Exhibit 10.1

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of October 29,
2012, to be effective as of the “Commencement Date” (as defined below), by and
between Christopher & Banks Corporation, a Delaware corporation with its
headquarters located in Plymouth, Minnesota (the “Company”), and LuAnn Via
(“Executive”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Executive as the Company’s President and
Chief Executive Officer and the Executive desires to accept and serve as the
Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, in each case, pursuant to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, Executive understands that such employment is expressly conditioned on
execution of this Agreement by Executive and the Company.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of Executive’s employment as the Company’s
President and Chief Executive Officer and the foregoing recitals, the mutual
covenants set forth below, and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and Executive
agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1
EMPLOYMENT

 

1.1                               Employment.  Commencing as of November 26,
2012 (the “Commencement Date”), the Company hereby employs Executive, and
Executive agrees to be employed by the Company, as its President and Chief
Executive Officer (“CEO”).  In addition, the Board of Directors of the Company
(the “Board”) has, at a Board meeting held prior to the date hereof, voted to
elect Executive as a member of the Board, effective as of the Commencement Date,
and Executive hereby agrees to serve in such capacity, effective as of such
date, in each case, conditioned upon Executive’s commencement of employment as
CEO of the Company on such date.  The Board shall further nominate Executive as
a candidate to serve as a director on the Board each year that Executive
continues to serve as CEO.

 

ARTICLE 2
TERM

 

2.1                               Term.  The initial term of this Agreement
shall be the period commencing on the Commencement Date and ending on the third
anniversary of the Commencement Date, unless terminated earlier as provided in
Articles 11 or 12.  Thereafter, the Agreement shall automatically renew for
successive one (1) year periods as of the anniversary of the Commencement Date
(a “Renewal Date”), unless terminated pursuant to Articles 11 or 12 or one party
provides the other with written notice of its intent to terminate the Agreement
ninety (90)

 

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or more days prior to the third anniversary of the Commencement Date or any
Renewal Date thereafter.

 

ARTICLE 3
DUTIES

 

3.1                               Duties.  Executive agrees to perform such
duties as are customarily incident to her position as CEO, including those set
forth in the Company’s Bylaws and those assigned to her from time to time by the
Board of Directors of the Company.  Executive agrees to devote her full business
time and effort, to the best of her ability, to carry out her duties faithfully
as an Executive of the Company for the profit, benefit and advantage of the
business of the Company.  Executive shall report directly and exclusively to the
Board of Directors.  Other than her current service as a member of the boards of
directors and/or advisors of Mela Sciences, Inc. and Two Ten Footwear
Foundation, Executive shall not serve on the board of directors of a public or
private company (other than on the boards of the Company and its Affiliates),
unless the Board of Directors of the Company has reviewed and consented to, in
advance, Executive’s service on such board.

 

3.2                               Affiliate Duties.  Executive acknowledges and
agrees that, from time to time, she will be required to perform duties (as an
officer, director or otherwise) with respect to one or more of the Company’s
subsidiaries or affiliated companies (each, an “Affiliate”).  As of the date
hereof, the Company has two subsidiaries (Christopher & Banks, Inc. and
Christopher & Banks Company) and no other affiliated entities.  Executive agrees
that she will perform such duties pursuant to the same standard as is set forth
in Section 3.1.

 

ARTICLE 4
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

 

4.1                               Base Salary.  The Company agrees to pay
Executive an annualized base salary, less required and authorized deductions and
withholdings, of $800,000 through the fiscal year ending February 1, 2014
(“fiscal year 2013”).  For each fiscal year that this Agreement remains in
effect after fiscal year 2013, Executive’s base salary shall be reviewed and
adjustments, if any, shall be determined by the Compensation Committee of the
Board (or any successor committee thereto, the “Compensation Committee”) in its
sole discretion.  Executive acknowledges and agrees that she shall not receive
any compensation in addition to that set forth in this Article 4 for her service
as a member of the Board or of any Affiliate board, or for service as an officer
of any Affiliate.

 

4.2                               Signing Bonus.  In lieu of Executive’s
foregone discretionary cash award from her prior employer, the Company agrees to
pay Executive a signing bonus in the amount of $200,000 (the “Signing Bonus”),
less required and authorized deductions and withholdings, on the Commencement
Date.  Executive agrees that, if she voluntarily leaves (in the absence of Good
Reason) her employment as CEO of the Company, or her employment is terminated
for “Cause” (as hereinafter defined), in each case, prior to the first
anniversary of the Commencement Date, she shall be obligated to return 100% of
the Signing Bonus to the Company within ten (10) business days following her
departure.

 

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4.3                               Inducement Award:  Annual Incentive for Fiscal
Year 2013.  As an inducement to Executive to accept employment with the Company
as its CEO, effective as of the Commencement Date, the Company shall grant to
Executive non-qualified stock options covering 500,000 shares of the Company’s
Common Stock, vesting in full as of the close of business on February 1, 2014,
the last day of fiscal year 2013.  Such award is intended to be in lieu of any
incentive that Executive would receive in connection with the Company’s annual
incentive program for fiscal year 2013.  The exercise price of the stock options
will be the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the New York Stock
Exchange (“NYSE”) on the Commencement Date.  The stock options will be granted
as part of an employee inducement award authorized by the Board pursuant to the
NYSE Listed Company Manual Rule 303A.08, and will be subject to the Company’s
and Executive’s execution of an Option Agreement reflecting the terms described
in this Section 4.3 and in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

4.4                               Inducement Award:  Long-Term Incentive.  As an
inducement to Executive to accept employment with the Company as its CEO,
effective as of the Commencement Date, the Company shall grant to Executive
non-qualified stock options covering 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s Common
Stock, vesting in equal annual installments over three (3) years, starting on
the first anniversary of the Commencement Date.  The exercise price of the stock
options will be the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on the NYSE on
the Commencement Date.  The stock options will be granted as part of an employee
inducement award authorized by the Board pursuant to the NYSE Listed Company
Manual Rule 303A.08, and will be subject to the Company’s and Executive’s
execution of an Option Agreement reflecting the terms described in this Section
4.4 and in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.  Executive understands,
acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing inducement award is intended to be
made in lieu of any future long-term incentive equity grants to Executive for
the three (3) fiscal-year period ending on January 30, 2016, and that the
Company shall not be obligated to make any other long-term incentive equity
grants to Executive for the three (3) fiscal-year period ending on January 30,
2016.

 

4.5                               Make-Whole Bonus.  In lieu of Executive’s
potential foregone annual performance cash award from her prior employer, the
Company will pay Executive a guaranteed bonus of $300,000, less required and
authorized withholdings and deductions.  Such amount shall be payable in equal,
annual installments of $150,000 on each of the first and second anniversaries of
the Commencement Date; provided that, Executive must continue to hold the
position of CEO of the Company on each of such dates in order to receive the
applicable installment payment (absent a termination without Cause or with Good
Reason prior to such date(s)).

 

4.6                               Annual Bonus Potential.  For fiscal years 2014
and thereafter, provided that Executive remains employed by the Company as CEO
for the applicable entire fiscal year, Executive shall be eligible to earn an
annual bonus at target each fiscal year of 100% of her then-current base salary,
payable in cash and/or in equity of the Company, in accordance with the
Company’s annual incentive plan for the CEO and the other executives of the
Company as in effect and approved, after considering the input of the CEO with
respect to such annual incentive plan, by the Board or the Compensation
Committee from time to time.  The bonus shall be earned at the close of the
relevant fiscal year and will be paid to Executive regardless of whether she is
employed on the date the bonus is actually paid, so long as she is employed on
the last day of the fiscal year.  If a bonus is earned pursuant to the terms of
this Section 4.6 for any fiscal year

 

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of the Company, it will be paid to Executive following the close of such fiscal
year in the ordinary course of business, but no later than 120 days after the
close of such fiscal year.

 

4.7                               Benefit Plan Participation.  Subject to the
terms and conditions of such plans and programs, Executive shall be entitled to
participate in the various other employee benefit plans and programs applicable
to senior executives of the Company including, but not limited to, medical
insurance, dental insurance, disability insurance and other benefits.  Executive
and her spouse shall be entitled to participate in the Company’s medical
insurance in accordance with the terms thereof as of the first calendar day of
the month following one month of continuous service after the Commencement Date
and the Company shall reimburse Executive for the COBRA costs incurred by
Executive for coverage under her existing benefit plans that provide such
coverage, for such period.

 

4.8                               Car Allowance.  The Company shall pay to
Executive a car allowance of $1,000 per month commencing with the month in which
the Commencement Date occurs.

 

4.9                               PTO.  Executive shall be entitled, during each
full calendar year in which this Agreement remains in effect, to six (6) weeks
of paid time-off (“PTO”) and pro rata portions thereof for any partial calendar
year of employment, plus all Company-recognized holidays.  Except as expressly
provided in the Company’s applicable PTO policy, any PTO not used during any
such calendar year may not be carried forward to any succeeding calendar year
and shall be forfeited.  Employee shall not be entitled to receive any payment
in cash for PTO remaining unused at the end of any year, except as expressly
provided in the applicable Company PTO policy.  At separation from employment,
the Company will pay Executive for any unused PTO in the year of such
separation, prorated from January 1 of the year of separation through
Executive’s last day of employment to the extent consistent with the terms of
the Company’s applicable PTO policy.

 

4.10                        Business Expenses.  The Company will reimburse
Executive for all reasonable and documented business expenses in accordance with
its Business Expense Policy; provided, however, that, with respect to
reimbursements, if any, not otherwise excludible from Executive’s gross income,
to the extent required to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code Section 409A”), no
reimbursement of expenses incurred by Executive during any taxable year shall be
made after the last day of the following taxable year, and the right to
reimbursement of such expenses shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange
for another benefit.

 

4.11                        Relocation Expenses.  The Company understands that
Executive will maintain a permanent residence in Memphis, Tennessee, and will
commute to the Company’s Plymouth, Minnesota headquarters each week and work
full-time for the Company, based out of such Company headquarters location.  The
Company will:  (1) pay for Executive’s or reimburse Executive for weekly coach
round-trip airfare between Memphis, Tennessee and Plymouth, Minnesota for a
period commencing on the Commencement Date and ending on the six (6) month
anniversary thereof; (2) pay for and arrange the pack and move of Executive’s
current executive housing household goods from Kansas City, Kansas to the
Minneapolis-St. Paul area through one of its preferred carriers; and (3) pay up
to $5,000 per month for up to six (6) months of temporary living expenses in
corporate housing/apartment while Executive secures a more

 

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permanent place of residence in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, such payments to
commence with respect to the first full calendar month following the
Commencement Date.

 

4.12                        Accrued Payments at Termination.  In addition to any
other rights as set forth in this Agreement, upon termination of Executive’s
employment, regardless of the reason, Executive shall be entitled to receive the
accrued but unpaid portion of Executive’s salary through the date of
termination, any accrued but unused PTO balance through the date of termination,
any properly incurred and submitted unpaid expenses, and benefits that are
vested as of the date of termination.

 

ARTICLE 5
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

5.1                               Cause.  For purposes of this Agreement,
“Cause” means:

 

(a)                                 the failure or refusal of Executive to
perform substantially Executive’s duties hereunder (other than as a result of
total or partial incapacity due to physical or mental illness), any material
failure of Executive to comply with material Company policies (including the
Business Expense Policy, Corporate Governance Guidelines, Corporate Disclosure
Policy, Code of Conduct, Ethical Principles, Insider Trading Policy and policies
against discrimination, harassment and retaliation), any material breach of
Executive’s fiduciary duties to the Company (including Executive’s appropriation
or attempted appropriation of a material business opportunity of the Company),
and any material failure or refusal of Executive to carry out a lawful directive
of the Board when it was within Executive’s power to do so;

 

(b)                                 the engaging by Executive in intentional or
willful misconduct which is materially injurious to the reputation, business,
financial condition or business relationships of the Company;

 

(c)                                  perpetration of an act of fraud,
embezzlement or theft against or affecting the Company or any customer,
supplier, client, agent, or executive thereof;

 

(d)                                 conviction (including conviction on a nolo
contendere plea) of a felony or any crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral
turpitude; or

 

(e)                                  the material breach of any covenant set
forth in Articles 6, 7 or 8 hereof;

 

provided, however that:

 

(i)                                     a termination pursuant to clauses (a),
(b), (c) or (e) shall not become effective unless the Board has delivered
written notice to Executive describing Executive’s actions constituting “Cause”
and Executive has failed to demonstrate to the Board within fifteen (15)
business days thereafter that her actions did not constitute “Cause” as
described in such notice; and

 

(ii)                                  a termination pursuant to clauses (a) or
(e) above, if susceptible of cure (and which has not been the subject of any
previous written notice), shall not become effective unless Executive fails to
cure such failure to perform or breach within thirty (30) days

 

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after written notice from the Board identifying what reasonable actions shall be
required to cure such failure to perform.

 

Executive understands and agrees that, whether or not she is a member of the
Board at the time, she shall not participate, in her capacity as a Board member,
in any deliberations or actions undertaken by the Board with respect to any
determination that the Board may consider reaching with respect to the matters
covered by this Section 5.1.  She may, however, request a reasonable opportunity
to be heard by the Board at a duly scheduled meeting for such purpose prior to
the Board reaching a final determination regarding a termination for Cause
pursuant to clauses (a), (b) or (e) above.

 

5.2                               A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have
occurred upon:

 

(a)                                 the occurrence of an acquisition by any
individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2)
of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of
Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of a percentage of the combined
voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Company Voting Securities”)
(but excluding (1) any acquisition directly from the Company (other than an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege of a security
that was not acquired directly from the Company), (2) any acquisition by the
Company or an Affiliate and (3) any acquisition by an employee benefit plan (or
related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate) (an
“Acquisition”) that is thirty percent (30%) or more of the Company Voting
Securities;

 

(b)                                 at any time during a period of two (2)
consecutive years or less, individuals who at the beginning of such period
constitute the Board (and any new directors whose election by the Board or
nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of
at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were
directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for
election was so approved) cease for any reason (except for death, disability or
voluntary retirement) to constitute a majority thereof;

 

(c)                                  an Acquisition that is fifty percent (50%)
or more of the Company Voting Securities;

 

(d)                                 the consummation of a merger, consolidation,
reorganization or similar corporate transaction, whether or not the Company is
the surviving Company in such transaction, other than a merger, consolidation,
or reorganization that would result in the Persons who are beneficial owners of
the Company Voting Securities outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing
to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in substantially the same
proportions, at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the
Company Voting Securities (or the voting securities of the surviving entity)
outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation or reorganization;

 

(e)                                  the sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company;

 

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(f)                                   the approval by the stockholders of the
Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

 

(g)                                  the occurrence of any transaction or event,
or series of transactions or events, designated by the Board in a duly adopted
resolution as representing a change in the effective control of the business and
affairs of the Company, effective as of the date specified in any such
resolution.

 

5.3                               “Confidential Information” means any
information that is not generally known, including trade secrets, outside the
Company and that is proprietary to the Company, relating to any phase of the
Company’s existing or reasonably foreseeable business which is disclosed to
Executive during Executive’s employment by the Company including information
conceived, discovered or developed by Executive.  Confidential Information
includes, but is not limited to, business plans; financial statements and
projections; operating forms (including contracts) and procedures; payroll and
personnel information and records; marketing materials, sales and marketing
plans; product designs; new product development; business acquisition and
divestiture plans; supplier information; customer information; software codes
and computer programs; customer lists; project lists; project files; training
manuals; policies and procedures manuals; health and safety manuals; target
lists for new stores and information relating to potential new store locations;
non-public financial information, including price information and cost
information; administrative techniques; or any other documents or information
that is designated by the Company as “Confidential” or similarly designated. 
Information shall no longer be deemed to be “Confidential Information” pursuant
to this Section 5.3 in the event that it becomes publicly known through no
action on the part of Executive (other than actions taken in the ordinary
performance of Executive’s duties as CEO).

 

5.4                               A “Competitor” means a retailer, whether
operating through stores or the Internet (or both), of women’s apparel and/or
accessories that is focused on selling such merchandise to the female baby
boomer demographic.  Competitor currently means the following companies: 
Ascena, Inc. (including, but not limited to, its Dress Barn Inc. and Charming
Shoppes operations), The Cato Company, Talbots, Inc., Chico’s FAS, Inc.,
Coldwater Creek, Inc., New York & Co., United Retail Group, Inc., Ann Taylor,
Kohl’s and J.C. Penney’s.  This list may be amended by mutual written agreement
of the parties only.  “Competitor” shall also include all divisions and
subsidiaries of the companies identified in this Section 5.4 (as may be amended
by the parties) which satisfy the parameters set forth in the first sentence of
this Section 5.4, and shall not include other divisions and subsidiaries of such
companies.

 

5.5                               “Fiscal year” means the 52 or 53-week period
ending on the Saturday closest to January 31.

 

5.6                               “Good Reason” means a resignation of
employment by the Executive within ninety (90) days following the occurrence of
any one or more of the following events without the Executive’s written
consent:  (i) any material diminution in Executive’s position, responsibilities
or title; (ii) any diminution in Executive’s base compensation, other than when
made on the same or substantially similar basis for all senior executives of the
Company by the Compensation Committee after considering Executive’s input, or
(iii) the Company’s material breach of this Agreement which has not been cured
as provided below in this Section 5.6.

 

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Executive shall have Good Reason to terminate her employment if (i) within
forty-five (45) days following Executive’s actual knowledge of the event which
Executive determines constitutes Good Reason, she notifies the Company in
writing that she has determined a Good Reason exists and specifies in reasonable
detail the event creating Good Reason, and (ii) if susceptible of cure,
following receipt of such notice, the Company fails to remedy such event within
thirty (30) days.  If either condition is not met, Executive shall not have a
Good Reason to terminate her employment.

 

ARTICLE 6
NONCOMPETITION AND NONSOLICITATION

 

6.1                               Noncompetition Covenant.  In consideration of
the financial and other benefits described in this Agreement, Executive agrees
that, during the period commencing on the Commencement Date and ending on the
date that is one (1) year after the date on which Executive ceases to be
employed by the Company (for whatever reason and whether such cessation is
occasioned by the Company or Executive), so long as the Company has paid all
compensation (including periodic severance payments, if any) then due to
Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, Executive shall not, on
behalf of any Competitor, directly or indirectly, and in any manner or capacity
(e.g., as an advisor, principal, agent, consultant, partner, officer, director,
investor, shareholder, employee, member of any association or otherwise), engage
in any business activities that are competitive with the business conducted by
the Company or any Company Affiliate with which Executive was actively and
routinely involved during the six (6) months prior to the date Executive ceases
to be employed by the Company.

 

6.2                               Geographical Extent of Covenant.  Executive
acknowledges that the Company directly, or indirectly through the Company
Affiliates, currently is engaged in business throughout the United States of
America (“U.S.”), including each county and state thereof.  Consequently,
Executive agrees that her obligations under this Article 6 shall apply in any
market in the U.S. (a) in which the Company or, as applicable, any Affiliate
with which Executive is actively and routinely involved, operate during the six
(6) month period preceding Executive’s final day of employment; and (b) the
Company or, as applicable, any Affiliate with which Executive is actively and
routinely involved, has plans (with which Executive is familiar) to enter on the
date Executive ceases to be employed by the Company.

 

6.3                               Limitation on Covenant.  Ownership by
Executive, as a passive investment, of less than three percent (3%) of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of any corporation listed on a national
securities exchange or publicly traded in the over-the-counter market shall not
constitute a breach of this Article 6.

 

6.4                               Nonsolicitation and Nonhire.  Executive agrees
that, for a period of one (1) year after termination of her employment for any
reason (and whether occasioned by the Company or Executive so long as the
Company has paid all compensation (including periodic severance payments, if
any) then due to Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement), Executive
shall not, except with the prior written consent of the Company:  (a) hire or
attempt to hire for employment any person who is employed by the Company or any
Affiliate, or attempt to influence any such person to terminate employment with
the Company or any Affiliate; (b)

 

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induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any Affiliate to work
for, render services to, provide advice to, or supply confidential business
information or trade secrets of the Company or any Company Affiliate to any
third person, firm or corporation; or (c) induce or attempt to induce any
customer, supplier, licensee, licensor or other business relation of the Company
or any Affiliate to cease doing business with the Company or such Affiliate, or
in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier,
licensee, licensor or other business relation and the Company or any Affiliate. 
Nothing herein shall prohibit Executive from general advertising for personnel,
including by use of the Internet, not specifically targeting any employee or
other personnel of the Company, or from hiring any such employee or other
personnel responding to such general advertising.

 

The foregoing limitations shall not apply with respect to:  (i) any former
employee of the Company whose employment terminated prior to the Commencement
Date, or (ii) any employee of the Company whose employment is terminated after
the Commencement Date and prior to the date of Executive’s termination of
employment, so long as at least six (6) months have passed between the date of
such employee’s employment termination and the date of any action by Executive
set forth in the first sentence of this Section 6.4.

 

6.5                               Nondisparagement.  During and after the Term,
Executive agrees not to make any remarks (whether in public or private)
knowingly or intentionally disparaging the Company or any Affiliate, or their
respective products, services, officers, director or employees, whether past or
current, including any present, former or future director, officer, employee or
agent of the Company or any Affiliate.  The Company’s Board of Directors and
senior management team agrees not to make any public remark knowingly or
intentionally disparaging the Executive during and after the Term.

 

ARTICLE 7
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND COMPANY PROPERTY

 

7.1                               Nondisclosure.  Unless authorized in writing
by the Company, Executive will not directly or indirectly use for any purpose
other than for the benefit of the Company and its Affiliates or divulge, either
during the term of, or after the conclusion of, her employment, or until such
information becomes generally known, to any person not authorized by the Company
or its Affiliates to receive or use it, any Confidential Information for any
purpose whatsoever.

 

7.2                               Company Documents.  All documents or other
tangible property relating in any way to the business of the Company or its
Affiliates which are conceived by Executive or come into her possession during
her employment shall be and remain the exclusive property of the Company. 
Executive agrees to return all such documents (and any summaries, abstracts or
other documents, files, or storage media containing information from such
documents) and tangible property to the Company upon termination of her
employment, or at such earlier time as the Company may request of Executive;
provided the Executive may retain a copy of any record which is a “personnel
record” under Minnesota law and any record (other than any corporate
governance-type records, including any minutes of Board or Board committee
meetings and “pre-read materials” supplied to Board or Committee members in
connection with such meetings) which she reasonably believes relates to the
Company’s assessment of (1) her job performance, (2) whether Cause exists under
this Agreement or (3) whether Good Reason exists

 

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under this Agreement; provided that, to the extent any such records retained by
Executive contain any Confidential Information, Executive shall not use or
divulge any such information (other than to enforce her rights under this
Agreement).

 

ARTICLE 8
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND WORK FOR HIRE

 

8.1                               Intellectual Property Assignment.  Executive
hereby irrevocably assigns to the Company and its successors, assigns, and legal
representatives:

 

(a)                                 Except as provided by any statutory notice
provided herewith, the entire right, title and interest to all Inventions;

 

(i)                                     “Inventions,” as used herein, means all
inventions conceived or made, or reduced to practice in whole or in part by
Executive during employment by the Company that constitute discoveries,
improvements, designs, processes, techniques, trademarks, copyrights and ideas.

 

(b)                                 The right to apply for trademarks, and
copyrights in the U.S. and in foreign countries in its own name and to claim any
priority rights to which such foreign applications are entitled under
international conventions, treaties or otherwise; and

 

(c)                                  The right to sue for past, present, and
future infringement of such trademarks and copyrights.

 

Executive further agrees, upon request of the Company, to provide written
disclosure of all Inventions to the Company, even if a particular Invention is
not assigned according to terms of any statutory notice provided herewith.  This
Agreement does not apply to an invention for which no equipment, supplies,
facility or trade secret information of the Company was used and which was
developed entirely on Executive’s own time, and (1) which does not relate (a)
directly to the business of the Company or (b) to the Company’s actual or
demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (2) which does not result
from any work performed by Executive for the Company.

 

8.2                               Work for Hire.  Executive hereby acknowledges
and agrees that, to the extent any work performed by Executive for the Company
gives rise to the creation of any copyrightable material (“Work”), all such
Work, including all text, scripts, designs, diagrams, documentation, writings,
visual works, or other materials shall be deemed to be a work made for hire for
the Company.  To the extent that title to any Work may not, by operation of law,
vest in the Company or such Work may not be considered work for hire made for
the Company, Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that all rights, title and
interest therein shall be deemed to have been assigned and are hereby
irrevocably assigned to the Company, including but not limited to the right to
sue for past, present, and future infringement of any Work.  All such Work shall
belong exclusively to the Company, with the Company having the right to obtain
and to hold in its own name, copyrights, registrations or such other protection
as may be appropriate to the subject matter, and any extensions and renewals
thereof.  To the extent that title to any Work may not be assigned to the
Company, Executive hereby grants the Company a worldwide,

 

10

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nonexclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, fully paid-up, royalty-free, unlimited,
transferable, sublicensable license, without right of accounting, in such Work.

 

8.3                                 Further Documentation.  Executive agrees to
execute and deliver, without further consideration, such documents and to
perform such other lawful acts as the Company, its successors and assigns may
deem necessary to secure fully the Company’s rights, title or interest in all
Works and Inventions as set forth in this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE 9
JUDICIAL CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY

 

9.1                                 Severability.  Executive believes and
acknowledges that the provisions contained in this Agreement, including the
covenants contained in Articles 6, 7 and 8 of this Agreement, are fair and
reasonable, and necessary to protect the Company’s legitimate business
interests.  Nonetheless, it is agreed that if a court finds any of these
provisions to be invalid in whole or in part under the laws of any state, such
finding shall not invalidate the covenants, nor the Agreement in its entirety,
but rather the covenants shall be construed and/or bluelined, reformed or
rewritten by the court as if the most restrictive covenants permissible under
applicable law were contained herein.  If the invalid part cannot be so
modified, that part may be severed and the other parts of the Agreement shall
remain enforceable.

 

ARTICLE 10
CERTAIN REMEDIES

 

10.1                           Equitable Remedies.  Executive acknowledges and
agrees that the services to be rendered by her hereunder are of a special,
unique and extraordinary character, that it would be difficult to replace such
services and that any violation of Executive’s obligations under any of Articles
6, 7 or 8 would be highly injurious to the Company and/or to any Affiliate and
that it would be extremely difficult to compensate the Company and/or any
Affiliate fully for damages for any such violation.  Accordingly, the Company or
any Affiliate, as the case may be, shall be entitled to seek, without the
necessity of posting bond or proving any monetary damages, temporary and
permanent injunctive relief from a court of law, in the event of violation or
alleged or threatened violation by Executive of any of her obligations under any
provision of any of Articles 6, 7 or 8.  This provision with respect to
injunctive relief shall not, however, diminish the right of the Company or any
Affiliate to claim and recover damages, or to seek and obtain any other relief
available to it pursuant to the provisions of this Article 10.

 

10.2                           Performance Award Recoupment.  Executive
understands, acknowledges and agrees that the Company currently provides for the
recoupment of benefits gained by executives from the exercise of stock options
and other performance-based equity awards under certain circumstances and that
the Board intends to implement such recoupment policies, covering all
executives, including Executive, with respect to all forms of performance-based
awards (whether in the form of cash or stock).  Executive further understands,
acknowledges and agrees that Executive shall be subject to, and shall comply
with the terms of, all such present and future recoupment policies of the
Company.

 

11

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ARTICLE 11
CHANGE OF CONTROL

 

11.1                           Acceleration of Stock Options.  If there is a
Change in Control, all stock options and any other equity interests, then held
by Executive that are not vested as of immediately prior to the effective date
of the Change in Control shall vest immediately as of such date, subject to the
terms of the plan or plans, and related award agreements (including, without
limitation, Exhibits A and B hereto) under which Executive was granted such
options or other equity.

 

11.2                           Severance.  If Executive’s employment is
terminated by the Company or its successor without Cause or by Executive by
resignation with Good Reason upon or within twelve (12) months following a
Change in Control, Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company or
its successor (A) a lump sum payment equivalent to two (2) years of her
then-current base salary and two (2) times her then current on-target bonus, (B)
provided Executive is eligible for and timely elects COBRA coverage, payment of
Executive’s COBRA premiums for a period not to exceed eighteen (18) months and
that amount will be the amount of her then current COBRA payment, and (C) any
other compensation and benefits owed at termination of employment pursuant to
Article 4 of this Agreement.  This payment shall be made by the Company or its
successor within sixty (60) days following Executive’s termination date, subject
to the application of Code Section 409A as set forth in Section 12.1(d) of this
Agreement.  This payment shall be in lieu of, and not in addition to, any
severance pay or benefits set forth in Section 12.1 of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE 12
TERMINATION

 

12.1                           Termination Without Cause or With Good Reason. 
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company may terminate the
employment of Executive at any time without Cause by written notice of
termination of employment to Executive.  Further, the Executive may terminate
her employment at any time with Good Reason.

 

(a)                                  Severance Amounts.  In the event that the
Company terminates the employment of Executive without Cause or the Executive
resigns her employment with the Company with Good Reason, Executive shall
receive:

 

(i)                                     subject to the terms of subsection
12.1(b) below, severance payments according to the following schedule:

 

(1)                                  If termination occurs on or before the
first anniversary of the Commencement Date, then an amount equal to 200% of her
then-current base salary;

 

(2)                                  If termination occurs after the first
anniversary of the Commencement Date, then an amount equal to 100% of her
then-current base salary.

 

(ii)                                  provided that Executive is then-eligible
for and timely elects COBRA coverage, payment of Executive’s COBRA premiums for
a period not to exceed eighteen (18) months; and that amount will be the amount
of her then current COBRA payment; and

 

12

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(iii)                               any other compensation and benefits owed at
termination of employment pursuant to Article 4.

 

(b)                             Severance Payment Schedule.  Severance pay due
to Executive hereunder will be made over time in accordance with the Company’s
regular payroll schedule after expiration of any applicable rescission periods,
subject to the application of Code Section 409A as set forth in clause (d)
below.  Executive shall be entitled to the severance pay and benefits set forth
in this Section 12.1 only if she and remains in compliance with Articles 6, 7
and 8 of this Agreement and first executes, returns, does not rescind and
complies with a release of claims agreement in favor of the Company in a form
substantially similar to the document attached hereto as Exhibit C.

 

(c)                                  Cessation of Compensation or Benefits. 
Except as provided in Article 11 and this Section 12.1, all compensation and
benefits, including the vesting of outstanding and unvested equity grants
provided to Executive under this Agreement shall immediately cease upon her
termination, subject to applicable employment laws and regulations.

 

(d)                                 Application of Code Section 409A.  It is
intended that any payment or benefit that is provided pursuant to or in
connection with this Agreement that is considered to be deferred compensation
subject to Code Section 409A shall be paid and provided in a manner, and at such
time and form, as complies with the applicable requirements of Code Section 409A
to avoid the unfavorable tax consequences provided therein for non-compliance. 
It is further intended that the payments hereunder shall, to the maximum extent
permissible under Code Section 409A, be exempt from Code Section 409A under
either (i) the exception for involuntary separation pay, to the extent that all
payments are payable within the limitations described in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.409A-1(b)(9), or (ii) the short-term deferral exception described in
Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4), to the extent that all payments are
payable no later than two and one-half (2.5) months after the end of the first
taxable year in which the right to the payment is no longer subject to a
substantial risk of forfeiture.  In addition, the following shall apply:

 

(i)                                     If Executive is a “specified employee”
for purposes of Code Section 409A, any payments to be made or benefits to be
delivered in connection with Executive’s separation from service (as defined
below) that constitute deferred compensation subject to Code Section 409A shall
not be made until the earlier of (i) the Executive’s death or (ii) six (6)
months plus one (1) day after Executive’s separation from service (the “409A
Deferral Period”) as required by Code Section 409A.  Payments of any such
deferred compensation otherwise due to be made in installments or periodically
during the 409A Deferral Period shall be accumulated and paid in a lump sum as
soon as the 409A Deferral Period ends, and the balance of the payment shall be
made as otherwise scheduled.

 

(ii)                                  For purposes of this Agreement, all rights
to payments and benefits hereunder shall be treated as rights to receive a
series of separate payments and benefits to the fullest extent allowed by Code
Section 409A.

 

(iii)                               For purposes of this Agreement, with respect
to the timing of any amounts that constitute deferred compensation subject to
Code Section 409A that depends on

 

13

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termination of employment or separation from employment, or similar term shall
mean a “separation from service” or “involuntary separation from service” within
the meaning of Code Section 409A.  In addition, to the extent that a Change in
Control would affect the time or form of any amounts that constitute deferred
compensation subject to Code Section 409A, if such Change in Control would not
satisfy the Code Section 409A regulatory requirements for a “change in
ownership,” change in effective control,” or “change in ownership of a
substantial portion of assets” in Treasury regulations promulgated pursuant to
Code Section 409A, such definition of Change in Control shall be construed and
applied in a manner consistent with such regulatory definition.

 

(e)                                  Application of Section 11 for Change of
Control.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Section 12.1
shall not apply if Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company or its
successor without Cause, or Executive resigns her employment for Good Reason,
upon or within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control.  In such case,
Section 11 of this Agreement shall control.

 

12.2                           For Cause or Without Good Reason Termination. 
The Company may terminate Executive’s employment at any time for Cause, and the
Executive may resign her employment without Good Reason.  All compensation and
benefits provided to Executive under this Agreement shall immediately cease upon
her termination or resignation under this Section 12.2 (including, but not
limited to, bonus eligibility), subject to applicable employment laws and
regulations; provided that, Executive shall receive any compensation and
benefits owed at termination of employment pursuant to Article 4 of this
Agreement.

 

12.3                           Termination Upon Death or Disability.  This
Agreement will terminate upon Executive’s death or upon Executive’s disability
that prevents her from performing her essential job functions under this
Agreement, with or without reasonable accommodation, for a continuous period of
ninety (90) calendar days or for periods aggregating one-hundred eighty (180)
calendar days in any eighteen (18) month period.  At such time all compensation
and benefits provided to Executive under this Agreement shall immediately cease
upon such termination, subject to applicable employment laws and regulations,
except, (a) if termination is due to disability and provided Executive is
eligible for and timely elects COBRA coverage, the Company will pay Executive’s
COBRA premiums for a period of eighteen (18) months and that amount will be the
amount of her then current COBRA payment, and (b) if termination is due to death
or disability,  Executive or her estate will be entitled to receive any other
compensation and benefits owed at termination of employment pursuant to Article
4.

 

12.4                           Board Resignations.  Upon termination of
executive’s employment with the Company, for any reason, Executive agrees to
resign immediately from the Board and from all Affiliate boards of directors on
which she is then currently serving, and agrees to execute such documents as are
necessary or appropriate, in the Company’s judgment, to effect such
resignations.

 

14

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ARTICLE 13
INDEMNIFICATION

 

13.1                           Indemnification Protection.  Executive as a
director, officer, agent, and employee of the Company, shall be entitled to all
the protection from liability and all the rights to indemnification provided by
Delaware law and any other applicable state or federal law, whether statutory or
common law, to current and former directors, officers, agents, or employees of
the Company, and shall be entitled to protection from liability and to
indemnification afforded by applicable Company by-laws, resolutions, and/or
insurance for current and former directors, officers, agents and/or employees. 
Effective as of the Commencement Date, the Company and Executive shall enter
into an indemnification agreement in the form of Exhibit D.

 

ARTICLE 14
ASSIGNMENT

 

14.1                           Company Right to Assign.  Executive consents to
and the Company shall have the right to assign this Agreement to its successors
or assigns.  Additionally, Executive consents to and the Company shall have the
right to assign this Agreement to any subsidiary, and all covenants or
agreements hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by or
against its successors or assigns.  The terms “successors” and “assigns” shall
include any corporation which buys all or substantially all of the Company’s
assets, or if a controlling portion of its stock, or with which it merges or
consolidates.

 

14.2                           Rights of Executive’s Successors.  This Agreement
inures to the benefit of Executive’s legal representative, executor,
administrator, or heirs.  In the event of Executive’s death prior to payment of
any amounts earned and due under this Agreement to Executive (excluding any
severance payments and COBRA benefits under Articles 11 or 12 of this
Agreement), such payments shall be made to Executive’s spouse, or if she is not
survived by her spouse, then to her estate.

 

ARTICLE 15
MEDIATION; GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE

 

15.1                           Mediation.  If Executive is terminated for Cause
and Executive disagrees with that determination, or Executive resigns employment
for Good Reason and the Board disagrees with that determination, then, within
seven (7) calendar days of such termination the disagreeing party by written
notice to the other party may request that both parties participate in mediation
in an effort to resolve the disagreement by submitting to the other party and to
JAMS (c/o its Minneapolis office or, if none, its Chicago office) (the
“Mediation Facilitator”) a request for mediation.  The parties will cooperate
with the Mediation Facilitator and with one another in selecting a mediator from
the Mediation Facilitator’s panel of neutrals, and in scheduling the mediation
proceedings in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area, but in the event they are unable
to select a mediator within ten (10) days of the mediation request, the
Mediation Facilitator shall appoint the mediator and the mediation shall be held
as soon as practical but no later than twenty-one (21) days after a mediator has
been selected or appointed.  The Company covenants to Executive that it will
participate in the mediation in good faith through representation by an

 

15

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appropriate member of its executive management and/or the Board, and Executive
covenants that she will personally participate in the mediation in good faith. 
The Company will pay all JAMS costs, as well as all reasonable travel costs
associated with the participation of Executive and her counsel in the mediation
process, and each party shall bear their respective attorneys fees and costs. 
In the event the parties are unable to resolve the dispute through mediation
within five (5) business days following the mediation date, then either party
shall be entitled to pursue its or her remedies at law.

 

15.2                           Governing Law.  The parties acknowledge that the
Company’s principal place of business is located in the State of Minnesota.  The
parties hereby agree that this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with
the internal laws of the State of Minnesota without regard to the conflict of
laws thereof; provided that, both parties understand and agree that the
statutory and common law of the State of Delaware shall govern all matters
regarding Executive’s performance of its fiduciary duties and indemnification
(and reimbursement of related expenses) of Executive.

 

15.3                           Venue.  The parties agree that the exclusive
venue for any litigation commenced by the Company or the Executive relating to
this Agreement or Executive’s employment shall be the state courts located in
Hennepin County, Minnesota and the United States District Court, District of
Minnesota in Hennepin County, Minnesota.  The parties waive any rights to object
to venue as set forth herein, including any argument of inconvenience for any
reason.

 

ARTICLE 16
CERTAIN UNDERSTANDINGS

 

16.1                           Executive’s Review.  Executive hereby
acknowledges that (a) the Company informed her, prior to her accepting
employment with the Company under the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, that the restrictive covenants contained in Articles 6, 7 and 8 of
this Agreement would be required as part of the terms and conditions of her
employment with the Company under this Agreement; (b) her employment with the
Company under this Agreement constitutes good and valuable consideration in
exchange for the restrictive covenants contained in Articles 6, 7 and 8 of this
Agreement, (c) she has carefully considered the restrictions contained in this
Agreement and determined that they are fair and reasonable, and necessary to
protect the Company’s legitimate business interests; and (d) the restrictions in
this Agreement will not unduly restrict Executive in securing other employment
or earning a livelihood in the event of her termination from the Company.

 

16.2                           Notification of Third Parties.  By signing below,
Executive authorizes the Company to notify third parties (including, but not
limited, Executive’s actual or potential future employers) of Articles 6, 7 and
8 of this Agreement, and those provisions necessary for the enforcement of
Articles 6, 7 and 8 of this Agreement, and Executive’s responsibilities
thereunder.

 

16.3                           No Restrictions.  Executive represents and
warrants that she is not subject to any contract or other obligation that would
limit her ability in any way to perform her duties under this Agreement.

 

16

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16.4                           Executive Nondisclosure.  If Executive possesses
any information that she knows or should know is considered by any third party,
such as a former employer of Executive’s, to be confidential, trade secret, or
otherwise proprietary, Executive shall not disclose such information to the
Company or use such information to benefit the Company in any way.

 

ARTICLE 17
MISCELLANEOUS

 

17.1                           Entire Agreement.  The Company and Executive
acknowledge that this Agreement contains the full and complete agreement between
and among the parties, that there are no oral or implied agreements or other
modifications not specifically set forth herein, and that this Agreement
supersedes any prior agreements or understandings, if any, between the Company
and Executive, whether written or oral.

 

17.2                           Amendments.  The parties agree that no amendments
of this Agreement may be made except by means of a written agreement or
memorandum signed by each of the parties and approved by the Board or its
Compensation Committee.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, the Company expressly reserves the right to amend this Agreement
without Executive’s consent to the extent necessary to comply with Code Section
409A, as it may be amended from time to time, and the regulations, notices and
other guidance of general applicability issued thereunder.

 

17.3                           Waiver.  Either parties failure to demand strict
performance and compliance with any part of this Agreement during Executive’s
employment or thereafter shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such party’s
rights under this Agreement or by operation of law.  Any waiver by either party
of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate as or be
construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach thereof.

 

17.4                           Survival.  The parties agree that Articles 6-8,
10-13, 15 and 17 of this Agreement, and those provisions necessary for the
enforcement of such Articles, shall survive termination of this Agreement and
termination of Executive’s employment for any reason.  For the avoidance of
doubt, the parties specifically agree that, in the event that the Company
delivers a timely written notice of non-renewal of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 2.1, all of the terms of Section 12.1 (relating to severance payments in
various scenarios and to execution of a release, compliance with certain
covenants, cessation of benefits and certain other matters) shall continue to
apply after such termination of this Agreement.  The parties further agree that
both parties shall retain the right to enforce any rights or claims for breach
of this Agreement during its term or for breach of any provisions required to be
performed by the Executive or the Company or its successor(s) after its term and
such rights shall survive termination of this Agreement and termination of
Executive’s employment for any reason.

 

17.5                           Notices.  All notices, requests, demands, and
other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered in person, when delivered by an express delivery
service or courier service to the address listed below, or three (3) business
days after it is mailed, certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid:

 

17

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If to Executive, addressed to:

 

LuAnn Via

8453 Friarlynch Lane

Germantown, TN 38139

 

If to the Company, addressed to:

 

Christopher & Banks Corporation
2400 Xenium Lane North
Plymouth, MN 55441
Attn:  Chair of Board
     With a copy (to the same address) to:  General Counsel

 

Any party hereto may, from time to time, by written notice to the other party,
designate a different address, or in the case of the Company, a different notice
party, which shall be substituted for the one specified above for such party.

 

17.6                           Reimbursement of Fees.  Promptly upon receipt
from Executive of a duly issued invoice of such expenses, the Company will
reimburse Executive for reasonable legal expenses and costs incurred with
respect to the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement (and any
agreements referenced herein), in an amount not to exceed Twenty Thousand
Dollars ($20,000).

 

17.7                           Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed
simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original and all of which, when taken together, constitute one and the same
document.  The signature of any party to any counterpart (including signatures
transmitted by facsimile) shall be deemed a signature to, and may be appended
to, any other counterpart.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has hereunto signed its name and Executive
hereunder has signed her name, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

 

/s/ LuAnn Via

 

LuAnn Via

 

 

 

 

 

CHRISTOPHER & BANKS CORPORATION

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Paul Snyder

 

 

Paul Snyder

 

 

Chair of the Board

 

18

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EXHIBIT A

 

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

(Non-Qualified Stock Option — Annual Incentive)

 

 

Name of Executive:

LuAnn Via

 

 

 

 

Date of Grant:

                                  , 2012

 

 

 

 

Number of Shares:

500,000

 

 

 

 

Exercise Price Per Share:

$

 

This STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made effective as of
          , 2012 between Christopher & Banks Corporation (the “Company”) and
LuAnn Via, the newly elected President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company (the “Executive”), to record the granting of an employee inducement
award authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) pursuant to
the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual Rule 308A.08 (the “Board
Authorization”).

 

1.                                       Grant of Option.  In accordance with
the Board Authorization, the Company hereby grants to the Executive, effective
as of the date of grant listed above, subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, a non-qualified option to purchase from the Company an aggregate
of 500,000 shares of common stock ($.01 par value) of the Company (the “Common
Stock”) at the purchase price of $           per share, such option to be
exercisable as hereinafter provided.

 

2.                                       Expiration Date.  This option shall
expire on the 10-year anniversary of the date of grant (the “Expiration Date”).

 

3.                                       Exercise of Option.  Subject to Section
8 hereof and the last sentence of this Section 3, this option shall become
exercisable with respect to all 500,000 shares of Common Stock on February 1,
2014.

 

This option may be partially exercised from time to time consistent with the
above limitations.  This option may not be exercised after the Expiration Date. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this option shall not be exercisable for a
fractional share of Common Stock.  Any exercise of this option shall be made in
writing, using such form as is approved by the Company and duly executed and
delivered to the Company specifying the number of shares as to which the option
is being exercised.  Notwithstanding the vesting schedule set forth in the first
paragraph of this Section 3, effective immediately prior to a “Change in
Control” (as such term is defined in Appendix A hereto), this option, to the
extent it shall not otherwise have become vested and exercisable, shall
automatically become fully and immediately vested and exercisable.

 

4.                                       Payment of Option Price.  On the date
of any exercise of this option, the purchase price of the shares as to which
this option is being exercised shall be due and payable and shall

 

A-1

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be made (i) in cash or by cash equivalent acceptable to the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”); (ii) by delivery of
shares of Common Stock held by the Executive and registered in the name of the
Executive, duly assigned to the Company, any such shares so delivered to be
deemed to have a value per share equal to the “Fair Market Value” (as such term
is defined in Appendix A hereto) of the shares on such date; (iii) by having the
Company withhold a portion of the shares of Common Stock otherwise to be
delivered upon exercise of the option having an aggregate Fair Market Value on
such date equal to the exercise price; (iv) through an open-market,
broker-assisted sales transaction pursuant to which the Company is promptly
delivered the amount of proceeds necessary to satisfy the exercise price; or (v)
by a combination of the methods described above as approved by the Committee.

 

5.                                       Option Nontransferable.  This option is
not transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent or distribution
and is exercisable during the Executive’s lifetime only by the Executive or his
or her guardian or legal representative.

 

6.                                       Rights as a Stockholder.  The Executive
shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any of the shares covered
by this option until the date of issuance to the Executive of a stock
certificate or other evidence of the issuance for such shares, and no adjustment
shall be made for any dividends or other rights if the record date of such
dividends or other rights is prior to the date such stock certificate or other
evidence of the issuance for such shares is issued.

 

7.                                       General Restrictions.  Executive
understands that the shares underlying the options granted hereby have not been
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or listed with the New
York Stock Exchange.  The Company will not be obligated to issue shares of
Common Stock covered by this option if counsel to the Company determines that
such issuance would violate any law or regulation of any governmental authority
or any agreement between the Company and the New York Stock Exchange or any
other national securities exchange upon which the Common Stock is quoted or
listed.  In connection with any issuance or transfer, the person acquiring the
shares shall, if requested by the Company, give assurances satisfactory to
counsel to the Company regarding such matters as the Company may deem desirable
to assure compliance with all legal requirements.  This option shall be subject
to the requirement that if, at any time, the Committee shall determine, in its
discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of the shares
subject to this option on the New York Stock Exchange, any securities exchange
or under any state or federal law, or that the consent or approval of any
government regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in
connection with, this option or the issue or purchase of shares under this
option, this option shall be subject to the condition that such listing,
registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or
obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.  In addition,
Executive understands, acknowledges and agrees that the grant of this option and
the delivery of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement are
subject to any clawback policies the Company may adopt in compliance with the
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, Section 10D
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any applicable rules and regulations
of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

A-2

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8.                                       Termination of Employment.

 

(1)                                  The option granted pursuant to this
Agreement shall terminate immediately upon the termination of the Executive’s
employment by the Company for “Cause” (as such term is defined in Appendix A
hereto).  If the Executive’s employment is terminated as a result of the
Executive’s permanent and total disability (within the meaning of Section
22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) or death, the option
granted pursuant to this Agreement may be exercised by the Executive’s legal
representative, heir or devisee, as appropriate, within one year from the date
of disability or death.  If the Executive’s employment is terminated by
Executive or the Company for any reason other than Cause, permanent and total
disability or death, such option may be exercised within ninety (90) days
following the date of termination.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the
Company may terminate and cancel such option during the ninety (90)-day period
referred to in the preceding sentence if the Board has determined that the
Executive has, before or after the termination of employment, acted in a manner
that constitutes “Cause” ( as defined in that certain Employment Agreement
between the Company and Executive, dated October           , 2012 (the
“Employment Agreement”)), provided that the Board has followed the procedure for
determining Cause under the Employment Agreement and then concluded that Cause
exists pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement, such determination
defined as the “Exercise Termination Determination.”  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, such option (or any portion thereof) which is not exercisable on the
date of termination of employment shall not be exercisable thereafter without
the consent of the Committee.

 

(2)                                  Nothing contained in this Section shall be
interpreted or have the effect of extending the period during which an option
may be exercised beyond the Expiration Date provided in this Agreement or
established by law or regulation.  Death of the Executive subsequent to
termination shall not extend such period.  Whether a leave of absence shall
constitute a termination of employment for purposes of this Agreement shall be
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, and in the event the
Committee has so determined, the Committee shall provide written notice of its
determination to the Executive.

 

9.                                       Adjustment of Shares.

 

(1)                                  In the event there is any recapitalization
in the form of a stock dividend, distribution, split, subdivision or combination
of shares of Common Stock of the Company, resulting in an increase or decrease
in the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, the number of shares of
Common Stock covered by this option and the exercise price per share under this
option shall be increased or decreased proportionately, as the case may be,
without change in the aggregate exercise price.

 

(2)                                  If, pursuant to any reorganization, sale or
exchange of assets, consolidation or merger, outstanding Common Stock of the
Company is or would be exchanged for other securities of the Company or of
another corporation which is a party to such transaction, or for property, this
option shall apply to the securities or property into which the Common Stock
covered hereby would have been changed or for which such Common Stock would have
been exchanged had such Common Stock been outstanding at the time.

 

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10.                                 Employment Relationship.  Nothing in this
Agreement shall be construed as constituting a commitment, guaranty, agreement,
or understanding of any kind or nature that the Company or its subsidiaries
shall continue to employ Employee, and this Agreement shall not affect in any
way the right of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to terminate the
employment of Employee.  For purposes of this Agreement, Employee shall be
considered to be in the employment of the Company as long as Employee remains an
employee of either the Company, any successor corporation or a parent or
subsidiary corporation of the Company or any successor corporation.  Any
question as to whether and when there has been a termination of such employment,
and the cause of such termination, shall be determined by the Committee, or its
delegate, as appropriate, and subject to the provisions of Section 15 its
determination shall be final (the “Termination Determination”).

 

11.                                 Notices.  All notices to the Company shall
be in writing and sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, to the
General Counsel of the Company at the Company’s offices at 2400 Xenium Lane
North, Plymouth, Minnesota 55441 or such other address as the Company shall from
time to time notify the Executive in writing.  All notices to the Executive
shall be in writing and sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid,
to the Executive at the address set forth on the signature page(s) hereof or
such address as the Executive shall from time to time notify the Company in
writing.  All notices shall be deemed to have been given when mailed.

 

12.                                 Tax Matters.

 

(1)                                  Due to the complex nature of the tax laws,
the Executive is urged to consult her personal tax advisor prior to exercising
the option.  The Company makes no warranties or representations whatsoever to
the Executive regarding the tax consequences of this grant, the exercise of any
options or any other matter.

 

(2)                                  In order to comply with all applicable
federal or state income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take such
action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all applicable federal or state
payroll, withholding, income or other taxes, which are the sole and absolute
responsibility of the Executive, are withheld or collected from the Executive. 
In accordance with such rules as may be adopted by the Committee, the Executive
may elect to satisfy the Executive’s federal and state income tax withholding
obligations arising from the exercise of the option by (i) delivering cash, a
check (bank check, certified check or personal check) or a money order payable
to the Company on or before the option exercise date, (ii) having the Company
withhold a portion of the shares of Common Stock otherwise to be delivered upon
exercise of the option having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such
taxes, (iii) delivering to the Company on or before the option exercise date
shares of Common Stock already owned by the Executive having a Fair Market Value
equal to the amount of such taxes, or (iv) a combination of the methods
described above, as determined by the Committee.  The Company will not deliver
any fractional share of Common Stock but will pay, in lieu thereof, the Fair
Market Value of such fractional share.  The Executive’s election regarding
satisfaction of federal and state income tax withholding obligations must be
made on or before the option exercise date.

 

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13.                                 Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be
governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of
Delaware, without reference to the principles of conflicts of laws.

 

14.                                 Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successors to the Company and all
lawful successors to Employee permitted under the terms hereof.

 

15.                                 Mediation.  If the Board or Committee makes
an Exercise Termination Determination or a Termination Determination, then the
Company shall provide written notice thereof to Executive (the “Termination
Notice”).  If Executive disagrees with the determination referred to in the
Termination Notice, then Executive may request that the Company participate in
mediation in an effort to resolve the disagreement.  Executive shall make such
request by submitting to the Company (Attention:  General Counsel) and to JAMS
(c/o its Minneapolis office or, if none, its Chicago office) (the “Mediation
Facilitator”), within five (5) calendar days of the date of the Termination
Notice, a written request for mediation (the “Mediation Request”).  The parties
will cooperate with the Mediation Facilitator and with one another in selecting
a mediator from the Mediation Facilitator’s panel of neutrals, and in scheduling
the mediation proceedings in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area.  In the event that
the parties are unable to select a mediator within ten (10) days of the date of
the Mediation Request, the Mediation Facilitator shall appoint the mediator and
the mediation shall be held as soon as practicable thereafter, but no later than
twenty-one (21) days after a mediator has been selected or appointed.  The
Company covenants that it will participate in the mediation in good faith
through representation by an appropriate member of its executive management
and/or the Board and Executive covenants that she will personally participate in
the mediation in good faith.  The Company will pay the costs of the mediation
process, including all fees and expenses of the mediator, as well as all
reasonable travel costs associated with the participation of Executive and her
counsel in the mediation process, and each party shall bear their respective
attorney’s fees and costs.  In the event the parties are unable to resolve the
dispute within five (5) business days, then the Exercise Termination
Determination and/or the Termination Determination shall be final and binding.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Executive have caused this Agreement to
be executed on the date set forth opposite the respective signatures.  It is
further understood that the date of grant may differ from the date of signature.

 

 

Dated as of:

                                   , 2012

 

Christopher & Banks Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Luke R. Komarek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its:

Senior Vice President, General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated as of:

                                   , 2012

 

Executive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LuAnn Via

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Appendix A

 

Certain Definitions

 

Affiliate.  As used in this Agreement, the term “Affiliate” means (i) any entity
that would be treated as an “affiliate” of the Company for purposes of Rule
12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)
and (ii) any joint venture or other entity in which the Company has a direct or
indirect beneficial ownership interest representing at least one-third (1/3) of
the aggregate voting power of the equity interests of such entity or one-third
(1/3) of the aggregate fair market value of the equity interests of such entity,
as determined by the Committee.

 

Cause.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall be as defined in the
Employment Agreement between Executive and Company dated October           ,
2012.

 

Change in Control.  A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred upon:

 

(a)                                  the occurrence of an acquisition by any
individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2)
of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of
Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of a percentage of the combined
voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Company Voting Securities”)
(but excluding (1) any acquisition directly from the Company (other than an
acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege of a security
that was not acquired directly from the Company), (2) any acquisition by the
Company or an Affiliate and (3) any acquisition by an employee benefit plan (or
related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate) (an
“Acquisition”) that is thirty percent (30%) or more of the Company Voting
Securities;

 

(b)                                 at any time during a period of two (2)
consecutive years or less, individuals who at the beginning of such period
constitute the Board (and any new directors whose election by the Board or
nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of
at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were
directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for
election was so approved) cease for any reason (except for death, disability or
voluntary retirement) to constitute a majority thereof;

 

(c)                                  an Acquisition that is fifty percent (50%)
or more of the Company Voting Securities;

 

(d)                                 the consummation of a merger, consolidation,
reorganization or similar corporate transaction, whether or not the Company is
the surviving Company in such transaction, other than a merger, consolidation,
or reorganization that would result in the Persons who are beneficial owners of
the Company Voting Securities outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing
to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in substantially the same
proportions, at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the
Company Voting Securities (or the

 

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voting securities of the surviving entity) outstanding immediately after such
merger, consolidation or reorganization;

 

(e)                                  the sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company;

 

(f)                                    the approval by the stockholders of the
Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

 

(g)                                 the occurrence of any transaction or event,
or series of transactions or events, designated by the Board in a duly adopted
resolution as representing a change in the effective control of the business and
affairs of the Company, effective as of the date specified in any such
resolution.

 

Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of a given date shall be the
closing sale price of a share of Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock
Exchange on such date or, if the shares are not traded on the New York Stock
Exchange on such date, on the most recent preceding date when the shares were so
traded.  If Common Stock is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange on the
date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined, the Committee shall
determine in good faith the Fair Market Value in whatever manner it considers
appropriate.

 

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EXHIBIT B

 

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

(Non-Qualified Stock Option — Long-Term Incentive)

 

 

Name of Executive:

 

LuAnn Via

 

 

 

 

 

Date of Grant:

 

                                       , 2012

 

 

 

 

 

Number of Shares:

 

1,500,000

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise Price Per Share:

 

$

 

This STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made effective as of
          , 2012 between Christopher & Banks Corporation (the “Company”) and
LuAnn Via, the newly elected President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company (the “Executive”), to record the granting of an employee inducement
award authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) pursuant to
the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual Rule 308A.08 (the “Board
Authorization”).

 

1.                                       Grant of Option.  In accordance with
the Board Authorization, the Company hereby grants to the Executive, effective
as of the date of grant listed above, subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, a non-qualified option to purchase from the Company an aggregate
of 1,500,000 shares of common stock ($.01 par value) of the Company (the “Common
Stock”) at the purchase price of $           per share, such option to be
exercisable as hereinafter provided.

 

2.                                       Expiration Date.  This option shall
expire on the 10-year anniversary of the date of grant (the “Expiration Date”).

 

3.                                       Exercise of Option.  Subject to
Section 8 hereof and the last sentence of this Section 3, this option shall
become exercisable with respect to 500,000 shares of Common Stock on the first
anniversary of the date of grant of this option, with respect to an additional
500,000 shares on the second anniversary of the date of grant, and with respect
to the remaining 500,000 shares on the third anniversary of the date of grant,
in each case, so long as Executive is still serving as Chief Executive Officer
of the Company on each such date, as reflected in the following table:

 

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Number of Shares to
Which Option
First Becomes
 Exercisable

 

Cumulative Number

 

Date on Which
Becomes
Exercisable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

500,000

 

500,000

 

         , 2013

 

500,000

 

1,000,000

 

         , 2014

 

500,000

 

1,500,000

 

         , 2015

 

 

This option may be partially exercised from time to time consistent with the
above limitations.  This option may not be exercised after the Expiration Date. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this option shall not be exercisable for a
fractional share of Common Stock.  Any exercise of this option shall be made in
writing, using such form as is approved by the Company and duly executed and
delivered to the Company specifying the number of shares as to which the option
is being exercised.  Notwithstanding the vesting schedule set forth in the first
paragraph of this Section 3, effective immediately prior to a “Change in
Control” (as such term is defined in Appendix A hereto), this option, to the
extent it shall not otherwise have become vested and exercisable, shall
automatically become fully and immediately vested and exercisable.

 

4.                                       Payment of Option Price.  On the date
of any exercise of this option, the purchase price of the shares as to which
this option is being exercised shall be due and payable and shall be made (i) in
cash or by cash equivalent acceptable to the Compensation Committee of the Board
of Directors (the “Committee”); (ii) by delivery of shares of Common Stock held
by the Executive and registered in the name of the Executive, duly assigned to
the Company, any such shares so delivered to be deemed to have a value per share
equal to the “Fair Market Value” (as such term is defined in Appendix A hereto)
of the shares on such date; (iii) by having the Company withhold a portion of
the shares of Common Stock otherwise to be delivered upon exercise of the option
having an aggregate Fair Market Value on such date equal to the exercise price;
(iv) through an open-market, broker-assisted sales transaction pursuant to which
the Company is promptly delivered the amount of proceeds necessary to satisfy
the exercise price; or (v) by a combination of the methods described above as
approved by the Committee.

 

5.                                       Option Nontransferable.  This option is
not transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent or distribution
and is exercisable during the Executive’s lifetime only by the Executive or his
or her guardian or legal representative.

 

6.                                       Rights as a Stockholder.  The Executive
shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any of the shares covered
by this option until the date of issuance to the Executive of a stock
certificate or other evidence of the issuance for such shares, and no adjustment
shall be made for any dividends or other rights if the record date of such
dividends or other rights is prior to the date such stock certificate or other
evidence of the issuance for such shares is issued.

 

7.                                       General Restrictions.  Executive
understands that the shares underlying the options granted hereby have not been
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or listed with the New
York Stock Exchange.  The Company will not be obligated to issue shares

 

B-2

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of Common Stock covered by this option if counsel to the Company determines that
such issuance would violate any law or regulation of any governmental authority
or any agreement between the Company and the New York Stock Exchange or any
other national securities exchange upon which the Common Stock is quoted or
listed.  In connection with any issuance or transfer, the person acquiring the
shares shall, if requested by the Company, give assurances satisfactory to
counsel to the Company regarding such matters as the Company may deem desirable
to assure compliance with all legal requirements.  This option shall be subject
to the requirement that if, at any time, the Committee shall determine, in its
discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of the shares
subject to this option on the New York Stock Exchange, any securities exchange
or under any state or federal law, or that the consent or approval of any
government regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in
connection with, this option or the issue or purchase of shares under this
option, this option shall be subject to the condition that such listing,
registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or
obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.  In addition,
Executive understands, acknowledges and agrees that the grant of this option and
the delivery of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement are
subject to any clawback policies the Company may adopt in compliance with the
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, Section 10D
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any applicable rules and regulations
of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

8.                                       Termination of Employment.

 

(1)                                  The option granted pursuant to this
Agreement shall terminate immediately upon the termination of the Executive’s
employment by the Company for “Cause” (as such term is defined in Appendix A
hereto).  If the Executive’s employment is terminated as a result of the
Executive’s permanent and total disability (within the meaning of
Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) or death, the
option granted pursuant to this Agreement may be exercised by the Executive’s
legal representative, heir or devisee, as appropriate, within one year from the
date of disability or death.  If the Executive’s employment is terminated by
Executive or the Company for any reason other than Cause, permanent and total
disability or death, such option may be exercised within ninety (90) days
following the date of termination.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the
Company may terminate and cancel such option during the ninety (90)-day period
referred to in the preceding sentence if the Board has determined that the
Executive has, before or after the termination of employment, acted in a manner
that constitutes “Cause” (as defined in that certain Employment Agreement
between the Company and Executive, dated October           , 2012 (the
“Employment Agreement”)), provided that the Board has followed the procedures
for determining Cause under the Employment Agreement, such determination defined
as the “Exercise Termination Determination.”  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
such option (or any portion thereof) which is not exercisable on the date of
termination of employment shall not be exercisable thereafter without the
consent of the Committee.

 

(2)                                  Nothing contained in this Section shall be
interpreted or have the effect of extending the period during which an option
may be exercised beyond the Expiration Date provided in this Agreement or
established by law or regulation.  Death of the Executive subsequent to
termination shall not extend such period.  Whether a leave of absence shall

 

B-3

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constitute a termination of employment for purposes of this Agreement shall be
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, and in the event the
Committee has so determined, the Committee shall provide written notice of its
determination to the Executive.

 

9.                                       Adjustment of Shares.

 

(1)                                  In the event there is any recapitalization
in the form of a stock dividend, distribution, split, subdivision or combination
of shares of Common Stock of the Company, resulting in an increase or decrease
in the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding, the number of shares of
Common Stock covered by this option and the exercise price per share under this
option shall be increased or decreased proportionately, as the case may be,
without change in the aggregate exercise price.

 

(2)                                  If, pursuant to any reorganization, sale or
exchange of assets, consolidation or merger, outstanding Common Stock of the
Company is or would be exchanged for other securities of the Company or of
another corporation which is a party to such transaction, or for property, this
option shall apply to the securities or property into which the Common Stock
covered hereby would have been changed or for which such Common Stock would have
been exchanged had such Common Stock been outstanding at the time.

 

10.                                 Employment Relationship.  Nothing in this
Agreement shall be construed as constituting a commitment, guaranty, agreement,
or understanding of any kind or nature that the Company or its subsidiaries
shall continue to employ Employee, and this Agreement shall not affect in any
way the right of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to terminate the
employment of Employee.  For purposes of this Agreement, Employee shall be
considered to be in the employment of the Company as long as Employee remains an
employee of either the Company, any successor corporation or a parent or
subsidiary corporation of the Company or any successor corporation.  Any
question as to whether and when there has been a termination of such employment,
and the cause of such termination, shall be determined by the Committee, or its
delegate, as appropriate, and subject to the provisions of Section 15 its
determination shall be final (the “Termination Determination”).

 

11.                                 Notices.  All notices to the Company shall
be in writing and sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, to the
General Counsel of the Company at the Company’s offices at 2400 Xenium Lane
North, Plymouth, Minnesota 55441 or such other address as the Company shall from
time to time notify the Executive in writing.  All notices to the Executive
shall be in writing and sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid,
to the Executive at the address set forth on the signature page(s) hereof or
such address as the Executive shall from time to time notify the Company in
writing.  All notices shall be deemed to have been given when mailed.

 

12.                                 Tax Matters.

 

(1)                                  Due to the complex nature of the tax laws,
the Executive is urged to consult her personal tax advisor prior to exercising
the option.  The Company makes no

 

B-4

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warranties or representations whatsoever to the Executive regarding the tax
consequences of this grant, the exercise of any options or any other matter.

 

(2)                                  In order to comply with all applicable
federal or state income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take such
action as it deems appropriate to ensure that all applicable federal or state
payroll, withholding, income or other taxes, which are the sole and absolute
responsibility of the Executive, are withheld or collected from the Executive. 
In accordance with such rules as may be adopted by the Committee, the Executive
may elect to satisfy the Executive’s federal and state income tax withholding
obligations arising from the exercise of the option by (i) delivering cash, a
check (bank check, certified check or personal check) or a money order payable
to the Company on or before the option exercise date, (ii) having the Company
withhold a portion of the shares of Common Stock otherwise to be delivered upon
exercise of the option having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such
taxes, (iii) delivering to the Company on or before the option exercise date
shares of Common Stock already owned by the Executive having a Fair Market Value
equal to the amount of such taxes, or (iv) a combination of the methods
described above, as determined by the Committee.  The Company will not deliver
any fractional share of Common Stock but will pay, in lieu thereof, the Fair
Market Value of such fractional share.  The Executive’s election regarding
satisfaction of federal and state income tax withholding obligations must be
made on or before the option exercise date.

 

13.                                 Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be
governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of
Delaware, without reference to the principles of conflicts of laws.

 

14.                                 Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of any successors to the Company and all
lawful successors to Employee permitted under the terms hereof.

 

15.                                 Mediation.  If the Board or Committee makes
an Exercise Termination Determination or a Termination Determination, then the
Company shall provide written notice thereof to Executive (the “Termination
Notice”).  If Executive disagrees with the determination referred to in the
Termination Notice, then Executive may request that the Company participate in
mediation in an effort to resolve the disagreement.  Executive shall make such
request by submitting to the Company (Attention:  General Counsel) and to JAMS
(c/o its Minneapolis office or, if none, its Chicago office) (the “Mediation
Facilitator”), within five (5) calendar days of the date of the Termination
Notice, a written request for mediation (the “Mediation Request”).  The parties
will cooperate with the Mediation Facilitator and with one another in selecting
a mediator from the Mediation Facilitator’s panel of neutrals, and in scheduling
the mediation proceedings in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area.  In the event that
the parties are unable to select a mediator within ten (10) days of the date of
the Mediation Request, the Mediation Facilitator shall appoint the mediator and
the mediation shall be held as soon as practicable thereafter, but no later than
twenty-one (21) days after a mediator has been selected or appointed.  The
Company will pay the costs of the mediation process, including all fees and
expenses of the mediator, as well as all reasonable travel costs associated with
the participation of Executive and her counsel in the mediation process, and
each party shall bear their respective attorney’s fees

 

B-5

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and costs.  In the event the parties are unable to resolve the dispute within
five (5) business days, then the Exercise Termination Determination and/or the
Termination Determination shall be final and binding.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Executive have caused this Agreement to
be executed on the date set forth opposite the respective signatures.  It is
further understood that the date of grant may differ from the date of signature.

 

 

Dated as of:

                                      , 2012

 

Christopher & Banks Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

Luke R. Komarek

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its:

Senior Vice President, General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated as of:

                                      , 2012

 

Executive

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LuAnn Via

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B-6

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Appendix A

 

Certain Definitions

 

Affiliate.  As used in this Agreement, the term “Affiliate” means (i) any entity
that would be treated as an “affiliate” of the Company for purposes of
Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”) and (ii) any joint venture or other entity in which the Company has a
direct or indirect beneficial ownership interest representing at least one-third
(1/3) of the aggregate voting power of the equity interests of such entity or
one-third (1/3) of the aggregate fair market value of the equity interests of
such entity, as determined by the Committee.

 

Cause.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall be as defined in the
Employment Agreement between Executive and Company dated October           ,
2012.

 

Change in Control.  A “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred upon:

 

(a)                                  the occurrence of an acquisition by any
individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or
14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of a percentage of the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Company Voting
Securities”) (but excluding (1) any acquisition directly from the Company (other
than an acquisition by virtue of the exercise of a conversion privilege of a
security that was not acquired directly from the Company), (2) any acquisition
by the Company or an Affiliate and (3) any acquisition by an employee benefit
plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate)
(an “Acquisition”) that is thirty percent (30%) or more of the Company Voting
Securities;

 

(b)                                 at any time during a period of two
(2) consecutive years or less, individuals who at the beginning of such period
constitute the Board (and any new directors whose election by the Board or
nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of
at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were
directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for
election was so approved) cease for any reason (except for death, disability or
voluntary retirement) to constitute a majority thereof;

 

(c)                                  an Acquisition that is fifty percent (50%)
or more of the Company Voting Securities;

 

(d)                                 the consummation of a merger, consolidation,
reorganization or similar corporate transaction, whether or not the Company is
the surviving Company in such transaction, other than a merger, consolidation,
or reorganization that would result in the Persons who are beneficial owners of
the Company Voting Securities outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing
to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, in substantially the same
proportions, at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the
Company Voting Securities (or the

 

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voting securities of the surviving entity) outstanding immediately after such
merger, consolidation or reorganization;

 

(e)                                  the sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company;

 

(f)                                    the approval by the stockholders of the
Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

 

(g)                                 the occurrence of any transaction or event,
or series of transactions or events, designated by the Board in a duly adopted
resolution as representing a change in the effective control of the business and
affairs of the Company, effective as of the date specified in any such
resolution.

 

Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of a given date shall be the
closing sale price of a share of Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock
Exchange on such date or, if the shares are not traded on the New York Stock
Exchange on such date, on the most recent preceding date when the shares were so
traded.  If Common Stock is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange on the
date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined, the Committee shall
determine in good faith the Fair Market Value in whatever manner it considers
appropriate.

 

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EXHIBIT C

 

RELEASE OF CLAIMS

 

I, LuAnn Via, agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Release of Claims.  Specifically in
consideration of the severance pay and benefits described in my Executive
Employment Agreement, to which I would not otherwise be entitled, by signing
this Release of Claims, I, for myself and anyone who has or obtains legal rights
or claims through me, agree to the following:

 

a.                                       I hereby release, agree not to sue, and
forever discharge Christopher & Banks (as defined below) of and from any and all
manner of claims, demands, actions, causes of action, administrative claims,
liability, damages, claims for punitive or liquidated damages, claims for
attorney’s fees, costs and disbursements, individual or class action claims, or
demands of any kind whatsoever, I have or might have against them or any of
them, whether known or unknown, in law or equity, contract or tort, from the
beginning of time through the date of my signing this Release of Claims,
including, without limitation, any claims arising out of or in connection with
my employment with Christopher & Banks, or the termination of that employment,
or otherwise.

 

b.                                      This release includes, without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, any claims I may have for wages, bonuses,
commissions, penalties, deferred compensation, equity, paid time off, severance
benefits, employee benefits (except those listed in Section l(d)), defamation,
invasion of privacy, negligence, emotional distress, breach of contract,
estoppel, improper discharge (based on contract, common law, or statute,
including any federal, state or local statute or ordinance prohibiting
discrimination or retaliation in employment), violation of the United States
Constitution, the Minnesota Constitution, the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq., the Older Worker Benefit Protection Act, the
Minnesota Human Rights Act, Minn. Stat. § 363A01 et seq., Title Vll of the Civil
Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. § 2000 et seq., the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42
U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq., the Family and
Medical Leave Act, 29 U.S.C. § 260l et seq., or any other state or federal law
providing for employee leaves, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation
Act (“COBRA”), the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C.§ 151 et seq., the
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, 29 U.S.C. § 2101 et seq., The
Fair Labor Standards Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Genetic Information
Nondiscrimination Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7201 et seq., any
state or federal whistleblower laws, the Dodd-Frank Act Wall Street Reform and
Consumer Protection Act, any claim arising under Minn. Stat. Chapter 177 and
181, Minn. Stat. § 176.82, and any claim for retaliation, harassment or
discrimination based on sex, race, color, creed, religion, age, national origin,
marital status, sexual orientation, disability, status with regard to public
assistance, military status or any other protected class, or sexual or other
harassment.  I hereby waive any and all relief not provided for in the Executive
Employment Agreement.  I understand and agree that, by signing this Release of
Claims, I waive and release any past, present, or future claim to employment
with Christopher & Banks.

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, this Release of Claims also
includes, but is not limited to, any claims I currently have, or may have, based
on events

 

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occurring on or before the date of this Release of Claims, with respect to
(i) the exercise of stock options to acquire shares of the Company’s Common
Stock, and/or any subsequent sales of such shares of Common Stock; or (ii) the
inability to exercise, or the prohibition on the exercise of, options to acquire
shares of the Company’s Common Stock, and/or the subsequent inability to sell,
or prohibition on the sale of, the shares of Common Stock acquired thereby; and
(iii) the inability to purchase or sell, or the prohibition on the sale of or
purchase and sale of, shares of the Company’s Common Stock.  Nothing in this
Release of Claims, however, prevents the future exercise of vested options to
acquire shares of the Company’s Common Stock and to sell the shares of Common
Stock acquired thereby in a manner consistent with the terms of the Company’s
stock option plans, the agreements pursuant to which the options were awarded,
the Company’s Insider Trading Policy (to the extent then applicable to me) and
all governing legal standards.

 

c.                                       If I file, or have filed on my behalf,
a charge, complaint, or action, I agree that the payments and benefits described
in my Executive Employment Agreement are in complete satisfaction of any and all
claims in connection with such charge, complaint, or action and I waive, and
agree not to take, any award of money or other damages from such charge,
complaint, or action.

 

d.                                      I am not, by signing this Release of
Claims, releasing or waiving (1) any vested interest I may have in any 401(k) or
profit sharing plan by virtue of my employment with Christopher & Banks, (2) any
rights or claims that may arise after this Release of Claims is signed, and
(3) the post-employment payments and benefits specifically promised to me under
the Executive Employment Agreement.

 

e.                                       Christopher & Banks, as used in this
Release of Claims, shall mean Christopher & Banks Corporation, Christopher &
Banks, Inc., and its and their subsidiaries, divisions, affiliated or related
entities, insurers, and its and their present and former officers, directors,
shareholders, trustees, employees, agents, attorneys, representatives and
consultants, and the successors and assigns of each, whether in their individual
or official capacities, and the current and former trustees or administrators of
any pension or other benefit plan applicable to the employees or former
employees of Christopher & Banks, in their official and individual capacities.

 

2.                                       Notice of Right to Consult Attorney and
Twenty-One (21) Calendar Day Consideration Period.  By signing this Release of
Claims, I acknowledge and agree that Christopher & Banks has informed me by this
Release of Claims that (1) I have the right to consult with an attorney of my
choice prior to signing this Release of Claims, and (2) I am entitled to
twenty-one (21) calendar days from the receipt of this Release of Claims to
consider whether the terms are acceptable to me.  Christopher & Banks encourages
me to use the full twenty-one (21) day period to consider this Release of Claims
but I have the right, if I choose, to sign this Release of Claims prior to the
expiration of the twenty-one (21) day period.

 

3.                                       Notification of Right to Rescind. 
Christopher & Banks hereby notifies me of my right to rescind (cancel) the
release of claims contained in this Release of Claims within fifteen (15)
calendar days of my signing this Release of Claims.  In order to be effective,
the rescission must (a) be in writing; (b) delivered to Luke Komarek, Senior
Vice President and General

 

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Counsel, Christopher & Banks Corporation, 2400 Xenium Lane North, Plymouth, MN
55441 by hand or mail within the required period; and (c) if delivered by mail,
the rescission must be postmarked within the required period, properly addressed
to Luke Komarek, as set forth above, and sent by certified mail, return receipt
requested.  This Release of Claims will be effective upon the expiration of the
fifteen (15) day period without rescission.  I understand that if I rescind any
part of this Release of Claims in accordance with this paragraph, I will not
receive the post employment payments and benefits described in the Executive
Employment Agreement and I will be obligated to return any such payments and
benefits if already received.

 

4.                                       No Admission of Liability.  It is
expressly understood and agreed that nothing contained in this Release shall
constitute or be construed or treated as an admission of any wrongdoing or
liability on the part of any Party.

 

5.                                       Return of Property.  I represent and
warrant that I have returned to Christopher & Banks all documents, files,
records or data (including any copies or summaries of such information) and any
other property belonging to the company, which may include, without limitation,
office keys, personal digital assistant, I-Pad, computer, cell phone, or other
equipment.

 

6.                                       Continuing Obligations.  I agree,
understand, and acknowledge that I have certain continuing obligations to
Christopher & Banks that survive the termination of my employment and shall
continue unabated, including, without limitation, the obligations in Articles 6,
7 and 8 of my Employment Agreement, as well as the obligations under law to
maintain and not disclose to anyone Christopher & Banks’ trade secrets and
confidential information, documents, and other materials revealed to me during
the course of my association with the company.

 

7.                                       Acknowledgment of Reading and
Understanding.  By signing this Release of Claims, I acknowledge that I have
read this Release of Claims, and understand that the release of claims is a full
and final release of all claims I may have against Christopher & Banks and the
other entities and individuals covered by this Release.  By signing, I also
acknowledge and agree that I have entered into this Release of Claims knowingly
and voluntarily.

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND SIGNATURE

 

By signing below, I, LuAnn Via, acknowledge and agree to the following:

 

·                  I have had adequate time to consider whether to sign this
Release of Claims.

·                  I have been informed of my right to consult an attorney and
have had adequate time in which to do so.

·                  I have read this Release of Claims carefully.

·                 I understand and agree to all of the terms of the Release of
Claims.

·                  I am knowingly and voluntarily releasing my claims against
Christopher & Banks (as defined above) to the extent expressly set forth in this
Release of Claims.

·                  I have not, in signing this Release of Claims, relied upon
any statements or explanations made by Christopher & Banks except as for those
specifically set forth in this Release of Claims and the Executive Employment
Agreement.

·                  I intend this Release of Claims to be legally binding.

 

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·                  I understand that this Release of Claims specifically waives
claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C.
§ 621 et seq.) and, in connection with this waiver, I acknowledge and agree to
the following:

 

(1)

I am not waiving any rights or claims under the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act of 1967, as amended, that may arise after this Release of Claims is signed
by me, or any rights or claims to test the knowing and voluntary nature of this
Agreement under the Older Workers’ Benefit Protection Act, as amended;

(2)

In exchange for my waiver of rights or claims under the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act, I am receiving consideration that is in addition to anything of
value to which I am already entitled;

(3)

I have had ample opportunity to consult with an attorney of my choosing prior to
my signing of this Release of Claims, and I was encouraged and advised to do so
by Christopher & Banks;

(4)

I may take twenty-one (21) days to consider whether to sign the Release of
Claims. I acknowledge that any changes to the terms of this Release of Claims
(whether material or immaterial) will not restart the running of the twenty-one
(21) day period;

(5)

If I sign this Release of Claims prior to the end of the twenty-one (21) day
time period, I certify that, in accordance with 29 CFR § 1625.22(e)(6), I
knowingly and voluntarily decided to sign this Release of Claims after
considering it for less than twenty-one (21) days and that my decision to do so
was not induced by Christopher & Banks through fraud, misrepresentation or a
threat to withdraw or alter the offer prior to the expiration of the twenty-one
(21) day time period;

(6)

I understand that I may rescind this Release of Claims at any time within
fifteen (15) days after I sign it; and

(7)

I further understand and agree that if I wish to rescind this Release of Claims
after signing it, I or my authorized legal representative will do so in
accordance within the time limitations and procedures contained in Sections 2
and 3 of the Release of Claims.

 

·                  I have carefully read and fully understand all of the
provisions of this Release of Claims, and I knowingly and voluntarily enter
into, and choose to be legally bound by, all of the terms set forth in this
Release of Claims.

·                  I am signing this Release of Claims on or after my last day
of employment with Christopher & Banks.

 

Accepted this          day of                                           ,
              .

 

 

 

 

 

 

LuAnn Via

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Name(s) of Company representative(s)]

 

 

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EXHIBIT D

 

CHRISTOPHER & BANKS CORPORATION

 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

 

This Indemnification Agreement (“Agreement”) is effective as of           
          , 2012, by and between Christopher & Banks Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”), and LuAnn Via (“Indemnitee”).

 

RECITALS

 

A.                                   The Company recognizes that competent and
experienced persons are increasingly reluctant to serve or to continue to serve
as directors and officers of corporations unless they are protected by
comprehensive liability insurance or indemnification, or both, due to the
increased exposure to litigation costs and risks resulting from their service to
such corporations, and due to the fact that the exposure to or risks of
shareholder claims or litigation frequently bears no reasonable relationship to
the compensation of such directors and officers;

 

B.                                     The statutes and judicial decisions
regarding the duties of directors and officers are often difficult to apply,
ambiguous, or conflicting, and therefore fail to provide such directors and
officers with adequate, reliable information as to the legal risks to which they
are exposed or regarding the proper course of action to take;

 

C.                                     The Company and Indemnitee recognize that
plaintiffs often seek damages in such large amounts and the costs of litigation
may be so enormous (whether or not the case is meritorious), that the defense
and/or settlement of such litigation is often beyond the personal financial
resources of individual directors and officers;

 

D.                                    The Company believes that it is unfair for
its directors and officers to assume the risk of huge judgments and other
expenses which may occur in cases in which the director and officer received no
personal profit and in cases where the director or officer was not culpable;

 

E.                                      The Company, after reasonable
investigation, has determined that the liability insurance coverage presently
available to the Company may be inadequate in certain circumstances to cover all
possible claims for which Indemnitee would be protected. The Company believes
that the interests of the Company and its stockholders would be best served by a
combination of such insurance and the indemnification by the Company of the
directors and officers of the Company;

 

F.                                      The Company’s Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws require the Company to indemnify its directors and
officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law
(the “DGCL”).  The Bylaws expressly provide that the indemnification provisions
set forth therein are not exclusive, and contemplate that contracts may be
entered into between the Company and its directors and officers with respect to
indemnification;

 

G.                                     Section 145 of DGCL (“Section 145”),
under which the Company is organized, empowers the Company to indemnify its
officers, directors, employees and agents by agreement and to indemnify persons
who serve, at the request of the Company, as the directors, officers,

 

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employees or agents of other corporations or enterprises, and expressly provides
that the indemnification provided by Section 145 is not exclusive;

 

H.                                    Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL allows a
corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a provision limiting
or eliminating the personal liability of a director for monetary damages in
respect of claims by shareholders or corporations for breach of certain
fiduciary duties, and the Company has so provided in its Certificate of
Incorporation that each director shall be exculpated from such liability to the
maximum extent permitted by law;

 

I.                                         The Board of Directors of the Company
has determined that contractual indemnification as set forth herein is not only
reasonable and prudent but also promotes the best interests of the Company and
its stockholders;

 

J.                                        The Company desires and has requested
Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve as a director or officer of the Company
free from undue concern for unwarranted claims for damages arising out of or
related to such services to the Company; and

 

K.                                    Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue
to serve or to provide additional service for or on behalf of the Company on the
condition that Indemnitee is furnished the indemnity provided herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and Indemnitee hereby agree as set forth below.

 

1.                                       Certain Definitions.

 

a.                                       “Change in Control” shall mean, and
shall be deemed to have occurred if, on or after the date of this Agreement,
(i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than a trustee or other
fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company
acting in such capacity or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the
stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of stock of the Company, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
representing more than 50% of the total voting power represented by the
Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities, (ii) during any period of 24
consecutive, full-calendar months, individuals who at the beginning of such
period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company and any new director
whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the
Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two thirds (2/3) of
the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of
such 24-month period or whose election or nomination for election was previously
so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof, (iii) the
stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company
with any other corporation other than a merger or consolidation which would
result in the Voting Securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior
thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
converted into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least 80% of the
total voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company or such
surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or
(iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of
the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the

 

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Company (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or
substantially all of the Company’s assets.

 

b.                                      “Claim” shall mean with respect to a
Covered Event, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, proceeding or
alternative dispute resolution mechanism, or any hearing, inquiry or
investigation that Indemnitee in good faith believes might lead to the
institution of any such action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute
resolution mechanism, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or
other.

 

c.                                       References to the “Company” shall
include, in addition to Christopher & Banks Corporation, any constituent
corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a
consolidation or merger to which Christopher & Banks Corporation (or any of its
wholly owned Subsidiaries) is a party which, if its separate existence had
continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors,
officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries, so that if Indemnitee is or was a
director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of such constituent corporation,
or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a
director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other
enterprise, Indemnitee shall stand in the same position under the provisions of
this Agreement with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as
Indemnitee would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its
separate existence had continued.

 

d.                                      “Covered Event” shall mean any event or
occurrence related to the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer,
employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company, or any Subsidiary of the Company,
or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer,
employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action or inaction on the part of
Indemnitee while serving in such capacity.

 

e.                                       “Expenses” shall mean any and all
expenses (including attorneys’ fees and all other costs, expenses and
obligations incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a
witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, to
be a witness in or to participate in, any action, suit, proceeding, alternative
dispute resolution mechanism, hearing, inquiry or investigation), judgments,
fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (if such settlement is approved
in advance by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) of
any Claim and any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on the
Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under
this Agreement.

 

f.                                         “Expense Advance” shall mean a
payment of Expenses to Indemnitee pursuant to Section 3 in advance of the
settlement of or final judgment in any action, suit, proceeding or alternative
dispute resolution mechanism, hearing, inquiry or investigation that constitutes
a Claim.

 

g.                                      “Independent Legal Counsel” shall mean
an attorney or firm of attorneys, selected in accordance with the provisions of
Section 2(d) hereof, who shall not have otherwise performed services for the
Company or one or more indemnitees (including Indemnitee) within the last two
years (other than acting as an Independent Legal Counsel in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement).

 

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h.                                      References to “other enterprises” shall
include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise
taxes assessed on Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan; and
references to “serving at the request of the Company” shall include any service
as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company which
imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee,
agent or fiduciary with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or
its beneficiaries; and if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner
Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and
beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have
acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Company” as referred
to in this Agreement.

 

i.                                          “Reviewing Party” shall mean,
subject to the provisions of Section 2(d), any person or body appointed by the
Board of Directors in accordance with applicable law to review the Company’s
obligations hereunder and under applicable law, which may include (i) a majority
of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even
though less than a quorum or (ii) a committee of such directors designated by
majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if
there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by Independent
Legal Counsel designated in writing by such directors or the Board of Directors.

 

j.                                          “Section” refers to a section of
this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.

 

k.                                       “Subsidiary” shall mean a corporation
or other entity (i) 50% or more of whose outstanding shares or securities
(representing the right to vote for the election of directors or other managing
authority) are, or (ii) which does not have outstanding shares or securities (as
may be the case in a partnership, joint venture or unincorporated association),
but 50% or more of whose ownership interest representing the right to make
decisions for such other entity is, now or hereafter, owned or controlled,
directly or indirectly, by the Company, or one or more Subsidiaries.

 

l.                                          “Voting Securities” shall mean any
securities of the Company that vote generally in the election of directors.

 

2.                                       Indemnification.

 

a.                                       Indemnification of Expenses.  Subject
to the provisions of Section 2(b) below, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee
for Expenses to the fullest extent permitted by law if Indemnitee was or is or
becomes a party to or witness or other participant with respect to, or is
threatened to be made a party to or witness or other participant with respect
to, any Claim, including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or
payable in connection with or in respect of such Expenses.

 

b.                                      Review of Indemnification Obligations. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event any Reviewing Party shall have
determined, in good faith ( and in a written opinion, in any case in which
Independent Legal Counsel is the Reviewing Party), that Indemnitee is not
entitled to be indemnified hereunder, whether pursuant to Section 11 or
otherwise, (i) the Company shall have no further obligation under
Section 2(a) to make any payments to

 

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Indemnitee not made prior to such determination by such Reviewing Party, and
(ii) the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed by Indemnitee (who hereby
agrees to reimburse the Company) for all Expenses theretofore paid to Indemnitee
to which Indemnitee is not entitled hereunder; provided, however, that if the
Reviewing Party’s determination is based on Section 11(a) hereof and Indemnitee
has commenced or thereafter commences a legal proceeding or proceedings in a
court of competent jurisdiction to secure a determination that Indemnitee is
entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable law, any determination
made by any Reviewing Party that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified
shall not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the
Company for any Expenses theretofore paid in indemnifying Indemnitee until a
final judicial determination is made with respect thereto (as to which all
rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed).  Indemnitee’s
obligation to reimburse the Company for any Expenses shall be unsecured and no
interest shall be charged thereon unless and until a final judicial
determination is made (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been
exhausted or lapsed) that Indemnitee is required to reimburse the Company, after
which the Company may charge interest from the date of such determination at
such rates as are permitted by applicable law.

 

c.                                       Indemnitee Rights on Unfavorable
Determination; Binding Effect.  If any Reviewing Party determines that
Indemnitee substantively is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder in whole or
in part, Indemnitee shall have the right to commence litigation seeking an
initial determination by the court challenging any such determination by such
Reviewing Party or any aspect thereof, including the legal or factual bases
therefor, and, subject to the provisions of Section 17, the Company hereby
consents to service of process and to appear in any such proceeding and to use
its reasonable efforts to cause the Reviewing Party to cooperate with respect to
such proceeding.  Absent such litigation, any determination by any Reviewing
Party shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and Indemnitee.

 

d.                                      Selection of Reviewing Party; Change in
Control.  If there has not been a Change in Control (or, there has been a Change
in Control which has been approved by a majority of the Company’s Board of
Directors who were directors immediately prior to such Change in Control), any
Reviewing Party shall be selected by the Board of Directors.  If there has been
a Change in Control (other than a Change in Control which has been approved by a
majority of the Company’s Board of Directors who were directors immediately
prior to such Change in Control), any Reviewing Party with respect to all
matters thereafter arising concerning the rights of Indemnitee to
indemnification of Expenses under this Agreement or any other agreement or under
the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (or articles of incorporation in the
case of a Subsidiary incorporated in a state other than Delaware) or Bylaws as
now or hereafter in effect, or under any other applicable law, if desired by
Indemnitee, shall be Independent Legal Counsel selected by Indemnitee and
approved by the Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed).  Such counsel, among other things, shall render its written opinion to
the Company and Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent Indemnitee would be
entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable law, and the Company
agrees to abide by such opinion.  The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees
of the Independent Legal Counsel referred to above and to indemnify fully such
counsel against any and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), claims,
liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
engagement of such counsel pursuant hereto.  Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Agreement, the Company shall not be required to pay Expenses of

 

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more than one Independent Legal Counsel in connection with all matters
concerning a single Indemnitee, and such Independent Legal Counsel shall be the
Independent Legal Counsel for any or all other Indemnitees unless (i) the
employment of separate counsel by one or more Indemnitees has been previously
authorized by the Company in writing, or (ii) an Indemnitee shall have provided
to the Company a written statement that such Indemnitee has reasonably concluded
that there may be a conflict of interest between such Indemnitee and the other
Indemnitees with respect to the matters arising under this Agreement.

 

e.                                       Mandatory Payment of Expenses. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement other than Section 11
hereof, to the extent that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or
otherwise, including, without limitation, the dismissal of an action without
prejudice, in defense of any Claim, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all
Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith.

 

3.                                       Expense Advances.

 

a.                                       Obligation to Make Expense Advances. 
Upon receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay
such amounts if it shall ultimately be determined in accordance with Section 2
that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified therefor by the Company
hereunder under applicable law, the Company shall make Expense Advances to
Indemnitee.

 

b.                                      Form of Undertaking.  Any obligation to
repay any Expense Advances hereunder pursuant to a written undertaking by the
Indemnitee shall be unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon unless
and until a court having jurisdiction in such matter has finally judicially
determined (as to which determination all rights of appeal therefrom have been
exhausted or lapsed) that Indemnitee is so obligated, after which the Company
may charge interest from the date of such determination at such rates as are
permitted by applicable law.

 

c.                                       Determination of Reasonable Expense
Advances.  The parties agree that, for the purposes of any Expense Advance for
which Indemnitee has made written demand to the Company in accordance with this
Agreement, all Expenses included in such Expense Advance that are certified by
affidavit of Indemnitee’s counsel as being reasonable shall be presumed
conclusively to be reasonable.

 

4.                                       Procedures for Indemnification and
Expense Advances.

 

a.                                       Timing of Payments.  All payments of
Expenses (including without limitation Expense Advances) by the Company to the
Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement shall be made to the fullest extent
permitted by law as soon as practicable after written demand by Indemnitee
therefor is presented to the Company, but in no event later than thirty (30)
business days after such written demand by Indemnitee is presented to the
Company, except in the case of Expense Advances, which shall be made no later
than ten (10) business days after such written demand by Indemnitee is presented
to the Company.

 

b.                                      Notice/Cooperation by Indemnitee. 
Indemnitee shall, as a condition precedent to Indemnitee’s right to be
indemnified or Indemnitee’s right to receive Expense Advances under this
Agreement, give the Company notice in writing as soon as practicable of

 

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any Claim made against Indemnitee for which indemnification will or could be
sought under this Agreement.  Notice to the Company shall be directed to the
Chief Executive Officer of the Company at the address shown on the signature
page of this Agreement (or such other address as the Company shall designate in
writing to Indemnitee).  In addition, Indemnitee shall give the Company such
information and cooperation as the Company may reasonably require and as shall
be within Indemnitee’s power.  Indemnitee shall also not make any admission or
enter into or otherwise agree to any settlement with respect to any Claim
without the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld, conditioned or delayed).

 

c.                                       No Presumptions; Burden of Proof.  For
purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any Claim by judgment, order,
settlement (whether with or without court approval) or upon a plea of nolo
contendere or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that Indemnitee did
not meet any particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or
that a court has determined that indemnification is not permitted by this
Agreement or applicable law.  In addition, neither the failure of any Reviewing
Party to have made a determination as to whether Indemnitee has met any
particular standard of conduct or had any particular belief, nor an actual
determination by any Reviewing Party that Indemnitee has not met such standard
of conduct or did not have such belief, prior to the commencement of legal
proceedings by Indemnitee to secure a judicial determination that Indemnitee
should be indemnified under this Agreement under applicable law, shall be a
defense to Indemnitee’s claim or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not
met any particular standard of conduct or did not have any particular belief. 
In connection with any determination by any Reviewing Party or otherwise as to
whether the Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable
law, the burden of proof shall be on the Company to establish that Indemnitee is
not so entitled.

 

d.                                      Notice to Insurers.  If, at the time of
the receipt by the Company of a notice of a Claim pursuant to
Section 4(b) hereof, the Company has liability insurance in effect which may
cover such Claim, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of
such Claim to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the
respective policies.  The Company shall thereafter take all necessary or
desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all
amounts payable as a result of such Claim in accordance with the terms of such
policies.

 

e.                                       Selection of Counsel.  In the event the
Company shall be obligated hereunder to provide indemnification for or make any
Expense Advances with respect to the Expenses of any Claim, the Company, if
appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Claim upon the
delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of the Company’s election to do so. 
The Company shall be entitled to select legal counsel for purposes of such
defense and shall consult with Indemnitee regarding the selection of counsel. 
After delivery of such notice and the retention of such counsel by the Company,
the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees
or expenses of separate counsel subsequently retained by or on behalf of
Indemnitee with respect to the same Claim; provided that, (i) Indemnitee shall
have the right to employ Indemnitee’s separate counsel in any such Claim at
Indemnitee’s expense and (ii) if (A) the employment of separate counsel by
Indemnitee has been previously authorized by the Company, (B) Indemnitee shall
have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the
Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense, or (C) the Company
shall not continue to retain such counsel to defend such Claim, then the fees
and

 

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expenses of Indemnitee’s separate counsel shall be Expenses for which Indemnitee
may receive indemnification or Expense Advances hereunder.

 

5.                                       Additional Indemnification Rights: 
Nonexclusivity.

 

a.                                       Scope.  In the event of any change
after the date of this Agreement in any applicable law, statute or rule which
expands the right of a Delaware (or such other state, in the case of a
Subsidiary incorporated in a state other than Delaware) corporation to indemnify
a member of its board of directors or an officer, employee, agent or fiduciary,
it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this
Agreement the greater benefits afforded by such change.  In the event of any
change in any applicable law, statute or rule which narrows the right of a
Delaware (or such other state, in the case of a Subsidiary incorporated in a
state other than Delaware) corporation to indemnify a member of its board of
directors or an officer, employee, agent or fiduciary, such change, to the
extent not otherwise required by such law, statute or rule to be applied to this
Agreement, shall have no effect on this Agreement or the parties’ rights and
obligations hereunder, except as otherwise set forth in Section 11(a).

 

b.                                      Nonexclusivity.  Subject to Section 7,
the indemnification and the payment of Expense Advances provided by this
Agreement shall be in addition to any rights to which Indemnitee may be entitled
under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (or articles of incorporation
in the case of a Subsidiary incorporated in a state other than Delaware), its
Bylaws, any other agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested
directors, the Delaware General Corporation Law (or such other state’s
applicable business corporation law, in the case of a Subsidiary incorporated in
a state other than Delaware), or otherwise.  The indemnification and the payment
of Expense Advances provided under this Agreement shall continue as to
\Indemnitee for any action taken or not taken while serving in an indemnified
capacity even though subsequent thereto Indemnitee may have ceased to serve in
such capacity.

 

6.                                       Settlement.  The Company shall have no
obligation to indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in
settlement of any Claim effected without the Company’s prior written consent. 
The Company shall not settle any Claim in which it takes the position that
Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification in connection with such settlement
without the prior written consent of Indemnitee, nor shall the Company settle
any Claim in any manner which would impose any fine, penalty or any obligation
on Indemnitee, without Indemnitee’s prior written consent.  Neither the Company
nor Indemnitee shall unreasonably withhold, condition or delay their consent to
any proposed settlement.

 

7.                                       No Duplication of Payments.  The
Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment in
connection with any Claim made against Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has
otherwise actually received payment (under any insurance policy, provision of
the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, any applicable Subsidiary’s articles
of incorporation, Bylaws or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise payable
hereunder.

 

8.                                       Partial Indemnification.  If Indemnitee
is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the
Company for some or a portion of Expenses incurred in connection with any Claim,
but not, however, for all of the total amount thereof, the Company

 

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shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion of such Expenses to
which Indemnitee is entitled.

 

9.                                       Mutual Acknowledgment.  Both the
Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that, in certain instances, federal law or
applicable public policy may prohibit the Company from indemnifying its
directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries under this Agreement or
otherwise.  Indemnitee understands and acknowledges that the Company has
undertaken or may be required in the future to undertake with the Securities and
Exchange Commission to submit the question of indemnification to a court in
certain circumstances for a determination of the Company’s ability under public
policy to indemnify Indemnitee.

 

10.                                 Liability Insurance.  To the extent the
Company maintains liability insurance applicable to directors, officers,
employees, agents or fiduciaries, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policies
in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are
provided to the most favorably insured of the Company’s directors, if Indemnitee
is a director; or of the Company’s officers, if Indemnitee is not a director of
the Company but is an officer; or of the Company’s key employees, agents or
fiduciaries, if Indemnitee is not an officer or director but is a key employee,
agent or fiduciary.

 

11.                                 Exceptions.  Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement:

 

a.                                       Indemnification Prohibited by Law.  To
indemnify or make Expense Advances to Indemnitee with respect to Claims arising
out of acts, omissions or transactions for which Indemnitee is prohibited from
receiving indemnification under applicable law.

 

b.                                      Fraud, Willful Misconduct or Crime.  To
indemnify or make Expense Advances to Indemnitee with respect to Claims arising
out of acts, omissions or transactions (i) that a court having jurisdiction in
such matter has finally judicially determined (as to which determination all
rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) constitute fraud or
willful misconduct by Indemnitee; (ii) that Indemnitee has admitted in writing
or under testimony constitute fraud or willful misconduct by Indemnitee; or
(iii) for which Indemnitee has been convicted of a crime related to the Claim.

 

c.                                       Claims Initiated by Indemnitee.  To
indemnify or make Expense Advances to Indemnitee with respect to Claims
initiated or brought voluntarily by Indemnitee and not by way of defense,
counterclaim or crossclaim, except (i) with respect to actions or proceedings
brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under this Agreement
or any other agreement or insurance policy or under the Company’s Certificate of
Incorporation (or articles of incorporation in the case of a Subsidiary
incorporated in a state other than Delaware) or Bylaws now or hereafter in
effect relating to Claims for Covered Events, (ii) in specific cases, if the
Board of Directors has approved the initiation or bringing of such Claim, or
(iii) as otherwise required under Section 145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (or other applicable section of the business corporation law of
a Subsidiary incorporated in a state other than Delaware), regardless of whether
Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification,
Expense Advances, or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

 

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d.                                      Lack of Good Faith.  To indemnify
Indemnitee for any Expenses incurred by the Indemnitee with respect to any
action instituted (i) by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a
court having jurisdiction over such action determines, as provided in
Section 15, that the Indemnitee’s action was not made in good faith or was
frivolous, or (ii) by or in the name of the Company to enforce or interpret this
Agreement, if a court having jurisdiction over such action determines, as
provided in Section 15, that the defense asserted by Indemnitee in such action
was not made in good faith or was frivolous.

 

e.                                       Claims Under Section 16(b).  To
indemnify Indemnitee for Expenses and the payment of profits arising from the
purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 16(b) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder, or any similar successor statute, rule or regulation.

 

f.                                         Non-compete and Non-disclosure.  To
indemnify Indemnitee in connection with proceedings or claims involving the
enforcement of non-compete and/or non-disclosure agreements or the non-compete
and/or non-disclosure provisions of employment, consulting or similar agreements
the Indemnitee may be a party to with the Company, or any subsidiary of the
Company or any other applicable foreign or domestic Company, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, if any.

 

12.                                 Contribution.

 

a.                                       In order to provide for just and
equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided
for herein is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to
Indemnitee in whole or in part, it is agreed that, in such event, the Company
shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, contribute to the payment of
Indemnitee’s costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in an
amount that is just and equitable in the circumstances, taking into account,
among other things, contributions by other directors and officers of the Company
or others pursuant to indemnification agreements or otherwise; provided, that,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such contribution shall not be
required where such holding by the court is due to (i) the failure of Indemnitee
to meet the standard of conduct required by applicable law, or (ii) any
limitation on indemnification set forth in Sections 6, 7 or 11 hereof.

 

b.                                      The Company shall not enter into any
settlement of any action, suit, claim or proceeding in which the Company is
jointly an severally liable with Indemnitee (or would be, if joined in such
action, suit, claim or proceeding) unless such settlement provides for a full
and final release of al claims asserted against Indemnitee.

 

c.                                       The Company hereby agrees to fully
indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee from any and all claims for contribution
which may be brought by officers, directors or employees of the Company other
than Indemnitee who may be jointly liable with Indemnitee.

 

13.                                 Counterparts.  This Agreement may be
executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an
original.

 

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14.                                 Binding Effect:  Successors and Assigns. 
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be
enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns
(including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation
or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the
Company), spouses, heirs and personal and legal representatives.  The Company
shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect, and whether
by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all, or a
substantial part, of the business or assets of the Company, by written agreement
in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree
to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the
Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. 
This Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of whether Indemnitee
continues to serve as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary (as
applicable) of the Company or of any other enterprise at the Company’s request.

 

15.                                 Expenses Incurred in Action Relating to
Enforcement or Interpretation.  In the event that any action is instituted by
Indemnitee under this Agreement or under any liability insurance policies
maintained by the Company to enforce or interpret any of the terms hereof or
thereof, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be indemnified for all Expenses
incurred by Indemnitee with respect to such action (including without limitation
attorneys’ fees), regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately successful in
such action, unless, as a part of such action, a court having jurisdiction over
such action makes a final judicial determination (as to which all rights of
appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that Indemnitee’s action was not
made in good faith or was frivolous; provided, however, that until such final
judicial determination is made, Indemnitee shall be entitled under Section 3 to
receive payment of Expense Advances hereunder with respect to such action.  In
the event of an action instituted by or in the name of the Company under this
Agreement to enforce or interpret any of the terms of this Agreement, Indemnitee
shall be entitled to be indemnified for all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in
defense of such action (including without limitation costs and expenses incurred
with respect to Indemnitee’s counterclaims and cross-claims made in such
action), unless, as a part of such action, a court having jurisdiction over such
action makes a final judicial determination (as to which all rights of appeal
therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that the defense asserted by Indemnitee
in such action was not made in good faith or was frivolous; provided, however,
that until such final judicial determination is made, Indemnitee shall be
entitled under Section 3 to receive payment of Expense Advances hereunder with
respect to such action.

 

16.                                 Period of Limitations.  Except for legal
actions based on Indemnitee’s fraud or willful misconduct as to which the period
of limitations shall be governed by applicable law, no legal action shall be
brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or in the right of the
Company against Indemnitee, Indemnitee’s estate, spouse, heirs, executors or
personal or legal representatives after the expiration of two years from the
date of accrual of such cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the
Company shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely
filing of a legal action within such two year period; provided, however, that if
any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of
action, such shorter period shall govern.

 

17.                                 Term.  All agreements and obligations of the
Company contained in this Agreement shall continue during the period Indemnitee
serves as a director or officer of the Company or, at the request of the Company
(or any wholly owned subsidiary of the Company),

 

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serves as a director, officer, employee or agent (which, for purposes hereof,
shall include a trustee, fiduciary, partner or manager or similar capacity) of
another company (including any subsidiaries of the Company), partnership, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, and shall continue
thereafter so long as Indemnitee may be subject to any possible action, suit,
claim or proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto and any proceeding
commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 2(c) or Section 15 hereof) by reason
of Indemnitee’s service described herein, whether or not Indemnitee is acting in
any such capacity at the time any liability or expense is incurred for which
indemnification can be provided under this Agreement.

 

18.                                 Notice.  All notices, requests, demands and
other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed duly given (i) if delivered by hand and signed for by the party
addressed, on the date of such delivery, or (ii) if mailed by domestic certified
or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the
date postmarked.  Addresses for notice to either party are as shown on the
signature page of this Agreement, or as subsequently modified by written notice.

 

19.                                 Consent to Jurisdiction.  The Company and
Indemnitee each hereby irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of
the State of Delaware for all purposes in connection with any action or
proceeding which arises out of or relates to this Agreement and agree that any
action instituted under this Agreement shall be commenced, prosecuted and
continued only in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in and for New
Castle County, which shall be the exclusive and only proper forum for
adjudicating such a claim.

 

20.                                 Severability.  The provisions of this
Agreement shall be severable in the event that any of the provisions hereof
(including any provision within a single section, paragraph or sentence) are
held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise
unenforceable, and the remaining provisions shall remain enforceable to the
fullest extent permitted by law.  Furthermore, to the fullest extent possible,
the provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation each portion of
this Agreement containing any provision held to be invalid, void or otherwise
unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, void or unenforceable) shall be
construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

 

21.                                 Choice of Law.  This Agreement, and all
rights, remedies, liabilities, powers and duties of the parties to this
Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Delaware as applied to contracts between Delaware residents entered
into and to be performed entirely in the State of Delaware without regard to
principles of conflicts of laws.

 

22.                                 Subrogation.  In the event of payment under
this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to
all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all documents
required and shall do all acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and
to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights.

 

23.                                 Amendment and Termination.  No amendment,
modification, termination or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective
unless it is in writing signed by both the parties

 

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hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to
be or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not
similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

 

24.                                 Integration and Entire Agreement.  This
Agreement sets forth the entire understanding between the parties hereto and
supersedes and merges all previous written and oral negotiations, commitments,
understandings and agreements relating to the subject matter hereof between the
parties hereto.

 

25.                                 No Construction as Employment Agreement;
Conflicts with Employment Agreements.  Nothing contained in this Agreement shall
be construed as giving Indemnitee any right to be retained in the employ of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliated entities.  In the event the
Indemnitee is a party to an Employment Agreement with the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliated entities and the terms of this Agreement conflict
with the terms of the Employment Agreement, the Employment Agreement shall
control and this Agreement shall be deemed modified to the extent necessary to
give effect to the terms of the Employment Agreement.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Indemnification
Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

 

 

CHRISTOPHER & BANKS CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

Luke R. Komarek

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and General Counsel

 

 

Address:

2400 Xenium Lane North

 

 

 

Plymouth, MN 55441

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED

 

 

 

 

 

INDEMNITEE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LuAnn Via

 

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