Document:

Exhibit 4.1

		

			Exhibit 4.1

		

		
			 
		

		
			
		

		
			NEITHER THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THESE SECURITIES ARE EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS.  THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL (WHICH COUNSEL SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE HOLDER), IN A FORM REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144.   NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH U.S. FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
		

		
			 
		

		
			Scientific Learning Corporation
		

		
			 
		

		
			Warrant To Purchase Common Stock
		

		
			 
		

		
			Warrant No.: [_____]
		

		
			Number of Shares of Common Stock: [_____]
		

		
			Date of Issuance: April 5, 2013 (“Issuance Date”)
		

		
			 
		

		
			Scientific Learning Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Company”), hereby certifies that, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,.[___________], the registered holder hereof or its permitted assigns (the “Holder”), is entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from the Company, at the Exercise Price (as defined below) then in effect, upon surrender of this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (including any Warrants to Purchase Common Stock issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, the “Warrant”), at any time or times on or after the date hereof, but not after 5:30 p.m., New York time, on the Expiration Date (as defined below), up to [_______] ([_______]) fully paid nonassessable shares of Common Stock (as defined below) (the “Warrant Shares”).  Except as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms in this Warrant shall have the meanings set forth in Section 16; provided, however, to the extent any capitalized terms are used but not defined herein, such capitalized terms shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).  This Warrant is one of the Warrants to purchase Common Stock (the “Warrants”) issued pursuant to Section 2.9 of that certain Subordinated Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 5, 2013 (the “Purchase Date”), by and among the Company and the purchasers (the “Purchasers”) referred to therein (the “Purchase Agreement”).
		

		 

		

			 

		

 

			
			
				 1.
			

			
			
			EXERCISE OF WARRANT.

			
			
				 (a)
			

			
			
			Mechanics of Exercise.  Subject to the terms and conditions hereof (including, without limitation, the limitations set forth in Section 1(e)), this Warrant may be exercised by the Holder on any day on or after the date hereof to and including the Expiration Date, in whole or in part, by (i) delivery of a properly completed and executed written notice, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Exercise Notice”), of the Holder’s election to exercise this Warrant and (ii) (A) payment to the Company of an amount equal to the applicable Exercise Price multiplied by the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant is being exercised (the “Aggregate Exercise Price”) in cash or by wire transfer of immediately available funds or (B) by notifying the Company that this Warrant is being exercised pursuant to a Cashless Exercise (as defined in Section 1(d)).  At 5:30 P.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date, the portion of this Warrant not exercised prior thereto shall be and become void and of no value.  The Holder shall not be required to deliver the original Warrant in order to effect an exercise hereunder.  Execution and delivery of the Exercise Notice with respect to less than all of the Warrant Shares shall have the same effect as cancellation of the original Warrant and issuance of a new Warrant evidencing the right to purchase the remaining number of Warrant Shares.  On or before the second (2nd) Business Day following the date on which the Company has received each of the Exercise Notice and the Aggregate Exercise Price (or notice of a Cashless Exercise) (the “Exercise Delivery Documents”), the Company shall transmit by facsimile an acknowledgment of confirmation of receipt of the Exercise Delivery Documents to the Holder and the Company’s transfer agent (the “Transfer Agent”).  On or before the second (2nd) Business Day following the date on which the Company has received all of the Exercise Delivery Documents, the Company shall (X) provided that the Transfer Agent is participating in The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program and the Warrant Shares may be issued without any restrictive legends, upon the request of the Holder, credit such aggregate number of Warrant Shares to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise to the Holder’s or its designee’s balance account with DTC through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission system, or (Y) if the Transfer Agent is not participating in the DTC Fast Automated Securities Transfer Program or the Warrant Shares are required to bear a restrictive legend, issue and dispatch by overnight courier to the address as specified in the Exercise Notice a certificate, registered in the Company’s share register in the name of the Holder or its designee, for the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled pursuant to such exercise, which certificate shall (if required) bear the legend set forth in Exhibit B hereto.  Upon delivery of the Exercise Delivery Documents, the Holder shall be deemed for all corporate purposes to have become the holder of record of the Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant has been exercised, irrespective of the date such Warrant Shares are credited to the Holder’s DTC account or the date of delivery of the certificates evidencing such Warrant Shares, as the case may be.  If this Warrant is submitted in connection with any exercise pursuant to this Section 1(a) and the aggregate number of Warrant Shares represented by this Warrant at the time this Warrant submitted for exercise is greater than the number of Warrant Shares being acquired upon such exercise, then the Company shall as soon as practicable, and in no event later than five (5) Business Days after any exercise and at its own expense, issue a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 6(d)) representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares purchasable immediately prior to such exercise under this Warrant, less the number of Warrant Shares with respect to which this Warrant is then exercised.  No fractional shares of Common Stock are to be issued upon the exercise of this 
		

		 

		

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		Warrant, but rather the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number.  The Company shall pay any and all taxes (other than taxes based upon the income of the Holder) which may be payable with respect to the issuance and delivery of the Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant.  

		
			(b)                              Exercise Price.  For purposes of this Warrant, “Exercise Price” means $1.03 per Warrant Share, subject to adjustment as provided herein.
		

		
			(c)                              Company’s Failure to Timely Deliver Securities.  If within three (3) Trading Days after the Company’s receipt of the Exercise Delivery Documents the Company shall fail to issue and deliver a certificate to the Holder and register such shares of Common Stock on the Company’s share register or credit the Holder’s balance account with DTC for the number of unrestricted shares of Common Stock to which the Holder is entitled upon the Holder’s exercise hereunder, and if on or after such Trading Day the Holder purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by the Holder of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise that the Holder anticipated receiving from the Company, then the Company shall, within three (3) Business Days after the Holder’s request and in the Holder’s discretion, either (i) pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the Holder’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the shares of Common Stock so purchased (the “Buy-In Price”), at which point the Company’s obligation to deliver such certificate (and to issue such Warrant Shares) shall terminate, or (ii) promptly honor its obligation to deliver to the Holder a certificate or certificates representing such Warrant Shares and pay cash to the Holder in an amount equal to the excess (if any) of the Buy-In Price over the product of (A) such number of shares of Common Stock so purchased at the Buy-In Price, times (B) the Weighted Average Price on the date of exercise.   
		

		
			(d)                              Cashless Exercise.   Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if a Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) covering the Warrant Shares is not available for the resale of such Warrant Shares, the Holder may, in its sole discretion, exercise this Warrant in whole or in part and, in lieu of making the cash payment otherwise contemplated to be made to the Company upon such exercise in payment of the Aggregate Exercise Price, elect instead to receive upon such exercise the “Net Number” of shares of Common Stock determined according to the following formula (a “Cashless Exercise”):
		

		
			            Net Number = (A x B) - (A x C)
		

		
			                                                B
		

		
			            For purposes of the foregoing formula:
		

		
			A= the total number of shares with respect to which this Warrant is then being exercised.
		

		
			B= the Weighted Average Price of the shares of Common Stock (as reported by Bloomberg) on the date immediately preceding the date of the Exercise Notice.
		

		

		

		 

		

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		C= the Exercise Price then in effect for the applicable Warrant Shares at the time of such exercise.
		

		
			 
		

		
			(e)                              Limitations on Exercises; Beneficial Ownership.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the number of Warrant Shares that may be acquired by the Holder upon any exercise of this Warrant (or otherwise in respect hereof) shall be limited to the extent necessary to ensure that, following such exercise (or other issuance), the total number of shares of Common Stock then beneficially owned by the Holder and its Affiliates, and any other Persons whose beneficial ownership of Common Stock would be aggregated with the Holder’s for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, does not exceed 4.99% of the total number of then issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (including for such purpose the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise), provided that the foregoing shall not apply if the Holder and its Affiliates as of the date of this Warrant beneficially own more than 4.99% of the total number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock. By written notice to the Company, the Holder may waive the provisions of this Section 1(e), but any such waiver will not be effective until the 61st day after delivery of such notice, nor will any such waiver affect any other Holder.  For such purposes, beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  To the extent that the limitation contained in this Section 1(e) applies, the determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder) and of which a portion of this Warrant is exercisable shall be in the sole discretion of a Holder, and the submission of a Exercise Notice shall be deemed to be the Holder’s determination of whether this Warrant is exercisable (in relation to other securities owned by such Holder) and of which portion of this Warrant is exercisable, in each case subject to such aggregate percentage limitation, and the Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such determination. For purposes of this Warrant, in determining the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Holder may rely on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock as reflected in (1) the Company’s most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other public filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the case may be, (2) a more recent public announcement by the Company or (3) any other notice by the Company or the Transfer Agent setting forth the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding.  For any reason at any time, upon the written request of the Holder, the Company shall within two (2) Business Days confirm orally and in writing to the Holder the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding.  This provision shall not restrict the number of shares of Common Stock which a Holder may receive or beneficially own in order to determine the amount of securities or other consideration that such Holder may receive in the event of a Merger Event as contemplated in Section 3(b) of this Warrant.
		

		
			(f)                              Insufficient Authorized Shares.   The Company covenants that during the period the Warrant is outstanding, it will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock a sufficient number of shares to provide for the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this Warrant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time while any of the Warrants remain outstanding the Company does not have a sufficient number of authorized and unreserved shares of Common Stock to satisfy its obligation to reserve for issuance upon exercise of the Warrants at least a number of shares of Common Stock equal to 100% (the “Required Reserve Amount”) of the number of shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be necessary to effect the exercise of all of the Warrants then outstanding, then 
		

		 

		

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		the Company shall use its best efforts to increase the Company’s authorized shares of Common Stock to an amount sufficient to allow the Company to reserve the Required Reserve Amount for the Warrants then outstanding.  
		

		
			(g)                              Disputes.  In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares, the Company shall promptly issue to the Holder the number of Warrant Shares that are not disputed and resolve such dispute in accordance with Section 12.
		

			
			
				 2.
			

			
			
			    ADJUSTMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE AND NUMBER OF WARRANT SHARES.  The Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares shall be adjusted from time to time as follows:

			
			
				 (a)
			

			
			
			Adjustment upon Subdivision or Combination of Common Stock.  If the Company at any time on or after the Purchase Date subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or otherwise) its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision will be proportionately reduced and the number of Warrant Shares will be proportionately increased.  If the Company at any time on or after the Purchase Date combines (by combination, reverse stock split or otherwise) its outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such combination will be proportionately increased and the number of Warrant Shares will be proportionately decreased.  Any adjustment under this Section 2(a) shall become effective at the close of business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective.

			
			
				 (b)
			

			
			
			Pro Rata Distributions.  If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, distributes to all holders of Common Stock for no consideration (i) evidences of its indebtedness, (ii) any security (other than a distribution of Common Stock covered by the preceding paragraph) or (iii) rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any security, or (iv) any other asset, including cash (in each case, “Distributed Property”), then, upon any exercise of this Warrant that occurs after the record date fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution, the Holder shall be entitled to receive, in addition to the Warrant Shares otherwise issuable upon such exercise (if applicable), the Distributed Property that such Holder would have been entitled to receive in respect of such number of Warrant Shares had the Holder been the record holder of such Warrant Shares immediately prior to such record date.

			
			
				 (c)
			

			
			
			De Minimis Adjustments.  No adjustment in the Exercise Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least $0.01 in such price, provided, however, that any adjustment which by reason of this Section 2(c) is not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustments under this Section 2.  All calculations under this Section 2 shall be made by the Company in good faith and shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one hundredth of a share, as applicable.  No adjustment need be made for a change in the par value or no par value of the Company’s Common Stock.

		 

		

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				 (d)
			

			
			
			Voluntary Adjustment By Company.  The Company may at any time during the term of this Warrant reduce the then current Exercise Price to any amount and for any period of time deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors of the Company.

			
			
				 3.
			

			
			
			PURCHASE RIGHTS; FUNDAMENTAL TRANSACTIONS.  

			
			
				 (a)
			

			
			
			Purchase Rights.  In addition to any adjustments pursuant to Section 2 above, if at any time the Company grants, issues or sells any Options, Convertible Securities or rights to purchase stock, warrants, securities or other property pro rata to the record holders of any class of shares of Common Stock (the “Purchase Rights”), then the Holder will be entitled to acquire, upon the terms applicable to such Purchase Rights, the aggregate Purchase Rights which the Holder could have acquired if the Holder had held the number of shares of Common Stock acquirable upon complete exercise of this Warrant (without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant) immediately before the date on which a record is taken for the grant, issuance or sale of such Purchase Rights, or, if no such record is taken, the date as of which the record holders of shares of Common Stock are to be determined for the grant, issue or sale of such Purchase Rights.

			
			
				 (b)
			

			
			
			Effect of Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale.
    

			
			
				 (1)
			

			
			
			Upon the occurrence of a Merger Event (as defined below) as a result of which the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive cash, securities or other property or assets with respect to or in exchange for such Common Stock, then at the effective time of the Merger Event, the right to exercise this Warrant will be changed into a right to exercise this Warrant into the type and amount of shares of stock, other securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) that a holder of a number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant immediately prior to such Merger Event would have owned or been entitled to receive (the “Reference Property”) upon such Merger Event. If the Merger Event causes the Common Stock to be converted into, or exchanged for, the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election), the Reference Property to be received upon exercise will be deemed to be the weighted average of the types and amounts of Reference Property to be received by the holders of Common Stock that affirmatively make such election.  The terms of any agreement pursuant to which a Merger Event is effected shall include terms requiring the Successor Entity (and, if an entity different from the successor or surviving entity, the entity whose capital stock or assets the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive as a result of such Merger Event) to comply with the provisions of this Section 3(b)(1) and ensuring that the Warrant (or any such replacement security) will be similarly adjusted in accordance with Sections 2 and 3 hereof upon any subsequent transaction analogous to a Merger Event.  If the Company consummates a Merger Event, the Company shall promptly provide notice to the Holder briefly describing the Merger Event and stating the type or amount of cash, securities, property or other assets that will comprise the Reference Property after any such Merger Event and any adjustment to be made with respect thereto.

			
			
				 (2)
			

			
			
			Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3(b)(1) of this Warrant, in the event of the consummation of a Merger Event that is (A) an all-cash transaction, (B) a “Rule 13e-3 transaction” as defined in Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act or (C) a Merger 
		

		 

		

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		Event involving a person or entity whose securities are not traded on an Eligible Market, at the request of the Holder delivered at any time commencing on the earliest to occur of (x) the public disclosure of the Merger Event or (y) the consummation of the Merger Event, through the date that is ninety (90) days after the public disclosure of the consummation of such Merger Event by the Company pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC, the Company or the Successor Entity (as the case may be) shall purchase this Warrant from the Holder on the later of (i) the date of consummation of the Merger Event and (ii) the fifth Trading Day following the date of such request, in each case by paying to the Holder cash in an amount equal to the Black Scholes Value.

			
			
				 (3)
			

			
			
			The above provisions of this Section 3(b) shall similarly apply to successive Merger Events and shall be applied without regard to any limitations on the exercise of this Warrant.

		
			(4)                                          In addition to the definitions set forth in this Warrant, for purposes of this Section 3(b),

		

			
			
				 (A)
			

			
			
			“Black Scholes Value” means the value of the unexercised portion of this Warrant remaining on the date of the Holder’s request pursuant to Section 3(b)(2) of this Warrant, which value is calculated using the Black Scholes Option Pricing Model obtained from the “OV” function on Bloomberg utilizing (i) an underlying price per share equal to the greater of (1) the highest Closing Sale Price of the Common Stock during the period beginning on the Trading Day immediately preceding the earlier to occur of (x) the public disclosure of the applicable Merger Event or (y) the consummation of the applicable Merger Event and ending on the Trading Day of the consummation of the Merger Event and (2) the sum of the price per share being offered in cash in the applicable Merger Event (if any) plus the value of the non-cash consideration being offered in the applicable Merger Event (if any), (ii) a strike price equal to the Exercise Price in effect on the date of the Holder’s request pursuant to Section 3(b)(2) of this Warrant, (iii) a risk-free interest rate corresponding to the U.S. Treasury rate for a period equal to the greater of (1) the remaining term of this Warrant as of the date of the Holder’s request pursuant to Section 3(b)(2) of this Warrant and (2) the remaining term of this Warrant as of the date of consummation of the applicable Merger Event and (iv) an expected volatility equal to the greater of 100% and the 100 day volatility obtained from the HVT function on Bloomberg (determined utilizing a 365 day annualization factor) as of the Trading Day immediately following the public disclosure of the applicable Merger Event.

			
			
				 (B)
			

			
			
			“Merger Event” means the occurrence of any of the following: (i) any reorganization, recapitalization or reclassification of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value, or as a result of a split, subdivision or combination covered by Section 2(a) of this Warrant), (ii) any consolidation or merger with another Person (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), (iii) sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, (iv) a binding share exchange which reclassifies or changes the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (v) the Company, directly or indirectly, consummates a stock purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with another Person whereby such other 
		

		 

		

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		Person acquires more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (not including any shares of Common Stock held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such stock purchase agreement or other business combination) or (vi) any transaction which results in any “person” or “group” (as these terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becoming the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by issued and outstanding Common Stock.

			
			
				 (C)
			

			
			
			“Parent Entity” of a Person means an entity that, directly or indirectly, controls the applicable Person and whose common stock or equivalent equity security is quoted or listed on an Eligible Market, or, if there is more than one such Person or Parent Entity, the Person or Parent Entity with the largest public market capitalization as of the date of consummation of the Merger Event.

			
			
				 (D)
			

			
			
			“Successor Entity” means the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) formed by, resulting from or surviving any Merger Event or the Person (or, if so elected by the Holder, the Parent Entity) with which such Merger Event shall have been entered into.

			
			
				 4.
			

			
			
			PROVISIONS AS TO SHARES.  The Company (i) shall not increase the par value of any shares of Common Stock receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the Exercise Price then in effect and (ii) shall take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this Warrant.

			
			
				 5.
			

			
			
			WARRANT HOLDER NOT DEEMED A STOCKHOLDER.  Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Holder, solely in such Person’s capacity as a holder of this Warrant, shall not be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed the holder of share capital of the Company for any purpose, nor shall anything contained in this Warrant be construed to confer upon the Holder, solely in such Person’s capacity as the Holder of this Warrant, any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company or any right to vote, give or withhold consent to any corporate action (whether any reorganization, issue of stock, reclassification of stock, consolidation, merger, conveyance or otherwise), receive notice of meetings, receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, prior to the issuance to the Holder of the Warrant Shares which such Person is then entitled to receive upon the due exercise of this Warrant.  In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a shareholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.  Notwithstanding this Section 5, the Company shall provide the Holder with copies of the same notices and other information given to the shareholders of the Company generally, contemporaneously with the giving thereof to the shareholders.

			
			
				 6.
			

			
			
			REISSUANCE OF WARRANTS.

		 

		

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				 (a)
			

			
			
			Transfer of Warrant.  If this Warrant is to be transferred, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company, together with a written assignment of this Warrant duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer, if any, whereupon the Company will forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 6(d)), registered as the Holder may request, representing the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares being transferred by the Holder and, if less than the total number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant is being transferred, a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 6(d)) to the Holder representing the right to purchase the balance of the number of Warrant Shares not being transferred.

			
			
				 (b)
			

			
			
			Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Warrant.  Upon receipt by the Company 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, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company reasonably satisfactory to the Company and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Warrant (in accordance with Section 6(d)) representing the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant.

			
			
				 (c)
			

			
			
			Exchangeable for Multiple Warrants.  This Warrant is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the principal office of the Company, for a new Warrant or Warrants (in accordance with Section 6(d)) representing in the aggregate the right to purchase the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant, and each such new Warrant will represent the right to purchase such portion of such Warrant Shares as is designated in writing by the Holder at the time of such surrender; provided, however, that no Warrants for fractional shares of Common Stock shall be given.

			
			
				 (d)
			

			
			
			Issuance of New Warrants.  Whenever the Company is required to issue a new Warrant pursuant to the terms of this Warrant, such new Warrant (i) shall be of like tenor with this Warrant, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant, the right to purchase the Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant (or in the case of a new Warrant being issued pursuant to Section 6(a) or Section 6(c), the Warrant Shares designated by the Holder which, when added to the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the other new Warrants issued in connection with such issuance, does not exceed the number of Warrant Shares then underlying this Warrant), (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Warrant which is the same as the Issuance Date, and (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Warrant.

			
			
				 7.
			

			
			
			NOTICES.  Whenever notice is required or permitted to be given under this Warrant, unless otherwise provided herein, such notice shall be given in accordance with Section 6.1 of the Purchase Agreement.  The Company shall provide the Holder with prompt written notice of all actions taken pursuant to this Warrant, including in reasonable detail a description of such action and the reason therefor.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will give written notice to the Holder (i) promptly upon any adjustment of the Exercise Price, setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation of such adjustment, and (ii) at least fifteen days prior to the date on which the Company closes its books or takes a record (A) with respect to any dividend or distribution upon the shares of Common Stock, or (B) for determining rights to 
		

		 

		

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		vote with respect to any Merger Event, dissolution or liquidation, provided in each case that such information shall be made known to the public prior to or in conjunction with such notice being provided to the Holder.

		
			8.    AMENDMENT AND WAIVER.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of this Warrant may be amended only in the manner provided in Section 6.6 of the Purchase Agreement and the Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company has obtained the written consent of the Holders representing a “Majority in Interest” within the meaning of the Purchase Agreement.  The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Holder of any amendment hereof or waiver hereunder that was effected without the Holder’s written consent.
		

		
			9.    GOVERNING LAW.  This Warrant shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Warrant shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York.
		

		
			10    SEVERABILITY.  If any provision of this Agreement is prohibited by law or otherwise determined to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the provision that would otherwise be prohibited, invalid or unenforceable shall be deemed amended to apply to the broadest extent that it would be valid and enforceable, and the invalidity or unenforceability of such provision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Agreement so long as this Agreement as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter hereof and the prohibited nature, invalidity or unenforceability of the provision(s) in question does not substantially impair the respective expectations or reciprocal obligations of the parties or the practical realization of the benefits that would otherwise be conferred upon the parties.  The parties will endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s) with a valid provision(s), the effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the prohibited, invalid or unenforceable provision(s). 
		

		
			11.    CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS.  This Warrant shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and all the Lenders and shall not be construed against any person as the drafter hereof.  The headings of this Warrant are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Warrant.
		

		
			12    DISPUTE RESOLUTION.  In the case of a dispute as to the determination of the Exercise Price or the arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares, the Company shall submit the disputed determinations or arithmetic calculations via facsimile within five (5) Business Days of receipt of the Exercise Notice giving rise to such dispute, as the case may be, to the Holder.  If the Holder and the Company are unable to agree upon such determination or calculation of the Exercise Price or the Warrant Shares within three Business Days of such disputed determination or arithmetic calculation being submitted to the Holder, then the Company shall, within two Business Days submit via facsimile (a) the disputed determination of the Exercise Price to an independent, reputable investment bank selected by the Company and approved by the Holder 
		

		 

		

			-  10  -

		

		

			 

		

 

		(or, if the dispute affects multiple Holders, to a majority in interest of such Holders) or (b) the disputed arithmetic calculation of the Warrant Shares to the Company’s independent, outside accountant.  The Company shall cause at its expense the investment bank or the accountant, as the case may be, to perform the determinations or calculations and notify the Company and the Holder of the results no later than ten Business Days from the time it receives the disputed determinations or calculations.  Such investment bank’s or accountant’s determination or calculation, as the case may be, shall be binding upon all parties absent demonstrable error.
		

		
			13.    REMEDIES, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF.  The remedies provided in this Warrant shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Warrant and the other Transaction Documents, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the right of the Holder to pursue actual damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Warrant.  The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate.  The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the holder of this Warrant shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required.
		

		
			14.    TRANSFER.        Subject to applicable law, this Warrant may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without the consent of the Company, except as may otherwise be required by Section 3.3 of the Purchase Agreement.
		

		
			15.    PRINCIPAL MARKET.          In no event shall the Company be required to adjust the Exercise Price or the number of shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant if such adjustment would violate the listing requirements of the Company’s Principal Market.  In addition, the Company will not take any voluntary action that would result in an adjustment to the Exercise Price pursuant to this Warrant (other than pursuant to Section 2(a)) without complying, if applicable, with the stockholder approval rules of the Principal Market and any similar rule of any stock exchange on which the Company’s common stock is listed at the relevant time.  In accordance with such listing standard, this restriction will apply at any time when the Warrants are outstanding, regardless of whether the Company then has a class of securities listed on the Principal Market.
		

		
			16.    CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.  For purposes of this Warrant, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
		

			
			
				 (a)
			

			
			
			“Bloomberg” means Bloomberg Financial Markets.

			
			
				 (b)
			

			
			
			“Business Day” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York or Oakland, California are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

			
			
				 (c)
			

			
			
			“Closing Bid Price” and “Closing Sale Price” means, for any security as of any date, the last closing bid price and last closing trade price, respectively, for such security on the Principal Market, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market begins to operate on an extended hours basis and does not designate the closing bid price or the closing trade price, as the case may be, then the last bid price or last trade price, respectively, of 
		

		 

		

			-  11  -

		

		

			 

		

 

		such security prior to 4:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal securities exchange or trading market for such security, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security on the principal securities exchange or trading market where such security is listed or traded as reported by Bloomberg, or if the foregoing do not apply, the last closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no closing bid price or last trade price, respectively, is reported for such security by Bloomberg, the average of the bid prices, or the ask prices, respectively, of any market makers for such security as reported in the “pink sheets” by Pink Sheets LLC (or any such similar service).  If the Closing Bid Price or the Closing Sale Price cannot be calculated for a security on a particular date on any of the foregoing bases, the Closing Bid Price or the Closing Sale Price, as the case may be, of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder.  If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of such security, then such dispute shall be resolved pursuant to Section 12.  All such determinations to be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or other similar transaction during the applicable calculation period.

			
			
				 (d)
			

			
			
			“Common Stock” means (i) the Company’s shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and (ii) any share capital into which such Common Stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such Common Stock.

			
			
				 (e)
			

			
			
			“Convertible Securities” means any stock or securities (other than Options) directly or indirectly convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock.

			
			
				 (f)
			

			
			
			“Dollar”, “US Dollar” and “$” each mean the lawful money of the United States.

			
			
				 (g)
			

			
			
			“Eligible Market” means the Principal Market, The New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market, The NASDAQ Global Market, The NASDAQ Capital Market or the OTC Markets Group Inc.

			
			
				 (h)
			

			
			
			“Expiration Date” means the date that is 36 months after the Closing Date or, if such date falls on a day other than a Business Day or on which trading does not take place on the Principal Market (a “Holiday”), the next date that is not a Holiday.

			
			
				 (i)
			

			
			
			“Options” means any rights, warrants or options to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

			
			
				 (j)
			

			
			
			“Person” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity and a government or any department or agency thereof.

			
			
				 (k)
			

			
			
			“Principal Market” means OTC Markets Group Inc.

			
			
				 (l)
			

			
			
			“Reference Property” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(b).

			
			
				 (m)
			

			
			
			“Trading Day” means any day on which the Common Stock is traded on the Principal Market, or, if the Principal Market is not the principal trading market for the Common Stock, then on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Common Stock is then traded; provided that “Trading Day” shall not include any day on which the Common Stock is scheduled to trade on such exchange or market for less than 4.5 hours or any day that the Common Stock is suspended from trading during the final hour of trading on such exchange or market (or if such exchange or market does not designate in advance the 
		

		 

		

			-  12  -

		

		

			 

		

 

		closing time of trading on such exchange or market, then during the hour ending at 4:00 p.m., New York time).

			
			
				 (n)
			

			
			
			“Weighted Average Price” means, for any security as of any date, the dollar volume-weighted average price for such security on the Principal Market during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York City time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York City time, as reported by Bloomberg through its “Volume at Price” function or, if the foregoing does not apply, the dollar volume-weighted average price of such security in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for such security during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York City time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York City time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no dollar volume-weighted average price is reported for such security by Bloomberg for such hours, the average of the highest closing bid price and the lowest closing ask price of any of the market makers for such security as reported in the “pink sheets” by Pink Sheets LLC (formerly the National Quotation Bureau, Inc.).  If the Weighted Average Price cannot be calculated for such security on such date on any of the foregoing bases, the Weighted Average Price of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as mutually determined by the Company and the Holder.  If the Company and the Holder are unable to agree upon the fair market value of the such security, then such dispute shall be resolved pursuant to Section 12 with the term “Weighted Average Price” being substituted for the term “Exercise Price.” All such determinations shall be appropriately adjusted for any share dividend, share split or other similar transaction during such period.

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			[Signature Page Follows]
		

		
			 
		

		

		

		 

		

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		IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to Purchase Common Stock to be duly executed as of the Issuance Date set out above.
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			SCIENTIFIC LEARNING CORPORATION
		

		
			 
		

			
					
						 

					
					
						 

					
					
						 

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						By:________________________________________

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						Name: 

				
	
					
						 

					
					
						Title: 

				

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		

		

		 

		

			 

		

 

		EXHIBIT A
		

		
			 
		

		
			EXERCISE NOTICE
		

		
			TO BE EXECUTED BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER TO EXERCISE THIS
		

		
			WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
		

		
			 
		

		
			SCIENTIFIC LEARNING CORPORATION
		

		
			            The undersigned holder hereby exercises the right to purchase _________________ of the shares of Common Stock (“Warrant Shares”) of Scientific Learning Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the “Company”), evidenced by the attached Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (the “Warrant”).  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.
		

		
			 
		

		
			            1.  Form of Exercise Price.  The Holder intends that payment of the Exercise Price shall be made as:
		

		
			 
		

		
			                                                                                                            a “Cash Exercise” with respect to _________________ Warrant Shares and in connection therewith by checking such box hereby certifies that such Holder is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 of the Securities Act; and/or
		

		
			 
		

		
			                                                                                                                                                a  “Cashless Exercise” with respect to _______________ Warrant Shares.
		

		
			 
		

		
			            2.  Payment of Exercise Price.  In the event that the holder has elected a Cash Exercise with respect to some or all of the Warrant Shares to be issued pursuant hereto, the holder shall pay the Aggregate Exercise Price in the sum of $___________________ to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.
		

		
			 
		

		
			            3.  Delivery of Warrant Shares.  The Company shall deliver to the holder __________ Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.
		

		
			 
		

		
			Date: _______________ __, ______
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			                                                
		

		
			   Name of Registered Holder
		

		
			                                                
		

		
			                                                
		

		
			By:                                                
		

		
			            Name:
		

		
			            Title:
		

		
			 
		

		

		

		 

		

			 

		

 

		ACKNOWLEDGMENT
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			            The Company hereby acknowledges this Exercise Notice and hereby directs ___________________ to issue the above indicated number of shares of Common Stock in accordance with the Transfer Agent Instructions dated _________, 2013 from the Company and acknowledged and agreed to by ___________________.
		

		
			 
		

		
			                                                            SCIENTIFIC LEARNING CORPORATION
		

		
			
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			By:
		

		
			                                                            Name:
		

		
			                                                            Title:
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		
			 
		

		

		

		 

		

			 

		

 

		
		

		
			Exhibit B
		

		
			 
		

		
			THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR BLUE SKY LAWS.Exhibit 10.1

 

PAYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This PAYMENT AGREEMENT is made effective as of January 31, 2013 by and among                      (“Executive”) and Venoco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company has in the past granted to Executive certain shares of restricted stock as an inducement for Executive to remain with the Company and to increase the Company’s value to its stockholders;

 

WHEREAS, as a result of the consummation on October 3, 2012 of the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of January 16, 2012 (the “Merger Agreement”), Executive’s unvested shares of restricted stock were converted into the right to earn a cash payment in respect of each then existing share of restricted stock equal to the Merger Consideration of $12.50 per share on the dates the shares would otherwise have vested (the “Restricted Stock Cashout Amounts”);

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Restricted Stock Cashout Amounts are payable by the Company as and when the then existing shares of restricted stock would otherwise have vested, generally in February and/or March of 2013, subject to Executive’s continued employment through the vesting dates;

 

WHEREAS, the Company has requested that Executive, along with certain other executives and directors of the Company, agree to delay receipt of the Restricted Stock Cashout Amounts to which Executive may be entitled in order to manage the Company’s liquidity; and

 

WHEREAS, the Executive is willing to delay receipt of a portion of the Restricted Stock Cashout Amounts to which Executive may be entitled in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, covenants and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.              Restricted Stock Cashout Amounts.  Executive is entitled to the Restricted Stock Cashout Amounts set forth in Exhibit A to this Agreement if he continues to be an employee of the Company on the vesting dates as set forth on Exhibit A (or otherwise vests under the terms of the restricted stock grants, as modified by the Merger Agreement).

 

2.              Payment Agreement.  Executive hereby agrees that, in the event Executive becomes vested in the Restricted Stock Cashout Amounts,     % of such amounts shall not be paid at the times set forth in the Merger Agreement, but shall instead be paid on January 6,

 

 

2014 (the “Payment Date”).  As an inducement for Executive to enter into this Agreement, the Company shall also pay to the Executive an amount in cash equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the Restricted Stock Cashout Amounts actually paid to Executive (the “Additional Amount”) on the Payment Date, which Additional Amount shall also be payable to Executive on the Payment Date.  In no event shall Executive be entitled to receive any Restricted Stock Cashout Amounts or Additional Amount related thereto if Executive fails to vest in the Restricted Stock Cashout Amounts.  However, once vesting occurs, the Company’s obligation to pay the Restricted Stock Cashout Amounts and Additional Amount shall be unconditional and irrevocable.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to modify or amend the vesting conditions related to the Restricted Stock Cashout Amounts (as set forth in the various restricted stock agreements and as modified by the terms of the Merger Agreement), including any applicable vesting acceleration provisions.

 

3.              Withholding.  The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement such federal, state, and local taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant to applicable law or regulation.

 

4.              Successors.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and its successors and permitted assigns and any such successor or permitted assignee shall be deemed substituted for the Company under the terms of this Agreement for all purposes.  The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place.  As used in this Agreement, “Company” shall mean the Company as herein before defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law or otherwise.

 

5.              409A/ Other Tax Assessments.

 

a.              General.  The parties intend that payments or benefits payable under this Agreement not be subject to the additional tax imposed pursuant to Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), nor be taxable prior to actual receipt, and the provisions of this Agreement shall be construed and administered in accordance with such intent. To the extent such potential payments or benefits could become subject to Code Section 409A, the parties shall cooperate to amend this Agreement with the goal of giving Executive the economic benefits described herein in a manner that does not result in such tax being imposed.

 

b.              Tax Indemnification.  In the event any payment hereunder is subject to any taxes, interest, or penalties under Section 409A of the Code (such taxes, interest, or penalties being the “409A Amount”), or any interest or penalties arising as a

 

2

 

result of the premature taxation of such amounts under the theory of constructive receipt or similar common law income inclusion doctrine, the Company shall indemnify and reimburse to Executive an amount (the “Gross-Up Amount”) such that after payment by Executive of all taxes (including any interest or penalties imposed) on such Gross-Up Amount, Executive retains an amount equal to the 409A Amount, or in the case of premature taxation under the theory of constructive receipt or similar common law income inclusion doctrine, the amount of such interest and penalties.  The Gross-Up Amount shall be paid when the 409A Amount is determined but no later than the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the 409A Amount, or penalty or interest amount as a result of premature taxation, is incurred.  The Company agrees to provide, at no cost to Executive, independent expert tax counsel to represent all similarly situated Executives should the tax treatment contemplated herein be challenged by federal or state authorities.

 

c.               Contest Procedure.  Executive shall notify the Company in writing of any claim by the Internal Revenue Service that, if successful, would require the payment by the Company of a Gross-Up Amount.  Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable but no later than ten business days after Executive is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid.  Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the thirty-day period following the date on which it gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due).  If the Company notifies Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, Executive shall:

 

i.                                 give the Company (as applicable) any information reasonably requested by the Company relating to such claim,

 

ii.                              take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including, without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company,

 

iii.                           cooperate with the Company in good faith in order effectively to contest such claim, and

 

iv.                          permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such claim;

 

provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including additional interest and penalties) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for any 409A Amount or income tax, interest and/or penalties imposed as a 

 

3

 

result of such contest and payment of costs and expenses (including legal fees).  Without limitation on the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, the Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or to contest the claim in any permissible manner, and Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided, however, that if the Company directs Executive to pay such claim and sue for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such payment to Executive, on an interest-free basis and shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, from any 409A Amount or income tax, interest and/or penalties imposed with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance; and further provided that any extension of the statute of limitations relating to payment of taxes for the taxable year of Executive with respect to which such contested amount is claimed to be due is limited solely to such contested amount.  Furthermore, the Company’s control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a Gross-Up Amount would be payable hereunder and Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority.

 

6.              Miscellaneous.

 

a.              Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado.

 

a.              Amendment.  This Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.

 

b.              Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement and the remaining provisions shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

c.               No Waiver.  Executive’s or the Company’s failure to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement or the failure to assert any right Executive or the Company may have under this Agreement shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other provision or right of this Agreement.

 

d.              Notices.  All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given to the other party by hand delivery or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

 

4

 

	
 
    	
If   to Executive:
    	
To   the most recent home address on file with the Company.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
If   to the Company:
    	
Venoco, Inc.
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Attn:   General Counsel
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
370   17th Street, Suite 3900
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Denver,   Colorado 80202
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
or   to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in   writing in accordance herewith.  Notice   and communications shall be effective when actually received by the   addressee.
    

 

[signature page follows]

 

5

 

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

 

	
Date:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
Executive   Name
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
VENOCO, INC.,   a Delaware corporation
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
Date:
    	
 
    	
 
    	
By:
    	
 
    

 

6

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