Document:

EX-10.3

 Exhibit 10.3 

AMENDED AND RESTATED COMPASS MINERALS INTERNATIONAL, INC. 

EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PLAN 

(Effective as of May 15, 2020) 
  

	1.	 Purpose. 

Compass Minerals International, Inc. (the “Company”) desires to amend and restate in its entirety the Compass Minerals
International, Inc. Executive Severance Plan, effective as of May 15, 2020. This Amended and Restated Compass Minerals International, Inc. Executive Severance Plan (this “Plan”) is a
top-hat welfare plan under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and is intended to provide financial protection in the event of unexpected job loss
to certain executive officers of the Company who are expected to make substantial contributions to the success of the Company and thereby provide for stability and continuity of management. 

 

	2.	 Definitions. 

As used herein, the terms identified below shall have the meanings indicated: 

“2020 Incentive Award Plan” means the Compass Minerals International, Inc. 2020 Incentive Award Plan, as amended from
time to time. 
 “Administrator” means the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company. 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company. 

“Cause” means the Company’s termination of an Eligible Executive’s employment with the Company or a
subsidiary of the Company as a result of (i) Eligible Executive’s (A) conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or (B) indictment for a felony or misdemeanor under
the federal securities laws, (ii) the Eligible Executive’s willful misconduct or gross negligence in connection with Eligible Executive’s duties to the Company or any subsidiary resulting in material harm to the Company or any
subsidiary, (iii) the Eligible Executive’s willful failure to substantially perform, or breach of, Eligible Executive’s duties or responsibilities to the Company or any subsidiary, (iv) willful breach by the Eligible
Executive of (A) the Restrictive Covenant Agreement or (B) the Confidentiality Agreement entered into between the Eligible Executive and the Company or any subsidiary (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), (v) the Eligible
Executive’s fraud, embezzlement, theft, or material dishonesty against the Company or any subsidiary, (vi) the Eligible Executive’s willful violation of a policy or procedure of the Company or any subsidiary, resulting in material
harm to the Company or any subsidiary, or (vii) the Eligible Executive’s willful failure to carry out, or comply with, in any material respect any lawful and reasonable directive of the Board. For purposes of this definition of
“Cause”, “willful” means those acts taken/not taken in bad faith and without reasonable belief such action/inaction was in the best interests of the Company or its subsidiaries. Any action/inaction, based upon authority given
pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board will be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by the Eligible Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the Company. The Company must notify the Eligible Executive of
an event constituting Cause within ninety (90) days following the Company’s knowledge of its existence or such event shall not constitute Cause under this Plan. 

 “Change in Control Severance Agreement” means an agreement between
any employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, providing for certain severance benefits to be paid to the employee upon the occurrence of, or following, a change in control of the
Company. 
 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and other guidance
promulgated by the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service thereunder. 
 “Disability” means the
Eligible Executive must, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, be receiving or be reasonably
expected to receive income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering the Eligible Executive (or, if none, covering the Company’s employees). 

“Eligible Executive” means a key employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company who: 

 

	 	i.	 Has been designated an “executive officer” by the Board of Directors of the Company and designated
eligible for this Plan by the Administrator; and 

  

	 	ii.	 is not a party to an employment agreement or other agreement with the Company pursuant to which severance
benefits (other than relating to a change in control) or payments are provided for (other than equity award, annual incentive, supplemental retirement, deferred compensation or similar plans or agreements which contain provisions operative on the
Eligible Executive’s involuntary termination from the Company), unless otherwise determined by the Administrator. 

“Good Reason” means the Eligible Executive’s voluntary termination of employment (e.g., resignation) with
the Company or a subsidiary of the Company as a result of: 
  

	 	i.	 a material adverse change in the Eligible Executive’s duties or responsibilities; provided, however, that
none of (A) a modification to a portion of the Company’s overall business, (B) a change in the Eligible Executive’s reporting structure, title, duties or responsibilities, in each case that occurs solely a result of the Company
no longer being a publicly traded entity, or (C) a change in the Eligible Executive’s duties or responsibilities, in each case that is part of an across-the-board change in duties or responsibilities of employees at the Eligible
Executive’s level shall in and of itself constitute Good Reason; 

  

	 	ii.	 any material reduction in the Eligible Executive’s target total direct compensation (which includes annual
base salary, annual incentives and long-term incentives); provided, however, that Good Reason shall not include such a reduction of less than 10% that is part of an across-the-board reduction applicable to employees at the Eligible Executive’s
level; 

  

	 	iii.	 any material breach by the Company or one of its subsidiaries of this Plan with respect to the Eligible
Executive or any material compensation agreement between the Company and the Eligible Executive; or 

  

	 	iv.	 Company’s relocation of Eligible Executive’s primary office location more than 50 miles from Eligible
Executive’s primary office location prior to such relocation and more than 50 miles from Eligible Executive’s principal residence. 

  
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 Notwithstanding the foregoing, no voluntary termination by the Eligible
Executive shall constitute a termination with “Good Reason” unless (A) the Eligible Executive has given written notice of the proposed termination due to Good Reason, with particulars, to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer or
Corporate Secretary not later than ninety (90) days of the Eligible Executive’s initial knowledge of the occurrence of such condition; (B) the Company has an opportunity for thirty (30) days after such notice is received by the
Company within which to remedy such condition, and fails to reasonably cure such condition; and (C) the Eligible Executive resigns within one hundred and fifty (150) days after the initial occurrence of the condition potentially giving
rise to Good Reason. 
 “Qualifying Departure” means an Eligible Executive’s employment with the Company or a
subsidiary of the Company is terminated solely as a result of or in connection with a sale or other divestiture by the Company of a division, subsidiary or other business segment (including, without limitation, by sale of shares of stock or of
assets) pursuant to which the Eligible Executive’s employer ceases to be the Company or a subsidiary of the Company, but the Eligible Executive was offered continued employment by the acquirer or transferee employer in such sale or divesture or
transfer on terms such that, if accepted by the Eligible Executive, such continued employment would not result in any of the events described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of the definition of Good Reason and would entitle, for a two-year period immediately following such sale or divestiture or transfer, the Eligible Executive to participate in a severance plan or agreement providing substantially similar severance rights and benefits as the
Eligible Executive was entitled to receive pursuant to this Plan. 
 “Qualifying Termination” means an Eligible
Executive’s voluntary termination of employment with the Company or a subsidiary of the Company for Good Reason or an involuntary termination of an Eligible Executive’s employment with the Company or a subsidiary of the Company without
Cause and other than as a result of the Eligible Executive’s death or Disability. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Eligible Executive does not experience a Qualifying Termination in connection with a Qualifying Departure. 

“Restrictive Covenant Agreement” means an agreement between certain employees of the Company or its
subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, entered into in connection with the employee’s execution of a Change in Control Severance Agreement. 

“Specified Employee” means any employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company that the Company determines is a
Specified Employee within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. 
 “Termination Date” means the date on which
an Eligible Executive has a “separation from service,” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, from the Company or a subsidiary of the Company. 
  

	3.	 Eligibility. 

a) Eligible Executives. Only Eligible Executives shall be entitled to receive benefits under this Plan. The Administrator shall
limit the class of persons selected to participate in the Plan to a “select group of management or highly compensated employees,” within the meaning of Sections 201, 301 and 401 of ERISA. 

b) Qualifying Termination. Subject to the conditions of this Plan, including Section 8(a) and Section 9, the Company
will pay severance benefits pursuant to Section 4 of this Plan to an Eligible Executive on a Qualifying Termination. Severance benefits will not be paid pursuant to Section 4 of this Plan to an Eligible Executive if he or she is entitled
to receive a severance benefit from his or her Change in Control Severance Agreement in connection with his or her Qualifying Termination. 

  
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 c) Non-Qualifying Termination.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, nothing in this Plan shall be construed to require the Company to pay any of the severance benefits under this Plan to an Eligible Executive if the Eligible Executive terminates
employment with the Company under any circumstances that do not constitute a Qualifying Termination. 
  

	4.	 Amount and Payment of Benefits upon a Qualifying Termination. 

Subject to Section 8(a) and Section 9 of this Plan, an Eligible Executive who incurs a Qualifying Termination shall be entitled to
receive the following severance benefits described in this Section 4: 
 a) Payment. Unless otherwise provided herein, an
Eligible Executive who incurs a Qualifying Termination shall receive a severance payment in an amount equal to the sum of: 
  

	 	i.	 one (1) times the Eligible Executive’s annual base salary as of the Eligible Executive’s
Termination Date; 

  

	 	ii.	 the greater of (A) one (1) times the amount that the Eligible Executive would have received as an annual
bonus under the 2020 Incentive Award Plan (or the annual cash bonus plan then in use by the Company and applicable to the Eligible Executives) for, and relating to, the plan year in which the Termination Date occurs, if the Eligible Executive had
remained employed through the end of the applicable performance year and an “at target” level of performance was achieved for such plan year; and (B) one (1) times the average of the amount that the Eligible Executive actually
received as an annual bonus under the 2020 Incentive Award Plan (or the annual cash bonus plan then in use by the Company and applicable to the Eligible Executives) for, and relating to, the three (3) plan years immediately prior to the plan
year in which the Termination Date occurs (or, in the event the Eligible Executive has not been employed by the Company for such three (3) plan years, such number of years prior to the plan year in which the Termination Date occurs that the
Eligible Executive has actually received an annual bonus under such plan or plans); and 

  

	 	iii.	 one (1) times the amount equal to the aggregate premium cost to cover the existing coverage for the
Eligible Executive and his or her eligible dependents, if any, for eighteen (18) months under the Company’s health, vision and dental plans in effect as of the date of the Qualifying Termination; provided that such amount will include the
aggregate premium cost to cover the Eligible Executive’s dependents if, and only to the extent that, such dependents were enrolled in a health, vision or dental plan sponsored by the Company before the Qualifying Termination.

 The severance payment pursuant to Section 4(a) shall be paid in a single
lump-sum cash payment, less all applicable withholding taxes, within the sixty (60)-day period following the Eligible Executive’s Termination Date. 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, if the Eligible Executive is a Specified Employee on his or her Termination Date, any portion
of the severance payment under this Section 4(a) which may constitute non-exempt “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be delayed, if determined
necessary by the Company for the avoidance of penalties and/or excise taxes under Section 409A of the Code, until the earlier of (A) the first day after six-months following such Termination Date,
and (B) the date the Eligible Executive dies following such Termination Date. 

  
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 b) Outplacement Services. The Company shall provide the Eligible Executive
with access to outplacement counseling services from a firm that the Company selects at no cost to the Eligible Executive, subject to the timing requirements in Section 8(l). If the Eligible Executive chooses to not use or access such
outplacement counseling services, the Company shall not provide any payment to the Eligible Executive in lieu of such services. 
 c)
Equity Awards. Notwithstanding the terms or conditions of any applicable equity award agreement, rules of the plan or grant notice, and solely to the extent that (x) the vesting benefits under this Section 4(c) are more
favorable to the Eligible Executive or (y) the applicable award agreement or grant notice does not explicitly waive or modify the vesting benefits described below, any and all previously granted and unvested equity awards issued by the Company
and held by an Eligible Executive who incurs a Qualifying Termination on his or her Termination Date (“Equity Awards”) shall be treated as follows: 
  

	 	i.	 RSUs. Subject to Section 8(l), any Equity Awards that are restricted stock units
(“RSUs”) will fully accelerate and vest and will be paid within the sixty (60)-day period following the Eligible Executive’s Termination Date, in the form of, at the discretion of
the Administrator, either (x) shares of the Company’s common stock; or (y) cash, with each cash payment in an amount equal to the value of the shares of the Company’s stock underlying the RSUs that have vested pursuant to this
Section 4(c)(i) on the applicable payment date, calculated based on the closing market price at which a share of the Company’s stock would have been sold on such payment date or the next trading date if such payment date was not a trading
date, less all applicable withholding taxes. 

  

	 	ii.	 Equity Awards other than RSUs. All other vested Equity Awards and any Equity Awards that are not
RSUs will be subject solely to the terms and conditions of the 2020 Incentive Award Plan, grant notice and award agreement or rules of the plan pursuant to which such Equity Award was granted and will not be affected by this Section 4(c).
 

  

	5.	 Section 280G. 

No Eligible Executive is entitled to receive additional payment from the Company by reason of the excise tax required by Section 4999(a)
of the Code being imposed on the Eligible Executive for any amounts received constituting an excess parachute payment as defined in Section 280G of the Code. 

a) Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Eligible Executive’s Change in Control Severance Agreement to the contrary, in the event that
the Company’s then current independent registered public accounting firm or another accounting or similar firm selected by the Company, subject to the Eligible Executive’s approval which shall not be unreasonably withheld (the
“Accounting Firm”), shall determine that any payment or distribution of any type to or for the Eligible Executive’s benefit made by the Company, by any of its affiliates, by any person who acquires ownership or effective control of
the Company or ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and the regulations thereunder) or by any affiliate of such person, whether paid or payable or distributed or
distributable pursuant to the terms of this Plan, the Change in Control Severance Agreement or otherwise (collectively, the “Total Payments”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by 

  
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Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest or penalties, are collectively referred to as the
“Excise Tax”), then the Accounting Firm shall determine whether such payments or distributions or benefits shall be reduced to such lesser amount as would result in no portion of such payments or distributions or benefits
being subject to the Excise Tax. Such reduction shall occur if and only to the extent that it would result in the Eligible Executive retaining, on an after-tax basis (taking into account federal, state and
local income taxes, employment, social security and Medicare taxes, the imposition of the Excise Tax and all other taxes, determined by applying the highest marginal rate under Section 1 of the Code and under state and local laws which applied
(or is likely to apply) to the Eligible Executive’s taxable income for the tax year in which the transaction which causes the application of Section 280G of the Code occurs, or such other rate(s) as the Accounting Firm determines to be
likely to apply to the Eligible Executive in the relevant tax year(s) in which any of the Total Payments is expected to be made) a larger amount as a result of such reduction than the Eligible Executive would receive, on a similar after tax basis,
if the Eligible Executive received all of the Total Payments. If the Accounting Firm determines that the Eligible Executive would not retain a larger amount on an after-tax basis if the Total Payments were so
reduced, then the Eligible Executive may elect, at his option, to retain all of the Total Payments. If the Total Payments are to be reduced, the reduction shall occur in the following order: (1) reduction of cash payments for which the full
amount is treated as a “parachute payment” (as defined under Section 280G of the Code and the regulations thereunder); (2) cancellation of accelerated vesting (or, if necessary, payment) of cash awards for which the full amount is not
treated as a parachute payment; (3) reduction of any continued employee benefits; and (4) cancellation or reduction of any accelerated vesting of equity awards. In selecting the equity awards (if any) for which vesting will be cancelled or
reduced under clause (4) of the preceding sentence, awards shall be selected in a manner that maximizes the after-tax aggregate amount of reduced Total Payments provided to the Eligible Executive,
provided that if (and only if) necessary in order to avoid the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A, awards instead shall be selected in the reverse order of the date of grant. If two or more equity awards are granted on the same
date, each award will be reduced on a pro-rata basis. The Eligible Executive and the Company shall furnish such documentation and documents as may be necessary for the Accounting Firm to perform the requisite
Section 280G of the Code computations and analysis, and the Accounting Firm shall provide a written report of its determinations hereunder, including detailed supporting calculations. If the Accounting Firm determines that aggregate Total
Payments should be reduced as described above, it shall promptly notify the Eligible Executive and the Company to that effect. In the absence of manifest error, all determinations made by the Accounting Firm under this Section 5 shall be
binding on the Eligible Executive and the Company and shall be made as soon as reasonably practicable and in no event later than thirty (30) days following the later of the Eligible Executive’s date of termination of employment or the date
of the transaction which causes the application of Section 280G of the Code. The Company shall bear all costs, fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm. 

b) To the extent requested by the Eligible Executive, the Company shall cooperate with the Eligible Executive in good faith in valuing, and the
Accounting Firm shall take into account the value of, services to be provided by the Eligible Executive (including the Eligible Executive agreeing to refrain from performing services pursuant to a covenant not to compete) before, on or after the
date of the transaction which causes the application of Section 280G of the Code such that payments in respect of such services may be considered to be “reasonable compensation” within the meaning of
Q&A-9 and Q&A-40 to Q&A-44 of the final regulations under Section 280G of the Code and/or exempt from the
definition of the term “parachute payment” within the meaning of Q&A-2(a) of such final regulations in accordance with Q&A-5(a) of such final
regulations. 

  
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 c) If it is ultimately determined (by IRS private letter ruling or closing agreement, court
decision or otherwise) that the Eligible Executive’s Total Payments were reduced by too much or by too little in order to accomplish the purpose of this Section 5, the Eligible Executive and the Company shall promptly cooperate to correct
such underpayment or overpayment in a manner consistent with the purpose of this Section 5, provided, however, that in no event shall such a correction be made if doing so would be a violation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as it may be
amended from time to time. 
  

	6.	 Administration/Amendment/Termination. 

a) Administrator. The Administrator has the sole discretionary authority to construe and interpret this Plan and to make any and
all determinations related to administration of this Plan, including all questions of eligibility for participation and benefits, to the maximum extent permitted by law. The decisions, actions and interpretations of the Administrator are final and
binding on all parties. 
 b) Amendment; Termination. The Administrator expressly reserves the right to amend this Plan, in
whole or in part, at any time and in any way it determines to be advisable or to terminate this Plan; provided that if the amendment or termination will materially adversely affect the rights of any Eligible Executive who, prior to the amendment or
termination, became entitled to benefits under the Plan, the Company must obtain the Eligible Executive’s written consent to the amendment or termination. 
  

	7.	 Claims for Benefits. Claims for benefits under this Plan are governed by the Plan’s claims
procedure (the “Executive Benefits Claims Procedure”), a copy of which is available from the Company’s Corporate Secretary or Chief Legal and Administrative Officer. 

 

	8.	 Miscellaneous Provisions. 

a) Release. In consideration of the covenants under this Plan and as a condition precedent to receiving any payments under this
Plan, an Eligible Executive or the Eligible Executive’s Beneficiary (as defined in Section 8(c)) shall (i) execute and deliver to the Company a release of all claims in a form to be provided by the Company, which shall include
standard representations and covenants, including without limitation with respect to confidentiality, cooperation and non-disparagement, within twenty-two (22) days
following the Eligible Executive’s Termination Date (or any such longer period if required by applicable law and communicated to the Eligible Executive) and (ii) not revoke the release during the seven (7) day period following the
date that the Eligible Executive executed the release. The Company shall supply a form of such release to the Eligible Executive no later than the Termination Date. 

b) Waiver. The failure of the Company to enforce at any time any of the provisions of this Plan, or to require at any time
performance of any of the provisions of this Plan, shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of these provisions, nor in any way to affect the validity of this Plan or any part thereof, or the right of the Company thereafter to enforce every
provision. 

  
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 c) Benefits Not Transferable. Except as may be required by law, no benefit
eligible to be payable under this Plan to any Eligible Executive shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge, and any attempt to alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge,
encumber or charge all or any part of the benefit shall be void; provided, however, that if a terminated Eligible Executive dies before the end of the period over which such Eligible Executive is entitled to receive severance benefits under this
Plan, the severance benefits payable hereunder shall be paid to the estate of such Eligible Executive or to the person or legal entity who acquired the rights to such benefits by bequest or inheritance (the “Beneficiary”),
provided such Beneficiary satisfies the release requirements in Section 8(a). Except as may be provided by law, no benefit shall in any manner be subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements or torts of any Eligible Executive, nor
shall it be subject to attachment or legal process for, or against, the Eligible Executive and the same shall not be recognized under this Plan. 

d) Successors of the Company. This Plan shall bind any successor of the Company, its assets or its businesses (whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise), in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be obligated under this Plan if no succession had taken place. In the case of any transaction in which a successor would not
by the foregoing provision or by operation of law be bound by this Plan, the Company shall require such successor expressly and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the Company’s obligations under this Plan, in the same manner and to
the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. The term “Company,” as used in this Plan, shall mean the Company as heretofore defined and any successor or assignee to the business or
assets which by reason hereof becomes bound by this Plan. 
 e) No Contract of Employment. The definitions and criteria set
forth herein are solely for the purpose of defining Plan eligibility. No legal rights to employment are created or implied by this Plan, nor are any conditions or restrictions hereby placed on termination of employment. Unless the employee has a
written employment agreement binding on the Company that provides otherwise, employment with the Company is employment-at-will. As such, termination of employment may be
initiated by the Eligible Executive or by the Company at any time for any reason that is not unlawful, with or without Cause. 
 f)
Governing Law. To the extent not pre-empted by federal law, this Plan shall be construed, administered and governed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Kansas, without
regard to any conflict of law principles. Subject to the Executive Benefits Claims Procedure, any action concerning this Plan shall be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in Johnson County, Kansas, and each party consents to the venue and
jurisdiction of such court. 
 g) Entire Plan. This Plan constitutes the Company’s entire Plan for the Eligible Executives
and, except as provided in an Eligible Executive’s Change in Control Severance Agreement and the Executive Benefits Claims Procedure, Section 8(h) and Section 9 of this Plan, supersedes any and all previous representations,
agreements, understandings and plans with respect to general severance benefits for the Eligible Executives, and any such representations, agreements, understandings and plans with respect to Eligible Executive severance are hereby canceled and
terminated in all respects. 
 h) Severability and Interpretation. Whenever possible, each provision of this Plan
and any portion hereof shall be interpreted in such a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, rules and regulations. If any covenant or other provision of this Plan (or portion thereof) shall be held to be invalid, illegal, or
incapable of being enforced, by reason of any rule of law, rule, regulation, administrative order, judicial decision or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Plan shall, nevertheless, remain in full force and effect, and no
covenant or provision shall be deemed dependent upon any other covenant or provision (or portion) unless so 

  
 8 

 
expressed herein. The parties hereto desire and consent that the court or other body making such determination shall, to the extent necessary to avoid any unenforceability, so reform such
covenant or other provision or portion of this Plan to the minimum extent necessary so as to render the same enforceable in accordance with the intent herein expressed. 

i) No Mitigation Required. The Eligible Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount provided for in Section 4 of
this Plan by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment or benefit provided for in Section 4 of this Plan be reduced by any compensation earned by the Eligible Executive as the result of employment by another
employer after the date of termination, or otherwise. 
 j) Validity. If any provision of this Plan is held invalid, void or
unenforceable, the same shall not affect, in any respect whatsoever, the validity of any other provision of this Plan. 
 k) Captions
and Titles. Captions and titles have been used in this Plan only for convenience, and in no way define, limit or describe the meaning of this Plan or any part thereof. 

l) Section 409A Savings Clause. This Plan is intended to comply with the provisions of
Section 409A of the Code, including the exceptions for short-term deferrals, separation pay arrangements, reimbursements and in-kind distributions, and shall be administered and interpreted in accordance
with such intent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any term or provision that is determined by the Administrator to have an ambiguous definition shall be interpreted, to the extent reasonable, to comply with Section 409A of the
Code. Any reference in this Plan to a “termination of employment” or similar term or phrase shall be interpreted as a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. Each payment under this Plan
shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A of the Code. In no event may an Eligible Executive, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of any payment to be made under this Plan. All reimbursements and in-kind benefits, including any taxable health, dental and vision benefits provided under this Plan that constitute deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code shall be made or provided
in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, including, without limitation, that (i) in no event shall reimbursements by the Company under this Plan be made later than the end of the calendar year next following the
calendar year in which the applicable fees and expenses were incurred, provided that the Eligible Executive shall have submitted an invoice for such fees and expenses at least ten (10) days before the end of the calendar year next following the
calendar year in which such fees and expenses were incurred; (ii) the amount of in-kind benefits that the Company is obligated to pay or provide in any given calendar year (other than medical
reimbursements described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-3(i)(1)(iv)(B)) shall not affect the in-kind benefits that the Company is obligated to pay or provide in any
other calendar year; (iii) the Eligible Executive’s right to have the Company pay or provide such reimbursements and in-kind benefits may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit; and
(iv) in no event shall the Company’s obligations to make such reimbursements or to provide such in-kind benefits apply later than the end of the third year following the year in which the Eligible
Executive’s Termination Date occurred. The outplacement benefits provided pursuant to Section 4(b) must be provided prior to the end of the second year following the year in which the Eligible Executive’s Termination Date occurred.

  

	9.	 No Duplication of Benefits. 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any benefits received by an Eligible Executive pursuant to this Plan shall be in lieu of any general severance
policy maintained by the Company except to the extent any such substitution in severance benefits or payment timing would result in a violation of Section 409A of the Code. There shall be no duplication of benefits under this Plan and any
Eligible Executive’s Change in Control Severance Agreement and in the event of any such potential duplication of benefits, the benefits under the Eligible Executive’s Change in Control Severance Agreement shall control. 

  
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	COMPASS MINERALS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
		
	By:	 	 /s/ Kevin S. Crutchfield

	Name:	 	Kevin S. Crutchfield
	Title:	 	President and Chief Executive Officer
	Date:	 	May 15, 2020EX-10.4

 Exhibit 10.4 

FORM OF CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT1 

This CHANGE IN CONTROL SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into and effective as of [___________] (the “Effective
Date”) by and between Compass Minerals International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [ ____________] (“Executive”). 

WITNESSETH 
 WHEREAS, the
Company considers the establishment and maintenance of a sound and vital management to be essential to protecting and enhancing the best interests of the Company and its stockholders; and 

WHEREAS, the Company recognizes that, as is the case with many publicly held corporations, the possibility of a change in control may
arise and that possibility may result in the departure or distraction of management personnel to the detriment of the Company and its stockholders; and 

[WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive previously entered into that certain Change in Control Severance Agreement, dated as of [__]
(the “Prior Agreement”); and]2  
 WHEREAS, the Board of
Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to further secure Executive’s continued services and to further ensure Executive’s continued dedication to
Executive’s duties in the event of any threat or occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in Section 1) of the Company[; and 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to enter into this Agreement which will supersede the Prior Agreement in its entirety]3. 
 NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants and agreements herein contained, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows: 
 1. Definitions. As used in this
Agreement, the following terms have the following meanings [(capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in that certain employment agreement between the parties, dated [______] (the “Employment
Agreement”))]4: 
 (a) “Bonus Amount” means the higher of
(i) Executive’s average annual incentive bonuses during the last 3 completed fiscal years before the Date of Termination (annualized in the event Executive was not employed by Company (or its Subsidiaries) for the whole of any such
fiscal year) and (ii) Executive’s aggregate annual target bonus for the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs. 

 

	1 	 Note that this form makes various references to differing language in “Option 1” and “Option
2”. Option 1 language is to be used in an agreement with the Chief Executive Officer, while Option 2 language is to be used in an agreement with all other executive officers. 

	2 	 Language to be included for executives party to an existing change in control severance agreement.

	3 	 Language to be included for executives party to an existing change in control severance agreement.

	4 	 Option 1 

 (b) “Cause” means Executive’s (i) conviction of, or plea
of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, (ii) indictment for a felony or misdemeanor under the federal securities laws, (iii) willful misconduct or gross negligence in connection with
Executive’s duties to the Company or any Subsidiary resulting in material harm to the Company or any Subsidiary, (iv) willful failure to substantially perform, or breach of, Executive’s duties or responsibilities to the Company or any
Subsidiary, (v) willful breach of the [(A) Employment Agreement]5, (B) the Restrictive Covenant Agreement entered into between Executive and the Company (the “Restrictive Covenant
Agreement”) or (C) the Confidentiality Agreement entered into between the Executive and the Company or any Subsidiary (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), (vi) fraud, embezzlement, theft, or material dishonesty against the
Company or any Subsidiary, (vii) willful violation of a policy or procedure of the Company or any Subsidiary, resulting in material harm to the Company or any Subsidiary, or (viii) willful failure to carry out, or comply with, in any
material respect any lawful and reasonable directive of the Board. For purposes of this paragraph (b), “willful” means those acts taken/not taken in bad faith and without reasonable belief such action/inaction was in the best
interests of the Company or its Subsidiaries. Any action/inaction, based upon authority given pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board will be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done, by Executive in good faith and in the
best interests of the Company. The Company must notify Executive of an event constituting Cause, in accordance with Section 10, within 90 days following the Company’s knowledge of its existence [and provide him with the reasonable
opportunity to be heard before the Board (with Executive’s counsel present)]6 or such event shall not constitute Cause under this Agreement. [Any determination as to whether or not Cause
exists for termination of Executive’s employment shall be made on the Company’s behalf by the Board.]7 

(c) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any one of the following events: 

(i) a transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of the Company’s common stock to the general public
through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or a “person” that, before such transaction,
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; or 

 

	5 	 Option 1 

	6 	 Option 1 

	7 	 Option 1 

  
 2 

 (ii) the date a majority of the members of the Board is replaced during any
12 month period by directors who appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board before the date of the appointment or election; or 

(iii) the consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one
or more intermediaries) of (A) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination, (B) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or (C) the acquisition of assets or stock of
another entity, in each case other than a transaction: 
 (x) that results in the Company’s voting securities
outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly,
the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “Successor Entity”)) directly or indirectly, at least
a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and 

(y) after which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power
of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this subparagraph as beneficially owning 50% or more of combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in
the Company before the consummation of the transaction. 
 (d) “Date of Termination” means (i) the effective
date of the termination of Executive’s employment or (ii) the date of Executive’s death, if Executive is employed as of such date. 

(e) “Good Reason” means, without Executive’s express written consent, the occurrence of any of the following
events within 2 years after a Change in Control: 
 (i) a material adverse change in Executive’s duties or
responsibilities as of the Change in Control (or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter); provided, however, that none of (A) a modification to a portion of the Company’s overall business, (B) a change in
Executive’s reporting structure, title, duties or responsibilities, in each case that occurs solely a result of the Company no longer being a publicly traded entity, or (C) a change in Executive’s duties or responsibilities, in each
case that is part of an across-the-board change in duties or responsibilities of [Company’s executive officers]8[employees at Executive’s level]9 shall in and of itself constitute Good Reason; 
  

	8 	 Option 2 

	9 	 Option 1 

  
 3 

 (ii) any material reduction in Executive’s target total direct
compensation (which includes annual base salary, annual incentives and long-term incentives) in effect as of the Change in Control (or as the same may be increased from time to time thereafter);
provided, however, that Good Reason shall not include such a reduction of less than [5%]10 [10%]11 that is part of an across-the-board
reduction applicable to [Company’s executive officers]12[employees at Executive’s level]13; 

(iii) Company’s [(A)]14 relocation of Executive’s primary
office location more than 50 miles from Executive’s primary office location prior to such relocation and more than 50 miles from Executive’s principal residence as of the Change in Control [or (B) requirement that Executive
travel on Company business to an extent substantially greater than Executive’s travel obligations immediately before such Change in Control]15; or 

(iv) any material breach by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries of this Agreement or any material compensation agreement
between the Company and Executive. 
 To terminate employment with Good Reason, (A), Executive must provide written notice to
the Company, in accordance with Section 10, within 90 days following Executive’s knowledge of an event constituting Good Reason, (B) Company must fail to cure such event within 30 days following receipt of such notice and
(C) Executive must terminate employment within 90 days of Company’s failure to cure such event. 
 (f)
“Qualifying Termination” means a termination of Executive’s employment during the Termination Period (i) by the Company other than for Cause or (ii) by Executive with Good Reason. 

(g) “Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect ownership
interest of 50% or more of the total combined voting power of the then outstanding securities or interests of such corporation or other entity entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or in which the Company has the right to receive
50% or more of the distribution of profits or 50% of the assets on liquidation or dissolution. 
  

	10 	 Option 1 

	11 	 Option 2 

	12 	 Option 1 

	13 	 Option 2 

	14 	 Option 1 

	15 	 Option 1 

  
 4 

 (h) “Termination Period” means the period beginning with a Change
in Control and ending 2 years following such Change in Control. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if (i) Executive’s employment is terminated before a Change in Control for reasons that would have constituted
a Qualifying Termination if they had occurred after a Change in Control; (ii) Executive reasonably demonstrates such termination (or Good Reason event) was at the request of a third party who had indicated an intention or taken steps reasonably
calculated to effect a Change in Control; and (iii) a Change in Control involving such third party (or a party competing with such third party to effectuate a Change in Control) occurs within 60 days of Executive’s separation from service,
then, for purposes of this Agreement, the date immediately before the date of such termination or event constituting Good Reason shall be treated as a Change in Control. For purposes of determining the timing of payments and benefits under
Section 4, the date of the actual Change in Control shall be treated as the Date of Termination under Section 1(d), and, for purposes of determining the amount of payments and benefits to Executive under Section 4, the date
Executive’s employment is actually terminated shall be treated as the Date of Termination under Section 1(d). 
 2. Term of
Agreement. This Agreement shall be effective on the Effective Date and shall continue until December 31, 20[__]16. On January 1,
20[__]17, and on each January 1 thereafter, the term of this Agreement shall automatically renew for successive one-year periods unless either party
gives written notice thereof at least 18 months before the date such extension would be effective. This Agreement shall continue in effect for a period of 2 years after a Change in Control, notwithstanding the delivery of any such notice, if
such Change in Control occurs during the term of this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, this Agreement shall terminate if Executive or the Company terminates Executive’s employment before a Change in Control
other than as provided in Section 1(h). 
 3. Payments Upon Termination of Employment. 

(a) Qualifying Termination. In the event of a Qualifying Termination, the Company shall provide Executive the payments
and benefits set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section, subject to paragraph (d) of this Section. 

(b) Qualifying Termination - Cash Payments. Within 30 days of a
Qualifying Termination, the Company shall make a lump sum cash payment to Executive of the following: 
 (i) an amount equal
to Executive’s base salary due, pro-rata Bonus Amount (based upon number of days employed in the applicable bonus year through the Qualifying Termination), accrued vacation and unreimbursed expenses
properly incurred through the Date of Termination; 
  

	16 	 To be the year in which this Agreement is executed. 

	17 	 To be the year after the year in which this Agreement is executed. 

  
 5 

 (ii) an amount equal to
[2.5]18 [2]19 times the sum of (A) Executive’s highest annual rate of base salary during the
12-month period immediately before the Date of Termination, plus (B) Executive’s Bonus Amount; and 

(iii) an amount equal to 1 times the amount of the aggregate premium cost to cover the existing coverage for the Executive and
his or her eligible dependents, if any, for 24 months under the Company’s health, vision and dental plans in effect as of the date of the Qualifying Termination; provided that such amount will include the aggregate premium cost to cover the
Executive’s dependents if, and only to the extent that, such dependents were enrolled in a health, vision or dental plan sponsored by the Company before the Qualifying Termination. 

(c) Conditions. To be eligible for any payments and benefits provided by paragraphs (b) and (c) of this
Section, Executive must (i) execute and deliver to Company a final and complete release [in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, with such changes that are required as a result of changes in law after the Effective Date or any changes based
on the Executive’s place of residence or work]20 [in a form to be provided by Company, which shall include standard representations and covenants, including without limitation with respect to
confidentiality, cooperation and non-disparagement]21, which becomes nonrevocable within 45 days following the Date of Termination, and (ii) be in
compliance in all material respects with (A) this Agreement, [(B) the Employment Agreement,]22 (C) the Restrictive Covenant Agreement, and (D) the Confidentiality Agreement, which such
breach not being cured within 30 days after written notice from the Company of the breach. 
 4. Outstanding Equity Awards. In the
event of a Change in Control, Executive’s outstanding stock options, restricted stock units, performance stock units and other equity awards shall be earned and vested to the extent provided in and in accordance with the terms and conditions of
the applicable equity-based compensation plan/award agreement, as may be amended from time to time. 
 5. Withholding Taxes. The
Company may withhold from all payments under this Agreement all required taxes and/or other withholdings. 
 6. Resolution of Disputes;
Reimbursement of Legal Fees. 
 (a) Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this Agreement (other
than disputes related to the Restrictive Covenant Agreement) shall be settled by final, binding arbitration in Johnson County, Kansas, in accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration
Association then in effect. The Company shall bear all costs and expenses arising in connection with any arbitration proceeding pursuant to this Section. 

 

	18 	 Option 1 

	19 	 Option 2 

	20 	 Option 1 

	21 	 Option 2 

	22 	 Option 1 

  
 6 

 (b) If Executive prevails on any material issue in any contest or dispute
under this Agreement involving termination of Executive’s employment with the Company or involving Company’s refusal to perform fully in accordance with the terms hereof, then the Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable legal
fees and related expenses incurred in connection with such contest or dispute. Such reimbursement shall be made on or before the last day of Executive’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense was incurred. 

7. Restrictive Covenants. Executive hereby agrees to the terms of the Company’s Restrictive Covenant Agreement attached hereto,
which Restrictive Covenant Agreement Executive also hereby agrees to execute if Executive has not previously so executed such Restrictive Covenant Agreement. If Executive has not executed the Restrictive Covenant Agreement within 10 days of the
Effective Date of this Agreement, then this Agreement shall be null and void. 
 8. Scope of Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be deemed to entitle Executive to continued employment with the Company and, if Executive’s employment with the Company terminates before a Change in Control, then Executive shall have no further rights under this Agreement (except as
otherwise provided hereunder). 
 9. Successors; Binding Agreement. 

(a) This Agreement shall survive any business combination and shall be binding upon the surviving entity of any business
combination (in which case such surviving entity shall be treated as the Company hereunder). 
 (b) In connection with any
business combination, the Company will cause any successor entity to the Company unconditionally to assume by written instrument delivered to Executive (or his beneficiary or estate) all of the obligations of the Company hereunder. 

(c) This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive’s personal or legal representatives,
executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees. If Executive dies while any amounts would be payable to Executive hereunder, then all such amounts, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be paid in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement to such person or persons appointed in writing by Executive to receive such amounts or, if no person is so appointed, to Executive’s estate. 

(d) Executive may not assign this Agreement. The Company may assign this Agreement in its discretion to any parent/subsidiary
company or successor in interest to the business, or part thereof, of the Company. 
 10. Notice. 

(a) For purposes of this Agreement, all notices and other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed to have been duly given at the earlier of actual delivery or 5 days after deposit in the United States mail, certified and return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows: 

  
 7 

 
			
	If to Executive:	  	[                                    
]
		  	[At the most recent address on file with the Company]
		
	If to the Company:	  	Compass Minerals International, Inc.
		  	9900 West 109th Street, Suite 100
		  	Overland Park, KS 66210
		  	Attention: Chief Legal and Administrative Officer

 or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance
herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt. 
 (b) A written notice of the Date
of Termination shall (i) indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, (ii) to the extent applicable, set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of
Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated, and (iii) specify the termination date, which date shall be not less than 15 days or more than 60 days after the giving of such notice. The failure to set forth in such
notice any fact or circumstance that contributes to a showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right hereunder or preclude Executive or the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing Executive’s or the
Company’s rights hereunder. 
 11. Full Settlement. The Company’s obligation to make any payments provided for in this
Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall be in lieu and in full settlement of all other severance payments to Executive under [the Employment Agreement and]23 any other
severance or employment agreement between Executive and the Company and any severance plan of the Company. The Company’s obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any set-off, counterclaim,
recoupment, defense, or other claim, right, or action that the Company may have against Executive or others. In no event shall Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to
Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement and, except as provided in Section 4(c), such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not Executive obtains other employment. 

12. Survival. The respective obligations and benefits afforded to the Company and Executive as provided in Sections 3 (to the
extent that payments or benefits are owed as a result of a termination of employment that occurs during the term of this Agreement), 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 16 and 17 shall survive the termination of this Agreement. 

13. Governing Law; Validity. The interpretation, construction, and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Kansas without regard to the principle of conflicts of laws. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any
other provision of this Agreement, which other provisions shall remain in full force and effect. 
  

 

	23 	 Option 1 

  
 8 

 14. Counterparts; Entireties. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to its subject matter and supersedes all prior
agreements or understandings between the parties with respect to such matters [(including, without limitation, the Prior Agreement, which will be superseded in its entirety by this Agreement as of the Effective Date) ]24. This is not an employment agreement. [Employee’s employment with Company is and shall be at will for all purposes.]25 

15. Miscellaneous. For purposes of interpretation/enforcement, the parties to this Agreement shall be considered joint authors, and this
Agreement shall not be strictly construed against either such party. No provision of this Agreement may be modified or waived unless such modification or waiver is agreed to in writing and signed by Executive and by a duly authorized officer of the
Company. No waiver by either party at any time of any breach by the other party of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or
conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. Failure by Executive or the Company to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or to assert any right hereunder, including without limitation, the right of
Executive to terminate employment for Good Reason, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the rights of, and benefits payable
to, Executive, his estate, or his beneficiaries pursuant to this Agreement are in addition to any rights of, or benefits payable to, Executive, his estate, or his beneficiaries under any other employee benefit plan or compensation program of the
Company. 
 16. Compliance with Section 409A. To the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted,
construed, and administered in conformity with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (“Section 409A”) and the regulations and other guidance issued thereunder, including the
applicable exemptions. In the event that any payment or distribution to be made hereunder constitutes “deferred compensation” subject to Section 409A and Executive is determined to be a specified employee (as defined in
Section 409A), such payment or distribution shall not be made before the date that is six months after the termination of Executive’s employment (or, if earlier, the date of Executive’s death). Payments to which a specified employee
would otherwise be entitled during the first six months following the Date of Termination shall be accumulated and paid on the first date of the seventh month following the Date of Termination. If Executive is entitled to be paid or reimbursed for
any taxable expenses under this Agreement, and such payments or reimbursements are includible in Executive’s federal gross taxable income, the amount of such expenses reimbursable in any one calendar year shall not affect the amount
reimbursable in any other calendar year, and the reimbursement of an eligible expense must be made no later than December 31 of the year after the year in which the expense was incurred. No right of Executive to reimbursement of expenses under
this Agreement shall be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, (x) Executive shall have no right to determine, directly or indirectly, the year of any payment
subject to Section 409A; (y) if Executive does not sign the release required by Section 4(e) of this Agreement within the release consideration period or revokes the release 

 

	24 	 Language to be included for executives party to an existing change in control severance agreement.

	25 	 Option 2 

  
 9 

 
before it becomes effective, Executive shall forfeit any right to the payment, and (z) if the release consideration period begins in one taxable year and ends in a second taxable year, any
payments that would have been made in the first taxable year shall be made in the second taxable year to the extent required by Section 409A and the regulations and guidance issued thereunder. Finally, any installment payments under this
Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A. [In the event that the parties reasonably agree that this Agreement or the payments under this Agreement do not comply with Section 409A, the parties shall
cooperate to modify this Agreement to comply with Section 409A while endeavoring to maintain its economic intent.]26 

17. Section 280G. 

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein or in the Employment Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Company’s then
current independent registered public accounting firm or another accounting or similar firm selected by the Company, subject to Executive’s approval which shall not be unreasonably withheld (the “Accounting Firm”), shall determine
that any payment or distribution of any type to or for the Executive’s benefit made by the Company, by any of its Subsidiaries, by any person who acquires ownership or effective control of the Company or ownership of a substantial portion of
the Company’s assets (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and the regulations thereunder) or by any affiliate of such person, whether paid or payable or distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the
Employment Agreement or otherwise (collectively, the “Total Payments”), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (such excise tax, together
with any such interest or penalties, are collectively referred to as the “Excise Tax”), then the Accounting Firm shall determine whether such payments or distributions or benefits shall be reduced to such lesser amount as would result in
no portion of such payments or distributions or benefits being subject to the Excise Tax. Such reduction shall occur if and only to the extent that it would result in the Executive retaining, on an after-tax
basis (taking into account federal, state and local income taxes, employment, social security and Medicare taxes, the imposition of the Excise Tax and all other taxes, determined by applying the highest marginal rate under Section 1 of the Code
and under state and local laws which applied (or is likely to apply) to the Executive’s taxable income for the tax year in which the transaction which causes the application of Section 280G of the Code occurs, or such other rate(s) as the
Accounting Firm determines to be likely to apply to the Executive in the relevant tax year(s) in which any of the Total Payments is expected to be made) a larger amount as a result of such reduction than the Executive would receive, on a similar
after tax basis, if the Executive received all of the Total Payments. If the Accounting Firm determines that the Executive would not retain a larger amount on an after-tax basis if the Total Payments were so
reduced, then the Executive may elect, at his option, to retain all of the Total Payments. If the Total Payments are to be reduced, the reduction shall occur in the following order: (1) reduction of cash payments for which the full amount is
treated as a “parachute payment” (as defined under Section 280G of the Code and the regulations thereunder); (2) cancellation of accelerated vesting (or, if necessary, payment) of cash awards for which the full amount is not treated
as a parachute payment; (3) reduction of any continued employee benefits; and (4) 
  

	26 	 Option 1 

  
 10 

 
cancellation or reduction of any accelerated vesting of equity awards. In selecting the equity awards (if any) for which vesting will be cancelled or reduced under clause (4) of the
preceding sentence, awards shall be selected in a manner that maximizes the after-tax aggregate amount of reduced Total Payments provided to the Executive, provided that if (and only if) necessary in order to
avoid the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A, awards instead shall be selected in the reverse order of the date of grant. If two or more equity awards are granted on the same date, each award will be reduced on a pro-rata basis. The Executive and the Company shall furnish such documentation and documents as may be necessary for the Accounting Firm to perform the requisite Section 280G of the Code computations and
analysis, and the Accounting Firm shall provide a written report of its determinations, hereunder, including detailed supporting calculations. If the Accounting Firm determines that aggregate Total Payments should be reduced as described above, it
shall promptly notify the Executive and the Company to that effect. In the absence of manifest error, all determinations made by the Accounting Firm under this Section 17(a) shall be binding on the Executive and the Company and shall be made as
soon as reasonably practicable and in no event later than thirty (30) days following the later of the Executive’s Date of Termination or the date of the transaction which causes the application of Section 280G of the Code. The Company
shall bear all costs, fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm. 
 (b) To the extent requested by the Executive, the Company
shall cooperate with the Executive in good faith in valuing, and the Accounting Firm shall take into account the value of, services to be provided by the Executive (including the Executive agreeing to refrain from performing services pursuant to a
covenant not to compete) before, on or after the date of the transaction which causes the application of Section 280G of the Code such that payments in respect of such services may be considered to be “reasonable compensation” within
the meaning of Q&A-9 and Q&A-40 to Q&A-44 of the final regulations under Section 280G of the Code and/or exempt
from the definition of the term “parachute payment” within the meaning of Q&A-2(a) of such final regulations in accordance with Q&A-5(a) of such final
regulations. 
 (c) If it is ultimately determined (by IRS private letter ruling or closing agreement, court decision or
otherwise) that the Executive’s Total Payments were reduced by too much or by too little in order to accomplish the purpose of this Section 17, the Executive and the Company shall promptly cooperate to correct such underpayment or
overpayment in a manner consistent with the purpose of this Section 17, provided, however, that in no event shall such a correction be made if doing so would be a violation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as it may be amended from time to
time. 

  
 11 

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by a duly
authorized officer of the Company and Executive has executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written. 
  

			
	COMPASS MINERALS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 
			
		
	By:	 	  

	Name:
	Title:
	
	  

	Name:

 Exhibit A 

[Attached] 

  
 2

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