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                                                                    Exhibit 10.1


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                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                                      AMONG

                          GBI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT CORP.,

                             NEW VALLEY CORPORATION,

                         LADENBURG, THALMANN GROUP INC.,

                        BERLINER EFFEKTENGESELLSCHAFT AG,

                                       AND

                         LADENBURG, THALMANN & CO. INC.



                             DATED FEBRUARY 8, 2001








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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
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      ARTICLE I PURCHASE AND SALE OF LADENBURG STOCK.....................................................................1

               SECTION 1.1 DEFINITIONS...................................................................................1
               SECTION 1.2 PURCHASE AND SALE.............................................................................1
               SECTION 1.3 PURCHASE PRICE................................................................................1
               SECTION 1.4 ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PRICE..................................................................2

      ARTICLE II THE CLOSING.............................................................................................2
               SECTION 2.1 THE CLOSING...................................................................................2
               SECTION 2.2 SELLERS' DELIVERIES...........................................................................2
               SECTION 2.3 PURCHASER'S DELIVERIES........................................................................3
               SECTION 2.4 NET WORTH ADJUSTMENT..........................................................................3
               SECTION 2.5 PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT.................................................................4
               SECTION 2.6 PROXY AND VOTING AGREEMENT....................................................................4
               SECTION 2.7 FURTHER ASSURANCES; POST-CLOSING COOPERATION..................................................4
               SECTION 2.8 DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS........................................................................5
               SECTION 2.9 ENFORCEMENT OF CLAIMS; AMENDMENT..............................................................6

      ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLING PARTIES..................................................6
               SECTION 3.1 ORGANIZATION..................................................................................6
               SECTION 3.2 AUTHORITY AND CORPORATE ACTION................................................................7
               SECTION 3.3 NO CONFLICTS, ETC.............................................................................7
               SECTION 3.4 CAPITALIZATION; OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES.......................................................8
               SECTION 3.5 COMPLIANCE WITH LAW; CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS......................................................9
               SECTION 3.6 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS..........................................................................10
               SECTION 3.7 LICENSES, PERMITS, ETC........................................................................10
               SECTION 3.8 MARKETABLE SECURITIES.........................................................................10
               SECTION 3.9 REAL PROPERTY; LEASED PROPERTIES; CONTRACTS...................................................11
               SECTION 3.10 LITIGATION...................................................................................11
               SECTION 3.11 TAXES, TAX RETURNS AND AUDITS................................................................11
               SECTION 3.12 CONSENTS AND APPROVALS.......................................................................12
               SECTION 3.13 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES...................................................................12
               SECTION 3.14 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS AND BONUS PLANS........................................................13
               SECTION 3.15 EMPLOYEE PLANS...............................................................................13
               SECTION 3.16 INSURANCE POLICIES...........................................................................14
               SECTION 3.17 INTANGIBLE RIGHTS............................................................................14
               SECTION 3.18 TITLE TO PROPERTIES..........................................................................14


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               SECTION 3.19 NO GUARANTEES................................................................................15
               SECTION 3.20 LABOR MATTERS................................................................................15
               SECTION 3.21 BROKERS......................................................................................15
               SECTION 3.22 RECORDS......................................................................................15
               SECTION 3.23 NO UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES...................................................................15
               SECTION 3.24 NO ILLEGAL OR IMPROPER TRANSACTIONS..........................................................15
               SECTION 3.25 RELATED TRANSACTIONS.........................................................................16
               SECTION 3.26 DISCLOSURE...................................................................................16
               SECTION 3.27 OWNERSHIP OF PURCHASER COMMON STOCK..........................................................16
               SECTION 3.28 INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS...................................................................16
               SECTION 3.29 BANK ACCOUNTS................................................................................17
               SECTION 3.30 CERTAIN BROKERAGE MATTERS....................................................................17
               SECTION 3.31 WARRANTS, ETC................................................................................17
               SECTION 3.32 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES...................................................17
               SECTION 3.33 UKRAINE FUND.................................................................................17

      ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER........................................................18
               SECTION 4.1  ORGANIZATION................................................................................18
               SECTION 4.2  AUTHORITY AND CORPORATE ACTION..............................................................18
               SECTION 4.3  CAPITALIZATION; OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES.....................................................20
               SECTION 4.4  SEC REPORTS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS...........................................................20
               SECTION 4.5  CONSENTS AND APPROVALS......................................................................21
               SECTION 4.6  DISCLOSURE..................................................................................21
               SECTION 4.7  ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES..................................................................21
               SECTION 4.8  VOTE REQUIRED...............................................................................21
               SECTION 4.9  OPINION OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR................................................................22
               SECTION 4.10 SECTIONS 607.0901 AND 607.0902 OF THE FLORIDA BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT NOT APPLICABLE.......22
               SECTION 4.11 FINANCING...................................................................................22
               SECTION 4.12 INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS..................................................................22
               SECTION 4.13 COMPLIANCE WITH LAW; CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS....................................................22
               SECTION 4.14 LICENSES, PERMITS, ETC......................................................................23
               SECTION 4.15 REAL PROPERTY; LEASED PROPERTIES; CONTRACTS.................................................23
               SECTION 4.16 LITIGATION..................................................................................24
               SECTION 4.17 TAXES, TAX RETURNS AND AUDITS...............................................................24
               SECTION 4.18 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS AND BONUS PLANS.......................................................25
               SECTION 4.19 EMPLOYEE PLANS..............................................................................25
               SECTION 4.20 INSURANCE POLICIES..........................................................................26
               SECTION 4.21 INTANGIBLE RIGHTS...........................................................................26
               SECTION 4.22 TITLE TO PROPERTIES.........................................................................27
               SECTION 4.23 NO GUARANTEES...............................................................................27
               SECTION 4.24 LABOR MATTERS...............................................................................27
               SECTION 4.25 BROKERS.....................................................................................27
               SECTION 4.26 RECORDS.....................................................................................27

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               SECTION 4.27 NO UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES..................................................................27
               SECTION 4.28 NO ILLEGAL OR IMPROPER TRANSACTIONS.........................................................28
               SECTION 4.29 RELATED TRANSACTIONS........................................................................28
               SECTION 4.30 BANK ACCOUNTS...............................................................................28
               SECTION 4.31 CERTAIN BROKERAGE MATTERS...................................................................28
               SECTION 4.32 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES..................................................29

      ARTICLE V COVENANTS...............................................................................................29
               SECTION 5.1  CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.........................................................................29
               SECTION 5.2  ACCESS TO INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY......................................................30
               SECTION 5.3  MAINTENANCE OF ASSETS; INSURANCE............................................................31
               SECTION 5.4  NON-USE OF NAME.............................................................................31
               SECTION 5.5  NO OTHER NEGOTIATIONS.......................................................................31
               SECTION 5.6  NO SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS..................................................................32
               SECTION 5.7  CANCELLATION OF INTERCOMPANY AGREEMENTS.....................................................32
               SECTION 5.8  DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN MATTERS...............................................................32
               SECTION 5.9  NON-COMPETITION.............................................................................32
               SECTION 5.10 STOCKHOLDER MEETING.........................................................................33
               SECTION 5.11 PROXY STATEMENT.............................................................................33
               SECTION 5.12 INFORMATION SUPPLIED........................................................................34
               SECTION 5.13 INFORMATION FOR PROXY STATEMENT.............................................................34
               SECTION 5.14 INTERCOMPANY DEBT...........................................................................34
               SECTION 5.15 GENERAL RELEASE.............................................................................35
               SECTION 5.16 NO PURCHASER SOLICITATIONS..................................................................35
               SECTION 5.17 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS.......................................................................36
               SECTION 5.18 FINANCING...................................................................................37
               SECTION 5.19 CONTINUATION OF INSURANCE...................................................................37
               SECTION 5.20 AMEX LISTING................................................................................37
               SECTION 5.21 FURTHER ACTION..............................................................................38
               SECTION 5.22 SCHEDULES...................................................................................38
               SECTION 5.23 REGULATORY AND OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS.........................................................38

      ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS TO CLOSING..................................................................................38
               SECTION 6.1 CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATIONS.......................................................38
               SECTION 6.2 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE SELLING PARTIES.............................................39
               SECTION 6.3 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE PURCHASER...................................................39

      ARTICLE VII INDEMNIFICATION.......................................................................................40
               SECTION 7.1 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE SELLERS...............................................................40
               SECTION 7.2 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE PURCHASER.............................................................41
               SECTION 7.3 NOTICE, ETC..................................................................................41
               SECTION 7.4 ADJUSTMENT TO PURCHASE PRICE.................................................................44

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               SECTION 7.5 LIMITATIONS..................................................................................44
               SECTION 7.6 PAYMENT OF CLAIMS............................................................................45
               SECTION 7.7 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES...............................................................45
               SECTION 7.8 EXCLUSIVITY..................................................................................45
               SECTION 7.9 TAX BENEFITS.................................................................................45

      ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT..........................................................................47
               SECTION 8.1 METHODS OF TERMINATION.......................................................................47
               SECTION 8.2 EFFECT OF TERMINATION........................................................................47

      ARTICLE IX DEFINITIONS............................................................................................49
               SECTION 9.1 CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS........................................................................49

      ARTICLE X GENERAL PROVISIONS......................................................................................53
               SECTION 10.1  EXPENSES...................................................................................53
               SECTION 10.2  NOTICES....................................................................................54
               SECTION 10.3  PRESS RELEASE; PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS; FILINGS...............................................56
               SECTION 10.4  AMENDMENT..................................................................................56
               SECTION 10.5  WAIVER.....................................................................................56
               SECTION 10.6  HEADINGS...................................................................................56
               SECTION 10.7  SEVERABILITY...............................................................................56
               SECTION 10.8  ENTIRE AGREEMENT...........................................................................56
               SECTION 10.9  BENEFIT....................................................................................57
               SECTION 10.10 GOVERNING LAW..............................................................................57
               SECTION 10.11 COUNTERPARTS...............................................................................57
               SECTION 10.12 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS.............................................57
               SECTION 10.13  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL......................................................................58
               SECTION 10.14  SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE......................................................................58

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                                    EXHIBITS

Exhibit A                    Escrow Agreement
Exhibit B                    Promissory Notes
Exhibit C                    Pledge and Security Agreement
Exhibit D                    Proxy and Voting Agreement
Exhibit E                    Investor Rights Agreement
Exhibit F                    Employment Agreement between Ladenburg and Victor
                             Rivas
Exhibits G-1 through G-5     Amendment to Employment Agreement between GBI
                             Capital Partners, Inc. and each of the Principals
                             and Joseph Berland, respectively
Exhibit H                    Stock Purchase Agreement between Berland and LTGI
Exhibit I                    Legal Opinion from Graubard Mollen & Miller
Exhibit J                    Legal Opinion from Milbank, Tweed, Hadley &
                             McCloy LLP
Exhibit K                    Press Release

                                       v

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                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

         STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT ("AGREEMENT") dated February 8, 2001, among
GBI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT CORP., a Florida corporation (the "PURCHASER"), NEW
VALLEY CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("NEW VALLEY"), LADENBURG, THALMANN
GROUP INC., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of New Valley
("LTGI" and, together with New Valley, the "NEW VALLEY PARTIES"), BERLINER
EFFEKTENGESELLSCHAFT AG, a German corporation ("BERLINER"), and LADENBURG,
THALMANN & CO. INC., a Delaware corporation ("LADENBURG").

         WHEREAS, Ladenburg is engaged in the securities business, including
investment banking, the institutional and retail sale of securities, securities
research and related securities activities;

         WHEREAS, LTGI and Berliner are the record and beneficial owners of all
of the issued and outstanding shares of the common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of Ladenburg ("LADENBURG STOCK"); and

         WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the
Parties desire that the Purchaser purchase from LTGI and Berliner all of the
Ladenburg Stock;

         IT IS AGREED:

                                   ARTICLE I

                      PURCHASE AND SALE OF LADENBURG STOCK

         SECTION 1.1 DEFINITIONS. Certain capitalized terms used in this
Agreement shall have the meanings specified in ARTICLE IX.

         SECTION 1.2 PURCHASE AND SALE. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions hereof, at the Closing (as defined in SECTION 2.1), LTGI and Berliner
(collectively, the "SELLERS") shall sell, transfer, assign and convey to the
Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from the Sellers, all of the right,
title and interest of Sellers in and to the Ladenburg Stock. In addition, at the
Closing, New Valley shall cause to be transferred, assigned and conveyed to the
Purchaser all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock (the "LTI
STOCK") of Ladenburg Thalmann International Ltd. ("LTI") for no consideration in
excess of the portion of the Purchase Price to be paid to New Valley pursuant to
SECTION 1.3.

         SECTION 1.3 PURCHASE PRICE. Subject to adjustment as hereinafter set
forth, the purchase price ("PURCHASE PRICE") to be paid by the Purchaser to the
Sellers for the Ladenburg Stock shall be the following, payable at the Closing:

                  (a) $10,000,000 to be paid to the Sellers by wire transfer of
immediately available United States funds to accounts of the Sellers specified
by the Sellers in written notice given to the Purchaser no later than two




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Business Days prior to the Closing Date (as defined in SECTION 2.1); PROVIDED
that $500,000 of the cash portion of the Purchase Price to be paid to Berliner
shall be delivered by the Purchaser by wire transfer of immediately available
United States funds to Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as escrow
agent (the "ESCROW AGENT") under an escrow agreement to be entered into on the
Closing Date by Berliner, the Purchaser and the Escrow Agent in the form amended
hereto as EXHIBIT A (the "ESCROW AGREEMENT");

                  (b) promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of
$10,000,000, to be delivered to the Sellers in the form annexed hereto as
EXHIBIT B, each appropriately completed and executed (the "NOTES"); and

                  (c) certificates representing, in the aggregate, 18,181,818
shares of Purchaser's common stock, par value $0.0001 per share ("PURCHASER
COMMON STOCK"), to be delivered to the Sellers. If, prior to the Closing Date,
the Purchaser shall effect an Adjustment Event with respect to the Purchaser
Common Stock, the number of shares of Purchaser Common Stock to be delivered to
the Sellers pursuant to this SECTION 1.3(C) shall be appropriately adjusted (and
any appropriate actions shall be taken by the Purchaser) so that the Sellers
shall be entitled to receive the number of shares of Purchaser Common Stock (or
other securities of Purchaser) that the Sellers would have owned or would have
been entitled to receive upon or by reason of such Adjustment Event had
18,181,818 shares of Purchaser Common Stock been delivered to the Sellers
immediately prior to the occurrence of the Adjustment Event.

         SECTION 1.4 ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PRICE. All payments of the Purchase
Price shall be made in the proportion of 80.1% to LTGI and 19.9% to Berliner.
The Parties hereby acknowledge that the Purchase Price will be paid in
connection with the acquisition of the business of Ladenburg, and no part
thereof will be paid in connection with any assignment (whether deemed or
otherwise) of any leases of the Ladenburg Companies.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   THE CLOSING

         SECTION 2.1 THE CLOSING. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall take place at a closing (the "CLOSING") to be held at 10:00 a.m., local
time, on the fourth Business Day after the date on which the last of the
conditions to Closing set forth in SECTIONS 6.1(A) AND (C) is fulfilled, at the
offices of Graubard Mollen & Miller, 600 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10016,
or at such other time, date or place as the Parties may agree upon in writing.
The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to herein as the "CLOSING
DATE."

         SECTION 2.2 SELLERS' DELIVERIES. At the Closing, (i) the Sellers will
assign and transfer to Purchaser all of Sellers' right, title and interest in
and to the Ladenburg Stock by delivering to the Purchaser the certificates
representing the Ladenburg Stock, duly endorsed for transfer and free and clear



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of all Liens, (ii) New Valley will assign and transfer to Purchaser all of New
Valley's right, title and interest in and to the LTI Stock by delivering to the
Purchaser the certificates representing the LTI Stock, duly endorsed for
transfer and free and clear of all Liens, and (iii) New Valley, LTGI, Berliner
and Ladenburg (collectively, the "SELLING PARTIES") shall deliver to the
Purchaser the certificates, opinions and other agreements and instruments
contemplated by ARTICLE VI hereof and the other provisions of this Agreement.

         SECTION 2.3 PURCHASER'S DELIVERIES. At the Closing, the Purchaser shall
deliver to the Sellers (i) the portions of cash, Notes and shares of Purchaser
Common Stock representing the Purchase Price to which each Seller is entitled
pursuant to SECTIONS 1.3 AND 1.4, and (ii) the certificates, opinions and other
agreements and instruments contemplated by ARTICLE VI hereof and the other
provisions of this Agreement.

         SECTION 2.4 NET WORTH ADJUSTMENT.

                  (a) Promptly after the Closing, the individuals serving as the
chief financial officers of Ladenburg and New Valley on the date hereof (or, if
either such individual is not so serving on the Closing Date, a substitute
individual mutually selected by the Purchaser and New Valley) shall cooperate
with each other to cause Ladenburg to prepare a consolidated balance sheet of
Ladenburg and its subsidiaries as at the Closing Date (but without giving effect
to the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby) from which the net
worth of Ladenburg and such subsidiaries on a consolidated basis on such date
(the "CLOSING NET WORTH") shall be determined in accordance with GAAP, applied
consistently as in the Financial Statements except that, if not required by
GAAP, appropriate reserves and accruals shall nevertheless be made for the cost
of the annual audit and preparation of tax returns for Ladenburg for the year
ended December 31, 2000. Upon its preparation, such balance sheet and
determination of Closing Net Worth shall be submitted to the Enforcement
Committee (as defined in SECTION 2.9), New Valley and Berliner and shall be
deemed conclusively accepted unless written objection thereto is given by any
Party to the other Parties within 30 days after submission.

                  (b) If, within the 30-day period specified in SECTION 2.4(A),
an objection is made pursuant to the last sentence of paragraph (a) above, the
Purchaser's Accountants and the Sellers' Accountants shall jointly review the
balance sheet and the determination of the Closing Net Worth prepared by
Ladenburg (the "INITIAL DETERMINATION") and attempt to reach a mutually
satisfactory determination of the Closing Net Worth. If the Purchaser's
Accountants and the Sellers' Accountants are unable to reach such a mutually
satisfactory determination within 30 days after the Initial Determination has
been submitted to them for their joint review, they shall promptly submit the
Initial Determination to a firm of independent accountants jointly selected by
them. The independent third firm shall submit its determination of Closing Net
Worth to New Valley, Berliner and the Enforcement Committee within 30 days of
its receipt of the Initial Determination, and the determination of the Closing
Net Worth by such third firm shall be final and conclusive upon the Parties. The
Purchaser shall pay the fees and expenses of the Purchaser's Accountants and New
Valley and Berliner shall pay the fees and expenses of the Sellers' Accountants.
The fees and expenses of any independent third firm shall be paid 50% by the
Purchaser and 50% by New Valley and Berliner.




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                  (c) If the Closing Net Worth, as finally determined, is less
than $28.6 million, the New Valley Parties and Berliner shall promptly
contribute to the capital of Ladenburg an amount, in cash, equal to the
difference between $28.6 million and the Closing Net Worth.

                  (d) If the Closing Net Worth, as finally determined, is more
than $30.6 million, the Purchaser shall promptly pay to the Sellers, as an
addition to the Purchase Price, cash equal to the difference between the Closing
Net Worth and $30.6 million. Such payment shall be made by wire transfer to the
accounts of the Sellers specified pursuant to SECTION 1.3(A).

                  (e) Payments by and to the New Valley Parties and Berliner
pursuant to this SECTION 2.4 shall be made in the proportion of 80.1% by or to
the LTGI and 19.9% by or to Berliner.

         SECTION 2.5 PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT. To secure payment of amounts
due under the Notes, the Purchaser shall grant to the Sellers a pledge of the
shares of Ladenburg Stock to be purchased by it hereunder pursuant to a Pledge
and Security Agreement (the "PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT") in the form annexed
hereto as EXHIBIT C to be entered into at the Closing by the parties named
therein and shall deliver to the collateral agent party thereto the certificates
representing such shares together with duly executed stock powers endorsed in
blank, all in accordance with the provisions of the Pledge and Security
Agreement.

         SECTION 2.6 PROXY AND VOTING AGREEMENT. The Principals, Joseph Berland,
New Valley Parties and Berliner have, concurrently with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, entered into a Proxy and Voting Agreement (the
"PROXY AND VOTING AGREEMENT") in the form annexed hereto as EXHIBIT D.

         SECTION 2.7 FURTHER ASSURANCES; POST-CLOSING COOPERATION.

                  (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at
any time or from time to time after the Closing, each of the Parties hereto
shall execute and deliver such other documents and instruments, provide such
materials and information and take such other actions as may reasonably be
necessary, proper or advisable, to the extent permitted by law, to fulfill its
obligations under this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it
is a party.

                  (b) Following the Closing, each Party will afford the other
Party(ies), its counsel and its accountants, during normal business hours,
reasonable access to the books, records and other data relating to the business,
prospects or financial condition of Ladenburg and its subsidiaries in its
possession with respect to periods prior to the Closing and the right to make
copies and extracts therefrom, to the extent that such access may be reasonably
required by the requesting Party in connection with (i) the preparation of Tax
Returns, (ii) compliance with the requirements of any governmental or regulatory
authority, (iii) the determination or enforcement of the rights and obligations
of any Party to this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents or (iv)
in connection with any actual or threatened Proceeding. Further, each Party




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agrees for a period extending eight years after the Closing Date not to destroy
or otherwise dispose of any such books, records and other data unless such Party
shall first offer in writing to surrender such books, records and other data to
the other Party and such other Party shall not agree in writing to take
possession thereof during the ten day period after such offer is made. If at the
end of such eight year period, either Party is under Tax audit or a party to
another legal proceeding related to certain records which are being maintained
by Ladenburg or New Valley, each Party may request the other Party to continue
to retain such records, provided at least one month's advance notice is given.

                  (c) The Parties shall without further consideration reasonably
cooperate with each other and shall cause their respective Affiliates and
Representatives to reasonably cooperate with each other in connection the
preparation of Tax Returns and the conduct of any Tax audit or other proceedings
in respect of Taxes. If any Tax audit, Tax hearing or other Tax proceeding
involving any of the Ladenburg Companies for which either the Purchaser or any
of the Selling Parties may be liable under this Agreement, each Party shall
provide reasonable notification to the other Party prior to the commencement of
such event. During any such Tax proceeding, each Party shall reasonably consult
with and take into account the views (in a manner consistent with positions
taken prior to the Closing) of the other Party. Each Party shall also have the
right to request that a Representative be present during such Tax audit, Tax
hearing or other Tax proceeding. At New Valley's request, the Purchaser and
Ladenburg shall execute a Power of Attorney authorizing New Valley's
Representative to argue at any Tax proceeding for any Taxes arising in any
period for which the Selling Parties may be liable under this Agreement.

                  (d) If, in order properly to prepare its Tax Returns, other
documents or reports required to be filed with governmental or regulatory
authorities or its financial statements or to fulfill its obligations hereunder,
it is necessary that a Party be furnished with additional information, documents
or records relating to the business, prospects or financial condition of
Ladenburg not referred to in paragraph (b) above, and such information,
documents or records are in the possession or control of the other Party, such
other Party agrees to use its best efforts to furnish or make available such
information, documents or records (or copies thereof) at the recipient's
request, cost and expense. Any information obtained by the New Valley Parties
and Berliner in accordance with this paragraph shall be held confidential by
them in accordance with SECTION 5.2. The New Valley Parties shall furnish to
Purchaser, with reasonable time for review and comment, copies of all
unconsolidated Tax Returns of the Ladenburg Companies or other information
proposed to be filed by them with any governmental or regulatory authority that
relates solely to the Ladenburg Companies for any period prior to the Closing
Date.

                  (e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Section, if the Parties are in an adversarial relationship in litigation or
arbitration, the furnishing of information, documents or records in accordance
with any provision of this Section shall be subject to applicable rules relating
to discovery.

         SECTION 2.8 DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The Parties shall take such actions
as are necessary so that, effective as of the Closing Date, the directors and
officers of the Purchaser are the persons listed on SCHEDULE 2.8(A), the
directors and officers of GBI Capital Partners, Inc. are the persons listed on
SCHEDULE 2.8(B) and the directors and officers of Ladenburg are the persons
listed on SCHEDULE 2.8(C).




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         SECTION 2.9 ENFORCEMENT OF CLAIMS; AMENDMENT.

                  (a) The authority to assert Claims on behalf of the Purchaser
and determine whether any action should be instituted to enforce the Purchaser's
rights under this Agreement after the Closing Date, including without
limitation, rights pursuant to ARTICLE VII, shall be vested solely in a
committee (the "ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE") consisting of Messrs. Richard
Rosenstock, Mark Zeitchick and Victor Rivas, who shall act by the decision of a
majority thereof and whose authority in such capacity shall continue whether or
not any or all of them continue as directors of the Purchaser. If any member of
the Enforcement Committee shall resign or otherwise cease to serve thereon, his
successor shall be selected by the remaining members, except that if the member
ceasing to serve is either Mr. Rosenstock or Mr. Zeitchick, the other shall
select the successor. In discharging their functions, the members of the
Enforcement Committee shall be subject to the same duties as directors of the
Purchaser.

                  (b) After the Closing Date, no Transaction Document to which
the Purchaser is a party shall be amended without the approval of a majority of
the members of the Enforcement Committee.

                                  ARTICLE III

              REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLING PARTIES

         New Valley, LTGI and Ladenburg (the "NEW VALLEY COMPANIES"), on the one
hand, and Berliner, on the other hand, severally and not jointly represent and
warrant to the Purchaser as follows (except that, where a representation and
warranty is stated as being made by either the New Valley Companies or Berliner,
it is made by such Person(s) only):

         SECTION 3.1 ORGANIZATION.

                  (a) NEW VALLEY. The New Valley Companies represent and warrant
that New Valley is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
standing under the law of the State of Delaware.

                  (b) LTGI. The New Valley Companies represent and warrant that
LTGI is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing
under the law of the State of Delaware.

                  (c) LADENBURG. Ladenburg is a corporation duly incorporated,
validly existing and in good standing under the law of the State of Delaware.
Except for the entities listed in SCHEDULE 3.1(C) (the "LADENBURG SUBSIDIARIES")
and as disclosed in SCHEDULE 3.1(C), Ladenburg does not own, other than in the
ordinary course of its business, directly or indirectly, any capital stock or
other securities of any issuer or any equity interest in any other entity and is
not a party to any agreement to acquire any such securities or interest.
Ladenburg is qualified to do business in each state where the nature of the
business it conducts or the properties it owns, leases or operates requires it



                                      -6-
<PAGE>   13


to so qualify, which states are listed in SCHEDULE 3.1(C), except for those
states in which the adverse effect of all such failures by Ladenburg to be
qualified could not in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the business, assets, prospects or financial condition of
Ladenburg. Ladenburg has all requisite corporate power to own, lease and operate
its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted.

                  (d) BERLINER. Berliner represents and warrants that it is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the Federal Republic of Germany.

                  (e) THE LADENBURG SUBSIDIARIES. Each of the Ladenburg
Subsidiaries is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
standing under the law of its state of incorporation, which states are listed in
SCHEDULE 3.1(E). Other than in the ordinary course of its securities business or
as listed in SCHEDULE 3.1(E), none of the Ladenburg Subsidiaries owns, directly
or indirectly, any capital stock or other securities of any issuer or any equity
interest in any other entity and is not a party to any agreement to acquire any
such securities or interest. Each of the Ladenburg Subsidiaries is qualified to
do business in each state where the nature of the business it conducts or the
properties it owns, leases or operates requires it to so qualify, which states
are listed in SCHEDULE 3.1(E), except for those states in which all failures by
the Ladenburg Subsidiaries to be qualified could not in the aggregate reasonably
be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, prospects
or financial condition of Ladenburg and the Ladenburg Subsidiaries
(collectively, the "LADENBURG COMPANIES"), taken as a whole. Each of the
Ladenburg Subsidiaries has all requisite corporate power to own, lease and
operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted.

         SECTION 3.2 AUTHORITY AND CORPORATE ACTION. Such Selling Party has all
necessary corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement, the
Investor Rights Agreement, the Pledge and Security Agreement, the Escrow
Agreement and the other instruments and agreements to be executed and delivered
by such Selling Party in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (collectively, the "SELLER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS") and to consummate
the transactions contemplated thereby. All corporate action necessary to be
taken by such Selling Party to authorize the execution, delivery and performance
of the Seller Transaction Documents has or will at Closing have been duly and
validly taken. Each of the Seller Transaction Documents to which it is a party
constitutes, or upon the execution and delivery by such Selling Party will
constitute, the valid, binding and enforceable obligation of such Selling Party,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except (i) as enforceability may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
fraudulent transfer or similar laws of general application now or hereafter in
effect affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and by general principles
of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or
in equity) and (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification provision may be
limited by federal and state securities laws and public policy.

         SECTION 3.3 NO CONFLICTS, ETC. Subject to receipt of the approvals and
filings set forth in SCHEDULE 3.3, neither the execution and delivery of the
Seller Transaction Documents to which it is a party by such Selling Party nor
the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby will, except as
disclosed in SCHEDULE 3.3 or except as would occur solely as a result of the
identity or legal or regulatory status of the Purchaser and its Affiliates, (i)




                                      -7-
<PAGE>   14


conflict with, result in a breach or violation of or constitute (or with notice
of lapse of time or both constitute) a default under, (A) the Certificate of
Incorporation or By-Laws (or similar constituent documents) of any of the
Selling Parties or Ladenburg Subsidiaries or (B) any law, statute, regulation,
order, judgment or decree or any instrument, contract or other agreement to
which any of the Selling Parties or Ladenburg Subsidiaries is a party or by
which any of the Selling Parties or Ladenburg Subsidiaries (or any of their
respective properties) is subject or bound, except where any such conflict,
breach, violation or default, singly or in the aggregate, would not reasonably
be expected to have a material adverse effect upon the business, assets,
prospects or financial condition of the Ladenburg Companies, taken as a whole;
(ii) result in the creation of, or give any party the right to create, any lien,
charge, option, security interest or other encumbrance ("LIEN") upon the assets
of any of the Selling Parties or the Ladenburg Subsidiaries, except where such
Lien, singly or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect upon the business, assets, prospects or financial
condition of the Ladenburg Companies, taken as a whole; (iii) terminate or
modify, or give any third party the right to terminate or modify, the provisions
or terms of any contract to which any of the Selling Parties or the Ladenburg
Subsidiaries is a party, except where such termination or modification, singly
or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse
effect upon the business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the
Ladenburg Companies, taken as a whole; or (iv) result in any suspension,
revocation, impairment, forfeiture or nonrenewal of any permit, license,
qualification, authorization or approval applicable to any of the Selling
Parties or Ladenburg Subsidiaries, except where such suspension, revocation,
impairment, forfeiture or nonrenewal, singly or in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon the business,
assets, prospects or financial condition of the Ladenburg Companies, taken as a
whole.

         SECTION 3.4 CAPITALIZATION; OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES.

                  (a) CAPITALIZATION. The capitalization of Ladenburg and each
of the Ladenburg Subsidiaries is set forth in SCHEDULE 3.4(A).

                  (b) OWNERSHIP.

                           (i) LTGI and Berliner are the record and beneficial
owners of 80.1% and 19.9%, respectively, of the outstanding shares of Ladenburg
Stock, free and clear of all Liens. Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 3.4(B),
there are no options, warrants or other contractual rights outstanding which
require, or give any person the right to require, the issuance of any capital
stock of Ladenburg whether or not such rights are presently exercisable.

                           (ii) The record and beneficial ownership of all of
the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Ladenburg Subsidiaries is
set forth in SCHEDULE 3.4(B). Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 3.4(B), all of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of each Ladenburg Subsidiary are owned,
beneficially and of record, by Ladenburg or subsidiaries wholly owned by



                                      -8-
<PAGE>   15


Ladenburg, free and clear of all Liens. There are no options, warrants or other
contractual rights outstanding which require, or give any person the right to
require, the issuance of any capital stock of any of the Ladenburg Subsidiaries
whether or not such rights are presently exercisable.

                           (iii) New Valley represents and warrants that LTI
owns all of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Ladenburg
Thalmann Ukraine Ltd., the investment advisor to the Societe Generale Ladenburg
Thalmann Ukraine Fund Limited (the "UKRAINE FUND").

         SECTION 3.5 COMPLIANCE WITH LAW; CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS.

                  (a) The businesses of the Ladenburg Companies are, and since
May 31, 1995 have been, conducted in compliance in all material respects with
all applicable laws, rules, regulations, court or administrative orders and
processes and rules, directives and orders of regulatory and self-regulatory
agencies and bodies (including, without limitation, the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "1934 ACT"), the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
amended, and any laws, rules, regulations, orders and directives that relate to
broker-dealer regulation, consumer protection, products and services,
proprietary rights, anti-competitive practices, collective bargaining, ERISA,
equal opportunity and improper payments), except as would not reasonably be
expected, singly or in the aggregate, to be materially adverse to the business,
assets, prospects or financial condition of the Ladenburg Companies, taken as a
whole. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.5(A), the Ladenburg Companies (i) are
not, and since May 31, 1995 have not been, in violation of, or not in compliance
with, in any material respect, any such applicable law, rule, regulation, order,
directive or process with respect to the conduct of their respective businesses,
and (ii) have not received any notice from any governmental authority or
regulatory or self-regulatory agency or body, and to the Selling Parties'
Knowledge none is threatened, alleging that any of the Ladenburg Companies is
violating or has, since May 31, 1995, violated, or is not complying or has not,
since May 31, 1995, complied with, any of the foregoing the effect of which,
individually or in the aggregate with other such violations and non-compliance,
would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the business, assets,
prospects or financial condition of the Ladenburg Companies, taken as a whole.

                  (b) Customer complaints reportable on Form U-4 or otherwise
which have been made against any of the Ladenburg Companies or any of their
registered representatives since May 31, 1995 are set forth in SCHEDULE 3.5(b)
and copies of each such complaint have been furnished or made available to the
Purchaser. Such complaints which are pending as of the date of this Agreement
are appropriately noted on SCHEDULE 3.5(B). The Signing Balance Sheet (as
defined in SECTION 3.6) contains adequate reserves to the extent required by
GAAP for the costs (including costs of settlement, judgments and attorneys' fees
and expenses) to be incurred by the Ladenburg Companies in connection with all
customer complaints pending as of its date. Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE
3.5(B), none of such complaints which have been disposed of as of the date
hereof requires any payment or other action to be made by any of the Ladenburg
Companies after the date of this Agreement in excess of $50,000 with respect to
any single claim.




                                      -9-
<PAGE>   16


         SECTION 3.6 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The Selling Parties have delivered to
the Purchaser a consolidated balance sheet of the Ladenburg Companies at
December 31, 1999, and statements of income, stockholders' equity and source and
application of funds for the year then ended, all certified by the Sellers'
Accountants, and the notes, comments, schedules, and supplemental data therein
(the "AUDITED 1999 FINANCIAL STATEMENT"). In addition, the Selling Parties have
delivered to the Purchaser an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the
Ladenburg Companies at December 31, 2000 (the "SIGNING BALANCE SHEET") and
statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2000, the "SIGNING INCOME
STATEMENT"), and Ladenburg's FOCUS Report for the period ended December 31,
2000, copies of which are attached hereto as SCHEDULE 3.6. The Audited 1999
Financial Statement, the Signing Balance Sheet and the Signing Income Statement
(collectively, the "FINANCIAL STATEMENTS") and Ladenburg's FOCUS Report have
been prepared in all material respects in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles applied in the United States ("GAAP") throughout the
periods indicated, except as may be otherwise noted therein, subject to normal
year-end audit adjustments in the case of all such Financial Statements that are
interim or unaudited financial statements, and fairly present the financial
condition of the Ladenburg Companies at their respective dates and the results
of the operations of the Ladenburg Companies for the periods covered thereby in
accordance with GAAP in all material respects.

         SECTION 3.7 LICENSES, PERMITS, ETC. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE
3.7, the Ladenburg Companies and their officers, directors and employees possess
all applicable governmental registrations, licenses, permits, authorizations and
approvals (collectively referred to herein as "PERMITS"), including those
necessary to enable them to sell securities in any jurisdiction in which any of
the Ladenburg Companies engages in the sale of securities, and those necessary
to own and operate the business of the Ladenburg Companies, except where the
failure to obtain or possess such Permits would not in the aggregate reasonably
be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, prospects
or financial condition of the Ladenburg Companies, taken as a whole. True,
complete and correct copies of such Permits have previously been delivered to
the Purchaser. All such Permits are in full force and effect and the Ladenburg
Companies and their officers, directors and employees have complied in all
material respects with all terms of such Permits. The Ladenburg Companies are
not in default in any material respect under any of such Permits and no event
has occurred and no condition exists which, with the giving of notice, the
passage of time, or both, would constitute such a default thereunder. SCHEDULE
3.7 includes a listing of all branch offices of the Ladenburg Companies,
including their addresses and dates of approval from appropriate state
regulatory authorities to operate such branch offices.

         SECTION 3.8 MARKETABLE SECURITIES. Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 3.8,
all securities carried in the Signing Balance Sheet as marketable securities or
which will be taken into account in the determination of the Closing Net Worth
as marketable securities are readily marketable in established markets at values
established in accordance with GAAP, and are, in the Signing Balance Sheet, or
will be, in the determination of the Closing Net Worth, valued in accordance
with GAAP and, except for pledges in the ordinary course of business, are not
subject to any restriction (contractual or otherwise) that would materially
impair the ability of the entity holding such securities to dispose freely of
such securities at any time.



                                      -10-
<PAGE>   17


         SECTION 3.9 REAL PROPERTY; LEASED PROPERTIES; CONTRACTS.

                  (a) None of the Ladenburg Companies owns any real property.

                  (b) All leases for the real property ("LEASES") leased by the
Ladenburg Companies are listed on SCHEDULE 3.9(B), and copies thereof have been
furnished to the Purchaser.

                  (c) All material leases for personal property and all material
contracts and commitments ("CONTRACTS") to which any of the Ladenburg Companies
is a party are listed on SCHEDULE 3.9(C). For purposes of this SECTION 3.9, a
material lease, contract or commitment means any lease, contract or commitment
which cannot be terminated on 30 days notice or less without material cost and,
if requiring the payment of money, pursuant to which the unliquidated amount
required to be paid by a Ladenburg Company or which a Ladenburg Company is
entitled to receive, as of the date hereof, is $100,000 or more. Copies of the
Contracts of the Ladenburg Companies have been furnished to the Purchaser.

                  (d) All Contracts and Leases of the Ladenburg Companies are
valid and binding agreements of the relevant Ladenburg Companies, enforceable in
accordance with their terms, and there is no default by any of the Ladenburg
Companies, or, to the Selling Parties' Knowledge, any other party thereto, under
any such Contract or Lease, except for such defaults which, singly or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect
upon the business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the Ladenburg
Companies, taken as a whole. None of the other parties to the Contracts or
Leases has notified any of the Selling Parties of any intention to terminate its
Contract or Lease.

                  (e) The Clearance Agreement dated December 5, 1978 between
Ladenburg and Paine, Webber, Jackson & Curtis and Paine, Webber, Mitchell
Hutchins, Incorporated may be terminated by Ladenburg at any time on 90 days
prior written notice.

         SECTION 3.10 LITIGATION. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.10, there
are no actions, suits, arbitrations or other proceedings ("PROCEEDINGS")
(including arbitrations with any registered representative or customer of any
Ladenburg Company) pending or, to the Selling Parties' Knowledge, threatened or
reasonably likely to be asserted against any Ladenburg Company at law or in
equity before any court, federal, state, municipal or other governmental
department or agency or other tribunal. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.10, no
such Proceeding would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect
on the ability of the Selling Parties to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby or have a material adverse effect on the business, assets,
prospects or financial condition of the Ladenburg Companies, taken as a whole.
None of the Ladenburg Companies or their property is subject to any order,
judgment, injunction or decree which would reasonably be expected to materially
adversely affect the business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the
Ladenburg Companies taken as a whole.

         SECTION 3.11 TAXES, TAX RETURNS AND AUDITS. (a) All material federal,
state, local and foreign Taxes due and payable by the Ladenburg Companies for
all periods ending on or before December 31, 2000, have been paid in full or
have been adequately reserved against on the Signing Balance Sheet as required




                                      -11-
<PAGE>   18


by GAAP; (b) the Ladenburg Companies have filed all material federal, state,
local and foreign income, excise, property, sales, social security, information
returns, and other Tax returns, reports and related information ("RETURNS")
required to have been filed by them, or, as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.11,
extensions of the time for filing such Returns are presently in effect; the
Returns that have been filed have been accurately prepared and have been timely
filed except for such inaccuracies as would not reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on the Ladenburg Companies; (c) the Ladenburg Companies'
federal income tax returns have been audited by the Internal Revenue Service
through 1995, and their state and local income tax returns have been audited by
the respective state and local tax agencies through March 31, 1993, and, to the
Selling Parties' Knowledge, all audit reports are final; (d) except as set forth
in SCHEDULE 3.11, there are no agreements, waivers or other arrangements
providing for an extension of time with respect to the filing of any Return or
the payment of any Tax by any of the Ladenburg Companies other than Taxes that
have been adequately reserved or are not material; (e) except as set forth in
SCHEDULE 3.11, there are no actions, suits, proceedings, investigations or
claims pending or, to the Selling Parties' Knowledge, threatened against any
Ladenburg Company in respect of Taxes or any matter under discussion with any
governmental authority relating to Taxes asserted by any such authority other
than Taxes that have been adequately reserved or are not material; and (f) as of
the Closing Date, any net operating loss carry-forwards, as determined under
Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-21 for federal income tax purposes, will be
allocated to Ladenburg and the Ladenburg Subsidiaries.

         SECTION 3.12 CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE
3.12, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by such Selling Party do not,
and the performance of this Agreement by such Selling Party will not, require
such Selling Party or the Ladenburg Companies to obtain any consent, approval,
authorization or other action by, or to make any filing with or notification to,
any governmental or regulatory authority or other third party, except where
failure to obtain such consents, approvals, authorizations or actions, or to
make any such filings or notifications, would not reasonably be expected to
prevent the Selling Parties from performing any of their obligations under this
Agreement or would not reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect
the business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the Ladenburg
Companies, taken as a whole, or except as would be required as a result of the
identity or legal or regulatory status of the Purchaser and its Affiliates.

         SECTION 3.13 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES. Except as set forth in
SCHEDULE 3.13, the Ladenburg Companies, taken as a whole, have not, since
December 31, 2000, taken any action that would constitute a breach of any of
their obligations under SECTION 5.1 or suffered any material adverse change, in
any case or in the aggregate, in their assets, liabilities, financial condition,
results of operations, prospects or business, except for those occurring as a
result of general economic or financial conditions affecting the United States
as a whole or the region in which the Ladenburg Companies conduct their business
or developments that are not unique to the Ladenburg Companies but also affect
other Persons engaged or participating in the brokerage industry generally or as
a consequence of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.




                                      -12-
<PAGE>   19


         SECTION 3.14 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS AND BONUS PLANS. Except as set forth
in SCHEDULE 3.14, there are, and have been, no bonus, stock option, incentive or
other compensation plans, arrangements, agreements or programs between any of
the Ladenburg Companies and any of its employees, including but not limited to
any thereof relating to severance, and there are no employment, severance,
change in control or other agreements or arrangements between any of the
Ladenburg Companies and any of its employees which are not terminable by a
Ladenburg Company on more than thirty (30) days notice without liability,
penalty or premium.

         SECTION 3.15 EMPLOYEE PLANS.

                  (a) Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 3.15, none of the
Ladenburg Companies maintains or contributes to, has maintained or contributed
to or is or was a party to a participating employer in, or a sponsor or
contributor to any "employee pension benefit plan," as defined in Section 3(2)
of ERISA (collectively, "EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS"). None of the Ladenburg
Companies is a party to any multiemployer plan as defined in Section 3(37) of
ERISA.

                  (b) Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 3.15 or as would not
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business,
assets, prospects or financial condition of the Ladenburg Companies, taken as a
whole, each Employee Benefit Plan (i) except with respect to any Employee
Benefit Plan not intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code, has
received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect
that such plan satisfies the requirements of Section 401(a) of the Code and that
any related trust is exempt from tax pursuant to Section 501(a) of the Code;
(ii) has been operated in all material respects in accordance with the
provisions thereof, ERISA, the Code and all other applicable law; (iii) has not
engaged in any prohibited transactions (as such term is defined for purposes of
ERISA and the Code) (other than those that are exempt pursuant to statute,
regulation or otherwise) which would subject any of the Ladenburg Companies to a
material liability under Section 4975 of the Code or a penalty under Section
502(i) of ERISA; (iv) has not, since the last annual report filed, been amended
so as to materially increase benefits thereunder (other than as a direct or
indirect result of changes in applicable law or regulations) or experienced a
material increase (more than 20%) in the number of participants covered
thereunder; and (v) if terminated on the date hereof, would not subject any of
the Ladenburg Companies to liability in excess of $25,000 to the PBGC pursuant
to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA.

                  (c) Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.15, there are no
"employee welfare benefit plans" (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA)
("EMPLOYEE WELFARE PLANS") maintained by any of the Ladenburg Companies or to
which any of the Ladenburg Companies contributes or is required to contribute.

                  (d) The Selling Parties have furnished to the Purchaser true
and complete copies of the following items with respect to each Employee Benefit
Plan and each Employee Welfare Plan of the Ladenburg Companies (i) each plan
document; (ii) each related trust document; (iii) each determination letter




                                      -13-
<PAGE>   20

issued by the Internal Revenue Service relating to qualification of the
respective plans under the Code; (iv) the most recently filed annual reports, if
any; and (v) the most recent actuarial valuation, if any.

                  (e) Each of the Ladenburg Companies has filed all reports and
other documents required to be filed with any governmental agency with respect
to the Employee Benefit Plans and Employee Welfare Plans of the Ladenburg
Companies or has received currently effective extensions for any such reports
and other documents which have not been filed other than any failure to file
which would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon
the business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the Ladenburg
Companies, taken as a whole.

         SECTION 3.16 INSURANCE POLICIES. SCHEDULE 3.16 sets forth a complete
list of all material insurance policies maintained by the Ladenburg Companies
and which are in force as of the date hereof.

         SECTION 3.17 INTANGIBLE RIGHTS. Set forth in SCHEDULE 3.17 is a list of
all material trademarks, trade names, copyrights and applications therefor owned
by or registered in the name of any of the Ladenburg Companies or in which any
of the Ladenburg Companies has any rights as licensee or otherwise, and which
are presently used in the operation of the Ladenburg Companies' businesses
(other than packaged computer software that is used in accordance with the
licenses therefor). Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 3.17, no interest in any of
such material trademarks, trade names, copyrights or applications therefor, or
any trade secrets owned or used by any Ladenburg Company, has been assigned,
transferred or licensed to any third party by a Ladenburg Company, and to the
Selling Parties' Knowledge there is no infringement or asserted infringement by
any Ladenburg Company of any trademarks, trade names, copyrights or application
therefor of another the effect of which, in either case, individually or in the
aggregate, would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the
business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the Ladenburg Companies,
taken as a whole. Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 3.17, (i) no claim is pending
by any of the Ladenburg Companies against others to the effect that the present
or past operations of such parties infringe upon or conflict with the rights of
such Ladenburg Company, and, to the Selling Parties' Knowledge, no reasonable
grounds for such action exist, and (ii) to the Selling Parties' Knowledge, there
are no pending or threatened cancellations or revocations of any agreement
granting to any Ladenburg Company rights under trademarks, trade names,
copyrights or "know-how" of others, the effect of which, individually or in the
aggregate, could reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the
business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the Ladenburg Companies,
taken as a whole.

         SECTION 3.18 TITLE TO PROPERTIES. Each of the Ladenburg Companies has
good title to all its tangible personal properties and assets material,
individually or in the aggregate, to the business of the Ladenburg Companies.
Except for Liens (i) reflected in the Financial Statements or (ii) relating to
margin requirements or other borrowings in respect of securities positions, none
of such properties and assets is subject to any Lien or adverse claim of any
nature whatsoever, direct or indirect, whether accrued, absolute, contingent or
otherwise, other than (i) any Lien for Taxes not yet due or delinquent or being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves





                                      -14-
<PAGE>   21


have been established in accordance with GAAP, (ii) any statutory Lien arising
in the ordinary course of business by operation of law with respect to a
liability that is not yet due or delinquent and (iii) any minor imperfection in
title or similar Lien which individually or in the aggregate with such other
Liens would not reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the
business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the Ladenburg Companies,
taken as a whole. The tangible properties and assets owned or leased by the
Ladenburg Companies are, in all material respects, in good operating condition
and repair, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

         SECTION 3.19 NO GUARANTEES. Other than as incurred in the ordinary
course of business, none of the Ladenburg Companies is a party to or bound by
any agreement of guarantee, indemnification, assumption, or endorsement or any
other like commitment in an amount in excess of $50,000 in any single instance
and $500,000 in the aggregate to satisfy the obligations, liabilities
(contingent or otherwise) or indebtedness of any other person, firm or
corporation other than another Ladenburg Company.

         SECTION 3.20 LABOR MATTERS. None of the Ladenburg Companies is a party
to any collective bargaining agreement or other labor union contract applicable
to persons employed by it in connection with the operation of its business.

         SECTION 3.21 BROKERS. No broker, finder or investment banker is
entitled to any brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements
made by or on behalf of such Selling Party.

         SECTION 3.22 RECORDS. To the Selling Parties' Knowledge, the books of
account, minute books, stock certificate books and stock transfer ledgers of the
Ladenburg Companies are complete and correct in all material respects, and there
have been no material transactions involving any of the Ladenburg Companies
which are required to be set forth therein and which have not been so set forth.

         SECTION 3.23 NO UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Except as set forth in
SCHEDULES 3.5(A), 3.5(B), 3.10 AND 3.23 and pursuant to executory provisions
under the Contracts and Leases to which any Ladenburg Company is a party, none
of the Ladenburg Companies has any liabilities, whether known or unknown,
absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise of a nature that would be required to
be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of the Ladenburg Companies
(including the footnotes), except (a) as and to the extent disclosed, reflected
or reserved against on the Signing Balance Sheet, including all notes thereto,
(b) those incurred since December 31, 2000 in the ordinary course of business
and consistent with prior practice, and (c) those which would not reasonably be
expected to materially and adversely affect the business, assets, prospects or
financial condition of the Ladenburg Companies, taken as a whole.

         SECTION 3.24 NO ILLEGAL OR IMPROPER TRANSACTIONS. Since May 31, 1995,
no Ladenburg Company or any officer, director, employee, agent or Affiliate of
any of the Ladenburg Companies on their behalf has offered, paid or agreed to
pay to any person or entity (including any governmental official) or solicited,
received or agreed to receive from any such person or entity, directly or
indirectly, any money or anything of value for the purpose or with the intent of
(a) obtaining or maintaining business for a Ladenburg Company, (b) facilitating
the purchase or sale of any product or service, or (c) avoiding the imposition




                                      -15-
<PAGE>   22

of any fine or penalty, in any manner which is in violation of any applicable
ordinance, regulation or law, the effect of which, individually or in the
aggregate, would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the
business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the Ladenburg Companies,
taken as a whole.

         SECTION 3.25 RELATED TRANSACTIONS. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.25
and except for compensation to employees for services rendered and brokerage
accounts in the ordinary course, neither New Valley nor, to the knowledge of
such Selling Party, any director, officer, employee or shareholder or any
associate (as defined in the rules promulgated under the 1934 Act) of any of the
Ladenburg Companies is presently, or since January 1, 1998 has been a party to
any material transaction with any of the Ladenburg Companies (including, but not
limited to, any contract, agreement or other arrangements providing for the
furnishing of services by, or rental of real or personal property from, or
otherwise requiring payments to, any such director, officer, employee or
shareholder or such associate).

         SECTION 3.26 DISCLOSURE. No representation or warranty by such Selling
Party contained in this Agreement and no information contained in any Schedule
furnished to the Purchaser by such Selling Party pursuant to this Agreement or
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby contains any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements contained herein or therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances in which such statements were made. Any furnishing of information
to the Purchaser by a Selling Party pursuant to, or otherwise in connection
with, this Agreement (other than information contained in this Agreement, the
Schedules or the Exhibits hereto), including, without limitation, any
information contained in any document, contract, book or record of any of the
Ladenburg Companies to which the Purchaser shall have access or any information
obtained by, or made available to, the Purchaser as a result of any
investigation made by or on behalf of the Purchaser prior to or after the date
of this Agreement, shall not affect the Purchaser's right to rely on any
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by such Selling Party in
this Agreement and shall not be deemed a waiver thereof.

         SECTION 3.27 OWNERSHIP OF PURCHASER COMMON STOCK. Neither such Selling
Party nor any Ladenburg Company nor any of their respective Affiliates owns,
directly or indirectly, any Purchaser Common Stock, or options or other rights
to acquire Purchaser Common Stock or securities convertible into Purchaser
Common Stock, other than in the ordinary course of its broker-dealer business.

         SECTION 3.28 INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS. All shares of Purchaser Common
Stock to be acquired by such Selling Party pursuant to this Agreement (including
shares issuable upon conversion of the Notes) will be acquired for its account
and not with a view towards distribution thereof. Such Selling Party understands
that it must bear the economic risk of its investment in Purchaser Common Stock,
which cannot be sold by it unless registered under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "1933 ACT"), or an exemption therefrom is available thereunder.
Such Selling Party has had both the opportunity to ask questions and receive
answers from the officers and directors of the Purchaser and all persons acting
on its behalf concerning the business and operations of the Purchaser and to




                                      -16-
<PAGE>   23



obtain any additional information to the extent the Purchaser possesses or may
possess such information or can acquire it without unreasonable effort or
expense necessary to verify the accuracy of such information. New Valley and
Berliner each acknowledges receiving and reviewing copies of the Purchaser SEC
Filings referred to in SECTION 4.4. The certificates representing the Purchaser
Common Stock to be received by the Sellers as part of the Purchase Price shall
bear a legend (which shall be removed on furnishing to the Purchaser an opinion
of counsel to such Seller reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser that such
legend is no longer required) to the effect that the shares represented thereby
may not be transferred except upon compliance with the registration requirements
of the 1933 Act (or an exemption therefrom).

         SECTION 3.29 BANK ACCOUNTS. SCHEDULE 3.29 sets forth the name of each
bank in which any of the Ladenburg Companies has an account or safe deposit box,
vault, lock-box or other arrangement, the account number and description of each
account at each bank and the names of all persons authorized to draw thereon or
to have access thereto; and the names of all persons, if any, holding tax or
other powers of attorney from any of the Ladenburg Companies other than in the
ordinary course of business.

         SECTION 3.30 CERTAIN BROKERAGE MATTERS.

                  (a) None of the Ladenburg Companies has in effect any "soft
dollar" arrangements with any of its customers that do not come within the "safe
harbor" provisions of Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act.

                  (b) All sales literature used by the Ladenburg Companies since
May 31, 1995 does not contain any misstatement of a material fact and does not
omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in the light of the circumstances in which such statements are made.

         SECTION 3.31 WARRANTS, ETC. SCHEDULE 3.31 lists all warrants,
underwriters' purchase options and similar consideration received by any of the
Ladenburg Companies as underwriting compensation since May 31, 1995, whether or
not owned by any of the Ladenburg Companies on the date hereof ("UNDERWRITERS'
WARRANTS"). Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.31, no Person other than a
Ladenburg Company has any right with respect to the Underwriters' Warrants,
including the right to share in appreciation in the value thereof.

         SECTION 3.32 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The
representations and warranties of the Selling Parties set forth in this
Agreement shall survive the Closing for a period of two years after the Closing
Date, except that the representations and warranties in SECTIONS 3.1 AND 3.4
shall survive without limitation as to time and the representations and
warranties in SECTION 3.11 shall survive for a period of two months after the
expiration of the statute of limitations for each respective Tax (as extended
from time to time).

         SECTION 3.33 UKRAINE FUND. Ladenburg Thalmann Ukraine Ltd. has incurred
no liability for serving as investment advisor to the Ukraine Fund, except those
which would not reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the
business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the LTI and the Ladenburg





                                      -17-
<PAGE>   24

Companies, taken as a whole. Except as set forth in SECTION 3.4(B)(III) and this
SECTION 3.33, no representations or warranties are made by any Selling Party
with respect to the Ukraine Fund.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER

         The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Selling Parties as
follows:

         SECTION 4.1 ORGANIZATION.

                  (a) THE PURCHASER. The Purchaser is a corporation duly
incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the law of Florida.
Except for the other corporations listed in SCHEDULE 4.1(A) (the "PURCHASER
SUBSIDIARIES"), and as otherwise set forth in SCHEDULE 4.1(A), the Purchaser
does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock or other securities of
any issuer or any equity interest in any other entity and is not a party to any
agreement to acquire any such securities or interest. The Purchaser is a holding
company and does not conduct any business except through the Purchaser
Subsidiaries.

                  (b) THE PURCHASER SUBSIDIARIES. Each of the Purchaser
Subsidiaries is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
standing under the law of its state of incorporation, which states are listed in
SCHEDULE 4.1(B). Other than in the ordinary course of its securities business or
as listed in SCHEDULE 4.1(B), none of the Purchaser Subsidiaries owns, directly
or indirectly, any capital stock or other securities of any issuer or any equity
interest in any other entity and is not a party to any agreement to acquire any
such securities or interest. Each of the Purchaser Subsidiaries is qualified to
do business in each state where the nature of the business it conducts or the
properties it owns, leases or operates requires it to so qualify, which states
are listed in SCHEDULE 4.1(B), except for those states in which all such
failures by the Purchaser Subsidiaries to be qualified could not in the
aggregate reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the Purchaser and the
Purchaser Subsidiaries (collectively, the "PURCHASER COMPANIES"), taken as a
whole. Each of the Purchaser Subsidiaries has all requisite corporate power to
own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being
conducted.

         SECTION 4.2 AUTHORITY AND CORPORATE ACTION.

                  (a) Other than the Stockholder Approval, the Purchaser has all
necessary corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement, the Escrow
Agreement, the Notes, the Investor Rights Agreement, the Pledge and Security
Agreement and the other instruments and agreements to be executed and delivered
by the Purchaser in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (collectively, the "PURCHASER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS") and to
consummate the transactions contemplated thereby. All corporate action necessary
to be taken by the Purchaser to authorize the execution, delivery and
performance of the Purchaser Transaction Documents has or will at the Closing
have been duly and validly taken. Each Purchaser Transaction Document
constitutes, or will constitute upon execution and delivery thereof, the valid,
binding and enforceable obligation of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance
with its terms, except (i) as enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or



                                      -18-
<PAGE>   25


similar laws of general application now or hereafter in effect affecting the
rights and remedies of creditors and by general principles of equity (regardless
of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity) and (ii)
as enforceability of any indemnification provision may be limited by federal and
state securities laws and public policy.

                  (b) Subject to receipt of the approvals and filings set forth
in SCHEDULE 4.2(B), neither the execution and delivery of the Purchaser
Transaction Documents by the Purchaser nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated thereby will, except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 4.2(B) or except as
would occur solely as a result of the identity or legal or regulatory status of
the Sellers or Ladenburg and their respective Affiliates (i) conflict with,
result in a breach or violation of or constitute (or with notice of lapse of
time or both constitute) a default under, (A) the Certificate of Incorporation
or By-Laws (or similar constituent documents) of the Purchaser or any of the
Purchaser Subsidiaries or (B) any law, statute, regulation, order, judgment or
decree or any instrument, contract or other agreement to which the Purchaser or
any of the Purchaser Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Purchaser or any of
the Purchaser Subsidiaries (or any of their respective properties) is subject or
bound, except where any such conflict, breach, violation or default, singly or
in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse
effect upon the business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the
Purchaser or any of the Purchaser Subsidiaries; (ii) result in the creation of,
or give any party the right to create, any Lien upon the assets of the Purchaser
or any of the Purchaser Subsidiaries, except where such Lien, singly or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect
upon the business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the Purchaser
Companies, taken as a whole; (iii) terminate or modify, or give any third party
the right to terminate or modify, the provisions or terms of any contract to
which the Purchaser or any of the Purchaser Subsidiaries is a party, except
where such termination or modification, singly or in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon the business,
assets, prospects or financial condition of the Purchaser Companies, taken as a
whole; or (iv) result in any suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or
nonrenewal of any permit, license, qualification, authorization or approval
applicable to the Purchaser or any of the Purchaser Subsidiaries, except where
such suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or nonrenewal, singly or in
the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse
effect upon the business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the
Purchaser Companies, taken as a whole.

                  (c) Upon issuance and payment therefor in accordance with the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, the shares of Purchaser Common Stock to
be issued and delivered to the Sellers at the Closing will be duly authorized,
validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable. Upon conversion of a Note by the
holder thereof in accordance with its terms, the shares of Purchaser Common
Stock to be issued and delivered to such holder upon such conversion will be
duly authorized, validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable.



                                      -19-
<PAGE>   26


         SECTION 4.3 CAPITALIZATION; OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES.

                  (a) CAPITALIZATION. The capitalization of the Purchaser is set
forth in SCHEDULE 4.3(A). All of the issued and outstanding shares of the
Purchaser Common Stock are, and all shares reserved for issuance will be, upon
issuance in accordance with the terms specified in the instruments or agreements
pursuant to which they are issuable, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable. Except pursuant to the Transaction Documents and except as
set forth in SCHEDULE 4.3(A), there are no outstanding options, warrants or
other contractual rights which require, or give any person the right to require,
the issuance of any capital stock of Purchaser, whether or not such rights are
presently exercisable.

                  (b) OWNERSHIP. The Purchaser is the record and beneficial
owner of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Purchaser
Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Liens. There are no options, warrants or
other contractual rights outstanding which require, or give any person the right
to require, the issuance of any capital stock of any of the Purchaser
Subsidiaries whether or not such rights are presently exercisable.

         SECTION 4.4 SEC REPORTS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The Purchaser has
delivered to the Selling Parties prior to the execution of this Agreement true
and complete copies of all forms, reports, schedules, registration statements,
proxy statements and other documents filed by it or its Subsidiaries with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") since August 24, 1999
including without limitation its Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal
years ended August 24, 1999 and September 30, 2000 ("10-KS") and the amendments
to the Annual Reports for the fiscal year ended August 24, 1999 and September
30, 2000 on Form 10-K/A ("10-K/AS"), its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the
period August 25, 1999 to September 30, 1999 and the quarters ended December 31,
1999, March 31, 2000 and June 30, 2000 ("10-QS") and its Current Report on Form
8-K for event dated August 24, 1999 ("8-K" and, collectively with the 10-Ks, the
10-K/As, the 10-Qs and all such other documents, the "PURCHASER SEC FILINGS").
Each of the Purchaser SEC Filings, as of its filing date, complied in all
material respects with the requirements of the rules and regulations promulgated
by the Commission with respect thereto and did not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements contained therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in
which such statements were made. The Purchaser SEC Filings constitute all of the
reports under the 1934 Act that were required to be filed by the Purchaser as of
the date hereof and the Purchaser has otherwise complied with all material
requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act. The financial statements of the
Purchaser included in the Purchaser SEC Filings (the "PURCHASER FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS") comply as to form in all material respects with applicable
accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the
Commission with respect thereto, and the Purchaser Financial Statements, as well
as the financial statements of the Purchaser as of December 31, 2000 and the
Purchaser's FOCUS Report for the period ended December 31, 2000 (copies of which




                                      -20-
<PAGE>   27



have been delivered to the Selling Parties), have been prepared in accordance
with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods covered, except as
may be otherwise noted therein, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments in
the case of all financial statements that are interim or unaudited financial
statements, and fairly present the financial condition of the Purchaser
Companies as of their respective dates and the results of operations of the
Purchaser Companies for the periods covered thereby in accordance with GAAP in
all material respects.

         SECTION 4.5 CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE
4.5, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Purchaser do not, and
the performance of this Agreement by the Purchaser will not, require the
Purchaser to obtain any consent, approval, authorization or other action by, or
to make any filing with or notification to, any governmental or regulatory
authority or other third party, except where failure to obtain such consents,
approvals, authorizations or actions, or to make such filings or notifications,
would not reasonably be expected to prevent the Purchaser from performing any of
its obligations under this Agreement and would not reasonably be expected to
materially adversely affect the business, assets, prospects or financial
condition of the Purchaser Companies, taken as a whole, or except as would be
required as a result of the identity or legal or regulatory status of the
Sellers and their respective Affiliates.

         SECTION 4.6 DISCLOSURE. No representation or warranty by the Purchaser
contained in this Agreement and no information contained in any Schedule
furnished by the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement or in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby, when taken together with the Purchaser SEC
Filings, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein not
misleading in light of the circumstances in which such statements were made. Any
furnishing of information to the Selling Parties by the Purchaser pursuant to,
or otherwise in connection with, this Agreement (other than information
contained in this Agreement, the Schedules or the Exhibits hereto), including,
without limitation, any information contained in any document, contract, book or
record of any of the Purchaser Companies to which the Selling Parties shall have
access or any information obtained by, or made available to, the Selling Parties
as a result of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Selling Parties
prior to or after the date of this Agreement, shall not affect the Selling
Parties' right to rely on any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement
made by the Purchaser in this Agreement and shall not be deemed a waiver
thereof.

         SECTION 4.7 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE
4.7, the Purchaser Companies, taken as a whole, have not, since December 31,
2000, taken any action that would constitute a breach of any of their
obligations under SECTION 5.1 or suffered any material adverse change, in any
case or in the aggregate, in their assets, liabilities, financial condition,
results of operations, prospects or business, except for those occurring as a
result of general economic or financial conditions affecting the United States
as a whole or the region in which the Purchaser Companies conduct their business
or developments that are not unique to the Purchaser Companies but also affect
other Persons engaged or participating in the brokerage industry generally or as
a consequence of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

         SECTION 4.8 VOTE REQUIRED. The affirmative vote of the holders of
record of at least a majority of the shares of Purchaser Common Stock present at
the Purchaser Stockholder Meeting with respect to the matters referred to in




                                      -21-
<PAGE>   28

SECTION 5.10 hereof is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of
the capital stock of the Purchaser required to approve the transactions
contemplated hereby.

         SECTION 4.9 OPINION OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR. The Purchaser has received
the opinion of Roth Capital Partners, Inc., dated February 8, 2001, to the
effect that the consideration to be paid by the Purchaser for the Ladenburg
Stock is fair from a financial point of view to the Purchaser, and a true and
complete copy of such opinion has been delivered to the New Valley Parties and
Berliner prior to the execution of this Agreement.

         SECTION 4.10 SECTIONS 607.0901 AND 607.0902 OF THE FLORIDA BUSINESS
CORPORATION ACT NOT APPLICABLE. The Board of Directors of the Purchaser has, to
the extent required by applicable law, duly and validly authorized and approved
by all necessary corporate action, the Purchaser Transaction Documents and the
transactions contemplated thereby so that by the execution and delivery thereof
no restrictive provision of any "fair price," "moratorium," "control-share
acquisition," "interested shareholders" or other similar anti-takeover statute
or regulation (including, without limitation, Sections 607.0901 and 607.0902 of
the Florida Business Corporation Act) or restrictive provision of any applicable
anti-takeover provision in the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws of the
Purchaser is, or will be, applicable to the Sellers or any transaction
contemplated by the Purchaser Transaction Documents.

         SECTION 4.11 FINANCING. The Purchaser and Frost-Nevada, Limited
Partnership (the "LENDER") have entered into an agreement (and the Purchaser has
provided New Valley and Berliner with an executed copy thereof) pursuant to
which the Lender will provide the $10,000,000 of funds required by Purchaser to
pay the Purchase Price.

         SECTION 4.12 INVESTMENT REPRESENTATIONS. All shares of Ladenburg Stock
to be acquired by the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement will be acquired for
its account and not with a view to distribution. The Purchaser understands that
it must bear the economic risk of its investment in the Ladenburg Stock, which
cannot be sold by it unless registered under the 1933 Act or an exemption
therefrom is available thereunder. The Purchaser has had both the opportunity to
ask questions and receive answers from the officers and directors of Ladenburg
and all persons acting on its behalf concerning the business and operations of
Ladenburg and to obtain any additional information to the extent the Seller
possess or may possess such information or can acquire it without unreasonable
effort or expense necessary to verify the accuracy of such information.

         SECTION 4.13 COMPLIANCE WITH LAW; CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS.

                  (a) The businesses of the Purchaser Companies are, and since
May 31, 1995 have been, conducted in compliance in all material respects with
all applicable laws, rules, regulations, court or administrative orders and
processes and rules, directives and orders of regulatory and self-regulatory
agencies and bodies (including, without limitation, the 1934 Act, the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any laws, rules, regulations, orders and
directives that relate to broker-dealer regulation, consumer protection,
products and services, proprietary rights, anti-competitive practices,
collective bargaining, ERISA, equal opportunity and improper payments), except
as would not reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to be
materially adverse to the business, assets, prospects or financial condition of




                                      -22-
<PAGE>   29


the Purchaser Companies, taken as a whole. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE
4.13(A), the Purchaser Companies (i) are not, and since May 31, 1995 have not
been, in violation of, or not in compliance with, in any material respect, any
such applicable law, rule, regulation, order, directive or process with respect
to the conduct of their respective businesses, and (ii) have not received any
notice from any governmental authority or regulatory or self-regulatory agency
or body, and to the Purchaser's Knowledge none is threatened, alleging that any
of the Purchaser Companies is violating or has, since May 31, 1995, violated, or
is not complying or has not, since May 31, 1995, complied with, any of the
foregoing the effect of which, individually or in the aggregate with other such
violations and non-compliance, would reasonably be expected to be materially
adverse to the business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the
Purchaser Companies, taken as a whole.

                  (b) Customer complaints reportable on Form U-4 or otherwise
which have been made against any of the Purchaser Companies or any of their
registered representatives since May 31, 1995 are set forth in SCHEDULE 4.13(B)
and copies of each such complaint have been furnished or made available to the
Selling Parties. Such complaints which are pending as of the date of this
Agreement are appropriately noted on SCHEDULE 4.13(B). The balance sheet
included in Purchaser's financial statements as of December 31, 2000 (the
"PURCHASER BALANCE SHEET") contains adequate reserves to the extent required by
GAAP for the costs (including costs of settlement, judgments and attorneys' fees
and expenses) to be incurred by the Purchaser Companies in connection with all
customer complaints pending as of its date. Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE
4.13(B), none of such complaints which have been disposed of as of the date
hereof requires any payment or other action to be made by any of the Purchaser
Companies after the date of this Agreement in excess of $50,000 with respect to
any single claim.

         SECTION 4.14 LICENSES, PERMITS, ETC. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE
4.14, the Purchaser Companies and their officers, directors and employees
possess all applicable Permits including those necessary to enable them to sell
securities in any jurisdiction in which any of the Purchaser Companies engages
in the sale of securities, and those necessary to own and operate the business
of the Purchaser Companies, except where the failure to obtain or possess such
Permits would not in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the
Purchaser Companies, taken as a whole. True, complete and correct copies of such
Permits have previously been delivered to the Purchaser. All such Permits are in
full force and effect and the Purchaser Companies and their officers, directors
and employees have complied in all material respects with all terms of such
Permits. The Purchaser Companies are not in default in any material respect
under any of such Permits and no event has occurred and no condition exists
which, with the giving of notice, the passage of time, or both, would constitute
such a default thereunder. SCHEDULE 4.14 includes a listing of all branch
offices of the Purchaser Companies, including their addresses and dates of
approval from appropriate state regulatory authorities to operate such branch
offices.

         SECTION 4.15 REAL PROPERTY; LEASED PROPERTIES; CONTRACTS.





                                      -23-
<PAGE>   30


                  (a) None of the Purchaser Companies owns any real property.

                  (b) All Leases for the real property leased by the Purchaser
Companies are listed on SCHEDULE 4.15(B), and copies thereof have been furnished
to the Selling Parties.

                  (c) All material Contracts to which any of the Purchaser
Companies is a party are listed on SCHEDULE 4.15(c). For purposes of this
SECTION 4.15, a material lease, contract or commitment means any lease, contract
or commitment which cannot be terminated on 30 days notice or less without
material cost and, if requiring the payment of money, pursuant to which the
unliquidated amount required to be paid by a Purchaser Company or which a
Purchaser Company is entitled to receive, as of the date hereof, is $100,000 or
more. Copies of the Contracts in the Purchaser Companies have been furnished to
the Selling Parties.

                  (d) All Contracts and Leases of the Purchaser Companies are
valid and binding agreements of the relevant Purchaser Companies, enforceable in
accordance with their terms, and there is no default by any of the Purchaser
Companies, or, to the Purchaser's Knowledge, any other party thereto, under any
such Contract or Lease, except for such defaults which, singly or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect
upon the business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the Purchaser
Companies, taken as a whole. None of the other parties to the Contracts or
Leases has notified any of the Purchaser Companies of any intention to terminate
its Contract or Lease.

                  (e) The Clearance Agreement dated April 30, 1985 between GBI
Capital Partners, Inc. and Bear Stearns & Co., Inc. may be terminated by GBI
Capital Partners, Inc. at any time on no more than 90 days prior written notice.

         SECTION 4.16 LITIGATION. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.16, there
are no Proceedings (including arbitrations with any registered representative or
customer of any Purchaser Company) pending or, to the Purchaser's Knowledge,
threatened or reasonably likely to be asserted against any Purchaser Company at
law or in equity before any court, federal, state, municipal or other
governmental department or agency or other tribunal. Except as set forth in
SCHEDULE 4.16, no such Proceeding would reasonably be expected to have a
material adverse effect on the ability of the Purchaser to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby or have a material adverse effect on the
business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the Purchaser Companies,
taken as a whole. None of the Purchaser Companies or their property is subject
to any order, judgment, injunction or decree which would reasonably be expected
to materially adversely affect the business, assets, prospects or financial
condition of the Purchaser Companies taken as a whole.

         SECTION 4.17 TAXES, TAX RETURNS AND AUDITS. (a) All material federal,
state, local and foreign Taxes due and payable by the Purchaser Companies for
all periods ending on or before December 31, 2000, have been paid in full or
have been adequately reserved against on the Purchaser Balance Sheet as required
by GAAP; (b) the Purchaser Companies have filed all material federal, state,
local and foreign income, excise, property, sales, social security, information
returns, and other Tax Returns required to have been filed by them, or, as set
forth in SCHEDULE 4.17, extensions of the time for filing such Returns are
presently in effect; the Returns that have been filed have been accurately
prepared and have been timely filed except for such inaccuracies as would not




                                      -24-
<PAGE>   31


reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Purchaser
Companies; (c) except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.17, there are no agreements,
waivers or other arrangements providing for an extension of time with respect to
the filing of any Return or the payment of any Tax by any of the Purchaser
Companies other than Taxes that have been adequately reserved or are not
material; and (d) except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.17, there are no actions,
suits, proceedings, investigations or claims pending or, to the Purchaser's
Knowledge, threatened against any Purchaser Company in respect of Taxes or any
matter under discussion with any governmental authority relating to Taxes
asserted by any such authority other than Taxes that have been adequately
reserved or are not material.

         SECTION 4.18 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS AND BONUS PLANS. Except as set forth
in SCHEDULE 4.18, there are, and have been, no bonus, stock option, incentive or
other compensation plans, arrangements, agreements, or programs between any of
the Purchaser Companies and any of its employees, including but not limited to
any thereof relating to severance, and there are no employment, severance,
change in control or other agreements or arrangements between any of the
Purchaser Companies and any of its employees which are not terminable by a
Purchaser Company on more than thirty (30) days notice without liability,
penalty or premium.

         SECTION 4.19 EMPLOYEE PLANS.

                  (a) Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.19, none of the
Purchaser Companies maintains or contributes to, has maintained or contributed
to or is or was a party to a participating employer in, or a sponsor or
contributor to any Employee Benefit Plan. None of the Purchaser Companies is a
party to any multiemployer plan as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA.

                  (b) Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.19 or as would not
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business,
assets, prospects or financial condition of the Purchaser Companies, taken as a
whole, each Employee Benefit Plan (i) except with respect to any Employee
Benefit Plan not intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code, has
received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect
that such plan satisfies the requirements of Section 401(a) of the Code and that
any related trust is exempt from tax pursuant to Section 501(a) of the Code;
(ii) has been operated in all material respects in accordance with the
provisions thereof, ERISA, the Code and all other applicable law; (iii) has not
engaged in any prohibited transactions (as such term is defined for purposes of
ERISA and the Code) (other than those that are exempt pursuant to statute,
regulation or otherwise) which would subject any of the Purchaser Companies to a
material liability under Section 4975 of the Code or a penalty under Section
502(i) of ERISA; (iv) has not, since the last annual report filed, been amended
so as to materially increase benefits thereunder (other than as a direct or
indirect result of changes in applicable law or regulations) or experienced a
material increase (more than 20%) in the number of participants covered
thereunder; and (v) if terminated on the date hereof, would not subject any of
the Purchaser Companies to liability in excess of $25,000 to the PBGC pursuant
to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA.




                                      -25-
<PAGE>   32



                  (c) Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.19, there are no
Employee Welfare Plans maintained by any of the Purchaser Companies or to which
any of the Purchaser Companies contributes or is required to contribute.

                  (d) The Purchaser has furnished to the Selling Parties true
and complete copies of the following items with respect to each Employee Benefit
Plan and each Employee Welfare Plan of the Purchaser Companies (i) each plan
document; (ii) each related trust document; (iii) each determination letter
issued by the Internal Revenue Service relating to qualification of the
respective plans under the Code; (iv) the most recently filed annual reports, if
any; and (v) the most recent actuarial valuation, if any.

                  (e) Each of the Purchaser Companies has filed all reports and
other documents required to be filed with any governmental agency with respect
to the Employee Benefit Plans and Employee Welfare Plans of the Purchaser
Companies or has received currently effective extensions for any such reports
and other documents which have not been filed other than any failure to file
which would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon
the business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the Purchaser
Companies, taken as a whole.

         SECTION 4.20 INSURANCE POLICIES. SCHEDULE 4.20 sets forth a complete
list of all material insurance policies maintained by the Purchaser Companies
and which are in force as of the date hereof.

         SECTION 4.21 INTANGIBLE RIGHTS. Set forth in SCHEDULE 4.21 is a list of
all material trademarks, trade names, copyrights and applications therefor owned
by or registered in the name of any of the Purchaser Companies or in which any
of the Purchaser Companies has any rights as licensee or otherwise, and which
are presently used in the operation of the Purchaser Companies' businesses
(other than packaged computer software that is used in accordance with the
licenses therefor). Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 4.21, no interest in any of
such material trademarks, trade names, copyrights or applications therefor, or
any trade secrets owned or used by any Purchaser Company, has been assigned,
transferred or licensed to any third party by a Purchaser Company, and to the
Purchaser's Knowledge there is no infringement or asserted infringement by any
Purchaser Company of any trademarks, trade names, copyrights or application
therefor of another the effect of which, in either case, individually or in the
aggregate, would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the
business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the Purchaser Companies,
taken as a whole. Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 4.21, (i) no claim is pending
by any of the Purchaser Companies against others to the effect that the present
or past operations of such parties infringe upon or conflict with the rights of
such Purchaser Company, and, to the Purchaser's Knowledge, no reasonable grounds
for such action exist, and (ii) to the Purchaser's Knowledge, there are no
pending or threatened cancellations or revocations of any agreement granting to
any Purchaser Company rights under trademarks, trade names, copyrights or
"know-how" of others, the effect of which, individually or in the aggregate,
could reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the business, assets,
prospects or financial condition of the Purchaser Companies, taken as a whole.




                                      -26-
<PAGE>   33


         SECTION 4.22 TITLE TO PROPERTIES. Each of the Purchaser Companies has
good title to all its tangible personal properties and assets material,
individually or in the aggregate, to the business of the Purchaser Companies.
Except for Liens (i) reflected in the Purchaser Financial Statements or (ii)
relating to margin requirements or other borrowings in respect of securities
positions, none of such properties and assets is subject to any Lien or adverse
claim of any nature whatsoever, direct or indirect, whether accrued, absolute,
contingent or otherwise, other than (i) any Lien for Taxes not yet due or
delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which
adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (ii) any
statutory Lien arising in the ordinary course of business by operation of law
with respect to a liability that is not yet due or delinquent and (iii) any
minor imperfection in title or similar Lien which individually or in the
aggregate with such other Liens would not reasonably be expected to materially
adversely affect the business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the
Purchaser Companies, taken as a whole. The tangible properties and assets owned
or leased by the Purchaser Companies are, in all material respects, in good
operating condition and repair, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

         SECTION 4.23 NO GUARANTEES. Other than as incurred in the ordinary
course of business, none of the Purchaser Companies is a party to or bound by
any agreement of guarantee, indemnification, assumption, or endorsement or any
other like commitment in an amount in excess of $50,000 in any single instance
and $500,000 in the aggregate to satisfy the obligations, liabilities
(contingent or otherwise) or indebtedness of any other person, firm or
corporation other than another Purchaser Company.

         SECTION 4.24 LABOR MATTERS. None of the Purchaser Companies is a party
to any collective bargaining agreement or other labor union contract applicable
to persons employed by it in connection with the operation of its business.

         SECTION 4.25 BROKERS. No broker, finder or investment banker is
entitled to any brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements
made by or on behalf of the Purchaser other than the fees of any investment
banking firms engaged by the Purchaser, the fees of which will be paid by the
Purchaser.

         SECTION 4.26 RECORDS. To the Purchaser's Knowledge, the books of
account, minute books, stock certificate books and stock transfer ledgers of the
Purchaser Companies are complete and correct in all material respects, and there
have been no material transactions involving any of the Purchaser Companies
which are required to be set forth therein and which have not been so set forth.

         SECTION 4.27 NO UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Except as set forth in
SCHEDULES 4.13(A), 4.13(B), 4.16 AND 4.27 and pursuant to executory provisions
under the Contracts and Leases to which any Purchaser Company is a party, none
of the Purchaser Companies has any liabilities, whether known or unknown,
absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise of a nature that would be required to
be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of the Purchaser Companies




                                      -27-
<PAGE>   34


(including the footnotes), except (a) as and to the extent disclosed, reflected
or reserved against the Purchaser Balance Sheet, including all notes thereto,
(b) those incurred since December 31, 2000 in the ordinary course of business
and consistent with prior practice, and (c) those which would not reasonably be
expected to materially and adversely affect the business, assets, prospects or
financial condition of the Purchaser Companies, taken as a whole.

         SECTION 4.28 NO ILLEGAL OR IMPROPER TRANSACTIONS. Since May 31, 1995,
no Purchaser Company or any officer, director, employee, agent or Affiliate of
any of the Purchaser Companies on their behalf has offered, paid or agreed to
pay to any person or entity (including any governmental official) or solicited,
received or agreed to receive from any such person or entity, directly or
indirectly, any money or anything of value for the purpose or with the intent of
(a) obtaining or maintaining business for a Purchaser Company, (b) facilitating
the purchase or sale of any product or service, or (c) avoiding the imposition
of any fine or penalty, in any manner which is in violation of any applicable
ordinance, regulation or law, the effect of which, individually or in the
aggregate, would reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the
business, assets, prospects or financial condition of the Purchaser Companies,
taken as a whole.

         SECTION 4.29 RELATED TRANSACTIONS. Except as set forth in the Purchaser
SEC Filings and SCHEDULE 4.29 and except for compensation to employees for
services rendered and brokerage accounts in the ordinary course, neither the
Purchaser nor, to the Purchaser's Knowledge, any director, officer, employee or
shareholder or any associate (as defined in the rules promulgated under the 1934
Act) of any of the Purchaser Companies is presently, or since January 1, 1998
has been a party to any material transaction with any of the Purchaser Companies
(including, but not limited to, any contract, agreement or other arrangements
providing for the furnishing of services by, or rental of real or personal
property from, or otherwise requiring payments to, any such director, officer,
employee or shareholder or such associate).

         SECTION 4.30 BANK ACCOUNTS. SCHEDULE 4.30 sets forth the name of each
bank in which any of the Purchaser Companies has an account or safe deposit box,
vault, lock-box or other arrangement, the account number and description of each
account at each bank and the names of all persons authorized to draw thereon or
to have access thereto; and the names of all persons, if any, holding tax or
other powers of attorney from any of the Purchaser Companies other than in the
ordinary course of business.

         SECTION 4.31 CERTAIN BROKERAGE MATTERS.

                  (a) None of the Purchaser Companies has in effect any "soft
dollar" arrangements with any of its customers that do not come within the "safe
harbor" provisions of Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act.

                  (b) All sales literature used by the Purchaser Companies since
May 31, 1995 does not contain any misstatement of a material fact and does not
omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in the light of the circumstances in which such statements are made.



                                      -28-
<PAGE>   35



         SECTION 4.32 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The
representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth in this Agreement
shall survive the Closing for a period of two years after the Closing Date,
except that the representations and warranties in SECTIONS 4.1 AND 4.3 shall
survive without limitation as to time and the representations and warranties in
SECTION 4.17 shall survive for a period of two months after the expiration of
the statute of limitations for each respective Tax (as extended from time to
time).

                                   ARTICLE V

                                    COVENANTS

         SECTION 5.1 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 5.1(A)
with respect to the Selling Parties and SCHEDULE 5.1(B) with respect to the
Purchaser, from the date hereof through the Closing Date, except as otherwise
set forth in this Agreement, the Selling Parties shall cause the Ladenburg
Companies to, and the Purchaser shall, as applicable:

                  (a) conduct their respective businesses only in the ordinary
course and in a manner consistent with the current practice of such businesses,
and use commercially reasonable efforts, to the extent they believe in their
respective best interests, to preserve substantially intact their respective
business organizations, keep available the services of their respective current
employees (subject to dismissals and retirements in the ordinary course),
preserve their respective current relationships with key customers and other
persons with which they have significant business relations and comply with all
requirements of law the violation of which would reasonably be expected to have
a material adverse effect on the business, assets, prospects or financial
condition of such Party, taken as a whole;

                  (b) not pledge, sell, transfer, dispose of or otherwise
encumber or grant any rights or interests to others of any kind with respect to
all or any part of the capital stock of any of the Ladenburg Companies or the
Purchaser Subsidiaries or enter into any discussions or negotiations with any
other party to do so;

                  (c) not pledge, sell, lease, transfer, dispose of or otherwise
encumber any material property or assets of any of the Ladenburg Companies or
the Purchaser Companies other than consistent with past practices and in the
ordinary course of business or enter into any discussions or negotiations with
any other party to do so;

                  (d) not issue any shares of capital stock of any Ladenburg
Company or Purchaser Company, any securities convertible into or exchangeable
for capital stock of any Ladenburg Company or Purchaser Company or any other
class of securities, whether debt (other than debt incurred in the ordinary
course of business and consistent with past practice) or equity, of any
Ladenburg Company or Purchaser Company, as the case may be, other than, in the
case of the Purchaser, pursuant to stock option plans in existence on the date
of this Agreement;




                                      -29-
<PAGE>   36


                  (e) not declare any dividend or make any distribution in cash,
securities or otherwise on the outstanding shares of capital stock of any
Ladenburg Company or Purchaser Company, as the case may be, or directly or
indirectly redeem or purchase any such capital stock, except that the Ladenburg
Subsidiaries and the Purchaser Subsidiaries may pay dividends to their parents;

                  (f) not, in any manner whatsoever, advance, transfer (other
than pursuant to contracts in existence on the date hereof or in payment for
goods received or services rendered in the ordinary course of business) or
distribute to a stockholder of any of the Ladenburg Companies or the Purchaser
Companies or any of their respective Affiliates or otherwise withdraw cash or
cash equivalents in any manner inconsistent with established cash management
practices, except to pay existing indebtedness;

                  (g) not make, agree to make or announce any general wage or
salary increase or enter into any employment contract or, unless provided for on
or before the date of this Agreement, increase the compensation payable or to
become payable to any officer or employee of any of the Ladenburg Companies or
the Purchaser Companies or adopt or increase the benefits of any bonus,
insurance, pension or other employee benefit plan, payment or arrangement,
except for those increases, consistent with past practices, normally occurring
as the result of regularly scheduled salary reviews and increases, normal
year-end bonuses in amounts and to persons consistent with prior practice and
increases directly or indirectly required as a result of changes in applicable
law or regulations;

                  (h) not make any capital expenditures in excess of $100,000 in
the aggregate;

                  (i) not amend the Certificate or Articles of Incorporation or
By-Laws of any of the Ladenburg Companies or Purchaser Companies;

                  (j) not merge or consolidate with, or acquire all or
substantially all of the assets of, or otherwise acquire any business operations
of, any person or entity; and

                  (k) not enter into any agreement with respect to any of the
foregoing.

         SECTION 5.2 ACCESS TO INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY. Between the date of
this Agreement and the Closing Date, New Valley and Ladenburg will permit the
Purchaser and its Representatives and the Purchaser will permit Sellers and
their Representatives reasonable access to all of the books, records, reports
and other related materials, offices and other facilities and properties of the
Ladenburg Companies or the Purchaser Companies, as the case may be, and to make
such inspections thereof as it may reasonably request; and New Valley and
Ladenburg will furnish the Purchaser and its Representatives and the Purchaser
will furnish New Valley and its Representatives with such financial and
operating data (including without limitation the work papers) and other
information with respect to the Ladenburg Companies or the Purchaser Companies,
as the case may be, and as it may from time to time reasonably request. Any such
information or material obtained pursuant to this SECTION 5.2 that constitutes
"EVALUATION MATERIAL" (as such term is defined in the letter agreement dated as




                                      -30-
<PAGE>   37


of November 8, 2000 among New Valley, Ladenburg and the Purchaser (the
"CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT")) shall be governed by the terms of the
Confidentiality Agreement.

         SECTION 5.3 MAINTENANCE OF ASSETS; INSURANCE.

                  (a) New Valley and Ladenburg shall, and shall cause the
Ladenburg Companies to, continue to maintain and service the assets of the
Ladenburg Companies consistent with past practice. Through the Closing Date, New
Valley and Ladenburg shall cause the Ladenburg Companies to maintain insurance
policies providing insurance coverage for the business and the assets of the
Ladenburg Companies substantially of the kinds, in the amounts and against the
risks as are currently in effect.

                  (b) The Purchaser shall, and shall cause the Purchaser
Subsidiaries to, continue to maintain and service the assets of the Purchaser
Companies consistent with past practice. Through the Closing Date, the Purchaser
shall, and shall cause the Purchaser Subsidiaries to, maintain insurance
policies providing insurance coverage for the business and the assets of the
Purchaser Companies substantially of the kinds, in the amounts and against the
risks as are currently in effect.

         SECTION 5.4 NON-USE OF NAME. From and after the Closing Date, neither
New Valley nor any of its Affiliates shall establish or otherwise be associated
with, as an owner, partner, shareholder, employee or otherwise, any firm other
than the Purchaser engaged in any aspect of the securities business which
utilizes the name "Ladenburg" or any variant thereof as part of its business
name or grant to any other person or entity the right to use any such name or
any variant thereof in connection with any aspect of the securities business.
The foregoing notwithstanding, New Valley subsidiaries organized outside the
United States that have the word "Ladenburg" in their names (all of which are
listed in SCHEDULE 5.4) may retain such names until they are changed pursuant to
the following sentence. As promptly as possible after the Closing, New Valley
shall cause each of its subsidiaries referred to in the previous sentence to
change its name to some other name not utilizing the name "Ladenburg" as any
part thereof and from and after the Closing and prior to the date on which its
name is so changed shall, to the extent allowed under local law, conduct all its
business under such other name or a derivation thereof as an assumed name.

         SECTION 5.5 NO OTHER NEGOTIATIONS. Until the earlier of the Closing or
the termination of this Agreement, none of the Selling Parties shall (a)
solicit, encourage, directly or indirectly, any inquiries, discussions or
proposals for, (b) continue, propose or enter into any negotiations or
discussions looking toward or (c) enter into any agreement or understanding
providing for any acquisition of any capital stock of any Ladenburg Company or
except in the ordinary course of business, any part of their respective assets,
nor shall any of the Selling Parties provide any information to any Person for
the purpose of evaluating or determining whether to make or pursue any such
inquiries or proposals with respect to any such acquisition. Each Selling Party




                                      -31-
<PAGE>   38


shall immediately notify the Purchaser of any such inquiries or proposals or
requests for information for such purpose. Each of the Selling Parties shall use
its best efforts to cause its directors, officers, employees, agents and
Representatives to comply with the provisions of this Section.

         SECTION 5.6 NO SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS. Other than in the ordinary
course of business, no Party shall engage in any transactions involving the
securities of the other Parties hereto prior to the time of the making of a
public announcement of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The
Parties shall use their best efforts to cause their respective officers,
directors, employees, agents and Representatives to comply with the foregoing
requirement.

         SECTION 5.7 CANCELLATION OF INTERCOMPANY AGREEMENTS. Except for the
agreements listed on SCHEDULE 5.7(A), the New Valley Parties, Ladenburg and
Berliner hereby terminate and cancel, effective upon the Closing, all agreements
between or among any of them to which Ladenburg is a party, including without
limitation the Shareholders' Agreement dated December 8, 1999, among Berliner,
LTGI, New Valley and Ladenburg, which termination and cancellation also
terminates and cancels all options to purchase shares of Ladenburg Stock granted
by New Valley or any of its Affiliates to Berliner. All such terminated
agreements are listed on SCHEDULE 5.7(B).

         SECTION 5.8 DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN MATTERS. During the period from the
date hereof through the Closing Date, except as prohibited by law, each Party
shall give each other Party prompt written notice of any event or development
known to such Party that (a) had it existed or been known on the date hereof
would have been required to be disclosed by it under this Agreement, (b) would
cause any of its representations and warranties contained herein to be
inaccurate or otherwise misleading, (c) could reasonably be expected to result
in any of the conditions to the Purchaser's obligations (in the case of the
Selling Parties), or the Selling Parties' obligations (in the case of the
Purchaser), set forth in ARTICLE VI not being satisfied or (d) is materially
adverse to the business, assets, prospects or financial condition of any of the
Ladenburg Companies, taken as a whole (in the case of the Selling Parties), or
the Purchaser Companies, taken as a whole (in the case of the Purchaser).

         SECTION 5.9 NON-COMPETITION. New Valley hereby agrees that it will not,
and will cause all of its subsidiaries not to, during the 30 month period
commencing on the Closing Date, within the United States, directly or
indirectly, (i) engage in the broker-dealer business, whether as an owner (other
than as an owner of less than 5% of the shares of any publicly traded company)
or an investor or any other capacity whatsoever; (ii) hire or solicit for
employment (other than general public solicitations not directed at any specific
person or group) any employee of any Ladenburg Company or Purchaser Company or
any Person who was such an employee within six months of such hiring or
solicitation; or (iii) interfere with, disrupt or attempt to disrupt the
relationship between any Ladenburg Company, Purchaser or Purchaser Subsidiary
and any of its lessors or customers. Notwithstanding clause (i) above, nothing
herein shall prohibit New Valley and such Affiliates from making investments for
their own accounts or from owning Purchaser Common Stock or engaging in any
transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. New Valley expressly
waives any right to assert inadequacy of consideration as a defense to
enforcement of the non-competition provision of this SECTION 5.9 should such
enforcement ever become necessary. New Valley also acknowledges that a remedy at
law for any breach or attempted breach of this SECTION 5.9 will be inadequate





                                      -32-
<PAGE>   39


and further agrees that any breach of this SECTION 5.9 will result in
irreparable harm to the business of the Ladenburg Companies and the Purchaser
Companies, and covenants and agrees not to oppose any demand for specific
performance and injunctive and other equitable relief in case of any such breach
or attempted breach. Whenever possible, each provision of this SECTION 5.9 shall
be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law
but if any provision of this SECTION 5.9 shall be prohibited by or invalid under
applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such
prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision
or the remaining provisions of this SECTION 5.9. If any provision of this
SECTION 5.9 shall, for any reason, be judged by any court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, such judgment shall not affect,
impair or invalidate the remainder of this SECTION 5.9 but shall be confined in
its operation to the provision of this SECTION 5.9 directly involved in the
controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered. In the event that
the provisions of this SECTION 5.9 should ever be deemed to exceed the time or
geographic limitations permitted by the applicable laws, then such provision
shall be reformed to the maximum time or geographic limitations permitted by
applicable law.

         SECTION 5.10 STOCKHOLDER MEETING. The Purchaser shall cause a meeting
of its stockholders (the "PURCHASER STOCKHOLDER MEETING") to be duly called and
held as soon as reasonably practicable after the date of execution of this
Agreement for the purposes of voting on (a) the issuance by Purchaser of shares
of Purchaser Common Stock and the acquisition by Purchaser of the LTI Stock
pursuant to the terms of the Transaction Documents, (b) election of the
directors listed on SCHEDULE 2.8(A), (c) the change of the corporate name of the
Purchaser to "Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services, Inc." effective upon the
Closing, and (d) such other matters as may be mutually agreed upon by the
Parties. In connection with such meeting, the Purchaser (i) will mail to its
stockholders as promptly as practicable the Proxy Statement referred to in
SECTION 5.11 and all other proxy materials for such meeting, (ii) will use its
best efforts to obtain the necessary approvals by its stockholders of such
matters and any related matters (the "STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL") and (iii) will
otherwise comply with all legal requirements applicable to such meeting. In the
event that the Stockholder Approval is not obtained on the date on which the
Purchaser Stockholder Meeting is initially convened, the Board of Directors of
the Purchaser shall adjourn the Purchaser Stockholder Meeting from time to time
as necessary for the purpose of obtaining the Stockholder Approval and shall use
its best efforts during any such adjournments to obtain the Stockholder
Approval.

         SECTION 5.11 PROXY STATEMENT.

                  (a) The Purchaser will prepare and file with the Commission as
soon as reasonably practicable after the date of execution of this Agreement a
proxy statement under the 1934 Act with respect to the matters to be acted upon
at the Purchaser Stockholder Meeting (the "PROXY STATEMENT") and will distribute
such Proxy Statement to its stockholders in connection with the Purchaser
Stockholder Meeting. The Purchaser, New Valley and Berliner shall cooperate with
each other in the preparation of the Proxy Statement and any amendment or
supplement thereto. The Purchaser shall notify New Valley and Berliner of the
receipt of any comments of the Commission with respect to the Proxy Statement
and any requests by the Commission for any amendment or supplement thereto or
for additional information, and shall provide to them promptly copies of any
correspondence between the Purchaser or any of its Representatives and the




                                      -33-
<PAGE>   40


Commission with respect to the Proxy Statement. The Purchaser shall give New
Valley and Berliner and their counsel the opportunity to review the Proxy
Statement and all responses to requests for additional information by and
replies to comments of the Commission before their being filed with, or sent to,
the Commission. The Purchaser will use its best efforts, after consultation with
the other Parties, to respond promptly to all such comments of and requests by
the Commission and to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to the holders of
Purchaser Common Stock entitled to vote at the Purchaser Stockholder Meeting at
the earliest practicable time.

                  (b) The Purchaser, acting through its Board of Directors,
shall include in the Proxy Statement the recommendation of its Board of
Directors that the stockholders of the Purchaser vote in favor of the matters
presented in the Proxy Statement for approval by vote of the stockholders and
shall otherwise use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the Stockholder
Approval.

         SECTION 5.12 INFORMATION SUPPLIED. The Purchaser covenants that the
documents to be filed by it with the Commission or any other governmental or
regulatory authority in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby
will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
1934 Act and other applicable regulatory requirements, and will not, on the date
of its filing or at the date the Proxy Statement is mailed to stockholders of
the Purchaser or at the time of the Purchaser Stockholder Meeting, contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, except
that the foregoing shall not apply with respect to information supplied in
writing by or on behalf of the New Valley Parties or Berliner expressly for
inclusion therein.

         SECTION 5.13 INFORMATION FOR PROXY STATEMENT. The Selling Parties
covenant that they will cooperate with the Purchaser in the preparation of the
Proxy Statement and will furnish to the Purchaser all information concerning
themselves and the Ladenburg Companies as the Purchaser or its counsel may
reasonably request and that is required or customary for inclusion in the Proxy
Statement. The Selling Parties further covenant that all written information
furnished by the Selling Parties for inclusion in the Proxy Statement will
comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the 1934 Act
and will not at the time of the mailing of the Proxy Statement or at the time of
the Purchaser Stockholder Meeting contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein and
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

         SECTION 5.14 INTERCOMPANY DEBT. On or before the Closing, New Valley
and its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Ladenburg Companies, on the other
hand, shall pay to one another all monetary obligations owing by New Valley or
any of its subsidiaries to any of the Ladenburg Companies or by any of the




                                      -34-
<PAGE>   41


Ladenburg Companies to New Valley or any of its Affiliates, as set forth on
SCHEDULE 5.14(A). All intercompany debt as of December 31, 2000 or thereafter
incurred which is not to be paid on or before the Closing is listed in SCHEDULE
5.14(B).

         SECTION 5.15 GENERAL RELEASE. After giving effect to payments required
to be made pursuant to SECTION 5.14, New Valley, on behalf of itself and its
subsidiaries, hereby releases the Ladenburg Companies, effective as of the
Closing, from all obligations owing to any of them by any of the Ladenburg
Companies, to the extent that any of such obligations shall exist on the Closing
Date except such obligations as are listed on SCHEDULE 5.14(B) or arise under or
in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated
thereby. After giving effect to payments required to be made pursuant to SECTION
5.14, Ladenburg, on behalf of itself and the Ladenburg Subsidiaries, hereby
releases, effective as of the Closing, New Valley and its subsidiaries from all
obligations owing to any of them by New Valley or any of its subsidiaries to the
extent that any of such obligations shall exist on the Closing Date except such
obligations as are listed on SCHEDULE 5.14(B) or arise under or in connection
with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby.

         SECTION 5.16 NO PURCHASER SOLICITATIONS. Prior to the Closing, the
Purchaser agrees (a) that neither it nor any of its subsidiaries or other
Affiliates shall, and they shall use their best efforts to cause their
respective Representatives not to, initiate, solicit or encourage, directly or
indirectly, any inquiries or the making or implementation of any proposal or
offer (including, without limitation, any proposal or offer to Purchaser
shareholders) with respect to a merger, consolidation or other business
combination including the Purchaser or any of its subsidiaries, or any
acquisition or similar transaction (including, without limitation, a tender or
exchange offer) involving the purchase of all or any significant portion of the
assets of the Purchaser and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or 20% or more of
the outstanding shares of Purchaser Common Stock or the issuance of shares of
Purchaser Common Stock which would constitute, after issuance, 20% or more of
the shares of Purchaser Common Stock then outstanding (any such transaction,
other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, being hereinafter
referred to as a "PURCHASER ALTERNATIVE TRANSACTION"), or engage in any
negotiations concerning, or provide any confidential information or data to or
have any discussions with any person relating to, or otherwise facilitate any
effort or attempt to make or implement, a Purchaser Alternative Transaction; (b)
that it will immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing
activities, discussions or negotiations with any person with respect to any of
the foregoing, and it will take the necessary steps to inform such person of its
obligation under this Section; and (c) that it will notify the Sellers within 24
hours if any such inquiries, proposals or offers are received by, any such
information is requested from, or any such negotiations or discussions are
sought to be initiated or continued with it by any person; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that nothing contained in this SECTION 5.16 or in SECTION 5.11 shall prohibit





                                      -35-
<PAGE>   42


the Board of Directors of the Purchaser from (i) furnishing information to or
entering into discussions or negotiations with any person that makes a bona fide
unsolicited written proposal for a Purchaser Alternative Transaction if, and
only to the extent that, (A) the Board of Directors of the Purchaser concludes
in good faith that such proposal is reasonably likely to result in a Superior
Purchaser Transaction, (B) the Board of Directors of the Purchaser, based upon
the advice of outside counsel, determines in good faith that such action is
required for the Board of Directors to comply with its fiduciary duties to
shareholders imposed by law, (C) the Purchaser shall have entered into a
confidentiality agreement with such person in customary form and having terms
and conditions no less favorable to the Purchaser than the Confidentiality
Agreement, (D) prior to furnishing such information to, or entering into
discussions or negotiations with, such person, the Purchaser provides written
notice to the Sellers to the effect that it is furnishing information to, or
entering into discussions or negotiations with, such person, which notice shall
identify such person and the proposed terms of such Purchaser Alternative
Transaction in reasonable detail, and (E) the Purchaser keeps the Sellers
informed of the status and all material information with respect to any such
discussions or negotiations; and (ii) to the extent required, complying with
Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2 promulgated under the 1934 Act with regard to any proposal
relating to a Purchaser Alternative Transaction. Nothing in this SECTION 5.16
shall (x) permit the Purchaser to terminate this Agreement (except in accordance
with SECTION 8.1), (y) permit the Purchaser to enter into any agreement with
respect to a Purchaser Alternative Transaction for so long as this Agreement
remains in effect (other than a confidentiality agreement under the
circumstances described above), or (z) affect any other obligation of the
Purchaser under this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, "SUPERIOR
PURCHASER TRANSACTION" means any Purchaser Alternative Transaction which (i)
relates to more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Purchaser Common Stock or
the issuance or potential issuance of shares of Purchaser Common Stock which
would constitute, after issuance, 50% or more of the shares of Purchaser Common
Stock then outstanding or all or substantially all of the assets of the
Purchaser and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) is not conditioned on the
receipt of financing, (iii) is made by a person who the Board of Directors of
the Purchaser has reasonably concluded in good faith will have adequate sources
of financing to, and will not encounter significant regulatory obstacles in
order to, consummate such Purchaser Alternative Transaction and (iv) is on terms
that the Board of Directors of the Purchaser determines in its good faith
judgment (based on the written advice of a financial advisor of
nationally-recognized reputation, taking into account all the terms and
conditions of the Purchaser Alternative Transaction, including any break-up
fees, expense reimbursement provisions and conditions to consummation) are more
favorable and provide greater value to all of the Purchaser's stockholders than
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby taken as a whole.

         SECTION 5.17 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS. Concurrently with the execution of
this Agreement, the Parties and certain other persons have executed and
delivered the following agreements, the effectiveness of each of which is
subject to the Closing:

                  (a) an Investor Rights Agreement among the Purchaser, New
Valley, the Sellers, the Lender and Messrs. Richard Rosenstock, Mark Zeitchick,
David Thalheim and Vincent Mangone (the latter four persons collectively, the
"PRINCIPALS"), in the form of EXHIBIT E annexed hereto;

                  (b) an Employment Agreement between Ladenburg and Victor M.
Rivas, in the form of EXHIBIT F annexed hereto;

                  (c) Amendments to Employment Agreements between GBI Capital
Partners, Inc. and, separately, each of the Principals and Joseph Berland, in
the forms of EXHIBITS G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4 AND G-5, respectively, each of which
shall be guaranteed by the Purchaser;




                                      -36-
<PAGE>   43


                  (d) a Stock Purchase Agreement between Joseph Berland and LTGI
pursuant to which Mr. Berland shall sell to LTGI an aggregate of 3, 945,060
shares of Purchaser Common Stock, in the form of EXHIBIT H annexed hereto.

         SECTION 5.18 FINANCING. From the date hereof through the Closing Date,
the Purchaser shall not amend, modify or otherwise alter the terms and
conditions pursuant to which the Lender is to provide the Purchaser with funds
as set forth in SECTION 4.11.

         SECTION 5.19 CONTINUATION OF INSURANCE.

                  (a) Subsequent to the Closing, for a period of two years
thereafter, the Purchaser shall cause Ladenburg to, and Ladenburg shall,
continue to maintain the insurance policies listed on SCHEDULE 5.19(A).

                  (b) For a period of six (6) years after the Closing Date, the
Purchaser shall maintain in effect the current policies of directors' and
officers' liability insurance maintained by the Purchaser to the extent that
such policies provide coverage for the Purchaser's directors and officers (or
policies of at least the same coverage and amounts containing terms and
conditions that are no less advantageous) with respect to claims arising from
facts or events that occurred before the Closing Date; PROVIDED further that
Purchaser shall not be required to maintain such policies to the extent that the
annual premiums (or incremental annual premiums in the case of substitute
policies that provide coverage to other Persons or for other matters) exceed
200% of the most recent annual premium paid for such policies by the Purchaser.

                  (c) The Purchaser shall remain liable for any indemnification
obligations to its current directors and officers in all capacities, in which
such directors or officers served the Purchaser prior to the Closing Date, as
set forth in the Purchaser's Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws as they exist
on the date hereof to the extent such indemnification by the Purchaser is
permitted under the Florida Business Corporation Act.

                  (d) If, after the Closing Date, the Purchaser or any of its
successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other person and
shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such
consolidation or merger, or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all
of its properties and assets to any person, then, and in each such case, to the
extent necessary, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and
assigns of the Purchaser assume the obligations set forth in this SECTION 5.19.

                  (e) The provisions of this SECTION 5.19 are intended to be for
the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each indemnified party and his or
her heirs and representatives.

         SECTION 5.20 AMEX LISTING. The Purchaser shall use its best efforts to
cause the shares of Purchaser Common Stock to be issued pursuant to SECTION 1.3
including, when applicable, those shares to be issued upon conversion of the
Notes to be approved for listing or admitted for trading on AMEX, subject to
official notice of issuance, prior to the Closing Date.





                                      -37-
<PAGE>   44



         SECTION 5.21 FURTHER ACTION. Each of the Parties shall execute such
documents and other papers and take such further actions as may be reasonably
required or desirable to carry out the provisions hereof and the transactions
contemplated hereby. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, each
of the Parties shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be
taken, all reasonable actions and to do, or cause to be done, all other things
reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective as
promptly as practicable the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         SECTION 5.22 SCHEDULES. The Parties shall have the obligation to
supplement or amend the Schedules being delivered concurrently with the
execution of this Agreement and annexed hereto with respect to any matter known
to them hereafter arising or discovered which, if existing or known at the date
of this Agreement, would have been required to be set forth or described in the
Schedules. The obligations of the Parties to amend or supplement the Schedules
being delivered herewith shall terminate on the Closing Date.

         SECTION 5.23 REGULATORY AND OTHER AUTHORIZATIONS.

                  (a) The Parties will promptly make all necessary filings,
provide reasonably requested information, and use their best efforts to obtain
all authorizations, consents, orders and approvals of all federal, state and
other regulatory bodies and officials that are required for the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including but not limited to
the Commission, The New York Stock Exchange, Inc. ("NYSE"), the AMEX, NASD
Regulation, Inc., the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission and
other self-regulatory agencies, and will cooperate fully with each other in
connection therewith.

                  (b) Each Party will provide prompt notification to the others
when any such consent, approval, action, filing or notice referred to in
paragraph (a) above is obtained, taken, made or given, as applicable, and will
advise the others of any communications (and, unless precluded by law, provide
copies of any such communications that are in writing) with any governmental or
regulatory authority regarding any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                              CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

         SECTION 6.1 CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATIONS. The respective
obligations of each Party to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Closing Date of
the following conditions:

                  (a) REGULATORY APPROVALS. The NYSE, the AMEX, NASD Regulation,
Inc., the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission and any other
federal, state or local governmental agency or self-regulatory agency whose
approval or consent is required for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement each shall have unconditionally approved such




                                      -38-
<PAGE>   45


transactions (including, without limitation, issuing the approvals and consents
listed in SCHEDULES 3.12 AND 4.5), and all required waiting periods under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, shall have
expired; and

                  (b) NO GOVERNMENTAL ORDER OR REGULATION. There shall not be in
effect any order, decree or injunction (whether preliminary, final or
appealable) of a United States federal or state court of competent jurisdiction,
and no regulation shall have been enacted or promulgated by any governmental
authority or agency, that prohibits consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (c) STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. The Stockholder Approval shall be
obtained by the necessary affirmative vote of the stockholders of the Purchaser
with respect to each matter for which the Stockholder Approval shall be
solicited pursuant to SECTION 5.10.

         SECTION 6.2 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE SELLING PARTIES. The
obligations of the Selling Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the
Closing, of each of the following conditions:

                  (a) LEGAL OPINION. The New Valley Parties and Berliner shall
have received from Graubard Mollen & Miller, counsel to the Purchaser, a legal
opinion addressed to the New Valley Parties and Berliner and dated the Closing
Date, in the form of EXHIBIT I annexed hereto;

                  (b) NECESSARY PROCEEDINGS. All proceedings, corporate or
otherwise, to be taken by the Purchaser in connection with the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been duly and validly
taken, and copies of all documents, resolutions and certificates incident
thereto, duly certified by officers of the Purchaser as of the Closing, shall
have been delivered to the New Valley Parties and Berliner;

                  (c) PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT. The Purchaser shall have
executed and delivered the Pledge and Security Agreement and shall have made the
deliveries referred to in SECTION 2.5 to the collateral agent named therein;

                  (d) DELIVERIES. The Purchaser shall have delivered to the New
Valley Parties and Berliner all documents required to be delivered by the
Purchaser pursuant to the Purchaser Transaction Documents at or before the
Closing; and

                  (e) CONSENTS. The Purchaser shall have obtained and delivered
to the New Valley Parties and Berliner the consents set forth in SCHEDULE 4.5.

         SECTION 6.3 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE PURCHASER. The obligations
of the Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall be subject to the fulfillment, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the
following conditions:

                  (a) LEGAL OPINION. The Purchaser shall have received from
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, special counsel to the New Valley
Companies, a legal opinion addressed to the Purchaser, dated the Closing Date,
in form of EXHIBIT J annexed hereto;




                                      -39-
<PAGE>   46



                  (b) CONSENTS. The Selling Parties shall have obtained and
delivered to the Purchaser the consents set forth in SCHEDULE 3.12;

                  (c) NECESSARY PROCEEDINGS. All proceedings, corporate or
otherwise, to be taken by the Selling Parties in connection with the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been
duly and validly taken, and copies of all documents, resolutions and
certificates incident thereto, duly certified by the officers of the Selling
Parties, as appropriate, as of the Closing, shall have been delivered to the
Purchaser;

                  (d) CASH AND MARKETABLE SECURITIES. As of the close of
business of the Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date, Ladenburg
shall have cash held at banks, marketable securities and net cash balances in
proprietary accounts at clearing brokers in an amount not less than $18,000,000;
and

                  (e) DELIVERIES. The Selling Parties shall have delivered to
the Purchaser all documents required to be delivered by the Selling Parties
pursuant to the Seller Transaction Documents at or before the Closing.

                                  ARTICLE VII

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

         SECTION 7.1 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE SELLERS. The New Valley Parties, on
the one hand, and Berliner, on the other hand, severally (in proportion to their
ownership of the Ladenburg Stock with respect to representations, warranties and
covenants that are made by or apply to both of them) shall indemnify and hold
harmless the Purchaser and, after the Closing, Ladenburg from and against, and
shall reimburse the Purchaser and, after the Closing, Ladenburg for, any Damages
which may be sustained, suffered or incurred by them, whether as a result of any
Third Party Claim or otherwise, and which arise from or in connection with or
are attributable to (i) the breach of any of the covenants, representations,
warranties, agreements, obligations or undertakings of the Selling Parties
contained in this Agreement, (ii) all Claims made against Ladenburg with respect
to liabilities and obligations of any Affiliate of Ladenburg (other than a
Ladenburg Company) for Taxes as a result of Ladenburg being part of a
consolidated group with such Affiliate for federal, state or local income tax
purposes, (iii) the matter listed in SCHEDULE 7.1, and (iv) the use of the
"Ladenburg" name after the Closing Date by any Affiliate of New Valley, in the
case of each of the preceding clauses (ii) and (iii), in excess of any reserves
therefor taken into account in the determination of the Closing Net Worth, and
notwithstanding, with respect to the preceding clauses (ii) and (iii), that any
such Proceeding or other Claim, Tax or failure is disclosed in the Seller
Transaction Documents or any Schedule thereto. This indemnity shall survive the
Closing for a period of two years after the Closing Date, except that with
respect to Claims arising as a result of a breach of the representations and
warranties in (A) SECTIONS 3.1 AND 3.4 and with respect to Claims arising
pursuant to the preceding clause (iii), it shall survive without limitation as



                                      -40-
<PAGE>   47


to time, and (B) SECTION 3.11 and with respect to Claims arising pursuant to the
preceding clause (ii), it shall survive for a period of two months after the
expiration of the statute of limitations for each respective Tax. Any Claim for
indemnity asserted within the relevant period shall survive until resolved.

         SECTION 7.2 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE PURCHASER. The Purchaser shall
indemnify and hold harmless the New Valley Parties and Berliner from and
against, and shall reimburse the Sellers for, any Damages which may be
sustained, suffered or incurred by the New Valley Parties or Berliner, whether
as a result of Third Party Claims or otherwise, and which arise or result from
or in connection with or are attributable to the breach of any of the
Purchaser's covenants, representations, warranties, agreements, obligations or
undertakings contained in this Agreement. This indemnity shall survive the
Closing for a period of two years after the Closing Date, except that with
respect to Claims arising as a result of a breach of the representations and
warranties in (A) SECTIONS 4.1 AND 4.3, it shall survive without limitation as
to time, and (B) SECTION 4.17, it shall survive for a period of two months after
the expiration of the statute of limitations for each respective Tax. Any Claim
for indemnity asserted within the relevant period shall survive until resolved.

         SECTION 7.3 NOTICE, ETC. A Party required to make an indemnification
payment pursuant to this Agreement ("INDEMNIFYING PARTY") shall have no
liability with respect to Third Party Claims or otherwise with respect to any
covenant, representation, warranty, agreement, undertaking or obligation under
this Agreement, unless the Party entitled to receive such indemnification
payment ("INDEMNIFIED PARTY") gives notice to the Indemnifying Party in
accordance with terms hereof, as soon as practical following the time at which
the Indemnified Party discovered or reasonably should have discovered such Claim
(except to the extent the Indemnifying Party is not prejudiced by any delay in
the delivery of such notice) and in any event prior to the applicable date
specified in SECTION 7.1 OR 7.2, specifying (i) the covenant, representation or
warranty, agreement, undertaking or obligation contained herein which it asserts
has been breached, (ii) in reasonable detail, the nature and dollar amount of
any Claim the Indemnified Party may have against the Indemnifying Party by
reason thereof under this Agreement, and (iii) whether or not the Claim is a
Third Party Claim. All Claims by any Indemnified Party under this ARTICLE VII
shall be asserted and resolved as follows:

                  (a) THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS.

                           (i) In the event that an Indemnified Party becomes
aware of a Third Party Claim for which an Indemnifying Party would be liable to
an Indemnified Party hereunder, the Indemnified Party shall with reasonable
promptness notify in writing the Indemnifying Party of such Claim, identifying
the basis for such Claim or demand, and the amount or the estimated amount
thereof to the extent then determinable (which estimate shall not be conclusive
of the final amount of such Claim and demand; the "CLAIM NOTICE"); PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that any failure to give such Claim Notice will not be deemed a waiver
of any rights of the Indemnified Party except to the extent the rights of the
Indemnifying Party are actually prejudiced by such failure. The Indemnifying
Party will notify the Indemnified Party as soon as practicable whether the
Indemnifying Party desires, at its sole cost and expense, to defend the
Indemnified Party against such Third Party Claim. If the Indemnifying Party
notifies the Indemnified Party that the Indemnifying Party desires to defend the
Indemnified Party with respect to the Third Party Claim pursuant to this SECTION
7.3(A), the Indemnifying Party shall retain counsel (who shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Indemnified Party) to represent the Indemnified Party and the
Indemnifying Party shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of such



                                      -41-
<PAGE>   48


counsel with regard thereto; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any Indemnified Party is
hereby authorized, prior to the date on which it receives written notice from
the Indemnifying Party designating such counsel, to retain counsel, whose fees
and expenses shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, to file any
motion, answer or other pleading and take such other action which it reasonably
shall deem necessary to protect its interests or those of the Indemnifying Party
until the date on which the Indemnified Party receives such notice from the
Indemnifying Party (it being understood and agreed that, if an Indemnified Party
takes any such action that is prejudicial and causes a final adjudication that
is adverse to the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party will be relieved of
its obligations hereunder with respect to the portion of such Third Party Claim
prejudiced by the Indemnified Party's action). After the Indemnifying Party
shall retain such counsel, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain
its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
expense of such Indemnified Party unless (x) the Indemnifying Party and the
Indemnified Party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or
(y) the named parties of any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties)
include both the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party and representation
of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate because a conflict or
potential conflict exists between the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified
Party which makes representation of both Parties inappropriate under applicable
standards of professional conduct. The Indemnifying Party shall not, in
connection with any proceedings or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction,
be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one such firm for the
Indemnified Party (except to the extent the Indemnified Party retained counsel
to protect its (or the Indemnifying Party's) rights prior to the selection of
counsel by the Indemnifying Party). If requested by the Indemnifying Party, the
Indemnified Party agrees to cooperate with the Indemnifying Party and its
counsel in contesting any claim or demand which the Indemnifying Party defends
or, if appropriate and related to the Third Party Claim in question, in making
any counterclaim against the Person asserting the Third Party Claim or any
cross-complaint against any Person (other than the Indemnified Party or any of
its Affiliates). A Claim or demand may not be settled by either party without
the prior written consent of the other party (which consent will not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed) unless, as part of such settlement, the
Indemnifying Party shall receive a full and unconditional release reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnifying Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Indemnifying Party shall not settle any claim without the prior written consent
of the Indemnified Party if such Claim is not exclusively for monetary Damages.

                           (ii) If the Indemnifying Party fails to notify the
Indemnified Party that the Indemnifying Party desires to defend the Third Party
Claim pursuant to the preceding paragraph then the Indemnified Party will have
the right to defend, at the sole cost and expense of the Indemnifying Party, the
Third Party Claim by all appropriate proceedings, which proceedings will be
vigorously and diligently prosecuted by the Indemnified Party to a final
conclusion or will be settled at the discretion of the Indemnified Party (with
the consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent will not be unreasonably
withheld). The Indemnified Party will have full control of such defense and
proceedings, including (except as provided in the immediately preceding




                                      -42-
<PAGE>   49


sentence) any settlement thereof; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if requested by the
Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying Party will, at the sole cost and expense of
the Indemnifying Party, cooperate with the Indemnified Party and its counsel in
contesting any Third Party Claim which the Indemnified Party is contesting, or,
if appropriate and related to the Third Party Claim in question, in making any
counterclaim against the Person asserting the Third Party Claim, or any
cross-complaint against any Person (other than the Indemnifying Party or any of
its Affiliates). Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, if
the Indemnifying Party has notified the Indemnified Party that the Indemnifying
Party disputes its liability hereunder to the Indemnified Party with respect to
such Third Party Claim and if such dispute is resolved in favor of the
Indemnifying Party the Indemnifying Party will not be required to bear the costs
and expenses of the Indemnified Party's defense pursuant to this paragraph or of
the Indemnifying Party's participation therein at the Indemnified Party's
request, and the Indemnified Party will reimburse the Indemnifying Party in
connection with such litigation. The Indemnifying Party may retain separate
counsel to represent it in, but not control, any defense or settlement
controlled by the Indemnified Party pursuant to this paragraph, and the
Indemnifying Party will bear its own costs and expenses with respect to such
participation.

                  (b) DIRECT CLAIMS. In the event any Indemnified Party shall
have a Direct Claim against any Indemnifying Party hereunder, the Indemnified
Party shall send a Claim Notice with respect to such Claim to the Indemnifying
Party.

                  (c) BOOKS AND RECORDS. In the event of any Claim for indemnity
under SECTION 7.1, the Purchaser agrees to give each Seller and its
Representatives reasonable access to the books and records and employees of
Ladenburg and its subsidiaries in connection with the matters for which
indemnification is sought to the extent Seller reasonably deems necessary in
connection with its rights and obligations under this ARTICLE VII. After
delivery of a Claim Notice, so long as any right to indemnification exists
pursuant to this ARTICLE VII, the affected Parties each agree to retain all
books and records related to such Claim Notice. In each instance, the
Indemnified Party shall have the right to be kept fully informed by the
Indemnifying Party and its legal counsel with respect to any legal proceedings.

                  (d) REPRESENTATIVE.

                           (i) Berliner hereby irrevocably appoints New Valley
as its agent hereunder (the "AGENT") with respect to the assertion or contest of
indemnity claims hereunder and authorizes New Valley to take such actions on its
behalf and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

                           (ii) In acting as Agent, New Valley shall have the
rights and powers in its capacity as a Seller as stated in this Agreement and
the other Transaction Documents and may exercise the same as though it were not
the Agent, and may engage in any kind of business with the Purchaser or any
Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Agent hereunder.

                           (iii) The Agent shall not have any duties or
obligations except those expressly set forth in this SECTION 7.3(D). Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) the Agent shall not be subject to
any fiduciary or other implied duties, (b) the Agent shall not have any duty to
take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, and (c) the
Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the
failure to disclose, any information relating to the Purchaser or any of its
subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by it or any of its Affiliates




                                      -43-
<PAGE>   50


in any capacity. The Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken
by it. The Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or
inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in
connection with this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, (ii) the
contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or
thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or
observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set
forth herein or therein, or (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or
genuineness of this Agreement, any other Transaction Document or any other
agreement, instrument or document.

                           (iv) The Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and
shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request,
certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed
by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. The
Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and
believed by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any
liability for relying thereon. The Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may
be counsel for the Purchaser), independent accountants and other experts
selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it
in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

                           (v) The Agent may perform any and all its duties and
exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents
appointed by the Agent. The Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all
its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective
Affiliates. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply
to any such sub-agent and to the Affiliates of the Agent and any such sub-agent.

                           (vi) To the extent that the Purchaser fails to pay
any such amount, Berliner agrees to pay to the Agent 19.9% of all out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by the Agent (including the fees, expenses and disbursements
of its Affiliates and its Representatives) in its capacity as such.

         SECTION 7.4 ADJUSTMENT TO PURCHASE PRICE. Any indemnification payments
made pursuant to this ARTICLE VII shall be deemed to be an adjustment to the
Purchase Price.

         SECTION 7.5 LIMITATIONS. Other than for Claims under SECTIONS 3.21 AND
4.25 and the third sentence of SECTION 10.1, no Party shall be required to
indemnify another Party under this ARTICLE VII (i) unless with respect to Claims
for breaches of representations or warranties, the aggregate of all amounts for
which indemnity would otherwise be due against it exceeds the sum of $1,500,000
plus any unapplied portion of the reserve included in the Signing Balance Sheet
for the matter listed on SCHEDULE 7.5 (the "BASKET"), in which case the amount
for which indemnity shall be due shall be equal to the excess over that amount;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, with respect to Claims with respect to the matter
listed in SCHEDULE 7.1, the Basket shall not apply and Damages arising
thereunder shall be wholly indemnifiable from the first dollar; (ii) to the




                                      -44-
<PAGE>   51


extent that the Indemnified Party had a reasonable opportunity, but failed, in
good faith to mitigate the Damages, including but not limited to the failure to
use commercially reasonable efforts to recover under a policy of insurance or
under a contractual right of reimbursement, set-off or indemnity or risk sharing
arrangement; or (iii) to the extent the Damages arise from or were caused by
actions taken or failed to be taken by the Indemnified Party or any of its
Affiliates after the Closing or were reflected in the calculation of Closing Net
Worth or in reserves accrued in the financial statements. For purposes of clause
(i) of this SECTION 7.5, the New Valley Parties and Berliner shall be considered
as a single Party.

         SECTION 7.6 PAYMENT OF CLAIMS. Prior to the maturity of the Notes, the
Purchaser shall not offset against amounts due under the Notes any Claims
against the New Valley Parties or Berliner prior to settlement or the entry of a
final judgment and the expiration of all applicable appeal periods and the
failure of the New Valley Parties and Berliner to pay such Claim within ten (10)
Business Days after such settlement or expiration. In the event any payment of
the indemnity obligations of the New Valley Parties and Berliner set forth in
SECTION 7.1 is required to be made, the New Valley Parties and Berliner may
satisfy such payment by delivery to the Purchaser of Notes acquired by them
pursuant to this Agreement in a principal amount, together with accrued
interest, equal to the amount of the Claims for which payment is required.

         SECTION 7.7 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. For purposes of indemnity
under this ARTICLE VII for breach of a representation or warranty of a Party,
the representations and warranties shall be the representations and warranties
of a Party made herein as of the date hereof, and shall be deemed to be made
again as of the Closing Date without regard to supplementation, modification or
amendment pursuant to SECTION 5.23, and in each instance without regard to any
materiality qualifications or standards otherwise contained therein. If payment
is made by an Indemnified Party consistent with the provisions of SECTION 7.3 in
settlement of or upon judgment or award granted in a Third Party Claim which is
the proper basis for a claim for indemnification hereunder, such payment shall
be deemed to be conclusive evidence of the truthfulness of the allegations in
such Third Party Claim in determining whether or not a breach of a warranty or
representation has occurred.

         SECTION 7.8 EXCLUSIVITY. After the Closing, to the extent permitted by
law, the indemnities set forth in this ARTICLE VII shall be the exclusive
remedies of the Purchaser, the New Valley Parties and Berliner and their
respective officers, directors, Representatives and Affiliates for any
misrepresentation or breach of warranty contained in this Agreement, and the
Parties shall not be entitled to a rescission of this Agreement or to any
further indemnification rights or claims of any nature whatsoever in respect
thereof, all of which the Parties hereto hereby waive.

         SECTION 7.9 TAX BENEFITS.

                  (a) If an Indemnified Party is entitled to receive an
indemnification payment pursuant to this Agreement, then the Indemnifying Party
shall, in addition to making the indemnification payment, pay to the Indemnified
Party an additional amount with respect to federal, state and local income and
franchise Taxes, computed without taking into account credits and unused net
operating loss carry-forwards ("ATTRIBUTABLE TAXES"), if any, that may be



                                      -45-
<PAGE>   52



payable by the Indemnified Party in respect of the receipt of indemnification
payments under this Agreement, determined and payable as described below (the
"GROSS UP AMOUNT").

                  (b) If, as a result of any Damages, the Indemnified Party or
Ladenburg is entitled to a deduction in determining its Attributable Taxes, the
Indemnified Party (or, as to Damages incurred by Ladenburg, the Purchaser) shall
pay to the Indemnifying Party the amount of the reduction in Attributable Taxes
payable by the Indemnified Party or Ladenburg, determined and payable as
described below (the "TAX BENEFIT AMOUNT"), plus interest thereon, from the date
the related indemnification payment is made by the Indemnifying Party to the
date the Tax Benefit Amount is paid by the Indemnified Party, at an annual rate
of interest equal to the mid-term applicable federal rate.

                  (c) The Gross Up Amount with respect to each applicable Tax
shall be the amount that, after deduction of the amount of such Tax (taking into
account the effect thereon of any other federal, state or local Tax which is
deductible in computing such Tax) required to be paid by the Indemnified Party
in respect of the receipt of payment of Damages and the Gross Up Amount, shall
equal the amount of such Damages. The amount of the Tax to be deducted shall be
determined at the marginal tax rate at which the Indemnified Party is subject to
such Tax for the taxable year in which the Indemnified Party was required to
include the payment of Damages in income with respect to such Tax, such rate to
be determined from the particular income or franchise Tax Return filed by the
Indemnified Party for such taxable year. The Gross Up Amount shall be payable
immediately after each Return has been filed, provided, however, that no payment
need be made by the Indemnifying Party unless the Indemnified Party has provided
the Indemnifying Party with (i) a statement certified by the Indemnified Party
(or an officer or general partner thereof, as the case may be) setting forth the
calculations used in determining the Gross Up Amount and (ii) true copies of the
applicable Tax Returns.

                  (d) The Tax Benefit Amount with respect to each applicable Tax
in any taxable year shall be an amount equal to the excess of (i) the amount of
such Tax which would have been payable in respect of that year by the
Indemnified Party or, if the Purchaser is the Indemnified Party, by Ladenburg,
if no Damages had been incurred or a Gross Up Amount paid, over (ii) the amount
of such Tax that would have been payable by such Party in respect of that year
assuming it had incurred Damages in an amount equal to the amount of Damages
determined pursuant to SECTION 7.1 OR 7.2 (without reduction for the amount of
any Basket), such Taxes to be determined from the particular income or franchise
Tax Return filed by such party for such taxable year. The Tax Benefit Amount
shall be payable immediately after each such Return has been filed. At any time
a Party is obligated to make a payment of a Tax Benefit Amount to an Indemnified
Party, such Party shall give notice thereof to the Indemnified Party and shall
furnish the Indemnifying Party with (i) a statement certified by such party (or
an officer or general partner thereof, as the case may be) setting forth the
calculations used in determining the Tax Benefit Amount and (ii) true copies of
the applicable Tax Returns.

                  (e) If there is a disallowance or a reduction in the
Indemnified Party's or Ladenburg's Attributable Taxes with respect to which
reduction a payment of a Tax Benefit Amount was made, such disallowance shall be



                                      -46-
<PAGE>   53



treated as Damages and shall be subject to the indemnification provisions of
this Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                           TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT

         SECTION 8.1 METHODS OF TERMINATION. The transactions contemplated
herein may be terminated and/or abandoned at any time but not later than the
Closing:

                  (a) By mutual written consent of the Purchaser and the
Sellers;

                  (b) By the Purchaser or New Valley if any competent regulatory
authority shall have issued an order making illegal or otherwise restricting,
preventing, prohibiting or refusing to approve the transactions contemplated
hereby, and such order shall have become final and non-appealable;

                  (c) By the Purchaser or New Valley if the Closing has not
occurred by September 30, 2001 for any reason other than breach by the Party
seeking to terminate unless the Parties agree to an extension in writing;

                  (d) By New Valley if the Board of Directors of the Purchaser
(or any committee thereof) shall have (i) failed to recommend or withdrawn or
modified in a manner adverse to the Sellers its approval or recommendation of
this Agreement and any of the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) recommended
or taken no position with respect to a proposal for a Purchaser Alternative
Transaction or (iii) following the public announcement of a proposal for a
Purchaser Alternative Transaction, failed to reconfirm its recommendation of
this Agreement and any of the transactions contemplated hereby within five
business days following a written request for such reconfirmation by New Valley;
or

                  (e) By the Purchaser if the Board of Directors of the
Purchaser shall have determined in good faith, based upon the advice of outside
legal counsel, that failure to terminate this Agreement is reasonably likely to
result in the Board of Directors breaching its fiduciary duties to stockholders
under applicable law by reason of the pendency of an unsolicited, bona fide
written proposal for a Superior Purchaser Transaction, but only if the Purchaser
and its subsidiaries and other Representatives of the Purchaser shall have
complied with their obligations under SECTION 5.16; provided, however, that the
Purchaser may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this clause (e) unless
(x) 48 hours shall have elapsed after delivery to New Valley of a written notice
of such determination by the Board of Directors and (y) the Purchaser shall have
paid to New Valley any amounts owed by it pursuant to SECTION 8.2(B).

         SECTION 8.2 EFFECT OF TERMINATION. (a) In the event of termination by a
Party, or both Parties, pursuant to SECTION 8.1 hereof, written notice thereof
shall forthwith be given to the other Party and, except as set forth in this
SECTION 8.2, all further obligations of the Parties shall terminate, no Party
shall have any right against the other Party hereto or its officers, directors,






                                      -47-
<PAGE>   54


employees, Representatives or Affiliates, and each Party shall bear its own
costs and expenses, except that if this Agreement is so terminated by one Party
because one or more of the conditions to such Party's obligations hereunder is
not satisfied as a result of the other Party's willful failure to comply with
its obligations under this Agreement, it is expressly agreed and understood that
the terminating Party's right to pursue all legal remedies for breach of
contract or otherwise, including, without limitation, Damages relating thereto,
shall survive such termination unimpaired. If the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement are terminated and/or abandoned as provided herein:

                           (i) Each Party hereto will return all documents, work
papers and other material (and all copies thereof) of the other Party, and, in
the case of the Purchaser, of the Ladenburg Companies, whether so obtained
before or after the execution hereof, to the Party furnishing the same; and

                           (ii) All confidential information received by either
Party hereto with respect to the business of the other Party shall be treated in
accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement.

                  (b) If (I) New Valley shall have terminated this Agreement
pursuant to SECTION 8.1(D) or the Purchaser shall have terminated this Agreement
pursuant to SECTION 8.1(E), or (II) either New Valley or the Purchaser shall
have terminated this Agreement pursuant to SECTION 8.1(C) following the public
announcement of a proposal for a Purchaser Alternative Transaction by any person
and, within one year after any termination described in this clause (II), the
Purchaser (or any of its subsidiaries) shall have entered into a binding
agreement providing for the consummation of, or shall have consummated, a
Purchaser Alternative Transaction, then, in any of such cases, the Purchaser
shall pay the Sellers a termination fee of $1,750,000, plus an amount equal to
all documented out-of-pocket expenses and fees incurred by the Sellers and their
Affiliates in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby (including, without limitation, fees and expenses payable to their
respective agents and counsel). Any fee payable under this SECTION 8.2(B) shall
be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds (A) within two Business
Days after a termination described in clause (I), or (B) concurrent with or
prior to the entering into of the binding agreement with respect to, or (in the
absence of a binding agreement) the consummation of, such Purchaser Alternative
Transaction, in the case of a termination described in clause (II).

                  (c) The Purchaser acknowledges that the agreements contained
in the preceding paragraph are an integral part of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and that, without these agreements, neither Seller would enter
into this Agreement; accordingly, if the Purchaser fails promptly to pay the
amount due pursuant to such paragraph, and in order to obtain such payment, a
Seller commences a suit which results in a judgment against the other for the
amounts set forth in such paragraph, the party which brings such suit shall be
entitled to have its cost and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses) reimbursed in connection with such suit, together with interest on the
amount of the fee at the prime rate of The Chase Manhattan Bank in effect on the
date such payment was required to be made.




                                      -48-
<PAGE>   55



                  (d) Termination of this Agreement pursuant to SECTION 8.1(D)
or 8.1(E) shall also entitle the Purchaser to cancel the Purchaser Stockholder
Meeting.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                   DEFINITIONS

         SECTION 9.1 CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS. As used in this Agreement, the
following terms shall have the following meanings:

         "ADJUSTMENT EVENT" means, with respect to the Purchaser Common Stock,
reclassifications, stock splits, stock dividends, share combinations and similar
changes affecting the Purchaser Common Stock as a whole and all holders thereof.

         "AFFILIATE" means, with respect to a person or entity, any other person
or entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with such first
person or entity.

         "AGREED DISCLOSURE" has the meaning specified in SECTION 10.3.

         "AGREEMENT" has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

         "AMEX" means The American Stock Exchange, Inc.

         "ATTRIBUTABLE TAXES" has the meaning specified in SECTION 7.9(A).

         "AUDITED 1999 FINANCIAL STATEMENT" has the meaning specified in SECTION
3.6.

         "BASKET" has the meaning specified in SECTION 7.5.

         "BERLINER" has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

         "BUSINESS DAY" means a day of the year on which banks are not required
or authorized to be closed in the City of New York.

         "CLAIM" has the meaning specified in the definition of "Third Party
Claim."

         "CLAIM NOTICE" has the meaning specified in SECTION 7.3(A).

         "CLOSING" has the meaning specified in SECTION 2.1.

         "CLOSING DATE" has the meaning specified in SECTION 2.1.

         "CLOSING NET WORTH" has the meaning specified in SECTION 2.4(A).

         "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.




                                      -49-
<PAGE>   56


         "COMMISSION" has the meaning specified in SECTION 4.4.

         "CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT" has the meaning specified in SECTION 5.2.

         "CONTRACTS" has the meaning specified in SECTION 3.9(C).

         "DAMAGES" means the dollar amount of any loss, damage, expense or
liability, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and
disbursements incurred by an Indemnified Party in any action or proceeding
between the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party or between the
Indemnified Party and a third party, which is determined (as provided in ARTICLE
VII) to have been sustained, suffered or incurred by a Party and to have arisen
from an event or state of facts which is subject to indemnification under this
Agreement; the amount of Damages shall be the amount finally determined by a
court of competent jurisdiction or appropriate governmental administrative
agency (after the exhaustion of all appeals) or the amount agreed to upon
settlement in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, if a Third Party
Claim, or by the Parties, if a Direct Claim.

         "DIRECT CLAIM" means any Claim other than a Third Party Claim.

         "8-K" has the meaning specified in SECTION 4.4.

         "EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS" has the meaning specified in SECTION 3.15(A).

         "EMPLOYEE WELFARE PLANS" has the meaning specified in SECTION 3.15(C).

         "ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE" has the meaning specified in SECTION 2.9.

         "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.

         "ESCROW AGENT" has the meaning specified in SECTION 1.3(A).

         "ESCROW AGREEMENT" has the meaning specified in SECTION 1.3(A).

         "EVALUATION MATERIAL" has the meaning specified in SECTION 5.2.

         "FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" has the meaning specified in SECTION 3.6.

         "GAAP" has the meaning specified in SECTION 3.6.

         "GROSS UP AMOUNT" has the meaning specified in SECTION 7.9(A).

         "INDEMNIFIED PARTY" has the meaning specified in SECTION 7.3.

         "INDEMNIFYING PARTY" has the meaning specified in SECTION 7.3.

         "INITIAL DETERMINATION" has the meaning specified in SECTION 2.4(B).

         "LADENBURG" has the meaning specified in the Recitals.




                                      -50-
<PAGE>   57


         "LADENBURG COMPANIES" has the meaning specified in SECTION 3.1(E).

         "LADENBURG STOCK" has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

         "LADENBURG SUBSIDIARIES" has the meaning specified in SECTION 3.1(C).

         "LEASES" has the meaning specified in SECTION 3.9(B).

         "LENDER" has the meaning specified in SECTION 4.11.

         "LIEN" has the meaning specified in SECTION 3.3.

         "LTGI" has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

         "LTI" has the meaning specified in SECTION 1.2.

         "LTI STOCK" has the meaning specified in SECTION 1.2.

         "NEW VALLEY" has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

         "NEW VALLEY COMPANIES" has the meaning specified in the introductory
clause of ARTICLE III.

         "NEW VALLEY PARTIES" has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

         "1933 ACT" has the meaning specified in SECTION 3.28.

         "1934 ACT" has the meaning specified in SECTION 3.5(A).

         "NOTES" has the meaning specified in SECTION 1.3(B).

         "NYSE" has the meaning specified in SECTION 5.23(A).

         "PARTY" means, as the context requires, the Selling Parties or any of
them, on the one hand, and the Purchaser, on the other hand (collectively, the
"PARTIES").

         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor
thereto.

         "PERMITS" has the meaning specified in SECTION 3.7.

         "PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT" has the meaning specified in SECTION
2.5.

         "PRINCIPALS" has the meaning specified in SECTION 5.17(A).

         "PROCEEDINGS" has the meaning specified in SECTION 3.10.

         "PROXY AND VOTING AGREEMENT" has the meaning specified in SECTION 2.6.




                                      -51-
<PAGE>   58



         "PROXY STATEMENT" has the meaning specified in SECTION 5.11.

         "PURCHASER" has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

         "PURCHASER ALTERNATIVE TRANSACTION" has the meaning specified in
SECTION 5.16.

         "PURCHASE PRICE" has the meaning specified in SECTION 1.3.

         "PURCHASER BALANCE SHEET" has the meaning specified in SECTION 4.13(B).

         "PURCHASER COMMON STOCK" has the meaning specified in SECTION 1.3(C).

         "PURCHASER COMPANIES" has the meaning specified in SECTION 4.1(B)).

         "PURCHASER FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" has the meaning specified in SECTION
4.4.

         "PURCHASER SEC FILINGS" has the meaning specified in SECTION 4.4.

         "PURCHASER STOCKHOLDER MEETING" has the meaning specified in SECTION
5.10.

         "PURCHASER SUBSIDIARIES" has the meaning specified in SECTION 4.1(A).

         "PURCHASER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS" has the meaning specified in SECTION
4.2(A).

         "PURCHASER'S ACCOUNTANTS" means Richard A. Eisner & Company, LLP or any
successor firm appointed by the Purchaser.

         "PURCHASER'S KNOWLEDGE" means the actual knowledge of the Principals,
Joseph Berland, Joseph Pickard and Diane Chillemi.

         "REPRESENTATIVES" of any Party means such Party's employees,
accountants, auditors, actuaries, counsel, financial advisors, bankers,
investment bankers and consultants.

         "RETURNS" has the meaning specified in SECTION 3.11.

         "SELLER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS" has the meaning specified in SECTION
3.2.

         "SELLERS" has the meaning specified in SECTION 1.2.

         "SELLERS' ACCOUNTANTS" means PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or any
successor firm appointed by New Valley.

         "SELLING PARTIES" has the meaning specified in SECTION 2.2.

         "SELLING PARTIES' KNOWLEDGE" means the actual knowledge of Holger Timm
and Wolfgang Janka (in the case of Berliner) and Howard Lorber, Richard Lampen
and J. Bryant Kirkland III (in the case of New Valley).




                                      -52-
<PAGE>   59


         "SIGNING BALANCE SHEET" has the meaning specified in SECTION 3.6.

         "SIGNING 8-KS" has the meaning specified in SECTION 10.3.

         "SIGNING INCOME STATEMENT" has the meaning specified in SECTION 3.6.

         "SIGNING RELEASE" has the meaning specified in SECTION 10.3.

         "STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL" has the meaning specified in SECTION 5.10.

         "SUPERIOR PURCHASER TRANSACTION" has the meaning specified in SECTION
5.16.

         "TAX" or "TAXES" means all income, gross receipts, sales, stock
transfer, excise, bulk transfer, use, employment, franchise, profits, property
or other taxes, fees, stamp taxes and duties, assessments, levies or charges of
any kind whatsoever (whether payable directly or by with the Purchaser),
together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional
amounts imposed by any taxing authority with respect thereto.

         "TAX BENEFIT AMOUNT" has the meaning specified in SECTION 7.9(B).

         "10-KS" has the meaning specified in SECTION 4.4.

         "10-K/AS" has the meaning specified in SECTION 4.4.

         "10-QS" has the meaning specified in SECTION 4.4.

         "THIRD PARTY CLAIM" means a claim, demand, suit, proceeding or action
("CLAIM") by a person, firm, corporation or government entity other than a Party
hereto or any Affiliate of such Party.

         "TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS" mean, collectively, the Seller Transaction
Documents and the Purchaser Transaction Documents.

         "UNDERWRITERS' WARRANTS" has the meaning specified in SECTION 3.31.

         "UKRAINE FUND" has the meaning specified in SECTION 3.4(B).

                                   ARTICLE X

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

         SECTION 10.1 EXPENSES. Except as otherwise provided herein, all costs
and expenses, including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of
Representatives, incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such costs and
expenses, whether or not the Closing shall have occurred. The New Valley Parties
and Berliner shall pay all such expenses incurred at and prior to the Closing by
the Ladenburg Companies. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Purchaser and New




                                      -53-
<PAGE>   60


Valley shall share equally the cost of all filing fees required to be paid by
either of them or any of their Affiliates, whether before or after the Closing,
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with respect
to filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended. New Valley and Berliner acknowledge and agree that the Purchaser has
disclosed that it is obligated and will become further obligated for the
reasonable fees and expenses of its Representatives (including Richard A. Eisner
& Company, LLP and Graubard Mollen & Miller) in connection with this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby. It is understood and agreed that
certain of such fees and expenses have been paid by the Purchaser prior to the
execution of this Agreement, other of such fees and expenses will be paid prior
to the Closing and the balance of such fees and expenses that are due and owing
will be paid promptly thereafter.

         SECTION 10.2 NOTICES. All notices and other communications given or
made pursuant hereto shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
given or made as of the date delivered personally or by nationally recognized
courier or by telecopy to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such
other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):

(a)      If to New Valley:

                                    New Valley Corporation
                                    100 S.E. Second Street, 32nd Floor
                                    Miami, Florida 33131
                                    Attention:  Howard M. Lorber
                                    Telecopier No.: 305-579-8001

                           with a copy to:

                                    Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
                                    1 Chase Manhattan Plaza
                                    New York, New York 10005-1413
                                    Attention:  Mark Weissler, Esq.
                                    Telecopier No.: 212-530-5219

(b)      If to LTGI:

                                    Ladenburg Thalmann Group Inc.
                                    c/o New Valley Corporation
                                    100 S.E. Second Street, 32nd Floor
                                    Miami, Florida 33131
                                    Attention:  Richard Lampen
                                    Telecopier No.:  305-579-8009




                                      -54-
<PAGE>   61


                           with a copy to:

                                    Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
                                    1 Chase Manhattan Plaza
                                    New York, New York 10005-1413
                                    Attention:  Mark Weissler, Esq.
                                    Telecopier No.: 212-530-5219

(c)      If to Ladenburg:

                                    Ladenburg, Thalmann & Co. Inc.
                                    590 Madison Avenue
                                    New York, New York 10022
                                    Attention:  Victor Rivas
                                    Telecopier No.: 212-317-8192

                           with a copy to:

                                    Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
                                    1 Chase Manhattan Plaza
                                    New York, New York 10005-1413
                                    Attention:  Mark Weissler, Esq.
                                    Telecopier No.: 212-530-5219

(d)      If to Berliner:

                                    Berliner Effektengesellschaft AG
                                    Kurfurstendamm 119
                                    10711 Berlin, Germany
                                    Attention: Dr. Wolfgang Janka
                                    Telecopier No.: 01149-30-8902-196

(e)      If to the Purchaser:

                                    GBI Capital Management Corp.
                                    1055 Stewart Avenue
                                    Bethpage, New York 11714
                                    Attention:  Richard Rosenstock
                                    Telecopier No.:  516-470-1050

                           with a copy to:

                                    Graubard Mollen & Miller
                                    600 Third Avenue
                                    New York, New York  10016
                                    Attention:  David Alan Miller, Esq.
                                    Telecopier No.:  212-818-8881




                                      -55-
<PAGE>   62



         SECTION 10.3 PRESS RELEASE; PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS; FILINGS. Promptly
after execution of this Agreement, the Parties shall issue a press release in
the form of EXHIBIT K annexed hereto (the "SIGNING RELEASE"). The Purchaser and
New Valley shall also each file with the Commission a Report on Form 8-K with
respect to the transactions contemplated hereby (the "SIGNING 8-KS" and together
with the Signing Release, the "AGREED DISCLOSURE"). Each Signing 8-K shall be
provided by its preparer to the other Party prior to filing and the other Party
shall be given a reasonable opportunity to comment thereon. Upon acceptance of
the Signing 8-Ks by both the Purchaser and New Valley, the Agreed Disclosure
shall serve as the basis for any public disclosure by the Parties of the
transactions contemplated hereby. The Parties shall not make any other public
announcements in respect of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
herein inconsistent with the Agreed Disclosure without prior consultation and
approval as to the form and content thereof except to the extent required by
law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Party may make any disclosure which its
counsel advises is required by applicable law or regulation, in which case the
other Party shall be given such reasonable advance notice as is practicable in
the circumstances and the Parties shall use their best efforts to cause a
mutually agreeable release or announcement to be issued. The Parties may also
make appropriate disclosure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
to their officers, directors and Representatives.

         SECTION 10.4 AMENDMENT. Subject to SECTION 2.9, this Agreement may not
be amended or modified except by an instrument in writing signed by the Parties.

         SECTION 10.5 WAIVER. A Party may (a) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other Party, (b)
waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained herein or
in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance with any of
the agreements or conditions contained herein. Any such extension or waiver
shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the Party
to be bound thereby. No waiver by any party of any term or condition of this
Agreement, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a
waiver of the same or any other term or condition of this Agreement on any
future occasion.

         SECTION 10.6 HEADINGS. The headings contained in this Agreement are for
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

         SECTION 10.7 SEVERABILITY. If any term or other provision of this
Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law
or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
materially adverse to any Party.

         SECTION 10.8 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, the Schedules and
Exhibits hereto and the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire
agreement and supersede all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and
oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and, except as
otherwise expressly provided herein, are not intended to confer upon any other
person any rights or remedies hereunder. Without limitation of the foregoing,
(a) no representations or warranties with respect to the business, operations,
financial condition, prospects, income, assets or liabilities of the Ladenburg
Companies have been made to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser has not relied upon




                                      -56-
<PAGE>   63


any representations or warranties, except as explicitly set forth in the Seller
Transaction Documents, and no representations or warranties have been made to
the Purchaser with respect to the intentions of any employee (or group of
employees comprising an operating unit) of Ladenburg to remain in the employ of
the Ladenburg Companies from and after the Closing, and the Purchaser has not
relied upon any such representation or warranty and (b) no representations or
warranties with respect to the business, operations, financial condition,
prospects, income, assets or liabilities of the Purchaser have been made to the
Selling Parties, and the Selling Parties have not relied upon any
representations or warranties, except as explicitly set forth in the Purchaser
Transaction Documents.

         SECTION 10.9 BENEFIT. This Agreement may not be assigned. This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors of
the Parties. The terms and provisions of this Agreement are intended solely for
the benefit of each Party hereto and their respective successors or permitted
assigns, and it is not the intention of the Parties to confer third-party
beneficiary rights upon any other person or entity other than any person or
entity entitled to indemnity under ARTICLE VII, and except that the directors,
officers and employees of the Purchaser are intended to be third party
beneficiaries solely for the purpose of claims they may have under SECTION 5.19.

         SECTION 10.10 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York without giving
effect to principles of conflicts of law.

         SECTION 10.11 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or
more counterparts, and by the different Parties in separate counterparts, each
of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which when
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         SECTION 10.12 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS. New
Valley and each Seller hereby irrevocably appoints the President of New Valley
Corporation, at its offices at 590 Madison Avenue, 35th Floor, New York, New
York 10022, and the Purchaser hereby irrevocably appoints the President of GBI
Capital Management Corp., at its offices at 1055 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, New
York 11714, its lawful agent and attorney to accept and acknowledge service of
any and all process against it in any action, suit or proceeding arising out of
or relating to this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents or any of the





                                      -57-
<PAGE>   64


transactions contemplated thereby and upon whom such process may be served, with
the same effect as if such Party were a resident of the State of New York and
had been lawfully served with such process in such jurisdiction, and waives all
claims of error by reason of such service, provided that in the case of any
service upon such agent and attorney, the Party effecting such service shall
also deliver a copy thereof to the other Parties at the address and in the
manner specified in Section 10.2. New Valley, the Sellers and the Purchaser will
enter into such agreements with such agents as may be necessary to constitute
and continue the appointment of such agents hereunder. In the event that such
agent and attorney resigns or otherwise becomes incapable of acting as such,
such Party will appoint a successor agent and attorney in the City of New York,
reasonably satisfactory to the other Parties, with like powers. Each Party
hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States
District Court for the Southern District of New York or any court of the State
of New York located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York in any
such action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or
any of the Transaction Documents or any of the transactions contemplated
thereby, and agrees that any such action, suit or proceeding shall be brought
only in such court; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such consent to jurisdiction is
solely for the purpose referred to in this SECTION 10.12 and shall not be deemed
to be a general submission to the jurisdiction of said courts or in the State of
New York other than for such purpose. Each Party hereby irrevocably waives, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter
have to the laying of the venue of any such action, suit or proceeding brought
in such a court and any claim that any such action, suit or proceeding brought
in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

         SECTION 10.13 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY
IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR
COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE ACTIONS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN THE
NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT THEREOF.

         SECTION 10.14 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The Parties hereto acknowledge and
agree that any remedy at law for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement
would be inadequate, and each Party hereto hereby consents to the granting by
any court of an injunction or other equitable relief, without the necessity of
actual monetary loss being proved, in order that the breach or threatened breach
of such provisions may be effectively restrained.

                     [THE NEXT PAGE IS THE SIGNATURE PAGE.]



                                      -58-
<PAGE>   65



         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the date first written above.

         GBI CAPITAL MANAGEMENT CORP.

         By:  /s/ RICHARD J. ROSENSTOCK
            -----------------------------------------
              Name:   Richard J. Rosenstock
              Title:     President

         NEW VALLEY CORPORATION

         By:  /s/ RICHARD J. LAMPEN
            -----------------------------------------
              Name:   Richard J. Lampen
              Title:  Executive Vice President

         BERLINER EFFEKTENGESELLSCHAFT AG

         By:  /s/ HOLGER TIMM
            -----------------------------------------
              Name:   Holger Timm
              Title:  Chief Executive Officer

         LADENBURG, THALMANN GROUP INC.

         By:  /s/ VICTOR M. RIVAS
            -----------------------------------------
              Name:   Victor M. Rivas
              Title:  Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

         LADENBURG, THALMANN & CO. INC.


         By:  /s/ VICTOR M. RIVAS
            -----------------------------------------
              Name:   Victor M. Rivas
              Title:  Chairman & Chief Executive Officer





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