CHICAGO PIZZA & BREWERY INC
8-K, EX-99, 2001-01-04
EATING PLACES
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THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY AND THE UNDERLYING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK HAVE
NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE
SOLD,  OFFERED  FOR SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  AS  TO THE SALE OF SUCH SECURITIES UNDER SAID ACT OR AN
OPINION  OF  COUNSEL  SATISFACTORY  TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT
REQUIRED.



                                OPTION AGREEMENT


     This  Option  Agreement  (the  "AGREEMENT")  is  made as of the 20th day of
December,  2000  between Chicago Pizza & Brewery, Inc. (the "COMPANY") and ASSI,
Inc.  ("OPTIONEE").

          The  Company  hereby  grants to Optionee options to purchase shares of
Common  Stock  of  the  Company,  as  follows:

Section  1.     NUMBER  OF  OPTIONS.
-----------     --------------------

          Optionee  is hereby entitled to purchase (the "OPTIONS") up to 200,000
shares of the Company's authorized but unissued Common Stock (the "SHARES"), all
of  which  have been reserved for issuance pursuant to the Options.  Each Option
shall  represent  the  right  to  purchase  one  Share, subject to adjustment as
provided  in  Section  6  hereof.

Section  2.     EXERCISE  PRICE.
-----------     ----------------

          The  exercise  price  for  the  Shares  shall be $4.00 per share ( the
"OPTION  PRICE"),  subject  to  adjustment as provided in Section 6 hereof.  The
Company  and  Optionee  hereby acknowledge that the Option Price is greater than
the fair market value of one share of Common Stock of the Company as of the date
of  this  Agreement.

Section  3.     WHEN  OPTIONS  MAY  BE  EXERCISED.
-----------     ----------------------------------

          The  Options  issued  pursuant  to  Section  1  shall  be  exercisable
commencing  upon  the  date of issuance and terminating at 5:00 P.M. Los Angeles
time  on  December  31,  2005.

Section  4.     INVESTMENT  REPRESENTATION  OF  OPTIONEE.
-----------     -----------------------------------------

          Optionee  acknowledges  that  the Options and the Shares issuable upon
exercise  of  the Options (the "RESTRICTED SECURITIES") have not been registered
under  the  Securities  Act  of 1933, as amended (the "ACT") or applicable state
securities laws.  Optionee acknowledges that the offer, sale and delivery of the
Restricted  Securities  to  Optionee  is  made  in  reliance  upon  Optionee's

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representations,  warranties,  agreements  and  undertakings  reflected  herein.
Optionee  represents  and  warrants  that  Optionee  is acquiring the Restricted
Securities solely for Optionee's own account and interest and not with a view to
distribute  them to the public.  Optionee understands and agrees that unless the
Restricted  Securities either are registered under the Act or are disposed of in
transactions for which exemptions from such registration are available, Optionee
must  continue  to  own  and  hold  the Restricted Securities for Optionee's own
account and interest indefinitely.  Optionee further understands that whether an
exemption  from  the  registration requirements of the Act will be available for
such  future transactions as Optionee may propose will depend upon the nature of
each  such  transaction,  the pertinent surrounding facts and circumstances then
extant,  and  the  then  applicable  law.

          Any  certificate  evidencing  the  Restricted  Securities shall bear a
legend  substantially  in  the  following  form:

THE  SECURITIES  EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT
AND  HAVE  NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE
"ACT"),  OR  ANY  STATE SECURITIES LAW AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE
ABSENCE  OF  SUCH  REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SAID ACT AND ANY
APPLICABLE  STATE  SECURITIES  LAW.

          Any  certificate  evidencing  the Restricted Securities shall bear any
additional  legend required under state or Federal securities laws, by contract,
or  otherwise.

Section  5.     EXERCISE  OF  OPTIONS.
-----------     ----------------------

          The Options, or any portion of the Options, may be exercised from time
to  time,  in  whole  or in part, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3
above,  which exercise shall be effective immediately upon written notice to the
Company  at  its  principal  offices,  setting forth the number of Options being
exercised, accompanied by the full amount of the purchase price for such Shares.
Payment  of  the  Option  Price  of the Shares shall be made by means of cash or
check  made  payable  to  the  Company.  Upon receipt of notice and payment, the
Company  shall  promptly  make  arrangements for the issuance to Optionee of the
number  of  Shares as to which the Options were exercised.  Upon exercise of the
Options,  the  number of Shares subject to this Agreement shall be automatically
reduced to the extent of the number of Shares as to which Options are exercised,
and  this Agreement shall remain in effect as to the remaining number of Options
and  Shares.  The Company reserves the right to require Optionee, before receipt
of  the  Shares,  to  represent  and  warrant  in writing, in form and substance
reasonably  satisfactory  to  the  Company,  that the Shares purchased are being
acquired  without  any  view  to  distribution  and  to  agree in writing to the
imposition  of  legends on the share certificates setting forth any restrictions
upon  disposition  required  by  applicable  federal  or  state securities laws.


<PAGE>

Section  6.     ADJUSTMENTS.
-----------     ------------

          The  number  of  Shares purchasable upon the exercise of an Option and
the  Option  Price  shall  be  subject  to  adjustment  as  follows:

          6.1     Whenever the number of Shares purchasable upon the exercise of
each  Option  or  the  Option Price is adjusted, as herein provided, the Company
shall promptly mail by first class mail, postage prepaid, to Optionee, notice of
such  adjustment  or  adjustments setting forth the number of Shares purchasable
upon  the  exercise of each Option and the Option Price after such adjustment, a
brief  statement  of the facts requiring such adjustment, and the computation by
which  such  adjustment  was  made.

          6.2     For  the purpose of this Section 6, the term "shares of Common
Stock"  shall  mean (i) the class of stock designated as the Common Stock of the
Company  as  of  the  date  of  this Agreement, or (ii) any other class of stock
resulting from successive changes or reclassifications of such shares consisting
solely  of  changes  in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no
par  value  to  par  value.  In  the  event  that at any time, as a result of an
adjustment made pursuant to Section 6.3 below, the Holders shall become entitled
to  purchase  any  shares  of  the  Company  other  than shares of Common Stock,
thereafter  the number of such other shares so purchasable upon exercise of each
Option  and  the Option Price of such shares shall be subject to adjustment from
time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the
provisions  relating  to  the  Shares  contained  in  this  Section  6.

          6.3     In  case  the  Company  shall  (i) pay a dividend in shares of
Common  Stock or make a distribution to all holders of shares of Common Stock in
shares  of  Common Stock, (ii) subdivide its outstanding shares of Common Stock,
(iii)  combine  its  outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of
shares of Common Stock or (iv) issue by reclassification of its shares of Common
Stock  other  securities  of  the Company, the number of Shares purchasable upon
exercise  of  each  Option  immediately  prior thereto shall be adjusted so that
Optionee  shall  be  entitled  to receive the kind and number of Shares or other
securities  of  the  Company  which Optionee would have owned or would have been
entitled  to  receive  after the happening of any of the events described above,
had  the  Option been exercised immediately prior to the happening of such event
or  any  record  date with respect thereto.  An adjustment made pursuant to this
Section  6.3 shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such
event  retroactive  to  the  record  date,  if  any,  for  such  event.

          6.4     In  case of any consolidation of the Company with or merger of
the  Company  into  another  corporation or in case of any sale or conveyance to
another entity of the property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as
an entirety, the Company or such successor or purchasing entity, as the case may
be,  shall  be obligated to issue to Optionee, upon exercise of each Option, the
same  consideration  as Optionee would have owned or would have been entitled to
receive  after  the  happening of such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance
had  such Option been exercised immediately prior to such action.  If the action

<PAGE>

involves  two  or more transactions involving different consideration to holders
of  Common  Stock, Optionee may elect which consideration to receive pursuant to
this  Section  6.4.

          6.5     In  case  the  Company  shall distribute to all holders of its
shares  of Common Stock a stock dividend, evidence of its indebtedness or assets
(excluding  regular  and ordinary cash dividends) or rights, options or warrants
or  convertible  securities  containing  the  right to subscribe for or purchase
shares  of Common Stock, then in each case the Option Price shall be adjusted to
a  price  determined by multiplying the Option Price in effect immediately prior
to  such  distribution  by  a fraction, of which the numerator shall be the then
current market price per share of Common Stock (as defined in Section 6.7 below)
on  the  date  of  such distribution, less the then fair value (as determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company) of the portion of the stock
dividend,  assets  or evidence of indebtedness so distributed or of such rights,
options,  options  or  convertible  securities applicable to one share of Common
Stock,  and of which the denominator shall be such then current market price per
share  of  Common  Stock.  Such  adjustment  shall  be  made  whenever  any such
distribution  is  made,  and  shall become effective on the date of distribution
retroactive to the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to
receive  such  distribution.

          6.6     No  adjustment  in  the number of Shares purchasable hereunder
shall  be  required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease
in the number of Shares purchasable upon the exercise of each Option of at least
One  (1)  Share; provided, however, that any adjustments which by reason of this
Section  6.6 are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into
account  in  any  subsequent  adjustment.

          6.7     Whenever the number of Shares purchasable upon the exercise of
each  Option is adjusted, as herein provided, the Option Price per Share payable
upon  exercise  of  each  Option  shall  be  adjusted  (to  the nearest cent) by
multiplying  such  Option  Price  immediately  prior  to  such  adjustment  by a
fraction,  of which the numerator shall be the number of Shares purchasable upon
the  exercise  of each Option immediately prior to such adjustment, and of which
the  denominator  shall  be  the  number  of  Shares  so purchasable immediately
thereafter.

          6.8     For the purpose of any computation pursuant to this Section 6,
the  current or closing market price per share of Common Stock at any date shall
be deemed to be (i) the average of the mean between the bid and asked prices, as
reported  by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., if the shares
of Common Stock are traded on the National Market System, the SmallCap Market or
the  OTC  Bulletin Board, or, (ii) if the shares of Common Stock are traded on a
national  securities  exchange,  the average daily closing price on the New York
Stock  Exchange,  Inc., or, if such shares are not listed on such exchange, then
on any other national securities exchange on which they are so listed, or  (iii)
the average daily closing price as reported by any foreign exchange on which the
shares  of Common Stock are traded, on the last ten (10) trading days before the
day  in  question.  If  the  shares are not traded as provided in clauses (i) or
(ii)  or  (iii) above, then the current market price shall be determined in good

<PAGE>

faith  by  the  Board  of Directors of the Company, which determination shall be
final  absent  clear  and  convincing  evidence of bad faith by the Board.   The
closing  price  referred  to  in  clause  (ii) and (iii) above shall be the last
reported  sales  price or in case no such reported sale takes place on such day,
the  average of the reported closing bid and asked prices, in either case on the
aforesaid  securities  exchange.

Section  7.     ASSIGNABILITY  OF  OPTIONS.
-----------     ---------------------------

          The  Options may be assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, sold
or  otherwise  disposed  of  (collectively,  a "Transfer"), in whole or in part,
either  voluntarily  or  involuntarily,  provided  that  in  the  opinion of the
Company's  counsel  or counsel to the Optionee (in either case at the expense of
Optionee)  such  Transfer  may  be  made  in compliance with applicable federal,
state,  or  other  securities  laws.

Section  8.       RESERVATION  OF  SHARES;  PAYMENT  IN  FULL
-----------       -------------------------------------------

          The  Company  will  at all times reserve and keep available out of its
authorized  capital stock, solely for issuance upon the exercise of this Option,
such  number of shares of Common Stock as shall be issuable upon the exercise of
this  Option.  Such  Common Stock, when issued pursuant to this Agreement, shall
be  duly  and  validly  issued,  fully  paid and nonassessable and free from all
taxes,  liens  and  charges  with  respect  to  the  issue  thereof.

Section  9.     REGISTRATION  RIGHTS.
-----------     ---------------------

     The  Company  covenants  and  agrees  to provide the following registration
rights  at  any  time  from  and  after  the date of this Agreement to Optionee:

     9.1     Whenever  the  Company  proposes  to  file a registration statement
relating  to  any  of its capital stock under the Act, other than a registration
statement  required to be filed in respect of employee benefit plans on Form S-8
or  similar  form  or  any  registration  statement  on Form S-4 or similar form
relating  to  securities issued in connection with a reorganization, the Company
shall,  at  least  seven business days prior to such filing, give written notice
thereof  to  Optionee.  Upon receipt by the Company, not more than four business
days  after receipt of such notice by Optionee, of a written request by Optionee
for  registration  of  all or a portion of the Shares of the Common Stock of the
Company  issued  or  issuable upon exercise of the Option ("Registrable Shares")
                                                            ------------------
then  owned  by  Optionee,  the Company shall include such Registrable Shares in
such registration statement or in a separate registration statement concurrently
filed, and shall use all reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement
to become effective with respect to such Registrable Shares, unless the managing
underwriter  therefor  concludes  in  its  reasonable  good  faith judgment that
compliance  with  this  Section  9.1  would  materially  adversely  affect  such
offering.  If  the  managing underwriter determines in good faith that a portion
but  not  all of such Registrable Shares may be included, then only such portion
shall  be  included.

<PAGE>

     9.2  The Company will use all reasonable efforts to cause such registration
statement  to  remain  effective until the earlier of 45 days from the effective
date  of  the  registration  statement  or  the date that Optionee completes his
distribution  of  the  Registrable  Shares.  The Company will use all reasonable
efforts  to  effect such qualifications under applicable blue sky or other state
securities  laws  as  may  be  reasonably  requested  by  Optionee  to permit or
facilitate  such  sale  or  other  distribution.  The  Company  will  cause  the
Registrable Shares for which the registration statement is effected to be listed
on  any  national securities exchange or quoted on any stock quotation system on
which  the  shares  of  Common  Stock  are  listed  or  quoted.

     9.3  Optionee  shall furnish to the Company such information as the Company
may  reasonably  request  and  as  shall  be  required  in  connection  with any
registration,  qualification  or  compliance referred to in this Section 9.  The
Company  agrees  to  furnish  to  Optionee  the number of prospectuses, offering
circulars or other documents, or any amendments or supplements thereto, incident
to  any  registration, qualification or compliance referred to in this Section 9
as  Optionee  from  time  to  time  may  reasonably  request.

     9.4  The Company will bear all expenses of registrations, qualifications or
compliance  pursuant  to  this  Section 9 (other than underwriting discounts and
commissions  and brokerage commissions and fees, if any, payable with respect to
the  Registrable Shares or the cost of counsel for Optionee), including, without
limitation,  registration fees, printing expenses, expenses of blue sky or other
state  securities  law  registration  or compliance, and legal and auditing fees
incurred  by  the  Company  in  connection  therewith.

     9.5  During  the  effectiveness  of  a  registration  statement  in  which
Registrable  Shares  are  included  pursuant to this Section 9, the Company will
notify Optionee promptly of any notice from a regulatory authority affecting the
sale of the Registrable Shares and of any event or facts that, in the reasonable
judgment  of  the  Company,  should be set forth in such registration statement.
The  Company  will,  as  promptly  as  practicable,  take  such action as may be
necessary  to  amend  or  supplement such registration statement in order to set
forth  or  reflect  such  event  or  facts.

     9.6  The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Optionee and its
respective officers, directors, affiliates, successors and assigns from and
against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities caused by any untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement filed by
the Company under the Securities Act by reason of this Agreement, any
post-effective amendment to such registration statements, or any prospectus
included therein, or caused by any omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are
caused by any such untrue statement or omission based upon information furnished
or required to be furnished in writing to the Company by Optionee (or the
authorized representatives or agents of Optionee) expressly for use therein,
which indemnification shall include each person, if any, who controls Optionee
within the meaning of the Securities Act and each officer, director, employee
and agent of Optionee; provided, however, that the indemnification in this
Section 9.6 with respect to any prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of the

<PAGE>

Optionee (or to the benefit of any person controlling the Optionee) on account
of any such loss, claim, damage or liability arising from the sale of Shares, if
a copy of a subsequent prospectus correcting the untrue statement or omission in
such earlier prospectus was provided to Optionee by the Company prior to the
subject sale and the subsequent prospectus was not delivered or sent by Optionee
to the purchaser of such securities prior to such sale; and provided further,
that the Company shall not be obligated to so indemnify Optionee or any other
person referred to above unless Optionee or such other person, as the case may
be, shall at the same time indemnify the Company, its directors, each officer
signing the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages and liabilities caused by any untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any registration statement or any prospectus required
to be filed or furnished by reason of this Agreement or caused by any omission
to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities are caused by any untrue statement or omission based upon
information furnished in writing to the Company by Optionee expressly for use
therein.  If for any reason the indemnification provided for in this
subparagraph is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to
an indemnified party with respect to any loss, claim, damage, liability or
expense referred to therein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of
indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage
or liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits received by the indemnified party and the indemnifying party,
but also the relative fault of the indemnified party and the indemnifying party,
as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

Section  10.     GENERAL  PROVISIONS.
------------     --------------------

          10.1     Execution  of  the  Company.  The  Options  have  been  duly
                   ----------------------------
authorized,  executed,  and  delivered  by  and  on  behalf  of  the  Company.

          10.2     Arbitration.  Any  controversy  or  claim  arising  out of or
                   -----------
relating  to  the terms of these Options, or otherwise related to the compliance
by  the  Company  with  its  obligations  hereunder, shall be settled by binding
arbitration  in  Los  Angeles  County,  California.  The  arbitration  shall  be
conducted  by  the  American  Arbitration Association, whose rules applicable to
commercial disputes shall be in force, and judgment on the award rendered by the
arbitrator(s) may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof; provided,
however, that if the controversy or claim also relates to an employment or other
agreement  between  the  Company  and  Optionee, then the Company shall have the
right,  at its sole election, to require the controversy or claim to be resolved
pursuant to any arbitration procedure set forth in such other agreement.  Either
the  Company  or  Optionee  may  submit  to arbitration any controversy or claim
hereunder.  The  parties hereto agree that Los Angeles County, California is the
proper  venue  for  the arbitration of any dispute among the parties hereto.  If
the  arbitration  relates  to  "fair  market  value,"  the  arbitrators  will be

<PAGE>

instructed  to  value  the  Company as it would be valued by a willing strategic
purchaser  and  that  there  will be no discount for illiquidity or for minority
interest.

          10.3     Choice of Law and Venue.  These Options shall be deemed to be
                   -----------------------
a  contract  made under the laws of the State of California and for all purposes
it  shall  be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State
of  California.  Proper  venue of any action or arbitration shall be exclusively
in  the  County  of  Los  Angeles,  State  of  California.

          10.4     Severability.  If  a  court  or  an  arbitrator  of competent
                   ------------
jurisdiction  holds  any provision of these Options to be illegal, unenforceable
or  invalid in whole or in part for any reason, such provision shall be adjusted
rather  than  voided,  if  possible  to achieve the intent of the parties to the
extent  possible,  and  in  any  event  the  validity  and enforceability of the
remaining  sections  shall  not be affected unless an essential purpose of these
Options  would be defeated by the loss of the illegal, unenforceable, or invalid
provision.

          10.5     Amendment,  Modification  or  Waiver.  The  terms  of  these
                   ------------------------------------
Options  may  not be and shall not be deemed or construed to have been modified,
amended,  rescinded,  canceled or waived, in whole or in part, except by written
instrument  signed  by  the  Company  and  Optionee.

          10.6     Headings  and  Language.  The  various  headings  herein  are
                   -----------------------
inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed a part of or in any manner
affect the terms of the Options or their provisions.  As used in this Agreement,
the  masculine,  feminine  or neuter gender and the singular and plural shall be
deemed  to  include  the  other  whenever  the  context  so  indicates.

          10.7     Rights  Of Optionee.  Prior to the exercise of these Options,
                   -------------------
except  as  otherwise  provided  herein,  Optionee  shall not be entitled to any
rights  of  a shareholder of the Company, including without limitation the right
to  vote,  to  receive  dividends  or  other  distributions  or  to exercise any
preemptive  rights,  and  shall  not  be  entitled  to  receive  notice  of  any
proceedings  of  the  Company.

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


                         CHICAGO  PIZZA  &  BREWERY,  INC.

                          By  /s/  PAUL  A.  MOTENKO
                              ----------------------



                         ASSI,  INC.

                          By  /s/  LOUIS  HABASH
                          ----------------------








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