OR and ROA have been selected as performance measures because of their high correlation to shareholder returns. Efforts to improve these measures align CSX’s business objectives in a way that allows individuals to equate personal actions to desired performance outcomes. Each Plan Participant should be motivated to grow revenue, reduce expense, improve service, increase productivity, improve safety, and increase asset utilization.
Performance Awards
As shown in the Performance Measure and Payout Percentage Table in Exhibit B, Performance Awards are paid as a percentage of a Participant’s Performance Units based upon the applicable measures discussed above. All Performance Awards will be paid in CSX common stock.
A Participant who commits an act involving moral turpitude that adversely affects the reputation or business of the Companies shall forfeit any Performance Units. Examples of acts of moral turpitude include, but are not limited to, dishonesty or fraud involving CSX or any affiliated company, their employees, vendors, or customers or a violation of the CSX Code of Ethics.
Participants subject to the Claw Back Provision contained herein, who violate the conditions (i) through (v) of the Claw Back Provision below, shall forfeit any Performance Units.
No Performance Award is earned under the Plan until the Compensation Committee approves the payout percentage based upon the level of achievement of the performance measures for the Cycle.
Impact of Change in Employment Status
Performance Awards generally will be paid only to Participants who are actively employed by the Companies at the end of the applicable three-year performance cycle. Except as provided below, all other Participants whose employment terminates prior to the end of the Cycle shall forfeit any and all Performance Units and thus receive no Performance Award. All Performance Awards will be payable no later than March 15 following the end of the Cycle.
A Participant whose employment terminates due to death, disability, or retirement shall be eligible to receive a pro-rata Performance Award under the LTIP based on the Performance Award the Participant would have received had there been no death, disability or retirement. The pro-rata Performance Award will be determined based upon the number of months of participation relative to the number of months in the Cycle. Retirement shall mean (i) the attainment of age 55 and 10 years of Company service, or (ii) the attainment of age 65. Disability shall mean long-term disability as defined in the long-term disability plan of the Company covering the Participant. In the case of death, such Performance Awards shall be paid to the Participant’s estate, or as otherwise required by law.