BENIHANA INC
SC 13D, 1998-06-19
EATING PLACES
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                                                          OMB Number:  3235-0145

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D
                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                             (Amendment No. _____)*



                                  BENIHANA INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               (Name of Issuer)

                                  COMMON STOCK
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    082047101
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                           Herschel S. Weinstein, Esq.
                   Dornbush Mensch Mandelstam & Schaeffer, LLP
                                747 Third Avenue
                            New York, New York 10017
                                 (212) 759-3300
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized
                      to Receive Notice and Communications)

                                  June 8, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Sections 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check
the following box. |_|

NOTE: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Section 240.13d-7 for other
parties to whom copies are to be sent.

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).



Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained
in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently
valid OMB control number.



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CUSIP No. ..........082047101..........

         1.       Names of Reporting Persons.
                  I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only).

                    ..........Trust U/A June 8, 1998 between Rocky H. Aoki as
                    Grantor and Kevin Aoki and Darwin C. Dornbush as Trustees;
                    Taxpayer identification number 13-7141606..................
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

          2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions)

             (a)
                      ---------------------------------------------------------

             (b)
                      ---------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         3.  SEC USE ONLY  
                           ----------------------------------------------------

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         4.  Source of Funds (See Instructions)            N/A
                                                 ----------   -----------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         5.  Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to 
             Items 2(d) or 2(e)
                                 -------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         6.  Citizenship or Place of Organization            New York
                                                   ----------        ----------


                         7.  Sole Voting Power...........1,830,405 shares (see
                             response to Item 5)........
                        -------------------------------------------------------
                         8.  Shared Voting Power...............................
Number of Shares        -------------------------------------------------------
Beneficially Owned by    9.  Sole Dispositive Power.......1,830,405 shares.....
Each Reporting Person   -------------------------------------------------------
With                    10.  Shared Dispositive Power..........................
                        -------------------------------------------------------
         11. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person  
                       1,830,405 shares
             ---------                  ---
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         12. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares 
             (See Instructions)           
                               -----------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         13. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)  ..........
             51.3%                                
                  --------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         14. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions)

                                                      00
             ----------------------------------------    ----------------------
             ------------------------------------------------------------------
             ------------------------------------------------------------------
             ------------------------------------------------------------------
             ------------------------------------------------------------------



                                   Page 2 of 4

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Item 1.  Security and Issuer

         This statement relates to the Common Stock, par value $.10 per share
         (the "Common Stock"), of Benihana Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
         "Company"). The principal executive offices of the Company are located
         at 8685 Northwest 53rd Terrace, Miami, Florida 33166.

Item 2.  Identity and Background

         The entity filing this report is Trust U/A dated June 8, 1998 between
         Rocky H. Aoki, Grantor ("Grantor") and Kevin Aoki and Darwin C.
         Dornbush, Trustees (the "Filing Person"). The Filing Person was formed
         under the laws of the State of New York to hold the Voting Trust
         Certificates (and, indirectly, the 1,830,405 shares of Common Stock
         (the "Subject Shares") which are the subject of this Schedule 13D) as
         described in Item 4 below. The Filing Person's business address is c/o
         Dornbush Mensch Mandelstam & Schaeffer, LLP, 747 Third Avenue, New
         York, New York 10017.

         (d)-(e) The Filing Person has not been convicted in a criminal
         proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or
         been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body
         of competent jurisdiction as a result of which such individual was or
         is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future
         violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to,
         federal or state securities laws or finding any violations with respect
         to such laws, in each case during the last five years.

Item 3.  Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

         The Voting Trust Certificates described in Item 5 were contributed to
         the Filing Person by Grantor and no consideration was paid therefor.

Item 4.  Purpose of the Transaction

         The Filing Person was formed at the request of the Grantor to hold the
         Voting Trust Certificates. The Filing Person has no plans or proposals
         which would relate to or would result in any of the transactions
         described in clauses (a) through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.

Item 5.  Interest in Securities of the Issuer

         Benihana of Tokyo, Inc., a New York corporation ("BOT"), owns the
         Subject Shares which constitute 51.5% of the Common Stock. All issued
         and outstanding equity of BOT is owned by a voting trust (the "Voting
         Trust") U/A dated as of February 2, 1983 among Rocky H. Aoki as
         Grantor, Rocky H. Aoki, Katsu Aoki and Darwin C. Dornbush as Trustees
         and BOT (the "Voting Trust Agreement"). The Voting Trust has the power
         to vote, but not dispose of, the shares of BOT. Rocky H. Aoki has
         resigned as a trustee of the Voting Trust and was succeeded as trustee
         by Kevin Aoki. All of the certificates representing interests in the
         Voting Trust (the "Voting Trust Certificates") were contributed by
         Grantor to the Filing Person and are owned by the Filing Person.
         Accordingly, the Filing Person may be deemed to have indirect
         beneficial ownership of 100% of the equity of BOT and of the Subject
         Shares.

Item 6.  Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect 
         to Securities of the Issuer

         The Voting Trust was formed pursuant to a Voting Trust Agreement which
         gives to the trustees of the Voting Trust the sole authority to vote
         the shares of BOT stock owned by the Voting Trust.

         The Filing Person was formed pursuant to a Trust Agreement dated June
         8, 1998 between the Grantor, as



                                   Page 3 of 4

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         Grantor, and Kevin Aoki and Darwin C. Dornbush.

Item 3.  Material to be Filed as Exhibits

         1.       Voting Trust Agreement dated as of February 2, 1983 among
                  Rocky H. Aoki, shareholder, Rocky H. Aoki, Katsu Aoki and
                  Darwin C. Dornbush, Trustees, and Benihana of Tokyo, Inc.

Signature

         After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.


June 18, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date

Trust U/A Dated June 8, 1998 between Rocky H. Aoki, as Grantor,
and Kevin Aoki and Darwin C. Dornbush, as Trustees


By:    /s/ Darwin C. Dornbush
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Signature


Darwin C. Dornbush, Trustee
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name/Title


         The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf
the statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the statement is
signed on behalf of a person by his authorized representative (other than an
executive officer or general partner of the filing person), evidence of the
representatives authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with
the statement: provided, however, that a power of attorney for this purpose
which is already on file with the Commission may be incorporated by reference.
The name and any title of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or
printed beneath his signature.


Attention: Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute Federal
criminal violations (See 18 U.S.C. 1001)



                                   Page 4 of 4

<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit 1


          VOTING TRUST AGREEMENT dated as of the 2nd day of February, 1983,
among ROCKY H. AOKI (the "Shareholder") an individual residing at 2 Illingworth
Avenue, Tenafly, New Jersey 07670, a shareholder of BENIHANA OF TOKYO, INC., a
New Yurk corporation with its principal offices at 8685 Northwest 53rd Terrace,
Miami, Florida 33166, ROCKY H. AOKI, KATSU AOKI residing at 1-1 Muromachi
Nihonbashi Chuoku Tokyo, Japan, and DARWIN C. DORNBUSH, residing at 90 Flamingo
Road, East Hills, N.Y. 11576 as trustees (hereinafter collectively referred to
as the "Trustees") and BENIHANA OF TOKYO INC. ("BOT).

                                 W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS, the parties, for their own interests and for the interest of the
corporation, wish to promote harmony and continuity with respect to the conduct
of the affairs of BOT;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises herein contained,
the parties agree as follows:

     1.   Creation of Voting Trust:

          The Shareholder is the owner of 200 shares of common stock of BOT (the
"Shares"). The Shares are currently pledged and deposited pursuant to a Stock
Pledge Agreement dated August 29, 1980 by and between the Shareholder, CITIZENS
BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, a Kentucky banking Corporation with its principal office
and place of business in Louisville, Kentucky and SOUTHEAST FIRST
NATIONAL BANK OF MIAMI, a national banking institution with its principal office
and place of business in Miami, Florida (the "Secured Parties"). The Shareholder
hereby assigns to the 


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Trustees all of his right, title and interest in and to the Shares and
represents that he has informed the Secured Parties of this Agreement and has
asked them to deliver the stock certificate evidencing the Shares and accept in
its stead the voting trust certificate to be issued by the Trustees pursuant to
this Agreement He acknowledges that such voting trust certificates shall be
subject to the Pledge. The Shareholder hereby authorizes the Trustees to effect
the substitution of the Stock Certificate held by the Secured Parties for the
voting trust certificate.

     The stock certificate deposited with the Trustees by the Secured Parties
shall be surrendered by the Trustees to BOT for cancellation and a new
certificate shall be issued to and held by the Trustees as voting trustees. The
Shares of stock represented by such certificate shall thereafter be held by the
Trustees subject to the terms of this Agreement.

     2.   Voting Trust Certificate

          (a) The voting trust certificate to be issued and delivered by the
Trustees, as hereinabove provided, shall be in substantially the following form,
the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference:

                           VOTING TRUST CERTIFICATE No. 1 
                                      200 Shares

                               BENIHANA OF TOKYO, INC.
                              (a New York corporation) 

                               VOTING TRUST CERTIFICATE

               THIS CERTIFIES THAT ROCKY H. AOKI has 


                                          2
<PAGE>


               deposited 200 shares of common stock, zero par value, of BENIHANA
               OF TOKYO, INC, a New York corporation, with the undersigned
               Trustees pursuant to a Voting Trust Agreement dated as of
               February 2, 1983 by and among ROCKY H. AOKI, Shareholder, the
               undersigned as Trustees and Benihana of Tokyo, Inc. a copy of
               which Voting Trust Agreement is on file in the offices of
               Benihana of Tokyo, Inc at 8685 Northwest 53rd Terrace, Miami,
               Florida. This certificate and the interest represented hereby is
               transferable on the books of said Trustees upon its surrender
               properly endorsed. The holder of this certificate takes the same
               subject to all the terms and conditions of the aforesaid Voting
               Trust Agreement and, by acceptance of this certificate, assents
               thereto and agrees to be bound thereto with like effect as if
               such Voting Trust Agreement had been signed by him in person.

               IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trustees have signed this certificate 
               this 2nd day of February, 1983.



                              ----------------------------------
                              ROCKY H. AOKI, TRUSTEE


                              ----------------------------------
                              KATSU AOKI, TRUSTEE


                              ----------------------------------
                              DARWIN C. DORNBUSH, TRUSTEE

     Any certificate referring to this Agreement prior to any amendment shall be
deemed to apply to this Agreement as amended and/or restated.


     3.   Investment Purpose: The Shareholder represents that he acquired the 
shares represented by the voting trust

                                          3
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certificate for investment and not with a view to distribution or

resale. The Shareholder further agrees that the voting trust

certificate shall contain the following legend:

               The shares and interest represented by this voting trust
          certificate have not been registered under the Securities Act of
          1933. The shares and interest have been acquired for investment
          and may not be sold or transferred in the absence of an effective
          Registration Statement therefore under the Securities Act of 1933
          or an opinion, satisfactory to counsel for the Trustee and to
          counsel for BOT that registration is not required under said Act.
          In the event that a Registration Statement becomes effective
          covering the shares or counsel to BOT renders a written opinion,
          reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Trustees that
          registration is not required under said Act, this voting trust
          certificate may be exchanged for a certificate free from this
          legend.

      4.  Transfer or Replacement of Voting Trust Certificate.

          (a) The Trustees shall maintain a register of the voting trust
certificate and holder thereof at the office of Dornbush Mensch & Mandelstam,
747 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y. The registered holder of the voting trust
certificate, in person or by proxy, may transfer upon the records of the
Trustees, to any other person or persons, his rights as voting trust certificate
holder with respect to all of the stock represented thereby, by surrendering
such voting trust certificate, properly endorsed or with assignment separate
from such certificate, duly executed, accompanied by any applicable transfer tax
stamps. The Trustees may treat the holder of record of the voting trust
certificate, or when presented duly endorsed in blank, the bearer thereof, as
the owner for all purposes whatsoever and shall not 

                                          4
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be affected by any notice to the contrary; provided, however, that the Trustees
shall not be required to deliver any voting trust certificate without the
surrender of the prior voting trust certificate relating thereto.

          (b) In case of loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of the voting
trust certificate, the holder thereof shall immediately notify the Trustees who
may, in their discretion, issue and deliver to such holder a new voting trust
certificate for the same number of shares of stock upon (i) surrender of the
mutilated certificate, or (ii) in case of the los$, theft or destruction
thereof, upon satisfactory proof of such loss, theft or destruction and the
deposit of an indemnity bond in such form, content and amount and with such
sureties as the Voting Trustees may require.

     5.   Dividends and Distributions:

          (a) Until the actual delivery of a stock certificate or other
securities to the holder of the voting trust certificate in exchange for his
voting trust certificates, each holder of a voting trust certificate issued
hereunder shall be entitled to receive from the Trustees promptly after the
Trustees' receipt thereof, payments in cash collected by the Trustees on the
shares of stock deposited hereunder and standing in the names of the Trustees,
and shall in addition, be entitled to receive promptly after receipt by the
Trustees, all dividends or other distributions declared on the stock or payable
by BOT in a form other than in cash or "voting stock" of BOT.


                                          5
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     If any dividend in respect of the stock deposited with the Trustees is 
paid in whole or in part in any "voting stock" (i.e., any security of BOT or 
its affiliates which (i) at the time of this issuance carries the right to 
vote at any meeting of stockholders or (ii) may upon the occurrence of 
certain events acquire the right to vote at any meeting of stockholders or 
(iii) may be converted into or exchanged for or contains the right to acquire 
a security which carries the right to vote at any meeting of the 
stockholders) of if there is any distribution of voting stock or split in 
respect of such voting stock, the Trustees shall likewise hold the 
certificates for the voting stock received by them on account of such 
distribution, dividend or split, and the holder of the voting trust 
certificate representing stock in respect of which such distribution or split 
has been made or dividend paid, shall receive a voting trust certificate from 
the Trustees issued under this Agreement for the number of shares and class 
of such voting stock received as such dividend, distribution or split.

     If any dividend in respect of the stock deposited with the Trustees is paid
other than in cash or voting stock of BOT, then the Trustees shall distribute
such dividend to the holder of the voting trust certificate registered as such
at the close of business on the day fixed by the Company for determination of
shareholders entitled to receive such distribution.


     6.   Issuance of New Stock: In the event BOT shall at any time 


                                          6
<PAGE>


issue any stock or other securities to which the holder of
the voting trust certificate shall be entitled to subscribe or to purchase, the
Trustees shall, promptly upon receipt of notice of any offer of any such shares
or securities, mail a copy thereof to the holder of the voting trust
certificate. Upon receipt by the Trustees, at least five (5) days prior to the
last date fixed by BOT for subscription and payment, of a written request from
the holder of the voting trust certificate to subscribe in his behalf,
accompanied by the funds required to pay for such stock or securities, the
Trustees shall make such subscription and payment and, upon receipt from BOT of
the certificate for shares or securities so subscribed for, shall issue to such
holder a voting trust certificate in respect thereof, if the same be common
stock of the class or type deposited with the Trustees hereunder or other voting
stock of BOT, but if the same be securities other than such stock, the Trustees
shall mail or deliver such securities to the voting trust certificate holder or,
in lieu thereof, may instruct BOT to make delivery directly to such holder.


     7.   Dissolution, Merger or Consolidation of BOT:

          (a) In the event of the dissolution or total or partial liquidation of
BOT, whether voluntary or involuntary, the Trustees shall receive the monies,
securities rights or property to which the holder of the 

                                          7
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voting trust certificate is entitled, and shall distribute the same to the
registered holder of the voting trust certificate and, upon such distribution,
all further obligations or liability of the Trustees in respect of such monies,
securities, rights or property so received shall cease.

          (b) In case BOT is merged into or consolidated with another
corporation or all or substantially all of the assets of BOT are transferred to
another corporation, then, in connection with such transfer, the term "BOT" for
all purposes of this Agreement shall be taken to include such successor
corporation, and the Trustees shall receive and hold under this Agreement any
voting stock of such successor corporation recieved on account of the ownership,
as Trustees hereunder, of the stock held hereunder prior to such merger,
consolidation or transfer. Voting trust certificates issued and outstanding
under this Agreement at the time of such merger, consolidation or transfer may
remain outstanding or the Trustees mayl in their discretion, substitute for such
voting trust certificates new voting trust certificates in appropriate form.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require the Trustees to vote for, or
cause a dissolution of BOT if all, or substantially all, of its assets are sold.
In such event BOT may enter into a new business, operate as a holding company or
engage in any other lawful activity.

     8.   Rights and Powers of Trustees:

          (a) Until delivery to the holder of the voting trust certificate 
issued hereunder of stock certificates in exchange therefor, and until the 
surrender of the voting trust

                                          8
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certificate for cancellation, the Trustees shall have the
exclusive right to exercise all of the rights of shareholders
except as expressly provided herein, all with the same force and
effect as if the Trustees were the beneficial owners of the
common stock deposited with them including but not limited to the
exclusive right to vote the shares deposited hereunder in such
manner as they may determine in their discretion, or to give
written consent in lieu of voting thereon, subject to any
limitation on the right to vote contained in the Certificate of
Incorporation of BOT as same may have been amended, or other
certificate filed pursuant to law, in person or by proxy, at any
and all meetings of the shareholders which may be required or
authorized by law. Such right of the Trustees to vote the shares
deposited hereunder shall be exercised by majority decision and
shall include but not be limited to the right to vote with
respect to all of the following matters:

               (i) Election of directors.

               (ii) Mortgaging and pledging of all or substantially all of the
property of BOT.

               (iii) Transfer, lease or sale of all or substantially all of the
property of BOT for cash, securities or other property.

          
               (iv) Dissolution of BOT

               (v) Split-up, consolidation, merger, reorganization of BOT or a
change of corporate structure of BOT.

                                          9
<PAGE>


               (vi) Amending the By-laws of BOT

               (vii) Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation for any
purpose, including increase of the authorized capital stock of the corporation
or the classification or reclassification of such capital stock.

     The right of the Trustees to exercise the rights of a shareholder shall
also include, but not be limited to, the right, but only with the consent of the
holder of the voting trust certificate, to seek an appraisal of the common stock
deposited with them pursuant to any statutory right of appraisal and to
surrender such common stock in return for the appraised value thereof.

          (b) BOT shall give prompt notice to the registered holder of the
voting trust certificate of all regular or special meetings of the shareholders
of BOT and of all proceedings other than meetings of shareholders wherein the
consent of shareholders are requested or required. Notwithstanding the grant to
the Trustees of the right to vote the shares deposited hereunder, the
registered holder of the voting trust certificate shall be entitled to attend
any such meetings of shareholders of BOT and to participate in the deliberations
thereat, and BOT agrees to permit the registered holder of the voting trust
certificate to attend such meetings of shareholders and to participate.

          (c) Except in connection with a split-up, consolidation, merger,
reorganization, recapitalization or dissolution approved by the Trustees or
transfer pursuant to 

                                          10
<PAGE>


paragraph 4 hereof, the Trustees shall have no right to sell, assign, convey,
transfer, donate or otherwise dispose of or contract to dispose of, or mortgage,
pledge, hypothecate or otherwise encumber, any shares of the common stock or any
other securities of BOT or any successor corporation now or hereafter subject to
the voting trust.


     9.   Successor Trustee: In the event of the death, resignation or inability
to act of one of the Trustees, the remaining two, jointly, shall succeed to all
of his or her rights, powers and duties, or, if they so choose, shall select a
third person to serve as Successor Trustee. In the event of the death,
resignation or inability to act of two of the Trustees the voting trust created
by this Agreement shall terminate.


     10.  Additional Rights and Liabilities of Trustees:

          (a) The Trustees shall not be required to give any bond or other 
security for the faithful discharge of their duties, and shall not incur any 
liability as stockholder, Trustee, or otherwise, and each Trustee shall be 
liable only for his or her own willful misfeasance and for his or her own bad 
faith and shall not be answerable for any misfeasance or nonfeasance of the 
other Trustees or of any attorney, auditor, appraiser, accountant, agent or 
employee selected by him or her with reasonable care.

          (b) The certificate representing the stock received by 

                                          11
<PAGE>


the Trustee hereunder and transferred into their names may be deposited with any
agent of the Trustees or with any bank or trust company in the Borough of
Manhattan, City of New York, which may be selected by the Trustees in their
discretion, and the Trustees shall not be liable for any loss of such
certificates by such agent or depository.

          (c) The Trustees shall serve without compensation but nothing 
herein contained shall disqualify them from receiving compensation for 
services rendered in the capacity of an officer, director, agent, attorney or 
employee, of BOT. The Trustees may employ counsel and such other agents, 
consultants or employees as they, in their discretion, may deem necessary# 
and they shall be entitled to charge to and receive reimbursement from BOT 
for all advances or disbursements made by them, as well as for all actual 
expenses incurred or paid for any services rendered by such counsel, 
consultants, agents an employees in connection therewith.

          (d) Any Trustee may act as a director or officer of BOT, and he or 
she, or any firm or corporation in which he or she may be pecuniarily 
interested, may deal in or with the stock, notes, bonds or other obligations 
or securities of BOT or the voting trust certificates to be issued hereunder, 
and may contract with BOT or be or become pecuniarily interested in any 
matter or transaction to which BOT may be a party or in which it may in any 
way be concerned, as fully as though he or she were not a Trustee under this 
Agreement.

                                          12
<PAGE>

     11.  Term and Termination:

          (a) The voting trust hereby declared and created shall continue 
until the occurrence of any one of the following events whichever shall first 
occur:

               (i)   A consolidation, merger or sale of substantially all of 
BOT's assets or other reorganization to which BOT is a party if the 
securit'ies issued to all of the shareholders of BOT in such reorganization 
account in the aggregate for less than five (5%) percent of the voting power 
of the issuing corporation;

               (ii)  The expiration of ten (10) years from the date hereof;

               (iii) The death of two or more the Trustees named herein.

               (iv)  The final denial or refusal to grant any requisite 
approvals or consents by any governmental authorities having jurisdiction 
over the business of BOT (including approvals or consents from the 
appropriate state liquor authorities or agencies). The term "final" as used 
herein shall mean that all appeals from such adverse decisions have been 
exhausted or the time to take any appeals from such decision have expired 
without any appeals pending.

          (b) This Agreement may be renewed for successive ten (10) year periods
or such other term as may be permitted by law provided, however, that the voting
trust certificate holder gives his written consent to such renewal at any time
within six months 

                                          13
<PAGE>


before each termination date. A copy of each extension agreement and the consent
thereto shall be filed with the corporation.

          (c) This Agreement may be terminated, amended or modified at any time
by an agreement in writing signed by all of the parties hereto and may be
terminated by the Trustees at any time, by their giving written notice of such
termination to the other parties hereto.

          (d) The payment of any transfer taxes required upon the transfer to 
or from the Trustees of the shares of common stock of BOT or the voting trust 
certificates covered hereby, and all other expenses in connection with the 
performance heroff shall be made by BOT. Upon the termination of this 
Agreement as hereinabove provided, the Trustees upon receipt from the 
registered holder of the voting trust certificate of such certificate, duly 
endorsed, together with payment by BOT of a sum sufficient to pay all 
required transfer tax stamps and to reimburse the Trustees for any unpaid 
expenses or charges to which they are entitled under this Agreement, as well 
as for any stamp tax or governmental charge in connection with the delivery 
hereinafter described, shall deliver to BOT the certificate for the shares 
issued to them as such Trustees, shall receive new certificates issued in the 
name of the registered holder of the voting trust certificate for two hundred 
shares of common stock and shall deliver such new certificate for such shares 
to the holder.

                                          14
<PAGE>


     12.  General Provisions:

          (a) All notices and designations hereunder shall be given in writing,
sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to all of the
parties hereto, to the addresses hereinabove stated, or to such other address as
any party may designate in writing to the others. A copy of all notices shall be
delivered to BOT at its principal office.

          (b) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.

          (c) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the parties hereto, their successors and assigns.

          (d) The paragraph headings are for convenience only and shall not be
deemed to affect in any way the language of the provisions to which they refer.

          (e) This agreement contains the entire agreement between the 
parties and may not be orally modified or terminated. Except where the 
context indicates otherwise, the term "Trustees" as used in this Agreement 
shall refer to the voting trustees hereunder and/or the successor voting 
trustee then in office.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered
this agreement as of the day and year first above written.

                              BENIHANA OF TOKYO, INC

                                          15
<PAGE>


                              By:/s/ Rocky H. Aoki     
                              ----------------------------------

                              /s/ Rocky H. Aoki        
                              ----------------------------------
                              ROCKY H. AOKI, Shareholder



                              /s/ Rocky H. Aoki        
                              ----------------------------------
                              ROCKY H.IAOKI, Trustee



                              /s/ Katsu Aoki           
                              ----------------------------------
                              KATSU AOKI, Trustee


                              /s/ Darwin C. Dornbush    
                              ----------------------------------
                              DARWIN C. DORNBUSH, Trustee


                                          16



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