Document:

exv10w14

 

Exhibit 10.14

ZALE CORPORATION

CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT

     This Change of Control Agreement (“Agreement”) dated as of this       day of
August 2004, between Zale Corporation (the “Company”), and                   (the
“Key Employee”).

     WHEREAS, the Company’s Board of Directors has determined that it is in the
best interests of the Company to provide certain benefits to the Key Employee
upon termination of employment as a result of a Change of Control of the
Company; and

     WHEREAS, the severance benefits payable by the Company to the Key Employee
as provided herein are intended to ensure that the Key Employee receives
reasonable compensation given the specific circumstances of the Key Employee’s
employment history with the Company;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the Company adopts this Agreement to evidence the
Company’s commitment to pay severance benefits to the Key Employee if the Key
Employee’s employment with the Company terminates under the circumstances
described herein.

     1. Effect on Other Plans Sponsored by the Company. The benefits payable
under this Agreement are in addition to the coverage and benefits generally
afforded to the Key Employee upon termination from the service of the Company
and any other programs sponsored by the Company including, but not limited to,
the Company’s severance and stock option plans.

     2. Definitions. The capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have
the meaning set forth below.

     (a) “Annual Compensation” shall mean the Key Employee’s rate of base
salary paid or payable for the Company’s fiscal year by the Company and any
incentive or bonus award paid or payable to the Key Employee for such fiscal
year.

     (b) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of Zale Corporation.

     (c) “Cause” shall mean (i) if the Key Employee is a party to a written
employment agreement with the Company, or any parent corporation or subsidiary
corporation thereof, which agreement contains a definition of “for good cause”
or “for cause” (or words of like import) for purposes of termination of
employment thereunder by the Company, or such parent corporation or subsidiary
corporation of the Company, “for good cause” or “for cause” as defined therein;
or (ii) in all other cases: (A) the wanton or willful commission by the Key
Employee of an act, or the wanton or willful omission or failure to act, that
causes substantial damage (by reason, without limitation, of financial exposure
or loss, or damage to reputation or goodwill) to the Company or any parent
corporation or subsidiary corporation thereof; (B) the commission by the Key
Employee of an act of fraud, intentional misrepresentation, embezzlement,
misappropriation or conversion in the performance of such Key Employee’s duties
on behalf of the Company, or any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation
thereof, and (C) conviction of the Key Employee for commission of a felony.

 

 

     (d) “Change of Control” shall mean the date as of which: (i) there shall
be consummated (A) any consolidation or merger of the Company in which the
Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to which
shares of the Company’s common stock would be converted into cash, securities
or other property, other than a merger of the Company in which the holders of
the Company’s common stock immediately prior to the merger have the same
proportionate ownership of common stock of the surviving corporation
immediately after the merger, or (B) any sale, lease, exchange or other
transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all, or
substantially all, of the property and assets of the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole; or (ii) the stockholders of the Company approve
any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or
(iii) any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), shall become
the beneficial owner (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act)
of 30% of the Company’s outstanding voting equity securities; or (iv) during
any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such
period constitute the entire board of directors of the Company shall cease for
any reason to constitute a majority thereof unless the election, or the
nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, of each new director
was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in
office who were directors at the beginning of the period.

     (e) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     (f) “Disability” shall mean termination of the Key Employee’s employment
by the Company as a result of the Key Employee’s incapacity due to physical or
mental illness or injury, provided that the Key Employee shall have been absent
from the Key Employee’s duties with the Company on a full-time basis for at
least six consecutive months. The Compensation Committee of the Board shall
make any such determination with respect to a Key Employee hereunder.

     (g) “Good Reason” shall mean any of the following actions taken by the
Company without the Key Employee’s written consent after a Change of Control:

     (i) The assignment to the Key Employee of duties inconsistent with,
or the reduction of the powers and functions associated with, the Key
Employee’s position, duties, responsibilities and status immediately
prior to a Change of Control or Potential Change of Control (as defined
below), or an adverse change in the Key Employee’s titles or offices as
in effect immediately prior to a Change of Control or Potential Change of
Control, or any removal of the Key Employee from or any failure to
re-elect the Key Employee to any of such positions, except in connection
with the termination of the Key Employee’s employment for Disability or
Cause or as a result of the Key Employee’s death or by the Key Employee
other than for Good Reason;

     (ii) A reduction in the Key Employee’s base salary as in effect on
the date of a Change of Control or Potential Change of Control, or as the
same may be increased from time to time during the term of this
Agreement, or the failure to increase (within 12 months of the Key
Employee’s last increase in base salary) the Key Employee’s base salary
after a Change of Control or Potential Chance of Control, unless such
failure is the

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result of (A) a hiring or salary freeze uniformly applied to all
employees or (B) the Key Employee’s failure to meet preestablished and
objective performance criteria;

     (iii) Company’s principal executive offices shall be moved to a
location outside Dallas County, Texas;

     (iv) The Key Employee shall be required to be based anywhere other
than at the Company’s principal executive offices or the location where
the Key Employee is based on the date of a Change of Control, or
Potential Change of Control, or if the Key Employee agrees to such
relocation, the Company fails to reimburse the Key Employee for moving
and all other expenses incurred with such move;

     (v) The Company shall fail to continue in effect any
employer-sponsored plan or benefit that is in effect on the date of the a
Change of Control or Potential Change of Control that provides (A)
incentive or bonus compensation, (B) fringe benefits such as vacation,
medical benefits, life insurance and accident insurance, (C)
reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred by the Key Employee in
connection with the performance of duties with the Company, and (D)
pension benefits such as a Code Section 401(k) plan;

     (vi) Any material breach by the Company of any provision of this
Agreement; and

     (vii) Any failure by the Company to obtain the assumption of this
Agreement by any successor or assign of the Company effected in
accordance with the provisions of Section 6.

     (h) “Potential Change of Control” shall mean the date as of which (i) the
Company enters into an agreement the consummation of which, or the approval by
shareholders of which, would constitute a Change of Control; (ii) proxies for
the election of Directors of the Company are solicited by anyone other than the
Company; (iii) any person (including, but not limited to, any individual,
partnership, joint venture, corporation, association or trust) publicly
announces an intention to take or to consider taking actions which, if
consummated, would constitute a Change of Control; or (iv) any other event
occurs which is deemed to be a Potential Change of Control by the Board and the
Board adopts a resolution to the effect that a Potential Change of Control has
occurred.

     3. Term. The term of this Agreement shall be for the one-year period
commencing on the date of this Agreement and shall continue in effect for each
successive one-year period thereafter unless terminated in accordance with this
paragraph. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earliest of (a) the date of
termination of the Key Employee’s employment by the Company if no benefits are
payable hereunder; (b) the date the Company satisfies its obligation, if any,
to make payments and provide benefits to the Key Employee pursuant to this
Agreement; and (c) the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the
provisions of Section 12 prior to the date the Key Employee terminates
employment with the Company.

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     4. Termination of Employment Following Change of Control. (a) Except as
otherwise provided under Section 4(b), below, if within two years following a
Change of Control the Key Employee terminates employment with the Company for
Good Reason or the Company terminates the Key Employee’s employment for any
reason other than Cause or Disability, the Company shall pay or provide to the
Key Employee the following benefits:

     (i) an amount equal to three times the Key Employee’s average Annual
Compensation for any fiscal year beginning with or within the three-year period
terminating on the date of termination of the Key Employee’s employment, which
amount shall be paid to the Key Employee in cash on or before the fifth day
following the date of termination;

     (ii) for a period of three years following the date of termination of
employment, the Key Employee and anyone entitled to claim under or through the
Key Employee shall be entitled to all benefits under the group health care
plan, dental care plan, life or other insurance or death benefit plan, or other
present of future similar group employee benefit plan or program with respect
to which key executives are eligible to participate at the date of a Change of
Control, to the same extent as if the Key Employee had continued to be an
employee during such period and such benefits shall, to the extent not fully
paid under any such plan or program, be paid by the Company; and

     (iii) a lump sum payment equal to the actuarial equivalent (determined by
the Company in good faith with the assistance of its accountants or actuaries)
of the benefit that would have accrued under the Zale Delaware, Inc.
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) if (a) the Key Employee
remained a participant in the SERP for the three-year period commencing on the
first day of the SERP’s plan year (“Plan Year”) in which the Key Employee’s
employment with the Company terminated (“Measurement Period”), (b ) during each
Plan Year in the Measurement Period the Key Employee earned Benefit Points
equal to the highest number of Benefit Points earned by such Key Employee in a
Plan Year during the three-year period ending on the last day of the Plan Year
immediately preceding the Plan Year in which the Key Employee’s employment with
the Company terminated, and ( c) the Key Employee’s Final Average Pay during
the Measurement Period is the greater of the Key Employee’s monthly Base Salary
on the date of (1) a Potential Change of Control, (2) the Change of Control or
(3) the date of the Key Employee’s termination of employment.

     (b) In the event that (i) the Key Employee would otherwise be entitled to
the compensation and benefits described in Section 4(a) hereof (“Compensation
Payments”), and (ii) the Company determines, based upon the advice of tax
counsel selected by the Company’s audit committee and acceptable to the Key
Employee, that, as a result of such Compensation Payments and any other
benefits or payments required to be taken into account under Code Section
280G(b)(2) (“Parachute Payments”), any of such Parachute Payments would be
reportable by the company as “excess parachute payments,” such Compensation
Payments shall be reduced to the extent necessary to cause the Key Employee’s
Parachute Payments to equal 2.99 times the “base amount” as defined in Code
Section 280G(b)(3) with respect to such Key Employee. However, such reduction
in the Compensation Payments shall be made only if, in the opinion of such tax
counsel, it would result in a larger Parachute Payment to the Key Employee than
payment of the unreduced Parachute Payments after deduction of the tax imposed
on and payable by the Key Employee under Section 4999 of the Code. The value of
any non-cash benefits or any deferred

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payment or benefit for purposes of this paragraph shall be determined by
the Company’s tax counsel selected by the Company’s audit committee.

     (c) The parties hereto agree that the payments provided under Section 4(a)
or (b) above, as the case may be, are reasonable compensation in light of the
Key Employee’s services rendered to the Company and that neither party shall
contest the payment of such benefits as constituting an “excess parachute
payment” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code.

     (d) Unless the Company determines that any Parachute Payments made
hereunder must be reported as “excess parachute payments” in accordance with
Section 4(b) above, neither party shall file any return taking the position
that the payment of such benefits constitutes an “excess parachute payment”
within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code.

     5. No Obligation to Mitigate Damages. The Key Employee shall not be
required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment provided for under
this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount
of any payment provided for under this Agreement be reduced by any compensation
earned by the Key Employee as the result of employment by another employer
after the Key Employee’s termination, or otherwise.

     6. Successor to the Company. The Company will require any successor or
assign (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, exchange, lease, merger,
consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the property and
assets of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as whole, expressly,
absolutely and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the obligations
of the Company under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent
that the Company would be required to perform such obligations if no such
succession or assignment had taken place.

     7. Miscellaneous. No provisions of this Agreement may be waived or
modified unless such waiver or modification is agreed to in a writing signed by
the Key Employee and the Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any time
of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition
or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be
deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same
or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or
otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have
been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of Delaware.

     8. Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this
Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

     9. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

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     10. Agreement Not an Employment Contract. This Agreement shall not be
deemed to constitute an employment contract between the Company and the Key
Employee, and nothing herein shall be deemed to give the Key Employee the right
to continue in the employ of the Company or interfere with the right of the
Company to discharge the Key Employee at any time.

     11. Legal Fees and Expenses. The Company shall pay all legal fees,
expenses and damages which the Key Employee may incur as a result of the Key
Employee’s instituting legal action to enforce the rights hereunder, or in the
event the Company contests the validity, enforceability or the Key Employee’s
interpretation of, or determinations under, this Agreement. If the Key Employee
is the prevailing party or recovers any damages in such action, the key
Employee shall be entitled to receive in addition thereto pre-judgment and
post-judgment interest on the amount of such damages.

     12. Amendment and Termination. This Agreement may be amended or
terminated at any time by the Company, or by resolution of the Board or a
committee thereof, provided that without the written consent of the Key
Employee, no termination or amendment reducing the severance benefits provided
hereunder shall be effective prior to the expiration of the applicable one-year
term of this Agreement described in Section 3 during which the Board resolution
is adopted. Further, no amendment or termination shall be effective during a
one-year term commencing on the date of a Potential Change of Control of the
Company without the consent of the Key Employee or the two-year term of this
Agreement commencing on the date of a Change of Control of the Company without
the consent of the Key Employee. No amendment or termination shall affect any
rights or benefits that the Key Employee is entitled to at the time of such
amendment or termination.

     13. Funding of Benefits. The benefits payable to the Key Employee
hereunder shall not be funded in any manner and shall be paid by the Company
out of its general assets, which assets are subject to the claims of the
Company’s creditors.

     14. Withholding. There shall be deducted from the payment of any benefit
due under this Agreement (a) the amount of any uncontested indebtedness,
obligation, or liability which the Key Employee has acknowledged in writing as
owing to the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, which has been agreed to
by the Key Employee, and (b) the amount of any tax required by any governmental
authority to be withheld and paid over by the Company to such governmental
authority for the account of the Key Employee.

     15. Assignment. Unless required by court order, the Key Employee shall
not have any rights to sell, assign, transfer, encumber, or otherwise convey
the right to receive the payment of any benefit due hereunder, which payment
and the rights thereto are expressly declared to be nonassignable and
nontransferable. Any attempt to do so shall be null and void and of no effect.

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.

	 	 	 
	ZALE CORPORATION

	 
	 	 
	 
	 	 
	By:
	 	 
	

	 	

	Name:
	 	 
	

	 	

	Title:
	 	 
	

	 	

	 
	 	 
	 
	 	 
	KEY EMPLOYEE

	 
	 	 
	By:
	 	 
	

	 	

	Name:
	 	 
	

	 	 
	Title:
	 	 

7EXHIBIT 10.63

                            THE NEPTUNE SOCIETY, INC.

                          DEBENTURE PURCHASE AGREEMENT

     This Debenture Purchase Agreement (this "Agreement") is dated June 18, 2004
by and between The Neptune Society, Inc., a Florida corporation (the
"Corporation") and Brooklyn Holdings LLC, a Nevis limited liability company
("Holder"). The Corporation and Holder are collectively referred to herein as
the "parties" and each a "party."

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above and the mutual promises
hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. AGREEMENT TO SELL AND PURCHASE

     1.1 Sale and Purchase. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, at the
Closing (as defined in Article 3 below), the Corporation hereby agrees to issue
and sell to Holder, and Holder agrees to purchase from the Corporation, a
convertible secured debenture (the "Debenture"), due June 18, 2014, in the
principal amount of Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000) (the "Principal Amount").

     1.2 Debenture. The purchase price for the Debenture shall be equal to 100%
of the Principal Amount (the "Purchase Price"). The Debenture to be in the form
of the Debenture attached hereto as Exhibit A and to be convertible (subject to
terms, conditions and adjustments set forth therein) into shares of common stock
of the Corporation ("Common Stock") as set forth therein.

2. COMMITMENT FEE

     2.1 Fee. At Closing, the Corporation will issue to the Holder, as a
commitment fee in consideration of entering into this Agreement and agreeing to
the terms and conditions set forth the Debentures, a total of two hundred and
fifty thousand (250,000) shares of Common Stock (the "Consideration Shares").

     2.2 Registration of Consideration Shares. Within sixty (60) days of
Closing, the Corporation, at the Corporation's sole expense, shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to file with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a registration statement under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), on Form S-1 or, if available,
Form SB-2 or Form S-3, or any similar or successor form, to register the resale
of the Consideration Shares, which are not then registered under the Securities
Act or are not otherwise tradable without restriction under Rule 144(k) of the
Securities Act; provided however that the Holder may waive the requirement that
the Corporation file a registration statement with respect to the Consideration
Shares within sixty (60) days of Closing and thereafter shall have the right to
cause the Corporation to file such a registration statement upon thirty (30)
days notice to the Corporation. The Corporation shall use reasonable commercial
efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within
ninety (90) days of filing a registration statement under this Section 2.2,
unless the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation provides Holder with a
certificate certifying that the reason(s) the registration statement was not
effective was due to factors reasonably beyond the Corporation's control. The
Corporation shall use its best efforts to

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keep the Registration Statement continuously effective until the date on which
all Consideration Shares covered by such Registration Statement have been sold
or may be sold under Rule 144 or another applicable exemption under the
Securities Act. In connection with the foregoing, the Corporation shall promptly
file with the SEC such amendments to a registration statement as may be
necessary to keep such registration statement effective. The Corporation shall
bear all reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the registration of
Consideration Shares pursuant to this Section 2.2., including all printing,
legal and accounting expenses incurred by the Corporation and all registration
and filing fees. It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the
Corporation to take any action pursuant to this Section 2.2 that the Holder
shall furnish to the Corporation such information regarding themselves, the
Consideration Shares held by them and the intended method of disposition of such
securities as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of their
Consideration Shares and to execute such documents in connection with such
registration as the Corporation may reasonably request. The Holder shall be
responsible for its legal and accounting expenses and all brokerage commissions
and taxes of any kind (including, without limitation, transfer taxes) with
respect to any disposition, sale or transfer of Consideration Shares.

3. CLOSING; CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

     3.1 The closing of the transactions contemplated under this Agreement (the
"Closing") shall take place at such place as the Corporation and Holder may
mutually agree on June 18, 2004 or such other date as the Corporation and Holder
may mutually agree (the "Closing Date").

     3.2 At, or prior to the Closing, upon and in consideration of the
transactions contemplated under this Agreement, the Parties agree as follows:

         (a) The Corporation shall have furnished to Holder, in form
satisfactory to Holder, a payoff statement executed by CapEx, L.P. ("CapEx") and
Bow River Capital Partners, LLC ("Bow River") (i) setting forth the full amount
necessary to pay off any and all debts owing to CapEx and Bow River as of the
Closing Date (the "CapEx Obligation"); and (ii) containing a full release of any
and all liens and other security interests CapEx and Bow River may have in any
of the assets, including real and personal property, of the Corporation and
Neptune Society of America, Inc., a California corporation, Neptune Management
Corp., a California corporation, Heritage Alternatives, Inc., a California
corporation and Trident Society, Inc., a California corporation (collectively,
the "Subsidiaries"), and any and all other claims on or interests in the
Corporation and the Subsidiaries which CapEx and Bow River may have as a result
of or in connection with the CapEx Obligation or other obligations, excepting
CapEx's and Bow River's equity interests in common shares of the Corporation;

         (b) the Corporation will have repaid in full the CapEx Obligation;

         (c) the Corporation will execute and deliver to Holder the Debenture;

         (d) (i) the Corporation and the Subsidiaries will execute and deliver
to Holder the Security Agreements (as defined in the Debenture and hereinafter
referred to as the "Security

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Agreements") and (i) the Subsidiaries will execute and deliver to Holder the
Guarantees (as defined in the Debenture and hereinafter referred to as the
"Guarantees");

         (e) Holder shall wire the amount of Six Million Dollars (US $6,000,000)
less the Corporation's reimbursement of Holder's legal fees and costs incurred
in connection with this transaction in accordance with the provisions of Article
8 below (the "Escrow Funds") into escrow to be held by Brent Lokash Law
Corporation, as escrow agent (the "Escrow Agent") and shall have instructed
Escrow Agent to release the Escrow Funds to the Corporation upon the Closing,
such funds to represent Holder's funding of the Principal Amount;

         (f) The Corporation shall have complied with all of its covenants and
agreements contained in this Agreement and all representations and warranties of
the Corporation contained in this Agreement shall be true;

         (g) The Corporation shall have furnished to Holder in form satisfactory
to Holder executed authorizations by the Board of Directors of the Corporation
and the Subsidiaries approving and authorizing the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement;

         (h) The Corporation shall have furnished to Holder in form satisfactory
to Holder executed officers' certificates of the Corporation and the
Subsidiaries in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
and

         (i) Holder shall have received an opinion of counsel for the
Corporation and the Subsidiaries in form and substance reasonably acceptable to
the Holder in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE CORPORATION

     The Corporation hereby represents and warrants to Holder, subject to such
exceptions as are specifically disclosed in writing in the disclosure letter
supplied by Corporation to Holder dated as of the date hereof (the "Disclosure
Schedule", it being acknowledged that disclosure in the Disclosure Schedule with
respect to any particular Section of this Agreement shall be deemed disclosure
with respect to each other Section of this Agreement if the applicability of
such disclosure to the subject matter of such other Section is reasonably clear
on its face), as of the Closing Date:

     4.1 Organization, Subsidiaries, Good Standing, Qualification and Power and
Authority. The Corporation is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the State of Florida. The Corporation and
each of the Subsidiaries have all requisite corporate power and authority to (a)
execute and deliver this Agreement, the Debenture, the Guarantees, the Security
Agreements and the other agreements, instruments and documents contemplated to
be executed and delivered by them pursuant to this Agreement (this Agreement,
the Debenture, the Guarantees, the Security Agreements and such other agreements
instruments and documents hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"Transaction Documents"); (b) issue the Consideration Shares; (c) issue the
Conversion Shares; and (d) to carry out the other provisions of the Transaction
Documents.

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     4.2 Capitalization. All issued and outstanding shares of the Common Stock
have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable. The issued and outstanding capital stock of the Corporation and
the Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Closing are as set forth in section
4.2 of the Disclosure Schedule. Except as set forth in section 4.2 of the
Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding (or deemed outstanding) options,
warrants, convertible debentures, convertible instruments, agreements or other
rights to purchase or otherwise acquire upon conversion, exchange or otherwise
from the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries any of their securities. The
Consideration Shares, when issued at the Closing, and the Conversion Shares when
issued upon conversion of the Debenture, will be duly authorized, validly issued
and fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any statutory,
contractual or other first rights of refusal or other preferential rights.

     4.3 Authorization; Binding Obligations. All corporate action on the part of
the Corporation and each Subsidiary, their officers, directors and shareholders
necessary for the authorization of the Transaction Documents and the performance
of all of its obligations thereunder and for the authorization, sale, issuance
and delivery of the Debenture, the Consideration Shares and the Conversion
Shares have been taken or will be taken prior to the Closing. The Conversion
Shares have been or will be, prior to the Closing, duly and validly reserved for
issuance and, when issued upon conversion of the Debenture will be validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The Corporation has taken or will take
all such action as may be necessary to assure that an adequate number of shares
of Common Stock is authorized and reserved for issuance of the Conversion
Shares. The Transaction Documents will, once executed, constitute, valid, legal
and binding obligations of the Corporation or the Subsidiary party thereto, as
the case may be, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except to such
limitations as may result from any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the
enforcement of creditors' rights generally.

     4.4 No Real Property. Neither the Corporation nor any Subsidiary owns any
interest in real estate, except properties leased or rented by the Corporation
and its subsidiaries in the ordinary course of its business.

     4.5 Consents and Approvals. Except as required by the Securities Act, or
any state securities laws, no filings with, notices to, or approvals of any
governmental or regulatory body are required to be obtained or made by the
Corporation or any Subsidiary in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.

     4.6 No Violations. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents
and the performance by the Corporation and the Subsidiary party thereto of their
obligations hereunder and thereunder (a) do not and will not conflict with or
violate any provision of the Corporation's or such Subsidiary's Articles of
Incorporation or bylaws; and (b) do not and will not (i) conflict with or result
in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of; (ii) constitute a default
under; (iii) result in the creation of any encumbrance upon the capital stock or
assets of the Corporation or such Subsidiary pursuant to; (iv) result in a
violation of; or (iv) require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or
other action by or notice to any court or administrative or governmental body or
other third party pursuant to, any law, statute, rule or regulation or any
agreement or instrument or any order, judgment or decree to which the
Corporation or such

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Subsidiary is subject or by which any of its assets are bound, except in each
case where (A) the Corporation or such Subsidiary has filed an applicable
notice; (B) the Corporation or such Subsidiary has obtained an appropriate
waiver, consent or other authorization; or (C) such conflict, violation, breach
or default, or failure to obtain a consent or waiver, or failure to provide
notice may not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
business, operations, financial condition or prospects of the Corporation or
such Subsidiary.

     4.7 Compliance with Laws. Except as disclosed in one or more of the
Corporation's reports previously filed with the SEC (each, an "SEC Report"), the
business of the Corporation and each Subsidiary has been conducted in compliance
with all applicable laws and regulations of governmental authorities, except for
such violations that have been cured or that, individually or in the aggregate,
may not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
business, operations, financial condition or prospects of the Corporation or
such Subsidiary. Neither the real or personal properties owned, leased, operated
or occupied by the Corporation or such Subsidiary, nor the use, operation or
maintenance thereof (i) violates any applicable laws, or regulations of any
government or governmental authorities, or (ii) violates any restrictive or
similar covenant, agreement, commitment, understanding or arrangement, except
where such violation may not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse
effect on the business, operations, financial condition or prospects of the
Corporation or such Subsidiary.

     4.8 Licenses; Permits; Related Approvals. The Corporation and each of the
Subsidiaries possess all licenses, permits, consents, approvals, authorizations,
qualifications, and orders (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Permits")
of all governments and governmental authorities legally required to enable the
Corporation or such Subsidiary to conduct its business in all jurisdictions in
which such business is conducted (including without limitation all federal,
state and local Permits relating to the operation of funeral homes, crematoriums
and related operations included in the Corporation's and the Subsidiaries'
business). Except as disclosed in one or more of the SEC reports, all of the
Permits are in full force and effect, and no suspension, modification or
cancellation of any of the Permits is pending or threatened, which may
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business,
operations, financial condition or prospects of the Corporation or such
Subsidiary.

     4.9 Title to Assets. Immediately following the Closing, the Corporation and
each of the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to its property and
assets free and clear of all mortgages, security interests, liens, claims, and
other encumbrances, except for Permitted Encumbrances. With respect to the
property and assets it leases, the Corporation and each Subsidiary is in
material compliance with such leases and, to its knowledge, holds a valid
leasehold interest free of any security interests, liens, claims, or other
encumbrances, except Permitted Encumbrances. "Permitted Encumbrances" means (a)
encumbrances for taxes, governmental charges, assessments or levies, provided,
that such taxes, governmental charges, assessments or levies are not yet due or
are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; (b) deposits,
encumbrances or pledges to secure payments of workmen's compensation, public
liability, unemployment and other similar insurance; (c) mechanics', workmen's,
materialmen's, repairmen's, warehousemen's, vendors' or carriers' encumbrances,
or other similar encumbrances arising in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices and securing sums that are not past due or are
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; (d) restrictions on
transfers of securities imposed by United States

                                        5

federal, state or territorial securities laws; (e) any encumbrance, right, lien,
obligation or claim against any trust, insurance policy, account, deposit, asset
or other property held for the benefit or on behalf of any purchaser or holder
of rights under any contract, arrangement or similar obligation of the
Corporation or any Subsidiary for cremation services or merchandise; and (f)
other imperfections of title or encumbrances, if any, which imperfections of
title or other encumbrances do not materially impair the use of the assets to
which they relate in the business of the Corporation or the Subsidiaries, as
applicable.

     4.10 Security Interests. Upon repayment of the CapEx Obligation, Holder
will have a valid and perfected first lien on the assets of the Corporation and
each Subsidiary, except for Permitted Encumbrances.

     4.11 Defaults. The Corporation and each of the Subsidiaries is not in
default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any obligation,
agreement, covenant, or condition contained in any contract, indenture,
mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other instrument to which it is a party
or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, other than such violations
or defaults that would not individually or in the aggregate have a material
adverse effect on the Corporation's or such Subsidiary's business, prospects,
properties, condition (financial or other), results of operations or net worth.

     4.12 Intellectual Property. The Corporation and each of the Subsidiaries
owns or has a license to use all intellectual property used in its business. To
the knowledge of the Corporation, neither the Corporation nor any Subsidiary is
infringing on any proprietary right belonging to any other person, firm, or
entity. The Corporation and each of the Subsidiaries has the exclusive right and
authority to use all of its creations and inventions, trade secrets, processes,
models, designs, software and formulas as are necessary to enable the
Corporation or such Subsidiary to conduct and to continue to conduct all phases
of its business in the manner presently conducted by it and in accordance with
the its business plan. To the knowledge of the Corporation, the Corporation and
each Subsidiary is the sole owner of the its trade secrets, free and clear of
any liens, encumbrances, restrictions, or legal or equitable claims of others
and the Corporation or such Subsidiary has taken all reasonable security
measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality, and value of these trade
secrets. To the knowledge of the Corporation, the Corporation's and the
Subsidiaries' intellectual property of a proprietary nature is presently valid
and protectible.

     4.13 Proprietary Rights. Except as otherwise disclosed in one or more SEC
Reports, neither the Corporation nor any Subsidiary has received any
communications alleging that it has violated or, by conducting its business as
proposed would violate, any proprietary rights of any other person, nor is the
Corporation or any Subsidiary aware of any basis for the foregoing.

     4.14 No Litigation. There is no action, suit or proceeding pending or, to
the knowledge of the Corporation, threatened against or affecting the
Corporation, any of the Subsidiaries or any of their properties or rights before
any court or by or before any governmental body or arbitration board or
tribunal, and the Corporation and the Subsidiaries are not in default with
respect to any final judgment, writ, injunction, decree, rule or regulation of
any court or federal, state, local or other governmental department, commission,
board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign.

                                        6

     4.15 Financial Projections. The Corporation has set forth under section
4.15 of the Disclosure Schedule a true and correct copy of the Corporation's
financial projections and budgets for the five (5) year period commencing
January 1, 2004 (the "Financial Projections"). The Financial Projections were
prepared by management in a manner consistent with the Corporation's internal
books and records and financial projections prepared and used by management. To
the best of the Corporation's knowledge, as of the date of this Agreement, the
Financial Projections accurately present and reflect the Corporation's estimated
financial projections and anticipated results of operation for the periods
covered in such Financial Projections based on reasonable assumptions and
estimates of management.

     4.16 Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities. The Corporation has
filed a true and correct copies of (a) its audited combined balance sheet as of
December 31, 2003 and audited combined statement of operations and retained
earnings and combined statements of changes in financial position for the year
ended December 31, 2003 with its annual SEC Report on Form 10-KSB for the year
ended December 31, 2003 and (b) its unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of
March 31, 2004, and unaudited consolidated statement of operations and retained
earnings and combined statement of changes in financial position for the three
month period ended March 31, 2004 with its quarterly SEC Report on Form 10-QSB
for the quarter ended March 31, 2004 (hereinafter collectively referred to as
the "Financial Statements"). The Financial Statements are in accordance with the
books and records of the Corporation, are true, correct and complete and
accurately present the Corporation's financial position as of the dates set
forth therein and the results of the Corporation's operations and changes in the
Corporation's financial position for the periods then ended, all in conformity
with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a
consistent basis during each period and on a basis consistent with that of prior
periods. Except (i) as disclosed in the Financial Statements; (ii) as disclosed
in this Agreement; and (iii) as are incurred in the ordinary course of the
routine daily affairs of the Corporation's and the Subsidiaries' business,
neither the Corporation nor any of the Subsidiaries has any liabilities or
obligations of any nature or kind, known or unknown, whether accrued, absolute,
contingent, or otherwise. To the knowledge of the Corporation, there is no basis
for assertion against the Corporation or any of the Subsidiaries of any material
claim, liability or obligation not fully disclosed in the Financial Statements
or in this Agreement.

     4.17 Tax Matters. The Corporation and each of the Subsidiaries has duly and
timely filed, or obtained extensions of time for filing, all material tax
returns required by federal, state and local authorities (the "Returns"). All
information reported on the Returns is true, accurate, and complete. The
Corporation is not a party to, and is not aware of, any pending or threatened
action, suit, proceeding, or assessment against it for the collection of taxes
by any government. The Corporation and each of the Subsidiaries has paid in full
all taxes, interest, penalties, assessments and deficiencies owed by it to all
taxing authorities.

     4.18 Full Disclosures. All factual information heretofore or herewith
furnished by or on behalf of the Corporation to the Purchaser for purposes of or
in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby
(including the Corporation's business plan) is and all statements made by
representatives of the Corporation in connection with the negotiation of this
Agreement do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein not
misleading. There is no fact known to the Corporation which materially adversely
affects the accuracy of the representations

                                        7

and warranties contained in this Agreement or the financial condition,
operations, business, earnings, assets, or liabilities of the Corporation or any
of the Subsidiaries.

5. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF HOLDER

     Holder hereby represents, warrants and covenants to the Corporation as of
the Closing Date:

     5.1 Requisite Power and Authority. Holder has all necessary power and
authority to execute and deliver the Transaction Documents and to carry out
their provisions. All actions on Holder's part required for the lawful execution
and delivery of the Transaction Documents for which it has executed and
delivered have been or will be effectively taken prior to the Closing.

     5.2 Investment Representations. Holder understands that none of the
Debenture, the Consideration Shares and the Conversion Shares to be acquired by
Holder have yet been registered under the Securities Act. Holder also
understands that the Debenture, the Consideration Shares and the Conversion
Shares to be acquired by Holder are being offered and sold pursuant to an
exemption from registration contained in regulations under the Securities Act
based in part upon Holder's representations contained in this Agreement.

         (a) Acquisition for Own Account. Holder is acquiring the Debenture, the
Consideration Shares and/or the Conversion Shares to be acquired by Holder for
its own account for investment only, and not with a view towards distribution in
violation of applicable securities laws.

         (b) Accredited Investor. Holder represents that it is an "accredited
investor" within the meaning of Rule 501(a) of Regulation D as promulgated under
the Securities Act.

         (c) Non-Foreign Status. Holder is a nonresident alien for purposes of
income taxation (as such term is defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended, and Income Tax Regulations).

         (d) Financial Experience. Holder has such knowledge and experience in
financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and
risks of an investment the Debenture, the Consideration Shares and/or the
Conversion Shares to be acquired by Holder (collectively, the "Securities") and
it is able to bear the economic risk of loss of its entire investment.

         (e) Information. The Corporation has provided to Holder the opportunity
to ask questions and receive answers concerning the terms and conditions of the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement and it has had access to such
information concerning the Corporation as it has considered necessary or
appropriate in connection with its investment decision to acquire the
Securities.

         (f) Transfer Restrictions. Holder agrees that if it decides to offer,
sell or otherwise transfer any of the Securities, it will not offer, sell or
otherwise transfer any of such Securities directly or indirectly, unless:

                                        8

               (1) the sale is made pursuant to registration under the
Securities Act;

               (2) the sale is made pursuant to the exemption from the
registration requirements under the Securities Act provided by Rule 144
thereunder and in accordance with any applicable state securities or "Blue Sky"
laws; or

               (3) the Securities are sold in a transaction that does not
require registration under the Securities Act or any applicable state laws and
regulations governing the offer and sale of securities, and it has prior to such
sale furnished to the Corporation an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory
to the Corporation.

         (g) Legends. Holder understands and agrees that the certificates
representing the Securities will bear a legend stating that such shares have not
been registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state of
the United States and may not be offered for sale or sold unless registered
under the Securities Act and the securities laws of all applicable states of the
United States or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

         (h) Notations. Holder consents to the Corporation making a notation on
its records or giving instructions to any transfer agent of the Corporation in
order to implement the restrictions on transfer set forth and described herein.
Each Debenture certificate will bear a legend to the following effect:

          "THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS DEBENTURE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
          UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE "ACT") OR APPLICABLE STATE
          SECURITIES LAWS (THE "STATE ACTS"), AND SHALL NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED,
          HYPOTHECATED, DONATED, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED (WHETHER OR NOT FOR
          CONSIDERATION) BY THE HOLDER EXCEPT UPON THE ISSUANCE TO THE
          CORPORATION OF A FAVORABLE OPINION OF HOLDER'S COUNSEL OR SUBMISSION
          TO THE CORPORATION OF SUCH OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY BE SATISFACTORY TO
          COUNSEL FOR THE CORPORATION, TO THE EFFECT THAT ANY SUCH TRANSFER
          SHALL NOT BE IN VIOLATION OF THE ACT AND THE STATE ACTS. HEDGING
          TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY NOT BE
          CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH U.S. SECURITIES LAWS."

         Each certificate representing Consideration Shares or Conversion Shares
will bear a legend to the following effect:

          "THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES
          SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT") OR THE SECURITIES LAWS
          OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND SHALL NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED,
          HYPOTHECATED, DONATED, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED (WHETHER OR NOT FOR
          CONSIDERATION) BY THE HOLDER UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE ACT OR EXCEPT
          UPON THE ISSUANCE TO THE CORPORATION OF A

                                        9

          FAVORABLE OPINION OF HOLDER'S COUNSEL OR SUBMISSION TO THE CORPORATION
          OF SUCH OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY BE SATISFACTORY TO COUNSEL FOR THE
          CORPORATION, TO THE EFFECT THAT ANY SUCH TRANSFER SHALL NOT BE IN
          VIOLATION OF THE ACT AND THE STATE ACTS. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS
          INVOLVING THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED
          UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH U.S. SECURITIES LAWS."

         (i) Due Diligence. Holder has been solely responsible for its own "due
diligence" investigation of the Corporation, the Subsidiaries and their
respective management, business and financial condition, for its own analysis of
the merits and risks of this investment, and for its own analysis of the
fairness and desirability of the terms of the investment; (ii) in taking any
action or performing any role relative to the arranging of the proposed
investment, the Holder has acted solely in its own interest; and (iii) neither
the Holder nor any of its agents or employees has acted as an agent of the
Corporation, or as an issuer, underwriter, broker, dealer or investment adviser
relative to any security involved in this investment.

         (j) Tax Consequences. Holder understands and agrees that there may be
material tax consequences to the Holder of an acquisition or disposition of the
Debentures and/or the Consideration Shares. The Corporation gives no opinion and
makes no representation with respect to the tax consequences to the Holder under
United States, state, local or foreign tax law of the undersigned's acquisition
or disposition of such Debenture or Consideration Shares.

         (k) No Hedging. Holder will not, directly or indirectly, or through one
or more intermediaries, maintain any short position in or engage in hedging
transactions with regard to the Debenture, Consideration Shares or Conversion
Shares except in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act and
applicable state securities laws.

6. CORPORATION COVENANTS

     The Corporation covenants and agrees with Holder that:

     6.1 Use of Proceeds. The Corporation shall use the proceeds from the sale
of the Debenture for the purposes of repaying in full the CapEx Obligation with
such proceeds being paid to CapEx and Bow River under escrow arrangements
mutually agreeable to Holder and the Corporation. The balance of the proceeds
from the sale of the Debenture are to be used for general corporate purposes.

     6.2 Reservation of Common Stock. The Corporation will reserve and keep
available that maximum number of its authorized but unissued Common Stock as may
be required for the issuance of the Conversion Shares.

7. HOLDER'S COVENANTS

     Holder covenants and agrees with the Corporation that upon Holder being
repaid in full the amount of Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000) owing under the
Debenture (as such terms of repayment are set forth in the Debenture), Holder
will subordinate its first lien on the assets of the Corporation and each
Subsidiary, granted to Holder under the Transaction Documents, to any

                                       10

entity from which the Corporation borrows money, provided, however, that the
Corporation first obtains the consent of Holder in accordance with Section 6.14
of the Debenture.

8. EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS

     The Corporation hereby agrees to reimburse Holder for all of its reasonable
and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby, including all out-of-pocket expenses
(including filing fees and other third party charges) incurred in connection
with its third party due diligence costs, and the preparation and negotiation of
the Transaction Documents.

9. MISCELLANEOUS

     9.1 Currency. Except as may be otherwise expressly provided, all dollar
amounts herein are references to United States dollars.

     9.2 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the internal law,
and not the law of conflicts, of the State of California

     9.3 Further Assurances: Each party to this Agreement covenants and agrees
that, from time to time prior to or subsequent to the Closing Date, it will, at
the request and expense of the requesting party, execute and deliver all such
documents and do all such other acts and things as any other party to this
Agreement, acting reasonably, may from time to time request be executed or done
in order to better evidence or perfect or effectuate the transactions
contemplated in this Agreement.

     9.4 Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
made herein shall survive any investigation made by or on behalf of Holder and
the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby. All statements as to
factual matters contained in any certificate or other instrument delivered by or
on behalf of the Corporation pursuant hereto in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be deemed to be representations and warranties by the
Corporation hereunder solely as of the date of such certificate or instrument.

     9.5 Successors and Assigns. Holder shall not be entitled to assign its
rights under any of the Transaction Documents, without the consent of the
Corporation, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed;
provided, however, that no such consent shall be required for Holder to assign
such rights to any person or group of persons controlling or owning the majority
of all beneficial interests of Holder, any other entity controlled by such
person or persons, or an entity controlled by Holder, provided that such entity
shall continue to be so controlled by such persons or Holder as applicable. The
provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the
successors, permitted assigns, heirs, executors and administrators of the
parties hereto.

     9.6 Entire Agreement; Amendment and Waiver. The Transaction Documents
expressly delivered pursuant hereto or thereto supersede any other agreement,
whether written or oral, that may have been made or entered into by the parties
hereto relating to the matters contemplated hereby, and constitute the full and
entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the
subjects hereof and thereof, and no party shall be liable or bound to any

                                       11

other in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
except as specifically set forth or incorporated by reference herein and
therein. Neither the Transaction Documents, nor any term thereof may be amended,
waived, discharged or terminated except by a written instrument signed by the
Corporation and Holder.

     9.7 Severability. In case any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

     9.8 Notices. All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed effectively given: (i) upon personal delivery to the
party to be notified; (ii) when sent by confirmed telex or facsimile if sent
during normal business hours of the recipient, if not, then on the next business
day; (iii) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (iv) one (1) business day after
deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, special next day
delivery, with verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent:

               to the Corporation at:

               The Neptune Society, Inc.
               4312 Woodman Avenue, Third Floor
               Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
               facsimile (818) 953-9844
               Attention: Marco Markin, President
               with a copy to:

               Dorsey & Whitney, LLP
               1420 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3400
               Seattle, WA 98101
               facsimile (206) 903-8820
               Attention: Kenneth Sam

               to Holder, at:

               Brooklyn Holdings LLC
               P.O. Box 556
               Charlestown, Nevis

               with a copy to:

               Swidler Berlin Shereff Friedman, LLP
               The Chrysler Building
               405 Lexington Avenue
               New York, NY 10174
               facsimile: (212) 891-9598

                                       12

                             Attention: Morris Orens

or at such other address as the Corporation or Holder may designate by ten (10)
days advance written notice to the other parties hereto.

     9.9 Counterparts; Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together
shall constitute one instrument. This Agreement may be executed and delivered by
facsimile.

     9.10 Broker's Fees. Each party hereto represents and warrants that no
agent, broker, investment banker, person or firm acting on behalf of or under
the authority of such party hereto is or will be entitled to any broker's or
finder's fee or any other commission directly or indirectly in connection with
the transactions contemplated herein.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the
date first set forth above.

THE NEPTUNE SOCIETY, INC.

THE NEPTUNE SOCIETY, INC.

By:
   ---------------------------------------------------
   Marco Markin
   Chief Executive Officer

BROOKLYN HOLDINGS LLC:

By:
   ---------------------------------------------------
   Authorized Representative:
   Name:

                                       13

                                    EXHIBIT A

                                    DEBENTURE

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