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FORWARD AIR CORP

For the period ended Dec 31, 2023. Filed Mar 15, 2024.

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FY2023 · Filed Mar 15, 2024

FWRD$17.65+6.1%Stored close · as of Nov 9, 2026

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Contents

Exhibit Index

EXHIBIT INDEX
No.Exhibit
2.1Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 10, 2023 by and among, among others, Forward Air Corporation and Omni Newco LLC (incorporated herein by reference to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 14, 2023).
2.2Amendment No. 1 to the Original Merger Agreement, dated January 22, 2024, by and among Forward Air Corporation and Omni Newco, LLC (incorporated herein by reference to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 24, 2024).
3.1Restated Charter of the registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 28, 1999 (File No. 0-22490))
3.2Amended and Restated Bylaws of the registrant (incorporated herein by reference to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 13, 2023).
3.3Articles of Amendment to the Restated Charter of Forward Air Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2024).
4.1Form of Forward Air Corporation Common Stock Certificate (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1998 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 16, 1998 (File No. 0-22490))
4.2Description of Capital Stock
4.3Indenture, dated as of October 2, 2023, by and among Clue Opco LLC (as successor to GN Bondco, LLC), as issuer, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent (incorporated herein by reference to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2024).
4.4First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 25, 2024, by and among Clue Opco LLC, as issuer, Forward Air Corporation and the other guarantors party thereto, as guarantors, and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent (incorporated herein by reference to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2024).
10.1*Forward Air Corporation 2005 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated herein by reference to the registrant's Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 20, 2005 (File No. 0-22490))
10.2Air Carrier Certificate, effective August 28, 2003 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2004 (File No. 0-22490))
10.3Form of Director Indemnification Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 23, 2018 (File No. 0-22490))
10.4*Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under the registrant's Amended and Restated Stock Option and Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2011 (File No. 0-22490))
10.5*Forward Air Corporation Amended and Restated Stock Option and Incentive Plan, as further amended and restated on February 7, 2013 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 13, 2013 (File No. 0-22490))
10.6First Amendment to the Forward Air Corporation Amended and Restated Stock Option and Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2016 (File No. 0-22490))
10.7*Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the registrant’s Amended and Restated Stock Option and Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2016 (File No. 0-22490))
10.8*Form of CEO Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the registrant’s Amended and Restated Stock Option and Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2016 (File No. 0-22490))
10.9*Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Units Agreement under the registrant’s Amended and Restated Non- Employee Director Stock Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2016 (File No. 0-22490))
10.10*Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Agreement under the registrant’s Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Stock Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2016 (File No. 0-22490))
10.11*Form of Employee Restricted Share Agreement under the registrant’s 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2016))
10.12*Form of CEO Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the registrant’s 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 22, 2017)
10.13*Form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the registrant’s 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.44 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 22, 2017)
10.14*Form of Performance Share Agreement under the registrant’s 2016 Omnibus Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.45 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 22, 2017)
10.15*Form of Notice of Grant of Performance Shares under the registrant’s 2016 Omnibus Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27, 2017)
10.16*Forward Air Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2017 (File No. 0-22490))
10.17*Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Stock Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2017 (File No. 02-22490))
10.18Credit Agreement dated September 29, 2017 among Forward Air Corporation and Forward Air, Inc., as the borrowers, the subsidiaries of the borrowers identified therein as the guarantors, Bank of America, N.A., U.S. Bank National Association and the other lenders party thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 3, 2017)
10.18AFirst Amendment dated April 16, 2020 to Credit Agreement dated September 29, 2017 by and among Forward Air Corporation and Forward Air, Inc., as borrowers, certain subsidiaries of the borrowers as guarantors, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and lender, U.S. Bank National Association, as lender, and the other lenders party thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 1, 2020)
10.18BSecond Amendment dated July 20, 2021 to Credit Agreement dated September 29, 2017 by and among Forward Air Corporation and Forward Air, Inc., as borrowers, certain subsidiaries of the borrowers as guarantors, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and lender, U.S. Bank National Association, as lender and the other lenders part thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 10, 2021)
10.18CThird Amendment, dated December 29, 2021, to the Credit Agreement dated September 29, 2017 by and among Forward Air Corporation and Forward Air, Inc., as borrowers, certain subsidiaries of the borrowers as guarantors, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and lender, U.S. Bank National Association, as lender and the other lenders part thereto (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 5, 2022)
10.19*Form of CEO Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the registrant’s 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2018)
10.20*Form of CEO Performance Share Agreement under the registrant’s 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2018)
10.21*Form of CEO Restricted Stock Agreement under the registrant’s 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 26, 2018)
10.22*Employment Agreement, dated June 6, 2018, between Forward Air Corporation and Thomas Schmitt (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 12, 2018)
10.23*Restrictive Covenants Agreement, dated June 6, 2018, between Forward Air Corporation and Thomas Schmitt (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 12, 2018)
10.24*Waiver and Acknowledgment, dated June 11, 2018 between Forward Air Corporation and Bruce Campbell (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 12, 2018)
10.25Consulting Agreement effective May 7, 2019, between Forward Air Corporation and Bruce A. Campbell (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 25, 2019)
10.26Form of Performance Share Agreement (Total Shareholder Return) under the registrant's 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 25, 2019)
10.27Form of Performance Share Agreement (EBITDA per Share) under the registrant's 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 25, 2019)
10.28*Scott E. Schara Offer Letter, dated as of July 23, 2020 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2020)
10.29*Amended and Restated Consulting Agreement effective July 28, 2020, between Forward Air Corporation and Matthew J. Jewell (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 31, 2020)
10.30Advisory Agreement effective April 5, 2021, between Forward Air Corporation and Michael J. Morris (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 4, 2021)
10.31Amendment No. 1 dated October 29, 2021 to Advisory Agreement, dated October 29, 2021, between Forward Air Corporation and Michael J. Morris (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 8, 2021)
10.32Rebecca J. Garbrick Offer Letter dated as of June 21, 2021 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 25, 2021 (File No. 0-22490))
10.33Form of CEO Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement under the registrant's 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2022)
10.34Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement under the registrant's 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2022)
10.35Form of Performance Share Agreement (Total Shareholder Return) under the registrant's 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2022)
10.36*Forward Air Corporation Executive Severance and Change in Control Plan Amended and Restated, effective as of October 25, 2021 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2022)
10.37Separation and General Release Agreement between Scott E. Schara and Forward Air Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2022 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 09, 2022)
10.38Equity Purchase Agreement, dated December 20, 2023 by and between Forward Air Corporation, Forward Air Final Mile, LLC, FFM, LLC, Forward Air, Inc., FAF, Inc., and Hub Group, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 27, 2023)
10.39Credit Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2023, by and among, GN Loanco, LLC, the other credit parties party thereto from time to time, Citibank, N.A. and the lenders and L/C issuers party thereto from time to time (incorporated herein by reference to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2024).
10.40Escrow Release Date Assumption and Joinder Agreement, dated as of January 25, 2024, among GN Loanco, LLC, Clue Opco LLC, Forward Air Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Citibank, N.A. (incorporated herein by reference to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2024).
10.41Escrow Release Date Incremental Revolving Amendment, dated as of January 25, 2024, among Clue Opco LLC, the credit parties party thereto from time to time, the lenders party thereto from time to time and Citibank, N.A. (incorporated herein by reference to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2024).
10.42Shareholder Agreement, dated as of January 25, 2024, by and among, Forward Air Corporation, REP Omni Holdings, L.P. and the other parties thereto (incorporated herein by reference to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2024).
10.43Shareholder Agreement, dated as of January 25, 2024, by and among, Forward Air Corporation, EVE Omni Investor, LLC and Omni Investor Holdings, LLC and the other parties thereto (incorporated herein by reference to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2024).
10.44Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of January 25, 2024, by and among Forward Air Corporation, REP Omni Holdings, L.P. and Omni Investor Holdings L.P. (incorporated herein by reference to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2024).
10.45Tax Receivable Agreement, dated as of January 25, 2024, by and among Forward Air Corporation, Central States Logistics, Inc., Clue Opco LLC and the members from time to time party thereto (incorporated herein by reference to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2024).
10.46Amendment No. 2, dated as of February 12, 2024, among Clue Opco LLC, the revolving lenders party thereto and Citibank, N.A. (incorporated herein by reference to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 15, 2024).
21.1Subsidiaries of the registrant
23.1Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
31.1Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) (17 CFR 240.13a-14(a))
31.2Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) (17 CFR 240.13a-14(a))
32.1Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INSThe instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the inline XBRL document.
101.SCHXBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
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104Cover Page Interactive File (formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

*Denotes a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

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