THIS OPTION AND THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY INTERESTS PURCHASABLE UPON
EXERCISE HEREOF HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. IT MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR
SALE, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT AS TO THE SECURITIES UNDER SAID ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL
SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.
UNIT PURCHASE OPTION
Void after July 10, 2006
Option No. 1 July 10, 2003
FOR VALUE RECEIVED and pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement dated
November 29, 2002, between Shore Capital LLC and Penn Octane Corporation, a
Delaware corporation ("Penn Octane"), and a resulting employment agreement dated
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May 13, 2003, between Penn Octane and Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Jr., the undersigned, Penn
Octane, hereby certifies that Shore Capital LLC (the "Holder"), or assigns, is
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entitled, subject to the terms set forth below, to purchase from Penn Octane
after the date (the "Distribution Date") Penn Octane completes the distribution
(the "Distribution") to its stockholders of all of the outstanding common units
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of Rio Vista Energy Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Rio Vista"),
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and before 5:00 P.M. New York time, on July 10, 2006 (the "Expiration Date") 25%
of the outstanding Units (as defined below) of Rio Vista GP LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (the "Company") for a purchase price per Unit (the
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"Exercise Price") equal to the number of Units to be purchased divided by the
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pro rata portion of the tax basis capital of Rio Vista immediately following the
Distribution.
As used herein the following terms, unless the context otherwise requires,
have the following respective meanings:
(a) The term "Company" includes any corporation that shall succeed to or
assume the obligations of the Company.
(b) The term "Exercise Price" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term
in the first paragraph hereof.
(c) The term "Limited Liability Company Agreement" shall mean the Amended
and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company dated September
8, 2004.
(c) The term "Purchase Price" shall mean the amount equal to the product of
the Exercise Price and the number of Units to be purchased upon the full
exercise of this Option.
(d) The term "Units" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the
Limited Liability Company Agreement.
1. Exercise of Option. This Option may be exercised in full by the Holder
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hereof at any time after the Distribution Date and before the Expiration Date by
surrender of this Option,
with the form of subscription, addendum agreement to the limited liability
company agreement of the Company and the Voting Agreement attached hereto duly
executed by such Holder, to the Company and Penn Octane at their respective
principal offices, accompanied by payment of the Purchase Price. The Purchase
Price shall be paid by cash or check payable to the order of Penn Octane
Corporation.
2. When Exercise Effective. The exercise of this Option shall be deemed to
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have been effected immediately prior to the close of business on the business
day on which this Option is surrendered as provided in Section 1 and the
documents referenced in Section 1 are duly executed and delivered as provided in
Section 1, and at such time the Holder shall be deemed to be the record holder
of such Units for all purposes.
3. Delivery on Exercise. As soon as practicable after the exercise of this
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Option in full, and in any event within ten (10) business days thereafter, Penn
Octane at its expense (including the payment by it of any applicable issue
taxes) will cause to be delivered to the holder hereof a certificate or
certificates for the number of Units to which such holder shall be entitled on
such exercise.
4. Investment Intent. Unless a current registration statement under the
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Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), shall be in effect
with respect to the securities to be purchased upon exercise of this Option, the
Holder hereof, by accepting this Option, covenants and agrees that, at the time
of exercise hereof, and at the time of any proposed transfer of securities
acquired upon exercise hereof, such Holder will deliver to the Company and Penn
Octane a written statement that the securities acquired by the Holder are for
such Holder's own account, and are not acquired with a view to, or for sale in
connection with, any distribution thereof (or any portion thereof) except
pursuant to current registration statement under the Securities Act or an
available exemption from registration.
5. Transfer. This Option is not transferable without the prior written
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consent of Penn Octane.
6. No Rights or Liability as a Member. This Option does not entitle the
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Holder hereof to any voting rights or other rights as a Member (as defined in
Limited Liability Company Agreement). No provisions hereof and no enumeration
herein of the rights or privileges of the Holder hereof shall give rise to any
liability of such holder as a Member of the Company. The Units to be purchased
pursuant to this Option are subject to the terms of the Limited Liability
Company Agreement. The Holder shall not be deemed to be a Member and shall not
have any rights of a Member or rights of an assignee from a Member with respect
to, any Units subject to this Option unless and until the Holder has satisfied
all requirements for exercise of this Option pursuant to its terms. Before
receiving the Units subject to this Option, the Holder shall take such action
and execute such documents as the Company and Penn Octane may require to become
a Member of the Company.
7. Damages. Penn Octane recognizes and agrees that the Holder hereof will
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not have an adequate remedy if Penn Octane fails to comply with the terms of
this Option and that damages will not be readily ascertainable, and Penn Octane
expressly agrees that, in the event of such failure, it shall not oppose an
application by the Holder of this Option or any other person
2
entitled to the benefits of this Option requiring specific performance of any
and all provisions hereof or enjoining the Penn Octane from continuing to commit
any such breach of the terms hereof.
8. Notices. All notices and other communications required or permitted
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hereunder shall be in writing and sent (a) by telecopy if the sender on the same
day sends a confirming copy of such notice by a recognized overnight delivery
service (charges prepaid), or (b) by first class mail, or (c) by a recognized
overnight delivery service (with charges prepaid), addressed (1) if to the
Holder of this Option, at such Holder's address as it appears in the records of
Penn Octane (unless otherwise indicated by such Holder), (2) if to Penn Octane,
at its office at 00-000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx X, Xxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000,
Attention: Chief Executive Officer, or at such other address as Penn Octane
shall have furnished to the Holder of the Option in writing or (3) if to the
Company, at its office at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000 or
at such other address as the Company or Penn Octane shall have furnished to the
Holder of the Option in writing
9. Payment of Taxes. Penn Octane shall pay all transfer taxes and other
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governmental charges (not including state and federal income taxes) that may be
imposed in respect to the issue or delivery of the Units purchased upon the
exercise of this Option. At the time this Option is exercised, in whole or in
part, or at any time thereafter as requested by Penn Octane, Holder hereby
authorizes withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to Holder, and
otherwise agrees to make adequate provision for, any sums required to satisfy
the federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding obligations of Penn Octane
or an affiliate, if any, which arise in connection with this Option. This
Option is not exercisable unless the tax withholding obligations of Penn Octane
and/or any affiliate are satisfied. Accordingly, Holder may not be able to
exercise this Option when desired even though this Option is vested, and Penn
Octane shall have no obligation to issue a certificate for such Units or release
such Units from any escrow provided for herein.
10. Governing Law. All issues and questions concerning the construction,
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validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Option and the attachments
hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the
State of Texas without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law
rules or provisions (whether of the State of Texas or any other jurisdiction)
that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the
State of Texas. In furtherance of the foregoing, the internal law of the State
of Texas shall control the interpretation and construction of this Option (and
all attachments hereto), even though under that jurisdiction's choice of law or
conflict of law analysis, the substantive law of some other jurisdiction would
ordinarily apply.
11. Consent to Jurisdiction.
-------------------------
(a) Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any Texas
state court or federal court o the United States of America sitting in Houston,
Texas, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding
arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment relating thereto, and
each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that
all claims in respect
3
of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such Texas state
court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. Each of the
parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding
shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the
judgment or in any other manner provided by law.
(b) Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any
objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit,
action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Option or the
transactions contemplated hereby in any Texas state or federal court. Each of
the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or
proceeding in any such court.
(c) Each party to this Option irrevocably consents to service of
process in the manner provided for notices in Section 8. Nothing in this Option
will affect the right of any party to this Option to serve process in any other
manner permitted by law.
12. Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY
ARISE UNDER THIS OPTION IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES,
AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY
HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY
ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS OPTION OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY OR THEREBY.
(b) EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (i) NO REPRESENTATIVE,
AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE,
THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE
FOREGOING WAIVER, (ii) IT UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF
SUCH WAIVER, (iii) IT MAKES SUCH WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (iv) IT HAS BEEN
INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS OPTION BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVER AND
CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 12.
13. Miscellaneous. This Option and any term hereof may be changed, waived,
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discharged or terminated only by an instrument in writing signed by the party
against which enforcement of such change, waiver, discharge or termination is
sought. The headings in this Option are for purposes of reference only, and
shall not limit or otherwise affect any of the terms hereof.
PENN OCTANE CORPORATION
By: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Chief Executive Officer
4
ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED TO
WITH RESPECT TO ITS RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER:
SHORE CAPITAL LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Jr.
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Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Jr., President
5
ATTACHMENT A TO OPTION
FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION
(TO BE SIGNED ONLY ON EXERCISE OF OPTION)
To: PENN OCTANE CORPORATION
The undersigned, the holder of the within Option, hereby irrevocably elects
to exercise the purchase rights represented by such Option for, and to purchase
thereunder, 25% of the outstanding Units of RIO VISTA GP LLC and herewith makes
payment of $___________ therefor,
and requests that the certificates for such units be issued in the name of,
and delivered to the undersigned, whose address is________________________
____________________________________.
_______________________________________
(Signature must conform in all
respects to name of holder as specified
on the face of the Option)
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
Address
Dated: ________________________
6
ATTACHMENT B TO OPTION
ADDENDUM AGREEMENT TO THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
AGREEMENT OF RIO VISTA GP LLC
7
ATTACHMENT C TO OPTION
VOTING AGREEMENT
8
