MASTER LOAN AGREEMENT by and among HOMELAND ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC and HOME FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK dated as of November 30, 2007
Exhibit 10.30
by and among
HOMELAND ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC
and
HOME FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK
dated
as of
November 30, 2007
as of
November 30, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING MATTERS |
3 | |||
Section 1.01 Certain Defined Terms |
3 | |||
Section 1.02 Accounting Matters |
15 | |||
Section 1.03 Construction |
15 | |||
ARTICLE II. AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE TERM LOANS |
15 | |||
Section 2.01 Supplements |
15 | |||
Section 2.02 Construction Loan |
16 | |||
Section 2.03 Term Revolving Loan |
16 | |||
Section 2.04 Revolving Line of Credit Loan |
16 | |||
Section 2.05 Conversion of Construction Loan Into Term Loan |
16 | |||
Section 2.06 Letters of Credit Procedures/Fees/Reimbursement |
17 | |||
Section 2.07 Adjustments to Interest Rate |
19 | |||
Section 2.08 Default Interest |
19 | |||
Section 2.09 Late Charge |
20 | |||
Section 2.10 Prepayment of Loans |
20 | |||
Section 2.11 Changes in Law Rendering Certain LIBOR Rate Loans Unlawful |
20 | |||
Section 2.12 Payments and Computations |
21 | |||
Section 2.13 Maximum Amount Limitation |
22 | |||
Section 2.14 Lender Records |
22 | |||
Section 2.15 Loan Payments |
22 | |||
Section 2.16 Compensation |
22 | |||
Section 2.17 Excess Cash Flow |
23 | |||
ARTICLE III CONDITIONS PRECEDENT |
23 | |||
Section 3.01 Conditions Precedent to Funding |
23 | |||
ARTICLE IV. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
28 | |||
Section 4.01 Representations and Warranties of Borrower |
28 | |||
ARTICLE V. COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER |
32 | |||
Section 5.01 Affirmative Covenants |
32 | |||
Section 5.02 Negative Covenants |
40 | |||
ARTICLE VI. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES |
44 | |||
Section 6.01 Events of Default |
44 | |||
Section 6.02 Remedies |
47 | |||
Section 6.03 Remedies Cumulative |
48 | |||
ARTICLE VII. MISCELLANEOUS |
49 | |||
Section 7.01 Amendments, etc. |
49 |
i
Page | ||||
Section 7.02 Notices, etc. |
49 | |||
Section 7.03 No Waiver; Remedies |
50 | |||
Section 7.04 Costs, Expenses and Taxes |
50 | |||
Section 7.05 Right of Set-off |
51 | |||
Section 7.06 Severability of Provisions |
51 | |||
Section 7.07 Binding Effect; Successors and Assigns; Participations |
51 | |||
Section 7.08 Consent to Jurisdiction |
52 | |||
Section 7.09 Governing Law |
52 | |||
Section 7.10 Execution in Counterparts |
52 | |||
Section 7.11 Survival |
52 | |||
Section 7.12 US Patriot Act |
53 | |||
Section 7.13 Waiver of Jury Trial |
53 | |||
Section 7.14 Entire Agreement |
53 | |||
LIST OF SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS |
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Schedule 3.01(d) Real Property |
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Schedule 4.01(a) Description of Certain Transactions Related to Borrower’s Stock |
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Schedule 4.01(f) Description of Certain Threatened Actions, etc. |
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Schedule 4.01(k) Location of Inventory and Farm Products; Third Parties in Possession; Crops |
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Schedule 4.01(l) Office Locations; Fictitious Names; Etc. |
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Schedule 4.01(p) Intellectual Property |
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Schedule 4.01(t) Environmental Compliance |
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Schedule 5.01(o) Management |
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Schedule 5.02(a) Description of Certain Liens, Lease Obligations, etc. |
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Schedule 5.02(k) Transactions with Affiliates |
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Schedule 5.02(l) Management Fees and Compensation |
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Exhibit A Compliance Certificate |
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Exhibit B Project Sources and Uses Statement |
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Exhibit C Form of Opinion Letter |
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Exhibit D Form of Letter of Credit |
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ii
THIS MASTER LOAN AGREEMENT (this “Agreement"), dated as of November 30, 2007, between HOME
FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK, a federally chartered stock savings bank organized under the laws of the
United States (“Lender") and HOMELAND ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC, an Iowa limited liability company
(“Borrower").
RECITALS
A. Borrower has requested Lender extend to Borrower various credit facilities for the purposes
of acquiring, constructing, equipping and furnishing of an ethanol production facility to be
located near the city of New Hampton, Chickasaw County, Iowa.
B. Lender has agreed to make such loans to Borrower, and in order to reduce the amount of
paperwork associated therewith, Lender and Borrower would like to enter into this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, intending to be legally bound hereby, and
in consideration of Lender making one or more loans to Borrower, Lender and Borrower agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING MATTERS
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING MATTERS
Section 1.01. Certain Defined Terms. All capitalized terms used in this Agreement and
in the Supplements shall have the following meanings. Terms not otherwise defined in this
Agreement shall have the meanings attributed to such terms in the Uniform Commercial Code, as
amended from time to time (the “UCC”). All references to dollar amounts shall mean amounts in
lawful money of the United States of America.
“Advances” means the Loans or Letters of Credit provided to Borrower pursuant to
this Agreement and the Supplements.
“Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person: (a) that directly or
indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under
common control with, such Person; (b) that directly or indirectly beneficially owns or holds
ten percent (10%) or more of any class of voting stock or membership interests (units) of
such Person; or (c) ten percent (10%) or more of the voting stock or membership interests
(units) of which is directly or indirectly beneficially owned or held by the Person in
question. The term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise; provided, however, in no event
shall Lender or any Bank be deemed an Affiliate of Borrower or any of their subsidiaries.
3
“Agreement” means this Agreement, as this Agreement may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time, together with all exhibits and schedules attached to or made
a part of this Agreement from time to time.
“Allowed Distributions” has the meaning specified in Section 5.02(b).
“Borrower” means Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC, an Iowa limited liability company.
“Borrower’s Equity” means cash equity of Borrower of not less than $91,000,000.00
(including earned interest on Borrower’s equity escrow account), plus any grants received
from any source related to the construction or operation of the Project.
“Borrowing Base” means, commencing 120 days after start-up of operations, the sum
of: (A) seventy-five percent (75%) of the Borrower’s Eligible Accounts Receivable, plus (B)
seventy-five percent (75%) of the Borrower’s Eligible Inventory.
“Borrowing Base Certificate” means certificates in the form attached to the Third
Supplement, properly completed and duly executed by an authorized officer of the Borrower
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which
commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of the State of Minnesota, or are in
fact closed in, the state where Lender’s office is located and, if such day relates to any
LIBOR Rate, means any such day on which dealings in dollar deposits are conducted by and
between banks in the applicable offshore dollar interbank market.
“Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, the sum of all amounts that would, in
accordance with GAAP, be included as additions to property, plant and equipment on a
statement of cash flows for Borrower during such period, with respect to: (a) the
acquisition, construction, improvement, replacement or betterment of land, buildings,
machinery, equipment or of any other fixed assets or leaseholds; or (b) other capital
expenditures and other uses recorded as capital expenditures having substantially the same
effect.
“CERCLA” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability
Act of 1980, as amended.
“Closing Date” means November 30, 2007.
4
“Collateral” means and includes, without limitation, all property and assets granted
as collateral security for the Loans or other indebtedness, in favor of Lender, whether real
or personal property, whether granted directly or indirectly, whether granted now or in the
future, and whether granted in the form of a security interest, mortgage, assignment of
rents, deed of trust, assignment, pledge, chattel mortgage, chattel trust, factor’s lien,
equipment trust, conditional sale, trust receipt, lien, charge, lien or title retention
contract,
lease or consignment intended as a security device, or any other security or lien interest
whatsoever; whether created by law, contract or otherwise.
“Commitment” means the respective amounts committed to by Lender under this
Agreement, the Supplements and the Notes.
“Completion Date” means the earlier of (i) May 1, 2009, or (ii) the date a
Completion Certificate is issued for the Project executed by Borrower, General Contractor
and Inspecting Engineer.
“Completion Certificate” means a certificate in form and substance reasonably
acceptable to Lender, executed by Borrower, General Contractor and Inspecting Engineer
stating that the Project is completed and that the processing equipment and fixtures are
fully operational.
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate of the treasurer, or any other officer
reasonably acceptable to Lender, of Borrower, substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A, setting forth the calculations of current financial covenants and: (a) stating
that the Financial Statements are true and correct and, other than the unaudited interim
financial statements, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP; (b) stating whether they
have knowledge of the occurrence of any Event of Default under this Agreement, and if so,
stating in reasonable detail the facts with respect thereto; and (c) reaffirming and
ratifying the representations and warranties, as of the date of the certificate, contained
in this Agreement.
“Construction Advance” means any Advance for the payment of Project Costs.
“Construction Contracts” means any and all material contracts, written or oral,
between Borrower and any Contractor and any subcontractor and between any of the foregoing
and any other person or entity relating in any way to the construction of the Project,
including the performing of labor or the furnishing of standard or specially fabricated
materials in connection therewith.
“Construction Letter of Credit” has the meaning set forth in the First Supplement.
“Construction Loan” means the loan from Lender to Borrower in the amount of
$94,000,000.00 and pursuant to the terms and conditions provided for in this Agreement and
in the First Supplement.
“Construction Note” means that certain promissory note of even date herewith
executed and delivered to Lender by Borrower in the original principal amount of
$94,000,000.00 and pursuant to the terms and conditions provided for in this Agreement and
the First Supplement.
5
“Contractor” means and includes any person or entity, including, without limitation,
the General Contractor, engaged to work on or to furnish labor, materials or supplies for
the Project.
“Conversion Date” means 60 days after the Completion Date.
“Current Portion of Long Term Debt” means that portion of Funded Debt payable within
one year from the date of such determination, determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Debt” means: (A) indebtedness for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price
of property or services; (B) obligations as lessee under leases which shall have been or
should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases; (C) obligations under direct
or indirect guaranties in respect of, and obligations (contingent or otherwise) to purchase
or otherwise acquire, or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss in respect of,
indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clause (A) or (B) above
or (E) through (G) below; (D) liabilities in respect of unfunded vested benefits under plans
covered by Title IV of ERISA; (E) indebtedness in respect of mandatory redemption or
mandatory dividend rights on equity interests but excluding dividends payable solely in
additional equity interests; (F) all obligations of a Person, contingent or otherwise, for
the payment of money under any noncompete, consulting or similar agreement entered into with
the seller of a company or its assets or any other similar arrangements providing for the
deferred payment of the purchase price for an acquisition permitted hereby or an acquisition
consummated prior to the date hereof; and (G) all obligations of a Person under any Hedging
Agreement.
“Debt Service Reserve Account” means the Deposit Account established and maintained
by Lender for Borrower as set forth in Sections 3.01(hh) and 5.01(t).
“Default Rate” means the lesser of: (a) the Maximum Rate; or (b) the rate per annum
which shall from day-to-day be equal to two percent (2%) in excess of the then applicable
rate of interest under any Supplement or Note.
“Deposit Account” means and includes without limitation the Disbursing Account, the
Debt Service Reserve Account, and all other accounts established and maintained by Lender
for Borrower at Home Federal Savings Bank during the term of this Agreement.
“Disbursing Account” means the Deposit Account established by Lender for purposes of
making all Advances under the Disbursing Agreement.
“Disbursing Agent” means Tri-County Abstract and Title Guaranty, Inc., its
successors and assigns.
6
“Disbursing Agreement” means the Disbursing Agreement, of even date herewith,
executed by the Disbursing Agent, Borrower, and Lender, as the same may be amended,
modified, or supplemented from time to time.
“Distribution” means any dividend, distribution, payment, or transfer of property by
Borrower to any member of Borrower, including tax distributions made to member of Borrower.
“EBITDA” means for any period, the total of the following each calculated without
duplication for Borrower for such period: (i) net income from operations; plus (ii) any
provision for (or less any benefit from) income taxes included in determining such net
income; plus (iii) Interest Expense deducted in determining such net income; plus
(iv) amortization and depreciation expense deducted in determining such net income.
“Eligible Accounts Receivable” means all unpaid Accounts, net of any credits, except
that the following shall not in any event be deemed Eligible Accounts Receivable:
(a) | that portion of Accounts unpaid thirty (30) days or more after
the invoice date; |
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(b) | that portion of Accounts that is disputed or subject to a claim
of offset or a contra account; |
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(c) | that portion of Accounts not yet earned by the final delivery
of goods or rendition of services, as applicable, by Borrower to the customer; |
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(d) | Accounts owed by any unit of government, whether foreign or
domestic, except Incentive Payments will be considered a part of Eligible
Accounts Receivable as defined in this Agreement; |
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(e) | Accounts owed by an account debtor located outside the United
States; |
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(f) | Accounts owed by an account debtor that is insolvent, the
subject of bankruptcy proceedings or has gone out of business; |
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(g) | Accounts owed by a guarantor, Affiliate, director, officer,
employee, or member of the Borrower; |
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(h) | Accounts not subject to a duly perfected security interest in
favor of the Lender or which are subject to any lien, security interest or
claim in favor of any Person other than Lender, including any payment or
performance bond; |
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(i) | that portion of Accounts that has been restructured, extended,
amended or modified; and |
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(j) | that portion of Accounts that constitutes advertising, finance
charges, service charges or sales or excise taxes. |
7
“Eligible Inventory” means all Inventory held for ultimate sale or lease, or which
has been or will be supplied under contracts of service, or which are raw materials, or
materials used or consumed in Borrower’s business and that has been specifically identified
and accepted by Lender, excluding all of the following inventory:
(a) | covered by documents of title, instruments, or chattel paper
when these documents, instruments and paper are not owned and held by Borrower
or are subject to competing claims, liens or encumbrances; |
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(b) | intended to be sold outside of the ordinary course of business; |
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(c) | consigned, sold or leased to others or held on consignment or
lease from others or subject to a bailment; |
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(d) | subject to a competing claim, lien or encumbrance unless other
than any Permitted Liens; |
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(e) | paid for in advance with progress payments or any other sums to
Borrower in anticipation of the sale and delivery of inventory; |
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(f) | obsolete or unusable in the ordinary course of business; |
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(g) | inventory of work in progress; and |
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(h) | Inventory that Lender, in its sole discretion, disqualifies as
Eligible Inventory. |
“Environmental Laws” means all laws and regulations relating to environmental,
health, safety and land use matters applicable to any property.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“Events of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
“Excess Cash Flow” means EBITDA, less the sum of: (i) required payments in respect
of Funded Debt; (ii) Maintenance Capital Expenditures; and (iii) Allowed Distributions.
“Excess Cash Flow Payment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.17.
“Excess Distributions” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.02(b).
8
“Extraordinary Items” means items which are material and significantly different
from Borrower’s typical business activities, determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 5.01(c).
“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means the ratio of (EBITDA +/- Extraordinary Items)
divided by the sum of Current Portion of Long Term Debt + Interest Expense + Distributions +
Maintenance Capital Expenditures).
“Fixed Rate Loan” means that portion of the unpaid principal balance of the
Construction Loan that is converted to a Term Loan and which will accrue interest at a fixed
rate of interest pursuant to Section 2.05.
“Food Security Act” means the Food Security Act of 1985, 7 U.S.C. §1631, as
amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Funded Debt” means the principal amount of all Debt of Borrower having a final
maturity of more than one year from the date of origin thereof (or which is renewable or
extendible at the option of the obligor for a period or periods more than one year from the
date of origin) excluding, however, the principal amount due under any Term Revolving Note
or any other line of credit used by Borrower for working capital purposes, all determined in
accordance with GAAP for the period in question.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.
“General Contractor” means Xxxxx, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, and its successors
and permitted assigns.
“Governmental Authority” means and includes any and all courts, boards, agencies,
commissions, offices, or authorities of any nature whatsoever for any governmental unit
(federal, state, county, district, municipality, city, or otherwise) whether now or
hereafter in existence.
“Incentive Payments” means any and all federal or state governmental subsidies,
payments, transfers or other benefits, whether now or hereafter established, received by the
Borrower.
“Income Taxes” means the applicable state, local or federal tax on the net income of
Borrower.
“Inspecting Engineer” means BBI International, Inc., a Colorado corporation, and its
successors and permitted assigns.
“Intellectual Property” has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(p).
9
“Interest Expense” means for any period, the total interest expense of Borrower
calculated on a consolidated basis.
“Interest Period” means (for each Loan) (a) initially, the period beginning on (and
including) the date on which the Loan is made and ending on (but excluding) the first day of
the next calendar month thereafter; and (b) thereafter, each period commencing on the first day of each succeeding calendar month thereafter and ending on the last day of such
month. Notwithstanding the foregoing: (a) any Interest Period which would otherwise extend
beyond the Maturity Date shall end on the Maturity Date, and (b) other than the initial
Interest Period and the final Interest Period, no Interest Period shall have a duration of
less than one (1) month.
“Inventory” means all of Borrower’s inventory, as such term is defined in the UCC,
whether now owned or hereafter acquired, whether consisting of whole goods, spare parts or
components, supplies or materials, whether acquired, held or furnished for sale, for lease
or under service contracts or for manufacture or processing, and wherever located.
“Lender” means Home Federal Savings Bank, and its successors and assigns.
“Letter of Credit” means the Construction Letters of Credit and the Revolving
Letters of Credit issued by Lender pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement
and Supplements.
“Letter of Credit Liabilities” means, at any time, the aggregate maximum amount
available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit (in each case, determined
without regard to whether any conditions to drawing could then be met) and all unreimbursed
drawings under Letters of Credit.
“LIBOR Rate” (London Interbank Offered Rate) means the rate (rounded upward to the
nearest sixteenth and adjusted for reserves required on Eurocurrency Liabilities (as
hereinafter defined) for banks subject to FRB Regulation D (as hereinafter defined) or
required by any other federal law or regulation), quoted by the British Bankers Association
(the “BBA”) at 11:00 a.m. London time two Banking Days (as hereinafter defined) before the
commencement of the Interest Period for the offering of U.S. Dollar deposits in the London
interbank market for an Interest Period of one month, as published by Bloomberg or another
major information vendor listed on BBA’s official website. “Banking Day” shall mean a day
on which Lender is open for business, dealings in U.S. dollar deposits are being carried
out in the London interbank market, and banks are open for business in New York City and
London, England. “Eurocurrency Liabilities” has the meaning as set forth in FRB Regulation
D. “FRB Regulation D” means Regulation D as promulgated by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, 12 CFR Part 204, as amended from time to time.
“Loan/Loans” means and includes the Construction Loan, the Term Loan, the Term
Revolving Loan, the Revolving Line of Credit Loan and any other financial accommodations
extended to Borrower by Lender pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and any Supplements.
10
“Loan and Carrying Charges” means all commitment fees to Lender, brokerage fees,
standby fees, interest charges, service fees, attorneys’ fees, contractors’ fees,
developers’ fees, funding fees, title insurance fees and charges, recording fees,
registration taxes, real estate taxes, special assessments, insurance premiums, and utility
charges incurred by Borrower in the construction of the Project and issuance of the Notes, all costs incurred in
acquisition of the Real Property and any other costs incurred in the development of the
Project.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, any and all Supplements, the Notes, Letters
of Credit, the Security Agreement, the Mortgage and all other agreements, documents,
instruments, and certificates of Borrower delivered to, or in favor of, Lender under this
Agreement or in connection herewith or therewith, including, without limitation, all
agreements, documents, instruments, and certificates delivered in connection with the
extension of Advances by Lender.
“Loan Obligations” means all obligations, indebtedness, and liabilities of Borrower
to Lender, including the Reimbursement Obligations, arising pursuant to any of the Loan
Documents, whether now existing or hereafter arising, whether direct, indirect, related,
unrelated, fixed, contingent, liquidated, unliquidated, joint, several, or joint and
several, including, without limitation, the obligation of Borrower to repay the Advances,
interest on the Advances, and all fees, costs, and expenses (including, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) provided for in the Loan Documents.
“Long Term Debt” means indebtedness that matures more than one year after the date
of determination thereof.
“Long Term Marketing Agreement” means any contract, agreement or understanding of
Borrower having a term of one year or more after the date of determination thereof relating
to the sale of any raw materials, inventory, products or by-products of Borrower.
“Maintenance Capital Expenditures” means all Capital Expenditures made in the
ordinary course of business to maintain existing business operations of Borrower in any
fiscal year, determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Material Adverse Effect” means any set of circumstances or events which: (i) has or
could reasonably be expected to have any material adverse effect upon the validity or
enforceability of any Loan Documents or any material term or condition contained therein;
(ii) is or could reasonably be expected to be material and adverse to the condition
(financial or otherwise), business assets, operations, or property of Borrower; or (iii)
materially impairs or could reasonably be expected to materially impair the ability of
Borrower to perform the obligations under the Loan Documents.
11
“Material Contract” means (i) any contract or other agreement, written or oral, of
Borrower or its subsidiaries involving monetary liability of or to any such person in an
amount in excess of $500,000.00 per annum; and (ii) any other contract or agreement, written
or oral, of Borrower or any of its subsidiaries the failure to comply with which could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Borrower or its subsidiaries;
provided, however, that any contract or agreement which is terminable by a party other than
Borrower or its subsidiaries without cause upon notice of 90 days or less shall not be
considered a Material Contract.
“Maturity Date” means the fifth anniversary of the Conversion Date.
“Maximum Excess Cash Flow Payment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.17.
“Maximum Rate” means the maximum nonusurious interest rate, if any, at any time, or
from time to time, that may be contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received under
applicable state or federal laws.
“Mortgage” means that certain Mortgage of even date herewith, pursuant to which a
mortgage interest shall be given by Borrower to Lender in the Real Property to secure
payment to Lender of the Loan Obligations.
“Net Income” means net income as determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Note/Notes” means and includes the Construction Note, Term Revolving Note,
Revolving Line of Credit Note and all other promissory notes executed and delivered to
Lender by Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and any Supplements as the same
may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended or restated from time to time.
“Ordinary Trade Payable Dispute” means trade accounts payable, in an aggregate
amount not in excess of $100,000.00 with respect to Borrower, and with respect to which:
(a) there exists a bona fide dispute between Borrower and the vendor;
(b) Borrower is contesting the same in good faith by appropriate proceedings; and
(c) Borrower has established appropriate reserves on its financial statements.
“Permitted Liens” shall have the meaning ascribed to the term in Section 5.02.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, business trust, association, company,
partnership, joint venture, governmental authority, or other entity.
“Personal Property” means all buildings, structures, equipment, fixtures,
improvements, building supplies and materials and other personal property now or hereafter
attached to, located in, placed in or necessary to the use of the improvements on the Real
Property including, but without being limited to, all machinery, fixtures, equipment,
furnishings, and appliances, as well as all renewals, replacements, additions, and
substitutes thereof, and all products and proceeds thereof, and including without limitation
all accounts, instruments, chattel paper, other rights to payment, money, deposit accounts,
insurance proceeds and general intangibles of Borrower, whether now owned or hereafter
acquired.
12
“Plans and Specifications” means the final plans and specifications for the
construction of the Project, to be prepared by the General Contractor, and approved by
Lender, and all amendments and modifications and supplements thereof approved by Lender.
“Project” means any and all buildings, structures, fixtures, and other improvements
made to the Real Property and other uses identified in the Project Sources and Uses
Statement
as part of the acquisition and construction of ethanol production facility in Chickasaw
County, Iowa, for which the Loans to Borrower are being made hereunder.
“Project Costs” means the total of all costs of acquiring the Real Property and
constructing the Project as identified in the Project Sources and Uses Statement, together
with all Loan and Carrying Charges.
“Project Sources and Uses Statement” means the statement attached hereto as Exhibit
B which identifies the sources and uses of monies in a total amount of $175,000,000.00
related to the Project.
“Real Property” means that real property located in the County of Chickasaw, State
of Iowa, owned by Borrower, upon which the Project is to be constructed and which is
described in Schedule 3.01(d).
“Reimbursement Obligation” means the obligation of Borrower to reimburse Lender for
any demand for payment or drawing under a Letter of Credit.
“Reinvestment Distributions” has the meaning specified in Section 5.02(b).
“Related Documents” means and includes without limitation all promissory notes,
credit agreements, loan agreements, supplements, guaranties, security agreements, mortgages,
deeds of trust, assignments and all other instruments, agreements and documents, whether now
or hereafter existing, executed in connection with the indebtedness.
“Revolving Letters of Credit” has the meaning specified in the Second Supplement.
“Revolving Loans” means the Revolving Line of Credit Loan and the Term Revolving
Loan and any other revolving loan provided by Lender to Borrower pursuant to the terms and
conditions provided for in this Agreement and in any revolving loan supplement.
“Revolving Line of Credit Loan” means that line of credit from Lender to Borrower in
the amount of $6,000,000.00 and pursuant to the terms and conditions provided for in this
Agreement and the Third Supplement to the Agreement.
13
“Revolving Line of Credit Note” means that certain promissory note to be executed
and delivered to Lender by Borrower on the Conversion Date pursuant to the terms and
conditions provided for in this Agreement and the Third Supplement.
“Revolving Line of Credit Loan Maturity Date” means the maturity date set forth in the
Third Supplement.
“XXXX” means the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorizations Act of 1986, as amended.
“Security Agreement” means and includes, without limitation, that certain Security
Agreement of even date herewith between Borrower and Lender, and any agreements, promises,
covenants, arrangements, understandings, or other agreements, whether created by law,
contract, or otherwise, which evidence, govern, represent, or create a Security Interest, as
the same has been and may hereafter be amended or otherwise modified.
“Security Interest” means and includes without limitation any type of collateral
security, whether in the form of a lien, charge, mortgage, assignment of rents, deed of
trust, assignment, pledge, chattel mortgage, chattel trust, factor’s lien, equipment trust,
conditional sale, trust receipt, lien or title retention contract, lease or consignment
intended as a security device, or any other security or lien interest whatsoever, whether
created by law, contract, or otherwise.
“Subordinated Debt” means all Debt held by Iowa Department of Economic Development
or its agencies.
“Supplement/Supplements” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01 of this
Agreement.
“Tangible Net Worth” means the excess of total assets over total liabilities except
Subordinated Debt, total assets and total liabilities each to be determined in accordance
with GAAP, excluding, however, from the determination of total assets: (i) goodwill,
organizational expenses, research and development expenses, trademarks, trade names,
copyrights, patents, patent applications, licenses and rights in any thereof, and other
similar intangibles; (ii) treasury stock; (iii) securities which are not readily marketable;
(iv) cash held in a sinking or other analogous fund established for the purpose of
redemption, retirement or prepayment of capital stock or Debt (provided, however, this
exclusion shall not apply to the amounts held in the Debt Service Reserve Account which
amounts will be included in the determination of total assets); (v) any write-up in the book
value of any asset resulting from a revaluation thereof subsequent to the Closing Date; (vi)
amortized start-up costs; and (vii) any items not included in clauses (i) through (vi) above
which are treated as intangibles in conformity with GAAP.
“Tangible Owner’s Equity” means the Tangible Net Worth divided by total assets,
measured annually at the end of each fiscal year, and expressed as a percentage.
14
“Term Loan” means any amortizing loan with a maturity of greater than one year
provided by Lender to Borrower pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and
the First Supplement.
“Term Revolving Loan” means that certain loan from Lender to Borrower in the amount
of $20,000,000.00 and pursuant to the terms and conditions provided for in this Agreement
and the Second Supplement.
“Term Revolving Note” means that certain promissory note to be executed and
delivered to Lender by Borrower on the Conversion Date pursuant to the terms and conditions
provided for in this Agreement and the Second Supplement.
“Working Capital” means current assets of Borrower less current liabilities of the
Borrower as determined in accordance with GAAP.
Section 1.02. Accounting Matters. All accounting terms not specifically defined
herein shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, except as otherwise stated herein. To enable
the ready and consistent determination of compliance by Borrower with its obligations under this
Agreement, Borrower will not change the manner in which either the last day of its fiscal year or
the last days of the first three fiscal quarters of its fiscal years is calculated.
Section 1.03. Construction. Wherever herein the singular number is used, the same
shall include the plural where appropriate, and words of any gender shall include each other gender
where appropriate. The headings, captions or arrangements used in any of the Loan Documents are,
unless specified otherwise, for convenience only and shall not be deemed to limit, amplify or
modify the terms of the Loan Documents, nor affect the meaning thereof.
ARTICLE II
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE LOANS
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE LOANS
Section 2.01. Supplements. In the event Borrower desires to borrow from Lender and
Lender is willing to lend to Borrower, or in the event Lender and Borrower desire to consolidate
any existing loans hereunder, Lender and Borrower, will enter into a supplement to this Agreement
(each supplement, as it may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended or restated from time to
time, a “Supplement” and, collectively, the “Supplements”). Each Supplement will set forth
Lender’s commitment to make a Loan to Borrower, the amount of the Loan(s), the purpose of the
Loan(s), the interest rate or rate options applicable to the Loan(s), the repayment terms of the
Loan(s), and any other terms and conditions applicable to the Loan(s). Each Supplement will also
be accompanied by a Note of Borrower setting forth Borrower’s obligation to make payments of
interest on the unpaid principal balance of the Loan(s), and fees and premiums, if any, and to
repay the principal balance of the Loan(s). Each Loan will be governed by the terms and conditions
contained in this Agreement and in the Note and the Supplement relating to that Loan.
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Section 2.02. Construction Loan. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement,
Lender has agreed to lend to Borrower and Borrower has agreed to borrow from Lender an amount not
to exceed $94,000,000.00 for Project Costs. Such amount shall be loaned by Lender pursuant to the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the First Supplement.
Section 2.03. Term Revolving Loan. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement,
Lender has agreed to lend to Borrower and Borrower has agreed to borrow from Lender, as of the
Conversion Date and from time to time thereafter, on a revolving basis an amount not to exceed
$20,000,000.00 for cash and inventory management purposes. Such amount shall be loaned by Lender
pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and the Second Supplement.
Pursuant to the terms and conditions in this Agreement, Lender may extend
additional term Revolving Loans to Borrower. Any such future term Revolving Loans shall be
provided by Lender pursuant to the terms and conditions of a future term revolving loan Supplement.
Section 2.04. Revolving Line of Credit Loan. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement and in reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement,
Lender has agreed to lend to Borrower and Borrower has agreed to borrow from Lender, as of the
Conversion Date and from time to time thereafter, on a revolving basis an amount not to exceed
$6,000,000.00. Such amount shall be loaned by Lender pursuant to the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement and the Third Supplement. Pursuant to the terms and conditions in this
Agreement, Lender may extend additional Revolving Loans to Borrower. Any such future Revolving
Loans shall be provided by Lender pursuant to the terms and conditions of a future term revolving
loan Supplement.
Section 2.05. Conversion of Construction Loan Into Term Loan and Term Revolving Loan.
The Lender agrees to convert the Construction Loan into a Term Loan and Term Revolving Loan on the
Conversion Date, provided all of the terms, conditions, warranties, representations, and covenants
of Borrower set forth in this Agreement, the First Supplement and the Second Supplement are
satisfied. Any such amount shall be provided by Lender pursuant to the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement, the First Supplement and the Second Supplement setting forth the terms and
conditions of such Term Loan and Term Revolving Loan, provided, however, that (i) all unpaid
principal and all accrued interest on the Term Loan and the Term Revolving Loan shall be due and
payable on the Maturity Date and (ii) Borrower shall have the right to convert up to fifty percent
(50%) of the Term Loan into a Fixed Rate Loan, with the consent of Lender, which shall bear
interest at the five year LIBOR swap rate, which is in effect on the Conversion Date plus 325 basis
points, or another rate as agreed upon by Lender and Borrower. Should Borrower elect such fixed
rate option, such rate of interest shall not be subject to any adjustments under Section 2.07 of
this Agreement.
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Section 2.06. Letter of Credit Procedures / Fees / Reimbursement. All Letters of
Credit that are issued under this Agreement and any Supplements are subject to the following:
(a) Letter of Credit Request Procedure. Borrower shall give Lender irrevocable prior
notice (effective upon receipt) on or before 3:00 P.M. (Minneapolis, Minnesota time) on the
Business Day three Business Days prior to the date of the requested issuance of a Letter of Credit
specifying the requested amount, expiry date and issuance date of each Letter of Credit to be
issued and the nature of the transactions to be supported thereby. Any such notice received after
3:00 P.M. (Minneapolis, Minnesota time) on a Business Day shall be deemed to have been received
and be effective on the next Business Day. Each Letter of Credit shall be substantially in the
form of Exhibit D, have an expiration date that occurs on or before the “Termination Date” (as such
date is defined in the Supplements), shall be payable in U.S. dollars, must be satisfactory in form
and substance to Lender, and shall be issued pursuant to such documentation as Lender may require,
including, without limitation, Lender’s standard form letter of credit request and reimbursement
agreement; provided that, in the event of any conflict between the terms of such agreement and the
other Loan Documents, the terms of the other Loan Documents shall control.
(b) Letter of Credit Fees. Borrower shall pay to Lender for (i) all fees, costs, and
expenses of Lender arising in connection with any Letter of Credit, including Lender’s customary
fees for amendments, transfers, and drawings on Letters of Credit; and (ii) on the date of the
issuance of the Letter of Credit, and at the anniversary date of issuance of such Letter of Credit
if still outstanding, an issuance fee equal to 150 basis points, on an annualized basis, of the
maximum amount available to be drawn under the Letter of Credit.
(c) Funding of Drawings. Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of
any demand for payment or other drawing under such Letter of Credit, the Lender shall promptly
notify Borrower as to the amount to be paid as a result of such demand or drawing and the
respective payment date. Any notice pursuant to the forgoing sentence shall specify the amount to
be paid as a result of such demand or drawing and the respective payment date.
(e) Reimbursements. After receipt of the notice delivered pursuant to clause (c) of
this Section 2.06 with respect to a Letter of Credit, Borrower shall be irrevocably and
unconditionally obligated to reimburse Lender for any amounts paid by Lender upon any demand for
payment or drawing under the applicable Letter of Credit, without presentment, demand, protest, or
other formalities of any kind other than the notice required by clause (c) of this Section 2.06.
Such reimbursement shall occur no later than 3:00 P.M. (Minneapolis, Minnesota time) on the date
of payment under the applicable Letter of Credit if the notice under clause (c) of this
Section 2.06 is received by 2:00 P.M. (Minneapolis, Minnesota time) on such date or by 11:00 A.M.
(Minneapolis, Minnesota time) on the next Business Day, if such notice is received after 2:00 P.M.
(Minneapolis, Minnesota time). All payments on the Reimbursement Obligations (including any
interest earned thereon) shall be made to Lender for the account of Lender in U.S. dollars and in
immediately available funds, without set-off, deduction, or counterclaim.
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(f) Reimbursement Obligations Absolute. The Reimbursement Obligations of Borrower
under this Agreement shall be absolute, unconditional, and irrevocable, and shall be performed
strictly in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents under all circumstances whatsoever and
Borrower hereby waives any defense to the payment of the Reimbursement Obligations based on any
circumstance whatsoever, including, without limitation, in any case, the following circumstances:
(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or any other Loan Document;
(ii) any amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from any Loan Document; (iii) the
existence of any claim, set-off, counterclaim, defense, or other rights which any Borrower or any
other Person may have at any time against any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit, Lender or any
other Person, whether in connection with any Loan Document or any unrelated transaction; (iv) any
statement, draft, or other documentation presented under any Letter of Credit proving to be forged,
fraudulent, invalid, or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or
inaccurate in any respect whatsoever; (v) payment by Lender under any Letter of Credit against
presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of
Credit; or (vi) any other circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing;
provided that Reimbursement Obligations with respect to a Letter of Credit may be subject to
avoidance by a Borrower if Borrower proves in a final non-appealable judgment that it was damaged
and that such damage arose directly from Lender’s
willful misconduct or gross negligence in determining whether the documentation presented under the
Letter of Credit in question complied with the terms thereof.
(g) Issuer Responsibility. Borrower assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any
beneficiary of any Letter of Credit with respect to its use of such Letter of Credit. Neither
Lender, nor any of its respective officers or directors shall have any responsibility or liability
to Borrower or any other Person for: (a) the failure of any draft to bear any reference or adequate
reference to any Letter of Credit, or the failure of any documents to accompany any draft at
negotiation, or the failure of any Person to surrender or to take up any Letter of Credit or to
send documents apart from drafts as required by the terms of any Letter of Credit, or the failure
of any Person to note the amount of any instrument on any Letter of Credit, each of which
requirements, if contained in any Letter of Credit itself, it is agreed may be waived by Lender;
(b) errors, omissions, interruptions, or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages;
(c) the validity, sufficiency, or genuineness of any draft or other document, or any endorsement(s)
thereon, even if any such draft, document or endorsement should in fact prove to be in any and all
respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent, or forged or any statement therein is untrue or
inaccurate in any respect; (d) the payment by Lender to the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit
against presentation of any draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of the
Letter of Credit; or (e) any other circumstance whatsoever in making or failing to make any payment
under a Letter of Credit. The Lender may accept documents that appear on their face to be in
order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to
the contrary.
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Section 2.07. Adjustments to Interest Rate. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Agreement, the Supplements, the Notes, or the Related Documents, after the Conversion Date,
the rate of interest under any Loan which bears interest on a variable rate, shall be adjusted
according to the following schedule should the Tangible Owner’s Equity of Borrower, achieve the
levels set forth below:
Tangible Owner’s Equity | Interest Rate | |
Less than or equal to 54.99%
|
Applicable LIBOR Rate plus 325 basis points | |
Greater than or equal to 55.00% but less than or equal to 64.99% |
Applicable LIBOR Rate plus 300 basis points | |
Greater than or equal to 65.00%
|
Applicable LIBOR Rate plus 275 basis points |
Upon delivery of the fiscal year end audited financial statements and the Compliance Certificate
pursuant to Section 5.01(c) beginning with the first fiscal year end after the Conversion Date, the
rate of interest shall automatically be adjusted in accordance with the Tangible Owner’s Equity set
forth therein and the rates set forth above. Such automatic adjustment to the rate of interest
shall take effect as of the first Business Day of the month following the month in which Lender
received the fiscal year end audited financial statements and related Compliance Certificate. The
term “Adjustment Date” shall mean each such Business Day when such rates, margins or fees change
pursuant to the immediately prior sentence or the next following sentence. If Borrower fails to
deliver such Compliance Certificate which so sets forth the Tangible Owner’s Equity within the
period of time required by Section 5.01(c)(iii) hereof or if any Event of Default occurs, the rate
of interest shall automatically be adjusted to a rate equal to the applicable LIBOR Rate plus 325
basis points, such automatic adjustments: (a) to take effect as of the first Business Day after the
last day on which Borrower was required to deliver the applicable Compliance Certificate in
accordance with Section 5.01(c)(iii) or in the case of an Event of Default, on the date the written
notice is given to Borrower; and (b) to remain in effect until subsequently adjusted in accordance
herewith upon the delivery of such Compliance Certificate or, in the case of an Event of Default,
when such Event of Default has been cured to the satisfaction of Lender.
Section 2.08. Default Interest. In addition to the rights and remedies set forth in
this Agreement and notwithstanding any Note: (i) if Borrower fails to make any payment to Lender
when due, then at Lender’s option in each instance, such obligation or payment shall bear interest
from the date due to the date paid at 2% per annum in excess of the rate of interest that would
otherwise be applicable to such obligation or payment; (ii) upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default beyond any applicable cure period, if any, at Lender’s option in
each instance, the unpaid balances of the Loans shall bear interest from the date of the Event of
Default or such later date as Lender shall elect at 2% per annum in excess of the rate(s) of
interest that would otherwise be in effect on the Loans under the terms of the applicable Note;
(iii) after the maturity of any Loan, whether by reason of acceleration or otherwise, the unpaid
principal balance of the Loan (including without limitation, principal, interest, fees and
expenses) shall automatically bear interest at 2% per annum in excess of the rate of interest that
would otherwise be in effect on the Loan under the terms of the applicable Note until paid in full.
Interest payable at the Default Rate shall be payable from time to time on demand or, if not
sooner demanded, on the last day of each calendar month.
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Section 2.09. Late Charge. If any payment of principal or interest due under the
Supplements or the Notes is not paid within ten (10) days of the due date thereof, Borrower shall,
in addition to such amount, pay a late charge equal to five percent (5%) of the amount of such
payment.
Section 2.10. Prepayment of Loans. Borrower may, at anytime and from time to time,
upon thirty (30) days advance written notice to Lender, prepay the outstanding amount of the Loans
in whole or in part with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the amount prepaid,
without penalty or premium, except as and to the extent specifically provided in this Section 2.10.
In the event that any of the Construction Loan, Term Loan or Term Revolving Loan are refinanced
with a lender other than Lender (from the Closing Date through the first thirty-six (36) months
after the Conversion Date), Borrower shall pay a prepayment fee for the amount(s) refinanced equal
to the original Commitment for the Loan(s), which is/are being refinanced, multiplied by the
following specified percentage:
Closing Date to Conversion Date |
2.00 | % | ||
Months 1 - 12 after Conversion Date |
3.00 | % | ||
Months 13 - 24 after Conversion Date |
2.00 | % | ||
Months 25 - 36 after Conversion Date |
1.00 | % |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no prepayment fee shall be required if such prepayment is made
pursuant to Section 2.17 of this Agreement. Any prepayment does not otherwise affect Borrower’s
obligation to pay any fees due under this Agreement. In addition, in the event any portion of the
Term Loan is converted to a Fixed Rate Loan, Borrower shall pay the prepayment fee applicable to
that fixed interest rate, if any.
Section 2.11. Changes in Law Rendering Certain LIBOR Rate Loans Unlawful. In the
event that any change in any applicable law (including the adoption of any new applicable law) or
any change in the interpretation of any applicable law by any judicial, governmental or other
regulatory body charged with the interpretation, implementation or administration thereof, should
make it (or in the good-faith judgment of Lender should raise a substantial question as to whether
it is) unlawful for Lender to make, maintain or fund LIBOR Rate loans, then: (a) Lender shall
promptly notify each of the other parties hereto; and (b) the obligation of Lender to make LIBOR
Rate loans of such type shall, upon the effectiveness of such event, be suspended for the duration
of such unlawfulness. During the period of any suspension, Lender shall make loans to Borrower
that are deemed lawful and that as closely as possible reflect the terms of this Agreement.
20
Section 2.12. Payments and Computations.
(a) Method of Payment. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments of
principal, interest, and other amounts to be made by Borrower under the Loan Documents shall be
made to Lender in U.S. dollars and in immediately available funds, without set-off, deduction, or
counterclaim, not later than 2:00 P.M. (Minneapolis, Minnesota time) on the date on which such
payment shall become due (each such payment made after such time on such due date to be deemed to
have been made on the next succeeding Business Day). Borrower shall, at the time of making each
such payment, specify to Lender the sums payable under the Loan Documents to which such payment is
to be applied and in the event that Borrower fails to so specify or if an Event of Default exists,
Lender may apply such payment and any proceeds of any Collateral to the Loan Obligations in such
order and manner as it may elect in its sole discretion.
(b) Application of Funds. Lender may apply all payments received by it to the Loan
Obligations in such order and manner as Lender may elect in its sole discretion; provided that any
payments received from any guarantor or from any disposition of any collateral provided by such
guarantor shall only be applied against obligations guaranteed by such guarantor.
(c) Payments on a Non-Business Day. Whenever any payment under any Loan Document
shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment may be made on the next
succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the
computation of the payment of interest and fees, as the case may be.
(d) Proceeds of Collateral. All proceeds received by Lender from the sale or other
liquidation of the Collateral when an Event of Default exists shall first be applied as payment of
the accrued and unpaid fees and expenses of Lender hereunder, including, without limitation, under
Section 7.04 and then to all other unpaid or unreimbursed Loan Obligations (including reasonable
attorneys’ fees and expenses) owing to Lender and then any remaining amount of such proceeds shall
be applied to the unpaid amounts of Loan Obligations, until all the Loan Obligations have been paid
and satisfied in full or cash collateralized. After all the Loan Obligations (including without
limitation, all contingent Loan Obligations) have been paid and satisfied in full, all Commitments
terminated and all other obligations of Lender to Borrower otherwise satisfied, any remaining
proceeds of Collateral shall be delivered to the Person entitled thereto as directed by Borrower or
as otherwise determined by applicable law or applicable court order.
(e) Computations. Except as expressly provided otherwise herein, all computations of
interest and fees shall be made on the basis of actual number of days lapsed over a year of 360
days, as appropriate. Interest shall accrue from and include the date of borrowing, but exclude
the date of payment.
21
Section 2.13. Maximum Amount Limitation. Anything in this Agreement, any Supplement,
any Note, or the other Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, Borrower shall not be
required to pay unearned interest on any Note or any of the Loan Obligations, or ever be required
to pay interest on any Note or any of the Loan Obligations at a rate in excess of the Maximum Rate,
if any. If the effective rate of interest which would otherwise be payable under this Agreement,
any Note or any of the other Loan Documents would exceed the Maximum Rate, if any, then the rate of
interest which would otherwise be contracted for, charged, or received under this Agreement, any
Note or any of the other Loan Documents shall be reduced to the Maximum Rate, if any. If any
unearned interest or discount or property that is deemed to constitute interest (including, without
limitation, to the extent that any of the fees payable by Borrower for the Loan Obligations to
Lender under this Agreement, any Supplement, any Note, or any of the other Loan Documents are
deemed to constitute interest) is contracted for, charged, or received in excess of the Maximum
Rate, if any, then such interest in excess of the Maximum Rate shall be deemed a mistake and
canceled, shall not be collected or collectible, and if paid nonetheless, shall, at the option of
the holder of such Note, be either refunded to Borrower, or credited on the principal of such Note.
It is further agreed that, without limitation of the foregoing and to the extent permitted by
applicable law, all calculations of the rate of interest or discount contracted for, charged or
received by Lender under its Note, or under any of the Loan Documents, that are made for the
purpose of determining whether such rate exceeds the Maximum Rate applicable to Lender, if any,
shall be made, to the extent permitted by applicable laws (now or hereafter enacted), by
amortizing, prorating and spreading during the period of the full terms of the Advances evidenced
by the Notes, and any renewals thereof all interest at any time contracted for, charged or received
by Lender in connection therewith. This Section 2.13 shall control every other provision of all
agreements among the parties to this Agreement pertaining to the transactions contemplated by or
contained in the Loan Documents, and the terms of this Section 2.13 shall be deemed to be
incorporated in every Loan Document and communication related thereto.
Section 2.14. Lender Records. All advances and all payments or prepayments made
thereunder on account of principal or interest may be evidenced by Lender in accordance with its
usual practice in an account or accounts evidencing such advances and all payments or prepayments
thereunder from time to time and the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid from time
to time thereunder; in any legal action or proceeding in respect of the Notes, the entries made in
such account or accounts shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts
of all advances and all payments or prepayments made thereunder on account of principal or
interest. Lender shall provide monthly statements of such entries to Borrower for the purpose of
confirming the accuracy of such entries.
Section 2.15. Loan Payments. During the continuance of an Event of Default, Lender
may deduct any obligations due or any other amounts due and payable by Borrower under the Loan
Documents from any Deposit Accounts maintained with Lender.
Section 2.16. Compensation. Upon the request of Lender, Borrower shall pay to Lender
such amount or amounts as shall be sufficient (in the reasonable opinion of Lender) to compensate
it for any loss, cost, or expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits incurred by it) as a
result of: (i) any payment, prepayment, or conversion of a LIBOR Rate loan for any reason on a date
other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan; or (ii) any failure by Borrower for
any reason (including, without limitation, the failure of any condition precedent specified in
Section 3.01 to be satisfied) to borrow, extend, or prepay a LIBOR Rate loan on the date for such
borrowing, extension, or prepayment specified in the relevant notice of borrowing, extension or
prepayment under this Agreement.
22
Such indemnification may include any amount equal to the excess, if any, of: (a) the amount of
interest which would have accrued on the amount so prepaid, or not so borrowed, converted or
extended, for the period from the date of such prepayment or of such failure to borrow, convert or
extend to the last day of the applicable Interest Period (or in the case of a failure to borrow,
convert or extend, the Interest Period that would have commenced on the date of such failure) in
each case at the applicable rate of interest for such loan as provided for herein; over (b) the
amount of interest (as reasonably determined by Lender) which would have accrued to Lender on such
amount by placing such amount on deposit for a comparable period with leading banks in the
interbank LIBOR market. The covenants of Borrower set forth in this Section 2.16 shall survive the
repayment of the Loans and other obligations under the Loan Documents hereunder.
Section 2.17 Excess Cash Flow. In addition to all other payments of principal and
interest required under this Agreement, the Supplements and the Notes, at the end of the first
fiscal quarter following the Conversion Date, and continuing each fiscal quarter thereafter until
the Maturity Date, Borrower shall remit to Lender, an amount equal to 100% of Borrower’s Excess
Cash Flow, calculated based upon that fiscal quarter’s interim financial statements, on or before
45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of Borrower (the “Excess Cash Flow Payment"), provided
however, that the total Excess Cash Flow Payments required hereunder shall not exceed $5,000,000.00
in any fiscal year (the “Maximum Excess Cash Flow Payment"). One hundred percent (100%) of the
Excess Cash Flow Payment shall be applied to
the reduction of the outstanding principal of the Term Loan. The Excess Cash Flow Payment shall be
re-calculated annually based upon audited fiscal year-end financial statements required by Section
5.01(c)(i) of this Agreement. Borrower shall within 30 days of Lender’s request remit to Lender
any additional amounts due Lender under this Section 2.17 in an amount not to exceed the Maximum
Excess Cash Flow Payment. In the event the re-calculation determines that the Borrower has paid in
excess of the required Excess Cash Flow Payment for the applicable period, Borrower shall be given
a credit in the amount of the excess to be applied to the next quarterly Excess Cash Flow Payment
due Lender under this Section 2.17. Any Excess Cash Flow Payment or any other payment from Excess
Cash Flow shall not constitute a prepayment with respect to which a prepayment fee under Section
2.10 of this Agreement is required to be paid. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Excess Cash Flow
Payment shall not apply if Tangible Owner’s Equity is greater than or equal to sixty-five percent
(65%) but will be reinstated if Tangible Owner’s Equity falls below 65%, measured for any fiscal
quarter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Excess Cash Flow Payment shall not exceed an aggregate
amount of $25,000,000.00 during the term of this Agreement.
ARTICLE III.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
Section 3.01. Conditions Precedent to Funding. The obligations of Lender to make any
Advance, are subject to the conditions precedent that Lender shall have received the following, in
form and substance satisfactory to Lender:
(a) This Agreement, duly executed by Borrower and Lender;
23
(b) The Supplements, duly executed by Borrower and Lender;
(c) The Construction Note, the Term Revolving Note and the Revolving Line of Credit Note duly
executed by Borrower;
(d) The Mortgage, fully executed and notarized, to secure the Loans encumbering on a first
lien basis the fee interest and/or leasehold interest of Borrower in the Real Property and the
fixtures thereon described in Schedule 3.01(d);
(e) A Security Agreement duly executed by Borrower and in a form as provided by Lender by
which security agreement Lender is granted a security interest by Borrower in the Collateral;
(f) The Disbursing Agreement, duly executed by Borrower;
(g) The Environmental Indemnity Agreement, duly executed by Borrower;
(h) A copy of the Construction Contract(s) and a complete set of the Plans and Specifications,
together with copies of all permits and government approvals relating to the construction and use
of the Project;
(i) An assignment of contract for each of the Construction Contracts and the Plans and
Specifications, duly executed by Borrower and pursuant to which Borrower shall have assigned to
Lender all of Borrower’s right, title and interest in and to each such Construction Contract, and
which assignment shall have been consented to and certified in writing by the other party(ies) to
each such Construction Contract;
(j) Copies of all Material Contracts between Borrower and third parties used in the normal
operations of Borrower, including but not limited to management agreements, marketing agreements,
and corn delivery agreements;
(k) Assignments of the Material Contracts between Borrower, duly executed by Borrower and
pursuant to which Borrower shall have assigned to Lender all of Borrower’s right, title and
interest in and to each such contract, and which assignment shall have been consented to and
certified in writing by the other party(ies) to each such contract;
(l) Financing Statements in form and content satisfactory to Lender and in proper form under
the Uniform Commercial Code of all jurisdictions as may be necessary or, in the opinion of Lender,
desirable to perfect the security interests created by the Security Agreement;
(m) Copies of UCC, tax and judgment lien search reports listing all financing statements and
other encumbrances which name Borrower (under its present name and any previous name) and which are
filed in the jurisdictions in which Borrower is located, organized or maintains collateral,
together with copies of such financing statements (none of which shall cover the collateral
purported to be covered by the Security Agreement);
24
(n) Evidence that all other actions necessary or, in the opinion of Lender, desirable to
enable Lender to perfect and protect the security interests created by the Security Agreement have
been taken;
(o) An ALTA mortgagee title insurance policy issued by a title insurance company acceptable to
Lender, with respect to the Real Property, assuring Lender that the Mortgage creates a valid and
enforceable encumbrance on the Real Property, free and clear of all defects and encumbrances except
Permitted Liens and containing: (i) a comprehensive endorsement (ALTA form 9); (ii) a zoning
endorsement (ALTA form 3.1) specifying an ethanol production facility as a permitted use for all of
the parcels included in the Real Property; and (iii) a restrictions, encroachments, minerals-owners
endorsement (ALTA Form 9.2) and (iv) such endorsements as Lender shall reasonably require. All
such title insurance policies shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender and
shall provide for affirmative insurance and such reinsurance as Lender may reasonably request, all
of the foregoing in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender;
(p) Maps or plats of the Real Property certified to Lender and the title insurance company
issuing the policy referred to in Subsection 3.01(o) (the “Title Insurance Company”) in a manner
reasonably satisfactory to each of Lender and the Title Insurance Company, dated a date reasonably
satisfactory to each of Lender and the Title Insurance Company by an independent professional
licensed land surveyor, which maps or plats and the surveys on which
they are based shall be sufficient to delete any standard printed survey exception contained in the
applicable title policy and be made in accordance with the Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for
Land Title Surveys jointly established and adopted by the American Land Title Association and the
American Congress on Surveying and Mapping in 1992, and, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, there shall be surveyed and shown on such maps, plats or surveys the following: (i) the
locations on such sites of all the buildings, structures and other improvements and the established
building setback lines; (ii) the lines of streets abutting the sites and width thereof; (iii) all
access and other easements appurtenant to the sites necessary to use the sites; (iv) all roadways,
paths, driveways, easements, encroachments and overhanging projections and similar encumbrances
affecting the site, whether recorded, apparent from a physical inspection of the sites or otherwise
known to the surveyor; (v) any encroachments on any adjoining property by the building structures
and improvements on the sites; and (vi) if the site is described as being on a filed map, a legend
relating the survey to said map;
(q) Evidence as to: (i) whether any portion of the Real Property is in an area designated by
the Federal Emergency Management Agency as having special flood or mud slide hazards (a “Flood
Hazard Property”); and (ii) if any portion of the Real Property is a Flood Hazard Property:
(A) whether the community in which such Real Property is located is participating in the National
Flood Insurance Program; (B) Borrower’s written acknowledgment of receipt of written notification
from Lender (1) as to the fact that such Real Property is a Flood Hazard Property and (2) as to
whether the community in which each such Flood Hazard Property is located is participating in the
National Flood Insurance Program; and (C) copies of insurance policies or certificates of insurance
of Borrower evidencing flood insurance satisfactory to Lender and naming Lender as sole loss payee
on behalf of Lender;
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(r) Evidence reasonably satisfactory to Lender that the Real Property and the contemplated use
of the Real Property, are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws including
without limitation health and Environmental Laws, including, but not limited to all concentrated
animal feedlot operations rules and regulations, erosion control ordinances, storm drainage control
laws, doing business and/or licensing laws, zoning laws (the evidence submitted as to zoning should
include the zoning designation made for the Real Property, the permitted uses of the Real Property
under such zoning designation and zoning requirements as to parking, lot size, ingress, egress and
building setbacks) and laws regarding access and facilities for disabled persons including, but not
limited to, the Federal Architectural Barriers Act, the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990;
(s) A certificate of the secretary of Borrower together with true and correct copies of the
following: (i) the Articles of Organization of Borrower, including all amendments thereto,
certified by the Office of the Secretary of State of the state of its organization and dated within
30 days prior to the date hereof; (ii) the Operating Agreement of Borrower, including all
amendments thereto; (iii) the resolutions of the Board of Directors of Borrower authorizing the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and all
documentation executed and delivered in connection therewith to which Borrower is a party;
(iv) certificates of the appropriate government officials of the state of organization of Borrower
as to its existence and good standing, and certificates of the appropriate government officials in
each state where each corporate Borrower does business and where failure to qualify as a foreign
corporation would have a Material Adverse Effect on the business and financial condition of
Borrower, as to its good standing and due qualification to do business in such state, each dated
within 30 days prior to the date hereof; and (v) the names of the officers of Borrower authorized
to sign this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to be executed by Borrower, together with a
sample of the true signature of each such officer;
(t) Legal opinion of Brown, Winick, Graves, Gross, Xxxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxxxx, P.L.C. legal
counsel for Borrower, substantially in the form attached hereto as “Exhibit C”;
(u) An intercreditor and subordination agreement between Lender and any holder of Subordinated
Debt as to the priority of Lender’s Security Interests in the Collateral, rights to payment
following an Event of Default, and as to such other matters as reasonably requested by Lender.
(v) Evidence that the costs and expenses (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees)
referred to in Section 7.04, to the extent incurred and invoiced, shall have been paid in full;
(w) The results of Lender’s inspection of the Collateral, and Lender’s receipt of an appraisal
of the Collateral acceptable to Lender in its sole discretion;
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(x) Satisfactory review by Lender of any pending litigation relating to Borrower;
(y) A Phase I Environmental Assessment in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Lender;
(z) Borrower shall have ordered the General Contractor to begin construction of the Project,
and construction shall have commenced;
(aa) A schedule, certified by Borrower as accurate and complete, setting forth: (i) the
necessary licenses, permits and consents required by applicable federal, state, and local
governmental entities required for the lawful construction and operation of the Project; and (ii)
the deadlines to obtain such licenses, permits and consents so that the Completion Date occurs as
scheduled;
(bb) Lender shall have received in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Lender, an
agreement with an Inspecting Engineer of recognized standing and acceptable to Lender, by which
agreement such Inspecting Engineer agrees to assist Lender in its inspection of the Project during
construction, review and approve requests for Advances on the Construction Loan on behalf of
Lender, and provide such additional services as Lender may reasonably require at the sole expense
of Borrower;
(cc) Borrower shall have provided commitment to Lender of its Borrower’s Equity;
(dd) A Commodity Account Control Agreement for all commodity accounts kept and maintained by
Borrower;
(ee) Evidence that the insurance required by Sections 5.01(j) and 5.01(s)(xii) has been
obtained by Borrower;
(ff) An assignment of Borrower’s business interruption insurance policy, duly executed by
Borrower and pursuant to which Borrower shall have assigned to Lender all of Borrower’s right,
title and interest in and to it’s business interruption insurance policy, and which assignment
shall have been consented to and certified in writing by the other party(ies) to the insurance
policy;
(gg) Borrower shall have established and shall maintain all its Deposit Accounts including the
Disbursing Account with Lender; and
(hh) Borrower shall have deposited $10,000,000.00 into its Debt Service Reserve Account with
Lender.
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ARTICLE IV.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 4.01 Representations and Warranties of Borrower. Borrower represents and
warrants as follows:
(a) Borrower. Borrower is a limited liability company duly organized and validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Iowa and is qualified to do business
in all jurisdictions in which the nature of its business makes such qualification necessary and
where failure to so qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect on its respective financial
condition or operations. Borrower has the power and authority to own and operate its assets and to
carry on its business and to execute, deliver, and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents
to which it is or may become a party. There are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants,
calls, or rights (including preemptive rights) to acquire, and no outstanding securities or
instruments convertible into, membership interests (units) of Borrower, except for those
subscriptions received in connection with the Borrower’s membership unit registered public offering
on Form SB-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 effective November 30, 2006 and those transactions
set forth on Schedule 4.01(a);
(b) The Loan Documents. The execution, delivery and performance by Borrower of the
Loan Documents are within Borrower’s powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary action, do
not contravene: (i) the articles of organization or operating agreements of Borrower; or (ii) any
law or any contractual restriction binding on or affecting Borrower, and do not result in or
require the creation of any lien, security interest or other charge or encumbrance (other than
pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents) upon or with respect to any of its properties;
(c) Governmental Approvals. No consent, permission, authorization, order or license
of any Governmental Authority or of any party to any agreement to which Borrower is a party or by
which it or any of its property may be bound or affected, is necessary in connection
with the construction of the Project, the execution, delivery, performance or enforcement of the
Loan Documents or the creation and perfection of the liens and security interest granted thereby,
except as such have been obtained and are in full force and effect or which are required in
connection with the exercise of remedies hereunder and except as such that are not required for the
construction of the Project;
(d) Enforceability. This Agreement is, and each other Loan Document to which Borrower
is a party when delivered will be, legal, valid and binding obligations of Borrower enforceable
against Borrower in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditor’s rights generally and by general principles of equity;
(e) Financial Condition and Operations. The balance sheet of Borrower as of December
31, 2006, and, with respect to the period ended December 31, 2006, the related statement of cash
flow of Borrower for the fiscal period then ended, copies of which have been furnished to Lender,
fairly present in all material respects the financial condition of Borrower as at such date, and
the results of the operations of Borrower for the period ended on such dates and since December 31,
2006, there has been no material adverse change in such condition or operations;
28
(f) Litigation. Except as described on Schedule 4.01(f), there is no pending or
threatened action or proceeding affecting Borrower or any of the transactions contemplated hereby
before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator, which may materially adversely affect the
financial condition or operations of Borrower. As of the Closing Date, there are no outstanding
judgments against Borrower;
(g) Use of Proceeds of Advances, etc. (i) No proceeds of the Loans will be used to
acquire any security in any transaction which is subject to Sections 13 and 14 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (provided, however, that this provision shall not prohibit Borrower from
investing in certain value added cooperatives for the purposes of carrying out its overall business
operations); (ii) Borrower is not engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System); and (iii) no proceeds of the Loans will be used to
purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or
carrying any margin stock;
(h) Liens. Except as created by the Loan Documents and Permitted Liens, there is no
lien, security interest or other charge or encumbrance, and no other type of preferential
arrangement, upon or with respect to any of the properties or income of Borrower, which secures
Debt of any Person, except as described in Schedule 5.02(a);
(i) Taxes. Borrower has filed or caused to be filed all federal, state and local tax
returns that are required to be filed and has paid all other taxes, assessments, and governmental
charges or levies upon it and its property, income, profits and assets which are due and payable,
except where the payment of such tax, assessment, government charge or levy is
being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves in compliance
with GAAP have been set aside on Borrower’s books therefore;
(j) Solvency. As of and from and after the date of this Agreement, Borrower: (i) owns
and will own assets the fair saleable value of which are: (A) greater than the total amount of
liabilities (including contingent liabilities); and (B) greater than the amount that will be
required to pay the probable liabilities of its then existing debts as they become absolute and
matured considering all financing alternatives and potential asset sales reasonably available to
it; (ii) has capital that is not unreasonably small in relation to its business as presently
conducted or any contemplated or undertaken transaction; and (iii) does not intend to incur and
does not believe that it will incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they become due;
(k) Location of Inventory and Farm Products; Third Parties in Possession; Crops.
Borrower’s inventory and farm products pledged as collateral under the Security Agreement are
located at the places (or, as applicable, jurisdictions) specified in Schedule 4.01(k) for
Borrower, except to the extent any such inventory and farm products are in transit.
Schedule 4.01(k) correctly identifies, as of the date hereof, the landlords or mortgagees, if any,
of each of its locations identified in Schedule 4.01(k) currently leased or owned by Borrower.
Except for the Persons identified on Schedule 4.01(k), no Person other than Borrower and Lender has
possession of any of the Collateral. Except as described in above, none of its Collateral has been
located in any location within the past four months other than as set forth on Schedule 4.01(k) for
Borrower;
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(l) Office Locations; Fictitious Names; Predecessor Companies; Tax I.D. Number.
Borrower’s chief place of business, its chief executive office, and its jurisdiction of
organization is located at the place identified for Borrower on Schedule 4.01(l). Within the last
four months it has not had any other chief place of business, chief executive office, or
jurisdiction of organization. Schedule 4.01(l) also sets forth all other places where Borrower
keeps its books and records and all other locations where Borrower has a place of business.
Borrower does not do business nor has Borrower done business during the past five (5) years under
any trade-name or fictitious business name except as disclosed on Schedule 4.01(l).
Schedule 4.01(l) sets forth an accurate list of all names of all predecessor companies of Borrower
including the names of any entities it acquired (by stock purchase, asset purchase, merger or
otherwise) and the chief place of business and chief executive office of each such predecessor
company. For purposes of the foregoing, a “predecessor company” shall mean any Person whose assets
or equity interests are acquired by Borrower or who was merged with or into Borrower within the
last four months prior to the date hereof. Borrower’s United States Federal Income Tax I.D.
Number and state organizational identification number are identified on Schedule 4.01(l);
(m) Title to Properties. Borrower has such title or leasehold interest in and to the
Real Property owned or leased by it as is necessary or desirable to the conduct of its business and
valid and legal title or leasehold interest in and to all of its Personal Property, including those
reflected on the financial statements of Borrower previously delivered to Lender, except those
which have been disposed of by Borrower subsequent to the date of such delivered financial
statements which dispositions have been in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise
expressly permitted hereunder;
(n) Disclosure. All factual information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower in
writing to Lender (including, without limitation, all factual information contained in the Loan
Documents) for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any
transaction contemplated herein or therein is, and all other such factual information hereafter
furnished by or on behalf of Borrower to Lender, will be true and accurate in all material respects
on the date as of which such information is dated or certified and not incomplete by omitting to
state any fact necessary to make such information not misleading in any material respect at such
time in light of the circumstances under which such information was provided;
30
(o) Operation of Business. Borrower possesses all licenses, permits, franchises,
patents, copyrights, trademarks, and tradenames, or rights thereto, necessary to conduct its
business substantially as now conducted and will obtain all such licenses, permits, franchises,
patents, copyrights, trademarks, and tradenames, or rights thereto necessary to conduct its
business as presently proposed to be conducted except those that the failure to so possess could
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on its financial condition or
operations, and Borrower is not in violation of any valid rights of others with respect to any of
the foregoing except violations that could not reasonably be expected to have such a Material
Adverse Effect;
(p) Intellectual Property. The Borrower owns, or has the legal right to use, all
patents, trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, technology, know-how and processes necessary for it to
conduct its business as currently conducted and will own or obtain the legal right to use all
patents, trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, technology, know-how and processes necessary for it to
conduct its business as currently conducted (collectively the “Intellectual Property”), except for
those the failure to own or have such legal right to use could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. As of the Closing Date, set forth in Schedule 4.01(p) is a list of all
Intellectual Property registered with the United States Copyright Office or the United States
Patent and Trademark Office and owned by Borrower or that Borrower has the right to use. Except as
provided in Schedule 4.01(p), no claim has been asserted and is pending by any Person challenging
or questioning the use of any such Intellectual Property or the validity or effectiveness of any
such Intellectual Property, nor does Borrower know of any such claim, and, to the knowledge of
Borrower, the use of such Intellectual Property by Borrower does not infringe on the rights of any
Person, except for such claims and infringements that, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(q) Employee Benefit Plans. Borrower is in compliance in all material respects with
the applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and
the regulations and published interpretations thereunder, the failure to comply with which could
have a Material Adverse Effect on Borrower;
(r) Investment Company Act. Borrower is not required to be registered as an
“investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
(s) Compliance with Laws. Borrower is in compliance in all material respects with all
laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, codes, orders, and the like, the failure to comply with which
could have a Material Adverse Effect on Borrower;
(t) Environmental Compliance. Borrower, except as set forth in Schedule 4.01(t), is
in material compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws; and
(u) Material Change. Borrower has performed all of its material obligations, other
than those obligations for which performance is not yet due, under all Material Contracts and, to
the best knowledge of Borrower, each other party thereto is in compliance with each such Material
Contract. Each such Material Contract is in full force and effect in accordance with the terms
thereof. Borrower has made available a true and complete copy of each such Material Contract for
inspection by Lender.
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ARTICLE V.
COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER
COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER
Section 5.01. Affirmative Covenants. So long as any Loan Obligations remain unpaid or
Lender shall have any commitment hereunder, Borrower shall, unless Lender shall otherwise consent
in advance in writing:
(a) Compliance with Laws, etc. Comply in all material respects with all applicable
laws, rules, regulations and orders, such compliance to include, without limitation, (i) all
applicable zoning and land use laws; (ii) all employee benefit and Environmental Laws, and
(iii) paying before the same become delinquent all taxes, assessments and governmental charges
imposed upon it or upon its property except to the extent contested in good faith;
(b) Visitation Rights; Field Examination. At any reasonable time and from time to
time, permit Lender or representatives, to (i) examine and make copies of and abstracts from the
records and books of account of Borrower, and (ii) enter onto the property of Borrower to conduct
unannounced field examinations and collateral inspections, with such frequency as Lender in its
sole reasonable discretion may deem appropriate; provided; however, Lender and its representatives
shall follow Borrower’s safety standards and protocols, and shall not disrupt the business
operations of Borrower, and (iii) discuss the affairs, finances, and accounts of Borrower with any
of Borrower’s officers or directors. Borrower consents to and authorizes Lender to enter onto the
property of Borrower for purposes of conducting the examinations, inspections and discussions
provided above. Upon and during the occurrence of an Event of Default or in the event that there
are deemed by Lender to be any material inconsistencies and/or material noncompliance with respect
to any financial or other reporting on the part of Borrower, any and all visits and inspections
deemed necessary or desirable on account of such Event of Default, inconsistency and/or
noncompliance shall be at the expense of Borrower. In addition to the foregoing, at any reasonable
time and from time to time, Borrower also shall permit Lender
or representatives thereof, at the expense of Lender, to examine and make copies of and abstracts
from the records and books of account of, and visit the properties of, Borrower, and to discuss the
affairs, finances and accounts of Borrower with any of its respective officers or directors;
(c) Reporting Requirements. Furnish to Lender:
(i) As soon as available, but in no event later than 120 days after the end of each fiscal
year of Borrower occurring during the term hereof, annual consolidated financial statements of
Borrower, prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied and in a format that demonstrates
any accounting or formatting change that may be required by the various jurisdictions in which the
business of Borrower is conducted (to the extent not inconsistent with GAAP). Such financial
statements shall: (i) be audited by independent certified public accountants selected by Borrower
and acceptable to Lender; (ii) be accompanied by a report of such accountants containing an
certified opinion, without qualification, thereon reasonably acceptable to Lender; (iii) be
prepared in reasonable detail, and in comparative form; and (iv) include a balance sheet, a
statement of income, a statement of stockholders’, members’ or partner’s equity, a statement of
cash flows, and all notes and schedules relating thereto and any management letter.
32
(ii) Beginning with the first (1st) month following the Completion Date, as soon as
available and in any event within 30 days after the end of each month, balance sheets of Borrower
as of the end of such month and statement of income of Borrower for the period commencing at the
end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such month, prepared in accordance with
GAAP. Such monthly statements shall be certified by an authorized officer of Borrower, and be
accompanied by a Compliance Certificate which: (A) states that no Event of Default, and no event or
condition that but for the passage of time, the giving of notice or both would constitute an Event
of Default, has occurred or is in existence; and (B) shows in detail satisfactory to Lender the
calculation of, and Borrower’s compliance with, each of the covenants contained in
Sections 5.01(d), 5.01(e), 5.01(f), and 5.01(g);
(iii) As soon as available but in no event later than 30 days after the end of each of the
first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of Borrower occurring during the term hereof,
unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements of Borrower, in each case prepared in
accordance with GAAP in all material respects consistently applied (except for the omission of
footnotes and for the effect of normal year-end audit adjustments) and in a format that
demonstrates any accounting or formatting change that may be required by various jurisdictions in
which the business of Borrower is conducted (to the extent not inconsistent with GAAP). Each of
such financial statements shall (i) be prepared in reasonable detail and in comparative form,
including a comparison of actual performance to the budget for such quarter and year-to-date,
delivered to Lender under Subsection 5.01(c) below, and (ii) include a balance sheet, a statement
of income for such quarter and for the period year-to-date, and such other quarterly statements as
Lender may specifically request which quarterly statements shall include any and all supplements
thereto. Such quarterly statements shall be certified by an authorized officer of Borrower, and be
accompanied by a Compliance Certificate which: (A) states that no Event of Default, and no event or
condition that but for the passage of time, the giving of notice or both would constitute an Event
of Default, has occurred or is in existence; and (B) shows in detail
satisfactory to Lender the calculation of, and Borrower’s compliance with, each of the covenants
contained in Sections 5.01(d), 5.01(e), 5.01(f), and 5.01(g);
(iv) As soon as available but in no event later than 30 days after the end of each month (or
at such other times or with such greater frequency as is requested by the Lender), a duly completed
Borrowing Base Certificate, setting forth the Borrowing Base as of the last day of such month
calculated based upon collateral value criteria and advance rates which do not exceed those set
forth in the Borrowing Base Certificate, and including such other information, representation and
warranties contemplated therein, certified by the appropriate authorized officer of Borrower;
(v) promptly upon Lender’s request therefor, copies of all reports and notices which Borrower
or any of its subsidiaries files under ERISA with the Internal Revenue Service or the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation or the U.S. Department of Labor or which the Borrower or any its
subsidiary receives from such Corporation;
33
(vi) notwithstanding the foregoing Section 5.01(c)(v), provide to Lender within 30 days after
it becomes aware of the occurrence of any Reportable Event (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA)
applicable to Borrower or any of its subsidiaries, a statement describing such Reportable Event and
the actions it proposes to take in response to such Reportable Event;
(vii) by November 1 of each fiscal year of Borrower, an annual (with monthly break out)
operating and capital assets budget of Borrower for the immediately succeeding fiscal year
containing, among other things, pro forma financial statements and forecasts for all planned lines
of business;
(viii) as soon as available but in any event not more than 30 days after the end of each
month, production reports for the immediately preceding calendar month setting forth corn inputs,
ethanol output, DDGS and CO2 output, and natural gas usage, together with such
additional production information as requested by Lender;
(ix) promptly, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default or an event or condition that but
for the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute an Event of Default,
notice of such Event of Default or event;
(x) promptly after the receipt thereof, a copy of any management letters or written reports
submitted to Borrower by its independent certified public accountants with respect to the business,
financial condition or operation of Borrower;
(xi) promptly after the receipt thereof, a copy of any notice of default under any Long-Term
Marketing Agreement;
(xii) promptly after transmittal or filing thereof by Borrower, copies of all proxy
statements, notices and reports as it shall send to its members and copies of all registration
statements (without exhibits) and all reports which it files with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (or any governmental body or agency succeeding to the functions of the
Securities and Exchange Commission), and promptly after the receipt thereof by Borrower, copies of
all management letters or similar documents submitted to Borrower by independent certified public
accountants in connection with each annual and any interim audit of the accounts of Borrower or of
Borrower and any of its subsidiaries.
(xiii) such other information respecting the condition or operations, financial or otherwise,
of Borrower or any of its respective subsidiaries as Lender may from time to time reasonably
request;
(xiv) promptly after the commencement thereof, notice of the commencement of all actions,
suits, or proceedings before any court, arbitrator, or government department, commission, board,
bureau, agency, or instrumentality affecting Borrower or any of its subsidiaries which, if
determined adversely, could have a Material Adverse Effect on any of Borrower or its subsidiaries;
34
(xv) without limiting the provisions of Section 5.01(c)(xiv) above, promptly after receipt
thereof, notice of the receipt of all pleadings, orders, complaints, indictments, or any other
communication alleging a condition that may require Borrower or any of its subsidiaries to
undertake or to contribute to a cleanup or other response under all laws relating to environmental
protection, or which seek penalties, damages, injunctive relief, or criminal sanctions related to
alleged violations of such laws, or which claim personal injury or property damage to any person as
a result of environmental factors or conditions;
(xvi) promptly after filing, receipt or becoming aware thereof, copies of any filings or
communications sent to and notices or other communications received by Borrower or any of its
subsidiaries from any Governmental Authority, including, without limitation, the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the FCC, the PUC, or any other state utility commission relating to any
material noncompliance by Borrower or any of its subsidiaries with any laws or with respect to any
matter or proceeding the effect of which, if adversely determined, could have a Material Adverse
Effect on any of Borrower of its subsidiaries;
(xvii) promptly after becoming aware thereof, notice of any matter which has had or could have
a Material Adverse Effect on Borrower or its subsidiaries;
(xix) Beginning with the first (1st) month following the Closing Date, as soon as
available and in any event within 30 days after the end of each month, Borrower shall cause its
trade provider/risk manager to deliver to Lender a summary of all transactions relating to the
Project or Borrower’s business occurring during the previous month; and
(xx) Beginning with the first (1st) month following the Closing Date, as soon as
available and in any event within 30 days after the end of each month, a hedging report summary,
completed by the Borrower’s grain manager, providing all current and future hedge positions held by
the Borrower relating to the Borrower’s ethanol, grain and natural gas contracts, in detail
satisfactory to the Lender.
(d) Working Capital. Achieve Working Capital, excluding amounts held in the Debt
Service Reserve Account, of at least $10,000,000.00 at the Completion Date, and achieve and
maintain Working Capital, excluding amounts held in the Debt Service Reserve Account, of
$12,000,000.00 no later than twelve (12) months after the Completion Date, and continually
thereafter;
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(e) Tangible Net Worth. On the Completion Date, Borrower’s Tangible Net Worth shall
be not less than $87,000,000.00. Borrower shall achieve and maintain Tangible Net Worth in the
following amounts on the following dates, as measured at the end of each corresponding fiscal year
of Borrower:
December 31, 2009 |
$ | 90,000,000.00 | ||
December 31, 2010 |
$ | 95,000,000.00 | ||
December 31, 2011 |
$ | 100,000,000.00 | ||
December 31, 2012 and thereafter |
$ | 105,000,000.00 |
(f) Tangible Owner’s Equity. Achieve and maintain Tangible Owner’s Equity of at least
40% beginning at the end of the 12th month following the Completion Date, and annually
thereafter.
(g) Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less
than 1.25 to 1.00, measured initially at the end of the 12th month following the
Completion Date and maintained and measured at the end of each fiscal year thereafter.
(h) Liens. There shall be no lien, security interest or other charge or encumbrance,
and no other type of preferential arrangement, upon or with respect to any of the properties or
income of Borrower, which secures Debt of any Person, except for the security interests of the
Security Agreement or except as described in Schedule 5.02(a) and Permitted Liens;
(i) Landlord and Mortgagee Waivers. Obtain and furnish to Lender as soon as
available, waivers, acknowledgments and consents, duly executed by each: (i) real property owner,
landlord and mortgagee having an interest in any of the premises owned or leased by Borrower or in
which any Collateral of Borrower is located or to be located (and if no Collateral of Borrower is
located at a parcel of property not owned or leased by a Borrower, no such waivers, acknowledgments
or consents will be required); and (ii) third party holding any Collateral, all in form and
substance acceptable to Lender, except as otherwise agreed to by Lender;
(j) Insurance. Maintain insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance
companies in such amounts and covering such risks as are usually carried by entities engaged in
similar businesses and owning similar properties in the same general areas in which
Borrower operates, and make such increases in the type of amount or coverage as Lender may
reasonably request. Borrower shall maintain, at a minimum, directors and officers liability
insurance, commercial liability insurance, business interruption insurance, builder’s risk
insurance, and general commercial property insurance. All such policies insuring any collateral
for Borrower’s obligations to Lender shall have lender or mortgagee loss payable clauses or
endorsements in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Lender. Each insurance policy covering
Collateral shall be in compliance with the requirements of the Security Agreement in all material
respects;
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(k) Property and Insurance Maintenance. Maintain and preserve all of its property and
each and every part and parcel thereof that is necessary to or useful in the proper conduct of its
business in good repair, working order, and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and in
compliance with all applicable laws, and make all reasonable alterations, replacements, and
improvements thereto as may from time to time be necessary in order to ensure that its properties
remain in good working order and condition and compliance. Borrower agrees that upon the
occurrence and continuing existence of an Event of Default, at Lender’s request, which request may
not be made more than once a year, Borrower will furnish to Lender a report on the condition of
Borrower’s and any of its subsidiaries’ property prepared by a professional engineer satisfactory
to Lender;
(l) Keeping Books and Records. Maintain and cause each of its subsidiaries to,
maintain proper books of record and account in which full, true, and correct entries in conformity
with GAAP shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and
activities;
(m) Food Security Act Compliance. If Borrower acquires any Collateral which may have
constituted farm products in the possession of the seller or supplier thereof, such Borrower shall,
at its own expense, use commercially reasonable efforts to take such steps to insure that all Liens
(except the liens granted pursuant hereto) in such acquired Collateral are terminated or released,
including, without limitation, in the case of such farm products produced in a state which has
established a Central Filing System (as defined in the Food Security Act), registering with the
Secretary of State of such state (or such other party or office designated by such state) and
otherwise take such reasonable actions necessary, as prescribed by the Food Security Act, to
purchase farm products free of liens (except the liens granted pursuant hereto); provided, however,
that such Borrower may contest and need not obtain the release or termination of any lien asserted
by any creditor of any seller of such farm products, so long as it shall be contesting the same by
proper proceedings and maintain appropriate accruals and reserves therefor in accordance with the
GAAP. Upon Lender’s request made, Borrower agrees to forward to Lender promptly after receipt
copies of all notices of liens and master lists of Effective Financing Statements delivered to
Borrower pursuant to the Food Security Act, which notices and/or lists pertain to any of the
Collateral. Upon Lender’s request, Borrower agrees to provide Lender with the names of Persons who
supply Borrower with such farm products and such other information as Lender may reasonably request
with respect to such Persons;
(n) Warehouse Receipts. If any warehouse receipt or receipts in the nature of a
warehouse receipt is issued in respect of any portion of the Collateral, then Borrower:
(i) will not permit such warehouse receipt or receipts in the nature thereof to be “negotiable” as
such term is used in Article 7 of the Uniform Commercial Code; and (ii) will deliver all such
receipts to Lender (or a Person designated by Lender) within five (5) days of Lender’s request and
from time to time thereafter. If no Event of Default exists, Lender agrees to deliver to such
Borrower any receipt so held by Lender upon such Borrower’s request in connection with such sale or
other disposition of the underlying inventory, if such disposition is in ordinary course of such
Borrower’s business;
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(o) Management of Borrower. Promptly, and in any event within 10 Business Days,
provide written notice to the Lender of any change in the President, Chief Financial Officer, or
Plant Manager of Borrower from those set forth on Schedule 5.01(o) hereto;
(p) Compliance with Other Agreements. Borrower will perform in all material respects
all obligations and abide in all material respects by all covenants and agreements contained in the
following agreements: (i) any and all Long Term Marketing Agreements; and (ii) any other Material
Contracts;
(q) Deposit Accounts. Borrower shall maintain all of it’s Deposit Accounts with
Lender at all times during the term of this Agreement;
(r) Additional Assurances. Make, execute and deliver to Lender such promissory notes,
mortgages, deeds of trust, financing statements, control agreements, instruments, documents and
other agreements as Lender or its counsel may reasonably request to evidence and secure the Loans
and to perfect all Security Interests;
(s) Construction of Project. Borrower shall:
(i) diligently proceed with construction of the Project in accordance with the Plans and
Specifications and in accordance with all applicable laws and ordinance and will complete the
Project on or before the Completion Date;
(ii) use the proceeds of all Advances solely to pay the Project Costs as specified in the
Project Sources and Uses Statement;
(iii) use its reasonable best efforts to require the Contractor(s) to comply with all rules,
regulations, ordinances and laws relating to work on the Project;
(iv) obtain Lender’s prior written approval of any change in the Plans and Specifications for
the Project approved by Lender which might materially adversely affect the value of Lender’s
security, and has a cost of $25,000.00 or greater. The Lender will have a reasonable time to
evaluate any requests for its approval of any changes referred to in this paragraph. The Lender
may approve or disapprove changes in its discretion, subject to the foregoing provisions of this
Section 5.01(s)(iv). If it reasonably appears to Lender that any change may increase the Project
Costs, Lender may require Borrower to deposit additional funds with Lender pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement in an amount sufficient to cover the increased costs as a condition to
giving its approval;
(v) comply with and keep in effect all necessary permits and approvals obtained from any
Governmental Authority relating to the lawful construction of the Project. Borrower will comply
with all applicable existing and future laws, regulations, orders, and requirements of any
Governmental Authority, judicial, or legal authorities having jurisdiction over the Real Property
or Project, and with all recorded restrictions affecting the Real Property;
38
(vi) furnish to Lender from time to time on request by Lender, in a form reasonably acceptable
to Lender, correct lists of all contractors and subcontractors employed in connection with
construction of the Project and true and correct copies of all executed contracts and subcontracts.
The Lender may contact any contractor or subcontractor to verify any facts disclosed in the lists,
Borrower must consent to the disclosure of such information by the contractors and subcontractors
to Lender or its agents upon Lender’s request, and Borrower must assist Lender or its agents in
obtaining such information upon Lender’s request;
(vii) upon completion of the building foundation of the Project, deliver to Lender an
“as-built” survey of the Real Property which: (a) sets forth the location and exterior lines and
egress and other improvements completed on the Real Property and demonstrates compliance with all
applicable setback requirements; (b) demonstrates that the Project is entirely within the exterior
boundaries of the Real Property and any building restriction lines and does not encroach upon any
easements or rights-of-way; and (c) contains such other information as Lender may reasonably
request;
(viii) not purchase any materials, equipment, fixtures, or articles of personal property
placed in the Project prior to the Conversion Date under any security agreement or other agreement
where the seller reserves or purports to reserve title or the right of removal or repossession, or
the right to consider them personal property after their incorporation in the work of construction,
unless authorized by Lender in writing;
(ix) provide Lender and its representatives with access to the Real Property and the Project
at any reasonable time and upon reasonable notice to enter the Real Property and inspect the work
or construction and all materials, plans, specifications, and other matters relating to the
construction. The Lender will also have the right to, at any reasonable time and upon reasonable
notice, examine, copy, and audit the books, records, accounting data, and other documents of
Borrower and its contractors relating to the Real Property or construction of the Project;
(x) pay and discharge all claims and liens for labor done and materials and services furnished
in connection with the construction of the Project. Borrower will have the right to contest in
good faith any claim or lien, provided that it does so diligently and without prejudice to Lender
or the ability to obtain title insurance in the manner required by this Agreement and the
Disbursing Agreement. Upon Lender’s request, Borrower will promptly provide a bond, cash deposit,
or other security reasonably satisfactory to Lender to protect Lender’s interest and security
should the contest be unsuccessful;
(xi) at Lender’s request and expense, post signs on the Real Property for the purpose of
identifying Lender and participating local community banks as the “Lender.” At the request of
Lender, or the participating local community banks, Borrower will use its best efforts to identify
Lender and the participating local community banks as the lender in publicity concerning the
Project;
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(xii) maintain in force until full payment of the Loan builder’s risk and all other insurance
required by law, public liability insurance, and property insurance. The policies must be approved
by Lender as to amounts, form, risk coverage, deductibles, insurer, and loss payable and
cancellation provision as reasonably required by Lender. Lender’s approval, however, will not be a
representation of the solvency of any insurer or the sufficiency of any amount of insurance;
(xiii) cooperate at all times with Lender in bringing about the timely completion of the
Project, and resolve all disputes arising during the work of construction in a manner which will
allow work to proceed expeditiously. With respect to such disputes, Borrower will have the right
to contest in good faith claims resulting in disputes, provided that it does so diligently and
without prejudice to Lender. Upon Lender’s request, Borrower will promptly provide a bond, cash
deposit, or other security reasonably satisfactory to Lender to protect Lender’s interest and
security should the contest be unsuccessful;
(xiv) pay Lender’s and the Disbursing Agent’s reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses
incurred in connection with the making or disbursement of the Loans or in the exercise of any of
its rights or remedies under this Agreement, including but not limited to title insurance and
escrow charges, disbursing agent fees, recording charges, and mortgage taxes, reasonable legal fees
and disbursements, and reasonable fees and costs for services which are not customarily performed
by Lender’s salaried employees and are not specifically covered by the fees charged to originate
the Loan, if any. The provision of this paragraph will survive the termination of this Agreement,
the Supplements and the repayment of the Loans;
(xv) keep true and correct financial books and records on a cash basis for the construction of
the Project and maintain adequate reserves for all contingencies. If required by Lender, Borrower
will submit to Lender at such times as it reasonably requires (which will in no event be more often
than monthly) a statement which accurately shows the application of all funds expended to date for
construction of the Project and the source of those funds as well as Borrower’s best estimate of
the funds needed to complete the Project and the source of those funds. Borrower will promptly
supply Lender with any financial statements or other information concerning its affairs and
properties as Lender may reasonably request, and will promptly notify Lender of any material
adverse change in its financial condition or in the physical condition of the Property or Project;
(xvi) comply with the requirements of any commitment or agreement entered into by Borrower
with any Governmental Authority to assist the construction or financing of the Real Property and/or
Project and with the terms of all applicable laws, regulations, and requirements governing such
assistance;
(xvii) indemnify and hold Lender harmless from and against all liabilities, claims, damages,
reasonable costs, and reasonable expenses (including but not limited to reasonable legal fees and
disbursements) arising out of or resulting from any defective workmanship or materials occurring in
the construction of the Project. Upon demand by Lender, Borrower will defend any action or
proceeding brought against Lender alleging any defective workmanship or materials, or Lender may
elect to conduct its own defense at the reasonable expense of Borrower. The provisions of this
paragraph will survive the termination of this Agreement, the Supplements and the repayment of the
Loans; and
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(xviii) obtain and deliver to Lender copies of all necessary occupancy certificates relating
to the Project.
(t) Debt Service Reserve Account. Upon demand by Lender, Borrower shall be
unconditionally obligated to replenish the Debt Service Reserve Account to an amount equal to
$10,000,000.00, without presentment, demand, protest, or other formalities of any kind. Amounts
held in the Debt Service Reserve Account shall be disbursed or applied to repayment of the Loans in
such order and manner as Lender may elect in its sole discretion. So long as no Event of Default
exists, Lender will release the Debt Service Reserve Account and Borrower’s obligation to replenish
said account will terminate when Borrower achieves and maintains Tangible Net Worth of sixty-five
percent (65%) and compliance with all covenants in this Agreement and the Supplements.
Section 5.02. Negative Covenants. So long as any of the Loan Obligations remain
unpaid or Lender shall have any commitment hereunder, Borrower will not, without the prior written
consent of Lender:
(a) Liens, etc. Create or suffer to exist, or permit any of its subsidiaries to
create or suffer to exist, any lien, security interest or other charge or encumbrance, or any other
type of preferential arrangement, upon or with respect to any of its properties, whether now owned
or hereafter acquired, or assign, or permit any of its subsidiaries to assign, any right to receive
income, in each case to secure any Debt (as defined below) of any Person, other than “Permitted
Liens”:
(i) those described on Schedule 5.02(a) hereto and renewals and extensions on the same or
substantially the same terms and conditions and at no increase in the debt or obligation; or
(ii) liens or security interests which are subject to an intercreditor and subordination
agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Lender in Lender’s sole discretion; or
(iii) the liens or security interests of Lender in the Security Agreement, Mortgage or
otherwise; or
(iv) liens (other than liens relating to environmental liabilities or ERISA) for taxes,
assessments, or other governmental charges that are not more than 30 days
overdue or, if the execution thereof is stayed, which are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and for which adequate reserves have been established;
or
41
(v) liens of warehousemen, carriers, landlords, mechanics, materialmen, or other similar
statutory or common law liens securing obligations that are not yet due and are incurred in the
ordinary course of business or, if the execution thereof is stayed, which are being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and for which adequate reserves have been
established in accordance with GAAP; or
(vi) liens resulting from good faith deposits to secure payments of workmen’s compensation
unemployment insurance, or other social security programs or to secure the performance of tenders,
leases, statutory obligations, surety, customs and appeal bonds, bids or contracts (other than for
payment of Debt); or
(vii) any attachment or judgment lien not constituting an Event of Default; or
(viii) liens arising from filing UCC financing statements regarding leases not prohibited by
this Agreement; or
(ix) customary offset rights of brokers and deposit banks arising under the terms of
securities account agreements and deposit agreements; or
(x) any real estate easements and easements, covenants and encumbrances that customarily do
not affect the marketable title to real estate or materially impair its use.
(b) Distributions, etc. Declare or pay any dividends, purchase or otherwise acquire
for value any of its membership interests (units) now or hereafter outstanding, or make any
distribution of assets to its stockholders, members or general partners as such, or permit any of
its subsidiaries to purchase or otherwise acquire for value any stock, membership interest or
partnership interest of Borrower, provided, however, Borrower may: (i) declare and pay dividends or
distributions payable in membership interests (units); (ii) purchase or otherwise acquire shares of
the membership interests (units) of Borrower with the proceeds received from the issuance of new
membership interests (units); (iii) Distributions in an amount not to exceed, in the aggregate, 40%
of Borrower’s immediately preceding fiscal year’s Net Income (including Incentive Payments)
(“Allowed Distributions”); (iv) pay dividends or distributions which are immediately reinvested in
Borrower (“Reinvestment Distributions”); (v) complete the transactions reflected on Schedule
4.01(a); and (vi) after payment of the Excess Cash Flow Payment required by Section 2.17, if any,
pay additional distributions in an amount reasonably acceptable to Lender (“Excess Distributions”),
provided, however, that immediately prior to the proposed payment of any dividends or distributions
permitted by this Section 5.02(b), or after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default
shall exist and provided that aggregate Distributions will not exceed 65% of Borrower’s immediately
preceding fiscal year’s Net Income (including Incentive Payments); or
42
(c) Capital Expenditures. Except for costs identified in the Project Sources and Uses
Statement, make any investment in fixed assets in the aggregate amount of $1,500,000.00 during any
fiscal year during the term of this Agreement; or
(d) Consolidation, Merger, Dissolution, Etc. Directly or indirectly, merge or
consolidate with any other Person or permit any other Person to merge into or with or consolidate
with Borrower or any of its subsidiaries; or
(e) Indebtedness, etc. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Debt or other
indebtedness, liabilities or obligations, whether matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated,
direct or contingent, joint or several, without the prior written consent of Lender, except:
(i) the liabilities of Borrower to Lender hereunder; (ii) trade accounts payable and accrued
liabilities (other than Debt) arising in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business; (iii)
Subordinated Debt; and (iv) the liabilities of Borrower described on Schedule 5.02(a), (iv)
contracts or agreements other than Material Contracts arising in the ordinary course of Borrower’s
business; or
(f) Organization; Name; Chief Executive Office. Change its state of organization,
name or the location of its chief executive office without the prior written consent of Lender,
except that the principal office shall be moved to the plant site when construction of the
administration office is substantially complete; or
(g) Loans, Guarantees, etc. Make any loans or advances to (whether in cash, in-kind,
or otherwise) any Person, or directly or indirectly guaranty or otherwise assure a creditor against
loss in respect of any indebtedness, obligations or liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of any
Person; or
(h) Subsidiaries; Affiliates. Form or otherwise acquire any subsidiary or affiliated
business, or acquire the assets of or acquire any equity or ownership interest in any Person,
unless such subsidiary, affiliate or Person executes and delivers to Lender: (i) a guaranty of all
of the Loan Obligations, in form and substance acceptable to Lender in its sole discretion; (ii)
security agreements in form substantially similar to the Security Agreement; and (iii) such other
documents and amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as Lender shall reasonably
require; or
(i) Transfer of Assets. Sell, lease, assign, transfer, or otherwise voluntarily
dispose of any of its assets, or permit any of its subsidiaries to sell, lease, assign, transfer,
or otherwise voluntarily dispose of any of its assets except: (i) dispositions of inventory in the
ordinary course of business; and (ii) dispositions of: (A) obsolete or worn out equipment;
(B) equipment or real property not necessary for the operation of its business; or (C) equipment or
real property which is replaced with property of equivalent or greater value as the property which
is disposed;
(j) Lines of Business. Engage in any line or lines of business activity other than
the production of ethanol and related by products;
43
(k) Transactions with Affiliates. Directly or indirectly enter into or permit to
exist any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the
rendering of any service) with any Affiliate or with any director, officer or employee of Borrower
or any Affiliate, except (i) transactions listed on Schedule 5.02(k), (ii) transactions in the
ordinary course of and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the business of Borrower or any
of its subsidiaries and upon fair and reasonable terms which are fully disclosed to Lender and are
no less favorable to Borrower or such subsidiary than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s
length transaction with a person or entity that is not an Affiliate, and (iii) payment of
compensation to directors, officers and employees in the ordinary course of business for services
actually rendered in their capacities as directors, officers and employees, provided such
compensation is reasonable and comparable with compensation paid by companies of like nature and
similarly situated. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the election of Lender, no payments may be
made with respect to any items set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of the preceding sentence upon the
occurrence and during the continuation of a Potential Default or an Event of Default;
(l) Management Fees and Compensation. Directly or indirectly pay any management,
consulting or other similar fees to any person, except legal or consulting fees paid to persons or
entities that are not Affiliates of Borrower or its subsidiaries for services actually rendered and
in amounts typically paid by entities engaged in Borrower’s or such subsidiary’s business, and (ii)
fees paid as listed on Schedule 5.02(l); or
(m) Amendments to Organizational Documents. Amend its operating agreement, management
agreement or any other organizational documents in any material respect without the prior written
consent of Lender.
ARTICLE VI.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
Section 6.01. Events of Default. Each of the following events shall be an “Event of
Default”:
(a) Borrower shall fail to pay any installments of principal or interest, fees, expenses,
charges or other amounts payable hereunder or under the other Loan Documents or to make any deposit
of funds required under this Agreement when due; or
(b) Any representation or warranty made by Borrower, or any of its officers or directors under
or in connection with any Loan Document shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect
when made; or
(c) Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in
Sections 5.01(d), (e), (f) or (g); or
(d) Borrower shall fail to deliver the financial statements or Compliance Certificate under
Section 5.01(c) within 5 days of the date due; or
44
(e) Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any
Loan Document (other than those listed in clauses (a) through (d) of this Section 6.01) on its part
to be performed or observed (other than the covenants to pay the Loan Obligations) and any such
failure shall remain unremedied for ten (10) days after written notice thereof shall have been
given to Borrower by Lender, provided, however, that no Event of Default shall be deemed to exist
if, within said ten (10) day period, Borrower have commenced appropriate action to remedy such
failure and shall diligently and continuously pursue such action until such cure is completed,
unless such cure is or cannot be completed within thirty (30) days after written notice shall have
been given; or
(f) Borrower shall fail to pay any indebtedness in an amount in excess of $100,000.00 (either
in any individual case or in the aggregate) excluding indebtedness evidenced by the Notes and
excluding Ordinary Trade Payable Disputes, or any interest or premium thereon, when due (whether by
scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise) and such failure shall
continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument
relating to such indebtedness; or any other default under any agreement or instrument relating to
any such indebtedness, or any other event, shall occur and shall continue after the applicable
grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such default or
event is to accelerate, or to permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such indebtedness
(excluding Ordinary Trade Payable Disputes); or any such indebtedness shall be declared to be due
and payable, or required to be prepaid (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment),
prior to the stated maturity thereof (excluding Ordinary Trade Payable Disputes); or
(g) Borrower shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due, or shall admit in
writing its inability to pay its debts generally, or shall make a general assignment for the
benefit of creditors; or any proceeding shall be instituted by or against Borrower seeking to
adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization,
arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts under any law
relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of
an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee or other similar official for it or
for any substantial part of its property, and, in the case of any such proceeding instituted
against it (but not instituted by it) either such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed
for a period of 30 days or any of the actions sought in such proceeding (including, without
limitation, the entry of an order for relief against it or the appointment of a receiver, trustee,
custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property) shall
occur; or Borrower shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the actions set forth above
in this subsection; or
(h) Any one or more judgment(s) or order(s) for the payment of money in excess of $100,000.00
in the aggregate shall be rendered against Borrower and either: (i) enforcement proceedings shall
have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order; or (ii) there shall be any period
of 10 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a
pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or
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(i) Any provision of any Loan Document shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on
Borrower or Borrower shall so state in writing and the invalidity of such
provision shall have a Material Adverse Effect on the enforceability of this Agreement or on the
Lender; or
(j) The Mortgage or the Security Agreement shall for any reason, except to the extent
permitted by the terms thereof, cease to create a valid lien, encumbrance or security interest in
any of the property purported to be covered thereby; or
(k) The termination of any Long Term Marketing Agreement prior to its stated expiration date,
unless such Long Term Marketing Agreement is replaced by another Long Term Marketing Agreement
acceptable to Lender, within thirty (30) days of the termination of such Long Term Marketing
Agreement; or
(l) Borrower shall dissolve, merge, consolidate with other Persons, or suspend or discontinue
doing business; or
(m) Construction of the Project is halted or abandoned prior to completion for any period of
thirty (30) consecutive days for any cause which is not beyond the reasonable control of Borrower,
its contractors and subcontractors; or
(n) The construction of the Project shall be delayed for any reason and for such period that,
in the reasonable judgment of Lender, the Project will not be completed by the Completion Date. If
such delay is curable and if Borrower has not been given a notice of a similar breach within the
preceding twelve (12) months, it may be cured (and no Event of Default will have occurred) if
Borrower cures the failure within thirty (30) days, which shall include advancing the progress of
the Project to the point that, in the reasonable judgment of Lender, the Project will be completed
by the Completion Date; or
(o) Any event, change or condition not referred to elsewhere in this Section 6.01 should occur
which results in a Material Adverse Effect on Borrower, any subsidiary or any guarantor of
Borrower’s obligations hereunder; or
(p) Any guarantee, suretyship, subordination agreement, maintenance agreement, or other
agreement furnished in connection with Borrower’s obligations hereunder and under any Note shall,
at any time, cease to be in full force and effect, or shall be revoked or declared null and void,
or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by the guarantor, surety or other
maker thereof, or any guarantor shall deny any further liability or obligations thereunder, or
shall fail to perform its obligations thereunder, or any representation or warranty set forth
therein shall be breached, or any guarantor shall breach or be in default under the terms of any
other agreement with Lender (including any loan agreement or security agreement); or
46
(q) The loss, suspension or revocation of, or failure to renew, any franchise, license,
certificate, permit, authorization, approval or the like now held or hereafter acquired by Borrower
or any of its subsidiaries, if such loss, suspension, revocation or failure to renew could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Borrower or (ii) any regulatory or
Governmental Authority replaces the management of Borrower or any of its subsidiaries or
assumes control over Borrower or such subsidiary; or
(r) Borrower should breach or be in default under a Material Contract in any material respect,
including any material breach or default, or any termination shall have occurred, or any other
event which would permit any party other than Borrower to cause a termination, or any Material
Contract shall have ceased for any reason to be in full force and effect prior to its stated or
optional expiration date; or
(s) Borrower should terminate, or materially change, amend or restate, without Lender’s prior
consent any Material Contract, or any material Construction Contract.
Section 6.02. Remedies. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and at any time
while such Event of Default is continuing, Lender:
(a) may accelerate the due date of the unpaid principal balance of the Notes, all accrued but
unpaid interest thereon and all other amounts payable under this Agreement making such amounts
immediately due and payable, whereupon the Notes, all such interest and all such amounts shall
become and be forthwith immediately due and payable, without presentment, notice of intent to
accelerate or notice of acceleration, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which
are hereby expressly waived by Borrower; provided, however, that in the event of an actual or
deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to any of Borrower under the Federal Bankruptcy
Code, the Notes, all such interest and all such amounts shall automatically become due and payable,
without presentment, demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly
waived by Borrower;
(b) may withhold or direct the Disbursing Agent to withhold any one or more Advances in its
discretion, and terminate Lender’s obligations, if any, under this Agreement to make any Advances
whereupon the commitment and obligations of Lender to extend credit or to make Advances hereunder
shall terminate, and no disbursement of Loan funds by Lender will cure any default of Borrower,
unless Lender agrees otherwise in writing;
(c) may, by notice to Borrower, obtain the appointment of a receiver to take possession of all
Collateral, including, but not limited to all personal property, including all fixtures and
equipment leased, occupied or used by Borrower. Borrower hereby irrevocably consents to the
appointment of such receiver and agrees to cooperate and assist any such receiver as reasonably
requested to facilitate the transfer of possession of the Collateral to such receiver and to
provide such receiver access to all books, records, information and documents as requested by such
receiver;
47
(d) in its discretion, enter the Real Property and take any and all actions necessary in its
judgment to complete construction of the Project, including but not limited to making changes in
Plans and Specifications, work or materials, and entering into, modifying, or terminating any
contractual arrangements, subject to Lender’s right at any time to discontinue any work without
liability. If Lender elects to complete the Project, it will not assume any liability to Borrower
or any other person for completing the Project or for the manner or quality
of construction of the Project, and Borrower expressly waives any such liability. Borrower
irrevocably appoints Lender as its attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, to complete
the Project in Borrower’s name, or Lender may elect to complete construction in its own name. In
any event, all sums expended by Lender in completing construction will be considered to have been
disbursed to Borrower and will be secured by the Mortgage and any other instruments or documents
securing the Loans, and any such sums that cause the principal amount of the Loans to exceed the
face amount of the Notes will be considered to be an additional loan to Borrower bearing interest
at the rate provided in the Notes and will be secured by the Mortgage and any other instrument or
documents securing the Loans. The Lender will not have any obligation under the Plans and
Specifications prepared for the Project, any studies, data, and drawings with respect thereto
prepared by or for Borrower, or the contracts and agreements relating to the Plans and
Specifications, or the aforesaid studies, data, and drawings, or to the construction of the Project
unless it expressly hereafter agrees in writing. The Lender will have the right to exercise any
rights of Borrower under those contracts and agreements or with respect to such Plans and
Specifications, studies, data, and drawings upon any default by Borrower under this Agreement, and
shall have such other rights and remedies with respect thereto as are afforded a secured creditor
under applicable law; and
(e) may, by notice to Borrower, require Borrower to pledge to Lender as security for the Loan
Obligations an amount in immediately available funds equal to the then outstanding Letter of Credit
Liabilities, such funds to be held in an interest bearing cash collateral account at Lender without
any right of withdrawal by Borrower; provided, however, that in the event of an actual or deemed
entry of an order for relief with respect to Borrower or any of its subsidiaries under the Federal
Bankruptcy Code, Borrower shall, without notice, pledge to Lender as security for the Loan
Obligations an amount in immediately available funds equal to the then outstanding Letter of Credit
Liabilities, such funds to be held in such an interest bearing cash collateral account at Lender;
and
(f) may exercise all other rights and remedies afforded to Lender under the Loan Documents or
by applicable law or equity.
Section 6.03. Remedies Cumulative. Each and every power or remedy herein specifically
given shall be in addition to every other power or remedy, existing or implied, given now or
hereafter existing at law or in equity, and each and every power and remedy herein specifically
given or otherwise so existing may be exercised from time to time and as often and in such order as
may be deemed expedient by Lender, and the exercise or the beginning of the exercise of one power
or remedy shall not be deemed a waiver of the right to exercise at the same time or thereafter any
other power or remedy. No delay or omission of Lender in the exercise of any right or power
accruing hereunder shall impair any such right or power or be construed to be a waiver of any
default or acquiescence therein.
48
ARTICLE VII.
MISCELLANEOUS
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.01. Amendments, etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of any Loan
Document to which Borrower is a party, nor any consent to any departure by Borrower
therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be agreed or consented to by
Lender and Borrower in writing, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the
specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.
Section 7.02. Notices, etc. All notices and other communications provided for under
any Loan Document shall be in writing and mailed, faxed, or delivered at the addresses set forth
below, or at such other address as such party may specify by written notice to the other parties
hereto:
If to Borrower: | Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC | |||||
000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx | ||||||
X.X. Xxx X | ||||||
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||||||
Telephone: (000) 000-0000 | ||||||
Fax: (000) 000-0000 | ||||||
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||||||
With a copy to: | BrownWinick | |||||
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000 | ||||||
Xxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||||||
Telephone: (000) 000-0000 | ||||||
Fax: (000) 000-0000 | ||||||
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||||||
If to Lender: | Home Federal Savings Bank | |||||
50 — 00xx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000 | ||||||
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||||||
Telephone: (000) 000-0000 | ||||||
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 | ||||||
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx | ||||||
With copies to: | Xxxx Plant Xxxxx | |||||
0000 Xxxx Xx. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000 | ||||||
Xx. Xxxxx, XX 00000 | ||||||
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000 | ||||||
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx |
49
All such notices and communications shall have been duly given and shall be effective: (a) when
delivered; (b) when transmitted via facsimile to the number set forth above; (c) the Business Day
following the day on which the same has been delivered prepaid (or pursuant to an invoice
arrangement) to a reputable national overnight air courier service; or (d) the third Business Day
following the day on which the same is sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid. Any
confirmation sent by Lender to Borrower of any borrowing under this Agreement shall, in the absence
of manifest error, be conclusive and binding for all purposes.
Section 7.03. No Waiver; Remedies. No failure on the part of Lender to exercise, and
no delay in exercising, any right under any Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor
shall any single or partial exercise of any right under any Loan Document preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies provided in the Loan
Documents are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
Section 7.04. Costs, Expenses and Taxes.
(a) Borrower agrees, jointly and severally, to pay on demand all reasonable costs and expenses
in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, filing, recording and administration of
the Loan Documents and the other documents to be delivered under the Loan Documents, including,
without limitation, the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel for Lender (who may
be in-house counsel), and local counsel who may be retained by said counsel, with respect thereto
and with respect to advising Lender as to its respective rights and responsibilities under the Loan
Documents, and all costs and expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) for Lender
in connection with the filing of the Financing Statements and the enforcement of the Loan Documents
and the other documents to be delivered under the Loan Documents, including, without limitation, in
the context of any bankruptcy proceedings. In addition, Borrower agrees to pay on demand the
expenses described in this Agreement. In addition, Borrower shall pay any and all stamp and other
taxes and fees payable or determined to be payable in connection with the execution, delivery,
filing and recording of the Loan Documents and the other documents to be delivered under the Loan
Documents, and agrees to save Lender harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect
to or resulting from any delay in paying or omission to pay such taxes and fees. Upon request of
Borrower, Lender shall provide copies of all invoices for costs and expenses to be reimbursed by
Borrower under this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents.
(b) If, due to payments made by Borrower pursuant to Section 2.10 or due to acceleration of
the maturity of the Advances pursuant to Section 6.01 or due to any other reason, Lender receives
payments of principal of any Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period relating
thereto, Borrower shall pay to Lender on demand any amounts required to compensate Lender for any
additional losses, costs or expenses which it may incur as a result of such payment, including,
without limitation, any loss (including loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by
reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by Lender to fund or
maintain such Loan.
50
Section 7.05. Right of Set-off. The Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from
time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits
(general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness
at any time owing by Lender to or for the credit or the account of Borrower against any and all of
the Loan Obligations, irrespective of whether or not Lender shall have made any demand under such
Loan Document and although deposits, indebtedness or such obligations may be unmatured or
contingent. The Lender agrees promptly to notify Borrower after any such set-off and application,
provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and
application. The rights of Lender under this Section 7.05 are in addition to other rights and
remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) which Lender may have.
Section 7.06. Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this Agreement or of any
other Loan Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or enforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or thereof or affecting the validity or enforceability
of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 7.07. Binding Effect; Successors and Assigns; Participations.
(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Borrower, Lender and
their respective successors and assigns, except that Borrower shall not have the right to assign or
otherwise transfer its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of
Lenders.
(b) Borrower agrees and consents to Lender’s sale or transfer, whether now or later, of one or
more participation interests in the Loans to one or more purchasers, whether related or unrelated
to Lender. Lender may provide, without any limitation whatsoever, to any one or more purchasers,
or potential purchasers, any information or knowledge Lender may have about Borrower or about any
other matter relating to the Loans, and Borrower hereby waives any rights to privacy it may have
with respect to such matters; provided, however, that any information received by any such
purchaser or potential purchaser under this provision which concerns the personal, financial or
other affairs of Borrower shall be received and kept by the purchaser or potential purchaser in
full confidence and will not be revealed to any other persons, firms or organizations nor used for
any purpose whatsoever other than for determining whether or not to participate in the Loans and in
accord with the rights of Lender if a participation interest is acquired. Borrower additionally
waives any and all notices of sale of participation interests, as well as all notices of any
repurchase of such participation interest. Borrower also agrees that the purchasers of any such
participation interests will be considered as the absolute owners of such interests in the Loans
and will have all the rights granted under the participation agreement or agreements governing the
sale of such participation interests. Borrower further waives all rights of offset or counterclaim
that it may have now or later against Lender or against any purchaser of such a participation
interest arising out of or by virtue of the participation and unconditionally agrees that either
Lender or such purchaser may enforce Borrower’s obligation under the Loans irrespective of the
failure or insolvency of any holder of any interests in the Loans. Borrower further agrees that
the purchaser of any such participation interests may enforce its interests irrespective of any
personal claims or defenses that Borrower may have against Lender.
51
Section 7.08. Consent to Jurisdiction.
(a) Borrower hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any Minnesota state court or
federal court over any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Note
and any instrument, agreement or document related hereto or thereto to which Borrower is a party,
and Borrower hereby irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may
be heard and determined in such Minnesota state court or federal court. Borrower hereby
irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient
forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding. Borrower irrevocably consents to the
service of copies of the summons and complaint and any other
process which may be served in any such action or proceeding by the mailing of copies of such
process to Borrower at its address specified in Section 7.02. Borrower 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) Nothing in this Section 7.08 shall affect the right of Lender to serve legal process in
any other manner permitted by law or affect the right of Lender to bring any action or proceeding
against Borrower or its property in the courts of other jurisdictions.
Section 7.09. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT, THE SUPPLEMENTS, AND THE NOTES SHALL BE
GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.
Section 7.10. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts and on telecopy counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be
an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute but one and the same agreement.
Section 7.11. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties
made by Borrower in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in
connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to
have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of
the Loan Documents and the making of any Advances and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless
of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that Lender
may have had notice or knowledge of any Event of Default or incorrect representation or warranty at
the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as
any Loan Obligations are outstanding and unpaid and so long as Lender has any unexpired commitments
under this Agreement or the Loan Documents. The expense reimbursement, additional cost, capital
adequacy and indemnification provisions of this Agreement shall survive and remain in full force
and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of
the Loan Obligations or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
52
Section 7.12. USA PATRIOT ACT. Federal law requires all financial institutions to
obtain, verify and record certain information to verify the identity of each person or entity that
opens an account, including deposit accounts, treasury management accounts, loan account or other
extension of credit, or other financial services. The Lender will ask Borrower for Borrower’s
name, address, taxpayer identification number and such other information as will allow Lender to
identify Borrower. The Lender will verify and record the information and will retain and maintain
the record as required by the USA PATRIOT ACT and implementing regulations. Borrower warrants and
represents that the information it provides to Lender for these purposes is and will be correct and
accurate.
Section 7.13. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE BORROWER AND THE LENDER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY
WAIVE ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT TO WHICH IT IS A PARTY OR ANY INSTRUMENT OR DOCUMENT DELIVERED
THEREUNDER.
Section 7.14. Entire Agreement. THIS AGREEMENT, THE SUPPLEMENTS, THE NOTES, AND THE
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REFERRED TO HEREIN EMBODY THE FINAL, ENTIRE AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES HERETO
AND SUPERSEDE ANY AND ALL PRIOR COMMITMENTS, AGREEMENTS, REPRESENTATIONS, AND UNDERSTANDINGS,
WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED OR
VARIED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OR DISCUSSIONS OF THE
PARTIES HERETO. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES THERETO.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their
respective officers and duly authorized, as of the date first above written.
{SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW}
53
SIGNATURE PAGE FOR
MASTER LOAN AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
HOMELAND ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC
AND
HOME FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK
DATED: November 30, 2007
MASTER LOAN AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
HOMELAND ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC
AND
HOME FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK
DATED: November 30, 2007
BORROWER ACKNOWLEDGES HAVING READ ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THIS MASTER LOAN AGREEMENT, AND BORROWER
AGREES TO ITS TERMS. THIS AGREEMENT IS DATED AS OF THE DATE FIRST ABOVE STATED.
BORROWER:
|
LENDER: | |
HOMELAND ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC, an Iowa limited liability company |
HOME FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK, a federally chartered stock savings bank organized under the laws of the United States |
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
|
|||||
Its: President
|
Its: Vice President |
54
EXHIBIT A
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
TO: Home Federal Savings Bank (the “Lender”)
Pursuant to that certain Master Loan Agreement dated November 30, 2007, by and between
HOMELAND ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC, an Iowa limited liability company (the “Borrower”), and Lender, and
any amendments thereto and extensions thereof (the “Loan Agreement”), the undersigned hereby
represents, warrants and certifies to Lender as follows:
1. | The financial statement(s) attached hereto are complete and correct in all
material respects and fairly present the financial condition of Borrower as of the date
of said financial statement(s) and the result of its business operations for the period
covered thereby; |
||
2. | Repeats and reaffirms to Lender each and all of the representations and
warranties made by Borrower in the Loan Agreement and the agreements referred to
therein or related thereto, and represents and warrants to Lender that each and all of
said warranties and representations are true and correct as of the date hereof, except
as disclosed in writing to Lender; |
||
3. | No Event of Default (as that term is defined in the Loan Agreement), and no
event which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would constitute
an Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing as of the date hereof; and |
||
4. | All the calculations set forth below are made pursuant to the terms of the Loan
Agreement and are true and accurate as of the date of the attached financial
statements: |
1. | Section 5.01(d) — Working Capital. (tested annually) |
(a) Required
Working Capital, excluding amounts held in the Debt Service Reserve Account
(at Completion Date $10,000,000.00)
(twelve months after Completion Date and annually thereafter $12,000,000.00)
(at Completion Date $10,000,000.00)
(twelve months after Completion Date and annually thereafter $12,000,000.00)
(a) Current Assets |
$ | |||
(b) Current Liabilities |
$ | |||
Line (a) less line (b) |
$ | |||
In Compliance |
Yes No |
55
2. | Section 5.01(e) — Tangible Net Worth. (tested annually) |
(a) Required
Tangible Net Worth ($87,000,000.00 at Completion Date) (annually thereafter, increases based on covenant) |
$ | |||
(b) Actual Tangible Net Worth |
||||
(1) Total Assets |
$ | |||
(2) Less Intangible Assets (per definition) |
$ | |||
(3) Total Tangible Assets |
$ | |||
(4) Total Liabilities |
$ | |||
(5) Tangible Net Worth |
$ | |||
(line (4) minus line (5)) |
||||
In Compliance |
Yes No |
3. | Section 5.01(f) — Owner Equity Ratio (40% twelve months after the Completion Date and annually thereafter) |
(a) Tangible Net Worth |
$ | |||
(b) Total Assets |
$ | |||
(c) Owner Equity Percentage (percent of line (b) to (c)) |
% | |||
In Compliance |
Yes No |
4. | Section 5.01(g) — Fixed Charge Ratio (tested annually beginning twelve months after the Completion Date, and maintained and measured at the end of each fiscal year thereafter.) |
(a) EBITDA |
$ | |||
(b) Extraordinary Items |
$ | |||
(c) Numerator (sum of lines (a) and (b)) |
$ | |||
(d) Current Portion of Long Term Debt |
$ | |||
(e) Interest Expense |
$ | |||
(f) Dividends |
$ | |||
(g) Tax Distributions |
$ | |||
(h) Maintenance Capital Expenditures |
$ | |||
(i) Denominator (sum of lines (d) through (h)) |
$ | |||
Ratio of line (c) to (i) to 1.00 |
||||
Required Ratio of to 1.00 |
||||
In Compliance |
Yes No |
56
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed and delivered this Certificate to Lender as of
the day of ,
.
BORROWER:
HOMELAND ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC,
an Iowa limited liability company
an Iowa limited liability company
By |
||||
Its |
||||
57
EXHIBIT B
PROJECT SOURCE AND USE STATEMENT
PROJECT SOURCE AND USE STATEMENT
See Attached.
58
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Estimated Sources of Funds
We have issued 85,595 units in our registered offering for an aggregate amount of
$85,595,000. We have released the funds from our escrow account and have begun construction of the
plant. The following schedule sets forth our estimated sources of funds to build the ethanol plant
to be located near New Hampton, Iowa. This schedule could change in the future depending on whether
we receive additional grants or debt financing.
Sources of Funds | Percent | |||||||
Seed Capital Proceeds (1) |
$ | 1,325,000 | 0.72 | % | ||||
Unit Proceeds (2) |
$ | 87,595,000 | 47.28 | % | ||||
Senior Debt Financing (3) |
$ | 94,000,000 | 50.73 | % | ||||
Interest on Escrow (4) |
$ | 2,360,000 | 1.27 | % | ||||
Total Sources of Funds (5) |
$ | 185,280,000 | 100.00 | % |
(1) | We have issued a total of 2,850 units to our founders and seed capital investors in previous
private placement offerings in exchange for proceeds of $1,325,000. |
|
(2) | We currently have issued 85,595 membership units in our registered offering. Once the balance
of our Bridge Loan is paid, the $2,000,000 pledged by one of our investors as collateral is
expected to be released and the investor has submitted a subscription agreement to us for an
additional 2,000 units totaling $2,000,000. We expect to accept this subscription but as of the
date of this report we have not yet done so. |
|
(3) | We currently do not have a definitive loan agreement with a senior lender for debt financing
in the amount of $94,000,000. We do have a conditional debt financing commitment letter for
proposed senior credit facilities up to $94,000,000. Definitive debt documents have not yet been
finalized and there is no assurance that they will be. Even if we do enter into final agreements,
they may not be upon the terms we expect. Under the terms of the conditional debt financing
commitment letter, we must enter into definitive loan documents no later than November 30, 2007 or
the commitment will expire. |
|
(4) | As of October 29, 2007, we had earned approximately $2,360,000 in interest on our escrow
account. |
|
(5) | Our total sources of funds is expected to be sufficient to cover our estimated project cost of
$173,860,000 as well as to cover the $10,000,000 debt service reserve that we are required to
maintain under our conditional debt financing commitment letter with Home Federal Savings Bank. |
Estimated Use of Proceeds
We expect the project to cost approximately $173,860,000 to complete. In addition, we will be
required to maintain a $10,000,000 debt service reserve that will serve as collateral for our
senior debt financing loans. The following table reflects our estimate of costs and expenditures,
as of the date of this report, for the ethanol plant we are building near New Hampton, Iowa. These
estimates are based on discussions with Xxxxx, Inc., ICM Inc., our lenders and management research.
The following figures are intended to be estimates only, and the actual use of funds may vary
significantly from the descriptions given below due to a variety of factors described elsewhere in
this report. As the project progresses, any material changes will be reflected in a new budget.
For example, we still plan to pursue various options for incorporating coal gasification into the
project at a future date. For example, we have submitted an application under the USDA Rural
Energy Program under which it is possible that we will receive up to a $40,000,000 loan guarantee.
If received, we would be able to use the guarantee to attract additional debt financing to help
fund the coal gasification energy center. In addition, it is possible that we may work out a
financing structure with our anticipated coal gasification energy center contractors to allow us to
incorporate coal gasification into our project. If we are successful in incorporating coal
gasification into our project and depending
on how the financing for the energy center is structured, we anticipate that our project cost
would increase to approximately $238,485,000. The increase in cost would be due to the additional
engineering, design and construction costs to build the energy center, which could total
$64,500,000 or more.
59
Percent of | ||||||||
Use of Proceeds | Amount | Total | ||||||
Plant construction |
$ | 120,000,000 | 69.02 | % | ||||
Land cost |
3,500,000 | 2.01 | % | |||||
Site development costs |
5,670,000 | 3.26 | % | |||||
Pipeline costs |
4,000,000 | 2.30 | % | |||||
Construction contingency |
2,220,000 | 1.28 | % | |||||
Construction insurance costs |
225,000 | 0.13 | % | |||||
Construction manager fees |
125,000 | 0.07 | % | |||||
Administrative building |
760,000 | 0.45 | % | |||||
Office equipment |
85,000 | 0.04 | % | |||||
Computers, Software, Network |
175,000 | 0.10 | % | |||||
Rail Infrastructure |
11,000,000 | 6.33 | % | |||||
Rolling stock |
500,000 | 0.29 | % | |||||
Fire Protection, water supply and
water treatment |
3,500,000 | 2.01 | % | |||||
Capitalized interest |
4,000,000 | 2.30 | % | |||||
Start up costs: |
||||||||
Financing costs |
2,500,000 | 1.43 | % | |||||
Organization costs (1) |
1,400,000 | 0.80 | % | |||||
Pre production period costs |
950,000 | 0.56 | % | |||||
Working capital |
7,000,000 | 4.03 | % | |||||
Inventory — corn |
2,000,000 | 1.15 | % | |||||
Inventory — chemicals and ingredients |
500,000 | 0.29 | % | |||||
Inventory — Ethanol |
2,500,000 | 1.43 | % | |||||
Inventory — DDGS |
500,000 | 0.29 | % | |||||
Spare parts — process equipment |
750,000 | 0.43 | % | |||||
Total |
$ | 173,860,000 | 100.00 | % |
(1) | Includes estimated offering expenses of $480,000. |
Plant Construction. The construction of the plant itself is by far the single largest expense at
approximately $120,000,000.
Land Cost. We paid an approximate purchase price of $3,500,000 to purchase the land for our plant
site.
Site Development. We estimate that site development costs will be approximately $5,670,000.
Construction Contingency. We project approximately $2,220,000 for unanticipated expenditures in
connection with the construction of our plant. We plan to use excess funds for our general working
capital.
Construction Insurance Costs. We have budgeted approximately $225,000 for builder’s risk insurance,
general liability insurance, workers’ compensation and property insurance. We have not yet
determined our actual costs and they may exceed this estimate.
Administration Building, Furnishings, Office and Computer Equipment. We anticipate spending
approximately $760,000 to build our administration building on the plant site. We expect to spend
an additional $85,000 on our furniture and other office equipment and $175,000 for our computers,
software and network.
60
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF OPINION LETTER
FORM OF OPINION LETTER
November 30, 2007
|
direct phone: 000-000-0000 | |
direct fax: 000-000-0000 | ||
email: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx |
Home Federal Savings Bank
Re: | Master Loan Agreement dated November 30, 2007, (the “Loan Agreement”) between Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC and Home Federal Savings Bank. |
Ladies/Gentlemen:
We have acted as legal counsel for Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC, an Iowa limited liability
company (“Borrower”), in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Master Loan Agreement
between Borrower and Home Federal Savings Bank (“Lender”). We have been requested by Borrower to
render certain opinions to you in connection with the Master Loan Agreement pursuant to Section
3.01(t) thereof. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this opinion letter shall have the
meanings given to such terms as set forth in the Master Loan Agreement.
For purposes of rendering these opinions, we have examined originals or copies of the
following documents (the “Loan Documents”), each dated November 30, 2007 unless otherwise
indicated:
a. The Master Loan Agreement between Borrower and Lender, pursuant to which Lender has agreed
to extend the Loans to Borrower;
b. The First Supplement regarding the Construction and Term Loan between Borrower and Lender;
c. The Second Supplement regarding the Term Revolving Loan between Borrower and Lender;
d. The Third Supplement regarding the Revolving Line of Credit Loan between Borrower and
Lender;
e. The Construction Note by Borrower payable to the order of Lender in the amount of its
Commitment in the Construction Loan;
f. The Term Revolving Note by Borrower payable to the order of Lender in the amount of its
Commitment in the Term Revolving Loan;
g. The Revolving Line of Credit Note by Borrower payable to the order of Lender in the amount
of its Commitment in the Revolving Line of Credit Loan;
61
h. The Mortgage by Borrower, as mortgagor, to Lender, as mortgagee;
i. The Security Agreement by Borrow in favor of Lender;
j. The Environmental Indemnity Agreement between Borrower and Lender;
k. The Disbursing Agreement among Borrower, Lender and Tri-County Abstract and Title Guaranty,
Inc;
l. The Collateral Assignment of the Design Build Agreement with Xxxxx, Inc.;
m. The Collateral Assignment of the License Agreement with ICM, Inc.; and
n. Uniform Commercial Code Financing Statements naming Lender as secured party;
In rendering these opinions, we have reviewed the Articles of Organization, the Operating
Agreement and First Amendment to the Operating Agreement and authorizing resolutions of Borrower
(the foregoing collectively referred to as the “Organizational Documents”). We have also reviewed
such matters of law and made inquiry into such matters of fact as we have considered appropriate
for purposes of rendering this opinion to you.
In rendering these opinions we have assumed and relied upon, but have not independently
verified:
(i) The genuineness of all signatures on all documents (other than Borrower’s), the legal
capacity and competency for all purposes relevant hereto of all natural persons, the authenticity
of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the authentic originals of all
documents submitted to us as copies, the correctness, completeness and accuracy of all facts set
forth in all representations, warranties and certificates referred to or identified in this opinion
and all public records reviewed, and that there are no documents, agreements or understandings to
which Lender is a party, on the one hand, and the Borrower on the other hand, other than the Loan
Documents, which would have an effect on the opinions set forth below.
(ii) In examining documents executed by parties other than the Borrower, we have assumed that
such parties had the requisite power, right and authority (corporate or otherwise) to execute,
deliver and perform all of their respective obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due
authorization by all requisite corporate action and execution and delivery of such documents by
such parties, and the validity, legality and binding effect of those documents on those parties.
(iii) As to questions of fact material to our opinions, we have relied upon the
representations and warranties made in the Loan Documents and upon certificates of officers or
other representatives of the Borrower and of public officials (“Certificates”). We have not
independently or through third parties verified such representations and warranties or
Certificates, or made any independent investigation as to the existence of agreements,
instruments or other documents, orders, judgments or decrees by which the Borrower or any of
its properties or assets may be bound.
62
(iv) Lender and any of the parties to the Loan Documents, other than Borrower, whether
individually or on behalf of an entity, are duly authorized and have duly and validly executed and
delivered each such instrument, document, and agreement to be executed in connection with the Loan
Agreement and the loan/financing to which such party is a signatory, and such party’s obligations
set forth in the Loan Documents are its legal, valid, and binding obligations, enforceable in
accordance with their respective terms.
(v) The terms and conditions reflected in the Loan Documents have not been amended, modified
or supplemented by any other agreement or understanding of the parties or waiver of any of the
material provisions of the Loan Documents.
(vi) All applicable Loan Documents will be duly filed, indexed and recorded among the
appropriate official records, as set forth below, with all fees, charges and taxes having been
paid.
(vii) There has not been any mutual mistake of fact or misunderstanding, fraud, duress or
undue influence.
(viii) Lender and any agent acting for Lender have acted in good faith, and complied with the
requirement of fair dealing and conscionability, and without notice of any defense against
enforcement of any rights created by, or adverse claim to any property or security interest
transferred or created as part of the transaction.
When used herein, the term “our knowledge” shall mean that we have no actual knowledge of
facts which are contrary to the opinion rendered, without having undertaken independent
investigation or verification of any such facts, and shall be limited to our reliance upon the
actual present knowledge of the attorneys in our firm who have devoted substantive attention to
matters for the Borrower within the past twelve months and not the knowledge of the firm generally.
Except as otherwise noted herein, we have undertaken no independent investigation or verification
of such matters.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, it is our opinion that:
1. The Borrower is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Iowa, and is qualified to transact business in all
jurisdictions where the character of the property owned or leased or the nature of the business
transacted by it makes such qualification legally necessary, except to the extent that the failure
to be so qualified would not, in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Borrower.
2. The Borrower has the power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan
Documents to which it is a party. The Borrower has taken all necessary action to authorize the
execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents.
63
3. To our knowledge, all actions and consents by third parties necessary for the execution,
delivery and performance of the Loan Documents have been obtained except to the extent that the
failure to obtain an action or consent would not be reasonably expected to have a material adverse
effect on the Borrower.
4. The Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party have been duly executed on behalf of
the Borrower (except for the UCC-1 Financing Statements which are not executed by Borrower) and
constitute the legal and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in
accordance with their respective terms. In expressing our opinions herein regarding enforceability
of the Loan Documents, we assume Lender will at all relevant times act in good faith and in a
commercially reasonable manner in enforcing its rights and remedies under the Loan Documents and
will not at any relevant time be in material breach of its obligations under the Loan Documents.
5. The execution and delivery by the Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a party,
and the performance of its obligations thereunder, will not violate, conflict with or constitute a
default under (i) any Organizational Documents of Borrower; (ii) to our knowledge, any agreement
presently binding upon the Borrower or its property; except for any violation or breach that would
not be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the Borrower; (iii) to our
knowledge, any order, judgment, or decree which the Borrower is a party or subject or by which any
of its properties or assets are bound; or (iv) any applicable Iowa or federal law, or any
applicable rule or regulation of any governmental authority of the State of Iowa or the United
States having jurisdiction over Borrower or the Project.
6. To our knowledge, except as disclosed in the Loan Agreement, no litigation or governmental
proceedings are pending or are threatened against Borrower and no judgment or order of any court or
administrative agency is outstanding against Borrower, with respect to any Loan Document or any
transactions contemplated thereby, or which, if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected
to have a material adverse effect on Borrower.
The foregoing opinions are based in part upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations,
qualifications and exceptions set forth below in addition to the qualifications, exceptions,
limitations and assumptions set forth above:
(a) Our opinions as they relate to the legality, validity, binding effect and/or
enforceability of the Loan Documents are subject to the limitations that might result from
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium, fraudulent or preferential
transfer, fraudulent conveyance, and other state and federal laws relating to or affecting the
rights or remedies of creditors generally, now or hereafter, in effect.
64
(b) Our opinions as they relate to the legality, validity, binding effect and/or
enforceability of the Loan Documents are subject to the qualification that the availability of the
remedies of specific performance or injunctive relief, or any other equitable remedy, is subject to
the discretion of the court before which a proceeding therefore may be brought, equitable defenses
and the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including without limitation,
concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith, fair dealing and other similar doctrines
affecting the enforcement of agreements generally. Accordingly, certain remedies set forth in the
Loan Documents may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court and may
require further notices and actions to be taken by the Lender prior to availing itself of such
rights and remedies.
(c) We express no opinion with respect to the legality, validity, binding effect and/or
enforceability of any provision of the Loan Documents: (i) purporting to provide for
indemnification, exoneration, exculpation or limitation of liability of a party for its action or
inaction, or for liability due to its own fault; (ii) stating that waivers of notice, or of rights
or remedies (or the delay in, omission of, or enforcement thereof) or the benefits of statutory
provisions or constitutional or common law rights will not operate as a waiver thereof, or broadly
or vaguely stated provisions waiving rights or waivers of unknown future rights or duties imposed
by law; (iii) relating to choice of law or consent to jurisdiction matters; (iv) declaring that
the documents may only be amended or waived in writing; (v) consenting to or waiving statutes of
limitation; (vi) purporting to waive any requirement of reasonable or diligent performance or other
care on the Lender’s part with respect to the recognition or preservation of Borrower’s rights to
or interest in any property subject to any security interest or lien granted thereby; (vii)
providing that delays will not operate as a waiver; (viii) attempting to modify or waive any
requirements of commercial reasonableness or notice arising under applicable state or federal laws
or the due process clause of the United States Constitution; (ix) purporting to ratify any action
the Lender may take without specifying the standards for such action; (x) computing interest based
on a 360 day year; and (xi) certain other provisions in the Loan Documents, including, without
limitation, self-help provisions, provisions that purport to establish evidentiary standards,
provisions requiring the payment of a late payment or repayment charge, fee, reinvestment charge,
premium or penalty, however denominated, are or may be unenforceable in whole or in part. We also
express no opinion regarding the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents against any
parties other than the Borrower.
(d) With respect to the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the remedies
available to the Lender under the Uniform Commercial Code in force in the State of Iowa (“UCC”), we
have assumed that the Lender will enforce such remedies in accordance with the UCC and under such
circumstances and in a manner in which it is commercially reasonable to do so.
(e) We express or imply no opinion as to what actions the parties to the Loan Documents are
required to or may take or fail to take on or after the date hereof which, if taken or not taken,
would affect or impair the legality, validity, binding effect and/or enforceability of the Loan
Documents or the rights and remedies of the parties thereunder.
(f) Certain rights, remedies, waivers, indemnities and other provisions contained in the Loan
Documents, in addition to those specifically enumerated above, may be limited or rendered
ineffective by applicable Iowa laws or judicial decisions governing such provisions, or by public
policy considerations of paramount public interest, but such laws and judicial decisions do not
render the Loan Documents invalid as a whole, or substantially prevent or impair the practical
realization of the benefits intended by the Loan Documents.
65
(g) We express no opinion as to zoning, subdivision or similar matters, the compliance of the
mortgaged property with building codes, restrictions or environmental laws, the title to or
ownership of any property of the Borrower, the sufficiency or accuracy of the description of any
collateral referred to in the Loan Documents, or the priority of any liens or security interests
purported to be created by the Loan Documents.
(h) Except as expressly stated herein, we advise you that we have not conducted, nor do we
undertake to conduct, any independent review or investigation of, and no opinion is expressed or
implied as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of any of the representations, warranties or
other statements of the Borrower, or the partners, directors, officers or employees of the
Borrower, or any other person contained in any of the Loan Documents or in any exhibit, schedule or
attachment thereto.
(i) We express no opinion as to the effect of any federal or state tax lien on the rights and
remedies afforded under the Loan Documents or of the legal rights of governmental agencies of
attachment or forfeiture under various criminal statutes.
(j) We express no opinion as to the validity or enforceability of any documents which we have
not examined, but which might be referenced or incorporated as a matter of law in a document which
we have examined.
(k) We have not examined and express no opinion with respect to title to any property, nor do
we express any opinion with respect to the existence of encumbrances upon any property or the
priority of any liens or security interests.
(l) We express no opinion as to the solvency of the Borrower as of the date of this opinion
letter, and to the extent that any opinion herein is reliant upon the Borrower being solvent, such
opinion in limited accordingly.
(m) We were not present at the time the Loan Documents were executed. We assume that all
signatures are genuine and are the valid signatures of the purported signatories. We also assume
that the Loan Documents have been physically delivered to the Lender and that all conditions, if
any, as to their release have been satisfied.
(n) We are members of the Bar of the State of Iowa and do not hold ourselves out as experts on
the law of any other state. Consequently, we have made no independent review of the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the State of Iowa and express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction
other than the State of Iowa and the federal laws of the United States of America. We express no
opinion with respect to (i) the laws of any other jurisdiction nor any state or federal law or
regulation governing any bank or (ii) the impact of such laws on the Loan Documents or the
transactions contemplated thereby. For purposes of this opinion we have assumed that the internal
laws (as opposed to the choice of law rules) of the State of Iowa and applicable federal law would
apply and have rendered our opinion on that basis. To the extent that the law of another
jurisdiction applies, we have assumed that the law of that jurisdiction would be the same as Iowa
law.
66
(o) All of our opinions are based upon the state of facts and the law existing and in effect
on the date hereof, which are subject to change prospectively or retroactively, and we assume no
obligation to revise, supplement or update this opinion in any respect at any time subsequent to
the date hereof in order to account for any change in the law (whether or not hereinafter enacted
or adopted) or future facts, events or circumstances affecting any of the transactions contemplated
by any of the Loan Documents.
This opinion is limited to the specific legal issues addressed herein and no opinion is
implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly set forth herein. Our opinion is rendered
to you, Lender, solely for your benefit and the benefit of your loan participants in connection
with consummation of the transactions set forth in the Loan Documents and may not be used,
circulated, quoted in whole or in part, filed publicly or delivered to, relied upon, or otherwise
referred to by any other person or for any other purpose without our prior written consent;
provided, however, and subject to the foregoing part of this sentence, this opinion may be
delivered to your loan participants and regulators and may be used in connection with any legal or
regulatory proceeding relating to the subject matter of this opinion.
This opinion constitutes our entire opinion regarding the subject matter hereof and supersedes
all prior opinions regarding such subject matter.
BROWN, WINICK, GRAVES, GROSS, XXXXXXXXXXX AND SCHOENEBAUM, P.L.C. |
||||
By: | ||||
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Member | ||||
67
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF LETTER OF CREDIT
FORM OF LETTER OF CREDIT
IRREVOCABLE STANDBY
LETTER OF CREDIT NO.
(Date)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
At the request of
,
,
, IA
, we hereby establish our
Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit in your favor in the amount of $
U.S. dollars.
We undertake that drawings under this Letter of Credit will be honored upon presentation of your
draft drawn on Home Federal Savings Bank, at 50 — 00xx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000, and the original of this Letter of Credit prior to the expiration date set forth herein.
All drafts submitted to Home Federal Savings Bank must indicate the number and date of this credit.
This Letter of Credit expires on .
Except as expressly stated herein, this undertaking is not subject to any conditions or
qualification. The obligation of Home Federal Savings Bank, under this Letter of Credit shall be
the individual obligation of Home Federal Savings Bank, and in no way contingent upon reimbursement
with respect thereto.
This credit is subject to the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, 1993 Version,
of the International Chamber of Commerce or any successor publication.
Sincerely,
68
Schedule 3.01(d)
Real Property
Real Property
Parcel A:
Parcel A in the Southeast Quarter of Section 1 lying southeasterly of railroad in Township 95
North, Range 12 West of the 5th P.M., Chickasaw County, Iowa, as shown in Document No.
2007-0823, in the office of the Chickasaw County Recorder.
AND
Parcel A in Section 1 lying northwesterly of railroad in Township 95 North, Range 12 West of the
5th P.M., Chickasaw County, Iowa, as shown in Document No. 2007-0823, in the office of
the Chickasaw County Recorder.
AND
Parcel A in the Northwest Quarter of Section 12 lying northwesterly of railroad in Township 95
North, Range 12 West of the 5th P.M., Chickasaw County, Iowa, as shown in Document No.
2007-0823, in the office of the Chickasaw County Recorder.
AND
Parcel D:
Parcel D in the Southwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter and that part of the Northwest Quarter
of the Southwest Quarter in Section 6 lying northwesterly of railroad in Township 95 North, Range
11 West of the 5th P.M., Chickasaw County, Iowa, as shown in Document No. 2007-0823, in
the office of the Chickasaw County Recorder.
AND
Parcel E:
Parcel E in the Southwest Quarter of Section 6, Township 95 North, Range 11 West of the
5th P.M., Chickasaw County, Iowa, as shown in Document No. 2007-1956, in the office of
the Chickasaw County Recorder.
69
Schedule 4.01(a)
Description of Certain Transactions Related to Borrowers’ Stock
Description of Certain Transactions Related to Borrowers’ Stock
During the time period beginning on Homeland Energy Solutions’ (the “Company”) formation on
December 7, 2005 and ending on May 10, 2006, the Company issued and sold 2,250 membership units to
our seed capital investors at a purchase price of $500 per unit and 600 units to the Company’s
founders at a purchase price of $333.33 per unit, without registering the units with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. The Company relied on the private offering exemption under Section 4(2) of
the Securities Act of 1933 to complete the foregoing transactions. All purchases were made with
cash and the total amount of cash consideration for those securities was $1,325,000.
The Company filed a Registration Statement for an initial public offering of its units with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on Form SB-2 (SEC Registration No. 333-135967), which was
declared effective on November 30, 2006. The Company commenced our initial public offering of our
units shortly thereafter. Certain of the Company’s officers and directors sold the units on a best
efforts basis without the assistance of an underwriter. The Company not pay these officers or
directors any compensation for services related to the offer or sale of the units. The Company
registered a total of 110,000 units at $1,000 per unit for an aggregate maximum gross offering
price of $110,000,000. As of the date of this report, the Company has issued 87,595,000 units, for
an aggregate amount of $87,595,000, and has released the funds from escrow.
70
Schedule 4.01(f)
Description of Certain Threatened Actions, etc.
Description of Certain Threatened Actions, etc.
On October 23, 2007, Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC (the “Company”) received a written demand
letter from an investor for the return of his investment in the Company, alleging material
misrepresentation by the Company. On October 25, 2007, the Company received a written withdrawal
of the demand contained in the October 23, 2007 letter.
On October 19, 2007, the Company received an electronic message from an investor demanding the
return of his investment in the Company upon hearing that coal gasification may not be incorporated
into the project. On October 29, 2007, the Company received an additional electronic message from
the investor stating that he would wait to see whether a coal gasification system is incorporated
into the project.
71
Schedule 4.01(k)
Location of Inventory and Farm Products; Third Parties in Possession; Crops
Location of Inventory and Farm Products; Third Parties in Possession; Crops
There are no farm products or crops owned by the Borrower or on the land owned by the Borrower as
of the date of this Agreement.
72
Schedule 4.01(l)
Office Locations; Fictitious Names; Etc.
Office Locations; Fictitious Names; Etc.
1. | Borrower’s chief place of business, its chief executive office and its jurisdiction of
organization is currently located at the following address: |
|
Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC 000 X. Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX |
||
2. | Borrower currently keeps its books and records at the follow address: |
|
Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC 000 X. Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX |
||
3. | Borrower has a place of business at the following locations: |
|
Homeland Energy Solutions, LLC 000 X. Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX |
||
4. | Borrower uses the following trade-names or fictitious business names: |
|
None at this time. |
||
5. | Borrower’s Federal Income Tax ID is 00-0000000; its Iowa Organizational ID is #320428. |
73
Schedule 4.01(p)
Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property
1. | Borrower owns the following Intellectual Property registered with the United States
Patent and Trademark Office: |
|
None at this time. |
74
Schedule 4.01(t)
Environmental Compliance
Environmental Compliance
As of the date of this Agreement, the Borrower is in material compliance with all applicable
environmental laws/regulations.
75
Schedule 5.01(o)
Management
Management
1. | The current management of Borrower is as follows: |
President (Principal Executive Officer): Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer): Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer): Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
76
Schedule 5.02(a)
Description of Certain Liens, Lease Obligations, etc.
Description of Certain Liens, Lease Obligations, etc.
None.
77
Schedule 5.02(k)
Transactions with Affiliates
Transactions with Affiliates
One of the Directors of the Borrower, Xxx Xxxxx, is serving as a project consultant and Borrower
will compensate him with a bonus of $40,000, of which twenty-five percent (25%) is payable upon
Financial Closing, twenty-five percent (25%) is payable upon the date that concrete is started to
be poured, and the remaining fifty percent (50%) is payable upon a date agreed to by the Board of
Directors and Xx. Xxxxx.
78
Schedule 5.02(l)
Management Fees and Compensation
Management Fees and Compensation
None
79