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Call Option Agreement

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CALL OPTION AGREEMENT

This Call Option Agreement (the "Agreement") is made as of Effective Date: by and between Optionor: , with a principal address at ; and Optionee: , with a principal address at .

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Optionor is the legal and beneficial owner of the Optioned Property described below and has authority to grant an option to purchase such property;

WHEREAS, Optionee desires the exclusive right, but not the obligation, to purchase the Optioned Property on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth in writing their agreement with respect to the option grant, exercise mechanics, and related rights and obligations.

NOW, THEREFORE

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS

1.1 "Optioned Property" means the asset subject to the option, specifically described as:

1.2 "Exercise Price" means the aggregate cash amount to be paid by Optionee upon exercise, equal to $ (the "Price").

1.3 "Option Period" means the period during which the Option may be exercised, commencing on and expiring on , unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Agreement.

2. GRANT OF OPTION

2.1 Optionor hereby grants to Optionee an exclusive, irrevocable option to purchase the Optioned Property during the Option Period for the Exercise Price on the terms set forth herein. The option shall be exercisable in whole or in part unless expressly restricted elsewhere in this Agreement.

2.2 This grant is personal to Optionee and, except as expressly provided in Section 9 (Transferability), shall not be assignable or transferable without the prior written consent of Optionor.

3. EXERCISE

3.1 To exercise the Option, Optionee must deliver to Optionor a written Notice of Exercise substantially in the form attached hereto or sufficiently describing the Optioned Property, the number of units or shares (if partial), and declaring the intention to purchase. Notice shall be effective upon actual receipt by Optionor.

3.2 Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Optionee shall deliver the Exercise Price in immediately available funds to an account designated by Optionor within days after the effectiveness of the Notice of Exercise. Failure to timely pay shall constitute a breach and may result in rescission of the exercise.

4. CONSIDERATION

4.1 As consideration for the grant of the Option, Optionee has paid to Optionor the sum of $ (the "Option Fee"), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged. The Option Fee shall be nonrefundable except as expressly provided herein.

5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

5.1 Optionor represents and warrants that: (a) Optionor has good and marketable title to the Optioned Property free and clear of liens, claims, and encumbrances except as disclosed in writing; (b) Optionor has full corporate or other power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement; and (c) no consent of any person is required for Optionor to grant this Option except as disclosed in writing.

5.2 Optionee represents and warrants that Optionee has full power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and that the execution and performance hereof will not violate any agreement or law applicable to Optionee.

6. COVENANTS

6.1 During the Option Period, Optionor shall not, without Optionee's prior written consent, sell, transfer, encumber or otherwise dispose of any interest in the Optioned Property that would materially impair Optionee's rights under this Agreement.

6.2 Optionor agrees to provide Optionee with reasonable access to information and records relating to the Optioned Property as may be necessary for Optionee to evaluate and, if desired, to exercise the Option.

7. CONDITIONS TO EXERCISE

7.1 The obligations of Optionor to convey the Optioned Property upon exercise are subject to: (a) receipt of the full Exercise Price; (b) the truth and accuracy of Optionee's representations at the time of exercise; and (c) performance by Optionee of its obligations hereunder.

8. TRANSFERABILITY

8.1 Optionee shall not assign or transfer the Option or any rights hereunder without the prior written consent of Optionor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that Optionee may assign the Option to an affiliate upon notice to Optionor.

9. TERMINATION

9.1 This Agreement will automatically terminate upon the expiration of the Option Period, and earlier upon mutual written agreement of the parties or upon material breach by either party that remains uncured for a period of days after written notice.

10. REMEDIES

10.1 In the event of a breach of this Agreement, the non-breaching party shall be entitled to all remedies available at law or in equity, including specific performance, injunctive relief, and damages. The parties agree that monetary damages may be an inadequate remedy for certain breaches and that equitable relief may be appropriate.

11. NOTICES

11.1 All notices, consents, waivers and other communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when delivered personally, sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, or received by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the addresses set forth below (or to such other address as a party may designate by notice in accordance with this Section).

12. TAXES AND COSTS

12.1 Except as expressly provided herein, each party shall bear its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement. All transfer taxes, recording fees and similar charges arising from exercise and closing shall be paid by .

13. INDEMNIFICATION

13.1 Each party shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other party and its affiliates, officers, directors and agents from and against any and all losses, liabilities, claims and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of any breach of such party's representations, warranties or covenants under this Agreement.

14. MISCELLANEOUS

14.1 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of , without regard to its principles of conflicts of law.

14.2 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including any schedules or exhibits hereto, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior negotiations, understandings and agreements.

14.3 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect to the extent permitted by law.

14.4 Amendments and Waivers. No amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by both parties. No failure or delay by either party to exercise any right shall operate as a waiver of that right.

14.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Signatures delivered by electronic transmission shall be effective to bind the delivering party.

15. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

SIGNATURES

Optionor - Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Optionee - Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Enter text✕

What a Call Option Agreement Is and when it applies

A Call Option Agreement is a contractual arrangement that gives the option holder the right, but not the obligation, to purchase a specified quantity of underlying assets or securities at a predetermined price within a defined time period. The document establishes the exercise price or formula, expiration date, notice and payment procedures, transfer restrictions, and any conditions precedent. It allocates economic risk and sets remedies for breach. In the United States, enforceability depends on clear mutual assent, consideration, and compliance with applicable securities and contract law.

Why parties use a Call Option Agreement

A Call Option Agreement secures purchase optionality, fixes pricing mechanics in advance, and allows parties to lock economic terms without immediate ownership transfer, reducing negotiation friction and clarifying remedies if conditions change.

Why parties use a Call Option Agreement

Who typically prepares or signs a Call Option Agreement

Typical users include investors, target-company owners, and corporate finance teams structuring contingent purchase rights through a legally binding option.

  • Private equity sponsors seeking acquisition optionality and time to secure financing before exercising the purchase right.
  • Startups granting investors conditional equity purchase rights during fundraising rounds for deferred valuation negotiations.
  • Operating companies structuring staged buyouts, earn-outs, or employee stock call provisions in shareholder agreements.

Identify stakeholder roles early to confirm authority, tax treatment, and applicable securities rules before executing the agreement.

Primary parties and signing roles

Investor (Holder)

An investor holding the call right evaluates exercise triggers, funding obligations, and tax consequences. The holder must follow notice and payment procedures in the agreement and often obtains legal or tax advice before exercising.

Issuer (Company)

The issuer grants the option, manages transfer restrictions and issuance mechanics, and ensures corporate approvals and securities compliance. The company maintains records of outstanding options and coordinates issuance when exercise is validly delivered.

Core sections to include in a professional Call Option Agreement

A complete Call Option Agreement addresses grant, price, term, exercise mechanics, transfer limits, and remedies to make the option operational and enforceable.

Grant

Specifies parties, number of options, underlying asset description, and whether options are exercisable in whole, in tranches, or by formula to define the right precisely.

Exercise Price

Sets a fixed amount or clear formula and includes currency, rounding rules, and adjustments for stock splits, dividends, or reorganizations to avoid ambiguity.

Term

Defines the effective date, expiration date, and events that accelerate or extend the term such as change of control or termination of underlying agreements.

Exercise Mechanics

Details notice procedures, authorized recipients, payment methods, settlement mechanics, escrow instructions, and delivery obligations to ensure enforceable exercise.

Transfer Restrictions

Describes assignment limits, rights of first refusal, company repurchase options, and securities compliance to govern secondary transfers and resale.

Remedies & Disputes

Specifies remedies for breach, injunctive relief, liquidated damages, governing law, and dispute resolution methods such as arbitration or court jurisdiction.

Legal and security compliance to note

ESIGN / UETA: Recognized under federal ESIGN and state UETA laws
HIPAA: BAA required for PHI processing
Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit; AES-256 at rest
Audit Trail: Detailed timestamps, IP, and signer actions
21 CFR Part 11: Compliant workflows for FDA-regulated records
SOC 2 / ISO: Certified security and privacy controls

Common risks and consequences to avoid

Mismatched Names: Can invalidate exercise notice
Late Exercise: Option expires and rights lost
Securities Violations: Risk of SEC enforcement
Tax Reporting: Unreported gains trigger penalties
Notary Failures: Improper notarization may impair validity
Contract Ambiguity: Court may refuse enforcement

Step-by-step: preparing and executing a Call Option Agreement

Follow these sequential steps to prepare, execute, and manage a Call Option Agreement with clarity on exercise mechanics and compliance.

  • 01
    Draft: Describe parties, asset, quantity, and price formula
  • 02
    Review: Confirm governing law and securities compliance
  • 03
    Execute: All authorized signers sign and date correctly
  • 04
    Record: Store agreement and audit trail securely

Workflow overview from grant to issuance

Typical workflow shows grant, notice, payment, and issuance steps so parties understand timing and deliverables during an exercise.

  • Grant: Issuer delivers signed option agreement to holder
  • Notice: Holder provides written notice of intent to exercise
  • Payment: Holder remits exercise price per agreement terms
  • Issuance: Issuer issues securities and updates register

Typical attachments and supplemental documents

Common attachments include disclosure schedules, escrow instructions, tax forms, and exhibits needed to support a Call Option Agreement's operation and due diligence.

Exhibits

Attach capitalization tables, asset descriptions, or technical appendices so the underlying assets are clearly identified and valuation at exercise is straightforward.

Disclosure Schedules

List exceptions to representations and warranties, known liabilities, and third-party consents to reduce post-exercise disputes and allocation fights.

Escrow Instructions

If escrow is used, include deposit, release, dispute resolution rules, escrow agent details, and required documentation for fund or security transfers.

Tax Forms

Include tax election instructions and reporting responsibilities; plan for 1099 or other informational returns and allocate withholding obligations if applicable.

Practical best practices to reduce execution risk

Adopt these practices to reduce ambiguity, accelerate execution, and improve enforceability across transactions.

Define clear exercise procedures
Specify exact notice format, delivery method, required contents, recipient details, timelines for cure periods, and payment methods to avoid disputes over valid exercise.
Specify price adjustment mechanics
Include mathematical formulas for adjustments on splits, dividends, reorganizations, and rounding to prevent conflicting interpretations during valuation.
Confirm securities law compliance
Obtain counsel review on exemptions, registration risks, and resale limits; document reliance to reduce regulatory exposure for issuer and holder.
Maintain centralized document control
Use a single access-controlled repository for executed agreements, notices, amendments, and audit logs; track version history and authorized access for due diligence.

Key dates and deadlines to track

Important dates include the grant date, notice deadlines, expiration, exercise windows, and any tax-reporting deadlines triggered by exercise.

Grant Date:

Effective date when option rights commence

Notice Deadline:

Deadline to deliver written exercise notice per agreement

Expiration Date:

Last date holder may exercise the option

Exercise Window:

Defined period and any intermittent notice requirements governing exercise

Tax Reporting:

Dates for 1099 or other informational filings post-exercise

Baseline vendor pricing and capability snapshot for eSignature solutions

Compare starting prices and a few core capabilities across common eSignature vendors used to execute Call Option Agreements.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies Varies Varies

Frequently asked questions about Call Option Agreements

Answers to common questions about execution, enforceability, e-signatures, notarization, amendments, and practical issues for Call Option Agreements.


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