EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.3

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of June 13, 2017, by and between Noodles & Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Xxxx Xxxxxx, an individual (the “Executive”).

INTRODUCTION

1.    The Company wishes to employ the Executive as its Executive Chairman.

2.    The Executive desires to be employed by the Company, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth herein.

AGREEMENT

In consideration of the premises and mutual promises herein below set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1.Employment Period

The term of the Executive’s employment by the Company pursuant to this Agreement (the “Employment Period”) shall commence on July 10, 2017 (the “Effective Date”) and shall continue until terminated pursuant to an event described in Section 5.

2. Employment

(a) Title; Duties; Board Membership; Location. The Executive shall serve as Executive Chairman of the Company during the Employment Period, and the Executive hereby accepts such employment. The duties assigned and authority granted to the Executive shall be as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) from time to time, and such duties shall be consistent with the Executive’s position and status as Executive Chairman. The Executive also shall serve as a member of the Board during the Employment Period. The Executive agrees to perform his duties for the Company diligently, competently, and in a good faith manner. Subject to customary travel, the Executive shall primarily perform his duties to the Company at its corporate headquarters in Colorado.

(b) Exclusive Employment. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall devote his full business time to his duties and responsibilities set forth above, and may not, without the prior written consent of the Board or its designee, operate, participate in the management, board of directors, operations or control of, or act as an employee, officer, consultant, agent or representative of, any type of business or service (other than as an employee of the Company); provided, however, that the Executive may (i) engage in civic and charitable activities, (ii) participate in industry associations, deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at educational institutions, (iii) make and maintain outside personal investments, and (iv) serve on other boards of directors consented to in writing by the Board (which consent shall

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not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), provided that none of the foregoing activities and service significantly interfere with the Executive’s performance of his duties hereunder.

3. Compensation

(a) Base Salary. The Executive shall be entitled to receive a base salary from the Company during the Employment Period at the rate of Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($550,000) per year, and the base salary shall not be increased or decreased during the period the Executive is employed as Executive Chairman. The base salary shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s payroll procedures as in effect from time-to-time.

(b) Annual Bonus. The Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus for each calendar year during the Employment Period in an amount targeted at fifty percent (50%) of the Executive’s then-effective annual base salary (the “Annual Bonus”), contingent upon the Executive achieving certain targeted goals that will be established by the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board and prorated for partial years of employment. Any Annual Bonus to which the Executive may be entitled under this Section 3(b) shall be paid in cash in the form of a lump sum as soon as practicable following the completion of the financial audit for the applicable fiscal year, and in no event later than April 30 after the end of the fiscal year to which such Annual Bonus relates. Whether and to what degree the Executive has met the performance goals described in this Section 3(b) shall be determined by the Board in its reasonable discretion in accordance with the applicable bonus/performance goals document for that bonus year described in the first sentence of this Section 3(b).

(c) Equity Grant. Effective as of the Effective Date, the Executive shall be granted the following equity awards pursuant to and subject to the terms of the Company’s 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”) and an award agreement:

(A)     nonqualified stock options to purchase 100,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Stock”) that vest in four (4) ratable installments on each of the first four anniversaries of the Effective Date, subject to the Executive’s continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date;

(B)     time-vesting restricted stock units with respect to 150,000 shares of Stock that vest in four (4) ratable installments on each of the first four anniversaries of the Effective Date, subject to the Executive’s continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date; and

(C)    performance-vesting restricted stock units with respect to 50,000 shares of Stock that vest upon either (i) the Shares attaining a $15 per share average closing price for two consecutive calendar quarters prior to the quarter ending December 31, 2020 or (ii) a Change in Control (as defined in the 2010 Plan) occurring no later than December 31, 2020 with a stock price for the Shares no less than (I) $6.50 for a

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Change in Control occurring prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date, (II) $8.50 for a Change in Control occurring on or after the first anniversary and before the second anniversary of the Effective Date, (III) $11 for a Change in Control occurring on or after the second anniversary and before the third anniversary of the Effective Date, (IV) $14.50 for a Change in Control occurring on or after the third anniversary and before the fourth anniversary of the Effective Date, or (V) $15 for a Change in Control occurring on or after the fourth anniversary of the Effective Date, subject in each case to the Executive’s continued employment through the applicable vesting event.

In addition, as of each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the Effective Date, the Executive shall be granted pursuant to the 2010 Plan nonqualified stock options to purchase 25,000 Shares that vest in four (4) ratable installments on each of the first four anniversaries of the applicable grant date, subject to the Executive’s continued employment with the Company through the applicable vesting date.

4. Other Benefits; Location

(a) Insurance. During the Employment Period, the Executive and the Executive’s dependents shall be eligible for coverage under the group insurance plans made available from time to time to Company’s executive employees, subject in all events to the terms of the applicable plans. The premiums for the coverage of the Executive and the Executive’s dependents under that plan shall be paid by the Company pursuant to the formula in place for other executive employees covered by Company’s group insurance plans.

(b) Savings and Retirement Plans. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in all other savings and retirement plans, practices, policies and programs, in each case on terms and conditions no less favorable than the terms and conditions generally applicable to the Company’s other executive employees, subject in all events to the terms of the applicable plans.

(c) Vacation. During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of annual vacation pursuant to the Company’s Time Away From Work policy, as in effect from time to time.

(d) Reimbursement of Expenses. The Company shall promptly reimburse the Executive for all reasonable out of pocket travel, entertainment, and other expenses incurred or paid by the Executive in connection with, or related to, the performance of his responsibilities or services under this Agreement upon the submission of appropriate documentation pursuant to the Company’s policies in effect from time to time. In addition, promptly following the Effective Date, the Company shall pay the Executive a cash lump sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) to assist with relocation expenses that the Executive may incur in relocating to Colorado.

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5. Termination

(a) Termination by the Company with Cause. Upon written notice to the Executive, the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment for Cause (as defined below). In the event that the Executive’s employment is terminated for Cause, the Executive shall receive from the Company payments for (i) any and all earned and unpaid portion of his then-effective base salary (on or before the first regular payroll date following the Date of Termination in accordance with applicable law); (ii) any and all unreimbursed business expenses (in accordance with the Company’s reimbursement policy); (iii) any and all accrued and unused vacation time through the Date of Termination (on or before the first regular payroll date following the Date of Termination in accordance with applicable law); and (iv) any other benefits the Executive is entitled to receive as of the Date of Termination under the employee benefit plans of the Company, less standard withholdings (items (i) through (iv) are hereafter referred to as “Accrued Benefits”). Except for the Accrued Benefits or as required by law, after the Date of Termination, the Company shall have no obligation to make any other payment, including severance or other compensation of any kind on account of the Executive’s termination of employment or to make any payment in lieu of notice to the Executive in the event of a termination pursuant to this Section 5(a). Except as required by law or as otherwise provided herein, all benefits provided by the Company to the Executive under this Agreement or otherwise shall cease as of the Date of Termination in the event of a termination pursuant to this Section 5(a).

(b) Termination by the Company Without Cause. The Company may, at any time and without prior written notice, terminate the Executive’s employment without Cause. In the event that the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated without Cause, the Executive shall receive the Accrued Benefits and any unpaid portion of the Annual Bonus from a prior year (payable when other senior executives receive their annual bonuses for such year, and in no event later than March 15 of the year following the year for which the Annual Bonus was earned). In addition, if the termination without Cause is prior to the fourth anniversary of the Effective Date, the Executive shall be entitled to receive from the Company (i) severance payments totaling his then-effective base salary, paid in equal installments according to the Company’s regular payroll schedule over the twelve (12) months following the Date of Termination (the “Severance Period”), and (ii) an amount equal to the “COBRA” premium for as long as the Executive and, if applicable, the Executive’s dependents are eligible for COBRA from the Company. The Executive’s entitlement to the severance payments and benefits in the foregoing sentence is conditioned on (A) the Executive’s executing and delivering to the Company of a mutual release of claims substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A within forty-five (45) days following the Date of Termination, and on such release becoming effective, and (B) the Executive’s compliance with the restrictive covenants set forth in Sections 6, 7 and 8; provided, that if such forty-five (45) day period begins in one taxable year and ends in the following taxable year, the payments described in (i) of the preceding sentence shall commence in the second taxable year (and any payments that would have been made in the first taxable year shall be paid in a lump sum at the time payments commence pursuant hereto).

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Except as specifically provided in this Section 5(b) or in another section of this Agreement, or except as required by law, all benefits provided by the Company to the Executive under this Agreement or otherwise shall cease as of the Date of Termination in the event of a termination pursuant to this Section 5(b).

(c) Voluntary Termination. If the Executive terminates employment with the Company for any reason other than due to his death or Disability, the Executive agrees to provide the Company with thirty (30) days’ prior written notice. In the event that the Executive’s employment is terminated under this Section 5(c), the Executive shall receive from the Company payment for all Accrued Benefits described in Section 5(a) above at the times specified in Section 5(a) above. Except as required by law, after the Date of Termination, the Company shall have no obligation to make any other payment, including severance or other compensation, of any kind to the Executive on account of the Executive’s termination of employment pursuant to this Section 5(c).

(d) Termination Upon Death or Disability. If the Executive’s employment is terminated as a result of death or Disability prior to the expiration of the Employment Period, the Executive (or the Executive’s estate, or other designated beneficiary(s) as shown in the records of the Company in the case of death) shall be entitled to receive from the Company payment for the Accrued Benefits described in Section 5(a) above at the times specified in Section 5(a) above and any unpaid portion of the Annual Bonus from a prior year (payable when other senior executives receive their annual bonuses for such year, and in no event later than March 15 of the year following the year for which the Annual Bonus was earned). Except as required by law, after the Date of Termination, the Company shall have no obligation to make any other payment, including severance or other compensation, of any kind to the Executive (or the Executive’s estate, or other designated beneficiary(s), as applicable) upon a termination of employment by death or Disability.

(e) Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below.

(A) “Cause” shall mean the Executive (i) commits a material breach of any material term of this Agreement or any material Company policy or procedure of which the Executive had prior knowledge; provided that if such breach is curable in not longer than 30 days (as determined by the Board in its reasonable discretion), the Company shall not have the right to terminate the Executive’s employment for cause pursuant hereto unless the Executive, having received written notice of the breach from Company specifically citing this Section 5(e)(A), fails to cure the breach within a reasonable time; (ii) is convicted of, or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony (other than a traffic-related felony) or any other crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude; (iii) willfully engages in illegal conduct or gross misconduct with respect to to the Company; or (iv) fails to cure, within 10 days after receiving written notice from Company specifically citing this Section 5(e)(A), any willful failure to perform the Executive’s duties and responsibilities under this Agreement.

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(B) “Date of Termination” shall mean (i) if the Executive is terminated by the Company for Disability, thirty (30) days after written notice of termination is given to the Executive (provided that the Executive shall not have returned to the performance of his duties on a full-time basis during such 30-day period); (ii) if the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for any other reason, the date on which a written notice of termination is given or such other date specified in the notice, specifying in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment is given, and in the case of termination for Cause, after compliance with the applicable notice and cure provisions in the definition of Cause; (iii) if the Executive terminates employment other than due to death or Disability, the date specified in the Executive’s notice in compliance with Section 5(c); or (iv) in the event of the Executive’s death, the date of death.

(C) “Disability” shall mean the absence of the Executive from the Executive's duties with the Company on a full-time basis for 180 consecutive business days as a result of incapacity due to mental or physical illness, which is determined to be total and permanent by a physician selected by the Company or its insurers and reasonably acceptable to the Executive or the Executive's legal representative.

(f) Notice of Termination. Any termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company or by the Executive under this Section 5 (other than in the case of death) shall be communicated by a written notice (the “Notice of Termination”) to the other party hereto, indicating the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, setting forth as appropriate in reasonable detail any facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of the Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated, and specifying a Date of Termination which notice shall be delivered within the time periods set forth in the various subsections of this Section 5, as applicable (the “Notice Period”); provided, however, that the Company may pay to the Executive all base salary, benefits and other rights due to the Executive during the Notice Period instead of employing the Executive during such Notice Period.

(g) Resignation from All Positions. Upon the Executive’s termination of employment for any reason, the Executive shall immediately resign from all other positions with the Company and its affiliates (including as a member of the Board).

6. Non-Competition; General Provisions Applicable to Restrictive Covenants

(a) Covenant not to Compete. For the duration of the Employment Period and for twelve (12) months thereafter, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, own any interest in, manage, control, participate in, consult with, render services for, or be employed in an executive, managerial or administrative capacity by any entity engaged in the fast or quick-casual restaurant business in North America that derives 20% or more of its revenues from the sale of noodles or pasta dishes or that otherwise is engaged in the fast-casual restaurant business

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(a “Competing Business”); provided that, if the Employment Period ends due to the Executive’s resignation, he may serve on the board of directors of a Competing Business that is engaged in the fast-casual business but does not derive 20% or more of its revenues from the sale of noodles or pasta dishes (but, for the avoidance of doubt, the Executive may not serve as an employee or an executive chairman of any such Competing Business for the twelve (12) months following such resignation). Nothing herein shall prohibit the Executive from being a passive owner of not more than 5% of the outstanding stock of any class of a corporation which is publicly traded, so long as the Executive has no active participation in the business of such corporation.

(b) Specific Performance. The Executive recognizes and agrees that a violation by him of his obligations under this Section 6, or under Section 7, or subparts (a) or (d) of Section 8 may cause irreparable harm to the Company that would be difficult to quantify and that money damages may be inadequate. As such, the Executive agrees that the Company shall have the right to seek injunctive relief (in addition to, and not in lieu of any other right or remedy that may be available to it) to prevent or restrain any such alleged violation without the necessity of posting a bond or other security and without the necessity of proving actual damages. However, the foregoing shall not prevent the Executive from contesting the Company’s request for the issuance of any such injunction on the grounds that no violation or threatened violation of the aforementioned Sections has occurred and that the Company has not suffered irreparable harm. If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that the Executive has violated the obligations of any covenant for a particular duration, then the Executive agrees that such covenant will be extended by that duration.

(c) Scope and Duration of Restrictions. The Executive expressly agrees that the character, duration and geographical scope of the restrictions imposed under this Section 6, and under Section 7, and all of Section 8 are reasonable in light of the circumstances as they exist at the date upon which this Agreement has been executed. However, should a determination nonetheless be made by a court of competent jurisdiction at a later date that the character, duration or geographical scope of any of the covenants contained herein is unreasonable in light of the circumstances as they then exist, then it is the intention of both the Executive and the Company that such covenant shall be construed by the court in such a manner as to impose only those restrictions on the conduct of the Executive which are reasonable in light of the circumstances as they then exist and necessary to assure the Company of the intended benefit of such covenant.

7. Confidentiality Covenants

The Executive acknowledges that the confidential business information generated by the Company and its subsidiaries, whether such information is written, oral or graphic, including, but not limited to, financial plans and records, marketing plans, business strategies and relationships with third parties, present and proposed products, present and proposed patent applications, trade secrets, information regarding customers and suppliers, strategic planning and systems and contractual terms obtained by the Executive while employed by the Company and its subsidiaries concerning the business or affairs of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company

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(collectively, the “Confidential Information”) is the property of the Company or such subsidiary. The Executive agrees that he shall not disclose to any Person or use for the Executive’s own purposes any Confidential Information or any confidential or proprietary information of other Persons in the possession of the Company and its subsidiaries (“Third Party Information”), without the prior written consent of the Board, unless and to the extent that (i) the Confidential Information or Third Party Information becomes generally known to and available for use by the public, other than as a result of the Executive’s acts or omissions or (ii) the disclosure of such Confidential Information is required by law, in which case the Executive shall give notice to and the opportunity to the Company to comment on the form of the disclosure and only the portion of Confidential Information that is required to be disclosed by law shall be disclosed. In addition, nothing in this Section 7 or any other provision of this Agreement prohibits the Executive from voluntarily communicating, without notice to or approval by the Company, with any federal government agency about a potential violation of federal law or regulation.

8. Other Covenants

(a) Non-Solicitation. For the duration of the Employment Period and for twelve (12) months thereafter, other than in the course of performing his duties, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly through another person, induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than restaurant-level employees who are not managers) to leave the employ of the Company or such subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and any such employee.

(b) Compliance with Company Policies. The Executive agrees that, during the Employment Period, he shall comply in all material respects with the Company’s employee manual and other policies and procedures reasonably established by the Company from time to time, including but not limited to policies addressing matters such as management, supervision, recruiting and diversity.

(c) Cooperation. For a period of eighteen (18) months following the end of the Employment Period, the Executive shall, upon the Company’s reasonable request and in good faith and with the Executive’s commercially reasonable efforts and subject to the Executive’s reasonable availability, cooperate and assist the Company in any dispute, controversy, or litigation in which the Company may be involved and with respect to which the Executive obtained knowledge while employed by the Company or any of its affiliates, successors, or assigns, including, but not limited to, participation in any court or arbitration proceedings, giving of testimony, signing of affidavits, or such other personal cooperation as counsel for the Company shall request. Any such activities shall be scheduled, to the extent reasonably possible, to accommodate the Executive’s business and personal obligations at the time. The Company shall pay the Executive’s reasonable travel and incidental out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with any such cooperation.

(d) Return of Business Records and Equipment. Upon termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder, the Executive shall promptly return to the Company: (i) all

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documents, records, procedures, books, notebooks, and any other documentation in any form whatsoever, including but not limited to written, audio, video or electronic, containing any information pertaining to the Company which includes Confidential Information, including any and all copies of such documentation then in the Executive’s possession or control regardless of whether such documentation was prepared or compiled by the Executive, Company, other employees of the Company, representatives, agents, or independent contractors, and (ii) all equipment or tangible personal property entrusted to the Executive by the Company. The Executive acknowledges that all such documentation, copies of such documentation, equipment, and tangible personal property are and shall at all times remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company.

9. Nondisparagement. During the Executive’s employment with the Company and thereafter, the Executive, agrees, to the fullest extent permissible by law, not intentionally to make, directly or indirectly, any public or private statements, gestures, signs, signals or other verbal or nonverbal, direct or indirect communications that the Executive, using reasonable judgment, should have known would be harmful to or reflect negatively on the Company or are otherwise disparaging of the Company or its past, present or future officers, board members, employees, shareholders, and their affiliates. During the Executive’s employment with the Company and thereafter, the Board agrees that neither the Company nor any of its controlling stockholders, directors, officers, employees or representatives will intentionally make, directly or indirectly, any public or private statements, gestures, signs, signals or other verbal or nonverbal, direct or indirect communications that any such disclosing person, using reasonable judgment, should have known would be harmful to or reflect negatively on the Executive or are otherwise disparaging of the Executive. Nothing in this Section 9 shall prohibit either party from truthfully responding to an accusation from the other party or require either party to violate any subpoena or law.

10. Governing Law. This Agreement and any disputes or controversies arising hereunder shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the internal laws of the State of Colorado, without reference to principles of law that would apply the substantive law of another jurisdiction.

11. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the agreement granting to the Executive the stock options specified in Section 3(c), constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes and cancels any and all previous agreements, written and oral, regarding the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall not be changed, altered, modified or amended, except by a written agreement that (i) explicitly states the intent of both parties hereto to supplement this Agreement and (ii) is signed by both parties hereto.

12. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications called for or contemplated hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given if personally delivered or if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested to the parties, their successors in interest, or their assignees at the following addresses, or at such other

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addresses as the parties may designate by written notice in the manner aforesaid, and shall be deemed received upon actual receipt:

(a) to the Company at:

Noodles & Company 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx X Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 Fax: (000) 000-0000 Attention: General Counsel

with a copy to:

Xxxxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000

(b) to the Executive at:

________________ ________________ ________________

13. Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any person or under any circumstance, shall to any extent be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such terms to the persons or under circumstances other than those as to which it is invalid or unenforceable, shall be considered severable and shall not be affected thereby, and each term of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

14. Waiver. The failure of any party to insist in any one instance or more upon strict performance of any of the terms and conditions hereof, or to exercise any right or privilege herein conferred, shall not be construed as a waiver of such terms, conditions, rights or privileges, but same shall continue to remain in full force and effect. Any waiver by any party of any violation of, breach of or default under any provision of this Agreement by the other party shall not be construed as, or constitute, a continuing waiver of such provision, or waiver of any other violation of, breach of or default under any other provision of this Agreement.

15. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and any successors and assigns of the Company, including any corporation with which, or into which, the Company may be merged or which may succeed to the Company’s assets or business. In the event that the Company sells or transfers all or substantially all of the assets of the

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Company, or in the event of any merger or consolidation of the Company, the Company shall use reasonable efforts to cause such assignee, transferee, or successor to assume the liabilities, obligations and duties of the Company hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if for any reason an assignee, transferee, or successor does not assume the full extent of the Company’s liabilities, obligations and duties of the Company hereunder, such event or nonoccurence shall trigger a termination without Cause under this Agreement. Neither this Agreement nor any right or obligation hereunder may be assigned by the Executive; provided, however, that this provision shall not preclude the Executive from designating one or more beneficiaries to receive any amount that may be payable after his death and shall not preclude his executor or administrator from assigning any right hereunder to the person or persons entitled hereto.

16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

17. Headings. Headings in this Agreement are for reference only and shall not be deemed to have any substantive effect.

18. Opportunity to Seek Advice; Warranties and Representations. The Executive acknowledges and confirms that he has had the opportunity to seek such legal, financial and other advice and representation as he has deemed appropriate in connection with this Agreement. The Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company that he is not under any obligation of a contractual or quasi-contractual nature known to him that is inconsistent or in conflict with this Agreement or that would prevent, limit or impair the performance by the Executive of his obligations hereunder.

19. Withholdings. All salary, severance payments, bonuses or benefits provided by the Company under this Agreement shall be net of any tax or other amounts required to be withheld by the Company under applicable law.

20. Section 409A. The parties intend that any compensation, benefits and other amounts payable or provided to the Executive under this Agreement be paid or provided in compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and all regulations, guidance, and other interpretative authority issued thereunder (collectively, “Section 409A”) such that there will be no adverse tax consequences, interest, or penalties for the Executive under Section 409A as a result of the payments and benefits so paid or provided to him. The parties agree to modify this Agreement, or the timing (but not the amount) of the payment hereunder of severance or other compensation, or both, to the extent necessary to comply with and to the extent permissible under Section 409A. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any other provision of this Agreement, the payments and benefits to be provided the Executive under this Agreement shall be subject to the provisions set forth below.

(a) The date of the Executive’s “separation from service,” as defined in the regulations issued under Section 409A, shall be treated as Executive’s Date of Termination for

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purpose of determining the time of payment of any amount that becomes payable to the Executive pursuant to Section 5 hereof upon the termination of his employment and that is treated as an amount of deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A.

(b) In the case of any amounts that are payable to the Executive under this Agreement, or under any other “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” (within the meaning of Section 409A) maintained by the Company in the form of installment payments, (i) the Executive’s right to receive such payments shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments under Treas. Reg. §1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii), and (ii) to the extent any such plan does not already so provide, it is hereby amended as of the date hereof to so provide, with respect to amounts payable to the Executive thereunder.

(c) If the Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of his “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, then any payment otherwise required to be made to him under this Agreement on account of his separation from service, to the extent such payment (after taking in to account all exclusions applicable to such payment under Section 409A) is properly treated as deferred compensation subject to Section 409A, shall not be made until the first business day after (i) the expiration of six months from the date of the Executive’s separation from service, or (ii) if earlier, the date of the Executive’s death (the “Delayed Payment Date”). On the Delayed Payment Date, there shall be paid to the Executive or, if the Executive has died, to the Executive’s estate, in a single cash lump sum, an amount equal to aggregate amount of the payments delayed pursuant to the preceding sentence.

(d) To the extent that the reimbursement of any expenses or the provision of any in-kind benefits pursuant to this Agreement is subject to Section 409A, (i) the amount of such expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided hereunder during any one calendar year shall not affect the amount of such expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits to be provided hereunder in any other calendar year; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply to any limit on the amount of any expenses incurred by the Executive that may be reimbursed or paid under the terms of the Company’s medical plan, if such limit is imposed on all similarly situated participants in such plan; (ii) all such expenses eligible for reimbursement hereunder shall be paid to the Executive as soon as administratively practicable after any documentation required for reimbursement for such expenses has been submitted, but in any event by no later than December 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such expenses were incurred; and (iii) the Executive’s right to receive any such reimbursements or in-kind benefits shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

NOODLES & COMPANY
a Delaware corporation
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx

Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx

Executive Vice President

EXECUTIVE:

/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx

[Signature Page to Employment Agreement]

Exhibit A

RELEASE AGREEMENT

1.    Executive, individually and on behalf of his heirs and assigns, hereby releases, waives and discharges Company, and all subsidiary, parent or affiliated companies and corporations, and their present, former or future respective subsidiary, parent or affiliated companies or corporations, and their respective present or former directors, officers, shareholders, trustees, managers, supervisors, employees, partners, attorneys, agents, representatives and insurers, and the respective successors, heirs and assigns of any of the above described persons or entities (hereinafter referred to collectively as “Released Parties”), from any and all claims, causes of action, losses, damages, costs, and liabilities of every kind and character, whether known or unknown (“Claims”), that Executive may have or claim to have, in any way relating to or arising out of, in whole or in part, (a) any event or act of omission or commission occurring on or before the Date of Termination, including Claims arising by reason of the continued effects of any such events or acts, which occurred on or before the Date of Termination, or (b) Executive’s employment with Company or the termination of such employment with Company, including but not limited to Claims arising under federal, state, or local laws prohibiting disability, handicap, age, sex, race, national origin, religion, retaliation, or any other form of discrimination, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C.§§ 12101 et seq.; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C. §§ 621 et seq.; and Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e et seq.; Claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress, tortious interference with contract or prospective advantage, and other tort claims; and Claims for breach of express or implied contract; with the exception of Employee’s vested rights, if any, under Company retirement plans. Executive hereby warrants that he has not assigned or transferred to any person any portion of any claim that is released, waived and discharged above. Executive understands and agrees that by signing this Agreement he is giving up his right to bring any legal claim against any Released Party concerning, directly or indirectly, Executive’s employment relationship with the Company, including his separation from employment, and/or any and all contracts between Executive and Company, express or implied. Executive agrees that this legal release is intended to be interpreted in the broadest possible manner in favor of the Released Parties, to include all actual or potential legal claims that Executive may have against any Released Party, except as specifically provided otherwise in this Agreement. This release does not cover Claims relating to the validity or enforcement of this Agreement. Further, Executive has not released any claim for indemnity or legal defense available to him due to his service as a board member, officer or director of the Company, as provided by the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, or by any applicable insurance policy, or under any applicable corporate law.

2.    Executive agrees and acknowledges that he: (i) understands the language used in this Agreement and the Agreement’s legal effect; (ii) understands that by signing this Agreement he is giving up the right to xxx the Company for age discrimination; (iii) will receive compensation under this Agreement to which he would not have been entitled without signing this Agreement; (iv) has been advised by Company to consult with an attorney before signing

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this Agreement; and (v) was given no less than twenty-one days to consider whether to sign this Agreement. For a period of seven days after the effective date of this Agreement, Executive may, in his sole discretion, rescind this Agreement, by delivering a written notice of rescission to the Board. If Executive rescinds this Agreement within seven calendar days after the effective date, this Agreement shall be void, all actions taken pursuant to this Agreement shall be reversed, and neither this Agreement nor the fact of or circumstances surrounding its execution shall be admissible for any purpose whatsoever in any proceeding between the parties, except in connection with a claim or defense involving the validity or effective rescission of this Agreement. If Executive does not rescind this Agreement within seven calendar days after the Effective Date, this Agreement shall become final and binding and shall be irrevocable.

3.    Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meaning specified in the Employment Agreement between the Company and the Executive dated June 13, 2017.

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