RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL AGREEMENT
This Right of First Refusal Agreement (this "Agreement") is made effective
as of , 2005 among: (a) Stealth Maritime Corporation S.A., a Liberian
corporation ("Stealth Maritime"); Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, an individual residing at
Xxxxxx 0, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx (together with Stealth Maritime, the
"Grantors"); and (b) StealthGas Inc., a Xxxxxxxx Islands company (the
"Company").
BACKGROUND
A. The Company and its vessel owning subsidiaries have entered into that
certain management agreement (the "Management Agreement") with
Stealth Maritime whereby Stealth Maritime is responsible for the
commercial, technical and strategic management of vessels owned by
the Company.
B. The Company and its vessel owning subsidiaries desire to enter into
an amended and restated management agreement, (the "Amended and
Restated Management Agreement"), amending and restating the terms of
and conditions of the Management Agreement governing the technical
and commercial management of vessels owned by the Company.
C. In order to induce the Company to enter into the Amended and Restated
Management Agreement and to facilitate the acquisition by the Company
of additional vessels, which will also become subject to the Amended
and Restated Management Agreement, each of the Grantors desires to
grant the Company a right of first refusal to purchase or charter-in
any liquefied petroleum gas vessels (a "Subject Vessel") which any of
the Grantors, or any entity with respect to which Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx is
an executive officer, director or the principal shareholder, may
consider for acquisition or chartering-in in the future.
AGREEMENT
In order to induce the Company to enter into the Amended and Restated
Management Agreement and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Grantors and the Company
agree to the following:
1. Vessel Acquisition Restriction, Etc. Each of the Grantors agrees with
the Company that, from the date hereof and so long as: (i) Stealth Maritime, or
any entity with respect to which Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx is an executive officer,
director or the principal shareholder, manages vessels owned or chartered-in by
the Company and/or (ii) Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx is an executive officer or director of
the Company, it will (and Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx will ensure that each entity with
respect to which he is an executive officer, director or the principal
shareholder will):
a. promptly notify the Company of any acquisition or proposed
acquisition by such Grantor, or by any entity with respect to
which Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx is an executive officer, director or the
principal shareholder, of a Subject Vessel by delivering a
notice to the Company, advising it of the details of the
acquisition or proposed acquisition of a Subject Vessel,
including its terms, and offering to sell the Subject Vessel to
the Company on substantially the same terms plus any costs of
the Subject Vessel's acquisition and net costs of carrying the
Subject Vessel since its acquisition; and
b. promptly notify the Company of any chartering-in or proposed
chartering-in by such Grantor, or by any entity with respect to
which Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx is an executive officer, director or the
principal shareholder, of a Subject Vessel by delivering a
notice to the Company, advising it of the details of the any
chartering-in or proposed chartering-in of a Subject
Vessel, including its terms, and offering the opportunity of
chartering-in the Subject Vessel to the Company on substantially
the same terms.
2. Response Notice. Within five (5) business days after receipt of any
notice referred to in Section 1(a) or 1(b) above, the Company will have the
right, but not the obligation, to deliver to the Grantors a notice (a "Response
Notice") that states whether the Company wishes, as the case may be, either (x)
to purchase the Subject Vessel described in the notice referred to in Section
1(a) above upon the terms stated therein and subject to the negotiation and
execution of a memorandum of agreement or other contract of sale or (y) to
charter-in the Subject Vessel described in the notice referred to Section 1(b)
above upon the terms stated therein and subject to the negotiation and execution
of a charter party agreement. If the Company wishes to purchase or charter-in,
as the case may be, the Subject Vessel, the Company will have forty-five days
(45) after delivery of its Response Notice to complete the acquisition or enter
into a charter party agreement, as the case may be. If the Company fails to
deliver a Response Notice within the aforementioned five (5) business days, then
the Company will be deemed to have declined to purchase or charter-in, as the
case may be, the Subject Vessel and each of the Grantors, or any entity with
respect to which Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx is an executive officer, director or the
principal shareholder, will have the right to own and operate or charter-in the
same. The Company will have the right to designate any other entity to acquire
or charter-in the Subject Vessel so long as such entity is an affiliate of the
Company. The Company shall have no right to assign its rights hereunder except
as provided in this Section 2.
3. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications to
any party hereunder shall be in writing (including prepaid overnight courier,
facsimile transmission, or similar writing) and shall be given to such party at
its respective address or facsimile number set forth below or at such other
address or facsimile numbers as such party may hereafter specify for the purpose
by notice to the other party hereto. Each such notice, request or other
communication shall be effective (i) if given by facsimile, when such facsimile
is transmitted to the facsimile number specified in this Section 3 and
telephonic confirmation of receipt thereof is obtained or (ii) if given by mail,
prepaid overnight courier or any other means, when received at the address
specified in this Section or when delivery at such address is refused.
Notices to the Grantors shall be made as follows:
Stealth Maritime
Appollon Business Center - Building Xx. 0
000, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx
00000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx
Phone: x00 000 000 0000
Fax: x00 000 000 0000
Notices to the Company shall be made as follows:
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StealthGas Inc.
000, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx
00000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx
Phone: x00 000 000 0000
Fax: x00 000 000 0000-000
4. Governing Law. This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the
parties hereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
England.
5. Further Assurances. Each of the Grantors agrees to execute,
acknowledge and deliver all such instruments and take all such actions as the
Company from time to time may reasonably request in order to further effectuate
the purposes of this Agreement and to carry out the terms hereof and to better
assure and confirm to the Company its rights, powers and remedies hereunder.
6. Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and to their respective heirs,
executors, administrators, successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement is
not assignable by either party without the prior written consent of the other
party except as provided in Section 2 hereof.
7. Severability. If any term, covenant or condition of this Agreement
is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, then this
Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable
provision or part of a provision had never been contained in this Agreement.
8. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in multiple
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of such
counterparts together shall constitute one agreement. To facilitate execution of
this Agreement, the parties may execute and exchange counterparts of signature
pages by telephone facsimile.
[Signature page follows.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed or caused this
Agreement to be executed as of the date set forth above.
STEALTH MARITIME CORPORATION S.A.
By:
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Name:
Title:
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Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
STEALTHGAS INC.
By:
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Name:
Title:
