TOPS APPLIANCE CITY INC
8-K, 2000-01-11
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                                    FORM 8-K
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549




                                 CURRENT REPORT



Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): January 4, 2000



                            TOPS APPLIANCE CITY, INC.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



  New Jersey                     0-20498                   22-3174554
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other               (Commission               (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                File Number)            Identification No.)
incorporation)



                 45 Brunswick Avenue, Edison, New Jersey 08818
                ------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (908) 248-2850




                                       N/A
        -----------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


                                       1
<PAGE>


Item 5.  Other Events

     The  Registrant  entered into an Agreement  dated  January 4, 2000 with Bay
Harbour  Management  L.C.  ("Bay  Harbour")  pursuant to which the Registrant is
issuing  4,500,000  shares of a new Series A  Preferred  Stock to Bay  Harbour's
managed  accounts in full  satisfaction of the  Registrant's  obligation to make
additional cash payments or issue additional stock to Bay Harbour.  The terms of
the Series A Preferred Stock are set forth in a Certificate of Designation which
amends  the  Registrant's  certificate  of  incorporation.   The  Agreement  and
Certificate  of  Designation  are  attached  as  exhibits to this report and are
incorporated herein by reference.  The Registrant agreed to use its best efforts
to obtain shareholder  approval to the conversion of the preferred stock into an
aggregate  of  4,500,000  shares  of  common  stock  at its  annual  meeting  of
shareholders  in 2000.  The  preferred  stock  is not  convertible  unless  such
approval is obtained  nor may it be  converted if it would result in a change in
control under the Registrant's Indenture for its outstanding debentures.

     The Registrant  also  announced that Robert Gross and Anthony  Formica have
resigned from its Board of Directors, which now has six members.


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c)   Exhibits

               3.1   Certificate of Designation for Series A Preferred Stock
              10.1   Agreement with Bay Harbour Management L.C. dated January 4,
                     2000



                                    SIGNATURE


     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                      TOPS APPLIANCE CITY, INC.


                                      BY: /s/ Thomas L. Zambelli
                                          ------------------------------------
                                           THOMAS L. ZAMBELLI,
                                           Executive Vice President


Dated: January     , 2000


<PAGE>


                                   EXHIBIT 3.1
                            TOPS APPLIANCE CITY, INC.

                     CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION, PREFERENCES
                    AND RELATIVE, PARTICIPATING, OPTIONAL AND
                     OTHER SPECIAL RIGHTS OF PREFERRED STOCK
                       AND QUALIFICATIONS, LIMITATIONS AND
                              RESTRICTIONS THEREOF
                            ------------------------

                       Pursuant to Section 14A:9-4 of the
                       New Jersey Business Corporation Act
                            ------------------------

     Tops Appliance  City,  Inc. (the  "Company"),  a corporation  organized and
existing  under  the laws of the  State of New  Jersey,  hereby  certifies  that
pursuant  to the  provisions  of  Section  14A:9-4  of the New  Jersey  Business
Corporation Act, its Board of Directors, pursuant to a unanimous written consent
dated as of January 4, 2000 adopted the following  resolution,  which resolution
remains in full force and effect as of the date hereof:

     WHEREAS,  the Board of Directors of the Company is  authorized,  within the
limitations and restrictions stated in the Certificate of Incorporation,  to fix
by resolution or resolutions  the designation of preferred stock and the powers,
preferences  and relative  participating,  optional or other special  rights and
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including, without limiting
the generality of the foregoing,  such  provisions as may be desired  concerning
voting,  redemption,  dividends,  dissolution  or the  distribution  of  assets,
conversion  or exchange,  and such other  subjects or matters as may be fixed by
resolution  or  resolutions  of the  Board of  Directors  under  the New  Jersey
Business Corporation Act; and

     WHEREAS,  it is the  desire  of the  Board  of  Directors  of the  Company,
pursuant to its  authority as  aforesaid,  to authorize and fix the terms of the
preferred stock to be designated the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of the
Company and the number of shares constituting such preferred stock;

     NOW, THEREFORE,  BE IT RESOLVED, that there is hereby authorized the Series
A Convertible  Preferred  Stock on the terms and with the provisions  herein set
forth:



<PAGE>


                   TERMS, PREFERENCES, RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS

                                       of

                      SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK

                                       of

                            TOPS APPLIANCE CITY, INC.

     The relative rights, preferences,  powers, qualifications,  limitations and
restrictions granted to or imposed upon the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
or the holders thereof are as follows:

     1. Definitions. For purposes of this Designation, the following definitions
shall apply:

     "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

     "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday,  Sunday,  or a day
on which  banking  institutions  in the  State of New  York  are  authorized  or
obligated by law or executive order to close.

     "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock,  no par value per share, of the
Company.

     "Company" shall mean Tops Appliance City, Inc., a New Jersey corporation.

     "Conversion Ratio" has the meaning set forth in Section 7 hereof.

     "Current  Market Price," when used with reference to shares of Common Stock
or other  securities  on any date,  shall mean the  average of the daily  market
prices for 30 consecutive  Trading Days commencing 45 days before such date. The
daily market price for each such Trading Day shall be (i) the last sale price on
such day on the  principal  stock  exchange or the NASDAQ  Stock Market on which
such Common  Stock is then listed or admitted to trading,  (ii) if no sale takes
place  on such day on any such  exchange  or  market,  the  average  of the last
reported  closing bid and asked prices on such day as  officially  quoted on any
such  exchange  or  market,  (iii) if the  Common  Stock is not then  listed  or
admitted  to trading on any stock  exchange or such  market,  the average of the
last reported  closing bid and asked prices on such day in the  over-the-counter
market, as furnished by NASDAQ or the National  Quotation Bureau,  Inc., (iv) if
neither  such  corporation  at the time is engaged in the  business of reporting
such prices, as furnished by any similar firm then engaged in such business,  or
(v) if there  is no such  firm,  as  furnished  by any  member  of the  National
Association of Securities  Dealers  ("NASD")  selected  mutually by the Required
Holders and Company or, if they cannot agree upon such selection, as selected by
two such  members of the NASD,  one of which shall be  selected by the  Required
Holders and one of which shall be selected by Company.

     "Liquidation Preference" shall mean $.01 per share.

     "Organic Change" shall mean (A) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer
of all or  substantially  all of the property and assets of the Company,  or (B)
any  merger  or  consolidation  to which  the  Company  is a party and which the
holders of the voting  securities of the Company  immediately  prior thereto own
less than a majority  of the  outstanding  voting  securities  of the  surviving
entity immediately following such transaction.

     "Original  Issue  Date"  shall mean the date of the  original  issuance  of
shares of Convertible Preferred Stock.

     "Person" shall mean any individual,  firm, corporation or other entity, and
shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.

     "Required  Holders" shall mean the holders of at least of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Convertible Preferred Stock.

     "Trading  Day" shall mean a Business  Day or, if the Common Stock is listed
or  admitted to trading on any  national  securities  exchange  or NASDAQ  Stock
Market,  a day on which such exchange or market is open for the  transaction  of
business.

     2.  Designation:  Number of Shares.  The designation of the preferred stock
authorized by this resolution  shall be "Series A Convertible  Preferred  Stock"
and the number of shares of Convertible  Preferred Stock authorized hereby shall
be 4,500,000 shares.

     3. Dividends.

     So long as any shares of Convertible  Preferred Stock shall be outstanding,
(i) if any dividend  whatsoever  shall be paid or declared,  or any distribution
shall be made, on account of any Common Stock  (including,  without  limitation,
any  distribution of stock or other securities or property or rights or warrants
to subscribe for securities of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries by way of
dividend or spinoff) an equivalent  additional  dividend or  distribution  shall
simultaneously by declared and paid on the Convertible  Preferred Stock based on
the number of shares of Common Stock into which it is then convertible,  whether
or not the conditions for conversion have been satisfied at that time.

     4. Liquidation Rights of Convertible Preferred Stock.

     (a) In the  event of any  liquidation,  dissolution  or  winding  up of the
Company, whether voluntary or involuntary,  the holders of Convertible Preferred
Stock then  outstanding  shall be  entitled  to be paid out of the assets of the
Company available for distribution to its stockholders,  whether such assets are
capital,  surplus or  earnings,  before any payment or  declaration  and setting
apart for payment of any amount shall be made in respect of any shares of Common
Stock or any share of any other class or series of the Company's preferred stock
ranking junior to the Convertible Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of
dividends or distribution of assets on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Company, an amount equal to the Liquidation Preference plus all declared and
unpaid  dividends  in  respect  of any  liquidation,  dissolution  or winding up
consummated.

     If upon any liquidation,  dissolution or winding up of the Company, whether
voluntary  or  involuntary,  the assets to be  distributed  among the holders of
Convertible  Preferred Stock shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such
stockholders of the full preferential amounts aforesaid,  then the entire assets
of the Company to be distributed shall be distributed  ratably among the holders
of Convertible  Preferred Stock, based on the full preferential  amounts for the
number of shares of Convertible Preferred Stock held by each holder.

     After payment to the holders of Convertible  Preferred Stock of the amounts
set forth in Section 4(a) hereof,  the entire  remaining assets and funds of the
Company legally available for  distribution,  if any, shall be distributed among
the holders of any Company stock entitled to a preference  over the Common Stock
in accordance with the terms thereof and,  thereafter,  to the holders of Common
Stock and the holders of the Convertible  Preferred Stock based on the number of
shares of Common  Stock  into which it is then  convertible,  whether or not the
conditions for conversion have been satisfied at that time.

     5. Voting  Rights.  In addition to any voting  rights  provided by law, the
affirmative vote of the Required Holders,  voting together as a class, in person
or by proxy,  at a special  or annual  meeting  of  stockholders  called for the
purpose,  or pursuant to a written consent of stockholders shall be necessary to
authorize,  adopt or approve an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of
the  Company  which  would  alter or change in any  manner  the  terms,  powers,
preferences or special rights of the shares of  Convertible  Preferred  Stock or
grant waivers thereof,  or which would otherwise  adversely affect the rights of
the Convertible Preferred Stock, provided that no such modification or amendment
may, without the consent of each holder of Convertible  Preferred Stock affected
thereby, (A) reduce the liquidation rights or dividend rights of the Convertible
Preferred  Stock;  (B) adversely  affect any of the  conversion  features of the
Convertible  Preferred  Stock set forth in  Section 7 hereof;  or (C) reduce the
percentage of outstanding  Convertible  Preferred  Stock  necessary to modify or
amend the terms thereof or to grant waivers thereof.

     6. No Redemption of Convertible Preferred Stock. The Company shall not have
any right to redeem or repurchase the Convertible Preferred Stock.

     7.  Conversion.  Subject to the provisions for adjustment  hereinafter  set
forth and to the  satisfaction of the conditions set forth below,  each share of
Convertible  Preferred  Stock shall be  convertible at any time and from time to
time, at the option of the holder thereof (a  "Conversion")  into fully paid and
nonassessable  shares  of Common  Stock.  The  number of shares of Common  Stock
deliverable upon conversion of a share of Convertible  Preferred Stock, adjusted
as hereinafter  provided,  is referred to herein as the "Conversion  Ratio." The
Conversion  Ratio shall initially be one (1), subject to adjustment from time to
time pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section 7. No fractional  shares shall be
issued upon the conversion of any shares of  Convertible  Preferred  Stock.  All
shares of Common Stock (including fractions thereof) issuable upon conversion of
more than one share of Convertible  Preferred Stock by a holder thereof shall be
aggregated for purposes of determining  whether  conversion  would result in the
issuance of any fractional share. If, after the aforementioned aggregation,  the
conversion  would  result in the  issuance  of a  fraction  of a share of Common
Stock,  the Company  shall,  in lieu of issuing any  fractional  share,  pay the
holder  otherwise  entitled to such  fraction a sum in cash equal to the Current
Market  Price  of such  fraction  on the  date  of  conversion.   The  following
conditions  must be satisfied  before any shares of Convertible  Preferred Stock
may be so converted: (i) the stockholders of the Company shall have approved the
right of the holders of the  Convertible  Preferred Stock to convert such shares
into Common Stock, and (ii) the issuance of Common Stock to the holder effecting
a Conversion  would not result in a Change of Control  constituting a Redemption
Event  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  Section  14.3(d)(i)  of  that  certain
Indenture,  dated November 30, 1993,  between the Company and Midlantic National
Bank, as Trustee,  relating to a change in control, so long as such Indenture is
outstanding,  nor result in such holder  beneficially owing more than 49% of the
outstanding  Common  Stock  so  long  as  such  provision  of the  Indenture  is
applicable.

     (a) A Conversion of the Convertible  Preferred Stock may be effected by any
such holder upon the  surrender  to the Company at the  principal  office of the
Company of the certificate for such Convertible  Preferred Stock to be converted
accompanied  by a written  notice stating that such holder elects to convert all
or a  specified  number of such  shares  (which  may be  fractional  shares)  in
accordance  with the  provisions  of this Section 7 and  specifying  the name or
names in which such holder wishes the certificate or certificates  for shares of
Common Stock to be issued.

     In case the written notice specifying the name or name in which such holder
wishes the certificate or  certificates  for shares of Common Stock to be issued
shall specify a name or names other than that of such holder,  such notice shall
be  accompanied  by payment of all transfer  taxes  payable upon the issuance of
shares of Common Stock in such name or names. Other than such taxes, the Company
will pay any and all issue and other  taxes  (other  than taxes based on income)
that may be  payable in  respect  of any issue or  delivery  of shares of Common
Stock on conversion of Convertible  Preferred Stock pursuant hereto. As promptly
as  practicable,  and in any event within five Business Days after the surrender
of such  certificate  or  certificates  and the receipt of such notice  relating
thereto and, if applicable,  payment of all transfer taxes (or the demonstration
to the  satisfaction of the Company that such taxes have been paid), the Company
shall deliver or cause to be delivered (i) certificates  representing the number
of validly issued,  fully paid and nonassessable  full shares of Common Stock to
which the holder of shares of Convertible  Preferred Stock being converted shall
be  entitled  and (ii) if less than the full  number  of  shares of  Convertible
Preferred  Stock  evidenced by the  surrendered  certificate or  certificates is
being  converted,  a new  certificate or  certificates,  of like tenor,  for the
number of shares evidenced by such surrendered  certificate or certificates less
the number of shares being converted.

     A Conversion, shall be deemed to have been made at the close of business on
the date of giving the  written  notice  referred  to in the first  sentence  of
(b)(i)  above  and  of  such  surrender  of  the   certificate  or  certificates
representing  the shares of Convertible  Preferred Stock to be converted so that
the rights of the holder  thereof as to the shares being  converted  shall cease
except for the right to receive  shares of Common Stock in accordance  herewith,
and the person  entitled to receive the shares of Common  Stock shall be treated
for all  purposes  as having  become the record  holder of such shares of Common
Stock at such time.

     (b) The Conversion  Ratio shall be subject to adjustment  from time to time
in certain instances as hereinafter provided.

     (c) The Company shall at all times reserve, and keep available for issuance
upon the  conversion  of the  Convertible  Preferred  Stock,  such number of its
authorized  but  unissued  shares of  Common  Stock as will from time to time be
sufficient to permit the  conversion of all  outstanding  shares of  Convertible
Preferred  Stock,  and shall take all action required to increase the authorized
number of shares of Common Stock if necessary  to permit the  conversion  of all
outstanding shares of Convertible Preferred Stock.

     In case  the  Company  shall  at any time or from  time to time  after  the
Original  Issue  Date  (A)  pay a  dividend,  or  make  a  distribution,  on the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock in shares of Common Stock, (B) subdivide the
outstanding shares of Common Stock, (C) combine the outstanding shares of Common
Stock into a smaller  number of shares or (D) issue by  reclassification  of the
shares of Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company,  then, and in
each such case, the Conversion Ratio in effect  immediately  prior to such event
or the record date therefor, whichever is earlier, shall be adjusted so that the
holder of any shares of Convertible  Preferred Stock thereafter  surrendered for
conversion  shall be entitled to receive the number of shares of Common Stock or
other  securities of the Company which such holder would have owned or have been
entitled to receive  after the happening of any of the events  described  above,
had such shares of Convertible  Preferred Stock been  surrendered for conversion
immediately  prior to the  happening of such event or the record date  therefor,
whichever is earlier.  An adjustment  made pursuant to this  paragraph (e) shall
become  effective  (x) in  the  case  of  any  such  dividend  or  distribution,
immediately after the close of business on the record date for the determination
of holders  of shares of Common  Stock  entitled  to receive  such  dividend  or
distribution,  or (y) in the  case  of  such  subdivision,  reclassification  or
combination,  at the close of  business  on the day upon  which  such  corporate
action becomes effective. No adjustment shall be made pursuant to this paragraph
(e) in connection with any transaction to which paragraph (f) applies.

     In case of any  Organic  Change (or any other  merger or  consolidation  to
which the Company is a party,  which for purposes of this paragraph (f) shall be
deemed an  Organic  Change),  each  share of  Convertible  Preferred  Stock then
outstanding  shall  thereafter be convertible  into, in lieu of the Common Stock
issuable upon such conversion prior to consummation of such Organic Change,  the
kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and property  receivable
(including  cash) upon the  consummation  of such Organic  Change by a holder of
that  number  of  shares of Common  Stock  into  which one share of  Convertible
Preferred Stock was convertible immediately prior to such Organic Change without
regard to the  conditions for conversion  (including,  on a pro rata basis,  the
cash,  securities or property  received by holders of Common Stock in any tender
or exchange offer that is a step in such Organic Change).  In case securities or
property  other  than  Common  Stock  shall  be  issuable  or  deliverable  upon
conversion as aforesaid,  then all  references in this Section 7 shall be deemed
to apply, so far as appropriate  and nearly as may be, to such other  securities
or property.

     In case at any time or from  time to time the  Company  shall pay any stock
dividend or make any other  non-cash  distribution  to the holders of its Common
Stock,  or shall  offer for  subscription  pro rata to the holders of its Common
Stock any additional  shares of stock of any class or any other right,  or there
shall be any capital  reorganization or  reclassification of the Common Stock of
the  Company or  consolidation  or merger of the  Company  with or into  another
corporation, or any sale or conveyance to another corporation of the property of
the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety,  or there shall be a
voluntary or involuntary dissolution,  liquidation or winding up of the Company,
then, in any one or more of said cases, the Company shall give at least 20 days'
prior written  notice to the  registered  holders of the  Convertible  Preferred
Stock at the  addresses  of each as shown on the books of the  Company as of the
date on which  (i) the books of the  Company  shall  close or a record  shall be
taken for such stock dividend,  distribution or subscription rights or (ii) such
reorganization,  reclassification,  consolidation,  merger,  sale or conveyance,
dissolution,  liquidation  or winding up shall take  place,  as the case may be,
provided that in the case of any Organic  Change to which  paragraph (f) applies
the Company shall give at least 30 days' prior written notice as aforesaid. Such
notice  shall also  specify the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock
of record shall  participate  in said  dividend,  distribution  or  subscription
rights or shall be entitled to exchange  their  Common Stock for  securities  or
other  property   deliverable   upon  such   reorganization,   reclassification,
consolidation,  merger,  sale or conveyance or participate in such  dissolution,
liquidation or winding up, as the case may be. Failure to give such notice shall
not invalidate any action so taken.

     8. Reports as to Adjustments.  Upon any adjustment of the Conversion  Ratio
then in effect and any  increase  or  decrease in the number of shares of Common
Stock  issuable  upon the  operation of the  conversion  set forth in Section 7,
then, and in each such case,  the Company shall promptly  deliver to each holder
of the Convertible  Preferred Stock, a certificate  signed by the President or a
Vice  President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant  Treasurer or the Secretary
or an Assistant  Secretary of the Company setting forth in reasonable detail the
event  requiring  the  adjustment  and the method by which such  adjustment  was
calculated and specifying  the  Conversion  Ratio then in effect  following such
adjustment  and the  increased or decreased  number of shares  issuable upon the
conversion  granted by Section 7, and shall set forth in  reasonable  detail the
method of calculation of each and a brief  statement of the facts requiring such
adjustment.  Where  appropriate,  such  notice  to  holders  of the  Convertible
Preferred Stock may be given in advance.

     9. Certain Covenants.  Any registered holder of Convertible Preferred Stock
may proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of such  holders by
any  available  remedy by  proceeding at law or in equity to protect and enforce
any such rights,  whether for the specific  enforcement of any provision in this
Certificate  of  Designation  or in aid of the  exercise  of any  power  granted
herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

     10. No  Reissuance  of Preferred  Stock.  No  Convertible  Preferred  Stock
acquired by the Company by reason of purchase or  otherwise  shall be  reissued,
and all such shares shall be cancelled,  retired and eliminated  from the shares
which the Company shall be authorized to issue.

     11.  Notices.  All  notices to the  Company  permitted  hereunder  shall be
personally delivered or sent by first class mail, postage prepaid,  addressed to
its principal office located at 45 Brunswick Avenue,  Edison,  New Jersey 08818,
or to such other  address  at which its  principal  office is located  and as to
which  notice  thereof is  similarly  given to the  holders  of the  Convertible
Preferred Stock at their addresses appearing on the books of the Company.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Tops Appliance City, Inc. has caused this Certificate
to be signed by its President and Secretary,  respectively,  on this ____ day of
January, 2000.


                                            -------------------------
                                             President


                                            -------------------------
                                             Secretary



<PAGE>


                                  Exhibit 10.1

                          BAY HARBOUR MANAGEMENT, L.C.
                                885 Third Avenue
                            New York, New York 10022


                                 January 4, 2000


Tops Appliance City, Inc.
45 Brunswick Avenue
Edison, New Jersey 08818

Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain Share Purchase Agreement,  dated July 16, 1998
(the  "Agreement"),  between Tops Appliance City, Inc.  ("Tops") and Bay Harbour
Management L.C., for its managed  accounts ("Bay Harbour").  The purpose of this
Letter  Agreement  is to confirm our  agreement  concerning  the  provisions  of
Section  5  of  the  Agreement,   which  provides  for  certain  purchase  price
adjustments. It is hereby agreed as follows:


     1. In full  satisfaction  of  Tops'  obligation  to  make  additional  cash
payments or issue  additional  shares of Tops common stock to Bay Harbour,  Tops
shall issue an aggregate of 4,500,000  shares of a new Series A Preferred  Stock
of Tops (the "Series A Stock") to the managed  accounts of Bay Harbour set forth
on Exhibit A hereto and in the amounts set forth on such  Exhibit.  The terms of
the  Series A Stock  shall be as set  forth in the  Certificate  of  Designation
annexed  hereto  as  Exhibit B (the  "Certificate  of  Designation").  Upon such
issuance of the Series A Stock,  the  provisions  of Section 5 of the  Agreement
shall be terminated and of no further force or effect, subject,  however, to the
provisions of Section 3 hereof.

     2. Within fifteen (15) business days after the date hereof, Tops shall file
the Certificate of Designation with the Treasurer of the State of New Jersey and
deliver to Bay Harbour  properly  executed stock  certificates  for the Series A
Stock.

     3.  Tops  agrees  that it will  seek and use its  best  efforts  to  obtain
stockholder  approval of the conversion  provisions of the Series A Stock at its
Annual Meeting of  Stockholders in 2000.  Subject to obtaining such  stockholder
approval,  Tops will  arrange to list the shares of Tops common  stock  issuable
upon  conversion  of the Series A Stock on the Nasdaq  Stock  Market and it will
reserve such shares for issuance upon such conversion.  If for any reason (other
than Bay Harbour's  failure to vote in favor of such  approval)  such  requisite
approval of Tops' stockholders is not obtained by June 30, 2000, or, if earlier,
is not obtained at Tops' 2000 Annual Meeting,  Bay Harbour shall have the option
to rescind  and cancel this Letter  Agreement  by written  notice to Tops within
thirty  (30) days after it has the right to do so. Bay Harbour  shall  return to
Tops the Series A Stock  issued  hereunder if it so elects to cancel this Letter
Agreement,  and the provisions of Section 5 of the Agreement shall be reinstated
and thereafter  remain in full force and effect.  4.abThe existing  registration
rights  agreements  between  Bay Harbour and Tops shall also apply to the common
stock  issuable  upon  conversion  of the  Series  A Stock to be  issued  to Bay
Harbour.

     5. Tops  represents  to Bay  Harbour  that this  Letter  Agreement  and the
Certificate of Designation  have been duly authorized by its Board of Directors;
this  Letter  Agreement  has  been  duly  executed  and  delivered  by Tops  and
constitutes a valid, binding and enforceable  obligation of Tops; and the Series
A Stock,  upon its issuance  pursuant hereto,  will be duly authorized,  validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will not have been issued in violation
of any pre-emptive rights or agreements to which Tops is a party.

     6. All notices hereunder shall be given as provided in the Agreement.

     7. Tops agrees to reimburse Bay Harbour for its reasonable  attorney's fees
in connection with the preparation of this Letter Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby.

     8. This Letter  Agreement  shall be governed by,  construed and enforced in
accordance  with,  the laws of the  State of New  York,  without  regard  to its
conflict of laws principles.

     9. This Letter  Agreement  may be  executed in any number of  counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which  together shall
be deemed to be one and the same agreement.

Kindly confirm your agreement to the foregoing by signing below where  indicated
and returning a signed copy to the undersigned.

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          BAY HARBOUR MANAGEMENT L.C.
                                          for its managed accounts


                                          By:
                                             -------------------------------
                                              Name:  Douglas P. Teitelbaum
                                             Title:  Managing Principal

CONFIRMED AND AGREED TO:
TOPS APPLIANCE CITY, INC.


By:
    -----------------------------------
     Name:  Richard L. Jones
     Title: Chief Executive Officer


<PAGE>


                                    Exhibit A


                                                        Number of Shares of
        Name of Managed Account                            Series A Stock
        -----------------------                         --------------------

Bay Harbour Partners, Ltd.                                     1,773,450
Bay Harbour 90-1, Ltd.                                         1,182,150
Trophy Hunter Investments, Ltd.                                1,048,050
Mellon Bank N.A., as Trustee for Dominion Resources
 Retirement Fund                                                 496,350






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