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EXHIBIT 4.4
WARRANT AGREEMENT
This AGREEMENT, dated this __ day of ________, 1997 by and between
AUTOMOTIVE ONE PARTS STORES, INC., a Florida corporation (the "Company"), and
AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, as Warrant Agent (the "Warrant
Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, in connection with (i) the offering to the public of up to
1,200,000 shares of the Company's common stock, $.01 par value ("Common
Stock"), and 1,200,000 common stock redeemable warrants, entitling the holder
to purchase one share of Common Stock ("Redeemable Warrants") (collectively
referred to as the "Securities"), (ii) the over-allotment option to purchase up
to 180,000 shares of Common Stock and/or 180,000 Redeemable Warrants (the
"Over-allotment Option"), and (iii) the sale to Nutmeg Securities, Ltd., its
successors and assigns ("Nutmeg") of warrants (the "Underwriter's Warrants") to
purchase up to 120,000 shares of Common Stock and/or 120,000 Redeemable
Warrants, such Redeemable Warrants, except as otherwise set forth herein, being
identical to the Redeemable Warrants being sold to the public (the Redeemable
Warrants issuable upon the exercise of the Underwriter's Warrants are referred
to as the "Common Stock Warrants"), the Company will issue up to 1,380,000
Redeemable Warrants and may issue up to 120,000 Common Stock Warrants (subject
to increase as provided in the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement); and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide for the issuance of certificates
representing the Redeemable Warrants and the Common Stock Warrants
(collectively, the "Warrants"); and
WHEREAS, the Company desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the
Company, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the
issuance, registration, transfer and exchange of certificates representing the
Warrants and the exercise of the Warrants.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
hereinafter set forth and for the purpose of defining the terms and provisions
of the Warrants and the certificates representing the Warrants and the
respective rights and obligations thereunder of the Company, the Underwriter,
the holders of certificates representing the Warrants and the Warrant Agent,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. AS USED HEREIN, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE
FOLLOWING MEANINGS, UNLESS THE CONTEXT SHALL OTHERWISE REQUIRE:
(a) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock of the Company, par value
$.01 per share.
(b) "Corporate Office" shall mean the office of the Warrant Agent (or its
successor) at which at any particular time its principal business shall be
administered, which office is located on the date hereof at 40 Wall Street, New
York, New York.
(c) "Exercise Date" shall mean, subject to the provisions of Section 5(b)
hereof, as to any Warrant, the date on which the Warrant Agent shall have
received both (i) the Warrant Certificate representing such Warrant, with the
exercise form thereon duly executed by the Registered Holder hereof with such
Registered Holder's signature guaranteed, and (ii) payment in cash or by bank
or cashier's check made payable to the Warrant Agent for the account of the
Company, of the amount in lawful money of the United States of America equal to
the applicable Purchase Price.
(d) "Initial Warrant Exercise Date" shall mean the earlier of the date
upon which the Company gives a notice of redemption of the Redeemable Warrants
or, [__________, 1998] for the Redeemable Warrants and for the Common Stock
Warrants.
(e) "Initial Warrant Redemption Date" shall mean any time after the date
of this Agreement.
(f) "Purchase Price" shall mean, subject to modification and adjustment as
provided in Section 8, $7.20 per share of Common Stock.
(g) "Registered Holder" shall mean the person in whose name any
certificate representing the Warrants shall be registered on the books
maintained by the Warrant Agent pursuant to Section 6.
(h) "Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries" shall mean any corporation or
corporations, as the case may be, of which stock having ordinary power to elect
a majority of the Board of Directors of such corporation (regardless of whether
or not at the time stock of any other class or classes of such corporation
shall have or may have voting power by reason of the happening of any
contingency) is at the time directly or indirectly owned by the Company or by
one or more Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more Subsidiaries.
(i) "Transfer Agent" shall mean American Stock Transfer & Trust Company,
or its authorized successor.
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(j) "Underwriting Agreement" shall mean the underwriting agreement dated
__________, 1997 between the Company and Nutmeg, relating to the purchase for
resale to the public of the Securities.
(k) "Underwriter's Warrant Agreement" shall mean the agreement dated as of
__________, 1997 between the Company and Nutmeg relating to and governing the
terms and provisions of the Underwriter's Warrants.
(l) "Warrant Certificate" shall mean a certificate representing each of
the Warrants substantially in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A.
(m) "Warrant Expiration Date" shall mean, unless the Warrants are redeemed
as provided in Section 9 hereof prior to such date, 3:30 p.m. (Eastern time) on
__________, 2003 for the Redeemable Warrants and for the Common Stock Warrants
or, if such date shall in the State of New York be a holiday or a day on which
banks are authorized to close, than 3:30 p.m. (Eastern time) on the next
following day which in the State of New York is not a holiday or a day on which
banks are authorized to close.
SECTION 2. WARRANTS AND ISSUANCE OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES.
(a) One Warrant shall initially entitle the Registered Holder of the
Warrant Certificate representing such Warrant to purchase at the Purchase Price
therefor from the Initial Warrant Exercise Date until the Warrant Expiration
Date one share of Common Stock upon the exercise thereof, subject to
modification and adjustment as provided in Section 8
(b) Upon execution of this Agreement, Warrant Certificates representing
1,200,000 Redeemable Warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,200,000
shares of Common Stock (subject to modification and adjustment as provided in
Section 8) shall be executed by the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent.
(c) Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option, in whole or in part, and
payment of the applicable sums, Warrant Certificates representing up to 180,000
Redeemable Warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 180,000 shares of Common
Stock (subject to modification and adjustment as provided in Section 8) shall
be executed by the Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent.
(d) Upon exercise of the Underwriter's Warrants as provided therein, and
payment of the applicable exercise price, Warrant Certificates representing
120,000 Common Stock Warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 120,000 shares
of Common Stock and 120,000 Common Stock Warrants (subject to modification and
adjustment as provided in Section 8 hereof
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and in the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement), shall be executed by the
Company and delivered to the Warrant Agent.
(e) From time to time, up to the Warrant Expiration Date, as the case may
be, the Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver Warrant Certificates in
required denominations of one or whole number multiplies thereof to the person
entitled thereto in connection with any transfer or exchange permitted under
this Agreement. Except as provided in Section 7 hereof, no Warrant
Certificates shall be issued except (i) Warrant Certificates initially issued
hereunder, (ii) Warrant Certificates issued upon any transfer or exchange of
Warrants, (iii) Warrant Certificates issued in replacement of lost, stolen,
destroyed or mutilated Warrant Certificates pursuant to Section 7, (iv) Warrant
Certificates issued upon exercise of the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement
(including Common Stock Warrants in excess of 120,000 Underwriter's Warrants
issued as a result of the antidilution provisions contained in the
Underwriter's Warrant Agreement), and (v) at the option of the Company, Warrant
Certificates in such form as may be approved by its Board of Directors, to
reflect any adjustment or change in the Purchase Price, the number of shares of
Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Warrants or the Redemption Price
therefor made pursuant to Section 8 hereof.
SECTION 3. FORM AND EXECUTION OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES.
(a) The Warrant Certificates shall be substantially in the form annexed
hereto as Exhibit A (the provisions of which are hereby incorporated herein)
and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or
designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed, lithographed
or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to
comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or
with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Warrants may be
listed, or to conform to usage. The Warrant Certificates shall be dated the
date of issuance thereof (whether upon initial issuance, transfer, exchange or
in lieu of mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed Warrant Certificates).
(b) Warrant Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its
Chairman of the Board, President or any Vice President and by its Treasurer or
an Assistant Treasurer or its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, by manual
signatures or by facsimile signatures printed thereon, and shall have imprinted
thereon a facsimile of the Company's seal. Warrant Certificates shall be
manually countersigned by the Warrant Agent and shall not be valid for any
purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall
have signed any of the Warrant Certificates shall cease to be such officer of
the Company before the date of issuance of the Warrant Certificates or before
countersignature by the Warrant Agent and issue and delivery thereof, such
Warrant Certificates, nevertheless, may be countersigned by the Warrant Agent,
issued and delivered with the same force and effect as though the person who
signed such Warrant Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the
Company.
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SECTION 4. EXERCISE.
(a) Warrants may be exercised commencing at any time on or after the
Initial Warrant Exercise Date, but not after the Warrant Expiration Date, upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein (including the
provisions set forth in Sections 5 and 9 hereof) and in the applicable Warrant
Certificate. A Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised immediately
prior to the close of business on the Exercise Date, provided that the Warrant
Certificate representing such Warrant, with the exercise form thereon duly
executed by the Registered Holder thereof with such Registered Holder's
signature guaranteed, together with payment in cash or by bank or cashier's
check made payable to the order of the Company, of an amount in lawful money of
the United States of America equal to the applicable Purchase Price has been
received in good funds by the Warrant Agent. The person entitled to receive
the securities deliverable upon such exercise shall be treated for all purposes
as the holder of such securities as of the close of business on the Exercise
Date. As soon as practicable on or after the Exercise Date and in any event
within five business days after such date, upon due exercise of Warrants, the
Warrant Agent on behalf of the Company shall cause to be issued to the person
or persons entitled to receive the same a Common Stock certificate or
certificates for the shares of Common Stock deliverable upon such exercise, and
the Warrant Agent shall deliver the same to the person or persons entitled
thereto. Upon the exercise of any two or more even whole number multiples of
Warrants, the Warrant Agent shall promptly notify the Company in writing of
such fact and of the number of securities delivered upon such exercise and,
subject to subsection (b) below, shall cause all payments of an amount in cash
or by check made payable to the order of the Company, equal to the Purchase
Price, to be deposited promptly in the Company's bank account.
(b) At any time upon the exercise of Warrants after one year and one day
from the date hereof, (i) the market price of the Company's Common Stock is
equal to or greater than the Purchase Price, (ii) the exercise of the Warrant
is solicited by Nutmeg at such time while Nutmeg is a member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), (iii) the Warrant is not held
in a discretionary account, (iv) disclosure of the compensation arrangement is
made in documents provided to the holders of the Warrants, and (v) the
solicitation of the Warrant is not in violation of Regulation M promulgated
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, then Nutmeg shall be entitled to
receive from the Company upon exercise of each of the Warrants so exercised, a
fee of three percent (3%) of the aggregate price of the Warrants so exercised
(the "Exercise Fee"). Within five (5) days after the end of each month,
commencing in _________ 1998, the Warrant Agent will notify Nutmeg of each
Warrant Certificate which has been properly completed for exercise by holders
of Warrants during the last month. The Warrant Agent will provide Nutmeg with
such information, in connection with the exercise of each Warrant, as Nutmeg
shall reasonably request. The Company hereby authorizes and instructs the
Warrant Agent to deliver to Nutmeg the Exercise Fee promptly after receipt by
the Warrant Agent from the Company of a check payable to the order of Nutmeg in
the amount of the Exercise Fee. In
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the event that an Exercise Fee is paid to Nutmeg with respect to a Warrant
which was not properly completed for exercise or in respect of which Nutmeg is
not entitled to an Exercise Fee, Nutmeg will return such Exercise Fee to the
Warrant Agent which shall forthwith return such fee to the Company. Nutmeg and
the Company may at any time after ____________, 1997, and during business
hours, examine the records of the Warrant Agent, including its ledger of
original Warrant Certificates returned to the Warrant Agent upon exercise of
Warrants. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the provisions of
this Section 4(b) may not be modified, amended or deleted without the prior
consent of Nutmeg.
(c) The Company shall not be obligated to issue any fractional share
interests or fractional warrant interests upon the exercise of any Warrant or
Warrants, nor shall it be obligated to issue scrip or pay cash in lieu of
fractional interests. Any fractional interest shall be eliminated.
(d) Anything in this Section 4 notwithstanding, no Warrant will be
exercisable unless at the time of exercise the Company has filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933 covering the shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of such Warrant and such shares have been so registered or qualified
or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of
the holder of such Warrant.
SECTION 5. RESERVATION OF SHARES; LISTING; PAYMENT OF TAXES; ETC.
(a) The Company covenants that it will at all times reserve and keep
available out of its authorized Common Stock, solely for the purpose of
issuance upon exercise of Warrants, such number of shares of Common Stock as
shall then be issuable upon the exercise of all outstanding Warrants. The
Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock which shall be issuable upon
exercise of the Warrants shall, at the time of delivery thereof, be duly and
validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable and free from all preemptive or
similar rights, taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issuance thereof,
and that upon issuance such shares shall be listed on each securities exchange,
if any, on which the other shares of outstanding Common Stock of the Company
are then listed.
(b) The Company covenants that, so long as any unexpired Warrants remain
outstanding, the Company will file such post-effective amendments to the
registration statement (Form SB-2, Registration No. 333-27227) (the
"Registration Statement") filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"Act") with respect to the Warrants (or other appropriate registration
statements or post-effective amendment or supplements) as may be necessary to
permit it to deliver to each person exercising a Warrant, a prospectus meeting
the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Act and otherwise complying
therewith, and will deliver such a prospectus to each such person. To the
extent that during any period it is not reasonably likely that the Warrants
will be exercised, due to market price or otherwise, the Company need not file
such a
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post-effective amendment or other registration statement or post-effective
amendments or supplements during such period. The Company will use its
reasonable efforts to obtain appropriate approvals or registrations under state
"blue sky" securities laws. With respect to any such securities, however,
Warrants may not be exercised by, or shares of Common Stock issued to, any
Registered Holder in any state in which such exercise would be unlawful.
(c) The Company shall pay all documentary, stamp or similar taxes and
other governmental charges that may be imposed with respect to the issuance of
Warrants, or the issuance or delivery of any shares of Common Stock upon
exercise of the Warrants; provided, however, that if shares of Common Stock are
to be delivered in a name other than the name of the Registered Holder of the
Warrant Certificate representing any Warrant being exercised, then no such
delivery shall be made unless the person requesting the same has paid to the
Warrant Agent the amount of transfer taxes or charges incident thereto, if any.
(d) The Warrant Agent is hereby irrevocably authorized as the Transfer
Agent to requisition from time to time certificates representing shares of
Common Stock or other securities required upon exercise of the Warrants, and
the Company will comply with all such requisitions.
SECTION 6. EXCHANGE AND REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER.
(a) Warrant Certificates may be exchanged for other Warrant Certificates
representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants or may be transferred in
whole or in part. Warrant Certificates to be so exchanged shall be surrendered
to the Warrant Agent at its Corporate Office, and the Company shall execute and
the Warrant's Agent shall countersign, issue and deliver in exchange therefor
the Warrant Certificate or Certificates which the Registered Holder making the
exchange shall be entitled to receive.
(b) The Warrant Agent shall keep, at such office, books in which, subject
to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, it shall register Warrant
Certificates and the transfer thereof. Upon due presentment for registration
of transfer of any Warrant Certificate at such office, the Company shall
execute and the Warrant Agent shall issue and deliver to the transferee or
transferees a new Warrant Certificate or Certificates representing an equal
aggregate number of Warrants.
(c) With respect to any Warrant Certificates presented for registration of
transfer, or for exchange or exercise, the subscription or exercise form, as
the case may be, on the reverse thereof shall be duly endorsed or be
accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer and
subscription, in form satisfactory to the Company and the Warrant Agent, duly
executed by the Registered Holder thereof with such Registered Holder's
signature guaranteed.
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(d) A $10 service charge may be imposed for any exchange, registration or
transfer of Warrant Certificates. However, the Company may require payment of
a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be
imposed in connection therewith.
(f) All Warrant Certificates surrendered for exercise or for exchange
shall be promptly canceled by the Warrant Agent.
(g) Prior to due presentment for registration or transfer thereof, the
Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the Registered Holder of any
Warrant Certificate as the absolute owner thereof of each Warrant represented
thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing thereon made by
anyone other than the Company or the Warrant Agent) for all purposes and shall
not be affected by any notice to the contrary.
SECTION 7. LOSS OR MUTILATION.
(a) Upon receipt by the Company and the Warrant Agent of evidence
satisfactory to them of the ownership of and the loss, theft, destruction or
mutilation of any Warrant Certificate and (in the case of loss, theft or
destruction) of indemnity satisfactory to them, and (in case of mutilation)
upon surrender and cancellation thereof, the Company shall execute and the
Warrant Agent shall countersign and deliver in lieu thereof a new Warrant
Certificate representing an equal aggregate number of Warrants. Applicants for
a substitute Warrant Certificate shall also comply with such other reasonable
regulations and pay such other reasonable fees as the Warrant Agent shall
establish.
SECTION 8. ADJUSTMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE.
(a) Except as hereinafter provided, in the event the Company shall, at any
time or from time to time after the date hereof, sell any shares of Common
Stock for a consideration per share less than the lower of (i) the average of
the closing bid prices of the Common Stock as reported on NASDAQ on the twenty
consecutive trading days ending three days prior to such sale (the "Market
Price"), or (ii) the Share Exercise Price then in effect, or issue any shares
of Common Stock as a stock dividend to the holders of Common Stock, or
subdivide or combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater or
lesser number of shares (any such sale, issuance, subdivision or combination
being herein called a "Change of Shares"), then, and thereafter immediately
before the date of the record date for each Change of Shares, the Share
Exercise Price for the Common Stock included in this Warrant (whether or not
the same shall be issued and outstanding) in effect immediately prior to such
Change of Shares shall be changed to a price (including any applicable fraction
of a cent to the nearest cent) determined by dividing (1) the product of (a)
the Share Exercise Price in effect immediately before such Change of Shares and
(b) the sum of (i) the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to such Change of Shares, and (ii) the number of shares
determined by dividing (A) the aggregate consideration, if any, received by the
Company upon such sale, issuance, subdivision
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or combination, by (B) the lesser of (x) the Market Price, and (y) the Share
Exercise Price, in effect immediately prior to such Change of Shares; by (2)
the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such
Change of Shares.
(b) For the purposes of any adjustment to be made in accordance with
Section 8(a) the following provisions shall be applicable:
(i) (A) In case of the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock (or of
other securities deemed hereunder to involve the issuance or sale of shares of
Common Stock) for a consideration part or all of which shall be cash, the
amount of the cash portion of the consideration therefor deemed to have been
received by the Company shall be (i) the subscription price (before deducting
any commissions or any expenses incurred in connection therewith), if shares of
Common Stock are offered by the Company for subscription, or (ii) the public
offering price (before deducting therefrom any compensation paid or discount
allowed in the sale, underwriting or purchase thereof by underwriters or
dealers or others performing similar services, or any expenses incurred in
connection therewith), if such securities are sold to underwriters or dealers
for public offering without a subscription offering, or (iii) the gross amount
of cash actually received by the Company for such securities, in any other
case.
(B) In case of the issuance or sale (otherwise than as a dividend or other
distribution on any stock of the Company, and otherwise than on the exercise of
options, rights or warrants or the conversion or exchange of convertible or
exchangeable securities) of shares of Common Stock (or of other securities
deemed hereunder to involve the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock) for
a consideration part or all of which shall be other than cash, the amount of
the consideration therefor other than cash deemed to have been received by the
Company shall be the value of such consideration as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors of the Company.
(C) Shares of Common Stock issuable by way of dividend or other
distribution on any stock of the Company shall be deemed to have been issued
immediately after the opening of business on the day following the record date
for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such dividend or
other distribution and shall be deemed to have been issued without
consideration.
(D) The reclassification of securities of the Company other than shares of
Common Stock into securities including shares of Common Stock shall be deemed
to involve the issuance of such shares of Common Stock for a consideration
other than cash immediately prior to the close of business on the date fixed
for the determination of security holders entitled to receive such shares, and
the value of the consideration allocable to such shares of Common Stock shall
be determined as provided in subsection (B) of this Section 8(a).
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(E) The number of shares of Common Stock at any one time outstanding shall
be deemed to include the aggregate maximum number of shares issuable (subject
to readjustment upon the actual issuance thereof) upon the exercise of options,
rights or warrants and upon the conversion or exchange of convertible or
exchangeable securities.
(ii) Upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price pursuant to this Section
8, the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of each
Warrant shall be the number derived by multiplying the number of shares of
Common Stock purchasable immediately prior to such adjustment by the Exercise
Price in effect prior to such adjustment and dividing the product so obtained
by the applicable adjusted Exercise Price.
(c) In case the Company shall at any time after the date hereof issue
options, rights or warrants to subscribe for shares of Common Stock, or issue
any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, for
a consideration per share (determined as provided in Section 8(a) and as
provided below) less than the lower of (i) the Market Price, or (ii) Share
Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the issuance of such options,
rights or warrants, or such convertible or exchangeable securities, or without
consideration (including the issuance of any such securities by way of dividend
or other distribution), the Exercise Price for the Common Stock included in
this Underwriter's Warrants (whether or not the same shall be issued and
outstanding) in effect immediately prior to the issuance of such options,
rights or warrants, or such convertible or exchangeable securities, as the case
may be, shall be reduced to a price determined by making the computation in
accordance with the provisions of Section 8(a) hereof, provided that:
(A) The aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock, as the case
may be, issuable or that may become issuable under such options, rights or
warrants (assuming exercise in full even if not then currently exercisable or
currently exercisable in full) shall be deemed to be issued and outstanding at
the time such options, rights or warrants were issued, for a consideration
equal to the minimum Exercise Price per share provided for in such options,
rights or warrants at the time of issuance, plus the consideration, if any,
received by the Company for such options, rights or warrants; provided,
however, that upon the expiration or other termination of such options, rights
or warrants, if any thereof shall not have been exercised, the number of shares
of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding pursuant to this subsection
(A) (and for the purposes of subsection (E) of Section 8(a) hereof) shall be
reduced by the number of shares as to which options, warrants and/or rights
shall have expired, and such number of shares shall no longer be deemed to be
issued and outstanding, and the Exercise Price then in effect shall forthwith
be readjusted and thereafter be the price that it would have been had
adjustment been made on the basis of the issuance only of the shares actually
issued plus the shares remaining issuable upon the exercise of those options,
rights or warrants as to which the exercise rights shall not have expired or
terminated unexercised.
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(B) The aggregate maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable or
that may become issuable upon conversion or exchange of any convertible or
exchangeable securities (assuming conversion or exchange in full even if not
then currently convertible or exchangeable in full) shall be deemed to be
issued and outstanding at the time of issuance of such securities, for a
consideration equal to the consideration received by the Company for such
securities, plus the minimum consideration, if any, receivable by the Company
upon the conversion or exchange thereof; provided, however, that upon the
expiration or other termination of the right to convert or exchange such
convertible or exchangeable securities (whether by reason of redemption or
otherwise), the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and
outstanding pursuant to this subsection (B) (and for the purposes of subsection
(E) of Section 8(b) hereof) shall be reduced by the number of shares as to
which the conversion or exchange rights shall have expired or terminated
unexercised, and such number of shares shall no longer be deemed to be issued
and outstanding, and the Exercise Price then in effect shall forthwith be
readjusted and thereafter be the price that it would have been had adjustment
been made on the basis of the issuance only of the shares actually issued plus
the shares remaining issuable upon conversion or exchange of those convertible
or exchangeable securities as to which the conversion or exchange rights shall
not have expired or terminated unexercised.
(C) If any change shall occur in the exercise price per share provided for
in any of the options, rights or warrants referred to in subsection (A) of this
section 8(b), or in the price per share or ratio at which the securities
referred to in subsection (3) of this Section 8(b) are convertible or
exchangeable, such options, rights or warrants or conversion or exchange
rights, as the case may be, to the extent not theretofore exercised, shall be
deemed to have expired or terminated on the date when such price change became
effective in respect of shares not theretofore issued pursuant to the exercise
or conversion or exchange thereof, and the Company shall be deemed to have
issued upon such date new options, rights or warrants or convertible or
exchangeable securities.
(d) In case of any reclassification or change of outstanding shares of
Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (other than a change in par
value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value or
as a result of subdivision or combination), or in case of any consolidation or
merger of the Company with or into another corporation (other than a merger
with a subsidiary in which merger the Company is the continuing corporation and
which does not result in any reclassification or change of the then outstanding
shares of Common Stock or other capital stock issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants) or in case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation of the
property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, then,
as a condition of such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, sale or
conveyance, the Company, or such successor or purchasing corporation, as the
case may be, shall make lawful and adequate provision whereby the Registered
Holder of each Public Warrant then outstanding shall have the right thereafter
to receive on exercise of such Public Warrant the kind and amount of securities
and property receivable upon such reclassification, change,
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consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance by a holder of the number of
securities issuable upon exercise of such Warrant immediately prior to such
reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance and shall
forthwith file at the Corporate Office of the Warrant Agent a statement signed
by its President or a Vice President and by its Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer or its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary evidencing such provision.
Such provisions shall include provision for adjustments which shall be as
nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in
Section 8(a) and (b). The above provisions of this Section 8(c) shall
similarly apply to successive reclassifications and changes of shares of Common
Stock and to successive consolidations, mergers, sales or conveyances.
(e) Irrespective of any adjustments or changes in the Share Exercise Price
or the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Public
Warrants, the Warrant Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued shall,
unless the Company shall exercise its option to issue new Warrant Certificates
pursuant to the terms hereof, continue to express the Share Exercise Price per
share and the number of shares purchasable thereunder as the Share Exercise
Price per share and the number of shares purchasable thereunder were expressed
in the Warrant Certificates when the same were originally issued.
(f) After each adjustment of the Share Exercise Price pursuant to this
Section 8, the Company will promptly prepare a certificate signed by the
Chairman or President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company setting forth: (i) the
Exercise Price as so adjusted, (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock
purchasable upon exercise of each Warrant, after such adjustment, and (iii) a
brief statement of the facts accounting for such adjustment. The Company will
promptly file such certificate with the Warrant Agent and cause a brief summary
thereof to be sent by ordinary first class mail to each Registered Holder at
his last address as it shall appear on the registry books of the Warrant Agent.
No failure to mail such notice nor any defect therein or in the mailing
thereof shall affect the validity thereof except as to the holder to whom the
Company failed to mail such notice, or except as to the holder whose notice was
defective. The affidavit of an officer of the Warrant Agent or the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary of the Company that such notice has been mailed
shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated
therein.
(g) No adjustment of the Share Exercise Price or the number of shares
issuable shall be made as a result of or in connection with (A) the issuance or
sale of the Underwriter's Warrants or the Securities underlying the
Underwriter's Warrants, (B) the issuance or sale of the securities pursuant to
the Initial Public Offering, including the securities underlying the
Securities, (C) the issuance or sale of shares of Common Stock pursuant to
options, warrants, stock purchase agreements and convertible or exchangeable
securities outstanding or in effect on the date hereof, including options to be
granted under the Company's 1997 Employee Stock Option Plan or Common Stock
issuable on the exercise of such options, or (D) the issuance or sale of shares
of Common Stock if the amount of said adjustment shall be less than $.02 for
one share of Common Stock, provided, however, that in such case, any adjustment
that would
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otherwise be required then to be made shall be carried forward and shall be
made at the time of and together with the next subsequent adjustment that shall
amount, together with any adjustment so carried forward, to at least $.02 for
one share of Common Stock. In addition, Registered Holders shall not be
entitled to cash dividends paid by the Company prior to the exercise of any
Public Warrant or Public Warrants held by them.
SECTION 9. REDEMPTION.
(a) Commencing on the Initial Warrant Redemption Date, the Company may, on
30 days prior written notice redeem the Redeemable Warrants at $.10 per
Redeemable Warrant, in whole or in part, provided, however, that before any
such call for redemption of Warrants can take place, the (i) average closing
bid price for the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market as reported by
the NASD Automated Quotation System or (ii) the average closing sale price on
the primary exchange on which the Common Stock is traded, if the Common Stock
is traded on a national securities exchange, or (iii) average closing sale
price in the over-the-counter market as furnished by The National Quotation
Bureau, Inc., or NASD historical research department, if the Common Stock is
not listed or admitted for trading on any national securities exchange, and is
not reported by NASDAQ, shall have for ten (10) consecutive trading days ending
on the third day prior to the date of the notice of redemption exceeded $9.00
per share of Common Stock (subject to adjustment in the event of any stock
splits or other similar events as provided in Section 8 hereof).
(b) In the event the Company exercises its right to redeem the Redeemable
Warrants, it shall give or cause to be given notice to the Registered Holders
of the Redeemable Warrants, by mailing to such Registered Holders a notice of
redemption, first class, postage prepaid, within 15 calendar days of the
aforementioned ten (10) consecutive trading days and not later than the
twenty-fifth (25th) day before the date fixed for redemption, at their last
address as shall appear on the records of the Warrant Agent. Any notice mailed
in the manner provided herein shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly
given whether or not the Registered Holder receives such notice. At the time
of the mailing to the Registered Holders of the Warrants of the notice of
redemption, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Nutmeg a
similar notice telephonically and confirmed in writing together with a list of
the Registered Holders (including their respective addresses and number of
Warrants beneficially owned) to whom such notice of redemption has been or will
be given.
(c) The notice of redemption shall specify (i) the redemption price, (ii)
the date fixed for redemption, (iii) the place where the Warrant Certificate
shall be delivered and the redemption price shall be paid, and (iv) that the
right to exercise the Warrant shall terminate at 3:30 p.m. (New York time) on
the business day immediately preceding the date fixed for redemption. The date
fixed for the redemption of the Warrants shall be the Redemption Date. No
failure to mail such notice nor any defect therein or in the mailing thereof
shall affect the validity of the proceedings for such redemption except as to a
Registered Holder (a) to whom
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notice was not mailed or (b) whose notice was defective. An affidavit of the
Warrant Agent or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company that
notice of redemption has been mailed shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima
facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
(d) Any right to exercise a Warrant shall terminate at 3:30 p.m. (New York
time) on the business day immediately preceding the Redemption Date. The
redemption price payable to the Registered Holders shall be mailed to such
persons at their addresses of record.
SECTION 10. CONCERNING THE WARRANT AGENT.
(a) The Warrant Agent acts hereunder as agent and in a ministerial
capacity for the Company, and its duties shall be determined solely by the
provisions hereof. The Warrant Agent shall not, by issuing and delivering
Warrant Certificates or by any other act hereunder, be deemed to make any
representations as to the validity or value or authorization of the Warrant
Certificates or the Warrants represented thereby or of any securities or other
property delivered upon exercise of any Warrant or whether any stock issued
upon exercise of any Warrant is fully paid and nonassessable.
(b) The Warrant Agent shall not at any time be under any duty or
responsibility to any holder of Warrant Certificates to make or cause to be
made any adjustment of the Purchase Price provided in this Agreement, or to
determine whether any fact exists which may require any such adjustment, or
with respect to the nature or extent of any such adjustment, when made, or with
respect to the method employed in making the same. It shall not (i) be liable
for any recital or statement of fact contained herein or for any action taken,
suffered or omitted by it in reliance on any Warrant Certificate or other
document or instrument believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have
been signed or presented by the proper party or parties, (ii) be responsible
for any failure on the part of the Company to comply with any of its covenants
and obligations contained in this Agreement or in any Warrant Certificate, or
(iii) be liable for any act or omission in connection with this Agreement
except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(c) The Warrant Agent may at any time consult with counsel satisfactory to
it (who may be counsel for the Company) and shall incur no liability or
responsibility for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith in
accordance with the opinion or advice of such counsel.
(d) Any notice, statement, instruction, request, direction, order or
demand of the Company shall be sufficiently evidenced by an instrument signed
by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vice-Chairman or Secretary (unless
other evidence in respect thereof is herein specifically prescribed). The
Warrant Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by
it in accordance with such notice, statement, instruction, request, direction,
order or demand.
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(e) The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable compensation
for its services hereunder and to reimburse it for its reasonable expenses
hereunder; the Company further agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save
it harmless against any and all losses, expenses and liabilities, including
judgments, costs and counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant
Agent in the execution of its duties and powers hereunder except losses,
expenses and liabilities arising as a result of the Warrant Agent's gross
negligence or willful misconduct.
(f) The Warrant Agent may resign its duties and be discharged from all
further duties and liabilities hereunder (except liabilities arising as a
result of the Warrant Agent's own negligence or willful misconduct), after
giving 30 days prior written notice to the Company. At least 15 days prior to
the date such resignation is to become effective, the Warrant Agent shall cause
a copy of such notice of resignation to be mailed to the Registered Holder of
each Warrant Certificate at the Company's expense. Upon such resignation the
Company shall appoint in writing a new warrant agent. If the Company shall
fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after it has been
notified in writing of such resignation by the resigning Warrant Agent, then
the Registered Holder of any Warrant Certificate may apply to any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new warrant agent. Any new
warrant agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be a
bank or trust company having a capital and surplus, as shown by its last
published report to its shareholders, of not less than $10,000,000 or a stock
transfer company doing business in New York, New York. After acceptance in
writing of such appointment by the new warrant agent is received by the
Company, such new warrant agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights,
duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named herein as the
warrant agent, without any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed; but if
for any reason it shall be necessary or expedient to execute and deliver any
further assurance, conveyance, act or deed, the same shall be done at the
expense of the Company and shall be legally and validly executed and delivered
by the resigning Warrant Agent. Not later than the effective date of any such
appointment the Company shall file notice thereof with the resigning Warrant
Agent and shall forthwith cause a copy of such notice to be mailed to the
Registered Holder of each Warrant Certificate.
(g) Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent or any new warrant agent
may be converted or merged, any corporation resulting from any consolidation to
which the Warrant Agent or any new warrant agent shall be a party, or any
corporation succeeding to the corporate trust business of the Warrant Agent or
any new warrant agent shall be a successor warrant agent under this Agreement
without any further act, provided that such corporation is eligible for
appointment as successor to the Warrant Agent under the provisions of the
preceding paragraph. Any such successor warrant agent shall promptly cause
notice of its succession as warrant agent to be mailed to the Company and to
the Registered Holders of each Warrant Certificate.
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(h) The Warrant Agent, its Subsidiaries and affiliates, and any of its or
their officers or directors, may buy and hold or sell Warrants or other
securities of the Company and otherwise deal with the Company in the same
manner and to the same extent and with like effect as though it were not
Warrant Agent. Nothing herein shall preclude the Warrant Agent from acting in
any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.
(i) The Warrant Agent shall retain for a period of two years from the date
of exercise any Warrant Certificate received by it upon such exercise, marked
to indicate its cancellation thereof in accordance with Section 6(e) hereof.
SECTION 11. MODIFICATION OF AGREEMENT.
The Warrant Agent and the Company may by supplemental agreement make any
changes or corrections in this Agreement without the approval of any holders of
Warrants (i) that they shall deem appropriate to cure any ambiguity or to
correct any defective or inconsistent provision or manifest mistake or error
herein contained; (ii) that they may deem necessary or desirable and which
shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Warrant
Certificates; or (iii) which may be required by law; provided, however, that
this Agreement shall not otherwise be modified, supplemented or altered in any
respect except with the consent in writing of the Registered Holders
representing not less than 50% of the Warrants then outstanding; provided,
further, that no change in the number of the securities purchasable upon the
exercise of any Warrant, or the Purchase Price therefor, shall be made without
the consent in writing of the Registered Holder of the Warrant Certificate,
other than such changes as are specifically permitted or prescribed by this
Agreement as originally executed. In addition, this Agreement may not be
modified, amended or supplemented without the prior written consent of Nutmeg,
other than (i) to cure any ambiguity or to correct any provision which is
inconsistent or which is a manifest mistake or error; (ii) to make any such
change that is necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect the
interests of Nutmeg; or (iii) except as may be required by law.
SECTION 12. NOTICES.
All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been made when delivered or five days
after mailed first-class postage prepaid, or upon receipt when sent by
facsimile, with confirmation received, if to the Registered Holder of a Warrant
Certificate, at the address of such holder as shown on the registry books
maintained by the Warrant Agent; if to the Company at 701 West Church Street,
Orlando, Florida 32802, Attention: President, or at such other address as may
have been furnished to the Warrant Agent in writing by the Company; and if to
the Warrant Agent, at its Corporate Office. Copies of any notice delivered
pursuant to this Agreement shall be delivered to Nutmeg at 495 Post Road East,
Westport, CT 06880, Attention: President, or at such other addresses as may
have been furnished to the Company and the Warrant Agent in writing.
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SECTION 13. GOVERNING LAW.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of Florida without giving effect to conflicts of laws.
SECTION 14. BINDING EFFECT.
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
Company, the Warrant Agent and their respective successors and assigns and the
holders from
time to time of Warrant Certificates or any of them. Except as hereinafter
stated, nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to confer
upon any other person any right, remedy or claim or to impose upon any other
person any duty, liability or obligation. Nutmeg is, and shall at all times
irrevocably be deemed to be, a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement, with
full power, authority and standing to enforce the rights granted to it
hereunder. In the event of any conflict relating to the Underwriter's Warrant
between the terms hereof and the terms of the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement,
the terms of the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement shall prevail.
SECTION 15. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, which taken
together shall constitute a single document.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.
[SEAL]
AUTOMOTIVE ONE PARTS STORES, INC. AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Robert H. Gentry, III By: _____________________
--------------------------
Name: Robert H. Gentry, III Name: _________________
Title: President Title: _________________
Exhibit A
[FORM OF REDEEMABLE WARRANT CERTIFICATE]
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SUBSCRIPTION FORM
To Be Executed by the Registered Holder
in Order to Exercise Warrant
The undersigned Registered Holder hereby irrevocably elects to exercise
___________________ Warrants represented by this Warrant Certificate, and to
purchase the securities issuable upon the exercise of such Warrants, and
requests that certificates for such securities shall be issued in name of
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY
OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
(please print or type name and address)
and be delivered to
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
(please print or type name and address)
and if such number of Warrants shall not be all the Warrants evidenced by this
Warrant Certificate, that a new Warrant Certificate for the balance of such
Warrants be registered in the name of, and delivered to, the Registered Holder
at the address stated below.
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IMPORTANT: PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
1. The exercise of this Warrant was solicited by Nutmeg
Securities, Ltd.
2. The exercise of this Warrant was solicited
by __________________________________.
3. If the exercise of this Warrant was not
solicited, please check the following box.
Dated:_________________ X_____________________________
______________________________
______________________________
Address
______________________________
Social Security or Taxpayer
Identification Number
______________________________
Signature Guaranteed
______________________________
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ASSIGNMENT
To Be Executed by the Registered Holder
in Order to Assign Warrants
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, _____________________________, hereby sells, assigns
and transfers unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY
OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
(please print or type name and address)
___________________________________________________ of the Warrants represented
by this Warrant Certificate, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints
_____________________________________
Attorney to transfer this Warrant Certificate on the books of the Company, with
full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated:_____________________ X_____________________________
Signature Guaranteed
______________________________
THE SIGNATURE TO THE ASSIGNMENT OR THE SUBSCRIPTION FORM MUST CORRESPOND TO THE
NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR,
WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATSOEVER AND MUST BE
MEDALLION GUARANTEED BY A COMMERCIAL BANK OR TRUST COMPANY OR A MEMBER FIRM OF
THE AMERICAN STOCK EXCHANGE, NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, PACIFIC STOCK EXCHANGE,
MIDWEST STOCK EXCHANGE OR BOSTON STOCK EXCHANGE, WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE
MEDALLION PROGRAM.