SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT
THIS SHAREHOLDERS' AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into as
of the __ day of September 1997, between and among the FUENTE INVESTMENT
PARTNERSHIP, a Florida general partnership ("Fuente"), XXXXXX X. XXXXX ("Xxxxx")
(hereinafter Xxxxx and Fuente are referred to individually at times as a
"Stockholder" and collectively at times as the "Stockholders"), and XXXX'X CIGAR
HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Holdings").
W I T N E S S E T H:
--------------------
WHEREAS, the Stockholders own certain shares of the issued and outstanding
common stock, $.001 par value per share, of Holdings (the "Stock");
WHEREAS, Holdings and the Stockholders believe it to be in their best
interests to provide for the continuity of management and policies of Holdings
by imposing certain restrictions and obligations on themselves and the Stock;
and
WHEREAS, the Stockholders desire to facilitate liquidation of the Stock of
a deceased or disabled individual Stockholder.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
herein contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is acknowledged by the parties hereto, the parties hereto
agree as follows:
I. RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER OF STOCK
No Stockholder shall at any time during the existence of this Agreement,
directly or indirectly, sell, assign, transfer, mortgage, encumber, pledge or
otherwise deal with or dispose of all or any part of the shares of the Stock now
owned or hereafter acquired by him, without first obtaining the written consent
of the other Stockholder or, in the absence of such written consent, without
first complying with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Xxxxx shall be permitted to transfer up to
482,400 shares of Stock to Holdings free of the restrictions set forth in this
Agreement, if he is required to do so pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and
Plan of Reorganization, dated September 23, 1997, by and among the parties to
this Shareholders' Agreement as well as other entities.
II. TRANSFER OF STOCK DURING LIFETIME; THIRD PARTY OFFERS.
A. Offer to Sell. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no
Stockholder shall, during such Stockholder's lifetime (in the case of an
individual Stockholder) or at any time during the existence of this Agreement
(in the case of a Stockholder that is a business entity) sell, assign, transfer,
encumber, mortgage, pledge or in any way dispose of all or any portion of his
Stock, except on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. If any
Stockholder desires to dispose of all or any part of his Stock, he shall first
serve written notice (the "Offer to Sell") to that effect upon the other
Stockholder, stating the number of shares desired to be sold or otherwise
disposed of, the payment terms, the name and address of the purchaser (or if no
purchaser is designated because the desired disposition will be made in the
public market, a statement to that effect), and offering to sell such shares to
the other Stockholder in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Agreement (a photocopy of the offer, if applicable, shall accompany the Offer to
Sell). For purposes of this Agreement, the proposed transfer of an interest in
Fuente in such a manner whereby Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx and/or
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, whether individually or in any combination thereof, as a
result of such transfer, would no longer have direct or indirect voting control
and control over the management and business operations of Fuente, shall be
considered an Offer to Sell all of the Stock then owned by Fuente on the terms
set forth in this Section II.
B. Procedure for Acceptance or Rejection of Offer to Sell.
1. The other Stockholder shall have the right (but not the obligation)
to purchase all of the Stock offered for sale by the selling Stockholder,
as described in the Offer to Sell, by giving written notice of acceptance to the
selling Stockholder within five (5) days after delivery of the Offer to Sell by
the selling Stockholder.
2. In the event the other Stockholder fails or refuses to purchase all
of the Stock offered for sale by the selling Stockholder, then subject to
the provisions of Section II.D. hereof, the selling Stockholder shall be free to
sell or otherwise dispose of the shares of Stock described in the Offer to Sell
that have not been purchased by the other Stockholder (a) during the sixty (60)
day period immediately following the expiration of the time herein above
provided in Section II.(B)(1) for the Stockholder's acceptance of the Offer to
Sell, and (b) at a price and on terms and conditions that are equivalent to or
more favorable to the selling Stockholder than those set forth in the Offer to
Sell; provided however, that the price may be adjusted to reflect fluctuations
in the trading price of Holdings' Stock between the date the Offer to Sell is
delivered and the date of the actual sale of the Stock. Upon the
2
expiration of such sixty (60) day period, the provisions of this Agreement shall
reattach in full to all of the Stock not sold or otherwise disposed of during
such sixty (60) day period.
C. Price and Terms of Purchase. In the event that any Stock is to be
purchased by the other Stockholder pursuant to the terms of this Section II.,
the following provisions shall apply:
1. Each share of Stock to be purchased by the other Stockholder
pursuant to the terms of this Section II. shall be purchased at the purchase
price specified in the Offer to Sell; provided however, that the price may be
adjusted to reflect fluctuations in the trading price of Holdings' Stock
between the date the Offer to Sell is delivered and the date of the actual sale
of the Stock.
2. The closing for the sale of the Stock and the purchase price of the
Stock shall be paid, in accordance with the terms specified in the Offer
to Sell.
D. Co-Sale Agreement.
1. In the event that a Stockholder (the "Selling Stockholder") desires
to sell any Stock and the Selling Stockholder has complied with the terms
of this Section II., and the other Stockholder (the "Remaining Stockholder") has
not elected to purchase all such shares, the Remaining Stockholder shall have
the option to elect to sell a portion of the Stock owned by the Remaining
Stockholder on the terms set forth in the Offer to Sell, by notifying the
Selling Stockholder in writing of its election to do so (such election must be
made within the five (5) day period specified in paragraph (B)(1) of this
Section II.). The Remaining Stockholder must elect, if at all, to sell up to the
same proportion of the Stock owned by him as the Stock which the Selling
Stockholder has included in the Offer to Sell bears to the total Stock then
owned by the Selling Stockholder. If the Remaining Stockholder does not respond
in writing within said five (5) day period, it shall be deemed to have elected
not to sell any shares. If, at the end of said five (5) day period, the
Remaining Stockholder has not elected to sell any of its shares, the Selling
Stockholder shall be free to sell any or all of its Stock, on the same terms and
conditions that are equivalent to or less favorable than those set forth in the
Offer to Sell; provided however, that the price may be adjusted to reflect
fluctuations in the trading price of Holdings' Stock between the date the Offer
to Sell is delivered and the date of the actual sale of the Stock. If the
selling Stockholder's shares of its Stock are not sold to the proposed purchaser
within the sixty (60) day period described in Section II.(B)(2) hereof, the
selling Stockholder shall not be permitted to sell any such shares without again
complying with the provisions of Section II.
3
2. If the Remaining Stockholder has properly notified the Selling
Stockholder of the Remaining Stockholder's desire to sell shares pursuant to
paragraph (D)(1) of this Section II., the Remaining Stockholder shall be
entitled to sell some or all of such shares owned by the Remaining Stockholder
and desired to be sold by the Remaining Stockholder along with the shares of the
Selling Stockholder, such amount to be determined according to the following
provisions. The Selling Stockholder shall use his best reasonable efforts to
interest the proposed purchaser in purchasing shares from the Remaining
Stockholder as well, and in identifying additional interested purchasers in the
event the proposed purchaser is unwilling or unable to purchase all shares which
the Stockholders desire to sell. If the Selling Stockholder is unable to obtain
purchasers for all of the shares proposed for sale by the Selling Stockholder
then in such event, each of the Stockholders shall be entitled to participate in
the sale to the proposed purchaser on a pro rata basis.
III. TRANSFERS IN TRUST AND TO CONTROLLED ENTITIES.
A. Transfer to Trust. Any Stockholder who is an individual may make a
gratuitous transfer during his lifetime, without the written consent of the
other parties to this Agreement (but with prompt written notice of any such
transfer to be given to the other Stockholder), of all or any part of his Stock
to a revocable trust in which the Stockholder retains the absolute power to have
the transferred Stock returned to him.
B. Transfer to Controlled Entities or Partners. The Stockholders may make a
transfer, without the written consent of the other Stockholder to this Agreement
(but with prompt written notice of any such transfer to be given to the other
parties) of all or any part of its Stock:
(i) in the case of Xxxxx, to a partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, family partnership or other business entity, but only if
voting control and control over the management and business operations of such
partnership, corporation, etc. is thereafter held and continues to be held by
Xxxxx at all times;
(ii) in the case of Fuente, (x) to Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
and/or Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, or (y) to a partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, family partnership or other business entity but only if
voting control and control over the management and business operations of such
partnership, corporation, etc. is thereafter held and continues to be held at
all times by Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx and/or Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, either
individually or in any combination.
4
C. Controlling Predecessor Stockholder. After any transfer under Section
III.(A) or III.(B) hereof, the Stockholder making such transfer shall be
referred to herein as the "Controlling Predecessor Stockholder" with respect to
such Stock.
D. Continued Application of This Agreement. Any Stock transferred
pursuant to this Section III. shall remain subject to this Agreement, and upon
receipt of delivery of the share certificates representing the transferred
Stock, the transferee shall be bound by the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, including but not limited to the terms providing for purchase upon
death or disability of a Controlling Predecessor Stockholder who is an
individual, or the death or disability of Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx and
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx. Upon request of a party hereto, the transferee shall
acknowledge in writing that the Stock transferred remains subject to this
Agreement, and that such transferee shall be bound by the terms and conditions
of this Agreement. The making of any transfer permitted by this Section III.
shall not relieve or alter the Controlling Predecessor Stockholder's obligations
under this Agreement, and without waiver of any rights of the non-transferring
Stockholder under this Agreement, the parties to this Agreement may enforce such
obligations directly against the Controlling Predecessor Stockholder as if such
transfer had not occurred.
IV. ENCUMBRANCE OR PLEDGE OF STOCK.
No Stockholder shall have the right to encumber or pledge all or any
part of his Stock unless the other Stockholder provides his prior written
consent to such pledge agreement or arrangement, as the case may be, and such
consent shall include, among other provisions, a requirement that the pledgee of
such pledged Stock shall accept such Stock subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, and upon request of the other Stockholder, the pledgee shall
acknowledge in writing that the pledged Stock remains subject to this Agreement.
Further, such consent shall require the pledge agreement or arrangement, as the
case may be, to include a requirement that (a) in the event any pledged Stock is
purchased in accordance with this Agreement, the proceeds shall be paid to the
pledgor and pledgee as their interests appear, and the pledged Stock shall be
released to the purchaser; (b) in the event of any dispute or ambiguity
regarding the respective rights of the pledgor or pledgee, the purchaser shall
be entitled to disburse all proceeds to the party in possession of the share
certificate representing the pledged Stock; and, (c) in the event the pledgee of
any pledged Stock shall exercise any right or remedy under any security or stock
pledge agreement, as the case may be, or attempt to cause a public or private
sale of such Stock, the pledgee shall notify the other Stockholder and such
notice shall be deemed to be an Offer to Sell made under Section II. hereof at a
purchase price determined in accordance with Section VIII. hereof.
5
V. PURCHASE OF STOCK ON DISABILITY OR DEATH OF XXXXX.
If Xxxxx, whether in his capacity as a direct Stockholder or as a
Controlling Predecessor Stockholder, dies or is deemed to be totally disabled
(as that term is defined in Section VII. hereof), Fuente shall have the right,
but not the obligation, to purchase such portion of the Stock owned by Xxxxx as
would be required, when combined with the Stock already owned by Fuente at that
time, to give Fuente ownership of fifty-one percent (51%) of the issued and
outstanding stock of Holdings, and Xxxxx or his personal representative or his
transferee pursuant to Section III. hereof, as the case may be, shall sell such
portion of his or its Stock as is requested by Fuente (up to such combined
fifty-one percent (51%) ownership). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Xxxxx shall
have the right to transfer up to ten percent (10%) of the issued and outstanding
stock of Holdings to his children, and such stock shall not be subject to
purchase by Fuente pursuant to this Section V. Fuente's right to purchase stock
from Xxxxx (or his estate) as described herein, shall continue for a period of
thirty (30) days after the date on which Xxxxx dies or is deemed to be totally
disabled. If the rights set forth in this Section V.(A) are not exercised within
such thirty (30) day period, Fuente's rights hereunder shall terminate. The
closing of any transaction hereunder shall occur not more than ninety (90) days
after notice is given of the intent of Fuente to purchase stock hereunder and
each share of Stock to be purchased by Fuente pursuant to the terms and
conditions of this Section V. shall be purchased at the purchase price specified
in Section VIII hereof.
VI. PURCHASE OF STOCK ON DEATH OR DISABILITY OF FUENTE'S PARTNERS.
If at any time all three of Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx and
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx are deemed to be totally disabled (as that term is defined in
Section VII. hereof) or are deceased (or any combination thereof as to the three
(3) individuals), Xxxxx shall have the right, but not the obligation, to
purchase all or any portion of the Stock owned by Fuente, and Fuente shall sell
such portion of its Stock as is requested by Xxxxx under the terms and
conditions of Section VI. This right shall continue for a period of thirty (30)
days after the date on which Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx are all deemed to be totally disabled or dead (or any combination thereof
as to the three (3) individuals). If the rights set forth in this Section VI.
are not exercised within such thirty (30) day period, Xxxxx'x rights hereunder
shall terminate. The closing of any transaction hereunder shall occur not more
than ninety (90) days after notice is given of the intent of Xxxxx to purchase
stock hereunder and each share of Stock to be purchased by Xxxxx pursuant to the
terms and conditions of this Section VI. shall be purchased at the purchase
price specified in Section VIII. hereof.
6
VII. DEFINITION OF "TOTALLY DISABLED."
For purposes of this Agreement, an individual shall be deemed "totally
disabled" if he is so incapacitated that he is unable to engage in normal bodily
and mental functions, is unable to use substantially all of his motor skills,
and is only able to conduct respiratory bodily functions and those other bodily
functions that are required in order to be medically certified as being alive,
and such condition continues for a continuous period of one hundred eighty (180)
days (hereinafter referred to as the "continuous period of disability"). In the
event of any dispute as to whether or not such disability has in fact occurred,
the parties hereto agree to abide by the decision of a panel of three
physicians. The parties (or their representatives) shall each appoint one member
to the panel, and the third member of the panel shall be appointed by the other
two members. Xxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
agree to make themselves available for and submit to examinations by such
physicians. Failure to submit to any such examination shall constitute an
admission of total disability. The expenses of such panel of physicians shall be
borne equally by Fuente and Xxxxx. For purposes of this provision, the term
"day" shall mean any and all days of the week, including any and all legal
holidays.
VIII. PURCHASE PRICE.
For purposes of Sections IV., V. and VI., the purchase price for the Stock
shall be determined as follows: (a) if on the date of the proposed dosing
Holdings' Stock is listed on any national securities exchange, its average
closing price on such exchange during the ten trading days immediately preceding
the proposed closing, or, if listed on more than one such exchange, on the
exchange on which Holdings' Stock shall have had the largest total trading
volume; (b) if on the date of the proposed closing Holdings' Stock is not listed
on an exchange, at the average closing price appearing on the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System (NASDAQ)
during the ten trading days immediately preceding the proposed closing; or (c)
if on the date of the proposed closing Holdings' Stock is not publicly traded,
at the purchase price equal to the fair market value of Holdings' Stock on the
date of the proposed closing, as determined by the investment banking firm
mutually selected by Fuente and Xxxxx (or their representatives). If Fuente and
Xxxxx (or their representatives) are unable to agree upon an investment banking
firm then each party (or their representatives) hereto agrees to abide by the
decision of a panel of three investment banking firms. The parties or their
representatives shall each appoint one member to the panel and the third member
of the panel shall be appointed by the other two members. The expenses of such
panel of investment bankers shall be borne equally by Fuente and Xxxxx.
7
IX. PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE
At the closing of any purchase of Stock under this Agreement, the purchaser
of the Stock shall pay the entire purchase price in cash.
X. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.
A. Issuance of Preferred Stock. Holdings, Xxxxx and Fuente agree that, from
the date of this Agreement and until the termination of this Agreement (as
provided in Section XIV. hereof), Holdings shall not issue any shares of its
preferred stock without first obtaining the unanimous written consent of all of
the members of the Board of Directors of Holdings.
B. Board of Directors and Officers. The Stockholders hereby covenant and
agree to vote their shares of Stock, in trust, in accordance with the terms of
this Section X.(B). Xxxxx hereby agrees to vote his shares of Stock in favor of
the election of two nominees to Holdings' Board of Directors to be selected by
Fuente and to the extent that the terms of the members of Holdings' Board of
Directors are staggered, to vote his shares so that the Fuente nominees have
different terms. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx are hereby designated as
Fuente's initial nominees to Holdings' Board of Directors. Fuente hereby agrees
to cause its shares of Stock to be voted in favor of the election of Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxx to the Board of Directors, and further to cause its shares of Stock to be
voted so as to elect such other persons to the Board of Directors of Holdings as
Xxxxx may nominate. The parties understand and agree that Xxxxx shall have the
right to elect an unlimited number of additional members of the Board of
Directors in his sole discretion; it being understood whether or not Xxxxx
should so appoint additional members, the actions of the Board of Directors
shall be subject to and limited by the provisions of Section X.(A) hereof.
C Acknowledgement of Competitive Activities. Holdings acknowledges that
Fuente Cigar and its related entities are competitors of Holdings and that
Fuente Cigar and its related entities will continue to sell Fuente-related
branded premium cigars through distribution and retail channels which are
directly or indirectly competitive with the business operations of Holdings.
Fuente and its related entities reserve the right in the future to engage in
activities that compete, directly or indirectly, with the business activities of
Holdings. Fuente Cigar and related entities have exclusive control over the
distribution activities of their Fuente-related brands and Fuente Cigar and
related entities will continue to exercise control over such activities.
8
XI. ENDORSEMENT ON SHARE CERTIFICATES
Simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, the Stockholders shall
deliver to Holdings any share certificates (pertaining to the Stock) subject
hereto and the following endorsement shall be placed on the face of each
certificate: "The sale, encumbrance or other disposition of the shares
represented by this certificate is subject to the terms and conditions of an
Agreement dated September __, 1997 by and among the holder of this certificate,
and another Shareholder, a copy of which Agreement is on file in the office of
this Corporation and will be furnished without charge to any Stockholder upon
request."
After such endorsement, the certificates shall be returned as soon as
practicable to their respective owners who shall be entitled, subject to the
terms hereof, to exercise all rights and interests therein. All Stock hereafter
issued shall bear the same endorsement. Upon the termination of this Agreement,
such certificates shall be surrendered to Holdings and new certificates without
the foregoing endorsement shall be issued in lieu thereof.
XII. GOVERNING LAW; VENUE; PROCESS.
The validity, construction, and enforcement of, and the remedies under,
this Agreement shall be governed in accordance with the laws of Delaware (except
that if any choice of law provision under Delaware law would result in the
application of the law of a state or jurisdiction other than Delaware, such
provision shall not apply). The parties to this Agreement agree that
jurisdiction and venue shall properly lie in the courts of the State of
Delaware, with respect to any legal proceedings arising under or connected with
this Agreement. The parties further agree that the delivery by courier of any
process shall constitute valid and lawful process against them.
XIII. AMENDMENT.
This Agreement may be amended, altered or revoked at any time upon the
unanimous mutual agreement of Holdings and the Stockholders in writing.
XIV. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.
A. Events of Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon:
9
1. Execution of a written instrument by Holdings and the Stockholders
terminating this Agreement; or
2. The bankruptcy, receivership or dissolution of Holdings;
3. The disposal of Stock by one of the Stockholders in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement which results in that Stockholder owning less than
five percent of the issued and outstanding shares of Holdings' Stock.
B. Enforceability of Rights, Benefits and Duties after Termination. All
rights, benefits and duties that accrue hereunder prior to the termination of
this Agreement shall nevertheless be enforceable by the parties to this
Agreement and their legal representatives, successors and assigns after the
termination of this Agreement.
XV. DOCUMENTARY STAMPS.
Whenever any Stock is sold or otherwise transferred and whenever any
documents or instruments are transferred pursuant to the terms hereof, the
transferor of such Stock and such documents and instruments shall affix thereto
the necessary documentary stamps.
XVI. COUNTERPARTS.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument. Counterpart execution pages may be circulated and signed by
telecopy, followed within a reasonable period of time by original (inked)
signature pages.
XVII. NOTICE
All notices, consents, acceptances and any other communication required herein
shall be in writing and shall be deemed delivered upon receipt, if delivered in
person; upon transmission, if sent by electronic means (i.e. telecopy or
e-mail), with electronic confirmation of receipt, or four (4) days after
posting, if sent by recognized international expedited delivery service. No
notices, consents etc.. may be sent by mail, due to the unreliability of the
Dominican Republic mail service. All notices, etc. shall be sent to the parties
at their respective addresses set forth below (or at such other address for a
party as shall be specified by notice given hereunder):
10
If to Holdings: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, President
Xxxx'x Cigar Holdings, Inc.
c/o Ashton Distributors, Inc.
00000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
If to Xxxxx: Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
c/o Holt's Cigar Holdings, Inc.
00000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 000000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
With a copy to: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Fox, Rothschild, O'Brien & Xxxxxxx
Princeton Pike Corporate Center
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 0
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
If to Fuente: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, General Partner
Fuente Investment Partnership
x/x Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxx.
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
With a copy to: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Sharp, Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, P.A.
0000 X. Xxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telecopy: 000-000-0000
Any notice required to be given hereunder to the estate of a deceased
Stockholder shall be sent to the personal representative of the estate at his
address, or if no personal representative is appointed, to the deceased
Stockholder at his last designated address. As soon as practical after being
appointed, the personal representative of the estate of a deceased Stockholder
shall notify the other parties hereto of his address by notice sent in
conformity with the foregoing requirements. Any party from time to time may
change his address to which notice is to be sent pursuant hereto by sending a
notice of such change in conformity with the foregoing requirements to the other
parties and the legal representative of the estate of a deceased Stockholder.
11
XVIII. SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS.
Wherever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in
such manner as to be effective and valid, but if any provision of this Agreement
shall be prohibited by applicable law, unenforceable in any jurisdiction or
invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent
of such prohibition, unenforceability, or invalidity, without invalidating the
remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement, or
affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other
jurisdiction.
XIX. ASSIGNMENT.
Neither this Agreement nor any rights or privileges hereunder shall be
assigned, transferred, shared or divided, by operation of law or otherwise, in
any manner, by a party hereto without the prior written consent of the other
party, which consent may be arbitrarily withheld. Any purported assignment or
transfer not having the written consent of the party required hereunder to give
such consent shall be null and void and shall constitute a default hereunder.
XX. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT.
This Agreement (including the exhibits hereto and all documents and papers
delivered pursuant hereto and any written amendments hereof executed by the
parties to this Agreement, as specified herein) constitutes the entire agreement
and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral and written, among
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may
be amended only by written agreement executed by all of the parties hereto. Time
is of the essence of this Agreement and each of its provisions, and no extension
of any time period shall be binding upon any of the parties hereto unless
expressly provided herein or in writing and signed by all of the parties hereto.
XXI. FURTHER ASSURANCES.
The parties hereto shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and
delivered, such additional or further transfers, assignments, endorsements or
other instruments as the other party or its counsel may reasonably request from
time to time for purposes of carrying out the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
12
XXII. PARAGRAPH HEADINGS; PLURAL; GENDER; MISCELLANEOUS.
The paragraph headings contained herein are for reference only and shall
not be considered as substantive parts of this Agreement. The use of the
singular or plural form shall include the other form and the use of the
masculine, feminine or neutered gender shall include the other gender. The words
"hereof," "herein," and "hereunder" and words of similar import when used in
this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole, including all exhibits
hereto, and not to any particular provision of this Agreement unless otherwise
specified; all references herein to paragraphs, sections or exhibits shall refer
to paragraphs or sections of this Agreement or exhibits to this Agreement. The
parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the recitals immediately following the
preamble of this Agreement are true and correct and are incorporated herein as a
part of this Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have set their hands and seals the day and
year first above written.
XXXX'X CIGAR HOLDINGS, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By:
----------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx,
President
"Holdings"
FUENTE INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP
a Florida general partnership
By:
----------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, General Partner
"Fuente"
----------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Individually
13