THE PANTRY, INC. AWARD AGREEMENT (Awarding Initial Time Restricted Stock to Dennis Hatchell)

Exhibit 10.3

THE PANTRY, INC.

AWARD AGREEMENT

(Awarding Initial Time Restricted Stock to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx)

THIS AWARD AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of the [month] [day], [year] (the “Grant Date”) by and between The Pantry, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [Employee] (“Participant”) pursuant to The Pantry, Inc. 2007 Omnibus Plan (the “Plan”). All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

RECITALS:

A.           Participant is an employee of the Company and the Company considers it desirable to give Participant an added incentive to advance the interests of the Company and its shareholders.

B.           Pursuant to the terms of Xx. Xxxxxxxx’x employment agreement with the Company with an effective date of March 5, 2012 (the “Employment Agreement”), the Company now desires to grant Participant shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share (the “Shares”) in the form of Restricted Stock, pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Plan.

AGREEMENT:

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows:

                    1.           Grant of Restricted Stock.  The Company has granted Participant, and Participant hereby accepts, [Number] Shares of Restricted Stock (the “Restricted Stock”), having a Fair Market Value per Share of $ [Number]  on the Grant Date.  The Restricted Stock is subject to the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement and in the Plan.

2.           Period of Restriction.  Subject to Participant’s continuing to provide services to the Company, the restrictions set forth in this Agreement with respect to the Restricted Stock shall lapse with respect to one-third (1/3) of the Shares on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the Grant Date, so that all the restrictions shall have lapsed three (3) years from the Grant Date (the “Period of Restriction”).  Participant acknowledges that prior to the expiration of the applicable portion of the Period of Restriction, the Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, encumbered, alienated, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of (whether voluntarily or involuntarily or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy)).  Upon the expiration of the applicable portion of the Period of Restriction, the restrictions set forth in this Agreement with respect to the Restricted Stock theretofore subject to such expired Period of Restriction shall lapse, except as may be provided in accordance with Section 9 hereof.

3.           Ownership.  Participant agrees that Participant’s ownership of the Restricted Stock will be evidenced solely by a “book entry” (i.e., a computerized or manual entry) in the records of the Company or its designated stock transfer agent in Participant’s name.  Upon expiration of the applicable portion of the Period of Restriction, the Company shall transfer the vested shares to Participant.

                    4.           Termination.  

(a)           Death, Disability or Retirement; termination of employment under Sections 4.2 or 6.2 of the Employment Agreement.  If Participant’s termination of employment or other relationship with the Company is as a result of Participant’s death or Disability (as defined in Participant’s Employment Agreement), for notice of non-renewal, without Cause (as defined in Participant’s Employment Agreement), for Good Reason (as defined Participant’s Employment Agreement) or for Good Reason Following a Change of Control (as defined in Participant’s Employment Agreement) then the Period of Restriction shall immediately lapse, causing any restrictions which would otherwise remain on the Restricted Stock to immediately lapse.

   If Participant’s termination of employment or other relationship with the Company is as a result of Participant’s Retirement (as defined in Participant’s employment agreement), then the Restricted Stock shall be treated as set forth in the employment agreement with Participant.

If taxes become due on all Restricted Stock, then Participant will have the choice to pay for all taxes due on vesting Restricted Stock in cash, check or with shares of Company common stock already owned for the satisfaction of any taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such Shares; provided, however, that pursuant to any procedures, and subject to any limitations as the Committee may prescribe and subject to applicable law, if Participant does not notify the Company in writing at least fourteen (14) days prior to the applicable lapse of the Period of Restriction, then Participant will satisfy such withholding obligations by withholding Shares otherwise deliverable to Participant pursuant to the Restricted Stock (provided, however, that the amount of any Shares so withheld shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy required Federal, state, local and non-United States withholding obligations using the minimum statutory withholding rates for Federal, state, local and/or non-U.S. tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to supplemental taxable income).

(b)           Other Terminations.  If Participant’s Termination is by the Company or an Affiliate or by Participant for any reason other than one listed in Section 4(a) above, then all Restricted Stock for which the Period of Restriction had not lapsed prior to the date of such Termination shall be immediately forfeited.

5.           Taxes and Withholdings.  Upon the expiration of the applicable portion of the Period of Restriction or such earlier dates as Participant elects pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code, or as of which the value of any Shares of Restricted Stock first becomes includible in Participant’s gross income for income tax purposes, Participant shall notify the Company if Participant wishes to pay the Company in cash, check or with shares of Company common stock already owned for the satisfaction of any taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such Shares; provided, however, that pursuant to any procedures, and subject to any limitations as the Compensation and Organization Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Committee”) may prescribe and subject to applicable law, if Participant does not notify the Company in writing at least fourteen (14) days prior to the applicable lapse of the Period of Restriction, then Participant will satisfy such withholding obligations by withholding Shares otherwise deliverable to Participant pursuant to the Restricted Stock (provided, however, that the amount of any Shares so withheld shall not exceed the amount necessary to satisfy required Federal, state, local and non-United States withholding obligations using the minimum statutory withholding rates for Federal, state, local and/or non-U.S. tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to supplemental taxable income). Any such election made by Participant must be irrevocable, made in writing, signed by Participant, and shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.  In the event that Participant elects immediate Federal income taxation with respect to all or any portion of this award of Restricted Stock pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code, Participant agrees to deliver a copy of such election to the Company within ten (10) days after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service.

6.           Rights as a Shareholder.  Participant shall have all rights of a shareholder (including, without limitation, dividend and voting rights) with respect to the Restricted Stock, for record dates occurring on or after the Grant Date and prior to the date any such Shares of Restricted Stock are forfeited in accordance with this Agreement, except that any dividends or distributions paid in Shares or other securities (including, without limitation, any change in the shares of Restricted Stock pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Plan) with respect to the Restricted Stock shall, during the Period of Restriction, be deposited with the Company or any holder appointed pursuant to Section 3 hereof, together with a stock power endorsed in blank or other appropriate instrument of transfer, or credited to Participant’s book-entry account established under Section 3 hereof, as applicable, and shall be subject to the same restrictions (including, without limitation, the Period of Restriction) as such Restricted Stock and otherwise considered to be such Restricted Stock for all purposes hereunder.

7.           No Right to Continued Employment.  Neither the Restricted Stock nor any terms contained in this Agreement shall confer upon Participant any express or implied right to be retained in the employment or service of the Company or any Affiliate for any period, nor restrict in anyway the right of the Company, which right is hereby expressly reserved, to terminate Participant’s employment or service at any time for any reason.  Participant acknowledges and agrees that any right to have restrictions on the Restricted Stock lapse is earned only by continuing in the service of the Company or an Affiliate at the will of the Company or such Affiliate, or satisfaction of any other applicable terms and conditions contained in the Plan and this Agreement, and not through the act of being hired, being granted the Restricted Stock or acquiring Shares hereunder.

8.           The Plan.  This Agreement is subject to all the terms, provisions and conditions of the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference, and to such requirements as may from time to time be adopted by the Committee.  In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Plan and this Agreement, the provisions of the Plan shall control, and this Agreement shall be deemed to be modified accordingly. A copy of the Plan is available to Participant at the Company’s principal executive offices upon request and without charge.

9.           Compliance with Laws and Regulations.

(a)           The Restricted Stock and the obligation of the Company to sell and deliver Shares hereunder shall be subject in all respects to (i) all applicable Federal and state laws, rules and regulations and (ii) any registration, qualification, approvals or other requirements imposed by any government or regulatory agency or body which the Committee shall, in its discretion, determine to be necessary or applicable.  Moreover, the Company shall not deliver any certificates for Shares to Participant or any other person pursuant to this Agreement if doing so would be contrary to applicable law.  If at any time the Company determines, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of Shares upon any national securities exchange or under any state or Federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary or desirable, the Company shall not be required to deliver any certificates for Shares to Participant or any other person pursuant to this Agreement unless and until such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval has been effected or obtained, or otherwise provided for, free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company.

(b)           The Shares received upon the expiration of the applicable portion of the Period of Restriction shall have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”). If Participant is an “affiliate” of the Company, as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act (“Rule 144”), Participant may not sell the Shares received except in compliance with Rule 144. Certificates representing Shares issued to an “affiliate” of the Company may bear a legend setting forth such restrictions on the disposition or transfer of the Shares as the Company deems appropriate to comply with Federal and state securities laws.

(c)            If, at any time, the Shares are not registered under the Securities Act, and/or there is no current prospectus in effect under the Securities Act with respect to the Shares, Participant may be required to execute, prior to the delivery of any Shares to Participant by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, an agreement (in such form as the Company may specify) in which Participant represents and warrants that Participant is purchasing or acquiring the shares acquired under this Agreement for Participant’s own account, for investment only and not with a view to the sale or distribution thereof, and represents and agrees that any subsequent offer for sale or distribution of any kind of such Shares shall be made only pursuant to either (i) a registration statement on an appropriate form under the Securities Act, which registration statement has become effective and is current with regard to the Shares being offered or sold, or (ii) a specific exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, but in claiming such exemption Participant shall, prior to any offer for sale of such Shares, obtain a prior favorable written opinion, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, from counsel for or approved by the Company, as to the applicability of such exemption thereto.

10.           Notices.  All notices by Participant or Participant’s assignees shall be addressed to The Pantry, Inc., 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx xxxx, Attention: Human Resources, or such other address as the Company may from time to time specify.  All notices to Participant shall be addressed to Participant at Participant’s address in the Company’s records.

11.           Other Plans.  Participant acknowledges that any income derived from the Restricted Stock shall not affect Participant’s participation in, or benefits under, any other benefit plan or other contract or arrangement maintained by the Company or any Affiliate.

12.           Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be construed under and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the conflict of law provisions thereof.

13.           Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and both of which together shall be deemed one Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Participant have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 THE COMPANY:

 THE PANTRY, INC.

 By:  _________________________                                                    

             [Name]

 ___________________________
[Title]

 PARTICIPANT:

 _____________________________

             [Participant]