Document:

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NS GROUP, INC. FORM 10-Q MARCH 31, 2001                            EXHIBIT 10.1

                      CHANGE OF CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

      AGREEMENT by and between NS Group, Inc., a Kentucky Corporation (the
"Company"), and FRANK J. LAROSA II (the "Employee"), dated as of the 9th day of
March, 2001.

      The Company wishes to assure that it will have the continued dedication of
the Employee notwithstanding the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change
of Control (as defined below) of the Company. The Company believes it is
imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of the Employee by virtue of
the personal uncertainties and risks created by a pending or threatened Change
of Control, to encourage the Employee's full attention and dedication to the
Company upon a Change of Control, and to provide the Employee with compensation
arrangements upon a Change of Control which provide the Employee with individual
financial security and which are competitive with those of other corporations
and, in order to accomplish these objectives, the Company desires to enter into
this Agreement.

      NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

      1. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

            (a)   "Affiliate" of any specified Person means (i) any other Person
                  which, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled
                  by or is under common control with such specified Person or
                  (ii) any other person who is a director or officer (A) of such
                  specified Person, (B) of any subsidiary of such specified
                  Person or (C) of any Person described in clause (i) above or
                  (iii) any person in which such Person has, directly or
                  indirectly, a 5 percent or greater voting or economic interest
                  or the power to control. For the purposes of this definition,
                  "control" of a Person means the power, direct or indirect, to
                  direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of
                  such Person whether through the ownership of voting
                  securities, or by contract or otherwise; and the terms
                  "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to
                  the foregoing.

            (b)   "Agreement Period" shall mean the period as defined in Section
                  2 of this Agreement.

            (c)   "Board of Directors"' shall mean the Board of Directors of the
                  Company as constituted from time to time.

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            (d)   "Change of Control" shall mean:

                  (i)   the direct or indirect sale, lease, exchange or other
                        transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of
                        the Company to any Person or entity or group of Persons
                        or entities acting in concert as a partnership or other
                        group ("Group of Persons") other than a Person described
                        in clause (i) of the definition of Affiliate;

                  (ii)  the consummation of any consolidation or merger of the
                        Company with or into another corporation with the effect
                        that the stockholders of the Company immediately prior
                        to the date of the consolidation or merger hold less
                        than 51% of the combined Voting Power of the outstanding
                        voting securities of the surviving entity of such merger
                        or the corporation resulting from such consolidation
                        ordinarily having the right to vote in the election of
                        directors (apart from rights accruing under special
                        circumstances) immediately after such merger or
                        consolidation;

                  (iii) the stockholders of the Company shall approve any plan
                        or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the
                        Company;

                  (iv)  a Person or Group of Persons acting in concert as a
                        partnership, limited partnership, syndicate or other
                        group shall, as a result of a tender or exchange offer,
                        open market purchases, privately negotiated purchases or
                        otherwise, have become the direct or indirect beneficial
                        owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3) under the
                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
                        "Exchange Act") ("Beneficial Owner") of securities of
                        the Company representing 30% or more of the combined
                        Voting Power of the then outstanding securities of the
                        Company ordinarily (and apart from rights accruing under
                        special circumstances) having the right to vote in the
                        election of directors;

                  (v)   a Person or Group of Persons, together with any
                        Affiliates thereof, shall succeed in having a sufficient
                        number of its nominees elected to the Board of Directors
                        of the Company such that such nominees, when added to
                        any existing director remaining on the Board of
                        Directors of the Company after such election who is an
                        Affiliate of such Person or Group of Persons, will
                        constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the
                        Company; provided that the Person or Group of Persons
                        referred to in clauses (i), (iv) and (v) shall not mean
                        Clifford Borland or any Group of Persons with respect to
                        which Clifford Borland is the Beneficial Owner of the
                        majority of the voting equity interests.

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            (e)   "Cause" for termination of the Employee's employment shall be
                  defined as (i) commission by Employee of any felony criminal
                  act, a crime involving moral turpitude, or a crime of fraud or
                  dishonesty; (ii) acts by Employee constituting gross
                  negligence or willful misconduct to the detriment of the
                  Company; (iii) conduct which is detrimental to the reputation,
                  goodwill or business operation of the Company; (iv) Employee's
                  misfeasance or nonfeasance in the performance of his duties;
                  or (v) Employee's failure or refusal to comply with the lawful
                  directions of the Company's Board of Directors or with the
                  policies, standards and regulations of the Company.

            (f)   "Company" as used herein includes NS Group, Inc. and any of
                  its subsidiaries and divisions and, as provided by Section
                  12(b) hereof, any successor.

            (g)   "Date of Termination" shall be the date on which the Notice of
                  Termination is actually received by the addressee, or
                  alternatively, if the Notice of Termination specifies a date
                  other than the date of receipt of such notice then that
                  specified date shall be the Date of Termination.

            (h)   "Effective Date" shall mean the first date on which a Change
                  of Control occurs; provided, however, that if the Employee's
                  employment is terminated by the Company prior to the date on
                  which a Change of Control occurs, and the Employee can
                  reasonably demonstrate that such termination by the Company
                  was in contemplation of a Change of Control, then for all
                  purposes of this Agreement the "Effective Date" shall mean the
                  date immediately prior to the date of such termination.

            (i)   "Good Reason" means: (i) any material adverse change in
                  compensation to the Employee; (ii) substantial decrease in the
                  nature or scope of the Employee's duties, responsibilities,
                  powers, authority, title, position or status; (iii)
                  unreasonable travel requirements; (iv) any relocation required
                  on the part of Employee, without his consent, outside of a
                  50-mile radius from his primary residence on the Effective
                  Date; or (v) material breach by the Company of an employment,
                  compensation or similar agreement between the Employee and the
                  Company.

            (j)   "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint
                  venture, association, joint-stock company, trust,
                  unincorporated organization, government or any agency or
                  political subdivision thereof or any other entity within the
                  meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d) (2) of the Exchange Act.

            (k)   "Voting Power" shall mean the voting power of all securities
                  of a Person then outstanding generally entitled to vote for
                  the election of directors of

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                  the Person (or, where appropriate, for the election of persons
                  performing similar functions).

      2. AGREEMENT PERIOD

      The Company hereby agrees to provide the Employee with the protections and
benefits enumerated in Section 3 of this Agreement for the period commencing on
the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Effective Date.

      3. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY UPON TERMINATION

            (a)   Notice of Termination. Any termination after the Effective
                  Date by the Company or by the Employee shall be communicated
                  by Notice of Termination, within ten (10) business days after
                  the later of the date of employment termination or the date of
                  Change of Control, to the other party hereto given in
                  accordance with Section 13(c) of this Agreement. For purposes
                  of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written
                  notice which (i) sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and
                  circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of
                  the Employee's employment, and (ii) if the termination date is
                  other than the date of receipt of such notice, specifies the
                  termination date.

            (b)   Termination by the Company for Cause; Termination by the
                  Employee for Other Than Good Reason. If during the Agreement
                  Period, the Employee's employment is terminated by the Company
                  for Cause, by the Employee other than for Good Reason, or by
                  reason of death or disability, this Agreement shall terminate
                  without further obligations to the Employee.

            (c)   Termination by the Company other than for Cause; Termination
                  by the Employee for Good Reason. If, during the Agreement
                  Period, the Company shall terminate the Employee's employment
                  other than for Cause, or the employment of the Employee shall
                  be terminated by the Employee for Good Reason, the Employee
                  shall be entitled to the following payments and benefits:

                  (i)   The Company shall pay to the Employee in a lump sum in
                        cash within thirty (30) days after the Date of
                        Termination the aggregate of two (2) times the amount of
                        the Employee's base salary in effect on the Date of
                        Termination two (2) times the average amount of the
                        Employee's annual bonus payments made in the (5) five
                        years prior to the Date of Termination, plus a payment
                        equal to a pro rata portion (based on the whole number
                        of months worked in the fiscal year by the Employee
                        prior to the Date of Termination and, if applicable
                        performance targets have not been met on the Date of
                        Termination, based on a reasonable estimate of the
                        amount of

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                        bonus to be earned for the full year) of the Employee's
                        annual bonus for the year of termination.

                  (ii)  For two (2) years after the Date of Termination, the
                        Company shall continue providing medical, dental, life
                        and disability insurance benefits to the Employee in an
                        amount equivalent to that which would have been provided
                        to the Employee had the Employee's employment not been
                        terminated. The Employee shall not be obligated to pay
                        higher fees for such benefits than he or she was paying,
                        at the Date of Termination. In the event it is not
                        possible to provide this continued coverage, the Company
                        shall provide the Employee with a cash payment in the
                        amount necessary for the Employee to purchase equivalent
                        insurance for two (2) years after the Date of
                        Termination.

                  (iii) Within ten (10) business days after the later of the
                        date of employment termination or the date of Change of
                        Control, the Company shall provide, at no cost to the
                        Employee, individual outside assistance for the Employee
                        in finding other employment. Such obligation may be
                        fulfilled by the Company through the retention of an
                        outplacement service for use by the Employee.

      4. NON-REDUCTION OF TERMINATION BENEFITS

      In the event the Company's independent auditors (the "Accounting Firm")
shall determine that any payment or distribution by the Company to or for the
benefit of the Employee made pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement would be
nondeductible by the Company for Federal income tax purposes because of Section
280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 ("Code"), as amended, then the Company
shall nonetheless pay to Employee all payments and distributions under Section
3. If the Accounting Firm makes such a determination, the Company shall promptly
provide the Employee with notice to that effect with a copy of the detailed
calculation thereof. The Employee shall pay all taxes on all such payments and
distributions under Section 3 that are imposed on Employee, including the excise
tax under Section 280G of the Code.

      5. FUNDING OF GRANTOR TRUST

      The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the option to establish a
so-called "Rabbi Trust" upon the occurrence, or in anticipation, of a Change of
Control to secure for the Employee the benefits provided pursuant to Section 3
of this Agreement. If the Board of Directors elects to do so, the Company shall,
immediately upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, make an irrevocable
contribution to the Rabbi Trust in an amount that is sufficient to pay the
Employee the benefits to which such Employee would be entitled pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement as of the date on which the Change of Control occurred.

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      6. NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS

      Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Employee's continuing
or future participation in any benefit, bonus, incentive or other plan or
program provided by the Company or any of its affiliated companies and for which
the Employee may qualify, nor shall anything herein limit or otherwise affect
such rights that the Employee may have under any stock option or other
agreements with the Company. Amounts which are vested benefits or which the
Employee is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan or program of the
Company at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be payable in
accordance with such plan or program.

      7. NO SETOFF; COOPERATION

      The Company's obligation to make the 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 Employee or others.

      8. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

      Employee specifically agrees that he will not at any time, whether during
his employment or for a period of two (2) years after such employment ends for
any reason, disclose or communicate to any third party or use for any purpose
(other than during his employment by the Company for proper business purposes)
any secret, proprietary or confidential information, or trade secret, relating
to the business of Company, or any subsidiary or affiliate of Company, including
business methods and techniques, research data, marketing and sales information,
customer lists, know-how, and any other information, process or technique or
information, customer lists, know-how, and any other information, process or
technique or information concerning the business of Company, or any subsidiary
or affiliate of Company, their manner and method of operation, their plans or
other data not disclosed to the general public or known within the industry,
regardless of whether such information or trade secret was acquired prior to or
after execution of this Agreement.

      9. NON-SOLICITATION

      Employee shall not, either directly or indirectly, by or for himself, or
as agent of another, or through others as his agent, in any way seek to induce,
bring about, promote, facilitate or encourage the discontinuance of or in any
way solicit for himself or others, those persons or entities who are employees
of the Company, or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company.

      10. EXCLUSIVE REMEDY

      The Employee's rights to severance benefits pursuant to Section 3 hereof
shall apply only in the events specified in this Agreement and shall be the
Employee's sole and exclusive remedy for any termination of the Employee's
employment by the Company other than for Cause or by the Employee for Good
Reason. The payments, severance benefits and severance protections provided to
the Employee pursuant to this Agreement are provided in lieu of any severance

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payments, severance benefits and severance protections provided in any
employment agreement or any other plan or policy of the Company, except (i) as
may be expressly provided in writing under the terms of any plan or policy of
the Company; or (ii) as provided in any Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement
between the Company and the Employee and any Salary Continuation Agreement
between the Company and the Employee; or (iii) as may be provided in a written
agreement between the Company and the Employee entered into on or after the date
of this Agreement. In no event shall the Employee be obligated to seek other
employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable
to the Employee under any of the provisions of this Agreement.

      11. STATEMENT OF INTENTION

      It is the intention of the parties hereto that, prior to the Effective
Date, this Agreement shall not create any rights or obligations in the Employee
or the company, or require any payments by the Company to the Employee.

      12. SUCCESSORS

            (a)   The Employee. This Agreement is personal to the Employee and
                  without the prior written consent of the Company shall not be
                  assignable by the Employee otherwise than by will or the laws
                  of descent and distribution. This Agreement shall inure to the
                  benefit of and be enforceable by the Employee's legal
                  representatives.

            (b)   The Company. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and
                  be binding upon the Company and its successors. The Company
                  will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by
                  purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or
                  substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company
                  to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the
                  same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be
                  required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.

      As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall include any successor to its
business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this
Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.

      13. MISCELLANEOUS

            (a)   Interpretation. This Agreement shall be governed by and
                  construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
                  Kentucky, without reference to principles of conflict of laws.
                  The captions of this Agreement are not part of the provisions
                  hereof and shall have no force or effect.

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            (b)   Legal Fees. In the event of any litigation involving this
                  Agreement, and if the Employee is successful in such
                  litigation, the Company will reimburse the Employee for all
                  legal fees and expenses paid by the Employee in prosecuting or
                  defending such litigation.

            (c)   Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall
                  be in writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other
                  party or by registered or certified mail, return receipt
                  requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the Employee at the
                  Employee's address on the payroll records of the Company and
                  to the Company as follows:

                             NS Group, Inc.
                             P.O. Box 1670
                             Newport, Kentucky 41072
                             Attention: President

And to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith. Notice and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addressee.

            (d)   Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
                  provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or
                  enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.

            (e)   Withholding Taxes. The Company may withhold from any amounts
                  payable under this Agreement such Federal, state or local
                  taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to any
                  applicable law or regulation.

            (f)   No Waiver. The failure of the Employee or the Company to
                  insist upon strict compliance with any provision hereof shall
                  not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or any other
                  provision thereof.

            (g)   Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire
                  understanding of the Company and the Employee with respect to
                  the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be amended
                  or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by
                  the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal
                  representatives.

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            (h)   Dispute /Resolution Procedures. If any question shall arise in
                  regard to the interpretation of any provision of this
                  Agreement or as to the rights and obligations of either of the
                  parties hereunder, the Employee and a designated
                  representative of the Company shall meet to negotiate and
                  attempt to resolve such question in good faith. The Employee
                  and such representative may, if they so desire, consult
                  outside experts for assistance in arriving at a resolution. In
                  the event that a resolution is not achieved within fifteen
                  (15) days after their first meeting, then either party may
                  submit the question for final resolution by binding
                  arbitration in accordance with the rules and procedures of the
                  American Arbitration Association applicable to commercial
                  transactions, and any judgment thereon may be entered in any
                  court having jurisdiction thereof. The arbitration shall be
                  held in Covington, Kentucky. In the event of any arbitration,
                  the Employee shall select one arbitrator, the Company shall
                  select one arbitrator and the two arbitrators so selected
                  shall select a third arbitrator, any two of which arbitrators
                  together shall make the necessary determinations. All
                  out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the parties in connection
                  with such arbitration, including, without limitation, the fees
                  of the arbitrators and any administration fees and reasonable
                  attorney's fees and expenses, shall be borne by the parties in
                  such proportions as the arbitrators shall decide that such
                  expenses should, in equity, be apportioned.

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

I HAVE READ THIS CHANGE OF CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT AND, UNDERSTANDING ALL
ITS TERMS, INCLUDING THAT THIS AGREEMENT CONTAINS A BINDING ARBITRATION
PROVISION WHICH MAY BE ENFORCED BY THE PARTIES, I SIGN IT AS MY FREE ACT AND
DEED.

                                      Employee:

                                      /s/ Frank J. LaRosa II
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Frank J. LaRosa II

                                      Company:

                                      NS GROUP, INC.

                                      By: /s/ Rene J. Robichaud
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Rene J. Robichaud
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer

                                       9<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 10.1

                             DAY INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                    SUPPLEMENTAL SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLAN

                         (EFFECTIVE AS OF MARCH 1, 2001)

                                     Prepared by:
                                     Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, P.L.C.
                                     250 Monroe, N.W., Suite 800
                                     P.O. Box 306
                                     Grand Rapids, MI 49501-0306
                                     (616) 831-1700

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                             DAY INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                    SUPPLEMENTAL SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLAN
                       -----------------------------------

                                    ARTICLE 1

                            ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE
                            -------------------------

                  1.1      ESTABLISHMENT OF PLAN.

                  Day International, Inc. (the "Company") is establishing the
Day International, Inc. Supplemental Savings and Retirement Plan as of March 1,
2001.

                  1.2      PURPOSE.

                  The Company desires to retain the services of a select group
of executives who contribute to the profitability and success of the Company.
The Company is adopting the Plan to provide the executives who participate in
the Plan with the opportunity to defer a portion of their Compensation and have
additional retirement income.

                  1.3      STATUS OF PLAN UNDER ERISA.

                  The Plan is intended to be "unfunded" and maintained
"primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for a select group
of management or highly compensated employees" for purposes of ERISA.
Accordingly, the Plan is not intended to be covered by Parts 2 through 4 of
Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA. The existence of any Trust Fund is not intended
to change this characterization of the Plan.

                                    ARTICLE 2

                                   DEFINITIONS
                                   -----------

                  The following terms shall have the meanings described in this
Article unless the context clearly indicates another meaning. All references in
the Plan to specific articles or sections shall refer to Articles or Sections of
the Plan unless otherwise stated.

                  2.1      ACCOUNT.

                  "Account" means the bookkeeping record of the Participant's
benefits under the terms of the Plan.

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                  2.2      BASE SALARY.

                  "Base Salary" means a Participant's regular compensation from
the Company. Base Salary excludes any amounts earned before a Participant's
election to make Elective Deferrals from such salary.

                  2.3      BENEFICIARY.

                  "Beneficiary" means the beneficiary designated in writing by
the Participant to receive benefits from the Plan in the event of his death. The
Beneficiary shall be designated on a form provided by the Company, and the
Participant may change the Beneficiary designation at any time by signing and
filing a new form with the Company. However, if the Participant is married at
the time of his death, the Beneficiary of any death benefits shall be the
Participant's spouse, despite any designation to the contrary, unless the spouse
has consented to a different or additional Beneficiary. The spouse's consent
shall be in writing and shall be witnessed by a Plan representative or by a
notary public.

                  If the Participant designates a trust as Beneficiary, the
Company shall determine the rights of the trustee without responsibility for
determining the validity, existence, or provisions of the trust. Further, the
Company shall not have responsibility for the application of sums paid to the
trustee or for the discharge of the trust.

                  The rules of this paragraph apply unless provided otherwise in
the Participant's Beneficiary designation form. If the Participant designates
one primary Beneficiary and the Beneficiary dies after the Participant but
before benefit payments are completed, any remaining benefits shall be payable
to the secondary Beneficiary. If the Participant fails to designate a secondary
Beneficiary or if no secondary Beneficiary survives the primary Beneficiary, any
remaining benefits shall be payable to the deceased primary Beneficiary's heirs
in the manner described in the next paragraph. If the Participant designates
more than one primary Beneficiary or more than one secondary Beneficiary and a
Beneficiary dies before benefit payments are completed, the share payable to the
deceased Beneficiary shall be paid to the deceased Beneficiary's heirs in the
manner described in the next paragraph as if the Beneficiary was the
Participant.

                  If the Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary or if no
designated Beneficiary survives the Participant, distribution shall be made in
equal shares to the members of the first of the classes listed below having a
living member on the date the distribution is payable. The classes, in order of
priority, are as follows:

                           (a) The Participant's Spouse;

                           (b) The Participant's children or their then-living
         issue, by right of representation; and

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<PAGE>   4

                           (c) The legal heirs of the Participant under the laws
         of the Participant's state of residence on the date of the
         Participant's death.

                  The facts as shown by the records of the Plan Administrator at
the time of death shall be conclusive as to the identity of the proper payee,
and the records of Trustee shall be conclusive as to the amount properly
payable. The distribution made in accordance with such state of facts shall
constitute a complete discharge of all obligations under the provisions of the
Plan.

                  2.4      BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

                  "Board of Directors" means the Company's governing body.

                  2.5      BONUS.

                  "Bonus" means a payment of cash compensation to a Participant
other than Base Salary. The Plan Administrator shall periodically determine
which types of payment shall be considered a separate Bonus for purposes of the
Plan.

                  2.6      BONUS COMPUTATION PERIOD.

                  "Bonus Computation Period" means the time period which is used
by the Company in determining whether a Bonus has been earned and the amount of
the Bonus.

                  2.7      CHANGE IN CONTROL.

                  "Change in Control" means any of the following events:

                           (a) Any person, partnership, corporation, trust or
         similar entity or group, that does not control a majority of the voting
         securities of the Company as of March 1, 2001, acquires or obtains
         control of more than 50% of the voting securities of the Company;

                           (b) More than 50% of the operating assets of the
         Company are sold or otherwise disposed of, or the Company liquidates
         more than 50% of its operating assets; or

                           (c) The Company merges with any other corporation,
         regardless of whether the Company is the surviving entity after the
         merger, except for a merger in which the shareholders of the Company
         continue to own more than 50% of the merged companies.

                           (d) An initial public offering (IPO) of the Company's
         common stock.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   5

For purposes of this definition, the term "group" shall mean any person who acts
in concert within the meaning of Section 14(d)(2) of the Act.

                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this definition, a
Change in Control does not occur if the transaction only involves Grenwich
Street Investors ("Grenwich") and companies that it directly or indirectly owns.
For example, a merger of the Company into another subsidiary of Grenwich is not
a Change in Control unless it is part of a larger transaction that involves
companies other than Grenwich and companies that it directly or indirectly owns.

                  2.8      CODE.

                  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                  2.9      COMPANY.

                  "Company" means Day International, Inc.

                  2.10     COMPENSATION.

                  "Compensation" shall have the same meaning as in the 401(k)
Plan, except that it shall not be subject to the dollar limit contained in
Section 401(a)(17) of the Code.

                  2.11     DISTRIBUTABLE EVENT.

                  "Distributable Event" means an event described in Section 5.1.

                  2.12     ELECTIVE DEFERRALS.

                  "Elective Deferrals" are the amounts by which a Participant
agrees to reduce his Compensation in order to have amounts credited to his
Account.

                  2.13     EMPLOYEE.

                  "Employee" means any individual who, for tax purposes, is
considered to be a common-law employee of the Company. An individual who is
treated by the Company as an independent contractor for tax purposes is not an
Employee.

                  2.14     ERISA.

                  "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   6

                  2.15     401(K) PLAN.

                  "401(k) Plan" means the Day International, Inc. 401(k) Savings
and Retirement Plan.

                  2.16     INVESTMENT RESULTS.

                  "Investment Results" means the earnings, gains and losses
achieved by an investment fund elected by a Participant under Section 4.3. The
Investment Results for a Participant shall be determined as if the portion of
his Account which was deemed to be invested in the investment fund had actually
been invested in the investment fund during the relevant time period.

                  2.17     PARTICIPANT.

                  "Participant" means an Employee or former Employee of the
Company who has met the requirements for participation under Article 3, and who
is or may become eligible to receive a retirement benefit from the Plan.

                  2.18     PLAN.

                  "Plan" means the Day International, Inc. Supplemental Savings
and Retirement Plan.

                  2.19     PLAN ADMINISTRATOR.

                  "Plan Administrator" means the Company or the committee
designated by the Company as the Plan Administrator under Article 7.

                  2.20     PLAN YEAR.

                  "Plan Year" means the 12-consecutive-month period beginning on
January 1 and ending on the following December 31. However, the initial Plan
Year shall be from March 1, 2001 through December 31, 2001.

                  2.21     RELATED EMPLOYER.

                  "Related Employer" means (a) any member of a controlled group
of corporations in which Employer is a member, as defined in Section 414(b) of
the Code; (b) any other trade or business under common control of or with
Employer, as defined in Section 414(c) of the Code; (c) any member of an
affiliated service group with Employer, as defined in Section 414(m) of the
Code; and (d) any other entity required to be aggregated with Employer pursuant
to regulations issued under Section 414(o) of the Code.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   7

                  2.22     TOTAL DISABILITY.

                  "Total Disability" shall have the same meaning as in the
401(k) Plan.

                  2.23     TRUST AGREEMENT.

                  "Trust Agreement" means the Day International, Inc.
Supplemental Savings and Retirement Trust Agreement.

                  2.24     TRUST FUND.

                  "Trust Fund" means the assets held under the Trust Agreement.

                  2.25     TRUSTEE.

                  "Trustee" means the financial institution designated as
trustee by the Company pursuant to Article 6.

                                    ARTICLE 3

                                  PARTICIPATION
                                  -------------

                  3.1      ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION.

                  The Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, shall
determine the Employees who are eligible to participate in the Plan. An Employee
shall begin to participate in the Plan on the date designated by the Board of
Directors. It is intended that participation be limited to Employees who will
qualify as members of a "select group of management or other highly compensated
employees" under Title I of ERISA.

                  As a condition for participation in the Plan, the Employee
must sign an application form provided by the Plan Administrator. In the
application form, the Employee shall acknowledge that he is an unsecured
creditor of the Company with regard to any benefits under the Plan and waive any
right to a priority claim with regard to the benefits.

                  3.2      TERMINATION OF ACTIVE PARTICIPATION.

                  The Plan Administrator may remove an Employee from further
active participation in the Plan. If this occurs, the Employee shall not have
any additional amounts credited to his Account under Section 4.2.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   8

                                    ARTICLE 4

                          AMOUNTS CREDITED TO ACCOUNTS
                          ----------------------------

                  4.1      PARTICIPANTS' ACCOUNTS.

                  The Plan Administrator shall maintain an Account for each
Participant to record the Participant's benefits under the terms of the Plan.
Amounts shall be credited to a Participant's Account as provided in this
Article. A Participant shall always be 100% vested in amounts credited to his
Account.

                  The Account is for bookkeeping purposes only. The Company is
not required to make contributions to the Trust Fund to fund the amount credited
to a Participant's Account.

                  4.2      AMOUNTS CREDITED BASED UPON ELECTIVE DEFERRALS.

                  The Company shall credit a Participant's Account with the
amount of a Participant's Elective Deferrals as follows:

                           (a) TIME OF ELECTION. Before the beginning of each
         Plan Year, a Participant may make a written election to make Elective
         Deferrals from Compensation earned during that Plan Year. However, the
         following special rules apply:

                                    (1) If an Employee initially becomes a
                  Participant during a Plan Year, the Employee may make an
                  election within 30 days after the Employee becomes a
                  Participant to make Elective Deferrals from Base Salary earned
                  subsequent to the election.

                                    (2) If the Bonus Computation Period is not
                  the Plan Year, the Participant's election shall be made before
                  the beginning of the Bonus Computation Period.

                                    (3) If a Participant does not make a new
                  election, his election from the prior Plan Year shall be
                  continued.

                           (b) SEPARATE ELECTIONS PERMITTED. A Participant may
         make separate elections with regard to Elective Deferrals from Base
         Salary and Bonuses.

                           (c) MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF ELECTIVE DEFERRALS. A
         Participant may defer up to the following amounts:

                                    (1) 25% of the Base Salary paid to the
                  Participant. This limit shall be separately applied to each
                  pay period for which Base Salary is paid; and

                                    (2) 50% of each Bonus paid to the
                  Participant.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   9

                           (d) IRREVOCABILITY OF ELECTION. A Participant's
         election to make Elective Deferrals during a Plan Year or Bonus
         Computation Period is irrevocable during that Plan Year or Bonus
         Computation Period.

                           (e) CREDITING OF ELECTIVE DEFERRALS TO ACCOUNTS. A
         Participant's Elective Deferrals shall be credited to his Account as
         soon as administratively feasible after the amounts otherwise would
         have been paid to the Participant.

                           (f) LIMITATION ON ELECTIVE DEFERRALS. Notwithstanding
         any other provision, if a Participant receives a hardship withdrawal
         under the 401(k) Plan, a Participant shall not make any Elective
         Deferrals during the remaining portion of the Plan Year in which the
         withdrawal occurs or during the next Plan Year.

                  4.3      AMOUNTS CREDITED BASED UPON REDUCED CONTRIBUTIONS TO
                           THE 401(k) PLAN.

                  The Company shall credit the Participant's Accounts with
additional amounts based upon reduced Company contributions to the 401(k) Plan,
as follows:

                           (a) If a Participant's Elective Deferrals under the
         Plan result in a reduced Company discretionary contribution on his
         behalf to the 401(k) Plan, the amount by which the Company contribution
         to the 401(k) Plan is reduced shall be credited to the Participant's
         Account. This would occur if the Participant's compensation for
         purposes of the 401(k) Plan is less than the Compensation Dollar Limit
         and the Participant did not receive the full Company discretionary
         contribution as a result of the Participant's compensation under the
         401(k) Plan being reduced by all or part of the Participant's Elective
         Deferrals.

                           (b) If a Participant's Compensation exceeds the
         Compensation Dollar Limit, the Participant shall be credited with an
         additional amount which is equal to a percentage multiplied by the
         amount by which the Participant's Compensation exceeds the Compensation
         Dollar Limit. The percentage shall be equal to the percentage of the
         Participant's Compensation contributed to the 401(k) Plan as a Company
         discretionary contribution. For example, if the Compensation Dollar
         Limit for a Plan Year is $170,000, the Participant's Compensation for
         that Plan Year is $200,000, and the Company discretionary contribution
         to the 401(k) Plan is 4% of the Participant's Compensation, the
         additional amount credited is $1,200 ($200,000 - $170,000 = $30,000 x
         4% = $1,200).

                                      -8-
<PAGE>   10

                  4.4      AMOUNTS CREDITED BASED UPON INVESTMENT RESULTS.

                  A Participant may choose among different investment funds
periodically made available by the Plan Administrator for purposes of
determining the Investment Results credited to his Account. The Plan
Administrator shall periodically establish administrative rules for a
Participant to make his investment elections and rules regarding the crediting
of Investment Results. Investment Results shall be credited to a Participant's
Account until the entire amount credited to the Account is distributed to the
Participant.

                  The Company shall be under no obligation to make investments
that correspond to the Participants' investment elections, even though the
Participants' elections are used to determine the Investment Results in this
provision.

                                    ARTICLE 5

                            DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS
                            ------------------------

                  5.1      DISTRIBUTABLE EVENTS.

                  A Participant or his Beneficiary shall be eligible for
benefits under the Plan if a Distributable Event occurs. A Distributable Event
occurs if:

                            (a) The Participant dies.

                            (b) The Participant is determined to have a Total
         Disability.

                            (c) The Participant terminates employment with the
         Company (including all Related Employers) for any reason.

                  5.2      AMOUNT OF BENEFIT.

                  A Participant's benefit from the Plan shall be the amount
credited to his Account as of the date or dates the Participant's benefit
payments are made under Section 5.3.

                  5.3      FORM AND TIME OF PAYMENT.

                  A Participant's benefits will be paid beginning within 60 days
after the Distributable Event occurs. The form of payment shall be determined as
follows:

                           (a) The Participant may elect to receive his benefits
         in a single lump sum payment or in annual installments over a period of
         five years. If installment payments are made, the amount of each
         installment shall be determined by dividing the amount credited to the
         Participant's Account on the first day of the month before

                                      -9-
<PAGE>   11

         the payment is made by the number of installments still to be made.
         However, the last installment shall be the amount credited to the
         Participant's Account on the date of the distribution.

                           (b) The Participant shall make his initial election
         on or before the date he begins participation in the Plan.

                           (c) The Participant may change his election at any
         time. However, a new election is valid only if it is made at least one
         year before the Distributable Event.

                           (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
         Section, a Participant's benefits shall be paid in a single lump sum
         payment if the Participant's Distributable Event occurs before the
         Participant attains age 55. Also, if a Participant dies while receiving
         installment payments, the remaining amount owing to the Participant
         shall be paid to the Participant's Beneficiary as soon as
         administratively feasible after the Participant's death.

                  5.4      HARDSHIP WITHDRAWALS.

                  A Participant who has an unforeseeable emergency may receive
payment while employed by Employer of all or part of the amount credited to his
Account. However, a Participant may only withdraw the amount reasonably needed
to satisfy the emergency need.

                  For purposes of this Section, an unforeseeable emergency is a
severe financial hardship of the Participant resulting from: a sudden and
unexpected illness or accident of the Participant or a dependent of the
Participant; loss of the Participant's property due to casualty; or other
similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of
events beyond the control of the Participant. However, the Participant will not
be considered to have an unforeseeable emergency if the hardship is or may be
relieved:

                           (a) Through reimbursement or compensation by
         insurance or otherwise;

                           (b) By liquidation of the Participant's assets, to
         the extent the liquidation of such assets would itself not cause severe
         financial hardship; or

                           (c) By the cessation of Elective Deferrals.

The need to send a Participant's child to college or the desire to purchase a
home are not unforeseeable emergencies for purposes of this Section.

                  The Plan Administrator may periodically establish
administrative rules regarding withdrawals under this Section.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>   12

                  5.5      TAX WITHHOLDING.

                  Any applicable federal, state, or local income taxes shall be
withheld from the payment of benefits.

                  5.6      SPENDTHRIFT PROVISION.

                  No benefit or interest under the Plan is subject in any manner
to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance,
attachment, or garnishment by creditors of a Participant or his Beneficiary.

                                    ARTICLE 6

                                     FUNDING
                                     -------

                  6.1      ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST FUND.

                  The Company may enter into a Trust Agreement with an unrelated
financial institution, as Trustee, to establish a Trust Fund. If a Trust Fund is
established, the Company may, but is not required to, make contributions to the
Trust Fund. However, if a Change in Control occurs, the Company shall contribute
to the Trust Fund an amount, if any, necessary so that the assets of the Trust
Fund are sufficient to pay all amounts credited to Participants' Accounts.

                  6.2      STATUS AS GRANTOR TRUST.

                  The Trust Fund shall be a grantor trust under Sections 671
through 678 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Trust Agreement shall provide that
the assets of the Trust Fund are subject to the claims of the Company's general
creditors if the Company becomes insolvent. If any assets of the Trust Fund are
seized by general creditors of the Company, a Participant's right to receive
benefits under the Plan shall not be changed.

                  6.3      STATUS OF PARTICIPANTS AS UNSECURED CREDITORS.

                  The obligation of the Company to pay benefits under the Plan
shall be unsecured. Each Participant is an unsecured creditor of the Company.
The Plan constitutes a mere promise by the Company to make benefit payments in
the future.

                  The establishment of an account for a Participant and the
Company's payment of contributions to the Trust Fund are not intended to create
any security for payment of benefits under the Plan or change the status of the
Plan as an unfunded plan for tax purposes or Title I of ERISA.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   13

                                    ARTICLE 7

                                 ADMINISTRATION
                                 --------------

                  7.1      PLAN ADMINISTRATOR.

                  The Company shall have the sole responsibility for the
administration of the Plan and is designated as named fiduciary and Plan
Administrator.

                  7.2      DELEGATION OF DUTIES.

                  The Company may delegate its duties as Plan Administrator to a
committee appointed by the Board of Directors. The committee shall have the
power and duties of the Plan Administrator which are described in this Article.
If a member of the committee is a Participant, he shall abstain from voting on
any matter relating to his benefits under the Plan.

                  7.3      POWERS OF PLAN ADMINISTRATOR.

                  The Plan Administrator shall have all discretionary powers
necessary to administer and satisfy its obligations under the Plan, including,
but not limited to, the following:

                           (a) Maintain records pertaining to the Plan.

                           (b) Interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan.

                           (c) Establish procedures by which Participants may
         apply for benefits under the Plan and appeal a denial of benefits.

                           (d) Determine the rights under the Plan of any
         Participant applying for or receiving benefits.

                           (e) Administer the appeal procedure provided in this
         Article.

                           (f) Perform all acts necessary to meet the reporting
         and disclosure obligations imposed by Sections 101 through 111 of ERISA
         (if any are applicable).

                           (g) Delegate specific responsibilities for the
         operation and administration of the Plan to such Employees or agents as
         it deems advisable and necessary.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>   14

                  7.4      STANDARD OF CARE.

                  The Plan Administrator shall administer the Plan solely in the
interest of Participants and for the exclusive purposes of providing benefits to
the Participants and their Beneficiaries. The Plan Administrator shall
administer the Plan with the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the
circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person, 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.

                  The Plan Administrator shall not be liable for any act or
omission relating to its duties under the Plan unless the act or omission
violates the standard of care described in this Section.

                  7.5      APPEAL PROCEDURE.

                  Any Participant whose application for benefits under the Plan
has been denied, in whole or in part, shall be given written notice of the
denial of benefits by the Plan Administrator. The notice shall be in easily
understood language and shall indicate the reasons for denial and the specific
provisions of the Plan on which the denial is based. The notice shall explain
that the Participant may request a review of the denial and the procedure for
requesting review. The notice shall describe any additional information
necessary to approve the Participant's claim and explain why such information is
necessary.

                  A Participant may make a written request to the Plan
Administrator for a review of any denial of benefits under the Plan. The request
for review must be in writing and must be made within 60 days after the mailing
date of the notice of denial. The request shall refer to the provisions of the
Plan on which it is based and shall set forth the facts relied upon as
justifying a reversal or modification of the determination being appealed.

                  A Participant who requests a review of a denial of benefits in
accordance with this appeal procedure may examine pertinent documents and submit
pertinent issues and comments in writing. A Participant may have a duly
authorized representative act on his behalf in exercising his right to request a
review and any other rights granted by this appeal procedure. The Plan
Administrator shall provide a review of the decision denying the claim for
benefit within 60 days after receiving the written request for review.

                  A Participant shall not be permitted to commence any legal
action against the Company regarding his benefits under the Plan before
exhausting the appeal procedure contained in this Section.

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   15

                                    ARTICLE 8

                                  MISCELLANEOUS
                                  -------------

                  8.1      EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.

                  The existence of the Plan shall not grant a Participant any
legal right to continue as an Employee nor affect the right of the Company to
discharge a Participant.

                  8.2      AMENDMENT.

                  The Company shall have the right to amend the Plan at any
time. However, no amendment or termination shall reduce the amount credited to a
Participant's Account.

                  8.3      TERMINATION.

                  The Board of Directors shall have the right to terminate the
Plan at any time. If the Plan is terminated, no additional amounts shall be
credited to a Participant's Account under Section 4.2, but the Participant shall
be credited with Investment Results under Section 4.3 until the Participant's
benefits are distributed to the Participant. The Participant shall be entitled
to receive the amount credited to his Account upon satisfying the requirements
for payment of benefits under the Plan, unless the Company elects to make
payment at an earlier time.

                  8.4      SEVERABILITY.

                  The unenforceability of any provision of the Plan shall not
affect the enforceability of the remaining provisions of the Plan.

                  8.5      CONSTRUCTION.

                  Words used in the masculine shall apply to the feminine where
applicable. Wherever the context of the Plan dictates, the plural shall be read
as the singular and the singular as the plural.

                  8.6      GOVERNING LAW.

                  To the extent that Delaware law is not preempted by ERISA, the
provisions of the Plan shall be governed by the laws of the state of Delaware.

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   16

                  IN WITNESS OF WHICH, the Company has adopted the Day
International, Inc. Supplemental Savings and Retirement Plan this 1st day of
March, 2001.

                          DAY INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                          By   /s/ Dennis R. Wolters
                             -------------------------------------------
                                Its  President and Chief Executive Officer
                                   ---------------------------------------

                                      -15-
<PAGE>   17

                                    I N D E X
                                    ---------

                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----

ARTICLE 1    ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE.......................................1

             1.1      ESTABLISHMENT OF PLAN..................................1
             1.2      PURPOSE................................................1
             1.3      STATUS OF PLAN UNDER ERISA.............................1

ARTICLE 2    DEFINITIONS.....................................................1

             2.1      ACCOUNT................................................1
             2.2      BASE SALARY............................................2
             2.3      BENEFICIARY............................................2
             2.4      BOARD OF DIRECTORS.....................................3
             2.5      BONUS..................................................3
             2.6      BONUS COMPUTATION PERIOD...............................3
             2.8      CODE...................................................4
             2.9      COMPANY................................................4
             2.10     COMPENSATION...........................................4
             2.11     DISTRIBUTABLE EVENT....................................4
             2.12     ELECTIVE DEFERRALS.....................................4
             2.13     EMPLOYEE...............................................4
             2.14     ERISA..................................................4
             2.15     401(k) PLAN............................................5
             2.16     INVESTMENT RESULTS.....................................5
             2.17     PARTICIPANT............................................5
             2.18     PLAN...................................................5
             2.19     PLAN ADMINISTRATOR.....................................5
             2.20     PLAN YEAR..............................................5
             2.21     RELATED EMPLOYER.......................................5
             2.22     TOTAL DISABILITY.......................................6
             2.23     TRUST AGREEMENT........................................6
             2.24     TRUST FUND.............................................6
             2.25     TRUSTEE................................................6

ARTICLE 3    PARTICIPATION...................................................6

             3.1      ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION..........................6
             3.2      TERMINATION OF ACTIVE PARTICIPATION....................6

                                      -i-

<PAGE>   18

ARTICLE 4    AMOUNTS CREDITED TO ACCOUNTS................................... 7

             4.1      PARTICIPANTS' ACCOUNTS................................ 7
             4.2      AMOUNTS CREDITED BASED UPON ELECTIVE DEFERRALS........ 7
             4.3      AMOUNTS CREDITED BASED UPON REDUCED CONTRIBUTIONS
                      TO THE 401(k) PLAN.................................... 8
             4.4      AMOUNTS CREDITED BASED UPON INVESTMENT RESULTS........ 9

ARTICLE 5    DISTRIBUTION OF BENEFITS....................................... 9

             5.1      DISTRIBUTABLE EVENTS.................................. 9
             5.2      AMOUNT OF BENEFIT..................................... 9
             5.3      FORM AND TIME OF PAYMENT.............................. 9
             5.4      HARDSHIP WITHDRAWALS..................................10
             5.5      TAX WITHHOLDING.......................................11
             5.6      SPENDTHRIFT PROVISION.................................11

ARTICLE 6    FUNDING........................................................11

             6.1      ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST FUND...........................11
             6.2      STATUS AS GRANTOR TRUST...............................11
             6.3      STATUS OF PARTICIPANTS AS UNSECURED CREDITORS.........11

ARTICLE 7    ADMINISTRATION.................................................12

             7.1      PLAN ADMINISTRATOR....................................12
             7.2      DELEGATION OF DUTIES..................................12
             7.3      POWERS OF PLAN ADMINISTRATOR..........................12
             7.4      STANDARD OF CARE......................................13
             7.5      APPEAL PROCEDURE......................................13

ARTICLE 8    MISCELLANEOUS..................................................14

             8.1      EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.....................................14
             8.2      AMENDMENT.............................................14
             8.3      TERMINATION...........................................14
             8.4      SEVERABILITY..........................................14
             8.5      CONSTRUCTION..........................................14
             8.6      GOVERNING LAW.........................................14

                                      -ii-

<PAGE>   19

                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----

SIGNATURE PAGE .............................................................15

                                     -iii-

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