QuickLinks
 -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

 
 

Exhibit 4.4    
    


THE
REGISTERED HOLDER OF THIS PURCHASE OPTION BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER OR ASSIGN THIS PURCHASE OPTION EXCEPT AS HEREIN PROVIDED AND THE REGISTERED HOLDER OF
THIS PURCHASE OPTION AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT SELL, TRANSFER, ASSIGN, PLEDGE OR HYPOTHECATE THIS PURCHASE OPTION FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE (DEFINED BELOW) TO ANYONE OTHER
THAN (I) AN UNDERWRITER OR A SELECTED DEALER IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING, OR (II) A BONA FIDE OFFICER OR PARTNER OF LADENBURG, CGF OR OF ANY SUCH UNDERWRITER OR SELECTED DEALER. 


THIS
PURCHASE OPTION IS NOT EXERCISABLE PRIOR TO THE LATER OF THE CONSUMMATION BY RESTAURANT ACQUISITION PARTNERS, INC. (THE "COMPANY") OF A
BUSINESS COMBINATION (AS DESCRIBED MORE FULLY IN THE COMPANY'S REGISTRATION STATEMENT (DEFINED HEREIN))
AND                        , 2007. VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M. NEW YORK CITY LOCAL TIME,
                        , 2011. 


 
 

UNIT PURCHASE OPTION    
    
    FOR THE PURCHASE OF    
    
    425,000 UNITS    
    
    OF    
    
    RESTAURANT ACQUISITION PARTNERS, INC.    
    


1.     Purchase Option.  


        THIS CERTIFIES THAT, in consideration of a total of $100.00 duly paid by or on behalf of Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.
("Ladenburg") and Capital Growth Financial, LLC ("CGF" and collectively, the
"Underwriters" or "Holder"), as registered owner of this Purchase Option, to Restaurant Acquisition
Partners, Inc. ("Company"), Holder is entitled, at any time or from time to time upon the later of the consummation of a Business Combination (as
defined in the Registration Statement) and                        , 2007 ("Commencement
Date"), and at or before 5:00 p.m., New York City local time,
                        , 2011 ("Expiration Date"), but not thereafter, to
subscribe for, purchase and receive, in whole or in part, up to a total of four
hundred twenty-five thousand (425,000) units ("Units") of the Company as follows: up to 212,500 Units for Ladenburg and upt to 212,500 Units
for CGF, each Unit consisting of one share of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share ("Common Stock"), and two warrants
("Warrant(s)") expiring four years from the effective date ("Effective Date") of the registration
statement ("Registration Statement") pursuant to which Units are offered for sale to the public
("Offering"). Each Warrant shall be substantially the same (other than the exercise price thereof and the "cashless exercise provisions" thereof) as the
warrants included in the Units being registered for sale to the public by way of the Registration Statement ("Public Warrants"). If the Expiration Date
is a day on which banking institutions are authorized by law to close, then this Purchase Option may be exercised on the next succeeding day which is not such a day in accordance with the terms
herein. During the period ending on the Expiration Date, the Company agrees not to take any action that would terminate this Purchase Option. This Purchase Option is initially exercisable at $7.20 per
Unit so purchased; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 6 hereof, the rights granted by this Purchase Option, including the exercise price per
Unit and the number of Units (and shares of Common Stock and Warrants) to be received upon such exercise, shall be adjusted as therein specified. The term "Exercise
Price" shall mean the initial exercise price or the adjusted exercise price, depending on the context. 







 



2.     Exercise.  



        2.1    Exercise Form.    In order to exercise this Purchase Option, the exercise form attached hereto must be duly
executed and completed and delivered to the Company, together with this Purchase Option and payment of the Exercise Price for the Units being purchased payable in cash or by certified check or
official bank check. If the subscription rights represented hereby shall not be exercised at or before 5:00 p.m., New York City local time, on the Expiration Date this Purchase Option shall
become and be void without further force or effect, and all rights represented hereby shall cease and expire. 



        2.2    Legend.    Each certificate for the securities purchased under this Purchase Option shall bear a legend as
follows unless such securities have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Act"): 


        "The
securities represented by this certificate have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("Act"), or
applicable state law. The securities may not be offered for sale, sold or otherwise transferred except pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Act, or pursuant to an exemption from
registration under the Act and applicable state law." 


        2.3    Cashless Exercise.    


        2.3.1    Determination of Amount.    In lieu of the payment of the Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Units
for which this Purchase Option is exercisable (and in lieu of being entitled to receive Common Stock and Warrants) in the manner required by Section 2.1, the Holder shall have the right (but
not the obligation) to convert any exercisable but unexercised portion of this Purchase Option into Units ("Conversion Right") as follows: upon exercise
of the Conversion Right, the Company shall deliver to the Holder (without payment by the Holder of any of the Exercise Price in cash) that number of Units (or that number of shares of Common Stock and
Warrants comprising that number of Units) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the "Value" (as defined below) of the portion of the Purchase Option being converted by (y) the
Current Market Value (as defined below). The "Value" of the portion of the Purchase Option being converted shall equal the remainder derived from subtracting (a) (i) the Exercise Price
multiplied by (ii) the number of Units underlying the portion of this Purchase Option being converted from (b) the Current Market Value of a Unit multiplied by the number of Units
underlying the portion of the Purchase Option being converted. As used herein, the term "Current Market Value" per Unit at any date means: (A) in the event that neither the Units nor Public
Warrants are still trading, the remainder derived from subtracting (x) the exercise price of the Warrants multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants underlying one Unit from (y) (i) the Current Market Price of the Common Stock multiplied by (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock underlying one Unit, which shall include
the shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants included in such Unit; (B) in the event that the Units, Common Stock and Public Warrants are still trading, (i) if the Units are listed
on a national securities exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, Nasdaq SmallCap Market or NASD OTC Bulletin Board (or successor exchange), the last sale price of the Units in the principal
trading market for the Units as reported by the exchange, Nasdaq or the NASD, as the case may be, on the last trading day preceding the date in question; or (ii) if the Units are not listed on
a national securities exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, Nasdaq SmallCap Market or the NASD OTC Bulletin Board (or successor exchange), but is traded in the residual
over-the-counter market, the closing bid price for Units on the last trading day preceding the date in question for which such quotations are reported by the Pink Sheets, LLC
or similar publisher of such quotations; and (C) in the event that the Units are not still trading but the Common Stock and Public Warrants underlying the Units are still trading, the Current
Market Price of the Common Stock plus the product of (x) the Current Market Price of the Public Warrants and (y) the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Warrants included in
one Unit. The "Current Market Price" shall mean (i) if the Common Stock (or Public Warrants, as the case may be) is listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National
Market, 


2







 



Nasdaq
SmallCap Market or NASD OTC Bulletin Board (or successor exchange), the last sale price of the Common Stock (or Public Warrants) in the principal trading market for the Common Stock as reported
by the exchange, Nasdaq or the NASD, as the case may be, on the last trading day preceding the date in question; (ii) if the Common Stock (or Public Warrants, as the case may be) is not listed
on a national securities exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, Nasdaq SmallCap Market or the NASD OTC Bulletin Board (or successor exchange), but is traded in the residual
over-the-counter market, the closing bid price for the Common Stock (or Public Warrants) on the last trading day preceding the date in question for which such quotations are
reported by the Pink Sheets, LLC or similar publisher of such quotations; and (iii) if the fair market value of the Common Stock cannot be determined pursuant to clause (i) or
(ii) above, such price as the Board of Directors of the Company shall determine, in good faith. In the event the Public Warrants have expired and are no longer exercisable, no "Value" shall be
attributed to the Warrants underlying this Purchase Option. Additionally, in the event that this Purchase Option is exercised pursuant to this Section 2.3 and the Public Warrants are still
trading, the "Value" shall be reduced by the difference between the Warrant Exercise Price and the exercise price of the Public Warrants multiplied by the number of Warrants underlying the Units
included in the portion of this Purchase Option being
converted. 


        2.3.2    Mechanics of Cashless Exercise.    The Cashless Exercise Right may be exercised by the Holder on any business
day on or after the Commencement Date and not later than the Expiration Date by delivering the Purchase Option with the duly executed exercise form attached hereto with the cashless exercise section
completed to the Company, exercising the Cashless Exercise Right and specifying the total number of Units the Holder will purchase pursuant to such Cashless Exercise Right. 



        2.4    No Obligation to Net Cash Settle.    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Purchase
Option, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the exercise of the Purchase Option or the Warrants underlying the Purchase Option. The holder of the Purchase Option and the
Warrants underlying the Purchase Option will not be entitled to exercise the Purchase Option or the Warrants underlying such Purchase Option unless a registration statement is effective, or an
exemption from the registration requirements is available at such time and, if the holder is not able to exercise the Purchase Option or underlying Warrants, the Purchase Option and/or the underlying
Warrants, as applicable, will expire worthless. 


3.     Transfer.  


        3.1    General Restrictions.    The registered Holder of this Purchase Option, by its acceptance hereof, agrees that
it will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate this Purchase Option for a period of one year following the Effective Date to anyone other than (i) an Underwriter or an underwriter or
a selected dealer in connection with the Offering or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of an Underwriter or of any such underwriter or selected dealer. On and after the first anniversary of
the Effective Date, transfers to others may be made subject to compliance with or exemptions from applicable securities laws. In order to make any permitted assignment, the Holder must deliver to the
Company the assignment form attached hereto duly executed and completed, together with this Purchase Option and payment of all transfer taxes, if any, payable in connection therewith. The Company
shall within five business days transfer this Purchase Option on the books of the Company and shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Option or Purchase Options of like tenor to the appropriate
assignee(s) expressly evidencing the right to purchase the aggregate number of Units purchasable hereunder or such portion of such number as shall be contemplated by any such assignment. 



        3.2    Restrictions Imposed by the Act.    The securities evidenced by this Purchase Option shall not be transferred
unless and until (i) the Company has received the opinion of counsel for the Holder that the securities may be transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Act and
applicable state securities laws, the availability of which is established to the reasonable satisfaction of 


3







 



the
Company (the Company hereby agreeing that the opinion of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP shall be deemed satisfactory evidence of the availability of an exemption), or (ii) a
registration statement or a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement relating to such securities has been filed by the Company and declared effective by the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and compliance with applicable state securities law has been established. The Company agrees that prior to the
Commencement Date, it shall file with the Commission a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, or a new registration statement, for the registration, under the Act, of, and
it shall take such action as is necessary to qualify for sale, in those states in which the Warrants were initially offered by the Company, the Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. In
either case, the Company will use its best efforts to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement until the expiration or redemption of the
Warrants in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. The provisions of this paragraph may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior written consent of the Underwriters. 


4.     New Purchase Options to be Issued.  


        4.1    Partial Exercise or Transfer.    Subject to the restrictions in Section 3 hereof, this Purchase Option
may be exercised or assigned in whole or in part. In the event of the exercise or assignment hereof in part only, upon surrender of this Purchase Option for cancellation, together with the duly
executed exercise or assignment form and funds sufficient to pay any Exercise Price and/or transfer tax, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Holder without charge a new Purchase Option of
like tenor to this Purchase Option in the name of the Holder evidencing the right of the Holder to purchase the number of Units purchasable hereunder as to which this Purchase Option has not been
exercised or assigned. 


        4.2    Lost Certificate.    Upon receipt by the Company of evidence satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction
or mutilation of this Purchase Option and of reasonably satisfactory indemnification or the posting of a bond, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Purchase Option of like tenor and date. Any
such new Purchase Option executed and delivered as a result of such loss, theft, mutilation or destruction shall constitute a substitute contractual obligation on the part of the Company. 


5.     Warrant Redemption.  


        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in that certain Warrant Agreement, dated as
of                        , 2006, between the Company and
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent (the "Warrant Agreement"), (i) this Purchase Option shall, to the extent not
earlier exercised in full, be automatically exercised, immediately prior to a redemption of the Company's outstanding warrants pursuant to Section 6 of the Warrant Agreement (provided that
notice is provided to the Holder on the same terms as provided to the holders of Warrants pursuant to the Warrant Agreement), and (ii) each Warrant that is part of a Unit issued hereunder upon
such automatic conversion shall be redeemed by the Company as part of such redemption for the Redemption Price. 


        As
provided in the Warrant Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated to issue or deliver any securities pursuant to the exercise of a Warrant and shall have no obligation to settle
the Warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Act with respect to the Common Stock is effective, subject to the Company's satisfying its obligations in this Agreement to use its best
efforts. In the event that a registration statement with respect to the Common Stock underlying the Warrants is not effective under the Act, the holder of such Warrant shall not be entitled to
exercise such Warrant and such Warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the warrant exercise. Warrants may not be exercised by, or
securities issued to, any registered holder in any state in which such exercise would be unlawful. In the event that a registration statement 


4







 



is
not effective for the exercised Warrants, the purchaser of a unit containing such Warrant will have paid the full purchase price for the unit solely for the shares included in such unit. 


6.     Adjustments.  


        6.1    Adjustments to Exercise Price and Number of Securities.    The Exercise Price and the number of Units
underlying this Purchase Option shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as hereinafter set forth: 



        6.1.1    Stock Dividends—Split-Ups.    If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions
of Section 6.3 below, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or by a split-up of shares of Common Stock
or other similar event, then, on the effective date thereof, the number of shares of
Common Stock underlying each of the Units purchasable hereunder shall be increased in proportion to such increase in outstanding shares. In such case, the number of shares of Common Stock, and the
exercise price applicable thereto, underlying the Warrants underlying each of the Units purchasable hereunder shall be adjusted in accordance with the terms of the Warrants (even though such Warrants
shall not yet have been issued). For example, if the Company declares a two-for-one stock dividend and at the time of such dividend this Purchase Option is for the purchase of
one Unit at $7.20 per whole Unit (and each Warrant underlying the Units is exercisable for $6.00 per share), upon effectiveness of the dividend, this Purchase Option will be adjusted to allow for the
purchase of one Unit at $7.20 per Unit, each Unit entitling the holder to receive two shares of Common Stock and four Warrants (each Warrant exercisable for $3.00 per share). 


        6.1.2    Aggregation of Shares.    If after the date hereof, and subject to the provisions of Section 6.3, the
number of outstanding shares of Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination or reclassification of shares of Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date thereof, the
number of shares of Common Stock underlying each of the Units purchasable hereunder shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares. In such case, the number of shares of
Common Stock, and the exercise price applicable thereto, underlying the Warrants underlying each of the Units purchasable hereunder shall be adjusted in accordance with the terms of the Warrants (even
though such Warrants shall not yet have been issued). 


        6.1.3    Replacement of Securities upon Reorganization, etc.    In case of any reclassification or reorganization of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock other than a change covered by Section 6.1.1 or 6.1.2 hereof or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Common Stock, or in the case of any
merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing corporation and that does not result in any
reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the property of the Company as an entirety
or substantially as an entirety in connection with which the Company is dissolved, the Holder of this Purchase Option shall have the right thereafter (until the expiration of the right of exercise of
this Purchase Option) to receive upon the exercise hereof, for the same aggregate Exercise Price payable hereunder immediately prior to such event, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other
securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, by a Holder of the
number of shares of Common Stock of the Company obtainable upon exercise of this Purchase Option and the underlying Warrants immediately prior to such event; and if any reclassification also results
in a change in shares of Common Stock covered by Section 6.1.1 or 6.1.2, then such adjustment shall be made pursuant to Sections 6.1.1, 6.1.2 and this Section 6.1.3. The provisions of
this Section 6.1.3 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, reorganizations, mergers or consolidations, sales or other transfers. 


5







 



        6.1.4    Changes in Form of Purchase Option.    This form of Purchase Option need not be changed because of any change
pursuant to this Section, and Purchase Options issued after such change may state the same Exercise Price and the same number of Units as are stated in the Purchase Options initially issued
pursuant to this Agreement. The acceptance by any Holder of the issuance of new Purchase Options reflecting a required or permissive change shall not be deemed to waive any rights to an adjustment
occurring after the Commencement Date or the computation thereof. 



        6.2    Substitute Purchase Option.    In case of any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company with,
or merger of the Company into, another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger which does not result in any reclassification or change of the outstanding Common Stock), the corporation
formed by such consolidation or merger shall execute and deliver to the Holder a supplemental Purchase Option providing that the holder of each Purchase Option then outstanding or to be outstanding
shall have the right thereafter (until the stated expiration of such Purchase Option) to receive, upon exercise of such Purchase Option, the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and
property receivable upon such consolidation or merger, by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company for which such Purchase Option might have been exercised immediately prior to
such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer. Such supplemental Purchase Option shall provide for adjustments which shall be identical to the adjustments provided in Section 6. The above
provision of this Section shall similarly apply to successive consolidations or mergers. 


        6.3    Elimination of Fractional Interests.    The Company shall not be required to issue certificates representing
fractions of shares of Common Stock or Warrants upon the exercise of this Purchase Option, nor shall it be required to issue scrip or pay cash in lieu of any fractional interests, it being the intent
of the parties that all fractional interests shall be eliminated by rounding any fraction up or down to the nearest whole number of Warrants, shares of Common Stock or other securities, properties or
rights. 


7.     Reservation and Listing.  


        The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of issuance upon exercise of this
Purchase Option or the Warrants underlying this Purchase Option, such number of shares of Common Stock or other securities, properties or rights as shall be issuable upon the exercise thereof. The
Company covenants and agrees that, upon exercise of this Purchase Option and payment of the Exercise Price therefor, all shares of Common Stock and other securities issuable upon such exercise shall
be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any stockholder. The Company further covenants and agrees that upon exercise of the
Warrants underlying this Purchase Option and payment of the respective Warrant exercise price therefor, all shares of Common Stock and other securities issuable upon such exercise shall be duly and
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive rights of any stockholder. As long as this Purchase Option shall be outstanding, the Company shall use its best
efforts to cause all (i) Units issuable upon exercise of this Purchase Option, (ii) shares of Common Stock included in the Units issuable upon exercise of this Purchase Option,
(iii) Warrants included in the Units issuable upon exercise of this Purchase Option and (iv) shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants included in the Units issuable
upon exercise of this Purchase Option to be listed (subject to official notice of issuance) on all securities exchanges (or, if applicable on the Nasdaq National Market, SmallCap Market, OTC Bulletin
Board or any successor trading market) on which the Units, the
Common Stock or the Public Warrants issued to the public in connection herewith may then be listed and/or quoted. 


8.     Certain Notice Requirements.  


        8.1    Holder's Right to Receive Notice.    Nothing herein shall be construed as conferring upon the Holders the right
to vote or consent as a stockholder for the election of directors or any other matter, 


6







 

or
as having any rights whatsoever as a stockholder of the Company. If, however, at any time prior to the expiration of this Purchase Option and its exercise, any of the events described in
Section 8.2 shall be proposed, then, in one or more of said events, the Company shall give written notice of such event at least fifteen days prior to the date fixed as a record date or the
date of closing the transfer books for the determination of the stockholders entitled to such dividend, distribution, conversion or exchange of securities or subscription rights, or entitled to vote
on (or notice of) such proposed dissolution, liquidation, winding up or sale, or entitled to such notice of redemption pursuant to Section 5 hereof. Such notice shall specify such record date
or the date of the closing of the transfer books, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall deliver to each Holder a copy of each notice given to the other stockholders of
the Company at the same time and in the same manner that such notice is given to the stockholders. 


        8.2    Events Requiring Notice.    The Company shall be required to give the notice described in this Section 8
upon one or more of the following events: (i) if the Company shall take a record of the holders of its shares of Common Stock for the purpose of entitling them to receive a dividend or
distribution payable otherwise than in cash, or a cash dividend or distribution payable otherwise than out of retained earnings, as indicated by the accounting treatment of such dividend or
distribution on the books of the Company, (ii) the Company shall offer to all the holders of its Common Stock any additional shares of capital stock of the Company or securities convertible
into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company, or any option, right or warrant to subscribe therefor, (iii) a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company (other than
in connection with a consolidation or merger) or a sale of all or substantially all of its property, assets and business shall be proposed, (iv) if the Company shall delivery a notice to
holders of the warrants of a redemption pursuant to Section 6.2 of the Warrant Agreement or (v) if the Company shall deliver a notice to the Holder pursuant to Section 5 of this
Purchase Option. 


        8.3    Notice of Change in Exercise Price.    The Company shall, promptly after an event requiring a change in the
Exercise Price pursuant to Section 6 hereof, send notice to the Holders of such event and change ("Price Notice"). The Price Notice shall
describe the event causing the change and the method of
calculating same and shall be certified as being true and accurate by the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer. 



        8.4    Transmittal of Notices.    All notices, requests, consents and other communications under this Purchase Option
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly made when hand delivered, or mailed by express mail or private courier service: (i) if to the registered Holder of this Purchase
Option, to the address of such Holder as shown on the books of the Company, with a copy to: 



Greenberg
Traurig, P.A.

777 South Flagler Drive

Suite 300 East

West Palm Beach, Florida 33401

Attention: Morris C. Brown, Esq. 




or
(ii) if to the Company, to the following address or to such other address as the Company may designate by notice to the Holders: 



Restaurant
Acquisition Partners, Inc.

5950 Hazeltine National Drive, Suite 290

Orlando, Florida 32822

Attention: Christopher R. Thomas 



7







 

With
a copy to: 


Pillsbury
Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

1540 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

Attn: Ronald A. Fleming, Jr., Esq. 




9.     Miscellaneous.  


        9.1    Amendments.    The Company and the Underwriters may from time to time supplement or amend this Purchase Option
without the approval of any of the Holders in order to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision contained herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions
herein, or to make any other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising hereunder that the Company and the Underwriters may deem necessary or desirable and that the Company and the
Underwriters deem shall not adversely affect the interest of the Holders. All other modifications or amendments shall require the written consent of and be signed by the party against whom enforcement
of the modification or amendment is sought. 


        9.2    Headings.    The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not
in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Purchase Option. 



        9.3    Entire Agreement.    This Purchase Option (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered
pursuant to or in connection with this Purchase Option) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof. 


        9.4    Binding Effect.    This Purchase Option shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon, the
Holder and the Company and their permitted assignees, respective successors, legal representative and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Purchase Option or any provisions herein contained. 


        9.5    Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.    This Purchase Option shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or
relating in any way to this Purchase Option may be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably
submits to such jurisdiction. Any process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 8 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or
claim. The Company and the Holder agree that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses
relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor. 


        9.6    Waiver, Etc.    The failure of the Company or the Holder to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this
Purchase Option shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way affect the validity of this Purchase Option or any provision hereof or the right of the Company
or any Holder to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Purchase Option. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of
this Purchase Option shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such
breach, 


8








 



non-compliance
or non- fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach or non-compliance. 


        9.7    Execution in Counterparts.    This Purchase Option may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the
different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become
effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto. 



        9.8    Exchange Agreement.    As a condition of the Holder's receipt and acceptance of this Purchase Option, Holder
agrees that, at any time prior to the complete exercise of this Purchase Option by Holder, if the Company and the Underwriters enter into an agreement ("Exchange
Agreement") pursuant to which they agree that all outstanding Purchase Options will be exchanged for securities or cash or a combination of both, then Holder shall agree to
such exchange and become a party to the Exchange Agreement. 


        [Remainder of this page intentionally left blank; signature page follows.]


9







 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Purchase Option to be signed by its duly authorized officer as of the    day
of                        , 2006. 



	

 	
 	

 	
 	

 
	

 	
 	

RESTAURANT ACQUISITION PARTNERS, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	
 	

 
	 	 	 	 	
 Name:

Title:




10







 

Form
to be used to exercise Purchase Option: 


Restaurant
Acquisition Partners, Inc.

5950 Hazeltine National Drive, Suite 290

Orlando, Florida 32822 


Date:                        ,
200 


        The
undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to exercise all or a portion of the within Purchase Option and to purchase            Units of Restaurant Acquisition Partners, Inc.
and hereby makes payment of
$                                         
 (at the rate of $7.20 per Unit) in payment of the Exercise Price pursuant thereto. Please issue the Common Stock and Warrants as to which
this Purchase Option is exercised in accordance with the instructions given below. 


or



        The
undersigned hereby elects irrevocably to convert its right to purchase            Units purchasable under the within Purchase Option by surrender of the unexercised portion of
the attached Purchase Option (with
a "Value" based of
$                                         
 based on a "Market Price" of
$                                         
 ). Please issue the securities comprising the Units as to which this Purchase Option is
exercised in accordance with the instructions given below. 



	 	 	
 NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the purchase option in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatever.
	

Signature(s) Guaranteed:	
 	

 
	

	
 	

 





THE
SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15). 


INSTRUCTIONS
FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES 



	Name	 	 	 	 
	 	 	(Print in Block Letters)
	 	 
	

Address	
 	

 	
 	

 
	 	 	
	 	 
	

 	
 	

	
 	

 




11







 

Form
to be used to assign Purchase Option: 


ASSIGNMENT



        (To
be executed by the registered Holder to effect a transfer of the within Purchase Option): 


        FOR
VALUE RECEIVED,                        does hereby sell, assign and transfer
unto                        the right to purchase            Units of
Restaurant Acquisition Partners, Inc.
("Company") evidenced by the within Purchase Option and does hereby authorize the Company to transfer such right on the books of the Company. 


Dated:                        ,
200 



	 	 	
 Signature
	

 	
 	

 NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the purchase option in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change
whatever.
	

Signature(s) Guaranteed:	
 	

 
	

	
 	

 





THE
SIGNATURE(S) SHOULD BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE GUARANTOR INSTITUTION (BANKS, STOCKBROKERS, SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS AND CREDIT UNIONS WITH MEMBERSHIP IN AN APPROVED SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
MEDALLION PROGRAM, PURSUANT TO S.E.C. RULE 17Ad-15). 


12











QuickLinks


Exhibit 4.4

UNIT PURCHASE OPTION FOR THE PURCHASE OF 425,000 UNITS OF RESTAURANT ACQUISITION PARTNERS, INC.