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EXHIBIT 10.8
STAGE STORES, INC.
 
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
 
 
THIS STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made effective as of
the _____ day of _________, 2011 (the “Effective Date”), by and between STAGE
STORES, INC., a Nevada corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”), and
______________, an employee of the Company, its subsidiaries or its affiliates
(hereinafter called the “Employee”).
 
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has adopted the
Stage Stores, Inc. Amended and Restated 2008 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”),
as it may be amended from time to time; and
 
WHEREAS, the Company considers it desirable and in the Company’s best interests
that the Employee be given an opportunity to acquire Common Shares in
furtherance of the Plan to provide incentive for the Employee to remain an
employee of the Company, its subsidiaries or its affiliates and to promote the
growth, earnings and success of the Company.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, it is agreed as follows:
 
1.  GRANT OF SARS.  The Company hereby grants to the Employee stock appreciation
rights with respect to a total of ________________ (x,xxx) Common Shares (the
“SARs”), in the manner and subject to the conditions as hereinafter
provided.  For purposes of this Agreement, “Common Shares” shall mean the
Company’s authorized voting common stock, par value $0.01.
 
2.  GRANT PRICE.  The Grant Price for the SARs shall be $xx.xx per Common Share
(the “Grant Price”), which is the Fair Market Value (as defined below) of a
Common Share on the date of grant.  For purposes of this Agreement, Fair Market
Value means the closing price on that date, or on the next business day if that
date is not a business day, of a Common Share as the price is reported on the
applicable exchange or market on which the Common Shares are traded; provided
that, if the Common Shares are not be reported on an exchange or market, the
fair market value of Common Shares shall be as determined in good faith by the
Board in such reasonable manner as it may deem appropriate in accordance with
applicable law. For purposes of this Agreement, reference to the “Board” shall
include the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) to the extent that the
Board has designated the Committee to administer the Plan.
 
3.  TERM, VESTING AND LIMITATION ON EXERCISE.  The SARs may be exercised during
a period of seven (7) years from the Effective Date of this Agreement (the
“Term”).  The SARs may not be exercised after the expiration of the
Term.  Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, the SARs shall vest and
become exercisable by the Employee according to the following schedule:
 
 
 

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Period from Date of Grant
Cumulative Percentage
of SARs Which
May Be Exercised
1 year
25%
2 years
50%
3 years
75%
4 years
100%

 
  Notwithstanding the above, in the event of a Change of Control (as defined in
this Agreement), all SARs granted under this Agreement shall immediately vest
and be exercisable by the Employee.
 
4.  EXERCISE OF SARS.  To exercise the SARs, the Employee or his or her
successor shall give written notice to the Company’s Treasurer at the Company’s
principal office of the number of SARs to be exercised and the date of such
exercise (the “Exercise Date”).  If the SARs are exercised by the successor of
the Employee following the Employee’s death, proof shall be submitted,
satisfactory to the Company, of the right of the successor to exercise the
SARs.  The SARs may only be exercised to the extent such SARs are vested under
this Agreement.
 
  Upon exercise of SARs, the Employee shall be entitled to that number of Common
Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value, as of the Exercise Date, equal to
the excess of (a) the Fair Market Value, as of the Exercise Date, of a Common
Share over (b) the Grant Price, multiplied by the total number of SARs being
exercised.  SARs may be exercised only with respect to full Common Shares, and
no fractional Common Shares shall be issued under this Agreement.  In no event
may a SAR be settled under this Agreement in cash.  This Agreement does not
include any features allowing the Employee to defer recognition of income past
the Exercise Date.
 
5.  ISSUANCE OF COMMON SHARES.  Prior to issuance of Common Shares under this
Agreement, Employee must provide the Company with a written statement that the
Common Shares are being acquired for investment and not with a view to
distribution; however, this statement shall not be required if the Common Shares
subject to the SARs are registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.  Common Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement which have not been
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission shall bear substantially
the following legend:
 
The Securities represented by this Certificate have not been registered under
the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”) and are “restricted
securities” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Act.  The Securities
may not be offered for sale, sold or otherwise transferred except pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Act, or pursuant to an exemption from
registration under the Act, the availability of which is to be established to
the satisfaction of the Company.
 
 
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  The Company shall not be required to transfer or deliver any certificate or
certificates for Common Shares acquired upon any exercise of SARs until after
compliance with all then applicable requirements of law.
 
6.  DEATH OF EMPLOYEE.   If the Employee’s employment with the Company is
terminated due to death, unvested SARS will immediately vest and the Employee’s
estate will have one year from the date of death to exercise all SARS, provided
that the exercise occurs within the remaining Term.  Any portion of the SARs not
exercised within the one year period shall terminate.
 
7.  DISABILITY OF EMPLOYEE.  If the Employee’s employment with the Company is
terminated due to disability, unvested SARS will immediately vest and he or she
will have one year from the date of termination to exercise all SARS, provided
that the exercise occurs within the remaining Term.  Any portion of the SARs not
exercised within the one year period shall terminate.  For the purposes of this
Agreement, the Employee shall be deemed to have terminated his or her employment
by the Company by reason of disability if the Committee shall determine that the
physical or mental condition of the Employee by reason of which his or her
employment terminated was such at that time as would entitle him or her to
payment of monthly disability benefits under any Company disability plan.  If
the Employee is not eligible for benefits under any disability plan of the
Company, he or she shall be deemed to have terminated his or her employment by
reason of disability if the Committee shall determine that his or her physical
or mental condition would entitle him or her to benefits under any Company
disability plan if he or she were eligible therefor.
 
8.  RETIREMENT OF EMPLOYEE.  If the Employee’s employment with the Company is
terminated due to retirement (as determined by the Board), unvested SARS will
immediately vest and he or she will have one year from the date of termination
to exercise all SARS,  provided that the exercise occurs within the remaining
Term.  Any portion of the SARs not exercised within the one year period shall
terminate.
 
9.  CHANGE IN CONTROL.  In the event of a Change In Control, all SARS will
immediately vest and will be exercisable.  For purposes of this Agreement, a
“Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred:
 
  (a)         on such date within the 12-month period following the date that
any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (as defined in
§1.409A-3(i)(5)(v)(B) of the Treasury Regulations), acquires ownership of stock
that represents twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the combined voting power
of the Company’s then outstanding securities (the “Trigger Date”), that a
majority of the individuals who, as of the Trigger Date, constitute the Board
(the “Incumbent Board”) are replaced by new members whose appointment or
election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Incumbent Board
before the date of such appointment or election;
 
  (b)         as of the date that any one person, or more than one person acting
as a group (as defined in §1.409A-3(i)(5)(v)(B) of the Treasury Regulations),
acquires ownership of stock that, together with stock held by such person or
group, constitutes more than 50% of either (1) the then outstanding shares of
common stock of the Company or (2) the combined voting power of
 
 
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the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally
in the election of directors; provided, however, if any one person or more than
one person acting as a group, is considered to own more than fifty percent (50%)
of the total fair market value or total voting power of the stock of the
Company, the acquisition of additional stock by the same person or persons shall
not be considered to cause a Change in Control; or
 
  (c)         the date any one person, or more than one person acting as a group
(as defined in §1.409A-3(i)(5)(v)(B) of the Treasury Regulations), acquires (or
has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent
acquisition by such person or persons) all, or substantially all, of the assets
of the Company, except for any sale, lease exchange or transfer resulting from
any action taken by any creditor of the Company in enforcing its rights or
remedies against any assets of the Company in which such creditor holds a
security interest.  Provided further, a transfer of assets by the Company shall
not be treated as a Change in Control if the assets are transferred to:
 
       (i)         A shareholder of the Company (immediately before the asset
transfer) in exchange for or with respect to its stock;
 
       (ii)        An entity, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of
which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company;
 
       (iii)       A person, or more than one person acting as a group, that
owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of
all the outstanding stock of the Company; or
 
       (iv)       An entity, at least 50% of the total value or voting power of
which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a person described in paragraph (iii)
herein.

 For purposes of subsection (c) and except as otherwise provided in paragraph
(i), a person’s status is determined immediately after the transfer of the
assets.
 
10.    OTHER TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Upon the termination of the Employee’s
employment with the Company for any reason other than death, disability or
retirement, the Employee will have sixty (60) days from the date of termination
to exercise all vested SARS provided that the exercise occurs within the
remaining Term.  Any portion of the SARS not exercised within the sixty (60) day
period shall terminate.
 
11.  GENERAL RESTRICTIONS.  The SARs shall be subject to the requirement that,
if at any time the Board shall determine that (i) the listing, registration or
qualification of the shares of Common Shares subject or related thereto upon any
securities exchange or under any state or Federal law, (ii) the consent or
approval of any government regulatory body, or (iii) an agreement by the
Employee with respect to the disposition of Common Shares is necessary or
desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of the SARs or
the issue of Common Shares thereunder, the granting of the SARs or the issue of
the Common Shares may not be consummated in whole or in part unless the listing,
registration, qualification, consent,
 
 
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approval or agreement shall have been effected or obtained free of any
conditions not acceptable to the Board.
 
12.  ASSIGNMENT.  The rights under this Agreement shall not be assignable or
transferable by the Employee, except by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution.  Any attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation, or
other disposition of the rights under this Agreement contrary to the provisions
hereof shall be null and void and without effect.  During the lifetime of the
Employee, any right under this Agreement shall be exercisable only by the
Employee or his or her guardian or legal representative.
 
13.  WITHHOLDING TAXES.  Whenever the Company proposes or is required to issue
or transfer Common Shares under this Agreement, the Company shall have the right
to require the Employee to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy
any Federal, state and/or local withholding tax requirements prior to the
delivery of any certificate or certificates for the Common
Shares.  Alternatively, the Company may issue or transfer the Common Shares net
of the number of shares sufficient to satisfy the statutory minimum withholding
tax requirements.  For withholding tax purposes, the Common Shares shall be
valued on the date the withholding obligation is incurred.
 
14.  RIGHT TO TERMINATE EMPLOYMENT.  Nothing in this Agreement shall confer upon
the Employee the right to continue in the employment of the Company, its
subsidiaries or its affiliates or affect any right which the Company, its
subsidiaries or its affiliates may have to terminate the employment of the
Employee.
 
15.  RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER.  Neither the Employee, his or her legal
representative, nor other persons entitled to exercise the SARs under this
Agreement shall have any rights of a shareholder in the Company with respect to
the shares issuable upon exercise of the SARs unless and until a certificate or
certificates representing the Common Shares shall have been issued to him or her
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
 
16.  ADJUSTMENTS.  In the event of any change in the outstanding common stock of
the Company by reason of stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock dividends or
distributions, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation,
split-up, combination, exchange of shares or the like, the Board shall make an
equitable adjustment to the number of Common Shares issued under this Agreement
and the Grant Price and take any and all other actions deemed appropriate by the
Board.
 
17.  STOCK RESERVED.  The Company shall at all times during the term of this
Agreement reserve and keep available the number of Common Shares as will be
sufficient to satisfy the terms of this Agreement.
 
18.  SEVERABILITY.  Every part, term or provision of this Agreement is severable
from the others.  Notwithstanding any possible future finding by a duly
constituted authority that a particular part, term or provision is invalid, void
or unenforceable, this Agreement has been made with the clear intention that the
validity and enforceability of the remaining parts, terms and provisions shall
not be affected thereby.
 
 
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19.  NOTICE.  Any notice to be delivered under this Agreement shall be given in
writing and delivered, personally or by certified mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to the Company or the Employee at their last known address.
 
20.  GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the applicable Federal law and, to the extent otherwise applicable,
the laws of the State of Texas.
 
21.  HEADINGS.  The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and
shall not be used to interpret or construe the provisions of this Agreement.
 
22.  BINDING EFFECT.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of any successor or successors of the Company.
 
23.  INCORPORATION OF PLAN.  The SARs are granted pursuant to the terms of the
Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference, and the SARs shall in all
respects be interpreted in accordance with the Plan.  If there is any
inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the
Plan’s terms shall completely supersede and replace the conflicting terms of
this Agreement.  All capitalized terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them
in the Plan, unless specifically set forth otherwise herein.
 
24.  MODIFICATION.  This Agreement is intended to comply with the provisions of
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the “Code”).  The Company
may change or modify the terms of this Agreement, including, without limitation,
the Grant Price, without the Employee’s consent or signature if the Company
determines, in its sole discretion, that such change or modification is
necessary for purposes of compliance with or exemption from the requirements of
Section 409A of the Code or any regulations or other guidance issued
thereunder.  Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the Company may also amend
the Plan or this Agreement or revoke the SARs to the extent permitted by the
Plan.
 
   IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Stock Appreciation
Rights Agreement to be executed as of the Effective Date.
 
 

 “COMPANY”   STAGE STORES, INC.       By:___________________________________  
      Andrew Hall, President and CEO      “EMPLOYEE”       
 _____________________________________    __________________________, an
individual            

 
 
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