HERRICK NORTON
SC 13D, 1999-02-12
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                                 (Rule 13d-101)

             INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
            TO RULE 13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO
                                  RULE 13d-2(a)
                                (Amendment No. )*

                              Audio Book Club, Inc.
                                (Name of Issuer)

                           Common Stock, no par value
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                   05068R 10 8
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                               Brad Shiffman, Esq.
                              Tenzer Greenblatt LLP
          405 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10174 (212) 885-5442
           (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to
                       Receive Notice and Communications)

                               December 31, 1998
             (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

If the filing person has previously  filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the  acquisition  which is the subject of this  Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box
|_|.

Note:  Schedules  filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the  schedule,  including  all  exhibits.  See Rule 13d-7(b) for other
parties to whom copies are to be sent.

*    The  remainder  of this  cover  page  shall be filled  out for a  reporting
     person's  initial  filing on this form with respect to the subject class of
     securities,  and for any subsequent amendment containing  information which
     would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise  subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but  shall be  subject  to all other  provisions  of the Act  (however,  see the
Notes).

                                Page 1 of 6 Pages

<PAGE>

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

- ---------------------                                          -----------------
CUSIP NO. 05068R-10-8                                          Page 2 of 6 Pages
- ---------------------                                          -----------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1              NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
               I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)

                    Norton Herrick
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2              CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*         (a) |_|
                                                                         (b) |X|


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3              SEC USE ONLY



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4              SOURCE OF FUNDS*

                  PF, OO

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5              CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
               TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)                                         |_|


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6              CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

                    United States

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               7    SOLE VOTING POWER

 NUMBER OF          2,916,627 (includes options, warrants and a convertible note
   SHARES           to acquire an aggregate of 2,908,427 shares of Common Stock)
BENEFICIALLY        as of February 12, 1999
  OWNED BY     -----------------------------------------------------------------
    EACH       8    SHARED VOTING POWER                                         
 REPORTING                                                                      
   PERSON                             0                                         
    WITH                                                                        
               -----------------------------------------------------------------
               9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER                                      
                                                                                
                    3,893,547 (includes options, warrants and a convertible note
                    to acquire an aggregate of 2,908,427 shares of Common Stock)
                    as of February 12, 1999
               -----------------------------------------------------------------
               10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER                                    
                                                                                
                                         0                                      
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11             AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

                    3,893,547 (includes options,  warrants and a note to acquire
                    an aggregate of 2,908,427 shares of Common Stock)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12             CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN
               SHARES*                                                       |X|

               Does not include 2,714,180 shares held by N. Herrick  Irrevocable
               ABC Trust (the "N.  Herrick  Trust"),  of which Norton Herrick is
               the sole  beneficiary  and in which he therefore may be deemed to
               have an economic interest. Mr. Herrick does not have voting power
               or dispositive power with respect to the 2,714,180 shares held by
               the N. Herrick Trust.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13             PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

                    39.0%

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14             TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

                    IN

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

                      *SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!

           INCLUDE BOTH SIDES OF THE COVER PAGE, RESPONSES TO ITEM 1-7
      (INCLUDING EXHIBITS) OF THE SCHEDULE, AND THE SIGNATURE ATTESTATION.

                                Page 2 of 6 Pages

<PAGE>

Item 1. Security and Issuer.

     This statement  relates to the Common Stock, no par value ("Common  Stock")
issued by Audio Book Club, Inc., a Florida  corporation  (the "Company"),  whose
principal executive offices are located at 2295 Corporate Boulevard,  Suite 222,
Boca  Raton,  Florida  33431.  All share  information  in this  statement  gives
retroactive  effect to a  16,282-for-1  split of the Common  Stock  effected  in
October 1997.

Item 2. Identity and Background.

     This statement is filed by Norton Herrick, Co-Chief Executive Officer and a
principal  shareholder  of the Company (the  "Reporting  Person").  The business
address of the Reporting  Person is c/o Audio Book Club,  Inc.,  2295  Corporate
Boulevard,  Suite 222, Boca Raton,  Florida  33431.  The  Reporting  Person is a
United States citizen.

     Mr.  Herrick has not,  during the last five years (i) been  convicted  in a
criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar  misdemeanors),  or
(ii) been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative  body of
competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a
judgment,  decree or final order enjoining future  violations of, or prohibiting
or mandating  activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding
any violations with respect to such laws.

Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or other Consideration.

     In connection  with the formation of the Company,  between  August 1993 and
January 1994 the  Reporting  Person,  and two of his sons,  Howard  Herrick ("H.
Herrick") and Michael  Herrick ("M.  Herrick")  purchased from the Company,  for
total consideration of $200, an aggregate of 3,256,400 shares of Common Stock of
which 2,301,200 shares were purchased by the Reporting Person and 477,600 shares
were  purchased by each of H. Herrick and M.  Herrick.  Subsequent to this date,
but and prior to the Company's October 1997 initial public offering (the "IPO"),
the Reporting  Person effected  certain  transfers of his shares of Common Stock
and  established  the N. Herrick  Irrevocable  ABC Trust, of which the Reporting
Person is sole  beneficiary  and H. Herrick is the sole trustee (the "N. Herrick
Trust").  The Trust  Agreement for the N. Herrick Trust provides H. Herrick with
sole voting and  dispositive  power with  respect to the shares of Common  Stock
held by the N. Herrick  Trust.  In addition,  M.  Herrick  established  the M.E.
Herrick Irrevocable Trust (the "M.E. Herrick Trust"), of which M. Herrick is the
sole beneficiary and H. Herrick is the sole trustee.  H. Herrick has irrevocably
granted to N.  Herrick sole  dispositive  power with respect to shares of Common
Stock held by H.  Herrick  on his own  behalf and on behalf of the M.E.  Herrick
Trust.  Immediately prior to the IPO, the N. Herrick Trust converted  $5,975,200
of  indebtedness  owed to it by the Company into 597,520 shares of Common Stock.
As of the date of the IPO,  as a result  of  transfers  of  Common  Stock by the
Reporting  Person to the N.  Herrick  Trust and other  share  transfers  and the
October 1997 share  issuance to the N. Herrick Trust noted above,  the Reporting
Person owned of record no shares of Common Stock,  the N. Herrick Trust owned of
record 2,714,180 shares, H. Herrick owned of record 488,460 shares, and the M.E.
Herrick Trust owned of record 488,460 shares.

     Between March 31, 1998 and April 3, 1998 the Reporting  Person purchased on
the open market a total of 8,200 shares of

                                Page 3 of 6 Pages

<PAGE>

Common Stock at prices ranging from $4.25-$4.375 per share. On June 16, 1998 the
Company  issued to the Reporting  Person  pursuant to the  Company's  1997 Stock
Option Plan (the "Plan"), five-year options to purchase 250,000 shares of Common
Stock at $3.50 per share.  On  September  10, 1998,  the Company  granted to the
Reporting  Person  five-year  Plan Options to purchase  750,000 shares of Common
Stock at $7.25 per share.  On  December  31,  1998,  the  Company  issued to the
Reporting Person five-year  warrants (the "Warrants") to purchase 500,000 shares
of Common Stock at $12.00 per share and a  convertible  note (the "Note")  which
was initially convertible into 1,348,315 shares of Common Stock and is currently
convertible  into 1,258,427 shares of Common Stock at any time until the earlier
of the  repayment of the Note or December  31, 2004.  The Warrants and Note were
issued to the Reporting  Person in  consideration  of his loan to the Company in
the initial amount of $15,000,000  (reduced to $14,000,000 in January 1999) (the
"Loan")  the  proceeds of which was used by the Company to fund a portion of the
purchase  price of the audio book club  division of The Columbia  House  Company
which was  acquired by the Company in December  31,  1998.  The number of shares
issuable  upon  exercise  of the  foregoing  options and the  Warrants  and upon
conversion  of  the  note  are  subject  to  certain   anti-dilution  and  other
adjustments.  None of such options or Warrants has been  exercised  and the Note
has not been  converted.  In  addition,  Evan  Herrick,  a son of the  Reporting
Person,  has granted to the Reporting  Person voting and dispositive  power with
respect to 150,000  shares of Common Stock  issuable  upon exercise of five-year
options granted to Evan Herrick in November 1998.

Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.

     The  purpose  of the  acquisition  of the  shares  of  Common  Stock by the
Reporting Person as acquired prior to the IPO was for control and for investment
purposes.  The 8,200 shares acquired in the open market by the Reporting  Person
were acquired for investment purposes. The Reporting Persons may make additional
purchases of Common Stock from time to time and may dispose of any or all of the
shares of Common  Stock  held by him at any time.  The  Reporting  Person has no
plans or  proposals  which  relate  to, or could  result  in any of the  matters
referred to in Paragraphs  (b) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D although in
his  capacity  as a director  and  executive  officer of the  Company he will be
involved in any decisions of the Company to issue  additional  securities and to
continue  the  Company's  strategy  which  includes  pursuing   acquisitions  of
complementary  businesses.  The Reporting  Person may review or  reconsider  his
position  with  respect to the Company or to formulate  plans or proposals  with
respect to any such matter, but, except as noted above, has no present intention
of doing so.

Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

     As of  February  12,  1999,  the  Reporting  Person  beneficially  owns  an
aggregate of 3,893,547 shares of Common Stock constituting  approximately  39.0%
of the outstanding Common Stock. The amount includes:  (i) 8,200 shares owned of
record by the Reporting Person, (ii) 1,000,000 shares issuable upon Plan options
granted to the Reporting Person,  (iii) 500,000 shares issuable upon exercise of
the Warrants,  (iv) 1,258,427  shares  issuable upon conversion of the Note, (v)
488,460 shares owned of record by H. Herrick,  of which the Reporting Person has
sole dispositive but no voting power, (vi) 488,460 shares owned of record by the
M. E. Herrick Trust, of which the Reporting  Person has sole  dispositive but no
voting  power,  and (v) 150,000  shares  issuable  upon exercise of Plan options
granted to Evan  Herrick,  of which the  Reporting  Person  has sole  voting and
dispositive  power.  The  foregoing  calculation  does not include the 2,714,180
shares owned of record by the N. Herrick Trust, of which the

                                Page 4 of 6 Pages

<PAGE>

Reporting Person is the sole beneficiary but has no voting or dispositive power.
The  percentage  used herein is calculated  based upon the  7,078,920  shares of
Common Stock  issued and  outstanding  at December 31, 1998,  as provided by the
Company.  Except  for the  shares  owned of  record by H.  Herrick  and the M.E.
Herrick Trust as to which the Reporting Person has sole  dispositive  power, but
no voting power, the Reporting Person has sole voting and dispositive power with
respect to all the shares of Common Stock to which this statement  relates.  The
Reporting Person has not effected any transactions in shares of the Common Stock
in the past 60 days other than as indicated above.

Except as noted below,  no person other than the Reporting  Person has the right
to receive or the power to direct receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds of,
the sale of the  shares of Common  Stock.  H.  Herrick  has the right to receive
dividends and proceeds from any  disposition  of shares of Common Stock owned of
record by him. The M.E. Herrick Trust, whose sole beneficiary is M. Herrick, has
the right to receive  any  dividends  on any shares  owned of record by the M.E.
Herrick Trust and the proceeds from any sale of Common Stock by the M.E. Herrick
Trust.

Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or
        Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

     Other  than as set  forth  above,  there  are no  contracts,  arrangements,
understandings  or relationships  with the Reporting Persons or any other person
with  respect to the  securities  of the  Issuer,  including  but not limited to
transfer or voting of any other securities,  finders' fees, joint ventures, loan
or option  arrangements,  puts or calls,  guaranties  of profits,  divisions  of
profits or loss or the giving or  withholding of proxies except that pursuant to
a December  31,  1998 letter  agreement  between  the  Reporting  Person and the
Company,  the Company may be obligated to issue to the Reporting Person warrants
to  purchase  350,000  shares of Common  Stock at  $12.00  per share in  certain
circumstances involving the re-financing of the Note.

     The Reporting Person has received certain  registration rights with respect
to the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by him.

Item 7. Materials to be filed as Exhibits.

Exhibit 1     December 31, 1998 financing letter agreement between the Company
              and the Reporting Person.

Exhibit 2     Proxy of Howard Herrick to the Reporting Person.

Exhibit 3     Proxy of Evan Herrick to the Reporting Person.

                                Page 5 of 6 Pages

<PAGE>

                                    SIGNATURE

     After  reasonable  inquiry and to the best of my  knowledge  and belief,  I
certify that the information  set forth in this statement is true,  complete and
correct.

DATE: February 12, 1999

                                                    /s/ Norton Herrick
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                        Norton Herrick

                                Page 6 of 6 Pages



                                                                       Exhibit 1

                              AUDIO BOOK CLUB, INC.
                               20 COMMUNITY PLACE
                                  P.O. BOX 2346
                            MORRISTOWN, NJ 07962-2346

                                                               December 31, 1998

Mr. Norton Herrick
2295 Corporate Blvd., N.W.
  Suite 222
P.O. Box 5010
Boca Raton, FL 33431

Dear Mr. Herrick:

     As an inducement to, and in consideration of, your purchase from Audio Book
Club, Inc. (the "Company"),  of the Company's 9% Convertible Senior Subordinated
Promissory  Note Due December 31, 2004 (the "Note") in the  principal  amount of
$15,000,000, the Company hereby agrees as follows  (capitalized  terms used and
not otherwise defined herein having the meanings ascribed to them in the Note):

     1. The  officers  of the  Company  (other  than  Norton,  Michael or Howard
Herrick)  shall use their best  efforts to seek to refinance or replace the Note
with debt or equity  financing  and will  consider  all  proposals  and accept a
proposal (which is permitted under the Senior Credit  Facilities or consented to
by the lenders  thereunder)  whether or not (i) as favorable as the terms of the
Note, including,  without limitation,  those providing for a principal amount of
up to  $18.5  million,  a higher  interest  rate,  the  issuance  of  additional
warrants,  a lower  exercise  price for the warrants  and/or a lower  conversion
price (or a variable  conversion  price based on the future  market price of the
Company's  Common  Stock) for the Note;  (ii)  involving  the issuance of equity
securities,  including shares of preferred stock with a variable conversion rate
and  mandatory  redemption  features;  and/or  (iii)  requiring  the  payment of
financing, placement or other fees.

     2. In the event refinancing is obtained from anyone other than the Herricks
or an  Affiliate of any of the  Herricks,  you will not be required to return to
the  Company the  warrants  ("Warrants")  issued to you  pursuant to the Warrant
Agreement  dated  December  31,  1998 by and between you and the Company and you
shall be issued additional  warrants (identical to Warrants) to purchase 350,000
shares of Common Stock; and



<PAGE>

     3. In the event that (i) an offer is  presented to the  Company's  Board of
Directors to provide debt or equity  refinancing of the Note (which is permitted
under the Senior Credit  Facilities  or consented to by the lenders  thereunder)
and such refinancing is not accepted by the Company's board of directors or (ii)
debt or  equity  refinancing  is not  obtained  by the  Company  on or  prior to
September 30, 1999, in either case,  at your option,  after  September 30, 1999,
and upon receipt of approval of the Company's  shareholders (which the Company's
Board of Directors has agreed to recommend to the Company's  shareholders),  (a)
the interest  rate of the Note will  increase to 11%, except that no increase in
the interest  rate on the Note shall be  permitted  or may be effected  prior to
January 1, 2000 other than  non-current  pay interest  which  accrues and is not
payable in cash until final maturity of the Note,  (b) the conversion  price of
the Note will be decreased to the lesser of the conversion  price then in effect
or the average of the closing bid price of the Common Stock for the five trading
days prior to  conversion,  (c) the  exercise  price of the  Warrants  will,  be
reduced (but not  increased) to the average of the 10 lowest  closing bid prices
of the Common Stock for the 30 trading  days prior to the date that  shareholder
approval  has been  obtained,  but not below $8.00 per share,  and (d) you shall
have all other rights and remedies available to you.

     The Company acknowledges that your holding of the Note (notwithstanding the
terms  thereof)  from the Company was intended to be  short-term  financing  and
serve as a  bridge  to  replacement  financing.  However,  Fleet  National  Bank
requires  the Note to mature  following  the  expiration  of the  senior  credit
facilities  and  therefore,   you  agreed  to  the  terms  of  the  Note  as  an
accommodation to the Company.


                                              AUDIO BOOK CLUB, INC.



                                              By:
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Name:  John Levy
                                              TITLE: Executive Vice President
                                                     Chief Financial Officer





Accepted and Agreed:


- ----------------------------------
Norton Herrick



                                                                       Exhibit 2

                           IRREVOCABLE GRANT OF POWER

     I,  HOWARD EVAN  HERRICK  ("Grantor"),  residing at 26 Alder Lane,  Basking
Ridge, New Jersey 07920,  hereby  irrevocably grant and convey to Norton Herrick
("Grantee"),  with  an  office  at  c/o  The  Herrick  Company,  2295  Corporate
Boulevard,  N.W., Boca Raton,  Florida 33431, power of general  disposition over
any or all  shares of the  capital  stock of Audio Book  Club,  Inc.,  a Florida
corporation,  including,  any other  securities of such corporation or any other
entity issued at any time upon any  conversion or exchange of any such shares of
the capital stock of Audio Book Club, Inc. ("Property"),  in the same manner and
to the same extent as the Grantor could do if the Grantor were personally acting
with respect to any dispositive  transaction.  The grant of power made hereunder
shall  survive  the  Grantor's  death and  disability  and shall bind his heirs,
executors,  legal  representatives and assigns. The general power of disposition
granted herein shall, include, but not be limited, to: (a) the power to sell any
or all  of the  Property  at any  time  and  to  any  person  as  Grantee  deems
appropriate,  including,  but not limited to, the power to make loans to Grantee
or, upon his death, to his spouse, Elayne Herrick ("Elayne"), provided that such
loans bear  interest at the minimum rate as  specified  by the Internal  Revenue
Service for loans of similar tenor and are not greater than twenty (20) years in
duration; and/or



<PAGE>

     (b) the power to create a security  interest in, and pledge,  any or all of
the  Property as security  for the  repayment  of any loan made by any person (a
"Lender") to Grantee  (or,  upon his death,  to Elayne)  and/or to any entity in
which Grantee (or, upon his death, Elayne) holds or may hereafter hold an equity
interest as a shareholder, member or partner; and/or

     (c) the power to create a security  interest in, and pledge,  any or all of
the Property to secure the  obligations of Grantee to any Lender under Grantee's
(or,  upon his  death,  Elayne's)  guarantee  of a loan  made by a Lender to any
entity of which Grantee (or, upon his death, Elayne) holds or may hereafter hold
an equity interest as shareholder, member or partner.

     Notwithstanding   any   contrary   provision   herein  upon  the  death  or
adjudication  of  incompetence  of  Grantee,  the general  power of  disposition
granted  hereby shall vest in Elayne and upon the death and/or  adjudication  of
incompetence  of both  Grantee and  Elayne,  the  general  power of  disposition
granted herein shall terminate and revert to the Grantor.

     It is intended  that Grantee (and,  upon his death,  Elayne) shall be fully
vested with general power of disposition over the Property,  while Grantor shall
retain all other  incidents  of ownership of the  Property,  including,  but not
limited to, the right to receive and retain any proceeds from the disposition of
the  Property,  other than the  proceeds of any loan to Grantee  (and,  upon his
death,  Elayne) and/or any entity in which Grantee (or, upon his death,  Elayne)
may have an equity interest,  which is directly or indirectly  secured by any of
the Property.

                                       -2-

<PAGE>

Following the execution of this instrument, Grantor shall not take any action to
sell,  transfer or pledge or  otherwise  dispose of the Property or any interest
therein,  and  shall  not  participate  in any such  transaction  except  at the
direction of Grantee (or, upon his death,  Elayne).  In furtherance of the power
of  disposition  granted to Grantee  (and,  upon his death,  Elayne)  hereunder,
Grantor is  concurrently  delivering to Grantee  certificates  representing  the
shares of the  capital  stock of Audio Book  Club,  Inc.  which are the  current
subject of this power,  together  with stock  powers  duly  executed in blank by
Grantor.

     This  instrument  is executed  by Grantor in  consideration  for  Grantee's
undertaking  to offer  Grantor  the  opportunity  from time to time to invest in
various business ventures, including Audio Book Club, Inc.

     To  induce  any  third  party to rely on this  instrument,  Grantor  hereby
declares  that any third party  receiving a duly  executed  copy or facsimile of
this instrument may  conclusively  rely on this  instrument  without any further
inquiry,  and that any attempted  rescission,  revocation or termination of this
instrument  by  Grantor  at any time  shall be  ineffective,  and null and void.
Grantor,  for  himself  and his  heirs,  executors,  legal  representatives  and
assigns,  hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any such third party from
and against any and all claims that may arise against such third party by reason
of such third party having relied on the provisions of this instrument.

                                       -3-

<PAGE>

     This  instrument  shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New  Jersey  (without  giving  effect to the  choice of law
rules  thereof),  especially  the common law of such state relating to powers of
appointment and other powers over property, other than powers of attorney.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name on June _________, 1997.


                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    HOWARD EVAN HERRICK

CONFIRMED AND APPROVED:

- -------------------------
NORTON HERRICK

- -------------------------
ELAYNE HERRICK

                                       -4-


<PAGE>

STATE OF NEW JERSEY  )
                     : ss.:
COUNTY OF MORRIS     )


     On the ____ day of June,  1997,  before  me  personally  came  HOWARD  EVAN
HERRICK,  to me known and known to me to be the individual  described in and who
executed the foregoing  instrument and  acknowledged  to me that he executed the
same.


                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Notary Publi

                                       -5-



                                                                       Exhibit 3

                           IRREVOCABLE GRANT OF POWER

     I, EVAN  HERRICK  ("Grantor"),  residing at  ______________________________
________________________________,  hereby irrevocably grant and convey to Norton
Herrick ("Grantee"),  with an office at c/o The Herrick Company,  2295 Corporate
Boulevard,  N.W., Boca Raton,  Florida 33431, power to vote and power of general
disposition  over (i) the option  ("Option")  granted to Grantor pursuant to the
NonQualified Stock Option Agreement dated as of November 5, 1998 between Grantor
and Audio Book Club,  Inc.,  a Florida  corporation,  and (ii) the shares of the
capital  stock of Audio Book Club,  Inc.  issuable  upon  exercise of the Option
including,  any other  securities of such corporation or any other entity issued
at any time upon any  conversion  or  exchange of any such shares of the capital
stock of Audio Book Club, Inc.  (collectively,  "Property"),  in the same manner
and to the same extent as the Grantor  could do if the Grantor  were  personally
acting  with  respect to any  dispositive  transaction.  The grant of power made
hereunder  shall survive the Grantor's  death and  disability and shall bind his
heirs,  executors,  legal  representatives  and  assigns.  The general  power of
disposition granted herein shall, include, but not be limited, to:

     (a) the power to exercise  the Option in whole or in part,  and whether any
such exercise shall be made on a "cash" or "cashless" basis; and/or



<PAGE>

     (b) the  power  to sell any or all of the  Property  at any time and to any
person as Grantee deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, the power to
make  loans to  Grantee  or,  upon his  death,  to his  spouse,  Elayne  Herrick
("Elayne"),  provided  that such  loans bear  interest  at the  minimum  rate as
specified by the Internal Revenue Service for loans of similar tenor and are not
greater than twenty (20) years in duration; and/or

     (c) the power to create a security  interest in, and pledge,  any or all of
the  Property as security  for the  repayment  of any loan made by any person (a
"Lender") to Grantee  (or,  upon his death,  to Elayne)  and/or to any entity in
which Grantee (or, upon his death, Elayne) holds or may hereafter hold an equity
interest as a shareholder, member or partner; and/or

     (d) the power to create a security  interest in, and pledge,  any or all of
the Property to secure the  obligations of Grantee to any Lender under Grantee's
(or,  upon his  death,  Elayne's)  guarantee  of a loan  made by a Lender to any
entity of which Grantee (or, upon his death, Elayne) holds or may hereafter hold
an equity interest as shareholder, member or partner.

     Notwithstanding   any   contrary   provision   herein  upon  the  death  or
adjudication  of  incompetence  of  Grantee,  the general  power of  disposition
granted  hereby shall vest in Elayne and upon the death and/or  adjudication  of
incompetence  of both  Grantee and  Elayne,  the  general  power of  disposition
granted herein shall terminate and revert to the Grantor.

                                       -2-



<PAGE>

     It is intended  that Grantee (and,  upon his death,  Elayne) shall be fully
vested with general power of disposition over the Property,  while Grantor shall
retain all other  incidents  of ownership of the  Property,  including,  but not
limited to, the right to receive and retain any proceeds from the disposition of
the  Property,  other than the  proceeds of any loan to Grantee  (and,  upon his
death,  Elayne) and/or any entity in which Grantee (or, upon his death,  Elayne)
may have an equity interest,  which is directly or indirectly  secured by any of
the Property. Following the execution of this instrument, Grantor shall not take
any action to sell,  transfer or pledge or otherwise  dispose of the Property or
any interest therein,  and shall not participate in any such transaction  except
at the direction of Grantee (or, upon his death,  Elayne). In furtherance of the
power of disposition granted to Grantee (and, upon his death, Elayne) hereunder,
Grantor is  concurrently  delivering  to Grantee a  non-qualified  stock  option
agreement  representing the Options which are the current subject of this power,
together with stock powers duly executed in blank by Grantor.

     This  instrument  is executed  by Grantor in  consideration  for  Grantee's
undertaking  to offer  Grantor  the  opportunity  from time to time to invest in
various business ventures.

     To  induce  any  third  party to rely on this  instrument,  Grantor  hereby
declares  that any third party  receiving a duly  executed  copy or facsimile of
this instrument may  conclusively  rely on this  instrument  without any further
inquiry, and that any attempted rescission, revocation or termination of this

                                       -3-

<PAGE>

instrument  by  Grantor  at any time  shall be  ineffective,  and null and void.
Grantor,  for  himself  and his  heirs,  executors,  legal  representatives  and
assigns,  hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any such third party from
and against any and all claims that may arise against such third party by reason
of such third party having relied on the provisions of this instrument.

     This  instrument  shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New  Jersey  (without  giving  effect to the  choice of law
rules  thereof),  especially  the common law of such state relating to powers of
appointment and other powers over property, other than powers of attorney.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name as of November 5, 1998.


                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    EVAN HERRICK

CONFIRMED AND APPROVED:

- -------------------------
NORTON HERRICK

- -------------------------
ELAYNE HERRICK

                                       -4-

<PAGE>

STATE OF NEW JERSEY )
                    : ss.:
COUNTY OF MORRIS    )

     On the ____ day of  _____________,  1999,  before me  personally  came EVAN
HERRICK,  to me known and known to me to be the individual  described in and who
executed the foregoing  instrument and  acknowledged  to me that he executed the
same.


                                                    ----------------------------
                                                    Notary Publc

                                       -5-



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