Document:

Letter Agreement-LSF5 Wagon Holdings, LLC, Del Friscos Rest. Group, Jon Howie

 Exhibit 10.19 
 LSF5 WAGON HOLDINGS, LLC 
 2711 N. Haskell Avenue, Suite 1700 

Dallas, Texas 75204 

February 14, 2011 

Mr. Jon Howie 
 1413 Cherry Blossom Lane

 Keller, Texas 76248 
 Dear Jon:

 Reference is made to that certain 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, the “LLC Agreement”), and to that certain transaction bonus letter agreement among you, Wagon and DFRG, dated as of February 7, 2011 (the
“TBA”). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this letter shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the TBA. 
 This
letter (this “Letter”) will confirm our agreement that in the event of (i) a Qualified Public Offering or Secondary Public Offering as a result of which the percentage of the aggregate common equity of the Public Company held
directly or indirectly by Wagon is no longer greater than 50% or (ii) a Sale, you shall have the right (but not the obligation), upon your written request dated and delivered to Wagon no later than five (5) days after such event (the
“Election Notice”), to require Wagon to purchase from you all (but not less than all) of the Class B Interests (as such term is defined in the LLC Agreement) you then hold, if any (the “Subject Interests”), for an
amount (the “Purchase Price”) equal to the sum of (i) $250,000 minus (ii) all distributions of Available Cash (as defined in the LLC Agreement), if any, paid to you on or before the date on which such purchase is
consummated. The Purchase Price shall be paid to you in cash or by wire transfer to an account designated by you no later than seventy-five (75) days after the date Wagon receives the Election Notice, subject to the following: 

 

	 	(a)	You must comply with all requirements as to the execution and delivery of the Release (defined below) provided for below; and 

 

	 	(b)	No purchase shall be required and the Purchase Price shall not be paid if your employment with CCH is terminated by CCH for Cause or by you without Good Reason prior to
payment of the Purchase Price. 

 In addition to any other requirements set forth in this Letter, payment of the Purchase Price
shall be contingent upon, and shall be payable to you if, and only if, you execute and deliver to Wagon 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, you required under this Letter or the TBA, and such Release remains in effect following the expiration of any applicable notice, review and/or revocation periods. 

 Mr. Jon Howie 
 Page 2 
 The rights provided to you herein may not be transferred by you, nor shall you have 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 your creditors, and any action in violation
of this provision shall be void. Upon its receipt of your Election Notice, Wagon shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to assign to any one or more of its Class A Member(s) the obligation to purchase the Subject Interests for such
Class A Member(s)’ own account upon tender of the Purchase Price and thereby satisfy in full all of Wagon’s obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no Member of the Company Group other than
Wagon shall be liable for, and you shall look solely to the general credit of Wagon for satisfaction of, any obligations due or to become due under this Letter. 
 This Letter shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to conflict of laws principles. 

 

			
	LSF5 WAGON HOLDINGS, LLC
		
	By:	 	/s/ Marc L. Lipshy
		 	Name: Marc L. Lipshy
		 	Title:   PresidentSeparation Agreement -John Howie

 Exhibit 10.20 
 SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE 
 This SEPARATION AGREEMENT (this
“Agreement”) is entered into by and between Center Cut Hospitality, Inc. (the “Company”) and Jon Howie (“Executive”) (the Company and Executive are
collectively referred to herein as the “Parties”).  
 WHEREAS, the Company and Executive
are parties to an Employment Agreement effective February 7, 2011 (the “Employment Agreement”); and 

WHEREAS, Executive’s employment with the Company terminated without Cause effective May 4, 2011; and 

WHEREAS the Parties wish for Executive to receive certain severance benefits to which he is not otherwise entitled but for his entry into
this Agreement. 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and benefits set forth herein, and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by Executive and the Company, the Parties agree as follows: 
 1. Termination of Employment. Executive’s employment with the Company terminated effective as of May 4, 2011 (“Termination Date”). Executive
will be paid his salary through the Termination Date and, no later than May 25, 2011, his accrued, unused vacation or paid time off. Executive agrees and acknowledges that such payment will be in full satisfaction of any and all wages owed
through the Termination Date and that Executive is not owed any additional compensation or payment by virtue of his employment or termination of employment beyond this amount except as expressly provided for herein or that he may be entitled to
under the certain letter from LSF5 Wagon Holdings, L.L.C. to Executive dated February 7, 2011 (“Transaction Bonus Agreement”) or the Cpmpany’s welfare and pension benefit plans. 

2. Severance Benefits. Provided that Executive executes and does not revoke this Agreement, the Company shall: 

(a) Pay Executive the gross sum of $85,000 in one lump sum, on the 10th day following the Effective Date. 

(b) Continue Executive’s current salary for a period of twelve months, commencing on the first normal payroll date following the 45th
day after the Termination Date, consistent with the Company’s normal payroll practices and reduced by withholdings for applicable taxes. 
 (c) Provided Executive elects continuation coverage under COBRA, pay the medical premiums for such continuation coverage for a period of 12 months following the Date of Termination. 

3. Release. 
 (a) Executive agrees to fully, finally, generally, completely and forever release, acquit, and discharge the Company, the Company’s investors, owners, members, managers, stockholders, shareholders,
directors, officers, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors, successors, representatives, employees, agents, and attorneys, if any, together with all persons controlling any of the foregoing 

 
(the “Released Parties”), from any and all claims, potential counterclaims, demands, actions, liabilities, obligations and causes of action of
whatever kind or character, whether known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated, based in tort, contract or statute allegedly incurred or suffered by Executive in connection with his employment relationship with the Company, the termination
of his employment relationship with the Company, and any other claim that Executive has or might claim to have against any Released Party for any and all injuries, harm, damages (actual, consequential and punitive), penalties, costs, losses,
expenses, attorneys’ fees or liability or other detriment, if any. This Paragraph 3 includes any and all claims for violation or breach of (i) the common law (tort, contract or other) of any jurisdiction including the common law of the
State of Texas; (ii) the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”), 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq.; (iii) the Employment Agreement; (iv) any other agreements between Executive and the
Company; and (v) any other federal, state and local statute, ordinance, and regulation governing employment including but not limited to those prohibiting discrimination or retaliation in employment upon the basis of age, race, sex, national
original, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic. This release extends to any of the foregoing claims brought by any organization, governmental agency, or person on behalf of Executive or as a class action under which Executive
may otherwise have a right or benefit and Executive agrees that he is not entitled to and will not accept any such relief. 

(b) Executive’s release of claims under the ADEA does not extend to any claims that arise after the execution of this Agreement and
does not prevent him from challenging the validity of his release of age discrimination claims. 
 (c) This release does not
extend to any rights Executive may have, now or in the future, (i) under the Transaction Bonus Agreement; (ii) under any Deferred Compensation Plan maintained by the Company or any of its affiliates; or (iii) to unemployment benefits.

 4. Rights Regarding Age Discrimination Claims under the ADEA. Executive acknowledges and agrees that:

 (a) he has had 21 days to consider this Agreement before accepting; 

(b) he has been advised in writing by the Company to consult with an attorney regarding the terms of this Agreement before accepting;

 (c) if he accepts this Agreement, that he has seven days following the execution of this Agreement to revoke this Agreement;

 (d) this Agreement shall not become effective or enforceable until the revocation period has expired; 

(e) he is receiving, pursuant to this Agreement, consideration in addition to anything of value to which he is already entitled; and

 (f) he does not Waive any claims or rights that may arise after the date he executes this Agreement. 

 5. Affirmation of Continuing Duties. 

(a) Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees that, in connection with his employment with the Company, he has been provided with the
Company’s trade secrets and Confidential Information, as that term is defined in the Employment Agreement. Accordingly, Executive reaffirms the covenants set forth in Paragraph 4 of the Employment Agreement, expressly acknowledges their
validity and continuing, binding effect, and agrees to abide by them in their entirety. Executive acknowledges that violation of these or any other ongoing obligations he has to the Company will terminate the Company’s obligation to pay him
severance under this Agreement. 
 (b) The Company acknowledges and agrees that it remains obligated under Paragraph 7(i) of the
Employment Agreement. Accordingly, the Company reaffirms the commitment set forth in Paragraph 7(i) (which includes asserted or alleged claims, if any, made against Executive that are related to the SEC’s investigation of trading in shares of
Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Inc. n/k/a Center Cut Hospitality, Inc.) and expressly acknowledges its validity and continuing, binding effect, and agrees to abide by it. The Company further agrees that it will act with all reasonable
diligence and speed to remove Executive’s name from any liquor licenses held by the Company and that it will defend, indemnify, and hold Executive harmless for any and all claims or occurrences that are asserted against Executive by reason of
his name being on such licenses excepting any such claim that arises from Executive’s willful misconduct. 
 6.
Cooperation. Executive agrees that, as a condition precedent to receipt of the benefits set forth in Paragraph 2 of this Agreement, for a period of 90 days following the Date of Termination, he will consult with the Company at the request
from time to time of the Company with respect the following matters: (a) assisting the Company with the transitioning of Executive’s duties, projects, and assignments; (b) advising the Company as to the status of all work product, in
whatever stage it may be, that was in progress as of the Termination Date; and (c) any other matter related to Executive’s former position with the Company. 
 7. Non-Disparagement. 
 (a) Executive will not take any action or make any
statement, written or oral, that disparages or criticizes the Company, or its officers, directors, agents, owners, investors, or management and business practices, or that disrupts or impairs the Company’s normal operations. The provisions of
this Paragraph 7(a) shall not apply to any truthful statement required to be made by Executive in any legal proceeding or governmental or regulatory investigation. 
 (b) The Company agrees that it, in its corporate capacity or through its executive leadership, will not take any action or make any statement, written or oral, that disparages or criticizes
Executive, or that impairs Executive’s reputation. The provisions of this Paragraph 7(b) shall not apply to any truthful statement required to be made by the Company or its employees in any legal proceeding or governmental or regulatory
investigation. 
 8. No Waiver. No failure by either party hereto at any time to give notice of any breach by the other
party of, or to require compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. 

 9. Applicable Law. This Agreement is entered into under, and shall be governed for
all purposes by, the laws of the State of Texas without reference to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. 
 10.
Severability. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company and Executive hereby agree that any term or provision of this Agreement that renders such term or provision or any other term or provision hereof invalid or unenforceable in
any respect shall be modified to the extent necessary to avoid rendering such term or provision invalid or unenforceable, and such modification shall be accomplished in the manner that most nearly preserves the benefit of the Company and
Executive’s bargain hereunder. 
 11. Withholding of Taxes and Other Employee Deductions. The Company may
withhold from any benefits and payments made pursuant to this Agreement all federal, state, local, and other taxes and withholdings as may be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling. 

12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but
all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement. 
 13. Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor of the Company, by merger or otherwise. The Company may assign its rights hereunder to an affiliate. Except as set forth in the previous two sentences, and except that any payments due
Executive under this Agreement shall be assignable by the Executive by will or the laws of descent and distribution, this Agreement and the rights and obligations of the Parties hereunder are personal and neither this Agreement nor any right,
benefit or obligation of either party hereto shall be subject to voluntary or involuntary assignment, alienation or transfer, whether by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other party. 

14. Amendment; Entire Agreement. This Agreement may not be changed orally but only by an agreement in writing agreed to and signed
by both parties. The provisions of this Agreement amend and supersede any contrary provision of the Employment Agreement; to the extent there is any conflict between the Employment Agreement and this Agreement, this Agreement governs and is binding
upon the Parties. 
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of May 26, 2011. 

 

			
	Center Cut Hospitality, Inc.
		
	By:	 	/s/ Marc L. Lipshy
	Name:	 	Marc L. Lipshy
	Title:	 	President
	
	EXECUTIVE
	
	/s/ Jon W. Howie
	JON HOWIE

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