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EXHIBIT 10.14
TCI MUSIC, INC.
NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AND
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made as of the 11th day of July,
1997 (the "Effective Grant Date"), by and between TCI MUSIC, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx ("Grantee").
The Board has determined that it is in the interests of the Company and
its stockholders to grant the options and rights provided herein in order to
encourage Grantee to serve in the capacity as a director of the Company and to
increase Grantee's personal interest in the continued success and progress of
the Company.
The Company and Grantee therefore agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms not defined elsewhere in the
Agreement shall have the following meanings (whether used in the singular or
plural):
"Approved Transaction" means any transaction in which the Board (or, if
approval of the Board is not required as a matter of law, the stockholders of
the Company) shall approve (i) any consolidation or merger of the Company, or
binding share exchange, pursuant to which shares of Common Stock would be
changed or converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property,
other than any such transaction in which the holders of the Common Stock
immediately prior to such transaction have the same proportionate ownership of
the Common Stock of, and voting power with respect to, the surviving corporation
immediately after such transaction, (ii) any merger, consolidation or binding
share exchange to which the Company is a party as a result of which the persons
who are holders of the Common Stock immediately prior thereto have less than a
majority of the combined voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the
Company ordinarily (and apart from the rights accruing under special
circumstances) having the right to vote in the election of directors immediately
following such merger, consolidation or binding share exchange, (iii) the
adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the
Company, or (iv) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction
or a series of related transactions) of all, or substantially all, of the assets
of the Company.
"Award" means the grant of Series A Stock Options and Series A Stock
Tandem SARs under this Agreement.
"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Board Change" means, during any period of two consecutive years,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the entire Board
cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof unless the election, or
the nomination for election, of each new director was approved by a
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vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were
directors at the beginning of the period.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time, or any successor statute or statutes thereto.
"Common Stock" means the Series A Stock and the Series B Stock.
"Control Purchase" means any transaction (or series of related
transactions) in which (i) any person (as such term is defined in Sections
13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), corporation or other entity (other
than Tele-Communications, Inc. ("TCI"), the Company, any Subsidiary or any
employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any Subsidiary, or any
Controlling Person (as defined below)) shall purchase any common stock of the
Company (or securities convertible into common stock of the Company) for cash,
securities or any other consideration pursuant to a tender offer or exchange
offer, without the prior consent of the Board, or (ii) any person (as so
defined), corporation or other entity (other than TCI, the Company, any
Subsidiary, any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any
Subsidiary, or any Controlling Person) shall become the "beneficial owner" (as
such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the
combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company
ordinarily (and apart from rights accruing under special circumstances) having
the right to vote in the election of directors (calculated as provided in Rule
13d-3(d) under the Exchange Act in the case of rights to acquire the Company's
securities), other than in a transaction (or series of related transactions)
approved by the Board or the board of TCI. For purposes of this definition,
"Controlling Person" means each of (a) the Chairman of the Board, the President
and each of the directors of the Company as of the Effective Date of this
Agreement, (b) Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, (c) Xxx Xxxxxxx, (d) the respective family
members, estates and heirs of each of the persons referred to in clauses (a)
through (c) above and any trust or other investment vehicle for the primary
benefit of any of such persons or their respective family members or heirs and
(e) Xxxxxx-Tribune Corporation, a Delaware corporation. As used with respect to
any person, the term "family member" means the spouse, siblings and lineal
descendants of such person.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time, or any successor statute or statutes thereto. Reference to
any specific Exchange Act section shall include any successor section.
"Fair Market Value" of a share of Series A Stock or Series B Stock on
any day means the last sale price (or, if no last sale price is reported, the
average of the high bid and low asked prices) for a share of Series A Stock or
Series B Stock, as applicable, on such day (or, if such day is not a trading
day, on the next preceding trading day) as reported on NASDAQ or, if not
reported on NASDAQ, as quoted by the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated, or
if the Series A Stock or Series B Stock is listed on an exchange, on the
principal exchange on which the Series A Stock or Series B Stock, as applicable,
is listed. If for any day the Fair Market Value of a share of Series A Stock or
Series B Stock, as applicable, is not determinable by any of the foregoing
means, then the
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Fair Market Value for such day shall be determined in good faith by the Board on
the basis of such quotations and other considerations as the Board deems
appropriate.
"NASDAQ" means the NASDAQ Stock Market.
"Nonqualified Stock Option" means a stock option that is not an
incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.
2. GRANT OF OPTION; OPTION TERM. Subject to the terms and conditions
herein, the Company grants to the Grantee during the period commencing on the
Effective Grant Date and expiring at 5:00 p.m., Denver, Colorado time ("Close of
Business") on July 11, 2007, the tenth anniversary of the Effective Grant Date
(the "Option Term"), subject to earlier termination as provided in paragraphs 9
and 13(b) below, an option to purchase from the Company, at the price per share
set forth on Schedule 1 hereto (the "Series A Stock Option Price"), the number
of shares of Series A Common Stock of the Company ("Series A Stock") set forth
on said Schedule 1 (the "Series A Stock Option Shares"). The Series A Stock
Option Price and Series A Stock Option Shares are subject to adjustment pursuant
to paragraph 13 below. This option is as a "Nonqualified Stock Option" and is
hereinafter referred to as the "Series A Stock Option".
3. GRANT OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. Subject to the terms and
conditions herein and in tandem with the Series A Stock Option, the Grantee
shall also have, during the Option Term, subject to earlier termination as
provided in paragraphs 9 and 13(b) below, a stock appreciation right with
respect to each Series A Stock Option Share (individually, a "Series A Stock
Tandem SAR" and collectively, the "Series A Stock Tandem SARs"). Upon exercise
of a Series A Stock Tandem SAR in accordance with this Agreement, the Company
shall, subject to paragraph 7 below, make payment as follows:
(a) the amount of payment shall equal the amount by which the
Fair Market Value of the Series A Stock Option Share on the date of
exercise of the Series A Stock Tandem SAR exceeds the Series A Stock
Option Price; and
(b) payment of the amount determined in accordance with clause
(a) shall be made, in the sole discretion of the Board, in shares of
Series A Stock (valued at their Fair Market Value as of the date of
exercise of such Series A Stock Tandem SAR), in cash, or partly in cash
and partly in shares of Series A Stock.
4. REDUCTION UPON EXERCISE. The exercise of any number of Series A Stock
Tandem SARs shall cause a corresponding reduction in the number of Series A
Stock Option Shares which shall apply against the Series A Stock Option Shares
then available for purchase. The exercise of the Series A Stock Option to
purchase any number of Series A Stock Option Shares shall cause a corresponding
reduction in the number of Series A Stock Tandem SARs.
5. CONDITIONS OF EXERCISE; VESTING. The Series A Stock Option and Series
A Stock Tandem SARs are exercisable only in accordance with the conditions
stated in this paragraph.
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(a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs 9 and 13(b) below
and in this paragraph 5, the Series A Stock Option may only be exercised
to the extent the Series A Stock Option Shares have become available for
purchase in accordance with the following schedule:
Percentage of Series A Stock Option
Date Shares Available for Purchase
Effective Grant Date 20%
First Anniversary of Effective Grant Date 40%
Second Anniversary of Effective Grant Date 60%
Third Anniversary of Effective Grant Date 80%
Fourth Anniversary of Effective Grant Date 100%
Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to the provisions of
paragraph 9 of this Agreement, all Series A Stock Option Shares shall
become available for purchase if during the Option Term Grantee's status
as a director of the Company shall cease for any reason other than
voluntary termination by Grantee.
(b) A Series A Stock Tandem SAR with respect to a Series A Stock
Option Share shall be exercisable only if the Series A Stock Option
Share is then available for purchase in accordance with subparagraph
(a).
(c) To the extent the Series A Stock Option or Series A Stock
Tandem SARs become exercisable, such Series A Stock Option or Series A
Stock Tandem SARs may be exercised in whole or in part (at any time or
from time to time, except as otherwise provided herein) until expiration
of the Series A Stock Option Term or earlier termination thereof.
(d) Grantee acknowledges and agrees that the Board, in its
discretion, (i) at any time before complete termination of the Series A
Stock Option, may accelerate the time or times at which the Option may
be exercised in whole or in part (without reducing the term of such
Option) and (ii) may adopt rules and regulations from time to time after
the date hereof with respect to the exercise of any Award and that the
exercise by Grantee of such Award will be subject to the further
condition that such exercise is made in accordance with all such rules
and regulations as the Board may determine are applicable thereto.
6. MANNER OF EXERCISE. The Series A Stock Option or a Series A Stock
Tandem SAR may be exercised only by delivering to the Company all of the
following and shall be considered exercised (as to the number of Series A Stock
Option Shares or Series A Stock Tandem SARs specified in the notice referred to
in subparagraph (a) below) on the later of (i) the date of exercise designated
in the written notice referred to in subparagraph (a) below (or if the date so
designated is not a business day, the first business day following such date) or
(ii) the first business day on which the Company has received all of the
following:
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(a) Written notice, in such form as the Board may require,
stating that Grantee is exercising the Series A Stock Option and/or the
Series A Stock Tandem SAR, setting forth the date of such exercise and
designating, among other things, the number of Series A Stock Option
Shares to be purchased and/or the number of Series A Stock Tandem SARs
to be exercised, the aggregate purchase price to be paid by Grantee (in
the case of the exercise of Series A Stock Option Shares) and the manner
in which such payment is being made;
(b) If the Series A Stock Option is to be exercised, payment of
the Series A Stock Option Price for each Series A Stock Option Share to
be purchased in such form, or combination of forms, as the Board, in its
sole discretion, may permit, including (i) cash, (ii) check, (iii)
promissory note, (iv) whole shares of Series A Stock or Series B Stock
that the Grantee has owned for a period of at least six months prior to
the date of exercise, (v) the withholding of shares of Series A Stock
issuable upon such exercise of the Series A Stock Option, (vi) the
delivery, together with a properly executed exercise notice, of
irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver promptly to the Company
the amount of sale or loan proceeds required to pay the purchase price,
(vii) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment, or (viii)
such other consideration and method of payment as may be permitted for
the issuance of shares under the Delaware General Corporation Law;
(c) Payment of, or other provision acceptable to the Board for,
any and all withholding taxes required to be withheld by the Company
upon exercise of such Award in accordance with paragraph 7 hereof; and
(d) Any other documentation that the Board may reasonably require
(including, without limitation, proof satisfactory to the Board that the
Award is then exercisable for the number of Series A Stock Option Shares
or Series A Stock Tandem SARs).
7. MANDATORY WITHHOLDING FOR TAXES. It shall be a condition precedent to
any exercise of the Series A Stock Option Shares or the Series A Stock Tandem
SARs that Grantee make provision acceptable to the Company for the payment or
withholding of any and all federal, state and local taxes and other amounts
required to be withheld by the Company to satisfy the tax liability associated
with such exercise, as determined by the Board.
8. DELIVERY BY THE COMPANY. As soon as practicable after receipt of all
items referred to in paragraph 6, and subject to the withholding referred to in
paragraph 7, the Company shall deliver to the Grantee certificates issued in
Grantee's name for the number of Series A Stock Option Shares purchased by
exercise of the Series A Stock Option and for the number of shares of Series A
Stock to which the Grantee is entitled by the exercise of Series A Stock Tandem
SARs and any cash payment to which the Grantee is entitled by the exercise of
Series A Stock Tandem SARs. If delivery is by mail, delivery of shares of Series
A Stock shall be deemed effected for all purposes when a stock transfer agent of
the Company shall have deposited the certificates in the United States mail,
addressed to the Grantee, and any cash payment shall be deemed effected when a
Company check, payable to Grantee and in an amount equal to the amount of the
cash payment, shall have been deposited in the United States mail, addressed to
the Grantee.
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9. EARLY TERMINATION OF OPTION AND TANDEM SARS. Unless otherwise
determined by the Board in its sole discretion, the Series A Stock Option and
Series A Stock Tandem SARs shall terminate, prior to the expiration of the
Series A Stock Option Term, at the time specified below:
(a) If Grantee voluntarily elects to terminate his directorship
during the Option Term, then the Series A Stock Option and Series A
Stock Tandem SARs shall cease to vest as of the date of termination of
Grantee's directorship and shall terminate at the Close of Business on
the first business day following the expiration of the 90-day period
which began on the date of termination of Grantee's directorship.
(b) If Grantee ceases to be a director of the Company during the
Option Term for any reason other than voluntary termination, including,
but not limited to, the death of Grantee, the Series A Stock Option and
Series A Stock Tandem SARs shall terminate at the Close of Business on
the first business day following the expiration of the one-year period
which began on the date of death or date of termination of Grantee's
directorship.
In any event in which the Series A Stock Option and Series A Stock
Tandem SARs remain exercisable for a period of time following the date of
termination of Grantee's directorship as provided above, the Series A Stock
Option and Series A Stock Tandem SARs may be exercised during such period of
time only to the extent the same were exercisable as provided in paragraph 5
above on such date of termination of Grantee's directorship. Notwithstanding any
period of time referenced in this paragraph 9 or any other provision of this
paragraph that may be construed to the contrary, the Series A Stock Option and
all Series A Stock Tandem SARs shall in any event terminate upon the expiration
of the Option Term.
10. AUTOMATIC EXERCISE OF SERIES A STOCK TANDEM SARS. Immediately prior
to the termination of the Series A Stock Option, as provided in paragraph 9
above, or the expiration of the Option Term, all remaining Series A Stock Tandem
SARs shall be deemed to have been exercised by the Grantee.
11. NONTRANSFERABILITY OF SERIES A STOCK OPTION AND SERIES A STOCK
TANDEM SARS. During Grantee's lifetime, the Series A Stock Option and Series A
Stock Tandem SARs are not transferable (voluntarily or involuntarily) other than
pursuant to a domestic relations order and, except as otherwise required
pursuant to a domestic relations order, are exercisable only by the Grantee or
Grantee's court appointed legal representative. The Grantee may designate a
beneficiary or beneficiaries to whom the Series A Stock Option and Series A
Stock Tandem SARs shall pass upon Grantee's death and may change such
designation from time to time by filing a written designation of beneficiary or
beneficiaries with the Board on the form annexed hereto as Exhibit B or such
other form as may be prescribed by the Board, provided that no such designation
shall be effective unless so filed prior to the death of Grantee. If no such
designation is made or if the designated beneficiary does not survive the
Grantee's death, the Series A Stock Option and Series A Stock Tandem SARs shall
pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Following Grantee's death,
the Series A Stock Option and any Series A Stock Tandem SARs, if otherwise
exercisable,
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may be exercised by the person to whom such option or right passes according to
the foregoing and such person shall be deemed the Grantee for purposes of any
applicable provisions of this Agreement.
12. NO SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS; NO GUARANTEE OF DIRECTORSHIP.
(a) The Grantee shall not be deemed for any purpose to be, or to
have any of the rights of, a stockholder of the Company with respect to
any shares of Series A Stock as to which this Agreement relates until
such shares shall have been issued to Grantee by the Company.
Furthermore, the existence of this Agreement shall not affect in any way
the right or power of the Company or its stockholders to accomplish any
corporate act.
(b) Nothing contained in this Agreement, and no action by the
Company or the Board with respect hereto, shall confer or be construed
to confer on Grantee any right to continue as a director of the Company.
13. ADJUSTMENTS.
(a) The Series A Stock Option and Series A Stock Tandem SARs
shall be subject to adjustment (including, without limitation, as to the
number of Series A Stock Option Shares and the Series A Stock Option
Price per share) in the sole discretion of the Board and in such manner
as the Board may deem equitable and appropriate.
(b) In the event of any Approved Transaction, Board Change or
Control Purchase, the Series A Stock Option and all Series A Stock
Tandem SARs shall become exercisable in full without regard to paragraph
5(a); provided, however, that to the extent not theretofore exercised
the Series A Stock Option and all Series A Stock Tandem SARs shall
terminate, unless otherwise determined by the Board, upon the first to
occur of the consummation of the Approved Transaction, the expiration of
the Series A Stock Option Term or the earlier termination of the Series
A Stock Option and Series A Stock Tandem SARs pursuant to paragraph 9
hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may, in its discretion,
determine that the Series A Stock Option and Series A Stock Tandem SARs
will not become exercisable on an accelerated basis in connection with
an Approved Transaction and/or will not terminate if not exercised prior
to consummation of the Approved Transaction, if the Board or the
surviving or acquiring corporation, as the case may be, shall have taken
or made effective provision for the taking of such action as in the
opinion of the Board is equitable and appropriate to substitute a new
award for the Award evidenced by this Agreement or to assume this
Agreement and the Award evidenced hereby and in order to make such new
award or assumed Award, as nearly as may be practicable, equivalent to
the Award evidenced by this Agreement as then in effect (but before
giving effect to any acceleration of the exercisability hereof unless
otherwise determined by the Board), taking into account, to the extent
applicable, the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets into
or for which the Series A Stock may be changed, converted or exchanged
in connection with the Approved Transaction.
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14. RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY LAW. Grantee acknowledges that neither the
Series A Stock Option nor any of the Series A Stock Option Shares has been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and that the Series A Stock Option
Shares may not be transferred in the absence of such registration or the
availability of an exemption therefrom under such Act or the rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.
Neither the Company nor any other person shall have any obligation to register
any Series A Stock Option Shares, or any transfer of Series A Stock Option
Shares, under the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or
any other state or federal securities law. Certificates representing Series A
Stock Option Shares purchased by Grantee hereunder may bear such restrictive and
other legends as counsel for the Company shall require in order to insure
compliance with any such law or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder.
The Grantee agrees that Grantee will not exercise the Series A Stock Option or
any Series A Stock Tandem SAR and that the Company will not be obligated to
deliver any shares of Series A Stock or make any cash payment, if counsel to the
Company determines that such exercise, delivery or payment would violate any
applicable law or any rule or regulation of any governmental authority or any
rule or regulation of, or agreement of the Company with, any securities exchange
or association upon which the Series A Stock is listed or quoted. The Company
shall in no event be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause
the exercise of the Series A Stock Option or any Series A Stock Tandem SAR or
the resulting delivery of shares of Series A Stock or other payment to comply
with any such law, rule, regulation or agreement.
15. NOTICE. Unless the Company notifies the Grantee in writing of a
different procedure, any notice or other communication to the Company with
respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be:
(a) delivered personally to the following address:
TCI Music, Inc.
c/o Liberty Media Corporation
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
or
(b) sent by first class mail, postage prepaid and addressed as
follows:
TCI Music, Inc.
c/o Tele-Communications, Inc.
0000 XXX Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Legal Department
Any notice or other communication to the Grantee with respect to this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally, or shall be sent by first
class mail, postage prepaid, to Grantee's address as listed in the records of
the Company on the Effective Grant Date, unless the Company has received written
notification from the Grantee of a change of address.
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16. AMENDMENT. Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, this
Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time as approved by the
Board. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, without the consent of
the Grantee,
(a) this Agreement may be amended or supplemented (i) to cure any
ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be
defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or (ii) to
add to the covenants and agreements of the Company for the benefit of
Grantee or surrender any right or power reserved to or conferred upon
the Company in this Agreement, subject, however, to any required
approval of the Company's stockholders and, provided, in each case, that
such changes or corrections shall not adversely affect the rights of
Grantee with respect to the Award evidenced hereby, or (iii) to make
such other changes as the Company, upon advice of counsel, determines
are necessary or advisable because of the adoption or promulgation of,
or change in or of the interpretation of, any law or governmental rule
or regulation, including any applicable federal or state securities
laws; and
(b) subject to any required approval of the Company's
stockholders, the Award evidenced by this Agreement may be canceled by
the Board and a new Award made in substitution therefor, provided that
no such action shall adversely affect the Series A Stock Option or any
Series A Stock Tandem SAR to the extent then exercisable.
17. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware.
18. CONSTRUCTION. References in this Agreement to "this Agreement" and
the words "herein," "hereof," "hereunder" and similar terms include all Exhibits
and Schedules appended hereto. All decisions of the Board upon questions
regarding this Agreement shall be conclusive. The headings of the paragraphs of
this Agreement have been included for convenience of reference only, are not to
be considered a part hereof and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the
terms or provisions hereof.
19. DUPLICATE ORIGINALS. The Company and the Grantee may sign any number
of copies of this Agreement. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of
them together represent the same agreement.
20. RULES BY BOARD. The rights of the Grantee and obligations of the
Company hereunder shall be subject to such reasonable rules and regulations as
the Board may adopt from time to time hereafter.
21. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement is in satisfaction of and in lieu
of all prior discussions and agreements, oral or written, between the Company
and Grantee regarding the subject matter hereof. Grantee and the Company hereby
declare and represent that no promise or agreement not herein expressed has been
made and that this Agreement contains the entire agreement between
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the parties hereto with respect to the Series A Stock Options and Series A Stock
Tandem SARs and replaces and makes null and void any prior agreements between
Grantee and the Company regarding the Series A Stock Options.
22. GRANTEE ACCEPTANCE. Grantee shall signify acceptance of the terms
and conditions of this Agreement by signing in the space provided at the end
hereof and returning a signed copy to the Company.
TCI MUSIC, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXX XXX
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxx
--------------------------------
Title: Vice President - Finance
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ACCEPTED:
/s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Grantee
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Schedule 1 to Non-Qualified Stock Option
and Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement
dated as of July 11, 1997
TCI MUSIC, INC.
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AND
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Grantee: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx Date: July 11, 1997
Option Price: $6.25 per share
Option Shares: 100,000 shares of Series A TCI Music Common Stock ("Series
A Stock"), $.01 par value per share.
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