NATHANS FAMOUS INC
S-8, 1999-08-27
EATING PLACES
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                                            Registration No. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                Washington, D.C.
                                -----------------
                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                      under

                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                -----------------
                              NATHAN'S FAMOUS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Delaware                                      11-3166443
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)

     1400 Old Country Road, Westbury, New York            11590
     (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)

                         COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANTS
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                            Wayne Norbitz, President
                              Nathan's Famous, Inc.
                              1400 Old Country Road
                            Westbury, New York 11590
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (516) 338-8500
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
                                -----------------
                                    copy to:
                            Nancy D. Lieberman, Esq.
                     Blau, Kramer, Wactlar & Lieberman, P.C.
                             100 Jericho Quadrangle
                             Jericho, New York 11753
                                 (516) 822-4820

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
======================================================================================================

    Title of Each                          Proposed Maximum      Proposed Maximum
 Class of Securities      Amount to be     Offering Price Per    Aggregate Offering      Amount of
  To be Registered         Registered        Security (1)            Price (1)        Registration Fee
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                    <C>                      <C>                   <C>                 <C>
 Common  Stock,
par value $.01 per     150,000 shs.(2)          $3.50                 $525,000            $146
share  together with
the  associated
common stock
purchase rights
======================================================================================================
<FN>
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration  fee, based
upon the average of the bid and asked  prices of the  Company's  Common Stock on
the NASDAQ National Market System on August 24, 1999.
(2)  This  Registration   Statement  also  covers  an  indeterminate  number  of
additional  shares of  Common  Stock  which  may  become  issuable  pursuant  to
anti-dilution and adjustment provisions of the Warrants.
======================================================================================================
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
     In July 1997,  Nathan's Famous,  Inc. issued to Howard M. Lorber,  Nathans'
Chairman of the Board,  a common  stock  purchase  warrant to  purchase  150,000
shares of Nathans'  common stock at a price of $3.25 per share.  The warrant was
issued by  Nathan's  in order to  induce  Mr.  Lorber to extend  the term of his
employment  agreement  until July 2001.  Prior to the extension,  his employment
contract was scheduled to expire in October 1997.

     The warrant,  which has a term of ten years, initially vested 37,500 shares
on July 17, 1998, 37,500 shares on July 17, 1999, 37,500 shares on July 17, 2000
and 37,500  shares on July 17, 2001.  By action of the Board of  Directors,  the
vesting was accelerated and 75,000 shares vested on July 23, 1999.
<PAGE>
                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

          Item 3.   Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
                    ---------------------------------------

          The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference into this Registration
Statement the documents listed in (a) and (b) below:

          (a)  The  Registrant's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
               ended March 28, 1999;

          (b)  The  Registrant's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  fiscal
               quarter ended June 27, 1999; and

          (c)  The description of the class of securities to be offered which is
               contained in a registration  statement  filed under Section 12 of
               the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (File No. 0- 3189) including
               any  amendment or report  filed for the purpose of updating  such
               description.

          All  documents  subsequently  filed  by  the  Registrant  pursuant  to
Sections  13(a),  13(c),  14 and 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
prior to the  filing of a  post-effective  amendment  which  indicates  that all
securities offered have been sold or which indicates that all securities offered
have been sold or which  deregisters all such securities then remaining  unsold,
shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this  Registration  Statement
and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Item 4.   Description of Securities.
          -------------------------

          Not applicable.

Item 5.   Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
          --------------------------------------

          Not applicable.

Item 6.   Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
          -----------------------------------------

          Under the provisions of the Certificate of  Incorporation  and By-Laws
of  Registrant,  each person who is or was a director  or officer of  Registrant
shall be indemnified  by Registrant as of right to the full extent  permitted or
authorized by the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

          Under such law, to the extent that such  person is  successful  on the
merits of defense of a suit or proceeding  brought  against him by reason of the
fact that he is a director  or officer of  Registrant,  he shall be  indemnified
against expenses  (including  attorneys' fees) reasonably incurred in connection
with such action.

          If unsuccessful  in defense of a third-party  civil suit or a criminal
suit is settled,  such a person shall be indemnified under such law against both
(1) expenses  (including  attorneys' fees) and (2) judgments,  fines and amounts
paid in  settlement  if he acted in good  faith  and in a manner  he  reasonably
believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of Registrant, and with
respect to any criminal  action,  had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct
was unlawful.

          If  unsuccessful  in defense  of a suit  brought by or in the right of
Registrant, or if such suit is settled, such a person shall be indemnified under
such law only  against  expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees)  incurred in the
defense or  settlement of such suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably  believed  to be  in,  or not  opposed  to,  the  best  interests  of
Registrant except that if such a person is adjudicated to be liable in such suit
for negligence or misconduct in the  performance  of his duty to Registrant,  he
cannot be made whole even for expenses  unless the court  determines  that he is
fairly and reasonably entitled to be indemnified for such expenses.

          The officers and directors of the Company are covered by officers' and
directors'  liability  insurance.  The  policy  coverage  is  $10,000,000  which
includes  reimbursement  for  costs  and  fees.  There  is a  maximum  aggregate
deductible  for each loss under the policy of $150,000.  The Company has entered
into Indemnification  Agreements with certain of its officers and directors. The
Agreements  provide for  reimbursement  for all direct and indirect costs of any
type or nature whatsoever (including attorneys' fees and related  disbursements)
actually and reasonably  incurred in connection  with either the  investigation,
defense  or  appeal of a  Proceeding,  as  defined,  including  amounts  paid in
settlement by or on behalf of an indemnitee.
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies  that  it  has  reasonable  grounds  to  believe  that  it  meets  all
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-8 and has  duly  caused  this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in Westbury, New York on the 24 th day of August, 1999.

                              NATHAN'S FAMOUS, INC.


                              By:  /s/  Wayne Norbitz
                                   ----------------------------------------
                                     Wayne Norbitz
                                     President and Chief Operating Officer


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,
this Registration  Statement has been signed on August 24, 1999 by the following
persons in the capacities  indicated.  Each person whose signature appears below
constitutes  and appoints  Wayne  Norbitz and Ronald G. DeVos,  and each of them
acting  individually,  with  full  power of  substitution,  our true and  lawful
attorneys-in-fact  and  agents to do any and all acts and things in our name and
on our behalf in our capacities indicated below which they or either of them may
deem necessary or advisable to enable Nathan's  Famous,  Inc. to comply with the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules,  regulations and requirements
of the Securities and Exchange Commission,  in connection with this Registration
Statement  including  specifically,  but not limited to, power and  authority to
sign for us or any of us in our names in the  capacities  stated below,  any and
all amendments (including post-effective amendments) thereto, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing  requisite and necessary to be done in such  connection,  as
fully to all  intents  and  purposes  as we might or could do in person,  hereby
ratifying and  confirming  all that said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  or his
substitute  or  substitutes,  may  lawfully  do or  cause  to be done by  virtue
thereof.

          Signature                     Title
          ---------                     -----

/s/ Howard M. Lorber            Chairman of the Board and
      Howard M. Lorber          Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Wayne Norbitz               President, Chief Operating Officer and
      Wayne Norbitz             Director (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Ronald G. DeVos             Vice President - Finance
      Ronald G. DeVos           Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
                                (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

/s/ Robert J. Eide              Director
      Robert J. Eide

/s/ Barry Leistner              Director
      Barry Leistner

/s/ Jeffrey A. Lichtenberg      Director
      Jeffrey A. Lichtenberg

/s/ Attilio F. Petrocelli       Director
      Attilio F. Petrocelli
<PAGE>
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

================================================================================


                              NATHAN'S FAMOUS, INC.


================================================================================



                         Form S-8 Registration Statement


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            E X H I B I T   I N D E X

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                          Page No. in Sequential
Exhibit                                                  Numbering of all Pages,
Number         Exhibit Description                       including Exhibit Pages
- -------        -------------------                       -----------------------

4       Common Stock Purchase Warrant  . . . . .                    4

5       Opinion and Consent of Counsel . . . . .                   13

23.1    Consent of Counsel  . . . . . . . . . . .            See Exhibit 5

23.2    Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP . . . . .                   15

24      Powers of Attorney . . . . . . . . . . .          See signature pages


                                                                       Exhibit 4

These  securities may not be publicly offered or sold unless at the time of such
offer or sale,  the  person  making  such offer of sale  delivers  a  prospectus
meeting  the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933  forming a part of a
registration statement, or post-effective  amendment thereto, which is effective
under said act,  or unless in the  opinion of counsel to the  Corporation,  such
offer and sale is exempt from the provisions of Section 5 of said Act.

                                  W A R R A N T
                                  - - - - - - -

          For the Purchase of Common Stock, Par Value $.01 per Share of

                              NATHAN'S FAMOUS, INC.

             (Incorporated under the Laws of the State of Delaware)

                         VOID AFTER 5 P.M. July 17, 2007

No. 1                                                       Warrant to Purchase
                                                               150,000 Shares


           THIS IS TO CERTIFY  that,  for value  received,  HOWARD M.  LORBER is
entitled,  subject to the terms and conditions  set forth,  at or before 5 P.M.,
New York City Time, on July 17, 2007, but not thereafter, to purchase the number
of shares set forth above of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"), of NATHAN'S FAMOUS,  INC., a Delaware  corporation (the "Corporation"),
from the Corporation at a purchase price per share of $3.25 if and to the extent
this Warrant is exercised,  in whole or in part,  during the period this Warrant
remains in force,  subject in all cases to  adjustment  as provided in Section 3
hereof, and to receive a certificate or certificates  representing the shares of
Common Stock so purchased, upon presentation and surrender to the Corporation of
this Warrant, with the form of subscription  attached hereto duly executed,  and
accompanied by payment of the purchase price of each share  purchased  either in
cash or by  certified  or bank  cashier's  check  payable  to the  order  of the
Corporation.


          1. (a) The rights  represented by this Warrant are  exercisable at the
option of the holder  hereof in whole at any time, or in part from time to time,
within the  period  above  specified  at the price  specified  on page 1 hereof,
provided that the Warrant  shall be vested as follows:  37,500 on July 17, 1998,
37,500 on July 17, 1999, 37,500 on July 17, 2000 and 37,500 on July 17, 2001.

              (b) Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  in the event there shall be a
change in the present control of the Company as hereinafter  defined,  or in any
person directly or indirectly presently  controlling the Company, as hereinafter
defined, the Warrant shall become fully vested.

          For purposes of this Agreement, a change in control of the Company, or
     in any person directly or indirectly controlling the Company, shall mean:
<PAGE>
               (i) a change in  control  as such term is  presently  defined  in
          Regulation  240.12b-2  under  the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934
          ("Exchange Act"); or

               (ii) if any "person"  (as such term is used in Section  13(d) and
          14(d) of the Exchange  Act) other than the Company or any "person" who
          on the date of this Agreement is a director or officer of the Company,
          becomes the  "beneficial  owner" (as defined in Rule 13(d)-3 under the
          Exchange Act),  directly or  indirectly,  of securities of the Company
          representing twenty (20%) percent of the voting power of the Company's
          then outstanding securities; or

               (iii) if during any period of two (2)  consecutive  years  during
          the term of this  Agreement,  individuals who at the beginning of such
          period  constitute  the Board of  Directors  cease  for any  reason to
          constitute at least a majority thereof.

          2.  The  Corporation  covenants  and  agrees  that all  shares  may be
delivered upon the exercise of this Warrant and will,  upon  delivery,  be fully
paid and non-assessable,  and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the  Corporation  covenants  and agrees  that it will from time to time take all
such  action as may be  requisite  to assure that the par value per share of the
Common  Stock is at all  times  equal to or less than the then  current  Warrant
purchase  price per share of the Common  Stock  issuable  upon  exercise of this
Warrant.

          3. The rights  represented  by this  Warrant  are  exercisable  at the
option of the holder  hereof in whole at any time, or in part from time to time,
within the period above  specified at the prices  specified in Section 1 hereof.
In case of the  purchase of less than all the shares as to which this Warrant is
exercisable, the Corporation shall cancel this Warrant upon the surrender hereof
and shall execute and deliver a new Warrant of like tenor for the balance of the
shares purchasable hereunder.

          4. The  price  per  share at  which  shares  of  Common  Stock  may be
purchased hereunder, and the number of such shares to be purchased upon exercise
hereof, are subject to change or adjustment as follows:

                           (A) In case the Corporation shall, while this Warrant
           remains  unexercised,  in whole or in part,  and in  force,  effect a
           recapitalization  of such  character  that the shares of Common Stock
           purchasable  hereunder  shall be changed into or become  exchangeable
           for a larger or  smaller  number of shares,  then,  after the date of
           record for effecting such  recapitalization,  the number of shares of
           Common  Stock which the holder  hereof  shall be entitled to purchase
           hereunder  shall be  increased or  decreased,  as the case may be, in
           direct proportion to the increase or decrease in the number of shares
           of Common Stock by reason of such recapitalization,  and the purchase
           price hereunder per share of such  recapitalized  Common Stock shall,
           in the  case  of an  increase  in  the  number  of  such  shares,  be
           proportionately  reduced, and in the case of a decrease in the number
           of such shares, shall be proportionately  increased.  For the purpose
           of this subsection  (A), a stock dividend,  stock split-up or reverse
           split shall be  considered as a  recapitalization  and as an exchange
           for a larger or smaller number of shares, as the case may be.
<PAGE>
                           (B)  In  the  case  of  any   consolidation   of  the
           Corporation  with,  or  merger  of the  Corporation  into,  any other
           corporation,  or in  case  of  any  sale  or  conveyance  of  all  or
           substantially all of the assets of the Corporation in connection with
           a plan  of  complete  liquidation  of  the  Corporation,  then,  as a
           condition  of such  consolidation,  merger  or  sale  or  conveyance,
           adequate  provision  shall be made  whereby the holder  hereof  shall
           thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and
           upon the terms and  conditions  specified in this Warrant and in lieu
           of shares of Common Stock  immediately  theretofore  purchasable  and
           receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented  hereby,  such
           shares of stock or  securities  as may be issued in  connection  with
           such  consolidation,  merger or sale or conveyance with respect to or
           in  exchange  for the number of  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock
           immediately therefore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of
           the rights represented hereby had such consolidation,  merger or sale
           or  conveyance  not taken  place,  and in any such  case  appropriate
           provision  shall be made with respect to the rights and  interests of
           the  holder of this  Warrant  to the end that the  provisions  hereof
           shall be  applicable as nearly as may be in relation to any shares of
           stock or securities thereafter deliverable upon the exercise hereof.

                           (C) In case the Corporation shall, while this Warrant
           remains  unexercised,  in  whole  or in  part,  and in  force,  issue
           (otherwise than by stock dividend or stock split-up or reverse split)
           or sell  shares  of its  Common  Stock  (hereinafter  referred  to as
           "Additional  Shares") for a consideration per share (before deduction
           of expenses or commissions or underwriting discounts or allowances in
           connection  therewith)  less than the purchase  price  hereunder  per
           share,  then,  after the date of such issuance or sale,  the purchase
           price  hereunder per share shall be reduced to a price  determined by
           dividing  (1) an amount  equal to (a) the  total  number of shares of
           Common  Stock  outstanding  immediately  prior  to the  time  of such
           issuance or sale  multiplied  by such  purchase  price  hereunder per
           share,  plus (b) the  consideration  (before deduction of expenses or
           commissions  or  underwriting  discounts or  allowances in connection
           therewith), if any, received by the Corporation upon such issuance or
           sale,  by (2) the total number of shares of Common Stock  outstanding
           after the date of the issuance or sale of such Additional Shares, and
           the number of shares of Common Stock which the holder hereof shall be
           entitled to purchase  hereunder at each such adjusted  purchase price
           per share,  at the time such adjusted  purchase price per shall be in
           effect,  shall be the number of whole shares of Common Stock obtained
           by multiplying  such purchase  price  hereunder per share before such
           adjustment,  by the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon
           the exercise of this Warrant immediately before such adjustment,  and
           dividing the product so obtained by such adjusted  purchase price per
           share;  provided,  however,  that no such  adjustment of the purchase
           price  hereunder  per share or the  number of shares  for which  this
           Warrant may be  exercised  shall be made upon the issuance or sale by
           the  Corporation  of  Additional  Shares  reserved for issuance  upon
           exercise of outstanding Stock Options.

                           (D) In case the Corporation shall, while this Warrant
           remains unexercised in whole or in part, and in force, issue or grant
           any rights to subscribe for or to purchase, or any option (other than
           the employee  stock options  referred to in subsection (C) above) for
           the purchase of (i) Common Stock or (ii) any  indebtedness  or shares
           of  stock   convertible   into  or  exchangeable   for  Common  Stock
           (indebtedness or shares of stock convertible into or exchangeable for
           Common   Stock  being   hereinafter   referred  to  as   "Convertible
           Securities"),  or issue or sell Convertible  Securities and the price
           per share for which  Common  Stock is issuable  upon the  exercise of
<PAGE>
           such  rights  or  options  or upon  conversion  or  exchange  of such
           Convertible  Securities at the time such Convertible Securities first
           become convertible or exchangeable (determined by dividing (1) in the
           case of an issuance or grant of any such rights or options, the total
           amount,  if  any,  received  or  receivable  by  the  Corporation  as
           consideration  for the  issuance  or grant of such rights or options,
           plus the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration payable
           to the Corporation upon exercise of such rights or options,  plus, in
           the case of such Convertible Securities, the minimum aggregate amount
           of additional consideration,  if any, payable to the Corporation upon
           the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities at the time
           such Convertible Securities first become convertible or exchangeable,
           or (2) in the case of an issuance or sale of  Convertible  Securities
           other than where the same or issuable  upon the  exercise of any such
           rights or options,  the total amount,  if any, received or receivable
           by the Corporation as consideration  for the issuance or sale of such
           Convertible   Securities,   plus  the  minimum  aggregate  amount  of
           additional consideration, if any, payable to the Corporation upon the
           conversion  or exchange of such  Convertible  Securities  at the time
           such Convertible Securities first become convertible or exchangeable,
           by, in either such case,  (3) the total  maximum  number of shares of
           Common Stock  issuable upon the exercise of such rights or options or
           upon the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities at the
           time  such  Convertible   Securities  first  become   convertible  or
           exchangeable)  shall be less than the two purchase  prices  hereunder
           per share,  then the total  maximum  number of shares of Common Stock
           issuable  upon  the  exercise  of  such  rights  or  options  or upon
           conversion  or  exchange  of  the  total   maximum   amount  of  such
           Convertible  Securities at the time such Convertible Securities first
           become  convertible  or  exchangeable,  shall  (as of the date of the
           issuance  or grant of such  rights or options  or, in the case of the
           issuance or sale of Convertible  Securities other than where the same
           are issuable  upon the exercise of rights or options,  as of the date
           of such  issuance  or sale) be deemed to be  outstanding  and to have
           been  issued for said price per share;  provided  that (i) no further
           adjustment  of the  purchase  price  shall be made  upon  the  actual
           issuance  of such  Common  Stock upon the  exercise of such rights or
           options  or upon  the  conversion  or  exchange  of such  Convertible
           Securities  or upon the actual  issuance  of  Convertible  Securities
           where  the same are  issuable  upon the  exercise  of such  rights or
           options,  and (ii)  rights or options  issued or granted  pro rata to
           shareholders   without   consideration  and  Convertible   Securities
           issuable  by way of dividend or other  distribution  to  shareholders
           shall be  deemed  to have  been  issued  or  granted  at the close of
           business  on the date  fixed for the  determination  of  shareholders
           entitled to such rights,  options or Convertible Securities and shall
           be deemed to have been issued without consideration; and (iii) if, in
           any case,  the total maximum  number of shares of Common Stock issued
           upon  exercise  of such  rights  or  options  or upon  conversion  or
           exchange of such Convertible  Securities is not, in fact,  issued and
           the right to exercise  such right or option or to convert or exchange
           such Convertible  Securities shall have expired or terminated,  then,
           and in any such event,  the purchase  price,  as  adjusted,  shall be
           appropriately   readjusted   at  the  time  of  such   expiration  or
           termination.  In such case,  each purchase price  hereunder per share
           which is greater  than the price per share for which  Common Stock is
           issuable  upon  conversion  or  exchange of such rights or options or
           upon  conversion  or exchange of such  Convertible  Securities at the
           time  such  Convertible   Securities  first  become   convertible  or
           exchangeable,  as  determined  above in this  subsection  (D),  shall
           thereupon be reduced to a price  determined by dividing (1) an amount
           equal to (a) the total number of shares of Common  Stock  outstanding
           immediately prior to the time of the issuance or grant of such rights
           or options or the  issuance  or sale of such  Convertible  Securities
           multiplied by such purchase price  hereunder per share,  plus (b) the
           total amount,  if any,  received or receivable by the  Corporation as
           consideration  for such  issuance or grant or such  issuance or sale,
           plus the additional  amounts  referred to and more fully set forth in
           clauses  (1)  and (2) of the  parenthetical  material  above  in this
           subsection (D), whichever clause and whichever additional amounts may
           be  applicable,  by (2) the total  number  of shares of Common  Stock
<PAGE>
           outstanding after the date of such issuance or grant or such issuance
           or sale,  and the number of shares of Common  Stock  which the holder
           hereof  shall be  entitled  to purchase  hereunder  at such  adjusted
           purchase  price per share,  at the time such adjusted  purchase price
           per shall be in effect, shall be the number of whole shares of Common
           Stock obtained by  multiplying  such purchase  price  hereunder,  per
           share,  before  such  adjustment,  by the  number of shares of Common
           Stock  purchasable  upon the  exercise  of this  Warrant  immediately
           before such  adjustment  and dividing the product so obtained by such
           adjusted purchase price per share.

                           (E) For the purpose of subsections (C) and (D) above,
           in case the Corporation shall issue or sell Additional Shares,  issue
           or grant any rights to subscribe  for or to purchase,  or any options
           for the purchase of (i) Common Stock or (ii) Convertible  Securities,
           or issue or sell Convertible  Securities for a consideration  part of
           which  shall be other  than  cash,  the  amount of the  consideration
           received by the  Corporation  therefor shall be deemed to be the cash
           proceeds,  if any, received by the Corporation plus the fair value of
           the  consideration  other  than  cash as  determined  by the Board of
           Directors  of the  Corporation  in good faith,  before  deduction  of
           commissions,  underwriting  discounts or allowances or other expenses
           paid or  incurred  by the  Corporation  for any  underwriting  of, or
           otherwise in connection with, such issuance, grant or sale.

                           (F)  Subject  to the  provisions  of  subsection  (G)
           below,  in case the  Corporation  shall,  while this Warrant  remains
           unexercised, in whole or in part, and in force, make any distribution
           of its  assets to holders  of Common  Stock as a partial  liquidating
           dividend,  by way of return of capital or otherwise,  then, after the
           date  of  record  for  determining   shareholders  entitled  to  such
           distribution,  the holder hereof shall be entitled,  upon exercise of
           this Warrant and purchase of any or all of the shares of Common Stock
           subject  hereto,  to  receive  the  amount of such  assets (or at the
           option of the  Corporation,  a sum equal to the value  thereof at the
           time of such distribution to holders of Common Stock as such value is
           determined  by the  Board of  Directors  of the  Corporation  in good
           faith)  which would have been  payable to such holder had he been the
           holder of record of such  shares of Common  Stock on the record  date
           for the determination of shareholders entitled to such distribution.

                           (G) Except as otherwise  provided in  subsection  (B)
           above, in the case of any sales or conveyance of all or substantially
           all of the assets of the  Corporation  in  connection  with a plan of
           complete  liquidation  of  the  Corporation,   in  the  case  of  the
           dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, all rights
           under  this  Warrant   shall   terminate  on  a  date  fixed  by  the
           Corporation,  such date so fixed to be not  earlier  than the date of
           the commencement of the proceedings for such dissolution, liquidation
           or  winding-up  and not  later  than  thirty  (30)  days  after  such
           commencement  date.  Notice of such  termination  of purchase  rights
           shall be given to the  registered  holder  hereof,  as the same shall
           appear on the books of the  Corporation,  at least  thirty  (30) days
           prior to such termination date.
<PAGE>
                           (H) In case the Corporation shall, while this Warrant
           remains  unexercised in whole or in part, and in force,  offer to the
           holders of Common Stock any rights to subscribe for additional shares
           of stock of the Corporation, then the Corporation shall given written
           notice thereof to the  registered  holder hereof not less than thirty
           (30) days prior to the date on which the books of the Corporation are
           closed or a record date fixed for the  determination  of shareholders
           entitled to such subscription  rights.  Such notice shall specify the
           date as to which the books  shall be closed or the record  date fixed
           with  respect  to such  offer or  subscription,  and the right of the
           holder  hereof to  participate  in such offer or  subscription  shall
           terminate  if this  Warrant  shall not be  exercised on or before the
           date of such closing of the books or such record date.

                           (I)  Any   adjustment   pursuant  to  the   foregoing
           provisions  shall be made on the  basis of the  number  of  shares of
           Common  Stock  which the holder  hereof  would have been  entitled to
           acquire by exercise of this  Warrant  immediately  prior to the event
           giving  rise  to  such  adjustment  and,  as to  the  purchase  price
           hereunder per share,  whether or not in effect  immediately  prior to
           the time of such  adjustment,  on the  basis of such  purchase  price
           immediately  prior  to the  event  giving  rise to  such  adjustment.
           Whenever any such  adjustment is required to be made, the Corporation
           shall  forthwith  determine  the new number of shares of Common Stock
           which the holder shall be entitled to purchase  hereunder and/or such
           new purchase price per share,  and shall prepare,  retain on file and
           transmit  to the  holder  hereof  within  ten (10)  days  after  such
           preparation a statement  describing  in reasonable  detail the method
           used in calculating such adjustment(s).

                           (J) For the  purposes  of this  Section  3,  the term
           "Common  Stock" shall include all shares of capital stock  authorized
           by the Corporation's  Certificate of  Incorporation,  as from time to
           time  amended,  which are not limited to a fixed sum or percentage of
           par  value  in  respect  of the  right  of  the  holders  thereof  to
           participate  in dividends or in the  distribution  of assets upon the
           voluntary or  involuntary  liquidation,  dissolution or winding-up of
           the Corporation.

                           (K) Whenever the price per share  hereunder,  initial
           or adjusted, and the number of shares of Common Stock to be purchased
           upon  exercise  hereof,  initial  or  adjusted,  shall be  changed or
           adjusted   pursuant  to  the   provisions  of  this  Section  3,  the
           Corporation  shall  forthwith  cause written notice setting forth the
           changed or adjusted price per share hereunder and number of shares to
           be purchased  upon exercise  hereof to be given to the holder of this
           Warrant.
<PAGE>
               5. (A) The  Corporation  agrees that at any time the  Corporation
          contemplates filing under and in accordance with the Securities Act of
          1933, as amended, (the "Act"), a new Registration  Statement, it shall
          notify the holder hereof in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to
          the filing of such new  Registration  Statement of its intention to do
          so, and in such case,  the holder  hereof  shall have the right,  upon
          written notice  delivered to the  Corporation  within twenty (20) days
          after  receipt of notice from the  Corporation,  to require  that such
          Warrants  and the shares of Common  Stock into which the  Warrants are
          exercisable  be included in such new  Registration  Statement.  In the
          event that the holder  hereof  elects to so include  such  Warrants or
          such  shares of Common  Stock,  the  Corporation  shall pay all of the
          expenses of preparation and filing of such new Registration Statement,
          including  legal,  accounting,  printing,  blue sky and other fees and
          expenses.

               (B) The  Corporation  agrees to use its best efforts to cause any
          new  registration   statement  to  become  effective  as  promptly  as
          possible. the Corporation agrees to file such post-effective amendment
          or amendments to any new registration  statement or supplements to any
          prospectus  contained  therein as may be  required  so that there will
          continuously  be  available  (for  so  long a  period  of time as such
          prospectus may be used under the Act or otherwise as may be determined
          by the  Securities and Exchange  Commission) a prospectus  meeting the
          requirements  of  the  Act.  The  Corporation   agrees  to  provide  a
          reasonable  number of copies of any  preliminary  or final  prospectus
          forming a part of such new registration statement, and the Corporation
          shall comply with the blue sky laws of such states as may be requested
          by the holder of the  warrants or shares of Common  Stock  issued upon
          exercise hereof; provided,  however, that the Corporation shall not be
          obligated  to file any  general  consent  to  service of process or to
          qualify  as a foreign  corporation  under the laws of any such  state.
          Such  provision  and such  compliance  shall be at the  expense of the
          Corporation.  the  Corporation  agrees to indemnify  the holder of the
          Warrants and shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise hereof to the
          usual extent in connection with  liabilities and expenses  arising out
          of material  misrepresentations  or omissions  in such  post-effective
          amendment or new registration statement against the indemnification of
          the  Corporation  by the holder of the  Warrants  and shares of Common
          Stock issued upon exercise hereof to the usual extent.

               (C) If the holder  elects to include  the  Warrants  or shares of
          Common  Stock  in  the  Registration   Statement,   the  Corporation's
          obligation  to do  so  shall  be  subject  to  the  following  further
          conditions:

                    (i) If the  managing  underwriter  advises  that  either the
                    Warrants or shares of Common Stock  otherwise to be included
                    in the offering by the timely  election of the holder cannot
                    be  included  in  whole  or in  part in  such  offering  for
                    whatever  reason,  then, as the case may be, the Warrants or
                    shares of Common Stock shall not be included in the offering
                    or the amount  thereof  included  in the  offering  shall be
                    reduced in accordance with the advice of the underwriters.

                    (ii) The  Corporation  may in its  discretion  withdraw  any
                    Registration Statement filed without liability to the holder
                    hereof.
<PAGE>
               (D) The holder  hereof  agrees  that the  Warrants  and shares of
          Common  Stock  will not be  offered  or sold (1) unless at the time of
          such  offer or sale,  there is  delivered  a  prospectus  meeting  the
          requirements  of  the  Act,  as  amended,  forming  a  part  of a  new
          Registration  Statement  with  respect to such offer and sale,  or (2)
          unless in the opinion of counsel to the  Corporation  satisfactory  to
          the holder  hereof,  such offer and sale is exempt from the provisions
          of Section 5 of the Act. In connection with the preparation of any new
          Registration  Statement,  the  holder  hereof  agrees to  furnish  the
          Corporation with information,  in writing, concerning the terms of the
          proposed offer.

           6. The Corporation agrees at all times to reserve or hold available a
sufficient  number  of shares  of  Common  Stock to cover  the  number of shares
issuable upon the exercise of this and all other Warrants of the same class.

           7. This  Warrant  shall not entitle  the holder  hereof to any voting
rights or other  rights as a  shareholder  of the  Corporation,  or to any other
rights whatsoever except the rights herein expressed,  and no dividends shall be
payable or accrue in respect of this Warrant or the interest  represented hereby
or the shares  purchasable  hereunder until or unless,  and except to the extent
that, this Warrant shall be exercised.

           8. This  Warrant is  exchangeable  upon the  surrender  hereof by the
holder hereof to the Corporation for new Warrants of like tenor  representing in
the aggregate the right to purchase the number of shares purchasable  hereunder,
each of such new  Warrants to  represent  the right to  purchase  such number of
shares  as  shall  be  designated  by the  holder  hereof  at the  time  of such
surrender.

           9. The  Corporation  will transmit to the holder of this Warrant such
information,  documents and reports as are generally distributed to shareholders
of  the  Corporation   concurrently  with  the  distribution   thereof  to  such
shareholders.

           10. Notices to be given to the holder of this Warrant shall be deemed
to have been  sufficiently  given if delivered or mailed,  addressed in the name
and at the address of such holder  appearing in the records of the  Corporation,
and if mailed,  sent first class registered or certified mail,  postage prepaid.
The address of the  Corporation  is 1400 Old Country  Road,  Westbury,  New York
11590, and the Corporation shall give written notice of any change of address to
the holder hereof.

           IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Corporation  has caused this Warrant to be
executed by the  signature of its President and its seal affixed and attested by
its Secretary.

Dated:    July 17, 1997
                                  NATHAN'S FAMOUS, INC.

                                  By: s/ Wayne Norbitz
                                     --------------------------------------
                                     WAYNE NORBITZ, President
[Corporate Seal]
ATTEST:

s/ Ronald DeVos
- --------------------------------------
Ronald  DeVos, Secretary
<PAGE>
                                   ASSIGNMENT

                          To Be Executed by the Holder
                           If He Desires To Assign The
                             Warrant In Its Entirety


FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ___________  hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto_______
____________________          __________________________________________________
                             (Please insert Social Security or other identifying
                              number of Assignee)


the  right to  purchase  ________  shares of Common  Stock of the  within  named
Company  evidenced by the within  Warrant,  together  will all right,  title and
interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint

________________________________________________________________________________
attorney to transfer  the said Warrant on the books of said  Company,  with full
power of substitution in the premises.

Dated: _____________, 19__


                                   ----------------------------
                                  (Signature)
                                  NOTE:   The signature  to this Assignment must
                                  correspond  with the name as written  upon the
                                  face  of this  Warrant  in  every  particular,
                                  without   alteration  or  enlargement  or  any
                                  change whatever.

                                  SIGNATURE GUARANTEED:

                                  ------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                SUBSCRIPTION FORM
                                -----------------

                          To Be Executed By The Holder
                          If He Desires To Exercise The
                           Warrant In Whole Or In Part

TO:  NATHAN'S FAMOUS, INC.

     The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the right of purchase
represented by the within Warrant for, and to purchaser thereunder, ____________
shares of the stock  provided  for therein and tenders  payment  herewith to the
order of NATHAN'S  FAMOUS,  INC. in the amount of $ _____________  (such payment
being in cash or by  certified  or  official  bank or bank  cashier's  check) in
accordance with the terms of the within Warrant.  The undersigned  requests that
certificates for such shares be issued in the name of


- ------------------------------    ----------------------------------------------
(Name)                           (Social Security or other identifying number of
                                  Subscriber)
- ------------------------------
(Address)

and to be delivered to _________________________________________________________
                       (Name)

________________________________________________________________________________
(Address)

and, if said number of shares shall not be all the shares purchasable hereunder,
that a new Warrant for the balance remaining of the shares purchasable under the
within  Warrant be registered in the name of, and delivered to, the  undersigned
at the address stated below.

________________________________________________________________________________
(Address)

Dated: _________ 19__

                     -----------------------------------------------
                     (Signature)
               NOTE: The signature to this Subscription must correspond with the
               name  as  written  upon  the  face  of   this  Warrant  in  every
               particular, without  alteration  or  enlargement  or  any  change
               whatever.


                                                                       Exhibit 5





                                    August 25, 1999




Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549

           Re:  Nathan's Famous, Inc.
                Registration Statement on Form S-8
                ----------------------------------
Gentlemen:

           Reference  is  made to the  filing  by  Nathan's  Famous,  Inc.  (the
"Corporation")  of a Registration  Statement on Form S-8 with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, covering the registration of 150,000 shares of the Corporation's Common
Stock,  $.01 par value per share,  in  connection  with a common stock  purchase
warrant issued to the chief executive officer of the Corporation.

           As  counsel  for the  Corporation,  we have  examined  its  corporate
records,  including its Certificate of Incorporation,  as amended,  By-Laws, its
corporate  minutes,  the form of its Common Stock  certificate,  the warrant and
such  other  documents  as we  have  deemed  necessary  or  relevant  under  the
circumstances.

           Based upon our examination, we are of the opinion that:

      1. The  Corporation is duly organized and validly  existing under the laws
of the State of Delaware.

      2. There have been  reserved for issuance by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation  150,000 shares of its Common Stock,  $.01 par value per share.  The
shares of the  Corporation's  Common  Stock,  when issued  upon  exercise of the
warrant pursuant to its terms, will be validly authorized, legally issued, fully
paid and non-assessable.

           We hereby  consent to be named in the  Registration  Statement and in
the Prospectus  which  constitutes a part thereof as counsel of the Corporation,
and we  hereby  consent  to the  filing  of this  opinion  as  Exhibit  5 to the
Registration Statement.

                                    Very truly yours,


                                    /s/ Blau, Kramer, Wactlar & Lieberman, P.C.
                                    BLAU, KRAMER, WACTLAR &
                                         LIEBERMAN, P.C.

                              ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP







                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
                    -----------------------------------------





As independent  public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the  incorporation by
reference in this Form S-8  registration  statement of our report dated June 15,
1999 included in the Nathan's Famous,  Inc. and  Subsidiaries  Form 10-K for the
year ended March 28,  1999 and to all  references  to our Firm  included in this
Form S-8 registration statement.


                                        /s/ Arthur Andersen LLP





Roseland, New Jersey
August 27, 1999






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