Document:

Rabbi Directed Trust Agreement

Exhibit 10.3

Rabbi Directed
Trust Agreement

TRUST NAME: United Fire & Casualty Company Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan and United Fire Group Supplemental Executive Retirement and Deferral Plan
THIS TRUST AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made by and between United Fire & Casualty Company (“Employer”) and Delaware Charter Guarantee & Trust Company, conducting business as Principal Trust Company (“Trustee”).
WHEREAS, the Employer has adopted the United Fire & Casualty Company Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan and United Fire Group Supplemental Executive Retirement and Deferral Plan (“Plan”) to provide benefits for certain employees of the Employer and employees of participating employers that have adopted the Plan;
WHEREAS, the Employer has incurred or expects to incur liability under the terms of the Plan with respect to individuals participating in the Plan;
WHEREAS, the Employer wishes to contribute to the Trust assets that shall be held therein, subject to the claims of the Employer’s creditors in the event of the Employer’s Insolvency, as herein defined, until paid to the Plan participants and their beneficiaries in such manner and at such times as specified in the Plan;
 ̈    This is an amendment and restatement of the above-named Trust.
T    This is a newly-established trust.
WHEREAS, it is the intention of the parties that the Trust shall constitute an unfunded arrangement and shall not affect the status of the Plan as an unfunded plan maintained for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees for purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”); and
WHEREAS, the Employer intends to make contributions to this Trust to provide itself with a source of funds to assist it in the meeting of its liabilities under the Plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties do hereby establish the Trust and agree that the Trust shall be comprised, held and disposed of as follows:

SECTION 1. TRUST FUND
		
	1.1
	Establishment of Trust. The Employer hereby establishes with the Trustee a trust in which may be deposited such sums of money as shall from time to time be paid or delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Plan and which shall become the principal of the Trust to be held, administered and disposed of by the Trustee as provided in this Agreement and in accordance with any investment policy or guidelines established under the Plan and communicated in writing to the Trustee. All such deposits, all investments and reinvestments thereof and all earnings, appreciation and additions allocable thereto, less losses, depreciation and expenses allocable thereto and any payments made therefrom as authorized under the Plan or this Agreement shall constitute the “Trust”.

		
	1.2
	Irrevocability of Trust. The Trust hereby established shall be irrevocable and shall terminate only upon the complete distribution of the assets of the Trust to the participants or their beneficiaries.

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	1.3
	Grantor Trust. The Trust is intended to be a grantor trust of which the Employer is the grantor within the

		
	1.4
	meaning of subpart E, part I, subchapter J, chapter 1, subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”) and shall be construed accordingly.

		
	1.5
	Non-Diversion of Funds. The principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon shall be held separate and apart from other funds of the Employer and except for the payment of fees and other expenses, including administrative expenses of the Plan, properly charged to the Trust under this Agreement shall be used exclusively for the use and purposes of Plan participants and their beneficiaries and general creditors as herein set forth.

Plan participants and their beneficiaries shall have no preferred claim on, or any beneficial ownership interest in, any assets of the Trust. Any rights created under the Plan and this Agreement shall be mere unsecured contractual rights of Plan participants and their beneficiaries against the Employer. Any assets held by the Trust will be subject to the claims of the Employer’s general creditors under federal and state law in the event of Insolvency, as defined in Section 9.1 herein.
		
	1.6
	Deposits. The Employer in its sole discretion, may at any time, or from time to time, make additional deposits of cash or other property in trust with the Trustee to augment the principal to be held, administered and disposed of by the Trustee as provided in this Agreement. Neither the Trustee nor any Plan participant or beneficiary shall have the right to compel such deposits.

SECTION 2. TRUSTEE AND COMMITTEE
		
	2.1
	Committee. The Employer shall certify to the Trustee the names and specimen signatures of the members of the Committee (“Committee”) appointed by the Employer to administer the Plan and give directions to the Trustee. Such certification shall include directions as to the number of signatures required for any communication or direction to the Trustee. The Employer shall promptly give notice to the Trustee of changes in the membership 

of the Committee. The Committee may also certify to the Trustee the name of any agent, together with a specimen signature of any such agent who is not a member of the Committee, authorized to act for the Committee in relation to the Trustee. The Committee shall promptly give notice to the Trustee of any change in any agent authorized to act on behalf of the Committee.  For all purposes under this Agreement, until any such notice is received by the Trustee, the Trustee shall be fully protected in assuming that the membership of the Committee and the authority of any agent authorized to act on its behalf remain unchanged.

		
	2.2
	Trustee’s Reliance. The Trustee may rely and act upon any certificate, notice or direction of the Committee, or of

an agent authorized to act on its behalf, or of the Employer which the Trustee believes to be genuine and to have been signed by the person or persons duly authorized to sign such certificate, notice, or direction.

SECTION 3. INVESTMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
		
	3.1
	General. The Trust shall be held by the Trustee and shall be invested and reinvested as hereinafter provided in this Section 3, without distinction between principal and income and without regard to the restrictions of the laws of any jurisdiction relating to the investment of trusts.

		
	3.2
	Collection of Contributions. The Trustee shall have no authority over and shall have no responsibility for the administration of the Plan. The Trustee shall be under no duty to enforce the payment of any contribution to the Trust and shall not be responsible for the adequacy of the Trust to satisfy any obligations for benefits, expenses, and liabilities under the Plan. In addition to making contributions, the Employer, through the Committee, shall furnish the Trustee with such information and data relative to the Plan as is necessary for the proper administration of the Trust.

		
	3.3
	Appointment of Investment Manager.

		
	(a)
	The Committee may, in its discretion, appoint an investment manager (“Investment Manager”) to direct the investment and reinvestment of all or any portion of the Trust. Any such Investment Manager shall either

(i) be registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended 

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(“Investment Advisers Act”); (ii) be a bank, as defined in the Investment Advisers Act; or (iii) be an insurance company qualified to perform investment services under the laws of more than one state.
		
	(b)
	The Committee shall give written notice to the Trustee of the appointment of an Investment Manager pursuant to Section 3.3(a). Such notice shall include: (i) a specification of the portion of the Trust to which the appointment applies; (ii) a certification by the Committee that the Investment Manager satisfies the requirements of Section 3.3(a)(i), (ii) or (iii); (iii) a copy of the instruments appointing the Investment Manager and evidencing the Investment Manager’s acceptance of the appointment; (iv) directions as to  the manner in which the Investment Manager is authorized to give instructions to the Trustee, including the persons authorized to give instructions and the number of signatures required for any written instruction;(v) a specimen signature of the Investment Manager; (vi) an acknowledgment by the Investment Manager that it is a fiduciary of the Trust; and (vii) if applicable, a certificate evidencing the Investment Manager’s current registration under the Investment Advisers Act. For purposes of this Agreement, the appointment of an Investment Manager pursuant to this Section 3.3 shall become effective as of the effective date specified in such notice, or, if later, as of the date on which the Trustee receives proper notice of such appointment.

		
	(c)
	The Committee shall give written notice to the Trustee of the resignation or removal of an Investment Manager previously appointed pursuant to this Section 3.3. From and after the date on which the Trustee receives such notice, or, if later, the effective date of the resignation or removal specified in such notice, the Committee shall be responsible, in accordance with Section 3.4, for the investment and reinvestment of the portion of the Trust previously managed by such Investment Manager, until such time as a successor Investment Manager has been duly appointed pursuant to this Section 3.3.

		
	(d)
	The Trustee may rely and act upon any certificate, notice or direction of the Investment Manager which the Trustee believes to be genuine and to have been signed by the Investment Manager.

		
	3.4
	Investment Decisions.

		
	(a)
	The Trustee shall invest and reinvest the Trust in accordance with the directions of the Committee, or, to the extent provided in Section 3.3, in accordance with the directions of an Investment Manager. The Trustee shall be under no duty or obligation to review any investment to be acquired, held or disposed of pursuant to such directions nor to make any recommendation with respect to the disposition or continued retention of any such investment. The Trustee shall have no liability or responsibility for its action or inaction pursuant to the direction of, or its failure to act in the absence of directions from, the Committee or an Investment Manager, except to the extent provided in Section 5.1. The Employer hereby agrees to indemnify the Trustee and hold it harmless from and defend it against any claim or liability which may be asserted against the Trustee by reason of any action or inaction by it pursuant to a direction by the Committee or by an Investment Manager or failing to act in the absence of any such direction.

		
	(b)
	The Committee or an Investment Manager appointed pursuant to Section 3.3 may, at any time and from time to time, issue orders for the purchase or sale of securities directly to a broker; and in order to facilitate such transaction, the Trustee upon request shall execute and deliver appropriate trading authorizations. Written notification of the issuance of each such order shall be given promptly to the Trustee by the Committee or the Investment Manager, and the execution of each such order shall be confirmed by written advice to the Trustee by the broker. Such notification shall be authority for the Trustee to pay for securities purchased against receipt thereof and to deliver securities sold against payment therefor, as the case may be.

		
	(c)
	To the extent that neither the Committee nor an Investment Manager furnishes directions as to the investment of the Trust, the Trustee shall invest and reinvest the Trust in any stable-value investment currently available to the Trust. If no stable-value investment is currently available to the Trust, the Trustee shall invest and reinvest the portion of the Trust subject to this section 3.4(c) in an investment generally recognized as having the lowest investment risk of all investments available to the Trust.

		
	3.5
	Investment in Short-Term Obligation. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Section 3 to the contrary, the Trustee or its designee, upon the direction of the Committee, may retain uninvested cash or cash balances, without being required to pay interest thereon. Pending investment, and if directed to do so by the Committee, the Trustee may temporarily invest any funds held or received by it for investment in an investment fund established to invest funds held thereunder in commercial paper or in obligations of, or guaranteed by, the United States government or any of its agencies.

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	3.6
	Directed Powers of the Trustee

		
	(a)
	Subject to the direction of the Employer, Committee, or Investment Manager, the Trustee or its designee is authorized and empowered to perform only those duties and functions expressly set out in this Agreement. The Trustee will not be under any duty to take any action other than those actions specified in this Agreement unless it expressly agrees in writing to do so. The Trustee or its designee is authorized and empowered:

		
	(i)
	to invest and reinvest part or all of the Trust in accordance with investment policies which may be established by the Committee from time to time in such assets as the Committee or Investment Manager may direct (including common and preferred stocks of the Employer), bonds, debentures, mutual fund shares, notes, commercial paper, treasury bills, options, partnership interests, venture capital investments, any common, commingled, or pooled investment funds (including such funds for which the Trustee serves as investment manager), contracts and policies issued by an insurance company (including affiliates of the Trustee), endorsement split dollar insurance, any interest bearing deposits held by any bank or similar financial institution (including affiliates of the Trustee), and any other real or personal property;

		
	(ii)
	in accordance with directions from the Committee, to apply for, pay premiums on and maintain in force on the lives of Plan participants, individual ordinary or individual or group term or universal life insurance policies, variable universal life insurance policies, survivorship life insurance policies or annuity policies (“policies”) (including any policies issued by an affiliate of the Trustee) and to have with respect to such policies all of the rights, powers, options, privileges and benefits usually comprised in the term “incidents of ownership” and normally vested in an owner of such policies, except the Trustee shall have no power to name a beneficiary of the policy other than the Trust; to assign the policy (as distinct from conversion of the policy to a different form) other than to a successor trustee; or to loan to any person the proceeds of any borrowing against such policy;

		
	(iii)
	to sell, exchange, convey, transfer or dispose of and also to grant options with respect to any property, whether real or personal, at any time held by it, and any sale may be made by private contract or by public auction, and for cash or upon credit, or partly for cash and partly upon credit, and no person dealing with the Trustee shall be bound to see to the application of the purchase money or to inquire into the validity, expediency or propriety of any such sale or other disposition;

		
	(iv)
	to retain, manage, operate, repair and rehabilitate and to mortgage or lease for any period any real estate held by it and, in its discretion, cause to be formed any corporation or trust to hold title to any such real property;

		
	(v)
	to borrow or raise monies for the purposes of the Trust from any lender, except the Trustee, in its individual capacity, and for any sum so borrowed to issue its promissory note as Trustee and to secure the repayment thereof by pledging all or any part of the Trust, and no person lending money to the Trustee shall be bound to see to the application of the money loaned or to inquire into the validity, expediency or propriety of any such borrowing;

		
	(vi)
	to make distributions in cash upon the direction of the Employer through the Committee;

		
	(vii)
	to vote in person or by proxy on any stocks, bonds, or other securities held by it, including any shares of mutual funds held by it, to exercise any options appurtenant to any stocks, bonds or other securities for the conversion thereof into other stocks, bonds or securities, or to exercise any rights to subscribe for additional stocks, bonds or other securities and to make any and all necessary payment therefor and to enter into any voting trust;

		
	(viii)
	with respect to any investment, to join in, dissent from, or oppose any action or inaction of any corporation, or of the directors, officers or stockholders of any corporation, including, without limitation, any reorganization, recapitalization, consolidation, liquidation, sale or merger;

		
	(ix)
	to settle, adjust, compromise, or submit to arbitration any claims, debts or damages due or owing to or from the Trust;

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	(x)
	to deposit any property with any protective, reorganization or similar committee, to delegate power  thereto and to pay and agree to pay part of its expenses and compensation and any assessments levied with respect to any property so deposited; and

		
	(xi)
	to delegate administrative duties to a designee.

		
	(b)
	In addition to and not by way of limitation of any other powers conferred upon the Trustee by law or other provisions of this Agreement, but subject to Section 1.4 and this Section 3, the Trustee is authorized and empowered, in its discretion:

		
	(i)
	to commence or defend suits or legal proceedings, and to represent the Trust in all suits or legal proceedings in any court or before any other body or tribunal;

		
	(ii)
	to register securities in its name or in the name of any nominee or nominees with or without indication of the capacity in which the securities shall be held, or to hold securities in bearer form;

		
	(iii)
	to employ such agents, brokers, counsel, accountants, actuaries or other professionals, as the Trustee shall deem advisable and to be reimbursed by the Employer for their reasonable expenses and compensation;

		
	(iv)
	to make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver any and all deeds, leases, assignments and instruments; and

		
	(v)
	generally to do all acts which the Trustee may deem necessary or desirable for the administration and protection of the Trust.

		
	(c)
	Notwithstanding any powers granted to the Trustee pursuant to this Agreement or by applicable law, the Trustee shall not have any power that could give the Trust the objective of carrying on a business and dividing the gains therefrom, within the meaning of Section 301.7701-2 of the Procedure and   Administrative Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Code.

		
	3.7
	Substitution of Assets. The Employer shall have the right at any time, and from time to time, in its sole    discretion, to substitute assets of equal fair market value for any asset held by the Trust. This right is exercisable                 by the Employer in a nonfiduciary capacity without the approval or consent of any person in a fiduciary capacity.

		
	3.8
	Trust Income. During the term of this Trust, all income received by the Trust, net of expenses and taxes, shall be accumulated and reinvested.

SECTION 4. DISTRIBUTIONS FROM TRUST
		
	4.1
	General. The Employer shall deliver to the Trustee a schedule ("Payment Schedule") that indicates the amounts payable in respect of each Plan participant (and his or her beneficiaries), that provides a formula or other instructions acceptable to the Trustee for determining the amounts so payable, the form in which such amount is to be paid (as provided for or available under the Plan), and the time of commencement for payment of such amounts. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Trustee shall make payments to the Plan participants and their beneficiaries in accordance with such Payment Schedule.

		
	4.2
	Reporting and Withholding Requirements. The Employer or Trustee shall provide for the reporting and withholding of any federal, state or local taxes that may be required to be withheld with respect to the payment of benefits pursuant to the terms of the Plan and shall pay amounts withheld to the appropriate taxing authorities. Upon the occurrence of a distribution pursuant to the Plan, the Committee shall direct the Trustee to send the Employer an amount, as determined by the Employer, sufficient for the Employer to discharge its withholding obligations with respect to the distribution.

		
	4.3
	Direction by Committee.

		
	(a)
	A direction by the Committee to make a distribution from the Trust shall:

		
	(i)
	be made in writing;

TR 612-1    Page 5 of 10    

		
	(ii)
	specify the amount of the payment to be distributed (net of the amount sufficient for the Employer to discharge its withholding obligation), the date such payment is to be made, the person to whom payment is to be made, and the address to which the payment is to be sent;

		
	(iii)
	specify the amount determined by the Employer to be sufficient for the Employer to discharge its withholding obligation; and

		
	(iv)
	be deemed to certify to the Trustee that such direction and any payment pursuant thereto are authorized under the terms of the Plan.

		
	(b)
	The Trustee shall be entitled to rely conclusively on the Committee’s certification of its authority to direct a payment without independent investigation. The Trustee shall have no liability to any person with respect to payments made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.

		
	4.4
	Benefits Entitlement. The entitlement of a Plan participant or his or her beneficiaries to benefits under the Plan         shall be determined by the Employer or such party as it shall designate under the Plan, and any claim for such benefits shall be considered and reviewed under the procedures set out in the Plan.

		
	4.5
	Payments by Employer. The Employer may make payment of benefits directly to Plan participants or their beneficiaries as they become due under the terms of the Plan. The Employer shall notify the Trustee of its decision to make payment of benefits directly prior to the time amounts are payable to participants or their beneficiaries. In addition, if the principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon, are not sufficient to make payments of benefits in accordance with the terms of the Plan, the Employer shall make the balance of each  such payment as it falls due. The Trustee shall notify the Employer where principal and earnings are not  sufficient.

		
	4.6
	Payments to Employer. Except as expressly provided in the Plan, the Employer shall have no right or power to direct the Trustee to return to the Employer any of the Trust Fund before all payments of benefits have been  made pursuant to the Plan. However upon written request and certification from the Employer of the amount required to pay benefits provided under the terms of the Plan, if the Trustee determines that the value of the assets of the Trust Fund are in excess of 100% of the amount required to pay the benefits provided under the terms of the Plan, then such excess assets, including both principal and income, shall be returned to the Employer.

SECTION 5. TRUSTEE’S AND COMMITTEE’S RESPONSIBILITIES
		
	5.1
	General Standard of Care. The Trustee, the members of the Committee and any Investment Manager shall at all times discharge their duties with respect to the Trust solely in the interest of the Plan participants and their beneficiaries and with the care, skill, prudence, and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent man acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of  a like character and with like aims, provided, however, that the Trustee shall incur no liability to any person for  any action taken pursuant to a direction, request or approval given by the Employer which is contemplated by,  and in conformity with, the terms of the Plan or this Trust and is given in writing by the Employer. In the event of   a dispute between the Employer and a party, the Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to   resolve the dispute.

		
	5.2
	No Liability for Acts of Others. No fiduciary under this Agreement shall be liable for an act or omission of another person in carrying out any fiduciary responsibility where such fiduciary responsibility is allocated to such other person by this Agreement or pursuant to a procedure established in this Agreement.

		
	5.3
	Legal Counsel.  The Trustee may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel to the Employer) concerning any questions which may arise under this Agreement, and the opinions of such counsel shall be full and   complete protection with respect to any action taken, or omitted, by the Trustee hereunder in good faith in accordance with the opinion of such counsel.

		
	5.4
	Liability Under Plan.  The duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be limited to those expressly set forth in this Agreement, notwithstanding any reference herein to the Plan. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement, the Trustee and its officers, directors and agents hereunder shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Employer and the Trust to the fullest extent permitted by law against any and all costs, damages,  expenses and liabilities including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees and disbursements reasonably incurred by or  imposed upon it in connection with any claim made against it or in which it may be involved by reason of it being,

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or having been, a Trustee hereunder, to the extent such amounts are not satisfied by fiduciary liability insurance that may or may not be maintained by the Employer.  If the Employer does not pay such costs, expenses and liabilities in a reasonably timely manner, the Trustee may obtain payment from the Trust.
SECTION 6. TRUSTEE’S ACCOUNTS
		
	6.1
	Accounts. The Trustee shall keep accurate and detailed accounts of all investments, reinvestments, receipts, disbursements, and all other transactions hereunder, and all such accounts and the books and records relating thereto shall be open to inspection at all reasonable times by the Employer or the Committee or persons designated by them.

		
	6.2
	Valuation of Trust. The Trustee or its designee shall value or cause to be valued the Trust as of the last     business day of each calendar quarter (“Valuation Date”), and shall report to the Committee the value of the   Trust as of such date, within a reasonable time after the first day of the month next following each Valuation   Date.

		
	6.3
	Reports to Committee. Within sixty (60) days following the close of each calendar year, and within sixty (60)   days following the effective date of the resignation or removal of the Trustee as provided in Section 8.1, the Trustee shall render to the Committee a written account of its administration of the Trust during such year or during the period from the close of the last preceding year to the date of such removal or resignation, setting   forth all investments, receipts, disbursements and other transactions effected by it, including a description of all securities and investments purchased and sold with the cost or net proceeds of such purchases or sales  (accrued interest paid or receivable being shown separately) and showing all cash, securities and other property held in the Trust as of the date of such removal or resignation, as the case may be.

		
	6.4
	Right of Judicial Settlement. The Trustee, the Committee, and the Employer, or any of them, shall have the right  to apply at any time to a court of competent jurisdiction for the judicial settlement of the Trustee’s account. In    any such case, it shall be necessary to join as parties thereto only the Trustee, the Committee and the Employer;   and any judgment or decree which may be entered therein shall be conclusive upon all persons having or claiming to have any interest in the Trust or under the Plan.

		
	6.5
	Enforcement of Agreement. To protect the Trust from expenses which might otherwise be incurred, the    Employer and the Committee shall have authority, either jointly or severally, to enforce this Agreement on behalf of all persons claiming any interest in the Trust or under the Plan, and no other person may institute or maintain any action or proceeding against the Trustee or the Trust in the absence of written authority from the Employer, the Committee or a judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that in refusing authority the Committee acted fraudulently or in bad faith.

SECTION 7. TAXES; COMPENSATION OF TRUSTEE
		
	7.1
	Taxes. Any taxes that may be imposed upon the Trust or the income therefrom shall be deducted from and charged against the Trust.

		
	7.2
	Compensation of Trustee; Expenses. The Trustee shall receive for its services hereunder such compensation as may be agreed upon in writing from time to time by the Employer and the Trustee and shall be reimbursed for its reasonable expenses, including counsel fees, incurred in the performance of its duties hereunder. The Trustee shall deduct from and charge against the Trust such compensation and all such expenses unless previously paid by the Employer.

SECTION 8. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF TRUSTEE
		
	8.1
	Resignation or Removal of Trustee. The Trustee may resign as trustee hereunder at any time by giving sixty (60) days prior written notice to the Employer. The Employer may remove the Trustee as trustee hereunder at any  time by giving the Trustee prior written notice of such removal, which shall include notice of the appointment of a successor trustee. Such removal shall take effect not earlier than sixty (60) days following receipt of such notice by the Trustee unless otherwise agreed upon by the Trustee and the Employer.

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	8.2
	Appointment of Successor. In the event of the resignation or removal of the Trustee, a successor trustee shall be appointed by the Employer. Except as is otherwise provided in Section 8.1, such appointment shall take effect upon delivery to the Trustee of an instrument so appointing the successor and an instrument of acceptance executed by such successor. If within sixty (60) days after notice of resignation has been given by the Trustee, a successor has not been appointed as provided in Section 8.1, the Trustee may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of such successor or for instructions. All expenses of the Trustee in connection with the preceding shall be allowed as administrative expenses of the Trust.

		
	8.3
	Succession.

		
	(a)
	Upon the appointment of a successor hereunder, the Trustee shall timely transfer and deliver all assets of the Trust to such successor; provided, however, that the Trustee may reserve such sum of money as it shall in its sole and absolute discretion deem advisable for payment of its fees and all expenses including counsel fees in connection with the settlement of its account, and any balance of such reserve remaining after the payment of such charges shall be paid over to the successor trustee. If such reserve shall be insufficient to pay such charges, the Trustee shall be entitled to recover the amount of any deficiency from the Employer, from the Trust, or from both.

		
	(b)
	Upon the completion of the succession and the rendering of its final accounts, the Trustee shall have no further responsibilities whatsoever under this Agreement.

		
	8.4
	Successor Bound by Agreement. All the provisions of this Agreement shall apply to any successor trustee with the same force and effect as if such successor had been originally named herein as the trustee hereunder.

		
	SECTION 9.
	TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITY REGARDING PAYMENTS TO TRUST BENEFICIARIES WHEN EMPLOYER IS INSOLVENT

		
	9.1
	Insolvency. The Trustee shall cease payment of benefits to Plan participants and their beneficiaries if the Employer is Insolvent. The Employer shall be considered "Insolvent" for purposes of this Trust Agreement if (i) the Employer is unable to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) the Employer is subject to a pending proceeding as a debtor under the United States Bankruptcy Code.

		
	9.2
	General Creditors. At all times during the continuance of this Trust, the principal and income of the Trust shall be subject to claims of general creditors of the Employer.

		
	(a)
	The Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of Employer shall have the duty to inform the Trustee in writing of Employer’s Insolvency. If a person claiming to be a creditor of the Employer alleges in writing to the Trustee under penalty of perjury that that Employer has become Insolvent, the Trustee shall take action it deems prudent to determine whether Employer is Insolvent, and, pending such determination, the Trustee shall discontinue payment of benefits to Plan participants or their beneficiaries.

		
	(b)
	Unless the Trustee has actual knowledge of Employer’s Insolvency, or has received notice from Employer or a person claiming to be a creditor alleging that Employer is Insolvent, the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire whether Employer is Insolvent. The Trustee may in all events rely on the determination of the independent accountant regularly auditing the financial records of Employer as to whether Employer is Insolvent.

		
	(c)
	If at any time the Trustee has made or received a determination that Employer is Insolvent, the Trustee shall discontinue payments to Plan participants or their beneficiaries and shall hold the assets of the Trust for the benefit of Employer’s general creditors. Nothing in this Trust Agreement shall in any way diminish any rights of Plan participants or their beneficiaries to pursue their rights as general creditors of the Employer with respect to benefits due under the Plan or otherwise.

		
	(d)
	The Trustee shall resume the payment of benefits to Plan participants or their beneficiaries in accordance with the terms of this Agreement only after the Trustee has received a determination from the independent accountant regularly auditing the financial records of the Employer that the Employer is not Insolvent (or is no longer Insolvent).

		
	(e)
	During the continuance of the Trust, the fees and expenses of the Trustee shall be paid from the Trust Fund if not paid by the Employer.

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	9.3
	Amount of Payments After Resumption. Provided that there are sufficient assets, if the Trustee discontinues the payment of benefits from the Trust pursuant to this Section 9 and subsequently resumes such payments, the first payment following such discontinuance shall include the aggregate amount of all payments due to Plan participants or their beneficiaries under the terms of the Plan for the period of such discontinuance, less the aggregate amount of any payments made to Plan participants or their beneficiaries by the Employer in lieu of the payments provided for hereunder during any such period of discontinuance.

SECTION 10. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
		
	10.1
	Amendment. This Trust Agreement may be amended by a written instrument executed by the Trustee and the Employer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such amendment shall conflict with the terms of the Plan or shall make the Trust revocable after it has become irrevocable in accordance with Section 1.2 hereof.

		
	10.2
	Termination. The Trust shall not terminate until the date on which Plan participants and their beneficiaries are no longer entitled to benefits under the terms of the Plan. Upon termination of the Trust, any remaining assets less any outstanding Trust fees and expenses shall be returned to the Employer.

SECTION 11. MISCELLANEOUS
		
	11.1
	Binding Effect; Assignability.  This Agreement shall be binding upon, and the powers granted to the Employer   and the Trustee, respectively, shall be exercisable by the respective successors and assigns of the Employer and the Trustee. Any entity which shall, by merger, consolidation, purchase, or otherwise, succeed to substantially all the trust business of the Trustee shall, upon such succession and without any appointment or other action by the Employer, be and become successor trustee hereunder.

		
	11.2
	Governing Law. This Agreement and the trust created and the Trust held hereunder shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware, except to the extent that such laws are preempted by the federal laws of the United States of America. All contributions to the Trust shall be deemed to take place in the state of Delaware.

		
	11.3
	Notices. Any communication to the Trustee, including any notice, direction, designation, certification, order, instruction, or objection shall be in writing and signed by the person authorized under the Plan to give the communication. The Trustee shall be fully protected in acting in accordance with these written communications. Any notice required or permitted to be given to a party hereunder shall be deemed given if in writing and hand delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, certified mail, return receipt requested, to such party at the following address or at such other address as such party may by notice specify:

If to the Employer:
United Fire Group
118 2nd Avenue
Cedar Rapids, IA  52401
Attention: Dianne Lyons
If to the Trustee:
Principal Trust Company
P.O. Box 8963
Wilmington, DE 19899-8963
Attention: Trust Services
		
	11.4
	Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity of enforceability of the remaining provisions.

		
	11.5
	Waiver. Failure of any party to insist at any time or times upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement shall not be a waiver of such provision at such time or any later time unless in a writing designated as a waiver and signed by or on behalf of the party against whom enforcement of the waiver is sought.

TR 612-1    Page 9 of 10    

		
	11.6
	Non-Alienation. No interest, right or claim in or to any part of the Trust or any payment therefrom shall be assignable, transferable or subject to sale, mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, commutation, anticipation, garnishment, attachment, execution, or levy of any kind, and the Trustee and the Committee shall not recognize any attempt to assign, transfer, sell, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, commute, or anticipate the same, except to the extent required by law.

		
	11.7
	Definitions. Unless the context of this Agreement clearly indicates otherwise, the terms defined in the Plan shall, when used herein, have the same meaning as in the Plan.

		
	11.8
	Headings.  The headings of sections are included solely for convenience of reference. If there is any conflict between such headings and the text of the Agreement, the text shall control.

		
	11.9
	Construction of Language. Whenever appropriate in this Agreement, words used in the singular may be read in the plural; words used in the plural may be read in the singular; and words importing the masculine gender shall be deemed equally to refer to the female gender or the neuter.  Any reference to a section number shall refer to a section of this Agreement, unless otherwise indicated.

		
	11.10
	Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement to be effective as of May 22, 2014.

FOR THE EMPLOYER

		
	Employer :
	United Fire & Casualty Company

		
	By:
	         

(Signature)

		
	Title:
	         

		
	Date:
	         

ACCEPTANCE OF THE TRUSTEE
The undersigned hereby accepts appointment as Trustee hereunder and agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.

DELAWARE CHARTER GUARANTEE & TRUST COMPANY, a Delaware corporation conducting business under the trade name of Principal Trust Company

		
	By:
	         

(Signature)

		
	Title:
	         

Date:        

TR 612-1    Page 10 of 10Change In Control Agreement

Exhibit 10.4

CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is entered into as of the 21st day of May, 2014 by and between United Fire Group, Inc., an Iowa corporation (the “Company”), and [Executive Name]     (the “Executive”).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Executive currently serves as a key employee of the Company and the Executive’s services and knowledge are valuable to the Company in connection with the management of the Company or one or more of its principal operating facilities, divisions, departments or subsidiaries; and
WHEREAS, the Board (as defined in Section 1) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to secure the Executive’s continued services and to ensure the Executive’s continued dedication and objectivity in the event of any threat or occurrence of, or negotiation or other action that could lead to, or create the possibility of, a Change in Control (as defined in Section 1) of the Company, without concern as to whether the Executive might be hindered or distracted by personal uncertainties and risks created by any such possible Change in Control, and to encourage the Executive’s full attention and dedication to the Company, the Board has authorized the Company to enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:
1.Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:
(a)“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(b)“Cause” means (1) a material breach by the Executive of those duties and responsibilities of the Executive which do not differ in any material respect from the duties and responsibilities of the Executive during the 90-day period immediately prior to a Change in Control (other than as a result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness) which is demonstrably willful and deliberate on the Executive’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 or (2) the commission by the Executive of a felony involving moral turpitude.
(c)“Change in Control” means the following:
(1)the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (a “Person”), including any “person” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of beneficial ownership within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, of 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of 

directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any acquisition directly from the Company, (B) any acquisition by the Company, (C) any acquisition by an employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (D) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or consolidation involving the Company, if, immediately after such reorganization, merger or consolidation, each of the conditions described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (3) of this Section (1)(c) shall be satisfied; and provided further that, for purposes of clause (B), if any Person (other than the Company or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company) shall, by reason of an acquisition of Outstanding Company Voting Securities by the Company, become the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, and such Person shall, after such acquisition of Outstanding Company Voting Securities by the Company, become the beneficial owner of any additional Outstanding Company Voting Securities and such beneficial ownership is publicly announced, such additional beneficial ownership shall constitute a Change in Control;
(2)individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of such Board; provided, however, that any individual who becomes a director of the Company subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, was approved either by the vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be deemed to have been a member of the Incumbent Board; and provided further, that no individual who was initially elected as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation by a Person other than the Board for the purpose of opposing a solicitation by any other Person with respect to the election or removal of directors or any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any Person other than the Board shall be deemed to have been a member of the Incumbent Board;
(3)consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation unless, in any such case, immediately after such reorganization, merger or consolidation, (i) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals or entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, (ii) no Person (other than the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation (or any corporation controlled by the Company) and any Person which beneficially owned, immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the Board providing for such reorganization, merger or consolidation; or

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(4)consummation of the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company other than to a corporation with respect to which, immediately after such sale or other disposition, (A) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities thereof entitled to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, (B) no Person (other than the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or such corporation (or any corporation controlled by the Company) and any Person which beneficially owned, immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the Outstanding Company Voting Securities) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities thereof entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors thereof were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the Board providing for such sale or other disposition; 
provided, however, that no such transaction or event shall constitute a Change in Control unless it is also a “change in control event” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.
(d)“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(e)“Company” means United Fire Group, Inc., an Iowa corporation.
(f)“Date of Termination” means the date on which the Executive separates from service, within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.
(g) “Good Reason” means, without the Executive’s express written consent, the occurrence of any of the following events after a Change in Control:
(1)the assignment to the Executive of any duties which constitute in any material respect a reduction in the level of the Executive’s position(s), duties, responsibilities or status with the Company immediately prior to such Change in Control;
(2)a reduction by the Company in the Executive’s rate of annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to such Change in Control or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter;
(3)any requirement of the Company that the Executive be based more than 50 miles from the facility where the Executive is based at the time of the Change in Control; or
(4)the failure of the Company to obtain the assumption agreement from any successor as contemplated in Section 11(b); 
provided, however, that (x) the Executive provides written notice to the Company of the occurrence of any of the events set forth in clauses (1) through (4) of this definition within 90 days after the Executive has knowledge of the circumstances constituting such event; (y) the Company fails to correct the circumstances resulting in any of the events set forth in clauses (1) 

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through (4) within 30 days after such notice and (z) the Executive resigns within six months after the initial existence of such circumstances. 
(h)“Nonqualifying Termination” means a termination of the Executive’s employment (1) by the Company for Cause, (2) by the Executive for any reason other than a Good Reason, (3) as a result of the Executive’s death or (4) by the Company due to the Executive’s absence from the Executive’s duties with the Company on a full-time basis for at least 180 consecutive days as a result of the Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness.
(i)“Termination Period” means the period of time beginning with a Change in Control and ending on the earlier to occur of (1) two years following such Change in Control and (2) the Executive’s death.
2.Obligations of the Executive.  The Executive agrees that in the event any person or group attempts a Change in Control, the Executive shall not voluntarily leave the employ of the Company without Good Reason (a) until such attempted Change in Control terminates or (b) if a Change in Control shall occur, until 90 days following such Change in Control.  
3.Payments Upon Termination of Employment.
(a)If, during the Termination Period, the employment of the Executive shall terminate, other than by reason of a Nonqualifying Termination, then the Executive shall be entitled to the following payments and benefits:
(1)The Company shall pay to the Executive (or the Executive’s beneficiary or estate) within 30 days after the Date of Termination (except as otherwise provided for in Section 15), as compensation for services rendered to the Company and its subsidiaries:
(i)    a lump sum cash amount (subject to any applicable payroll or other taxes required to be withheld pursuant to Section 5) equal to the sum of (x) the Executive’s base salary from the Company and its subsidiaries through the Date of Termination, to the extent not theretofore paid, (y) the Executive’s annual bonus under the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ annual bonus plan earned with respect to the fiscal year immediately prior to the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs, to the extent not theretofore paid and (z) an amount equal to the Executive’s target annual bonus (without regard to any amounts that would otherwise be deferred) immediately prior to the Change in Control (or if higher, the Executive’s target annual bonus in respect of the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs), multiplied (in the case of clause (z) only) by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs through the Date of Termination and the denominator of which is 365 or 366, as applicable; plus
(ii)    a lump sum cash amount (subject to any applicable payroll or other taxes required to be withheld pursuant to Section 5) equal to the sum of 

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150% of  the Executive’s highest annual base salary from the Company and its subsidiaries (without regard to any amounts that would otherwise be deferred) in effect during the 12-month period prior to the Date of Termination and 150% the Executive’s target annual bonus (without regard to any amounts that would otherwise be deferred) immediately prior to the Date of Termination (or, if higher, the average of the annual bonuses earned by the Executive in respect of the three fiscal years of the Company (or such portion thereof during which the Executive performed services for the Company if the Executive shall have been employed by the Company for less than such three fiscal year period) immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Change in Control occurs).
(2)For a period of 18 months commencing on the Date of Termination, the Company and its subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted under the applicable plans, continue to keep in full force and effect all medical, accident, disability and life insurance benefits with respect to the Executive and the Executive’s dependents with substantially the same level of coverage, upon substantially the same terms and otherwise to the same extent as such benefits shall have been in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control or, if more favorable to the Executive, as provided generally with respect to other peer employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, and the Company and the Executive shall share the costs of the continuation of such benefit coverage in the same proportion as such costs were shared immediately prior to the Change in Control.  To the extent the Company is unable to provide such benefit coverage for reasons other than cost, the Company shall reimburse the Executive for the amount necessary for the Executive to acquire comparable benefit coverage, reduced by the portion of the applicable premiums otherwise payable by the Executive, with such reimbursement to be made not later than 90 days after the date on which the Executive submits to the Company all required documentation evidencing the reimbursable expense, but in no event later than the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred.  After the expiration of such 18-month period, the Executive shall be entitled to continue the Executive’s medical coverage under applicable law (COBRA), at Executive’s expense.  
(3)Each long-term incentive award granted to the Executive, including without limitation each option, restricted stock, restricted stock unit and other equity-based award, shall become fully vested, and to the extent any such award is subject to the attainment of specified performance measures, such performance measures shall be deemed satisfied at the target level.
(4)For a period of 12 months commencing on the Date of Termination, the Executive shall receive outplacement assistance services from an outplacement agency selected by the Executive and the Company shall pay all costs of such services; provided that such costs do not exceed $15,000.
(5)Any amounts paid or benefits provided pursuant to this Section 3(a) shall be paid in lieu of any other amount of severance compensation that would otherwise be received by the Executive upon termination of employment of the Executive under any severance plan, policy or arrangement of the Company or its subsidiaries. 

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To be eligible for any payments under this Section 3(a), the Executive must execute and deliver to the Company, within 21 days after the Executive’s Date of Termination, a final and complete release in a form that is reasonably acceptable to and approved by the Company (and not revoke such release).
(b)If during the Termination Period the employment of the Executive shall terminate by reason of a Nonqualifying Termination, then the Company shall pay to the Executive within 30 days following the Date of Termination, a cash amount equal to the sum of (1) the Executive’s base salary from the Company through the Date of Termination, to the extent not theretofore paid and (2) any accrued vacation pay, to the extent not theretofore paid.
(c)If during the Termination Period the employment of the Executive shall terminate, whether or not by reason of a Nonqualifying Termination, the Company shall pay to the Executive any compensation previously deferred by the Executive (together with any interest and earnings thereon) in accordance with the terms of the plans pursuant to which such compensation was deferred.
4.Parachute Payments. 
(a)    To the extent that any payment or distribution to or for the benefit of Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Company, any of its affiliated companies, any person whose actions result in a change of ownership or effective control covered by Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code or any person affiliated with the Company or such person, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (the “Payments”) would be subject to the excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, then the Company shall reduce the payments to the amount that is (after taking into account federal, state, local and social security taxes at the maximum marginal rates, including any excise taxes imposed by Section 4999 of the Code) one dollar less than the amount of the Payments that would subject Executive to the Excise Tax (the “Safe Harbor Cap”) if, and only if, such reduction would result in Executive receiving a higher net after-tax amount.  Unless Executive shall have given prior written notice specifying a different order to the Company to effectuate the Safe Harbor Cap, the Payments to be reduced hereunder will be determined in a manner which has the least economic cost to Executive and, to the extent the economic cost is equivalent, will be reduced in the inverse order of when the Payment would have been made to Executive until the reduction specified herein is achieved. Executive’s right to specify the order of reduction of the Payments shall apply only to the extent that it does not directly or indirectly alter the time or method of payment of any amount that is deferred compensation subject to (and not exempt from) Section 409A. 
(b)    All determinations required to be made under this Section 4, including whether and when the Safe Harbor Cap is required and the amount of the reduction of the Payments pursuant to the Safe Harbor Cap and the assumptions to be utilized in arriving at such determination, shall be made by a public accounting firm that is retained by the Company as of the date immediately prior to the Change in Control (the “Accounting Firm”) which shall provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and Executive within fifteen (15) business days of the receipt of notice from the Company or Executive that there has been a Payment, or 

6

such earlier time as is requested by the Company (collectively, the “Determination”).  In the event that the Accounting Firm is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the Change in Control, Executive may appoint another nationally recognized public accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder).  All fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company and the Company shall enter into any agreement requested by the Accounting Firm in connection with the performance of the services hereunder.  The Determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon the Company and Executive. Executive shall cooperate, to the extent his or her reasonable out-of pocket expenses are reimbursed by the Company, with any reasonable requests by the Company in connection with any contests or disputes with the Internal Revenue Service in connection with the Excise Tax.
5.Withholding Taxes.  The Company may withhold from all payments due to the Executive (or his or her beneficiary or estate) hereunder all taxes which, by applicable federal, state, local or other law, the Company is required to withhold therefrom.
6.Reimbursement of Expenses.  If any contest or dispute shall arise under this Agreement involving termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company or involving the failure or refusal of the Company to perform fully in accordance with the terms hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Executive, on a current basis and in accordance with Section 15, for all legal fees and expenses, if any, incurred by the Executive in connection with such contest or dispute, together with interest in an amount equal to the U.S. Prime Rate as published in the “Money Rates” section of The Wall Street Journal, but in no event higher than the maximum legal rate permissible under applicable law, such interest to accrue from the date the Company receives the Executive’s statement for such fees and expenses through the date of payment thereof; provided, however, that in the event the resolution of any such contest or dispute includes a finding denying, in total, the Executive’s claims in such contest or dispute, the Executive shall be required to reimburse the Company, over a period of 12 months from the date of such resolution, for all sums advanced to the Executive pursuant to this Section 6.
7.Operative Event.  Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, no amounts shall be payable hereunder unless and until there is a Change in Control at a time when the Executive is employed by the Company and a subsequent termination of employment of the Executive.
8.Noncompetition; Nonsolicitation.  (a)  The Executive acknowledges that in the course of his or her employment with the Company the Executive has become familiar with trade secrets and other confidential information concerning the Company and that the Executive’s services are of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company.
(b)The Executive agrees that if during the Termination Period the employment of the Executive shall terminate, other than by reason of a Nonqualifying Termination, and the Executive shall receive payments from the Company pursuant to Sections 3(a) and 3(b), then, in consideration for such payments, for a period of 18 months following the Date of Termination (the “Noncompetition Period”) the Executive shall not in any manner, directly or indirectly, through any person, firm or corporation, alone or as a member of a 

7

partnership or as an officer, director, stockholder, investor or employee of or consultant to any other corporation or enterprise or otherwise, engage or be engaged, or assist any other person, firm, corporation or enterprise in engaging or being engaged, in any business being conducted by the Company as of the Date of Termination in any geographic area in which the Company is then conducting such business.
(c)The Executive further agrees that during the Noncompetition Period the Executive shall not (i) in any manner, directly or indirectly, induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to terminate or abandon his or her employment for any purpose whatsoever, or (ii) in connection with any business to which Section 8(b) applies, call on, service, solicit or otherwise do business with any customer of the Company.
(d)Nothing in this Section 8 shall prohibit the Executive from being (i) a stockholder in a mutual fund or a diversified investment company or (ii) a passive owner of not more than two percent (2%) of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation, any securities of which are publicly traded, so long as the Executive has no active participation in the business of such corporation.
(e)If, at any time of enforcement of this Section 8, a court holds that the restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties hereto agree that the maximum period, scope or geographical area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for the stated period, scope or area and that the court shall be allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum period, scope and area permitted by law.
(f)The Executive acknowledges that the Company would be damaged irreparably in the event that any provision of this Section 8 were not performed in accordance with its terms or were otherwise breached and that money damages would be an inadequate remedy for any such nonperformance or breach.  Accordingly, the Company and its successors or permitted assigns shall be entitled, in addition to other rights and remedies existing in their favor, to seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent any breach or threatened breach of any of such provisions and to enforce such provisions specifically (without posting a bond or other security).
9.Termination of Agreement.  (a)  This Agreement shall be effective on the date hereof and shall continue until terminated by the Company as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 9; provided, however, that this Agreement shall terminate in any event upon the first to occur of (i) the Executive’s death and (ii) termination of the Executive’s employment with the Company prior to a Change in Control.
(b)The Company shall have the right prior to a Change in Control, in its sole discretion, pursuant to action by the Board, to approve the termination of this Agreement, which termination shall not become effective until the date fixed by the Board for such termination, which date shall be at least 120 days after notice thereof is given by the Company to the Executive in accordance with Section 12; provided, however, that no such action shall be taken by the Board during any period of time when the Board has knowledge that any person has taken 

8

steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control until, in the opinion of the Board, such person has abandoned or terminated its efforts to effect a Change in Control; and provided further, that in no event shall this Agreement be terminated in the event of a Change in Control.
10.Scope of Agreement.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to entitle the Executive to continued employment with the Company or its subsidiaries, and if the Executive’s employment with the Company shall terminate prior to a Change in Control, then the Executive shall have no further rights under this Agreement; provided, however, that any termination of the Executive’s employment following a Change in Control shall be subject to all of the provisions of this Agreement.
11.Successors; Binding Agreement.
(a)This Agreement shall not be terminated by any merger or consolidation of the Company whereby the Company is or is not the surviving or resulting corporation or as a result of any transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.  In the event of any such merger, consolidation or transfer of assets, the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon the surviving or resulting corporation or the person or entity to which such assets are transferred.
(b)The Company agrees that concurrently with any merger, consolidation or transfer of assets referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 11, it will cause any successor or transferee unconditionally to assume, by written instrument delivered to the Executive (or his or her beneficiary or estate), all of the obligations of the Company hereunder.  Failure of the Company to obtain such assumption prior to the effectiveness of any such merger, consolidation or transfer of assets shall be a breach of this Agreement and (i) if such merger, consolidation or transfer is a “change in control event,” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, or (ii) the Executive terminates employment for Good Reason, the Executive shall be entitled to compensation and other benefits from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as the Executive would be entitled hereunder if the Executive’s employment were terminated following a Change in Control other than by reason of a Nonqualifying Termination.  For purposes of implementing clause (i) of the foregoing sentence, the date on which any such merger, consolidation or transfer becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of Termination.
(c)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 shall die while any amounts would be payable to the Executive hereunder had the Executive continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to such person or persons appointed in writing by the Executive to receive such amounts or, if no person is so appointed, to the Executive’s estate.
12.Notice.  (a)  For purposes of this Agreement, all notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or five days after deposit in the United States mail, certified and return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed (1) if to the Executive, to his or her address as set forth in the records of the Company, and if to the Company, to United Fire Group, Inc., 

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attention Chief Executive Officer, 118 Second Avenue, S.E., Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52407, with a copy to the General Counsel at the same address, or (2) to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.
(a)A written notice of the Executive’s Date of Termination by the Company or the Executive, as the case may be, to the other, shall be required to be given and shall (i) indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, 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 and (iii) specify the Date of Termination (which date shall be not less than 15 days after the giving of such notice).  The failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth in such notice any fact or circumstance which contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or the Company hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive’s or the Company’s rights hereunder.
13.Full Settlement; Resolution of Disputes.  (a)  The Company’s obligation to make any payments provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against the Executive or others.  In no event shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and, such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other employment.
(a)If there shall be any dispute between the Company and the Executive in the event of any termination of the Executive’s employment, then, unless and until there is a final, nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction declaring that such termination was for Cause, that the determination by the Executive of the existence of Good Reason was not made in good faith, or that the Company is not otherwise obligated to pay any amount or provide any benefit to the Executive and his or her dependents or other beneficiaries, as the case may be, under paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 3, the Company shall pay all amounts, and provide all benefits, to the Executive and his or her dependents or other beneficiaries, as the case may be, that the Company would be required to pay or provide pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 3 as though such termination were by the Company without Cause or by the Executive with Good Reason; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any disputed amounts pursuant to this paragraph except upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Executive to repay all such amounts to which the Executive is ultimately adjudged by such court not to be entitled.
14.Employment with Subsidiaries.  Employment with the Company for purposes of this Agreement shall include employment with any corporation or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect ownership interest of 50% or more of the total combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of such corporation or other entity entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

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15.Section 409A.  This Agreement is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, and shall be interpreted and construed consistently with such intent. In the event the terms of this Agreement would subject Executive to taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code (“409A Penalties”), the Company and Executive shall cooperate diligently to amend the terms of the Agreement to avoid such 409A Penalties, to the extent possible; provided that in no event shall the Company be responsible for any 409A Penalties that arise in connection with any amounts payable under this Agreement.  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, to the extent any  payments hereunder constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation, within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, then (i) each such payment which is conditioned upon Executive’s execution of a release and which is to be paid or provided during a designated period that begins in one taxable year and ends in a second taxable year, shall be paid or provided in the later of the two taxable years and (ii) if Executive is a “specified employee,” as defined in Section 409A of the Code, as of the Date of Termination, then to the extent any amount payable under this Agreement  is payable upon Executive’s separation from service, within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and  under the terms of this Agreement would be payable prior to the six-month anniversary of Executive’s Date of Termination, such payment shall be delayed until the earlier to occur of (a) the six-month anniversary of the Date of Termination or (b) the date of Executive’s death.  Any reimbursement or advancement payable to Executive pursuant to this Agreement shall be conditioned on the submission by Executive of all expense reports reasonably required by the Company under any applicable expense reimbursement policy, and shall be paid to Executive within 30 days following receipt of such expense reports, but in no event later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which Executive incurred the reimbursable expense.  Any amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefit provided, during a calendar year shall not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefit to be provided, during any other calendar year.  The right to any reimbursement or in-kind benefit pursuant to this Agreement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.
16.Governing Law; Validity.  The interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Iowa without regard to the principle of conflicts of laws.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which other provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
17.Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
18.Miscellaneous.  No provision of this Agreement may be modified or waived unless such modification or waiver is agreed to in writing and signed by the Executive and by a duly authorized officer of the Company.  No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time.  Failure by the Executive or the Company to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or to  

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assert any right the Executive or the Company may have hereunder, including, without limitation, the right of the Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement.  The rights of, and benefits payable to, the Executive, his or her estate or his beneficiaries pursuant to this Agreement are in addition to any rights of, or benefits payable to, the Executive, or his or her estate or beneficiaries under any other employee benefit plan or compensation program of the Company.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by a duly authorized officer of the Company and the Executive has executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
UNITED FIRE GROUP, INC.
By:          
Jack B. Evans, Chairman
By:              
Mary K. Quass, 
Chair of the Compensation Committee
EXECUTIVE
        
[Printed Name]

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