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EXHIBIT 10.9    
    


THIS
WARRANT AND THE SHARES ISSUABLE HEREUNDER HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT") OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THEY MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT OR PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE CORPORATION AND ITS COUNSEL THAT SUCH
REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED. 


 
 

WARRANT TO PURCHASE STOCK    




	Corporation:	 	NuVasive, Inc., a Delaware Corporation
	Number of Shares:	 	59,289
	Class of Stock:	 	Series D-1 Preferred
	Initial Exercise Price:	 	$2.53 per share
	Issue Date:	 	January 09, 2003
	Expiration Date:	 	January 09, 2013





        THIS
WARRANT CERTIFIES THAT, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, COMERICA BANK—CALIFORNIA or its assignee ("Holder") is entitled
to purchase the number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of the class of securities (the "Shares") of the corporation (the "Company") at the initial exercise price per Share (the "Warrant Price")
all as set forth above and as adjusted pursuant to Article 2 of this warrant, subject to the provisions and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this warrant. 



ARTICLE
1.    EXERCISE. 


        1.1    Method of Exercise.    Holder may exercise this warrant by delivering this warrant
and a duly executed Notice of Exercise in substantially the form attached as Appendix 1 to the principal office of the Company. Unless Holder is exercising the conversion right set forth in
Section 1.2, Holder shall also deliver to the Company a check for the aggregate Warrant Price for the Shares being purchased. 


        1.2    Conversion Right.    In lieu of exercising this warrant as specified in
Section 1.1, Holder may from time to time convert this warrant, in whole or in part, into a number of Shares determined by dividing (a) the aggregate fair market value of the Shares or
other securities otherwise issuable upon exercise of this warrant minus the aggregate Warrant Price of such Shares by (b) the fair market value of one Share. The fair market value of the Shares
shall be determined pursuant to Section 1.3. 


        1.3    Fair Market Value.    If the Shares are traded regularly in a public market, the
fair market value of the Shares shall be the closing price of the Shares (or the closing price of the Company's stock into which the Shares are convertible) reported for the business day immediately
before Holder delivers its Notice of Exercise to the Company. If the Shares are not regularly traded in a public market, the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine fair market value in its
reasonable good faith judgment. 


        1.4    Delivery of Certificate and New Warrant.    Promptly after Holder exercises or
converts this warrant, the Company shall deliver to Holder certificates for the Shares acquired and, if this warrant has not been fully exercised or converted and has not expired, a new warrant
representing the Shares not so acquired. 


        1.5    Replacement of Warrants.    On receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the
Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this warrant and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, on delivery of an indemnity agreement reasonably satisfactory in form and amount
to the Company or, in the case of mutilation, on surrender and cancellation of this warrant, the Company at its expense shall execute and deliver, in lieu of this warrant, a new warrant of like tenor. 





 



        1.6    Sale, Merger, or Consolidation of the Company.    



        1.6.1    "Acquisition."    For the purpose of this warrant, "Acquisition" means any sale,
exclusive license, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets (including intellectual property) of the Company, or any reorganization, consolidation, or merger of the Company where
the holders of the Company's securities before the transaction beneficially own less than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving entity after the transaction. 


        1.6.2    Assumption of Warrant.    If upon the closing of any Acquisition the successor
entity assumes the obligations of this warrant, then this warrant shall be exercisable for the same securities, cash, and property as would be payable for the Shares issuable upon exercise of the
unexercised portion of this warrant as if such Shares were outstanding on the record date for the Acquisition and subsequent closing. The Warrant Price shall be adjusted accordingly. The Company shall
use reasonable efforts to cause the surviving corporation to assume the obligations of this warrant. 


        1.6.3    Nonassumption.    If upon the closing of any Acquisition the successor entity
does not assume the obligations of this warrant and Holder has not otherwise exercised this warrant in full, then this warrant shall be deemed to have been automatically converted pursuant to
Section 1.2 immediately prior to the closing of the Acquisition and thereafter Holder shall participate in the Acquisition on the same terms as other holders of the same class of securities of
the Company. 




ARTICLE
2.    ADJUSTMENTS TO THE SHARES. 


        2.1    Stock Dividends, Splits, Etc.    If the Company declares or pays a dividend on its
Series D-1 Preferred Stock payable in Series D-1 Preferred Stock, or other securities, subdivides the outstanding Series D-1 Preferred Stock into a
greater amount of Series D-1 Preferred Stock, then upon exercise of this warrant, for each Share acquired, Holder shall receive, without cost to Holder, the total number and kind of
securities to which Holder would have been entitled had Holder owned the Shares of record as of the date the dividend or subdivision occurred. 


        2.2    Reclassification, Exchange or Substitution.    Upon any reclassification,
exchange, substitution, or other event that results in a change of the number and/or class of the securities issuable upon exercise or conversion of this warrant, Holder shall be entitled to receive,
upon exercise or conversion of this
warrant, the number and kind of securities and property that Holder would have received for the Shares if this warrant had been exercised immediately before such reclassification, exchange,
substitution, or other event. Such an event shall include any automatic conversion of the outstanding or issuable securities of the Company of the same class or series as the Shares to common stock
pursuant to the terms of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation upon the closing of a registered public offering of the Company's common stock. The Company or its successor shall promptly issue to
Holder a new warrant for such new securities or other property. The new warrant shall provide for adjustments which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for
in this Article 2 including, without limitation, adjustments to the Warrant Price and to the number of securities or property issuable upon exercise of the new warrant. The provisions of this
Section 2.2 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, exchanges, substitutions, or other events. 



        2.3    Adjustments for Combinations, Etc.    If the outstanding Shares are combined or
consolidated, by reclassification or otherwise, into a lesser number of shares, the Warrant Price shall be proportionately increased. If the outstanding Shares are combined or consolidated, by
reclassification or otherwise, into a greater number of shares, the Warrant Price shall be proportionately decreased. 


        2.4    Adjustments for Diluting Issuances.    The Company's Certificate of Incorporation,
as such may be amended from time to time, sets forth the anti-dilution rights of the Series D-1 Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrant. 


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        2.5    No Impairment.    The Company shall not, by amendment of its Certificate of
Incorporation or through a reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue, or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or
performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed under this warrant by the Company, but shall at all times in good faith assist in carrying out all the provisions of this Article 2
and in taking all such action as may be necessary or appropriate to protect Holder's rights under this Article against impairment. 


        2.6    Certificate as to Adjustments.    Upon each adjustment of the Warrant Price, the
Company at its expense shall promptly compute such adjustment, and furnish Holder with a certificate of its Chief Financial Officer setting forth such adjustment and the facts upon which such
adjustment is based. The Company shall, upon written request, furnish Holder a certificate setting forth the Warrant Price in effect upon the date thereof and the series of adjustments leading to such
Warrant Price. 


        2.7    Fractional Shares.    No fractional Shares shall be issuable upon exercise or
conversion of the Warrant and the Number of Shares to be issued shall be rounded down to the nearest whole Share. If a fractional share interest arises upon any exercise or conversion of the Warrant,
the Company shall eliminate such fractional share interest by paying Holder amount computed by multiplying the fractional interest by the fair market value of a full Share. 


ARTICLE
3.    REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. 



        3.1    Representations and Warranties.    The Company hereby represents and warrants to
the Holder as follows: 



        (a)   The
initial Warrant Price referenced on the first page of this warrant is not greater than the per share price paid by the Company's investors in its last round of
equity financing. 


        (b)   All
Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase right represented by this warrant, and all securities, if any, issuable upon conversion of the Shares,
shall, upon issuance, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and free of any liens and encumbrances except for restrictions on transfer provided for herein or under
applicable federal and state securities laws. 


        (c)   The
Company's capitalization table attached to this warrant is true and complete as of the Issue Date. 




        3.2    Notice of Certain Events.    If the Company proposes at any time (a) to
declare any dividend or distribution upon its common stock, whether in cash, property, stock, or other securities and whether or not a regular cash dividend; (b) to effect any reclassification
or recapitalization of common stock; or (c) to merge or consolidate with or into any other corporation (such that the holders of the Company's securities before the transaction own less than
50% of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving entity after the transaction), or sell, lease, exclusively license, or convey all or substantially all of its assets, or to liquidate,
dissolve or wind up, then, in connection with each such event, the Company shall give Holder (1) at least 10 days prior written notice of the date on which a record will be taken for
such dividend or distribution rights (and specifying the date on which the holders of common stock will be entitled thereto) or for determining rights to vote, if any, in respect of the matters
referred to in (a) above; and (2) in the case of the matters referred to in (b) and (c) above at least 10 days prior written notice of the date when the same will
take place (and specifying the date on which the holders of common stock will be entitled to exchange their common stock for securities or other property deliverable upon the occurrence of such
event). 


        3.3    Information Rights.    So long as the Holder holds this warrant and/or any of the
Shares, the Company shall deliver to the Holder (a) within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, the annual audited financial statements of the
Company certified by independent public accountants of recognized standing and (b) within forty-five (45) days after the end 


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of
each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year, the Company's quarterly, unaudited financial statements. 


ARTICLE
4.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HOLDER.    Holder (and its affiliates) hereby represents and warrants to and for the benefit of the
Company, with knowledge that the Company is relying thereon in entering into this Warrant and issuing this Warrant to Holder, as follows: 


        4.1    Purchase Entirely for Own Account.    By Holder's (and its affiliates') execution
of this Warrant, Holder (and its affiliates) hereby confirms that this Warrant, the Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant and any shares of the Company's common stock issued upon conversion of
the Shares (collectively, the "Securities") shall be acquired for investment for Holder's (and its affiliates') own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or
distribution of any part thereof, and that Holder (and its affiliates) has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same; provided,
however, that Holder (and its affiliates) may transfer all or part of this Warrant, the Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant and any shares of the Company's common stock issued
upon conversion of the Shares to its affiliates. By executing this Warrant, Holder (and its affiliates) further represents that Holder (and its affiliates) does not have any contract, undertaking,
agreement or arrangement with any person to sell, transfer or grant participation to such person or to any third person, with respect to any of the Securities. Holder (and its affiliates) represents
that it has full power and authority to enter into this Warrant. 


        4.2    Investment Experience.    Holder (and its affiliates) is an investor in securities
of companies in the development stage and acknowledges that it is able to fend for itself, can bear the economic risk of its investment and has such knowledge and experience in financial or business
matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment in the Securities. 



        4.3    Accredited Investor.    Holder (and its affiliates) is an "accredited investor"
within the meaning of Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 501 of Regulation D, as now in effect. 


        4.4    Restricted Securities.    Holder (and its affiliates) understands that the
Securities it is and shall be purchasing are characterized as "restricted securities" under the federal securities laws inasmuch as they are being acquired from the Company in a transaction not
involving a public offering and that under such laws and applicable regulations such securities may be resold without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), only in
certain limited circumstances. In this
connection, Holder (and its affiliates) represents that it is familiar with Rule 144 promulgated under the Act, as now in effect, and understands the resale limitations imposed thereby and by
the Act. 


ARTICLE
5.    MISCELLANEOUS. 


        5.1    Term: Notice of Expiration.    This warrant is exercisable in whole or in part, at
any time and from time to time on or before the Expiration Date set forth above. If this warrant has not been exercised prior to the Expiration Date, this warrant shall be deemed to have been
automatically exercised on the Expiration Date by "cashless" conversion pursuant to Section 1.2. 


        5.2    Legends.    This warrant and the Shares (and the securities issuable, directly or
indirectly, upon conversion of the Shares, if any) shall be imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form: 


THIS
SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED WITHOUT AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION THEREOF UNDER SUCH ACT OR PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE CORPORATION AND ITS COUNSEL THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED. 


THIS
SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF A CERTAIN WARRANT DATED JANUARY 09, 2003 BY AND BETWEEN THE CORPORATION AND THE HOLDER THEREOF, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION SECTION 5.10
PROVIDING FOR MARKET STAND-OFF RIGHTS. 


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        In
addition, the Securities shall be imprinted with any legend required by the laws of the State of California, including any legend required by the California Department of Corporations
and Sections 417 and 418 of the California Corporations Code. 


        5.3    Compliance with Securities Laws on Transfer.    This warrant and the Shares
issuable upon exercise of this warrant (and the securities issuable, directly or indirectly, upon conversion of the Shares, if any) may not be transferred or assigned in whole or in part (i)
unless and until the transferee has agreed in writing for the benefit of the Company to be bound by all of the provisions of this warrant as if such transferee were the original Holder hereof, and
(ii) without compliance with applicable federal and state
securities laws by the transferor and the transferee (including, without limitation, the delivery of investment representation letters and legal opinions reasonably satisfactory to the Company). The
Company shall not require Holder to provide an opinion of counsel if the transfer is to an affiliate (as such term is defined under the Act) of Holder or if there is no material question as to the
availability of current information as referenced in Rule 144(c), Holder represents that it has complied with Rule 144(d) and (e) in reasonable detail, the selling broker
represents that it has complied with Rule 144(f), and the Company is provided with a copy of Holder's notice of proposed sale. 



        5.4    Transfer Procedure.    Subject to the provisions of Section 5.3, Holder may
transfer all or part of this warrant or the Shares issuable upon exercise of this warrant (or the securities issuable, directly or indirectly, upon conversion of the Shares, if any) by giving the
Company notice of the portion of the warrant being transferred setting forth the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the transferee and surrendering this warrant to the Company for
reissuance to the transferee(s) (and Holder, if applicable); provided, however, subject to the provisions of Section 5.3, that Holder
may transfer all or part of this warrant to its affiliates, including, without limitation, Comerica Incorporated, at any time without notice to the Company, and such affiliate shall then be entitled
to all the rights of Holder under this warrant and any related agreements, and the Company shall cooperate fully in ensuring that any stock issued upon exercise of this warrant is issued in the name
of the affiliate that exercises the warrant. The terms and conditions of this warrant shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the Company and the holders hereof and their respective
permitted successors and assigns. Unless the Company is filing financial information with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company shall have the right to refuse to
transfer any portion of this warrant to any person who directly competes with the Company. 


        5.5    Notices.    All notices and other communications from the Company to the Holder,
or vice versa, shall be deemed delivered and effective when given personally or mailed by first-class registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, at such address as may have been furnished to the
Company or the Holder, as the case may be, in writing by the Company or such Holder from time to time. All notices to the Holder shall be addressed as follows: 






Comerica
Bank—California

Attn: Warrant Administrator

Technology and Life Sciences Division

P.O. Box 7279

San Francisco, CA 94120-7279 



With
a copy to 


Comerica
Bank-California

Attn: Warrant Administrator

Technology and Life Sciences Division

5 Palo Alto Square, Suite 800

3000 El Camino Real

Palo Alto, CA 94306 






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        5.6    Amendments.    This warrant and any term hereof may be changed, waived, discharged
or terminated only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of such change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought. 


        5.7    Attorneys' Fees.    In the event of any dispute between the parties concerning the
terms and provisions of this warrant, the party prevailing in such dispute shall be entitled to collect from the other party all costs incurred in such dispute, including reasonable attorneys' fees. 


        5.8    Governing Law.    This warrant shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to its principles regarding conflicts of law. 


        5.9    No Stockholder Rights.    Except as expressly set forth herein, this warrant in
and of itself shall not entitle the Holder to any voting rights or other rights as a stockholder of the Company. 


        5.10    Market Stand-off.    Holder hereby agrees that, during the period of
duration specified by the Company and an underwriter of common stock or other securities of the Company, following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Act, it
shall not, to the extent requested by the Company and such underwriter, directly or indirectly sell, offer to sell, contract to sell (including, without limitation, any short sale), grant any option
to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any securities of the Company held by it at any time during such period except common stock included in such registration; provided, however, that such
agreement shall only apply to the first such registration statement of the Company which covers common stock (or other securities) to be sold on its behalf to the public in an underwritten offering
and that such agreement shall not exceed 180 days after the effective date for such registration statement. In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company may impose
stop-transfer instructions with respect to the securities of Holder (and the shares or securities of every other person subject to the foregoing restriction) until the end of such period. 


        5.11    Counterparts.    This warrant may be executed in one or more counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. 



	 	 	NUVASIVE, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  KEVIN O'BOYLE      

	

 	
 	

Name:	

Kevin O'Boyle

	

 	
 	

Title:	

CFO

	

 	
 	

By:	

/s/  ALEX LUKIANOV      

	

 	
 	

Name:	

Alex Lukianov

	

 	
 	

Title:	

President & CEO






Authorized
signatories under Corporate Resolutions to Borrow or an authorized signer(s) under a resolution covering warrants must sign the warrant. 



	ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED:	 	 
	

COMERICA BANK — CALIFORNIA	
 	

 
	

By:	

/s/  PETER M. DREES      
	
 	

 
	

Name:	

Peter M. Drees
	
 	

 
	

Title:	

Vice President
	
 	

 




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APPENDIX 1
  
    NOTICE OF EXERCISE    
    


        1.     The
undersigned hereby elects to purchase                          shares of the
                         stock of
NuVasive, Inc. pursuant to the terms of the attached warrant, and tenders herewith payment of the purchase price of such shares in full. 


        1.     The
undersigned hereby elects to convert the attached warrant into shares in the manner specified in the warrant. This conversion is exercised with respect to
                         of the shares covered by the warrant. 


        [Strike paragraph that does not apply.]


        2.     Please
issue a certificate or certificates representing said shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below: 




Comerica
Bank—California

Attn: Warrant Administrator

Technology and Life Sciences Division

P.O. Box 7279

San Francisco, CA 94120-7279 





        3.     The
undersigned represents it is acquiring the shares solely for its own account and not as a nominee for any other party and not with a view toward the resale or
distribution thereof except in compliance with applicable securities laws. 


COMERICA BANK—CALIFORNIA or

Registered Assignee 



	
 (Signature)	 	 
	

 (Date)	
 	

 




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EXHIBIT 10.9


WARRANT TO PURCHASE STOCK


APPENDIX 1 NOTICE OF EXERCISE