SPLIT-OFF AGREEMENT
SPLIT-OFF AGREEMENT, dated as
of September 22, 2008 (this “Agreement”), by and among Atlantic Wine Agencies,
Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Seller”), Xxxxxxxxx Properties S.A. (the
“Purchaser”) and Mount Xxxxxx Estates (Pty) Limited and Mount Xxxxxx Properties
(Pty) Limited (the “Subsidiaries”).
WHEREAS, Seller is the owner of
all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Subsidiaries. Seller has
no other businesses or operations;
WHEREAS, the Seller owes the
Purchaser approximately $350,000;
WHEREAS, Purchaser desires to
purchase the Shares (as defined in Section 1.1) from
Seller, and to assume, as between Seller and Purchaser, all responsibilities for
any debts, obligations and liabilities of the Subsidiaries, on the terms and
subject to the conditions specified in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Seller desires to
sell and transfer the Shares to the Purchaser, on the terms and subject to the
conditions specified in this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the premises and the covenants, promises, and agreements herein
set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending
legally to be bound, agree as follows.
THE
SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR QUALIFIED UNDER
ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS (THE “STATE ACTS”), HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR
INVESTMENT AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED
EXCEPT PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND
QUALIFICATION UNDER THE STATE ACTS OR EXEMPTIONS FROM SUCH REGISTRATION OR
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS (INCLUDING, IN THE CASE OF THE SECURITIES ACT, THE
EXEMPTIONS AFFORDED BY SECTION 4(1) OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND RULE 144
THEREUNDER). AS A PRECONDITION TO ANY SUCH TRANSFER, THE ISSUER OF THESE
SECURITIES SHALL BE FURNISHED WITH AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OPINING AS TO THE
AVAILABILITY OF EXEMPTIONS FROM SUCH REGISTRATION AND QUALIFICATION AND/OR SUCH
OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY BE SATISFACTORY THERETO THAT ANY SUCH TRANSFER WILL NOT
VIOLATE THE SECURITIES LAWS.
Purchaser
understands that the Shares and the Loans are being sold to him pursuant to the
exemption from registration contained in Section 4(1) of the Securities Act and
that the Seller is relying upon the representations made herein as one of the
bases for claiming the Section 4(1) exemption.
6.1
Business as Usual. Each of the Subsidiaries shall operate and Seller
shall cause each of the Subsidiaries to operate in accordance with past
practices and shall use best efforts to preserve its goodwill and the goodwill
of its employees, customers and others having business dealings with each of the
Subsidiaries. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, from the date of
this Agreement until the Closing Date, each of the Subsidiaries shall
(a) make all normal and customary repairs to its equipment, assets and
facilities, (b) keep in force all insurance, (c) preserve in full
force and effect all material franchises, licenses, contracts and real property
interests and comply in all material respects with all laws and regulations,
(d) collect all accounts receivable and pay all trade creditors in the
ordinary course of business at intervals historically experienced, and
(e) preserve and maintain its assets in their current operating condition
and repair, ordinary wear and tear excepted. Each of the Subsidiaries shall not
(i) amend, terminate or surrender any material franchise, license, contract
or real property interest, or (ii) sell or dispose of any of its assets
except in the ordinary course of business. None of the Subsidiaries nor the
Purchaser shall take or omit to take any action that results in Seller incurring
any liability or obligation prior to or in connection with the
Closing.
9.2 [Reserved]
(a) Following
the Closing, Purchaser and the Subsidiaries shall afford to Seller and its
authorized accountants, counsel, and other designated representatives reasonable
access (and including using reasonable efforts to give access to persons or
firms possessing information) and duplicating rights during normal business
hours to allow records, books, contracts, instruments, computer data and other
data and information (collectively, “Information”) within the possession or
control of Purchaser or the Subsidiaries insofar as such access is reasonably
required by Seller. Information may be requested under this Section 9.4(a) for,
without limitation, audit, accounting, claims, litigation and tax purposes, as
well as for purposes of fulfilling disclosure and reporting obligations and
performing this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. No files,
books or records of either of the Subsidiaries existing at the Closing Date
shall be destroyed by Purchaser or that Subsidiary after Closing but prior to
the expiration of any period during which such files, books or records are
required to be maintained and preserved by applicable law without giving the
Seller at least 30 days’ prior written notice, during which xxxx Xxxxxx shall
have the right to examine and to remove any such files, books and records prior
to their destruction.
(b) Following
the Closing, Seller shall afford to each of the Subsidiaries and its authorized
accountants, counsel and other designated representatives reasonable access
(including using reasonable efforts to give access to persons or firms
possessing information) duplicating rights during normal business hours to
Information within Seller’s possession or control relating to the business of
that Subsidiary. Information may be requested under this Section 9.4(b) for,
without limitation, audit, accounting, claims, litigation and tax purposes as
well as for purposes of fulfilling disclosure and reporting obligations and for
performing this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. No files,
books or records of either of the Subsidiaries existing at the Closing Date
shall be destroyed by Seller after Closing but prior to the expiration of any
period during which such files, books or records are required to be maintained
and preserved by applicable law without giving the Purchaser at least 30 days
prior written notice, during which time Purchaser shall have the right to
examine and to remove any such files, books and records prior to their
destruction.
(c) At
all times following the Closing, Seller, Purchaser and the Subsidiaries shall
use reasonable efforts to make available to the other party on written request,
the current and former officers, directors, employees and agents of Seller or
the Subsidiaries for any of the purposes set forth in Section 9.4(a) or (b)
above or as witnesses to the extent that such persons may be reasonably be
required in connection with any legal, administrative or other proceedings in
which Seller or the Subsidiaries may from time to be involved.
(d) The
party to whom any Information or witnesses are provided under this Section 9.4 shall
reimburse the provider thereof for all out-of-pocket expenses actually and
reasonably incurred in providing such Information or witnesses.
(e) Seller,
Purchaser, the Subsidiaries and their respective employees and agents shall each
hold in strict confidence all Information concerning the other party in their
possession or furnished by the other or the other’s representative pursuant to
this Agreement with the same degree of care as such party utilizes as to such
party’s own confidential information (except to the extent that such Information
is (i) in the public domain through no fault of such party or
(ii) later lawfully acquired from any other source by such party), and each
party shall not release or disclose such Information to any other person, except
such party’s auditors, attorneys, financial advisors, bankers, other consultants
and advisors or persons with whom such party has a valid obligation to disclose
such Information, unless compelled to disclose such Information by judicial or
administrative process or, as advised by its counsel, by other requirements of
law.
(f) Seller,
Purchaser and the Subsidiaries shall each use their best efforts to forward
promptly to the other party all notices, claims, correspondence and other
materials which are received and determined to pertain to the other
party.
If this
Agreement is terminated as provided herein, it shall become wholly void and of
no further force and effect and there shall be no further liability or
obligation on the part of any party except to pay such expenses as are required
of such party.
12.1 [Reserved]
12.8 Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to principles of
conflicts or choice of laws thereof.
(a) Each
party to the Agreement hereby submits to the jurisdiction of any state or
federal court sitting in the County of Los Angeles in the State of California,
in any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement and agrees that all
claims in respect of the action may be heard and determined in any such court.
Each party to the Agreement also agrees not to bring any action arising out of
or relating to this Agreement in any other court. Each party to the Agreement
agrees that a final judgment in any action so brought will be conclusive and may
be enforced by action on the judgment or in any other manner provided at law or
in equity. Each party to the Agreement waives any defense of inconvenient forum
to the maintenance of any action so brought and waives any bond, surety, or
other security that might be required of any other Party with respect
thereto.
(b) EACH
PARTY TO THE AGREEMENT HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE HIS OR HER RIGHTS TO JURY TRIAL OF
ANY DISPUTE BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENTS
RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY DEALINGS AMONG THEM
RELATING TO THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. The scope of this waiver is
intended to be all encompassing of any and all actions that may be filed in any
court and that relate to the subject matter of the transactions, including,
contract claims, tort claims, breach of duty claims, and all other common law
and statutory claims. Each party to the Agreement hereby acknowledges that this
waiver is a material inducement to enter into a business relationship and that
they will continue to rely on the waiver in their related future dealings. Each
party to the Agreement further represents and warrants that it has reviewed this
waiver with its legal counsel, and that each knowingly and voluntarily waives
its jury trial rights following consultation with legal counsel. NOTWITHSTANDING
ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY HEREIN, THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY
NOT BE MODIFIED ORALLY OR IN WRITING, AND THE WAIVER WILL APPLY TO ANY
AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS TO THIS AGREEMENT OR TO ANY
OTHER DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS RELATING HERETO. In the event of commencement of
any action, this Agreement may be filed as a written consent to trial by a
court.
[Signature
page follows this page.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have hereunto set their hands as of the day and year first above
written.
ATLANTIC
WINE AGENCIES, INC.
By:
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Title: President,
Chief Executive Officer
XXXXXXXXX
PROPERTIES, S.A.
By: /s/ Xxxx
Maurberger
Name: Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx
MOUNT
XXXXXX ESTATES (PTY) LIMITED
By: /s/ Xxxx
Maurberger
Name: Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx
MOUNT
XXXXXX PROPERTIES (PTY) LIMITED
By: /s/ Xxxx
Maurberger
Name: Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx
EXHIBIT
A
PROMISSORY
NOTE RELEASE
BE IT
KNOWN, that Xxxxxxxxx Properties, S.A. (hereinafter referred to as "Releasor"),
for and in consideration of:
(i) the shares of Mount Xxxxxx
Estates (Pty) Limited and Mount Xxxxxx Properties (Pty) Limited from Atlantic
Wine Agencies, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "Releasee"), the receipt of
which is hereby acknowledged, and
(ii) the transfer of all amounts owed
by Mount Xxxxxx Estates (Pty) Limited and Mount Xxxxxx Properties (Pty) Limited
to the Releasee, including, but not limited to, loans in the amount of
approximately R12,521,900 or $1,615,729 (as of March 31, 2008) from the Releasee
to Mount Xxxxxx Properties (Pty) Limited and approximately R8,500,431 or $
1,096,829 (as of March 31, 2008) from the Releasee to Mount Xxxxxx Estates (Pty)
Limited, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged
does
hereby remise, release, acquit, satisfy, and forever discharge the said
Releasee, of and from all manner of actions, causes of action, suits, debts,
covenants, contracts, controversies, agreements, promises, claims and demands
whatsoever (including, but not limited to, any principal or interest due under a
promissory note in the amount of $400,000 issued by Releasee to the Releasor on
January 11, 2008), which said Releasor ever had, now has, or which any personal
representative, successor, heir or assign of, or company or entity controlled
by, said Releasor, hereafter can, shall or may have, against said Releasee, by
reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever, from the beginning of time to
the date of this instrument.
RELEASOR
_/s/ Xxxx
Maurberger___
Xxxxxxxxx
Properties, S.A.
By: Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Date:
September 22, 2008
EXHIBIT
B
GENERAL
RELEASE
BE IT
KNOWN, that [name of subsidiary] (hereinafter referred to as "Releasor"), for
and in consideration of the execution of a Split-Off Agreement with Atlantic
Wine Agencies, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "Releasee"), [name of other
subsidiary] and Xxxxxxxxx Properties, S.A. and other consideration, the receipt
of which is hereby acknowledged, do each hereby remise, release, acquit,
satisfy, and forever discharge the said Releasee, of and from all manner of
actions, causes of action, suits, debts, covenants, contracts, controversies,
agreements, promises, claims and demands whatsoever, which said Releasor ever
had, now has, or which any personal representative, successor, heir or assign
of, or company or entity controlled by, said Releasor, hereafter can, shall or
may have, against said Releasee, by reason of any matter, cause or thing
whatsoever, from the beginning of time to the date of this
instrument.
RELEASOR
_________________________
[Name of
Subsidiary]
By: Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Title:
Date:
August 25, 2008