Document:

ex10-18.htm

Exhibit 10.18

WAIVER AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

THIS WAIVER AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of May 13, 2012, by and between Park Sterling Corporation, a North Carolina corporation (“Park Sterling”), Citizens South Banking Corporation (“Citizens South”), a Delaware corporation, Citizens South Bank, (the “Bank”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Citizens South, and Kim S. Price (the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Executive is a party to a Salary Continuation Agreement with the Bank dated as of January 1, 2004, and as subsequently amended (the “Salary Continuation Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, Park Sterling and Citizens South have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of May 13, 2012 (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which Citizens South will be merged into Park Sterling (the “Merger”); and

WHEREAS, the parties wish to enter to an agreement relating to Executive’s waiver of rights under and termination of the Salary Continuation Agreement as of the closing date of the Merger (the “Closing Date”), and to provide that, in lieu of any payment or benefits due under the Salary Continuation Agreement in connection with the Executive’s termination of employment, the Executive shall be entitled to the payment set forth in this Agreement; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, Park Sterling, Citizens South, the Bank and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

Section 1.            Waiver of Rights Under and Termination of the Salary Continuation Agreement.

The Executive, Park Sterling, Citizens South, and the Bank hereby agree that the Salary Continuation Agreement shall be terminated without any further action of any parties hereto, and that the Executive hereby irrevocably waives all rights to any payments or benefits under the Salary Continuation Agreement, effective as of the Closing Date.  The Executive shall, in lieu of any payment or benefits under the Salary Continuation Agreement, be entitled to the payment set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement.

 

Section 2.            Waiver and Settlement Payment.

(a)            Cash Payment.  Park Sterling, or if directed by Park Sterling, Citizens South, hereby agrees (unless prohibited from doing so by applicable regulatory authority) to pay Executive a single lump sum cash payment equal to the benefit that would be payable to the Executive under the Salary Continuation Agreement assuming that he terminated employment on the Closing Date, without regard to any benefit enhancement relating to a Change in Control (as that term is defined in the Salary Continuation Agreement) and using the same assumptions for calculating present value as specified in the Salary Continuation Agreement (the “Cash Payment”); and the parties agree that the amount of the Cash Payment is $624,081 if the Closing Date occurs in December 2012.  The Cash Payment shall be paid in exchange for the Executive’s waiver of all rights to any payments or benefits under the Salary Continuation Agreement.  The Cash Payment shall be payable to the Executive on the Closing Date, subject to applicable withholding taxes.  In addition, the Executive agrees that the cash severance payable to the Executive on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 7.1(a) of the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement entered into by and among Citizens South, the Bank and the Executive, dated as of November 17, 2008, and as subsequently amended, (the “Employment Agreement”) shall be reduced by $50,000.

(b)            Payment Exempt from Section 409A.  The Cash Payment is intended to be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), as a “short-term deferral” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4), and shall be interpreted in accordance with that intent.

 

Section 3.            Acknowledgement.

The Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Cash Payment, when paid on the Closing Date, is in full satisfaction of any and all obligations of Park Sterling, Citizens South, and the Bank to the Executive under the Salary Continuation Agreement and this Agreement.

  

Section 4.            Miscellaneous.

  

(a)               Successors.  The terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon all parties hereto and their respective heirs, successors, and assigns.

 

  

  

  

(b)            Final Agreement.  This Agreement represents the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior understandings, written or oral.  The terms of this Agreement may be changed, modified or discharged only by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.  The Executive acknowledges that the Executive has carefully read the foregoing, has had sufficient opportunity to review the Agreement with legal counsel of the Executive’s own choosing, knows and understands this Agreement contents, and freely and independently signs this Agreement.  No inducements, representations, or agreements have been made or relied upon to make this Agreement except as stated in this Agreement.

(c)            Governing Law.  The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of North Carolina without regard to principles of conflicts of laws thereof.

(d)           Statutory Changes.  All references to sections of the Code shall be deemed also to refer to any successor provisions to such sections.

(e)            Validity.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

(f)             No Assignment of Benefits.  Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, no right or interest of the Executive under the Agreement shall be assignable or transferable, in whole or in part, either directly or by operation of law or otherwise.

(g)            Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, and all of the counterpart copies shall be treated as a single agreement. 

(h)            Tax Withholding and Tax Matters.  Park Sterling or Citizens South, as applicable, shall withhold from the Cash Payment such amounts as they determine are required to be withheld under applicable federal, state and local tax laws.  Executive acknowledges and agrees that Executive is not entitled to indemnification for or “gross-up” of any tax liability of any kind from Park Sterling, Citizens South, the Bank or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates, either under this Agreement or under any other agreement with Park Sterling, Citizens South, the Bank or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates to which Executive is now a party.

Section 5.            Effectiveness.

This Agreement shall be effective as of the date first written above.  In the event the Merger Agreement is terminated for any reason, this Agreement shall be deemed null and void.  

[Signature page follows]

 

  

  

  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.

 

PARK STERLING CORPORATION

/s/ JAMES C. CHERRY                                                      

James C. Cherry,

Chief Executive Officer 

CITIZENS SOUTH BAKING CORPORATION

By: /s/ Paul L. Teem, Jr.

Name: Paul L. Teem, Jr.

Title: Executive Vice President and Secretary

CITIZENS SOUTH BANK

By: /s/ Paul L. Teem, Jr.

Name: Paul L. Teem, Jr.

Title: Executive Vice President and Secretary

/s/ Kim S. Price

Kim S. Priceex10-36.htm

 

Exhibit 10.36

 

Kona Grill, Inc.

2012 STOCK AWARD PLAN

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Kona Grill, Inc. 2012 Stock Award Plan (the “Plan’) shall have the same defined meanings in this Stock Option Agreement.

 

I.              NOTICE OF STOCK OPTION GRANT

 

	
Name:

	  
	
Address:

	  

The undersigned Optionee has been granted an Option to purchase Common Stock of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, as follows:

 

	
Date of Grant:

	  
	
Vesting Commencement Date:

	  
	
Exercise Price per Share:

	  
	
Total Number of Shares Granted:

	  
	
Total Exercise Price:

	  
	
Type of Option:

	  	
   Incentive Stock Option

	  	
   Nonstatutory Stock Option

	
Expiration Date:  As provided in Section 3 of the Agreement.

	
Vesting Schedule:  This Option shall be vested according to the following vesting schedule:

 

 

 

 

 

___________________________________

	
Exercise Schedule:  To the extent vested, this Option shall be exercisable during its term as provided in Section 3 of the Stock Option Agreement.

 

  

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II.            AGREEMENT

 

1.           Grant of Option.  The Plan Administrator of the Company hereby grants to the Optionee named in the Notice of Stock Option Grant (the “Optionee”), an option (the “Option”) to purchase the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant, at the exercise price per Share set forth in the Notice of Stock Option Grant (the “Exercise Price”), and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference.  Subject to Section 10(e) of the Plan, in the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall prevail.

 

If designated as an Incentive Stock Option (“ISO”) on the cover of this agreement, this Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option as defined in Section 422 of the Code.  Nevertheless, to the extent that it exceeds the $100,000 rule of Code Section 422(d), this Option shall be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option (“NSO”).

 

2.           Exercise of Option.

 

(a)           Right to Exercise.  This Option shall be exercisable during its term in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the Notice of Stock Option Grant and with the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement.

 

(b)           Method of Exercise.  This Option shall be exercisable by delivery of an exercise notice in the form attached as Exhibit A (the “Exercise Notice”) which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised, and such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company.

 

No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless such issuance and such exercise complies with Applicable Laws.  Assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes the Shares shall be considered transferred to the Optionee on the date on which the Option is exercised with respect to such Shares.

 

The Option shall be deemed exercised when the Company receives (i) written or electronic notice of exercise (in accordance with this Option Agreement) from the Optionee (or other person entitled to exercise the Option), and (ii) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised, and (iii) any other documents required by this Option Agreement or the Exercise Notice.  Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment permitted by this Option Agreement.  Shares issued upon exercise of an Option shall be issued in the name of the Optionee or, if requested by the Optionee, in the name of the Optionee and his or her spouse.  Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the Shares, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option.  The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised.  No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 10(c) of the Plan.

 

  

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Exercise of this Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the number of Shares thereafter available for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

 

3.           Term.  Optionee may not exercise the Option before the commencement of its term or after its term expires.  During the term of the Option, Optionee may only exercise the Option to the extent vested.  The term of the Option commences on the Date of Grant and expires upon the earliest of the following:

 

(a)           With respect to the unvested portion of the Option, upon termination of your continuous service;

 

(b)           With respect to the vested portion of the Option, ninety (90) days after the termination of your continuous service as a director, officer, employee, consultant, or independent contractor of the Company, or such other person who provides valuable services to the Company (each, a “Service Provider”) for any reason other than your Disability, death or termination for Cause;

 

(c)           With respect to the vested portion of the Option, immediately upon the termination of your continuous service as a Service Provider for Cause;

 

(d)           With respect to the vested portion of the Option, twelve (12) months after the termination of your continuous service as a Service Provider due to your Disability or death;

 

(e)           Immediately prior to the close of certain Corporate Transactions, pursuant to Section 10(c) of the Plan; or

 

(f)           The day before the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Date of Grant.

 

4.           Method of Payment.  Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Optionee:

 

(a)           cash or check;

 

(b)           consideration received by the Company under a formal cashless exercise program adopted by the Company in connection with the Plan; or

 

(c)           surrender of other Shares which, (i) in the case of Shares acquired from the Company, either directly or indirectly, have been owned by the Optionee for more than six (6) months on the date of surrender, and (ii) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Exercised Shares.

 

5.           Optionee’s Representations.  In the event the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, at the time this Option is exercised, the Optionee shall, if required by the Company, concurrently with the exercise of all or any portion of this Option, deliver to the Company an investment representation statement in a form satisfactory to the Company.

 

  

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6.           Restrictions on Exercise.  This Option may not be exercised until such time as the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company, or if the issuance of such Shares upon such exercise or the method of payment of consideration for such shares would constitute a violation of any Applicable Law.

 

7.           Non-Transferability of Option.  This Option may not be transferred in any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of Optionee only by Optionee.  The terms of the Plan and this Option Agreement shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee.

 

8.           Tax Obligations.

 

(a)           Withholding Taxes.  Optionee agrees to make appropriate arrangements with the Company (or the Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining Optionee) for the satisfaction of all federal, state, local and foreign income and employment tax withholding requirements applicable to the Option exercise.  Optionee acknowledges and agrees that the Company may refuse to honor the exercise and refuse to deliver Shares if such withholding amounts are not delivered at the time of exercise.

 

(b)           Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of ISO Shares.  If the Option granted to Optionee herein is an ISO, and if Optionee sells or otherwise disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to the ISO on or before the later of (1) the date two years after the Date of Grant, or (2) the date one year after the date of exercise, the Optionee shall immediately notify the Company in writing of such disposition.  Optionee agrees that Optionee may be subject to income tax withholding by the Company on the compensation income recognized by the Optionee.

 

9.           Entire Agreement; Governing Law.  The Plan is incorporated herein by reference.  The Plan and this Option Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Optionee with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Optionee’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Optionee.  This agreement is governed by the internal substantive laws but not the choice of law rules of the state of Delaware.

 

10.         No Guarantee of Continued Service.  Optionee acknowledges and agrees that the vesting of shares pursuant to the vesting schedule hereof is earned only by continued Service at will to the Company (not through the act of being hired, being granted this Option, or acquiring shares hereunder).  Optionee further acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereunder, and the vesting schedule set forth herein do not constitute an express or implied promise of continued Service for the vesting period, for any period, or at all, and shall not interfere in any way with Optionee’s right or the company’s right to terminate Optionee’s relationship at any time, with or without cause.

 

  

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Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and represents that he or she is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and hereby accepts this Option subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof.  Optionee has reviewed the Plan and this Option in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option and fully understands all provisions of the Option.  Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan or this Option.  This Stock Option Agreement shall not be valid or effective until signed by the Optionee and returned to the Company for acceptance.  Optionee further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated below.

 

	
Optionee

	 	 	

Kona Grill, Inc.

	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	Signature	 	 	By	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	Print Name 	 	 	Title	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	
Residence Address

	 	 	 	 

 

  

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EXHIBIT A

 

KONA GRILL, INC.

2012 STOCK AWARD PLAN

EXERCISE NOTICE

 

Kona Grill, Inc.

7150 E. Camelback Road

Suite 220

Scottsdale, AZ  85251

Attention:  Stock Plan Administrator

 

1.           Exercise of Option.  Effective as of today, _____________, _____, the undersigned (“Optionee”) hereby elects to exercise Optionee’s option to purchase _________ shares of the Common Stock (the “Shares”) of Kona Grill, Inc. (the “Company”) under and pursuant to the 2012 Stock Award Plan (the “Plan”) and the Stock Option Agreement dated ____________, ____ (the “Option Agreement”).

 

2.           Delivery of Payment.  Optionee herewith delivers to the Company the full purchase price of the Shares, as set forth in the Option Agreement, and any and all withholding taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Option.

 

3.           Representations of Optionee.  Optionee acknowledges that Optionee has received, read, and understood the Plan and the Option Agreement and agrees to abide by and be bound by their terms and conditions.

 

4.           Rights as Stockholder.  Until the issuance of the Shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option.  The Shares shall be issued to the Optionee as soon as practicable after the Option is exercised in accordance with the Option Agreement.  No adjustment shall be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date of issuance except as provided in Section 10(c) of the Plan.

 

5.           Tax Consultation.  Optionee understands that Optionee may suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of Optionee’s purchase or disposition of the Shares.  Optionee represents that Optionee has consulted with any tax consultants Optionee deems advisable in connection with the purchase or disposition of the Shares and that Optionee is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.

 

6.           Restrictive Legends and Stop-Transfer Orders.

 

(a)           Legends.  Optionee understands and agrees that the Company shall cause the legends set forth below or legends substantially equivalent thereto, to be placed upon any certificate(s) evidencing ownership of the Shares together with any other legends that may be required by the Company or by state or federal securities laws:

 

  

A-1

  

 

THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 180 DAYS FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE UNDERWRITTEN PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF BY THE HOLDER WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE COMPANY OR THE MANAGING UNDERWRITER.

 

(b)           Stop-Transfer Notices.  Optionee agrees that, in order to ensure compliance with the restrictions referred to herein, the Company may issue appropriate “stop transfer” instructions to its transfer agent, if any, and that, if the Company transfers its own securities, it may make appropriate notations to the same effect in its own records.

 

(c)           Refusal to Transfer.  The Company shall not be required (i) to transfer on its books any Shares that have been sold or otherwise transferred in violation of any of the provisions of this Exercise Notice or (ii) to treat as owner of such Shares or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends to any purchaser or other transferee to whom such Shares shall have been so transferred.

 

7.           Successors and Assigns.  The Company may assign any of its rights under this Exercise Notice to single or multiple assignees, and this Exercise Notice shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company.  Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth, this Exercise Notice shall be binding upon Optionee and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

 

8.           Interpretation.  Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this Exercise Notice shall be submitted by Optionee or by the Company forthwith to the Administrator which shall review such dispute at its next regular meeting.  The resolution of such a dispute by the Administrator shall be final and binding on all parties.

 

9.           Governing Law; Severability.  This Exercise Notice is governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the choice of law rules, of the state of Delaware.  In the event that any provision hereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable, or void, this Option Agreement will continue in full force and effect.

 

10.         Entire Agreement.  The Plan and Option Agreement are incorporated herein by reference.  This Exercise Notice, the Plan, the Option Agreement and the Investment Representation Statement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Optionee with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Optionee’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Optionee.

 

  

A-2

  

 

	
Optionee

	 	 	

Kona Grill, Inc.

	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	Signature	 	 	By	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	Print Name 	 	 	Title	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	
Residence Address

	 	 	 	 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE OF STOCK OPTION EXERCISE NOTICE]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A-3

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