Letter Agreement -John Howie



 Exhibit 10.18 
 LSF5 WAGON HOLDINGS, LLC 
 2711 N. Haskell Avenue, Suite 1700 

Dallas, Texas 75204 
 February 7, 2011 
 Mr. Jon Howie 

1413 Cherry Blossom Ln. 
 Keller, Texas 76248

 Dear Jon: 
 As a highly valued senior
executive of Center Cut Hospitality, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, “CCH”), you (also referred to herein as “Employee”) are being given the opportunity to earn bonus
compensation tied to a successful Sale (as defined below) or Qualified Public Offering (as defined below). This letter agreement (this “Letter”) sets forth the terms of this opportunity, which have been designed so that you will not
be required to make any future financial investment in Wagon, DFRG, CCH, or the Company (including any Public Company) (collectively, the “Company Group”) or incur an immediate tax obligation in connection with the award of this
opportunity. This opportunity is designed to align your interests with the interests of the Company’s investors, and, except as specifically provided below in this Letter, is provided in addition to, and not in lieu of, any existing equity,
bonus, or other compensation plan arrangement you currently have or in which you currently participate with the Company. Definitions of certain capitalized terms used herein are set forth at the end of this Letter. 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, following consummation of a Sale, a Qualified Public Offering or a Secondary Public Offering (each
as defined below and each, a “Transaction”), and provided that, in each case, the Employee is actively employed with CCH on the date such Transaction is consummated (the “Transaction Date”), then the Employee shall
be eligible to earn a bonus (a “Transaction Bonus”) in an amount determined as set forth below and based on the Employee’s Transaction Bonus Amount with respect to such Transaction, as calculated in accordance with the
methodology set forth on Schedule A hereto (the amount so calculated in accordance with Schedule A with respect to any Transaction, the “Employee’s Transaction Bonus Amount”). 

For purposes hereof, if Employee’s employment with CCH is terminated within the 180-day period ending with any Transaction Date (i) solely due
to Employee’s Disability, (ii) by CCH without Cause, or (iii) by Employee for Good Reason, Employee shall be considered actively employed with CCH on such Transaction Date. 
 A. In the event of a Transaction that is a Sale, one-hundred per cent (100%) of the Employee’s Transaction Bonus Amount shall be payable to the Employee no later than seventy-five (75) days
after the applicable Transaction Date, subject to the following: 
  

	 	(a)	The Employee must comply with all requirements as to the execution and delivery of the Release (defined below) and award termination instruments provided for below;









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	 	(b)	 If the seventy-fifth
(75th) day following the Transaction Date is in a
different calendar year than the first (1st) day
following the Transaction Date, such payment shall be made in the calendar year in which the 75th day falls (but no later than such 75th day); and 


  

	 	(c)	The Transaction Bonus shall not be paid if the Employee’s employment with CCH (which term shall include, for purposes of this subparagraph, any successor or
acquirer of the Company’s business) is terminated by CCH for Cause or by the Employee without Good Reason prior to payment of the Transaction Bonus. 

 Any portion of a Transaction Bonus otherwise payable pursuant to this Paragraph A that is attributable to consideration which is deferred or contingent shall not be paid until the applicable seller(s)
receive such deferred or contingent portion of the consideration and to the extent that a portion of the consideration paid to the applicable seller(s) is in a form other than cash, Wagon shall have the right to pay a corresponding portion of the
Transaction Bonus to the Employee in the same form of consideration. 
 B. In the event of a Transaction that is a Qualified
Public Offering, an amount equal to the product of the Applicable Qualified Offering Percentage (as defined below) multiplied by the Employee’s Transaction Bonus Amount with respect to such Qualified Public Offering shall be payable to the
Employee in cash no later than seventy-five (75) days after the applicable Transaction Date; provided, however, if the seventy-fifth (75th) day following the Transaction Date is in a different calendar year than the first (1st) day following the Transaction Date, such payment shall be made
in the calendar year in which the 75th day falls (but no
later than such 75th day). In addition, if (x) the
Employee is entitled to a Transaction Bonus with respect to such Qualified Public Offering and (y) Wagon’s direct or indirect ownership percentage in the common equity of the Public Company is not reduced to zero as a result of such
Qualified Public Offering, then following each subsequent Secondary Public Offering (until Wagon’s direct or indirect ownership percentage in the common equity of the Public Company is reduced to zero), and provided that (i) except as
specifically provided herein, the Employee is actively employed with CCH (which term shall include, for all purposes of this Paragraph B, any successor or acquirer of the Company’s business) on the date such Secondary Public Offering is
consummated (also a “Transaction Date”), (ii) the Employee has not breached or violated any provision of the Employment Agreement or any other obligation to the Company, (iii) the Employee complies with all requirements as
to the execution and delivery of the Release and award termination instruments provided for below, and (iv) the Employee was entitled to a Transaction Bonus with respect to all previous Secondary Public Offerings (if any), then the Employee
shall be entitled to receive an additional bonus (also a “Transaction Bonus”) in an amount equal to the product of the Employee’s Transaction Bonus Amount with respect to such Secondary Public Offering, multiplied by the
Applicable Secondary Offering Percentage (as defined below) with respect to such Secondary Public Offering. Any Transaction Bonus payable with respect to a Secondary Public Offering shall be paid in cash no later than seventy-five (75) days
after the Transaction Date for such Secondary Public Offering; provided, however, if the seventy-fifth (75th) day following such Transaction Date is in a different calendar year than the first (1st) day following such Transaction Date,
such payment shall be made in the calendar year in which the 75th day falls (but no later than such 75th day). 
 Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained in this Letter, if (i) Employee is eligible hereunder for a Transaction Bonus in connection with a Qualified Public Offering, (ii) Employee remains actively employed with CCH at all times through the date that is 21
months after the Transaction Date of such Qualified Public Offering, and (iii) Employee has not breached or violated any provision of the 







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Employment Agreement or any other obligation to the Company during such 21-month period, then Employee shall not forfeit his or her eligibility to receive a Transaction Bonus with respect to any
Secondary Public Offering that is consummated after such 21-month period solely because Employee is not actively employed with CCH on the Transaction Date of such Secondary Public Offering; provided, however, that this sentence shall not be
applicable, and no Transaction Bonus shall be payable, from and after the date (if ever) that Employee is terminated for Cause or voluntarily resigns under circumstances where Cause exists. 
 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Letter, if at any time the percentage of the aggregate common equity of the Public Company held directly or indirectly by Wagon is greater than
zero but not greater than 50% (determined on an as converted, fully diluted basis), Wagon shall have the right, but not the obligation, by written notice to Employee, to pay to Employee a bonus equal to the product of (i) the percentage of the
aggregate common equity of the Public Company held directly or indirectly by Wagon at the time of such notice (determined on an as converted, fully diluted basis) multiplied by (ii) the amount that would be the Employee’s Transaction Bonus
Amount (calculated in accordance with Schedule A hereto) if at the time of such notice the Public Company consummated a Secondary Public Offering at a per share issuance price equal to 105% of the Fair Market Value (as defined below) of one
share of the Public Company’s common equity securities as of such date. Any such bonus shall be payable, at Wagon’s election, in any combination of cash and/or the Public Company’s common stock (“Stock”) (valued as of
the date of grant and with registration rights as set forth above) no later than 75 days after the date of such notice. Following the exercise of this right, no additional Transaction Bonus will be payable under this Letter with respect to any
subsequent Transaction. 
 C. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Letter: 

 

	 	(a)	Any portion of a Transaction Bonus otherwise payable that is attributable to that part of Aggregate Value which is deferred or contingent shall not be paid until the
Company Group and/or the equity owners of any member(s) of the Company Group receive such deferred or contingent portion of Aggregate Value and to the extent that a portion of Aggregate Value is paid to the Company or its equity owners in
non-marketable securities, Wagon shall have the right to pay, or to cause the payment of, a corresponding portion of the Transaction Bonus to the Employee in the same form of consideration, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties;


  

	 	(b)	Except as specifically set forth above with respect to Disability, if Employee’s employment with CCH terminates upon the Employee’s death or Disability, then,
thereafter, Employee (or his or her heirs and estate) shall not become entitled to any further payments hereunder (but Employee (and Employee’s heirs and estate) shall remain entitled to any payments hereunder to which Employee is otherwise
entitled as of the date of such termination); 

  

	 	(c)	The Employee shall not be eligible to earn or receive, and shall have no right, entitlement or earned or vested interest in or to any Transaction Bonus (i) until
the consummation of a Sale or Qualified Public Offering or Secondary Public Offering or (ii) except as specifically set forth above, based on any Transaction that is consummated after the termination of the Employee’s employment with CCH
for any reason; and 








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	 	(d)	The Employee shall not be eligible to earn or receive a Transaction Bonus, and the Employee shall forfeit all rights in and to any Transaction Bonus, if Employee’s
employment with CCH shall terminate for any reason prior to a Transaction (except as specifically set forth above). 

  

	 	(e)	Payment of the Transaction Bonus to which the Employee is otherwise entitled shall be contingent upon, and shall be earned and payable to the Employee if, and only if:
(i) a Transaction is consummated; and (ii) no later than sixty (60) days after the Transaction Date the Employee executes and delivers to Wagon a separation and release agreement (or, in the event the Employee’s employment with
CCH does not terminate upon consummation of the Transaction, a release agreement) in favor of each member of the Company Group, their respective direct and indirect equity owners (including Wagon, DFRG and their direct and indirect equity owners),
and their respective affiliates in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Wagon (the “Release”), provided that the Release shall not release any obligations to make any payments to, or to cause payments to be made to, the
Employee required under this Letter, and such Release remains in effect following the expiration of any applicable notice, review and/or revocation periods. Wagon shall be required to deliver to the Employee its required form of Release within
fourteen (14) days after the Transaction Date. 

 D. For the avoidance of doubt, the Employee’s rights, if any, with
respect to a Transaction Bonus in the event of a Qualified Public Offering shall apply only with respect to the first Qualified Public Offering consummated after the date of this Letter and, but only to the extent specifically provided for herein,
each subsequent Secondary Public Offering, and no Transaction Bonus shall be paid or payable with respect to any subsequent Sale or Qualified Public Offering (other than the portion of any subsequent public offering that constitutes a Secondary
Public Offering). In addition, if prior to a Qualified Public Offering there is a Sale, then no Transaction Bonus shall be paid or payable with respect to any subsequent sale of any other assets of the Company or Qualified Public Offering.

 E. The Employee shall not have any transferable right or interest in the Transaction Bonus or other compensation or amounts payable pursuant
to this Letter, nor any right to anticipate, alienate, assign, dispose of, pledge or encumber the same, nor shall the same be subject to attachment, garnishment, execution following judgment or other legal process instituted by creditors of the
Employee, and any action in violation of this provision shall be void. No member of the Company Group shall be required to segregate any funds or other assets to be used for the payment of the Transaction Bonus or any other payment under this
Letter, and no record or other notation on any member of the Company Group’s books of the obligations created by this Letter with respect to the Transaction Bonus or any other payment shall be considered as evidence of the creation of a trust
fund, an escrow or any other segregation of assets for the benefit of the Employee. Any obligation to pay the Transaction Bonus or any other compensation or amounts are unsecured contractual obligations only, and the Employee shall not have any
beneficial or preferred interest by way of trust, escrow, lien or otherwise in and to any specific assets or funds of any member of the Company Group. The Employee specifically acknowledges and agrees that (i) any rights Employee may have to
the Transaction Bonus or any other payment pursuant to the terms of this Letter (except for Stock issued under Paragraph B above) are not securities of any person or entity and do not create any right in the equity or capital of any member of the
Company Group, and (ii) receipt of the Transaction Bonus, if any, or other compensation or amounts payable pursuant to this Letter, may constitute ordinary income for federal and state income tax purposes and shall be subject to all applicable
payroll, income tax and other withholding obligations. No Member of the Company Group other than Wagon and DFRG shall be liable for, and the Employee shall 







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look solely to the general credit of Wagon and DFRG for satisfaction of, any obligations due or to become due under this Letter with respect to a Transaction Bonus, or any other payment,
resulting from a Sale. No Member of the Company Group other than Wagon shall be liable for, and the Employee shall look solely to the general credit of Wagon for satisfaction of, any obligations due or to become due under this Letter with respect to
a Transaction Bonus, or any other payment, resulting from a Qualified Public Offering or Secondary Public Offering. If any member of the Company Group should, in its sole discretion, earmark or set aside any funds or other assets to pay amounts
hereunder, the same shall, nevertheless, remain and be regarded as part of the general assets of such member, as applicable, subject to the claims of its general creditors (and shall not be considered to be held in a fiduciary capacity for the
benefit of the Employee), and the Employee shall not have any legal, beneficial, security or other property interest herein. Nothing herein shall be deemed as a waiver of any rights of the Employee or Employee’s heirs or estate in the event of
Employee’s death. 
 F. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Letter, in the event that any Transaction Bonus is paid
to the Employee before any portion of the Employee’s Existing IA Compensation (if any) is paid, then such Transaction Bonus shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Letter and the future payment of the Existing IA Compensation (if
any) shall be reduced by the aggregate amount of all Transaction Bonuses paid to the Employee prior to the payment of any Existing IA Compensation. If any portion of the Employee’s Existing IA Compensation is paid before any Transaction Bonus
is paid to Employee, then such Transaction Bonus and, to the extent necessary, all future Transaction Bonuses payable to Employee shall be reduced by the aggregate Existing IA Compensation payable to the Employee under the Existing Investment
Agreements. For the avoidance of doubt, the Employee’s rights under and pursuant to the Existing Investment Agreements (including the Employee’s “Class B Interests” (as defined in the Existing Investment Agreements)) shall not be
limited by anything in this Letter. The parties hereto agree that the provisions of this Paragraph F shall be binding and effective against them notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Existing Investment Agreements. Without
limiting the foregoing, if and to the extent anything in this Letter constitutes an amendment to the Existing Investment Agreements, the parties’ signatures hereto shall constitute their consent to such amendment. 

G. All payments and benefits under this Letter are intended to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the
United States Treasury Regulations and Internal Revenue Service guidance published thereunder or with respect thereto (collectively, “Section 409A”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Letter shall be interpreted
to be in compliance therewith. Notwithstanding such intent or anything to the contrary contained in this Letter, in no event whatsoever shall any member of the Company Group be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalty that may be imposed
on Employee by Section 409A or damages for failing to comply with Section 409A. 
 H. All determinations under this Letter of the
Employee’s Transaction Bonus Amount, Transaction Bonus, the Existing IA Compensation and any other amounts payable under or relevant to the determination of any Transaction Bonus provided for herein, and all decisions, interpretations and
determinations with regard to any question or matter arising under this Letter, will be made in the good faith discretion of Wagon. 
 I. As
used herein: 
 “Aggregate Value” shall mean: either (1) in the case of a Sale, the total net purchase
price paid to CCH in respect of its assets or to the equity holders of DFRG or CCH in respect of their equity 







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interests, as the case may be (as adjusted for working capital and other purchase price adjustments pursuant to the applicable Sale documents), or (2) in the case of a Qualified Public
Offering or Secondary Public Offering, the implied aggregate common equity value of the Public Company based on such Qualified Public Offering or Secondary Public Offering issuance price, as the case may be. 

“Applicable Qualified Offering Percentage” shall mean the excess of (i) the percentage of the aggregate common
equity of the Public Company held directly or indirectly by Wagon immediately prior to the first Qualified Public Offering consummated after the date of this Letter (determined on an as converted, fully diluted basis) over (ii) the percentage
of the aggregate common equity of the Public Company held directly or indirectly by Wagon immediately after such Qualified Public Offering (determined on an as converted, fully diluted basis). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the portion, if any, of
the excess described immediately above that results from the compensatory grant or compensatory issuance of common equity or of options or similar rights to acquire common equity in connection with such Qualified Public Offering shall be added back
to the amount described in clause (ii) above for purposes of determining the Applicable Qualified Offering Percentage with respect to such Qualified Public Offering. 
 “Applicable Secondary Offering Percentage” shall mean with respect to any Secondary Public Offering, the excess of (i) the percentage of the aggregate common equity of the Public
Company held directly or indirectly by Wagon immediately prior to such Secondary Public Offering over (ii) the percentage of the aggregate common equity of the Public Company held directly or indirectly by Wagon immediately after such Secondary
Public Offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the portion, if any, of the excess described immediately above that results from the grant or issuance (whether or not compensatory) by the Public Company of common equity or of warrants or options to
acquire common equity, or the sale by the Public Company of newly issued common equity or of securities or other instruments convertible into common equity, in connection with such Secondary Public Offering, shall be added back to the amount
described in clause (ii) above for purposes of determining the Applicable Secondary Offering Percentage with respect to such Secondary Public Offering. 
 “Cause” shall have the meaning set forth in the Employment Agreement. 
 “Company” shall mean, collectively, DFRG, together with each of its subsidiaries (including, but not limited to, CCH) and its and their successors and assigns. 

“DFRG” shall mean Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, together with its
successors and assigns. 
 “Disability” shall have the meaning set forth in the Employment Agreement.

 “Employment Agreement” shall mean Employee’s Executive Employment Agreement of even date herewith with
CCH (which term shall include, for purposes of this Letter, any successor or acquirer of the Company’s business), as from time to time amended, supplemented, restated, or otherwise modified. 







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“Existing Investment Agreements” shall mean (i) the Subscription Agreement executed by Employee in favor of Wagon
dated as of April 30, 2007, (ii) the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of LSF5 Wagon Holdings, LLC, dated as of February 5, 2007 (as the same may be amended from time to time), and (iii) any and all letter
agreements, pledge agreements, promissory notes, and other agreements executed by Employee in connection therewith or relating directly or indirectly thereto. 
 “Existing IA Compensation” shall mean the aggregate amount payable to the Employee in respect of his “Class C Interests” (as that term is defined in the Existing Investment
Agreements).
 “Fair Market Value” means: 

(i) If the Public Company’s common equity shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market
system, or are regularly quoted on an automated quotation system (including the OTC Bulletin Board and the “Pink Sheets” published by the National Quotation Bureau, Inc.) or by a recognized securities dealer, the average of the closing
sales prices per share over the 30-day period ending on the date of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as Wagon deems reliable; or 

(ii) In the absence of an established market for the shares described in (i) above, the issuance price used in the
most recent Qualified Public Offering or Secondary Public Offering to have been consummated. 
 “Good Reason”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Employment Agreement. 
 “Public Company” shall mean whichever of DFRG
or CCH is the issuer in the first Qualified Public Offering to be consummated after the date hereof. 
 “Qualified Public
Offering” shall mean a firm commitment underwritten public offering of common equity securities for gross cash proceeds to the issuer of at least $30 Million where the shares of DFRG’s or CCH’s common equity securities that are
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are listed on a national securities exchange or are quoted on NASDAQ. 

“Sale” shall mean a sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of CCH in one transaction or series of
transactions, the sale, exchange, or other disposition of a majority of the equity interests in or of DFRG or CCH, or any transaction having a similar effect (including, without limitation, a merger or consolidation), but excluding (i) a
Qualified Public Offering or Secondary Public Offering or (ii) any sales, transfers or other transactions to or with subsidiaries or affiliates of any member of the Company Group or Wagon’s equity holders, or any transaction with an entity
that is entered into by any member of the Company Group, or their subsidiaries or affiliates, or Wagon’s equity holders, as part of a reorganization, restructuring or conversion of one or more members of the Company Group. 

“Secondary Public Offering” shall mean a registered public offering of the same class of equity securities that were sold
in the first Qualified Public Offering consummated after the date of this Letter, but only if Wagon receives proceeds from such offering due to a reduction in Wagon’s direct or indirect ownership percentage in the common equity of the Public
Company. 







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“Wagon” means LSF5 Wagon Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, together with its successors and assigns.

  
  

This Letter shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas and shall be subject to Section 6 of the Employment
Agreement in all respects. In order for the Transaction Bonus opportunity described above to be effective, you are required to promptly countersign and deliver to Wagon (i) the enclosed copy of this Letter (you may keep the original for your
records) and (ii) the accompanying Employment Agreement. 
 This Letter may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect
as if all parties hereto had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute one agreement. This Letter and any amendments hereto, to the extent signed and delivered by means of a facsimile machine or
electronic transmission, shall be treated in all manner and respects as an original Letter and shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. At the request of any
party hereto the other parties hereto shall re-execute original forms thereof and deliver them to such requesting party. No party hereto shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or electronic transmission to deliver a signature or the fact that
any signature was transmitted or communicated through the use of facsimile machine or electronic transmission as a defense to the formation of a contract and each such party forever waives any such defense. 

[Signature page follows.] 







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 Should you have any
questions, please contact the undersigned. 
 Sincerely, 
  

			
	LSF5 WAGON HOLDINGS, LLC
		
	By:	 	/s/ Marc L. Lipshy
		 	 Name: Marc L. Lipshy

Title:   President


  

			
	DEL FRISCO’S RESTAURANT GROUP, LLC
		
	By:	 	/s/ Steven R. Shearer
		 	 Name: Steven R. Shearer

Title:   Vice President


 I hereby acknowledge receipt and agree to the terms of this Letter and the accompanying Employment Agreement this 7th day
of February, 2011. 
  

	
	/s/ Jon W. Howie
	Name: Jon Howie

  







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Schedule A 

Computation of Employee’s Transaction Bonus Amount 
 Jon Howie 
  

									
	 Transaction Bonus
Program

	 Aggregate Value
	 	 Bonus

Share

%
	 	 Bonus Pool

	 Min

($MM)
	 	 Max

($MM)
	 	 	 Min

($000)
	 	 Max

($000)

	 < 228.0
	 	—  	 	0.0%	 	0.0	 	0.0
	  
	 	  
	 	  
	 	  
	 	  

	 3228.0
	 	£260.2	 	0.5%	 	1,140.0	 	1,301.0
	  
	 	  
	 	  
	 	  
	 	  

	 >260.2
	 	£277.8	 	1.0%	 	2,603.0	 	2,778.0
	  
	 	  
	 	  
	 	  
	 	  

	 >277.8
	 	<292.5	 	1.5%	 	4,168.5	 	4,386.0
	  
	 	  
	 	  
	 	  
	 	  

	 3292.5
	 		 	5,850.0 + 5% of anything over 292.5MM
	  
	 	  
	 	  


 General Rule: If the Aggregate Value with respect to a particular Transaction is less than $292,500,000, the
Employee’s Transaction Bonus Amount with respect to such Transaction shall be calculated using the following formula: 
 A
X B X C, where: 
 A = 15%* 
 B = Aggregate Value from the subject Transaction 
 C = The Aggregate Value’s
applicable Bonus Share % from the chart above 
 Exception: If the Aggregate Value with respect to a particular Transaction is
$292,500,000 or greater, the Employee’s Transaction Bonus Amount with respect to such Transaction shall be calculated using the following formula: 
 A X [$5,850,000 + (C X (B – $292,500,000))], where: 
 A = 15%* 

B = Aggregate Value from the subject Transaction 
 C = 5% 
 * Subject to the right of the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion, to increase
the specified percentage by up to five (5) percentage points.