SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS
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This Settlement Agreement and Release of Claims ("Agreement") is entered
into by and between ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ Inc., dba Tri-Eagle Beverage, a California
corporation ("Tri-Eagle"), Mesa Beverage Co., Inc., a California corporation
("Mesa"), and Mendocino Brewing Company, Inc., a California corporation
("Mendocino") (collectively the "Parties" and each individually a "Party"), on
the terms and conditions set forth herein.
On or about April 1, 2003, House of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, dba Golden Gate
Distributing ("Golden Gate") named Mendocino as a defendant in HOUSE OF ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
INC., DBA GOLDEN GATE DISTRIBUTING V. MENDOCINO BREWING COMPANY, ET AL., Case
No. CV 031489, a lawsuit regarding Mendocino's termination of Golden Gate as a
distributor of Mendocino products. On or about January 21, ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
amended its complaint, adding Tri-Eagle and Mesa (among others) as defendants in
HOUSE OF ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, INC. DBA GOLDEN GATE DISTRIBUTING V. MENDOCINO BREWING
COMPANY, ET AL., Case No. CV 031489. On or about August 12, 2004, Tri-Eagle and
Mesa jointly filed a cross-complaint against Mendocino for indemnity ("Indemnity
Cross-Complaint"). Tri-Eagle and Mesa will be referred to collectively as
"Cross-Complainants."
The Parties now wish to settle all claims and disputes they may have
against each other relating to the Indemnity Cross-Complaint.
In order to avoid the uncertainties and further expense of litigation,
pursuant to this Agreement, and for good cause and valuable consideration
described below, the receipt and adequacy of which the Parties acknowledge, the
Parties settle and compromise all said claims and disputes as follows:
1. RELEASE AND DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE
The Parties agree to release and forever discharge each other from any
and all known and unknown claims, demands, causes of action, obligations,
damages, and liabilities of any nature whatever arising from or related to
Mendocino's termination of Golden Gate as a distributor of Mendocino products or
the Indemnity Cross-Complaint. Nothing in this Agreement is intended by the
Parties to change, alter, amend, supersede, or waive any of the rights and/or
obligations set forth in the Distributor Agreement between Mesa and Mendocino.
This Agreement may not be used as evidence of what any Party intended in the
Distribution Agreement, or as an aid to interpret any term or condition of the
Distribution Agreement, provided, however, that Mendocino shall not take the
position at any time that an act authorized by this Agreement constitutes a
breach of any obligation under the Distribution Agreement.
Within three (3) business days following the Effective Date, the Parties
shall jointly file with the Marin County Superior Court a dismissal with
prejudice of the Indemnity Cross-Complaint.
2. PAYMENT TERMS
a. Mendocino agrees to pay Cross-Complainants a total
amount of $34,250.00.
b. Mesa has already deducted $19,486.00 on behalf of
Cross-Complainants from invoices otherwise due to Mendocino. Mesa and Tri Eagle
undertake as between themselves the sole responsibility for allocating this sum
between them, leaving a balance of $14,764.00 due to Cross-Complainants.
c. Mesa, on behalf of Cross-Complainants, will make
deductions of $3,000.00 per month from its account balance due to Mendocino
until the total settlement amount has been reached. Mesa and Tri Eagle undertake
as between themselves the sole responsibility for allocating these additional
sums.
d. The aforementioned deductions will occur as follows:
Mesa will make deductions of $3,000.00 on December 31, 2004; January 31, 2005;
February 28, 2005; and March 31, 2005. Mesa will make a final deduction of
$2,764.00 on April 29, 2005. If no invoice is due and payable on the above
dates, the deductions will apply to the first invoice that is due and payable
following those dates.
e. If no invoice is due for 30 days following the date the
deduction is scheduled to take place, Mendocino shall have an obligation to make
a payment to Mesa in the amount due. Such payment shall be made by wire, bank
draft, cashiers check, or other commercially reasonable method as to be mutually
agreed by the Parties.
3. EFFECTIVE DATE
This Agreement shall be effective as of and on the date on which all of
the Parties have executed this Agreement, such date being referred to herein as
the "Effective Date."
4. WAIVER
With respect to the release contained in paragraph 1, the Parties
mutually waive and relinquish all rights and benefits they have or may have
under Section 1542 of the California Civil Code, which provides as follows:
A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not
know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the release,
which if known by him, must have materially affected his settlement with the
debtor.
5. NO ADMISSION OF LIABILITY
The Parties have entered into this Agreement solely in settlement of a
contested matter. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as an admission
by any Party of any claims against the other.
6. CONFIDENTIALITY; LIMITED DISCLOSURE
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a. DISCLOSURES REQUIRED BY THE SEC. The Parties understand
and acknowledge that (i) Mendocino and its affiliates may be required to, and,
if required, will disclose the existence and terms of this Agreement to the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), the shareholders of Mendocino, and
the general public through various reports and statements which they are
required to file and distribute under the rules and regulations of the SEC, (ii)
certain of such filings will require the filing of an actual copy of this
Agreement as well as a description of the principal terms hereof; and the
Parties consent to such disclosures, and (iii) Mendocino and its affiliates will
disclose the existence and terms of this Agreement to its existing and future
lenders. All Parties agree that Mendocino and its affiliates may make such
disclosures.
b. CONFIDENTIALITY. Notwithstanding the disclosures
described in paragraphs (a) and (c) of this Section, no Party shall disclose or
authorize the disclosure of the terms of this Agreement to (i) any third party
or (ii) any of its employees or agents, except its directors, officers, other
employees or agents as reasonably necessary in the ordinary course of business,
and such attorneys, auditors, accountants or bookkeepers as may be reasonably
necessary to report and account properly for the transaction outlined in this
Agreement. This provision shall not prevent the Parties from informing others of
the fact that the dispute between them has been resolved.
c. OTHER REQUIRED DISCLOSURES. Notwithstanding paragraph
(b), above, any Party may disclose the existence or terms of this Agreement in
order to comply with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, or any duly issued
order of a court of law or an administrative agency.
7. ATTORNEYS' FEES
Should any Party commence a court suit, an arbitration or other
proceeding to interpret or enforce the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing
party in that action shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys' fees
and costs incurred in such action.
8. CALIFORNIA LAW APPLIES
This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the
laws of the State of California.
9. SUCCESSORS
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
successors and assigns of the respective Parties to it.
10. INTEGRATED AGREEMENT
This Agreement constitutes the sole and entire agreement between the
Parties with respect to the subject matter it contains. All previous and
collateral agreements, representations, warranties, promises and conditions are
superseded by this Agreement. Any representation not incorporated into this
Agreement shall not be binding on any Party. Future modifications, revisions, or
amendments may be made to this Agreement, but shall not become binding and
enforceable until formal agreement of such modification, revision, or amendment
to this Agreement is made in writing by an authorized representative of each
Party.
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11. AUTHORIZATION
Each Party represents and warrants that he or it is authorized to enter
into this Agreement. Each Party further represents and warrants that the
individual executing this Agreement on its behalf is duly authorized for that
purpose and has the power and authority to bind it, and the additional parties
on whose behalf the respective releases contained herein are executed, to the
terms thereof.
12. GENERAL PROVISIONS
a. This Agreement may be executed in duplicate
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original.
b. A faxed signature page shall be deemed and treated as an
original for all purposes. In the event that any Party or a court of law or
other governmental authority requests an original signature, the Party to whom
the request is made shall promptly provide the original signature page to the
requesting Party or authority.
c. This Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly
by counsel for each of the Parties.
d. Each of the provisions of this Agreement is severable
from the others. If any section or portion of this Agreement is found invalid
for any reason, the remaining terms, Sections and provisions shall remain
binding, valid and enforceable between the Parties hereto.
e. Each Party represents and warrants to the others that he
or it has carefully read and fully understands all of the provisions of this
Agreement and is voluntarily entering into this Agreement. Each Party
acknowledges that he or it has been represented by counsel of his or its choice
in connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement.
f. The Parties agree that, upon request, they shall do such
further acts and deeds, and shall execute, acknowledge, deliver, and record such
other documents and instruments as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the
intent and purpose of this Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have duly executed this Agreement as of
dates set forth below.
TRI-EAGLE: ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ INC., dba Tri-Eagle Beverage
Dated: December ___, 2004 By:
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▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Its Chief Financial Officer
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MESA: MESA BEVERAGE CO., INC.
Dated: December ___, 2004 By:
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▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Its General Counsel
MENDOCINO: MENDOCINO BREWING COMPANY, INC.
Dated: December ___, 2004 By:
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Its President
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APPROVED AS TO FORM:
VENARDI & ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
Attorneys for Mendocino Attorneys for Tri-Eagle and Mesa
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▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Sivan Gai
Dated: December ___, 2004 Dated: December ___, 2004
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