Document:

bws8-k12212012exhibit.htm

  

  

  

SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

 

This SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is effective as of December 1, 2012 (“Effective Date”) by and between John W. Schmidt (“Employee”) and Brown Shoe Company, Inc., a New York corporation (“Brown Shoe” and, together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”).

 

WHEREAS, Brown Shoe is engaged, directly and indirectly through its subsidiaries, in the sourcing and retail and wholesale sale of footwear in the United States and throughout the world;

 

WHEREAS, Employee is employed by Brown Shoe or a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brown Shoe in an executive capacity, possesses intimate knowledge of the business and affairs of the Company, and has acquired, and will continue to acquire, certain confidential, proprietary and trade secret information and data with respect to the Company;

 

WHEREAS, Brown Shoe desires to insure, insofar as possible, that the Company will continue to have the benefit of Employee’s services and to protect the confidential information and goodwill of the Company; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that circumstances may arise in which a change in the control of Brown Shoe occurs, through acquisition or otherwise, thereby causing uncertainty of employment without regard to Employee’s competence or past contributions which uncertainty may result in the loss of valuable services of Employee to the detriment of the Company and Brown Shoe’s shareholders, and the Company and Employee wish to provide reasonable security to Employee against changes in Employee’s relationship with Brown Shoe in the event of any such change in control; and

 

WHEREAS, both the Company and Employee are desirous that a proposal for any change of control or acquisition will be considered by Employee objectively and with reference only to the business interests of the Company and Brown Shoe’s shareholders; and

 

WHEREAS, Employee will be in a better position to consider the best interests of the Company if Employee is afforded reasonable security, as provided in this Agreement, against altered conditions of employment which could result from any such change in control or acquisition.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto mutually covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1. Definitions

 

1.1 “Board” means the Board of Directors of Brown Shoe.

 

1.2 “Business Unit” means any direct or indirect subsidiary, operating division or business unit of Brown Shoe.

 

1.3 “Cause” means (i) engaging by Employee in willful misconduct which is materially injurious to the Company; (ii) conviction of Employee of a felony; (iii) engaging by Employee in fraud, material dishonesty or gross misconduct in connection with the business of the Company; (iv) engaging by Employee in any act of moral turpitude reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect the Company or its business; (v) engaging by Employee in the illegal use of a controlled substance or using prescription medications unlawfully; or (vi) abuse by Employee of alcohol.

 

1.4 “Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events after the Effective Date:

 

(a) The acquisition by any Person of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 30% or more of either (x) the then outstanding shares of common stock of Brown Shoe (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (y) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of Brown Shoe entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this paragraph (a) the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control:  (i) any acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company, (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, or (iv) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with the exception set forth in paragraph (c) below; or

 

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

 

(c) Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or the acquisition of assets of another corporation (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination, all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 65% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be; or

 

(d) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

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

 

1.6 “Competitor” means any Person which (a) in its prior fiscal year had annual gross sales volume or revenues of more than $20,000,000 attributable to the sale of footwear or (b) is reasonably expected to have such level of footwear sales or revenues in either the current fiscal year or the next following fiscal year.

 

1.7 “Confidential Information” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.

 

1.8 “Customer” means any wholesale customer of Brown Shoe and/or any Business Unit which either purchased from Brown Shoe and/or any Business Unit during the one (1) year immediately preceding the Termination Date, or is reasonably expected by Brown Shoe and/or any Business Unit to purchase from Brown Shoe and/or any Business Unit in the one (1) year period immediately following the Termination Date, more than $1,000,000 in footwear.

 

1.9 “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

1.10 “Good Reason,” when used with reference to a voluntary termination by Employee of Employee’s employment with the Company, means (i) a reduction in Employee’s base salary as in effect on the date hereof, or as the same may be increased from time to time; (ii) a reduction in Employee’s status, position, responsibilities or duties; (iii) the required relocation of Employee’s principal place of business, without Employee’s consent, to a location which is more than fifty (50) miles from Employee’s principal place of business on the Effective Date, or from such location to which Employee may transfer with Employee’s consent after the Effective Date; (iv) a material increase in the amount of time Employee is required to travel on behalf of the Company; (v) the failure of any successor of Brown Shoe to assume this Agreement, or (vi) a material breach of this Agreement by the Company.

 

1.11 “Person” means any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)).

       

                                1.12     “Termination Date” means the effective date as provided in this Agreement of the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company.  Employee will have a termination of employment only if he has a separation from service determined based on all of the facts and circumstances and in accordance with the rules and regulations issued by the Treasury Department under Code Section 409A.

 

Section 2. Term

 

2.1 Subject to Section 2.2, the term of this Agreement (the “Term”) shall be a period commencing on the Effective Date and ending March 31, 2014.

 

2.2 The Term shall be automatically extended for successive one (1) year periods unless either party to this Agreement provides the other party with notice of termination at least ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the original period or any one-year period thereafter.

 

Section 3. Termination of Employment

 

3.1 The Company may terminate Employee’s employment at any time for Cause, effective upon written notice to Employee specifying in reasonable detail the particulars of Employee’s conduct deemed by the Company and/or such subsidiary to justify such termination for Cause.

 

3.2 The Company may terminate Employee’s employment without Cause at any time, effective upon written notice to Employee of termination specifying that such termination is without Cause.

 

3.3 Employee may terminate Employee’s employment with the Company at any time, with or without Good Reason.

 

Section 4. Separation Benefits

 

4.1 If Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company for any reason other than for Cause, death or disability and Section 4.2 does not apply, Employee shall be entitled to the following separation benefits:

 

(a)   The Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, to Employee within 30 days of the Termination Date (i) the full base salary earned by Employee through, but unpaid at, the Termination Date, plus (ii) credit for any vacation earned by Employee but not used at the Termination Date, plus (iii) all other amounts owed by the Company to Employee (other than any bonus payment of any kind) but unpaid as of the Termination Date.

 

                (b)           The Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, to Employee (i) in a lump sum not later than thirty (30) days after the Termination Date an amount equal to 100% of the sum of (A) Employee’s base annual salary at the highest rate in effect at any time during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the Termination Date, and (B) Employee’s targeted bonus for the current year, and (ii) Employee’s bonus for the year of termination prorated to the Termination Date, paid at the time such bonus would have been paid if Employee had remained employed to the date of payment and calculated based on achievement of the applicable performance criteria applicable to such bonus payment.

 

(c)           The Company shall provide to Employee for a period of twelve (12) months after the Termination Date medical and/or dental coverage under the Company’s medical and/or dental plans, without any cost to Employee in excess of any employee contribution that would be payable by Employee if Employee remained employed by a member of the Company; provided, however, that if Employee becomes employed with another employer during such twelve (12)-month period and is eligible to receive medical and/or dental coverage under another employer-provided plan, the medical and/or dental coverage described herein shall be secondary to those provided under such other plan.

 

(d)           The restrictions applicable to each share of non-vested restricted stock of Brown Shoe held by Employee that would have vested within the two (2) year period following the Termination Date had Employee remained employed by the Company shall lapse as of the Termination Date.

 

(e)           Each non-vested option to purchase Brown Shoe stock held by Employee that would have vested within the two (2) year period following the Termination Date had Employee remained employed by the Company shall vest as of the Termination Date.

 

(f)           The Company shall pay the reasonable costs of outplacement services selected by the Company for a reasonable period of time following the Termination Date; provided, however, that no such outplacement services shall be provided after the last day of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

 

4.2 If Employee’s employment is terminated within twenty-four (24) months after a Change of Control (x) by the Company for any reason other than for Cause, death or disability, or (y) by Employee within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of Good Reason, Employee shall be entitled to the following separation benefits in place of, and not in addition to, the benefits set forth in Section 4.1:

 

(a)   The Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, to Employee within 30 days of the Termination Date (i) the full base salary earned by Employee through, but unpaid at, the Termination Date, plus (ii) credit for any vacation earned by Employee but not taken at the Termination Date, plus (iii) all other amounts owed by the Company to Employee (other than any bonus payment of any kind) but unpaid as of the Termination Date.

 

(b)   The Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, to Employee (i) in a lump sum six (6) months after the Termination Date an amount equal to 200% of the sum of (A) Employee’s base annual salary at the highest rate in effect at any time during the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the Termination Date, and (B) Employee’s targeted bonus for the current year; and (ii) Employee’s targeted bonus payment for the year of termination prorated to the Termination Date.

 

(c)   The Company shall provide to Employee for a period of eighteen (18) months after the Termination Date medical and/or dental coverage under the Company’s medical and dental plans, without any cost to Employee in excess of any employee contribution that would be payable by Employee if Employee remained employed by the Company; provided, however, that if Employee becomes employed with another employer during such eighteen (18)-month period and is eligible to receive medical and/or dental coverage under another employer-provided plan, the medical and/or dental coverage described herein shall be secondary to those provided under such other plan.  In addition, on the last day of such eighteen (18)-month period, the Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, to Employee an amount in cash equal to the aggregate amount that would be payable by the Company for such medical and/or dental coverage for six (6) months if Employee remained employed by the Company for such period.

 

(d)   The restrictions applicable to each share of non-vested restricted stock of Brown Shoe held by Employee shall lapse and be exercisable as of the Termination Date.

 

(e)   Each non-vested option to purchase Brown Shoe stock held by Employee shall vest and be exercisable as of the Termination Date.

 

(f)   For purposes of determining Employee’s benefit under the Company’s Supplemental Employment Retirement Plan, an additional two (2) years of Credited Service shall be credited to Employee’s actual or deemed Credited Service.

 

(g)   The Company shall pay the reasonable costs of outplacement services selected by the Company for a reasonable period of time following the Termination Date; provided, however, that no such outplacement services shall be provided after the last day of the second calendar year following the calendar year in which the Termination Date occurs.

 

4.3 If Employee’s employment is terminated for any reason other than such reasons specified in Sections 4.1 and 4.2, the Company shall pay, or cause to be paid, to Employee within 30 days of the Termination Date (i) the full base salary earned by Employee through, but unpaid at, the Termination Date, plus (ii) credit for any vacation earned by Employee but not taken at the Termination Date, plus (iii) all other amounts owed by the Company to Employee (other than any bonus payment of any kind) but unpaid as of the Termination Date.

 

4.4 The benefits set forth in Sections 4.1(c) and 4.2(c) shall run concurrently with any period of continuation coverage to which Employee is entitled under Section 601 of ERISA.  Upon Employee’s re-employment during the period specified in each such Section, to the extent covered by the new employer’s plan, coverage under the Company’s plan shall lapse, subject to any continuation of coverage rights under Section 601 of ERISA.  Employee’s participation in and/or coverage under all other employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements sponsored or maintained by the Company shall cease effective as of the Termination Date except as otherwise provided in such employee benefit plan, program or arrangement.

 

Section 5. Mitigation or Reduction of Benefits

 

Employee shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for in Section 4 by seeking other employment or otherwise.  Except as otherwise specifically set forth herein, the amount of any payment or benefits provided in Section 4 shall not be reduced by any compensation or benefits or other amounts paid to or earned by Employee as the result of employment by another employer after the Termination Date or otherwise.

 

Section 6. Employee Expenses After Change in Control

 

If Employee’s employment is terminated by the Company within twenty-four (24) months after a Change in Control and there is a dispute with respect to this Agreement, then all Employee’s costs and expenses (including reasonable legal and accounting fees) incurred by Employee (a) to defend the validity of this Agreement, (b) to contest any termination for Cause, (c) to contest any determinations by the Company concerning the amounts payable by or on behalf of the Company under this Agreement, or (d) to otherwise obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided to Employee by this Agreement, shall be paid by the Company.  The Company shall make payment of such reimbursements from time to time, but in no event later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such expenses are incurred, provided Employee timely submits reasonable documentation of such expenses.  In the event Employee is not the prevailing party in any such contest, Employee shall pay back any reimbursements made by the Company hereunder within 30 days of final disposition of such contest.

 

Section 7. Release

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated in this Agreement, no benefits will be paid pursuant to Section 4 except under Section 4.1(a), 4.2(a) or 4.3 prior to execution by Employee of a release of the Company substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A, with such changes as may be made by the Company in its sole discretion in order to comply with and stay current with applicable laws and regulations.  Unless Employee executes such release and returns it to the Company within 45 days of his Termination Date, all benefits except under Sections 4.1(a), 4.2(a) or 4.3 shall be forfeited.

 

Section 8. Excise Tax

 

In the event that a payment or benefit under this Agreement would result in the application of an excise tax under Code Section 4999, the cash severance payment described in Section 4.2 shall be reduced so that the total parachute payments received by the Employee equal the better after-tax amount of either: the full amount of such payments otherwise determined under the Agreement and any other plan or agreement which provides parachute payments to the Employee, subject to the excise tax under Code Section 4999; or 2.99 times the Participant’s “base amount” as defined in Code Section 280G and the regulations thereunder.

 

Section 9. Covenant Not to Compete

 

9.1 During Employee’s employment with Brown Shoe and/or any Business Unit and for a period of one (1) year after the Termination Date if termination is pursuant to Sections 4.1 or 4.3, or for two (2) years after the Termination Date if termination is pursuant to Section 4.2 (the “Restricted Period”), Employee will not, directly or indirectly, on Employee’s own behalf or on behalf of any other Person (whether as owner, partner, consultant, employee or otherwise):

 

(a)   provide any executive, managerial, supervisory, and/or consulting services with respect to the footwear industry and/or the footwear business in the United States for any Competitor;

 

(b)   hold any executive, managerial and/or supervisory position with any Competitor in the United States;

 

(c)   assist any Competitor in competing against Brown Shoe and/or any Business Unit for which Employee performs or performed substantial work and/or has or had access to Confidential Information (each a “Relevant Business Unit”) (i) in the United States and/or (ii) in any other country in which Brown Shoe and/or any Relevant Business Unit is doing business in the one year immediately preceding the Termination Date (each a “Foreign Country”) if Employee had access to Confidential Information regarding the Company’s business in such Foreign Country;

 

(d)   engage in any research, development and/or planning activities or efforts for a Competitor, whether as an employee, consultant, independent contractor or otherwise, to assist the Competitor in competing (i) in the footwear industry in the United States or (ii) in any Foreign Country if Employee had access to Confidential Information regarding the Company’s business in such Foreign Country;

 

(e)   cause or attempt to cause any Customer to divert, terminate, limit, modify or fail to enter into any existing or potential relationship with Brown Shoe and/or any Relevant Business Unit;

 

(f)   assist any Competitor in connection with any plan, effort, activity or undertaking to cause or attempt to cause any Customer to divert, terminate, limit, modify or fail to enter into any existing or potential relationship with Brown Shoe and/or any Relevant Business Unit;

 

(g)   cause or attempt to cause any footwear supplier or manufacturer of Brown Shoe and/or any Relevant Business Unit to divert, terminate, limit, modify or fail to enter into any existing or potential relationship with Brown Shoe and/or any Relevant Business Unit;

 

(h)   assist any Competitor in connection with any plan, effort, activity or undertaking to cause or attempt to cause any footwear supplier or manufacturer of Brown Shoe and/or any Relevant Business Unit to divert, terminate, limit, modify or fail to enter into any existing or potential relationship with Brown Shoe and/or any Relevant Business Unit; and/or

 

(i)   solicit, entice, employ or seek to employ, in the footwear industry, any executive, managerial and/or supervisory employee of, or any consultant or advisor to, Brown Shoe and/or any Relevant Business Unit.

 

9.2 Employee recognizes and agrees that the restraints contained in Section 9.1 are reasonable and should be fully enforceable in view of, among other things, the high level positions Employee has had with Brown Shoe and/or any Relevant Business Unit(s), the national and international nature of both the Company’s collective business and competition in the footwear industry, and the legitimate interests of the Company in protecting its confidential, proprietary and trade secret information (“Confidential Information”) and their respective customer goodwill and relationships.  Employee specifically hereby acknowledges and confirms that Employee is willing and intends to, and will, abide fully by the terms of Section 9.1.  Employee further agrees that the Company would not have adequate protection if Employee were permitted to work for its competitors in violation of the terms of this Agreement since the Company would, among other things, be unable to verify whether (i) its Confidential Information was being disclosed and/or misused, and/or (ii) Employee was involved in diverting or helping to divert the Company’s customers and/or customer goodwill.

 

9.3 Employee agrees to disclose, during the Restricted Period, the terms of this Section 9 to any potential future employer.

 

Section 10. Confidential Information.

 

10.1 Employee acknowledges and agrees that during Employee’s employment, Employee has been and/or will be provided and have access to certain Confidential Information of the Company.  Employee agrees to keep secret and confidential, and not to use or disclose to any third-parties, except as directly required for Employee to perform Employee's employment responsibilities for the Company, any of the Company’s Confidential Information.

 

10.2 Confidential Information includes all confidential and/or trade secret information of the Company (regardless of the form or medium in which it may exist or be stored or preserved) and includes, but is not limited to, all such information containing or reflecting any:

 

(a)   lists or other identification of customers or prospective customers of Brown Shoe and/or any Relevant Business Unit (and/or key individuals employed or engaged by such parties);

 

(b)   lists or other identification of sources or prospective sources of Brown Shoe’s and/or any Relevant Business Unit’s products or components thereof (and/or key individuals employed or engaged by such parties);

 

(c)   compilations, information, designs, drawings, files, formulae, lists, machines, maps, methods, models, notes or other writings, plans, records, regulatory compliance procedures, reports, specialized or technical data, schematics, source code, object code, documentation, and software relating to the development, manufacture, fabrication, assembly, marketing and/or sale of Brown Shoe’s and/or any Relevant Business Unit’s products;

 

(d)   financial, distribution, sales and marketing information, data, plans, and/or strategies of Brown Shoe and/or any Relevant Business Unit;

 

(e)   equipment, materials, procedures, processes, and techniques used in, or related to, the development, manufacture, assembly, fabrication or other production and quality control of the Brown Shoe’s and/or any Relevant Business Unit’s products and services;

 

(f)   Brown Shoe’s and/or any Relevant Business Unit’s relations and/or dealings with its customers, prospective customers, suppliers and prospective suppliers and the nature and type of products or services rendered to such customers (or proposed to be rendered to prospective customers);

 

(g)   Brown Shoe’s and/or any Relevant Business Unit’s relations with its employees (including, without limitation, salaries, job classifications and skill levels); and

 

(h)   any other information designated by Brown Shoe and/or any Relevant Business Unit to be confidential, secret and/or proprietary (including without limitation, information provided by customers or suppliers of Brown Shoe and/or any Relevant Business Unit).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Confidential Information” shall not consist of any data or other information which has been made publicly available or otherwise placed in the public domain other than by Employee in violation of this Agreement.

 

10.3 Employee will not, directly or indirectly, copy, reproduce or otherwise duplicate, record, abstract, summarize or otherwise use for Employee or use for, or disclose to, any party other than Brown Shoe, or any subsidiary or affiliate of Brown Shoe, any Confidential Information, without Brown Shoe’s prior written permission or except as required for the proper performance of Employee’s duties on behalf of the Company.

 

10.4 Employee understands that Confidential Information may or may not be labeled as “confidential” and will treat all information as confidential unless otherwise informed by Brown Shoe.

 

10.5 At the termination of Employee’s employment with the Company or at any other time Brown Shoe or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof may request, Employee shall promptly deliver to Brown Shoe all documents and other materials, whether in physical or electronic form (including all copies thereof), containing any Confidential Information.

 

Section 11. Injunctive Relief

 

In the event of a breach or threatened breach of any of Employee’s duties or obligations under the terms and provisions of Section 9, Section 10, Section 12.2 or Section 12.9, the Company shall be entitled, in addition to any other legal or equitable remedies it may have in connection therewith (including any right to damages that it may suffer), to temporary, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief restraining such breach or threatened breach.  Employee hereby expressly acknowledges that the harm that might result to the Company’s business as a result of noncompliance by Employee with any of the provisions of Section 9, Section 10, Section 12.2 or Section 12.9 would be largely irreparable.  Employee specifically agrees that if there is a question as to the enforceability of any of the provisions of Section 9, Section 10, Section 12.2 or Section 12.9, Employee will not engage in any conduct inconsistent with or contrary to such Sections until after the question has been resolved by a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.  Employee undertakes and agrees that if Employee breaches or threatens to breach the Agreement, Employee shall be liable for any attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by the Company in enforcing its rights hereunder.

 

Section 12. Miscellaneous

 

12.1 Notice.  All notices hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) when delivered personally or by courier, or (b) when received by facsimile (including electronic mail), receipt confirmed, or (c) on the third business day following the mailing thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or (d) on the first business day following the mailing thereof by overnight delivery service, in each case addressed as set forth below:

 

If to the Company:

 

Brown Shoe Company, Inc.

8300 Maryland Avenue

St. Louis, Missouri  63166-0029

Attention:  General Counsel

 

If to Employee:

 

John W. Schmidt

17 Over Rock Lane

Westport, CT  06880

 

Any party may change the address to which notices are to be addressed by giving the other party written notice in the manner herein set forth.

 

12.2 Successors; Binding Agreement.

 

(a)   Brown Shoe shall require any successor to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company (whether such succession is direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise), prior to or upon such succession, to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would have been required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.  To the extent such transaction constitutes a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company under Code Section 409A and the rules and regulations thereunder, failure of Brown Shoe to obtain such agreement upon or prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall be a material breach of this Agreement and shall entitle Employee to benefits from the Company in the same amounts and on the same terms as Employee would be entitled hereunder if Employee’s employment was terminated without Cause within twenty-four (24) months after a Change of Control.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, the date on which any such succession becomes effective shall be deemed the Termination Date.

 

(b)   Brown Shoe shall also have the right, but not the obligation, to assign this Agreement, without Employee’s consent, to any successor to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of a Business Unit for which Employee performs substantially all of Employee’s duties (whether such succession is direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise).  In the event, and only in the event, Brown Shoe elects to assign this Agreement to such successor of a Business Unit, a Change of Control will be deemed to have occurred and Brown Shoe shall require such successor to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would have been required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.  No Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred if Brown Shoe does not elect to assign this Agreement to such successor of a Business Unit.

 

(c)   This Agreement is personal to Employee and Employee may not assign or delegate any part of Employee’s rights or duties hereunder to any other person, except that this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Employee’s legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs and beneficiaries.

 

12.3 Judicial Modification.  If and to the extent that any Section, term and/or provision of this Agreement is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable under applicable law, then such Section(s), term(s) and/or provision(s) shall not be void but instead shall be modified and, to the maximum extent permissible under applicable law, enforced.

 

12.4 Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

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

 

12.6 Waiver.  Neither any course of dealing nor any failure or neglect of either party hereto in any instance to exercise any right, power or privilege hereunder or under law shall constitute a waiver of such right, power or privilege or of any other right, power or privilege or of the same right, power or privilege in any other instance.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Employee’s continued employment without objection shall not constitute Employee’s consent to, or a waiver of Employee’s rights with respect to, any circumstances constituting Good Reason.  All waivers by either party hereto must be contained in a written instrument signed by the party to be charged therewith, and, in the case of the Company, by its duly authorized officer.

 

12.7 Entire Agreement.  This instrument constitutes the entire agreement of the parties in this matter and shall supersede any other agreement between the parties, oral or written, concerning the same subject matter.

 

12.8 Amendment.  Subject to Section 12.3, no modification, amendment or waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing specifically referring hereto, and signed by the parties hereto.

 

12.9 Governing Law.  In light of Company’s and Employee’s substantial contacts with the State of Missouri, the facts that the Company is headquartered in Missouri and Employee resides in and/or reports to Company management in Missouri, the parties’ interests in ensuring that disputes regarding the interpretation, validity and enforceability of this Agreement are resolved on a uniform basis, and Brown Shoe’s execution of, and the making of, this Agreement in Missouri, the parties agree that:  (i) any litigation involving any noncompliance with or breach of the Agreement, or regarding the interpretation, validity and/or enforceability of the Agreement, shall be filed and conducted exclusively in the state courts in St. Louis County, Missouri, or the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri; and (ii) this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Missouri, without regard for any conflict of law principles.  Employee agrees that Employee under no circumstances will, either alone or in conjunction with anyone else, file or pursue any such litigation other than in such state or federal courts in Missouri, and Employee hereby consents and agrees that any such litigation filed in any other court(s) shall be dismissed and that Employee may be enjoined from filing and/or pursuing any such action.

 

 12.10 Third Party Beneficiaries.  Employee agrees that Brown Shoe’s subsidiaries are third party beneficiaries of this Agreement and hereby consents to the enforcement by any subsidiary of Brown Shoe of the provisions contained herein, including without limitation, the provisions of Section 9 and Section 10.

 

    12.11  409A Interpretation.  With respect to those amounts payable hereunder which are subject to Code Section 409A, this Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner so as to be consistent with such provision and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  The Company may modify the Agreement to the extent necessary to prevent a benefit or payment from being subject to a tax due to noncompliance with Code Section 409A.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that Executive is determined to be a specified employee within the meaning of Code Section 409A, for purposes of any payment on termination of employment hereunder, payment(s) shall be made or begin, as applicable, on the first payroll date which is more than six months following the date of separation from service, to the extent required to avoid any adverse tax consequences under Code Section 409A.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Employee and Brown Shoe have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

	
Brown Shoe Company, Inc.

 

	  	
Employee

 

	
By:

	
/s/ Doug Koch

	  	
/s/ John W. Schmidt

	
Name:

	
Doug Koch

	  	
 John W. Schmidt

	
Title:

	
Senior Vice President and Chief Talent Officer

	  	  
	
Date:

	
11/29/12

	  	
Date:

	
12/20/12CreditAgreement2ndAmend - 01

SECOND AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS SECOND AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Second Amendment”) is made and entered into as of the 21st day of December, 2012, by and among:
(i)    UNITED FIRE & CASUALTY COMPANY, an Iowa corporation, and its successors and permitted assigns (the “Borrower”);

(ii)    THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS as signatory lender parties hereto and their successors and assigns (collectively, the “Lenders”, with each individually a “Lender”); and

(iii)    KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, in its capacities as “Administrative Agent”, “Letter of Credit Issuer” and “Swingline Lender” under the Credit Agreement (defined below), and its respective successors and assigns.
Recitals:
A.    The Borrower, the Lenders, the Letter of Credit Issuer, the Swingline Lender and the Administrative Agent and certain other parties are the parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of December 22, 2011, as amended by a First Amendment thereto dated January 26, 2012 (collectively, the “Credit Agreement”), pursuant to which, inter alia, the Lenders agreed, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, to advance Loans (as this and other capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein are defined in the Credit Agreement) to the Borrower; and the Letter of Credit Issuer agreed, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, to issue Letters of Credit.
B.    The Borrower has requested certain modifications to the Credit Agreement; and, subject to the terms and conditions of this Second Amendment, the Lender Parties have agreed to grant such request.
Agreements:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing Recitals and the mutual agreements hereinafter set forth, the Borrower, the Lenders, and the Administrative Agent, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1.    Amendments to Credit Agreement.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Second Amendment, including, without limitation, Paragraph 2, below:

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(a)    Clause (i) of the definition of “Holding Assumption Conditions” in Section 1.01 (Defined Terms) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to provide as follows:

(i)    United Fire shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that as of the Fiscal Quarter of United Fire most recently ended prior to the Holding Assumption Transaction, Qualifying Subsidiaries had, on a combined basis, Statutory Surplus of not less than $200,000,000 in the aggregate;
(b)    The definitions of “Facility Guarantor”, “Holding Assumption Transaction” and “Statutory Surplus” in Section 1.01 (Defined Terms) of the Credit Agreement are hereby amended and restated in their entirety to provide, respectively, as follows:
“Facility Guarantor” means any Person who has executed and delivered a Guarantee for the benefit of any or all of the Lender Parties of the Debt and other obligations the Borrower under the Loan Documents, including, without limitation, from and after the consummation of the Permitted Reorganization and until, if ever, the consummation of the Holding Assumption Transaction, Holding, and the respective successors and permitted assigns of each.
*    *    *
“Holding Assumption Transaction” means, subject to the satisfaction of each and every Holding Assumption Condition, the assignment and transfer by United Fire, and the acceptance, assumption and agreement by Holding to pay and perform, all of the Debt, covenants, representations, warranties and other obligations of United Fire as the “Borrower” under and pursuant to the Credit Agreement and of United Fire under and pursuant to each of the other Loan Documents to which United Fire is a party or by which United Fire or any of its property is bound.
*    *    *
“Statutory Surplus” means, as at any date for any Insurance Company, the aggregate amount of surplus as regards policyholders (determined without duplication in accordance with SAP) of such Insurance Company, as set forth on page 3, line 37, of the most recent Statutory Statement of such Insurance Company (for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2011 or the equivalent page, line, or statement, to the extent that any thereof is modified or replaced for subsequent fiscal years).
(c)    The following new defined terms are added to Section 1.01 (Defined Terms) of the Credit Agreement in the appropriate alphabetical order:

“Aggregate Qualifying Dividends” means, on any day during a Fiscal Year, an amount equal to the aggregate Permitted Annual Ordinary Dividends for such Fiscal Year of all Qualifying Subsidiaries.
*    *    *

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“Dividend Ratio” means, as of the end of any Fiscal Quarter, the ratio of (i) the Borrower's Consolidated Debt (of the type described in any or all of clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (h) and (i) of the definition of “Debt”) to (ii) Aggregate Qualifying Dividends for the Fiscal Year in which such Fiscal Quarter falls; provided, however, that, solely for the purpose of determining satisfaction of the condition contained in Section 4.2(e) hereof, (a) such ratio shall be determined as of the end of the Fiscal Quarter most recently ended for which the Borrower is required to have delivered financial statements pursuant to Section 5.01 hereof, and (b) the portion of Consolidated Debt that consists of the Loans, the Swingline Loans and the LC Exposure shall be deemed to be the Total Outstanding Amount as of the date of the Borrowing, Swingline Loan or issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit for which such satisfaction is required, after giving effect to such Borrowing, Swingline Loan or issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit.
*    *    *
“Permitted Annual Ordinary Dividends” means, with respect to a Fiscal Year and any Qualifying Subsidiary, the total amount of ordinary dividends or distributions (that is, a dividend or distribution that is not an “extraordinary dividend or distribution” under its Applicable Insurance Code) that such Qualifying Subsidiary would be entitled to make during such Fiscal Year pursuant to the Applicable Insurance Code of such Qualifying Subsidiary; provided, however, that with respect to any such Qualifying Subsidiary, Permitted Annual Ordinary Dividends shall exclude the amount of any dividends or distributions which may not be paid or made during such Fiscal Year because of (a) a written agreement with or undertaking given to the Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority or other applicable Governmental Authority, (b) an order, decree, or judgment issued or obtained by or at the instance of the Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority or other applicable Governmental Authority, (c) a written instruction or directive issued by the Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority or other applicable Governmental Authority, or (d) a financial examination report issued by or on behalf of the Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority or other applicable Governmental Authority, in each case which reduces or adjusts such Qualifying Subsidiary's Statutory Surplus or makes other financial statement adjustments that decrease, or if given effect would decrease, the amount or portion of Permitted Annual Ordinary Dividends of such Qualifying Subsidiary in question which it may or could declare or pay.
*    *    *
“Qualifying Subsidiary” means either (a) a direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holding that is an Insurance Company or (b) an indirect Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holding that is an Insurance Company, each direct and indirect parent of which (other than Holding) is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holding that is not an Insurance Company.
(d)    Section 4.02 (Conditions to Initial Utilization and Each Subsequent Utilization) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to provide as follows:

Section 4.02.    Conditions to Initial Utilization and Each Subsequent Utilization.  The obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing (including the initial Borrowing), the obligation of the Swingline Lender to make any Swingline Loan (including the initial Swingline Loan, if such initial Swingline Loan is made prior to the occasion of the initial 

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Borrowing and the issuance of the initial Letters of Credit), and the obligation of any Letter of Credit Issuer to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit (including the initial Letters of Credit, if such initial Letters of Credit are issued prior to the occasion of the initial Borrowing and the making of the initial Swingline Loan), is each subject to receipt of the Borrower's request therefor in accordance herewith and to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a)    The Effective Date shall have occurred.
(b)    Immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing, Swingline Loan or issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
(c)    The representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in the Loan Documents shall be true in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing or Swingline Loan or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable; provided that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct (after giving effect to such qualification therein) in all respects as of such date.
(d)    Immediately before and after such Borrowing or Swingline Loan is made, or a Letter of Credit is issued, amended, renewed or extended, as applicable, the Total Outstanding Amount will not exceed the Total Commitment.
(e)    If such Borrowing, Swingline Loan or issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, occurs at any time after the consummation of the Holding Assumption Transaction, after giving pro forma effect to such Borrowing, Swingline Loan or issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, the Dividend Ratio shall not be greater than 3.00 to 1.
Each Borrowing, each Swingline Loan and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in clauses (b), (c), (d) and, if then applicable, (e) of this Section.
(e)    The following provision is hereby added to the end of Article 6 (Negative Covenants) of the Credit Agreement as a new Section 6.16 thereof:

Section 6.16.    Dividend Ratio.  The Borrower shall not, as of the end of any Fiscal Quarter ending after the consummation of the Holding Assumption Transaction (each a “Test Date”), permit the Dividend Ratio to be greater than 3.00 to 1; provided, however, that (a) if the Borrower fails to perform the foregoing covenant as of a Test Date, an Event of Default shall be deemed not to occur under this Section 6.16 until (i) with respect to the Test Date that is the last day of a Fiscal Year, the date that is ninety (90) days after such Test Date and (ii) with respect to each other Test Date, the date that is forty-five (45) days after such Test Date and (b) such Default shall be deemed not to occur if, prior to the expiration of such, as applicable, 90-day period or 45-day period, the Borrower pays to the Administrative Agent, for ratable application to the principal of the Loans, a principal prepayment in an amount that is not less than the amount by 

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which Consolidated Debt as of the Test Date would have to be reduced in order to cause the Dividend Ratio as of such Test Date not to be greater than 3.00 to 1.
2.    Amendment Effective Date; Conditions Precedent.  The amendments set forth in Paragraph 1, above, shall not be effective unless and until the date on which all of the following conditions precedent have been satisfied (such date of effectiveness being the “Second Amendment Effective Date”):
(a)    Officer's Certificate.  On the Second Amendment Effective Date, after giving effect to the amendments set forth in Paragraph 1, above, (i) there shall exist no Default, and a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower, on behalf of the Borrower, shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent written confirmation thereof dated as of the Second Amendment Effective Date, and (ii) the representations and warranties of the Borrower under Article 3 of the Credit Agreement shall have been reaffirmed in writing as being true and correct in all material respects as of the Second Amendment Effective Date (unless and to the extent that any such representation and warranty is stated to relate solely to an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall have been true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date).
(b)    Second Amendment.  The Administrative Agent or the Special Counsel (defined below) shall have received from the Borrower and the Required Lenders either (i) a counterpart of this Second Amendment signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy or email transmission of a signed signature page of this Second Amendment) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Second Amendment.
(c)    Corporate Authorization.  The Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a copy, certified by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary, of its Board of Directors' resolutions authorizing the execution and delivery of this Second Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby.
(d)    Holding Guaranty Confirmation.  Holding shall have executed and delivered the confirmation of its Guarantee attached hereto.
(e)    Agent Expenses.  The Borrower shall have paid or caused to be paid to the Administrative Agent all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Second Amendment Effective Date, 

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including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including fees, charges and disbursements of the Special Counsel) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder, under any other Loan Document or under said fee letter agreement.
(f)    Legal Matters.  All legal matters incident to this Second Amendment and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be reasonably satisfactory to Squire Sanders (US) LLP, Cleveland, Ohio, special counsel to the Administrative Agent (the “Special Counsel”).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Second Amendment Effective Date has not occurred on or before December 31, 2012, this Second Amendment (other than Paragraph 5 hereof, which shall be and remain effective in any event) shall not become effective and shall be deemed of no further force and effect.
3.    No Modifications.  Except as expressly provided in this Second Amendment, all of the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents remain unchanged and in full force and effect.
4.    Confirmation of Obligations; Release.  The Borrower hereby affirms as of the date hereof all of its respective Debt and other obligations to each of the Lender Parties under and pursuant to the Credit Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents and that such Debt and other obligations are owed to each of the Lender Parties according to their respective terms.  The Borrower hereby affirms as of the date hereof that there are no claims or defenses to the enforcement by the Lender Parties of the Debt and other obligations of the Borrower to each of them under and pursuant to the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.
5.    Administrative Agent's Expense.  The Borrower agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent promptly for its reasonable invoiced out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Second Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of the Special Counsel.
6.    Governing Law; Binding Effect.  THIS SECOND AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF 

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NEW YORK AND SHALL BE BINDING UPON AND INURE TO THE BENEFIT OF THE BORROWER, THE LENDERS AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THEIR RESPECTIVE SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
7.    Counterparts.  This Second Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute one and the same instrument, and all signatures need not appear on any one counterpart.  Any party hereto may execute and deliver a counterpart of this Second Amendment by delivering by facsimile or email transmission a signature page of this Second Amendment signed by such party, and any such facsimile or email signature shall be treated in all respects as having the same effect as an original signature.  Any party delivering by facsimile or email transmission a counterpart executed by it shall promptly thereafter also deliver a manually signed counterpart of this Second Amendment.
8.    Miscellaneous.
(a)    Upon the effectiveness of this Second Amendment, this Second Amendment shall be a Loan Document.
(b)    The invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability of any provision in or Obligation under this Second Amendment in any jurisdiction shall not affect or impair the validity, legality, or enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations under this Second Amendment or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction.
(c)    This Second Amendment and all other agreements and documents executed in connection herewith have been prepared through the joint efforts of all of the parties.  Neither the provisions of this Second Amendment or any such other agreements and documents nor any alleged ambiguity shall be interpreted or resolved against any party on the ground that such party's counsel drafted this Second Amendment or such other agreements and documents, or based on any other rule of strict construction.  Each of the parties hereto represents and declares that such party has carefully read this Second Amendment and all other agreements and documents executed in connection herewith and therewith, 

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and that such party knows the contents thereof and signs the same freely and voluntarily.  The parties hereby acknowledge that they have been represented by legal counsel of their own choosing in negotiations for and preparation of this Second Amendment and all other agreements and documents executed in connection therewith and that each of them has read the same and had their contents fully explained by such counsel and is fully aware of their contents and legal effect.
9.    Waiver of Jury Trial.      EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS SECOND AMENDMENT  HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION,  PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SECOND AMENDMENT, OR OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEE TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AN THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS SECOND AMENDMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATION IN THIS SECTION.

[No additional provisions are on this page; the page next following is the signature page.]

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent have hereunto set their hands as of the date first above written.

BORROWER

UNITED FIRE & CASUALTY COMPANY

By:    /s/ Randy A. Ramlo                                
Randy A. Ramlo, President/Chief Executive Officer 

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ET AL.

KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent, Swingline Lender and Letter of Credit Issuer

By:    /s/ James Cribbet                    
James Cribbet, SVP

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LENDERS

KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Lender

By:    /s/ James Cribbet                    
James Cribbet, SVP

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[Lender Signatures Continued]

BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as Lender

By:     /s/ Patrick Deignan                        
Name: Patrick Deignan
Title:  EVP

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[Lender Signatures Continued]

THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY, as Lender

By:     /s/ Karen Czys                        
Name:  Karen Czys
Title:  Second Vice President

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[Lender Signatures Continued]

CEDAR RAPIDS BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, as Lender

By:     /s/ Patricia L. Ellison                        
Name:  Patricia L. Ellison
Title:  Senior Vice President

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND CONFIRMATION
The undersigned Facility Guarantor hereby acknowledges receipt and accepts and agrees to the terms of the foregoing Second Amendment to Credit Agreement of even date herewith (the “Second Amendment”).  Such Facility Guarantor hereby affirms all of its liabilities and obligations to the Lenders, the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Administrative Agent under its Continuing Guaranty of Payment dated February 1, 2012 and that such liabilities and obligations are owed to the Lenders, the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Administrative Agent according to the terms thereof and are unaffected by the Second Amendment. 
This Acknowledgment and Confirmation shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.
THE UNDERSIGNED FACILITY GUARANTOR HEREBY JOINS IN THE WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL SET FORTH IN SECTION 9 OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT.
Executed as of December 21, 2012.
UNITED FIRE GROUP, INC.

By /s/ Randy A. Ramlo             
Name:  Randy A. Ramlo
Title:  President/Chief Executive Officer

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