consideration for the Release of Age
Discrimination Claims by Employee (see Section 5).



3. RETURN OF COMPANY PROPERTY




By signing this Agreement, Executive represents and warrants that he or she has returned to
Employer all of its property and all the property of any of the CMS Companies which Executive had
in his or her possession.



4. GENERAL RELEASE AND DISCHARGE BY EXECUTIVE




In consideration of the payments and commitments made by Employer to the Executive (described in
Section 2 above), the Executive on his or her own behalf, and his or her descendants, ancestors,
dependents, heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, and successors, and each of them, hereby
covenants not to sue and fully releases and discharges Employer, CMS Energy Corporation, and all of
their subsidiaries and affiliates, past and present, and each of them as well as its and their
trustees, directors, officers, agents, attorneys, insurers, employees, stockholders,
representatives, assigns, and successors, past and present, and each of them, hereinafter together
and collectively referred to as “Releasees,” with respect to and from any and all claims, wages,
demands, rights, liens, agreements, contracts, covenants, actions, suits, causes of action,
obligations, debts, costs, expenses, attorneys’ fees, damages, judgments, orders and liabilities of
whatever kind or nature in law, equity or otherwise, whether now known or unknown, suspected or
unsuspected, and whether or not concealed or hidden, which the Executive now owns or holds or has
at any time heretofore owned or held as against said Releasees, arising out of or in any way
connected with the Executive’s employment relationship with Employer or the Releasees, or the
Executive’s termination of employment or any other transactions, occurrences, acts or omissions or
any loss, damage or injury whatever, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, resulting from any
act or omission by or on the part of said Releasees, or any of them, committed or omitted prior to
the date of this Agreement, including but not limited to, claims based on any express or implied
contract of employment which may have been alleged to exist between Employer, the Releasees and the
Executive, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §2000e, et seq, as amended, the
Civil Rights Act of 1991, P. L. 102-1 66, the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, MCLA §37.2101, et
seq, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. §701, et seq, as amended, the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. §12206, et seq, as amended, or the Persons with Disabilities
Civil Rights Act, MCLA §37.1101, et seq, as amended, or any other federal, state or local law,
rule, regulation or ordinance, and claims for severance pay, sick leave, holiday pay, and any other
fringe benefit provided to Executive by Employer or Releasees except for those rights preserved by
Section 3.3(e) of the aforementioned Executive Severance Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement is
intended to, nor do the Executive and Employer, waive the right to enforce the aforementioned
Executive Severance Agreement.



 









 





5. RELEASE OF AGE DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS BY EXECUTIVE




In consideration for the consideration described in Section 3 above, Employer and the Executive
further agree that this Agreement releases and discharges Employer and the Releasees from each,
every and all liability to the Executive for any damage to person or property whatsoever, whether
now known or unknown, apparent or not yet discovered, foreseen or unforeseen, developed or
undeveloped, resulting or to result from claims of age discrimination occurring prior to the date
of this Agreement under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (“ADEA”), 29 U.S.C. §621,
et seq, as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990. The Executive specifically
acknowledges for purposes of this provision that: (1) the Executive has been advised by Employer to
consult with an attorney prior to signing this release under the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act, as amended; (2) the Executive has been given 21 days to consider the release; and (3) the
Executive may revoke this Agreement within 7 days of signing this Agreement. In the event of such a
revocation, the Executive will repay to Employer all funds already received under the
aforementioned Executive Severance Agreement and waive his or her rights to receive any additional
funds under that agreement. Such a revocation, to be effective, must be in writing and either (i)
postmarked within 7 days of execution of this Agreement and addressed to the attention of John F.
Drake, CMS Energy Corporation, at One Energy Plaza, Jackson, Michigan 49201, or (ii) hand delivered
to John F. Drake within 7 days of execution of this Agreement. Executive understands that if
revocation is made by mail, mailing by certified mail, return receipt requested, is recommended to
show proof of mailing. IF EXECUTIVE SIGNS THIS AGREEMENT PRIOR TO THE END OF THE 21 DAY PERIOD,
EXECUTIVE CERTIFIES THAT THE EXECUTIVE KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY DECIDED TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT
AFTER CONSIDERING IT LESS THAN 21 DAYS AND HIS OR HER DECISION TO DO SO WAS NOT INDUCED BY EMPLOYER
THROUGH FRAUD, MISREPRESENTATION OR A THREAT TO WITHDRAW OR ALTER THE OFFER THE SEVERANCE BENEFITS
PAYABLE UNDER THE AFOREMENTIONED EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE 21
DAY TIME PERIOD. The release provided for in this Section 5 shall not be effective or enforceable
until after the revocation period has passed.



6. GOVERNING LAW AND SEVERABILITY OF INVALID PROVISIONS




This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Michigan, without regard to its conflicts of law principles. Further, if any provision of this
Agreement is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the
Agreement, which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications, and to this
end the provisions of this Agreement are declared to be severable.



7. FULL UNDERSTANDING AND VOLUNTARY ACCEPTANCE




 









 








In entering this Agreement, Employer and the Executive represent that they have had the opportunity
to consult with attorneys of their own choice, that Employer and the Executive have read the terms
of this Agreement and that those terms are fully understood and voluntarily accepted by them. The
parties further represent that this Agreement contains the entire Agreement between the parties and
that neither party has made any promise, inducement or agreement not herein expressed.



8. ARBITRATION




The parties agree that any disputes between them relating to the formation, breach, interpretation
and application of this Agreement and not settled by the parties shall be submitted to final and
binding arbitration in accordance with the provisions of Article 7 of the aforementioned Executive
Severance Agreement after first being submitted to the Committee for attempted resolution.



9. MODIFICATION




This Agreement shall not be varied, altered, modified, canceled, changed, or in any way amended
except by mutual agreement of the parties in a written instrument executed by the parties hereto
or their legal representatives.



10. COUNTERPARTS




This Agreement may be executed in one (1) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to
be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement. Signatures
transmitted via facsimile shall be regarded by the parties as original signatures.



Signed as of this ___ day of                     , 20___.



	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	Executive:	 	 



	 	 	 	 	 
	 	CONSUMERS ENERGY COMPANY

 	 
	 	By: