Document:

Contingent Convertible Note Purchase Agreement

 Exhibit 10.29 
  
 EXECUTION COPY 
  
 CONTINGENT CONVERTIBLE NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT 
  
 by and between 
  
 DIEDRICH COFFEE, INC. 
  
 and 
  
 SEQUOIA
ENTERPRISES, L.P. 
  

  
 Dated as of May 10, 2004 
  

 TABLE OF CONTENTS 
  

							
	 	  	Page

	1.	 	 DEFINITIONS
	  	1
				
	 	 	 1.1
	 	 CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS
	  	1
			
	2.	 	 LOAN AND WARRANTS
	  	4
				
	 	 	 2.1
	 	 ISSUANCE OF NOTES
	  	4
	 	 	 2.2
	 	 ISSUANCE OF WARRANTS
	  	4
			
	 3.
	 	 INTEREST; PAYMENT; COMMITMENT FEE
	  	5
				
	 	 	 3.1
	 	 PAYMENTS AND REPAYMENTS
	  	5
	 	 	 3.2
	 	 INTEREST
	  	5
	 	 	 3.3
	 	 REQUIRED PAYMENTS
	  	5
			
	 4.
	 	 CONTINGENT CONVERSION; ISSUANCE OF SHARES
	  	6
				
	 	 	 4.1
	 	 CONVERSION OF NOTES
	  	6
	 	 	 4.2
	 	 CONVERSION PRICE
	  	6
	 	 	 4.3
	 	 ISSUANCE OF SHARES OF COMMON
STOCK
	  	6
	 	 	 4.4
	 	 NOTICE OF CONVERSION
	  	6
	 	 	 4.5
	 	 COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF
NOTES AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
	  	6
	 	 	 4.6
	 	 REGISTRATION RIGHTS
	  	7
			
	 5.
	 	 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
	  	8
				
	 	 	 5.1
	 	 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EACH LOAN
	  	8
	 	 	 5.2
	 	 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO ISSUANCE OF
SECURITIES
	  	8
			
	 6.
	 	 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
	  	9
				
	 	 	 6.1
	 	 SEC REPORTS; FINANCIAL CONDITION; CAPITALIZATION
	  	9
	 	 	 6.2
	 	 CORPORATE EXISTENCE; COMPLIANCE WITH LAW
	  	9
	 	 	 6.3
	 	 CORPORATE POWER; AUTHORIZATION; ENFORCEABLE
OBLIGATIONS
	  	9
	 	 	 6.4
	 	 NO CONFLICT
	  	9
	 	 	 6.5
	 	 NO MATERIAL LITIGATION
	  	9
	 	 	 6.6
	 	 TAXES
	  	10
	 	 	 6.7
	 	 INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT
	  	10
	 	 	 6.8
	 	 ASSETS
	  	10
	 	 	 6.9
	 	 SECURITIES ACT
	  	10
	 	 	 6.10
	 	 CONSENTS, ETC.
	  	10
	 	 	 6.11
	 	 INSURANCE
	  	10
			
	 7.
	 	 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF LENDER
	  	10
				
	 	 	 7.1
	 	 INVESTIGATION
	  	10
	 	 	 7.2
	 	 ECONOMIC RISK
	  	10
	 	 	 7.3
	 	 PURCHASE FOR OWN ACCOUNT
	  	11
	 	 	 7.4
	 	 EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION; RESTRICTED SECURITIES
	  	11
	 	 	 7.5
	 	 NON-ASSIGNABILITY
	  	11

  

 -i- 

							
	 	 	 7.6
	 	 SOPHISTICATION
	  	11
	 	 	 7.7
	 	 ACCREDITED INVESTOR
	  	11
			
	 8.
	 	 COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
	  	11
				
	 	 	 8.1
	 	 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
	  	11
	 	 	 8.2
	 	 PAYMENT OF INDEBTEDNESS
	  	11
	 	 	 8.3
	 	 MAINTENANCE OF EXISTENCE AND PROPERTIES
	  	11
	 	 	 8.4
	 	 INSPECTION OF PROPERTY; BOOKS AND RECORDS;
DISCUSSIONS
	  	12
	 	 	 8.5
	 	 NOTICES
	  	12
	 	 	 8.6
	 	 EXPENSES
	  	12
	 	 	 8.7
	 	 INSURANCE
	  	12
	 	 	 8.8
	 	 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS
	  	12
	 	 	 8.9
	 	 PROCEEDS OF THE INITIAL NOTE
	  	13
			
	 9.
	 	 NEGATIVE COVENANTS
	  	13
				
	 	 	 9.1
	 	 LIENS
	  	13
	 	 	 9.2
	 	 INDEBTEDNESS
	  	13
	 	 	 9.3
	 	 LOANS; ADVANCES
	  	14
	 	 	 9.4
	 	 LEVERAGE RATIO
	  	14
	 	 	 9.5
	 	 MINIMUM EBITDA
	  	14
			
	 10.
	 	 EVENTS OF DEFAULT
	  	15
				
	 	 	 10.1
	 	 EVENTS OF DEFAULT
	  	15
	 	 	 10.2
	 	 REMEDIES
	  	16
			
	 11.
	 	 MISCELLANEOUS
	  	16
				
	 	 	 11.1
	 	 GOVERNING LAW
	  	16
	 	 	 11.2
	 	 SURVIVAL
	  	16
	 	 	 11.3
	 	 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
	  	16
	 	 	 11.4
	 	 ENTIRE AGREEMENT
	  	16
	 	 	 11.5
	 	 NOTICES
	  	17
	 	 	 11.6
	 	 AMENDMENTS
	  	17
	 	 	 11.7
	 	 DELAYS OR OMISSIONS
	  	17
	 	 	 11.8
	 	 LEGAL FEES
	  	18
	 	 	 11.9
	 	 NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES
	  	18
	 	 	 11.10
	 	 INTERPRETATION
	  	18
	 	 	 11.11
	 	 COUNTERPARTS
	  	18
	 	 	 11.12
	 	 SEVERABILITY
	  	18
	 	 	 11.13
	 	 CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION
	  	18

  

 -ii- 

			
	Exhibits

	  	 Description

	Exhibit A	  	Form of Note
	Exhibit B	  	Form of Warrant

  

 -iii- 

 CONTINGENT CONVERTIBLE NOTE PURCHASE AGREEMENT 
  
 This Contingent Convertible Note Purchase Agreement (this
“Agreement”) is entered into as of May 10, 2004 (the “Effective Date”) by and between Diedrich Coffee, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Sequoia Enterprises, L.P., a California
limited partnership (“Lender”). 
  
 R E C I
T A L S 
  
 WHEREAS, the Company desires to borrow from
Lender and Lender desires to loan to the Company, pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, an aggregate principal amount of up to $5,000,000 (the “Loan Amount”), which loan (the “Loan”) shall be
evidenced by one or more unsecured convertible promissory notes in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Notes”); 
  
 WHEREAS, the Notes shall be convertible into common stock, par value $0.01 per share of the Company (the “Common Stock”) on the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth herein and therein; and 
  
 WHEREAS, as an additional inducement for Lender to enter into this Agreement, the Company is willing to issue to Lender one or more warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock upon payment of the principal of any Note, which warrants shall
be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Warrants”), and be exercisable on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and therein. 
  
 A G R E E M E N T 
  
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants, agreements, representations and warranties hereinafter set forth, the
parties hereby agree as follows: 
  
 1.
DEFINITIONS. 
  
 1.1 Certain Defined Terms.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings: 
  
 “Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the
Person specified. 
  
 “Availability” means, on
any date, the Loan Amount, less the sum of (a) the principal amount of all Notes outstanding under this Agreement, plus (b) the product of (i) the number of days from the Effective Date to the date on which Availability is to be determined,
multiplied by (ii) $2,740. 
  
 “Beneficial Owner”
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act. 
  
 “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks in Los Angeles, California are authorized or obligated to close their regular banking business. 
  
 “Change of Control” shall mean (a) a transaction (or series
of transactions) in which a Third Party becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of equity representing 15% or more of the voting equity of the Company; (b) a transaction (or series of transactions) in which an Affiliate of the Company
(other than an Affiliate controlled by Heeschen) becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of equity representing 25% or more of the voting equity of the Company; (c) a merger, 

 consolidation or other business combination transaction (or series of transactions) involving the Company, the result of
which is that a Third Party who, immediately prior to such transaction or transactions is not the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 25% of the voting equity of the Company, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly,
of more than 25% of the voting equity of the Company or the successor entity in such transaction or transactions; or (d) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company. 
  
 “Credit Agreement” shall mean that certain Credit Agreement, by and between Bank of the West and the
Company, dated as of September 3, 2002, as amended, or as may subsequently be amended or restated. 
  
 “Default” shall mean any event or circumstance that with the giving of notice or passage of time, or both, would become an Event of
Default. 
  
 “EBITDA” shall mean, with respect to
any Person for any fiscal period, earnings (exclusive of extraordinary gains and non-cash credits to income) and before deductions for interest, income taxes, non-cash impairment charges from intangibles that exist as of the end of the third fiscal
quarter of Fiscal Year 2004 and other non-cash charges that exist as of the end of the third fiscal quarter of Fiscal Year 2004, depreciation and amortization of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. 
  
 “Effective Tangible Net Worth” shall mean, on a consolidated
basis, the total assets (exclusive of goodwill, patents, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, organization expense, investments in and all amounts due from Affiliates, officers, or employees), less total liabilities (less Indebtedness subordinated
to the Notes, if any) of the Company and its subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP. 
  
 “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. 
  
 “Fiscal Quarter” shall mean each fiscal quarter of the Company, with the first three quarters consisting of
twelve weekly periods and the fourth quarter consisting of the sixteen or seventeen weekly periods ending on the Wednesday closest to June 30. 
  
 “Fiscal Year” shall mean each fiscal year of the Company, with each such fiscal year ending on the Wednesday closest to June 30.

  
 “GAAP” shall mean generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States in effect from time to time. 
  
 “Heeschen” means Paul C. Heeschen, sole general partner of Lender. 
  
 “Indebtedness” of any Person shall mean all obligations for borrowed money, accounts payable, accrued compensation, accrued expenses and capitalized lease obligations of such Person as of the date as
of which indebtedness is to be determined, and shall also include all indebtedness and liabilities of others assumed or guaranteed by such Person or in respect of which such Person is secondarily or contingently liable (other than by endorsement of
instruments in the course of collection) whether by reason of any agreement to acquire such indebtedness or to supply or advance sums or otherwise. 
  
 “Lender Affiliate” means Heeschen, any Affiliate of Heeschen (including Lender), or any partner or other equity holder of Lender.

  

 -2- 

 “LIBOR Rate” means the fluctuating U.S. dollar rate reported by Northern Trust as the
“London Interbank Offered Rate” for deposits with maturity periods of up to twelve (12) months as established on the dates Notes are issued and the dates on which the LIBOR rate is reset, as appropriate. 
  
 “Lien” means any mortgage, deed of trust, or pledge,
security interest, hypothecation, assignment, assigned deposit, arrangement, encumbrance (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement), encroachment, lien (statutory or otherwise), claim, option, reservation or defect of any
kind, or preference, or priority, or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever or the filing or agreement to give any financing statement under the uniform commercial code of any jurisdiction. 

 
 “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean (a) a material
adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, or financial condition of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Company to perform under this
Agreement or to avoid any Event of Default; or (c) a material adverse change in the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement. 
  
 “Maturity Date” shall mean the earliest of (i) the date of consummation of a Change of Control transaction, (ii) the date Notes are
declared due and payable by Lender upon an Event of Default, or (iii) May 10, 2007. 
  
 “Person” shall mean any corporation, natural person, firm, joint venture, partnership, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any department or agency of any
government. 
  
 “Restricted Stock” shall mean the
shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Notes or upon exercise of the Warrants, and any Common Stock issued with respect to such Common Stock by way of a stock dividend or stock split, provided that such shares shall no longer be
Restricted Stock at such time as such Common Stock (i) has been sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (ii) has been transferred in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor provision
thereto) or (iii) is transferable by Lender (or, if such Common Stock is held by a Lender Affiliate, such Lender Affiliate), pursuant to paragraph (k) of Rule 144 (or any successor provision thereto). 
  
 “SEC” shall mean the Securities Exchange Commission.

  
 “Securities” shall mean the Notes, the
Warrants and any Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exercise of such Notes and Warrants. 
  
 “Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. 
  
 “Senior Indebtedness” shall mean any Indebtedness of the Company senior in right of payment to any
Outstanding Balance, including, all amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement. 
  
 “Third Party” shall mean any Person or group of Persons acting in concert who are not Affiliates of the Company or Lender Affiliates. 
  

 -3- 

 2. LOAN AND WARRANTS. 
  
 2.1 Issuance of Notes. 
  
 (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, at the election of the Company, on the Effective Date, and on the first day of each Fiscal
Quarter thereafter until the Maturity Date, upon 10 Business Days advance written notice (a “Note Request”), the Company may issue to Lender, and Lender shall acquire from the Company, one or more Notes, provided that (i) no Note
shall be issued with an initial principal amount of less than $300,000 or more than the Availability, (ii) at no time shall the aggregate Outstanding Balance of all Notes exceed the Loan Amount, and (iii) the principal amount of the first Note to be
issued, if any (the “Initial Note”) shall be not less than all amounts then owed by the Company and its subsidiaries under all outstanding Senior Indebtedness (except, subject to Section 9.2(b)(ii), for letters of credit
issued under the Credit Agreement, which may remain outstanding). 
  
 (b) Subject to the foregoing, the Company may reborrow principal amounts previously repaid hereunder by issuing a new Note therefor, provided that the principal amount of such new Note does not exceed the Availability on such date.

  
 2.2 Issuance of Warrants. 
  
 (a) Until such time as the aggregate principal amount of all Notes repaid
shall equal the Loan Amount, upon the payment of principal on any Note (upon payment, prepayment or at maturity), the Company shall be obligated to issue to Lender Warrants, as follows: 
  
 (i) on the date of payment of principal on a Note or Notes of at least $300,000, a Warrant shall be issued
for all principal on repaid Notes with respect to which a Warrant has not been issued as of the date of such payment; or 
  
 (ii) on June 30 and December 31 of each year, a Warrant shall be issued for all principal on repaid Notes with respect to which a Warrant
has not otherwise been issued (including with respect to all amounts prepaid under Section 3.3(a)(ii)); and 
  
 (iii) a Warrant shall be issued on the Maturity Date for all principal on repaid Notes (including Notes repaid on the Maturity Date) with
respect to which a Warrant has not otherwise been issued. 
  
 (b)
Each Warrant shall initially be for the number of shares of Common Stock equal to (i) the principal repaid on Notes to which the Warrant relates, divided by (ii) the weighted average closing price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market (or
such other market or exchange where the Company’s stock price is reported at that time) on the date of issuance of the Notes to which the Warrant relates (the “Warrant Closing Share Price”). In no event shall a Warrant be
issued for an amount including a fractional share, and if such calculation would otherwise result in a Warrant being issued for a fractional share, such fractional share shall be carried forward and added to the number of shares of Common Stock for
which the next Warrant issued, if any, may be exercised. 
  
 (c)
The number of shares to which a Warrant is subject may be decreased if, upon the Change of Control, 85% of the average price paid per share of Common Stock by any Person who engages in a transaction or series of transactions resulting in the Change
of Control (the “Change of Control Price”), exceeds the applicable Warrant Closing Share Price (as appropriately adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, or other events described in Section 4 of the Warrant). In such event
the Warrant shall be exercisable for the number of shares of Common Stock equal to (i) the principal repaid 
  

 -4- 

 on Notes to which the Warrant relates, divided by (ii) 85% of the Change of Control Price. The per share purchase price
for the shares to be purchased upon exercise of each Warrant shall be equal to the Conversion Price per share (as defined below) applicable at the time of exercise. 
  
 3. INTEREST; PAYMENT; COMMITMENT FEE. 
  
 3.1 Payments and Repayments. To the extent not previously converted pursuant to Section 4, the Company will
pay the unpaid principal balance (the “Outstanding Balance”) of each Note plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon on the Maturity Date. The Outstanding Balance of any Note and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and any and
all other sums payable to Lender thereunder may be prepaid prior to the Maturity Date without penalty or obligation, except as set forth herein. The Company shall provide Lender at least 10 days advance notice of its intention to prepay the
Outstanding Balance on any Notes. Lender will apply partial prepayments on any Notes first to all accrued and unpaid interest and then to principal. 
  
 3.2 Interest. Interest shall accrue from the date such Note is issued on the Outstanding Balance on each Note at the one-month, two-month or
three-month, whichever period is closest to the remaining days in the calendar quarter, LIBOR Rate in effect on the date of issuance plus 3.30% per annum. The interest rate will be reset on the first day of each calendar quarter to the three-month
LIBOR Rate then in effect plus 3.30% per annum. Interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 360 day year and actual days elapsed. Interest shall be payable in arrears. 
  
 3.3 Required Payments. 
  
 (a) Until the Maturity Date, the Company will be required to make payments to Lender monthly (each, a “Monthly Payment”) on the first
Business Day of each month no later than 10:00 a.m. on such day (each, a “Payment Date”), equal to the sum of: 
  
 (i) all accrued interest on the Outstanding Balance of each of the outstanding Notes for the prior month, plus 
  
 (ii) a principal payment on each Note equal to a percentage
of the Outstanding Balance on the date of such Monthly Payment such that, when amortized in equal payments of interest over the term of the Note (from the date of issuance to May 10, 2007), 60% of the Outstanding Balance on the date of issuance of
such Note shall be repaid by Maturity, plus 
  
 (iii) a fee equal to 0.0833% of the Availability (the “Commitment Fee”). 
  
 (b) On the Maturity Date, the Company will be required to make a payment to Lender of an amount equal to the sum of: 
  
 (i) all accrued interest on the Outstanding Balance of each
of the outstanding Notes since the last Payment Date, plus 
  
 (ii) all Outstanding Balances, plus 
  
 (iii) a Commitment Fee equal to the product of (A) 0.0833% multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days elapsed from the last Payment Date to but not including the Maturity Date and the
denominator of which is 30 (provided that such fraction not exceed one) and (B) the Availability. 
  

 -5- 

 (c) Any payments made to Lender pursuant to Sections 3.3(a) or (b) shall be made by wire transfer of
immediately available funds and shall be accompanied by a statement that sets forth the amount of the payment attributable to interest, principal and the Commitment Fee, respectively. 
  
 4. CONTINGENT CONVERSION; ISSUANCE OF SHARES. 
  
 4.1 Conversion of Notes. If there is a Change of Control at any time prior to payment in full of the Outstanding
Balance of the Notes, Lender shall, subject to the provisions of this Section 4, have the right immediately prior to the consummation of such Change of Control, to convert the Outstanding Balance of any or all of the Notes (plus accrued and
unpaid interest) into Common Stock. The number of shares of Common Stock into which each Note will be converted will equal the quotient of (a) the lesser of (i) $5,000,000 minus the aggregate principal amount of all Notes repaid (and for which
Warrants have been issued pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement) and (ii) the Outstanding Balance of such Note to be converted plus all accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to but not including the date of conversion divided by (b)
the applicable Conversion Price. No Warrant shall be issued with respect to any Outstanding Balance which is converted into Common Stock. 
  
 4.2 Conversion Price. The “Conversion Price” for a Note shall equal the greater of (a) the closing price of the Common Stock on
the Nasdaq Stock Market (or such other market or exchange where the Company’s stock price is reported at that time) on the date that the Note was issued (as appropriately adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, or other events described
in Section 7(b) of the Note) and (b) 85% of the Change of Control Price. To the extent that the consideration paid to stockholders of the Company in a transaction constituting a Change of Control is other than cash, the Board of Directors of
the Company shall determine the cash value of such non-cash consideration for purposes of calculating the Conversion Price. 
  
 4.3 Issuance of Shares of Common Stock. As soon as practicable after conversion of any or all of the Notes or exercise of a Warrant, the Company at
its expense shall cause to be issued in the name of and delivered to Lender, a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which Lender shall be entitled upon such conversion or exercise (bearing such legends as may be
required by applicable state and federal securities laws). No fractional shares will be issued upon conversion of the Notes or exercise of a Warrant. If upon conversion of all of the Notes Lender elects to convert, or exercise of Warrants, in the
aggregate a fraction of a share would otherwise result, in lieu of such fractional share the Company shall pay the cash value of such fractional share, calculated on the basis of the average Conversion Price applicable to all of the Notes converted
at such time or Warrants exercised at such time, as applicable. 
  
 4.4 Notice of Conversion. Before Lender shall be entitled to convert any Note into shares of Common Stock, it shall (i) surrender the Notes to be converted at the office of the Company and (ii) give written notice to the Company of
its election to convert the same pursuant to this Section 4, which notice shall state (A) the Notes being converted, and (B) Lender’s calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of such Notes. Such
conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the consummation of a Change of Control and Lender shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder of such shares of Common Stock as of such date. 
  
 4.5 Common Stock Issuable upon Conversion of Notes and Exercise of
Warrants. Subject to the following sentence, the Company shall, at all times, reserve and keep available, solely for issuance and delivery upon conversion of the Notes and exercise of the Warrants, such number of shares of Common Stock as the
Board of Directors of the Company shall reasonably determine to be sufficient to effect the conversion of all Notes and exercise of all Warrants, and shall take all action necessary to ensure that the shares of Common Stock issued upon such
conversion or exercise are validly issued, fully 
  

 -6- 

 paid and nonassessable, and issued free and clear from all preemptive rights, Liens and restrictions on transfer (other
than under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws). Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be obligated to issue any shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of Warrants or conversion of
Notes, to the extent that the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued would exceed, at the time of issuance (i) the number of authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock under the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, less (ii) all shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance (other than with respect to the Notes and the Warrants), provided that if any issuance of shares of Common Stock is limited pursuant to this sentence, the Company shall use
its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain stockholder approval at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the stockholders of an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of
authorized shares of Common Stock to permit such issuance. 
  
 4.6
Registration Rights. 
  
 (a) The Company will use
commercially reasonable efforts to continue its qualification for registration on Form S-3 or any comparable or successor form or forms in connection with the resale of securities. Provided that the Company is qualified to use Form S-3, the Lender
(or the Lender Affiliate, if such Restricted Stock is held by a Lender Affiliate) shall have the right to request registration on Form S-3 and any necessary registration or qualification required under state blue sky laws (such requests shall be in
writing and shall state the number of shares of Restricted Stock to be disposed of and the intended methods of disposition of such shares by the Lender or Lender Affiliate); provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any
such registration (i) if the Lender or Lender Affiliate proposes to sell Restricted Stock at an aggregate price to the public of less than $1,000,000, (ii) if the Restricted Stock no longer qualifies as such, (iii) if, in a given 12-month period,
the Company has effected one (1) such registration in such period, (iv) if it is to be effected more than five (5) years after the date hereof, (v) if the Company is presently engaged in (or has completed within the prior six (6) months) an
underwritten public offering of securities and the managing underwriter shall be of the opinion that such registration would adversely affect the marketing of the securities to be sold or that were sold by the Company in its public offering or (vi)
if such registration would conflict with or violate the terms of any registration rights granted by the Company prior to the date hereof. 
  
 (b) In connection with each registration hereunder, Lender (and the Lender Affiliates, if any Restricted Stock to be included in the registration
statement is held by such Lender Affiliates) shall furnish to the Company such information with respect to itself and themselves and the proposed distribution by it and them as shall be necessary in order to assure compliance with Federal and
applicable state securities laws. 
  
 (c) The expenses incurred
in effecting a registration pursuant to this Section 4.6 shall be borne by the Company. These expenses include registration, qualification and filing fees, printing expenses, escrow fees, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, blue sky
fees and expenses, and expenses of any regular or special audits incident to or required by any such registration. The selling expenses of the Lender Affiliates, which include underwriting discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer fees
applicable to the sale of Restricted Stock and the fees and disbursements of counsel for any Lender Affiliate, shall be borne by the Lender Affiliates requesting registration. 
  

 -7- 

 5. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT. 
  
 5.1 Conditions Precedent to Each Loan. The obligation of Lender to purchase any Note is subject to the following
conditions: 
  
 (a) the representations and warranties of the
Company shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of issuance of such Note, as though made on and as of such date; 
  
 (b) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or result from such Note issuance; 
  
 (c) since the last issuance of a Note, there shall have not occurred any
Material Adverse Effect or any event reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect; 
  
 (d) the aggregate Outstanding Balance of all Notes issued and to be issued at such time shall not exceed the Loan Amount; 
  
 (e) the number of shares of Common Stock authorized and unissued (and
unreserved for issuance) shall be greater than the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Note (assuming for such purpose, a Conversion Price equal to the closing price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market (or
such other market or exchange where the Company’s stock price is reported at that time) on the business day prior to the proposed date of issuance of the Note); 
  
 (f) the Company has total assets of at least $2,000,000 according to its most recent financial statements prepared in
accordance with the rules and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and 
  
 (g) the principal amount of the Note to be issued shall not exceed the Availability. 
  
 By delivering a Note Request to Lender, unless the Company otherwise notifies Lender in writing, the Company will be deemed to have certified to the
satisfaction of the conditions set forth above as of the date of issuance of the applicable Note. 
  
 5.2 Conditions Precedent to Issuance of Securities. The obligation of the Company to issue any Securities is subject to the following conditions:

  
 (a) the representations and warranties of Lender shall be
true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such issuance, as though made on and as of such date; and 
  
 (b) if Lender is not the Person to whom such Security is to be issued, then the Lender Affiliate in whose name such Security is to be issued, shall have
certified to the Company as to the representations and warranties of Lender set forth in Section 7 as to such Lender Affiliate. 
  
 By accepting any Security, Lender or such Lender Affiliate shall be deemed to have certified to the Company as to the satisfaction of the conditions set
forth above as of the date of issuance of the applicable Security. 
  

 -8- 

 6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. 
  
 The Company hereby represents and warrants to Lender the following:

  
 6.1. SEC Reports; Financial Condition; Capitalization.

  
 (a) Since January 1, 2000, the Company has filed all required
forms, reports and documents (collectively, the “Company SEC Reports”) with the SEC. As of their respective dates, or if amended, as of the date of such amendment, the Company SEC Reports complied in all material respects with all
applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as the case may be, applicable to such Company SEC Reports, each as in effect on the dates such forms, reports and documents were filed. 
  
 (b) The financial statements for the most recent Fiscal Year and the Fiscal
Quarters ended subsequent thereto filed with the SEC (collectively, the “Financial Statements”), are complete and correct in all material respects and present fairly in accordance with GAAP the consolidated and consolidating
financial condition of the Company and its subsidiaries at such dates and the results of its operations and changes in financial position for the fiscal periods then ended, subject, in the case of the financial statements dated as of the Fiscal
Quarter, to normal year-end audit adjustments. 
  
 (c) The
authorized capital stock of the Company consists of: 
  
 (i)
8,750,000 shares of Common Stock, of which, on the date hereof, (A) 5,161,263 shares are issued and outstanding, (B) 1,424,166 shares are reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company’s stock plans and (C) 518,000 shares are reserved for
issuance upon the exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase Common Stock, and 
  
 (ii) 3,000,000 shares of preferred stock of the Company, $.01 par value per share, none of which are issued and outstanding on the date hereof. 
  
 6.2 Corporate Existence; Compliance with Law. The Company and each of its subsidiaries: (a) is duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing as a corporation under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and is qualified to do business in each other jurisdiction where its leasing or ownership of property or conduct of its business requires
such qualification and where failure to so qualify is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) has the corporate power and authority and the legal right to own and operate its properties and to conduct its business in the manner now
conducted, and (c) is in material compliance with all applicable laws and its contractual obligations where the failure to so comply is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. 
  
 6.3 Corporate Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations. The
Company has the power and authority and the legal right to execute, deliver and perform and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid
and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the effect of applicable bankruptcy and other similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and the effect of equitable
principles whether applied in an action at law or a suit in equity. 
  
 6.4 No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, the borrowing hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof, will not (i) violate any law applicable to the Company or its subsidiaries, (ii)
violate any contractual obligation of the Company or its subsidiaries in any material respect, or (iii) conflict with the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company. 
  
 6.5 No Material Litigation. No litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrator, court or
Governmental Authority is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by or against the Company or its subsidiaries or against their respective properties or revenues which is likely to be adversely determined and which, if adversely
determined, is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. 
  

 -9- 

 6.6 Taxes. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has filed or caused to be filed all U.S. and
other material tax returns that are required to be filed and has paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on said returns or on any assessments made against it or any of its property, other than taxes which are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and as to which the Company or such subsidiary, as applicable, has established adequate reserves in conformity with GAAP. 
  
 6.7 Investment Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is an “investment company” or a company
“controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. 
  
 6.8 Assets. The Company or one of its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all property and assets reflected in the Financial Statements,
except property and assets sold or otherwise disposed of since the date of such Financial Statements in the ordinary course of business. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any outstanding Liens on any of their respective properties
or assets or any security agreements to which the Company or its subsidiaries is a party, or title retention agreements, whether in the form of leases or otherwise, of any personal property except pursuant to the Credit Agreement or as permitted
under Section 9.1. 
  
 6.9 Securities Act. The
Company has not issued any unregistered securities in violation of the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act, or any other law, and is not in material violation of any rule, regulation or requirement under the Securities Act
or the Exchange Act. 
  
 6.10 Consents, Etc. No consent,
approval, authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement on the part of the Company or its performance of or
compliance with the terms, provisions and conditions hereof other than those disclosed herein or such as have been obtained prior to the Effective Date. 
  
 6.11 Insurance. The properties and assets of the Company and its subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies,
in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Company and its subsidiaries operate. 
  
 7. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF LENDER. 
  
 Lender represents and warrants to the Company as follows: 
  
 7.1 Investigation. Lender acknowledges that it has had an opportunity
to discuss the business, affairs and current prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries with the officers and other representatives of the Company. The Company has made available to Lender the opportunity to obtain information to evaluate the
merits and risks of the purchase of the Securities, and Lender has received all information requested from the Company. 
  
 7.2 Economic Risk. Lender acknowledges that it is able to fend for itself in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and has the ability to
bear the economic risks of its investment in any Securities pursuant to this Agreement. Lender acknowledges that an investment in the Securities involves an extremely high degree of risk, lack of liquidity and substantial restrictions on
transferability and that Lender may lose Lender’s entire investment in the Securities. 
  

 -10- 

 7.3 Purchase for Own Account. Any Securities to be issued to Lender will be acquired for
Lender’s own account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to or in connection with the sale or distribution of any part thereof in violation of applicable law. 
  
 7.4 Exempt from Registration; Restricted Securities. Lender understands that the issuance and sale of the Securities
will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws on the ground that the sale provided for in this Agreement is exempt from registration under the Securities Act, and that the reliance of the Company on such exemption is
predicated in part on Lender’s representations set forth in this Agreement. Lender understands that the Securities are restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and must be held indefinitely unless they are
subsequently registered or an exemption from such registration is available. 
  
 7.5 Non-Assignability. Lender acknowledges that the Notes and the Warrants may not be assigned by Lender without the prior written consent of the Company (except that such Notes and Warrants may be transferred
to any Lender Affiliate). 
  
 7.6 Sophistication. Lender,
personally or through its advisors, has expertise in evaluating and investing in private placement transactions of securities of companies similar to the Company and has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial and business matters to assess
the relative merits and risks of an investment in the Securities. 
  
 7.7 Accredited Investor. Lender is an “Accredited Investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act. 
  
 8. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. 
  
 The Company agrees with Lender, so long as any Note remains outstanding or Lender has any obligation to make Loans hereunder: 
  
 8.1 Financial Statements and Reports. The Company shall furnish or
cause to be furnished to Lender: 
  
 (a) unless filed with the
SEC, copies of all proxy statements, financial statements, and reports which the Company sends to its stockholders; and 
  
 (b) promptly upon request of Lender, such additional financial and other information, including, without limitation, financial statements of the Company
and its subsidiaries as Lender may from time to time reasonably request. 
  
 8.2 Payment of Indebtedness. The Company shall pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy and cause its subsidiaries to pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy, at or before maturity or before it becomes delinquent,
defaulted or accelerated, as the case may be, all its Indebtedness (including taxes), except Indebtedness being contested in good faith and for which provision is made for the payment thereof in the event the Company or such subsidiary is found to
be obligated to pay such Indebtedness and which Indebtedness is thereupon promptly paid by the Company or such subsidiary. 
  
 8.3 Maintenance of Existence and Properties. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its subsidiaries to: 
  
 (a) maintain its corporate existence (except pursuant to a Change of
Control or mergers or other combinations with the Company or its subsidiaries); 
  

 -11- 

 (b) maintain all rights, privileges, licenses, approvals, franchises, properties and assets necessary or
desirable in the normal conduct of its business (except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect); and 
  
 (c) comply in all material respects with its contractual obligations and requirements of law (except to the extent that
failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect). 
  
 8.4 Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its subsidiaries (i) to keep proper books of record and account with full, true and correct entries in
conformity with GAAP and all requirements of law, and (ii) to permit representatives of Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties and examine and make abstracts from any of its books and records at any reasonable time and as often as may
reasonably be desired by Lender, and discuss the business, operations, properties and financial and other condition of the Company and its subsidiaries with officers and employees of the Company or such subsidiaries and with the Company’s
independent certified public accountants. As long as there has not occurred and is continuing an Event of Default, such inspections shall be at no cost to the Company. 
  
 8.5 Notices. The Company shall promptly give written notice to Lender of: 
  
 (a) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default; 
  
 (b) any litigation or proceedings affecting the Company or any of its
subsidiaries involving amounts in excess of $100,000; and 
  
 (c)
any other event which, in the reasonable business judgment of the Company, is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. 
  
 8.6 Expenses. The Company shall pay all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of outside counsel) incurred by Lender
incident to: 
  
 (a) the preparation, negotiation and closing of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in an amount not to exceed a reasonable amount to be agreed upon by the parties; and 
  
 (b) the protection of the rights of Lender under this Agreement and any enforcement of payment of the Notes, whether by judicial proceedings or
otherwise, including, without limitation, in connection with the bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, moratorium or other similar proceedings involving the Company or a “workout” of the Notes. The obligations of the Company
under this section shall be effective and enforceable whether or not any Loan is funded and shall survive payment of all Outstanding Balances on the Notes. 
  
 8.7 Insurance. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its subsidiaries to, obtain and maintain insurance, including property insurance,
casualty insurance and general liability insurance, with responsible companies, in such amounts and against such risks as are usually carried by corporations similarly situated, and furnish Lender upon request with certificates evidencing such
insurance. 
  
 8.8 Compliance with Laws. The Company shall
comply, and cause each of its subsidiaries to comply, with all requirements of law and their respective contractual obligations, except in each case where the failure to so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

  

 -12- 

 8.9 Proceeds of the Initial Note. The proceeds from the issuance of the Initial Note, to the
extent necessary, shall be used to repay all amounts outstanding (including accrued and unpaid interest and any prepayment penalties) under the Senior Indebtedness (except, subject to Section 9.2(b)(ii), for letters of credit issued under the
Credit Agreement, which may remain outstanding). 
  
 9.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS. 
  
 The Company hereby agrees with
Lender, as long as any Notes remain unpaid or Lender has any obligation to make Loans hereunder, without the prior written consent of Lender: 
  
 9.1 Liens. The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist or permit any of its subsidiaries to create,
incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of the property and assets of the Company or such subsidiary, except: 
  
 (a) Liens or charges for current taxes, assessments or other governmental charges which are not delinquent or which remain payable without penalty, or
the validity of which are contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, provided the Company or its subsidiary shall have set aside on its books and shall maintain adequate reserves for the payment of the same in conformity with GAAP;

  
 (b) Liens, deposits or pledges made to secure statutory
obligations, surety or appeal bonds, or bonds to obtain, or to obtain the release of, attachments, writs of garnishment or for stay of execution, or to secure the performance of bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of borrowed
money), leases or for purposes of like general nature in the ordinary course of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries; 
  
 (c) statutory Liens of landlord’s, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other similar Liens imposed by law and created in the ordinary
course of business for amounts not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained in conformity with GAAP; 
  
 (d) attachment and judgment Liens not otherwise constituting an Event of
Default each of which Lien is in existence less than 30 days after the entry thereof or with respect to which execution has been stayed, payment is covered in full by insurance, or the Company or its subsidiaries shall in good faith be prosecuting
an appeal or proceedings for review and shall have set aside on its books such reserves as may be required by GAAP with respect to such judgment or award; and 
  

(e) Liens pursuant to the Credit Agreement securing letters of credit or working capital borrowings permitted under Section 9.2(b)(ii).

  
 9.2 Indebtedness. 
  
 (a) The Company shall not, directly or indirectly, incur, assume or suffer
to exist, or otherwise become or be liable in respect of any Indebtedness which is equal to the Notes in right of payment, or permit any of its subsidiaries to become so liable, except: 
  
 (i) the Notes; 
  
 (ii) Indebtedness reflected in the Financial Statements; 
  

 -13- 

 (iii) trade debt incurred in the ordinary course of business and outstanding less than
90 days after the same has become due and payable or which is being contested in good faith, provided provision is made for the eventual payment thereof in the event it is found that such contested trade debt is payable by it; 
  
 (iv) the Company is permitted to serve as the primary
lessee on behalf of, or guarantee the lease obligations for, franchisees of the Company or its affiliates provided that such leases are entered into in the ordinary course of business; or 
  
 (v) other Indebtedness not to exceed $100,000 in the
aggregate at any time outstanding. 
  
 (b) The Company shall not,
directly or indirectly, incur, assume or suffer to exist, or otherwise become or be liable in respect of any Indebtedness which is contractually senior to the Notes in right of payment, or permit any of its subsidiaries to become so liable, except:

  
 (i) Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement
incurred prior to the date hereof (subject to Section 8.9), it being specifically agreed that the Company shall not incur any additional Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement after the date hereof, except as otherwise permitted under
Section 9.2(b)(ii); 
  
 (ii) Indebtedness for
letters of credit and working capital borrowings under the Credit Agreement, not to exceed an aggregate of $1,000,000 at any time, plus any accrued interest thereon and fees with respect thereto pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement; and

  
 (iii) Indebtedness secured by Liens
permitted under Sections 9.1(a) through (e). 
  
 9.3 Loans; Advances. The Company shall not, and shall not permit its subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make or commit to make any advance, loan or extension of credit (other than extensions of credit to customers in the
ordinary course of business) or capital contribution to any Person other than: 
  
 (a) trade credit extended in the ordinary course of business; 
  
 (b) loan and advances to employees in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000 at any time outstanding; and 
  
 (c) intercompany loans and investments in other subsidiaries or the Company. 
  
 9.4 Leverage Ratio. The Company shall not permit as of the end of any Fiscal Quarter, the ratio of Indebtedness of
the Company on a consolidated basis to the Effective Tangible Net Worth to be more than 1.75:1.00. 
  
 9.5 Minimum EBITDA. The Company shall not permit EBITDA for any Fiscal Quarter, in each case calculated for such Fiscal Quarter and the immediately
preceding three Fiscal Quarters, to be less than $2,000,000. 
  

 -14- 

 10. EVENTS OF DEFAULT. 
  
 10.1 Events of Default. 
  
 (a) An event of default shall occur upon the occurrence of any of the following events, which event is continuing after the cure periods set forth in
Section 10.1(b), if any (each, an “Event of Default”): 
  
 (i) the Company shall fail to pay any Monthly Payment on the date when due or shall fail to pay when due any other amounts owed under any
Note or this Agreement; 
  
 (ii) any
representation or warranty made by the Company in this Agreement or the Notes shall be inaccurate or incomplete in any material respect on or as of the date made; 
  
 (iii) the Company shall fail to perform, observe or comply with any covenant or agreement contained herein
or in the Notes; 
  
 (iv) (A)(1) the Company or
its subsidiaries shall default in any payment of principal of or interest on any other Indebtedness having an outstanding principal amount in excess of $200,000 or (2) any Person shall default in the payment of any Indebtedness having an outstanding
principal amount in excess of $200,000 upon which the Company or its subsidiaries is contingently liable (except, in each case, for payments which are being contested in good faith, and the Company or is subsidiaries have established adequate
reserves for the eventual payment thereof in the event it is found that such contested Indebtedness is payable by the Company or its subsidiaries), and (B) the effect of which is to permit such Indebtedness to be declared or otherwise to become due
prior to its stated maturity; 
  
 (v) the
material breach by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any agreement with Lender or Lender Affiliates (excluding for this purpose the Company and its subsidiaries); 
  
 (vi) (i) the Company shall commence any case, proceeding or other action (A) under any existing or future
law of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, seeking to have an order for relief entered with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up, liquidation, dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts, or (B) seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for all or
any substantial part of its assets, or the Company shall make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; 
  
 (vii) there shall be commenced against the Company any case, proceeding or other action of a nature referred to in clause (vi) above
which (A) results in the entry of an order for relief or any such adjudication or appointment, and (B) remains undismissed, undischarged or unbonded for a period of 60 days; 
  
 (viii) there shall be commenced against the Company any case, proceeding or other action seeking issuance
of a warrant of attachment, execution, distraint or similar process against all or substantially all of its assets which results in the entry of an order for any such relief which shall not have been vacated, discharged, stayed, satisfied or bonded
pending appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof; 
  

 -15- 

 (ix) the Company shall take any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to,
approval of, or acquiescence in (other than in connection with a final settlement), any of the acts set forth in clauses (vi), (vii) or (viii) above; 
  
 (x) the Company shall generally not, or shall be unable to, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts as they become due;
or 
  
 (xi) there shall occur following the
Effective Date any event which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. 
  
 (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) except (A) with respect to Defaults set forth in Section 10.1(a)(vi), (vii), (viii), (ix) or (x), for which there shall be no cure period, or
(B) as set forth in clause (b)(ii), the Company shall have 30 days after delivery by Lender to the Company of written notice of such Default to cure such Default, and (ii) with respect to Defaults set forth in Section 10.1(a)(i), the Company
shall have seven days to cure such Default, provided that the Company shall pay a late fee equal to 1% of the aggregate amount of such late payment, and (iii) Lender shall not be required to acquire any Note pursuant to Section 2.1 during any
such cure period during which the Default has not been cured. 
  
 10.2 Remedies. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default at the option of Lender: 
  
 (a) Lender’s obligation to make Loans shall terminate and upon written notice to the Company thereof, the Outstanding Balance of all Notes and
interest accrued but unpaid thereon shall become immediately due and payable, without demand upon or presentment to the Company, which are expressly waived by the Company, and 
  
 (b) Lender may immediately exercise all rights, powers and remedies available to it at law, in equity or otherwise.

  
 11. MISCELLANEOUS. 
  
 11.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects
by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California without regard to provisions regarding conflicts of laws. 
  
 11.2 Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made herein shall survive any investigation made by any party hereto and
the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby. 
  
 11.3
Successors and Assigns. Except as set forth herein, neither party shall assign or transfer or permit the assignment or transfer of this Agreement, nor any of its rights, interests or obligations hereunder, without the prior written consent of
the other party. The provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of the parties. 
  
 11.4 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Notes, the Warrants and the Exhibits hereto and thereto (all of which are
hereby expressly incorporated herein by this reference) constitute the entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subject matter hereof and 
  

 -16- 

 thereof. Each of the parties acknowledges that neither the other party nor any representative of the other party has made
any promises, agreements, covenants, representations, warranties or other inducements whatsoever, either express or implied, written or oral, concerning the subject matter of this Agreement, the Warrants or the Notes that is not contained in this
Agreement. 
  
 11.5 Notices. Except as may be otherwise
provided herein, all notices, requests, waivers and other communications made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be conclusively deemed to have been duly given (a) when hand delivered to the other party; (b) when received when
sent by facsimile at the address and number set forth below; (c) three business days after deposit in the U.S. mail with first class or certified mail receipt requested postage prepaid and addressed to the other party as set forth below; or (d) the
next business day after deposit with a national overnight delivery service, postage prepaid, addressed to the parties as set forth below with next-business-day delivery guaranteed, provided that the sending party receives a confirmation of delivery
from the delivery service provider. 
  

			
	 To the Company:
  
 Diedrich Coffee, Inc.
 28 Executive Park, Suite 200
 Irvine, California 92614
 Attn: Roger Laverty
 Fax Number: (949) 260-6726
	  	 To Lender:
  
 Sequoia Enterprises, L.P.
 c/o Heeschen & Associates
 450 Newport Center Drive, Suite 450
 Newport Beach, CA 92660
 Attn: Paul Heeschen
 Fax Number: (949) 721-7500

		
	 with copies to:
  
 Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
 4 Park Plaza
 Irvine, CA 92614
 Attn: John M. Williams, Esq.
 Fax Number: (949) 475-4673
	  	 with copies to:
  
 Rutan & Tucker LLP
 611 Anton Boulevard, Suite 1400
 Costa Mesa, CA 92626
 Attn: Joseph D. Carruth, Esq.
 Fax Number: (714) 546-9035

  
 Each Person making a
communication hereunder by facsimile shall promptly confirm by telephone to the person to whom such communication was addressed each communication made by it by facsimile pursuant hereto but the absence of such confirmation shall not affect the
validity of any such communication. A party may change or supplement the addresses given above, or designate additional addresses, for purposes of this Section 11.5 by giving the other party written notice of the new address in the manner set
forth above. 
  
 11.6 Amendments. Any term of this
Agreement may be amended or modified only with the written consent of the Company and Lender. 
  
 11.7 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to the Company or to Lender, upon any breach or default of the other party under this Agreement, shall impair any
such right, power or remedy of the Company or Lender. No waiver of any breach of the provisions of this Agreement will be deemed to have been made by any party, unless such waiver is expressed in writing and signed by the party against which it is
to be enforced. The waiver by any party of any right under this Agreement or to a remedy for the breach of any of the provisions herein shall not operate nor be construed by the breaching party as a waiver of the non-breaching party’s remedies
with respect to any other or continuing or subsequent breach. All remedies, either under this Agreement, or by law or otherwise afforded to the Company or Lender shall be cumulative and not alternative. 
  

 -17- 

 11.8 Legal Fees. If either party to this Agreement shall bring any action, suit, arbitration,
mediation, counterclaim or appeal for any relief against the other party, declaratory or otherwise, to enforce the terms hereof or to declare rights hereunder (collectively, an “Action”), the prevailing party shall be entitled to
recover as part of any such Action its attorneys’ fees, all fees and expenses and costs reasonably and properly incurred, including any fees and costs incurred in bringing and prosecuting such Action or enforcing any order, judgment, ruling or
award granted as part of such Action. “Prevailing party” within the meaning of this section includes, without limitation, a party who agrees to dismiss an Action upon the other party’s payment of all or a portion of the sums allegedly
due or performance of the covenants allegedly breached, or who obtains substantially the relief sought by it. 
  
 11.9 No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, will confer upon any Person not a party to this Agreement, or the
representatives of such Person any rights or remedies of any nature or kind whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement. 
  
 11.10 Interpretation. The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be
considered in construing this Agreement. When a reference is made in this Agreement to a Section or Exhibit, such reference shall be to a Section or Exhibit to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Unless the context requires otherwise, the
words “include,” “includes” and “including” when used herein shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation,” and the word “or” is used in the exclusive sense of
“and/or.” 
  
 11.11 Counterparts. This Agreement
may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. 
  
 11.12 Severability. Any portion or provision of this Agreement which is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability, without affecting in any way the remaining portions or provisions hereof in such jurisdiction or, to the extent permitted by law, rendering that or any
other portion or provision of this Agreement invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any other jurisdiction; provided that, in lieu of any such invalid or unenforceable provision there shall be automatically added as part of this Agreement a valid,
legal and enforceable provision as similar in terms to the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision as possible, and provided further that, his Agreement as amended (i) reflects the intent of the parties hereto, and (ii) does not change the
bargained for consideration or benefits to be received by each party hereto. 
  
 11.13 Confidentiality of Information. Lender agrees that it will not use to the detriment of the Company or disclose to any Third Party any confidential or proprietary information of the Company received
pursuant to this Agreement, except to the extent that such information (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by Lender or its representatives, or (ii) was within Lender’s possession prior to
its first being furnished to it. Lender may disclose the confidential information of the Company to Lender’s representatives, who shall not use such information except for the purposes contemplated hereby, and who shall maintain the
confidentiality of such information, provided however, that Lender shall be responsible for any breach of this Section 11.13 by its representatives. 
  

 -18- 

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Contingent Convertible Note Purchase Agreement to be
effective as of the date first above written. 
  

			
	COMPANY:
	
	DIEDRICH COFFEE, INC.
		
	By:	 	 /s/ Roger M. Laverty

	 	 	Roger M. Laverty
	 	 	Chief Executive Officer
		
	By:	 	 /s/ Martin A. Lynch

	 	 	Martin A. Lynch
	 	 	Chief Financial Officer
	
	LENDER:
	
	SEQUOIA ENTERPRISES, L.P.
		
	By:	 	 /s/ Paul Heeschen

	 	 	Paul Heeschen, General Partner

  

 -19- 

 EXHIBIT A 
  
 FORM OF NOTE 
  
 THIS NOTE AND THE COMMON STOCK THAT MAY BE PURCHASED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
NEITHER THIS NOTE NOR SUCH SECURITIES MAY BE SOLD, PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY AND ITS LEGAL COUNSEL STATING THAT SUCH SALE, TRANSFER OR
ASSIGNMENT IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. 
  
 CONVERTIBLE PROMISSORY NOTE 
  

			
	 $                    
	 	                    ,
200    
	 Non-negotiable
	 	Irvine, California

  
 This Note is issued
pursuant to, and entitled to benefits under, that certain Contingent Convertible Note Purchase Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of May 10, 2004, as the same may be amended from time to time, by and between Diedrich Coffee,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Sequoia Enterprises, L.P., a California limited partnership (“Lender”), to which reference is hereby made for a more complete statement of the terms and conditions
under which the loan evidenced hereby is made and is to be repaid. This Note is one of a series of notes issued pursuant to the Agreement. All terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Agreement. 

 
 1. Obligation. The Company, hereby promises to pay to the
order of Lender or its permitted assigns, the principal sum of $            , together with interest on the unpaid principal amount from time to time outstanding from the date hereof
until the principal amount of this Note is paid in full, in accordance with the terms of this Note, at the Note Rate (as defined below). The principal of this Note, together with all accrued and unpaid interest, shall become due and payable on the
Maturity Date (as defined in the Agreement). 
  
 2. Interest
and Payments. 
  
 (a) Rate. Interest
shall be computed daily on the Outstanding Balance of this Note at the Note Rate. The “Note Rate” shall equal the one-month, two-month or three-month, whichever period is closest to the remaining days in the calendar quarter, LIBOR
Rate in effect on the date of issuance plus 3.30% per annum. The interest rate will be reset on the first day of each calendar quarter to the three-month LIBOR Rate then in effect plus 3.30% per annum. Interest shall be calculated on the basis of a
360 day year and actual days elapsed. Interest shall be payable in arrears. 
  
 (b) Section 25118. As of the date hereof, the Company is an entity with total assets of at least $2,000,000, as determined in accordance with Section 25118(a) of the California Securities Law of
1968, as amended, and (ii) this Note aggregates at least $300,000 in original face amount. 
  
 (c) Monthly Payments. Unless converted into Common Stock in accordance with Section 7, on the first day of each month, the Company will make payments to Lender equal to the sum of: 
  
 (i) all accrued interest on the Outstanding Balance of this
Note for the prior month, plus 

 (ii) a principal repayment equal to a percentage of the Outstanding Balance on the date
of such Monthly Payment such that, when amortized in equal principal payments over the term of this Note (from the date of issuance to May 10, 2007), 60% of the Outstanding Balance on the date of issuance of this Note shall be repaid by Maturity.

  
 (d) Place of Payment. All principal and
interest shall be payable in lawful money of the United States at Lender’s offices located at 450 Newport Center Drive, Suite 450, Newport Beach, California 92660. 
  
 3. Disbursements. All repayments of the principal on this Note shall be recorded by Lender on the
schedule attached hereto, or on a continuation of such schedule attached to and made a part hereof; provided that the failure of Lender to make any such recordation shall not affect the obligations of Company hereunder. 
  
 4. Prepayment. This Note may be prepaid in whole or in part at
any time. The Company shall give to Lender at least 10 days advance notice of its intent to prepay any or all amounts under this Note. Lender will apply partial prepayments of this Note first to interest and then to principal. 
  
 5. Effect of Non-Payment of Interest. In the event that any
interest is not paid on this Note when due, without affecting any of Lender’s other rights and remedies, to the extent permitted by applicable law, unpaid interest, shall bear interest at the Note Rate. 
  
 6. Subordination. The indebtedness evidenced by this Note is
hereby expressly subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of the Senior Indebtedness. 
  
 7. Conversion of Note for Common Stock. If there is a Change of Control at any time prior to payment in full of the principal balance of
this Note, Lender will have the right, immediately prior to consummation of such Change of Control, to convert the amounts outstanding under this Note (including accrued and unpaid interest) into Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Price
per share. 
  
 (a) Conversion of Note. Subject to
the terms and conditions of the Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock into which this Note may be converted shall be determined by dividing (a) the lesser of (i) $5,000,000 minus the aggregate principal amount of all Notes issued under the
Agreement and repaid (and for which Warrants have been issued pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Agreement) and (ii) the Outstanding Balance of this Note to be converted plus all accrued and unpaid interest on such Note to but not including the
date of conversion by (b) the applicable Conversion Price. The “Conversion Price” for this Note shall be the greater of (i) the closing price of the Common Stock on the date this Note was issued, which price was
$             per share, (the “Issuance Closing Price”) as the same may be appropriately adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, or other events described in
Section 7(b) of this Note and (ii) 85% of the average price per share of Common Stock paid by any Person who engages in a transaction or series of transactions resulting in a Change of Control. 
  
 (b) Adjustment Provisions. Until the date that this Note is
converted or cancelled, the Issuance Closing Price shall be appropriately and proportionally adjusted to reflect any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, combination of shares, reclassification, recapitalization or other similar event
affecting the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock. Whenever the Issuance Closing Price shall be adjusted pursuant to this Section 7(b), the Company shall issue a written notice 
  

 2 

 setting forth, in reasonable detail, the event requiring the adjustment, the amount of the adjustment, the method by
which such adjustment was calculated and the revised Issuance Closing Price after giving effect to such adjustment, and shall cause a copy of such notice to be delivered to the Lender. The form of this Note need not be changed because of any
adjustment in the Issuance Closing Price. 
  
 (c) THIS NOTE
SHALL NOT BE CONVERTIBLE INTO SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY IF SUCH CONVERSION WOULD VIOLATE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. 
  
 8. Issuance of Warrants. Until such time as the aggregate principal amount of all Notes issued under the Agreement and repaid shall equal
$5,000,000, upon repayment of the principal hereof, the Company shall issue Lender warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock, as set forth in Section 2.2 of the Agreement (including adjustment as set forth in Section 2.2(c)). For federal income
tax purposes the amount of the issue price allocated to each Warrant to be issued is [            ] Dollars
($            ) per $1,000 principal amount repaid, which shall be the value ascribed to each Warrant by the Company and Lender for all purposes, including the preparation of tax
returns and the preparation of the financial statements of the Company. 
  
 9. Default. The Company will be deemed to be in default under this Note upon the occurrence of any Event of Default (as defined in the Agreement), which event is continuing after the applicable cure period set forth in Section
10.1(b) of the Agreement. 
  
 10. Late Fee. If any
amount is not paid in full when due hereunder, a late fee shall be incurred in an amount equal to one percent (1%) of the amount not so paid. 
  
 11. Transfer. This Note may not be assigned by the holder hereof, except to a Lender Affiliate (as such term is defined in the Agreement),
without the prior written consent of the Company. 
  
 12.
Governing Law. This Note shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to its conflicts of law principles. 
  
 13. Compliance with Usury Laws. All agreements between the
Company and the holder hereof are expressly limited so that in no contingency or event whatsoever, whether by reason of advancement of the proceeds hereof, acceleration of maturity of the unpaid principal balance hereof, or otherwise, shall the
amount paid or agreed to be paid to the holder hereof for the use, forbearance or detention of the money to be advanced hereunder exceed the highest lawful rate permissible under applicable usury laws. If, from any circumstances whatsoever,
fulfillment of any provision hereof, at the time performance of such provision shall be due, shall involve transcending the limit of validity prescribed by law which a court of competent jurisdiction may deem applicable hereto, then ipso
facto, the obligations to be fulfilled shall be reduced to the limit of such validity, and if from any circumstances the holder hereof shall ever receive as interest an amount which would exceed the highest lawful rate, such amount which would
be excessive interest shall be applied to the reduction of the unpaid principal balance due hereunder and not to the payment of interest. 
  
 14. Waiver. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor
shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative and not
exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by law. 
  

 3 

 15. Amendment. This Note may be amended or modified only upon the written consent of both
the Company and Lender. Any amendment must specifically state the provision or provisions to be amended and the manner in which such provision(s) are to be amended. 
  
 16. Replacement Notes. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the ownership
and the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Note, and of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it, and (in the case of mutilation) upon surrender and cancellation of this Note, the Company will execute and deliver in lieu thereof a new
Note of like tenor. 
  
 17. Agreement. This Note
incorporates by reference all the provisions of the Agreement, including but not limited to all provisions contained therein with respect to Events of Default, waivers, remedies and covenants, and the description of the benefits, rights and
obligation of each of the Company and Lender under the Agreement. 
  
 18. Terms Binding. By acceptance of this Note, the holder hereof accepts and agrees to be bound by all the terms and conditions of this Note and the Agreement. 
  
 19. No Rights or Liabilities as Stockholder. This Note does not entitle the holder thereof to any voting
rights or other rights as a stockholder of the Company. No provisions of this Note, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the holder, shall cause the holder hereof to be a stockholder of the Company for any purpose. 
  
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Note as of the date and
year first above written. 
  

			
	COMPANY:
	
	 DIEDRICH COFFEE, INC. a Delaware corporation

		
	 By:
	 	  

	 Name:
	 	  

	 Title:
	 	  

  

 4 

 CONVERTIBLE PROMISSORY NOTE 
  
 LOANS OF PRINCIPAL 
  

									
	 Date

	 	 Amount of Loan

	 	 Amount of
 Prepayment

	  	Principal Balance

	  	 Lender
 Recordation By

					
	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	  	 
					
	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	  	 
					
	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	  	 
					
	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	  	 
					
	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	  	 
					
	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	  	 
					
	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	  	 
					
	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	  	 
					
	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	  	 
					
	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	  	 
					
	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	  	 
					
	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	  	 
					
	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	  	 
					
	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	  	 
					
	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	  	 
					
	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	  	 
					
	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	  	 
					
	 	 	 	 	 	  	 	  	 

 EXHIBIT B 
  
 FORM OF WARRANT 
  
 THIS WARRANT AND THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE
SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS WARRANT NOR SUCH COMMON STOCK MAY BE SOLD, PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY AND ITS LEGAL COUNSEL STATING THAT SUCH SALE,
TRANSFER OR ASSIGNMENT IS EXEMPT FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. 
  

WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK 
  
 OF 
  
 DIEDRICH COFFEE, INC. 
  
 VOID AFTER MAY 10, 2008 
  

	
	                        
     , 200  
	No.        [Warrant No.]

  
 This certifies
that Sequoia Enterprises, Inc., a California limited partnership, or its permitted successors and assigns (the “Holder”) is entitled, subject to the terms and conditions of this Warrant, to purchase from Diedrich Coffee, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”), all or any part of an aggregate of [Number of Shares] shares of the Company’s authorized and unissued Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Warrant Stock”),
at the Conversion Price (as defined herein), upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal offices of the Company, together with a duly executed subscription form and simultaneous payment of the Conversion Price for each share of Warrant Stock so
purchased in lawful money of the United States. The number of shares of Warrant Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant and the Conversion Price are subject to adjustment and limitation as provided in the Agreement (as defined below) and
herein. 
  
 This Warrant is one of a series of warrants issued
pursuant to that certain Contingent Convertible Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2004 (the “Agreement”), by and between the Company and Sequoia Enterprises, Inc. The Holder may exercise this Warrant in the event of a
Change of Control prior to May 10, 2008 (the “Expiration Date”). All terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Agreement. 
  
 1. Definitions. For purposes of this Warrant, the “Conversion Price” for this Warrant will be
the greater of (a) $             [insert the weighted average closing price of the Common Stock on the date of issuance of each of the Notes to which this Warrant relates], as
the same may be adjusted pursuant to Section 4 (the “Note Price”), or (b) an amount equal to 85% of the average price paid per share of Common Stock by any Person who engages in a transaction or series of transactions
resulting in a Change of Control. 
  
 2. Exercise.

  
 2.1 Right to Exercise. If there is a Change of
Control, the Holder will have the right, immediately prior to such Change of Control, to exercise this Warrant for the number of shares of Warrant Stock (as such number may be adjusted pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Agreement or Section 4 hereof) at
the then applicable Conversion Price per share. 

 2.2 Form of Payment. Payment by Holder of the aggregate Conversion Price may be made by (a) a
check payable to the Company’s order, (b) wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Company, (c) cancellation of indebtedness of the Company to the Holder, or (d) any combination of the foregoing. In lieu of the foregoing, the Holder
may elect to receive shares of Common Stock equal to the value of this Warrant using the following formula: 
  
 X = Y(A-B)/A 
  

			
	 Where: X equals the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to the Holder;

		
	 	  	 Y equals the number of shares of Warrant Stock (as such number may be adjusted pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Agreement or Section 4
hereof) ;

		
	 	  	 A equals the closing price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market (or such other market or exchange where the Company’s stock
price is reported at that time) on the date of exercise; and

		
	 	  	 B equals the Conversion Price.

  
 3. Issuance of
Stock. The shares of Warrant Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall and will be deemed to be issued to the Holder as the record owner of such shares immediately prior to consummation of the Change of Control. 
  
 4. Adjustment Provisions. The number and character of shares of
Warrant Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant (or any shares of stock or other securities or property at the time receivable or issuable upon exercise of this Warrant) and the Note Price therefor, are subject to adjustment pursuant to Section
2.2 of the Agreement and upon the occurrence of the following events between the date this Warrant is issued and the date it is exercised or expires: 
  
 4.1 Adjustment for Stock Splits, Stock Dividends, Recapitalizations, etc. The Note Price of this Warrant and the number of shares of Warrant Stock
issuable upon exercise of this Warrant (or any shares of stock or other securities at the time issuable upon exercise of this Warrant) shall each be appropriately and proportionally adjusted to reflect any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock
split, combination of shares, reclassification, recapitalization or other similar event affecting the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock (or such other stock or securities). 
  
 4.2 Adjustment for Other Dividends and Distributions. In case the Company shall make or issue, or shall fix a record
date for the determination of eligible holders entitled to receive, a dividend or other distribution payable with respect to the Common Stock that is payable in (a) securities of the Company (other than issuances with respect to which adjustment is
made under Section 4.1), or (b) assets, then, and in each such case, the Holder, upon exercise of this Warrant at any time after the consummation, effective date or record date of such event, shall receive, in addition to the shares of
Warrant Stock issuable upon such exercise prior to such date, the securities or such other assets of the Company to which the Holder would have been entitled upon such date if the Holder had exercised this Warrant immediately prior thereto (all
subject to further adjustment as provided in this Warrant). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no adjustment in respect of any cash dividends paid by the Company will be made during the term of this Warrant or upon the exercise of this Warrant.

  
 4.3 Notice of Adjustments. Whenever the Note Price or
character or number of shares of Warrant Stock issuable upon exercise hereof shall be adjusted pursuant to this Section 4, the Company shall issue a written notice setting forth, in reasonable detail, the event requiring the adjustment, the
amount of the adjustment, the method by which such adjustment was calculated and the Note Price and character and number of shares of Warrant Stock purchasable hereunder after giving effect to such adjustment, and shall cause a copy of such notice
to be delivered to the Holder. 
  

 2 

 4.4 No Change Necessary. The form of this Warrant need not be changed because of any adjustment in
the Note Price or in the number of shares of Warrant Stock issuable upon its exercise. 
  
 5. No Rights or Liabilities as Stockholder. This Warrant does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights or other rights as a stockholder of the Company. No provisions of this Warrant, and no
enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder, shall cause the Holder to be a stockholder of the Company for any purpose. 
  
 6. Transfer. This Warrant may not be assigned by the Holder, except to a Lender Affiliate, without the prior written consent of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, THIS WARRANT SHALL NOT BE EXERCISABLE INTO SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY IF SUCH EXERCISE WOULD VIOLATE FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. 
  
 7. Loss or Mutilation. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence
reasonably satisfactory to it of the ownership and the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant, and of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it, and (in the case of mutilation) upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the
Company will execute and deliver in lieu thereof a new Warrant of like tenor. 
  
 8. Governing Law. This Warrant shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to its conflicts of law principles.

  
 9. Agreement. This Warrant incorporates by
reference all the provisions of the Agreement, including all provisions contained therein with respect to remedies and covenants, and the description of the benefits, rights and obligation of each of the Company and Lender under the Agreement.

  
 10. Terms Binding. By acceptance of this
Warrant, the Holder accepts and agrees to be bound by all the terms and conditions of this Warrant and the Agreement. 
  
 11. No Impairment. The Company will not, by amendment of its certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or through reorganization,
consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, sale of assets or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in
the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of the Holder of this Warrant against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company
(a) will not increase the par value of any shares of stock issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise, and (b) will take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the
Company may validly issue fully paid and non-assessable shares of Warrant Stock upon exercise of this Warrant. 
  
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Warrant as of the date and year set forth above. 
  

			
	 COMPANY:

	
	 DIEDRICH COFFEE, INC.

		
	 By:
	 	  

	 	 	 Roger M. Laverty

	 	 	 Chief Executive Officer

  

 3Exhibit 10.9

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     THIS EMPLOYMENT  AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"),  made and entered into as of
July 1, 2004, by and between NETWOLVES CORPORATION, a New York corporation, with
its principal office located at 4805 W. Independence Parkway,  Suite 101, Tampa,
FL 33634-7511  (together with its successors  and assigns  permitted  under this
Agreement,  "NetWolves") and WALTER M. GROTEKE ("Groteke"),  amends and restates
in its entirety the  original  agreement  made and entered into as of October 1,
2000 between NetWolves and Groteke ("Prior Agreement"), except for equity issued
and the  cumulative  effect  of  cost-of-  living  adjustments  under  the prior
agreement which shall remain in full force and effect.

                                   WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS,  NetWolves  has  determined  that it is in the best  interests  of
NetWolves and its stockholders to continue to employ Groteke and to set forth in
this Agreement the obligations and duties of both NetWolves and Groteke; and

     WHEREAS,  NetWolves  wishes to assure itself of the services of Groteke for
the period  hereinafter  provided,  and  Groteke is  willing to be  employed  by
NetWolves  for said  period,  upon the terms  and  conditions  provided  in this
Agreement;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the premises  and mutual  covenants
contained herein and for other good and valuable  consideration,  the receipt of
which is mutually  acknowledged,  NetWolves and Groteke  (individually a "Party"
and together the "Parties") agree as follows:

     1. DEFINITIONS.

     (a)  "Beneficiary"  shall  mean the  person  or  persons  named by  Groteke
pursuant  to Section 16 below or, in the event that no such  person is named who
survives Groteke, his estate.

     (b) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of NetWolves.

     (c) "Cause" shall mean:

     (i) Groteke's conviction of a felony involving an act or acts of dishonesty
on his part and  resulting or intended to result  directly or indirectly in gain
or personal enrichment at the expense of NetWolves;

                                       1
<PAGE>

     (ii) willful and  continued  failure of Groteke to perform his  obligations
under this  Agreement,  resulting  in  demonstrable  material  economic  harm to
NetWolves, or

     (iii) a material  breach by Groteke of the  provisions of Sections 13 or 14
below to the demonstrable and material detriment of NetWolves.

     Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  in no event  shall  Groteke's  failure to
perform the duties associated with his position caused by his mental or physical
disability constitute Cause for his termination.

     For purposes of this Section  1(c), no act or failure to act on the part of
Groteke shall be considered  "willful" unless it is done, or omitted to be done,
by him in bad faith or without reasonable belief that his action or omission was
in the best  interests  of  NetWolves.  Any act or  failure  to act  based  upon
authority given pursuant to a resolution  adopted by the Board or based upon the
advice of counsel for NetWolves  shall be  conclusively  presumed to be done, or
omitted  to be done,  by  Groteke  in good  faith and in the best  interests  of
NetWolves.

     (d) "Change in Control"  shall mean the  occurrence of any of the following
events:

     (i) the acquisition by any individual,  entity or group (within the meaning
of Section  13(d)(3)  or  14(d)(2)  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 as
amended (the "Exchange  Act") (a "Person") of beneficial  ownership  (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3  promulgated  under the Exchange Act) of voting securities
of NetWolves when such acquisition  causes such Person to own 30 percent or more
of the  combined  voting  power of the then  outstanding  voting  securities  of
NetWolves  entitled  to  vote  generally  in  the  election  of  directors  (the
"Outstanding NetWolves Voting Securities"); provided, however, that for purposes
of this subsection (i), the following acquisitions shall not be deemed to result
in a Change of Control:  (A) any acquisition  directly from  NetWolves,  (B) any
acquisition by NetWolves,  (C) any acquisition by any employee  benefit plan (or
related  trust)   sponsored  or  maintained  by  NetWolves  or  any  corporation
controlled by NetWolves or (D) any  acquisition  pursuant to a transaction  that
complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subsection  (iii) below; and provided,
further,  that if any Person's beneficial ownership of the Outstanding NetWolves
Voting  Securities  reaches or  exceeds 30 percent as a result of a  transaction
described  in clause (A) or (B) above,  and such  Person  subsequently  acquires
beneficial  ownership  of  additional  voting  securities  of  NetWolves,   such
subsequent  acquisition  shall be treated as an  acquisition  that  causes  such
Person to own 30 percent or more of the Outstanding NetWolves Voting Securities;
or

     (ii)  individuals  who, as of the date  hereof,  constitute  the Board (the
"Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the

                                       2
<PAGE>

Board; provided,  however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to
the date hereof  whose  election,  or  nomination  for  election  by  NetWolves'
stockholders,  was  approved by a vote of at least a majority  of the  directors
then  comprising  the  Incumbent  Board  shall  be  considered  as  though  such
individual were a member of the Incumbent  Board, but excluding for this purpose
any such individual whose initial  assumption of office occurs as a result of an
actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of
directors or other actual or threatened  solicitation  of proxies or consents by
or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or

     (iii) consummation of a reorganization,  merger or consolidation or sale or
other  disposition of all or subsequently  all of the assets of NetWolves or the
acquisition of assets of another  entity  ("Business  Combination");  excluding,
however,  such a Business Combination pursuant to which (A) all or substantially
all of the  individuals  and  entities  who were the  beneficial  owners  of the
Outstanding  NetWolves  Voting  Securities  immediately  prior to such  Business
Combination  beneficially own, directly or indirectly,  more than 60 percent of,
respectively,  the then  outstanding  shares  of common  stock and the  combined
voting  power  of the  then  outstanding  voting  securities  entitled  to  vote
generally in the election of directors,  as the case may be, of the  corporation
resulting  from such Business  Combination  (including,  without  limitation,  a
corporation  that as a  result  of such  transaction  owns  NetWolves  or all or
substantially  all of NetWolves'  assets either  directly or through one or more
subsidiaries)  in  substantially   the  same  proportions  as  their  ownership,
immediately  prior to such Business  Combination  of the  Outstanding  NetWolves
Voting  Securities,  (B) no Person  (excluding  any  employee  benefit  plan (or
related  trust) of NetWolves or such  corporation  resulting  from such Business
Combination)  beneficially owns, directly or indirectly,  30 percent or more of,
respectively,  the then  outstanding  shares of common stock of the  corporation
resulting  from such Business  Combination  or the combined  voting power of the
then outstanding voting securities of such corporation except to the extent that
such  ownership  existed  prior to the Business  Combination  and (C) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the  corporation  resulting
from such Business  Combination  were members of the Incumbent Board at the time
of the  execution  of the  initial  agreement,  or of the  action of the  Board,
providing for such Business Combination; or

     (iv) approval by the stockholders of NetWolves of a complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.

     (e) "Code"  shall mean the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended from
time to time.

     (f) "Committee" shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board.

     (g)  "Disability"  shall  mean the  illness  or other  mental  or  physical
disability of Groteke, as determined by a physician  acceptable to NetWolves and
Groteke,  resulting in his failure  during the  Employment  Term, (i) to perform
substantially  his applicable  material duties under this Agreement for a period

                                       3
<PAGE>

of nine  consecutive  months and (ii) to return to the performance of his duties
within 30 days after receiving written notice of termination.

     (h)  "Employment  Term"  shall mean the period  specified  in Section  2(b)
below.

     (i) "Fiscal  Year" shall mean the 12-month  period  beginning on July 1 and
ending on the next  subsequent  June 30, or such  other  12-month  period as may
constitute NetWolves's fiscal year at any time hereafter.

     (j) "Good  Reason"  shall  mean,  at any time during the  Employment  Term,
without Groteke's prior written consent or his acquiescence:

     (i) reduction in his then current Salary;

     (ii)  diminution,  reduction  or  other  adverse  change  in the  bonus  or
incentive compensation  opportunities  available to Groteke (with respect to the
level of bonus opportunities,  the applicable performance criteria and otherwise
the  manner  in which  bonuses  are  determined)  in the  aggregate  from  those
available as of the date hereof in accordance with Section 4(a) below;

     (iii)  NetWolves's  failure to pay Groteke any amounts otherwise vested and
due him hereunder or under any plan or policy of NetWolves;

     (iv)   diminution   of   Groteke's   titles,   position,   authorities   or
responsibilities, including not serving on the Board;

     (v) assignment to Groteke of duties incompatible with his position of Chief
Executive Officer;

     (vi)  termination by Groteke of his employment  within one year following a
Change in Control  other than (a) by mutual  agreement,  (b) for Cause or (c) by
reason of Retirement, death or Disability;

     (vii)  imposition of a requirement  that Groteke report other than directly
to the full Board;

     (viii) a material  breach of the  Agreement by NetWolves  that is not cured
within 10 business days after written notification by Groteke of such breach; or

     (ix)  relocation of NetWolves'  corporate  headquarters  to a location more
than 50 miles  from the  location  first  above  described  or 50 miles from the
current location of Netwolves' Tampa, Florida facility.

     (k) "Salary" shall mean the annual salary  provided for in Section 3 below,

                                       4
<PAGE>

as adjusted from time to time.

     (l) "Spouse" shall mean, during the Term of Employment, the woman who as of
any relevant date is legally married to Groteke.

     (m)  "Subsidiary"  shall  mean any  corporation  of which  NetWolves  owns,
directly or indirectly, more than 50 percent of its voting stock.

     2. EMPLOYMENT TERM, POSITIONS AND DUTIES.

     (a) Employment of Groteke.  NetWolves  hereby  continues to employ Groteke,
and Groteke hereby accepts continued employment with NetWolves, in the positions
and with the duties  and  responsibilities  set forth  below and upon such other
terms and conditions as are hereinafter stated. Groteke shall render services to
NetWolves  principally at NetWolves's  corporate  headquarters,  but he shall do
such  traveling on behalf of NetWolves  as shall be  reasonably  required in the
course  of the  performance  of his  duties  hereunder,  including  to its Tampa
facility.

     (b) Employment  Term. The Employment Term shall commence on the date hereof
and shall terminate on June 30, 2010.

     (c) Titles and Duties.

     (i) Until the date of  termination  of his  employment  hereunder,  Groteke
shall be employed as Chief  Executive  Officer,  reporting to the full Board. In
his  capacity  as Chief  Executive  Officer,  Groteke  shall have the  customary
powers,   responsibilities  and  authorities  of  chief  executive  officers  of
corporations  of the size,  type and  nature  of  NetWolves  including,  without
limitation, authority, in conjunction with the Board as appropriate, to hire and
terminate other employees of NetWolves.

     (ii) During the Employment  Term,  NetWolves shall uses its best efforts to
secure the  election  of Groteke to the Board and to the  chairmanship  thereof.
During  the  Employment  Term,  if the  Board  forms  an  executive  or  similar
committee, Groteke shall serve thereon.

     (d) Time and Effort.

     (i) Groteke  agrees to devote his best efforts and  abilities,  and such of
his business time and attention as is  reasonably  necessary,  to the affairs of
NetWolves  in order to carry out his  duties  and  responsibilities  under  this
Agreement.

     (ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing shall preclude Groteke from (A)
serving on the boards of a reasonable number of trade  associations,  charitable
organizations and/or businesses not in competition with NetWolves,  (B) engaging

                                       5
<PAGE>

in charitable  activities  and  community  affairs and (C) managing his personal
investments  and  affairs;  provided,  however,  that,  such  activities  do not
materially   interfere   with  the   proper   performance   of  his  duties  and
responsibilities specified in Section 2 (c) above.

     3. SALARY.

     (a) Initial Salary.  Groteke shall receive from NetWolves a Salary, payable
in accordance  with the regular  payroll  practices of  NetWolves,  in a minimum
amount of $275,000.

     (b)  Cost-of-Living  Increase.  During the Employment Term Groteke's Salary
shall be increased  semiannually  by an amount equal to the increase in the cost
of living for the immediately  preceding calendar half-year,  as reported in the
"Consumer  Price  Index,  New York and  Northeastern  New  Jersey,  All  Items,"
published by the United States  Department of Labor,  Bureau of Labor Statistics
(or, if such index is no longer published,  a successor or comparable index that
is  published).  Such amount shall be  cumulative  commencing  2000 and shall be
calculated and paid to Groteke in a single sum on or before the first day of the
second month  following the  applicable  calendar half year,  and thereafter his
Salary  shall be deemed to include  the amount of any such  increase.  The first
calculation and payment under this agreement shall be made on or before February
1, 2000 with respect to the period October 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000. If
Groteke's  employment  shall  terminate  during any such six-month  period,  the
cost-of-living  increase  provided  in  this  Section  3(b)  shall  be  prorated
accordingly.

     (c) Salary Increase. Any amount to which Groteke's Salary is increased,  as
provided in Section 3(b) above or  otherwise,  shall not  thereafter  be reduced
without his consent, and the term "Salary" as used in this Agreement shall refer
to his Salary as thus increased.

     4. BONUSES.

     Groteke  shall  be  eligible  to  receive  additional  bonuses  during  the
Employment Term. NetWolves Corporation shall determine,  in its discretion,  the
occasion for payment, and the amount, of any such bonus.

     5. LONG-TERM INCENTIVE.

     During the  Employment  Term,  Groteke shall be eligible for an award under
any long- term  incentive  compensation  plan  established  by NetWolves for the
benefit of Groteke or, in the absence  thereof,  under any such plan established
for the benefit of members of the senior management of NetWolves.

                                       6
<PAGE>

     6. EQUITY OPPORTUNITY.

     During the Employment Term,  Groteke shall be eligible to receive grants of
options  to  purchase  shares  of  NetWolves's  stock  and  awards  of shares of
NetWolves's stock,  either or both as determined by the Committee,  under and in
accordance  with the terms of applicable  plans of NetWolves and related  option
and award agreements. It is the intention of NetWolves to grant stock options to
Groteke during the Employment Term.

     7. EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT; CERTAIN OTHER COSTS.

     During  the   Employment   Term,   Groteke  shall  be  entitled  to  prompt
reimbursement by NetWolves for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by
him in performing  services  under this  Agreement,  upon his submission of such
accounts and records as may be reasonably required by NetWolves.

     8. PERQUISITES.

     During the  Employment  Term,  NetWolves  shall  provide  Groteke  with the
following perquisites:

     (a) an office of a size and with  furnishings and other  appointments,  and
exclusive  personal  secretarial  and other  assistance,  at least equal to that
provided to Groteke by NetWolves as of the date hereof; and

     (b) the use of an  automobile  and payment of related  expenses on the same
terms as in effect on the date hereof or, if more favorable to Groteke,  as made
available  generally to other executive officers of NetWolves and its affiliates
at any time thereafter.

     9. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.

     (a)  General.  During the  Employment  Term,  Groteke  shall be entitled to
participate  in all  employee  benefit  plans and  programs  made  available  to
NetWolves's  senior executives or to its employees  generally,  as such plans or
programs  may be in effect  from time to time,  including,  without  limitation,
pension and other retirement plans,  profit-sharing  plans,  savings and similar
plans,  group life  insurance,  accidental  death and  dismemberment  insurance,
travel accident insurance,  hospitalization insurance, surgical insurance, major
and excess major medical insurance,  dental insurance,  short-term and long-term
disability insurance,  sick leave (including salary continuation  arrangements),
holidays, vacation (not less than four weeks in any calendar year) and any other
employee  benefit plans or programs that may be sponsored by NetWolves from time
to time,  including  plans  that  supplement  the  above-listed  types of plans,
whether funded or unfunded.

     (b) Medical Care  Reimbursement and Insurance.  During the Employment Term,
NetWolves  shall  reimburse  Groteke  for 100  percent of any  medical  expenses
incurred  by him for  himself,  his  Spouse,  or  immediate  family that are not

                                       7
<PAGE>

reimbursed  by  insurance  or   otherwise,   offset  by  any  amounts  that  are
reimbursable  by Medicare if Groteke and his Spouse and immediate  family,  when
eligible,  elect to be covered by Medicare.  NetWolves shall provide Groteke and
his  Spouse  and  immediate  family  during his  lifetime  with  hospitalization
insurance,  surgical  insurance,  major and excess major  medical  insurance and
dental insurance in accordance with the most favorable plans, policies, programs
and  practices of NetWolves and its  Subsidiaries  made  available  generally to
other senior  executive  officers of NetWolves and its Subsidiaries as in effect
from time to time.

     (c) Life  Insurance  Benefit.  In  addition  to the  group  life  insurance
available  to  employees  generally,  NetWolves  shall  provide  Groteke with an
individual  permanent  life  insurance  benefit in an initial amount of not less
than  approximately  $5 million,  the terms and conditions of such benefit to be
more fully  described in an insurance  ownership  agreement  between Groteke and
NetWolves.

     (d) Disability  Benefit. In consideration of the benefit payable to Groteke
in the event of termination of his employment due to Disability,  as provided in
Section 10(d) below,  NetWolves  shall not be obligated to provide  Groteke with
long-term disability insurance. If NetWolves elects to provide Groteke with such
insurance,  he shall be the owner of any individual  policies obtained and shall
pay the premiums  thereon;  provided,  however,  that NetWolves  shall reimburse
Groteke for any premiums that he pays.

     10. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

     (a) Voluntary Termination and Termination by Mutual Agreement.  Groteke may
terminate his employment voluntarily at any time. If he does so, his entitlement
shall be the same as if NetWolves had terminated  his employment for Cause.  The
Parties may terminate this Agreement by mutual agreement at any time. If they do
so, Groteke's entitlements shall be as the Parties mutually agree.

     (b) General.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event
of  termination  of  Groteke's  employment  under  this  Agreement,  he  or  his
Beneficiary,  as the case may be,  shall be entitled to receive (in  addition to
payments and benefits under, and except as specifically provided in, subsections
(c) through (i) below, as applicable):

     (i) his Salary through the date of termination;

     (ii) any unused vacation from prior years;

     (iii) any bonus awarded but not yet paid to him;

     (iv) any other compensation or benefits, including without limitation long-
term incentive  compensation described in Section 5 above, benefits under equity
grants and awards described in Section 6 above and employee benefits under plans
described in Section 9 above,  that have vested  through the date of termination

                                       8
<PAGE>

or to which he may then be entitled in accordance with the applicable  terms and
conditions of each grant, award or plan; and

     (v)  reimbursement  in  accordance  with Sections 9(a) and (b) above of any
business  and medical  expenses  incurred by Groteke or his Spouse or  immediate
family, as applicable, through the date of termination but not yet paid to him.

     (c)  Termination  due to Death.  In the event that Groteke's  employment is
terminated due to his death, his Beneficiary  shall be entitled,  in addition to
the compensation and benefits  specified in Section 10(b), to his Salary payable
for the  remainder  of the  Employment  Term at the rate in  effect  immediately
before such termination.

     (d) Termination due to Disability. In the event of Disability, NetWolves or
Groteke  may  terminate  Groteke's   employment.   If  Groteke's  employment  is
terminated  due  to  Disability,  he  shall  be  entitled,  in  addition  to the
compensation and benefits  specified in Section 10(b), to his Salary payable for
the remainder of the Employment  Term at the rate in effect  immediately  before
such  termination,  offset by any long-term  disability  insurance  benefit that
NetWolves may have elected to provide for him.

     (e) Termination by NetWolves for Cause.  NetWolves may terminate  Groteke's
employment hereunder for Cause only upon written notice to Groteke not less than
30 days prior to any  intended  termination,  which  notice  shall  specify  the
grounds for such  termination in reasonable  detail.  Cause shall in no event be
deemed to exist except upon a finding  reflected  in a resolution  approved by a
majority  (excluding  Groteke) of the members of the Board (whose findings shall
not be binding  upon or entitled to any  deference by any court,  arbitrator  or
other  decision-maker  ruling on this  Agreement)  at a meeting of which Groteke
shall have been given proper notice and at which Groteke (and his counsel) shall
have a reasonable  opportunity  to present his case. In the event that Groteke's
employment  is  terminated  for  Cause,   he  shall  be  entitled  only  to  the
compensation and benefits specified in Section 10(b).

     (f) Termination Without Cause or by Groteke for Good Reason.

     (i)  Termination   without  Cause  shall  mean   termination  of  Groteke's
employment  by  NetWolves  and  shall  exclude  termination  (A)  due to  death,
Disability or Cause,  (B) by Groteke  voluntarily or (C) by mutual  agreement of
Groteke and NetWolves.  NetWolves  shall provide  Groteke 15 days' prior written
notice of termination by it without Cause,  and Groteke shall provide  NetWolves
15 days' prior written notice of his termination for Good Reason.

     (ii) In the event of  termination  by  NetWolves  of  Groteke's  employment
without Cause or of termination by Groteke of his employment for Good Reason, he
shall be entitled,  in addition to the  compensation  and benefits  specified in
Section 10(b), to:

     (A) his Salary,  payable for the  remainder of the  Employment  Term at the

                                      9
<PAGE>

rate in effect immediately before such termination;

     (B) annual  bonuses for the remainder of the Employment  Term  (including a
prorated  bonus for any partial  Fiscal  Year) equal to the average of the three
highest annual bonuses  awarded to him during the ten Fiscal Years preceding the
Fiscal  Year of  termination,  such  bonuses to be paid at the same time  annual
bonuses are regularly paid by NetWolves to Groteke;

     (C) continued  medical  reimbursement  for the remainder of the  Employment
Term and  thereafter  the lifetime  medical  benefits  described in Section 9(b)
above;

     (D)  continued  participation  in all  employee  benefit  plans or programs
available to NetWolves employees generally in which Groteke was participating on
the date of termination of his employment  until the end of the Employment Term;
provided;  however,  that  (x) if  Groteke  is  precluded  from  continuing  his
participation in any employee benefit plan or program as provided in this clause
(E), he shall be entitled to the after-tax  economic  equivalent of the benefits
under the plan or program in which he is unable to participate  until the end of
the  Employment  Term, and (y) the economic  equivalent of any benefit  foregone
shall be deemed to be the lowest cost that Groteke would incur in obtaining such
benefit on an individual basis; and

     (E) other benefits in accordance with applicable  plans and programs of the
Company . (iii) Prior written consent by Groteke to any of the events  described
in Section  1(k) above shall be deemed a waiver by him of his right to terminate
for Good  Reason  under this  Section  10(f)  solely by reason of the events set
forth in such waiver.

     (g) Voluntary Termination by Groteke. Groteke shall have the right, upon 60
days' prior written notice, voluntarily to terminate his employment without Good
Reason,  in which event his employment shall cease and the Employment Term shall
terminate  as of the date  stated in such  notice,  and he shall be  entitled to
receive  compensation and benefits as if NetWolves had terminated his employment
for Cause, as provided in Section 10(e).

     (h) Change in Control.  Notwithstanding  anything  to the  contrary in this
Section 10,  termination  of Groteke's  employment  within the  one-year  period
following a Change in Control for any reason other than Cause, Retirement, death
or  Disability,  shall be  governed by Section  10(g).  In the event of any such
termination,   Groteke  shall  be  entitled  to  compensation  and  benefits  in
accordance with the provisions of Section 10(f)(ii).

     11. NO DUTY TO MITIGATE.

     Groteke  shall not be  required  to  mitigate  damages or the amount of any
payment  provided  for under this  Agreement  by  seeking  other  employment  or
otherwise,  nor will any  payment  hereunder  be  subject to offset in the event
Groteke does receive compensation for services from any other source.

                                       10
<PAGE>
    12.  PARACHUTES.

     (a)  Application.  If all, or any portion,  of the payments  provided under
this Agreement,  and/or any other payments and benefits that Groteke receives or
is entitled to receive from  NetWolves or a Subsidiary,  whether or not under an
existing plan, arrangement or other agreement,  constitutes an excess "parachute
payment"  within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code (each such parachute
payment, a "Parachute  Payment") and will result in the imposition on Groteke of
an excise tax under  Section  4999 of the Code,  then,  in addition to any other
benefits to which Groteke is entitled under this Agreement,  NetWolves shall pay
him an amount in cash  equal to the sum of the  excise  taxes  payable by him by
reason of receiving Parachute Payments,  plus the amount necessary to put him in
the same after-tax position (taking into account any and all applicable federal,
state and local excise, income or other taxes at the highest possible applicable
rates on such  Parachute  Payments  (including  without  limitation any payments
under this  Section 12) as if no excise  taxes had been  imposed with respect to
Parachute Payments (the "Parachute Gross-up").

     (b)  Computation.  The amount of any payment under this Section 12 shall be
computed by a certified public accounting firm of national  reputation  selected
by NetWolves  and  acceptable to Groteke.  If NetWolves or Groteke  disputes the
computation  rendered  by  such  accounting  firm,  NetWolves  shall  select  an
alternative  certified public accounting firm of national  reputation to perform
the applicable  computation.  If the two accounting  firms cannot agree upon the
computations,  Groteke and  NetWolves  shall jointly  appoint a third  certified
public accounting firm of national  reputation within 10 calendar days after the
two  conflicting  computations  have been rendered.  Such third  accounting firm
shall be asked to  determine  within 30  calendar  days the  computation  of the
Parachute  Gross-up  to  be  paid  to  Groteke,   and  payments  shall  be  made
accordingly.

     (c)  Payment.  In any event,  NetWolves  shall pay to Groteke or pay on his
behalf the  Parachute  Gross-up  as computed by the  accounting  firm  initially
selected  by  Groteke  by the time any taxes  payable  by him as a result of the
Parachute Payments become due, with Groteke agreeing to return the excess amount
of such payment over the final  computation  rendered from the process described
in Section 12(b).  Groteke and NetWolves shall provide the accounting firms with
all information  that any of them reasonably deems necessary in order to compute
the  Parachute  Gross-up.  The cost and  expenses  of all the  accounting  firms
retained  to  perform  the  computations  described  above  shall  be  borne  by
NetWolves.

     In the event that the Internal  Revenue  Service  ("IRS") or the accounting
firm  computing the Parachute  Gross-up  finally  determines  that the amount of
excise taxes thereon  initially  paid was  insufficient  to discharge  Groteke's
excise tax liability,  NetWolves shall make additional payments to him as may be
necessary to reimburse him for discharging the full liability.

     Groteke  shall  apply to the IRS for a refund of any excise  taxes paid and
remit to  NetWolves  the amount of any such refund that he  receives.  NetWolves
shall reimburse Groteke for his expenses in seeking a refund of excise taxes and
for any  interest and  penalties  imposed on excise taxes that he is required to
pay.

                                       11
<PAGE>
     13. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

     (a) General.

     (i) Groteke  understands  and hereby  acknowledges  that as a result of his
employment with NetWolves he will necessarily become informed of and have access
to certain  valuable and  confidential  information  of NetWolves and any of its
Subsidiaries,  joint ventures and  affiliates,  including,  without  limitation,
inventions,   trade  secrets,  technical  information,   computer  software  and
programs,  know-how and plans  ("Confidential  Information"),  and that any such
Confidential Information,  even though it may be developed or otherwise acquired
by Groteke,  is the  exclusive  property of NetWolves to be held by him in trust
solely for NetWolves's benefit.

     (ii)  Accordingly,  Groteke hereby agrees that,  during the Employment Term
and  subsequent  to both,  he shall not,  and shall not cause  others  to,  use,
reveal,  report,  publish,   transfer  or  otherwise  disclose  to  any  person,
corporation or other entity any Confidential  Information  without prior written
consent  of the Board,  except to (A)  responsible  officers  and  employees  of
NetWolves  or (B)  responsible  persons who are in a  contractual  or  fiduciary
relationship  with  NetWolves or who need such  information  for purposes in the
interest of NetWolves.  Notwithstanding, the foregoing, the prohibitions of this
clause  (ii) shall not apply to any  Confidential  Information  that  becomes of
general public  knowledge  other than from Groteke or is required to be divulged
by court order or administrative process.

     (b) Return of Documents.  Upon termination of his employment with NetWolves
for any reason, Groteke shall promptly deliver to NetWolves all plans, drawings,
manuals,  letters,  notes,  notebooks,  reports,  computer  programs  and copies
thereof and all other materials,  including without limitation those of a secret
or confidential  nature,  relating to NetWolves's  business that are then in his
possession or control.

     (c)  Remedies  and  Sanctions.  In the event that Groteke is found to be in
violation of Section 13(a) or (b) above,  NetWolves  shall be entitled to relief
as provided in Section 15 below.

     14. NONCOMPETITION/NONSOLICITATION.

     (a)  Prohibitions.  During the Employment Term,  Groteke shall not, without
prior written  authorization of the Board,  directly or indirectly,  through any
other individual or entity:

     (i) become on officer or employee  of, or render any service to, any direct
competitor  of  NetWolves,  which  shall be define as any  business  engaged  in
Internet Security;

     (ii) solicit or induce any customer of NetWolves to cease  purchasing goods
or  services  from  NetWolves  or to  become a  customer  of any  competitor  of
NetWolves;  or

                                       12
<PAGE>
     (iii) solicit or induce any employee of NetWolves to become employed by any
competitor of NetWolves.

     (b)  Remedies  and  Sanctions.  In the event that Groteke is found to be in
violation  of Section  14(a)  above,  NetWolves  shall be  entitled to relief as
provided in Section 15 below.

     (c) Exceptions.  Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in Section 14(a)
above, its provisions shall not:

     (i) apply if NetWolves  terminates  Groteke's  employment  without Cause or
Groteke  terminates his employment for Good Reason,  each as provided in Section
10(f) above;

     (ii) be construed as  preventing  Groteke from  investing his assets in any
business that is not a direct competitor of NetWolves; or

     15. REMEDIES/SANCTIONS.

     Groteke acknowledges that the services he is to render under this Agreement
are of a unique and  special  nature,  the loss of which  cannot  reasonably  or
adequately be compensated for in monetary damages,  and that irreparable  injury
and damage may result to NetWolves in the event of any breach of this  Agreement
or  default  by  Groteke.  Because  of the  unique  nature  of the  Confidential
Information  and the  importance of the  prohibitions  against  competition  and
solicitation, Groteke further acknowledges and agrees that NetWolves will suffer
irreparable harm if he fails to comply with his obligations  under Section 13(a)
or (b)  above  or  Section  14(a)  above  and  that  monetary  damages  would be
inadequate to compensate  NetWolves  for any such breach.  Accordingly,  Groteke
agrees that, in addition to any other remedies available to either Party at law,
in equity or otherwise,  NetWolves will be entitled to seek injunctive relief or
specific  performance to enforce the terms,  or prevent or remedy the violation,
of any provisions of this Agreement.

     16. BENEFICIARIES/REFERENCES.

     Groteke  shall be entitled to select (and change,  to the extent  permitted
under  any  applicable  law) a  beneficiary  or  beneficiaries  to  receive  any
compensation  or benefit  payable  under this  Agreement  following his death by
giving NetWolves written notice thereof.  In the event of Groteke's death, or of
a judicial  determination  of his  incompetence,  reference in this Agreement to
Groteke shall be deemed to refer, as appropriate, to his beneficiary,  estate or
other legal representative.

                                       13
<PAGE>
     17. WITHHOLDING TAXES.

     All payments to Groteke or his  Beneficiary  under this Agreement  shall be
subject to withholding on account of federal,  state and local taxes as required
by law.

     18. INDEMNIFICATION AND LIABILITY INSURANCE.

     Nothing herein is intended to limit NetWolves's indemnification of Groteke,
and NetWolves shall indemnify him to the fullest extent  permitted by applicable
law consistent with NetWolves's  Certificate of Incorporation  and By-Laws as in
effect at the beginning of the  Employment  Term,  with respect to any action or
failure to act on his part  while he is an  officer,  director  or  employee  of
NetWolves or any Subsidiary.  NetWolves shall cause Groteke to be covered at all
times by directors' and officers' liability insurance on terms no less favorable
than the directors' and officers' liability insurance maintained by NetWolves in
effect on the date  hereof in terms of coverage  and  amounts.  NetWolves  shall
continue to  indemnify  Groteke as provided  above and maintain  such  liability
insurance  coverage for him after the Employment Term for any claims that may be
made  against  him with  respect  to his  service  as a  director  or officer of
NetWolves or a consultant to NetWolves.

     19. EFFECT OF AGREEMENT ON OTHER BENEFITS.

     The existence of this  Agreement  shall not prohibit or restrict  Groteke's
entitlement to participate  fully in  compensation,  employee  benefit and other
plans of NetWolves in which senior executives are eligible to participate.

     20. ASSIGNABILITY; BINDING NATURE.

     This  Agreement  shall be  binding  upon and  inure to the  benefit  of the
Parties and their  respective  successors,  heirs (in the case of  Groteke)  and
assigns.  No rights or  obligations  of NetWolves  under this  Agreement  may be
assigned  or  transferred  by  NetWolves  except  pursuant  to (a) a  merger  or
consolidation  in which  NetWolves is not the  continuing  entity or (b) sale or
liquidation  of all or  substantially  all of the assets of NetWolves,  provided
that the  surviving  entity or assignee or transferee is the successor to all or
substantially  all of the  assets  of  NetWolves  and such  surviving  entity or
assignee  or  transferee  assumes  the  liabilities,  obligations  and duties of
NetWolves under this Agreement, either contractually or as a matter of law.

     NetWolves  further  agrees  that,  in the  event  of a sale  of  assets  or
liquidation  as  described  in the  preceding  sentence,  it shall  use its best
efforts  to have such  assignee  or  transferee  expressly  agree to assume  the
liabilities,  obligations and duties of NetWolves hereunder;  provided, however,
that  notwithstanding  such  assumption,   NetWolves  shall  remain  liable  and
responsible for  fulfillment of the terms and conditions of this Agreement;  and
provided, further, that in no event shall such assignment and assumption of this
Agreement adversely affect Groteke's right upon a Change in Control, as provided
in Section

10(i) above.  No rights or  obligations  of Groteke under this  Agreement may be

                                       14
<PAGE>

assigned or transferred by him.

     21. REPRESENTATIONS.

     The  Parties  respectively   represent  and  warrant  that  each  is  fully
authorized and empowered to enter into this  Agreement and that the  performance
of its or his  obligations,  as the case may be, under this  Agreement  will not
violate  any  agreement  between  such  Party  and  any  other  person,  firm or
organization.  NetWolves  represents  and warrants that this  Agreement has been
duly  authorized by all  necessary  corporate  action and is valid,  binding and
enforceable in accordance with its terms.

     22. ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

     Except to the extent otherwise provided herein, this Agreement contains the
entire  understanding and agreement  between the Parties  concerning the subject
matter hereof and  supersedes  any prior  agreements,  whether  written or oral,
between the Parties  concerning  the subject matter  hereof,  including  without
limitation  the Prior  Agreement.  Payments  and  benefits  provided  under this
Agreement  are in lieu of any  payments or other  benefits  under any  severance
program or policy of NetWolves to which Groteke would otherwise be entitled.

     23. AMENDMENT OR WAIVER.

     No  provision in this  Agreement  may be amended  unless such  amendment is
agreed to in writing  and signed by both  Groteke and an  authorized  officer of
NetWolves.  No waiver by either  Party of any  breach by the other  Party of any
condition or provision contained in this Agreement to be performed by such other
Party shall be deemed a waiver of a similar or dissimilar condition or provision
at the same or any prior or subsequent  time.  Any waiver must be in writing and
signed by the Party to be charged  with the waiver.  No delay by either Party in
exercising  any right,  power or privilege  hereunder  shall operate as a waiver
thereof.

     24. SEVERABILITY.

     In the event  that any  provision  or portion  of this  Agreement  shall be
determined to be invalid or unenforceable  for any reason,  in whole or in part,
the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall be unaffected thereby and shall
remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.

     25. SURVIVAL.

     The respective  rights and  obligations of the Parties under this Agreement
shall survive any termination of Groteke's employment with NetWolves.

                                       15
<PAGE>
     26. GOVERNING LAW/JURISDICTION.

     This  Agreement  shall be  governed by and  construed  and  interpreted  in
accordance  with  the laws of New  York,  without  reference  to  principles  of
conflict of laws.

     27. COSTS OF DISPUTES.

     NetWolves  shall pay, at least monthly,  all costs and expenses,  including
attorneys' fees and disbursements, of Groteke in connection with any proceeding,
whether or not instituted by NetWolves or Groteke,  relating to any provision of
this Agreement, including but not limited to the interpretation,  enforcement or
reasonableness  thereof;  provided,  however,  that, if Groteke  instituted  the
proceeding and the judge or other  decision-maker  presiding over the proceeding
affirmatively finds that his claims were frivolous or were made in bad faith, he
shall pay his own costs and  expenses  and,  if  applicable,  return any amounts
theretofore  paid to him or on his behalf  under this  Section  27.  Pending the
outcome of any  proceeding,  NetWolves  shall pay Groteke all amounts due to him
without regard to the dispute; provided, however, that if NetWolves shall be the
prevailing party in such a proceeding,  Groteke shall promptly repay all amounts
that he received during pendency of the proceeding.

     28. NOTICES.

     Any notice given to either Party shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been given when delivered either personally,  by fax, by overnight delivery
service  (such as Federal  Express)  or sent by  certified  or  registered  mail
postage prepaid, return receipt requested, duly addressed to the Party concerned
at the  address  indicated  below or to such  changed  address  as the Party may
subsequently give notice of.

If to NetWolves or the Board:

    NetWolves Corporation
    4002 Eisenhower Blvd., Suite 101
    Tampa, Florida 33634
    FAX:  (813) 286-8644

With a copy to:

    Beckman, Lieberman & Barandes, LLP
    100 Jericho Quadrangle
    Suite 329
    Jericho, New York  11753
    Attn:  David H. Lieberman, Esq.

                                       16
<PAGE>

If to Groteke:

    Walter M. Groteke
    2731 Via Capri, Apt. 919
    Grand Venezia
    Clearwater, Florida 33764

     29. HEADINGS.

     The  headings  of  the  sections   contained  in  this  Agreement  are  for
convenience  only and shall not be deemed to control  or affect  the  meaning or
construction of any provision of this Agreement.

     30. COUNTERPARTS.

     This  Agreement  may be  executed  in  counterparts,  each of which when so
executed and delivered shall be an original,  but all such counterparts together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the
date first written above.

                                        NETWOLVES CORPORATION

                                        By: /s/ Peter C. Castle
                                            -------------------------------
                                                   Peter C. Castle
                                               Chief Financial Officer

                                             /s/ Walter M. Groteke
                                            -------------------------------
                                                  Walter M. Groteke
                                                      Employee

                                       17

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