UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

October 28, 2011

 

 

Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Iowa

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

 

 

333-121321   84-1652107
(Commission file number)   (IRS employer identification no.)
450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400, Omaha, NE   68114
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

(402) 884-8700

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On October 28, 2011, Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. (“Green Plains”) through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Green Plains Grain Company LLC, Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC and Green Plains Essex Inc. (collectively, “the Grain Subsidiaries”), executed a $30.0 million amortizing term loan and a $195.0 million revolving credit facility with various lenders to provide Green Plains’ agribusiness segment with additional term and working capital funding.

Amortizing Term Loan

The Grain Subsidiaries entered into a $30.0 million amortizing term loan agreement with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”), which is comprised of a Loan Agreement, Secured Promissory Note, Deeds of Trust and a Mortgage (collectively, the “Term Loan”). The Term Loan was disbursed in an initial advance in the amount of $28.0 million on October 31, 2011. The remaining $2.0 million amount may be requested on or before May 1, 2012. The Term Loan expires on November 1, 2021 (the “Term Loan Maturity Date”). Equal payments of principal sufficient to amortize the Term Loan in full over a 15-year period, plus interest, are due on the first day of every month, commencing on December 1, 2011, until the Term Loan Maturity Date, on which date the entire remaining outstanding balance and all accrued interest thereon shall be due and payable. The Term Loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 6.00% per annum. As security for the Term Loan, MetLife received a first priority lien on certain real estate and other property owned by the Grain Subsidiaries.

The Term Loan contains certain customary affirmative covenants, including without limitation, with respect to payment of the note and taxes and maintenance of the Grain Subsidiaries’ office, financial information, corporate existence, properties and insurance.

In accordance with provisions of the Term Loan, the Grain Subsidiaries are also required to adhere to certain financial covenants and restrictions, including without limitation, the following:

 

   

The consolidated total fixed charge coverage ratio shall not at the end of any fiscal quarter, for the rolling four fiscal quarters then ending, be less than 1.25 to 1.00.

 

   

Working capital shall not be less than $30.0 million as of the end of each fiscal quarter.

 

   

The consolidated long-term indebtedness to consolidated net fixed assets ratio shall not exceed 0.70 to 1.00.

 

   

Total tangible net worth shall not be less than $50.0 million as of October 31, 2011, with such minimum amount being increased by an amount equal to 50% of the consolidated net income for each fiscal year, without reduction for losses, commencing with the results of the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011.

The Term Loan also contains customary events of default, including without limitation, failure to make required payments of principal or interest, material incorrect representations and warranties, breach of covenants, events of bankruptcy, dissolution and certain other matters.

Revolving Credit Facility

The Grain Subsidiaries entered into revolving credit agreement with BNP Paribas Securities Corp. (“BNP”), as lead arranger and sole bookrunner, Rabo Agrifinance, Inc., as syndication agent, ABN AMRO Capital USA LLC, as documentation agent, and BNP Paribas, as administrative agent, collateral agent, issuing lender and swing line lender (collectively, the “Revolving Credit Facility”), which is comprised of the Credit Agreement, Security Agreement, and related Promissory Notes from various lenders. The Revolving Credit Facility includes total revolving credit commitments of $195.0 million and an accordion feature whereby amounts available under the facility may be increased by up to $55.0 million of new lender commitments upon agent approval. As security for the Revolving Credit Facility, BNP received a first priority lien on certain cash, inventory, machinery, accounts receivable and other assets owned by the Grain Subsidiaries.

 

2


Each lender severally agrees to make revolving credit loans to the Grain Subsidiaries from time to time during the commitment period. Each LIBOR rate loan shall bear interest for each day at a rate per annum equal to the LIBOR rate for the outstanding period plus the applicable margin. Each base rate loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the base rate plus the applicable margin. The principal balance of each loan shall be due and payable on the respective maturity date of each such loan under the Revolving Credit Facility, but no later than October 28, 2013. Interest on any base rate loan advances shall be payable in arrears on the last business day of each month, and interest on any LIBOR rate loan advances shall be paid on the respective maturity date of such loans

The Revolving Credit Facility contains certain customary affirmative covenants, including without limitation, with respect to provision and maintenance of financial information, use of proceeds from the Revolving Credit Facility, payments of taxes, conduct of business, maintenance of properties and insurance and compliance with environmental laws.

In accordance with the Revolving Credit Facility agreement, the Grain Subsidiaries are also required to adhere to certain financial covenants and restrictions, including without limitation, the following:

 

   

Tangible net worth, calculated as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, shall not be less than $50.0 million before December 31, 2011, or less than the sum of $50.0 million plus fifty percent of the aggregate net income of the immediately preceding fiscal year, after December 31, 2011.

 

   

The leverage ratio shall be greater than 5.5 to 1.0 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter.

 

   

Working capital shall be less than $30.0 million as of the last day of any fiscal quarter.

 

   

Consolidated net position for any type of grain inventory individually shall exceed at any time 100,000 bushels, or for all grain inventory in the aggregate shall exceed at any time 200,000 bushels.

 

   

The fixed charge coverage ratio for any four consecutive fiscal quarters shall be less than 1.25 to 1.0 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter.

Loan advances under the Revolving Credit Facility are also subject to a borrowing base calculation which computes the amount of available credit under the facility based on a number of factors including, but not limited to, cash collateral, net liquidation value of the lender and third party brokerage accounts, accounts receivable inventories, payables related to inventories, prepayments to suppliers and net unrealized gain and losses of forward contracts, if any.

The Revolving Credit Facility also contains customary events of default, including without limitation, failure to make required payments of principal or interest, material incorrect representations and warranties, breach of covenants, events of bankruptcy, dissolution and certain other matters.

The foregoing summaries of the Term Loan and the Revolving Credit Facility do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by, the full text of the agreements, which are attached as exhibits hereto.

 

Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

Reference is made to Item 1.01, which disclosure is herein incorporated by reference.

 

3


Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

 

Number

    

Description

  10.1         Credit Agreement dated October 28, 2011 by and among Green Plains Grain Company LLC, Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC, Green Plains Essex Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. as Lead Arranger, Rabo Agrifinance, Inc. as Syndication Agent, ABN AMRO Capital USA LLC as Documentation Agent and BNP Paribas as Administrative Agent
  10.2         Security Agreement dated October 28, 2011 by and among Green Plains Grain Company LLC, Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC, Green Plains Essex Inc. and BNP Paribas
  10.3         Promissory Note dated October 28, 2011 by and among Green Plains Grain Company LLC, Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC, Green Plains Essex Inc. and Bank of Oklahoma
  10.4         Promissory Note dated October 28, 2011 by and among Green Plains Grain Company LLC, Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC, Green Plains Essex Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association
  10.5         Promissory Note dated October 28, 2011 by and among Green Plains Grain Company LLC, Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC, Green Plains Essex Inc. and Farm Credit Bank of Texas
  10.6         Loan Agreement dated October 28, 2011 by and among Green Plains Grain Company LLC, Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC, Green Plains Essex Inc. and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
  10.7         Secured Promissory Note dated October 28, 2011 by and among Green Plains Grain Company LLC, Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC, Green Plains Essex Inc. and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
  10.8         Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Assignment of Leases and Rents (Missouri) dated October 28, 2011 by Green Plains Grain Company LLC, Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC, Green Plains Essex Inc. for the benefit of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
  10.9         Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Assignment of Leases and Rents (Tennessee) dated October 28, 2011 by Green Plains Grain Company LLC, Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC, Green Plains Essex Inc. for the benefit of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
  10.10         Mortgage, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Assignment of Leases and Rents (Iowa) dated October 28, 2011 by Green Plains Grain Company LLC, Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC, Green Plains Essex Inc. for the benefit of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

 

4


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc.
Date: November 3, 2011        
    By:  

/s/ Jerry L. Peters

    Jerry L. Peters
    Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Financial Officer)

 

5

Exhibit 10.1

Patton Boggs LLP

Execution Version

 

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

among

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC,

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC,

and

GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC.

as Borrower,

the several Lenders

from time to time parties hereto,

BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.,

as Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner,

RABO AGRIFINANCE, INC.

as Syndication Agent,

ABN AMRO CAPITAL USA LLC,

as Documentation Agent,

and

BNP PARIBAS,

as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent,

Issuing Lender and Swing Line Lender

Dated as of October 28, 2011

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS      1   

1.1

  Defined Terms      1   

1.2

  Other Definitional Provisions      30   

1.3

  Rounding      30   

1.4

  Accounting Terms      30   
SECTION 2. AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE LOANS AND COMMITMENTS      31   

2.1

  Revolving Loans      31   

2.2

  Procedure for Borrowing      31   

2.3

  Swing Line Loans      32   
SECTION 3. LETTERS OF CREDIT      34   

3.1

  Letters of Credit      34   

3.2

  Issuance Caps      35   

3.3

  Procedure for Issuance of Credits      35   

3.4

  Fees, Commissions and Other Charges      37   

3.5

  LC Participations      38   

3.6

  Reimbursement Obligations of the Borrower      39   

3.7

  Obligations Absolute      40   

3.8

  Role of the Issuing Lenders      42   

3.9

  Successor Issuing Lenders      43   

3.10

  Application      43   

3.11

  UCP; ISP      44   
SECTION 4. GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO LOANS AND CREDITS      44   

4.1

  Increase, Reduction and Termination of Commitments      44   

4.2

  Commitment Fee      45   

4.3

  Interest Rates and Payment Dates      45   

4.4

  Conversion and Continuation Options      46   

4.5

  Minimum Amounts of Tranches; Maximum Number of Tranches      46   

4.6

  Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt      47   

4.7

  Optional Prepayments      47   

4.8

  Mandatory Prepayments      48   

4.9

  Computation of Interest and Fees      48   

4.10

  Inability to Determine Interest Rate      48   

4.11

  Pro Rata Treatment and Payments      49   

4.12

  Illegality      50   

4.13

  Requirements of Law      50   

4.14

  Taxes      51   

4.15

  Indemnity      54   

4.16

  Lending Offices      54   

4.17

  Defaulting Lenders      54   
SECTION 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES      58   

5.1

  Financial Condition      58   

5.2

  No Change      59   

5.3

  Existence; Compliance with Law      59   

5.4

  Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations      59   

 

i


5.5

  No Legal Bar; No Burdensome Restrictions      59   

5.6

  No Litigation      60   

5.7

  No Default      60   

5.8

  Ownership of Property; Liens      60   

5.9

  Intellectual Property      60   

5.10

  Taxes      60   

5.11

  Federal Regulations      60   

5.12

  Investment Company Act; Other Regulations      61   

5.13

  Subsidiaries      61   

5.14

  Security Documents      61   

5.15

  Accuracy and Completeness of Information      61   

5.16

  Labor Relations; ERISA      62   

5.17

  Insurance      62   

5.18

  Solvency      62   

5.19

  Purpose of Extensions of Credit      63   

5.20

  Environmental Matters      63   

5.21

  Risk Management Policies      64   

5.22

  No Burdensome Restrictions      64   

5.23

  No Other Venture      64   

5.24

  No Other Names      64   
SECTION 6. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT      64   

6.1

  Conditions to Effectiveness      64   

6.2

  Conditions to Each Credit Extension      67   

6.3

  Lenders Consent and Approval      68   
SECTION 7. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS      68   

7.1

  Financial Statements      68   

7.2

  Certificates and Reports; Other Information      69   

7.3

  Use of Extensions of Credit      69   

7.4

  Payment of Obligations      69   

7.5

  Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence      70   

7.6

  Maintenance of Property; Insurance      70   

7.7

  Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions      70   

7.8

  Notices      70   

7.9

  Environmental Laws      71   

7.10

  Periodic Audit of Borrowing Base Assets, etc.      71   

7.11

  Collections of Accounts Receivable      72   

7.12

  Risk Management Policies      72   

7.13

  [Reserved.]      72   

7.14

  Lines of Business      72   

7.15

  Warehouseman Agreements      72   

7.16

  Interest Rate Protection      72   

7.17

  Further Assurances      73   
SECTION 8. NEGATIVE COVENANTS      73   

8.1

  Limitation on Indebtedness      73   

8.2

  Limitation on Liens      74   

8.3

  Limitation on Guaranty Obligations      75   

8.4

  Limitation on Fundamental Changes      75   

8.5

  Limitation on Sale of Assets      75   

 

ii


8.6

  Limitation on Restricted Payments      76   

8.7

  Limitation on Investments, Loans, and Advances      76   

8.8

  Limitation on Optional Payments and Modifications of Debt Instruments      77   

8.9

  Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates and Subsidiaries      77   

8.10

  Limitation on Sales and Leasebacks      77   

8.11

  Accounting Changes      77   

8.12

  Limitation on Lines of Business      77   

8.13

  Governing Documents      77   

8.14

  Take or Pay Contracts      77   

8.15

  Limitation on Dividend Clause and Negative Pledge Clauses      78   

8.16

  Risk Management Policies      78   

8.17

  Financial Covenants      78   

8.18

  Bank Accounts and Futures Accounts      78   

8.19

  Maximum Capital Expenditures      79   

8.20

  Future Subsidiaries      79   

8.21

  Repurchase Agreements      79   
SECTION 9. EVENTS OF DEFAULT      79   

9.1

  Events of Default      79   

9.2

  Cash Collateralization of Credit      82   

9.3

  Application of Payments      82   
SECTION 10. THE AGENTS      83   

10.1

  Appointment      83   

10.2

  Delegation of Duties      83   

10.3

  Exculpatory Provisions      83   

10.4

  Reliance by Administrative Agent      83   

10.5

  Notice of Default      84   

10.6

  Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders      84   

10.7

  Indemnification      85   

10.8

  Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity      85   

10.9

  Successor Agent      85   

10.10

  Collateral Matters      86   

10.11

  Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers      86   

10.12

  Intercreditor Agreement      86   
SECTION 11. MISCELLANEOUS      87   

11.1

  Amendments and Waivers      87   

11.2

  Notices      89   

11.3

  No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies      90   

11.4

  Survival of Representations and Warranties      90   

11.5

  Payment of Expenses and Taxes      90   

11.6

  Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments      91   

11.7

  Adjustments; Set-off      94   

11.8

  Counterparts      94   

11.9

  Severability      95   

11.10

  Integration      95   

11.11

  GOVERNING LAW      95   

11.12

  Service of Process; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers      95   

11.13

  Acknowledgements      96   

11.14

  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL      96   

 

iii


11.15

  Patriot Act/OFAC      96   

11.16

  Confidentiality      97   

11.17

  Joint and Several Liability of Borrowers      98   

 

SCHEDULES  

Schedule 1.0A

  Bank Blocked Accounts and Account Control Agreements

Schedule 1.0B

  Lenders, Commitments, and Applicable Lending Offices

Schedule 1.0C

  Approved Storage Locations

Schedule 1.0D

  Security Documents

Schedule 1.0E

  Approved Commodity Contract Counterparties

Schedule 1.0F

  Approved Repurchase Contract Counterparties

Schedule 1.0G

  Approved Suppliers

Schedule 1.0H

  Counterparty Limits

Schedule 2.2

  Wire Instructions for Loans

Schedule 3.13

  Existing Letters of Credit

Schedule 5.1

  Liabilities, Dispositions/Purchases

Schedule 5.2

  No Change

Schedule 5.6

  Material Litigation

Schedule 5.8

  Owned and Leased Real Property

Schedule 5.13

  Subsidiaries

Schedule 5.14

  Filing Jurisdictions

Schedule 5.15

  Information

Schedule 5.20

  Environmental Matters

Schedule 8.1

  Existing Indebtedness

Schedule 8.2

  Existing Liens

Schedule 8.3

  Guaranty Obligations

Schedule 8.7

  Existing Investments

Schedule 8.10

  Sales and Leasebacks

Schedule 8.15

  Negative Pledge Clauses

Schedule 8.18

  Commodities Accounts

 

EXHIBITS  

Exhibit A

  Form of Borrowing Base Report

Exhibit B

  Form of Compliance Certificate

Exhibit C

  Form of Position Report

Exhibit D

  Form of Subsidiary Guaranty

Exhibit E

  Form of Increase and New Lender Agreement

Exhibit F

  Form of Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit G

  Form of Revolving Loan Note

 

ANNEXES  

Annex I

  Form of Notice of Borrowing

Annex II

  Form of Notice of Continuation/Conversion

Annex III

  Form of Credit Request for Issuance of Credit

Annex IV

  Form of Credit Request for Amendment to Credit

 

iv


CREDIT AGREEMENT

CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of October 28, 2011, by and among GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation (collectively, jointly and severally, the “ Borrower ”), the lenders from time to time party to this Agreement (the “ Lenders ”), BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP., as Lead Arranger (in such capacity, the “ Lead Arranger ”) and Sole Bookrunner (in such capacity, the “ Sole Bookrunner ”), RABO AGRIFINANCE, INC., as syndication agent (in such capacity, the “ Syndication Agent ”), ABN AMRO CAPITAL USA LLC, as documentation agent (in such capacity, the “ Documentation Agent ”), and BNP PARIBAS, as administrative agent (together with any successor Administrative Agent appointed pursuant to Section 10.9 , in such capacity the “ Administrative Agent ”), collateral agent (together with any successor appointed pursuant to Section 10.9 , in such capacity, the “ Collateral Agent ”) for the Secured Parties (as defined below) and under the Loan Documents (as defined below) and for the Swap Parties (as defined below), the Swing Line Lender (as defined below), and an Issuing Lender (as defined below).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, and the other parties hereto from time to time desire to enter into this Agreement with a Total Commitment in the amount of $195,000,000 as of the Closing Date; and

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS

1.1 Defined Terms .

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Account ”: as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York as in effect from time to time.

Account Control Agreement ”: each agreement among the Collateral Agent, the Borrower, and a securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or bank, as applicable, required pursuant to the Security Agreement and listed on Schedule 1.0A hereto.

Account Debtor ”: a Person who is obligated to the Borrower under an Account Receivable of the Borrower.

Account Receivable ”: an Account or Payment Intangible of the Borrower.

Administrative Agent ”: as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Affiliate ”: as to any Person, any other Person which, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the power, directly or indirectly, either to (a) vote more than (i) with respect to BioProcess Algae LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, NTR, a public limited company organized

 


under the laws of Ireland, or Wilon Holdings, a company organized under the laws of Panama, 35% or (ii) with respect to any other Person, 10%, of the securities or other equity interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors (or managers) of such Person or (b) direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether by contract or otherwise.

Agent ”: the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, as applicable.

Agent Fee Letter ”: the fee letter dated August 19, 2011 among the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arranger, and the Borrower in connection with the fees to be paid to the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arranger, for their own accounts.

Agent-Related Person ”: as defined in Section 10.3 .

Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit ”: at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of all Loans then outstanding and (b) the amount of all LC Obligations then outstanding.

Agreement ”: means this Credit Agreement, as it may be amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.

Annual Operating Plan ”: operating statements for the Borrower conforming to the Administrative Agent’s reporting requirements and containing a monthly balance sheet and income statement for such year on a combined basis and otherwise in accordance with GAAP.

Applicable Commitment Fee Rate ”: a rate equal to 0.375% per annum.

Applicable LC Fee Rate ”: on any date with respect to any Standby Letter of Credit, a rate equal to 3.00% per annum, and with respect to any Documentary Letter of Credit, 0.25% per quarter or part thereof.

Applicable Lending Office ”: for each Lender and for each Type of Loan and/or participation in any Reimbursement Obligation, the lending office of such Lender designated for such Type of Loan and/or participation in any Reimbursement Obligation on Schedule 1.0B hereto (or any other lending office from time to time notified to the Administrative Agent by such Lender) as the office at which its Loans and/or participation in any Reimbursement Obligation of such Type are to be made and maintained.

Applicable Margin ”: on any date with respect to each Type of Loan, the applicable rate per annum set forth below:

 

Type

   Revolving
Loan Margin
 

Base Rate Loans

     2.00

LIBO Rate Loans

     3.00

Application ”: an application, in such form as the applicable Issuing Lender may specify from time to time, requesting such Issuing Lender to issue or provide a Credit.

 

2


Approved Commodity Contract Counterparty ”: any counterparty set forth on Schedule 1.0E that is party to a Commodity Contract and with respect to Commodity Contracts with a value (a) greater than $1,000,000, but less than $7,000,000, otherwise acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and (b) greater than or equal to $7,000,000, but less than or equal to $15,000,000, otherwise acceptable to the Required Lenders.

Approved Repurchase Contract Counterparty ”: any counterparty set forth on Schedule I.0F that is party to a Commodity Contract for the repurchase of Grain Inventory and with respect to such Commodity Contracts.

Approved Storage Location ”: means, any third party owned or operated warehouse, storage facility, or loading facility in which the Borrower stores its Grain Inventory and Non-Grain Inventory, provided , that such warehouse, storage facility, or loading facility has been approved by the Administrative Agent and is subject to a Perfected Lien. As of the Closing Date, the Approved Storage Locations are those set forth on Schedule 1.0C . From time to time the Administrative Agent may approve additional Approved Storage Locations.

Approved Suppliers ”: any supplier of Grain Inventory or Non-Grain Inventory approved by the Administrative Agent. As of the Closing Date, the Approved Suppliers are those set forth on Schedule 1.0G . From time to time the Administrative Agent may approve additional Approved Suppliers.

Assignee ”: as defined in Section 11.6(c) .

Assignment and Acceptance ”: as defined in Section 11.6(c)

Assignment of Claims Act ”: the Federal Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended from time to time (31 U.S.C. §3723 et seq.), and any similar state or local laws, as the same now exist or may from time to time hereafter be amended, modified, recodified or supplemented, together with all rules, regulations or interpretations related thereto.

Available Commitment ”: as to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) the amount of such Lender’s Commitment at such time over (b) such Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit at such time.

Bank Blocked Accounts ”: means the deposit accounts listed on Schedule 1.0A maintained (a) with the Administrative Agent or (b) at any other bank or financial institution acceptable the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, in each case, which are at all times subject to Perfected Lien.

Base Rate ”: for any day, a variable rate of interest per annum equal to the highest of (a) the rate of interest from time to time established by Administrative Agent as its “prime rate” or “base rate” at its principal office in New York City, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus one-half of one percent (.50%), and (c) the LIBO Rate that would be calculated as of such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, as of the next preceding Business Day) in respect of a proposed LIBO Rate Loan with an Interest Period of one month plus one percent (1.0%) per annum. Such prime rate is merely a reference rate and may not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer by the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

Base Rate Loans ”: Loans the rate of interest applicable to which is based upon the Base Rate.

Benefited Lender ”: as defined in Section 11.7(a) .

 

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Board ”: the U.S. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor).

Borrower ”: as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Borrowing Base ”: at any time, the sum of:

(i) 100% of Eligible Cash Collateral, less unpaid checks, overdrafts, or other unpaid amounts related thereto for which any Person has a prior unpaid claim; plus

(ii) 100% of Eligible Net Liquidation Value in Lender Brokerage Accounts; plus

(iii) 90% of Eligible Net Liquidation Value in Third Party Brokerage Accounts; plus

(iv) 85% of Eligible Accounts Receivable; plus

(v) 90% Eligible Accounts Receivable that are backed by a letter of credit in a form and from an issuing bank, in each case, as approved by the Administrative Agent in its Permitted Discretion; plus

(vi) 90% of Eligible Grain Inventory evidenced by warehouse receipts in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion; plus

(vii) 85% of Eligible Grain Inventory not evidenced by warehouse receipts; plus

(viii) 75% of Eligible Non-Grain Inventory, subject to permitted product approval by the Administrative Agent; plus

(ix) 75% of Eligible Prepayments to Suppliers; plus

(x) 85% of Eligible Grain Inventory In Transit; plus

(xi) 75% of Eligible Net Unrealized Gain on Forward Contracts; minus

(xii) 100% of all payables related to Grain Inventory which are subject to any statutory liens; minus

(xiii) 100% of all prepayments from Borrower’s customers; minus

(xiv) 100% of the amount of any Obligations owed to a Swap Party under a Swap Contract with a Borrower which Obligations are secured pursuant to the Security Agreement.

The value of the Borrowing Base at any time shall be the value of such Borrowing Base as of the date of the most recently delivered Borrowing Base Report, provided , that for purposes of Section 6.2(e) , the value as of the date of the requested Extension of Credit shall be used. In no event shall (a) any amounts described in categories (i) through (xi) above which may fall into more than one of such categories be counted more than once when making the calculation under this definition, (b) any Commodity Contracts be included in any category in the Borrowing Base other than Eligible Net Unrealized Gain on Forward Contracts, (c) the aggregate amount of Eligible Net Unrealized Gain on Forward Contracts, after giving effect to the applicable advance rate, exceed an amount equal to thirty percent (30%) of the Borrowing Base at such time, (d) the aggregate amount of Eligible Grain Inventory In Transit, after giving effect to the applicable advance rate, exceed an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the Borrowing Base at such time, (e) the aggregate amount of Eligible Accounts Receivable and Eligible Net Unrealized Gain on

 

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Forward Contracts in categories (iv) , (v)  and (xi) , after giving effect to the advance rate, exceed $10,000,000 for all Affiliate counterparty exposure, and (f) the aggregate amount with respect to any counterparty included in category (iv) , category (v) , and category (ix)  of the Borrowing Base exceed the applicable Counterparty Limit.

Without duplication of any adjustment already made in calculating the Borrowing Base:

(A) any category of the Borrowing Base shall be calculated taking into account any elimination and reduction related to any potential offset to such asset category;

(B) without duplication, the calculation of the value of the assets that are attributable to a single counterparty shall be netted against any contra, offset, counterclaim or obligations of the Borrower with such counterparty including, without limitation, amounts payable and unrealized marked-to-market forward loss owing by the Borrower to such counterparty (for purposes of this clause (B) , any reference to a counterparty shall include all Subsidiaries and Affiliates of such counterparty to the extent that such Subsidiaries and Affiliates are party to a Netting Agreement with the Borrower); and

(C) if any of the information specified in the definition of “Borrowing Base Report” in this Section 1.1 is not delivered to the Administrative Agent when due in accordance with the terms hereof and such failure shall remain unremedied for a period of five (5) Business Days, the property of the Borrower related to such undelivered information shall be excluded from the calculation of the Borrowing Base until the date on which the Administrative Agent has received a Borrowing Base Report containing the undelivered information, but the provisions of this clause (C)  shall not constitute a waiver of any Default of Event of Default hereunder.

Borrowing Base Report ”: a report certified by a Responsible Officer, substantially in the form of Exhibit A , with appropriate insertions and schedules, showing the Borrowing Base as of the date set forth therein. Such report shall show the basis on which it was calculated, together with the following supporting information:

(a) for Eligible Cash Collateral, Eligible Net Liquidation Value in Brokerage Accounts, and Eligible Net Liquidation Value in Third Party Brokerage Accounts copies of summary account statements for each bank or broker where such assets are held, as of the applicable reporting date, and cash reconciliations;

(b) a schedule of Eligible Accounts Receivable, which shall include an aging, and a report showing the contra account balances of each Account Debtor;

(c) for Eligible Grain Inventory and Eligible Non-Grain Inventory, a schedule of (A) warehouse receipts, (B) Inventory locations, (C) market value and Inventory quantities by location and type of product, and (D) what Inventory is in transit;

(d) for Eligible Prepayments to Suppliers, a schedule of each supplier and the terms of each Commodity Contract related thereto;

(e) a schedule of payables related to Grain Inventory which are subject to any statutory liens;

(f) a summary report showing the total amount outstanding under each Type of Extension of Credit; and

 

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(g) for Eligible Net Unrealized Gain on Forward Contracts, a calculation on a counterparty by counterparty basis.

Borrowing Date ”: any Business Day specified in a notice pursuant to Section 2.2 as a date on which a Revolving Loan requested by the Borrower is to be made.

Business ”: as defined in Section 5.20 .

Business Day ”: a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by Law to close and, in connection with making or Continuing Loans as, or Converting Loans into, LIBO Rate Loans, making any payment of principal of or interest on LIBO Rate Loans, or the Borrower giving any notice (or the number of days to elapse after any such notice) in connection with LIBO Rate Loans, any day on which dealings in United States Dollars are carried on in the London interbank Eurodollar market.

Capital Expenditures ”: for any period with respect to any Person, all expenditures made by such Person during such period that, in accordance with GAAP, should be classified as a capital expenditure including, without limitation, the aggregate amount of new obligations incurred during such period under Financing Leases.

Capital Securities ”: any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, all membership interests in a limited liability company, all partnership interests in a limited partnership, or any and all similar ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership) and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

Cash Collateral ”: cash in United States Dollars that has been transferred to a Bank Blocked Account to secure repayment of the Obligations.

Cash Collateral Agreements ”: Cash Collateral Agreements to be executed and delivered by the Borrower, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent, as the same may be amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.

Cash Collateralize ”: to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Collateral Agent or to a Bank Blocked Account, Cash Collateral as collateral for the Obligations pursuant to documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

Cash Equivalents ”: (a) securities with maturities of ninety (90) days or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or by an instrumentality or agency of the U.S. government having the same credit rating as the U.S. government, (b) certificates of deposit with maturities of ninety (90) days or less from the date of acquisition and overnight deposits of any Lender or of any commercial bank rated at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof by S&P, P-1 or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or F-1 or the equivalent thereof by Fitch with capital and surplus of not less than $1,000,000,000, (c) repurchase obligations of any Lender or of any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b)  of this definition, having a term of not more than seven days with respect to securities issued or fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government, (d) commercial paper of a U.S. domestic issuer rated at least A-1 or the equivalent thereof by S&P or P-1 or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s and in either case maturing within ninety (90) days after the day of acquisition, (e) securities with maturities of ninety (90) days or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the U.S., by any political subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or territory, the securities of which state, commonwealth, territory, political

 

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subdivision or taxing authority (as the case may be) are rated at least A by S&P or A2 by Moody’s, (f) securities with maturities of ninety (90) days or less from the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by any Lender or any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this definition or (g) shares of money market mutual or similar funds which invest exclusively in assets satisfying the requirements of clauses (a)  through (f)  of this definition.

Change of Control ”: the occurrence of any of the following events:

(a) Parent shall cease to own (directly or indirectly) and control, beneficially and of record, collectively, at least fifty-one percent (51%) of all outstanding Capital Securities of the Borrower, free and clear of all Liens; or

(b) or Parent shall cease to have the right to appoint or elect a majority of the Board of Directors (or Managers) of Borrower.

Close-Out Amount ”: means as of any date of calculation thereof, the net amount, if any, that would be due from the Borrower upon the designation of an “Early Termination Date” or a “Termination Event” with respect to all Swap Contracts with a particular Swap Party under (and as such terms in quotes are defined in) the applicable ISDA Master Agreement or the designation of any date or event equivalent to an Early Termination Date or a Termination Event under other Swap Contracts (e.g., long-form confirmations), net of (a) the face amount of letters of credit naming such Swap Party as beneficiary supporting payment obligations under Swap Contracts with such Swap Party and (b) the value of collateral subject to the first priority perfected Lien of the Swap Party and which is not collateral in which the Collateral Agent has a prior or equal perfected Lien under the Security Documents or any other Loan Document.

Closing Date ”: the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 6.1 shall be satisfied or waived, in accordance with the terms hereof.

Code ”: the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. Section references to the Code are to the Code as in effect at the date of this Agreement and any subsequent provisions of the Code amendatory thereof, supplemental thereto or substituted therefor.

Collateral ”: all:

(a) cash and Cash Equivalents,

(b) all farm products of every type, now owned or hereafter acquired by Borrower and supplies used or produced in farming operations now owned or hereafter acquired by Borrower, including, but not limited to, seed, fertilizer, and other farm products;

(c) Inventory, raw materials, component parts, work in process and/or materials now or at any time hereafter used or consumed in Borrower’s business, and all warehouse receipts, bills of lading and other documents evidencing goods now owned or hereafter acquired by Borrower, and all goods covered thereby, including all accessions, additions and improvements thereto and products thereof, wherever located, whether in possession of Borrower or any warehouseman, bailee or any other person, or in process of delivery,

(d) as-extracted collateral,

 

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(e) commodities and futures agreements, and deposit, commodity, and securities accounts of the Borrower and any other Person over which a Lien is granted in favor of the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties,

(f) goods, tools, machinery, furnishings, furniture, fixtures and other equipment of every type now owned or hereafter acquired by Borrower, wherever located, and all replacements thereof and additions thereto;

(g) all Accounts, Accounts Receivable, prepayments to suppliers, contract rights, chattel paper, instruments, negotiable and nonnegotiable documents of title, deposit accounts, letter of credit rights, tax refund claims, payment intangibles and general intangibles now owned or hereafter acquired by Borrower, including, but not limited to, any rights under any state or federal agricultural programs; rights to payments in kind of crops or other farm products; rights to payment of money from the counterparties under any interest rate swap contract (or similar agreement), water and water rights; and stock or other equity in any farm lender;

(h) proceeds, products, offspring, rents and profits of, increases, replacements and accessions to, and rights under contracts of insurance now or hereafter covering, any of the foregoing;

(i) books and records pertaining to any of the foregoing, including records of genetic, genealogic, and any proceeds or collections on the foregoing, and any computer readable memory together with all computer hardware or software necessary to process such memory; and

(j) all statutory lien rights of Borrower in any of the foregoing arising under any applicable federal or state law;

in each case, wherever located and as more fully described in the Security Documents and, in any event, including all assets in the Borrowing Base.

Collateral Access Agreement ”: means that certain Collateral Access Agreement dated as of the date hereof by and among the Administrative Agent, Great Lakes Grain Storage, L.L.C., an Iowa limited liability company, and the Borrower, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent, as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

Collateral Agent ”: as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Commitment ”: as to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Revolving Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1 and to issue, provide or participate in Credits, LC Obligations, and Swing Line Loans in an aggregate principal and/or face amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 1.0B under the caption “ Commitment ” or, as the case may be, in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became a party hereto, as such amount may be changed from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

Commitment Percentage ”: as to any Lender at any time, the percentage which such Lender’s Commitment then constitutes of the Total Commitment (or, at any time after the Commitments shall have expired or terminated, the percentage which the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s Loans (or in the case of the Swing Line Lender, the unparticipated portion of the Swing Line Loans) then outstanding plus participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans and LC Obligations (or, in the case of the Issuing Lenders, the unparticipated portion of outstanding LC Obligations) constitutes of the aggregate principal amount of all Loans then outstanding plus participations in outstanding LC Obligations (or, in the case of the Issuing Lenders, the unparticipated portion of outstanding LC Obligations)).

 

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Commitment Period ”: the period from and including the Closing Date to but not including the Termination Date or such earlier date on which the Commitments shall terminate as provided herein.

Commodity Contract ”: a contract for the purchase, sale, transfer, or exchange of Grain Inventory or Non-Grain Inventory.

Consents ”: each consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or act by or in respect of a Governmental Authority required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents, the validity, enforceability, perfection or priority of any Loan Document or Lien granted thereunder, or the exercise of remedies by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Lenders.

Consolidated Net Position ”: the number of bushels resulting from the netting of the sum of all Long Positions and Short Positions of the Borrower. If the Consolidated Net Position is an amount less than zero, the Consolidated Net Position shall be deemed to be the absolute value of such amount.

Continue ”, “ Continuation ” and “ Continued ” shall refer to the continuation of a LIBO Rate Loan from one Interest Period to the next Interest Period.

Contractual Obligation ”: as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

Convert ”, “ Conversion ” and “ Converted ”: a conversion of one Type of Revolving Loan into another Type.

Convey ”: to convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of property. The terms “Conveyance” and “Conveyed” shall have a correlative meaning.

Counterparty Limits : means the credit limit applicable to each Commodity Contract counterparty set forth on Schedule 1.0H . As of the Closing Date, the Counterparty Limit for any counterparty that is not an Approved Commodity Contract Counterparty is $1,000,000. From time to time, (a) the Administrative Agent may approve, withdraw, or reduce Counterparty Limits for Commodity Contract counterparties greater than $1,000,000, but less than $7,000,000 and (b) the Required Lenders may approve, withdraw, or reduce Counterparty Limits for Commodity Contract counterparties greater than or equal to $7,000,000, but less than or equal to $15,000,000. No Counterparty Limit shall be greater than $15,000,000.

Credit ”: a Letter of Credit.

Credit Request ”: a request by the Borrower for a new Credit or an amendment to an existing Credit, in each case pursuant to Section 3.3(a) .

Credits Commitment ”: $195,000,000.

Current Assets ”: at any time with respect to any Person, all assets of such Person that, in accordance with GAAP, are classified as current assets on a balance sheet of such Person.

 

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Current Liabilities ”: at any time with respect to any Person, all liabilities of such Person that, in accordance with GAAP, are classified as current liabilities on a balance sheet of such Person.

Default ”: any of the events specified in Section 9.1 , in each case, whether or not any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, or any other condition, has been satisfied.

Default Period ”: with respect to any Lender, the period during which such Lender is a Defaulting Lender.

Defaulting Lender ”: at any time, any Lender that (a) within one (1) Business Day after the date when due, has failed to fund any portion of any Loans or participations in Credits or Swing Line Loans, to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any Lender or an Issuing Lender required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement to be funded by such Lender, or has notified the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that it does not intend to do so, unless the subject of a good faith dispute; (b) has notified the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, an Issuing Lender, or any Lender in writing that it does not intend to comply with any of its funding obligations under this Agreement, or has made a public statement to the effect that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations under this Agreement or under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit; (c) has failed, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, within one (1) Business Day after receipt by such Lender of request by the Administrative Agent or the Borrower, to confirm that it will comply with the terms of this Agreement relating to its agreement to make or fund Loans or participate in Credits or Swing Line Loans; (d) otherwise has failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent, an Issuing Lender, or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one (1) Business Day after the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute; (e) (i) has become or is insolvent or has a parent company that has become or is insolvent or (ii) has become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment or has a parent company that has become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, or has had a receiver, conservator, trustee or custodian appointed for it, or has taken any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment, provided , that, a Lender shall not become a Defaulting Lender solely as a result of the acquisition or maintenance of an ownership interest in such Lender or Person controlling such Lender or the exercise of control over such Lender or Person controlling such Lender by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof. For the purposes of this definition of “Defaulting Lender”, “good faith dispute” means that in the applicable Lender’s reasonable determination, one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in writing) has not been satisfied.

Defaulting Lender’s Exposure ”: has the meaning specified in Section 4.17(c)(ii) .

Derivatives Counterparty ”: as defined in Section 8.6 .

Documentation Agent ”: as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Documentary Letter of Credit ”: a Letter of Credit intended to be drawn as a means of payment upon the presentation of documents for Grain Inventory or Non-Grain Inventory purchased by the Borrower under any Commodity Contract, excluding any such Letter of Credit issued for the primary purpose of serving as a guaranty or means of payment for costs, charges or fees relating to transportation, transmission or storage services or similar services.

 

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EBITDA ”: for any referenced period, the sum of Net Income for such period plus , without duplication and to the extent reflected as a charge in the statement of such Net Income for such period, the sum of (i) Federal, state, local, and foreign income taxes, (ii) Interest Expense, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) any write-down of noncurrent assets, (v) the EBITDA of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of, or has merged into or consolidated with, Borrower or another Subsidiary, and less (vi) the net income of any Person in which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has an equity interest in, but which Person is not a Borrower, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or other distributions actually paid to Borrower during such period.

Eligible Account Receivable ”: an Account Receivable as to which the following requirements have been fulfilled:

(a) such Account Receivable shall relate to a completed sale of goods or services sold by or on behalf of the Borrower, on an absolute basis and not on a consignment, sale-and-return, approval, bill and hold basis, for goods actually delivered in the ordinary course of the Borrower’s business;

(b) it has been identified to the Administrative Agent by Borrower in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

(c) the Borrower shall have legal, absolute, and valid title to such Account Receivable;

(d) such Account Receivable shall be payable in United States Dollars and be a valid, legally enforceable and binding obligation of the Account Debtor of such Account Receivable and there are no facts, events or circumstances which could impair the validity, enforceability or collectability of such Account Receivable or reduce the amount payable or delay payment thereunder;

(e) such Account Receivable shall have excluded (i) any excise, sales or similar taxes payable in connection therewith by the Borrower, and (ii) any portion thereof that is the subject of any dispute, offset, counterclaim, reduction, discount, allowance, rebate, credit, adjustment or other claim or defense on the part of the Account Debtor or to any claim on the part of the Account Debtor denying payment liability under such Account Receivable (including, without limitation, offsets relating to the amount of all liabilities and obligations of the Borrower to the Account Debtor);

(f) such Account Receivable shall be subject to a Perfected Lien, subject only to Permitted Liens;

(g) such Account Receivable (i) shall be evidenced by an invoice that has been issued to the applicable Account Debtor, (ii) shall not be evidenced by an instrument or chattel paper unless (A) there is only one original of such instrument or chattel paper, (B) such original shall have been delivered to the Collateral Agent and (C) by virtue of such delivery the Collateral Agent shall have a valid and enforceable perfected first priority Lien on such instrument or chattel paper, (iii) shall have a maximum due date of no more than ten (10) days from the original invoice date for such Account Receivable, (iv) shall have been outstanding for no more than thirty (30) days from the initial due date of the invoice therefor, (v) shall not be due from any single Account Debtor if more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate amount of all Accounts Receivable owing from such Account Debtor would otherwise not be Eligible Accounts Receivable, and (vi) shall not exceed the applicable Counterparty Limit;

 

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(h) such Account Receivable shall comply in all material respects with all applicable Laws to which such Account Receivable and the Borrower are subject;

(i) the Account Debtor of such Account Receivable is not insolvent or a debtor under chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (a “ Chapter 11 Debtor ”) or any other proceeding, whether voluntary or involuntary, under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, adjustment of debt, dissolution, liquidation or similar law of any jurisdiction;

(j) the Account Debtor of such Account Receivable (a) is not an Affiliate of the Borrower, and no officer or employee of such Account Debtor is an officer, employee, agent or other Affiliate of the Borrower, unless otherwise approved in writing by the Required Lenders or as specifically permitted by the definition of “Borrowing Base,” (b) purchased the goods giving rise to the relevant Account Receivable in an arm’s length bona fide transaction conducted in the ordinary course of business in compliance with all applicable laws, (c) is not determined by the Administrative Agent (in its sole discretion) to be uncreditworthy, provided , that the Administrative Agent shall deliver written notice to the Borrower promptly upon the determination that any Account Receivable is ineligible pursuant to this clause (c)  and (d) is not in contractual default in respect of such Accounts Receivable or any other Indebtedness or obligation to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and the Borrower does not reasonably anticipate that any such other Indebtedness or other obligation or newly arising Indebtedness or other obligation of such Account Debtor, will not be paid when due;

(k) the Account Debtor under such Account Receivable is located in and primarily conducting business in the United States;

(1) the Account Debtor under such Account Receivable is obligated to make payment directly to a Bank Blocked Account;

(m) the Account Debtor of such Account Receivable shall not be a Governmental Authority unless all actions required under any Assignment of Claims Act, if any, applicable to such Account Receivable and such Governmental Authority shall have been taken to approve and permit the assignment of rights to payment thereunder or thereon to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, under the Security Documents; and

(n) such Account Receivable shall be reduced by any prepayment to or cash margin deposit to the Borrower in respect of such Account Receivable or otherwise made or provided by the applicable Account Debtor.

Eligible Cash Collateral ”: deposits of the Borrower which have been deposited with the Collateral Agent and pledged to the Collateral Agent as collateral for the Obligations under the Security Agreement pursuant to which the Collateral Agent has been granted a Perfected Lien. In addition, in the event that any such deposits are held at a financial institution other than the Collateral Agent, then with the prior consent of the Administrative Agent, such deposits may constitute Eligible Cash Collateral if such funds are credited to a Bank Blocked Account.

Eligible Forward Contract ”: a Forward Contract of the Borrower with a counterparty (a) which is evidenced by a written agreement or a trade confirmation enforceable against the counterparty, (b) which is subject to a Perfected Lien and no other Liens (other than Permitted Liens), (c) which has not been terminated or subject to termination by reason of a default or any other termination event thereunder, and (d) in respect of which the counterparty thereto is not a Governmental Authority unless all actions required under any Assignment of Claims Act, if any, applicable to such Forward Contract and such Governmental Authority shall have been taken to approve and permit the Collateral Agent’s Perfected Lien on the rights to payment thereunder or thereon.

 

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Eligible Grain Inventory ”: at the time of determination thereof, all Grain Inventory of the Borrower, and in all instances as to which the following requirements have been fulfilled:

(a) it is owned by the Borrower free and clear of all Liens in favor of third parties, except for Permitted Liens;

(b) it is subject to a Perfected Lien, subject to Permitted Liens;

(c) the Borrower has absolute, legal, and valid title to such Grain Inventory;

(d) it was not purchased, and has not been sold, on a consignment, sale and return, approval, or bill and hold basis;

(e) the Borrower has the full and unqualified right to assign and grant a lien on such Grain Inventory to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as security for its Obligations to the Lenders and Swap Parties;

(f) it was acquired by the Borrower in the ordinary course of business and it is readily usable or merchantable and not spoiled, damaged, or otherwise unfit for sale or further processing by the Borrower in the ordinary course of business;

(g) it substantially conforms to the represented specifications and other quality standards of the Borrower;

(h) it has been identified to the Collateral Agent by the Borrower in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent;

(i) it is located either (i) at the Borrower’s premises in the United States acceptable to the Administrative Agent which is owned by the Borrower or leased by the Borrower or (ii) located at an Approved Storage Location in the United States and subject to a storage control agreement with the Collateral Agent in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(j) it is priced in accordance with GAAP and consistent with the Borrower’s method of pricing of Grain Inventory elected in its year-end financial statements referred to in Section 7.1 hereof; and

(k) it has not given rise to an Eligible Account Receivable.

Eligible Grain Inventory in Transit ”: at the time of determination thereof, all Grain Inventory of the Borrower, and in all instances as to which the following requirements have been fulfilled:

(a) it is owned by the Borrower free and clear of all Liens in favor of third parties, except for Permitted Liens;

(b) it is subject to a Perfected Lien, subject to Permitted Liens;

 

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(c) the Borrower has absolute, legal, and valid title to such Grain Inventory;

(d) none of the inventory is evidenced by bills of lading or other documents of title, whether negotiable or non-negotiable, unless such negotiable document of title has been issued and duly negotiated to the Borrower, the Collateral Agent or to order, blank endorsed, and in the possession of the Borrower in the United States or the Collateral Agent, or such non-negotiable document of title has been issued in the name of and delivered to the Borrower or the Collateral Agent, and, in each case, the issuer is acceptable to the Collateral Agent;

(e) it was not purchased, and has not been sold, on a consignment, sale and return, approval, or bill and hold basis;

(f) the Borrower has the full and unqualified right to assign and grant a lien on such Grain Inventory to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as security for its Obligations to the Lenders and Swap Parties;

(g) it was acquired by the Borrower in the ordinary course of business and it is readily usable or merchantable and not spoiled, damaged, or otherwise unfit for sale or further processing by the Borrower in the ordinary course of business;

(h) it substantially conforms to the represented specifications and other quality standards of the Borrower;

(i) it has been identified to the Collateral Agent by the Borrower in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent;

(j) it is in transit under the control and ownership of the Borrower in the United States (i) to one of either ( x ) the Borrower’s premises in the United States acceptable to the Administrative Agent which is owned by the Borrower or leased by the Borrower or ( y ) an Approved Storage Location in the United States and subject to a storage control agreement with the Collateral Agent in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent or (ii) on a water borne vessel chartered, rented, owned or leased by the Borrower and is on a vessel traveling on navigable waterways within the United States, with the original bills of lading (and, if issued in more than one original, the full set as indicated on such bills of lading) issued or endorsed to the order of the Collateral Agent or issued to the order of the Borrower to be held by the Borrower in the United States for the benefit of the Collateral Agent;

(k) it is priced in accordance with GAAP and consistent with the Borrower’s method of pricing of Grain Inventory elected in its year-end financial statements referred to in Section 7.1 hereof; and

(1) it has not given rise to an Eligible Account Receivable.

Eligible Net Liquidation Value in Lender Brokerage Accounts ”: the aggregate value of “net liquidating value” or “net equity” (however designated) or other amount that would be available for withdrawal upon closing such account and liquidation of all open positions at current market values, as reported in the account statements for the relevant account, in any commodities, options or futures account of the Borrower held at a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, which is subject to a Perfected Lien, subject only to the rights of the broker under such account and free and clear of any Liens or encumbrances in favor of any other third party, and with respect to which an Account Control Agreement is in effect.

 

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Eligible Net Liquidation Value in Third Party Brokerage Accounts ”: the aggregate value of “net liquidating value” or “net equity” (however designated) or other amount that would be available for withdrawal upon closing such account and liquidation of all open positions at current market values, as reported in the account statements for the relevant account, in any commodities, options or futures account of the Borrower held at a financial institution other than a Lender, which is subject to a Perfected Lien, subject only to the rights of the broker under such account and free and clear of any Liens or encumbrances in favor of any other third party, and with respect to which an Account Control Agreement is in effect.

Eligible Net Unrealized Gain on Forward Contracts ”: as of any date of determination thereof, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the net unrealized gain less unrealized losses (for all counterparties) that results from the Marked-to-Market Value as of such date of the Borrower’s aggregate Eligible Forward Contracts which have a maximum tenor of eighteen (18) months from such date and (b) the net unrealized gain (for all counterparties) less unrealized losses that results from the Marked-to-Market Value as of such date of the Borrower’s aggregate net Eligible Forward Contracts of any tenor, in each case, if such amount is a positive number; provided , that notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary: ( x ) the amount of Eligible Net Unrealized Gain on Forward Contracts with a single counterparty that is not an Approved Commodity Contract Counterparty shall not exceed $1,000,000, ( y ) the amount of Eligible Net Unrealized Gain on Forward Contracts with a single party that is an Approved Commodity Contract Counterparty shall not exceed $5,000,000, or any larger amount approved by Required Lenders and ( z ) the amount of Eligible Net Unrealized Gain on Forward Contracts shall be reduced by all disputes, offsets, and any margin delivered or posted by such counterparty to or for the benefit of the Borrower.

Eligible Non-Grain Inventory ”: at the time of determination thereof, all Non-Grain Inventory of the Borrower, and in all instances as to which the following requirements have been fulfilled:

(a) it is owned by the Borrower free and clear of all Liens in favor of third parties, except for Permitted Liens;

(b) it is subject to a Perfected Lien, subject to Permitted Liens;

(c) the Borrower has absolute, legal, and valid title to such Grain Inventory;

(d) it was not purchased, and has not been sold, on a consignment, sale and return, approval, or bill and hold basis;

(e) the Borrower has the full and unqualified right to assign and grant a lien on such Grain Inventory to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as security for its Obligations to the Lenders and Swap Parties;

(f) it was acquired by the Borrower in the ordinary course of business and it is readily usable or merchantable and not spoiled, damaged, or otherwise unfit for sale or further processing by the Borrower in the ordinary course of business;

(g) it substantially conforms to the represented specifications and other quality standards of the Borrower;

(h) it has been identified to the Collateral Agent by the Borrower in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent;

 

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(i) it is located either (i) at the Borrower’s premises in the United States acceptable to the Administrative Agent which is owned by the Borrower or leased by the Borrower or (ii) located at an Approved Storage Location in the United States and subject to a storage control agreement with the Collateral Agent in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(j) it is priced in accordance with GAAP and consistent with the Borrower’s method of pricing of Grain Inventory elected in its year-end financial statements referred to in Section 7.1 hereof; and

(k) it has not given rise to an Eligible Account Receivable.

Eligible Prepayments to Suppliers ”: prepayments made by the Borrower to Approved Suppliers made pursuant to a Commodity Contract (a) representing an arm’s length transaction for the purchase of product scheduled to be delivered to the Borrower within six (6) months after the date of such prepayment, (b) which product upon delivery to the Borrower will become Eligible Grain Inventory or Eligible Non-Grain Inventory, (c) valued at the lower of (i) the amount of such prepayment or (ii) an amount equal to ( y ) the Marked-to-Market Value of the underlying inventory contracted for or ( z ) if the price of the underlying inventory is to be fixed, the fixed price purchase value of the contracted inventory, and (d) that is subject to a Perfected Lien and does not prohibit assignment of such Commodity Contract to the Collateral Agent.

Environmental Laws ”: any and all Laws concerning the environment or health and safety (including without limitation regulating, relating to or imposing liability on standards of conduct concerning Materials of Environmental Concern) which are in existence now or in the future and are binding at any time on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the relevant jurisdiction in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has been or is operating (including by the export of its products or its waste to that jurisdiction).

Environmental Permits ”: any permit, license, consent, approval and other authorization and the filing of any notification, report, or assessment required under any Environmental Law for the operation of the Business conducted on or from the Properties.

ERISA ”: the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time. Section references to ERISA are to ERISA as in effect at the date of this Agreement and any subsequent provisions of ERISA amendatory thereof, supplemental thereto or substituted therefor.

ERISA Affiliate ”: each trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that together with the Borrower, would be deemed to be a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

ERISA Event ”: shall mean (i) a Reportable Event, (ii) the withdrawal or partial withdrawal of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, (iii) the incurrence by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of a Plan, (iv) the institution of proceedings to terminate a Plan by the PBGC, (v) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice (whether or not written) from the PBGC of any event or condition which the PBGC asserts is reasonably likely to constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA to terminate, or to appoint a trustee to administer, any Plan, (vi) the Insolvency or Reorganization of, a Multiemployer Plan, (vii) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived.

 

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Event of Default ”: any of the events specified in Section 9.1 .

Extensions of Credit ”: the collective reference to the Loans and Credits.

Federal Funds Effective Rate ”: for any day, the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rates are not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for the day of such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

Fee Letters ”: the Agent Fee Letter and the Upfront Fee Letter.

Financing Lease ”: any lease of property, real or personal, the obligations of the lessee in respect of which are required in accordance with GAAP to be capitalized on a balance sheet of the lessee.

Fiscal Year ”: the fiscal year of the Borrower, which consists of a twelve-month period, ending on each December 31.

Fitch ”: Fitch Ratings Ltd. or any successor to its rating agency business.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ”: (a)(i) the sum of EBITDA, plus cash equity investments received by Borrower from Parent, minus (ii) the sum of Capital Expenditures and actual Interest Expense of working capital financings, divided by (b) the sum of actual scheduled principal payments made on long-term Indebtedness plus actual Interest Expenses on long-term Indebtedness incurred during any period, as shown on the combined financial statements of the Borrower.

Forward Contract ”: a Commodity Contract with a maturity date more than two (2) days after the date the contract is entered into.

GAAP ”: generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S. in effect from time to time.

Governing Documents ”: with respect to a: (a) corporation, its articles or certificate of incorporation and by laws, (b) limited partnership, its certificate of limited partnership and limited partnership agreement, (c) limited liability company, its certificate of formation and limited liability company or operating agreement and (d) any other Person, the other organizational or governing documents of such Person and, in each case, any other organizational or governing documents, as applicable.

Governmental Authority ”: any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government.

Grain Inventory ”: corn, soybeans, wheat, milo, and other grains held for sale by the Borrower.

 

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Guaranty Obligation ”: as to any Person (the “ guaranteeing person ”), any obligation of (a) the guaranteeing person or (b) another Person (including, without limitation, any bank under any letter of credit) to induce the creation of which the guaranteeing person has issued a reimbursement, counterindemnity or similar obligation, in either case guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other liability or obligation (the “ primary obligations ”) of any other third Person (the “ primary obligor ”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of the guaranteeing person, whether or not contingent, (i) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (1) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (2) to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor for the purpose (whether explicit or implicit) of ensuring that the primary obligor is able to repay the primary obligations of such primary obligor, (iii) to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of any such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof, provided , however , that the term Guaranty Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business. The terms “Guarantee” and “Guaranteed” used as a verb shall have a correlative meaning. The amount of any Guaranty Obligation of any guaranteeing person shall be deemed to be the lower of (a) an amount equal to the stated or determinable maximum amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guaranty Obligation is made and (b) the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guaranty Obligation, unless such primary obligation and the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable are not stated or determinable, in which case the amount of such Guaranty Obligation shall be such guaranteeing person’s maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined in good faith.

Increase Amount ”: as defined in Section 4.1(b)(i) .

Increase and New Lender Agreement ”: as defined in Section 4.1(b)(iii) .

Increasing Lender ”: as defined in Section 4.1(b)(iii) .

Indebtedness ”: of any Person at any date, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money (whether by loan or the issuance and sale of debt securities) or for the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding any trade accounts payable incurred and continuing in the ordinary course of business), (b) any other indebtedness of such Person which is evidenced by a note, bond, debenture or similar instrument, (c) all obligations of such Person under Financing Leases, (d) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of letters of credit, acceptances or similar instruments issued or created for the account of such Person, whether or not drawn on or paid, (e) all liabilities secured by (or for which the holder of such obligations has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on any property owned by such Person even though such Person has not assumed or otherwise become liable for the payment thereof, (f) all obligations under Swap Contracts, (g) all preferred Capital Securities of such Person, (h) all indebtedness of such Person under commodity repurchase agreements, (i) all other items which, in accordance with GAAP, would be included as liabilities on the liability side of a balance sheet of such Person as of the date at which Indebtedness is to be determined (other than accounts payable excluded under clause (a)  above), and (j) all Guaranty Obligations of such Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in clauses (a)  through (i)  above. The amount of any Indebtedness under clause (e)  shall be equal to the lesser of (A) the stated amount of the relevant obligations and (B) the fair market value of the property subject to the relevant Lien.

 

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Insolvency ”: with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such Plan is insolvent within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA.

Insolvent ”: pertaining to a condition of Insolvency.

Interest Expense ”: for any period, the sum of (a) all interest, commitment fees, and loan fees in respect of Indebtedness (including that attributable to Financing Leases) of Borrower deducted in determining Net Income for such period, together with all interest, commitment fees, and loan fees capitalized or deferred during such period and not deducted in determining Net Income for such period but excluding amortization of interest, commitment fees, and loan fees capitalized or deferred during an earlier period, plus (b) all fees, expenses and charges in respect of letters of credit issued for the account of Borrower deducted in determining Net Income for such period, together with all such fees, expenses, and charges in respect of letters of credit capitalized or deferred during such period and not deducted in determining Net Income for such period and not included in clause (a)  above, all as determined on a combined basis in accordance with GAAP. Revenues and expenses derived from Interest Rate Agreements will be treated as adjustments to Interest Expense for purposes of this definition.

Interest Payment Date ”: (a) as to any Base Rate Loan, monthly in arrears on the last Business Day of each month, (b) as to any LIBO Rate Loan, the last day of such Interest Period, and (c) as to any Loan, the date of any repayment or prepayment made in respect thereof.

Interest Period ”: with respect to any LIBO Rate Loan:

(a) initially, the period commencing on the Borrowing Date or Conversion date, as the case may be, with respect to such LIBO Rate Loan and ending one, two, three, or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its irrevocable Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Continuation/Conversion, as the case may be, given with respect thereto; and

(b) thereafter, each period commencing on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period applicable to such LIBO Rate Loan and ending one, two, three, or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower by delivery of an irrevocable Notice of Continuation/Conversion to the Administrative Agent not less than three (3) Business Days prior to the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto;

provided , that all of the foregoing provisions relating to Interest Periods are subject to the following:

(i) if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to carry such Interest Period into another calendar month in which event such Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day;

(ii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Termination Date; and

(iii) any Interest Period of one month or more that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the applicable calendar month.

Interest Rate Agreements ”: any interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements, interest rate collar agreements, interest rate hedging agreements, interest rate floor agreements, options or other similar agreements or arrangements, any combination of the foregoing and, unless the context otherwise requires, any master agreement relating to or governing any of the foregoing.

 

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Investment ”: any advance, loan, extension of credit or capital contribution to, or purchase or other acquisition of any stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other Capital Securities of or any assets constituting all or substantially all assets of, or of a business unit of, any Person or any commitment to make or do any of the foregoing. For the avoidance of doubt, Investments may include, without limitation, Swap Contracts.

ISP ”: the International Standby Practices ISP98, International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590, as from time to time amended, modified, or replaced.

Issuance Cap ”: with respect to the obligation of an Issuing Lender to issue any Credit under this Agreement, the maximum permitted aggregate outstanding amount of LC Obligations attributable to Credits issued by such Issuing Lender, as shall be agreed upon by each Issuing Lender, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent in writing upon any new Issuing Lender becoming an Issuing Lender, as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time by the parties thereto. As of the Closing Date, BNP Paribas has an Issuance Cap in an amount equal to the Credits Commitment. The Issuance Cap for BNP Paribas shall be reduced, in its sole discretion, by all or any part of the amount of the Issuance Cap of each new Issuing Lender.

Issuing Lender ”: BNP Paribas and its Affiliates or any successor pursuant to Section 3.9 .

Inventory ” shall mean, for any Person, all “inventory” (as defined in the UCC) now or hereafter owned or acquired by such Person or in which such Person now or hereafter has or acquires any rights, wherever located, and, in any event, including inventory, merchandise, goods and other personal property which are held by or on behalf of such Person for sale or lease or are furnished or are to be furnished under a contract of service, or which constitute raw materials, work in process or materials used or consumed or to be used or consumed in such Person’s business or in the processing, production, packaging, promotion, delivery or shipping of the same, including other supplies.

Laws ”: collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority.

LC Fee Payment Date ”: with respect to any Credit, the fifteenth (15 th ) day of each calendar month (or if any such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day).

LC Participants ”: with respect to any Credit, the collective reference to all of the Lenders other than the Issuing Lender thereof.

LC Obligations ”: at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate then maximum undrawn amount of the then outstanding Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate amount of drawings under Letters of Credit and Reducing LC Payments which have not then been reimbursed by the Borrower.

Lead Arranger ”: as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

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Lenders ”: as defined in the preamble to this Agreement, which term shall include in any event the Issuing Lenders and BNP Paribas in its capacity as Swing Line Lender.

Letter of Credit ”: as defined in Section 3.1(a) .

Leverage Ratio ”: at any time, the ratio of (a) Total Liabilities to (b) Tangible Net Worth of the Borrower as at such time.

LIBO Rate ”: for each Interest Period, a rate of interest equal to:

(a) the rate of interest (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/16 of 1%) as determined by the Administrative Agent appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any successor or substitute page on that service or any substitute service providing comparable rate quotations to those currently provided, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time) as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in United States Dollars at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day which is two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period; provided , that if such rate is not available at such time for any reason, such rate of interest shall be the average rate of interest determined by the Administrative Agent at which deposits in United States Dollars are offered for the relevant Interest Period to BNP Paribas, London Branch, or its successors by prime banks in the London interbank market as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the applicable interest rate determination date,

divided by

(b) a number equal to 1.0 minus the aggregate (but without duplication) of the daily average maximum rates (expressed as a decimal) of reserve requirements in effect during such Interest Period (including, without limitation, basic, supplemental, marginal and emergency reserves under any regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or other governmental authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto, as now and from time to time in effect) for Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of such Board) which are required to be maintained by a member bank of the Federal Reserve System, (such rate to be adjusted to the nearest one sixteenth of one percent (1/16 of 1%) or, if there is not a nearest one sixteenth of one percent (1/16 of 1%), to the next higher one sixteenth of one percent (1/16 of 1%).

LIBO Rate Loans ”: means Loans the rate of interest applicable to which is based upon the LIBO Rate.

Lien ”: any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, security interest, security agreement or any preference, priority or other preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever having or intended to have similar effect (including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any Financing Lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing), and the filing of any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code or comparable Law of any jurisdiction in respect of any of the foregoing.

Loan ”: means any Revolving Loan and any Swing Line Loan.

Loan Documents ”: this Agreement, the Notes, the Security Documents, the Fee Letters, the Responsible Officer List, each Repurchase Intercreditor Agreement, the Term Intercreditor Agreement, any Swap Intercreditor Agreement, any Subordination Agreement, and any other document or instrument executed by the Loan Parties in connection herewith or therewith.

 

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Loan Parties ”: the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Long Position ”: the aggregate number of bushels of Grain Inventory, which is either held in inventory or which the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary has contracted to purchase (whether by purchase of a contract on a commodities exchange or otherwise), or which the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary will receive in an exchange or under a Swap Contract including, without limitation, the notional amount under Swap Contracts, whether or not intended to be settled by physical delivery, all option contracts representing the obligation of the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary to purchase such Gain Inventory at the option of a third party, and all option contracts under which the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary has the right to purchase such Grain Inventory at a price lower than the current market value as of the date of calculation of the Long Position, except as to any of the foregoing where the purchase price is a floating market price. Long Positions shall be expressed as a positive number.

Macquarie Repurchase Intercreditor Agreement ”: means that certain letter agreement dated as of the date hereof by and among the Administrative Agent, Macquarie Commodities (USA) Inc., and the Borrower, on terms and conditions acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders in their sole discretion, as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Marked-to-Market Value ”: with respect to any Commodity Contract of any Person on any date of determination:

(a) in the case of a Commodity Contract for the delivery or receipt of any Grain Inventory or Non-Grain Inventory, the unrealized gain or loss on such Commodity Contract, determined by comparing (i) the amount to be paid or received under such Commodity Contract for such Grain Inventory or Non-Grain Inventory pursuant to the terms thereof to (ii) the market value of such Grain Inventory or Non-Grain Inventory on such date, and

(b) in the case of any other Commodity Contract, the unrealized gain or loss on such Commodity Contract determined by calculating the amount to be paid or received under such other Commodity Contract pursuant to the terms thereof as if the cash settlement of such other Commodity Contract were to be calculated on such date of determination by reference to the market value of the Grain Inventory or Non-Grain Inventory which is the subject of such other Commodity Contract;

provided , that (i) in the case of any Commodity Contract that is, in whole or in part, an option by its terms, the amount so calculated shall reflect industry standard valuation models approved by the Administrative Agent or, in appropriate circumstances, the Borrower’s own proprietary valuation models and any associated premium which remains unpaid, and (ii) each such amount shall be discounted to present value in a commercially reasonable manner unless otherwise discounted as part of the calculation referred to above.

Material Adverse Effect ”: a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, income, property, liabilities (actual or contingent), operations or condition (financial or otherwise), or prospects of the Borrower taken as a whole, (b) the ability of any Borrower to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents on a timely basis or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or the rights or remedies of the Agents or the Lenders hereunder or thereunder.

 

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Material Contract ”: (a) any contract or other agreement (other than the Loan Documents), written or oral, of the Borrower relating to the purchase and sale of (i) Grain Inventory involving 2,000,000 bushels or more on any one contract or (ii) Non-Grain Inventory involving $5,000,000 or more on any one contract and (b) any other contract or other agreement (other than the Loan Documents), whether written or oral, to which the Borrower is a party as to which the breach, nonperformance, cancellation, termination or failure to renew by any party thereto would have a Material Adverse Effect.

Materials of Environmental Concern ”: any gasoline or petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) or petroleum products or any hazardous or toxic substances, materials or wastes, defined or regulated as such in or under, or which form the basis of liability under, any Environmental Law, including, without limitation, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls and urea-formaldehyde insulation, medical waste, radioactive materials and electromagnetic fields.

Maximum Rate ”: as defined in Section 4.3(e) .

Moody’s ”: Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., or any successor to its rating agency business.

Multiemployer Plan ”: a “multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

Net Income ”: for any period, the net income (or loss) of the Borrower, determined on a combined basis in accordance with GAAP, excluding, however (a) extraordinary items, including (i) any net non-cash gain or loss during such period arising from the sale, exchange, retirement, or other disposition of capital assets (such term to include all fixed assets and all securities) other than in the ordinary course of business, and (ii) the cumulative effect of any change in GAAP, (b) the net income of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of, or has merged into or consolidated with, Borrower or another Subsidiary, and (c) the net income of any Person in which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has an equity interest in, but which Person is not a Borrower, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or other distributions actually paid to Borrower during such period.

Netting Agreement ”: an agreement between two or more Persons providing for the netting of payment obligations of each of those Persons and/or market exposures for the purpose of determining the amount of margin or collateral or payments due under various agreements between them, the terms and conditions specified therein, or other similar document having the same effect as such netting agreement (in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business).

New Lenders ”: as defined in Section 4.1(b)(iii) .

Nominated Person ”: as defined in Article 5 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York, as in effect from time to time.

Non-Defaulting Lenders ”: all Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders.

Non-Excluded Taxes ”: as defined in Section 4.14(a) .

Non-Grain Inventory ”: all petroleum products, fertilizer, raw materials, work in process, finished goods, supplies and goods (other than Grain Inventory) held for sale or lease or furnished or to be furnished under contracts of service in which the Borrower now has or hereafter acquires any right.

 

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Non-U.S. Lender ”: as defined in Section 4.14(f) .

Notes ”: as defined in Section 4.6(e) , which shall in any event include, without limitation, any Swing Line Note.

Notice of Borrowing ”: a request by the Borrower for a Revolving Loan or Swing Line Loan substantially in the form of Annex I hereto.

Notice of Continuation/Conversion ”: a request by the Borrower to Continue a LIBO Rate Loan for a succeeding Interest Period as a LIBO Rate Loan or to Convert a Loan from one Type to another, substantially in the form of Annex II hereto.

Obligations ”: the unpaid principal amount of, and interest (including, without limitation, interest accruing after the maturity of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and interest accruing after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) on the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations, and all other obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to the Agents and the Lenders, and Swap Parties with respect to Swap Contracts, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, or now existing or hereafter incurred, whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the Agents or to the Lenders that are required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of the Loan Documents) or otherwise, in each case, which may arise under, or out of or in connection with this Agreement, the Notes, the Security Documents, any other Loan Documents, any Credit, any Swap Contract, and any other document made, delivered or given in connection therewith or herewith. For the avoidance of doubt, Obligations includes all obligations of the Borrower under Swap Contracts to any Person that was, at the time of entry into such Swap Contract, a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender.

Other Swap Agreements ”: any foreign exchange contracts, currency swap agreements, commodity swap agreements, caps, collars, floors, options, or other similar agreements or arrangements designed to protect against or to require payments based upon fluctuations in currency, commodity or other asset values and any other contract or agreement relating to purchase or sale of any assets, goods, currencies, services or commodities, or any option relating thereto, any combination of the foregoing and, unless the context otherwise requires, any master agreement relating to or governing any of the foregoing.

Other Taxes ”: as defined in Section 4.14(b) .

Parent ”: Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc., an Iowa corporation.

Participant ”: as defined in Section 11.6(b) .

Participation ”: as defined in Section 11.6(b) .

Patriot Act ”: the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56 (as amended).

Payment Intangible ”: as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York, as in effect from time to time.

PBGC ”: shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any entity succeeding to its function under ERISA.

 

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Perfected Lien ”: any perfected, first priority Lien or security interest granted by the Borrower in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to a Security Document or otherwise.

Permitted Discretion ”: shall mean, with respect to any Person, a determination or judgment made by such Person in the exercise of reasonable (in the business of secured lending with respect to collateral of the type included in the Borrowing Base) credit or business judgment.

Permitted Liens ”: any Lien of the type set forth in Section 8.2 .

Person ”: an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, Governmental Authority or other entity of whatever nature.

Plan ”: any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) which is subject to ERISA that is maintained or contributed to by (or to which there is an obligation to contribute of) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate for its current or former employees, or any beneficiary thereof.

Position Report ”: a report certified by a Responsible Officer, substantially in the form of Exhibit C .

Properties ”: as defined in Section 5.20(a) .

Reducing Letters of Credit ”: any Letters of Credit that specifically provide that the amount available for drawing under such Letters of Credit will be reduced, automatically and without any further amendment or endorsement to such Letters of Credit, by the amount of any payment or payments made to the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit by or through the issuer, if such payment or payments (i) are made through the applicable Issuing Lender and (ii) reference such Letters of Credit by the letter of credit numbers thereof, notwithstanding the fact that such payment or payments are not made pursuant to conforming and proper draws under such Letters of Credit.

Reducing LC Payment ”: any payment or payments made to the beneficiary of a Reducing Letter of Credit if such payment or payments (a) are made through the applicable Issuing Lender, (b) reference the Reducing Letter of Credit by the letter of credit number thereof, and (c) are not made pursuant to a conforming and proper draw under such Reducing Letter of Credit.

Refunded Swing Line Loan ”: as defined in Section 2.3(f) .

Register ”: as defined in Section 11.6(d) .

Reimbursement Date ”: as defined in Section 3.5(b) .

Reimbursement Obligation ”: the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the applicable Issuing Lender, pursuant to Section 3.6 , in connection with a payment (including, without limitation, a Reducing LC Payment) by such Issuing Lender under a Credit.

Reorganization ”: with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, the condition that such plan is in reorganization within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA.

 

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Reportable Event ”: any of the events set forth in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations thereunder, other than any such event for which the 30 day notice requirement under ERISA has been waived.

Repurchase Intercreditor Agreement ”: means (a) the Macquarie Repurchase Intercreditor Agreement and (b) any intercreditor agreement entered into with an Approved Repurchase Contract Counterparty pursuant to Section 8.1(f) , in each case, on terms and conditions acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders in their sole discretion, as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Requested Increase Effective Date ”: as defined in Section 4.1(b)(i) .

Required Lenders ”: at any time, Lenders the Commitment Percentages of which aggregate more than fifty percent (50%), provided , that if any Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender at such time, then such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment shall be excluded from the determination of Required Lenders for so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender.

Requirement of Law ”: as to any Person, the certificate of incorporation, articles and by-laws or other organizational or Governing Documents of such Person, and any Law, treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

Responsible Officer ”: means a person identified as such on any Responsible Officer List delivered by Borrower.

Responsible Officer List ”: means that certain list of Responsible Officers delivered by Borrower to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders as a condition precedent to this Agreement, and updated from time to time as necessary.

Restricted Payments ”: as defined in Section 8.6 .

Revolving Loan ”: as defined in Section 2.1(a) .

Risk Management Policies ”: the risk management policies applicable to the trading activities of the Borrower in effect on the date hereof, as such risk management policies may be amended pursuant to the terms of Section 7.12 .

S&P ”: Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services, or any successor to its rating agency business.

Secured Parties ”: means the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders, and any Swap Party. The term “Secured Parties” shall also include a former Lender or an Affiliate of a former Lender that is party to a Swap Contract with the Borrower, provided , that such former Lender or Affiliate was a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time it entered into such Swap Contract and a party to the Swap Intercreditor Agreement.

Security Agreement ”: the Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by the Borrower and the other Grantors (as defined therein) in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as the same may be amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

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Security Documents ”: the collective reference to the Security Agreement, the Account Control Agreements, each Warehouseman Agreement, the Collateral Access Agreement, and all other security documents hereafter delivered to the Collateral Agent granting a Lien on any asset or assets of the Borrower to secure any of the Obligations. As of the Closing Date, the Security Documents includes the documents listed on Schedule 1.0D .

Short Position ”: the aggregate number of bushels of Grain Inventory, which the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary has contracted to sell (whether by sale of a contract on a commodities exchange or otherwise) or which the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary will deliver in an exchange or under a Swap Contact, including, without limitation, the notional amount under Swap Contracts, whether or not intended to be settled by physical delivery, all option contracts representing the obligation of the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary to sell such Grain Inventory at the option of a third party and all option contracts under which the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary has the right to sell such Grain Inventory at a price higher than the current market value as of the date of calculation of the Short Position, except as to any of the foregoing where the sales price is a floating market price. Short Positions shall be expressed as a negative number.

Sole Bookrunner ”: as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Standby Letter of Credit ”: any Letter of Credit that is intended to be drawn on in connection with the failure by the Borrower to satisfy its obligations under any Commodity Contract and which has been issued in support of the Borrower’s payment or performance obligations with respect to transactions for the purchase of Grain Inventory or Non-Grain Inventory, excluding any Letters of Credit issued for the primary purpose of supporting payment for costs, charges or fees relating to transportation, transmission or storage services or similar services.

Subordinated Debt ”: Indebtedness of the Borrower which is subordinated to the Obligations pursuant to the terms of a Subordination Agreement.

Subordination Agreement ”: any Subordination Agreement by and among BNP Paribas, as Collateral Agent, and a lender of Subordinated Debt, and acknowledged by the Borrower, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and Required Lenders, in their sole discretion and as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

Subsidiary ”: as to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which shares of stock, partnership, membership or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power (other than stock, partnership, membership or other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

Subsidiary Guaranty ”: a Guaranty Agreement, as amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, among the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Administrative Agent substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto.

Subsidiary Guarantors ”: any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is or becomes a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty. As of the Closing Date, there are no Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

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Swap Contracts ”: Interest Rate Agreements and Other Swap Agreements.

Swap Intercreditor Agreement ”: means any Intercreditor Agreement entered into by and among BNP Paribas, in its individual capacity and as Collateral Agent, the Lenders, and the Swap Parties, and acknowledged by the Borrower, as may be amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.

Swap Parties ”: any Person (other than the Borrower) that is a party to a Swap Contract with the Borrower, which Person is, or at the time of entry into such agreement was, a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender. As of the Closing Date, there are no Swap Parties.

Swing Line Commitment ”: $25,000,000.

Swing Line Lender ”: BNP Paribas, in its capacity as lender of Swing Line Loans hereunder.

Swing Line Loans ”: as defined in Section 2.3(a) .

Swing Line Note ”: as defined in Section 2.3(j) .

Syndication Agent ”: as defined in the preamble to this Agreement.

Tangible Net Worth ”: as of any date of determination with respect to any Person,

(a) the excess of Total Assets over Total Liabilities of such Person as of such date minus

(b) to the extent included in the calculation of Total Assets, the sum of (i) the total book value of the Total Assets of such Person properly classified as intangible assets under GAAP, including such items as goodwill, trademarks, trade names, service marks, brand names, copyrights, patents and licenses, rights with respect to the foregoing, and organizational or developmental expenses, plus (ii) any subscriptions receivable, plus (iii) loans by Borrower to, investments in, and receivables and other obligations from Borrower’s Capital Securities holders, Subsidiaries, other Affiliates, officers, employees or directors of such Person not in the ordinary course of business, plus (iv) any treasury stock.

Taxes ”: as defined in Section 4.14(a) .

Term Credit Agreement ”: means that certain Loan Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Borrower and the Term Lender, as it may be amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Term Intercreditor Agreement ”: means that certain Term Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Administrative Agent, the Term Lender, and the Borrower, as it may be amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time.

Term Lender ”: means Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, together with its successors and permitted assigns.

Termination Date ”: October 28, 2013 or, if such date shall not be a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day.

 

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Total Assets ”: at any time with respect to any Person, the amount which, in accordance with GAAP, would be set forth opposite the caption “total assets” on a balance sheet of such Person for such period.

Total Commitment ”: the total aggregate amount of all Commitments of all Lenders, as it may be reduced or increased in accordance with Section 4.1(a) and Section 4.1(b) . The Total Commitment on the Closing Date is $195,000,000.

Total Liabilities ”: at any time with respect to any Person, the amount which, in accordance with GAAP, would be set forth opposite the caption “total liabilities” on a balance sheet of such Person for such period. For the avoidance of doubt, “Total Liabilities” shall include liabilities with respect to commodity repurchase agreements.

Tranche ”: the collective reference to LIBO Rate Loans for which the then current Interest Periods applicable to all such LIBO Rate Loans begin on the same date and end on the same later date (whether or not such LIBO Rate Loans shall originally have been made on the same day).

Transferee ”: as defined in Section 11.6(f) .

Type ”: (i) as to any Loan, its nature as a Base Rate Loan or a LIBO Rate Loan and (ii) as to any Letter of Credit, its nature as a Documentary Letter of Credit or a Standby Letter of Credit.

UCP ”: the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (2007 Revision), International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 600, as the same may be amended, modified or replaced from time to time.

United States ” or “ U.S. ”: the United States of America.

United States Dollars ” and “ $ ”: dollars in lawful currency of the U.S.

Unreimbursed Amount ”: as defined in Section 3.6(a) .

Upfront Fee Letter ”: the fee letter dated the date hereof between the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in connection with fees to be paid for the account of the Lenders on the Closing Date.

Warehouseman ”: each warehouse owner/operator and other third party storage companies that may, from time to time, have any of the Collateral in its care, custody, or control.

Warehouseman Agreement ”: each Landlord Waiver and Consent Agreement among Borrower, Collateral Agent, and each Warehouseman, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent governing the Collateral Agent’s rights in the Borrower’s inventory under the control of the Warehouseman.

Working Capital ”: as of any date of determination with respect to any Person,

(a) the excess of Current Assets over Current Liabilities of such Person as of such date minus

 

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(b) to the extent included in the calculation of Current Assets, the sum of (i) the total book value of the Current Assets of such Person properly classified as goodwill, trademarks, trade names, service marks, brand names, copyrights, patents and licenses, rights with respect to the foregoing, and organizational or developmental expenses, plus (ii) any subscriptions receivable, plus (iii) loans by Borrower to, investments in, and receivables and other obligations from Borrower’s Capital Securities holders, Subsidiaries, other Affiliates, officers, employees or directors of such Person not in the ordinary course of business, plus (iv) any treasury stock.

1.2 Other Definitional Provisions.

(a) Unless otherwise specified therein, all terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any Notes or any other Loan Documents or any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto.

(b) As used herein and in any Notes, any other Loan Documents and any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, accounting terms relating to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not defined in Section 1.1 and accounting terms partly defined in Section 1.1 , to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP.

(c) The words “hereof’, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section, Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

(d) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

(e) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) references to Governing Documents, agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions, waivers, supplements and other modifications thereto and (ii) references to any Law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Law.

1.3 Rounding.

Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

1.4 Accounting Terms.

For purposes of this Agreement, all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in conformity with GAAP. Financial statements and other information furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 7.1 shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP (as in effect at the time of such preparation) on a consistent basis, except for any adjustments thereto which may be approved from time to time in writing by the Administrative Agent in their sole discretion. In the event any Accounting Changes (as defined below) shall occur and such changes affect financial covenants, standards or terms in this Agreement, then the Borrower and the Lenders agree to enter into negotiations in order to amend such provisions of this Agreement so as to equitably reflect such Accounting Changes with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be the same after such Accounting Changes as if such Accounting Changes had not been made, and until such time as such an amendment shall have been executed and

 

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delivered by the Borrower and the Lenders, (A) all financial covenants, standards and terms in this Agreement shall be calculated and/or construed as if such Accounting Changes had not been made, and (B) the Borrower shall prepare footnotes to each compliance certificate and the financial statements required to be delivered hereunder that show the differences between the financial statements delivered (which reflect such Accounting Changes) and the basis for calculating financial covenant compliance (without reflecting such Accounting Changes). “ Accounting Changes ” means: (a) changes in accounting principles required by GAAP and implemented by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; (b) changes in accounting principles recommended by the Borrower’s certified public accountants; and (c) changes in accounting principles adopted by the Borrower that are among allowable principles required by GAAP.

SECTION 2.  AMOUNT AND TERMS OF THE LOANS AND COMMITMENTS

2.1 Revolving Loans.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender severally agrees to make revolving credit loans (“ Revolving Loans ”) to the Borrower from time to time during the Commitment Period in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed such Lender’s Commitment minus the sum of (a) its Commitment Percentage of all LC Obligations at such time and (b) its Commitment Percentage of all Swing Line Loans outstanding at such time; provided , that after giving effect to any borrowing of Revolving Loans, (A) the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit shall not exceed the Borrowing Base at such time, (B) the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit shall not exceed the Total Commitment at such time, and (C) such Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit shall not exceed its Commitment at such time.

(b) Revolving Loans shall be denominated only in United States Dollars. Revolving Loans may from time to time be (i) LIBO Rate Loans, (ii) Base Rate Loans, or (iii) a combination thereof, as determined by the Borrower and notified to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.2 and Section 4.4 . No Revolving Loan shall be made as a LIBO Rate Loan after the day that is one (1) month prior to the Termination Date.

(c) During the Commitment Period, the Borrower may borrow, prepay the Revolving Loans in whole or in part, and reborrow, all in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof.

2.2 Procedure for Borrowing.

(a) Each borrowing of Revolving Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable written request delivered to the Administrative Agent in the form of a Notice of Borrowing, which notice must be received by the Administrative Agent prior to 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) (i) in the case of a Base Rate Loan, on the date that is one Business Day prior to the requested Borrowing Date, and (ii) in the case of a LIBO Rate Loan, on the date which is three (3) Business Days prior to the requested Borrowing Date, specifying:

(i) the amount to be borrowed;

(ii) the requested Borrowing Date;

(iii) the date the principal of such Revolving Loan is due;

 

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(iv) whether the borrowing is to be a LIBO Rate Loan, a Base Rate Loan or a combination thereof; and

(v) if the borrowing is to be entirely or partly of LIBO Rate Loans, the respective amounts of each such Type of Loan and the respective lengths of the initial Interest Periods therefor.

(b) The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of any Notice of Borrowing and of the amount of such Lender’s Commitment Percentage of such borrowing, and shall deliver such other information contained therein as any Lender may request.

(c) Each borrowing of Revolving Loans under the Commitments shall be in an amount equal to ( x ) in the case of Base Rate Loans, $250,000 or an integral multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof (or, if the then Available Commitments or the amount available hereunder for Loans are less than $250,000, such lesser amount) and ( y ) in the case of LIBO Rate Loans, $1,000,000 or an integral multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof.

(d) Subject to Section 6.2 , as applicable, each Lender shall make the amount of its Commitment Percentage of such Loan available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Borrower at the Administrative Agent’s office specified in Section 11.2 prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Borrowing Date requested by the Borrower in funds immediately available to the Administrative Agent. Such borrowing shall then be made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent by wire transfer to the account of the Borrower set forth on Schedule 2.2 (or such other accounts as may be notified in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent from time to time) in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent.

2.3 Swing Line Loans.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender agrees to make a portion of the credit under this Agreement available to the Borrower by making swing line loans in United States Dollars (individually, a “ Swing Line Loan ” and collectively, the “ Swing Line Loans ”) to the Borrower from time to time during the Commitment Period in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Swing Line Commitment; provided , that no such Swing Line Loan shall be made if, after giving effect thereto, (i) the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit would exceed the Total Commitment or (ii) the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit would exceed the Borrowing Base at such time; provided , further that no Swing Line Loan shall be used to refinance an outstanding Swing Line Loan.

(b) All Swing Line Loans shall be made as Base Rate Loans and shall bear interest at a floating rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans that are Revolving Loans, which shall be paid upon maturity of such Swing Line Loans or the date of any earlier payment thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Swing Line Loans shall not be entitled to be converted into LIBO Rate Loans. The proceeds of each Swing Line Loan shall be made available by the Swing Line Lender to the Borrower by wire transfer to the account of the Borrower set forth on Schedule 2.2 (or such other accounts as may be notified in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent from time to time).

(c) Swing Line Loans shall have a maturity date of not more than five (5) Business Days, provided , that no Swing Line Loan shall mature later than the Termination Date. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender the principal of and interest on each Swing Line Loan on the maturity date thereof.

 

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(d) The Borrower shall give the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent irrevocable notice of each Swing Line Loan borrowing in the form of a Notice of Borrowing, which notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time on the requested borrowing date, specifying (i) the amount of each requested Swing Line Loan and (ii) the use of proceeds thereof.

(e) Swing Line Loans shall be in an amount equal to $100,000 or an integral multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Swing Line Lender shall make the applicable Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the borrowing date requested by the Borrower in immediately available funds.

(f) If the Swing Line Lender shall not have received full repayment in cash of any Swing Line Loan on or before 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day that is five (5) Business Days after the making of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender may request on behalf of the Borrower (and the Borrower hereby irrevocably directs the Swing Line Lender to make such request on its behalf) each Lender to make a Revolving Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the outstanding amount of such Swing Line Loan (a “ Refunded Swing Line Loan ”). Unless any of the events described in Section 9.1(f) shall have occurred (in which event the procedures of Section 2.3(g) below shall apply), each Lender shall make the proceeds of its Revolving Loan available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Swing Line Lender’s Applicable Lending Office for Base Rate Loans prior to 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) in funds immediately available on the Business Day next succeeding the date such request is made. The proceeds of such Revolving Loans shall be immediately applied to repay the Swing Line Loans.

(g) If prior to the making of any Revolving Loan pursuant to Section 2.3(f) above, one of the events described in Section 9.1(f) shall have occurred, each Lender shall, on the date such Revolving Loan was to have been made, purchase an undivided participation interest in the Refunded Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to its Commitment Percentage of such Refunded Swing Line Loan. Each Lender shall promptly transfer to the Swing Line Lender at the Swing Line Lender’s account set forth in Section 2.3(f) above, in immediately available funds, the amount of its participation.

(h) Whenever, at any time after the Swing Line Lender has received from any Lender or Lenders such Lender’s or Lenders’ participation interest in a Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account thereof, the Swing Line Lender shall distribute ratably to each such Lender its participation interest in such amount (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s or Lenders’ participation interest was outstanding and funded) in like funds as received; provided , however , that in the event that such payment received by the Swing Line Lender is required to be returned, each such Lender shall return to the Swing Line Lender any portion thereof previously distributed by the Swing Line Lender to it in like funds as such payment is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender.

(i) Each Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans referred to in Section 2.3(f) above and to purchase participation interests pursuant to Section 2.3(g) above shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including, without limitation, (i) any set-off, deduction, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower, or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or Event of Default other than, in respect of making Revolving Loans referred to in Section 2.3(f) above, as described in Section 9.1(f) , (iii) any failure to satisfy any condition precedent to Extensions of Credit set forth in Section 6.2 , (iv) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, (v) any breach of this Agreement by either Borrower or any Lender, (vi) any reduction or termination of the Commitments or (vii) any other circumstance,

 

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happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if the Borrower shall make any repayment of a Swing Line Loan after 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5 th ) Business Day following the making of such Swing Line Loan and the Swing Line Lender shall have requested from the Lenders Refunded Swing Line Loans in accordance with Section 2.3(f) on account of such Swing Line Loan, such repayment shall be applied in the following order: first to any other Swing Line Loans outstanding at such time and second , to any outstanding Base Rate Loans (other than any Base Rate Loans made on the same day such repayment is made). If the amount of such repayment is greater than the outstanding amount of such Swing Line Loans and Base Rate Loans at the time such repayment is made (other than any Base Rate Loans made on the same day such repayment is made) and no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit the excess to the Borrower.

(j) The Borrower agrees that upon request of the Swing Line Lender, it shall execute and deliver a promissory note evidencing Swing Line Loans to be made to it in form and substance satisfactory to the Swing Line Lender (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Swing Line Note ”).

SECTION 3. LETTERS OF CREDIT

3.1 Letters of Credit.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Issuing Lender severally agrees to issue, amend and extend letters of credit (“ Letters of Credit ”) for the account of the Borrower from time to time during the Commitment Period, at the request of the Borrower in accordance with Section 3.3 , in an aggregate face amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Total Commitment minus the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit at such time; provided , that after giving effect to any Letter of Credit or amendment or extension thereto requested by the Borrower, (i) the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit shall not exceed the Borrowing Base at such time, (ii) the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit shall not exceed the Total Commitment at such time, (iii) the aggregate outstanding amount of LC Obligations shall not exceed the Credits Commitment at such time, (iv) no Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit shall exceed its Commitment at such time, and (v)  Section 3.2 shall not be contravened.

(b) Each Letter of Credit shall be denominated in United States Dollars and shall:

(i) be either a Standby Letter of Credit or a Documentary Letter of Credit;

(ii) state a maximum liability thereunder; and

(iii) (A) in respect of Standby Letters of Credit, expire no later than the earlier of ( x ) the date that is twenty-four (24) months after the date of issuance or ( y ) the Termination Date and (B) in respect of Documentary Letters of Credit, expire no later than the earlier of ( x ) the date that is ninety (90) days after the date of issuance or ( y ) the date that is five (5) days prior to the Termination Date; provided , that Standby Letters of Credit may be issued that expire after the Termination Date then in effect, but before the date that is ninety (90) days thereafter, if such Standby Letters of Credit are Cash Collateralized at the time of issuance in an amount equal to 105% of the face amount of each such Standby Letter of Credit.

 

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(c) The obligations of the LC Participants to purchase participations in the obligations of the Issuing Lenders under outstanding Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 3.5 shall survive the Termination Date with respect to Letters of Credit until the earlier of (i) the expiration date for such Letters of Credit and (ii) the date such Letters of Credit are drawn and such drawings are repaid.

3.2 Issuance Caps.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Issuing Lender shall be obligated to issue any Credit if, after giving effect to the issuance of such Credit, the aggregate outstanding LC Obligations attributed to Credits issued by such Issuing Lender exceeds such Issuing Lender’s Issuance Cap, provided , that subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Issuing Lender may issue Credits on a discretionary basis during such time as the aggregate outstanding LC Obligations attributed to Credits issued by such Issuing Lender exceeds such Issuing Lender’s Issuance Cap, but the Issuing Lender shall have no obligation to do so.

3.3 Procedure for Issuance of Credits.

(a) The Borrower may from time to time request that any Issuing Lender issue or amend a Credit by delivering to such Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent, if requested by such Issuing Lender and/or the Administrative Agent, an Application therefor, completed to the reasonable satisfaction of such Issuing Lender, and such other certificates, documents and other papers and information as such Issuing Lender may request, and a Credit Request. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of any Credit, such Credit Request shall be in the form attached hereto as Annex III , shall include a form of such Credit, and shall specify:

(i) the maximum liability or, if no maximum liability is stated, the method of calculating such liability, under such Credit;

(ii) the currency in which the Credit is to be issued;

(iii) the requested date on which such Credit is to be issued;

(iv) the Type of Credit being requested;

(v) the name and address of the beneficiary of such Credit;

(vi) the expiration or termination date of such Credit (if it is a Letter of Credit);

(vii) the documents to be presented by the beneficiary thereof in the case of a drawing or demand for payment thereunder; and

(viii) the delivery instructions for such Credit.

In the case of a request for an amendment or extension of any outstanding Credit, such Credit Request shall be in the form attached hereto as Annex IV and shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender thereof:

the Credit to be amended;

(ix) the requested date of the proposed amendment or extension;

 

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(x) the nature of the proposed amendment or period of extension; and

(xi) the delivery instructions or other action for such amendment or extension.

Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the applicable Issuing Lender shall issue, amend or extend such Credit on the first Business Day following the Business Day on which such Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent receive the corresponding Credit Request; provided , that with respect to any Credit Request received by the applicable Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent later than 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) on a Business Day, such Credit Request shall be deemed to have been delivered on the next succeeding Business Day and the requested date of issuance, amendment or extension, as applicable, shall be adjusted accordingly. Upon the effectiveness of any Credit or any amendment to an outstanding Credit, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to assume that the Applications and certificates, documents and other papers and information requested by the applicable Issuing Lender in connection therewith were completed and delivered to the satisfaction of the Issuing Lender.

(b) The Borrower shall not request the issuance of, and no Issuing Lender shall issue, any Credit that has automatic extension provisions.

(c) Upon receipt of a Credit Request by an Issuing Lender, such Issuing Lender shall confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone and in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Credit Request and, if not, such Issuing Lender shall provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Upon receipt by such Issuing Lender of confirmation from the Administrative Agent in writing that the requested Credit, amendment or extension is permitted in accordance with the terms hereof, such Issuing Lender shall, on the requested date, issue a Credit for the account of the Borrower or enter into the applicable amendment or effect the applicable extension, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with such Issuing Lender’s usual and customary business practices.

(d) If any Issuing Lender shall issue, extend or amend any Credit without obtaining prior consent of the Administrative Agent (as provided in clause (c)  above), such Credit (A) shall for all purposes be deemed to have been issued by such Issuing Lender solely for its own account and risk and (B) shall not be considered a Credit outstanding under this Agreement (and therefore shall not be included when calculating the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit), and no Lender shall be deemed to have any participation therein, effective as of the date of such issuance, amendment or extension, as the case may be, unless the Required Lenders expressly consent thereto; provided , however , that to be considered a Credit outstanding under this Agreement, the consent of all Lenders shall be required if any such issuance, amendment or extension is not then permitted hereunder by reason of the provisions of Section 3.1(a) or Section 3.1(b) .

(e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Issuing Lenders are under no obligation to issue or provide any Credit unless consented to by the applicable Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent if:

(i) Any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain such Issuing Lender from issuing or providing such Credit, or any Requirement of Law applicable to such Issuing Lender or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of Law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Issuing Lender shall prohibit, or request that such Issuing Lender refrain from, the issuance or provision

 

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of such type of Credit generally or such Credit in particular or shall impose upon such Issuing Lender with respect to such Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which such Issuing Lender is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon such Issuing Lender any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which such Issuing Lender in good faith deems material to it; or

(ii) such Credit is not in form and substance reasonably acceptable to such Issuing Lender or the issuance and/or provision of such Credit shall violate any applicable policies of such Issuing Lender.

(f) Within one (1) Business Day after its delivery of any Credit or any amendment to a Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the Issuing Lender thereof shall also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Credit or amendment, and within one (1) Business Day of the effectiveness of any extension of any Credit, the relevant Issuing Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent notice of the terms of such extension.

3.4 Fees, Commissions and Other Charges.

(a) Letter of Credit Fees .

(i) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the relevant Issuing Lender and the LC Participants, a letter of credit commission on each Letter of Credit ( x ) in respect of each Standby Letter of Credit, at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable LC Fee Rate on the average daily undrawn amount of such Letter of Credit during the period from the date of issuance through and including the date of drawing of the entire amount or expiration or termination thereof, payable in arrears on each LC Fee Payment Date and ( y ) in respect of each Documentary Letter of Credit, in an amount equal to the Applicable LC Fee Rate flat for each ninety (90) day period or part thereof between the date of issuance and the expiration date on the face amount of such Letter of Credit payable in advance on the date of issuance and amendment thereof, provided , that such letter of credit commissions with respect to each Letter of Credit shall not be less than $600, and, in each case, shall be payable to the LC Participants and the applicable Issuing Lender to be shared ratably among them in accordance with their respective Commitment Percentages. Such commissions shall in each such case be nonrefundable.

(ii) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the sole account of the applicable Issuing Lender a Letter of Credit fronting commission on each Letter of Credit ( x ) in respect of each Standby Letter of Credit, at a rate per annum equal to 0.25% on the average daily undrawn amount of such Letter of Credit during the period from the date of issuance through and including the date of drawing of the entire amount or expiration or termination thereof, payable in arrears on each LC Fee Payment Date and ( y ) in respect of each Documentary Letter of Credit, in an amount equal to 0.25% (flat) for each ninety (90) day period or part thereof between the date of issuance and the expiration date payable in advance on the date of issuance and amendment thereof, provided , that such letter of credit fronting commissions with respect to each Letter of Credit shall not be in an amount less than $600. Such fronting commissions shall in each such case be nonrefundable.

(iii) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Issuing Lender, a negotiation fee with respect to each drawing under each Letter of Credit requested by it equal to 0.10% (flat) multiplied by the amount of such drawing, provided , that such negotiation fee with respect to each drawing under each Letter of Credit shall not be less than $250, and, in each case, shall be payable to the applicable Issuing Lender. Such fee shall be payable on the last day of each month with respect to all drawings during such month and shall in each such case be nonrefundable.

 

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(b) Other Charges . In addition to the foregoing fees and commissions, the Borrower shall pay or reimburse each Issuing Lender for such normal and customary costs and expenses as are incurred or charged by each Issuing Lender in issuing, effecting payment under, amending or otherwise administering any Letter of Credit (including, without limitation, an amendment fee of $150 for each amendment) (for the avoidance of doubt, such customary costs and expenses shall include any customary fees, costs and expenses charged by any correspondent bank of the Issuing Lender in connection therewith).

(c) Distribution of Fees . The Administrative Agent shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, distribute to the relevant Issuing Lenders and the LC Participants all fees and commissions received by the Administrative Agent for their respective accounts pursuant to this Section 3.4 .

3.5 LC Participations.

(a) Each Issuing Lender irrevocably, absolutely and unconditionally agrees to grant and hereby grants to each LC Participant, and, to induce the Issuing Lenders to issue Letters of Credit hereunder, each LC Participant irrevocably, absolutely and unconditionally agrees to accept and purchase and hereby accepts and purchases from such Issuing Lender, on the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, for such LC Participant’s own account and risk, an undivided participation interest in such Issuing Lender’s obligations and rights under each Credit issued by such Issuing Lender hereunder and the amounts (including, without limitation, all Reducing LC Payments) paid by the Issuing Lender thereunder or in connection therewith equal to such LC Participant’s Commitment Percentage.

(b) If the Borrower fails to reimburse the applicable Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.6(a) at the time and on the due date specified in such Section (the “ Reimbursement Date ”), such Issuing Lender shall so notify the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Borrower), which notice shall be provided on a Business Day, and specify in such notice the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount. Immediately upon receipt of such notice from the applicable Issuing Lender, the Administrative Agent shall notify each LC Participant of the Reimbursement Date, the Unreimbursed Amount, and the amount of such LC Participant’s Commitment Percentage thereof, such LC Participant shall immediately pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Issuing Lender such percentage thereof, without setoff, deduction, recoupment, defense, or counterclaim of any nature whatsoever.

(c) If any amount shall be payable by any LC Participant to the applicable Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.5(b) in respect of any Unreimbursed Amount, such LC Participant shall pay on demand to such Issuing Lender from its Applicable Lending Office for the Type of Credit for which reimbursement is being sought the product of (i) such amount, times (ii) the daily average Federal Funds Effective Rate, as quoted by such Issuing Lender or such higher overnight rate then in effect in accordance with banking industry rules or standard practices in New York, New York on interbank compensation, as determined by the applicable Issuing Lender, during the period referred to in the following clause (iii) , times (iii) a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse during the period from and including the date of such Issuing Lender’s payment of the demand or drawing which gave rise to such Unreimbursed Amount to the date of such payment by such LC Participant to such Issuing Lender, and the denominator of which is 360 plus any administrative, processing or similar fees charged in accordance with banking industry standard practices in New York, New York, as determined by the applicable Issuing Lender. If any such amount required to be paid by any LC Participant pursuant to Section 3.5(b) is not in fact made available to the applicable Issuing Lender by

 

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such LC Participant within two (2) Business Days after the Administrative Agent’s notice to the LC Participants under Section 3.5(b) , the rate referred to in clause (ii)  of the preceding sentence shall immediately increase by two percent (2%). A certificate of the applicable Issuing Lender submitted to any LC Participant with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 3.5 shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

(d) Whenever, at any time after any Issuing Lender has made payment under any Credit and has received from any LC Participant its Commitment Percentage of such payment in accordance with Section 3.5(b) , such Issuing Lender receives any payment related to such Credit (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Collateral applied thereto by such Issuing Lender), or any payment of interest on account thereof for the period from and after the date on which the LC Participant made its payment under Section 3.5(b) , such Issuing Lender shall distribute to such LC Participant its Commitment Percentage thereof; provided , however , that in the event that any such payment received by such Issuing Lender shall be required to be returned by such Issuing Lender, such LC Participant shall return to such Issuing Lender the portion thereof previously distributed by such Issuing Lender to it.

(e) Each LC Participant’s obligation to acquire participations and make payments pursuant to this Section 3.5 in respect of Credits is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including, without limitation, (i) any set-off, deduction, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against any Issuing Lender, the Borrower, or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or Event of Default, (iii) any failure to satisfy any condition precedent to extensions of credit set forth in Section 6.2 , (iv) any adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, (v) any breach of this Agreement by the Borrower or any Lender, (vi) any amendment, renewal or extension of any Credit in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (vii) any reduction or termination of the Commitments or (viii) any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing.

3.6 Reimbursement Obligations of the Borrower.

(a) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Credit of any notice of a drawing or demand for payment under such Credit, the applicable Issuing Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. Such Issuing Lender shall also give the Administrative Agent prompt notice of receipt of a request for a Reducing LC Payment. If the Borrower obtains written notice from any Issuing Lender of a drawing or demand for payment under a Credit on any Business Day, the Borrower shall reimburse such Issuing Lender for the Unreimbursed Amount of such Credit no later than 3:00 p.m. New York City time on the Business Day immediately following the Business Day upon which such notice was received by the Borrower. The Borrower shall reimburse the applicable Issuing Lender no later than 3:00 p.m. New York City time on the day such Issuing Lender makes a Reducing LC Payment for the Unreimbursed Amount of such Reducing LC Payment. Each of the foregoing reimbursements shall be made directly to the applicable Issuing Lender at its Applicable Lending Office in immediately available funds in an amount equal to (i) the amount so paid by such Issuing Lender in connection with such drawing, payment or request for Reducing LC Payment and (ii) any taxes and any reasonable fees, charges or other costs or expenses incurred by such Issuing Lender (each such amount that has not been reimbursed by the Borrower being, an “ Unreimbursed Amount ”).

(b) Interest shall be payable on any and all Unreimbursed Amounts from and including the date of payment by any Issuing Lender to the applicable beneficiary until payment by the Borrower in full at the rate set forth in Section 4.3(c) .

 

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3.7 Obligations Absolute.

(a) The Borrower’s obligations under this SECTION 3 shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and irrespective of any set-off, recoupment, counterclaim, or defense to payment which the Borrower may have or have had against any Issuing Lender, the Administrative Agent, any beneficiary of a Credit, or any other Person.

(b) The Borrower also agrees with the Lenders that neither any applicable Issuing Lender nor its Nominated Persons shall be responsible for, and the Borrower’s Reimbursement Obligations under Section 3.6 shall not be affected or reduced by, among other things,

(i) acts or omissions of any other Person, including, without limitation, any beneficiary or transferee of any Credit;

(ii) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any Credit or rights or benefits thereof or proceeds thereunder in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason;

(iii) the form, accuracy, falsification, legal effect, validity, sufficiency, or genuineness of documents or drafts, even if such documents or drafts should in fact prove to be in any or all respects in improper form, inaccurate, false, invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged;

(iv) failure of any draft to bear any reference or adequate reference to any Credit, or failure of documents to accompany any draft, or failure of any Person to note the amount of any draft on the reverse of any Credit or to surrender or take up any Credit or to send forward documents apart from drafts as required by the terms of any Credit; each of which provisions, if contained in any Credit itself, it is agreed may be waived by the applicable Issuing Lender;

(v) compliance with any laws, customs and regulations which may be effective in countries of issuance, presentation under, negotiation and/or payment of any Credit or any ruling of any court or governmental authority or agency, or any control or restriction rightfully or wrongfully exercised by any government or group asserting or exercising governmental or paramount powers;

(vi) the acceptance by the applicable Issuing Lender as complying with the applicable Credit of any draft or document drawn, issued or presented under such Credit which is issued or purportedly issued by an agent, executor, trustee in bankruptcy, receiver or other representative of the party identified in such Credit as the party permitted to draw, issue or present such draft or document;

(vii) any error, neglect, insolvency or failure of business or default of any of the applicable Issuing Lender’s Nominated Persons;

(viii) any delay, omission, interruption, loss in transit, or mutilation or other errors arising in (A) transmission, dispatch or delivery of any document or draft or proceeds thereof or (B) transmission, dispatch or delivery of any messages by mail, cable, telegraph, wireless or otherwise, whether or not they be in code;

(ix) the description, weight, existence, character, quality, quantity, condition, packing, value or delivery of the property, services or performance purporting to be represented by documents or errors in translation or errors in interpretation of technical terms;

 

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(x) any difference in character, quality, quantity, condition or value of the property from that expressed in documents;

(xi) the time, place, manner or order in which shipment is made;

(xii) any partial or incomplete shipment or failure or omission to ship any or all of the property referred to in any Credit;

(xiii) the character, adequacy, validity or genuineness of any insurance;

(xiv) the solvency or responsibility of any insurer, or the acts or omissions, performance or standing of any insurer, or any other risk connected with insurance;

(xv) any deviation from instructions, delay, default or fraud by the shipper or anyone else in connection with the property or the shipping thereof;

(xvi) the solvency, responsibility, performance or standing of, or the acts or omissions of, any consignor, carrier, forwarder or consignee of any goods or any other Person;

(xvii) any delay in arrival or failure to arrive of either the property or any of the documents relating thereto;

(xviii) any delay in giving or failure to give notice of arrival or any other notice;

(xix) any claim, breach of contract or dispute between the beneficiary, shippers or vendors and the Borrower;

(xx) any waiver of any requirement in a Credit that exists for the applicable Issuing Lender’s protection and not the protection of the Borrower or any waiver which does not in fact materially prejudice the Borrower;

(xxi) any payment made in respect of a draft or document presented after the date specified as the expiration date of, or the date by which documents must be received under, such Credit if payment after such date is authorized by the ISP, the Uniform Commercial Code or the UCP, as applicable;

(xxii) without limiting the foregoing, any consequences arising (A) from the interruption of the applicable Issuing Lender’s business, Acts of God, riots, civil commotions, insurrections, war, acts of terrorism, strikes, lockouts, or other causes beyond the applicable Issuing Lender’s control, (B) from any act or omission by the applicable Issuing Lender or any of its Nominated Persons, Affiliates or agents or any bank whose services are utilized for the purpose of giving effect to the Borrower’s instructions, in each case if not done or omitted with the applicable Issuing Lender’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, or (C) from the failure of another bank to carry out instructions transmitted by the applicable Issuing Lender, whether such other bank was selected by the Borrower, the applicable Issuing Lender or any other Person; or

(xxiii) any payment by the applicable Issuing Lender against presentation of any document or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Credit, or any payment made by the applicable Issuing Lender under any Credit to any Person purporting to be a

 

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trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of any Credit, including arising in connection with any proceeding of the type described in Section 9.1(f) with respect to the beneficiary; and none of the above shall affect, impair or prevent the vesting of any of the applicable Issuing Lender’s rights or powers hereunder. If any Credit provides that payments are to be made by the applicable Issuing Lender’s Nominated Person, neither the applicable Issuing Lender nor such Nominated Person shall be responsible for the failure of any of the documents specified in such Credit to come into the applicable Issuing Lender’s possession or for any delay in connection therewith, and the Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement shall not be affected by such failure or delay in the receipt by the applicable Issuing Lender of any such documents.

(c) In addition to the exculpatory provisions contained in the UCP, the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York (as in effect from time to time) and/or the ISP, as applicable, the applicable Issuing Lender and such Issuing Lender’s Nominated Persons shall not be responsible for, and the Borrower’s obligation to reimburse such Issuing Lender shall not be affected or reduced by, any action or inaction required or permitted under, in respect of Letters of Credit, the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York (as in effect from time to time), the UCP or the ISP, in each case as applicable.

(d) In furtherance and extension and not in limitation of the provisions set forth in this Section 3.7 , the Borrower agrees that:

(i) any action taken by the Issuing Lenders or by any Nominated Person or any inaction or omission by the Issuing Lenders or them under or in connection with any Credit or the relative drafts or documents, if not taken or omitted with gross negligence or willful misconduct, shall be binding on the Borrower and shall not put the applicable Issuing Lender or such Issuing Lender’s Nominated Person under any resulting liability to the Borrower; and

(ii) the applicable Issuing Lender shall not be excused from liability to the Borrower to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct damages (as opposed to special, indirect, punitive, consequential or exemplary, damages or claims, which are hereby waived by the Borrower), suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proved were caused by such Issuing Lender’s gross negligence or willful misconduct when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Credit comply with the terms thereof, provided , that (i) the applicable Issuing Lender may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order and substantially comply with the terms of the Credit, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary and without any responsibility to make any inquiry as to the validity or accuracy thereof or any other inquiry, and may make payment upon presentation of documents that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of such Credit, (ii) the applicable Issuing Lender shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to decline to accept documents and to make such payment if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Credit and (iii) this sentence shall establish the standard of care to be exercised by the applicable Issuing Lender when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Credit comply with the terms thereof (and the Borrower hereby waives, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any standard of care inconsistent with the foregoing).

3.8 Role of the Issuing Lenders.

The Issuing Lenders shall not be liable to any Lender for: (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith in respect of any Credit at the request or with the approval or deemed approval of the Required Lenders; (ii) any action taken or omitted in respect of any Credit in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any Credit or any document delivered in connection with the issuance or payment of such Credit; or (iv) any matter set forth in Section 3.7 .

 

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3.9 Successor Issuing Lenders.

(a) Any Issuing Lender may resign as an Issuing Lender upon sixty (60) days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower, provided , that any such resignation shall be subject to the condition that after giving effect thereto and the appointment of any successor pursuant to this Section 3.9 , the aggregate Issuance Caps shall not be less than the Total Commitment. If any Issuing Lender shall resign, then the Borrower may appoint from among the Lenders a successor issuer of Credits, whereupon, if such Lender shall accept such appointment (in its sole discretion), such successor issuer shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the resigning Issuing Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and the term “Issuing Lender” shall include such successor issuer of Credits effective upon such appointment. At the time such resignation shall become effective the Borrower shall pay to the resigning Issuing Lender all accrued and unpaid fees payable by it pursuant to Section 3.4 . The acceptance of any appointment as an Issuing Lender hereunder in accordance with this Agreement, shall be evidenced by an agreement entered into by such successor issuer of Credits, in a form satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and, from and after the effective date of such agreement, such successor issuer of Credits shall become an “Issuing Lender” hereunder. After the resignation of any Issuing Lender hereunder, the resigning Issuing Lender shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of an Issuing Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with respect to Credits issued by it prior to such resignation, but shall not be required to issue additional Credits. In connection with any resignation pursuant to this Section 3.9 (but only to the extent that a successor issuer of Credits shall have been appointed), either (i) the Borrower, the resigning Issuing Lender and the successor issuer of Credits shall arrange to have any outstanding Credits issued or provided by the resigning Issuing Lender replaced with Credits issued or provided by the successor issuer of Credits or (ii) the Borrower shall cause the successor issuer of Credits, if such successor issuer is satisfactory to the resigning Issuing Lender (in its sole discretion), to issue “back-stop” Letters of Credit naming the resigning Issuing Lender as beneficiary for each outstanding Credit issued by the resigning Issuing Lender, which new Letters of Credit shall have a face amount equal to the Credits being back-stopped and the sole requirement for drawing on such new Credits shall be a drawing on the corresponding back-stopped Credits. After any resigning Issuing Lender’s resignation as an Issuing Lender, the provisions of this Agreement relating to such Issuing Lender shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it (A) while it was an Issuing Lender under this Agreement or (B) at any time with respect to Credits issued by it.

(b) To the extent that there are, at the time of any resignation as set forth in Section 3.9(a) above, any outstanding Credits, nothing herein shall be deemed to impact or impair any rights and obligations of any of the parties hereto with respect to such outstanding Credits (including, without limitation, any obligations related to the payment of fees or the reimbursement or funding of amounts drawn), except that the Borrower, the resigning Issuing Lender and the successor issuer of Credits shall have the additional obligations regarding outstanding Credits described in Section 3.9(a) above.

3.10 Application.

To the extent that any provision of any Application related to any Credit is inconsistent with the provisions of this SECTION 3 , the provisions of this SECTION 3 shall apply.

 

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3.11 UCP; ISP.

Each Letter of Credit (other than each Standby Letter of Credit), except as otherwise herein or therein expressly stated, is subject to the UCP and to the extent not inconsistent therewith, shall also be subject to the Laws of the State of New York, as in effect from time to time. Each Standby Letter of Credit, except as otherwise herein or therein expressly stated, is subject to ISP, and to the extent not inconsistent therewith, shall also be subject to the Laws of the State of New York, as in effect from time to time.

SECTION 4. GENERAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO LOANS AND CREDITS

4.1 Increase, Reduction and Termination of Commitments.

(a) Reduction or Termination of Commitments . The Borrower shall have the right, upon not less than five Business Days’ notice to the Administrative Agent, to terminate the Commitments or, from time to time, to reduce the amount of the Commitments; provided , that no such termination or reduction shall be permitted if, after giving effect thereto and to any prepayments of the Loans made on the effective date thereof, the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit would exceed the Total Commitment then in effect. Any such reduction shall be in an amount equal to $1,000,000 or an integral multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof and shall reduce permanently the Commitments then in effect.

(b) Increases in Commitments . The Commitments may be increased, with the consent of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Swing Line Lender, the Issuing Lenders, the Increasing Lenders, and the Borrower, at any time and from time to time, prior to the Termination Date in an aggregate principal amount of up to $55,000,000 as follows:

(i) Not more than thirty (30) and not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the proposed effective date of such increase in Commitments, the Borrower may make a written request for such increase to the Administrative Agent, who shall forward a copy of any such request to each of the Lenders. Each request by the Borrower pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall specify a proposed effective date of such increase (the “ Requested Increase Effective Date ”), the aggregate amount of such requested increase in Commitments, which shall not be less than $10,000,000 (the “ Increase Amount ”), and shall constitute an invitation to each Lender to increase its Commitment by a ratable portion of such Increase Amount.

(ii) Each Lender, acting it its sole discretion and with no obligation to increase its Commitment pursuant to this Section 4.1(b) , shall by written notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent advise the Borrower and the Administrative Agent whether or not such Lender agrees to all or any portion of such increase in Commitment. Any such Lender may, in its sole discretion, accept all of such ratable increase, a portion of such increase, or decline to accept any of such increase in Commitment. Promptly following the receipt of such acceptances or declinations, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of the results of such request to the Lenders to so increase the Commitments by the Increase Amount.

(iii) If the aggregate amount of the increases in Commitment which the Lenders have accepted in accordance with clause(ii) of this Section 4.1(b) shall be less than the Increase Amount, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (subject to the approval of the Agents, the Swing Line Lender and the Issuing Lenders) may offer to such additional Persons as may be agreed by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (“ New Lenders ”) the opportunity to make available such amount of new Commitments as may be required so that the aggregate increases in Commitments by the

 

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existing Lenders and new Commitments by the New Lenders shall equal the Increase Amount. The effectiveness of all such increases in Commitments are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions: (A) each Lender that so elects to increase its Commitments (each an “ Increasing Lender ”), each New Lender, the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender, the Swing Line Lender and the Borrower shall have executed and delivered an agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit E (an “ Increase and New Lender Agreement ”); (B) any fees and other amounts (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 11.5 ) payable by the Borrower in connection with such increase shall have been paid; (C) any other amounts then due hereunder shall have been paid and (D) delivery of a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as to the matters set forth in Section 6.2(b) , Section 6.2(c) , and Section 6.2(d) .

(iv) Upon the Requested Increase Effective Date, Schedule 1.0 of the Increase and New Lender Agreement, which shall reflect the Commitments and Commitment Percentages of the Lenders at such time, shall be deemed to supersede Schedule 1.0B hereto without any further action or consent of any party (other than in respect of the Swing Line Commitment). The Administrative Agent shall cause a copy of such revised Schedule 1.0B to be available to the Issuing Lenders and the Lenders.

4.2 Commitment Fee.

The Borrower agrees to pay the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a commitment fee for the period from and including the first day of the Commitment Period to but not including the Termination Date, computed at the Applicable Commitment Fee Rate on the average daily amount equal to the Commitment of such Lender minus such Lender’s Commitment Percentage of the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit (excluding the aggregate principal amount of Swing Line Loans) during the period for which payment is made, payable monthly in arrears on the last Business Day of each month (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) and the Termination Date, commencing on the first of such dates to occur after the date hereof.

4.3 Interest Rates and Payment Dates.

(a) Each LIBO Rate Loan shall bear interest for each day during each Interest Period with respect thereto at a rate per annum equal to the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Margin.

(b) Each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

(c) If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then during the continuance of such Event of Default (i) the principal amount of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and (ii) any other amounts payable hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents not paid when due shall bear interest (after as well as before judgment) at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans that are Revolving Loans plus two percent (2%).

(d) Interest on each Revolving Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date. Interest under Section 3.5(c) and Section 4.3(c) shall also be payable upon demand.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “ Maximum Rate ”). If any Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess

 

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interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by an Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (i) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (ii) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (iii) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations.

4.4 Conversion and Continuation Options.

(a) The Borrower may elect from time to time to Convert LIBO Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans by giving the Administrative Agent an irrevocable Notice of Continuation/Conversion prior to 2:00 p.m., New York City time, at its New York office, one (1) Business Day before the date of such Conversion, such notice specifying the amount and the date such Conversion is to be made, provided , that any such Conversion of LIBO Rate Loans may only be made on the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto. The Borrower may elect from time to time to Convert Base Rate Loans (which are Revolving Loans) to LIBO Rate Loans by giving the Administrative Agent an irrevocable Notice of Continuation/Conversion prior to 2:00 p.m., New York City time, at its New York office, three (3) Business Days before the date of such Conversion. Any such notice of Conversion to LIBO Rate Loans shall specify the amount to be Converted, the date of such Conversion and the length of the initial Interest Period or Interest Periods therefor. Upon receipt of any such notice the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof. All or any part of outstanding LIBO Rate Loans and Base Rate Loans may be Converted as provided herein, provided , that no Base Rate Loan may be Converted into a LIBO Rate Loan after the date that is two weeks prior to the Termination Date.

(b) Any LIBO Rate Loans may be Continued as such upon the expiration of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto by the Borrower giving the Administrative Agent an irrevocable Notice of Continuation/Conversion prior to 2:00 p.m., New York City time, at its New York office, three (3) Business Days before the date that such LIBO Rate Loans are to be Continued, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the term “Interest Period” set forth in Section 1.1 , specifying the length of the next Interest Period to be applicable to such Loans. Upon receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender thereof. If the Borrower fails to give timely notice requesting a Continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or Converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any automatic Conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable LIBO Rate Loans.

(c) During the existence of an Event of Default, no Loans may be requested as, Converted to or Continued as LIBO Rate Loans.

4.5 Minimum Amounts of Tranches; Maximum Number of Tranches.

(a) All borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans hereunder and all selections of Interest Periods hereunder shall be in such amounts and be made pursuant to such elections so that, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of the Loans comprising each Tranche shall be equal to the minimum amounts required under Section 2.2 .

(b) No more than ten (10) Tranches of LIBO Rate Loans shall be outstanding at any one time.

 

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4.6 Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

(a) The Borrower unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Loan, Reimbursement Obligation and other Obligations under the Loan Documents of the Borrower owing to such Lender on the Termination Date (or such earlier date on which the Loans mature or Reimbursement Obligations (or other Obligations) are payable in accordance with this Agreement). The Borrower hereby further agrees to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Loans and Reimbursement Obligations from time to time outstanding from the date hereof until payment in full thereof at the rates per annum, and on the dates, set forth in Section 4.3 .

(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan of such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time under this Agreement.

(c) The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Borrower, shall maintain the Register pursuant to Section 11.6(d) , and a subaccount therein for each Lender, in which shall be recorded (i) the Commitment of such Lender, (ii) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, any Note evidencing such Loan, the maturity date thereof and the Interest Period, if any, applicable thereto, each Credit, the expiration date of each Credit (which is a Letter of Credit), and the Type of such Loan or Credit, (iii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iv) both the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower and each Lender’s share thereof.

(d) Pursuant to and subject to Section 11.6(d) , the entries made in the Register and the accounts of each Lender maintained pursuant to Section 4.6(b) shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations of the Borrower therein recorded; provided , however , that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain the Register or any such account, or any error therein, shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay (with applicable interest) the Loans and other Extensions of Credit made by such Lender in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. In accordance with Section 11.6(d) , absent manifest error, in the event of any discrepancy between the Register and the records of any Lender as to the existence and amounts of the Obligations, the Register shall control.

(e) The Borrower agrees that, upon the request to the Administrative Agent by any Lender, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note evidencing the Loans of such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit G , with appropriate insertions as to date and principal amount (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, a “ Note ”).

4.7 Optional Prepayments.

The Borrower may at any time and from time to time prepay the Loans made to it, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty, upon irrevocable notice delivered to the Administrative Agent at least three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed prepayment date in the case of LIBO Rate Loans and at least one (1) Business Day prior to the proposed prepayment date in the case of Base Rate Loans, which notice shall specify ( x ) the date and amount of prepayment, ( y ) which Loans shall be prepaid and ( z ) whether the prepayment is of LIBO Rate Loans, Base Rate Loans, or a combination thereof, and, if of a combination thereof, the amount allocable to each; provided , that if a LIBO Rate Loan is prepaid on any day other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, the Borrower shall also pay any amounts owing pursuant to Section 4.15 . Upon receipt of any such notice the Administrative

 

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Agent shall promptly notify each Lender (or in the case of prepayment of a Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender) thereof. If any such notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein, together with any amounts payable pursuant to Section 4.15 . Partial prepayments pursuant to this Section shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000 or an integral multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof.

4.8 Mandatory Prepayments.

(a) Subject to Section 4.15 , if at any time, the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit exceed the lesser of the Borrowing Base and the Total Commitment at such time then the Borrower shall, within two (2) Business Days after the occurrence thereof, prepay the Loans and/or Cash Collateralize Credits in an amount so that after giving effect to any such action, the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit do not exceed the lesser of the Borrowing Base and the Total Commitment at such time.

(b) Each prepayment of Loans under Section 4.8(a) shall be applied first to Swing Line Loans and second to Revolving Loans.

4.9 Computation of Interest and Fees.

(a) Interest on LIBO Rate Loans and all fees shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual number of days elapsed. Interest on Base Rate Loans shall be calculated on the basis of a 365/366-day year, as the case may be, for the actual number of days elapsed. The Administrative Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the Borrower and the Lenders of each determination of the LIBO Rate for any LIBO Rate Loans outstanding. Any change in the interest rate on a Loan resulting from a change in the Base Rate shall become effective as of the opening of business on the day on which such change becomes effective. The Administrative Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the effective date and the amount of each such change in interest rate.

(b) Each determination of an interest rate by the Administrative Agent pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower and the Lenders in the absence of manifest error. The Administrative Agent shall, at the request of the Borrower, deliver to the Borrower a statement showing the quotations used by the Administrative Agent in determining any interest rate pursuant to Section 4.3 .

4.10 Inability to Determine Interest Rate.

(a) If prior to the first day of any Interest Period:

(i) the Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive and binding upon the Borrower) that, by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the relevant LIBO Rate for such Interest Period, or

(ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Required Lenders that the relevant LIBO Rate determined or to be determined for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (as conclusively certified by such Lenders) of making or maintaining their affected Loans during such Interest Period, then the Administrative Agent shall give e-mail or telephonic notice thereof to the Borrower and the relevant Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter.

 

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(b) If such notice is given pursuant to Section 4.10(a)(i) or Section 4.10 (a)(ii) with respect to any Loans, ( x ) any such LIBO Rate Loan requested to be made on the first day of such Interest Period shall be made as a Base Rate Loan, ( y ) any Base Rate Loans that were to have been Converted on the first day of such Interest Period to LIBO Rate Loans shall continue as Base Rate Loans and ( z ) any outstanding LIBO Rate Loans shall be Converted to Base Rate Loans on the last day of the applicable Interest Period. Until such notice has been withdrawn by the Administrative Agent, no further LIBO Rate Loans shall be made or Continued as such, nor shall the Borrower have the right to Convert Base Rate Loans to LIBO Rate Loans.

(c) The Administrative Agent shall withdraw (i) any such notice pursuant to Section 4.10(a)(i) if the Administrative Agent determines that the relevant circumstances have ceased to exist and (ii) any such notice pursuant to Section 4.10(a)(ii) upon receipt of notice from the Required Lenders that the relevant circumstances described in Section 4.10(a) have ceased to exist.

4.11 Pro Rata Treatment and Payments.

(a) Each borrowing of Revolving Loans hereunder, each participation in Swing Line Loans, each participation in Credits, each reduction of the Total Commitment and each payment of the fees under Section 3.4(a) and Section 4.2 shall be made pro rata according to the respective Commitment Percentages of the Lenders. Each payment (including each prepayment) by the Borrower on account of principal of and interest on the Revolving Loans and Reimbursement Obligations shall be made pro rata according to the respective outstanding principal amounts of the Revolving Loans and Reimbursement Obligations (or participations therein) then held by the Lenders, but principal payments shall be applied first to Reimbursement Obligations, second to Base Rate Loans, and third to LIBO Rate Loans.

(b) All payments (including prepayments) to be made by the Borrower hereunder, whether on account of principal, interest, fees or otherwise, shall be made without set-off or counterclaim and shall be made prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the due date thereof to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Lenders, at the Administrative Agent’s office specified in Section 11.2 , in United States Dollars in immediately available funds. The Administrative Agent shall distribute such payments to the Lenders promptly upon receipt in like funds as received, and notify the Lenders of such distribution promptly thereafter. If any payment hereunder (other than payments on LIBO Rate Loans) becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, with respect to payments of principal, interest thereon shall be payable at the then applicable rate during such extension. If any payment on a LIBO Rate Loan becomes due and payable on a day other than a Business Day, the maturity thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to extend such payment into another calendar month in which event such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day. In the case of any extension of any payment of principal pursuant to the preceding sentence, interest thereon shall be payable at the then applicable rate during such extension.

(c) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have been notified in writing by any Lender prior to a borrowing that such Lender will not make the amount that would constitute its Commitment Percentage of such borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender is making such amount available to the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. If such amount is not made available to the Administrative Agent by the required time on the Borrowing Date therefor, such Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent, on demand, such amount with interest thereon at a rate equal to the daily average Federal Funds Effective Rate or such higher overnight rate then in effect in accordance with banking industry rules or standard practices in

 

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New York, New York on interbank compensation, as determined by the Administrative Agent for the period until such Lender makes such amount immediately available to the Administrative Agent plus any administrative, processing or similar fees charged in accordance with banking industry standard practices in New York, New York, as determined by the Administrative Agent. A certificate of the Administrative Agent submitted to any Lender with respect to any amounts owing under this Section 4.11 shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. If such Lender’s Commitment Percentage of such borrowing is not made available to the Administrative Agent by such Lender within three (3) Business Days of such Borrowing Date, the Administrative Agent shall also be entitled to recover such amount for its own account with interest thereon at the rate per annum applicable to Base Rate Loans, on demand, from the Borrower. The failure by any Lender to make a payment required under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, whether on account of any Loan, Credit or otherwise, shall not affect the obligations of any other Lender under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or be released from its obligations hereunder or thereunder as a result thereof.

4.12 Illegality.

Notwithstanding any other provision herein, if the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or application thereof shall make it unlawful for any Lender to make or maintain LIBO Rate Loans or to issue or provide Credits as contemplated by this Agreement, (a) the agreement of such Lender hereunder to make or maintain LIBO Rate Loans, or issue or provide Credits, Continue LIBO Rate Loans as such and, Convert Base Rate Loans to LIBO Rate Loans, as applicable, shall forthwith be cancelled and (b) such Lender’s Loans then outstanding as LIBO Rate Loans, if any, shall be Converted automatically to Base Rate Loans on the respective last days of the then current Interest Periods with respect to such Loans or within such earlier period as required by Law.

4.13 Requirements of Law.

(a) If the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law or in the interpretation or application thereof or compliance by any Lender with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or other Governmental Authority made subsequent to the date hereof:

(i) does or shall subject any Lender to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Note, any LIBO Rate Loan made by it, any Credit issued, provided or participated in by it or any participation by it in any Swing Line Loan, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender in respect thereof (except for Non-Excluded Taxes covered by Section 4.14(a) and changes in the rate of tax on the overall net income of such Lender);

(ii) does or shall impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan or similar requirement against assets held by, deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, advances, loans or other extensions of credit by, or any other acquisition of funds by, any office of such Lender which is not otherwise included in the determination of the LIBO Rate; or

(iii) does or shall impose on such Lender any other condition; and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender, by an amount which such Lender deems to be material, of making, Converting into, Continuing or maintaining LIBO Rate Loans or issuing, providing and maintaining Credits or holding an interest in the applicable Issuing Lender’s obligations thereunder or of holding a participation interest in Swing Line Loans, or to reduce any amount receivable hereunder in respect thereof, then, in any such case, the Borrower shall promptly, after receiving notice and the applicable certificate as specified in Section 4.13(c) , pay such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduced amount receivable.

 

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(b) If any Lender shall have determined that the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law regarding capital adequacy or in the interpretation or application thereof or compliance by such Lender or any Person controlling such Lender with any Requirement of Law regarding capital adequacy or with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority made subsequent to the date hereof shall have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such Person’s capital as a consequence of this Agreement, its obligations hereunder or under Credits to a level below that which such Lender or such Person would have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such Person’s policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Lender to be material, then from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly after receiving notice and the applicable certificate as specified in Section 4.13(c) , pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction. In determining such amount or amounts, any Lender may use any method of averaging and attribution as it shall deem applicable.

(c) If any Lender becomes entitled to claim any additional amounts pursuant to this Section 4.13 , it shall promptly notify the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of the event by reason of which it has become so entitled. A certificate with supporting calculations as to any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 4.13 submitted by such Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. The agreements in this Section 4.13 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans, Reimbursement Obligations and all other amounts payable hereunder.

(d) The Administrative Agent and each Lender or Transferee hereby agrees that, upon the occurrence of any circumstances entitling the Administrative Agent or such Lender or Transferee to additional amounts pursuant to this Section 4.13 , the Administrative Agent or such Lender or Transferee shall use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions), at the sole expense of the Borrower, to designate a different Applicable Lending Office if the making of such a change would avoid the need for, or materially reduce the amount of, any such additional amounts that may thereafter accrue and would not, in the sole judgment of the Administrative Agent or such Lender or Transferee, be otherwise disadvantageous to the Administrative Agent or such Lender or Transferee in any respect.

(e) For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 4.13 shall apply to all requests, rules, guidelines or directives concerning capital adequacy issued subsequent to the date of this Agreement in connection with the Dodd—Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives concerning capital adequacy promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Regulations and Supervisory Practices (or any successor or similar authority), or the United States financial regulatory authorities, adopted, issued, promulgated or implemented subsequent to the date of this Agreement

4.14 Taxes.

(a) Any and all payments by or on behalf of the Borrower under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Documents shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities (including penalties, interest and additions to tax) with respect thereto, whether now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by any taxation authority or

 

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other Governmental Authority (collectively, “ Taxes ”) or Other Taxes, unless otherwise required by any Requirement of Law, excluding (i) Taxes imposed on the overall net income of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or Transferee) and franchise taxes in lieu thereof in each case imposed by the jurisdiction under the Laws of which it is organized or of its Applicable Lending Office (other than as a result of entering into this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, performing any obligations hereunder or thereunder, receiving any payments hereunder or thereunder or enforcing any rights hereunder or thereunder) and (ii) any Taxes that are attributable solely to the failure of any Lender to comply with Section 4.14(f) , which failure shall be continuing for five (5) Business Days after notice from the Borrower to such Lender (all such nonexcluded Taxes and Other Taxes, collectively or individually, “ Non-Excluded Taxes ”). If the Borrower shall be required to deduct any Non-Excluded Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to any Lender or the Administrative Agent, (i) the sum payable shall be increased by the amount (an “ Additional Amount ”) necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to Additional Amounts payable under this Section 4.14 ) such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) shall receive an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (iii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iv) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Government Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(b) In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay in accordance with applicable law any current or future stamp, intangibles, recording, documentary, excise or property or similar taxes, charges or levies (including, without limitation, mortgage recording taxes and similar fees) imposed by any Governmental Authority that arise from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Documents, or from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Documents (“ Other Taxes ”).

(c) The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify each Lender, the Administrative Agent and each Transferee for, and to hold each of them harmless against, the full amount of Non-Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes in respect of this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any Loan or any Credit and all payments received by it in respect of the foregoing, and the full amount of Taxes of any kind imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 4.14 , imposed on or paid by such Lender, the Administrative Agent or such Transferee, and any liability (including penalties, additions to tax, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto. The indemnity by the Borrower provided for in this Section 4.14(c) shall apply and be made whether or not the Non-Excluded Taxes or Other Taxes for which indemnification hereunder is sought have been correctly or legally asserted. Amounts payable by the Borrower under the indemnity set forth in this Section 4.14(c) shall be paid within ten (10) days from the date on which the applicable Lender, the Administrative Agent, or the applicable Transferee, as the case may be, makes written demand therefor. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability prepared by a Lender, or the Administrative Agent on its behalf and setting forth in reasonable detail the manner in which such amount shall have been determined, absent manifest error, shall be final, conclusive, and binding for all purposes.

(d) Each Lender, the Administrative Agent and each Transferee shall take all reasonable actions (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) requested by the Borrower to assist the Borrower, at the sole expense of the Borrower, to recover from the relevant taxation authority or other Governmental Authority any Taxes in respect of which amounts were paid by the Borrower pursuant to Section 4.14(a) , Section 4.14(b) , Section 4.14(c) with respect to amounts paid or payable to such Lender, the Administrative Agent or such Transferee. However, neither any Lender, the Administrative Agent nor any Transferee shall be required to take any action that would be, in the sole judgment of such Lender, the Administrative Agent or such Transferee, legally inadvisable, or commercially or otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender, the Administrative Agent or such Transferee in any respect.

 

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(e) Within thirty (30) days after the date of any payment of Taxes, the Borrower (or any Person making such payment on behalf of the Borrower) shall furnish to the applicable Lender or Transferee and the Administrative Agent a certified copy of the original official receipt evidencing payment thereof.

(f) Each Lender that is not a “United States person”, as defined under Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (a “ Non-U.S. Lender ”), shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent two duly completed copies of either (i) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility of the Non-U.S. Lender for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party or (ii) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI, or in either case an applicable successor form. Each Lender (or Transferee) that is a United States person as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent two copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, or any subsequent or substitute versions thereof or successors thereto, certifying that such Lender (or Transferee) is entitled to a complete exemption from U.S. Federal backup withholding tax on payments made pursuant to this Agreement. Such forms shall be delivered by each Lender on or before the date it becomes a party to this Agreement (or, in the case of a participant, on or before the date such participant becomes a participant hereunder) and on or before the date, if any, such Lender changes its Applicable Lending Office unless each of the Applicable Lending Office prior to such designation and the new Applicable Lending Office are located within the United States. In addition, each Lender shall deliver such forms promptly upon the obsolescence or invalidity of any form previously delivered by such Lender. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 4.14(f) , a Lender shall not be required to deliver any form pursuant to this Section 4.14(f) that such Lender is not legally able to deliver.

(g) The Borrower shall not be obligated to pay any additional amounts to any Lender pursuant to Section 4.14(a) , or to indemnify any Lender pursuant to Section 4.14(c) , in respect of United States federal withholding taxes to the extent imposed as a result of (i) the failure of such Lender to deliver to the Borrower the form or forms, as applicable to such Lender, pursuant to Section 4.14(c) , (ii) such form or forms not establishing a complete exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax or the information or certifications made therein by the Lender being untrue or inaccurate on the date delivered in any material respect, or (iii) the Lender designating a successor Applicable Lending Office which has the effect of causing the Borrower to become obligated to make payments under this Section 4.14 in excess of those in effect immediately prior to such designation; provided , however , that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be obligated to pay additional amounts to any such Lender pursuant to Section 4.14(a) , and to indemnify any such Lender pursuant to Section 4.14(c) , if (i) any such failure to deliver a form or forms or the failure of such form or forms to establish a complete exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax or such inaccuracy or untruth contained therein resulted from (A) a change in any applicable Law or any interpretation of any Law occurring after the Closing Date, which change rendered such Lender no longer legally entitled to deliver such form or forms or otherwise ineligible for a complete exemption from U.S. federal withholding tax, or rendered the information or certifications made in such form or forms untrue or inaccurate in a material respect or (B) such Lender’s reasonable determination that it is otherwise legally inadvisable or commercially disadvantageous to so comply or (ii) the redesignation of the Lender’s Applicable Lending Office was made at the request of the Borrower.

(h) The Administrative Agent and each Lender or Transferee hereby agrees that, upon the occurrence of any circumstances entitling the Administrative Agent or such Lender or Transferee to additional amounts pursuant to this Section 4.14 , the Administrative Agent or such Lender or Transferee shall use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions), at the sole expense of the Borrower, to designate a different Applicable Lending Office if the making of such a change would avoid the need for, or materially reduce the amount of, any such additional amounts that may thereafter accrue and would not, in the sole judgment of the Administrative Agent or such Lender or Transferee, be otherwise disadvantageous to the Administrative Agent or such Lender or Transferee in any respect.

 

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(i) The agreements in this Section 4.14 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the Commitments and the payment of the Loans, Reimbursement Obligations and all other amounts payable hereunder.

(j) Nothing contained in this Section 4.14 shall require any Lender (or any Transferee) or the Administrative Agent to make available any of its tax returns or any other information that it deems to be confidential or proprietary.

4.15 Indemnity.

The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lender and to hold each Lender harmless from any actual loss or expense (including, without limitation, any loss or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender) which such Lender may sustain or incur resulting from (a) any failure by the Borrower in making a borrowing of, Conversion into or Continuation of LIBO Rate Loans after the Borrower has given a notice requesting the same in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, (b) any failure by the Borrower in making any prepayment after the Borrower has given a notice thereof in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, or (c) the making of a payment or prepayment of LIBO Rate Loans (whether optional or mandatory, whether from proceeds of Collateral or otherwise) on a day which is not the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto. A certificate as to any amounts payable pursuant to this Section 4.15 submitted to the Borrower by any Lender shall be presumptively correct in the absence of manifest error. This covenant shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans, Reimbursement Obligations and all other amounts payable hereunder.

4.16 Lending Offices.

Loans of each Type made by any Lender shall be made and maintained at such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office for Loans of such Type.

4.17 Defaulting Lenders.

(a) Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then the Swing Line Lender may, in its sole discretion, require such Defaulting Lender to deposit cash collateral with the Collateral Agent or, in the event such Defaulting Lender fails to do so, require the Borrower to deposit Cash Collateral with the Collateral Agent in an aggregate amount equal to such Defaulting Lender’s participations in any requested or outstanding Swing Line Loans, and each Defaulting Lender and the Borrower hereby grants a first priority security interest in such Cash Collateral or cash collateral, as applicable, in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the sole benefit of the Swing Line Lender. In the event that such Defaulting Lender fails to deposit cash collateral as required hereby and the Borrower is required to do so, the Borrower may, at any time thereafter, upon five (5) Business Days prior written notice to such Defaulting Lender, require that such Defaulting Lender terminate its Commitment and any obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and transfer all of its Extensions of Credit and participations therein in accordance with Section 11.6 (subject to the prior written consent of such assignees, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lenders and the Swing Line Lender) to one or more of the existing Lenders or to one or more new Lenders, if such assignee Lenders can be found by the Borrower.

 

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(b) Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then each Issuing Lender may, in its sole discretion, require such Defaulting Lender to deposit cash collateral with the Collateral Agent or, in the event such Defaulting Lender fails to do so, require the Borrower to deposit Cash Collateral with the Collateral Agent in an aggregate amount equal to such Defaulting Lender’s participations in any requested or outstanding Credits, and each Defaulting Lender and the Borrower hereby grants a first priority security interest in such Cash Collateral or cash collateral, as applicable, in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the sole benefit of the applicable Issuing Lender. In the event that such Defaulting Lender fails to deposit Cash Collateral as required hereby and the Borrower is required to do so, the Borrower may, at any time thereafter, upon five (5) Business Days prior written notice to such Defaulting Lender, require that such Defaulting Lender terminate its Commitment and any obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and transfer all of its Extensions of Credit and participations therein in accordance with Section 11.6 (subject to the prior written consent of such assignees, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lenders and the Swing Line Lender) to one or more of the existing Lenders or to one or more new Lenders, if such assignee Lenders can be found by the Borrower.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, if at any time a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, the following provisions shall apply so long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender:

(i) Fees pursuant to Section 4.2 shall cease to accrue on such Defaulting Lender’s unused Commitment until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, at which time fees pursuant to Section 4.2 shall resume to accrue and be payable in accordance with Section 4.2 .

(ii) With respect to any LC Obligations, Swing Line Loans, and participations in LC Obligations and Swing Line Loans of the Defaulting Lender (including, without limitation, any of them that exists at the time a Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or thereafter) (the “ Defaulting Lender’s Exposure ”):

(A) such Defaulting Lender’s Exposure shall automatically be reallocated (without further action of any party) among the Non-Defaulting Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitment Percentages (calculated without regard to any Defaulting Lender’s Commitment Percentages) to the extent of each Non-Defaulting Lender’s unused Commitment, provided , that in no event shall any Non-Defaulting Lender’s Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit following such reallocation exceed such non-Defaulting Lender’s Commitment;

(B) if the reallocation described in paragraph (A) above cannot, or can only partially, be effected, then the Borrower shall within one (1) Business Day following notice by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or the Swing Line Lender (1) deliver to the Collateral Agent Cash Collateral for such Defaulting Lender’s LC Obligations (after giving effect to any partial reallocation pursuant to paragraph (A) above) as otherwise provided in this Agreement for so long as such LC Obligations are outstanding and (2) immediately repay each Swing Line Loan for so long as such Swing Line Loan or any participation therein is outstanding;

(C) if the Borrower shall deliver to the Collateral Agent Cash Collateral for any portion of such Defaulting Lender’s participations in LC Obligations pursuant to Section 4.17(b) or Section 4.17(c)(ii)(B) then the Borrower shall not be required to pay any fees for the benefit of such Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 3.4 of this Agreement with respect to the portion of such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment Percentage of outstanding Credits equal to such Cash Collateral during the period such Cash Collateral is held by the Collateral Agent;

 

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(D) to the extent the Defaulting Lender’s Exposure is reallocated to the Non-Defaulting Lenders pursuant to clause (A)  above, the fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 3.4 and 4.2 shall be adjusted in accordance with such Non-Defaulting Lenders’ Commitment Percentages (disregarding the Commitments of any Defaulting Lender);

(E) if any Defaulting Lender’s Exposure is not cash collateralized by it or Cash Collateralized by the Borrower, reallocated or prepaid pursuant to this Section 4.17 , then, without prejudice to any rights or remedies of any Issuing Lender, the Swing Line Lender or any Lender hereunder, all fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section 3.4 and Section 4.2 with respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Exposure that is not Cash Collateralized, reallocated or prepaid shall be payable to the Issuing Lenders or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, until such Defaulting Lender’s Exposure is fully cash collateralized by it or Cash Collateralized by the Borrower as set forth in this Section 4.17 , reallocated and/or prepaid;

(F) (1) no Issuing Lender shall be required to issue, provide, amend or increase any Credit, unless it is satisfied in its sole discretion that the related exposure will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the Non-Defaulting Lenders and/or Cash Collateral will be provided by the Borrower in accordance with Section 4.17(b) , and participating interests in any such newly issued, provided or increased Credit shall be allocated among Non-Defaulting Lenders in a manner consistent with Section 3.5 (and Defaulting Lenders shall not participate therein) and (2) the Swing Line Lender shall not be required to advance any Swing Line Loan, unless it is satisfied that the related exposure will be 100% covered by the Commitments of the Non- Defaulting Lenders;

(G) any amount payable to such Defaulting Lender hereunder (whether on account of principal, interest, fees or otherwise) shall, in lieu of being distributed to such Defaulting Lender, be retained by the Administrative Agent in a segregated account and subject to any applicable Requirements of Law, and be applied:

(1) first , to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Agents hereunder,

(2) second , to the payment pro rata of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Issuing Lenders and/or the Swing Line Lender hereunder,

(3) third , to the payment pro rata to ( x ) the cash collateralization, as set forth in this Section 4.17 , of any participating interest in any Credit in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund cash collateral for its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, pro rata among such Credits, as determined by the Administrative Agent, and ( y ) the repayment of any uncovered portion of any outstanding Swing Line Loans,

 

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(4) fourth , if so determined by the Administrative Agent, any of the Issuing Lenders or the Swing Line Lender, held in such account as cash collateral for future funding obligations of such Defaulting Lender under this Agreement,

(5) fifth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Non- Defaulting Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Non-Defaulting Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement,

(6) sixth , so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement, and

(7) seventh , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction;

provided , however , that if such payment is ( x ) a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or unreimbursed amount with respect to drawings or demands for payment under Credits which such Defaulting Lender has not funded in accordance with its participation obligations hereunder and ( y ) made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 6.2 are satisfied, such payment shall be applied solely to prepay the Loans of, and unreimbursed amounts with respect to drawings and demands under Credits owed to, all Non-Defaulting Lenders pro rata prior to being applied to the prepayment of any Loans, or unreimbursed amounts with respect to such drawings owed to, such Defaulting Lender.

(d) Each Defaulting Lender shall indemnify the Borrower, the Agents, the Issuing Lenders, the Swing Line Lender and each Non-Defaulting Lender from and against any and all loss, damage or expenses, including but not limited to reasonable attorneys’ fees and, in the case of the Agents, the Issuing Lenders, the Swing Line Lender or any Non-Defaulting Lender, funds (if any) advanced by the Agents, the Issuing Lenders, the Swing Line Lender or by any Non-Defaulting Lender, on account of such Defaulting Lender’s failure to timely fund its applicable Commitment Percentage of a Loan or to otherwise perform its obligations under the Loan Documents.

(e) In the event that the Administrative Agent, the Borrower, each Issuing Lender and the Swing Line Lender agree that a Defaulting Lender has adequately remedied all matters that caused such Lender to be a Defaulting Lender, then the LC Obligations, Swing Line Loans, participations in Swing Line Loans, and participations in LC Obligations of the Lenders shall be readjusted to reflect the inclusion of such Lender’s Commitment and on such date such Lender shall purchase at par such of the Loans, Commitments and/or LC Obligations, or participations therein of the other Lenders as the Administrative Agent shall determine may be necessary in order for such Lender to hold such Loans, Commitments and/or Obligations in accordance with its Commitment Percentage thereof.

(f) At any time during a Default Period, the Borrower may, upon three (3) Business Days prior notice to the applicable Defaulting Lender (so long as such Default Period remains in effect at the end of such notice period), require such Defaulting Lender to assign all right, title and interest that it may have in, and its participations in, all Loans, Credits and any other Obligations of the Borrower

 

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under this Agreement and the Loan Documents to another Lender (if another Lender will consent to purchase such right, title and interest and participations) or another Person in accordance with and subject to the terms of Section 11.6 of this Agreement, if such Person can be found by the Borrower, for a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Obligations plus the amount of any interest and fees accrued and owing to such Defaulting Lender as of the date of such assignment plus any amount payable under Section 4.15 .

(g) So long as any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, neither such Defaulting Lender nor any of its Affiliates shall be a Swap Party with respect to any Swap Contracts entered into by such Lender or its Affiliates while such Lender is a Defaulting Lender.

SECTION 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

To induce the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans and provide other Extensions of Credit, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender that:

5.1 Financial Condition.

(a) The balance sheet of the Borrower as of December 31, 2010 and the related statements of income and of cash flows for the Fiscal Year ended on such date, reported on by KPMG LLP, copies of which have heretofore been furnished to the Administrative Agent, are complete and correct and present fairly the financial condition of the Borrower as at such date, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the Fiscal Year then ended. All such financial statements, including the related schedules and notes thereto, have been prepared on a combined basis in accordance with GAAP applied consistently throughout the periods involved (except as approved by such accountants and as disclosed therein).

(b) The unaudited balance sheet of the Borrower as of June 30, 2011 and the related unaudited statements of income and of cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on such date, certified by a Responsible Officer, copies of which have heretofore been furnished to the Administrative Agent, are complete and correct and present fairly the combined financial condition of the Borrower as at such date, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the fiscal quarter then ended (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments). All such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except for the absence of footnote disclosures) applied consistently throughout the periods involved (except as approved by such Responsible Officer, as the case may be, and as disclosed therein).

(c) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.1 , the Borrower and its Subsidiaries do not have, as of the Closing Date, any Guaranty Obligation, contingent liability or liability for taxes, in each case that is material, or any Material Contract, including, without limitation, any Swap Contract or other financial derivative, or any other material liability (contingent or otherwise), which is not reflected in the foregoing statements or in the notes thereto.

(d) During the period from December 31, 2010 to and including the Closing Date there has been no sale, transfer or other disposition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any material part of their respective business or property and no purchase or other acquisition of any business or property (including any Capital Securities of any other Person) material in relation to the financial condition of the Borrower as of December 31, 2010, other than those sales, transfers, dispositions and acquisitions listed on Schedule 5.1 .

 

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5.2 No Change.

Except as set forth on Schedule 5.2 , since December 31, 2010 there has been no development or event which has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.3 Existence; Compliance with Law.

Each Loan Party (a) is duly organized, validly existing and, to the extent relevant under applicable Law, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) has the limited liability company, corporate or partnership (as applicable) power and authority, and the legal right, to own and operate its property, to lease the property it operates as lessee and to conduct the business in which it is currently engaged, (c) to the extent relevant under applicable Law, is duly qualified as a foreign limited liability company, corporation or partnership (as applicable) and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification and (d) is in compliance with all Requirements of Law except, in each case under this clause (d) , to the extent that the failure to comply therewith would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.4 Power; Authorization; Enforceable Obligations.

Each Loan Party has the limited liability company, corporate or partnership power and authority (as applicable), and the legal right, to make, deliver and perform the Loan Documents to which it is a party and in the case of the Borrower, to borrow hereunder, and the Borrower has taken all necessary limited liability company action to authorize the borrowings on the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any Notes and each Loan Party has taken all necessary limited liability company, corporate or partnership action (as applicable) to authorize the execution, delivery or performance of the Loan Documents. No consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority, to which any Loan Party is subject, or any other Person, is required in connection with the borrowings hereunder or with the execution, delivery or performance by or the validity in respect of or enforceability of the Loan Documents against such Loan Party. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document to which is a party will be, duly executed, and delivered on behalf of the applicable Loan Parties. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when executed and delivered, will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of enforceable against the Loan Parties in accordance with its terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

5.5 No Legal Bar; No Burdensome Restrictions.

(a) The execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents, the borrowings hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof (a) will not violate (i) any Requirement of Law in each case to the extent applicable or binding upon the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or (ii) any Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and (b) will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of its or their respective properties or revenues pursuant to any such Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation (other than Liens created by the Security Documents in favor of the Collateral Agent).

(b) Neither any Loan Party nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any contract or law, compliance with which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or would impair the ability of (i) such Loan Party to perform its obligations hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents or (ii) Agent or any Lender to enforce any Obligations or realize upon any of the Collateral.

 

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5.6 No Litigation.

Except as set forth on Schedule 5.6 , no litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened by or against or against it or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or its Subsidiaries’ properties or revenues (a) with respect to any of the Loan Documents or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or (b) which, if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.7 No Default.

Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligations in any respect which in the aggregate would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.8 Ownership of Property; Liens.

Borrower and its Subsidiaries have good and defensible title in fee simple to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all its real property, and good title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all their other property, and none of such property is subject to any Lien except Permitted Liens. Schedule 5.8 accurately lists all of the real property and leasehold interests in real property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

5.9 Intellectual Property.

Borrower and its Subsidiaries own, or are licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, technology, know-how and processes necessary for the conduct of their business as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted except for those the failure to own or be licensed to use which would not in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (the “ Intellectual Property ”). No claim has been asserted nor 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 the Borrower know of any valid basis for any such claim. The use of such Intellectual Property by the Borrower does not infringe on the rights of any Person.

5.10 Taxes.

Borrower and its Subsidiaries have timely filed or caused to be filed all tax returns required to be filed or have requested extension thereof, and has timely paid all taxes due and payable by them and all other taxes, fees or other charges imposed on them or any of their property by any Governmental Authority, except (i) such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which adequate reserves have been established and maintained on the books and records of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP or (ii) the payment of such taxes which do not exceed $100,000 in the aggregate.

5.11 Federal Regulations.

No part of the proceeds of any Extension of Credit will be used for “purchasing” or “carrying” any “margin stock” within the respective meanings of each of the quoted terms under Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or for any purpose which violates,

 

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or which would be inconsistent with, the provisions of Regulations T, U or X of such Board of Governors. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged principally, as one or more of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing any “margin stock” as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. If requested by any Lender or the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a statement to the foregoing effect.

5.12 Investment Company Act; Other Regulations.

None of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries is an “investment company”, or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. None of the Loan Parties is subject to regulation under any Federal or State statute or regulation which limits its ability to incur Indebtedness.

5.13 Subsidiaries.

Schedule 5.13 sets forth as of the Closing Date (i) the name of each direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower, (ii) its respective form of organization, (iii) its respective jurisdiction of organization, (iv) the total number of issued and outstanding shares or other interests of Capital Securities thereof, (v) the classes and number of issued and outstanding shares or other interests of Capital Securities of each such class, and (vi) with respect to the Borrower, the name of each holder of Capital Securities thereof and the number of interests of such Capital Securities held by each such holder and the percentage of all outstanding interests of such class of Capital Securities held by such holders.

5.14 Security Documents.

(a) The provisions of each Security Document are effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid, and enforceable first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) in all right, title and interest of the Borrower in the Collateral.

(b) When proper financing statements have been filed in the offices in the jurisdictions listed in Schedule 5.14 , the Security Documents shall constitute a Perfected Lien on all right, title and interest in the Collateral, which can be perfected by such filing, subject to the existence of Permitted Liens or otherwise under the Security Documents and, in the case of such Liens which are Permitted Liens, the priority of such Liens.

(c) Collateral included in the Borrowing Base at any time is subject to a Perfected Lien at such time, subject only to the existence and priority of Liens which are Permitted Liens.

5.15 Accuracy and Completeness of Information.

Except as set forth on Schedule 5.15 , all factual information, reports and other papers and data with respect to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries furnished, and all factual statements and representations made, to the Agents or the Lenders by the Borrower, or on behalf of the Borrower, were, at the time the same were so furnished or made, when taken together with all such other factual information, reports and other papers and data previously so furnished and all such other factual statements and representations previously so made, complete and correct in all material respects, to the extent necessary to give the Agents and the Lenders true and accurate knowledge of the subject matter thereof in all material respects, and did not, as of the date so furnished or made, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which the same were made.

 

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5.16 Labor Relations; ERISA.

(a) No Borrower or Subsidiary is engaged in any unfair labor practice. There is (i) no unfair labor practice complaint pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before the National Labor Relations Board and no grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of or under a collective bargaining agreement is so pending or threatened; (ii) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; and (iii) no union representation question existing with respect to the employees of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and no union organizing activities are taking place with respect to any thereof.

(b) The present aggregate value of accumulated benefit obligations of each Plan required to be funded (based on those assumptions used for disclosure of such obligations in financial statements in accordance with GAAP) did not, as of the most recent statements available, exceed the aggregate value of the assets for each Plan by an amount in the aggregate for all such Plans that would reasonably be expected to exceed $250,000. Except as would not individually or in the aggregate be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (a) no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, (b) the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan have been satisfied and (c) each Plan has been established and administered in accordance with its terms and in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other applicable laws, rules and regulations.

5.17 Insurance.

The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have, with respect to their properties and business, insurance which satisfies the requirements of Section 7.6 hereof and the Security Agreement.

5.18 Solvency.

As of the date hereof, the Closing Date, and each other date of determination, after giving effect to Loans and Credits to be made, issued or provided on or prior to such date, (i) the amount of the “present fair saleable value” of the assets of each Borrower will, as of such date, exceed the amount of all “liabilities of such Borrower, contingent or otherwise,” as of such date, as such quoted terms are determined in accordance with applicable federal and state laws governing determinations of the insolvency of debtors, (ii) the present fair saleable value of the assets of each Borrower will, as of such date, be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the liabilities of each Borrower on its respective debts as such debts become absolute and matured, (iii) no Borrower will have, as of such date, an “unreasonably small amount of capital” with which to conduct their respective businesses, as such quoted term is determined in accordance with applicable U.S. federal and state Laws governing the determination of insolvency of debtors and (iv) each Borrower will be able to pay its respective debts as they mature. For purposes of this Section 5.18 , “debt” means “liability on a claim”, “claim” means any ( x ) right to payment, whether or not such a right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured and ( y ) right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives rise to a right to payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured or unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured or unsecured.

 

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5.19 Purpose of Extensions of Credit.

Extensions of Credit and the proceeds thereof shall be used by the Borrower for the purpose of funding the general working capital needs and other general corporate purposes of the Borrower, in the ordinary course of its business, including, without limitation, (a) repayment of Indebtedness of the Borrower permitted under this Agreement (subject to the terms of any subordination agreement, if applicable) as it becomes due and payable and (b) the purchase of Grain Inventory and Non-Grain Inventory.

5.20 Environmental Matters.

Except as set forth on Schedule 5.20 :

(a) The facilities and properties owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (the “ Properties ”) do not contain, and have not previously contained, any Materials of Environmental Concern in amounts or concentrations which (i) constitute or constituted a violation of or (ii) could give rise to liability under, any Environmental Law, except in either case insofar as such violation or liability, or any aggregation thereof, would not be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(b) The Borrower, the Properties and all operations at the Properties are in compliance, and have, for the duration of their ownership or operation by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, been in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, and there is no contamination at, under or about the Properties or violation of any Environmental Law with respect to the Properties or the business operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (the “ Business ”) that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All Environmental Permits necessary in connection with the ownership and operation of the Business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have been obtained and are in full force and effect.

(c) Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries have received any notice of violation, alleged violation, non-compliance, liability or potential liability regarding environmental matters or compliance with Environmental Laws with regard to any of the Properties or the Business, nor does the Borrower have knowledge or reason to believe that any such notice will be received or is being threatened.

(d) Materials of Environmental Concern have not been transported or disposed of from the Properties in violation of, or in a manner or to a location which could give rise to liability under, any Environmental Law, nor have any Materials of Environmental Concern been generated, treated, stored or disposed of at, on or under any of the Properties in violation of, or in a manner that could give rise to liability under, any applicable Environmental Law.

(e) No judicial proceeding or governmental or administrative action is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, under any Environmental Law to which the Borrower or its Subsidiaries are or will be named as a party with respect to the Properties or the Business, nor are there any consent decrees or other decrees, consent orders, administrative orders or other orders, or other administrative or judicial requirements outstanding under any Environmental Law with respect to the Properties or the Business.

(f) There has been no release or threat of release of Materials of Environmental Concern at or from the Properties, or arising from or related to the operations of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in connection with the Properties or otherwise in connection with the Business, in violation of or in amounts or in a manner that could give rise to liability under Environmental Laws.

 

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5.21 Risk Management Policies.

The Risk Management Policies have been duly adopted by the Borrower and are in full force and effect.

5.22 No Burdensome Restrictions.

No Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation of any Loan Party has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.23 No Other Venture.

No Loan Party is engaged in any joint venture or partnership with any other Person.

5.24 No Other Names.

Borrower is not known by any name except the name in which it has executed this Agreement.

SECTION 6. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

6.1 Conditions to Effectiveness.

The obligation of the Lenders to make the initial Loan and the obligation of the Issuing Lenders to issue or provide the initial Credit shall be subject to the satisfaction, immediately prior to or concurrently with the making of such Loan or the issuance or providing of such Credit, of the following conditions precedent:

(a) Loan Documents . The Administrative Agent shall have received:

(i) this Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower, with a counterpart for each Lender,

(ii) the Term Intercreditor Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of each Lender,

(iii) the Macquarie Repurchase Intercreditor Agreement, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of each Lender,

(iv) for the account of each Lender requesting the same, a Note conforming to the requirements hereof and executed by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower,

(v) the Security Documents, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower with a counterpart or conformed copy for each Lender,

(vi) each Warehouseman Agreement required by the Administrative Agent, executed by the parties thereto,

(vii) the Collateral Access Agreement executed by the parties thereto, and

 

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(viii) each of the other Loan Documents required by the Administrative Agent, executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the applicable Loan Party, with a counterpart or conformed copy for each Lender.

(b) Term Loan Facility . The Administrative Agent shall have received fully-executed copies of the Term Credit Agreement and the term loan facility thereunder shall become effective as of the Closing Date, certified as true and complete by a Responsible Officer.

(c) Authorization Documents . The Administrative Agent shall have received, a secretary’s certificate dated the Closing Date, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent, with appropriate insertions and attachments (including, without limitation, incumbency information, signature specimens and Governing Documents), satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent, executed by the Secretary of the Borrower.

(d) Borrowing Base Report . Not more than five (5) Business Days in advance of the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received a fully completed Borrowing Base Report prepared on a pro forma basis showing the Borrowing Base of as of a reporting date not more than five (5) Business Days in advance of the Closing Date, executed by a Responsible Officer.

(e) Board of Directors Consent . The Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of a consent, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent, of the Board of Directors of the Borrower authorizing (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) the borrowings and Extensions of Credit contemplated hereunder and (iii) the granting by the Borrower of the Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents, certified by the Secretary of the Borrower as of the Closing Date.

(f) Good Standing Certificates . The Administrative Agent shall have received certificates dated as of a recent date from the Secretary of State or other appropriate authority, evidencing the good standing of Borrower ( x ) in the jurisdiction of its organization and ( y ) in each other jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of property or the conduct of its business requires it to qualify as a foreign Person.

(g) Consents, Licenses and Approvals . The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Responsible Officer either ( x ) attaching copies of all Consents (each such Consent to be in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent), and stating that such Consents are in full force and effect or ( y ) stating that no such Consents are so required.

(h) Closing Certificate . The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent, dated as of the Closing Date, signed by a Responsible Officer stating, among other things, to the best of such officer’s knowledge that:

(A) The representations and warranties contained in SECTION 5 are true and correct on and as of such date, as though made on and as of such date, except for those representations and warranties that by their terms were made as of a specified date, which shall be true and correct on and as of such date; and

(B) No Default or Event of Default exists.

(i) Fee Letters; Fees and Expenses . The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) the Fee Letters, duly executed by authorized officers of the Borrower, (ii) for the account of each Lender the fees to be received by it on the Closing Date referred to herein and in the Upfront Fee

 

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Letter and (iii) for its own account and the account of the Lead Arranger, the fees referred to in the Agent Fee Letter to be received by it on the Closing Date. The Borrower shall have paid all reasonable fees and expenses of Patton Boggs LLP, counsel to BNP Paribas, for which an invoice has been presented to the Borrower.

(j) Legal Opinions . The Administrative Agent shall have received the executed legal opinions of Husch Blackwell LLP, counsel to the Borrower. Such legal opinions shall cover such other matters incident to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as the Administrative Agent.

(k) Actions to Perfect Liens . The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence in form and substance satisfactory to it that all UCC financing statements have been filed in the appropriate jurisdictions which are necessary or, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, desirable to perfect the Liens created by the Security Documents.

(l) Lien Searches; Termination Statements .

(i) The Administrative Agent shall have received the results of a recent search by a Person satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, of the Uniform Commercial Code, judgment and tax Lien filings which may have been filed in its jurisdiction of organization and the jurisdiction of its chief executive office, with respect to personal property of the Borrower, and the results of such search shall be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

(ii) The Administrative Agent shall have received file stamped acknowledgment copies (in form and substance satisfactory to it in its sole discretion) of any UCC termination statements it shall deem necessary after review of the lien searches obtained pursuant to Section 6.1( l )(i) .

(m) Insurance . The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence in form and substance satisfactory to it that all of the requirements of Section 7.6 hereof and the Security Agreement shall have been satisfied.

(n) Due Diligence . The Administrative Agent shall have delivered written notice to the Borrower that the Administrative Agent and its counsel are satisfied (in their sole discretion) with the results of their due diligence review of the Loan Parties including, without limitation, a review of the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets, liabilities, Contractual Obligations, insurance, Risk Management Policies, financial statements and environmental matters.

(o) Risk Management Policies . At least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders shall have received a copy of the Risk Management Policies, in form and substance acceptable to the Required Lenders certified by a Responsible Officer as being a true and correct copy and in full force and effect.

(p) Subordination Agreement . The Administrative Agent shall have received the Subordination Agreement, duly executed by authorized officers of each party thereto.

(q) Existing Indebtedness . (i) All loans and obligations of Borrower with respect to any Indebtedness of Borrower not permitted hereunder shall be paid or satisfied in full and each creditor’s commitments to lend or make other extensions of credit shall be terminated and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall have received payoff letters or other documentation confirming that the foregoing has occurred or will occur contemporaneously with the funding of the initial Loan.

 

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(r) Other Documents . There shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent or any Lender such other documents or information as the Administrative Agent or such Lender may reasonably request.

(s) Additional Matters . All company and other proceedings, and all documents, instruments and other legal matters in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent shall have received such other documents and legal opinions in respect of any aspect or consequence of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby as it shall reasonably request.

6.2 Conditions to Each Credit Extension.

(a) The agreement of each Lender to make any Loan requested to be made by it on any date (including, without limitation, its initial Loan) and the agreement of the Issuing Lenders to issue, provide or amend any Credit (including, without limitation, the initial Credit) is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(b) Notice of Borrowing, Credit Request . The Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing or Credit Request pursuant to Section 2.2 or Section 3.3 , as the case may be.

(c) Representations and Warranties . Each of the representations and warranties made by the Borrower in or pursuant to the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of such date as if made on and as of such date, except for those representations and warranties that by their terms were made as of a specified date which shall be true and correct on and as of such date.

(d) No Default . No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date or after giving effect to the Extensions of Credit requested to be made on such date.

(e) Borrowing Availability . (i) The Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit, after giving effect to such Extension of Credit requested to be made on such date, shall not exceed the Total Commitment at such time and (ii) the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit, after giving effect to such Extension of Credit requested to be made on such date, shall not exceed the Borrowing Base at such time.

(f) No Legal Bar . There shall not be any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator that by its terms purports to enjoin or restrain any Lender from making any Loan or issuing, providing or participating in any Credit, or any Requirement of Law applicable to such Lender or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of Law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Lender that prohibits, or requests that such Lender refrain from, making such Loan or issuing, providing or participating in any Credit.

Each borrowing hereunder and each request for the issuance or amendment of a Credit shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower as of the date thereof that the conditions contained in this Section 6.2 have been satisfied.

 

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6.3 Lenders Consent and Approval.

For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 6.3 , each Lender shall be deemed to have consented to, approved, accepted or be satisfied with, each document or other matter required hereunder to be consented to or approved or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date or proposed date of any Loan or issuance or providing of any Credit, specifying its objection thereto.

SECTION 7. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

The Borrower hereby agrees that, so long as any of the Commitments remain in effect or any amount is owing to any Lender or the Agents hereunder or under any other Loan Document, the Borrower shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to:

7.1 Financial Statements.

Furnish to the Administrative Agent for delivery to each Lender:

(a) as soon as available, but in any event not later than thirty (30) days after the end of each fiscal month of the Borrower, a copy of the unaudited balance sheets of the Borrower on a combined and combining basis as of the end of such fiscal month and the related unaudited statements of income and retained earnings for such fiscal month and the portion of the Fiscal Year through the end of such fiscal month, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous Fiscal Year, certified by a Responsible Officer as fairly presenting the Borrower’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows in accordance with GAAP (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and absence of footnotes);

(b) as soon as available, but in any event not later than forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Parent, a copy of the unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and retained earnings for such fiscal quarter and the portion of the Fiscal Year through the end of such fiscal quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous Fiscal Year, certified by a Responsible Officer as fairly presenting the Parent’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows in accordance with GAAP (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and absence of footnotes).

(c) as soon as available, but in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, a copy of the consolidated and consolidating balance sheets of each of the Parent and its consolidated Subsidiaries (including combined and combining financial statements for Borrower) as of the end of such year and the related consolidated and consolidating statements of income and retained earnings and cash flows for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous year, and in the case of such consolidated financial statements, certified without qualification or exception by KPMG LLP or other independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

All such financial statements shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP (except for, in the case of unaudited financial statements, the absence of footnote disclosures) applied consistently throughout the periods reflected therein and with prior periods (except as approved by such accountants or officer, as the case may be, and disclosed therein).

 

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7.2 Certificates and Reports; Other Information.

Furnish to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the Lenders:

(a) as soon as available, but in any event within thirty (30) days after the beginning of each Fiscal Year, the Annual Operating Plan for the Borrower for such Fiscal Year;

(b) as soon as available, but in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter, a certificate of a Responsible Officer (substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto) stating that, to the best of such Responsible Officer’s knowledge, during such period the Borrower has observed or performed all of its covenants and other agreements, and satisfied every condition contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to be observed, performed or satisfied by it, and that such Responsible Officer has obtained no knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except as specified in such certificate, and such certificate shall include the calculation of all financial covenants set forth in Section 8.17 ;

(c) as soon as available, but in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the fifteenth (15 th ) and last day of each month, a Borrowing Base Report dated as of the close of business on the last Business Day of the preceding two-week period, showing the Borrowing Base and the Aggregate Outstanding Extensions of Credit as of the close of business on such date, provided , that in the event the Available Commitment equals less than ten percent (10%) of the Total Commitment (as determined on the date of the most recent Borrowing Base Report), the Borrowing Base Report shall be delivered within five (5) days after the end of each week;

(d) on or prior to the tenth (10 th ) Business Day of each month, a Position Report dated as of the close of business on the last Business Day of the preceding month, showing the Consolidated Net Position as of the close of business on such date;

(e) promptly, upon receipt thereof, copies of all “management letters” submitted to the Borrower by the independent public accountants referred to in Section 7.1(c) ;

(f) promptly, such additional financial and other information as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may from time to time reasonably request; and

(g) promptly, written notice of any change in (i) the authority of any officer of the Borrower as set forth in the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Borrower delivered by the Borrower under Section 6.1(e) and (ii) the composition of the Borrower or the Board of Directors of the Borrower.

7.3 Use of Extensions of Credit.

Use Credits, the proceeds thereof, and the proceeds of Loans solely for the purpose described in Section 5.19 .

7.4 Payment of Obligations.

Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy at or before maturity or before they become delinquent, as the case may be, all its taxes and other material obligations of whatever nature, except where the amount or validity thereof is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and reserves in accordance with GAAP with respect thereto have been provided on its books.

 

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7.5 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence.

Preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its limited liability company, corporate or partnership existence and take all reasonable action to maintain all material rights, privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business except as otherwise permitted hereunder; and comply with all Contractual Obligations and Requirements of Law, except such failures to comply therewith which would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

7.6 Maintenance of Property; Insurance.

Keep all property useful and necessary in its business in good working order and condition; maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance on all its property in at least such amounts and against at least such risks (but including in any event public liability and product liability) as are usually insured against in the United States (or jurisdiction of organization of the relevant Subsidiary) by companies engaged in the same or a similar business, which insurance shall name the Administrative Agent as additional insured and lender loss payee, in the case of property or casualty insurance, and as an additional insured, in the case of liability insurance, in each case, without liability for unpaid premiums; and (i) on the Closing Date and each year thereafter on or before thirty (30) days prior to the expiration thereof, furnish to the Administrative Agent, an insurance certificate to such effect, and (ii) furnish to each Lender, upon written request, full information as to the insurance carried.

7.7 Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions.

Keep proper books of records and account in which full, true and correct entries in accordance with GAAP and all Requirements of Law and (b) on one day’s notice (unless a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, in which case no prior notice shall be required), permit representatives of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to inspect such books and records and to discuss the business, operations, properties and financial and other condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries with officers and employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and with its independent certified public accountants, at any time deemed necessary by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, in their sole discretion.

7.8 Notices.

Promptly give written notice to the Administrative Agent for delivery to each Lender of:

(a) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

(b) any default or event of default of which the Borrower has notice or otherwise has knowledge under any Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries if the loss to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, if adversely determined, would be $500,000 or more;

(c) any litigation, investigation or proceeding which may exist at any time between the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and any Governmental Authority that is not listed on Schedule 5.6 in which the amount claimed is $500,000 (individually or in the aggregate) or more or in which injunctive or similar relief is sought or any judgment, order, or decree in the amount of $500,000 (individually or in the aggregate) or more shall have been entered against the Borrower and with respect to which the Borrower has notice or knowledge;

 

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(d) any litigation, investigation or proceeding not described in Section 7.8(c) affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in which the amount claimed is $500,000 (individually or in the aggregate) or more or in which injunctive or similar relief is sought or any judgment, order or decree in the amount of $500,000 (individually or in the aggregate) or more shall have been entered against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets;

(e) the following events, as soon as possible and in any event within 30 days after the Borrower knows or has reason to know thereof: (i) a failure to make any required contribution to a Plan (subject to Section 412 of the Code), the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Plan or Multiemployer Plan, the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than liability for PBGC premiums due and not yet delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA) or any withdrawal from, or the termination, Reorganization or Insolvency of, any Multiemployer Plan, (ii) the institution of proceedings or the taking of any other action by the PBGC or the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or any Multiemployer Plan with respect to the withdrawal from, or the terminating, Reorganization or Insolvency of, any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, or (iii) the occurrence of any ERISA Event not included in clauses (i)  and (ii)  above;

(f) any amendment, waiver or other modification of the Risk Management Policies (which shall include a summary of any such change);

(g) the termination, arising as a result of any default or breach thereunder, or amendment of, any Material Contract;

(h) any notice received by the Borrower of any violation of Requirements of Law; and

(i) any casualty or other insured damage to any material portion of the Collateral or the commencement of any action or proceeding for the taking of any material portion of the Collateral or interest therein under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding.

Each notice pursuant to this Section 7.8 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer setting forth in reasonable detail the circumstances of the occurrence referred to therein, and the Borrower shall answer any and all questions of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders regarding same.

7.9 Environmental Laws.

(a) Comply with, and ensure compliance by all tenants and subtenants, if any, with, all applicable Environmental Laws and obtain and comply with and maintain, and ensure that all tenants and subtenants obtain and comply with and maintain, any and all licenses, approvals, notifications, registrations or permits required by applicable Environmental Laws.

(b) Handle, transport and dispose of, and cause all subtenants to handle, transport, and dispose of, all Materials of Environmental Concern in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws.

7.10 Periodic Audit of Borrowing Base Assets, etc.

Permit the Administrative Agent or any other designee of the Administrative Agent to perform, or to have an independent inspector perform, at the cost and expense of the Borrower, (i) at any time and from time to time, after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default and (ii) at such additional times as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders shall reasonably deem

 

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necessary, due diligence inspections, tests and reviews of all of the assets of the Borrower that comprise Collateral and assets and contracts included in the determination of compliance with Section 8.17(d) and each asset category set forth in the definition of Borrowing Base at any time and from time to time during business hours, the results of which shall be furnished in writing to, and shall be satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.

7.11 Collections of Accounts Receivable.

Notify in writing and otherwise take such reasonable steps to ensure that all Account Debtors under any of their Accounts forward payment in the form of cash, checks, drafts or other similar items of payment by wire transfer or directly to a Bank Blocked Account and shall provide the Collateral Agent with reasonable evidence of such notification, such notice to include notice of the Collateral Agent’s Lien and payment directions, and (b) deposit or cause to be deposited any payment under such Accounts (other than those sent directly by wire transfer into) to a Bank Blocked Account no later than the Business Day following the date on which each Borrower or its Subsidiary, as applicable receives such payment. If either (i) payments received by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries from all Account Debtors exceed, in the aggregate, $500,000.00 per day for a period of twenty (20) consecutive Business Days, or (b) a Default or Event of Default occurs, then Borrower shall immediately establish a lockbox (“ Lock Box ”) and notify in writing and otherwise take such reasonable steps to ensure that all Account Debtors under any of its Accounts forward payment in the form of cash, checks, drafts or other similar items of payment directly to such Lock Box or directly by wire transfer to a Bank Blocked Account and shall provide the Collateral Agent with reasonable evidence of such notification, such notice to include notice of the Collateral Agent’s Lien and payment directions. In the event that any Account Debtor makes payment into any account other than a Bank Blocked Account, such Borrower shall promptly deposit such amounts into a Bank Blocked Account. Administrative Agent at any time may apply amounts contained in the Bank Blocked Accounts maintained with the Collateral Agent toward satisfaction of the Obligations.

7.12 Risk Management Policies.

Maintain the Risk Management Policies in full force and effect, except for any amendment, waiver, or modification permitted by Section 8.16 .

7.13 [Reserved.]

7.14 Lines of Business.

Continue in the business in which the Borrower is engaged on the date of this Agreement and otherwise in accordance with Section 8.12 .

7.15 Warehouseman Agreements.

Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, notify each Warehouseman of the Secured Parties’ security interest in any Collateral in the care, custody, or control of such Warehouseman and request that such Warehouseman enter into a Warehouseman’s Agreement.

7.16 Interest Rate Protection.

Maintain Interest Rate Agreements in order to provide protection to, or minimize the impact upon, Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries of increasing floating rates of interest applicable to Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at the greater of (a) as required under the Term Credit Agreement or (b) at least 50% of the then outstanding balance of the loans under the Term Credit Agreement.

 

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7.17 Further Assurances.

Within three (3) Business Days, execute any further instruments and take further action as Administrative Agent may request to perfect or continue the Collateral Agent’s security interest in the Collateral or to effect the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

SECTION 8. NEGATIVE COVENANTS

The Borrower hereby agrees that, so long as any of the Commitments remain in effect or any amount is owing to any Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document, the Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

8.1 Limitation on Indebtedness.

Create, incur, assume, or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) Indebtedness of the Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

(b) Indebtedness under Swap Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business for hedging purposes and in accordance with the Risk Management Policies, and in no event for speculative purposes, provided , that prior to Borrower entering into any such Swap Contract, a Swap Intercreditor Agreement shall be in effect;

(c) Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof as set forth on Schedule 8.1 , or any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided , that (i) the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension and (ii) any guaranty entered into in connection with such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension that is not a refinancing of an existing guaranty of such Indebtedness shall not be permitted under this Section 8.1(c) ;

(d) Subordinated Debt in an aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time not to exceed $3,300,000;

(e) Indebtedness (other than loans and advances) of the Borrower owing to brokers or depositary banks in connection with commodities accounts, securities accounts or deposit accounts;

(f) subject to Section 8.21 , Indebtedness of Borrower under commodity repurchase agreements related to physical inventory in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $50,000,000;

(g) additional Indebtedness of the Borrower incurred in connection with the financing (including any refinancing) by the Borrower of its Capital Expenditures, equipment, or other fixed assets in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding, on terms and conditions acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion;

(h) Guaranty Obligations permitted pursuant to Section 8.3 ; and

 

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(i) Indebtedness of Borrower under the Term Credit Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Indebtedness of the Borrower to another Borrower, a Subsidiary, or Affiliate shall not be permitted under any subparagraph of this Section 8.1 unless such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Obligations pursuant to a subordination agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

8.2 Limitation on Liens.

Create, incur, assume, or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets, or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except for:

(a) Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, provided , that adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on its books, in accordance with GAAP and, if the amount being contested exceeds $250,000, then the Borrower shall have given written notice thereof to the Lenders;

(b) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s Liens, or other like Liens (whether arising as a matter of law or pursuant to a contract) incurred in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves are maintained on its books and records in accordance with GAAP;

(c) pledges or deposits in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation;

(d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(e) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, do not secure obligations that constitute Indebtedness, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

(f) Liens in existence on the date hereof set forth on Schedule 8.2 ;

(g) Liens created pursuant to the Security Documents;

(h) judgment Liens in respect of judgments that, in the aggregate, do not exceed $250,000, in existence less than ninety (90) days after the entry thereof or with respect to which, execution has been and remains stayed at all times;

(i) Liens on assets not included in the Borrowing Base and not otherwise permitted under this Section 8.2 securing obligations of the Borrower in an amount not to exceed $250,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

(j) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.1(g) only on the financed equipment or fixed assets, provided , that the holder of any such Lien shall have entered into a subordination or intercreditor agreement with the Collateral Agent on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

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(k) Liens securing the Indebtedness under the Term Credit Agreement on the “ Lender Priority Personal Property Collateral ” as defined in the Term Intercreditor Agreement; and

(l) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.1(f) only on (i) the Inventory subject to such commodity repurchase agreements or (ii) in the case of the Macquarie Repurchase Intercreditor Agreement, the “Collateral” as defined therein, provided , that the holder of any such Lien shall have entered into a Repurchase Intercreditor Agreement.

8.3 Limitation on Guaranty Obligations.

Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Guaranty Obligation except Guaranty Obligations in existence on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 8.3 or any refinancings, renewals or extensions thereof which do not result in an increase thereof.

8.4 Limitation on Fundamental Changes.

Enter into any merger or consolidation, or liquidate, wind up or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or Convey all or substantially all of its property, business or assets.

8.5 Limitation on Sale of Assets.

Convey any of its property, business, or assets (including, without limitation, receivables, and leasehold interests), whether now owned or hereafter acquired or issue or sell any shares or other ownership interests of Capital Securities to any Person, except:

(a) the Conveyance of surplus, obsolete or worn out property in the ordinary course of business;

(b) the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business for fair market value, subject to commercially reasonable adjustments in the ordinary course of the Borrower’s or its Subsidiaries’, as applicable, business, provided , that no such adjustment shall be permitted if, after giving effect thereto, the Borrower would be required (with the passage of time) to make a mandatory prepayment under Section 4.8 ;

(c) the Conveyance of any property, business or assets not described in Section 8.5(a) or Section 8.5(b) ; provided , that the aggregate book value of all such property, business or assets so Conveyed in any Fiscal Year shall not exceed $5,000,000; provided , further , that any such Conveyance shall not be permitted if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist after giving effect to such Conveyance;

(d) the Conveyance for fair market value of any Investment acquired in connection with any transaction described in Section 8.7 ; and

(e) the sale of shares or other ownership interests of Capital Securities (other than those of a Borrower) to any Person that does not result in a Change of Control.

 

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8.6 Limitation on Restricted Payments.

Declare or pay any dividend or distribution (other than dividends or distributions payable solely in common stock or common membership interests of the Borrower or any Subsidiary) on, or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition of, any shares of any class of Capital Securities of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any warrants or options to purchase any such Capital Securities, whether now or hereafter outstanding, or make any other distribution in respect thereof, either directly or indirectly, whether in cash or property or in obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or enter into any derivative or other transaction with any financial institution, commodities or stock exchange or clearinghouse (a “ Derivatives Counterparty ”) obligating the Borrower or any Subsidiary to make payments to such Derivatives Counterparty as a result of any change in market value of any such Capital Securities (such declarations, dividends, payments, setting apart, purchases, redemptions, defeasances, retirements, acquisitions and distributions, and such transactions with any Derivatives Counterparties, being herein called “ Restricted Payments ”); provided , that (a) any Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower and (b) any Restricted Payments may be made so long as (i) such Restricted Payment in any Fiscal Year does not exceed forty percent (40%) of the pre-tax Net Income of the Borrower during the preceding Fiscal Year, (ii) before and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and no mandatory prepayment under Section 4.8 is then required, and (iii) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate in the form of Exhibit B certified by a Responsible Officer, showing that after giving effect thereto the Borrower shall be in compliance with the covenants in Section 8.17 and clause (i) above.

8.7 Limitation on Investments, Loans, and Advances.

Make, incur, assume, or suffer to exist any Investment, except:

(a) extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business;

(b) Investments in cash and Cash Equivalents;

(c) Investments consisting of Swap Contracts entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary but only if they are the type permitted under Section 8.1(b) ;

(d) Investments by any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries in the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

(e) Investments after the Closing Date not exceeding $1,000,000 in the aggregate plus the amount of cash equity investments received by Borrower from Parent from and after the Closing (which cash equity investments are designated for purposes of this Agreement for use only on such Investments);

(f) Investments set forth on Schedule 8.7 , provided , that, (i) the Borrower shall not, directly or indirectly, amend, modify, alter or change the terms of such Investments or any agreement, document or instrument related thereto and (ii) the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent all notices or demands in connection with such Investments either received by the Borrower or on its behalf, promptly after the receipt thereof, or sent by the Borrower or on its behalf, concurrently with the sending thereof, as the case may be; and

(g) additional Investments not exceeding $50,000 in the aggregate from and after the Closing Date.

 

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8.8 Limitation on Optional Payments and Modifications of Debt Instruments.

Except as expressly permitted by the terms of subordination therein, (a) make any optional payment or prepayment on or redemption or purchase of any Subordinated Debt or (b) amend at any time the subordination provisions of any Subordinated Debt.

8.9 Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates and Subsidiaries.

Enter into any transaction or arrangement, including, without limitation, any purchase, sale, transfer, lease or exchange of property or the rendering of any service, with any Affiliate (or any officer, employee, equity holder, manager or director thereof or of the Borrower) unless such transaction is (i) in the ordinary course of business of the Borrower and (ii) upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, than it would obtain in a substantially comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person which is not an Affiliate.

8.10 Limitation on Sales and Leasebacks.

Enter into any arrangement with any Person providing for (i) the leasing by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of real or personal property which has been or is to be either sold or transferred by the Borrower or such Subsidiary to such Person or to any other Person to whom funds have been or are to be advanced by such Person on the security of such property or rental obligations of the Borrower or (ii) the purchase or transfer of any real or personal property from any Person to the Borrower or such Subsidiary which has been leased by the Borrower or such Subsidiary to such Person, except for any transactions set forth on Schedule 8.10 or the consideration of which does not exceed in the aggregate $500,000 in any calendar year.

8.11 Accounting Changes.

Make any significant change in its accounting treatment or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP, without providing the Administrative Agent with ten (10) days prior written notice of such change. At the end of any calendar year during which any such change has occurred, the Borrower shall prepare and deliver to the Administrative Agent an explanatory statement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, reconciling the previous treatment or practice with the new treatment or practice.

8.12 Limitation on Lines of Business.

Enter into or engage in any business except for those businesses in which the Borrower is engaged on the date of this Agreement or other substantially similar or related businesses.

8.13 Term Credit Agreement and Governing Documents.

Amend or otherwise modify (a) the Term Credit Agreement or any documents related thereto to (i) modify the maturity date, or (ii) change any scheduled payments or mandatory prepayment dates or amounts, or (b) its Governing Documents, each without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent.

8.14 Take or Pay Contracts.

Enter into or be a party to any contract or arrangement for the purchase of materials, supplies, other properties, or services if such contract or arrangement requires that payment be made by the Borrower or a Subsidiary regardless of whether such materials, supplies, other properties or services are delivered or forwarded to it.

 

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8.15 Limitation on Dividend Clause and Negative Pledge Clauses.

Enter into with any Person any agreement, which prohibits or limits the ability of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to either (i) make Restricted Payments or (ii) create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon or otherwise transfer any interest in any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired except for ( x ) those prohibitions or limitations set forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or ( y ) those existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 8.15 .

8.16 Risk Management Policies.

Amend, waive or modify, or fail to adhere in any material respect with the terms of the Risk Management Policies as such apply to Borrower without the prior written consent of the Required Lenders; provided that any such revisions that make the policies more conservative (restrictive) shall not require such consent.

8.17 Financial Covenants.

(a) Minimum Tangible Net Worth . Permit the combined Tangible Net Worth of the Borrower calculated as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be: (a) before December 31, 2011, less than $50,000,000 or (b) on or after December 31, 2011, less than the sum of $50,000,000 plus fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate Net Income of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year;

(b) Leverage Ratio . Permit the Leverage Ratio to be greater than 5.5 to 1.0 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower;

(c) Working Capital . Permit the Working Capital of the Borrower to be less than $30,000,000 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower;

(d) Consolidated Net Position . Permit the Consolidated Net Position for (i) any type of Grain Inventory individually to exceed at any time 100,000 bushels, or (ii) all Grain Inventory in the aggregate to exceed at any time 200,000 bushels;

(e) Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio . Permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for any consecutive four (4) fiscal quarter period to be less than 1.25 to 1.0 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower;

provided , that Borrower shall be allowed to cure any Default of the covenants under this Section 8.17 by receiving sufficient cash equity investments within fifteen (15) days of the period provided for each such covenant.

8.18 Bank Accounts and Futures Accounts.

Open or maintain any deposit account or commodities account with any bank, other financial institution, broker or otherwise, except (a) the Bank Blocked Accounts as set forth on Schedule 1.0A , (b) commodities accounts in existence on the date hereof as set forth on Schedule 8.18 hereto and (ii) any other deposit accounts and commodities accounts of the Borrower opened on or after the date hereof which are subject to a Perfected Lien.

 

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8.19 Maximum Capital Expenditures.

Make any Capital Expenditures in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate in any Fiscal Year plus the amount of cash equity investments made by Parent in Borrower during the applicable Fiscal Year (which cash equity investments are designated for purposes of this Agreement for use only on such Capital Expenditures).

8.20 Future Subsidiaries.

Create or acquire any Subsidiaries or permit Great Lakes Grain Storage, L.L.C. to become a material Subsidiary without (a) prior written notice to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, (b) such Subsidiary executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent, at its request, a Subsidiary Guaranty, a joinder to the Security Agreement and/or this Agreement, and such other security agreements and amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request, (c) the equity holder of such Subsidiary executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a security agreement pledging one hundred percent (100%) of the Capital Securities owned by such equity holder of such Subsidiary along with the certificates pledged thereby, if any, and appropriately executed stock powers or other transfer instruments in blank, if applicable, and (d) the delivery by the Borrower and such Subsidiary of any certificates, opinions of counsel, or other documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request relating to such Subsidiary.

8.21 Repurchase Agreements.

Enter into any commodity repurchase agreement not approved in writing by the Required Lenders unless, as of the effective date of such repurchase agreement, (a) the counterparty is an Approved Repurchase Contract Counterparty, (b) such Approved Repurchase Contract Counterparty shall have entered into a Repurchase Intercreditor Agreement with the Collateral Agent on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Required Lenders, and (c) the aggregate quantity of the commodity purchased at the date of entering into any new purchase and resale of physical Inventory does not exceed the lesser of (i) 50% of the volume of Borrower’s Inventory of the commodity subject to such agreement or (ii) $50,000,000 determined as of the date of such new purchase and resale transaction. Upon entering into a commodity repurchase agreement permitted under this Section 8.21 , the Borrower shall provide a Borrowing Base Report as of the effective date of such agreement.

SECTION 9. EVENTS OF DEFAULT

9.1 Events of Default.

If any of the following events shall occur and be continuing:

(a) The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation when due in accordance with the terms thereof or hereof; or shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation, or any other amount payable hereunder or under the other Loan Documents or the Fee Letters, when such interest or other amount becomes due in accordance with the terms thereof or hereof, and, in each case (other than in respect of principal payments and payments of Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 4.8 and 4.17 ), the same shall remain unpaid for a period of three (3) Business Days after the due date thereof; or

 

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(b) Any representation, warranty or statement made or deemed made by the Borrower (or any Person on behalf of the Borrower) herein or in any other Loan Document or which is contained in any certificate, document or financial or other statement furnished by it (or any Person on behalf of the Borrower) at any time under or in connection with this Agreement or any such other Loan Document shall prove to have been incorrect or false in any material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made; or

(c) The Borrower shall default in the observance or performance of any covenant or agreement contained in Sections 7.1 , 7.2(b) , 7.2(c) , 7.2(d) , 7.3 , 7.4 , 7.5 , 7.6 , 7.7 , 7.8 , 7.10 , 7.11 or 7.12 or SECTION 8 (other than Section 8.17 ) of this Agreement, or any of the Security Documents; or

(d) The Borrower shall default in the observance or performance of any other covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than as provided in Section 9.1(a) through Section 9.1(c) ), and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of fifteen (15) consecutive days from the earlier of (i) the date of delivery by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower of notice of the occurrence of such default or (ii) the date on which an officer of the Borrower knew or should have known of such default; or

(e) The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall (i) default in any payment of any Indebtedness or Guaranty Obligation in an outstanding principal amount (or with respect to Swap Contracts, the aggregate amount (giving effect to any Netting Agreements) that the Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if an early termination date or comparable event under such agreement were to occur at such time) of at least $250,000 individually or $500,000 in the aggregate with respect to all such Persons (other than the Loans or Reimbursement Obligations) beyond the period of grace (not to exceed fifteen (15) days), if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created; (ii) default in the observance or performance of any other covenant or agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or such Guaranty Obligation or Swap Contract (in each case involving the amounts specified in clause (i)  above) or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause, with the giving of notice or lapse of time if required, such Indebtedness to become due and payable prior to its stated maturity or such Guaranty Obligation or obligations under such Swap Contract to become due and payable; or (iii) without limiting the foregoing, any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid, other than by a regularly scheduled required payment or a mandatory prepayment, prior to its stated maturity, or an early termination date (or comparable event) occurs with respect to any such Swap Contract; or

(f) (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall commence any case, proceeding or other action (A) under any existing or future Law of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, seeking to have an order for relief entered with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up, liquidation, dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts, or (B) seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator or other similar official for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets, or the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or (ii) there shall be commenced against the Borrower or any Subsidiary any case, proceeding or other action of a nature referred to in clause (i)  above which

 

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(A) results in the entry of an order for relief or any such adjudication or appointment or (B) remains undismissed, undischarged or unbonded for a period of thirty (30) days; or (iii) there shall be commenced against the Borrower or any Subsidiary any case, proceeding or other action seeking issuance of a warrant of attachment, execution, distraint or similar process against all or any substantial part of its assets which results in the entry of an order for any such relief which shall not have been vacated, discharged, or stayed or bonded pending appeal within thirty (30) days from the entry thereof; or (iv) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall take any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the acts set forth in clause (i) , (ii)  , or (iii)  above; or (v) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall generally not, or shall be unable to, or shall admit in writing its inability to, pay its debts as they become due; or

(g) (i) a Plan of the Borrower shall fail to maintain the minimum funding standard required by Section 412 of the Code for any plan year or a waiver of such standard is sought or granted under Section 412(d) or (ii) an ERISA Event shall have occurred or (iii) any Person shall engage in any prohibited transaction described in Sections 406 of ERISA or 4975 of the Code for which a statutory or class exemption is not available or a private exemption has not been previously obtained from the United States Department of Labor or (iv) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate shall fail to pay any required installment or any other payment required to be paid by such entity under Section 412 of the Code on or before the due date for such installment or other payment (taking into account any extensions granted) or (v) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate shall fail to make any contribution or payment to any Multiemployer Plan which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is required to make under any agreement relating to such Multiemployer Plan or any law pertaining thereto (taking into account any extensions granted), and, in the event of the occurrence of any of the events described in clauses (i)  through (v)  above, there shall result from any such event or events either a liability or a material risk of incurring a liability which is reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(h) One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries involving in the aggregate with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries a liability of $250,000 or more, individually, or $1,000,000 or more, in the aggregate, to the extent such judgments or decrees aggregating in excess of such amount shall not have been discharged, vacated, satisfied, stayed or bonded pending appeal within thirty (30) days from the entry thereof; or

(i) Any of the Security Documents or any Lien thereunder shall terminate or cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect, or the Borrower shall so assert, (ii) the Lien created by any of the Security Documents shall fail to constitute (A) a Perfected Lien on all right, title and interest in the Collateral, which can be perfected by the filing of a Uniform Commercial Code financing statement or (B) a Perfected Lien on any Collateral included in the Borrowing Base at any time, subject to the existence of no other Liens, except Permitted Liens which may have priority or (iii) any condemnation or similar proceeding shall be brought in respect of any Collateral; or

(j) Any subordination provision of any Subordinated Debt shall cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect, or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall so assert, unless such Subordinated Debt would, at all times thereafter, be otherwise permitted under Section 8.1 (other than under Section 8.1(d) ); or

(k) Any guaranty of the Obligations shall cease, for any reason, to be in full force and effect or any guarantor of the Obligations shall so assert; or

(l) The Borrower or any Subsidiary shall be criminally indicted or convicted under any Law that would reasonably be expected to lead to a forfeiture of any Collateral; or

 

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(m) Any Change of Control shall occur; or

(n) Any development, event or circumstance (including, without limitation, the termination of, or default under, any Material Contract) shall occur or exist that has a Material Adverse Effect;

then, and in any such event, (i) if such event is an Event of Default specified in Section 9.1(f) automatically the Commitments shall immediately terminate and the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations hereunder (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all amounts of LC Obligations, whether or not the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Credits have presented the documents required thereunder) shall immediately become due and payable, without notice, notice of intent to accelerate, presentment, demand, protest or other requirements of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower and (ii) if such event is any other Event of Default, either or both of the following actions may be taken: ( x ) with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower declare the Commitments to be terminated forthwith, whereupon the Commitments shall immediately terminate; and ( y ) with the consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower, declare the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations hereunder (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all amounts of LC Obligations, whether or not the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Credits have presented the documents required thereunder) to be due and payable forthwith, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable, without further notice, notice of intent to accelerate, or presentment, demand, protest or other requirements of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.

9.2 Cash Collateralization of Credit.

With respect to all outstanding Credits with respect to which demand for payment shall not have occurred at the time of an acceleration pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Borrower shall at such time Cash Collateralize an amount equal to 105% of the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such Credits. The Borrower hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in such Cash Collateral to secure all Obligations. Cash Collateralized amounts shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to the payment of Reimbursement Obligations with respect to drafts drawn (or other documents presented for payment) under such Credits and Reducing LC Payments, and the unused portion thereof after all such Credits shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, if any, shall be applied to repay other Obligations. After all such Credits shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, all Reimbursement Obligations shall have been satisfied and all other Obligations shall have been paid in full, the balance, if any, in such cash collateral account shall be returned to the Borrower or to whosoever is entitled thereto, promptly upon request of the Borrower. The Borrower shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, such further documents and instruments as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request to evidence the creation and perfection of the within security interest in such Cash Collateral.

9.3 Application of Payments.

Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, all amounts received or recovered under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the exercise of remedies by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under any of the Loan Documents, liquidation of collateral or otherwise, shall be applied for the benefit of the Secured Parties on a pro rata basis from and after the date hereof or as otherwise provided in the Swap Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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SECTION 10. THE AGENTS

10.1 Appointment.

Each Lender hereby irrevocably designates and appoints the Administrative Agent as the Administrative Agent of such Lender under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and each such Lender irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent, in such capacity, to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, or any fiduciary relationship with any Lender, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent.

10.2 Delegation of Duties.

The Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care.

10.3 Exculpatory Provisions.

Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates (each an “ Agent-Related Person ”) shall be (i) liable for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by it or such Person under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except for its or such Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by the Borrower or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the validity, enforceability, perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be granted to it or the Collateral Agent under the Loan Documents or for any failure of the Borrower to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. The Administrative Agent shall not be under any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books, or records of the Borrower.

10.4 Reliance by Administrative Agent.

The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, cablegram, telegram, telecopy, e-mail, telex or teletype message, statement, order or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel to the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Note as the owner thereof for all purposes unless a written notice of assignment, negotiation, or transfer thereof shall have been filed with the Administrative Agent.

 

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The Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement or any other Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate or as otherwise required by Section 11.1 and it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents in accordance with a request of the Required Lenders or as otherwise required by Section 11.1 and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all of the Lenders and all future holders of the Loans and all other Obligations.

10.5 Notice of Default.

The Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder unless the Administrative Agent has received written notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of default”. In the event that the Administrative Agent receives such a notice, the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be requested by the Required Lenders in accordance with Section 9.1 or as otherwise reasonably directed by the Required Lenders; provided , that unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received such directions, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Lenders.

10.6 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.

Each Lender expressly acknowledges that neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates has made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by the Administrative Agent hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs of the Borrower or any audit, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent to any Lender. Each Lender represents to the Administrative Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and made its own decision to extend credit to the Borrower hereunder and enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also represents that it shall, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, operations, property, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects or creditworthiness of the Borrower which may come into the possession of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or Affiliates. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Collateral Agent shall have any duty to monitor the Collateral used to calculate the Borrowing Base or the reporting requirements or the contents of reports delivered by the Borrower. Each Lender assumes the responsibility of keeping itself informed at all times.

 

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10.7 Indemnification.

The Lenders agree to indemnify each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent in its capacity as such (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of the Borrower to do so), ratably according to their respective Commitment Percentages in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever which may at any time (including, without limitation, at any time following the payment of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and the cash collateralization of the LC Obligations) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in any way relating to or arising out of, the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided , that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements to the extent resulting from the Administrative Agent’s or Collateral Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements in this Section 10.7 shall survive the payment of the Loans, Reimbursement Obligations and all amounts payable hereunder and the cash collateralization of the LC Obligations.

10.8 Administrative Agent in Its Individual Capacity.

The Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may make loans and other extensions of credit to, accept deposits from, and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as though the Administrative Agent were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents. With respect to the Loans and other Extensions of Credit made by it, the Administrative Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” shall include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity.

10.9 Successor Agent.

Any Agent may resign as Agent upon thirty (30) days notice to the Lenders and the Borrower. If an Agent shall resign as Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, then the Required Lenders shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor Agent for the Lenders, which successor Agent shall be approved by the Borrower (unless a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and then be continuing), such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, whereupon such successor Agent shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the Agent, and the term “Administrative Agent” or “Collateral Agent” shall mean such successor Agent effective upon such appointment and approval, and the former Agent’s rights, powers and duties as Agent shall be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on the part of such former Agent or any of the parties to this Agreement or any holders of the Loans or other Obligations. If no successor Agent has accepted appointment as Agent by the date which is ten (10) days following a retiring Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Agent may, in its sole discretion, either continue to act as Agent hereunder and under the Loan Documents or assign all of its rights and delegate all of its obligations hereunder and under the Loan Documents to the Lenders. After any retiring Agent’s resignation under the Loan Documents as Agent, or assignment and delegation pursuant to the preceding sentence, the provisions of this SECTION 10 shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as the Agent and shall survive the payment of the Notes and other Obligations and termination of this Agreement.

 

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10.10 Collateral Matters.

(a) The Collateral Agent is hereby appointed as Collateral Agent and authorized on behalf of all of the Lenders, without the necessity of any notice to or further consent from the Lenders, from time to time to take any action with respect to any Collateral or the Loan Documents which may be necessary to perfect and maintain perfected the security interest in and Liens upon the Collateral granted pursuant to the Loan Documents.

(b) The Lenders on behalf of themselves and their respective Affiliates irrevocably authorize the Collateral Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to release any Lien granted to or held by the Collateral Agent upon any Collateral (i) upon payment in full of all Loans and all other Obligations known to the Collateral Agent, termination or Cash Collateralization of all Credits and termination of all Commitments; (ii) constituting property sold or to be sold or disposed of as part of or in connection with any disposition permitted hereunder; or (iii) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by all of the Lenders or the Required Lenders in accordance with Section 11.1 . Upon request by the Collateral Agent at any time, the Lenders shall confirm in writing the Collateral Agent’s authority to release particular types or items of Collateral pursuant to this Section 10.10(b) , provided , that the absence of any such confirmation for whatever reason shall not affect the Collateral Agent’s rights under this Section 10.10 .

(c) The Collateral Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents by or through agents or attorneys in fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys in fact selected by it with reasonable care.

(d) The Collateral Agent and the Issuing Lenders shall be entitled to all rights, indemnities, and limitations on liability under this SECTION 10 available to the Administrative Agent to the same extent as if each reference to the Administrative Agent in this SECTION 10 were a reference to the Collateral Agent and the Issuing Lenders.

10.11 Other Agents; Arrangers and Managers.

None of the Lenders or other Persons identified on the cover page or signature pages of this Agreement as a “syndication agent,” “documentation agent,” “lead arranger” or “sole book runner” shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than, in the case of such Lenders, those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other Persons so identified shall have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.

10.12 Intercreditor Agreements.

(a) Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to enter into each Repurchase Intercreditor Agreement and the Term Intercreditor Agreement on its behalf and agrees to be bound by the terms thereof.

(b) The Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent (i) to deliver to any creditor party to each Swap Intercreditor Agreement, copies of Borrowing Base Reports and all schedules and amendments thereto and (ii) allow any such creditor to have access to Debtdomain or other websites used for posting financial or other information of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

 

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SECTION 11. MISCELLANEOUS

11.1 Amendments and Waivers.

(a) Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document, nor any terms hereof or thereof may be amended, supplemented, or modified except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.1 . The Required Lenders may, or, with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, from time to time, ( x ) enter into with the Loan Parties written amendments, supplements or modifications hereto and to the other Loan Documents or ( y ) waive, on such terms and conditions as the Required Lenders or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, may specify in such instrument, any of the requirements of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any Default or Event of Default and its consequences; provided , however , that no such waiver and no such amendment, supplement or modification shall:

(i) reduce the amount or extend the scheduled date of payment of principal of any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation hereunder, or reduce the stated rate or amount of any interest or fee payable hereunder or extend the scheduled date of any payment thereof, or extend the expiration date of any Lender’s Commitment or amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 4.8 , in each case without the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, or

(ii) amend or modify the definition of “Commitment Period” or “Termination Date”, or any provision of Section 11.17 , without the written consent of all of the Lenders, or

(iii) increase the Commitment or the Commitment Percentage of any Lender, without the written consent of such Lender, or

(iv) amend the definition of “Borrowing Base” or the definition of any component thereof, without the written consent of all of the Lenders or such lesser number or percentage of Lenders as set forth in the applicable definition, or

(v) amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section 11.1 , or amend, modify or waive any other provision of this Agreement specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or to make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, or change the percentage specified in the definition of Required Lenders, or amend or modify Sections 3.6 , 4.11 , 11.7(a) or any other provision of any Loan Document which amendment or modification shall have the effect of modifying the pro rata treatment of payments to or disbursements by the Lenders thereunder, or consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or release all or substantially all of the Collateral or release the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor (except such releases as are expressly permitted under this Agreement) in each case without the written consent of all of the Lenders, or

(vi) amend, modify or waive any provision of SECTION 10 or other provision which affects the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent without the written consent of the then Administrative Agent or the final sentence of Section 10.9 without the written consent of any former Administrative Agent, or

 

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(vii) without the written consent of each Issuing Lender, amend, modify or waive (i) any provision of SECTION 3 , Section 4.12 , Section 4.13 , Section 4.14 , Section 4.17(b) , Section 11.5 , and Section 11.6(c) , (ii) the definition of “Cash Collateralize” or any defined term used in such definition ,or (iii) any other provision which affects the rights or duties of the Issuing Lenders; or

(viii) without the written consent of the Swing Line Lender, amend, modify, or waive any provision of Section 2.3 , Section 4.13 , Section 4.14 , Section 4.17(a) , Section 11.5 , and Section 11.6(c) or any other provision which affects the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender.

Any such waiver and any such amendment, supplement or modification shall apply equally to each of the Lenders and shall be binding upon the Borrower, the Lenders, the Agents, and all future holders of the Loans and other Obligations. In the case of any waiver, to the extent provided in such waiver, the Borrower, the Lenders and the Agents shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and any Default or Event of Default waived shall be deemed to be cured and not continuing; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon; or

(ix) release, without the written consent of all the Lenders, any Collateral, if the release of such Collateral would cause the aggregate outstanding Extensions of Credit to exceed the Borrowing Base.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any Lender that is a Defaulting Lender shall not have any right to approve or disapprove of any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder; provided , however , except as otherwise provided in Section 4.17 , (i) the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Defaulting Lender, (ii) the Commitment Percentage of such Defaulting Lender may not be increased without the consent of such Defaulting Lender, and (iii) no payment to such Defaulting Lender shall be decreased or postponed without the consent of such Defaulting Lender.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provision of this Section 11.1 , (i) the Fee Letters may be amended, modified or waived in a writing executed by only the parties thereto and (ii)  Schedule 1.0A , Schedule 1.0C , Schedule 1.0D , Schedule 1.0E , Schedule l.0F , Schedule 1.0G , or Schedule 1.0H may be amended or modified with the written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Required Lenders, and the Borrower. The following procedure may be used, in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent, in connection with any and all amendments or modifications requested by the Borrower to Schedule 1.0A , Schedule 1.0C , Schedule 1.0D , Schedule 1.0E , Schedule l.0F , Schedule 1.0G , or Schedule 1.0H : ( x ) the Borrower shall deliver a written request to the Administrative Agent, which request shall be provided by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders through posting on Debtdomain or other web site in use to distribute information to the Lenders, or by other electronic mail, or other notice procedure permitted under Section 11.2 ; and ( y ) the Required Lenders shall inform the Administrative Agent of such approval in writing (by electronic communication, telecopy or facsimile) within five (5) Business Days after receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent; provided , that failure of a Lender to respond to any request for approval within the time period provided for hereby shall be deemed to be approval of such requested amendment or modification by such Lender.

(d) If any Lender shall not have responded with its approval or disapproval of any request hereunder with respect to modification or acceptance of any Approved Commodity Contract Counterparty, Approved Repurchase Contract Counterparty, or Counterparty Limit within five (5) Business Days after the written request for such approval from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, as the case may be, then such Lender shall be deemed to have approved such request.

 

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11.2 Notices.

(a) All notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission) and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made (i) in the case of delivery by hand or by mail, upon receipt, or (ii) in the case of delivery by facsimile transmission, when sent and receipt has been electronically confirmed, addressed as follows in the case of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and as set forth in Schedule 1.0B in the case of the other parties hereto, or to such other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties hereto:

 

The Borrower:

  

Green Plains Grain Company LLC

450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400

Omaha, Nebraska 68114

Attention: Mr. Jerry Peters

Fax: 402-884-8776

Phone: 402-315-1603

Email: jerry.peters@gpreinc.com

with copies to:

  

Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc.

450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400

Omaha Nebraska 68114

Attention: Michelle Mapes, EVP-General Counsel &

Corporate Secretary

Fax: 402.884.8776

Phone: 402.315.1629

Email: michelle.mapes@gpreinc.com

The Administrative Agent:

  

BNP Paribas

15455 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 1400

Addison, Texas 75001

Attention: Jeff Millican

Fax: 214.969.9332

Phone: 214.866.2536

Email: jeff.millican@us.bnpparibas.com

with a copy to:

  

Patton Boggs LLP

2000 McKinney Avenue, Suite 1700

Dallas, Texas 75201

Attention: Scott Wallace, Esq.

Fax: 214.758.1550

Phone: 214.758.1520

Email: swallace@pattonboggs.com

provided , that any notice, request or demand after 5:00 p.m. local time shall not be deemed received until 9:00 a.m. local time the following Business Day.

(b) Electronic mail and internet and intranet websites may be used only to distribute routine communications, such as financial statements and other information, and to distribute Loan Documents for execution by the parties thereto and to obtain consents to amendments or modifications pursuant to the final sentence of Section 11.1(c) and, except as set forth above, may not be used to deliver any notice hereunder.

 

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(c) The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic and email notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender from all losses, costs, expenses, and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

11.3 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.

No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. No notice to or demand on the Borrower in any case shall entitle it to any notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. The rights, remedies, powers, and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers, and privileges provided by Law.

11.4 Survival of Representations and Warranties.

All representations and warranties made hereunder, in the other Loan Documents and in any document, certificate, or statement delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of the Loans, the issuance and provision of Credits and other Extensions of Credit hereunder.

11.5 Payment of Expenses and Taxes.

The Borrower agrees (a) to pay or reimburse each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent for all its reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the development, preparation and execution of, and any amendment, supplement or modification to, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any other documents prepared in connection herewith or therewith, and the consummation and administration of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent, (b) to pay or reimburse each Lender and each Agent for all its reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with the enforcement or preservation of any rights under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any such other documents or any restructuring or “work-out” related hereto and thereto, including, without limitation, the fees and disbursements of counsel (including the allocated fees and expenses of in-house counsel) to each Lender and of counsel to the Administrative Agent following the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default or an Event of Default, (c) to pay, indemnify, and hold each Lender and each Agent harmless from, any and all recording and filing fees and any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any delay in paying, stamp, excise and other taxes, if any, which may be payable or determined to be payable in connection with the execution and delivery of, or consummation or administration of any of the transactions contemplated by, or any amendment, supplement or modification of, or any waiver or consent (including the determination of whether or not any such waiver or consent is required) under or in respect of, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents

 

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and any such other documents, and (d) to pay, indemnify, and hold each Lender, each Issuing Lender and the Agents, and each of their respective officers, employees, directors, trustees, agents, advisors, affiliates and controlling persons (each, an “ Indemnitee ”), harmless from and against any and all other liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, the fees and disbursements of counsel (including the allocated fees and expenses of in-house counsel) and other professional and settlement costs of each Lender, each Issuing Lender and Agent, with respect to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance and administration of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and any such other documents, the issuance or providing of each Credit, the making of each Loan and the use by the Borrower of proceeds of each Loan and Credit, including, without limitation, any of the foregoing relating to the violation of, noncompliance with or liability under, any Law applicable to the operations of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of the properties of such Persons (all the foregoing in this clause (d) , collectively, the “ Indemnified Liabilities ”); provided , that the Borrower shall have no obligation hereunder to any Indemnitee with respect to Indemnified Liabilities to the extent such Indemnified Liabilities are found by a final, nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. The agreements in this Section 11.5 shall survive repayment of the Loans, Reimbursement Obligations and all other amounts payable hereunder.

11.6 Successors and Assigns; Participations and Assignments.

(a) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the Lenders, the Agents and their respective successors and assigns, except that, other than as expressly provided for herein, the Borrower shall not assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any purported such assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent of each Lender shall be null and void).

(b) Any Lender may, in accordance with applicable Law, at any time sell to one or more banks, financial institutions or other entities (“ Participants ”) participating interests in any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation owing to such Lender, any Commitment of such Lender or any other interest of such Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (a “ Participation ”) without the consent of any party hereto, provided , that the proposed Participant shall provide a tax form in accordance with Section 4.14(f) (if applicable) establishing (or otherwise establish to the Borrower’s satisfaction) a rate of U.S. withholding tax with respect to all payments received or to be received by the proposed Participant under each of the Loan Documents as of the date of the proposed Participation not in excess of the rate of U.S. withholding tax imposed upon the selling Lender as of the date of the proposed Participation. In the event of any such sale by a Lender of a participating interest to a Participant, such Lender shall deliver the information provided for in the last sentence of Section 11.6(d) , such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement to the other parties to this Agreement shall remain unchanged, such Lender shall remain solely responsible for the performance thereof, such Lender shall remain the holder of any such Loan, Reimbursement Obligation, Commitment or other interest for all purposes under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. In no event shall any Participant under any such participation have any right to approve any amendment to or waiver of any provision of any Loan Document, or any consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, except to the extent that its consent or approval is required to be obtained by a Lender under the applicable participation agreement with such Participant for any such amendment, waiver or consent that would reduce the principal of, or the stated rate or amount of interest on, the Loans, Reimbursement Obligation or any fees payable hereunder, or postpone the date of the final maturity of the Loans or Reimbursement Obligations, in each case to the extent subject to such Participation. The Borrower agrees that if amounts outstanding under

 

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this Agreement are due or unpaid, or shall have been declared or shall have become due and payable upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, each Participant shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, be deemed to have the right of setoff in respect of its participating interest in amounts owing under this Agreement to the same extent as if the amount of its participating interest were owing directly to it as a Lender under this Agreement, provided , that in purchasing such participating interest, such Participant shall be deemed to have agreed to share with the Lenders the proceeds thereof as provided in Section 11.7(a) as fully as if it were a Lender hereunder. The Borrower also agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of, and bound by the obligations imposed on the Lenders in, Sections 4.13 , 4.14 , and 4.15 with respect to its participation in the Commitments and the Loans and other Extensions of Credit outstanding from time to time as if it were a Lender; provided , that in the case of Section 4.14 , such Participant shall have complied with the requirements of said Section.

(c) Any Lender may, in accordance with applicable Law, at any time and from time to time assign to any Person, ( x ) in the case of such Person that is not a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, with the consent of the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender, the Swing Line Lender and, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower, and ( y ) in the case of such Person that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, with the consent of the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Lender and the Swing Line Lender (such assignee, an “ Assignee ”), all or any part of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, substantially in the form of Exhibit F , appropriately completed (an “ Assignment and Acceptance ”), executed by such Assignee, such assigning Lender, each Issuing Lender, the Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender (and, in the case of an assignment to a Person that is not already a Lender, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower) and attaching the Assignee’s relevant tax forms, administrative details and wiring instructions, and delivered to the Administrative Agent for its acceptance and recording in the Register; provided , that the consent of the Borrower (if necessary) shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; provided , further , that it shall be deemed reasonable for the Borrower to withhold, condition, or delay such consent to an Assignment and Acceptance if the proposed Assignee does not provide a tax form in accordance with Section 4.14(f) establishing (or otherwise establish to the Borrower’s satisfaction) a rate of U.S. withholding tax with respect to all payments received or to be received by the proposed Assignee under each of the Loan Documents as of the date of the proposed Assignment not in excess of the rate of U.S. withholding tax imposed upon the assigning Lender as of the date of the proposed Assignment; provided , further , that (i) each such assignment to an Assignee (other than any Lender) shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (other than in the case of (a) an assignment of all of a Lender’s interests under this Agreement or (b) an assignment by a Lender to its Affiliate), unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (such amount to be aggregated in respect of assignments by any Lender and the Affiliates thereof), and (ii) if applicable, each Assignee shall comply with the provisions of Section 4.14(f) (and such Assignee shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 4.14 unless such Assignee complies with such Section 4.14(f) , if applicable). Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the effective date determined pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, ( x ) the Assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder with a Commitment as set forth therein, and ( y ) the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such assigning Lender shall cease to be a party hereto). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 11.6 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 11.6(b) .

 

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(d) Pursuant to Section 4.6(c) , the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Borrower, shall maintain at the address of the Administrative Agent referred to in Section 11.2 a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a record of each Participation and a register (the “ Register ”) for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders (including all Assignees, successors and Participants) and the Commitment of each Lender; the amount of each Loan made by it hereunder, any Note evidencing such Loan, the maturity date thereof and the Interest Period, if any, applicable thereto and the Type thereof; such Lender’s participation in each Credit issued hereunder and the expiration thereof, and the Type of such Loan or Credit; the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to such Lender hereunder; and such Lender’s share of the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower. The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, in the absence of manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may (and, in the case of any Loan or other obligation hereunder not evidenced by a Note, shall) treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as the owner of a Loan or other obligation hereunder as the owner thereof for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. Any assignment of any Loan or other Obligation hereunder, whether or not evidenced by a Note, shall be effective only upon appropriate entries with respect thereto being made in the Register. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. If any Lender sells a Participation as described in Section 11.6(b) , it shall provide to the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Borrower, or maintain as agent of the Borrower, the information described in this paragraph and permit the Borrower to review such information as reasonably needed for the Borrower to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or under any applicable Law or governmental regulation or procedure.

(e) Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender, the applicable Assignee, each Issuing Lender, the Swing Line Lender, and the Administrative Agent and, if required hereunder, the Borrower, together with payment to the Administrative Agent by the assigning Lender of a registration and processing fee of $3,500, the Administrative Agent shall (i) promptly accept such Assignment and Acceptance and (ii) on the effective date determined pursuant thereto record the information contained therein in the Register and give notice of such acceptance and recordation to the Borrower.

(f) The Borrower authorizes each Lender to disclose to any Participant or Assignee (each, a “ Transferee ”) and any prospective Transferee any and all financial information in such Lender’s possession concerning the Borrower and its Affiliates which has been delivered to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or which has been delivered to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower in connection with such Lender’s credit evaluation of the Borrower and its Affiliates prior to becoming a party to this Agreement, provided , that such Participant, Assignee or prospective Transferee shall have agreed in writing to be bound by the provisions of Section 11.6 .

(g) For avoidance of doubt, the parties to this Agreement acknowledge that the provisions of this Section 11.6 concerning assignments of Loans, Reimbursement Obligations and other Extensions of Credit and Notes relate only to absolute assignments and that such provisions do not prohibit assignments creating security interests, including, without limitation, (i) any pledge or assignment by a Lender of any Loan, Note or Reimbursement Obligation to any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with applicable Law and (ii) any pledge or assignment by a Lender which is a fund to its trustee for the benefit of such trustee and/or its investors to secure its obligations under any indenture or Governing Documents to which it is a party, provided , that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

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11.7 Adjustments; Set-off.

(a) If any Lender (a “ Benefited Lender ”) shall at any time receive any payment of all or part of its Revolving Loans or Reimbursement Obligations, or interest thereon, or receive any collateral in respect thereof (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by set-off, pursuant to events or proceedings of the nature referred to in Section 9.1(f) , or otherwise), in a greater proportion than any such payment to or collateral received by any other Lender, if any, in respect of such other Lender’s Revolving Loans or Reimbursement Obligations, or interest thereon, such Benefited Lender shall purchase for cash from the other Lenders a participating interest in such portion of each such other Lender’s Revolving Loans or Reimbursement Obligations, or shall provide such other Lenders with the benefits of any such collateral, or the proceeds thereof, as shall be necessary to cause such Benefited Lender to share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral or proceeds ratably with each of the Lenders; except that with respect to any Lender that is a Defaulting Lender by virtue of such Lender failing to fund its Commitment Percentage of any Revolving Loan, Swing Line Loan, LC Obligation, or participation therein, such Defaulting Lender’s pro rata share of the excess payment shall be allocated to the Lender (or the Lenders, pro rata) that funded such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment Percentage; provided , however , that (i) if all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered from such Benefited Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded, and the purchase price and benefits returned to the Benefited Lender, to the extent of such recovery, but without interest and (ii) the provisions of this Section 11.7(a) shall not be construed to apply to ( x ) any payment made pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 4.1 and Section 4.11 and the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender) or ( y ) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment or sale of a participation in or other interest in any of its Loans and Reimbursement Obligations. The Borrower agrees that each Lender so purchasing a portion of another Lender’s Loan or Reimbursement Obligations may exercise all rights of payment (including, without limitation, rights of set-off) with respect to such portion as fully as if such Lender were the direct holder of such portion.

(b) In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lenders provided by Law, each Lender shall have the right, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable Law, upon any amount becoming due and payable by the Borrower hereunder (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) to set-off and appropriate and apply against such amount any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by such Lender or any branch or agency thereof to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent after any such set-off and application made by such Lender, provided , that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.

11.8 Counterparts.

This Agreement, the Loan Documents and all amendments thereof may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Agreement or the Loan Documents, as applicable, on any number of separate counterparts (including by email, facsimile, or pdf transmission of signature pages hereto or thereto), and all of said counterparts of each such instrument taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. A set of the copies of this Agreement signed by all the parties shall be lodged with the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

 

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11.9 Severability.

Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

11.10 Integration.

This Agreement and the other Loan Documents represent the agreement of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the subject matter hereof, and there are no promises, undertakings, representations or warranties by the Administrative Agent or any Lender relative to the subject matter hereof not expressly set forth or referred to herein or in the other Loan Documents.

11.11 GOVERNING LAW.

THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF).

11.12 Service of Process; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers.

Each of the Borrower, the Agents, and the Lenders hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

(i) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, the U.S. federal courts in the Southern District of New York, and appellate courts from any thereof;

(ii) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or any claim that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

(iii) agrees that service of process on the Borrower in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to the Borrower at its address set forth in Section 11.2 or at such other address of which the Administrative Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

(iv) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by Law or shall limit the right to sue in any other jurisdiction; and

(v) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by Law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section 11.12 any special, exemplary, punitive, or consequential damages.

 

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11.13 Acknowledgements.

(a) The Borrower and the Lenders hereby acknowledge that they have been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution, and delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

(b) The Borrower further acknowledges that:

(i) none of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to the Borrower arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and the relationship between the Borrower on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender, on the other hand, in connection herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and

(ii) no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Loan Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Lenders or between the Borrower and the Lenders.

11.14 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

THE BORROWER, THE AGENTS, AND THE LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

11.15 Patriot Act/OFAC.

Each of the Agents and the Lenders hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow the Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the terms of the Patriot Act. In addition, and without limiting the foregoing, the Borrower shall (a) ensure, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to ensure, that neither the Borrower nor any Person who owns a controlling interest in or otherwise controls the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (directly or indirectly) is or shall be a Person with whom any Agent or Lender is restricted from doing business under (i) regulations of the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Department of the Treasury (“ OFAC ”) including, without limitation, any person listed on the Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Person List maintained by OFAC (or any similar list maintained by OFAC, collectively, the “ OFAC List ”), or (ii) any similar regulations, statutes, laws, lists, or executive orders established or promulgated by the United States government or any agency thereof (the regulations, statutes, laws, lists and executive orders referred to in clauses (i)  and (ii)  above are collectively referred to as the “ Regulations ”); (b) not use or permit the issuance of Credits or use of the proceeds of any Loans or other Extensions of Credit in a manner that would violate any Regulations; and (c) not, directly or indirectly, conduct any business with or engage in any transaction with any Person named on the OFAC List, any Person included in, owned by, controlled by, acting for or on behalf of, providing assistance, support, sponsorship, or services of any kind to, or otherwise associated with, any Person named on the OFAC List, or any other Person with whom the Borrower is restricted from doing business under any Regulations. If the Borrower obtains any actual knowledge or receives any written notice that the Borrower, any of its Affiliates or any Subsidiary is named on the OFAC List (an “ OFAC Event ”), the Borrower shall (i) promptly give written notice to the Administrative Agent of such OFAC Event and (ii) comply with all applicable laws with respect to such OFAC Event (regardless of whether the Person included on the OFAC List is located within the

 

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jurisdiction of the United States of America), including the Regulations, and the Borrower hereby authorizes and consents to the Agents and Lenders taking any and all steps the Agents and Lenders deem necessary, in the Agents’ and Lenders’ sole discretion, to avoid violation of all applicable Laws with respect to any such OFAC Event, including the requirements of the Regulations (including the freezing and/or blocking of assets and reporting such action to OFAC).

11.16 Confidentiality.

(a) Subject to the terms of Section 11.6(f) , each Lender shall keep confidential (and shall cause its directors, officers, employees, representatives, agents or auditors (collectively, “ Representatives ”) to keep confidential), all information that such Lender receives from or on behalf of the Borrower, other than information that is identified by the Borrower as being non-confidential information (all such information that is not so identified being “ Confidential Information ”).

(b) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 11.16 to the contrary, any Confidential Information may be disclosed by any Lender (the affected Lender being, the “ Disclosing Party ”) (i) to its Affiliates and (ii) if the Disclosing Party is compelled by judicial process or is required by Law or regulation or is requested to do so by any examiner or any other regulatory authority or recognized self-regulatory organization including, without limitation, the New York Stock Exchange, the Federal Reserve Board, the New York State Banking Department and the Securities & Exchange Commission (any such Person being a “ Regulatory Authority ”), in each case having or asserting jurisdiction over the Disclosing Party, provided , that prior to any such disclosure compelled by judicial process or pursuant to a formal investigation, the Disclosing Party, to the extent that it is permitted by applicable Law to do so, shall give the Borrower prompt written notice upon its receipt of any such judicial process or of the existence of any such requirement of Law, regulation or request except in the case of examination by regulatory authority or self-regulatory organizations so that the Borrower may object to the assertion of jurisdiction by such Regulatory Authority or seek a protective order or other appropriate remedy, and the Disclosing Party shall, at the expense of the Borrower, use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrower in seeking to object to the assertion of jurisdiction of such Regulatory Authority or obtain such protective order or other appropriate remedy.

(c) The obligations of each Lender and its Representatives under this Section 11.16 with respect to Confidential Information shall not apply to any Confidential Information which, as of the date of disclosure to such Lender or its Representatives, is in the public domain or subsequently comes into the public domain other than as a result of a breach of the obligations of such Lender or its Representatives hereunder, or any information that was or becomes available to such Lender or its Representatives from a person or source that is not, to the knowledge of such Lender or its Representatives after due inquiry, bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Borrower or otherwise prohibited from transferring such information to such Lender or its Representatives, or any information which was or becomes available to such Lender or its Representatives without any obligation of confidentiality prior to its disclosure by or on behalf of such Person.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, any Lender may disclose to its Affiliates, and all Persons may disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, the U.S. federal, State or local tax treatment of the Loans, Credits, other Extensions of Credit or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document (collectively, the “ Transactions ”), any fact that may be relevant to understanding the U.S. federal, State or local tax treatment of the Transactions and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) relating to such U.S. federal, State or local tax treatment, other than the name of or identifying information with respect to any party identified herein or in any other Loan Document or any pricing terms (including the Applicable Margin) or other nonpublic business or

 

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financial information (including Collateral value and financial covenants) that is unrelated to the U.S. federal, State or local tax treatment of the Transactions and is not relevant to understanding the U.S. federal, State or local tax treatment of the transaction, without the prior consent of the Administrative Agent.

11.17 Joint and Several Liability of Borrowers.

(a) Each Borrower is accepting joint and several liability hereunder and under the other Loan Documents in consideration of the financial accommodations provided by the Agents and the Lenders under this Agreement, for the mutual benefit, directly and indirectly, of each Borrower and in consideration of the undertakings of the other Borrowers to accept joint and several liability for the Obligations.

(b) Each Borrower, jointly and severally, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally accepts, not merely as a surety but also as a co-debtor, joint and several liability with the other Borrowers, with respect to the payment and performance of all of the Obligations (including, without limitation, any Obligations arising under this Section 11.17 ), it being the intention of the parties hereto that all the Obligations shall be the joint and several obligations of each Borrower without preferences or distinction among them.

(c) If and to the extent that any Borrower shall fail to make payment with respect to any of the Obligations as and when due or to perform any of the Obligations in accordance with the terms thereof, then in each such event the other Borrowers will, without duplication, make such payment with respect to, or perform, such Obligations.

(d) The Obligations of each Borrower under the provisions of this Section 11.17 constitute the absolute and unconditional, full recourse Obligations of each Borrower enforceable against each Borrower to the full extent of its properties and assets, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other circumstances whatsoever.

(e) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, each Borrower hereby waives notice of acceptance of its joint and several liability, notice of any advances made or credit issued under or pursuant to this Agreement, notice of the occurrence of any Event of Default or of any demand for any payment under this Agreement, notice of any action at any time taken or omitted by any Agent or Lender under or in respect of any of the Obligations, any requirement of diligence or to mitigate damages and, generally, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all demands, notices and other formalities of every kind in connection with this Agreement (except as otherwise provided in this Agreement). Each Borrower hereby assents to, and waives notice of, any extension or postponement of the time for the payment of any of the Obligations, the acceptance of any payment of any of the Obligations, the acceptance of any partial payment thereon, any waiver, consent or other action or acquiescence by any Agent or Lender at any time or times in respect of any default by any Borrower in the performance or satisfaction of any term, covenant, condition or provision of this Agreement, any and all other indulgences whatsoever by any Agent or Lender in respect of any of the Obligations, and the taking, addition, substitution or release, in whole or in part, at any time or times, of any security for any of the Obligations or the addition, substitution or release, in whole or in part, of any Borrower. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Borrower assents to any other action or delay in acting or failure to act on the part of any Agent or Lender with respect to the failure by any Borrower to comply with any of its respective Obligations, including, without limitation, any failure strictly or diligently to assert any right or to pursue any remedy or to comply fully with applicable laws or regulations thereunder, which might, but for the provisions of this Section 11.17 afford grounds for terminating, discharging or relieving any Borrower, in whole or in part, from any of its Obligations under this

 

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Section 11.17 , it being the intention of each Borrower that, so long as any of the Obligations hereunder remain unsatisfied, the Obligations of each Borrower under this Section 11.17 shall not be discharged except by performance and then only to the extent of such performance. The Obligations of each Borrower under this Section 11.17 shall not be diminished or rendered unenforceable by any winding up, reorganization, arrangement, liquidation, reconstruction, or similar proceeding with respect to Borrower, Agent, or Lender.

(f) Each Borrower hereby agrees that it will not enforce any of its rights of contribution or subrogation against any other Borrower with respect to any liability incurred by it hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents, any payments made by it to any Agent or Lender with respect to any of the Obligations or otherwise, until such time as all of the Obligations have been paid in full in cash, each Letter of Credit has expired or terminated, and the Commitments have terminated. Any claim which any Borrower may have against any other Borrower with respect to any payments to any Agent or Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Documents or Swap Contracts are hereby expressly made subordinate and junior in right of payment, without limitation as to any increases in the Obligations arising hereunder or thereunder, to the prior payment in full in cash of the Obligations and, in the event of any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceeding under the laws of any jurisdiction relating to any Borrower, its debts or its assets, whether voluntary or involuntary, all such Obligations shall be paid in full in cash before any payment or distribution of any character, whether in cash, securities or other property, shall be made to any other Borrower therefor.

(g) Each Borrower hereby agrees that the payment of any amounts due with respect to the Obligations owing by any Borrower to any other Borrower is hereby subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of the Obligations.

[Remainder of page intentionally blank; signature pages follow.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective authorized officers or managers as of the day and year first above written.

 

BORROWER :

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC ,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:  

GREEN PLAINS RENEWABLE ENERGY, INC. , an Iowa corporation,

its sole Member

  By:   /s/ Jerry Peters
  Name:   Jerry Peters
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC ,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:  

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC , a Delaware limited liability company,

its sole Member

  By:   /s/ Jerry Peters
  Name:   Jerry Peters
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC .,

an Iowa corporation

By:   /s/ Jerry Peters
Name:   Jerry Peters
Title:   Chief Financial Officer


ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT :
BNP PARIBAS
By:   /s/ Stephen R. Staples, Jr.
Name:   Stephen R. Staples, Jr.
Title:   Managing Director
By:   /s/ Jeffry S. Millican
Name:   Jeffry S. Millican
Title:   Director


ISSUING LENDER :
BNP PARIBAS
By:   /s/ Stephen R. Staples, Jr.
Name:   Stephen R. Staples, Jr.
Title:   Managing Director
By:   /s/ Jeffry S. Millican
Name:   Jeffry S. Millican
Title:   Director


SWING LINE LENDER :
BNP PARIBAS
By:   /s/ Stephen R. Staples, Jr.
Name:   Stephen R. Staples, Jr.
Title:   Managing Director
By:   /s/ Jeffry S. Millican
Name:   Jeffry S. Millican
Title:   Director


LEAD ARRANGER AND SOLE BOOKRUNNER :
BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.
By:   /s/ Brian S. Hunnicutt
Name:   Brian S. Hunnicutt
Title:   Managing Director


SYNDICATION AGENT :

 

RABO AGRIFINANCE, INC.

By:   /s/ Shirley L. Dobbs
Name:   Shirley L. Dobbs
Title:   Vice President


DOCUMENTATION AGENT :

 

ABN AMRO CAPITAL USA LLC

By:   /s/ Laurence Guguen
Name:   Laurence Guguen
Title:   Director
By:   /s/ Mechel Van der kloor
Name:   Mechel Van der kloor
Title:   Director


LENDERS :

 

BNP PARIBAS

By:   /s/ Stephen R. Staples, Jr.
Name:   Stephen R. Staples, Jr.
Title:   Managing Director
By:   /s/ Jeffry S. Millican
Name:   Jeffry S. Millican
Title:   Director


BANK OF THE WEST

as a Lender

By:   /s/ Charles Greenway
Name:   Charles Greenway
Title:   Vice President
By:   /s/ Charlos C. Jou
Name:   Charlos C. Jou
Title:   Vice President


ABN AMRO CAPITAL USA LLC,

as a Lender

By:   /s/ Laurence Guguen
Name:   Laurence Guguen
Title:   Director
By:   /s/ Mechel Van der kloor
Name:   Mechel Van der kloor
Title:   Director


RABO AGRIFINANCE, INC. ,

as a Lender

By:   /s/ Shirley L. Dobbs
Name:   Shirley L. Dobbs
Title:   Vice President


FARM CREDIT BANK OF TEXAS,

as a Lender

By:   /s/ Alan Robinson
Name:   Alan Robinson
Title:   Vice President


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ,

as a Lender

By:   /s/ Scott Meradith
Name:   Scott Meradith
Title:   Vice President


MACQUARIE BANK LIMITED ,

as a Lender

By:   /s/ Linda Evans
Name:   Linda Evans
Title:   Division Director
By:   /s/ Shannon Spriggs
Name:   Shannon Spriggs
Title:   Associate Director


AGCOUNTRY FARM CREDIT SERVICES, PCA,

as a Lender

By:   /s/ James Baltezore
Name:   James Baltezore
Title:   Vice President


BOKF, N.A. dba BANK OF OKLAHOMA,

as a Lender

By:   /s/ Christopher K. Porter
Name:   Christopher K. Porter
Title:   SVP

Exhibit 10.2

SECURITY AGREEMENT

THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “ Security Agreement ”) is dated as of October 28, 2011, by and among GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ GPG ”), GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ GPG-TN ”), GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC. , an Iowa corporation (“ GPG-Essex ”), and any additional party joining this Security Agreement as a grantor (each of GPG, GPG-TN, and GPG-Essex, individually referred to hereinafter as a “ Grantor ” and collectively referred to hereinafter as the “ Grantors ”), and BNP PARIBAS , a bank organized under the laws of France, as collateral agent (“ BNPP ”, in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, the “ Collateral Agent ”), for the benefit of each of the Secured Parties (as defined herein).

W I T N E S S T H :

WHEREAS, GPG, GPG-TN, GPG-Essex, BNPP, as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Issuing Lender, and a Lender, and the other financial institutions from time to time party thereto (collectively, the “ Lenders ”) entered into a Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Lenders have agreed to make the Loans and other Extensions of Credit, and the Grantors incur Obligations; and

WHEREAS, in order to induce the Lenders to enter into the Credit Agreement and other Loan Documents and to induce the Lenders to make the Loans and other Extensions of Credit as provided for in the Credit Agreement, and to induce Lenders and their Affiliates to enter into Swap Contracts with the Grantors, the Grantors have agreed to grant a continuing Lien on the Collateral (as hereinafter defined) to secure the Obligations;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. DEFINED TERMS .

(a) Any capitalized term used herein (including the preamble and recitals hereto) and not otherwise defined herein (i) has the meaning given to such term in the Credit Agreement, (ii) or, if any such capitalized term is not defined in the Credit Agreement, has the meaning provided for by the UCC (as defined herein) to the extent the same are used or defined therein. Any of the terms defined herein may, unless the context otherwise requires, be used in the singular or the plural, depending on the reference. The use herein of the word “include” or “including”, when following any general statement, term or matter, shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as “without limitation” or “but not limited to” or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter. All references herein to provisions of the UCC shall include all successor provisions under any subsequent version or amendment to any Article of the UCC.


(b) “ Computer Hardware and Software ” means all of Grantors’ rights (including rights as licensee and lessee) with respect to (i) computer and other electronic data processing hardware, including all integrated computer systems, central processing units, memory units, display terminals, printers, computer elements, card readers, tape drives, hard and soft disk drives, cables, electrical supply hardware, generators, power equalizers, accessories, peripheral devices and other related computer hardware; (ii) all Software and all software programs designed for use on the computers and electronic data processing hardware described in clause (i)  above, including all operating system software, utilities and application programs in any form (source code and object code in magnetic tape, disk or hard copy format or any other listings whatsoever); (iii) any firmware associated with any of the foregoing; and (iv) any documentation for hardware, Software and firmware described in clauses (i) , (ii) , and (iii)  above, including flow charts, logic diagrams, manuals, specifications, training materials, charts and pseudo codes.

(c) “ Obligations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof.

(d) “ Secured Parties ” means the Lenders under the Credit Agreement and any Swap Party party to a Swap Contract with any Grantor. The term “Secured Parties” shall also include a former Lender or an Affiliate of a former Lender that is party to a Swap Contract with any Grantor, provided that such former Lender or Affiliate was a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time it entered into such Swap Contract and a party to a Swap Intercreditor Agreement.

(e) “ Termination Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(o) hereof.

(f) “ UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code, as it may be amended from time to time, in effect in the State of New York.

(g) “ UCC Jurisdiction ” means any jurisdiction that has adopted all or substantially all of Article 9 as contained in the 2010 Official Text of the Uniform Commercial Code, as recommended by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and the American Law Institute, together with any subsequent amendments or modifications to the Official Text.

2. GRANT OF LIEN .

(a) To secure the prompt and complete payment, performance and observance of all of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby grants, assigns, conveys, mortgages, pledges, hypothecates and transfers to Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a Lien upon all of its right, title and interest in, to and under all personal property and other assets, wherever located, whether now owned by or owing to, or hereafter acquired by or arising in favor of such Grantor (including under any trade names, styles or derivations thereof), and whether owned or consigned by or to, or leased from or to, such Grantor, and regardless of where located (all of which being hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Collateral ”), including:

 

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(i) cash and Cash Equivalents,

(ii) all farm products of every type, now owned or hereafter acquired by Grantors and supplies used or produced in farming operations now owned or hereafter acquired by Grantors, including, but not limited to, seed, fertilizer, and other farm products;

(iii) Inventory, raw materials, component parts, work in process and/or materials now or at any time hereafter used or consumed in Grantors’ business, and all warehouse receipts, bills of lading and other documents evidencing goods now owned or hereafter acquired by Grantors, and all goods covered thereby, including all accessions, additions and improvements thereto and products thereof, wherever located, whether in possession of Grantors or any warehouseman, bailee or any other person, or in process of delivery,

(iv) as-extracted collateral,

(v) commodities and futures agreements, and deposit, commodity, and securities accounts of the Borrower and any other Person over which a Lien is granted in favor of the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties,

(vi) goods, tools, machinery, furnishings, furniture, fixtures and other equipment of every type now owned or hereafter acquired by Grantors, wherever located, and all replacements thereof and additions thereto;

(vii) all Accounts, Accounts Receivable, prepayments to suppliers, contract rights, chattel paper, instruments, negotiable and nonnegotiable documents of title, deposit accounts, letter of credit rights, tax refund claims, payment intangibles and general intangibles now owned or hereafter acquired by Grantros, including, but not limited to, any rights under any state or federal agricultural programs; rights to payments in kind of crops or other farm products; rights to payment of money from the counterparties under any interest rate swap contract (or similar agreement), water and water rights; and stock or other equity in any farm lender;

(viii) proceeds, products, offspring, rents and profits of, increases, replacements and accessions to, and rights under contracts of insurance now or hereafter covering, any of the foregoing;

(ix) books and records pertaining to any of the foregoing, including records of genetic, genealogic, and any proceeds or collections on the foregoing, and any computer readable memory together with all computer hardware or software necessary to process such memory; and

 

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(x) all statutory lien rights of Grantors in any of the foregoing arising under any applicable federal or state law;

in each case, wherever located and, in any event, including all assets in the Borrowing Base.

(b) In addition, to secure the prompt and complete payment, performance and observance of the Obligations and in order to induce the Secured Parties as aforesaid, each Grantor hereby grants to the Secured Parties a right of setoff against the property of such Grantor held by the Secured Parties, consisting of property described above in Section 2(a) now or hereafter in the possession or custody of or in transit to the Secured Parties, for any purpose, including safekeeping, collection or pledge, for the account of such Grantor, or as to which such Grantor may have any right or power.

3. OBLIGATIONS SECURED . The security interest created hereby in the Collateral constitutes continuing collateral security for all of the following obligations, indebtedness and liabilities, whether now existing or hereafter incurred or arising (the “ Obligations ”):

(a) Loan Documents . (i) the Loans, including the Notes that may be issued from time to time to evidence such Loans and all principal thereof, all interest thereon and all other sums payable thereunder; (ii) all LC Obligations, including all obligations of the Grantors to make reimbursements and other payments to the Issuing Lender and to the Lenders in respect of Letters of Credit issued pursuant to the Credit Agreement; (iii) all obligations or liabilities of any Grantor owing to the Secured Parties, the Issuing Lender, or any Lender under the Security Documents; and (iv) all other sums payable under the other Loan Documents by any Grantor whether for principal, interest, fees or otherwise.

(b) Swap Obligations . All obligations, liabilities, and sums payable to the Swap Parties under Swap Contracts with any Grantor.

(c) Other Indebtedness . Any and all other indebtedness, obligations or liabilities which may at any time be owed to the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Lender, any Lender or any Swap Party by any Grantor, whether incurred heretofore or hereafter or concurrently herewith, under or pursuant to any of the Loan Documents.

(d) Renewals . All renewals, extensions, amendments, modifications, supplements or restatements of or substitutions for any of the foregoing Obligations described in subsections (a) , (b) , and (c)  above.

(e) Performance . The due performance and observance by the Grantors of all of their other obligations from time to time existing under or in respect of any of the Loan Documents.

(f) Bankruptcy . Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all post-petition interest, expenses and other duties and liabilities with respect to indebtedness or other obligations described above in this Section 3 , which would be owed but for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization, or similar proceeding.

 

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Each Grantor hereby acknowledges that the Obligations are owed to the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Lender, the Lenders, and the Swap Parties and that the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Lender, the Lenders, and the Swap Parties are entitled to the benefits of the Liens given under this Security Agreement. It is the intention of each Grantor and of the Secured Parties that this Security Agreement not constitute a fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance under any applicable law that may be applied hereto. Each Grantor and the Secured Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that notwithstanding any other provision of this Security Agreement: (a) the indebtedness secured hereby shall be limited to the maximum amount of indebtedness that can be incurred or secured by each Grantor without rendering the security interests granted and obligations incurred hereunder by such Grantor subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any applicable Law, and (b) the Collateral pledged by such Grantor hereunder shall be limited to the maximum amount of Collateral that can be pledged by such Grantor without rendering the pledge of Collateral by such Grantor subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any comparable provisions of any applicable Law.

4. GRANTOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS; SECURED PARTIES’ RIGHTS; LIMITATIONS ON SECURED PARTIES’ OBLIGATIONS .

(a) Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that the obligations undertaken by it under this Security Agreement involve the provision of collateral security for the obligations of Persons other than such Grantor and that each Grantor’s provision of collateral security for the Obligations are absolute, irrevocable and unconditional under any and all circumstances. In full recognition and furtherance of the foregoing, each Grantor understands and agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Laws and except as may otherwise be expressly and specifically provided in the Loan Documents, each Grantor shall remain obligated hereunder (including with respect to the collateral security provided by each Grantor herein) and the enforceability and effectiveness of this Security Agreement and the liability of each Grantor, and the rights, remedies, powers and privileges of the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties under this Security Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected, limited, reduced, discharged or terminated in any way, regardless of whether any reservation of rights against any Grantor is made, or any notice to, or further assent by, any Grantor is obtained, prior to or upon occurrence of any of the following: (A) the liability of any other Person upon or for any part of the Obligations or any collateral security therefor or right of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or released by, or any indulgence or forbearance in respect thereof granted by, the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party; (B) the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith may be amended, modified, supplemented, restated or replaced, in whole or in part, as the Collateral Agent (or the Required Lenders or all Lenders, as the case may be) may deem advisable from time to time; (C) any Grantor or any other Person liable for the

 

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Obligations may from time to time accept or enter into new or additional agreements, security documents, guarantees or other instruments in addition to, in exchange for or relative to, any Loan Document, all or any part of the Obligations or any Collateral now or in the future serving as security for the Obligations; (D) any collateral security or right of offset at any time held by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party for the payment of the Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released; and (E) any other event (other than the indefeasible payment in full of the Obligations) shall occur which constitutes a defense or release of sureties generally.

(b) Each Grantor hereby expressly waives to the fullest extent permitted by law any defense now or in the future arising by reason of: (A) the illegality, invalidity or unenforceability of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document, any of the Obligations or any other collateral security therefor or right of offset with respect thereto at any time or from time to time held by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, (B) any defense, set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of payment or performance) which may at any time be available to or be asserted by any Grantor or any other Person liable for the Obligations against the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party, (C) the insolvency, bankruptcy arrangement, reorganization, adjustment, composition, liquidation, disability, dissolution or lack of power of any Grantor or any other Person at any time liable for the payment of all or part of the Obligations or the failure of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to file or enforce a claim in bankruptcy or other proceeding with respect to any such Person; or any sale, lease or transfer of any or all of the assets of any Grantor, or any changes in the shareholders or equity interest holders of any Grantor; (D) the fact that any Collateral or Lien contemplated or intended to be given, created or granted as security for the repayment of the Obligations shall not be properly perfected or created, or shall prove to be unenforceable or subordinate to any other Lien; (E) any failure of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to V assets in favor of any Grantor or any other Person, to exhaust any collateral for all or any part of the Obligations, to pursue or exhaust any right, remedy, power or privilege it may have against any Grantor or any other Person or to take any action whatsoever to mitigate or reduce any Grantor’s liability under this Security Agreement or any other Loan Document; (F) any law which provides that the obligation of a surety or borrower must neither be larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome than that of the principal or which reduces a surety’s or borrower’s obligation in proportion to the principal obligation; (G) the possibility that the Obligations or the Grantors’ Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the aggregate liability of the Grantors under this Security Agreement; or (H) any other circumstance or act whatsoever (other than a defense of payment or performance) (with or without notice to or knowledge of any Grantor), which constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge or defense of any Grantor for the Obligations or with respect to the collateral security provided by any Grantor herein, or which might be available to a surety or borrower, in bankruptcy or in any other instance.

 

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(c) Except as expressly provided otherwise in any Loan Document, each Grantor hereby waives to the extent permitted by applicable Laws: (i) all notices to any Grantor, or to any other Person, including but not limited to, notices of the acceptance of this Security Agreement, the provision of collateral security provided herein, the creation, renewal, extension, modification or accrual of any Obligations, notice of or proof of reliance by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party upon the collateral security provided herein, notice of default in the payment or performance of any of the Obligations owed to the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party and enforcement of any right or remedy with respect thereto, or notice of any other matters relating thereto (the Obligations, and all dealings between any Grantor, on the one hand, and the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties, on the other hand, being conclusively presumed to have been created, contracted, consummated, renewed, extended, amended or waived in reliance upon the collateral security provided herein); (ii) diligence and demand of payment, presentment, protest, dishonor and notice of dishonor; (iii) any statute of limitations affecting any Grantor’s liability hereunder or the enforcement thereof; (iv) all rights of revocation with respect to the Obligations and the provision of collateral security herein; and (v) all principles or provisions of law which conflict with the terms of this Security Agreement and which can, as a matter of law, be waived.

(d) When making any demand hereunder or otherwise pursuing its rights and remedies hereunder against any Grantor, the Collateral Agent may, but shall be under no obligation to, join or make a similar demand on or otherwise pursue or exhaust such rights and remedies as it may have against any Grantor or any other Person or against any collateral security for the Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the Collateral Agent to make any such demand, to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any payments from any Grantor, or any other Person or to realize upon any such collateral security or to exercise any such right of offset, or any release of any Grantor or any other Person or any such collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve any Grantor of any obligation or liability hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, whether express, implied or available as a matter of law, of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party against any Grantor. For the purposes hereof, “demand” shall include the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any obligation to protect, secure, perfect, or insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for the Obligations or any property subject thereto.

5. SECURED PARTIES’ RIGHTS; LIMITATIONS ON SECURED PARTIES’ OBLIGATIONS .

(a) Grantors Shall Remain Liable Under Contracts and Licenses . It is expressly agreed by each Grantor that, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each Grantor shall remain liable under each of its contracts and each of its licenses to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder. The Secured Parties shall not have any obligation or liability under any contract or license by reason of or arising out of this Security Agreement or the granting herein of a Lien thereon or the receipt by the Secured Parties of any payment relating to any contract or license pursuant hereto. The Secured Parties shall not be required or obligated in any manner to perform or fulfill any of the obligations of any Grantor under or pursuant to any contract or license, or to make any payment, or to make any inquiry as

 

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to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it or the sufficiency of any performance by any party under any contract or license, or to present or file any claims, or to take any action to collect or enforce any performance or the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times.

(b) Grantors Shall Remain Liable Under Accounts, Chattel Paper, and Payment Intangibles . Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Grantors shall remain liable under each of the Accounts, Chattel Paper and Payment Intangibles to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder, all in accordance with the terms of any agreement giving rise to each such Account, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangible. Neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party shall have any obligation or liability under any Account, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangible (or any agreement giving rise thereto) by reason of or arising out of this Security Agreement or the receipt by the Collateral Agent or any such other Secured Party of any payment relating to such Account, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangible, pursuant hereto, nor shall the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party be obligated in any manner to perform any of the obligations of any Grantor under or pursuant to any Account, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangible (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to make any payment, to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it or as to the sufficiency of any performance by any party under any Account, Chattel Paper or Payment Intangible (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to present or file any claim, to take any action to enforce any performance thereof or to collect the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times hereunder.

(c) Notification of Account Debtors . Collateral Agent may at any time after a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (or if any rights of set-off (other than set-offs against an Account arising under the contract giving rise to the same Account) or contra accounts may be asserted with respect to the following), without prior notice to any Grantor, notify Account Debtors and other Persons obligated on the Collateral that the Secured Parties have a security interest therein, and that payments shall be made directly to Collateral Agent. Upon the request of Collateral Agent, each Grantor shall so notify Account Debtors and other Persons obligated on Collateral. Once any such notice has been given to any Account Debtor or other Person obligated on the Collateral, no Grantor shall give any contrary instructions to such Account Debtor or other Person without Collateral Agent’s prior written consent.

(d) Communications with Third Parties; Account Information . Collateral Agent may at any time in Collateral Agent’s own name, in the name of a nominee of Collateral Agent or in the name of any Grantor communicate (by mail, telephone, e-mail, facsimile, or otherwise) with Account Debtors, parties to contracts and obligors in respect of Instruments to verify with such Persons, to Collateral Agent’s satisfaction, the existence, amount, terms of, and any other matter relating to, Accounts, Payment Intangibles, Instruments or Chattel Paper. If a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, then each Grantor, at its own expense, shall cause the independent certified public accountants then engaged by such Grantor to prepare and

 

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deliver to Collateral Agent and each Secured Party at any time and from time to time promptly upon Collateral Agent’s request the following reports with respect to such Grantor: (i) a reconciliation of all Accounts; (ii) an aging of all Accounts; (iii) trial balances; and (iv) a test verification of such Accounts as Collateral Agent may request. Each Grantor, at its own expense, shall deliver to Collateral Agent the results of each physical verification, if any, which such Grantor may in its discretion have made, or caused any other Person to have made on its behalf, of all or any portion of its Inventory.

6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES . Each Grantor represents and warrants that:

(a) Representations in Credit Agreement . The representations and warranties set forth in the Credit Agreement and in any Loan Documents are true and correct as of the date hereof and as of the date of each Extension of Credit.

(b) Title; No Other Liens . Each Grantor is the record and beneficial owner of and has valid title to, its respective items of the Collateral free and clear of any and all Liens, except Permitted Liens, and has full right and authority to pledge the Collateral for the purposes and upon the terms set out herein and the power to transfer the Collateral, free and clear of any Lien except Permitted Liens. The performance by the Grantors of their obligations hereunder will not result in the creation of any Lien on any Collateral other than the Lien granted hereunder. No effective security agreement, financing statement, equivalent security or Lien instrument, continuation statement covering, or other public notice with respect to all or any part of the Collateral is on file or of record in any public office, except such as have been filed in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to this Security Agreement or any other Security Document, or to secure Permitted Liens.

(c) Perfected First Priority Liens . This Security Agreement is effective to create a valid and continuing first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) on and, upon the filing of the appropriate financing statements in the jurisdictions listed on Schedule I hereto, a perfected first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) in favor of the Secured Parties on the Collateral with respect to which a Lien may be perfected by filing pursuant to the UCC. Such Lien is prior to all other Liens, except Permitted Liens that would be prior to Liens in favor of the Secured Parties, and is enforceable as such as against any and all creditors of and purchasers from each Grantor (other than purchasers and lessees of Inventory or other Goods or products for value in the ordinary course of business). All action by each Grantor necessary or desirable to protect and perfect such Lien on each item of the Collateral has been duly taken.

(d) Instruments, Letter of Credit Rights, and Chattel Paper . Schedule II hereto lists all Instruments, Letter of Credit Rights, and Chattel Paper of Grantor. All action by each Grantor necessary or desirable to protect and perfect the Lien of the Secured Parties on each item set forth on Schedule II (including the delivery of all originals thereof to the Secured Parties and the legending of all Chattel Paper as required by Section 7(b) hereof) has been duly taken. The Lien of the Secured Parties on the Collateral listed on

 

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Schedule II hereto is prior to all other Liens, except Permitted Liens that would be prior to the Liens in favor of the Secured Parties, and is enforceable as such against any and all creditors of and purchasers from each Grantor.

(e) Legal Name; Organizational Status; Locations . Each Grantor’s name as it appears in official filings in the state of its incorporation or other organization, the type of entity of each Grantor (including corporation, partnership, limited partnership or limited liability company), organizational identification number issued by each Grantor’s state of incorporation or organization or a statement that no such number has been issued, each Grantor’s state of organization or incorporation, the location of each Grantor’s chief executive office, principal place of business, offices, all warehouses and premises where Collateral is stored or located, and the locations of the books and records of each Grantor concerning the Collateral are set forth on Schedule III . Each Grantor has only one state of incorporation or organization.

(f) Accounts and Account Debtors . With respect to the Accounts, (i) they represent bona fide sales of Inventory or rendering of services to Account Debtors in the ordinary course of each Grantor’s business and are not evidenced by a judgment, Instrument or Chattel Paper; (ii) to each Grantor’s knowledge, there are no setoffs, claims or disputes existing or asserted with respect thereto and no Grantor has made any agreement with any Account Debtor for any extension of time for the payment thereof, any compromise or settlement for less than the full amount thereof, any release of any Account Debtor from liability therefor, or any deduction therefrom except a discount or allowance allowed by any Grantor in the ordinary course of its business for prompt payment and disclosed to the Secured Parties; (iii) to each Grantor’s knowledge, there are no facts, events or occurrences which in any way impair the validity or enforceability thereof or could reasonably be expected to reduce the amount payable thereunder as shown on each Grantor’s books and records and any invoices, statements and Borrowing Base Reports delivered to the Secured Parties with respect thereto; (iv) no Grantor has received any notice of proceedings or actions which are threatened or pending against any Account Debtor which might result in any material adverse change in such Account Debtor’s financial condition; and (v) no Grantor has any knowledge, except as disclosed on Schedule IV , that any Account Debtor is unable generally to pay its debts as they become due. Further with respect to the Accounts (x) the amounts shown on all invoices, statements and Borrowing Base Reports which may be delivered to the Secured Parties with respect thereto are actually and absolutely owing to the Grantor as indicated thereon and are not in any way contingent; (y) no payments have been or shall be made thereon except payments immediately delivered to one or more of the Bank Blocked Accounts or Lenders as required pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement; and (z) to each Grantor’s knowledge, all Account Debtors have the capacity to contract.

(g) Inventory . With respect to any Inventory scheduled or listed on the most recent Borrowing Base Report delivered to Lenders pursuant to the terms of this Security Agreement or the Credit Agreement, (i) such Inventory (other than Inventory in transit) is located at one of the locations set forth on Schedule III hereto, as applicable, (ii) no Inventory (other than Inventory in transit) is now, or shall at any time or times hereafter

 

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be stored at any other location other than an Approved Storage Location, (iii) with respect to Inventory in transit, the Grantor will deliver to the Collateral Agent, at Collateral Agent’s request, negotiable bills of lading to the order of or negotiated to the order of Collateral Agent, (iv) the Grantor will, to the extent required by the Credit Agreement, notify warehousemen and other owners and operators of storage locations at which Inventory is stored, of the Lenders’ security interest in such Inventory, such notification to be in form and substance acceptable to Collateral Agent, and obtain, to the extent required by the Credit Agreement, bailee, landlord and warehousemen agreements, (v) each Grantor has good, indefeasible and merchantable title to such Inventory and such Inventory is not subject to any Lien or security interest or document whatsoever except for the Lien granted to the Secured Parties, and except for Permitted Liens, (vi) except as specifically disclosed in the most recent Borrowing Base Report delivered to Lenders, such Inventory is Eligible Inventory of good and merchantable quality, free from any known defects, (vii) such Inventory is not subject to any licensing, patent, royalty, trademark, trade name or copyright agreements with any third parties which would require any consent of any third party upon sale or disposition of that Inventory or the payment of any monies to any third party upon such sale or other disposition, (viii) the completion of manufacture, sale or other disposition of such Inventory by the Secured Parties following an Event of Default shall not require the consent of any Person, and shall not constitute a breach or default under any contract or agreement to which any Grantor is a party or to which such property is subject, and (ix) a Grantor purchased such Inventory for fair consideration.

(h) Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights . No Grantor has any interest in, or title to, any patent, trademark or copyright except as set forth in Schedule V hereto. This Security Agreement is effective to create a valid and continuing Lien in the patents, trademarks and copyrights set forth on Schedule V hereto, and, upon the filing of this Security Agreement with the United States Copyright Office and/or the United States Patent and Trademark Office, as applicable, together with the filing of appropriate UCC financing statements in the jurisdictions of the applicable Grantors’ locations (under the UCC), is effective to perfect such Lien, and such perfected Lien is enforceable as such as against any and all creditors of and purchasers from the applicable Grantors (except those creditors holding Permitted Liens). Upon the filing of this Security Agreement with the United States Copyright Office and/or the United States Patent and Trademark Office as applicable, and the filing of appropriate UCC financing statements in the jurisdictions of the applicable Grantors’ locations (under the UCC), all action necessary or desirable to protect and perfect the Secured Parties’ Lien on the Grantors’ patents, trademarks or copyrights set forth on Schedule V hereto shall have been duly taken.

(i) Governmental Obligors . On the date hereof, none of the Account Debtors on any Grantor’s Accounts, Chattel Paper, or Payment Intangibles is a Governmental Authority.

 

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7. COVENANTS . Each Grantor covenants and agrees with the Secured Parties that from and after the date of this Security Agreement and until the Termination Date:

(a) Further Assurances; Pledge of Instruments; Chattel Paper .

(i) At any time and from time to time, upon the written request of Collateral Agent and at the sole expense of Grantors, Grantors shall promptly and duly execute and deliver any and all such further instruments and documents and take such further actions as Collateral Agent may deem desirable to obtain the full benefits of this Security Agreement and of the rights and powers herein granted, including (A) using commercially reasonable efforts to secure all consents and approvals necessary or appropriate for the assignment to or for the benefit of the Secured Parties of any license or contract held by any Grantor and to enforce the security interests granted hereunder; and (B) filing any financing or continuation statements under the UCC with respect to the Liens granted hereunder or under any other Loan Document.

(ii) Unless Collateral Agent shall otherwise consent in writing (which consent may be revoked), each Grantor shall deliver to Collateral Agent all Collateral consisting of negotiable Documents, certificated securities, Chattel Paper, and Instruments (in each case, accompanied by stock powers, allonges or other instruments of transfer executed in blank) promptly after each Grantor and its subsidiaries receive the same.

(iii) Each Grantor shall, in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement, and at the request of Collateral Agent, obtain or use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain waivers or subordinations of Liens from landlords and warehousemen, and in all instances where a bailee has possession of any Grantor’s Collateral that such bailee holds for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the applicable Grantor and its Subsidiaries shall obtain signed acknowledgements of the Secured Parties’ Liens from such bailee.

(iv) If required by the terms of the Credit Agreement and not waived by the Collateral Agent and/or the requisite Lenders, as applicable, in writing (which waiver may be revoked), each Grantor shall obtain authenticated control letters from each issuer of uncertificated securities, securities intermediary, or commodities intermediary issuing or holding any financial assets or commodities to or for such Grantor.

(v) Each Grantor shall maintain a blocked account, lockbox, or similar agreement with each bank or financial institution holding a Deposit Account for such Grantor.

(vi) If any Grantor becomes the beneficiary of a letter of credit in an amount greater than $250,000, then such Grantor shall promptly, and in any event within two (2) Business Days after becoming a beneficiary, notify Collateral Agent thereof and, at the request of the Collateral Agent, obtain the consent of the issuer or any nominated person of the letter of credit to the assignment of the Letter of Credit Rights, as required for the Secured Parties to perfect their security interest in such Letter of Credit Rights, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

 

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(vii) Each Grantor shall take all steps necessary to grant the Secured Parties control of all Electronic Chattel Paper in accordance with the UCC and all “transferable records” as defined in each of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act and the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.

(viii) Each Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes Collateral Agent or its counsel at any time and from time to time to file in any filing office in any UCC Jurisdiction any initial financing statements and amendments thereto that (a) indicate the Collateral (i) as all assets of Grantor or words of similar effect, regardless of whether any particular asset comprised in the Collateral falls within the scope of Article 9 of the UCC or such jurisdiction, or (ii) as being of an equal or lesser scope or with greater detail, and (b) contain any other information required by part 5 of Article 9 of the UCC for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statement or amendment, including (i) whether such Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and any organization identification number issued to such Grantor, and (ii) in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing, a sufficient description of real property to which the Collateral relates. Each Grantor agrees to furnish any such information to Collateral Agent promptly upon request. Each Grantor also ratifies its authorization for Collateral Agent to have filed in any UCC Jurisdiction any initial financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.

(b) Commercial Tort Claims . Each Grantor shall promptly, and in any event within two (2) Business Days after the same is acquired by it, notify the Secured Parties of any commercial tort claim (as defined in the UCC) acquired by it, and, unless otherwise consented by the Collateral Agent, each Grantor shall enter into a supplement to this Security Agreement, granting to the Secured Parties a Lien in such commercial tort claim.

(c) Maintenance of Records . Each Grantor shall keep and maintain, at its own cost and expense, satisfactory and complete records of the Collateral, including a record of any and all payments received and any and all credits granted with respect to the Collateral and all other dealings with the Collateral. Each Grantor shall mark its books and records pertaining to the Collateral to evidence this Security Agreement and the Liens granted hereby. If any Grantor retains possession of any Chattel Paper or Instruments with Collateral Agent’s consent, then such Chattel Paper and Instruments shall be marked with the following legend: “This writing and the obligations evidenced or secured hereby are subject to the security interest of BNP Paribas”.

(d) Right of Inspection . In addition to the inspection rights contained in the Credit Agreement, the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective representatives shall at all reasonable times, and upon prior notice, also have the right to enter into and upon any premises where any of the Collateral is located for the purpose of

 

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inspecting the same, observing its use or otherwise protecting their interests therein, and each Grantor agrees to render to the Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties and their respective representatives such clerical and other assistance as may be reasonably requested with regard to any of the foregoing.

(e) Covenants Regarding Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Collateral .

(i) Each Grantor shall notify Collateral Agent immediately if it knows or has reason to know that any application or registration relating to any patent, trademark, or copyright (now or hereafter existing) may become abandoned or dedicated, or of any adverse determination or development (including the institution of, or any such determination or development in, any proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office, or any court) regarding any Grantor’s ownership of any patent, trademark, or copyright, its right to register the same, or its right to keep and maintain the same.

(ii) In no event shall any Grantor, either itself or through any agent, employee, licensee or designee, file an application for the registration of any patent, trademark, or copyright with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office, or any similar office or agency without giving Collateral Agent prior written notice thereof, and, upon request of Collateral Agent, such Grantor shall execute and deliver any and all intellectual property security agreements as Collateral Agent may request to evidence the Secured Parties’ Lien on such patent, trademark, or copyright, and the General Intangibles of such Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby.

(iii) Each Grantor shall take all actions necessary or requested by Collateral Agent to maintain and pursue each application, to obtain the relevant registration and to maintain the registration of each of the patents, trademarks, and copyrights (now or hereafter existing), including the filing of applications for renewal, affidavits of use, affidavits of non-contestability and opposition, and interference and cancellation proceedings.

(iv) In the event that any of the patent, trademark or copyright Collateral is infringed upon, misappropriated, or diluted by a third party, the applicable Grantor shall comply with Section 7(b) of this Security Agreement. The applicable Grantor shall, unless such Grantor shall reasonably determine that such patent, trademark or copyright Collateral is in no way material to the conduct of its business or operations, promptly sue for infringement, misappropriation, or dilution and to recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation, or dilution, and shall take such other actions as Collateral Agent shall deem appropriate under the circumstances to protect such patent, trademark, or copyright Collateral.

 

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(f) Indemnification . In any suit, proceeding, or action brought by the Secured Parties relating to any Collateral for any sum owing with respect thereto or to enforce any rights or claims with respect thereto, each Grantor will save, indemnify, and keep the Secured Parties harmless from and against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses), loss, or damage suffered by reason of any defense, setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, or reduction of liability whatsoever of the Account Debtor or other Person obligated on the Collateral, arising out of a breach by any Grantor of any obligation thereunder or arising out of any other agreement, indebtedness, or liability at any time owing to, or in favor of, such obligor or its successors from any Grantor, except in the case of the Secured Parties, to the extent such expense, loss, or damage is attributable solely to the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Secured Parties as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. All such obligations of any Grantor shall be and remain enforceable against and only against such Grantor and shall not be enforceable against the Secured Parties.

(g) Compliance with Terms of Accounts, etc. In all material respects, each Grantor will perform and comply with all obligations in respect of the Collateral and all other agreements to which it is a party or by which it is bound relating to the Collateral.

(h) Limitation on Liens on Collateral . No Grantor will create, permit, or suffer to exist, and each Grantor will defend the Collateral against, and take such other action as is necessary to remove, any Lien on the Collateral except Permitted Liens, and will defend the right, title, and interest of the Secured Parties in and to any of each Grantor’s rights under the Collateral against the claims and demands of all Persons whomsoever.

(i) Limitations on Disposition. No Grantor will sell, license, lease, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any of the Collateral or attempt or contract to do so except as permitted by the Credit Agreement.

(j) Further Identification of Collateral . Each Grantor will, if so requested by Collateral Agent, furnish to the Secured Parties, as often as Collateral Agent requests, statements, and schedules further identifying and describing the Collateral and such other reports in connection with the Collateral as Collateral Agent may reasonably request, all in such detail as Collateral Agent may specify.

(k) Notices . Each Grantor will advise Collateral Agent promptly, in reasonable detail, (i) of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) or claim made or asserted against any of the Collateral and (ii) of the occurrence of any other event which would have a material adverse effect on the aggregate value of the Collateral or on the Liens created hereunder or under any other Loan Document.

(l) No Reincorporation; Change of Name . Without limiting the prohibitions on mergers involving the Grantors contained in the Credit Agreement, no Grantor shall reincorporate or reorganize itself under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated or organized as of the date hereof or change its corporate name without the prior written consent of the Secured Parties.

 

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(m) Subsidiaries . No Grantor will form or acquire any subsidiaries without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent.

(n) Terminations; Amendments Not Authorized . Each Grantor acknowledges that it is not authorized to file any financing statement or amendment or termination statement with respect to any financing statement without the prior written consent of Collateral Agent and agrees that it will not do so without the prior written consent of Collateral Agent, subject to each Grantor’s rights under Section 9-509(d)(2) of the UCC.

(o) Authorized Terminations . Upon payment in full in cash and performance of all of the Obligations, termination of the Credit Agreement, expiration or cancellation of all Letters of Credit issued under the Credit Agreement, and a release of all claims against the Secured Parties (the “ Termination Date ”), the Secured Parties will promptly deliver to each Grantor for filing or authorize each Grantor to prepare and file termination statements and releases.

8. COLLATERAL AGENT’S APPOINTMENT AS ATTORNEY-IN-FACT . On the Closing Date, Grantors shall execute and deliver to Collateral Agent a power of attorney (the “ Power of Attorney ”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A . The power of attorney granted pursuant to the Power of Attorney is a power coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable until the Termination Date. The powers conferred on Collateral Agent under the Power of Attorney are solely to protect the Secured Parties’ interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties to exercise any such powers. Collateral Agent agrees that (a) except for the powers granted in clause (h) of the Power of Attorney, it shall not exercise any power or authority granted under the Power of Attorney unless a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (b) Collateral Agent shall account for any moneys received by Collateral Agent in respect of any foreclosure on or disposition of Collateral pursuant to the Power of Attorney, provided that Collateral Agent shall not have any duty as to any Collateral, and Collateral Agent shall be accountable only for amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers. NEITHER COLLATERAL AGENT NOR ITS RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE TO ANY GRANTOR FOR ANY ACT OR FAILURE TO ACT UNDER ANY POWER OF ATTORNEY OR OTHERWISE, EXCEPT IN RESPECT OF DAMAGES ATTRIBUTABLE SOLELY TO ITS OWN GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT AS FINALLY DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION, NOR FOR ANY PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.

9. REMEDIES; RIGHTS UPON DEFAULT .

(a) In addition to all other rights and remedies granted to it under this Security Agreement, the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and under any other instrument or agreement securing, evidencing or relating to any of the Obligations, if any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties may exercise all rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC and applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor

 

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expressly agrees that in any such event Collateral Agent, without demand of performance or other demand, advertisement or notice of any kind (except the notice specified below of the time and place of public or private sale) to or upon any Grantor or any other Person (all and each of which demands, advertisements and notices are hereby expressly waived to the maximum extent permitted by the UCC and other applicable law), may forthwith enter upon the premises of each Grantor where any Collateral is located through self-help, without judicial process, without first obtaining a final judgment or giving any Grantor or any other Person notice and opportunity for a hearing on Collateral Agent’s claim or action and may collect, receive, assemble, process, appropriate and realize upon the Collateral, or any part thereof, and may forthwith sell, lease, license, assign, give an option or options to purchase, or sell or otherwise dispose of and deliver said Collateral (or contract to do so), or any part thereof, in one or more parcels at a public or private sale or sales, at any exchange at such prices as it may deem acceptable, for cash or on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk. Collateral Agent shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the whole or any part of said Collateral so sold, free of any right or equity of redemption, which right of redemption each Grantor hereby releases. Such sales may be adjourned and continued from time to time with or without notice. Collateral Agent shall have the right to conduct such sales on any Grantor’s premises or elsewhere and shall have the right to use any Grantor’s premises without charge for such time or times as Collateral Agent deems necessary or advisable.

If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Grantor further agrees, at Collateral Agent’s request, to assemble the Collateral and make it available to Collateral Agent at a place or places designated by Collateral Agent which are reasonably convenient to Collateral Agent and the applicable Grantor, whether at the applicable Grantor’s premises or elsewhere. Until Collateral Agent is able to effect a sale, lease, or other disposition of Collateral, Collateral Agent shall have the right to hold or use Collateral, or any part thereof, to the extent that it deems appropriate for the purpose of preserving Collateral or its value or for any other purpose deemed appropriate by Collateral Agent. Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to any Grantor to maintain or preserve the rights of such Grantor as against third parties with respect to Collateral while Collateral is in the possession of Collateral Agent. Collateral Agent may, if it so elects, seek the appointment of a receiver or keeper to take possession of Collateral and to enforce any of the Secured Parties’ remedies, with respect to such appointment without prior notice or hearing as to such appointment. Collateral Agent shall apply the net proceeds of any such collection, recovery, receipt, appropriation, realization or sale to the Obligations as provided in the Credit Agreement, and only after so paying over such net proceeds, and after the payment by Collateral Agent of any other amount required by any provision of law, need Collateral Agent account for the surplus, if any, to the applicable Grantor. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, each Grantor waives all claims, damages, and demands against Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties arising out of the repossession, retention or sale of the Collateral except such as arise solely out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties

 

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as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Each Grantor agrees that ten (10) days prior notice by Collateral Agent of the time and place of any public sale or of the time after which a private sale may take place is reasonable notification of such matters. Each Grantor shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of any sale or disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay all Obligations, including any attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred by Collateral Agent to collect such deficiency.

(b) Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, each Grantor hereby waives presentment, demand, protest or any notice (to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law) of any kind in connection with this Security Agreement or any Collateral.

(c) To the extent that applicable law imposes duties on Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties to exercise remedies in a commercially reasonable manner, each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that it is not commercially unreasonable for Collateral Agent (i) to fail to incur expenses reasonably deemed significant by Collateral Agent to prepare Collateral for disposition or otherwise to complete raw material or work in process into finished goods or other finished products for disposition, (ii) to fail to obtain third party consents for access to Collateral to be disposed of, or to obtain or, if not required by other law, to fail to obtain governmental or third party consents for the collection or disposition of Collateral to be collected or disposed of, (iii) to fail to exercise collection remedies against Account Debtors or other Persons obligated on Collateral or to remove Liens on or any adverse claims against Collateral, (iv) to exercise collection remedies against Account Debtors and other Persons obligated on Collateral directly or through the use of collection agencies and other collection specialists, (v) to advertise dispositions of Collateral through publications or media of general circulation, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (vi) to contact other Persons, whether or not in the same business as any Grantor, for expressions of interest in acquiring all or any portion of such Collateral, (vii) to hire one or more professional auctioneers to assist in the disposition of Collateral, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (viii) to dispose of Collateral by utilizing internet sites that provide for the auction of assets of the types included in the Collateral or that have the reasonable capacity of doing so, or that match buyers and sellers of assets, (ix) to dispose of assets in wholesale rather than retail markets, (x) to disclaim disposition warranties, such as title, possession or quiet enjoyment, (xi) to purchase insurance or credit enhancements to insure the Secured Parties against risks of loss, collection or disposition of Collateral or to provide to the Secured Parties a guaranteed return from the collection or disposition of Collateral, or (xii) to the extent deemed appropriate by Collateral Agent, to obtain the services of other brokers, investment bankers, consultants and other professionals to assist Collateral Agent in the collection or disposition of any of the Collateral. Each Grantor acknowledges that the purpose of this Section 9(c) is to provide non-exhaustive indications of what actions or omissions by Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties would not be commercially unreasonable in Collateral Agent’s exercise of remedies against the Collateral and that other actions or omissions by Collateral Agent shall not be deemed commercially unreasonable solely on account of not being indicated in this Section 9(c) . Without limitation upon the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section 9(c) shall be construed to grant any rights to any Grantor or to impose any duties on Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties that would not have been granted or imposed by this Security Agreement or by applicable law in the absence of this Section 9(c) .

 

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(d) Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties shall not be required to make any demand upon, or pursue or exhaust any of their rights or remedies against, any Grantor, any other obligor, guarantor, pledgor or any other Person with respect to the payment of the Obligations or to pursue or exhaust any of their rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral therefor or any direct or indirect guarantee thereof. Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties shall not be required to marshal the Collateral or any guarantee of the Obligations or to resort to the Collateral or any such guarantee in any particular order, and all of its and their rights hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be cumulative. To the extent it may lawfully do so, each Grantor absolutely and irrevocably waives and relinquishes the benefit and advantage of, and covenants not to assert against Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties, any valuation, stay, appraisement, extension, redemption or similar laws and any and all rights or defenses it may have as a surety now or hereafter existing which, but for this provision, might be applicable to the sale of any Collateral made under the judgment, order or decree of any court, or privately under the power of sale conferred by this Security Agreement, or otherwise.

(e) Proceeds from the sale or other disposition of Collateral shall be applied in the manner described in the Credit Agreement.

10. GRANT OF LICENSE TO USE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL . For the purpose of enabling Collateral Agent to exercise rights and remedies under Section 9 hereof (including, without limiting the terms of Section 9 hereof, in order to take possession of, hold, preserve, process, assemble, prepare for sale, market for sale, sell or otherwise dispose of Collateral) at such time as Collateral Agent shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, to the extent Grantor is not contractually prohibited from doing so, each Grantor hereby grants to Collateral Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties, an irrevocable, nonexclusive license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to any Grantor) to use, license, or sublicense any intellectual property now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor, and wherever the same may be located, and including in such license access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs used for the compilation or printout thereof.

11. LIMITATION ON SECURED PARTIES’ DUTY IN RESPECT OF COLLATERAL . The Secured Parties shall use reasonable care with respect to the Collateral in their possession or under their control. The Secured Parties shall not have any other duty as to any Collateral in their possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or nominee of the Secured Parties, or any income thereon or as to the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto.

12. REINSTATEMENT . This Security Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against any Grantor for liquidation or reorganization, should any Grantor become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of any creditor or creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any

 

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significant part of any Grantor’s assets, and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Obligations, or any part thereof, is, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee of the Obligations, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent conveyance,” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Obligations shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

13. NOTICES . Except as otherwise provided herein, whenever it is provided herein that any notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration or other communication shall or may be given to or served upon any of the parties by any other party, or whenever any of the parties desires to give and serve upon any other party any communication with respect to this Security Agreement, each such notice, demand, request, consent, approval, declaration or other communication shall be in writing and shall be given in the manner, and deemed received, as provided for in the Credit Agreement.

14. SEVERABILITY . Whenever possible, each provision of this Security Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Security Agreement shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Security Agreement. This Security Agreement is to be read, construed and applied together with the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents which, taken together, set forth the complete understanding and agreement of Collateral Agent, the Secured Parties and the Grantors with respect to the matters referred to herein and therein.

15. NO WAIVER; CUMULATIVE REMEDIES . Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties shall not by any act, delay, omission, or otherwise be deemed to have waived any of their rights or remedies hereunder, and no waiver shall be valid unless in writing, signed by the Secured Parties and then only to the extent therein set forth. A waiver by Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any right or remedy which Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties would otherwise have had on any future occasion. No failure to exercise nor any delay in exercising on the part of Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties, any right, power or privilege hereunder, shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies hereunder provided are cumulative and may be exercised singly or concurrently, and are not exclusive of any rights and remedies provided by law. None of the terms or provisions of this Security Agreement may be waived, altered, modified, or amended except by an instrument in writing, duly executed by the Secured Parties.

16. LIMITATION BY LAW . All rights, remedies and powers provided in this Security Agreement may be exercised only to the extent that the exercise thereof does not violate any applicable provision of law, and all the provisions of this Security Agreement are intended to be subject to all applicable mandatory provisions of law that may be controlling and to be limited to the extent necessary so that they shall not render this Security Agreement invalid, unenforceable, in whole or in part, or not entitled to be recorded, registered or filed under the provisions of any applicable law.

 

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17. TERMINATION OF THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT . Subject to Section 12 hereof, this Security Agreement shall terminate on the Termination Date.

18. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS . This Security Agreement and all obligations of each Grantor hereunder shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of each Grantor (including any debtor-in-possession on behalf of any Grantor) and shall, together with the rights and remedies of Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties, hereunder, inure to the benefit of the Secured Parties, all future holders of any instrument evidencing any of the Obligations and their respective successors and assigns. No sales of participations, other sales, assignments, transfers or other dispositions of any agreement governing or instrument evidencing the Obligations or any portion thereof or interest therein shall in any manner impair the Lien granted to the Secured Parties hereunder. No Grantor may assign, sell, hypothecate, or otherwise transfer any interest in or obligation under this Security Agreement.

19. COUNTERPARTS . This Security Agreement may be executed in any number of separate counterparts, each of which shall collectively and separately constitute one agreement. This Security Agreement may be executed by manual signature, facsimile, or electronic means, all of which shall be equally valid.

20. GOVERNING LAW; SERVICE OF PROCESS; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVERS

(a) THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF).

(b) Each of the Grantors and Collateral Agent hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:

(i) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to this Security Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York, the U.S. federal courts in the Southern District of New York, and appellate courts from any thereof;

(ii) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or any claim that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;

 

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(iii) agrees that service of process any Grantor in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to such Grantor at its address set forth in the Credit Agreement or at such other address of which the Collateral Agent shall have been notified pursuant thereto;

(iv) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by Law or shall limit the right to sue in any other jurisdiction; and

(v) waives, to the maximum extent not prohibited by Law, any right it may have to claim or recover in any legal action or proceeding referred to in this Section any special, exemplary, punitive, or consequential damages.

21. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH GRANTOR AND EACH SECURED PARTY WAIVES ITS RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT, THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR OTHER LITIGATION OF ANY TYPE BROUGHT BY ANY OF THE PARTIES AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY OR ANY PARTICIPANT OR ASSIGNEE, WHETHER WITH RESPECT TO CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, OR OTHERWISE. EACH GRANTOR AND EACH SECURED PARTY AGREE THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE TRIED BY A COURT WITHOUT A JURY. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE PARTIES FURTHER AGREE THAT THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IS WAIVED BY OPERATION OF THIS SECTION AS TO ANY ACTION, COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHER PROCEEDING WHICH SEEKS, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, TO CHALLENGE THE VALIDITY OR ENFORCEABILITY OF THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY PROVISION HEREOF OR THEREOF. THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS, OR MODIFICATIONS TO THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.

22. SECTION TITLES . The Section titles contained in this Security Agreement are and shall be without substantive meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the agreement between the parties hereto.

23. NO STRICT CONSTRUCTION . The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Security Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Security Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Security Agreement.

 

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24. ADVICE OF COUNSEL . Each of the parties represents to each other party hereto that it has discussed this Security Agreement and, specifically, the provisions of Section 20 and Section 21 , with its counsel.

25. BENEFIT OF THE SECURED PARTIES . All Liens granted or contemplated hereby shall be for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and all proceeds or payments realized from Collateral in accordance herewith shall be applied to the Obligations in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement.

26. ENTIRE AGREEMENT . THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER SECURITY DOCUMENTS EMBODY THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE GRANTORS, COLLATERAL AGENT AND THE SECURED PARTIES, AND SUPERCEDES ALL PRIOR OR CONTEMPORANEOUS AGREEMENTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS OF SUCH PERSONS, VERBAL OR WRITTEN, RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF AND THEREOF.

27. MISCELLANEOUS . In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the terms of this Security Agreement and the Credit Agreement, the Credit Agreement shall prevail to the extent of such conflict or inconsistency.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Security Agreement to be executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.

 

GRANTORS:

 

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC , a Delaware limited liability company

By:  

GREEN PLAINS RENEWABLE ENERGY, INC. , an Iowa corporation,

its sole Member

  By:   /s/ Jerry Peters
  Name:   Jerry Peters
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer
GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC , a Delaware limited liability company
By:  

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC , a Delaware limited liability company,

its sole Member

  By:   /s/ Jerry Peters
  Name:   Jerry Peters
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC .,

an Iowa corporation

By:   /s/ Jerry Peters
Name:   Jerry Peters
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

c/o Green Plains Grain Company LLC

450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400

Omaha, Nebraska 68114

Attention: Mr. Jerry Peters

Fax: 402-884-8776

Phone: 402-315-1603

Email: jerry.peters@gpreinc.com

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO S ECURITY A GREEMENT ]


BNP PARIBAS ,

a bank organized under the laws of France,

as Collateral Agent

By:   /s/ Stephen R. Staples, Jr.
Name:   Stephen R. Staples, Jr.
Title:   Managing Director
By:   /s/ Jeffry S. Millican
Name:   Jeffry S. Millican
Title:   Director

15455 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 1400

Addison, Texas 75001

Attention: Jeff Millican

Fax: (214) 969-9332

Phone: (214) 866-2536

Email: jeff.millican@us.bnpparibas.com

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO S ECURITY A GREEMENT ]


SCHEDULE I

to

SECURITY AGREEMENT

FILING JURISDICTIONS

 

1. Delaware

 

2. Iowa


SCHEDULE II

to

SECURITY AGREEMENT

INSTRUMENTS,

CHATTEL PAPER

AND

LETTER OF CREDIT RIGHTS

None.


SCHEDULE III

to

SECURITY AGREEMENT

SCHEDULE OF OFFICES, LOCATIONS OF COLLATERAL AND RECORDS

 

I. Grantor’s official name: Green Plains Grain Company LLC

 

II. Type of entity (e.g. corporation, partnership, business trust, limited partnership, limited liability company): limited liability company

 

III. Organizational identification number issued by Grantor’s state of incorporation or organization or a statement that no such number has been issued:

 

IV. State or Incorporation or Organization of Grantor: Delaware

 

V. Chief Executive Office and principal place of business of Grantor:
  450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400, Omaha, Nebraska 68114

 

VI. Corporate Offices of Grantor:
  450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400, Omaha, Nebraska 68114

 

VII. Warehouses:

 

  (a) 701 N Main St., Everly, IA

 

  (b) 1111 Railroad Ave, Greenville, IA

 

  (c)

2980 254 th Ave., Langdon, IA

 

  (d)

701 4 th Ave W, Spencer, IA

 

  (e) 1110 P Ave., Milford, IA

 

  (f) 300 Agricultural Ave., Gruver, IA

 

  (g) 603 RR Ave., Superior, IA

 

  (h) Hwy 148, Hopkins, MO

 

VIII. Other Premises at which Collateral is Stored or Located: None.

 

IX. Locations of Records Concerning Collateral:
  701 N Main St., Everly, Iowa 51338


SCHEDULE III

to

SECURITY AGREEMENT

(continued)

 

I. Grantor’s official name: Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC

 

II. Type of entity (e.g. corporation, partnership, business trust, limited partnership, limited liability company): limited liability company

 

III. Organizational identification number issued by Grantor’s state of incorporation or organization or a statement that no such number has been issued:

 

IV. State or Incorporation or Organization of Grantor: Delaware

 

V. Chief Executive Office and principal place of business of Grantor:
  450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400, Omaha, Nebraska 68114

 

VI. Corporate Offices of Grantor:
  450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400, Omaha, Nebraska 68114

 

VII. Warehouses:

 

  (a) Kenton: 201 Church St. Kenton, TN

 

  (b) Como: 10870 Hwy 54, Como, TN

 

  (c) Trenton: S Wilson St., Trenton, TN

 

  (d) Dyer: 347 South Main St., Dyer, TN

 

  (e) Union City: 325 W Martin Luther King Dr., Union City, TN

 

VIII. Other Premises at which Collateral is Stored or Located:

 

  (a) Crop Production Services – North Fifth St., Union City, TN 38261

 

  (b) Partee Bin – Trenton, TN

 

IX. Locations of Records Concerning Collateral:

 

  (a) Kenton: 201 Church St. Kenton, TN

 

  (b) Como: 10870 Hwy 54, Como, TN

 

  (c) Trenton: S Wilson St., Trenton, TN

 

  (d) Dyer: 347 South Main St., Dyer, TN

 

  (e) Union City: 325 W Martin Luther King Dr., Union City, TN


SCHEDULE III

to

SECURITY AGREEMENT

(continued)

I. Grantor’s official name: Green Plains Essex Inc.

 

II. Type of entity (e.g. corporation, partnership, business trust, limited partnership, limited liability company): corporation

 

III. Organizational identification number issued by Grantor’s state of incorporation or organization or a statement that no such number has been issued: 13439

 

IV. State or Incorporation or Organization of Grantor: Iowa

 

V. Chief Executive Office and principal place of business of Grantor:
  450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400, Omaha, Nebraska 68114

 

VI. Corporate Offices of Grantor:
  450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400, Omaha, Nebraska 68114

 

VII. Warehouses:
  411 N. St., Essex, Iowa 51638

 

VIII. Other Premises at which Collateral is Stored or Located: None.

 

IX. Locations of Records Concerning Collateral:
  411 N. St., Essex, Iowa 51638


SCHEDULE IV

to

SECURITY AGREEMENT

ACCOUNT DEBTORS UNABLE TO PAY

None.


SCHEDULE V

to

SECURITY AGREEMENT

PATENTS, TRADEMARKS AND COPYRIGHTS

None.


EXHIBIT A

Form of Power of Attorney

POWER OF ATTORNEY

This Power of Attorney is executed and delivered by GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ GPG ”), GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ GPG-TN ”), GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC. , an Iowa corporation (“ GPG-Essex ”), and any additional party joining the Security Agreement (defined below) as a grantor (each of GPG, GPG-TN, and GPG-Essex, individually as a “ Grantor ” and collectively as the “ Grantors ”), and BNP PARIBAS , a bank organized under the laws of France (hereinafter referred to as “ Attorney ”), as Collateral Agent for the Lenders under the Credit Agreement dated as of October 28, 2011 (as amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”) and other related documents (the “ Loan Documents ”). No person to whom this Power of Attorney is presented, as authority for Attorney to take any action or actions contemplated hereby, shall be required to inquire into or seek confirmation from the Grantor as to the authority of Attorney to take any action described below, or as to the existence of or fulfillment of any condition to this Power of Attorney, which is intended to grant to Attorney unconditionally the authority to take and perform the actions contemplated herein, and the Grantor irrevocably waives any right to commence any suit or action, in law or equity, against any person or entity which acts in reliance upon or acknowledges the authority granted under this Power of Attorney. The power of attorney granted hereby is coupled with an interest, and may not be revoked or canceled by the Grantor without Attorney’s written consent.

The Grantor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints Attorney (and all officers, employees or agents designated by Attorney), with full power of substitution, as the Grantor’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of the Grantor and in the name of the Grantor or in its own name, from time to time in Attorney’s discretion, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute and deliver any and all documents and instruments which may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of the Loan Documents and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Grantor hereby grants to Attorney the power and right, on behalf of the Grantor, without notice to or assent by the Grantor, and at any time, to do the following: (a) change the mailing address of the Grantor, open a post office box on behalf of the Grantor, open mail for the Grantor, and ask, demand, collect, give acquittances and receipts for, take possession of, endorse any invoices, freight or express bills, bills of lading, storage or warehouse receipts, drafts against debtors, assignments, verifications, and notices in connection with any property of the Grantor; (b) effect any repairs to any asset of the Grantor, or continue or obtain any insurance and pay all or any part of the premiums therefor and costs thereof, and make, settle and adjust all claims under such policies of insurance, and make all determinations and decisions with respect to such policies; (c) pay or discharge any taxes, liens, security interests, or other encumbrances levied or placed on or threatened against the Grantor or its property; (d) defend any suit, action or proceeding brought against the Grantor if the Grantor does not defend such suit, action or proceeding or if Attorney


believes that the Grantor is not pursuing such defense in a manner that will maximize the recovery to Attorney, and settle, compromise or adjust any suit, action, or proceeding described above and, in connection therewith, give such discharges or releases as Attorney may deem appropriate; (e) file or prosecute any claim, litigation, suit or proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction or before any arbitrator, or take any other action otherwise deemed appropriate by Attorney for the purpose of collecting any and all such moneys due to the Grantor whenever payable and to enforce any other right in respect of the Grantor’s property; (f) cause the certified public accountants then engaged by the Grantor to prepare and deliver to Attorney at any time and from time to time, promptly upon Attorney’s request, the following reports: (1) a reconciliation of all accounts, (2) an aging of all accounts, (3) trial balances, (4) test verifications of such accounts as Attorney may request, and (5) the results of each physical verification of Inventory; (g) communicate in its own name with any party to any contract with regard to the assignment of the right, title and interest of the Grantor in and under the contracts and other matters relating thereto; (h) file such financing statements with respect to the Security Agreement dated as of October 28, 2011 (as amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time, the “ Security Agreement ”), with or without the Grantor’s signature, or to file a photocopy of the Security Agreement in substitution for a financing statement, as Attorney may deem appropriate and to execute in the Grantor’s name such financing statements and amendments thereto and continuation statements which may require the Grantor’s signature; and (i) execute, in connection with any sale provided for in any Loan Document, any endorsements, assignments or other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to the Collateral and to otherwise direct such sale or resale, all as though Attorney were the absolute owner of the property of the Grantor for all purposes, and to do, at Attorney’s option and the Grantor’s expense, at any time or from time to time, all acts and other things that Attorney reasonably deems necessary to perfect, preserve, or realize upon the Grantor’s property or assets and Attorney’s Liens thereon, all as fully and effectively as the Grantor might do.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this power of attorney, except for clauses (g)  and (h)  above, the Attorney may only exercise the powers and rights granted hereunder following a Default or Event of Default under the Credit Agreement.

This power of attorney shall terminate on the Termination Date of the Security Agreement.

Each Grantor hereby ratifies, to the extent permitted by law, all that said Attorney shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Power of Attorney is executed by the Grantor this              day of              , 2011.

 

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:    
Name:    
Title:    

NOTARY PUBLIC CERTIFICATE

On this              day of              , 2011,              , who is personally known to me appeared before me in his/her capacity as the              of GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC (“ Grantor ”), and executed on behalf of Grantor the Power of Attorney in favor of BNP Paribas to which this Certificate is attached.

 

 
Notary Public


GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:    
Name:    
Title:    

NOTARY PUBLIC CERTIFICATE

On this              day of              , 2011,              , who is personally known to me appeared before me in his/her capacity as the              of GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC (“ Grantor ”), and executed on behalf of Grantor the Power of Attorney in favor of BNP Paribas to which this Certificate is attached.

 

 
Notary Public


GREEN PLAINS GRAIN ESSEX INC.,

an Iowa corporation

By:    
Name:    
Title:    

NOTARY PUBLIC CERTIFICATE

On this              day of              , 2011,              , who is personally known to me appeared before me in his/her capacity as the              of GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC. (“ Grantor ”), and executed on behalf of Grantor the Power of Attorney in favor of BNP Paribas to which this Certificate is attached.

 

 
Notary Public

Exhibit 10.3

REVOLVING NOTE

$10,000,000.00

  October 28, 2011

1. FOR VALUE RECEIVED, GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation (collectively, jointly and severally, the “ Borrower ”), hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the order of BOKF, N.A. (d/b/a Bank of Oklahoma) (“ Lender ”), in immediately available funds, the principal amount of TEN MILLION AND NO/00 DOLLARS ($10,000,000.00), or so much of that sum as may be advanced under this promissory note (this “ Note ”), plus interest as specified in this Note. This Note evidences a loan (“ Loan ”) from the Lender to the Borrower.

2. This Note is (i) one of the Notes referred to in that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of October 28, 2011 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), by and among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto from time to time (each a “ Lender ” and collectively the “ Lenders ”), BNP Paribas, as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, the “ Agent ”), (ii) entitled to the benefits thereof, (iii) secured as provided for therein, and (iv) subject to optional and mandatory prepayment in whole or in part as provided therein. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

3. All amounts payable under this Note, including interest payable on the unpaid principal amount hereof from time to time commencing from the date of disbursement at the rates per annum and on the dates, as provided in the Credit Agreement until paid in full (both before and after judgment), are payable in lawful money of the United States during normal business hours of the Lender at the office of the Agent or at such other place as the Lender from time to time may designate. Checks constitute payment only when collected.

4. The holder of this Note is authorized to record the date, Type and amount of each Revolving Loan made by the Lender pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Credit Agreement, each Continuation thereof and each Conversion of all or a portion thereof to another Type pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Credit Agreement, the date and amount of each payment or prepayment of principal thereof and, in the case of LIBO Rate Loans, the length of each Interest Period and the LIBO Rate with respect thereto, on the schedule annexed hereto and constituting a part hereof, or on a continuation thereof which shall be annexed hereto and constitute a part hereof, and, absent manifest error, any such recordation shall constitute prima facie evidence of the accuracy of the information so recorded, provided , that failure of the Lender to make any such recordation (or any error in such recordation) shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower under this Note or under the Credit Agreement.

5. Upon the occurrence of any one or more Events of Default specified in the Credit Agreement, all amounts then remaining unpaid on this Note shall become, or may be declared to be, immediately due and payable, all as provided therein.


6. The Borrower expressly waives diligence, presentment, protest, demand, and other notices of any kind.

7. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS OF THAT STATE.

8. If any lawsuit, reference or arbitration is commenced which arises out of or relates to this Note, the Loan Documents or the Loan, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from each other party such sums as the court, referee or arbitrator may adjudge to be reasonable attorneys’ fees in the action, reference or arbitration, in addition to costs and expenses otherwise allowed by law. In all other situations, including any matter arising out of or relating to any Insolvency Proceeding, the Borrower agrees to pay all of Lender’s reasonable costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, which may be incurred in enforcing or protecting Lender’s rights or interests. From the time(s) incurred until paid to Lender, all such sums shall bear interest at the default rate provided in Section 4.3(c) of the Credit Agreement.

9. The Borrower agrees that the holder of this Note may accept additional or substitute security for this Note, or release any security or any party liable for this Note, in each case without affecting the liability of Borrower under this Note.

10. If Lender delays in exercising or fails to exercise any of its rights under this Note, that delay or failure shall not constitute a waiver of any of Lender’s rights, or of any breach, default or failure of condition of or under this Note. No waiver by Lender of any of its rights, or of any such breach, default or failure of condition shall be effective, unless the waiver is expressly stated in a writing signed by Lender. All of Lender’s remedies in connection with this Note or under applicable law shall be cumulative, and Lender’s exercise of any one or more of those remedies shall not constitute an election of remedies.

11. This Note inures to and binds the successors and assigns of the Borrower and Lender; provided , however , that the Borrower may not assign this Note or any Loan funds, or assign or delegate any of its rights or obligations, without the prior written consent of Lender in each instance.

12. As used in this Note, the terms “Lender,” “holder” and “holder of this Note” are interchangeable. As used in this Note, the word “include(s)” means “include(s), without limitation,” and the word “including” means “including, but not limited to.”

13. THIS WRITTEN AGREEMENT REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

[ Remainder of page intentionally blank; signature pages follow. ]

 

-2-


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.

BORROWER :

 

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC , a Delaware limited liability company

By:  

GREEN PLAINS RENEWABLE ENERGY, INC. , an Iowa corporation,

its sole Member

  By:   /s/ Jerry Peters
  Name:   Jerry Peters
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer
GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC , a Delaware limited liability company
By:  

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC , a Delaware limited liability company,

its sole Member

  By:   /s/ Jerry Peters
  Name:   Jerry Peters
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer
GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC ., an Iowa corporation
By:   /s/ Jerry Peters
Name:   Jerry Peters
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

c/o Green Plains Grain Company LLC

450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400

Omaha, Nebraska 68114

Attention: Mr. Jerry Peters

Fax: (402) 884-8776

Phone: (402) 315-1603

Email: jerry.peters@gpreinc.com

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO P ROMISSORY N OTE (B ANK OF O KLAHOMA )]


Schedule to Note

 

Date

   Amount of
Loan
    Type of
Loan
    Interest Period
(for LIBO Rate
Loans) and
Interest Rate
    Amount of
Principal
Repaid (or
Converted)
    Unpaid Principal
Balance of Loans
    Notation
Made By
 

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

Schedule to Note

Exhibit 10.4

REVOLVING NOTE

 

$15,000,000.00    October 28, 2011

1. FOR VALUE RECEIVED, GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation (collectively, jointly and severally, the “ Borrower ”), hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the order of U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (“ Lender ”), in immediately available funds, the principal amount of FIFTEEN MILLION AND NO/00 DOLLARS ($15,000,000.00), or so much of that sum as may be advanced under this promissory note (this “ Note ”), plus interest as specified in this Note. This Note evidences a loan (“ Loan ”) from the Lender to the Borrower.

2. This Note is (i) one of the Notes referred to in that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of October 28, 2011 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), by and among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto from time to time (each a “ Lender ” and collectively the “ Lenders ”), BNP Paribas, as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, the “ Agent ”), (ii) entitled to the benefits thereof, (iii) secured as provided for therein, and (iv) subject to optional and mandatory prepayment in whole or in part as provided therein. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

3. All amounts payable under this Note, including interest payable on the unpaid principal amount hereof from time to time commencing from the date of disbursement at the rates per annum and on the dates, as provided in the Credit Agreement until paid in full (both before and after judgment), are payable in lawful money of the United States during normal business hours of the Lender at the office of the Agent or at such other place as the Lender from time to time may designate. Checks constitute payment only when collected.

4. The holder of this Note is authorized to record the date, Type and amount of each Revolving Loan made by the Lender pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Credit Agreement, each Continuation thereof and each Conversion of all or a portion thereof to another Type pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Credit Agreement, the date and amount of each payment or prepayment of principal thereof and, in the case of LIBO Rate Loans, the length of each Interest Period and the LIBO Rate with respect thereto, on the schedule annexed hereto and constituting a part hereof, or on a continuation thereof which shall be annexed hereto and constitute a part hereof, and, absent manifest error, any such recordation shall constitute prima facie evidence of the accuracy of the information so recorded, provided , that failure of the Lender to make any such recordation (or any error in such recordation) shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower under this Note or under the Credit Agreement.

5. Upon the occurrence of any one or more Events of Default specified in the Credit Agreement, all amounts then remaining unpaid on this Note shall become, or may be declared to be, immediately due and payable, all as provided therein.


6. The Borrower expressly waives diligence, presentment, protest, demand, and other notices of any kind.

7. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS OF THAT STATE.

8. If any lawsuit, reference or arbitration is commenced which arises out of or relates to this Note, the Loan Documents or the Loan, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from each other party such sums as the court, referee or arbitrator may adjudge to be reasonable attorneys’ fees in the action, reference or arbitration, in addition to costs and expenses otherwise allowed by law. In all other situations, including any matter arising out of or relating to any Insolvency Proceeding, the Borrower agrees to pay all of Lender’s reasonable costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, which may be incurred in enforcing or protecting Lender’s rights or interests. From the time(s) incurred until paid to Lender, all such sums shall bear interest at the default rate provided in Section 4.3(c) of the Credit Agreement.

9. The Borrower agrees that the holder of this Note may accept additional or substitute security for this Note, or release any security or any party liable for this Note, in each case without affecting the liability of Borrower under this Note.

10. If Lender delays in exercising or fails to exercise any of its rights under this Note, that delay or failure shall not constitute a waiver of any of Lender’s rights, or of any breach, default or failure of condition of or under this Note. No waiver by Lender of any of its rights, or of any such breach, default or failure of condition shall be effective, unless the waiver is expressly stated in a writing signed by Lender. All of Lender’s remedies in connection with this Note or under applicable law shall be cumulative, and Lender’s exercise of any one or more of those remedies shall not constitute an election of remedies.

11. This Note inures to and binds the successors and assigns of the Borrower and Lender; provided , however , that the Borrower may not assign this Note or any Loan funds, or assign or delegate any of its rights or obligations, without the prior written consent of Lender in each instance.

12. As used in this Note, the terms “Lender,” “holder” and “holder of this Note” are interchangeable. As used in this Note, the word “include(s)” means “include(s), without limitation,” and the word “including” means “including, but not limited to.”

13. THIS WRITTEN AGREEMENT REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

[Remainder of page intentionally blank; signature pages follow. ]

 

- 2 -


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.

 

BORROWER:
GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC , a Delaware limited liability company
By:  

GREEN PLAINS RENEWABLE ENERGY, INC. , an Iowa corporation,

its sole Member

  By:   /s/ Jerry Peters
  Name:   Jerry Peters
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer
GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC , a Delaware limited liability company
By:  

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC , a Delaware limited liability company,

its sole Member

  By:   /s/ Jerry Peters
  Name:   Jerry Peters
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC ., an Iowa corporation
By:   /s/ Jerry Peters
Name:   Jerry Peters
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

c/o Green Plains Grain Company LLC

450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400

Omaha, Nebraska 68114

Attention: Mr. Jerry Peters

Fax: (402) 884-8776

Phone: (402) 315-1603

Email: jerry.peters@gpreinc.com

 

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO P ROMISSORY N OTE (U.S. B ANK )]


Schedule to Note

 

Date

   Amount of
Loan
    Type of Loan     Interest Period
(for LIBO Rate
Loans) and
Interest Rate
    Amount of
Principal
Repaid (or
Converted)
    Unpaid Principal
Balance of Loans
    Notation
Made By
 

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

 

Schedule to Note

Exhibit 10.5

REVOLVING NOTE

 

$25,000,000.00    October 28, 2011

1. FOR VALUE RECEIVED, GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation (collectively, jointly and severally, the “ Borrower ”), hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the order of FARM CREDIT BANK OF TEXAS (“ Lender ”), in immediately available funds, the principal amount of TWENTY-FIVE MILLION AND NO/00 DOLLARS ($25,000,000.00), or so much of that sum as may be advanced under this promissory note (this “ Note ”), plus interest as specified in this Note. This Note evidences a loan (“ Loan ”) from the Lender to the Borrower.

2. This Note is (i) one of the Notes referred to in that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of October 28, 2011 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), by and among the Borrower, the lenders party thereto from time to time (each a “ Lender ” and collectively the “ Lenders ”), BNP Paribas, as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, the “ Agent ”), (ii) entitled to the benefits thereof, (iii) secured as provided for therein, and (iv) subject to optional and mandatory prepayment in whole or in part as provided therein. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

3. All amounts payable under this Note, including interest payable on the unpaid principal amount hereof from time to time commencing from the date of disbursement at the rates per annum and on the dates, as provided in the Credit Agreement until paid in full (both before and after judgment), are payable in lawful money of the United States during normal business hours of the Lender at the office of the Agent or at such other place as the Lender from time to time may designate. Checks constitute payment only when collected.

4. The holder of this Note is authorized to record the date, Type and amount of each Revolving Loan made by the Lender pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Credit Agreement, each Continuation thereof and each Conversion of all or a portion thereof to another Type pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Credit Agreement, the date and amount of each payment or prepayment of principal thereof and, in the case of LIBO Rate Loans, the length of each Interest Period and the LIBO Rate with respect thereto, on the schedule annexed hereto and constituting a part hereof, or on a continuation thereof which shall be annexed hereto and constitute a part hereof, and, absent manifest error, any such recordation shall constitute prima facie evidence of the accuracy of the information so recorded, provided , that failure of the Lender to make any such recordation (or any error in such recordation) shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower under this Note or under the Credit Agreement.

5. Upon the occurrence of any one or more Events of Default specified in the Credit Agreement, all amounts then remaining unpaid on this Note shall become, or may be declared to be, immediately due and payable, all as provided therein.


6. The Borrower expressly waives diligence, presentment, protest, demand, and other notices of any kind.

7. THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS OF THAT STATE.

8. If any lawsuit, reference or arbitration is commenced which arises out of or relates to this Note, the Loan Documents or the Loan, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from each other party such sums as the court, referee or arbitrator may adjudge to be reasonable attorneys’ fees in the action, reference or arbitration, in addition to costs and expenses otherwise allowed by law. In all other situations, including any matter arising out of or relating to any Insolvency Proceeding, the Borrower agrees to pay all of Lender’s reasonable costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, which may be incurred in enforcing or protecting Lender’s rights or interests. From the time(s) incurred until paid to Lender, all such sums shall bear interest at the default rate provided in Section 4.3(c) of the Credit Agreement.

9. The Borrower agrees that the holder of this Note may accept additional or substitute security for this Note, or release any security or any party liable for this Note, in each case without affecting the liability of Borrower under this Note.

10. If Lender delays in exercising or fails to exercise any of its rights under this Note, that delay or failure shall not constitute a waiver of any of Lender’s rights, or of any breach, default or failure of condition of or under this Note. No waiver by Lender of any of its rights, or of any such breach, default or failure of condition shall be effective, unless the waiver is expressly stated in a writing signed by Lender. All of Lender’s remedies in connection with this Note or under applicable law shall be cumulative, and Lender’s exercise of any one or more of those remedies shall not constitute an election of remedies.

11. This Note inures to and binds the successors and assigns of the Borrower and Lender; provided , however , that the Borrower may not assign this Note or any Loan funds, or assign or delegate any of its rights or obligations, without the prior written consent of Lender in each instance.

12. As used in this Note, the terms “Lender,” “holder” and “holder of this Note” are interchangeable. As used in this Note, the word “include(s)” means “include(s), without limitation,” and the word “including” means “including, but not limited to.”

13. THIS WRITTEN AGREEMENT REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.

[ Remainder of page intentionally blank; signature pages follow. ]

 

- 2 -


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.

 

BORROWER :

 

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC , a Delaware limited liability company

   
By:  

GREEN PLAINS RENEWABLE ENERGY, INC. , an Iowa corporation,

its sole Member

  By:   /s/ Jerry Peters
  Name:   Jerry Peters
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer
GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC , a Delaware limited liability company
   
By:  

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY LLC, a Delaware limited liability company,

its sole Member

  By:   /s/ Jerry Peters
  Name:   Jerry Peters
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC .,

an Iowa corporation

By:   /s/ Jerry Peters
Name:   Jerry Peters
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
c/o Green Plains Grain Company LLC
450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400
Omaha, Nebraska 68114
Attention: Mr. Jerry Peters
Fax: (402) 884-8776
Phone: (402) 315-1603
Email: jerry.peters@gpreinc.com

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO P ROMISSORY N OTE (F ARM C REDIT B ANK OF T EXAS )]


Schedule to Note

 

Date

   Amount of
Loan
    Type of
Loan
    Interest Period
(for LIBO Rate
Loans) and
Interest Rate
    Amount of
Principal
Repaid (or
Converted)
    Unpaid Principal
Balance of Loans
    Notation
Made By
 

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

[______]

   $ [________     [________     [___ ]%    $ [________   $ [________     ________   

Schedule to Note

Exhibit 10.6

 

 

 

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC

a Delaware limited liability company

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

and

GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation

$30,000,000.00 TERM LOAN

FROM

METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

LOAN AGREEMENT

Dated as of October 28, 2011

Secured Promissory Note

Due November 1, 2021

 

 

 


     Page  
SECTION 1. LOAN; ISSUE OF NOTE; SECURITY; INTEREST      1   

1.1.          A UTHORIZATION

     1   

1.2.          L OAN ; C LOSING

     1   

1.3.          S ECURITY

     2   

1.4.          I NTEREST R ATE

     3   
SECTION 2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES      3   

2.1.          F INANCIAL S TATEMENTS

     3   

2.2.          N O M ATERIAL C HANGES

     3   

2.3.          O RGANIZATION , A UTHORITY AND G OOD S TANDING ; S UBSIDIARIES

     3   

2.4.          T ITLE TO P ROPERTIES

     4   

2.5.          L EASES AND L IENS

     4   

2.6.          L ICENSES

     4   

2.7.          L ITIGATION

     4   

2.8.          N O B URDENSOME P ROVISIONS

     4   

2.9.          C OMPLIANCE WITH O THER I NSTRUMENTS

     5   

2.10.       D ISCLOSURE

     5   

2.11.       ERISA

     5   

2.12.       R EGULATION U; U SE OF P ROCEEDS

     5   

2.13.       T AX L IABILITY

     5   

2.14.       G OVERNMENTAL A CTION

     6   

2.15.       O FFERING OF N OTE

     6   

2.16.       H AZARDOUS W ASTE

     6   

2.17.       N O F LOOD Z ONE

     6   

2.18.       N O A FFILIATION

     6   

2.19.       N O F OREIGN P ERSON

     6   

2.20.       T ITLE TO M ORTGAGED P ROPERTY AND C OLLATERAL

     6   

2.21.       O FFICE OF F OREIGN A SSET C ONTROL

     6   

2.22.       A DDITIONAL R EPRESENTATIONS AND W ARRANTIES

     7   
SECTION 3. CONDITIONS OF THE LOAN      7   

3.1.          O PINION OF B ORROWERS ’ C OUNSEL

     7   

3.2.          L EGALITY

     7   

3.3.          P ROCEEDINGS

     7   

3.4.          R EPRESENTATIONS T RUE ; N O D EFAULT

     7   

3.5.          C OLLATERAL D OCUMENTS

     7   

3.6.          E NVIRONMENTAL A UDIT R ESULTS

     7   

3.7.          S URVEY

     7   

3.8.          T ITLE R EQUIREMENTS

     8   

3.9.          I NTERCREDITOR A GREEMENT

     8   
SECTION 4. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES; ADDITIONAL INFORMATION; AND INSPECTION      9   

4.1.          F INANCIAL S TATEMENTS AND R EPORTS

     9   

4.2.          I NSPECTION

     11   
SECTION 5. PRINCIPAL PAYMENT OF NOTE      11   

5.1.          I NTEREST P AYMENTS AND P RINCIPAL P AYMENTS - M ANDATORY AND O PTIONAL P REPAYMENT

     11   

5.2.          P REPAYMENT OF N OTE U PON C HANGE OF C ONTROL

     12   

5.3.          I NTEREST A FTER D ATE F IXED FOR P RINCIPAL P AYMENT OR P REPAYMENT

     12   

5.4.          P REPAYMENT OF L OAN IN THE E VENT OF C ASUALTY L OSS OR C ONDEMNATION

     12   

 

ii


SECTION 6. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS      13   

6.1.          T O P AY N OTE

     13   

6.2.          M AINTENANCE OF B ORROWERS ’ O FFICE

     13   

6.3.          T O K EEP B OOKS

     13   

6.4.          P AYMENT OF T AXES ; C ORPORATE E XISTENCE ; M AINTENANCE OF P ROPERTIES

     13   

6.5.          T O I NSURE

     13   
SECTION 7. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS      14   

7.1.          C ONSOLIDATED T OTAL F IXED CHARGE C OVERAGE R ATIO

     14   

7.2.          W ORKING C APITAL

     14   

7.3.          C ONSOLIDATED L ONG T ERM I NDEBTEDNESS TO C ONSOLIDATED N ET F IXED A SSETS R ATIO

     14   

7.4.          T OTAL TANGIBLE N ET W ORTH

     14   

7.5.          R ESTRICTED P AYMENTS ; P LEDGE OF S TOCK

     14   

7.6.          M ERGER , C ONSOLIDATION , S ALE OR L EASE

     14   

7.7.          T RANSACTIONS WITH A FFILIATES

     14   

7.8.          E NCUMBRANCES O N AND T RANSFERS OF THE C OLLATERAL

     15   

7.9.          S INGLE P URPOSE E NTITY

     15   
SECTION 8. DEFINITIONS      16   
SECTION 9. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES      21   

9.1.          E VENTS OF D EFAULT ; A CCELERATION

     21   

9.2.          S UITS FOR E NFORCEMENT

     22   

9.3.          R EMEDIES N OT W AIVED

     22   

9.4.          R EMEDIES C UMULATIVE

     22   

9.5.          C OSTS AND E XPENSES

     23   
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS      23   

10.1.       L OSS , T HEFT , D ESTRUCTION OR M UTILATION OF N OTE

     23   

10.2.       E XPENSES

     23   

10.3.       S TAMP T AXES , R ECORDING F EES , ETC .

     23   

10.4.       S UCCESSORS AND A SSIGNS

     23   

10.5.       P AYMENT

     23   

10.6.       N OTICES

     24   

10.7.       S EVERABILITY

     24   

10.8.       L AW G OVERNING ; M ODIFICATION

     24   

10.9.       H EADINGS

     24   

10.10.     C OUNTERPARTS

     24   

10.11.     USA P ATRIOT A CT N OTICE

     25   

10.12.     FINAL CREDIT AGREEMENT

     25   

 

EXHIBIT A

  -    FORM OF NOTE

EXHIBIT B

  -    OWNERSHIP OF COMPANIES AND SUBSIDIARIES

EXHIBIT C

  -    PERSONAL PROPERTY ENCUMBRANCES

EXHIBIT D

  -    ADVANCE REQUEST

 

iii


GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

and

GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation

LOAN AGREEMENT

October 28, 2011

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

Agricultural Investments

10801 Mastin Blvd., Suite 930

Overland Park, Kansas 66210

Attention: Director

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ GPGC TN ”); and GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation (each a “ Borrower ” and collectively, the “ Borrowers ”), agree with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (herein sometimes “ MetLife ” or “you”) as follows:

SECTION 1. LOAN; ISSUE OF NOTE; SECURITY; INTEREST.

1.1 Authorization . The Borrowers have duly authorized the issuance of a secured promissory note (the “ Note” ) due on that date which is ten (10) years from the first day of the first month following Closing (the “ Maturity Date ”), in the principal amount of $30,000,000.00, such Note to be in the form and have terms and provisions substantially as set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

1.2 Loan; Closing .

(a) The Borrowers hereby agree to borrow from you, and you, subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, hereby agree to lend to the Borrowers up to $30,000,000.00 (the “ Loan ”) no later than October 31, 2011 (the “ Closing Date” ). The Loan will be disbursed in an initial advance, in the amount of Twenty Eight Million and No/100 Dollars ($28,000,000.00) (the “ Initial Advance ”) on the Closing Date, upon compliance with all terms and conditions of this Agreement.

(b) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Note, including but not limited to the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.11 below, Lender agrees to advance to the Borrowers during the period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on May 1, 2012 (the “ Commitment Termination Date ”) an additional advance under the Loan as the Borrowers may request under this Section 1.2 (the “ Subsequent Advance ”); provided, however, that the total amount of the Initial Advance and the Subsequent Advance under the loan at any time outstanding shall not exceed Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000.00) or, if such amount is reduced pursuant to Section 1.2(d) below, shall not exceed the amount so reduced and in effect at such time (“ Total Loan Commitment Amount ”), and further provided that no more than one (1) Subsequent Advance may be requested prior to the Commitment Termination Date. Once the Subsequent Advance is made, the Borrowers shall repay but may not reborrow that Subsequent Advance, all as provided in this Agreement.

 

1


(c) An Authorized Person (defined below) on behalf of the Borrowers shall request the Subsequent Advance under the Loan by delivering to you by fax or by over-night courier an irrevocable written notice in the form of Exhibit “D” , appropriately completed (the “ Advance Request ”), which specifies:

(i) The principal amount of the requested Subsequent Advance, which shall be in an amount equal to $2,000,000.00; and

(ii) The date the requested Subsequent Advance is to be made, which date shall be a Business Day;

The Borrowers shall give the Advance Request to you not later than 12:00 P.M., Overland Park, KS time, at least two (2) Business Days before the date the requested Subsequent Advance is to be made. An Advance Request received by Lender after 12:00 P.M., Overland Park, KS, shall be considered to have been received by you on the following Business Day. The Advance Request shall be delivered by overnight courier or facsimile to the Central Regional Director at Lender’s office or sent to and received at the facsimile number specified in Section 10.6 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Overland Park, KS, on a Business Day. The Subsequent Advance shall be made by MetLife wiring the funds to the Borrowers’ account with US Bank, ABA/Routing# 104000029, Green Plains Grain Company LLL, Cash Concentration Account #105701000199, SWIFT Code: USBKUS44IMT or to such other account of the Borrowers as Borrowers may in writing request (with such written request to contain the wiring instructions for such account).

Borrowers assume all risks regarding the validity, authenticity and due authorization of the Advance Request purporting to be made by or on behalf of Borrowers and the Subsequent Advance made by you upon receipt of the Advance Request shall become part of the outstanding indebtedness under the Loan. For purposes of this Agreement, an “ Authorized Person ” means any individual who is designated in writing signed by the Borrowers as having authority to request the Subsequent Advance, and any individual who is so designated shall remain an Authorized Person until Lender receives written notice to the contrary. As of the date hereof, the following persons are hereby designated as Authorized Persons, any of whom, acting alone, is authorized to request the Subsequent Advance by signing the Advance Request on behalf of the Borrowers: Jerry L. Peters.

(d) The commitment of MetLife to make the Subsequent Advance shall irrevocably terminate on the Commitment Termination Date without further notice. Prior to the Commitment Termination Date the Borrowers may terminate any commitment to make the Subsequent Advance in writing signed by an Authorized Person.

(e) The Loan will be evidenced by, and, subject to all other conditions precedent having been met, will be made against delivery to you at 10:00 A.M., Central Standard Time, on the Closing Date, at the offices of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Agricultural Investments, 10801 Mastin Blvd., Suite 930, Overland Park, Kansas 66210, Attn: Kevin Harshberger, Associate Director, or at such other time and place as the parties may agree, of a single Note payable to you or assigns, dated the Closing Date, duly executed by the Borrowers and in the aggregate principal amount of the Loan. Delivery of the Note hereunder shall be made against payment to the Borrowers or the holders of liens on the Facility (as hereafter defined) in Federal Reserve or other funds in the aggregate principal amount of the Note. The foregoing closing, including the execution of all other documents and instruments that may be required by you in connection therewith, shall be hereinafter referred to as the “ Closing .”

1.3 Security . Payment of the Note shall be secured by (a) a first priority Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, UCC Fixture Filing and Assignment of Leases and Rents (the “ Missouri Deed of Trust ”) to be entered into by the Borrowers for real estate and other property located in Nodaway County, Missouri (the “ Missouri Real Estate ”); (b) first priority Deeds of Trust, Security Agreement, UCC Fixture Filing and Assignment of Leases and Rents (collectively, the “ Tennessee Deeds of Trust ”) to be entered into by the Borrowers for real estate and other property located in Gibson, Henry and Obion Counties, Tennessee (the “ Tennessee Real Estate ”); and (c) first priority Mortgages, Security Agreement, UCC Fixture Filing and Assignment of Leases and Rents (collectively, the “ Iowa Mortgages ”, the Missouri Deed of Trust, the Tennessee Deeds of Trust and the Iowa Mortgages are sometimes hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Deeds of Trust ”) to be entered into by Borrower for real estate and other property located in Clay, Dickinson, Emmet and Page Counties, Iowa (the “ Iowa Real Estate ”); all with respect to, inter alia , the Borrowers’ grain storage facilities, and other real property, plant and equipment (excluding all tractors, trailers and forklifts) located at the Missouri Real Estate, Tennessee Real Estate and Iowa Real Estate as described in said Deed of Trust (collectively, the “ Facility ”) and related security instruments.

 

2


1.4 Interest Rate .

(a) The interest rate on the Note (the “ Interest Rate ”) shall be Six and No Hundredths Percent (6.00%) per annum, in the absence of an Event of Default, which rate shall be a fixed rate to the Maturity Date. The Interest Rate shall be applicable to the Initial Advance and the Subsequent Advance under the Loan.

(b) From and after an Event of Default, the Note shall bear interest at the Default Rate (as hereinafter defined). Following an increase in the Interest Rate by reason of an Event of Default, Lender shall reduce the rate to that in effect immediately prior to the Event of Default if the default is cured to the Lender’s satisfaction. This paragraph shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver of Lender’s remedies if an Event of Default occurs.

(c) In the event the interest provisions hereof or any exaction provided for herein or in the Collateral Documents shall result for any reason and at any time during the term of the Loan in an effective rate of interest which transcends the limit of the usury or any other law applicable to this loan, all sums in excess of those lawfully collectible as interest for the period in question shall, without further agreement or notice between or by any party hereto, be applied on principal immediately upon receipt and effect as though the payor had specifically designated such extra sums to be so applied to principal, and the holder of the Note shall accept such extra payment or payments as a premium-free prepayment. If any such amounts are in excess of the principal then outstanding, such excess shall be paid to the Borrower. In no event shall any agreed-to or actual exaction as consideration for the Loan transcend the limits imposed or provided by the law applicable to this transaction or the Borrowers in the jurisdictions in which the Facility or any other security for payment of the Note is located for the use or detention of money or for forbearance in seeking its collection.

SECTION 2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

Each Borrower hereby jointly and severally represents and warrants to you as follows:

2.1 Financial Statements . MetLife has been furnished with copies of consolidated balance sheets of the Borrowers and all Subsidiaries of the Borrowers, if any Subsidiaries exist, as of September 30, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations, statements of stockholders’ or members’ capital and statements of cash flows of the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended on said dates, reviewed in each case by an independent certified public accountant, or otherwise acceptable to you.

Said financial statements, including the related schedules and notes, are complete and correct and fairly present (a) the financial condition of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries as at the respective dates of said balance sheets and (b) the results of the operations and changes in financial position of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries for the fiscal years ended on said dates, all in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis (except as otherwise stated therein or in the notes thereto) throughout the periods involved.

2.2 No Material Changes . There has been no Material Adverse Change in either of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries subsequent to September 30, 2011.

2.3 Organization, Authority and Good Standing; Subsidiaries . Exhibit B hereto correctly sets forth an entire listing of the Borrowers’ owners and their respective interests in the Borrowers. The ownership interests listed in Exhibit B are so owned as of the date of this Agreement, free and clear of all Liens, and all such ownership interests have been duly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. No person has any right, contingent or otherwise, to purchase any such ownership interests. Exhibit B also correctly sets forth (a) the name and jurisdiction of organization of each Subsidiary of any Borrower, if any Subsidiary shall exist, and (b) a statement of the capitalization of each such Subsidiary and the

 

3


ownership of its ownership interests. The ownership interests listed in Exhibit B as owned by any Borrower are so owned as of the date of this Agreement, free and clear of all Liens, and all such ownership interests have been duly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. No person has any right, contingent or otherwise, to purchase any such ownership interests. The Borrowers and each of their Subsidiaries, if any, are duly organized and validly existing entities in good standing under the laws of Delaware and Iowa, as applicable, and each have the full power and authority to own the properties and assets and to carry on the business which they now own and carry on. The Borrowers and each of their Subsidiaries, if any, are duly qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation or Entity in each jurisdiction wherein the nature of the property owned or leased by them or the nature of the business transacted by them makes such qualification necessary.

2.4 Title to Properties . The Borrowers and each of their respective Subsidiaries, if any, have good and marketable fee title to all the real properties (other than leaseholds) and good and marketable title to all other material property reflected on the balance sheet of the Borrowers and each of their Subsidiaries as of September 30, 2011, referred to in Section 2.1 , or purported to have been acquired by any of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries after said date, excepting, however, property sold or otherwise disposed of subsequent to said date in the ordinary course of business.

2.5 Leases and Liens . None of the properties or assets reflected in the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrowers or their Subsidiaries, if any, as of September 30, 2011, referred to in Section 2.1 , or acquired by any of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries after said date, is held by any of the Borrowers or their Subsidiaries subject to any Lien which would not be permitted by Section 7.8(a) . The Borrowers and their Subsidiaries enjoy peaceful and undisturbed possession under all of the leases under which they are operating as lessees, and all such leases are valid, including, without limitation, in each instance, good title being vested in the lessor thereunder, and subsisting and in full force and effect.

2.6 Licenses . The Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, if any, possess and shall continue to possess all trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents, governmental licenses, bonds, franchises, certificates, consents, permits and approvals necessary to enable them to carry on their business in all material respects as now conducted and to own and operate the properties material to their business as now owned and operated, without known conflict with the rights of others. All such trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents, licenses, bonds, franchises, certificates, consents, permits and approvals which are material to the operations of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are valid and subsisting.

2.7 Litigation . There are no actions, suits or proceedings (whether or not purportedly on behalf of any of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries) pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrowers, or any of them, threatened against or affecting any of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries at law or in equity or before or by any federal, state, municipal or other governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, or before any arbitrator of any kind, which involve any of the transactions herein contemplated or the possibility of any material and adverse change in the business, operations, properties, assets, prospects or condition, financial or other, of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries; and none of the Borrowers nor any of their Subsidiaries is in default or violation of any law or any rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree or award of any court, arbitrator or federal, state, municipal or other governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, which default or violation might have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, properties, prospects or condition, financial or other, of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and for which sufficient funds have been deposited in escrow to pay, in the event of an adverse judgment, all damages claimed thereunder.

2.8 No Burdensome Provisions . None of the Borrowers nor any of their Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement or instrument or subject to any charter or other corporate or legislative restriction or any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree, award, rule or regulation which materially and adversely affects or in the future may (so far as the Borrowers can now reasonably foresee) materially and adversely affect the business, operations, properties, assets, prospects or condition, financial or other, of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

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2.9 Compliance with Other Instruments . None of the Borrowers nor any of their Subsidiaries is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of Indebtedness of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or contained in any instrument under or pursuant to which any thereof has been issued or made and delivered. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents by the Borrowers, the consummation by the Borrowers of the transactions herein and therein contemplated, nor compliance by the Borrowers with the terms, conditions and provisions hereof and thereof and of the Note, or any of the Collateral Documents, will violate any provision of law or rule or regulation thereunder or any order, injunction or decree of any court or other governmental body to which any of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries is a party or by which any term thereof is bound or conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions or provisions of the corporate charter or bylaws of any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries or of any agreement or instrument to which any Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries is a party or by which any Borrower or such Subsidiary is bound, or constitute a default thereunder, or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien of any nature whatsoever upon any of the properties or assets of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries (other than the Liens created by the Collateral Documents). No consent of the stockholders or members of any Borrower is required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Collateral Documents or the Note by the Borrowers, other than those delivered to you prior to Closing, if any.

2.10 Disclosure . Neither this Agreement, the Collateral Documents nor any of the exhibits hereto, nor any certificate or other data furnished to you in writing by or on behalf of the Borrowers in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits a material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading. To the best knowledge of the Borrowers, there is no fact which materially and adversely affects or in the future may (so far as the Borrowers can now reasonably foresee) materially and adversely affect the business, operations, properties, assets, prospects or condition, financial or other, of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, which has not been disclosed to you in writing.

2.11 ERISA . The Borrowers represent, warrant and covenant that they are acting on their own behalf and that as of the date hereof, they are not an employee benefit plan as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), which is subject to Title I of ERISA, nor a plan as defined in Section 4975(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, each of the foregoing hereinafter referred to collectively as a “Plan”, and the assets of the Borrowers do not constitute “plan assets” of one or more such Plans within the meaning of Department of Labor Regulation Section 2510.3-101. The Borrowers also represent, warrant and covenant that neither of them will be reconstituted as a Plan or as an entity whose assets constitute “plan assets.”

2.12 Regulation U; Use of Proceeds . None of the Borrowers nor any of their respective Subsidiaries owns or has any present intention of acquiring any “margin stock” as defined in Regulation U (12 C.F.R., Chapter II, Part 221) of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (herein called “margin stock”). The proceeds from the issuance of the Note will be used by the Borrowers to refinance existing debt and for capital projects and working capital. None of such proceeds will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or for the purpose of reducing or retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry margin stock or for any other purpose which might constitute this transaction a “purpose credit” within the meaning of said Regulation U. None of the Borrowers nor any agent acting on their behalf has taken or will take any action which might cause the transaction contemplated herein to violate said Regulation U, Regulation T (12 C.F.R., Chapter II, Part 220) or Regulation X (12 C.F.R., Chapter II, Part 224) or any other regulation of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or to violate the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in each case as now in effect or as the same may hereafter be in effect.

2.13 Tax Liability . The Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, if any, have filed all tax returns which are required to be filed and have paid all taxes which have become due pursuant to such returns and all other taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges upon any Borrower and their Subsidiaries and upon their properties, assets, income and franchises which have become due and payable by any of the Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries, except those wherein the amount, applicability or validity are being contested such Borrowers or any such Subsidiary by appropriate proceedings in good faith and in respect of which adequate reserves have been established. In the opinion of the Borrowers, all tax liabilities of the Borrowers, or any of them, and their Subsidiaries were adequately provided for as of September 30, 2011, and are now so provided for on the books of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries.

 

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2.14 Governmental Action . No action of, or filing with, any governmental or public body or authority is required to authorize, or is otherwise required in connection with, the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrowers of this Agreement, the Collateral Documents or the Note (other than recordation of the Deeds of Trust in the Office of the County Recorder of Nodaway County, Missouri, Gibson, Henry and Obion Counties, Tennessee and Clay, Dickinson, Emmet and Page Counties, Iowa, the filing of financing statements in the Office of the Secretary of State of Delaware and Iowa, all of which will have been duly recorded or filed on or prior to the Closing Date).

2.15 Offering of Note . None of the Borrowers nor any agent acting on their behalf has, either directly or indirectly, sold or offered for sale or disposed of, or attempted or offered to dispose of, the Note or any part thereof, or any similar obligation of the Borrowers, to, or has solicited any offers to buy any thereof from, or has otherwise approached or negotiated in respect thereof with, any Person or Persons other than you and no more than six other institutional investors; and the Borrowers agrees that no Borrower nor any agent acting on its behalf will sell or offer for sale or dispose of, or attempt or offer to dispose of, any thereof to, or solicit any offers to buy any thereof from, or otherwise approach or negotiate in respect thereof with, any Person or Persons so as thereby to bring the issuance or delivery of the Note within the provisions of Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

2.16 Hazardous Waste . Neither the Facility nor any portion thereof nor any other property owned or controlled at any time by any or all of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary has been or will be used by the Borrowers, any Subsidiary of the Borrowers, or any tenant of the Facility or any portion thereof for the production, release, storage, handling or disposal of hazardous or toxic wastes or materials other than those pesticides, herbicides and other agricultural and commercial chemicals customarily used in agricultural and commercial operations of the type currently conducted by the Borrowers in the Facility all of which have been and will be used in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.

2.17 No Flood Zone . No part of the Facility is located within a flood zone.

2.18 No Affiliation . No director, officer, partner, member or stockholder of any of the Borrowers or of any Subsidiary is an officer or director of yours or is a relative of an officer or director of yours within the following categories: a son, daughter or descendant of either; a stepson, stepdaughter, stepfather, stepmother; father, mother or ancestor of either, or a spouse. It is expressly understood that for the purpose of determining any of the foregoing relationships, a legally adopted child of a person is considered a child of such person by blood.

2.19 No Foreign Person . None of the of the Borrowers nor any partner, member or stockholder of any Borrower is, and no legal or beneficial interest in a stockholder of any Borrower is or will be held, directly or indirectly, by, a “foreign person” under the International Investment and Trade in Services Survey Act, the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act of 1978, the Foreign Investments in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, the amendments of such Acts or regulations promulgated pursuant to such Acts.

2.20 Title to Mortgaged Property and Collateral . The Borrowers have good and marketable title in fee simple to such of the Mortgaged Property (as defined in the Deeds of Trust) as constitutes real property and good and merchantable title to the all real and personal property collateral subject in each case to no Liens other than the Liens in favor of you and any Permitted Encumbrances.

2.21 Office of Foreign Asset Control . Borrower represents that, and agrees to furnish Lender on request evidence confirming that neither Borrower nor any partner, member or stockholder of Borrower is, and no legal or beneficial interest in a partner, member or stockholder of Borrower is or will be held, directly or indirectly by persons or entities appearing on a US Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (“ OFAC ”) list, with respect to which entering into transactions with such a person or entity would violate OFAC or any other law. At all times throughout the term of the Loan, Borrowers and all of their respective Affiliates shall be in full compliance with all applicable orders, rules, regulations and recommendations of OFAC.

 

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2.22 Additional Representations and Warranties . As of the date hereof, the representations and warranties contained in the Borrower’s Affidavit of even date herewith are true and correct.

SECTION 3. CONDITIONS OF THE LOAN.

Your obligation to make the Loan, as provided in Section 1.2 , on the Closing Date shall be subject to the conditions precedent that you have received on or before the Closing Date in form and substance of satisfaction to your counsel, such assurances and evidence as you may require of the performance by the Borrowers of all their agreements theretofore to be performed hereunder, to the accuracy of their representations and warranties herein contained and to the satisfaction, prior thereto or concurrently therewith, of the following further conditions:

3.1 Opinion of Borrowers’ Counsel . You shall have received on the Closing Date from Husch Blackwell, counsel for the Borrowers, a favorable opinion as to such matters incident to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in form and substance acceptable to you.

3.2 Legality . You shall have satisfied yourself that the Note shall qualify on the Closing Date as a legal investment for life insurance companies under the New York Insurance Law (without resort to any provision of such law, such as Section 1405(a)(8) thereof, permitting limited investments by you without restriction as to the character of the particular investment) and such purchase shall not subject you to any penalty or other onerous condition under or pursuant to any applicable law or governmental regulation; and you shall have received such certificates or other evidence as you may reasonably request to establish compliance with this condition.

3.3 Proceedings . All proceedings to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Collateral Documents, and all documents incidental thereto, shall be satisfactory in form and substance to you; and you shall have received copies of all documents which you may reasonably request in connection with said transactions and copies of the records of all corporate proceedings in connection therewith in form and substance satisfactory to you.

3.4 Representations True; No Default . The representations and warranties of the Borrowers in this Agreement and in the Collateral Documents shall be true on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the Closing Date; on the Closing Date no event which is, or with notice or lapse of time or both would be, an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and you shall have received an affidavit, dated the Closing Date, of an authorized representative, as is applicable, of each of the Borrowers to each such effect.

3.5 Collateral Documents . You shall have received on the Closing Date fully executed original counterparts of each of the Collateral Documents.

3.6 Environmental Audit Results . Subject to the Post-Closing Agreement, the results of the environmental audit of the Facility, and any remedial action required to be taken by the Borrowers as a result of such audit, are complete and satisfactory to you.

3.7 Survey . Subject to the Post-Closing Agreement, either a current, ALTA as-built survey of the Facility or an updated ALTA as-built survey of the Facility certified to you along with an affidavit from Borrowers shall have been provided to you prior to the Closing Date. The surveys shall show as of its date the: (a) courses and measured distances of exterior property lines of the Facility, (b) the total number of acres constituting the Facility, (c) the location of adjoining roads, and (d) the location of setback lines and easements, identified by the book and page of recording of the instrument of record, if any, creating same. The Borrowers represent that no other more recent survey is available and that the matters thereon are in fact as represented on the date of the survey. The Borrowers further represent that there have been no material changes in the foregoing items since the date of the survey.

 

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3.8 Title Requirements . Subject to the Post-Closing Agreement, you shall be furnished on the Closing Date with an ALTA 2006 Lender’s Policy of mortgagee title insurance policy or policies issued by a title insurance company or companies acceptable to you insuring that the Deeds of Trust are a first lien and that title to the Facility is not subject to other liens or assessments except for the Deeds of Trust and the other recorded documents securing the Loan, and such encumbrances as agreed to in writing by you and the Borrowers and insuring the Deeds of Trust for $30,000,000.00. The title insurance policy shall contain no exceptions other than those which are approved and accepted by you. The title insurance policy shall contain such endorsements as may be required by you and shall be paid for by the Borrowers, and the policy shall insure legal access to the Facility. You shall also be furnished with such UCC searches as you may require relating to the Borrowers and the Facility, which searches will confirm that your security interest and lien on all personal property and fixtures constitutes a first-priority security interest, except as shown on Exhibit C attached hereto. Any objectionable filings contained therein shall be released or amended as you may reasonably require.

3.9 Intercreditor Agreement . You shall have received on the Closing Date fully executed original counterparts of the Intercreditor Agreement.

3.10 Post-Closing Agreement . You shall have received on the Closing Date fully executed original counterparts of the Post-Closing Agreement.

3.11 Conditions to Subsequent Advances . MetLife’s obligation to make the Subsequent Advance under the Loan, as provided in Section 1.2 , shall be subject to the further conditions precedent:

(a) Borrowers shall have delivered to you, the Advance Request, for such Subsequent Advance in accordance with this Agreement;

(b) On the date the Subsequent Advance is to occur and after giving effect to such Subsequent Advance, the following shall be true and correct:

(i) The representations and warranties of the Borrowers set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement and in the other Collateral Documents are true and correct in all material respects as if made on such date (except for representations and warranties expressly made as of a specified date, which shall be true as of such date); and

(ii) No Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or will result from such Subsequent Advance, and no default has occurred or condition exists which with the giving of notice or the expiration of time or both would become such an Event of Default; and

(iii) The Note, the Loan Agreement and all of the Collateral Documents are in full force and effect.

(c) Borrowers shall have delivered to you (1) periodically, at any other time, at your option, upon your request, a report of title to the Facility and such title endorsements and title updates or Uniform Commercial Code searches showing no other liens on the Facility except for Permitted Encumbrances and such other assurances as may be required by Lender and/or by your title insurance company (with all escrow, title insurance, lien search, legal, and recording fees related to any such searches, due diligence, endorsements and assurances to be paid by Borrowers) to affirm the continued first priority of such Subsequent Advance under the terms of this Agreement and as secured by the Collateral Documents and to affirm that there are no other liens on the Facility except for Permitted Encumbrances and (2) on or prior to such Subsequent Advance such additional approvals, opinions or documents as Lender may reasonably request; and

 

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(d) In addition to the items described in Section 3.11(c) above, Borrowers shall have delivered to you (1) all survey requirements and title requirements set forth in Sections 3.7 and 3.8 above, including all information related to the Missouri Real Estate; and (2) any other documentation or evidence required by you regarding the Facility.

(e) Without limiting the generality of the subsections (i) and (ii)  of Section 3.11(b) above:

(i) No bankruptcy proceeding of the Borrowers or affecting or encumbering all or any portion of the Facility has been filed or occurred;

(ii) No failure to pay real estate taxes or special assessments related to all or any portion of the Facility prior to the time the same became delinquent or past due has occurred;

(iii) No Federal tax liens have been filed or issued with regard to any of the Borrowers;

(iv) No mechanic’s or materialman’s liens have arisen or been filed with regard to all or any portion of the Facility;

(v) No notice of foreclosure or action or other proceeding to enforce any mortgage or other lien on all or any portion of the Facility which is filed, created or entered or which arises subsequent to the date of the filing of the Deeds of Trust, UCC financing statements perfecting the security interests granted by Deeds of Trust, the Assignment or any of the other Collateral Document has been received by you.

The submission by Borrower to you of the Advance Request shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by Borrower that each of the statements set forth above in this Section 3.11 is true and correct as of the date of such notice.

3.12 Lease Subordination . You shall have received on the Closing Date fully executed original counterparts of the Lease Subordination.

3.13 Loan Subordination . You shall have received on the Closing Date fully executed original counterparts of the Loan Subordination.

SECTION 4. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS; COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES; ADDITIONAL INFORMATION; AND INSPECTION.

4.1 Financial Statements and Reports . From and after the date hereof and so long as you (or a nominee designated by you) shall hold the Note, the Borrowers will deliver or cause to be delivered to you in duplicate:

(a) as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrowers and in any event within forty five (45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter, the self-prepared interim consolidated and consolidating income statements and balance sheets of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries for such period and for that part of the fiscal year ended with such period and the consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries as at the end of such period, all in reasonable detail, prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis consistent with that of previous periods (except as otherwise stated therein or in the notes thereto) and certified by an Officer of each Borrower as presenting fairly the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries as at the end of and for the fiscal periods to which they relate, subject to the Borrowers’ year-end adjustments;

(b) as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year of GPRE, and in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year, the audited consolidated and consolidating balance sheet and related consolidated and consolidating statements of earnings, member’s capital and cash flows of GPRE and its

 

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Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis consistent with that of previous years (except as otherwise stated therein or in the notes thereto) and audited by an independent certified public accountant, selected by GPRE and reasonably acceptable to you, stating that such financial statements present fairly the consolidated and consolidating financial condition and results of operations and cash flows of GPRE and its Subsidiaries in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied (except for changes with which such accountants concur) and that the examination of such accountants in connection with such financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) concurrently with the financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 4.1(a) a certificate of an Officer of each Borrower (the form of which will be provided by you) (1) setting forth, as of the end of the preceding fiscal quarter, the extent to which the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries have complied with the requirements of Sections 7.1 through 7.4 , inclusive, including in each case a brief description, together with all necessary computations, of the manner in which such compliance was determined and the respective amounts as of the end of or for such fiscal quarter of Consolidated Total Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Consolidated Total Indebtedness, Consolidated Current Assets, Consolidated Current Liabilities, Consolidated Total Fixed Charges, Consolidated Net Fixed Assets, Consolidated Net Income, Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Tangible Net Worth, Consolidated Liabilities and Consolidated Working Capital, and the amount available for dividends pursuant to Section 7.5 , (2) stating that a review of the activities of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal quarter has been made under his or her supervision to determine whether the Borrowers have fulfilled all of their obligations under this Agreement, the Collateral Documents and the Note, (3) stating that, to the best of his or her knowledge, the Borrowers are not and have not been in default in the fulfillment of any of the terms, covenants, provisions or conditions hereof and thereof and no Event of Default or event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default exists or existed or, if any such default or Event of Default or event exists or existed, specifying such default, Event of Default or event and the nature and status thereof, and (4) giving, in the event of the formation or acquisition of a Subsidiary during the preceding fiscal quarter, the name of such Subsidiary, its jurisdiction of incorporation and a brief description of its business;

(d) as soon as practicable, copies of all financial statements, proxy statements and reports as GPRE, the Borrowers or any of them or any of their Subsidiaries shall send or make available generally to their stockholders or any governmental agency or agencies and regular periodic reports, if any, which it or any of its Subsidiaries, may file with any governmental agency or agencies;

(e) immediately upon a responsible officer of any Borrower becoming aware of the existence of a condition, event or act which constitutes an Event of Default or an event of default under any other evidence of Indebtedness of any Borrower or any Subsidiary, or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such an Event of Default or event of default, a written notice specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;

(f) immediately upon a responsible officer of the Borrowers’ becoming aware of the occurrence of any (1) “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043(b) of ERISA, or (2) non-exempted “prohibited transaction,” as defined in Sections 406 and 408 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended in connection with any “employee pension benefit plan,” as defined in Section 3 of ERISA, or any trust created thereunder, a written notice specifying the nature thereof, what action the Borrowers are taking or proposes to take with respect thereto and, when known, any action taken by the Internal Revenue Service or the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation with respect thereto;

(g) promptly upon a responsible officer of the Borrowers (or any of them) becoming aware of the occurrence of (1) any surrender of assets of any of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary in satisfaction of any Indebtedness, (2) the dissolution of any operating partnership or real estate ownership partnership of any of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary, (3) the termination or expiration of any lease of real property to which any of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary is lessee or lessor, (4) any nonuse of property by any Borrower for a period of more than one hundred eighty (180) days, or (5) the commencement of any litigation, including any arbitration or mediation, and of any proceedings before any governmental agency and the occurrence of any item (2) through (5)

 

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of this subsection (g) which could materially and adversely affect the business, properties, prospects or financial condition of any of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries taken as a whole (including any such action commenced by counterclaim), written notice specifying the nature thereof and what action the Borrowers or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, are taking with respect thereto;

(h) such other information as to the business and properties of the Borrowers and of their Subsidiaries, including consolidated and consolidating financial statements of the Borrowers or any of them and their Subsidiaries, and financial statements and other reports filed with any governmental department, bureau, commission or agency, as you may from time to time reasonably request.

4.2 Inspection . From and after the date hereof and so long as you (or a nominee designated by you) shall hold the Note, you shall have the right (i) to visit and inspect, with previous notification, at your expense, any of the properties, all at such reasonable times and as often as you may reasonably request, of the Borrowers or of any of their Subsidiaries (including any property not owned by the Borrowers or any Subsidiary but upon which any security for the Loan may be located), to examine their books of account and those of any Subsidiaries and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrowers and any Subsidiaries with their and their officers and managers and independent public accountants, and (ii) to contact such third parties doing business with either of the Borrowers, and to engage in other auditing procedures as you deem reasonable to ensure the validity of your security interests or the accuracy of the Borrowers’ representations, warranties and certifications. In connection with such inspections, you and your engineers, contractors and other representatives shall have the right to perform such environmental audits and other environmental examinations of the Facility as you deem necessary or advisable from time to time; provided, however, that you have a reasonable belief that there has been a material change to the environmental condition of the Facility. If you elect to perform an environmental audit and such audit indicates the possible existence of a recognized environmental condition, then the Borrowers will pay the cost of such audit, together with any subsequent audit or remedial work that may be required to eliminate such condition.

SECTION 5. PAYMENT OF NOTE.

5.1 Interest Payments and Principal Payments - Mandatory and Optional Prepayment .

(a) All accrued interest on the Note shall be due and payable on the first day of the first day of the first month following Closing.

(b) The Borrowers covenant and agree that they will pay on the first day of each and every month, commencing on December 1, 2011, a level payment of principal sufficient to amortize the Note in full over a 15-year period plus interest. Such payments shall be made on the first day of each and every month until the Maturity Date, on which date the entire remaining outstanding balance of the Loan, and all accrued interest thereon, shall be due and payable. In the event a Subsequent Advance is disbursed, amount of such monthly principal installment payment will be adjusted by you from time to time, commencing on the first day of the first full month after the Subsequent Advance, in order to fully amortize the Loan during the remainder of such 15-year amortization period.

(c) The Borrowers may, at their option, prepay the Note in whole or in part (in integral multiples of $10,000) on the due date of any payment due hereunder at a price equal to the Prepayment Price, as hereafter defined, with accrued interest to the date of prepayment. The Borrowers shall give notice of any such prepayment to the holder of the Note not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for prepayment (“ Prepayment Date” ). Principal shall be applied to the outstanding principal balance in the inverse order of maturity. No Prepayment Price shall be charged to any payment made within sixty (60) calendar days of the Maturity Date.

 

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5.2 Prepayment of Note Upon Change of Control . In the event that a Change of Control Date (as hereinafter defined) shall occur, the Company will, within 10 days after such Change of Control Date, give you written notice thereof and shall describe in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances giving rise thereto. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Date, the Borrowers will prepay, if you shall so request, all of the Note which you then hold at the Prepayment Price (as hereinafter defined) plus interest accrued to the date of prepayment. Said request (the “Prepayment Notice”) shall be made by you in writing not later than the later of (a) 60 days after the Change of Control Date and (b) 50 days after you receive notice of the Change of Control Date, and said request shall specify the date (also referred to as the “ Prepayment Date ”) upon which the Borrowers shall prepay the Note held by you, which date shall be not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days from the date of the Prepayment Notice.

The Prepayment Price shall be determined by you in good faith, as of 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the fifth Business Day (as hereinafter defined) prior to the Prepayment Date. Such Prepayment Price, as calculated by you, will be binding upon the Borrowers, absent manifest error. Promptly upon such determination you shall notify the Borrowers in writing of the amount of such Prepayment Price, setting forth in reasonable detail the computation thereof.

On the Prepayment Date, the Borrowers shall prepay the Note held by you at the Prepayment Price plus interest accrued thereon to the Prepayment Date. Payment of the Prepayment Price shall be made as provided in Section 10.5 .

The term “ Change of Control Date” shall mean the first day on which any Person, or group of related Persons (i) should acquire greater than 50% beneficial ownership or voting interest, directly or indirectly, in a Borrower or GPRE; (ii) shall acquire directly or indirectly, or control all or substantially all of the assets of a Borrower or GPRE; or (iii) acquire beneficial ownership directly or indirectly, or control of greater than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of an entity with or into which a Borrower has merged or consolidated, whether pursuant to a statutory merger or consolidation or otherwise. A transfer of ownership interests under the terms of a will or by intestate succession shall not be deemed a transfer under the terms of this paragraph.

The term “ Prepayment Price” shall mean the greater of (x) par, and (y) the sum of the values of (1) each remaining mandatory principal payment prior to the next interest rate adjustment date, if any, or the Maturity Date, as the case may be, and (2) the principal payment at maturity (if there is an interest rate adjustment date, the entire outstanding principal balance as of such date shall be deemed due and payable solely for purposes of determining the Prepayment Price) (each such mandatory payment and such payment at the Maturity Date being herein referred to as a “ Payment” ) plus the value of all related scheduled interest payments on the Note to be prepaid during the period from the Prepayment Date to the date of each Payment. The value of each Payment and such related scheduled interest payments shall be determined by discounting, at the applicable Treasury Rate plus fifty (50) basis points, such Payment and such related scheduled interest payments from the respective scheduled payment dates of such Payment and such related scheduled interest payments to the Prepayment Date. The Treasury Rate with respect to each Payment and such related scheduled interest payments is the yield which shall be imputed, by linear interpolation, from the current weekly yield of those United States Treasury Notes having maturities as close as practicable to the scheduled payment date of the Payment, as published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) or any successor publication thereto.

5.3 Interest After Date Fixed for Principal Payment or Prepayment . In the event the Borrowers shall fail to pay such Note or any payment owing in respect of the Note according to the terms thereof and hereof (inclusive of any other permitted payments of which the Borrowers have notified you) on the date fixed for such principal payment or prepayment, in which event such Note or such portion, as the case may be, shall bear interest at the Overdue Interest Rate from and after such date until paid and, so far as may be lawful, any overdue installment of interest shall bear interest at said rate.

5.4 Prepayment of Loan in the Event of Casualty Loss or Condemnation . In the event of a Casualty or Condemnation (as each term is defined in the Deeds of Trust) which results in a partial or full prepayment of the Loan from insurance proceeds, such proceeds shall be deemed applied to the balance of the Loan at a price equal to the applicable Prepayment Price.

 

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SECTION 6. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

The Borrowers covenant and agree that so long as the Note shall be outstanding:

6.1 To Pay Note . The Borrowers will punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal and interest (and Prepayment Price, if any) to become due in respect of the Note according to the terms thereof and hereof (inclusive of any other permitted payments of which the Borrowers have notified you).

6.2 Maintenance of Borrowers’ Office . The Borrowers will maintain an office at 450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400, Omaha, NE 68114 (or such other place in the United States of America as the Borrowers may designate in writing to the holder of the Note).

6.3 To Keep Books . The Borrowers will, and will cause each of their Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

6.4 Payment of Taxes; Corporate Existence; Maintenance of Properties . Each Borrower will, and will cause any and all of its Subsidiaries to:

(a) pay and discharge promptly all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it, its income or profits or its property before the same shall become in default, as well as all lawful claims and liabilities of any kind (including claims and liabilities for labor, materials and supplies) which, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon its property; provided, however , that none of the Borrowers nor any Subsidiary shall be required to pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim if the amount, applicability or validity thereof shall currently be contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and if the Borrowers or any such Subsidiary shall have set aside on its books reserves in respect thereof (segregated to the extent required by generally accepted accounting principles) deemed adequate in the opinion of the Borrowers’ managers or other governing body;

(b) subject to Section 7.6(a) , do all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided , however , that none of the Borrowers’ managers nor Board of Directors nor any Subsidiary shall be required to preserve any right or franchise if any of the Borrowers’ managers or other governing body shall reasonably determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in its conduct of business; and

(c) maintain and keep all its properties used or useful in the conduct of its business in good condition, repair and working order and supplied with all necessary equipment and make all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as may be necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times.

6.5 To Insure . Each Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to (in addition to the insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Deeds of Trust:

(a) keep all of its insurable properties owned by it insured against all risks usually insured against by persons operating like properties in the same geographical areas where the properties are located, all in amounts sufficient to prevent the Borrowers or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, from becoming a coinsurer within the terms of the policies in question, but in any event in amounts not less than the full replacement value thereof;

(b) maintain comprehensive public liability insurance against claims for personal injury, death or property damage suffered by others upon or in or about any premises occupied by it or occurring as a result of its maintenance or operation of any airplanes, automobiles, trucks or other vehicles or other facilities (including, but not limited to, any machinery used therein or thereon) or as the result of the use of products sold by it or services rendered by it, which coverage shall provide for a combined single limit of $1,000,000 per occurrence;

 

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(c) maintain such other types of insurance with respect to its business as is usually carried by persons of comparable size engaged in the same or similar business and similarly situated; and

(d) maintain all such worker’s compensation or similar insurance as may be required under the laws of any State or jurisdiction in which it may be engaged in business.

SECTION 7. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS.

The Borrowers each jointly and severally covenant and agree that so long as the Note shall be outstanding:

7.1 Consolidated Total Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio . Commencing as of the last day of the fourth fiscal quarter of 2011, the Borrowers’ Consolidated Total Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall not at the end of any fiscal quarter, for the rolling four fiscal quarters then ending, be less than 1.25 to 1.00.

7.2 Working Capital . The Borrowers shall maintain Working Capital of not less than $30,000,000.00 as of the end of each fiscal quarter.

7.3 Consolidated Long Term Indebtedness to Consolidated Net Fixed Assets Ratio. The Borrowers shall not at any time permit the ratio of Consolidated Long Term Indebtedness to Consolidated Net Fixed Assets to exceed 0.70 to 1.00.

7.4 Total Tangible Net Worth . The Borrowers shall maintain Total Tangible Net Worth of not less than $50,000,000.00 as of the Closing Date, with such minimum Total Tangible Net Worth amount being increased by an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the Consolidated Net Income for each fiscal year, without reduction for losses, commencing with the results of the financial statements required pursuant to Section 4.1(b) for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011.

7.5 Restricted Payments; Pledge of Stock .

(a) The Borrowers and their Subsidiaries will not, directly or indirectly, make any Restricted Payments or incur any liability to make any Restricted Payments (1) exceeding 80% of Consolidated Net Income, and (2) unless, immediately after giving effect to such action, there shall not exist any Event of Default or event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default.

(b) All dividends, distributions, purchases, redemptions, retirements, acquisitions, or payments made pursuant to this Section 7.5 in property other than cash shall be included for purposes of calculations pursuant to this Section 7.5 at the fair market value thereof (as determined in good faith by the Borrowers’ and their Subsidiaries’ managers or members) at the time of declaration of such dividend or at the time of making such distribution, purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition or payment.

(c) The Borrowers’ and their Subsidiaries’ outstanding stock or membership or other equity interests shall remain free and clear of any and all Liens at all times.

(d) The Borrowers will not create any Subsidiaries without your prior written consent.

7.6 Merger, Consolidation, Sale or Lease . None of the Borrowers nor any of their Subsidiaries will consolidate with or merge into any Person, or permit any Person to merge into it, or sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets without the prior written consent of MetLife.

7.7 Transactions with Affiliates .

 

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(a) The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, engage in any transaction with an Affiliate on terms more favorable to the Affiliate than would have been obtainable in arm’s length dealing in the ordinary course of business with a Person not an Affiliate; provided, however , that any transaction for the sale of corn between any Borrowers or any Subsidiaries and any Affiliates which own or operate an ethanol plant shall be permitted if such transaction is the result of arm’s lengths dealing in the ordinary course of business and on standard terms similarly available to a Person not an Affiliate and such terms do not include any dated receivable provisions.

(b) The Borrowers will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary, to make any loans to any Affiliates, including GPRE. The Borrowers hereby agree that, to the extent there are any inter-company loans involving the Borrowers and/or any Subsidiary on a date on which an Event of Default exists, no payment of any amounts owing in connection therewith may be made until the earlier of your waiver of such Event of Default or the repayment in full of all amounts owing to you in connection with the Loan. To the extent any amounts are received in any manner whatsoever in connection with such inter-company loans by an obligee thereof during the period described in the immediately preceding sentence, such amounts shall be held in trust for and paid over to you until you are in receipt of all amounts owing to you in connection with the Loan.

7.8 Encumbrances On and Transfers of the Collateral .

(a) Except for Permitted Encumbrances, the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries will not create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any of the Collateral or any interest therein.

(b) Except as permitted by Sections 7.6(a) above, the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries will not sell, convey, lease, assign or otherwise transfer all or any of the Collateral or any interest therein whether voluntarily or by operation of law. Notwithstanding anything contained in the foregoing sentence to the contrary, the Borrowers may sell or otherwise dispose of, free from the lien of the Collateral Documents, furniture, furnishings, equipment, tools, appliances, machinery, fixtures, or appurtenances subject to the lien thereof, which may become worn out, undesirable, obsolete, disused or unnecessary for use in the operation of the Facility, not exceeding in value at the time of disposition thereof Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) for any single transaction, or a total of Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000.00) in any one fiscal year, upon replacing the same by, or substituting for the same, other furniture, furnishings, equipment, tools, appliances, machinery, fixtures, or appurtenances not necessarily of the same character, but of at least equal value to the Borrowers and costing not less than the amount realized from the property sold or otherwise disposed of, which shall forthwith become, without further action, subject to the lien and security interest of the Collateral Documents.

(c) The Borrowers and their Subsidiaries shall have no outstanding or incur any Indebtedness, except the following if not otherwise prohibited under this Agreement or any other documents evidencing the Loan: (i) liabilities and obligations to MetLife or any Affiliate of MetLife; (ii) normal trade credit; (iii) lease obligations or debt incurred for the purpose of purchasing equipment used in the ordinary course of business in an amount not to exceed in the aggregate $2,000,000.00; (iv) liabilities and obligations to the lenders pursuant to the BNP Credit Agreement; (v) repurchase obligations under Commodity Repurchase Agreement; (vi) guaranty obligations with respect to Indebtedness permitted pursuant to clauses (i) through (vi); (vii) liabilities and obligations of any Affiliate of any of the Borrowers in existence on the Closing Date; and (viii) other liabilities and obligations in existence on the Closing Date and disclosed in the most recent financial statement submitted to MetLife, and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder.

7.9 Single Purpose Entity . So long as any portion of the Loan remains outstanding, each Borrower shall be and remain a single purpose entity, and each Borrower’s organizational documents shall provide that such Borrower shall not:

(a) engage in any business other than owning and operating the Facility;

 

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(b) acquire or own a material asset other than the Facility and incidental personal property;

(c) maintain assets in a manner difficult to segregate and identify, or commingle its assets with the assets of any other person or entity;

(d) fail to hold itself out to the public as a legal entity separate and apart from any other entity;

(e) fail to conduct business solely in its name or fail to maintain records, accounts, or bank accounts separate from any other person or entity;

(f) file or consent to the filing of a petition pursuant to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation or reorganization statutes, or make any assignment for the benefit of its creditors, without the unanimous consent of such Borrower’s partners or members, as applicable;

(g) incur additional indebtedness (other than indebtedness in favor of MetLife) except for trade payables in the ordinary course of business of owning and operating the Facility, provided that all such trade payables must be paid within ninety (90) days of the date incurred;

(h) dissolve, liquidate, consolidate, merge, or sell all or substantially all of its assets; or

(i) modify, amend or revise its organizational documents.

SECTION 8. DEFINITIONS.

For all purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

Affiliate ” means any Person which, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with either or both of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or which beneficially owns or holds or has the power to direct the voting power of 35% or more of any class of voting stock of any of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or other equity interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Person or direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether by contract or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, “ control” means the power to direct the management and policies of a Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “ controlling” and “ controlled ” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

BNP Credit Agreement ” means that certain Credit Agreement dated October 28, 2011 or amendment, modification, successor or replacement thereto by and among Borrowers, the Revolving Credit Agent and any lenders thereto.

Business Day ” means any day on which banks are required to be open to carry on their normal business in the State of New York.

Capital Lease ” means and includes at any time any lease of property, real or personal, which in accordance with GAAP would at such time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet of the lessee.

Capital Lease Obligation ” means at any time the capitalized amount of the rental commitment under a Capital Lease which in accordance with GAAP would at such time be required to be shown on a balance sheet.

Collateral ” means all property and assets, and proceeds thereof, subjected, or intended to be subjected, at any time to the Liens of any of the Collateral Documents, with the exception of any furnishings or furniture.

Collateral Documents ” means this Agreement, the Note, the Deeds of Trust, and any and all other documents and instruments executed by the Borrower, or any of them, with respect to the Loan.

 

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Commodity Repurchase Agreement ” means any (a) grain repurchase agreement, grain reverse repurchase transaction or grain forward agreement with an embedded option to repurchase, or substantially similar agreement, entered into by the Borrowers, and (b) any futures contract, exchange-for-risk, exchange-for-physical, exchange-for-swap or similar agreement involving grain entered into by the Borrower in connection therewith or to hedge the risk thereof.

Consolidated Assets ” means, as of the date of determination thereof, the aggregate of all assets which in accordance with GAAP would be so classified and appear as assets on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Current Assets ” means, as of the date of determination thereof, the aggregate of all assets which in accordance with GAAP would be so classified and appear as current assets on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Current Liabilities ” means, as of the date of determination thereof, the aggregate of all liabilities which in accordance with GAAP would be so classified and appear as current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries.

Consolidated EBITDA ” shall mean the sum of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries (a) Consolidated Net Income plus (to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income) (i) Interest Charges of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, (i) Federal, state, local and foreign income taxes, and (iii) depreciation and amortization, minus (iv) any other extraordinary income of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, and, (v) any recovery of non current assets, all for the four most recent consecutive quarters.

Consolidated Liabilities ” means, as of the date of determination thereof, the aggregate of all liabilities which in accordance with GAAP would be so classified and appear as liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Long-Term Indebtedness ” means, without duplication, (i) all Consolidated Liabilities which by their terms matures more than one year from the date as of which any determination of Consolidated Long-Term Indebtedness is made, (ii) any Consolidated Liabilities maturing within one year from such date which is renewable at the option of the obligor beyond one year from such date, including any Consolidated Liabilities renewable or extendible (whether or not theretofore renewed or extended) under, or payable from the proceeds of other Consolidated Liabilities which may be incurred pursuant to the provisions of, any revolving credit agreement or other similar agreement, and (iii) Capital Lease Obligations. “Consolidated Long-Term Indebtedness” shall not include (i) deferred items and minority interests, or (ii) Consolidated Liabilities consisting of revolving lines of credit under the BNP Credit Agreement.

Consolidated Net Fixed Assets ” means, as of the date of determination thereof, the Consolidated Assets of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, less (without duplication of deductions) the sum of the following:

(a) the amount at which intangible assets (such as patents, patent rights, trademarks, trademark rights, trade names, copyrights, licenses, good will, or other items treated as intangible under GAAP) are carried on such balance sheet;

(b) items appearing on said balance sheet as Consolidated Current Assets;

(c) depreciation and asset valuation reserves;

(d) the amount, if any, at which any of the ownership interests of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries appear on the asset side of such balance sheet; and

(e) all Restricted Investments of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Net Income ” means the consolidated net income of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, after eliminating inter-company items, all as consolidated and determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Tangible Net Worth ” means, as of the date of determination thereof, the excess of Consolidated Net Fixed Assets over Consolidated Liabilities.

 

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Consolidated Total Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA plus cash equity injections received from GPRE minus Maintenance Capital Expenditures and minus actual interest expense on working capital financings to (b) Consolidated Total Fixed Charges, measured as of the last day of each fiscal quarter for the rolling four quarters then ending.

Consolidated Total Fixed Charges ” means, actual scheduled principal payments on long-term Indebtedness and actual interest expenses incurred during any period, as shown on the consolidated financial statements of the Borrowers and their Affiliates and Subsidiaries.

Consolidated Total Indebtedness ” shall mean the sum of:

(i) any obligation of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries for borrowed money, which under GAAP is shown on the balance sheet as a liability (including, without limitation, Capital Lease Obligations but excluding reserves for deferred income taxes, operating leases, deferred pension liability and other deferred expenses and reserves); and

(ii) Indebtedness of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries secured by any Lien existing on property owned subject to such Lien, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed; and

(iii) guarantees, endorsements (other than endorsements of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business) and other contractual commitments of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries (whether direct or indirect in connection with obligations, stock or dividends of any person),

in each case after eliminating inter-company items and as determined in accordance with GAAP.

Consolidated Working Capital ” means Consolidated Current Assets minus Consolidated Current Liabilities.

Default Rate ” or “ Overdue Interest Rate ” means five percent (5%) per annum over the interest rate in effect immediately prior to the time of the default; provided, however, that in either event the Overdue Interest Rate shall not exceed the maximum rate allowed by applicable law.

Entity ” means a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a trust, or any other organization created pursuant to the laws of any state, or an unincorporated organization or a government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

Events of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.1 .

GAAP ” means, as to a particular Entity and at a particular time of determination, such accounting principles as, in the opinion of the independent public accountants regularly employed by such Entity, conform at such time of determination to generally accepted accounting principles.

GPRE ” means Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc., an Iowa corporation.

Indebtedness ” means and includes (i) all indebtedness or obligations for money borrowed or for the purchase price of property (exclusive of orders or commitments made in the ordinary course of business for future delivery of goods or services prior to the time the obligation to pay becomes firm) and any notes payable and drafts accepted representing extensions of credit, whether or not representing indebtedness or obligations for money borrowed or for the purchase price of property, (ii) indebtedness or obligations secured by or constituting any Lien existing on property owned by the Person whose Indebtedness is being determined, whether or not the indebtedness or obligations secured thereby shall have been assumed, (iii) Capital Lease Obligations, (iv) guarantees and endorsements of (other than endorsements for purposes of collection in the ordinary course of business), and obligations to purchase goods or services for the purpose of supplying funds for the purchase or payment of, or

 

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measured by, indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of others (whether or not representing money borrowed) and other contingent obligations in respect of, or to purchase or otherwise acquire or service, indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of others (whether or not representing money borrowed) and (v) all indebtedness, liabilities or obligations (whether or not representing money borrowed) in effect guaranteed by an agreement, contingent or otherwise, to make a loan, advance or capital contribution to or other investment in the debtor for the purpose of assuring or maintaining a minimum equity, asset base, working capital or other balance sheet condition for any date, or to provide funds for the payment of any liability, dividend or stock liquidation payment, or otherwise to supply funds to or in any manner invest in the debtor for such purpose. A renewal or extension of any Indebtedness without increase in the principal amount thereof shall not be deemed to be the incurrence of the Indebtedness so renewed or extended. In case any Entity shall become a Subsidiary, such Entity shall be deemed to have incurred at the time it becomes a Subsidiary all Indebtedness of such Entity outstanding immediately thereafter.

Intercreditor Agreement ” that certain Intercreditor Agreement dated as of the date hereof by and between the Revolving Credit Agent and MetLife and acknowledged by the Borrowers.

Interest Charges ” means, with respect to any Indebtedness of the Borrowers, or either of them, or any of their Subsidiaries for any period, all amounts which would, in accordance with GAAP, be deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income for such period on account of interest on such Indebtedness, including without limitation imputed interest in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and amortization of debt discount and expense.

Lender ” means Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, a New York corporation, and/or its affiliates or designees

Lien” means any mortgage, lien, pledge, security interest, encumbrance or charge of any kind, whether or not consensual, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or any Capital Lease.

Lease Subordination ” means that certain Subordination Agreement by and among MetLife, CROP PRODUCTION SERVICES, INC., a Delaware corporation, as Tenant and GPGC TN, as Owner in form and substance acceptable to MetLife and any other subordination agreements in form and substance acceptable to and as reasonably required by MetLife.

Loan Subordination ” means that certain Subordination Agreement by and among MetLife, GPGC TN, The Thomas W. Wade, Jr. Living Trust dated July 25, 2002 in form and substance acceptable to MetLife.

Maintenance Capital Expenditures ” means all Capital Expenditures, determined in accordance with GAAP, made in the ordinary course of business to maintain existing business operations of the Borrowers in any fiscal year.

Material Adverse Change ” shall mean a material change with respect to: (a) the business, operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrowers and their Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (b) the ability of the Borrowers to pay or perform their obligations in accordance with the terms of the Note, this Agreement or any of the Collateral Documents; (c) your rights or remedies under the Note, this Agreement or any of the Collateral Documents or any related document, instrument or agreement; (d) the value of the property subject to the Collateral Documents, your mortgage, security interest and/or other lien or encumbrance in the property subject to the Collateral Documents or the perfection or priority of such mortgage, security interest and/or other lien or encumbrance; (e) the validity of any of the Note, this Agreement or any of the Collateral Documents; or (f) the use, occupancy or operation of the Facility taken as a whole.

Permitted Encumbrances ” shall be defined as set forth in the Deeds of Trust.

Person ” includes an individual or any Entity.

Post-Close Agreement ” means that certain agreement between Borrowers and MetLife dated as of the date hereof.

 

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Restricted Investment ” means any investment by the Borrowers or any Subsidiary in any other Person, whether by acquisition of stock or Indebtedness, or by loan, advance, transfer of property out of the ordinary course of business, capital contribution, extension of credit on terms other than those normal in the business of the Borrowers or such Subsidiary, or otherwise (the foregoing items being herein collectively called “Investments”, and individually, an “Investment”); provided , however , that the term “Restricted Investment” shall not include:

(i) marketable obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States of America or by any agency of the United States of America, and maturing not later than twelve months from the date of acquisition thereof,

(ii) commercial paper, issued by a Entity duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof and having a net worth of not less than $100,000,000, which has one of the two highest credit ratings by a responsible independent credit agency of recognized standing,

(iii) Investments, up to an amount insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, in negotiable certificates of deposit or bankers’ acceptances issued by, or drawn on, a United States bank or trust company that is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank and maturing not later than twelve months from the date of acquisition thereof, and

(iv) Investments in any Subsidiary or in any Entity which by reason thereof will immediately after such Investment become a Subsidiary.

Restricted Payments ” means dividends, distributions, purchases, redemptions, retirements, acquisitions, or other payments to shareholders, owners or members of the Borrowers or any of them, or owners of any beneficial interest in any Borrower (in either cash or property) and Restricted Investments.

Revolving Credit Agent ” means BNP Paribas Bank, under the terms of the BNP Credit Agreement, and any successor or replacement agent

Subsidiary ” means any Entity at least a majority of whose outstanding stock or membership or other equity interests having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the members of the board of directors (or other governing body) of such Entity (other than stock having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) shall at the time be owned directly or indirectly by the Borrowers and/or one or more Subsidiaries of any of the Borrowers.

Voting Stock ” as applied to the stock of any corporation (or similar interest in a limited liability company or other Entity), shall mean stock of any class or classes (however designated) having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors of such corporation other than stock having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency; and as applied to the ownership of any limited liability company, limited liability limited partnership, or other Entity, shall mean membership or ownership interests of any class, classes, designations or descriptions, however designated or described, having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the managers or other controlling person or persons of such Entity.

Working Capital ” means as of any date of determination with respect to any Person, (a) the excess of Consolidated Current Assets over Consolidated Current Liabilities of such Person as of such date minus (b) to the extent included in the calculation of Consolidated Current Assets, the sum of (i) the total book value of the Consolidated Current Assets of such Person properly classified as goodwill, trademarks, trade names, service marks, brand names, copyrights, patents and licenses, rights with respect to the foregoing, and organizational or developmental expenses, plus (ii) any subscriptions receivable, plus (iii) loans by Borrowers to, investments in, and receivables and other obligations from Borrowers’ Subsidiaries, other Affiliates, officers, employees or directors of such Person not in the ordinary course of business, plus (iv) any treasury stock.

All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings respectively given to them in accordance with GAAP as it exists at the date of applicability thereof.

 

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SECTION 9. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES.

9.1 Events of Default; Acceleration . If one or more of the following events (herein called “ Events of Default ”) shall occur for any reason whatsoever (and whether such occurrence shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(a) default in the payment of any interest upon the Note when such interest becomes due and payable; or

(b) default in the payment of principal of (or Prepayment Price, if any, on) the Note when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for principal payment or prepayment (including, without limitation, a principal payment or prepayment as provided in Section 5.1 or Section 5.2 ), or by acceleration or otherwise; or

(c) default in the performance or observance of any other covenant, agreement or condition contained herein, or in the Note or Deeds of Trust, or any other document or instrument relating to the Loan, and such non-monetary default shall not have been cured by either an irrevocable cash equity injection in an amount necessary to cure such non-monetary default or by other means acceptable to you on or before the expiration of forty-five (45) days from the date of occurrence thereof; provided, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Note or the Collateral Documents, if such non-monetary default is not cured by the fifteenth (15) Business Day after the occurrence thereof, you may charge interest at the Default Rate; or

(d) any Borrower or any Subsidiary shall not pay when due, whether by acceleration or otherwise, any evidence of indebtedness of such Borrower or such Subsidiary (other than the Note), or any condition or default shall exist under any such evidence of indebtedness or under any agreement under which the same may have been issued permitting such evidence of indebtedness to become or be declared due prior to the stated maturity thereof; or

(e) any Borrower or any Subsidiary shall file a petition seeking relief for itself under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or an answer consenting to, admitting the material allegations of or otherwise not controverting, or shall fail to timely controvert, a petition filed against such Borrower or such Subsidiary seeking relief under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended; or any Borrower or any Subsidiary shall file such a petition or answer with respect to relief under the provisions of any other now existing or future bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law of the United States of America or any State thereof or of any other country or jurisdiction providing for the reorganization, winding-up or liquidation of Entities or an arrangement, composition, extension or adjustment with creditors; or

(f) a court of competent jurisdiction shall enter an order for relief which is not stayed within 60 days from the date of entry thereof against any Borrower or any Subsidiary under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended; or there shall be entered an order, judgment or decree by operation of law or by a court having jurisdiction in the premises which is not stayed within 60 days from the date of entry thereof adjudging any Borrower or any Subsidiary a bankrupt or insolvent, or ordering relief against any Borrower or any Subsidiary, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking relief against any Borrower or any Subsidiary, under the provisions of any other now existing or future bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law of the United States of America or any State thereof or of any other country or jurisdiction providing for the reorganization, winding-up or liquidation of Entities or Persons or an arrangement, composition, extension or adjustment with creditors, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, sequestrator, trustee, custodian or similar official of any Borrower or any Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the reorganization, winding-up or liquidation of its affairs; or any involuntary petition against any Borrower or any Subsidiary seeking any of the relief specified in this clause shall not be dismissed within 60 days of its filing; or

(g) any Borrower or any Subsidiary shall make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or any Borrower or any Subsidiary shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, sequestrator, trustee, custodian or similar official of such Borrower or such Subsidiary or of all or any substantial part of its property; or any Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have admitted to its insolvency or inability to pay, or shall have failed to pay, its debts generally as such debts become due; or any Borrower or any Subsidiary or its directors or majority members shall take any action to dissolve or liquidate such Borrower or such Subsidiary (other than as contemplated by Section 7.6(a) ); or

 

21


(h) any Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (1) engage in any non-exempted “prohibited transaction,” as defined in Sections 406 and 408 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (2) incur any “accumulated funding deficiency,” as defined in Section 302 of ERISA, in an amount in excess of $10,000, whether or not waived, or (3) terminate or permit the termination of an “employee pension benefit plan,” as defined in Section 3 of ERISA, in a manner which could result in the imposition of a Lien on any property of such Borrower or such Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4068 of ERISA securing an amount in excess of $10,000; or

(i) any representation or warranty made by the Borrowers in Section 2 hereof or in any Collateral Document or in any certificate or instrument furnished in connection therewith shall prove to have been false or misleading in any respect as of the date made; or

(j) the dissolution of any of the Borrowers or any Subsidiary, whether by operation of law or otherwise (other than as may be permitted under Section 7.6(a) above, or a dissolution resulting from a transfer by will or intestate succession);

then the entire outstanding principal amount of the Note, together with (1) all accrued but unpaid interest on the outstanding principal amount of the Note, (2) an amount equal to the Prepayment Price, computed as provided in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 (except that, for purposes of such computation, the Prepayment Date shall be deemed to be the date upon which the holder of the Note shall have declared the Note to be due and payable), and (3) accrued interest on all of the foregoing computed at the Overdue Interest Rate from and after the date of the Event of Default, shall immediately become due and payable without notice or demand to the Borrowers.

The Borrowers shall be obligated to notify you, in accordance with Section 10.6 , below, immediately upon the occurrence of any event, act, or omission constituting an Event of Default, other than an Event of Default pursuant to Sections 9.1(a) or (b) , above.

The Borrowers hereby expressly acknowledge and agree (i) that the Prepayment Price provided for in this Agreement is reasonable, (ii) that legal counsel of the Borrowers’ own choosing has advised the Borrowers with respect to such Prepayment Price, (iii) that any prepayment made at a time when it is otherwise restricted under the Note will result in material loss and damage to the holder of the Note, requiring such holder to secure reinvestments at additional costs which might not produce the same economic benefit to such holder as the economic benefits under the Note, (iv) that the foregoing Prepayment Price is a reasonable estimate of such loss and damage, and (v) the Borrowers shall be estopped hereafter from claiming differently as to any of the foregoing. The foregoing Prepayment Price is not intended to be a penalty, but instead shall serve as liquidated damages to provide you with the benefit of your bargain.

9.2 Suits for Enforcement . In case an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the holder of the Note may proceed to protect and enforce its rights by suit in equity, action at law or other appropriate proceeding, whether for the specific performance of any covenant contained in the Note or in this Agreement or in any Collateral Document or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in the Note or in this Agreement or in any Collateral Document or may proceed to enforce the payment of the Note or to enforce any other legal or equitable right of the holder of the Note. The Borrower agrees that their obligations under Section 5 , including without limitation any applicable Prepayment Price, are of the essence of this Agreement, and upon application to any court of equity having jurisdiction in the premises, the original holder of the Note shall be entitled to a decree against the Borrower requiring specific performance of such obligations.

9.3 Remedies Not Waived . No course of dealing between the holder of the Note and the Borrowers or any delay or failure on the part of the holder in exercising any rights under the Note or under any Collateral Document or hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any rights of such holder.

9.4 Remedies Cumulative . No remedy herein or in the Note or in any Collateral Document conferred upon the holder of the Note is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy and each and every remedy shall be in addition to every other remedy given hereunder or under the Note or under any Collateral Document or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise.

 

22


9.5 Costs and Expenses . The Borrowers shall pay to the holder of the Note, to the extent permitted under applicable law, all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such holder as shall be sufficient to cover the cost and expense of enforcing such holder’s rights under the Note and any Collateral Document or the collecting and foreclosing upon, or otherwise dealing with, the Collateral, or participating in any litigation or bankruptcy proceeding for the protection or enforcement of the holder’s collateral or claim against the Borrower or otherwise incurred in connection with the occurrence of an Event of Default, said expenses to include reasonable compensation to the attorneys and counsel of such holder for any services rendered in that connection, upon the Note held by such holder.

SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS.

10.1 Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Note . Upon receipt of evidence satisfactory to the Borrowers of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of the Note, and, in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction, upon receipt of a bond of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Borrowers or, in the case of any such mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of such Note, the Borrowers will make and deliver, in lieu of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note, a new Note of like tenor and unpaid principal amount and dated the date of, or, if later, the date to which interest has been paid on, the lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Note. In the case of a holder of the Note which is an institutional investor (such as you), its own unsecured agreement of indemnity shall be deemed satisfactory to the Borrowers.

10.2 Expenses . Whether or not the Loan herein contemplated shall be consummated, the Borrowers acknowledge that they have paid to you the total amount of $300,000.00 as a service charge (the “ Processing Fee ”). The Processing Fee is fully earned and non-refundable. Additionally, the Borrowers shall pay all costs of executing and closing this agreement and the Collateral Documents including, without limitation, your attorney’s fees and expenses, the Borrowers’ Attorney’s fees and expenses, appraisals, title insurance with endorsements, and all title abstract costs, recording costs, surveys, environmental reports, and all related expenses. The Borrowers’ obligations under this Section 10.2 shall survive the payment or prepayment of the Note.

10.3 Stamp Taxes, Recording Fees, etc . The Borrowers will pay, and save you and any subsequent holder of the Note harmless against, any and all liability (including any interest or penalty for non-payment or delay in payment) with respect to stamp and other taxes (other than any such stamp or other taxes incurred upon a transfer of the Note by you), if any, and all recording and filing fees which may be payable or determined to be payable in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Collateral Documents, including, without limitation, the issuance and delivery of the Note, the execution, delivery, filing and recording of the Collateral Documents and financing statements related thereto, or any modification, amendment or alteration thereof. The obligations of the Borrowers under this Section 10.3 shall survive the payment or prepayment of the Note.

10.4 Successors and Assigns . All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made herein, in the Collateral Documents and in the Note or in certificates delivered in connection herewith by or on behalf of the Borrowers shall survive the issuance and delivery of the Note to you, the making of the loan by you as provided in Section 1.2 , and shall bind the successors and assigns of the Borrowers, whether so expressed or not, and all such covenants, agreements, representations and warranties shall inure to the benefit of your successors and assigns, including any subsequent holder of any of the Note.

10.5 Payment . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Note contained, the Borrowers will promptly and punctually pay to you by wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to wiring instructions from you, or at your request, by check mailed (not later than three days prior to the date any payment is due) to Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Agricultural Investments, 5047 Collection Center Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60693-0500 or by such other method or to such other address as may be designated in writing by you, all amounts payable in respect of the principal of, Prepayment Price if any, and interest on, the Note, without any presentment thereof and without any notation of such payment being made thereon.

 

23


10.6 Notices . All notices, consents, approvals, elections and other communications (collectively “ Notices ”) hereunder shall be in writing (whether or not the other provisions of this Agreement expressly so provide) and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed by United States registered or certified mail, with return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by United States Express Mail or courier service to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other addresses as shall be given in writing by any party to the others pursuant to this Section 10.6 ) and shall be deemed complete upon receipt or refusal to accept delivery as indicated in the return receipt or in the receipt of such Express Mail or courier service:

 

If to the Borrowers:

  

Green Plains Grain Company, LLC

Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC

Green Plains Essex Inc.

450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400

Omaha, NE 68114

Attention: Jerry L. Peters

With a copy to:

  

Michelle Mapes

General Counsel

Green Plains Renewable Energy

450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400

Omaha, NE 68114

If to Lender:

  

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

Agricultural Investments

10801 Mastin Blvd., Suite 930

Overland Park, Kansas 66210

Attention: Director

With a copy to:

  

Drew K. Theophilus

Baird Holm LLP

1500 Woodmen Tower

1700 Farnam Street

Omaha, Nebraska 68102

10.7 Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or the Note or the application thereof to any person or circumstance shall be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement and the Note and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby and shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law.

10.8 Law Governing; Modification . This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by laws of the State of Nebraska. No provision of this Agreement may be waived, changed or modified, or the discharge thereof acknowledged, orally, but only by an agreement in writing signed by the party against whom the enforcement of any waiver, change, modification or discharge is sought.

10.9 Headings . The headings of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute part of this Agreement.

10.10 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart.

 

24


10.11 USA Patriot Act Notice . Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who obtains a loan. MetLife will ask for the Borrowers’ legal name, address, tax ID number or social security number and other identifying information. MetLife may also ask for additional information or documentation or take other actions reasonably necessary to verify the identity of Borrowers, any guarantors or other related persons.

10.12 FINAL CREDIT AGREEMENT . THIS WRITTEN AGREEMENT, THE NOTE AND THE COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS ARE THE FINAL EXPRESSION OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BORROWERS AND YOU AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF ANY PRIOR OR CONTEMPORANEOUS ORAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BORROWERS AND YOU. THE BORROWERS AND YOU HEREBY AFFIRM THAT THERE IS NO UNWRITTEN ORAL CREDIT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE BORROWERS AND YOU WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS WRITTEN CREDIT AGREEMENT, THE NOTE, THE COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS, AND ANY RELATED LOAN DOCUMENTS.

[NO FURTHER TEXT ON PAGE]

 

25


NOTICE: Pursuant to Nebraska law, a credit agreement must be in writing to be enforceable under Nebraska law. To protect you and us from any misunderstandings or disappointments, any contract, promise, undertaking, or offer to forebear repayment of money or to make any other financial accommodation in connection with this loan of money or grant or extension of credit, or any amendment of, cancellation of, waiver of, or substitution for any or all of the terms or provisions of any instrument or document executed in connection with this loan of money or grant or extension of credit, must be in writing to be effective.

Agreed as of the date first referenced above.

 

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC ,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:   /s/ Jerry L. Peters
Its:   Chief Financial Officer

 

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC ,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:   /s/ Jerry L. Peters
Its:   Chief Financial Officer

 

GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC. ,

an Iowa corporation

By:   /s/ Jerry L. Peters
Its:   Chief Financial Officer

The foregoing agreement is hereby accepted as of the date first above written.

 

METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By   /s/ Kevin Harshberger
  Kevin Harshberger
Its   Director

 

26


EXHIBIT A

TO LOAN AGREEMENT

FORM OF NOTE

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

and

GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation

$30,000,000.00.00

October 28, 2011

For value received, GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; and GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation (each a “ Borrower ” and collectively, the “ Borrowers ”), hereby, jointly and severally promise to pay to Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, a New York corporation, or assigns (“ Lender ”), on the Maturity Date as defined in the Loan Agreement (hereafter defined), the principal amount of Thirty Million and No/100 Dollars ($30,000,000.00.00) (or such lesser amount as was actually disbursed and so much thereof as shall not have been theretofore paid by mandatory principal payments required and optional prepayments permitted in the Loan Agreement) in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for public and private debts, at the address provided in Section 10.6 of the Loan Agreement, and to pay interest monthly (computed on the basis of a 30/360-day year) at said address, in like coin or currency, on the unpaid portion of said principal amount from the date hereof, on the first day of each month, commencing on the first day of the first full month subsequent to the Closing Date (as defined in the Loan Agreement), at the rate of 6.00% per annum until such unpaid portion of such principal amount shall have become due and payable and at the Default Rate as defined in the Loan Agreement thereafter and, so far as may be lawful, on any overdue installment of interest at such Default Rate. From and after an Event of Default, the entire balance of the Note shall bear interest at the Default Rate, both before and after any judgment on the indebtedness evidenced by the Note. Following an increase in the interest rate by reason of an Event of Default, the rate shall be reduced to that in effect immediately prior to the Event of Default if the default is cured to Lender’s satisfaction. This paragraph shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver of Lender’s remedies if an Event of Default occurs.

This Secured Promissory Note (herein called the “ Note ”) is issued pursuant to and entitled to the benefits of the Loan Agreement, dated of even date herewith, between the Borrowers and Lender (herein called the “ Loan Agreement ”), the terms and provisions of which are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of the terms of this Note. The Note is secured by and/or entitled to the benefits of (i) a first priority Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, UCC Fixture Filing and Assignment of Leases and Rents to be entered into by the Borrowers, as Trustor, recorded with the County Recorder of Nodaway County, Missouri; (ii) first priority Deeds of Trust, Security Agreement, UCC Fixture Filing and Assignment of Leases and Rents to be entered into by the Borrowers, as Trustor, recorded with the County Recorders of Gibson, Henry and Obion Counties, Tennessee; and (iii) first priority Mortgages, Security Agreement, UCC Fixture Filing and Assignment of Leases and Rents to be entered into by Borrowers, as Mortgagor, recorded with the County Recorders of Clay, Dickinson, Emmet and Page Counties, Iowa, as further evidenced by a UCC Financing Statement authorized by the Borrowers and filed at the office of the Delaware Secretary of State and the Iowa Secretary of State.

This Note is subject to mandatory principal payments and optional prepayment, in whole or in part, in certain cases with a premium and in other cases without premium, as provided in the Loan Agreement. The interest rate applicable to advances under this Note is fixed to the Maturity Date, in the absence of an Event of Default as provided in the Loan Agreement. The unpaid principal balance and all other amounts owing under this Note may be declared to be due and payable upon the happening of an Event of Default or Change of Control Date (as defined in the Loan Agreement).

 

27


In the event this Note or any of the instruments referred to herein are placed in the hands of an attorney or attorneys for collection or enforcement or if the holder of the Note is required to obtain attorneys and incur expenses and attorney fees by reason of litigation or participation in bankruptcy proceedings for the protection or enforcement of its collateral and claim against the Borrowers or any guarantors of this Note, then in all such cases, the holder of the Note shall be entitled to reasonable attorney fees and expenses from the Borrowers.

The Borrowers waive diligence, demand, presentment, notice of nonpayment and protest, and consent to extensions of the time of payment, surrender or substitution of security, or forbearance, or other indulgence, without notice.

This Note shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Nebraska.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrowers have caused this Note to be signed by its officers, partners or managers thereunto duly authorized, and to be dated as of the day and year first above written.

 

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC ,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:    
Its:    

 

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC ,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:    
Its:    

 

GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC. ,

an Iowa corporation

By:    
Its:    

[NOTARY BLOCKS TO APPEAR ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

 

28


STATE OF _______________   )  
  )   ss.
COUNTY OF _____________   )  

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this              day of              , 2011, by              , the              of GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation, on behalf of the corporation.

 

   
Notary Public

 

STATE OF _______________   )  
  )   ss.
COUNTY OF _____________   )  

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this              day of              , 20__, by              , the              of GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, on behalf of the company.

 

   
Notary Public

 

STATE OF _______________   )  
  )   ss.
COUNTY OF _____________   )  

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this              day of              , 20__, by              , the              of GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, on behalf of the company.

 

   
Notary Public

 

29


EXHIBIT B

TO LOAN AGREEMENT

OWNERSHIP OF COMPANIES AND SUBSIDIARIES

Green Plains Grain Company LLC

 

Members:    Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. (100%)
Subsidiaries:    Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC
   Great Lakes Grain Storage LLC

Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC

 

Member:    Green Plains Grain Company LLC (100%)
Subsidiaries:    None

Green Plains Essex Inc.

 

Shareholders:     Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. (100%)
Subsidiaries:    None

 

30


EXHIBIT C

TO LOAN AGREEMENT

PERSONAL PROPERTY ENCUMBRANCES

1. A financing statement or statements filed or to be filed with the Secretary of States of Iowa and Delaware evidencing the security interest in personal property granted by Borrowers to and in favor of the Revolving Credit Agent, with such security interest being subject to Intercreditor Agreement.

2. UCC financing statement no. 101930894 (SRV 100579827) filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware evidencing the security interest in certain personal property granted by GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, to and in favor of the Thomas W. Wade, Jr. Living Trust dated July 25, 2002, with such security interest being subject to that certain Subordination Agreement by and among MetLife and the Sellers set forth therein.

3. UCC financing statements nos. 103178237 (SRV 100902551), 103826249 (SRV 101047976), 104246256 (SRV 101145433) filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware evidencing the security interest in certain equipment and other personal property granted by GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, to and in favor of M&I Equipment Finance Company.

4. UCC financing statement no. 113326272 (SRV 110956674) filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware evidencing the security interest in certain personal property granted by GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, to and in favor of Macquarie Commodities (USA) Inc.

5. UCC financing statements nos. 81703261 (SRV 080559274) and 81703287 (SRV 080559277) filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware evidencing the security interest in certain equipment and other personal property granted by GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, to and in favor of Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Inc.

6. UCC financing statement no. 82265989 (SRV 080751356) filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware evidencing the security interest in certain personal property granted by GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, to and in favor of Cooperative Credit Company.

7. UCC financing statements nos. 93438683 (SRV 090950623), 101760937 (SRV 100536100) and 102415614 (SRV 100719695) filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware evidencing the security interest in certain personal property granted by GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, to and in favor of AGCO Finance LLC.

8. UCC financing statement no. 94148992 (SRV 091109754) filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware evidencing the security interest in certain equipment and other personal property granted by GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, to and in favor of Heartland Rentals, Inc.

9. UCC financing statement no. 110232408 (SRV 110066253) filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware evidencing the security interest in certain equipment and other personal property granted by GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, to and in favor of Advanced Systems, Inc.

10. UCC financing statement no. 113326280 (SRV 110956675) filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware evidencing the security interest in certain personal property granted by GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, to and in favor of Macquarie Commodities (USA) Inc.

 

31


EXHIBIT “D”

FORM OF ADVANCE REQUEST

[Borrower letterhead]

VIA FAX AND OVERNIGHT MAIL

                 , 20     

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

10801 Mastin Blvd., Suite 930

Overland Park, KS 66210

Attention: Kevin J. Harshberger, Director

 

RE: Request for Advance/Lender Loan             

Dear Mr. Harshberger:

Reference is made to that certain Loan Agreement, dated as of October 28, 2011, among GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; and GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation (each a “ Borrower ” and collectively, the “ Borrowers ”) and METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (“Lender”). Unless otherwise indicated, all terms defined in the Loan Agreement have the same respective meanings when used herein.

Pursuant to Section 1.2(c) of the Loan Agreement, the Borrower hereby irrevocably requests a Subsequent Advance under the Loan upon the following terms:

 

  (a) The principal amount of the Subsequent Advance is $2,000,000;

 

  (b) The date of the requested Subsequent Advance is to be              , 20__.

The Borrowers hereby certify to the Lender that, on the date of this Advance Request and after giving effect to the requested Subsequent Advance: (a) The representations and warranties of the Borrowers set forth in the Loan Agreement and in the Collateral Documents are true and correct in all material respects as if made on such date (except for representations and warranties expressly made as of a specified date, which shall be true as of such date); (b) No Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and no default has occurred or condition exists which with the giving of notice or the expiration of time or both would become such an Event of Default; (c) The Note, the Loan Agreement and all of the Collateral Documents are in full force and effect; (d) The total amount of the outstanding Initial Advance and the requested Subsequent Advance under the Loan, would be permitted under the Loan Agreement; and (e) Borrower is in compliance with all other requirements of Section 3.11 of the Loan Agreement.

Please disburse the Subsequent Advance as set forth on Schedule “1” attached hereto.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower has executed this Advance Request on the date set forth above.

 

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC ,

a Delaware limited liability company

   

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:         By:    
Its:         Its:    
GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC. , an Iowa corporation      
By:          
Its:          

 

32


SCHEDULE “1”

Insert wire instructions

 

33

Exhibit 10.7

SECURED PROMISSORY NOTE

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

and

GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation

$30,000,000.00

October 28, 2011

For value received, GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; and GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation (each a “ Borrower ” and collectively, the “ Borrowers ”), hereby, jointly and severally promise to pay to Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, a New York corporation, or assigns (“ Lender ”), on the Maturity Date as defined in the Loan Agreement (hereafter defined), the principal amount of Thirty Million and No/100 Dollars ($30,000,000.00) (or such lesser amount as was actually disbursed and so much thereof as shall not have been theretofore paid by mandatory principal payments required and optional prepayments permitted in the Loan Agreement) in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for public and private debts, at the address provided in Section 10.6 of the Loan Agreement, and to pay interest monthly (computed on the basis of a 30/360-day year) at said address, in like coin or currency, on the unpaid portion of said principal amount from the date hereof, on the first day of each month, commencing on the first day of the first full month subsequent to the Closing Date (as defined in the Loan Agreement), at the rate of 6.00% per annum until such unpaid portion of such principal amount shall have become due and payable and at the Default Rate as defined in the Loan Agreement thereafter and, so far as may be lawful, on any overdue installment of interest at such Default Rate. From and after an Event of Default, the entire balance of the Note shall bear interest at the Default Rate, both before and after any judgment on the indebtedness evidenced by the Note. Following an increase in the interest rate by reason of an Event of Default, the rate shall be reduced to that in effect immediately prior to the Event of Default if the default is cured to Lender’s satisfaction. This paragraph shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver of Lender’s remedies if an Event of Default occurs.

This Secured Promissory Note (herein called the “ Note ”) is issued pursuant to and entitled to the benefits of the Loan Agreement, dated of even date herewith, between the Borrowers and Lender (herein called the “ Loan Agreement ”), the terms and provisions of which are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of the terms of this Note. The Note is secured by and/or entitled to the benefits of (i) a first priority Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, UCC Fixture Filing and Assignment of Leases and Rents to be entered into by the Borrowers, as Trustor, recorded with the County Recorder of Nodaway County, Missouri; (ii) first priority Deeds of Trust, Security Agreement, UCC Fixture Filing and Assignment of Leases and Rents to be entered into by the Borrowers, as Trustor, recorded with the County Recorders of Gibson, Henry and Obion Counties, Tennessee; and (iii) first priority Mortgages, Security Agreement, UCC Fixture Filing and Assignment of Leases and Rents to be entered into by Borrowers, as Mortgagor, recorded with the County Recorders of Clay, Dickinson, Emmet and Page Counties, Iowa, as further evidenced by a UCC Financing Statement authorized by the Borrowers and filed at the office of the Delaware Secretary of State and the Iowa Secretary of State.

This Note is subject to mandatory principal payments and optional prepayment, in whole or in part, in certain cases with a premium and in other cases without premium, as provided in the Loan Agreement. The interest rate applicable to advances under this Note is fixed to the Maturity Date, in the absence of an Event of Default as provided in the Loan Agreement. The unpaid principal balance and all other amounts owing under this Note may be declared to be due and payable upon the happening of an Event of Default or Change of Control Date (as defined in the Loan Agreement).


In the event this Note or any of the instruments referred to herein are placed in the hands of an attorney or attorneys for collection or enforcement or if the holder of the Note is required to obtain attorneys and incur expenses and attorney fees by reason of litigation or participation in bankruptcy proceedings for the protection or enforcement of its collateral and claim against the Borrowers or any guarantors of this Note, then in all such cases, the holder of the Note shall be entitled to reasonable attorney fees and expenses from the Borrowers.

The Borrowers waive diligence, demand, presentment, notice of nonpayment and protest, and consent to extensions of the time of payment, surrender or substitution of security, or forbearance, or other indulgence, without notice.

This Note shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Nebraska.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrowers have caused this Note to be signed by its officers, partners or managers thereunto duly authorized, and to be dated as of the day and year first above written.

 

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC ,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:   /s/ Jerry L. Peters
Its:   Chief Financial Officer

 

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC ,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:   /s/ Jerry L. Peters
Its:   Chief Financial Officer

 

GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC. ,

an Iowa corporation

By:   /s/ Jerry L. Peters
Its:   Chief Financial Officer

[NOTARY BLOCKS TO APPEAR ON FOLLOWING PAGE]


STATE OF Nebraska   )  
  )   ss.
COUNTY OF Douglas   )  

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 28 day of October, 2011, by Jerry Peters, the Chief Financial Officer of GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation, on behalf of the corporation.

 

/s/ Sharon Mize
Notary Public

 

STATE OF Nebraska   )  
  )   ss.
COUNTY OF Douglas   )  

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 28 day of October, 2011, by Jerry Peters, the Chief Financial Officer of GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, on behalf of the company.

 

/s/ Sharon Mize
Notary Public

 

STATE OF Nebraska   )  
  )   ss.
COUNTY OF Douglas   )  

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 28 day of October, 2011, by Jerry Peters, the Chief Financial Officer of GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, on behalf of the company.

 

/s/ Sharon Mize
Notary Public

Exhibit 10.8

THIS SPACE FOR RECORDER’S USE ONLY

RECORDING REQUESTED BY:

Drew K. Theophilus

AND WHEN RECORDED MAIL TO:

Baird Holm LLP

1500 Woodmen Tower

1700 Farnam St.

Omaha, Nebraska 68102

NAME OF DOCUMENT: DEED OF TRUST, SECURITY AGREEMENT, FIXTURE FILING AND ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES AND RENTS

DATE OF DOCUMENT: October 28, 2011

GRANTOR: GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; and GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation, collectively

GRANTEE (for purposes of this cover page only, and hereafter “Beneficiary”) : METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

GRANTEE MAILING ADDRESS: 10801 Mastin Blvd., Suite 930, Overland Park, KS 66210

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Legal Description of the Mortgaged Property (as defined herein) is located on Exhibit “B” (beginning on page 26) of this Deed of Trust.

DEED REFERENCE: N/A

This cover page is attached solely for the purpose of complying with the requirements stated in §§ 59.310.2; 59.313.2 R.S.Mo. 2001 of the Missouri Recording Act. The information provided on this cover page shall not be construed as either modifying or supplementing the substantive provisions of the attached instrument. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of the attached instrument and the provisions of this cover page, the attached instrument shall prevail and control.


DEED OF TRUST, SECURITY AGREEMENT

FIXTURE FILING AND ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES AND RENTS

(Missouri)

BY

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; GREEN PLAINS

GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; and GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an

Iowa corporation , collectively as Grantor , each having an address of 450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400, Omaha,

NE 68114 (Attn: Jerry L. Peters)

TO

John E. Middleton,

as Trustee , having an address of 200 S. Spring, Independence, Missouri 64050

for the benefit of

METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, a New York corporation, as Beneficiary , having an

address of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Agricultural Investments, 10801 Mastin Blvd., Suite 930,

Overland Park, KS 66210 (Attn: Director)

October 28, 2011

Legal Description of the Mortgaged Property (as defined herein) is located on Exhibit “B” (beginning on page 26) of this Deed of Trust.

NOTICE: THIS DEED OF TRUST SECURES, INTER ALIA, OBLIGATIONS WHICH PROVIDE FOR OBLIGATORY OR NON-OBLIGATORY FUTURE ADVANCES, ALL SUCH OBLIGATORY OR NON-OBLIGATORY FUTURE ADVANCES SHALL HAVE THE SAME LIEN PRIORITY AS IF MADE ON THE DATE HEREOF .

THIS DEED OF TRUST IS GOVERNED BY SECTION 443.055, MISSOURI REVISED STATUTES, AND SECURES FUTURE ADVANCES AND FUTURE OBLIGATIONS AS DEFINED THEREIN. THE MAXIMUM PRINCIPAL INDEBTEDNESS SECURED BY THIS DEED OF TRUST IS $30,000,000.00.

THIS DEED OF TRUST SHALL BE EFFECTIVE AS AND SHALL CONSTITUTE A FIXTURE FILING FROM THE DATE OF ITS FILING FOR RECORD IN THE REAL PROPERTY RECORDS OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY IS LOCATED.

This Instrument was prepared by and when recorded return to:

Drew K. Theophilus, Baird Holm LLP, 1500 Woodmen Tower, 1700 Farnam St., Omaha, Nebraska 68102


DEED OF TRUST, SECURITY AGREEMENT, FIXTURE FILING AND ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES

AND RENTS

Executed in counterparts to allow for simultaneous filing

This Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Assignment of Leases and Rents (the “ Deed of Trust ”) is dated as of October 28, 2011, and is executed by GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; and GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation (each individually and collectively, “ Grantor ”), evidencing Grantor’s conveyance with power of sale to John E. Middleton, as Trustee (“ Trustee ”), for the benefit of METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, a New York corporation (“ Beneficiary ”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, Grantor has executed a Secured Promissory Note in the original principal amount of $30,000,000.00, with a final payment due on November 1, 2021 in favor of Beneficiary (the “ Note ”); and

WHEREAS, Grantor has agreed to secure its obligations to Beneficiary hereunder by executing this Deed of Trust in favor of the Trustee for the benefit of Beneficiary, in trust with POWER OF SALE pursuant to the provisions of the Missouri law burdening the real and personal property described below, and by granting, or causing to be granted, to Beneficiary the other liens and security interests herein described;

NOW, THEREFORE, in order to secure the full and punctual payment and performance of all present and future Obligations (as hereafter defined), Grantor has agreed to execute and deliver this Deed of Trust and to grant a mortgage lien and continuing security interest in and to the Mortgaged Property (as hereinafter defined), all upon the following terms and conditions:

ARTICLE 1 - DEFINITIONS; DEED OF TRUST TO SECURE OBLIGATIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions . Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Deed of Trust shall have the meanings set forth in the Loan Agreement. In addition to other terms defined herein, certain defined terms are set forth in Exhibit “A” attached hereto.

Section 1.2 Grant . In order to secure the Obligations, Grantor hereby mortgages, assigns, grants, bargains, sells, conveys and confirms to Trustee, its successors and assigns, in trust, with POWER OF SALE and right of entry and possession, and does hereby grant unto Trustee for the benefit of Beneficiary a continuing security interest in, (a)  the real property (herein called the “ Land ”) described in Exhibit “B” which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, and (i) all improvements now or hereafter situated or to be situated on the Land (herein together called the “ Improvements ”); and (ii) all right, title and interest of Grantor in and to (1) all streets, roads, alleys, easements, rights-of-way, privileges, hereditaments, appurtenances, licenses, rights of ingress and egress, vehicle parking rights and public places, existing or proposed, abutting, adjacent, used in connection with or pertaining to the Land or the Improvements; (2) all of Grantor’s present and future estate, right, title and interest in and to all accretion, avulsion, riparian rights, water rights, waters, water courses, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by Grantor; (3) the reversion(s), remainder(s), possession(s), claims and demands of Grantor in and to the same, and the rights of Grantor in and to the benefits of any conditions, covenants and restrictions now or hereafter affecting said real property, together with all estate, right, title and interest, including, without limitation, leasehold interests, that Grantor now has or may hereafter acquire, and (4) any strips or gores between the Land and abutting or adjacent properties (the Land, Improvements and other rights, titles and interests referred to in this clause (a) being herein sometimes collectively called the “ Premises ”); (b)  all things now or hereafter affixed to or located upon or used in connection with the Land, including, without limitation, all buildings, structures and Improvements of every kind and description now or hereafter erected or placed thereon, all apparatus, furnishings, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, appliances, systems, building materials and personal property of every kind and nature whatsoever, now owned or hereafter acquired by Grantor, which are or shall be attached to, or used for the operation or maintenance of, said buildings, structures or Improvements located on the Land, or which are or shall be located in, on or about the Land, or which, wherever located, are used or intended to be used in or in connection with the construction, fixturing, equipping, furnishing, use, transportation of personal property to or from, operation or enjoyment of the Land or the Improvements thereon, and all permits, licenses, franchises,


contract rights, management contracts or agreements, warranties, guaranties, authorities, certificates and leasehold interests, now or hereafter owned by Grantor and relating to the ownership use, operation, maintenance or enjoyment of the Land, the Improvements thereon, and the fixtures, equipment and personal property described above; and also including all extensions, additions, accessions, substitutions, improvements, betterments, renewals, renovations, repairs, replacements, products and proceeds of any of the foregoing, together with the benefit of any deposits or payments now or hereafter made by Grantor or on its behalf in connection with any of the foregoing, including all bridges, irrigation pumps, electric motors, engines, pipes, sprinklers, center pivot systems, control panels, accessories and accessions, and all other irrigation equipment connected therewith now or hereafter placed or installed, together with all water and watering rights of every kind and description, on the Land described herein; all accessories and accessions to fully operate grain handling facilities, storage warehouses, equipment sheds and shop buildings, including but not limited to office equipment, scales, compressors, engines, motors, control panels, conveyors, load-out equipment and all improvements, fixtures and appurtenances on or related to the Land described herein; scales, office equipment, computer equipment and software, fuel and water tanks, fuel and water metering and pumping equipment, fire prevention equipment, pneumatic equipment, compressors, engines, motors, control panels, conveyors, baling equipment, load-out equipment on or related to the Land described herein; provided, however , that expressly excluded from the security interest hereby created are all vehicles and rolling stock owned by Grantor, all personal property and equipment not owned by Grantor (including, but not limited to, leased property) located on the Land (collectively, the “ Excluded Collateral ”); and all of such things, other than the Excluded Collateral, whether now hereafter placed thereon or used in connection therewith or whether now owned or hereafter acquired by Grantor, or used in or necessary to the complete and proper planning, development, use, occupancy or operation thereof, or acquired (whether delivered to the Land or stored elsewhere) for use or installation in or on the Land or the Improvements, and all renewals and replacements of, substitutions for and additions to the foregoing (the properties referred to in this clause (b) being herein sometimes collectively called the “ Accessories ”); (c)  all of (i) Grantor’s rights, but not liability for any breach by Grantor, under all insurance policies and other contracts and general intangibles (including but not limited to trademarks, trade names and symbols) related to the Premises or the Accessories or the operation thereof; (ii) deposits (including but not limited to Grantor’s rights in tenants’ security deposits, deposits with respect to utility services to the Premises, and any deposits or reserves hereunder or under any other Credit Document for taxes, insurance or otherwise), money, accounts, instruments, documents, notes and chattel paper arising from or by virtue of any transactions related to the Premises or the Accessories; (iii) permits, licenses, franchises, certificates, development rights, commitments and rights for utilities, and other rights and privileges obtained in connection with the Premises or the Accessories; (iv) leases, rents, royalties, bonuses, issues, profits, revenues and other benefits of the Premises and the Accessories (without derogation of Article 3 hereof); (v) oil, gas and other hydrocarbons and other minerals produced from or allocated to the Land and all products processed or obtained therefrom and the proceeds thereof; and (vi) engineering, accounting, title, legal, and other technical or business data concerning the Mortgaged Property (as defined below) which are in the possession of Grantor or in which Grantor can otherwise grant a security interest; and (d)  all (i) proceeds of or arising from the properties, rights, titles and interests referred to above in this Section 1.2 , including but not limited to proceeds of any sale, lease or other disposition thereof, proceeds of each policy of insurance relating thereto (including premium refunds and including the right to receive proceeds attributable to the insurance loss of the Premises), proceeds of the taking thereof or of any rights appurtenant thereto, including change of grade of streets, curb cuts or other rights of access, by eminent domain or transfer in lieu thereof for public or quasi-public use under any law, and proceeds arising out of any damage thereto; and (ii) other interests of every kind and character which Grantor now has or hereafter acquires in, to or for the benefit of the properties, rights, titles and interests referred to above in this Section 1.2 and all property used or useful in connection therewith, including but not limited to rights of ingress and egress and remainders, reversions and reversionary rights or interests; and if the estate of Grantor in any of the property referred to above in this Section 1.2 is a leasehold estate, the lien and security interest created hereby shall encumber and extend to all other or additional title, estates, interests or rights which are now owned or may hereafter be acquired by Grantor in or to the property demised under the lease creating the leasehold estate. All of the foregoing real and personal property and intangible rights covered by and subject to this Deed of Trust are herein collectively referred to as the “ Mortgaged Property ”.

Section 1.3 Security Interest . Grantor hereby grants to Beneficiary a security interest in all of the Mortgaged Property which constitutes personal property subject to Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code or fixtures as defined therein (herein sometimes collectively called the “ Collateral ”). In addition to its rights hereunder or otherwise, Beneficiary shall have all of the rights of a secured party under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code in force in any state to the extent the same is applicable law.

 

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Section 1.4 Security for Obligations . This Deed of Trust secures all Obligations, including the full and punctual payment of the indebtedness evidenced by the Note in the aggregate principal face amount of Thirty Million and No/100 Dollars ($30,000,000.00), with interest thereon at the rates therein provided in the Note, together with any and all renewals, modifications, consolidations and extensions of the indebtedness evidenced by the Note, any and all additional advances made by Beneficiary to protect or preserve the Mortgaged Property, any and all future advances as may be made by Beneficiary, including any future advances set forth in Section 1.6 or advances under Section 1.7 .

Section 1.5 Purpose . This Deed of Trust and the Obligations are executed and incurred for business or agricultural purposes and not for personal, household or family purposes.

Section 1.6 Future Advances and Expenses . This Deed of Trust also secures the repayment of all advances that Beneficiary may extend to Grantor under the Loan Agreement and the other Credit Documents. In addition this Deed of Trust secures the repayment of all amounts expended by Beneficiary to perform Grantor’s covenants under this Deed of Trust or maintain, preserve, or dispose of the Mortgaged Property, together with interest thereon from date of expenditure until repaid.

Section 1.7 Advances . This Deed of Trust is subject to the terms of the Loan Agreement, which is a loan agreement between Grantor and Beneficiary. Grantor acknowledges that in the event the Loan will be used for the purchase of the Mortgaged Property, Beneficiary may impose any reasonable restrictions or conditions in order to insure that this Deed of Trust remains senior in priority to all other liens and encumbrances, including, but not limited to mechanics’ and materialmen’s liens. The Loan represented by the Credit Documents matures on the dates indicated in the recitals above. The Note and Loan Agreement requires Grantor to make payments to Beneficiary on the terms provided therein. All of the advances under this Deed of Trust will be for commercial purposes.

THIS DEED OF TRUST IS GOVERNED BY SECTION 443.055, MISSOURI REVISED STATUTES, AND SECURES FUTURE ADVANCES AND FUTURE OBLIGATIONS AS DEFINED THEREIN. THE MAXIMUM PRINCIPAL INDEBTEDNESS SECURED BY THIS INSTRUMENT IS $30,000,000.00.

NOTICE: THIS DEED OF TRUST SECURES CREDIT IN THE AMOUNT OF THIRTY MILLION AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($30,000,000.00). LOANS AND ADVANCES UP TO THIS AMOUNT, TOGETHER WITH INTEREST, ARE SENIOR TO INDEBTEDNESS TO OTHER CREDITORS UNDER SUBSEQUENTLY RECORDED OR FILED MORTGAGES, DEEDS OF TRUST OR OTHER LIENS.

ANY PERSON TAKING A JUNIOR MORTGAGE, DEED OF TRUST, OR OTHER LIEN UPON THE PROPERTY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN SHALL TAKE SUCH LIEN SUBJECT TO THE (A) AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION OR SUPPLEMENTATION OF THIS DEED OF TRUST, THE NOTES, THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT OR INSTRUMENT EVIDENCING, SECURING OR GUARANTEEING THE OBLIGATIONS; (B) VARIATIONS IN THE RATE OF INTEREST AND THE METHOD OF COMPUTING THE SAME; (C) IMPOSITION OF ADDITIONAL FEES AND OTHER CHARGES; AND (D) EXTENSION OF THE MATURITY OF THE NOTE OR ANY OTHER PROMISSORY NOTE OR OTHER INSTRUMENT EVIDENCING THE OBLIGATIONS, IN EACH AND EVERY CASE WITHOUT OBTAINING THE CONSENT OF THE HOLDER OF SUCH JUNIOR LIEN AND WITHOUT THE LIEN OF THIS DEED OF TRUST LOSING ITS PRIORITY OVER THE RIGHTS OF ANY SUCH JUNIOR LIEN. NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL BE CONSTRUED, HOWEVER, AS WAIVING ANY PROVISION CONTAINED IN THIS DEED OF TRUST WHICH PROVIDES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT IT SHALL CONSTITUTE AN EVENT OF DEFAULT IF ALL OR ANY PART OF THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN SHALL BE SOLD, CONVEYED OR FURTHER ENCUMBERED.

NOTHING HEREIN SHALL CONSTITUTE A COMMITMENT TO MAKE ADDITIONAL OR FUTURE LOANS OR ADVANCES IN ANY AMOUNT.

ARTICLE 2 - REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS

Section 2.1 Grantor represents, warrants, and covenants as follows:

(a) Payment and Performance . Grantor will make due and punctual payment of the Obligations. Grantor will timely and properly perform and comply with all of the covenants, agreements, and conditions imposed upon it by this Deed of Trust and the other Credit Documents and will not permit a default to occur hereunder or thereunder. Time shall be of the essence in this Deed of Trust.

 

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(b) Title and Permitted Encumbrances . Grantor has, in Grantor’s own right, and Grantor covenants to maintain, good, valid and merchantable title to the Mortgaged Property, free and clear of all liens, charges, claims, security interests, and encumbrances except for Permitted Encumbrances. Grantor, and Grantor’s successors and assigns, will warrant and forever defend title to the Mortgaged Property, subject as aforesaid, to Beneficiary against the claims and demands of all persons claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof. Grantor will punctually pay, perform, observe and keep all covenants, obligations and conditions in or pursuant to any Permitted Encumbrance and will not modify or permit modification of any Permitted Encumbrance without the prior written consent of Beneficiary. Inclusion of any matter as a Permitted Encumbrance does not constitute approval or waiver by Beneficiary of any existing or future violation or other breach thereof by Grantor, with respect to the Mortgaged Property or otherwise. No part of the Mortgaged Property constitutes all or any part of the homestead of Grantor. If any right or interest of Beneficiary in the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof shall be endangered or questioned or shall be attacked directly or indirectly, Beneficiary (whether or not named as a party to legal proceedings with respect thereto) is hereby authorized and empowered to take such steps as in its discretion may be proper for the defense of any such legal proceedings or the protection of such right or interest of Beneficiary, including but not limited to the employment of independent counsel, the prosecution or defense of litigation, and the compromise or discharge of adverse claims. All expenditures so made of every kind and character shall be an Obligation (which Obligation Grantor hereby promises to pay on demand of Beneficiary) owing by Grantor to Beneficiary, and Beneficiary shall be subrogated to all rights of the person receiving such payment.

(c) Taxes and Other Impositions . Grantor will pay, or cause to be paid, all taxes, assessments and other charges or levies imposed upon or against or with respect to the Mortgaged Property or the ownership, use, occupancy or enjoyment of any portion thereof, or any utility service thereto, as the same become due and payable, including but not limited to ad valorem taxes assessed against the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof, and shall deliver promptly to Beneficiary such evidence of the payment thereof as Beneficiary may require. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Grantor shall have the right to contest any such charges and any such contest shall not be considered a default under this Deed of Trust or any other Credit Documents, provided Grantor either provides a bond for the disputed matters in accordance with applicable law or establishes appropriate reserves for such matters.

(d) Insurance . Grantor, at its sole cost and expense, shall at all times, unless otherwise indicated, provide, maintain and keep in force:

(1) property insurance covering the Improvements, the Premises and Collateral against loss or damage from such causes of loss as are embraced by insurance policies of the type known as “Special Form/Open Perils/Special Perils” property insurance, including, without limitation, boiler coverage, and business interruption coverage, on a replacement cost basis with an Agreed Value Endorsement waiving coinsurance, all in an amount not less than the then full replacement cost of the Improvements and personal property constituting a part of the Mortgaged Property, without deduction for physical depreciation thereof;

(2) comprehensive general liability insurance insuring against claims for personal injury (including, without limitation, bodily injury or death), property damage liability and such other loss or damage from such causes of loss as are embraced by insurance policies of the type known as “Comprehensive General Liability” insurance, with a combined single limit of $1,000,000 per occurrence. Such insurance coverage shall be issued and maintained on an “occurrence” basis;

(3) flood insurance in an amount equal to the lesser of 100% of the full replacement cost of the Improvements, or the maximum amount of insurance obtainable; provided, however, that such insurance shall be required only when all or any portion of the Land is located within a 100-year flood plain or area designated as subject to flood by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or any other governmental agency, or when required by any federal, state or local law, statute, regulation or ordinance;

(4) In the event of the construction of any Improvements on the Mortgaged Property, builder’s risk insurance insuring against loss or damage from such causes of loss as are embraced by insurance policies of the type now known as “Builder’s Risks” property insurance (written on an “all risks” or “open perils” basis), including, without limitation, fire and extended coverage, and collapse of the Improvements (or any portion thereof) to agreed limits, all in form and substance acceptable to Beneficiary and (i) as to Improvements being or to be constructed with the proceeds of the Loan, in an amount not less than the completed value on a non-reporting

 

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form of the Improvements being constructed, (ii) as to property then subject to restoration pursuant to Section 2.1(h) or any restoration accomplished in connection with a condemnation, in an amount not less than the full replacement cost of such property, and (iii) as to any additional property then being constructed, in an amount not less than the completed value, on a non-reporting form, of the additional improvements then being constructed; provided, however, that such insurance shall be required only during the construction of the Improvements being financed hereby, and any period of restoration or any restoration accomplished in connection with a condemnation, or any subsequent period of construction of any additional Improvements; and

(5) Such other insurance and in such amounts, as may, from time to time, be reasonably required by Beneficiary against other insurable hazards or risks, including, but not limited to, environmental impairment liability coverage, nuclear reaction or radioactive contamination coverage and/or earthquake coverage, which hazards or risks at the time are commonly insured against, and provided such insurance is generally available, for property similarly situated, due regard being given to the height and type of building, its construction, use and occupancy.

Except as herein expressly provided otherwise, all policies of insurance required under this Section 2.1(d) shall be issued by companies, and be in form, amount, and content and have an expiration date, approved by Beneficiary and as to the policies of insurance required under subparagraph (1) of this Section 2.1(d) , shall contain a Standard Non Contributory Mortgagee Clause or Lender’s Loss Payable Endorsement, or equivalents thereof, in form, scope and substance satisfactory to Beneficiary, in favor of Beneficiary, and as to policies of insurance required under subparagraph (1) of this Section 2.1(d) , shall provide that the proceeds thereof (“ Insurance Proceeds ”) shall be payable to Beneficiary. Beneficiary shall be furnished a certificate of each policy required hereunder, which policy shall provide that the issuing company shall endeavor to notify Beneficiary in writing at least thirty (30) days’ prior to cancellation or modification of the policy. If requested by Beneficiary, Grantor shall also furnish to Beneficiary a copy of each such policy. At least thirty (30) days prior to expiration of any policy required hereunder, Grantor shall furnish Beneficiary appropriate proof of issuance of a policy continuing in force the insurance covered by the policy so expiring. Grantor shall furnish Beneficiary receipts for the payment of premiums on such insurance policies or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to Beneficiary in the event that such premiums have not been paid to Beneficiary pursuant to the terms of this Deed of Trust. In the event that Grantor does not deposit with Beneficiary a new policy of insurance with evidence of payment of premiums thereon at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of any policy, then Beneficiary may, but shall not be obligated to, procure such insurance and pay the premiums therefor and any money paid by Beneficiary for such premiums shall be reimbursed to Beneficiary in accordance with the terms of this Deed of Trust.

In the event of the foreclosure of this Deed of Trust or other transfer of the title to the Mortgaged Property in extinguishment, in whole or in part, of the Obligations, all right, title and interest of Grantor in and to any insurance policy, or premiums paid in connection with such policy or payments in satisfaction of claims or any other rights thereunder then in force, shall pass to the purchaser or grantee. Nothing contained herein shall prevent accrual of interest as provided in the Note on any portion of the Obligations to which the Insurance Proceeds are to be applied until such time as the Insurance Proceeds are actually received by Beneficiary and applied by Beneficiary to reduce the Obligations secured by this Deed of Trust. All of such insurance shall be subject to such deductibles as are approved by Beneficiary.

Notwithstanding anything to contrary in this Deed of Trust or any other Credit Documents, pursuant to Missouri law, unless Grantor provides evidence of the insurance coverage required by this Deed of Trust or any other Credit Documents, Beneficiary may purchase insurance at Grantor’s expense to protect Beneficiary’s interests in the Mortgaged Property. This insurance may, but need not, protect Grantor’s interests. The coverage that the Beneficiary purchases may not pay any claim that Grantor makes or any claim that is made against Grantor in connection with the collateral. Grantor may later cancel any insurance purchased by the Beneficiary, but only after providing evidence that Grantor has obtained insurance as required by this Deed of Trust or any other Credit Documents. If the Beneficiary purchases insurance for the collateral, the Grantor will be responsible for the costs of that insurance, including the insurance premium, interest and any other charges the Beneficiary may impose in connection with the placement of the insurance, until the effective date of the cancellation or expiration of the insurance. The costs of the insurance may be added to the Grantor’s total outstanding balance or Obligations. The costs of the insurance may be more than the cost of insurance the Grantor may be able to obtain on its own.

(e) Reserve for Insurance, Taxes and Assessments . [Intentionally omitted].

 

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(f) Eminent Domain and Condemnation . Grantor shall notify Beneficiary immediately of any threatened or pending proceeding for eminent domain or condemnation affecting the Mortgaged Property or arising out of damage to the Mortgaged Property, and Grantor shall, at Grantor’s expense, diligently prosecute any such proceedings. Beneficiary shall have the right (but not the obligation) to participate in any such proceeding and to be represented by counsel of its own choice. Beneficiary shall be entitled to receive all sums which may be awarded or become payable to Grantor for the condemnation of the Mortgaged Property, or any part thereof, for public or quasi-public use, or by virtue of private sale in lieu thereof, and any sums which may be awarded or become payable to Grantor for injury or damage to the Mortgaged Property. Grantor shall, promptly upon request of Beneficiary, execute such additional assignments and other documents as may be necessary from time to time to permit such participation and to enable Beneficiary to collect and receipt for any such sums. All such sums are hereby assigned to Beneficiary, and shall, after deduction therefrom of all reasonable expenses actually incurred by Beneficiary, including attorneys’ fees, at Beneficiary’s option be (1) released to Grantor, or (2) applied (upon compliance with such terms and conditions as may be required by Beneficiary) to repair or restoration of the Mortgaged Property so affected, or (3) applied to the payment of the Obligations in such order and manner as Beneficiary, in its sole discretion, may elect whether or not due. In any event the unpaid portion of the Obligations shall remain in full force and effect and the payment thereof shall not be excused. Beneficiary shall not be, under any circumstances, liable or responsible for failure to collect or to exercise diligence in the collection of any such sum or for failure to see to the proper application of any amount paid over to Grantor. Beneficiary is hereby authorized, in the name of Grantor, to execute and deliver valid acquittance for, and to appeal from, any such award, judgment or decree. All costs and expenses (including but not limited to attorneys’ fees) incurred by Beneficiary in connection with any condemnation shall be an Obligation owing by Grantor (which Grantor hereby promises to pay on demand of Beneficiary) to Beneficiary pursuant to this Deed of Trust.

(g) Compliance with Legal Requirements . The Mortgaged Property and the use, operation and maintenance thereof and all activities thereon comply in all material respects with all applicable Legal Requirements (defined below). The Mortgaged Property is not dependent on any other property or premises or any interest therein other than the Mortgaged Property to fulfill any requirement of any Legal Requirement. No part of the Mortgaged Property constitutes a nonconforming use under any zoning law or similar law or ordinance. Grantor has obtained and shall preserve in force all requisite zoning, utility, building, health and operating permits from the governmental authorities having jurisdiction over the Mortgaged Property, except where the failure to have such permit would not have a material adverse effect on the Mortgaged Property or Grantor’s ability to pay the Obligations. If Grantor receives a notice or claim from any person that the Mortgaged Property, or any use, activity, operation or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Legal Requirement, Grantor will promptly furnish a copy of such notice or claim to Beneficiary. Grantor has received no notice and has no knowledge of any such noncompliance. As used in this Deed of Trust: (i) the term “ Legal Requirement ” means any Law (defined below), agreement, covenant, restriction, easement, or condition (including, without limitation of the foregoing, any condition or requirement imposed by any federal, state, or local governmental body, or insurance or surety company), as any of the same now exists or may be changed or amended or come into effect in the future; and (ii) the term “ Law ” means any federal, state or local law, statute, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, license, permit, authorization, decision, order, injunction or decree, domestic or foreign.

(h) Maintenance; Repair and Restoration . Grantor will keep the Mortgaged Property in good order, repair, operation condition and appearance, causing all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, additions and improvements to be promptly made, and will not allow any of the Mortgaged Property to be misused, abused or wasted or to deteriorate. Grantor will not, without the prior written consent of Beneficiary, (i) remove from the Mortgaged Property any fixtures or personal property covered by this Deed of Trust except such as is replaced by Grantor by an article of equal suitability and value, owned by Grantor, free and clear of any lien or security interest (except that created by this Deed of Trust), or (ii) make any structural alteration to the Mortgaged Property or any other alteration thereto which impairs the value thereof. Grantor may remove items from the Mortgaged Property without the consent of Beneficiary which are worn out, undesirable, obsolete, disused or unnecessary for use in the operation of the Mortgaged Property and which are not of material value relative to the value of the Mortgaged Property. If any act or occurrence of any kind or nature (including any condemnation or any casualty for which insurance was not obtained or obtainable) shall result in damage to or loss or destruction of the Mortgaged Property, Grantor shall give prompt notice thereof to Beneficiary and Grantor shall promptly, at Grantor’s sole cost and expense and regardless of whether insurance or condemnation proceeds (if any) shall be available or sufficient for the purpose, commence and continue diligently to completion to restore, repair, replace and rebuild the Mortgaged Property as nearly as possible to its value, condition and character immediately prior to the damage, loss or destruction.

 

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(i) No Other Liens . Grantor will not, without the prior written consent of Beneficiary, create, place or permit to be created or placed, or through any act or failure to act, acquiesce in the placing of, or allow to remain, any mortgage, voluntary or involuntary lien, whether statutory or contractual, security interest, encumbrance or charge, or conditional sale or other title retention document, against or covering the Mortgaged Property, or any part thereof, other than the Permitted Encumbrances, regardless of whether the same are expressly or otherwise subordinate to the lien or security interest created in this Deed of Trust, and should any of the foregoing become attached hereafter in any manner to any part of the Mortgaged Property without the prior written consent of the Beneficiary, Grantor will cause the same to be promptly discharged and released. Grantor will own all parts of the Mortgaged Property and, except as permitted by the Loan Agreement, will not acquire any fixtures, equipment or other property forming a part of the Mortgaged Property pursuant to a lease, license, security agreement or similar agreement, where by any party has or may obtain the right to repossess or remove same, without the prior written consent of Beneficiary.

(j) Operation of Mortgaged Property . Grantor will operate the Mortgaged Property in a good and workmanlike manner and will pay all fees or charges of any kind in connection therewith. Grantor will keep the Mortgaged Property occupied so as not to impair the insurance carried thereon. Grantor will not use or occupy or conduct any activity on, or allow the use or occupancy of or the conduct of any activity on, the Mortgaged Property in any manner which makes void, voidable or cancelable, or increases the premium of, any insurance then in force with respect thereto. Grantor will not initiate or permit any zoning reclassification of the Mortgaged Property or seek any variance under existing zoning ordinances applicable to the Mortgaged Property or use or permit the use of the Mortgaged Property in such a manner which would result in such use becoming a nonconforming use under applicable zoning ordinances or any other Legal Requirement. Except to the extent permitted by the Credit Documents and except for Permitted Encumbrances, Grantor will not impose any easement, restrictive covenant or encumbrance upon the Mortgaged Property, execute or file any subdivision plat or condominium declaration affecting the Mortgaged Property or consent to the annexation of the Mortgaged Property to any municipality, without the prior written consent of Beneficiary. Grantor will not do or suffer to be done any act whereby the value of any part of the Mortgaged Property may be lessened in any material respect. Grantor will preserve, protect, renew, extend and retain all material rights and privileges granted for or applicable to the Mortgaged Property. There shall be no extraction, removal or production of any sand and gravel from the surface or subsurface of the Land regardless of the depth thereof or the method of mining or extraction thereof without the prior written consent of Beneficiary. Grantor will cause all debts and liabilities of any character (including without limitation all debts and liabilities for labor, material and equipment and all debts and charges for utilities servicing the Mortgaged Property) incurred in the construction, maintenance, operation and development of the Mortgaged Property to be promptly paid.

(k) Status of Grantor; Suits and Claims; Credit Documents . If Grantor is a corporation, partnership, or other legal entity, Grantor is and will continue to be (i) duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of organization, (ii) authorized to do business in, and in good standing in, each state in which the Mortgaged Property is located, and (iii) possessed of all requisite power and authority to carry on its business and to own and operate the Mortgaged Property. Each Credit Document executed by Grantor has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Grantor, and the obligations thereunder and the performance thereof by Grantor in accordance with their terms are and will continue to be within Grantor’s power and authority (without the necessity of joinder or consent of any other person), are not and will not be in contravention of any Legal Requirement to which Grantor or the Mortgaged Property is subject, and do not and will not result in the creation of any encumbrance against any assets or properties of Grantor, or any other person liable, directly or indirectly, for any on the Obligations, except Permitted Encumbrances or as otherwise expressly contemplated by the Credit Documents. There is no suit, action claim, investigation, inquiry, proceeding or demand pending (or, to Grantor’s knowledge, threatened) which affects the Mortgaged Property (including, without limitation, any which challenges or otherwise pertains to Grantor’s title to the Mortgaged Properly) or the validity, enforceability or priority of any of the Credit Documents. There is no judicial or administrative action, suit or proceeding pending (or, to Grantor’s knowledge, threatened) against Grantor, or against any other person liable directly or indirectly for the Obligations, except as disclosed in writing to Beneficiary. The Credit Documents constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of Grantor (and of each guarantor, if any) enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws (hereinafter defined) and except as the availability of certain remedies

 

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may be limited by general principles of equity. Grantor will not cause or permit any change to be made in its name, identity, state of organization, taxpayer identification number or corporate or partnership structure, unless Grantor shall have notified Beneficiary of such change prior to the effective date of such change, and shall have first taken all action required by Beneficiary for the purpose of further perfecting or protecting the lien and security interest of Beneficiary in the Mortgaged Property. Grantor’s principal place of business and chief executive office, and the place where Grantor keeps its books and records concerning the Mortgaged Property has been and will continue to be (unless Grantor notifies Beneficiary of any change in writing prior to the date of such change) the address of Grantor set forth in Section 6.26 below.

(l) Environmental Matters . Grantor will defend, indemnify and hold Beneficiary and its directors, officers, agents and employees harmless from and against all claims, demands, causes of action, liabilities, losses, costs and expenses (including, without limitations, costs of suit, reasonable attorneys’ fees and fees of expert witnesses) arising from or in connection with (i) the presence in, on or under or the removal from the Mortgaged Property of any hazardous substances or solid wastes (as hereafter defined), or any releases or discharges of any hazardous substances or solid wastes on, under or from such property, (ii) any activity carried on or undertaken on or off the Mortgaged Property, whether prior to or during the term of this Deed of Trust, and whether by Grantor or any predecessor in title or any officers, employees, agents, contractors or subcontractors of Grantor or any predecessor in title, or any third persons at any time occupying or present on the Mortgaged Property, in connection with the handling, use, generation, manufacture, treatment, removal, storage, decontamination, clean-up, transport or disposal of any hazardous substances or solid wastes at any time located or present on or under the Mortgaged Property, or (iii) any breach of any environmental representation, warranty or covenant under the terms of this Deed of Trust. The foregoing indemnity and hold harmless shall not apply to any such event (i) occurring after foreclosure by Beneficiary or a deed in lieu of foreclosure in favor of Beneficiary and (ii) caused by Beneficiary or any owner subsequent to Grantor. The foregoing indemnity shall further apply to any residual contaminations on or under the Mortgaged Property, or affecting any natural resources, and to any contamination of the Mortgaged Property or natural resources arising in connection with the generation, use, handling, storage, transport or disposal of any such hazardous substances or solid wastes, and irrespective of whether any of such activities were or will be undertaken in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, codes and ordinances. The terms “ hazardous substance ” and “ release ” as used in this Deed of Trust shall have the meanings specified in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (as amended, “ CERCLA ”), and the terms “ solid waste ” and “ disposal ” (or “ disposed ”) shall have the meanings specified in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended by the Used Oil Recycling Act of 1980, the Solid Waste Disposal Act Amendments of 1980, and the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 (as amended, “ RCRA ”); and shall also include those substances regulated under any statutes or regulations adopted or promulgated by the State of Nebraska or the State of Missouri or any agency or political subdivision thereof, including any statutes, ordinances, rules or regulations regulating or pertaining to hazardous substances or the protection of the environment; provided, in the event that the laws of the State of Nebraska or the State of Missouri establish a meaning for “hazardous substance”, “release”, “solid waste” or “disposal” which is broader than that specified in either CERCLA or RCRA, such broader meaning shall apply. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreements of Grantor hereunder, the provisions of this Section shall survive the final payment of all Obligations and the termination of this Deed of Trust and shall continue thereafter in full force and effect.

(m) Further Assurances . Grantor will, promptly on request of Beneficiary, (i) correct any defect, error or omission which may be discovered in the contents, execution or acknowledgment of this Deed of Trust or any other Credit Document; (ii) execute, acknowledge, deliver, procure and record and/or file such further documents (including, without limitation, further mortgages, security agreements, financing statements, continuation statements, and assignments of rents or leases) and do such further acts as may be necessary, desirable or proper to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Deed of Trust and the other Credit Documents, to more fully identify and subject to the liens and security interests hereof in any property intended to be covered hereby (including specifically, but without limitation, any renewals, additions, substitutions, replacements, or appurtenances to the Mortgaged Property) or as deemed advisable by Beneficiary to protect the lien or the security interest hereunder against the rights or interests of third persons; and (iii) provide such certificates, documents, reports, information, affidavits and other instruments and do such further acts as may be necessary, desirable or proper in the reasonable determination of Beneficiary to enable Beneficiary to comply with the requirements or requests of any agency having jurisdiction over Beneficiary or any examiners of such agencies with respect to the Obligations, Grantor or the Mortgaged Property. Grantor shall pay all costs connected with any of the foregoing, which shall be an Obligation owing by Grantor (which Grantor hereby promises to pay on demand of Beneficiary) to Beneficiary pursuant to this Deed of Trust.

 

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(n) Fees and Expenses . Without limitation of any other provision of this Deed of Trust or of any other Credit Document and to the extent not otherwise prohibited by applicable law, Grantor will pay, and will reimburse to Beneficiary on demand to the extent paid by Beneficiary and reasonably required by Beneficiary: (i) all reasonable appraisal fees, filing and recording fees, taxes, brokerage fees and commissions, abstract fees, title search or examination fees, title policy and endorsement premiums and fees, Uniform Commercial Code search fees, escrow fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees, architect fees, construction consultant fees, environmental inspection fees, survey fees, and all other out-of-pocket costs and expenses of every character incurred by Grantor or Beneficiary in connection with the preparation of the Credit Documents, the evaluation, closing and funding of the Loan, and any and all amendments and supplements to this Deed of Trust or any other Credit Documents or any approval, consent, waiver, release or other matter requested or required hereunder or thereunder, or otherwise attributable or chargeable to Grantor as owner of the Mortgaged Property; and (ii) all reasonable costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, incurred or expended in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy, or the enforcement of any obligation of Grantor hereunder or under any other Credit Document.

(o) Books and Records, Inspection . Grantor will keep, and will allow Beneficiary at reasonable times to inspect, complete and accurate books and records with regard to the Mortgaged Property. All books and records relating to the Mortgaged Property shall at all times be located at Grantor’s address set forth in Section 6.26 or such other location agreeable to Beneficiary. Grantor shall be permitted to inspect the Mortgaged Property, from time to time, upon reasonable prior notice to Beneficiary.

(p) Taxes on this Deed of Trust . In the event of the enactment after this date of any law of any governmental entity applicable to Beneficiary, any promissory note given in connection therewith, the Mortgaged Property or this Deed of Trust deducting from the value of property for the purpose of taxation any lien or security interest thereon, or imposing upon Beneficiary the payment of the whole or any part of the taxes or assessments or charges or liens herein required to be paid by Grantor, or changing in any way the laws relating to the taxation of mortgages or security agreements or debts secured by mortgages or security agreements or the interest of the Beneficiary or secured party in the property covered thereby, or the manner of collection of such taxes, so as to affect this Deed of Trust, the Obligations or Beneficiary, then, and in any such event, Grantor, upon demand by Beneficiary, shall pay such taxes, assessments, charges or liens, or reimburse Beneficiary therefor, provided, however, that if in the opinion of counsel for Beneficiary (i) it might be unlawful to require Grantor to make such payment or (ii) the making of such payment might result in the imposition of interest beyond the maximum amount permitted by law, then and in such event, Beneficiary may elect, by notice in writing given to Grantor, to declare all of the Obligations to be and become due and payable sixty (60) days from the giving of such notice.

(q) Statement Concerning this Deed of Trust . Grantor shall at any time and from time to time furnish within seven (7) business days of request by Beneficiary a written statement in such form as may be required by Beneficiary stating that (i) this Deed of Trust and the other Credit Documents are valid and binding obligations of Grantor, enforceable against Grantor in accordance with their terms; (ii) the unpaid principal balance of the Obligations; (iii) the date to which interest on the Obligations is paid; (iv) that this Deed of Trust and the other Credit Documents have not been released, subordinated or modified; and (v) that there are no offsets or defenses against the enforcement of this Deed of Trust or any other Credit Document. If any of the foregoing statements are untrue, Grantor shall, alternatively, specify the reasons therefor.

(r) Authorization to file financing statements . Beneficiary authorizes Grantor to file such financing statements as Grantor deems necessary to perfect its security interest in the Collateral or to otherwise prevent its security interest therein from becoming unperfected and to amend or continue such financing statements. Beneficiary agrees to pay the costs and expenses incurred by Beneficiary in making such filings.

Section 2.2 Performance by Beneficiary on Grantor’s Behalf . Grantor agrees that, if Grantor fails to perform any act or to take any action which under any Credit Document Grantor is required to perform or take, or to pay any money which under any Credit Document Grantor is required to pay, and whether or not the failure then constitutes a default hereunder or thereunder, and whether or not there has occurred any default or defaults hereunder or the Obligations has been accelerated, Beneficiary, in Grantor’s name or its own name, may, but shall not be obligated to, perform or cause to be performed such act or take such action or pay such money, and any expenses so incurred by Beneficiary and any money so paid by Beneficiary shall be an Obligation owing by Grantor to Beneficiary (which obligation Grantor hereby promises to pay on demand of Beneficiary), and Beneficiary, upon

 

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making such payment, shall be subrogated to all of the rights of the person, entity or body politic receiving such payment. Beneficiary and its designees shall have the right, upon reasonable prior written notice to Grantor (no notice being required in the event of an emergency), to enter upon the Mortgaged Property at any time and from time to time for any such purposes. No such payment or performance by Beneficiary shall waive or cure any default or waive any right, remedy or recourse of Beneficiary. Any such payment may be made by Beneficiary in reliance on any statement, invoice or claim without inquiry into the validity or accuracy thereof. Each amount due and owing by Grantor to Beneficiary pursuant to this Deed of Trust shall bear interest, from the date such amount becomes due until paid, at the Default Rate, which interest shall be payable to Beneficiary on demand; and an such amounts, together with such interest thereon, shall automatically and without notice be a part of the Obligations. The amount and nature of any expense by Beneficiary hereunder and the time which paid shall be fully established by the certificate of Beneficiary or any of Beneficiary’s officers or agents.

Section 2.3 Absence of Obligations of Beneficiary with Respect to Mortgaged Property . Notwithstanding anything in this Deed of Trust to the contrary, including, without limitation, the definition of “Mortgaged Property” and/or the provisions of Article 3 hereof, (i) to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Mortgaged Property is composed of Grantor’s rights, title and interests therein but not Grantor’s obligations, duties or liabilities pertaining thereto, (ii) Beneficiary neither assumes nor shall have any obligations, duties or liabilities in connection with any portion of the items described in the definition of “Mortgaged Property” herein, either prior to or after obtaining title to such Mortgaged Property, whether by foreclosure sale, the granting of deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise, and (iii) Beneficiary may, at any time prior to or after the acquisition of title to any portion of the Mortgaged Property as above described, advise any party in writing as to the extent of Beneficiary’s interest therein and/or expressly disaffirm in writing any rights, interests, obligations, duties and/or liabilities with respect to such Mortgaged Property or matters related thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that Beneficiary shall have no obligations, duties or liabilities prior to or after acquisition of title to any portion of the Mortgaged Property, as lessee under any lease or purchaser or seller under any contract or option unless Beneficiary elects otherwise by written notification.

ARTICLE 3 - ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES AND RENTS

Section 3.1 Assignment . As additional security for the Obligations, Grantor hereby absolutely, presently and unconditionally grants, assigns, transfers and pledges to Beneficiary all Rents (hereinafter defined) and all of Grantor’s rights in and under all Leases (hereinafter defined). Grantor shall have a revocable license (the “ License ”) to collect the Rents, subject to the provisions of Section 3.2 herein, until an event of default occurs under the Loan. Upon the occurrence of a default hereunder, Beneficiary shall have the right, power and privilege (but shall be under no duty) to terminate the License, demand possession of the Rents, which demand shall to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law be sufficient action by Beneficiary to entitle Beneficiary to immediate and direct payment of the Rents (including delivery to Beneficiary of Rents collected for the period in which the demand occurs and for any subsequent period), for application as provided in this Deed of Trust, all without the necessity of any further action by Beneficiary, including, without limitation, any action to foreclose the lien of this Deed of Trust or to obtain possession of the Land, Improvements or any other portion of the Mortgaged Property. Grantor hereby authorizes and directs the tenants under the Leases to pay Rents to Beneficiary upon written demand by Beneficiary, without further consent of Grantor, without any obligation to determine whether a default has in fact occurred and regardless of whether Beneficiary has taken possession of any portion of the Mortgaged Property, and the tenants may rely upon any written statement delivered by Beneficiary to the tenants. Any such payment to Beneficiary shall constitute payment to Grantor under the Leases, and Grantor hereby appoints Beneficiary as Grantor’s lawful attorney-in-fact for giving, and Beneficiary is hereby empowered to give, acquittance to any tenants for such payments to Beneficiary after a default. As used herein: (i) “ Lease ” means each existing or future lease, sublease (to the extent of Grantor’s rights thereunder) or other agreement under the terms of which any person has or acquires any right to occupy or use the Mortgaged Property, or any part thereof, or interest therein, and each existing or future guaranty of payment or performance thereunder, and all extensions, renewals, modifications and replacements of each such lease, sublease, agreement or guaranty; and (ii) “ Rents” means all of the rents, revenue, income, profits and proceeds derived and to be derived from the Mortgaged Property or arising from the use of enjoyment of any portion thereof or from any Lease, including but not limited to liquidated damages following default under any such Lease, all proceeds payable under any policy of insurance covering loss of rents resulting from untenantability caused by damage to any part of the Mortgaged Property, all of Grantor’s rights to recover monetary amounts from any tenant in bankruptcy including, without limitation, rights of recovery for use and occupancy and damage claims

 

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arising out of Lease defaults, including, rejections, under any applicable Debtor Relief Law (as hereinafter defined), together with any sums of money that may now or at any time hereafter be or become due and payable to Grantor by virtue of any and all royalties, overriding royalties, bonuses, delay rentals and any other amount of any kind or character arising under any and all present and all future oil, gas, mineral and mining leases covering the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof, and all proceeds and other amounts paid or owing to Grantor under or pursuant to any and all contracts all bonds relating to the construction or renovation of the Mortgaged Property.

Section 3.2 Covenants, Representations and Warranties Concerning Leases and Rents . Grantor covenants, represents and warrants that: (i) Grantor has good title to, and is the owner of the entire lessor’s interest in, the Leases and Rents (if any) hereby assigned and has the authority to assign them; (ii) all Leases (if any) are valid and enforceable, and in full force and effect, and are unmodified except as stated therein; (iii) unless otherwise stated in a Permitted Encumbrance, no Rents or Leases have been or will be assigned, mortgaged, pledged or otherwise encumbered and no other person has or will acquire any right, title or interest in such Rents or Leases; (iv) no Rents have been waived, released, discounted, set off or compromised in any material respect; (v) except as stated in the Leases, Grantor has not received any material amount of funds or deposits from any tenant for which credit has not already been made on account of accrued Rents; (vi) Grantor shall perform all of its obligations under the Leases and enforce the tenants’ obligations under the Leases to the extent enforcement is prudent under the circumstances; (vii) Grantor will not without the prior written consent of Beneficiary, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, enter into any Lease after the date hereof, or, in any material respect, waive, release, discount, set off, compromise, reduce or defer any Rent, receive or collect Rents more than one (1) year in advance, grant any rent-free period to any tenant, reduce any Lease term or waive, release or otherwise modify any other material obligation under any Lease, renew or extend any Lease except in accordance with a right of the tenant thereto in such Lease, approve or consent to an assignment of a Lease or a subletting of any part of the premises covered by a Lease, or settle or compromise any claim against a tenant under a Lease in bankruptcy or otherwise (if Beneficiary so requests, Grantor shall cause the tenant under any Lease consented to by Beneficiary to enter into a subordination agreement with Beneficiary satisfactory in the sole discretion of Beneficiary); (viii) promptly upon request by Beneficiary, Grantor shall deliver to Beneficiary executed originals of all Leases and copies of all records relating thereto; (ix) there shall be no extinguishment by confusion of the leasehold estates, created by the Leases, with ownership of the Land without the prior written consent of Beneficiary; and (x) Beneficiary may at any time and from time to time by specific written instrument intended for the purpose, unilaterally subordinate the lien of this Deed of Trust to any Lease, without joinder or consent of, or notice to, Grantor, any tenant or any other person, and notice is hereby given to each tenant under a Lease of such right to subordinate. No such subordination shall constitute a subordination to any lien or other encumbrance, whenever arising, or improve the right of any junior lienholder; and nothing herein shall be construed as subordinating this Deed of Trust to any Lease.

Section 3.3 No Liability of Beneficiary . Beneficiary’s acceptance of this assignment shall not be deemed to constitute Beneficiary a “mortgagee in possession,” nor obligate Beneficiary to appear in or defend any proceeding relating to any Lease or to the Mortgaged Property, or to take any action hereunder, expend any money, incur any expenses, or perform any obligation or liability under any Lease, or assume any obligation for any deposit delivered to Grantor by any tenant and not as such delivered to and accepted by Beneficiary. Beneficiary shall not be liable for any injury or damage to person or property in or about the Mortgaged Property, or for Beneficiary’s failure to collect or to exercise diligence in collecting Rents, but shall be accountable only for Rents that it shall actually receive. Neither the assignment of Leases and Rents nor enforcement of Beneficiary’s rights regarding Leases and Rents (including collection of Rents) nor possession of the Mortgaged Property by Beneficiary or by a keeper appointed at Beneficiary’s request nor Beneficiary’s consent to or approval of any Lease (nor all of the same), shall render Beneficiary liable on any obligation under or with respect to any Lease or constitute affirmation of, or any subordination to, any Lease, occupancy, use or option. If Beneficiary seeks or obtains any judicial relief regarding Rents or Leases, the same shall in no way prevent the concurrent or subsequent employment of any other appropriate rights or remedies nor shall same constitute an election of judicial relief for any foreclosure or any other purposes. Beneficiary neither has nor assumes any obligations as lessor or landlord with respect to any Lease. The rights of Beneficiary under this Article 3 shall be cumulative of all other rights of Beneficiary under the Credit Documents or otherwise.

 

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ARTICLE 4 - DEFAULT

Section 4.1 Events of Default . The occurrence of anyone of the following shall be a default under this Deed of Trust (each a “ default ”):

(a) Failure to Pay Obligations . Any of the Obligations is not timely paid when due, on demand or otherwise.

(b) Nonperformance of Covenants . Any covenant, agreement or condition herein or in any other Credit Document (other than covenants otherwise addressed in another paragraph of this Section, such as covenants to pay the Obligations) is not fully and timely performed, observed or kept, and any such failure under this Deed of Trust is not cured within forty five (45) days after written notice thereof and any such failure under any other Credit Document is not cured within the applicable grace period (if any) provided for herein or in such other Credit Document

(c) Representations . Any statement, representation or warranty in any of the Credit Documents, or in any financial statement or any other writing heretofore or hereafter delivered to Beneficiary in connection with the Obligations is false, misleading or erroneous in any material respect on the date hereof or on the date as of which such statement, representation or warranty is made, and such statement, representation or warranty is not made true and correct (as of the time such corrective action is taken) within the applicable grace period (if any) provided for in such Credit Document.

(d) Bankruptcy or Insolvency . The owner of the Mortgaged Property or any person liable, directly or indirectly, for any of the Obligations (or any guarantor, general partner or joint venturer of such owner or other person):

(1) (i) Executes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or takes any action in furtherance thereof; (ii) admits in writing its inability to pay, or fails to pay, its debts generally as they become due; (iii) as a debtor, files a petition, case, proceeding or other action pursuant to, or voluntarily seeks the benefit or benefits of: Title 11 of the United States Code as now or hereafter in effect or any other law, domestic or foreign, as now or hereafter in effect relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, receivership, reorganization, arrangement, composition, extension or adjustment of debts, or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors (Title 11 of the United States Code and such other laws being herein called “ Debtor Relief Laws ”), or takes any action in furtherance thereof; or (iv) seeks the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator of the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof or of any significant portion) of its other property; or

(2) Suffers the filing of a petition, case, proceeding or other action against it as a debtor under any Debtor Relief Law or seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator of the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof or of any significant portion of its other property, and (i) admits, acquiesces in or fails to contest diligently the material allegations thereof, or (ii) the petition, case, proceeding or other action results in entry of any order for relief or order granting relief sought against it, or (iii) in a proceeding under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, the case is converted from one chapter to another, or

(3) Conceals, removes, or permits to be concealed or removed, any part of its property, with intent to hinder, delay or defraud its creditors or any of them, or makes or suffers a transfer of any of its property which causes or increases its insolvency or which may be fraudulent under any bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance or similar law; or makes any transfer of its property to or for the benefit or a creditor at a time when other creditors similarly situated have not been paid; or suffers or permits, while insolvent, any creditor to obtain a lien upon any of its property through legal proceedings.

(e) Transfer of the Mortgaged Property . Any sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or transfer of all or any part of the Mortgaged Property or any interest therein, voluntarily or involuntarily, whether by operation of law or otherwise, without Beneficiary’s prior written consent, except: (i) sales or transfers items of the Accessories which have become obsolete or worn beyond practical use and which have been replaced by adequate substitutes, owned by Grantor, having a value equal to or greater than the replaced items when new; (ii) the grant, in the ordinary course of business, of a leasehold interest in a part of the Improvements to a tenant for occupancy, not in excess of one year and not containing a right or option to purchase and not in contravention of any provision of this Deed of Trust or of any other Credit Document; and (iii) Permitted Encumbrances. Beneficiary may, in its sole discretion, waive a default under this paragraph, but it shall have no obligation to do so, and any waiver may be conditioned upon such one or more of the following (if any) which Beneficiary may require: the grantee’s integrity, reputation, character, creditworthiness and management ability being satisfactory to Beneficiary in its sole judgment and grantee executing, prior to such sale or transfer, a written

 

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assumption agreement containing such terms as Beneficiary may require, a principal pay down on the Obligations (or any one or more thereof), an increase in the rate of interest payable upon the Obligations, a transfer fee, a modification of the term of the Obligations (or any one or more thereof), and any other modification of the Credit Documents which Beneficiary may require.

(f) Transfer of Ownership of Grantor . Unless previously approved in writing by Beneficiary in its sole discretion, the sale, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or transfer, voluntarily or involuntarily, whether by operation of law or otherwise, of any interest in Grantor except in strict accordance with the terms and provisions of the Credit Documents.

(g) Grant of Easement, Etc . Without the prior written consent of Beneficiary, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, Grantor grants any easement (other than easements which are for utilities serving only the Premises and which do not, singly or in the aggregate, diminish the value of the Premises) or dedication, files any plat, condominium declaration, or restriction, or otherwise encumbers the Mortgaged Property, or seeks or permits any zoning reclassification or variance, unless such action is expressly permitted by the Credit Documents, is a Permitted Encumbrance or does not affect the Mortgaged Property.

(h) Abandonment . The owner of the Mortgaged Property abandons any part of the Mortgaged Property.

(i) Default Under Other Lien . A default or event of default occurs and has not been cured within the applicable grace period (if any) under any lien, security interest or assignment covering the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof (whether or not Beneficiary has consented, and without implying Beneficiary’s consent, to any such lien, security interest or assignment not created hereunder), or the holder of any such lien, security interest or assignment declares a default or institutes foreclosure or other proceedings for the enforcement of its remedies thereunder.

(j) Eminent Domain . (i) Any governmental authority shall require, or commence any proceeding for, the demolition of any building or structure comprising a material part of the Premises, or (ii) there is commenced any proceeding to condemn or otherwise take pursuant to the power of eminent domain, or a contract for sale or a conveyance in lieu of such a taking is executed which provides for the transfer of, a material portion of the Premises, including but not limited to the taking (or transfer in lieu thereof) of any portion which would result in the blockage or substantial impairment of access or utility service to the Improvements or which would cause the Premises to fail to comply with any Legal Requirement.

(k) Destruction . The Mortgaged Property is so demolished, destroyed or damaged that, in the reasonable opinion of Beneficiary, it cannot be restored or rebuilt (1) with available funds, (2) to a profitable condition, (3) within a reasonable period of time, and (4) in accordance with Beneficiary’s requirements for restoration.

(l) Liquidation, Etc . The liquidation, termination, dissolution, merger, consolidation or failure to maintain good standing in the State of Nebraska (or in the State of its incorporation or organization) of the owner of the Mortgaged Property or any person obligated to pay any part of the Obligations, except for any merger, dissolution or consolidation of a wholly-owned subsidiary pursuant to which Grantor acquires all of the assets of such subsidiary.

(m) Enforceability; Priority . Any Credit Document shall for any reason without Beneficiary’s specific written consent cease to be in full force and effect, or shall be declared null and void or unenforceable in whole or in part, or the validity or enforceability thereof, in whole or in part, shall be challenged or denied by any party thereto other than Beneficiary; or the liens, mortgages or security interests of Beneficiary in any of the Mortgaged Property become unenforceable in whole or in part, or cease to be of the priority herein required, or the validity or enforceability thereof, in whole or in part, shall be challenged or denied by Grantor or any person obligated to pay any part of the Obligations.

(n) Other Credit Documents . A default or event of default occurs under the Loan Agreement or any Credit Document other than this Deed of Trust, and the same is not remedied within the applicable period of grace (if any) provided in such Credit Document.

The enumeration of specific events of default shall not impair the demand nature of any of the Obligations which by its terms or otherwise is payable on demand.

 

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ARTICLE 5 - REMEDIES

Section 5.1 Certain Remedies . If a default shall occur, Beneficiary may (but shall have no obligation to) exercise any one or more of the following remedies:

(a) Acceleration . With respect to any Obligations other than any Obligation which is payable on demand, Beneficiary may at any time and from time to time declare any or all of such Obligations immediately due and payable and such Obligations shall thereupon be immediately due and payable, with presentment, demand, protest, notice or protest, notice of acceleration or of intention to accelerate or any other notice or declaration of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Grantor. Without limitation of the foregoing, upon the occurrence of a default described in clauses (i), (iii) or (iv) of paragraph (d)(1) or paragraph (d)(2) of Section 4.1 hereof, all Obligations shall thereupon be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest, notice of protest, declaration or notice of acceleration or intention to accelerate, or any other notice, declaration or act of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Grantor.

(b) Enforcement of Assignment of Rents . From the date of default through the expiration of the last redemption period following the foreclosure of this Deed of Trust, Beneficiary may: (1) terminate the License and collect and/or sue for the Rents in Beneficiary’s own name, give receipts and releases therefor, and after deducting all expenses of collection, including attorneys’ fees and expenses, apply the net proceeds thereof to the Obligations in such manner and order as Beneficiary may elect and/or to the operation and management of the Mortgaged Property, including the payment of management, brokerage and attorneys’ fees and expenses; and (2) require Grantor to transfer all security deposits and records thereof to Beneficiary together with original counterparts of the Leases.

(c) Collection . Beneficiary may collect the outstanding Obligations with or without resorting to judicial process.

(d) Assembly of Collateral . Beneficiary may require Grantor to deliver and make available to Beneficiary any and all Collateral at a place reasonably convenient to Grantor and Beneficiary.

(e) Possession . Beneficiary may take immediate possession, management and control of the Mortgaged Property without seeking the appointment of a receiver.

(f) Receiver . Beneficiary may apply for and obtain, without notice and upon ex parte application, the appointment of a receiver for the Mortgaged Property without regard to Grantor’s financial condition or solvency, the adequacy of the Mortgaged Property to secure the payment or performance of the Obligations, or the existence of any waste to the Mortgaged Property.

(g) Foreclosure . Beneficiary may foreclose this Deed of Trust.

(h) Power of Sale . To the extent and in the manner permitted by the laws of the State of Missouri, Beneficiary may require the Trustee, and the Trustee is hereby authorized and empowered to do any one or more of the following: (i) Enter upon and take possession of the Land without the appointment of a receiver, or an application therefor, employ a managing agent of the Land and operate or lease the same, either in its own name, or in the name of the Grantor, and receive the Rents and apply the same, after payment of all necessary charges and expenses, on account of the indebtedness secured hereby; and (ii) to sell all or part of the Land at public auction, to the highest bidder for cash, free from the equity of redemption, whether statutory or common law, the rights of homestead, dower, marital share, and all other rights and exemptions of every kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, after giving notice of the time and place of such sale and of the Land to be sold, by publication of such notice at least three (3) different times in some newspaper published in any county and state where some part of the Land is situated, the first of which publications shall be at least twenty-one (21) days previous to said sale, and on the day and at the front door of the County Court House in any county and state where some part of the Land is situated, being the place fixed in said notice, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., which notice may be given before or after entry by the Trustee or as otherwise required by applicable law. The Trustee shall execute a conveyance to the purchaser in fee simple and deliver possession to the purchaser, which the Grantor warrants shall be given without obstruction, hindrance or delay. The Trustee may sell all or any portion of the Land, together or in lots or parcels, and may execute and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers of such Land a conveyance in fee simple. The Trustee making such sale shall receive the proceeds thereof and shall apply the same as set forth in Section 5.2 of this Deed of Trust. The sale or sales by the Trustee of less than the whole of the Land shall be without regard to any right of Grantor or any other person to the marshalling of assets and shall not exhaust the power of sale herein

 

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granted, and the Trustee is specifically empowered to make successive sale or sales under such power until the whole of the Land shall be sold; and if the proceeds of such sale or sales of less than the whole of the Land shall be less than the aggregate of the Obligations secured hereby and the expenses thereof, this Deed of Trust and the lien, security interest and assignment hereof shall remain in full force and effect as to the unsold portion of the Land; provided, however, that Grantor shall never have any right to require the sale or sales of less than the whole of the Land, but the Beneficiary shall have the right at its sole election, to require the Trustee to sell less than the whole of the Land. The Beneficiary may bid and become the purchaser of all or any part of the Land at any such sale, and the amount of Beneficiary’s successful bid may be credited on the Obligations secured hereby. Any and all such sales and deeds shall be a perpetual bar, both in law and equity (including the statutory right of redemption), against Grantor and its heirs, successors and assigns, and all other persons claiming the Land or any part thereof, by, from, through or under Grantor. Immediately upon the filing of any foreclosure proceeding under this Deed of Trust, there shall be and become due and owing by Grantor all expenses incident to any foreclosure proceedings under this Deed of Trust. The Beneficiary or the Trustee may proceed by a suit or suits in equity or at law, whether for the specific performance of any covenant or agreement herein contained or in aid of the execution of any power herein granted, or for any foreclosure hereunder or for the sale of the Land or any personal property under the judgment or decree of any court or courts of competent jurisdiction.

(i) Set-off . Beneficiary may set-off Grantor’s Obligations against any amounts due by Beneficiary to Grantor including, but not limited to, monies, instruments and deposit accounts maintained with Beneficiary.

(j) Collateral . Beneficiary may exercise all rights against the Collateral allowed a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law, including without limitation to sell the Collateral or any part thereof at public or private sale, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery, at such price or prices as Beneficiary may deem satisfactory, and in connection with any such sale, Grantor hereby agrees that ten (10) days’ prior written notice of the time and place of any such sale or other intended disposition of any of the Collateral constitutes “reasonable notification” within the meaning of applicable provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, except that shorter or no notice shall be reasonable as to any Collateral which is perishable or threatens to decline speedily in value or is of a type customarily sold on a recognized market. Beneficiary may proceed under this Deed of Trust solely as to the real property interests, or solely as to the personal property interests, or as to both the real and personal property interests in accordance with its rights and remedies in respect of the real property interests.

(k) Lawsuits . Beneficiary may institute suits for collection of the Obligations, the specific performance of any covenant or agreement herein contained or in aid of the execution of any power herein granted. Beneficiary may commence an action against Grantor under Nebraska law for the recovery of any balance due under the Credit Documents which was not retired as a result of the exercise of any foreclosure proceedings or the power of sale granted herein.

(l) Termination of Commitment to Lend . Beneficiary may terminate any commitment or obligation to lend or disburse funds under any Credit Document.

(m) Other Rights and Remedies . Beneficiary may exercise any and all other rights and remedies which Beneficiary may have under the Credit Documents, under applicable law or otherwise.

The enumeration of the availability of specific remedies in the event of default shall not impair the demand nature of any of the Obligations which by its terms or otherwise is payable on demand. Beneficiary’s rights are cumulative and may be exercised together, separately and in any order. In the event that Beneficiary institutes an action seeking the recovery of any of the Mortgaged Property by way of a pre-judgment remedy in an action against Grantor, Grantor waives the posting of any bond which might otherwise be required.

Section 5.2 Proceeds of Foreclosure . Subject to applicable law, the proceeds of any sale held at the instance of the Beneficiary in foreclosure of the liens and security interests evidenced hereby shall be applied in such order or priority as the Beneficiary may elect, in its sole discretion, which may include the application thereof in accordance with the following: FIRST, to the payment of all necessary costs and expenses incident to such foreclosure sale, including but not limited to all reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses, all court costs, commissions and charges of every character, and to the payment of the other Obligations, including specifically without limitation the principal, accrued interest, prepayment premium and attorneys’ fees due and unpaid on the Obligations and the amounts due and unpaid and owed to Beneficiary under this Deed of Trust, the order and manner of application to the terms in this clause FIRST to be in Beneficiary’s sole discretion; and SECOND, the remainder, if any there shall be, shall be paid to Grantor, or to Grantor’s heirs, representatives, successors or assigns,

 

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or such other persons (including the holder of any inferior lien) as may be entitled thereto by law; provided, however, that if Beneficiary is uncertain which person or persons are so entitled, Beneficiary may commence appropriate proceedings with respect to such remainder in any court of competent jurisdiction, and the amount of any attorneys’ fees, court costs and expenses incurred in such action shall be a part of the Obligations and shall be reimbursable (without limitation) from such remainder.

Section 5.3 Remedies Cumulative . All rights and remedies provided for herein and in any other Credit Document are cumulative of each other and of any and all other rights and remedies available under the law, and Beneficiary shall, in addition to the rights and remedies provided herein or in any other Credit Document, be entitled to avail itself of all such other rights and remedies as may now or hereafter exist under applicable law for the collection of the Obligations and the enforcement of the covenants herein and the foreclosure of the liens and security interest evidenced hereby, and the resort to any right or remedy provided for hereunder or under any such other Credit Document or provided under applicable law shall not prevent the concurrent or subsequent employment of any other appropriate right or rights or remedy or remedies.

Section 5.4 Beneficiary’s Discretion as to Security . Beneficiary may resort to any security given by this Deed of Trust or to any other security now existing or hereafter given to secure the payment of the Obligations, in whole or in part, and in such portions and in such order as may seem best to Beneficiary in its sole and uncontrolled discretion, and any such action shall not in anyway be considered as a waiver of any rights, benefits, liens or security interest evidenced by this Deed of Trust.

Section 5.5 Waiver of Homestead and Other Exemptions . Grantor hereby waives all homestead, dower or curtesy interest, redemption rights and appraisement rights or other exemptions to which Grantor would otherwise be entitled under any applicable law.

Section 5.6 Reimbursement of Amounts Expended by Beneficiary . Upon demand, Grantor shall immediately reimburse Beneficiary for all amounts (including attorney fees and legal expenses) expended by Beneficiary in the performance of any action required to be taken by Grantor or the exercise of any right or remedy of Beneficiary under this Deed of Trust, together with interest thereon at the Default Rate. These sums shall be included in the definition of Obligations herein and shall be secured by the interest granted herein.

ARTICLE 6 - MISCELLANEOUS

Section 6.1 Scope of Deed of Trust . This Deed of Trust is a mortgage of real property, a security agreement, and an absolute assignment of leases and rents, and also covers proceeds and fixtures.

Section 6.2 Effective as a Financing Statement, Fixture Filing . This Deed of Trust shall be effective as a financing statement. The mailing addresses of Grantor and Beneficiary are as set forth in Section 6.26 of this Deed of Trust. A carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Deed of Trust or of any financing statement relating to this Deed of Trust shall be sufficient as a financing statement.

This instrument shall also be deemed to be a Fixture Filing within the meaning of the UCC, and for such purpose, the following information is given:

 

(a)    Name and address of Debtor:    See Section 6.26
(b)    Type of Organization:    Corporation/Limited Liability Company
(c)    Jurisdiction of Organization:    Iowa/Delaware
(d)    Name and address of Secured Party:    See Section 6.26
(e)    Description of collateral:    See granting clause above
(f)    Description of real estate to which the Collateral is attached or upon which it is or will be located:    See Exhibit “B” attached hereto.

Some of the above-described collateral is or is to become fixtures upon the above-described real estate, and this Fixture Filing is to be filed for record in the public real estate records.

Section 6.3 Notice to Account Debtors . In addition to the rights granted elsewhere in this Deed of Trust, Beneficiary may at any time notify the account debtors or obligors of any accounts, chattel paper, negotiable instruments or other evidences of indebtedness included in the Collateral to pay Beneficiary directly.

 

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Section 6.4 Waiver by Beneficiary . Beneficiary may at any time and from time to time by a specific writing intended for the purpose: (a)  waive compliance by Grantor with any covenant herein made by Grantor to the extent and in the manner specified in such writing; (b) consent to Grantor’s doing any act which hereunder Grantor is prohibited from doing, or to Grantor’s failing to do any act which hereunder Grantor is required to do, to the extent and in the manner specified in such writing; (c)  release any part of the Mortgaged Property or any interest therein from the lien and security interest of this Deed of Trust; or (d)  release any party liable, either directly or indirectly, for the Obligations or for any covenant herein or in any other Credit Document, without impairing or releasing the liability of any other party. No such act shall in any way affect the rights or powers of Beneficiary hereunder except to the extent specifically agreed to by Beneficiary in such writing.

Section 6.5 No Impairment of Security . The lien, security interest and other security rights of Beneficiary hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall not be impaired by any indulgence, moratorium or release granted by Beneficiary including, but not limited to, any renewal, extension or modification which Beneficiary may grant with respect to any Obligations, or any surrender, compromise, release, renewal, extension, exchange or substitution which Beneficiary may grant in respect of the Mortgaged Property, or any part thereof or any interest therein, or any release or indulgence granted to any endorser, guarantor or surety of any Obligations. The taking of additional security by Beneficiary shall not release or impair the lien, security interest or other security lights of Beneficiary hereunder or affect the liability of Grantor or of any endorser, guarantor or surety, or improve the right of any junior lienholder in the Mortgaged Property (without implying hereby Beneficiary’s Consent to any junior lien),

Section 6.6 Acts Not Constituting Waiver by Beneficiary . Beneficiary may waive any default without waiving any other prior or subsequent default. Beneficiary may remedy any default without waiving the default remedied. Neither failure by Beneficiary to exercise, nor delay by Beneficiary in exercising, nor discontinuance of the exercise of any right, power or remedy (including but not limited to the right to accelerate the maturity of the Obligations or any part thereof) upon or after any default shall be construed as a waiver of such default or as a waiver of the right to exercise any such right, power or remedy at a later date. No single or partial exercise by Beneficiary of any right, power or remedy hereunder shall exhaust the same or shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof, and every such right, power or remedy hereunder may be exercised at any time and from time to time. No modification or waiver of any provision hereof nor consent to any departure by Grantor therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Beneficiary and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance, for the purpose for which given and to the extent therein specified. No notice to nor demand on Grantor in any case shall of itself entitle Grantor to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. Remittances in payment of any part of the Obligations other than in the required amount in immediately available U.S. funds shall not, regardless of any receipt or credit issued therefor, constitute payment until the required amount is actually received by Beneficiary in immediately available U.S. funds and shall be made and accepted subject to the condition that any check or draft may be handled for collection in accordance with the practice of Beneficiary. Acceptance by Beneficiary of any payment in an amount less than the amount then due on any Obligation shall be deemed an acceptance on account only and shall not in any way excuse the existence of a default hereunder.

Section 6.7 Grantor’s Successors . If the ownership of the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof becomes vested in a person other than Grantor, Beneficiary may, without notice to Grantor, deal with such successor or successors in interest with reference to this Deed of Trust and to the Obligations in the same manner as with Grantor, without in any way vitiating or discharging Grantor’s liability hereunder or for the payment or performance of the Obligations. No transfer of the Mortgaged Property, except to Beneficiary when expressly agreed to, no forbearance on the part of Beneficiary, and no extension of the time for the payment of the Obligations given by Beneficiary shall operate to release, discharge, modify, change or affect, in whole or in part, the liability of Grantor hereunder for the payment or performance of the Obligations or the liability of any other person hereunder for the payment of the Obligations. Each Grantor agrees that it shall be bound by any modification of this Deed of Trust or any of the other Credit Documents made by Beneficiary and any subsequent owner of the Mortgaged Property, with or without notice to such Grantor, and no such modifications shall impair the obligations of such Grantor under this Deed of Trust or any other Credit Document. Nothing in this Section 6.7 or elsewhere in this Deed of Trust shall be construed to imply Beneficiary’s consent to any transfer of the Mortgaged Property.

Section 6.8 Place of Payment . All Obligations which may be owing hereunder at any time by Grantor shall be payable at the place designated in the Note, as the case may be (or, if no such designation is made, at the address of Beneficiary indicated in Section 6.26 ).

 

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Section 6.9 Subrogation to Existing Liens . To the extent that proceeds of the Obligations are used to pay indebtedness secured by any outstanding lien, security interest, charge or prior encumbrance against the Mortgaged Property, such proceeds have been advanced by Beneficiary at Grantor’s request, and Beneficiary shall be subrogated to any and all rights, security interest and liens owned by any owner or holder of such outstanding liens, security interests, charges or encumbrances, however remote, irrespective of whether said liens, security interests, charges or encumbrances are released, and all of the same are recognized as valid and subsisting and are renewed and continued and merged herein to secure the Obligations, but the terms and provisions of this Deed of Trust shall govern and control the manner and terms of enforcement of the liens, security interests, charges and encumbrances to which Beneficiary is subrogated hereunder. It is expressly understood that in consideration of the payment of such indebtedness by Beneficiary, Grantor hereby waives and releases all demands and causes of action for offsets and payments in connection with the said indebtedness.

Section 6.10 Application of Payments to Certain Obligations . If any part of the Obligations cannot be lawfully secured by this Deed of Trust or if any part of the Mortgaged Property cannot be lawfully subject to the lien and security interest hereof to the full extent of the Obligations, then all payments made shall, unless otherwise designated by the Beneficiary, be applied on the Obligations first in discharge of that portion thereof which is not secured by this Deed of Trust.

Section 6.11 Compliance with Usury Laws . It is the intent of Grantor and Beneficiary and all other parties to the Credit Documents to conform to and contract in strict compliance with applicable usury laws from time to time in effect. All agreements between Beneficiary and Grantor (or any other party liable with respect to any indebtedness under the Credit Documents) are hereby limited by the provisions of this Section 6.11 which shall override and control all such agreements, whether now existing or hereafter arising. In no way, nor in any event or contingency (including but not limited to prepayment, default, demand for payment, or acceleration of the maturity of any obligation), shall the interest taken, reserved, contracted for, charged, chargeable, or received under this Deed of Trust, the Note delivered in connection therewith or any other Credit Document or otherwise, exceed the maximum non-usurious amount permitted by applicable law (the “ Maximum Lawful Amount ”). If, from any possible construction of any document, interest would otherwise by payable in excess of the Maximum Lawful Amount, any such construction shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 6.11 and such document shall ipso facto be automatically reformed and the interest payable shall be automatically reduced to the Maximum Lawful Amount, without the necessity of execution of any amendment or new document. If Beneficiary shall ever receive anything of value which is characterized as interest under applicable law and which would apart from this provision be in excess of the Maximum Lawful Amount, an amount equal to the amount which would have been excessive interest shall, without penalty, be applied to the reduction of the principal amount owing on the Obligations in the inverse order of its maturity and not to the payment of interest, or refunded to Grantor or the other payor thereof if and to the extent such amount which would have been excessive exceeds such unpaid principal. Any right to accelerate maturity of any of the Obligations does not include the right to accelerate any interest which has not otherwise accrued on the date of such acceleration, and Beneficiary does not intend to charge or receive any unearned interest in the event of acceleration. All interest paid or agreed to be paid to Beneficiary shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread throughout the full stated term (including any renewal or extension) of such indebtedness so that the amount of interest on account of such indebtedness does not exceed the Maximum Lawful Amount.

Section 6.12 Marshalling . To the fullest extent allowed by applicable law, Grantor waives any right to require the marshalling of any assets constituting collateral for the Loan.

Section 6.13 Invalidity of Certain Provisions . A determination that any provision of this Deed of Trust is unenforceable or invalid shall not affect the enforceability or validity of any other provision, and the determination that the application of any provision of this Deed of Trust to any person or circumstance is illegal or unenforceable shall not affect the enforceability or validity of such provision as it may apply to other persons or circumstances.

Section 6.14 Gender; Titles; Construction . Within this Deed of Trust, words of any gender shall be held and construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular number shall be held and construed to include the plural, unless the context otherwise requires. Titles appearing at the beginning of any subdivisions hereof are for convenience only, do not constitute any part of such subdivisions, and shall be disregarded in construing the language contained in such subdivisions. The use of the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and other similar compounds of the word “here” shall refer to this entire Deed of Trust and not to any particular Article, Section,

 

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paragraph or provision. The term “person” and words importing persons as used in this Deed of Trust shall include firms, associations, partnerships (including limited partnerships), joint ventures, trusts, corporations, limited liability companies, and other legal entities, including public or governmental bodies, agencies or instrumentalities, as well as natural persons.

Section 6.15 Reporting Compliance . Grantor agrees to comply with any and all reporting requirements applicable to the transactions secured by this Deed of Trust which are set forth in any law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, order or determination of any governmental authority, and further agrees upon written request of Beneficiary to furnish Beneficiary with evidence of such compliance.

Section 6.16 Beneficiary’s Consent . Except where otherwise expressly provided herein, in any instance hereunder where the approval, consent or the exercise of judgment of Beneficiary is required or requested, (i) the granting or denial of such approval or consent and the exercise of such judgment shall be within the sole discretion of Beneficiary, and Beneficiary shall not, for any reason or to any extent, be required to grant such approval or consent or exercise such judgment in any particular manner, regardless of the reasonableness of either the request or Beneficiary’s judgment, and (ii) no approval or consent of Beneficiary shall be deemed to have been given except by a specific writing intended for the purpose and executed by an authorized representative of Beneficiary.

Section 6.17 Grantor . Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, as used in this Deed of Trust, “ Grantor ” means the Grantor named in the appearance clause of this Deed of Trust or any of them. The obligations of Grantor hereunder shall be joint and several. If any Grantor, or any signatory who signs on behalf of any Grantor, is a corporation, partnership or other legal entity, Grantor and any such signatory, and the person or persons signing for it, represent and warrant to Beneficiary that this instrument is executed, acknowledged and delivered by Grantor’s duly authorized representatives. If Grantor is an individual, no power of attorney granted by Grantor herein shall terminate on Grantor’s disability.

Section 6.18 Successors and Assigns . The terms, provisions, covenants and conditions hereof shall be binding upon Grantor, and the heirs, devisees, representatives, successors and assigns of Grantor, and shall inure to the benefit of the Beneficiary, its successors and assigns, and shall constitute covenants running with the Land. All references in this Deed of Trust to Grantor shall be deemed to include all such heirs, devisees, representatives, successors and assigns of Grantor.

Section 6.19 Modification or Termination . The Credit Documents may only be modified or terminated by a written instrument or instruments intended for that purpose and executed by the party against which enforcement of the modification or termination is asserted. Any alleged modification or termination which is not so documented shall not be effective as to any party.

Section 6.20 No Partnership, etc . The relationship between Beneficiary and Grantor is solely that of Beneficiary and Grantor. Beneficiary has no fiduciary or other special relationship with Grantor. Nothing contained in the Credit Documents is intended to create any partnership, joint venture, association or special relationship between Grantor and Beneficiary or in any way make Beneficiary a co-principal with Grantor with reference to the Mortgaged Property. All agreed contractual duties between or among Beneficiary and Grantor are set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents and any additional implied covenants or duties are hereby disclaimed. Any inferences to the contrary of any of the foregoing are hereby expressly negated.

Section 6.21 Power of Attorney . Grantor hereby appoints Beneficiary as its attorney-in-fact and upon any default hereunder authorizes Beneficiary to endorse Grantor’s name on all instruments and other documents pertaining to the Obligations. In addition, Beneficiary shall be entitled, but not required, to perform any action or execute any document required to be taken or executed by Grantor under this Deed of Trust. Beneficiary’s performance of such action or execution of such documents shall not relieve Grantor from any Obligation or cure any default under this Deed of Trust. The powers of attorney described in this action are coupled with an interest and are irrevocable.

Section 6.22 Collection Costs . If Beneficiary hires an attorney to assist in collecting any amount due or enforcing any right or remedy under this Deed of Trust, Grantor agrees to pay Beneficiary’s reasonable attorney fees and collection costs, including, but not limited to, costs incurred for copying, title reports, surveys, title abstract and all other costs incurred by Beneficiary in collecting the debt.

 

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Section 6.23 Partial Release . Beneficiary directly (and without joinder of Trustee) or the Trustee upon written direction from the Beneficiary may release its interest in a portion of the Mortgaged Property by executing and recording one or more partial releases without affecting its interest in the remaining portion of the Mortgaged Property.

Section 6.24 Applicable Law . THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEBRASKA (EXCLUSIVE OF ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES) SHALL GOVERN THE VALIDITY, ENFORCEABILITY, INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF ALL OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS DEED OF TRUST AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS AND ALL ISSUES HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER, INCLUDING (WITHOUT LIMITATION) THE DETERMINATION OF THE MAXIMUM LAWFUL RATE OF INTEREST THAT MAY BE CONTRACTED FOR, CHARGED OR RECEIVED WITH RESPECT TO THE OBLIGATIONS; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI SHALL GOVERN THE PROCEDURAL AND SUBSTANTIVE MATTERS RELATING TO THE CREATION, PERFECTION AND FORECLOSURE OF LIENS, AND ENFORCEMENT OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES AGAINST THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY.

Section 6.25 Entire Agreement . The Credit Documents constitute the entire understanding and agreement between Grantor and Beneficiary with respect to the transactions arising in connection with the Obligations and supersede all prior written or oral understandings and agreements between Grantor and Beneficiary with respect to the matters addressed in the Credit Documents. Grantor hereby acknowledges that, except as incorporated in writing in the Credit Documents, there are not, and were not, and no persons are or were authorized by Beneficiary to make, any representations, understandings, stipulations, agreements or promises, oral or written, with respect to the matters addressed in the Credit Documents.

Section 6.26 Notices . All notices, consents, approvals, elections and other communications (collectively “ Notices ”) hereunder shall be in writing (whether or not the other provisions of this Deed of Trust expressly so provide) and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed by United States registered or certified mail, with return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by United States Express Mail or courier service to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other addresses as shall be given in writing by any party to the others pursuant to this Section 6.26 ) and shall be deemed complete upon receipt or refusal to accept delivery as indicated in the return receipt or in the receipt of such Express Mail or courier service:

 

If to Grantor:   

Green Plains Grain Company, LLC

Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC

Green Plains Essex Inc.

450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400

Omaha, NE 68114

Attention: Jerry L. Peters

With a copy to:   

Michelle Mapes

General Counsel

Green Plains Renewable Energy

450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400

Omaha, NE 68114

If to Beneficiary:   

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

Agricultural Investments

10801 Mastin Blvd., Suite 930

Overland Park, KS 66210

Attention: Director

ARTICLE 7 - NON-UNIFORM COVENANTS

Section 7.1 Request for Notices . Each party to this Deed of Trust requests that a copy of any notice of default or any other notice of sale or any other notices that may be given pursuant to this Deed of Trust or otherwise be sent to the party at the address set forth herein, as provided by the applicable law of the State of Missouri.

 

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Section 7.2 Indemnification of Trustee . Except for gross negligence and willful misconduct, Trustee shall not be liable for any act or omission or error of judgment. Trustee may rely on any document believed by it in good faith to be genuine. All money received by Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust, but need not be segregated (except to the extent required by law), and Trustee shall not be liable for interest thereon. Grantor shall protect, indemnify and hold harmless Trustee against all liability and expenses which Trustee may incur in the performance of its duties hereunder.

Section 7.3 Actions by Trustee . At any time, or from time to time, without liability therefor and without notice, upon written request of Beneficiary and presentation of this Deed of Trust and the Note for endorsement, and without affecting the personal liability of any person for payment of the Obligations or the effect of this Deed of Trust upon the remainder of the Mortgaged Property, Trustee may take such actions as Beneficiary may request and which are permitted by this Deed of Trust or by applicable law.

Section 7.4 Substitution of Trustee . Beneficiary has the power and shall be entitled, at any time and from time to time, in its sole discretion and without cause, to remove Trustee or any successor trustee and to substitute and appoint another trustee or trustees (either corporate or individual) in the place and stead of Trustee or any successor trustee, by written instrument duly executed and recorded in the Office of the county recorder of the county or counties where the Mortgaged Property is situated, which instrument shall be conclusive proof of the proper substitution and appointment of such successor trustee or trustees, who shall have all the rights, title, estate, powers, duties and privileges of the predecessor trustee, without the necessity of any conveyance from such predecessor.

Section 7.5 Waiver of Jury Trial . TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, GRANTOR AND BENEFICIARY HEREBY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING AND/OR HEARING ON ANY MATTER WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF, OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH, THE NOTE, THIS DEED OF TRUST OR ANY OF THE CREDIT DOCUMENTS, OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY REMEDY UNDER ANY LAW, STATUTE, OR REGULATION. NEITHER PARTY WILL SEEK TO CONSOLIDATE ANY SUCH ACTION IN WHICH A JURY HAS BEEN WAIVED, WITH ANY OTHER ACTION IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL CANNOT OR HAS NOT BEEN WAIVED. EACH PARTY HAS RECEIVED THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL WITH RESPECT TO THIS WAIVER.

[NO FURTHER TEXT ON PAGE]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Grantor has executed this Deed of Trust as of the day and year first above written.

 

GRANTOR:

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC ,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:   /s/ Jerry L. Peters
Its:   Chief Financial Officer

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC ,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:   /s/ Jerry L. Peters
Its:   Chief Financial Officer

GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC. ,

an Iowa corporation

By:   /s/ Jerry L. Peters
Its:   Chief Financial Officer

[NOTARY BLOCKS TO APPEAR ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

 

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STATE OF Nebraska

  )
  ) ss.
COUNTY OF Douglas   )

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 28 day of October, 2011, by Jerry Peters, the Chief Financial Officer of GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation, on behalf of the corporation.

 

/s/ Sharon Mize
Notary Public

 

STATE OF Nebraska

  )
  ) ss.
COUNTY OF Douglas   )

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 28 day of October, 2011, by Jerry Peters, the Chief Financial Officer of GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, on behalf of the company.

 

/s/ Sharon Mize
Notary Public

 

STATE OF Nebraska

  )
  ) ss.
COUNTY OF Douglas   )

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 28 day of October, 2011, by Jerry Peters, the Chief Financial Officer of GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, on behalf of the company.

 

/s/ Sharon Mize
Notary Public

 

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EXHIBIT “A”

DEFINED TERMS

Beneficiary ” means Beneficiary, and its successors and assigns, including any subsequent holder of the Obligations.

Collateral ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3 .

Credit Documents ” means, collectively, this Deed of Trust, the Loan Agreement, the Note and such other documents evidencing, governing, guaranteeing, securing or otherwise executed in connection with the Obligations, the Loan Agreement or this Deed of Trust, as they or any of them may have been or from time to time hereafter may be renewed, extended, supplemented, increased, amended, modified or restated.

Deed of Trust ” means this Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Assignment of Leases and Rents, as the same may be renewed, extended, supplemented, increased, modified, amended or restated from time to time.

Default Rate ” has the meaning attributed to it in the Note and Loan Agreement.

Loan Agreement ” means that certain Loan Agreement, dated of even date with this Deed of Trust, executed by Grantor, as the same may have been or from time to time hereafter may be renewed, extended, supplemented, increased, amended, modified or restated.

Obligations ” means the obligation of the Grantor to (a) make payment of the principal of, interest and premiums on, and to perform all covenants, agreements, liabilities and obligations of the Grantor, under the Note, the Deed of Trust, the Loan Agreement and all other obligations of the Grantor under any other instrument given to secure the Note and any and all extensions and renewals thereof; (b) to perform any and all covenants, agreements, liabilities and obligations of Grantor, to Beneficiary, its successors and assigns, provided for or arising under this Deed of Trust; and (c) to make payment of all costs and expenses of collection, legal expenses and attorneys’ fees incurred by the Beneficiary, its successors and assigns, in the enforcement of the rights of the Beneficiary hereunder or in any litigation or bankruptcy proceeding for the protection of Beneficiary’s collateral and claim against Grantor.

Permitted Encumbrances ” means any of the following:

(i) liens, charges or other encumbrances for taxes and assessments which are not yet due and payable;

(ii) liens of or resulting from any judgment or award, the time for the appeal or petition for rehearing of which shall not have expired, or in respect of which Grantor shall at any time in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or proceeding for a review and in respect of which a stay of execution pending such appeal or proceeding for review shall have been secured;

(iii) deposits, pledges or liens to secure statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds or other liens of like general nature incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money, provided, in each case, that the obligation secured is not overdue or, if overdue, is being contested in good faith by appropriate actions or proceedings;

(iv) liens, charges or encumbrances in favor of Beneficiary;

(v) liens, charges, or other encumbrances disclosed to and approved by Beneficiary in writing in connection with the Grantor’s arrangements for the acquisition and development of the Premises, including without limitation payments and rights-of-way for utilities, roads, drainage, cable, communications and similar purposes;


(vi) liens, charges, or other encumbrances set forth in a policy of mortgagee’s title insurance issued to Beneficiary, but only if expressly acknowledged and approved in writing by Beneficiary and in the case of any leases in favor of a Grantor, subordinated to the lien hereof; and

(vii) liens, charges or other encumbrances securing the Grantor’s obligations under that certain Credit Agreement dated as of even date herewith by and among the Grantor, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Promissory Note ” means the Note described in the opening recitals, together with interest thereon, executed in accordance with the Loan Agreement and evidencing Grantor’s indebtedness to Beneficiary thereunder. The Note contains provisions for the interest rate therein to be adjusted from time to time.

Uniform Commercial Code ” means the Uniform Commercial Code in effect, and as amended from time to time hereafter, in the State of Nebraska.

 

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EXHIBIT “B”

LAND

DESCRIPTION OF REAL PROPERTY

Exhibit 10.9

THIS INSTRUMENT WAS PREPARED BY AND

WHEN RECORDED MAIL TO:

DREW K. THEOPHILUS

BAIRD HOLM LLP

1500 WOODMEN TOWER

1700 FARNAM STREET

OMAHA, NE 68102

SPACE ABOVE THIS LINE FOR RECORDER’S USE

DEED OF TRUST, SECURITY AGREEMENT

FIXTURE FILING AND ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES AND RENTS

(Tennessee)

(Collateral Includes Fixtures)

BY

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company;

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; and

GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation

as Trustor

TO

W. Stanworth Harris,

as Trustee

for the benefit of

METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,

a New York corporation,

as Beneficiary

October 28, 2011

THIS DEED OF TRUST IS AN OPEN-END DEED OF TRUST AND SECURES OPTIONAL AND OBLIGATORY FUTURE ADVANCES AND IS FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES AS DESCRIBED IN TENN. CODE ANN. § 47-28-104(b).

THE PREMISES CONVEYED INCLUDE FIXTURES RELATED TO THE REAL ESTATE DESCRIBED HEREIN, AND THIS DEED OF TRUST CONSTITUTES A FIXTURE FILING PURSUANT TO TENN. CODE ANN. §47-9-502(c). Maximum principal indebtedness for Tennessee recording tax purposes is $ 13,710,000.00.


DEED OF TRUST, SECURITY AGREEMENT, FIXTURE FILING AND ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES AND RENTS

(COLLATERAL INCLUDES FIXTURES)

Executed in counterparts to allow for simultaneous filing

This Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Assignment of Leases and Rents (the “ Deed of Trust ”) is dated as of October 28, 2011, and is executed by GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; and GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation (each individually and collectively, “ Trustor ”), evidencing Trustor’s conveyance with power of sale to W. Stanworth Harris, as Trustee (“ Trustee ”), a resident of the State of Tennessee whose address is 325 N. Parkway, Jackson, TN 38305 for the benefit of METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, a New York corporation (“ Beneficiary ”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, Trustor has executed a Secured Promissory Note in the original principal amount of $30,000,000.00, with a final payment due on November 1, 2021 in favor of Beneficiary (the “ Note ”); and

WHEREAS, Trustor has agreed to secure its obligations to Beneficiary hereunder by executing this Deed of Trust in favor of the Trustee for the benefit of Beneficiary, in trust with POWER OF SALE pursuant to the provisions of the Tennessee law burdening the real and personal property described below, and by granting, or causing to be granted, to Beneficiary the other liens and security interests herein described;

NOW, THEREFORE, in order to secure the full and punctual payment and performance of all present and future Obligations (as hereafter defined), Trustor has agreed to execute and deliver this Deed of Trust and to grant a mortgage lien and continuing security interest in and to the Mortgaged Property (as hereinafter defined), all upon the following terms and conditions:

ARTICLE 1 - DEFINITIONS; DEED OF TRUST TO SECURE OBLIGATIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions . Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Deed of Trust shall have the meanings set forth in the Loan Agreement. In addition to other terms defined herein, certain defined terms are set forth in Exhibit “A” attached hereto.

Section 1.2 Grant . In order to secure the Obligations, Trustor hereby mortgages, grants, assigns, bargains, sells and conveys to Trustee, its successors and assigns, in trust, WITH POWER OF SALE and right of entry and possession, and does hereby grant unto Trustee for the benefit of Beneficiary a continuing security interest in, (a)  the real property (herein called the “ Land ”) described in Exhibit “B” which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, and (i) all improvements now or hereafter situated or to be situated on the Land (herein together called the “ Improvements ”); and (ii) all right, title and interest of Trustor in and to (1) all streets, roads, alleys, easements, rights-of-way, privileges, hereditaments, appurtenances, licenses, rights of ingress and egress, vehicle parking rights and public places, existing or proposed, abutting, adjacent, used in connection with or pertaining to the Land or the Improvements; (2) all of Trustor’s present and future estate, right, title and interest in and to all accretion, avulsion, riparian rights, water rights, waters, water courses, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by Trustor; (3) the reversion(s), remainder(s), possession(s), claims and demands of Trustor in and to the same, and the rights of Trustor in and to the benefits of any conditions, covenants and restrictions now or hereafter affecting said real property, together with all estate, right, title and interest, including, without limitation, leasehold interests, that Trustor now has or may hereafter acquire, and (4) any strips or gores between the Land and abutting or adjacent properties (the Land, Improvements and other rights, titles and interests referred to in this clause (a) being herein sometimes collectively called the “ Premises ”); (b)  all things now or hereafter affixed to or located upon or used in connection with the Land, including, without limitation, all buildings, structures and Improvements of every kind and description now or hereafter erected or placed thereon, all apparatus, furnishings, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, appliances, systems, building materials and personal property of every kind and nature whatsoever, now owned or hereafter acquired by Trustor, which are or shall be attached to, or used for the operation or maintenance of, said buildings, structures or Improvements located on the Land, or which are or shall be located in, on or about the Land, or which, wherever located, are used or intended to be used in


or in connection with the construction, fixturing, equipping, furnishing, use, transportation of personal property to or from, operation or enjoyment of the Land or the Improvements thereon, and all permits, licenses, franchises, contract rights, management contracts or agreements, warranties, guaranties, authorities, certificates and leasehold interests, now or hereafter owned by Trustor and relating to the ownership use, operation, maintenance or enjoyment of the Land, the Improvements thereon, and the fixtures, equipment and personal property described above; and also including all extensions, additions, accessions, substitutions, improvements, betterments, renewals, renovations, repairs, replacements, products and proceeds of any of the foregoing, together with the benefit of any deposits or payments now or hereafter made by Trustor or on its behalf in connection with any of the foregoing, including all bridges, irrigation pumps, electric motors, engines, pipes, sprinklers, center pivot systems, control panels, accessories and accessions, and all other irrigation equipment connected therewith now or hereafter placed or installed, together with all water and watering rights of every kind and description, on the Land described herein; all accessories and accessions to fully operate grain handling facilities, storage warehouses, equipment sheds and shop buildings, including but not limited to office equipment, scales, compressors, engines, motors, control panels, conveyors, load-out equipment and all improvements, fixtures and appurtenances on or related to the Land described herein; scales, office equipment, computer equipment and software, fuel and water tanks, fuel and water metering and pumping equipment, fire prevention equipment, pneumatic equipment, compressors, engines, motors, control panels, conveyors, baling equipment, load-out equipment on or related to the Land described herein; provided, however , that expressly excluded from the security interest hereby created are all vehicles and rolling stock owned by Trustor, all personal property and equipment not owned by Trustor (including, but not limited to, leased property) located on the Land (collectively, the “ Excluded Collateral ”); and all of such things, other than the Excluded Collateral, whether now hereafter placed thereon or used in connection therewith or whether now owned or hereafter acquired by Trustor, or used in or necessary to the complete and proper planning, development, use, occupancy or operation thereof, or acquired (whether delivered to the Land or stored elsewhere) for use or installation in or on the Land or the Improvements, and all renewals and replacements of, substitutions for and additions to the foregoing (the properties referred to in this clause (b) being herein sometimes collectively called the “ Accessories ”); (c)  all of (i) Trustor’s rights, but not liability for any breach by Trustor, under all insurance policies and other contracts and general intangibles (including but not limited to trademarks, trade names and symbols) related to the Premises or the Accessories or the operation thereof; (ii) deposits (including but not limited to Trustor’s rights in tenants’ security deposits, deposits with respect to utility services to the Premises, and any deposits or reserves hereunder or under any other Credit Document for taxes, insurance or otherwise), money, accounts, instruments, documents, notes and chattel paper arising from or by virtue of any transactions related to the Premises or the Accessories; (iii) permits, licenses, franchises, certificates, development rights, commitments and rights for utilities, and other rights and privileges obtained in connection with the Premises or the Accessories; (iv) leases, rents, royalties, bonuses, issues, profits, revenues and other benefits of the Premises and the Accessories (without derogation of Article 3 hereof); (v) oil, gas and other hydrocarbons and other minerals produced from or allocated to the Land and all products processed or obtained therefrom and the proceeds thereof; and (vi) engineering, accounting, title, legal, and other technical or business data concerning the Mortgaged Property (as defined below) which are in the possession of Trustor or in which Trustor can otherwise grant a security interest; and (d)  all (i) proceeds of or arising from the properties, rights, titles and interests referred to above in this Section 1.2 , including but not limited to proceeds of any sale, lease or other disposition thereof, proceeds of each policy of insurance relating thereto (including premium refunds and including the right to receive proceeds attributable to the insurance loss of the Premises), proceeds of the taking thereof or of any rights appurtenant thereto, including change of grade of streets, curb cuts or other rights of access, by eminent domain or transfer in lieu thereof for public or quasi-public use under any law, and proceeds arising out of any damage thereto; and (ii) other interests of every kind and character which Trustor now has or hereafter acquires in, to or for the benefit of the properties, rights, titles and interests referred to above in this Section 1.2 and all property used or useful in connection therewith, including but not limited to rights of ingress and egress and remainders, reversions and reversionary rights or interests; and if the estate of Trustor in any of the property referred to above in this Section 1.2 is a leasehold estate, the lien and security interest created hereby shall encumber and extend to all other or additional title, estates, interests or rights which are now owned or may hereafter be acquired by Trustor in or to the property demised under the lease creating the leasehold estate. All of the foregoing real and personal property and intangible rights covered by and subject to this Deed of Trust are herein collectively referred to as the “ Mortgaged Property ”.

Section 1.3 Security Interest . Trustor hereby grants to Beneficiary a security interest in all of the Mortgaged Property which constitutes personal property subject to Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code or fixtures as defined therein (herein sometimes collectively called the “ Collateral ”). In addition to its rights hereunder or otherwise, Beneficiary shall have all of the rights of a secured party under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code in force in any state to the extent the same is applicable law.

 

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Section 1.4 Security for Obligations . This Deed of Trust secures all Obligations, including the full and punctual payment of the indebtedness evidenced by the Note in the aggregate principal face amount of Thirty Million and No/100 Dollars ($30,000,000.00), with interest thereon at the rates therein provided in the Note, with a stated maturity of November 1, 2021, together with any and all renewals, modifications, consolidations and extensions of the indebtedness evidenced by the Note, any and all additional advances made by Beneficiary to protect or preserve the Mortgaged Property, any and all future advances as may be made by Beneficiary, including any future advances set forth in Section 1.6 or advances under Section 1.7 .

Section 1.5 Purpose . This Deed of Trust and the Obligations are executed and incurred for business or agricultural purposes and not for personal, household or family purposes.

Section 1.6 Future Advances and Expenses . This Deed of Trust also secures the repayment of all advances that Beneficiary may extend to Trustor under the Loan Agreement and the other Credit Documents. In addition this Deed of Trust secures the repayment of all amounts expended by Beneficiary to perform Trustor’s covenants under this Deed of Trust or maintain, preserve, or dispose of the Mortgaged Property, together with interest thereon from date of expenditure until repaid.

Section 1.7 Advances . This Deed of Trust is subject to the terms of the Loan Agreement, which is a loan agreement between Trustor and Beneficiary. Trustor acknowledges that in the event the Loan will be used for the purchase of the Mortgaged Property, Beneficiary may impose any reasonable restrictions or conditions in order to insure that this Deed of Trust remains senior in priority to all other liens and encumbrances, including, but not limited to mechanics’ and materialmen’s liens. The Loan represented by the Credit Documents matures on the dates indicated in the recitals above. The Note and Loan Agreement requires Trustor to make payments to Beneficiary on the terms provided therein. All of the advances under this Deed of Trust will be for commercial purposes.

NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY HEREIN, THE MAXIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT SECURED BY THIS DEED OF TRUST, INCLUDING ANY FUTURE DEBTS, ADVANCES, LIABILITIES OR OBLIGATIONS, NOT INCLUDING, HOWEVER, INTEREST, COSTS, EXPENSES, ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND OTHER CHARGES, OR ANY SUMS ADVANCED FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY OR BENEFICIARY’S INTEREST THEREIN, SHALL NOT EXCEED $                      ; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL CONSTITUTE A COMMITMENT TO MAKE ADDITIONAL OR FUTURE LOANS OR ADVANCES IN ANY AMOUNT.

TRUSTOR HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES ITS RIGHT, PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT, TO REDUCE THE LIMIT ON THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THE SECURED OBLIGATIONS SECURED BY THIS DEED OF TRUST.

ARTICLE 2 - REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS

Section 2.1 Trustor represents, warrants, and covenants as follows:

(a) Payment and Performance . Trustor will make due and punctual payment of the Obligations. Trustor will timely and properly perform and comply with all of the covenants, agreements, and conditions imposed upon it by this Deed of Trust and the other Credit Documents and will not permit a default to occur hereunder or thereunder. Time shall be of the essence in this Deed of Trust.

(b) Title and Permitted Encumbrances . Trustor has, in Trustor’s own right, and Trustor covenants to maintain, good, valid and merchantable title to the Mortgaged Property, free and clear of all liens, charges, claims, security interests, and encumbrances except for Permitted Encumbrances. Trustor, and Trustor’s successors and assigns, will warrant and forever defend title to the Mortgaged Property, subject as aforesaid, to Beneficiary against the claims and demands of all persons claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof. Trustor will punctually pay, perform, observe and keep all covenants, obligations and conditions in or pursuant to any Permitted Encumbrance and will not modify or permit modification of any Permitted Encumbrance without the prior written consent of Beneficiary. Inclusion of any matter as a Permitted Encumbrance does not constitute approval or waiver by Beneficiary of any existing or future violation or other breach thereof by Trustor, with respect to the Mortgaged

 

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Property or otherwise. No part of the Mortgaged Property constitutes all or any part of the homestead of Trustor. If any right or interest of Beneficiary in the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof shall be endangered or questioned or shall be attacked directly or indirectly, Beneficiary (whether or not named as a party to legal proceedings with respect thereto) is hereby authorized and empowered to take such steps as in its discretion may be proper for the defense of any such legal proceedings or the protection of such right or interest of Beneficiary, including but not limited to the employment of independent counsel, the prosecution or defense of litigation, and the compromise or discharge of adverse claims. All expenditures so made of every kind and character shall be an Obligation (which Obligation Trustor hereby promises to pay on demand of Beneficiary) owing by Trustor to Beneficiary, and Beneficiary shall be subrogated to all rights of the person receiving such payment.

(c) Taxes and Other Impositions. Trustor will pay, or cause to be paid, all taxes, assessments and other charges or levies imposed upon or against or with respect to the Mortgaged Property or the ownership, use, occupancy or enjoyment of any portion thereof, or any utility service thereto, as the same become due and payable, including but not limited to ad valorem taxes assessed against the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof, and shall deliver promptly to Beneficiary such evidence of the payment thereof as Beneficiary may require. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Trustor shall have the right to contest any such charges and any such contest shall not be considered a default under this Deed of Trust or any other Credit Documents, provided Trustor either provides a bond for the disputed matters in accordance with applicable law or establishes appropriate reserves for such matters.

(d) Insurance . Trustor, at its sole cost and expense, shall at all times, unless otherwise indicated, provide, maintain and keep in force:

(1) property insurance covering the Improvements, the Premises and Collateral against loss or damage from such causes of loss as are embraced by insurance policies of the type known as “Special Form/Open Perils/Special Perils” property insurance, including, without limitation, boiler coverage, and business interruption coverage, on a replacement cost basis with an Agreed Value Endorsement waiving coinsurance, all in an amount not less than the then full replacement cost of the Improvements and personal property constituting a part of the Mortgaged Property, without deduction for physical depreciation thereof;

(2) comprehensive general liability insurance insuring against claims for personal injury (including, without limitation, bodily injury or death), property damage liability and such other loss or damage from such causes of loss as are embraced by insurance policies of the type known as “Comprehensive General Liability” insurance, with a combined single limit of $1,000,000 per occurrence. Such insurance coverage shall be issued and maintained on an “occurrence” basis;

(3) flood insurance in an amount equal to the lesser of 100% of the full replacement cost of the Improvements, or the maximum amount of insurance obtainable; provided, however, that such insurance shall be required only when all or any portion of the Land is located within a 100-year flood plain or area designated as subject to flood by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or any other governmental agency, or when required by any federal, state or local law, statute, regulation or ordinance;

(4) In the event of the construction of any Improvements on the Mortgaged Property, builder’s risk insurance insuring against loss or damage from such causes of loss as are embraced by insurance policies of the type now known as “Builder’s Risks” property insurance (written on an “all risks” or “open perils” basis), including, without limitation, fire and extended coverage, and collapse of the Improvements (or any portion thereof) to agreed limits, all in form and substance acceptable to Beneficiary and (i) as to Improvements being or to be constructed with the proceeds of the Loan, in an amount not less than the completed value on a non-reporting form of the Improvements being constructed, (ii) as to property then subject to restoration pursuant to Section 2.1(h) or any restoration accomplished in connection with a condemnation, in an amount not less than the full replacement cost of such property, and (iii) as to any additional property then being constructed, in an amount not less than the completed value, on a non-reporting form, of the additional improvements then being constructed; provided, however, that such insurance shall be required only during the construction of the Improvements being financed hereby, and any period of restoration or any restoration accomplished in connection with a condemnation, or any subsequent period of construction of any additional Improvements; and

(5) Such other insurance and in such amounts, as may, from time to time, be reasonably required by Beneficiary against other insurable hazards or risks, including, but not limited to, environmental impairment liability coverage, nuclear reaction or radioactive contamination coverage and/or earthquake coverage, which hazards or risks at the time are commonly insured against, and provided such insurance is generally available, for property similarly situated, due regard being given to the height and type of building, its construction, use and occupancy.

 

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Except as herein expressly provided otherwise, all policies of insurance required under this Section 2.1(d) shall be issued by companies, and be in form, amount, and content and have an expiration date, approved by Beneficiary and as to the policies of insurance required under subparagraph (1) of this Section 2.1(d) , shall contain a Standard Non Contributory Mortgagee Clause or Lender’s Loss Payable Endorsement, or equivalents thereof, in form, scope and substance satisfactory to Beneficiary, in favor of Beneficiary, and as to policies of insurance required under subparagraph (1) of this Section 2.1(d) , shall provide that the proceeds thereof (“ Insurance Proceeds ”) shall be payable to Beneficiary. Beneficiary shall be furnished a certificate of each policy required hereunder, which policy shall provide that the issuing company shall endeavor to notify Beneficiary in writing at least thirty (30) days’ prior to cancellation or modification of the policy. If requested by Beneficiary, Trustor shall also furnish to Beneficiary a copy of each such policy. At least thirty (30) days prior to expiration of any policy required hereunder, Trustor shall furnish Beneficiary appropriate proof of issuance of a policy continuing in force the insurance covered by the policy so expiring. Trustor shall furnish Beneficiary receipts for the payment of premiums on such insurance policies or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to Beneficiary in the event that such premiums have not been paid to Beneficiary pursuant to the terms of this Deed of Trust. In the event that Trustor does not deposit with Beneficiary a new policy of insurance with evidence of payment of premiums thereon at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of any policy, then Beneficiary may, but shall not be obligated to, procure such insurance and pay the premiums therefor and any money paid by Beneficiary for such premiums shall be reimbursed to Beneficiary in accordance with the terms of this Deed of Trust.

In the event of the foreclosure of this Deed of Trust or other transfer of the title to the Mortgaged Property in extinguishment, in whole or in part, of the Obligations, all right, title and interest of Trustor in and to any insurance policy, or premiums paid in connection with such policy or payments in satisfaction of claims or any other rights thereunder then in force, shall pass to the purchaser or grantee. Nothing contained herein shall prevent accrual of interest as provided in the Note on any portion of the Obligations to which the Insurance Proceeds are to be applied until such time as the Insurance Proceeds are actually received by Beneficiary and applied by Beneficiary to reduce the Obligations secured by this Deed of Trust. All of such insurance shall be subject to such deductibles as are approved by Beneficiary.

(e) Reserve for Insurance, Taxes and Assessments . [Intentionally omitted].

(f) Eminent Domain and Condemnation . Trustor shall notify Beneficiary immediately of any threatened or pending proceeding for eminent domain or condemnation affecting the Mortgaged Property or arising out of damage to the Mortgaged Property, and Trustor shall, at Trustor’s expense, diligently prosecute any such proceedings. Beneficiary shall have the right (but not the obligation) to participate in any such proceeding and to be represented by counsel of its own choice. Beneficiary shall be entitled to receive all sums which may be awarded or become payable to Trustor for the condemnation of the Mortgaged Property, or any part thereof, for public or quasi-public use, or by virtue of private sale in lieu thereof, and any sums which may be awarded or become payable to Trustor for injury or damage to the Mortgaged Property. Trustor shall, promptly upon request of Beneficiary, execute such additional assignments and other documents as may be necessary from time to time to permit such participation and to enable Beneficiary to collect and receipt for any such sums. All such sums are hereby assigned to Beneficiary, and shall, after deduction therefrom of all reasonable expenses actually incurred by Beneficiary, including attorneys’ fees, at Beneficiary’s option be (1) released to Trustor, or (2) applied (upon compliance with such terms and conditions as may be required by Beneficiary) to repair or restoration of the Mortgaged Property so affected, or (3) applied to the payment of the Obligations in such order and manner as Beneficiary, in its sole discretion, may elect whether or not due. In any event the unpaid portion of the Obligations shall remain in full force and effect and the payment thereof shall not be excused. Beneficiary shall not be, under any circumstances, liable or responsible for failure to collect or to exercise diligence in the collection of any such sum or for failure to see to the proper application of any amount paid over to Trustor. Beneficiary is hereby authorized, in the name of Trustor, to execute and deliver valid acquittance for, and to appeal from, any such award, judgment or decree. All costs and expenses (including but not limited to attorneys’ fees) incurred by Beneficiary in connection with any condemnation shall be an Obligation owing by Trustor (which Trustor hereby promises to pay on demand of Beneficiary) to Beneficiary pursuant to this Deed of Trust.

 

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(g) Compliance with Legal Requirements . The Mortgaged Property and the use, operation and maintenance thereof and all activities thereon comply in all material respects with all applicable Legal Requirements (defined below). The Mortgaged Property is not dependent on any other property or premises or any interest therein other than the Mortgaged Property to fulfill any requirement of any Legal Requirement. No part of the Mortgaged Property constitutes a nonconforming use under any zoning law or similar law or ordinance. Trustor has obtained and shall preserve in force all requisite zoning, utility, building, health and operating permits from the governmental authorities having jurisdiction over the Mortgaged Property, except where the failure to have such permit would not have a material adverse effect on the Mortgaged Property or Trustor’s ability to pay the Obligations. If Trustor receives a notice or claim from any person that the Mortgaged Property, or any use, activity, operation or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Legal Requirement, Trustor will promptly furnish a copy of such notice or claim to Beneficiary. Trustor has received no notice and has no knowledge of any such noncompliance. As used in this Deed of Trust: (i) the term “ Legal Requirement ” means any Law (defined below), agreement, covenant, restriction, easement, or condition (including, without limitation of the foregoing, any condition or requirement imposed by any federal, state, or local governmental body, or insurance or surety company), as any of the same now exists or may be changed or amended or come into effect in the future; and (ii) the term “ Law ” means any federal, state or local law, statute, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, license, permit, authorization, decision, order, injunction or decree, domestic or foreign.

(h) Maintenance; Repair and Restoration . Trustor will keep the Mortgaged Property in good order, repair, operation condition and appearance, causing all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, additions and improvements to be promptly made, and will not allow any of the Mortgaged Property to be misused, abused or wasted or to deteriorate. Trustor will not, without the prior written consent of Beneficiary, (i) remove from the Mortgaged Property any fixtures or personal property covered by this Deed of Trust except such as is replaced by Trustor by an article of equal suitability and value, owned by Trustor, free and clear of any lien or security interest (except that created by this Deed of Trust), or (ii) make any structural alteration to the Mortgaged Property or any other alteration thereto which impairs the value thereof. Trustor may remove items from the Mortgaged Property without the consent of Beneficiary which are worn out, undesirable, obsolete, disused or unnecessary for use in the operation of the Mortgaged Property and which are not of material value relative to the value of the Mortgaged Property. If any act or occurrence of any kind or nature (including any condemnation or any casualty for which insurance was not obtained or obtainable) shall result in damage to or loss or destruction of the Mortgaged Property, Trustor shall give prompt notice thereof to Beneficiary and Trustor shall promptly, at Trustor’s sole cost and expense and regardless of whether insurance or condemnation proceeds (if any) shall be available or sufficient for the purpose, commence and continue diligently to completion to restore, repair, replace and rebuild the Mortgaged Property as nearly as possible to its value, condition and character immediately prior to the damage, loss or destruction.

(i) No Other Liens . Trustor will not, without the prior written consent of Beneficiary, create, place or permit to be created or placed, or through any act or failure to act, acquiesce in the placing of, or allow to remain, any mortgage, voluntary or involuntary lien, whether statutory or contractual, security interest, encumbrance or charge, or conditional sale or other title retention document, against or covering the Mortgaged Property, or any part thereof, other than the Permitted Encumbrances, regardless of whether the same are expressly or otherwise subordinate to the lien or security interest created in this Deed of Trust, and should any of the foregoing become attached hereafter in any manner to any part of the Mortgaged Property without the prior written consent of the Beneficiary, Trustor will cause the same to be promptly discharged and released. Trustor will own all parts of the Mortgaged Property and, except as permitted by the Loan Agreement, will not acquire any fixtures, equipment or other property forming a part of the Mortgaged Property pursuant to a lease, license, security agreement or similar agreement, where by any party has or may obtain the right to repossess or remove same, without the prior written consent of Beneficiary.

(j) Operation of Mortgaged Property . Trustor will operate the Mortgaged Property in a good and workmanlike manner and will pay all fees or charges of any kind in connection therewith. Trustor will keep the Mortgaged Property occupied so as not to impair the insurance carried thereon. Trustor will not use or occupy or conduct any activity on, or allow the use or occupancy of or the conduct of any activity on, the Mortgaged Property in any manner which makes void, voidable or cancelable, or increases the premium of, any insurance then in force with respect thereto. Trustor will not initiate or permit any zoning reclassification of the Mortgaged Property or seek any variance under existing zoning ordinances applicable to the Mortgaged Property or use or permit the use of the Mortgaged Property in such a manner which would result in such use becoming a nonconforming use under applicable zoning ordinances or any other Legal Requirement. Except to the extent permitted by the Credit Documents and except for Permitted Encumbrances, Trustor will not impose any easement, restrictive covenant or

 

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encumbrance upon the Mortgaged Property, execute or file any subdivision plat or condominium declaration affecting the Mortgaged Property or consent to the annexation of the Mortgaged Property to any municipality, without the prior written consent of Beneficiary. Trustor will not do or suffer to be done any act whereby the value of any part of the Mortgaged Property may be lessened in any material respect. Trustor will preserve, protect, renew, extend and retain all material rights and privileges granted for or applicable to the Mortgaged Property. There shall be no extraction, removal or production of any sand and gravel from the surface or subsurface of the Land regardless of the depth thereof or the method of mining or extraction thereof without the prior written consent of Beneficiary. Trustor will cause all debts and liabilities of any character (including without limitation all debts and liabilities for labor, material and equipment and all debts and charges for utilities servicing the Mortgaged Property) incurred in the construction, maintenance, operation and development of the Mortgaged Property to be promptly paid.

(k) Status of Trustor; Suits and Claims; Credit Documents . If Trustor is a corporation, partnership, or other legal entity, Trustor is and will continue to be (i) duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of organization, (ii) authorized to do business in, and in good standing in, each state in which the Mortgaged Property is located, and (iii) possessed of all requisite power and authority to carry on its business and to own and operate the Mortgaged Property. Each Credit Document executed by Trustor has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Trustor, and the obligations thereunder and the performance thereof by Trustor in accordance with their terms are and will continue to be within Trustor’s power and authority (without the necessity of joinder or consent of any other person), are not and will not be in contravention of any Legal Requirement to which Trustor or the Mortgaged Property is subject, and do not and will not result in the creation of any encumbrance against any assets or properties of Trustor, or any other person liable, directly or indirectly, for any on the Obligations, except Permitted Encumbrances or as otherwise expressly contemplated by the Credit Documents. There is no suit, action claim, investigation, inquiry, proceeding or demand pending (or, to Trustor’s knowledge, threatened) which affects the Mortgaged Property (including, without limitation, any which challenges or otherwise pertains to Trustor’s title to the Mortgaged Properly) or the validity, enforceability or priority of any of the Credit Documents. There is no judicial or administrative action, suit or proceeding pending (or, to Trustor’s knowledge, threatened) against Trustor, or against any other person liable directly or indirectly for the Obligations, except as disclosed in writing to Beneficiary. The Credit Documents constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of Trustor (and of each guarantor, if any) enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws (hereinafter defined) and except as the availability of certain remedies may be limited by general principles of equity. Trustor will not cause or permit any change to be made in its name, identity, state of organization, taxpayer identification number or corporate or partnership structure, unless Trustor shall have notified Beneficiary of such change prior to the effective date of such change, and shall have first taken all action required by Beneficiary for the purpose of further perfecting or protecting the lien and security interest of Beneficiary in the Mortgaged Property. Trustor’s principal place of business and chief executive office, and the place where Trustor keeps its books and records concerning the Mortgaged Property has been and will continue to be (unless Trustor notifies Beneficiary of any change in writing prior to the date of such change) the address of Trustor set forth in Section 6.26 below.

(l) Environmental Matters . Trustor will defend, indemnify and hold Beneficiary and its directors, officers, agents and employees harmless from and against all claims, demands, causes of action, liabilities, losses, costs and expenses (including, without limitations, costs of suit, reasonable attorneys’ fees and fees of expert witnesses) arising from or in connection with (i) the presence in, on or under or the removal from the Mortgaged Property of any hazardous substances or solid wastes (as hereafter defined), or any releases or discharges of any hazardous substances or solid wastes on, under or from such property, (ii) any activity carried on or undertaken on or off the Mortgaged Property, whether prior to or during the term of this Deed of Trust, and whether by Trustor or any predecessor in title or any officers, employees, agents, contractors or subcontractors of Trustor or any predecessor in title, or any third persons at any time occupying or present on the Mortgaged Property, in connection with the handling, use, generation, manufacture, treatment, removal, storage, decontamination, clean-up, transport or disposal of any hazardous substances or solid wastes at any time located or present on or under the Mortgaged Property, or (iii) any breach of any environmental representation, warranty or covenant under the terms of this Deed of Trust. The foregoing indemnity and hold harmless shall not apply to any such event (i) occurring after foreclosure by Beneficiary or a deed in lieu of foreclosure in favor of Beneficiary and (ii) caused by Beneficiary or any owner subsequent to Trustor. The foregoing indemnity shall further apply to any residual contaminations on or under the Mortgaged Property, or affecting any natural resources, and to any contamination of the Mortgaged Property or natural resources arising in connection with the generation, use, handling, storage, transport or disposal of any such hazardous substances or solid wastes, and irrespective of whether any of such activities were or will be undertaken

 

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in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, codes and ordinances. The terms “ hazardous substance ” and “ release ” as used in this Deed of Trust shall have the meanings specified in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (as amended, “ CERCLA ”), and the terms “ solid waste ” and “ disposal ” (or “ disposed ”) shall have the meanings specified in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended by the Used Oil Recycling Act of 1980, the Solid Waste Disposal Act Amendments of 1980, and the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 (as amended, “ RCRA ”); and shall also include those substances regulated under any statutes or regulations adopted or promulgated by the State of Nebraska or the State of Tennessee or any agency or political subdivision thereof, including any statutes, ordinances, rules or regulations regulating or pertaining to hazardous substances or the protection of the environment; provided, in the event that the laws of the State of Nebraska or the State of Tennessee establish a meaning for “hazardous substance”, “release”, “solid waste” or “disposal” which is broader than that specified in either CERCLA or RCRA, such broader meaning shall apply. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreements of Trustor hereunder, the provisions of this Section shall survive the final payment of all Obligations and the termination of this Deed of Trust and shall continue thereafter in full force and effect.

(m) Further Assurances . Trustor will, promptly on request of Beneficiary, (i) correct any defect, error or omission which may be discovered in the contents, execution or acknowledgment of this Deed of Trust or any other Credit Document; (ii) execute, acknowledge, deliver, procure and record and/or file such further documents (including, without limitation, further mortgages, security agreements, financing statements, continuation statements, and assignments of rents or leases) and do such further acts as may be necessary, desirable or proper to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Deed of Trust and the other Credit Documents, to more fully identify and subject to the liens and security interests hereof in any property intended to be covered hereby (including specifically, but without limitation, any renewals, additions, substitutions, replacements, or appurtenances to the Mortgaged Property) or as deemed advisable by Beneficiary to protect the lien or the security interest hereunder against the rights or interests of third persons; and (iii) provide such certificates, documents, reports, information, affidavits and other instruments and do such further acts as may be necessary, desirable or proper in the reasonable determination of Beneficiary to enable Beneficiary to comply with the requirements or requests of any agency having jurisdiction over Beneficiary or any examiners of such agencies with respect to the Obligations, Trustor or the Mortgaged Property. Trustor shall pay all costs connected with any of the foregoing, which shall be an Obligation owing by Trustor (which Trustor hereby promises to pay on demand of Beneficiary) to Beneficiary pursuant to this Deed of Trust.

(n) Fees and Expenses . Without limitation of any other provision of this Deed of Trust or of any other Credit Document and to the extent not otherwise prohibited by applicable law, Trustor will pay, and will reimburse to Beneficiary on demand to the extent paid by Beneficiary and reasonably required by Beneficiary: (i) all reasonable appraisal fees, filing and recording fees, taxes, brokerage fees and commissions, abstract fees, title search or examination fees, title policy and endorsement premiums and fees, Uniform Commercial Code search fees, escrow fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees, architect fees, construction consultant fees, environmental inspection fees, survey fees, and all other out-of-pocket costs and expenses of every character incurred by Trustor or Beneficiary in connection with the preparation of the Credit Documents, the evaluation, closing and funding of the Loan, and any and all amendments and supplements to this Deed of Trust or any other Credit Documents or any approval, consent, waiver, release or other matter requested or required hereunder or thereunder, or otherwise attributable or chargeable to Trustor as owner of the Mortgaged Property; and (ii) all reasonable costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, incurred or expended in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy, or the enforcement of any obligation of Trustor hereunder or under any other Credit Document.

(o) Books and Records, Inspection . Trustor will keep, and will allow Beneficiary at reasonable times to inspect, complete and accurate books and records with regard to the Mortgaged Property. All books and records relating to the Mortgaged Property shall at all times be located at Trustor’s address set forth in Section 6.26 or such other location agreeable to Beneficiary. Trustor shall be permitted to inspect the Mortgaged Property, from time to time, upon reasonable prior notice to Beneficiary.

(p) Taxes on this Deed of Trust . In the event of the enactment after this date of any law of any governmental entity applicable to Beneficiary, any promissory note given in connection therewith, the Mortgaged Property or this Deed of Trust deducting from the value of property for the purpose of taxation any lien or security interest thereon, or imposing upon Beneficiary the payment of the whole or any part of the taxes or assessments or charges or liens herein required to be paid by Trustor, or changing in any way the laws relating to the taxation of mortgages or security agreements or debts secured by mortgages or security agreements or the interest of the

 

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Beneficiary or secured party in the property covered thereby, or the manner of collection of such taxes, so as to affect this Deed of Trust, the Obligations or Beneficiary, then, and in any such event, Trustor, upon demand by Beneficiary, shall pay such taxes, assessments, charges or liens, or reimburse Beneficiary therefor, provided, however, that if in the opinion of counsel for Beneficiary (i) it might be unlawful to require Trustor to make such payment or (ii) the making of such payment might result in the imposition of interest beyond the maximum amount permitted by law, then and in such event, Beneficiary may elect, by notice in writing given to Trustor, to declare all of the Obligations to be and become due and payable sixty (60) days from the giving of such notice.

(q) Statement Concerning this Deed of Trust . Trustor shall at any time and from time to time furnish within seven (7) business days of request by Beneficiary a written statement in such form as may be required by Beneficiary stating that (i) this Deed of Trust and the other Credit Documents are valid and binding obligations of Trustor, enforceable against Trustor in accordance with their terms; (ii) the unpaid principal balance of the Obligations; (iii) the date to which interest on the Obligations is paid; (iv) that this Deed of Trust and the other Credit Documents have not been released, subordinated or modified; and (v) that there are no offsets or defenses against the enforcement of this Deed of Trust or any other Credit Document. If any of the foregoing statements are untrue, Trustor shall, alternatively, specify the reasons therefor.

(r) Authorization to file financing statements . Beneficiary authorizes Trustor to file such financing statements as Trustor deems necessary to perfect its security interest in the Collateral or to otherwise prevent its security interest therein from becoming unperfected and to amend or continue such financing statements. Beneficiary agrees to pay the costs and expenses incurred by Beneficiary in making such filings.

Section 2.2 Performance by Beneficiary on Trustor’s Behalf . Trustor agrees that, if Trustor fails to perform any act or to take any action which under any Credit Document Trustor is required to perform or take, or to pay any money which under any Credit Document Trustor is required to pay, and whether or not the failure then constitutes a default hereunder or thereunder, and whether or not there has occurred any default or defaults hereunder or the Obligations has been accelerated, Beneficiary, in Trustor’s name or its own name, may, but shall not be obligated to, perform or cause to be performed such act or take such action or pay such money, and any expenses so incurred by Beneficiary and any money so paid by Beneficiary shall be an Obligation owing by Trustor to Beneficiary (which obligation Trustor hereby promises to pay on demand of Beneficiary), and Beneficiary, upon making such payment, shall be subrogated to all of the rights of the person, entity or body politic receiving such payment. Beneficiary and its designees shall have the right, upon reasonable prior written notice to Trustor (no notice being required in the event of an emergency), to enter upon the Mortgaged Property at any time and from time to time for any such purposes. No such payment or performance by Beneficiary shall waive or cure any default or waive any right, remedy or recourse of Beneficiary. Any such payment may be made by Beneficiary in reliance on any statement, invoice or claim without inquiry into the validity or accuracy thereof. Each amount due and owing by Trustor to Beneficiary pursuant to this Deed of Trust shall bear interest, from the date such amount becomes due until paid, at the Default Rate, which interest shall be payable to Beneficiary on demand; and an such amounts, together with such interest thereon, shall automatically and without notice be a part of the Obligations. The amount and nature of any expense by Beneficiary hereunder and the time which paid shall be fully established by the certificate of Beneficiary or any of Beneficiary’s officers or agents.

Section 2.3 Absence of Obligations of Beneficiary with Respect to Mortgaged Property . Notwithstanding anything in this Deed of Trust to the contrary, including, without limitation, the definition of “Mortgaged Property” and/or the provisions of Article 3 hereof, (i) to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Mortgaged Property is composed of Trustor’s rights, title and interests therein but not Trustor’s obligations, duties or liabilities pertaining thereto, (ii) Beneficiary neither assumes nor shall have any obligations, duties or liabilities in connection with any portion of the items described in the definition of “Mortgaged Property” herein, either prior to or after obtaining title to such Mortgaged Property, whether by foreclosure sale, the granting of deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise, and (iii) Beneficiary may, at any time prior to or after the acquisition of title to any portion of the Mortgaged Property as above described, advise any party in writing as to the extent of Beneficiary’s interest therein and/or expressly disaffirm in writing any rights, interests, obligations, duties and/or liabilities with respect to such Mortgaged Property or matters related thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that Beneficiary shall have no obligations, duties or liabilities prior to or after acquisition of title to any portion of the Mortgaged Property, as lessee under any lease or purchaser or seller under any contract or option unless Beneficiary elects otherwise by written notification.

 

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ARTICLE 3 - ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES AND RENTS

Section 3.1 Assignment . As additional security for the Obligations, Trustor hereby absolutely, presently and unconditionally grants, assigns, transfers and pledges to Beneficiary all Rents (hereinafter defined) and all of Trustor’s rights in and under all Leases (hereinafter defined). Trustor shall have a revocable license (the “ License ”) to collect the Rents, subject to the provisions of Section 3.2 herein, until an event of default occurs under the Loan. Upon the occurrence of a default hereunder, Beneficiary shall have the right, power and privilege (but shall be under no duty) to terminate the License, demand possession of the Rents, which demand shall to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law be sufficient action by Beneficiary to entitle Beneficiary to immediate and direct payment of the Rents (including delivery to Beneficiary of Rents collected for the period in which the demand occurs and for any subsequent period), for application as provided in this Deed of Trust, all without the necessity of any further action by Beneficiary, including, without limitation, any action to foreclose the lien of this Deed of Trust or to obtain possession of the Land, Improvements or any other portion of the Mortgaged Property. Trustor hereby authorizes and directs the tenants under the Leases to pay Rents to Beneficiary upon written demand by Beneficiary, without further consent of Trustor, without any obligation to determine whether a default has in fact occurred and regardless of whether Beneficiary has taken possession of any portion of the Mortgaged Property, and the tenants may rely upon any written statement delivered by Beneficiary to the tenants. Any such payment to Beneficiary shall constitute payment to Trustor under the Leases, and Trustor hereby appoints Beneficiary as Trustor’s lawful attorney-in-fact for giving, and Beneficiary is hereby empowered to give, acquittance to any tenants for such payments to Beneficiary after a default. As used herein: (i) “ Lease ” means each existing or future lease, sublease (to the extent of Trustor’s rights thereunder) or other agreement under the terms of which any person has or acquires any right to occupy or use the Mortgaged Property, or any part thereof, or interest therein, and each existing or future guaranty of payment or performance thereunder, and all extensions, renewals, modifications and replacements of each such lease, sublease, agreement or guaranty; and (ii) “ Rents” means all of the rents, revenue, income, profits and proceeds derived and to be derived from the Mortgaged Property or arising from the use of enjoyment of any portion thereof or from any Lease, including but not limited to liquidated damages following default under any such Lease, all proceeds payable under any policy of insurance covering loss of rents resulting from untenantability caused by damage to any part of the Mortgaged Property, all of Trustor’s rights to recover monetary amounts from any tenant in bankruptcy including, without limitation, rights of recovery for use and occupancy and damage claims arising out of Lease defaults, including, rejections, under any applicable Debtor Relief Law (as hereinafter defined), together with any sums of money that may now or at any time hereafter be or become due and payable to Trustor by virtue of any and all royalties, overriding royalties, bonuses, delay rentals and any other amount of any kind or character arising under any and all present and all future oil, gas, mineral and mining leases covering the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof, and all proceeds and other amounts paid or owing to Trustor under or pursuant to any and all contracts all bonds relating to the construction or renovation of the Mortgaged Property.

Section 3.2 Covenants, Representations and Warranties Concerning Leases and Rents . Trustor covenants, represents and warrants that: (i) Trustor has good title to, and is the owner of the entire lessor’s interest in, the Leases and Rents (if any) hereby assigned and has the authority to assign them; (ii) all Leases (if any) are valid and enforceable, and in full force and effect, and are unmodified except as stated therein; (iii) unless otherwise stated in a Permitted Encumbrance, no Rents or Leases have been or will be assigned, mortgaged, pledged or otherwise encumbered and no other person has or will acquire any right, title or interest in such Rents or Leases; (iv) no Rents have been waived, released, discounted, set off or compromised in any material respect; (v) except as stated in the Leases, Trustor has not received any material amount of funds or deposits from any tenant for which credit has not already been made on account of accrued Rents; (vi) Trustor shall perform all of its obligations under the Leases and enforce the tenants’ obligations under the Leases to the extent enforcement is prudent under the circumstances; (vii) Trustor will not without the prior written consent of Beneficiary, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, enter into any Lease after the date hereof, or, in any material respect, waive, release, discount, set off, compromise, reduce or defer any Rent, receive or collect Rents more than one (1) year in advance, grant any rent-free period to any tenant, reduce any Lease term or waive, release or otherwise modify any other material obligation under any Lease, renew or extend any Lease except in accordance with a right of the tenant thereto in such Lease, approve or consent to an assignment of a Lease or a subletting of any part of the premises covered by a Lease, or settle or compromise any claim against a tenant under a Lease in bankruptcy or otherwise (if Beneficiary so requests, Trustor shall cause the tenant under any Lease consented to by Beneficiary to enter into a subordination agreement with Beneficiary satisfactory in the sole discretion of Beneficiary); (viii) promptly upon request by Beneficiary, Trustor shall deliver to Beneficiary executed originals of all Leases and copies of all records relating thereto; (ix) there shall be no extinguishment by confusion of the leasehold estates,

 

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created by the Leases, with ownership of the Land without the prior written consent of Beneficiary; and (x) Beneficiary may at any time and from time to time by specific written instrument intended for the purpose, unilaterally subordinate the lien of this Deed of Trust to any Lease, without joinder or consent of, or notice to, Trustor, any tenant or any other person, and notice is hereby given to each tenant under a Lease of such right to subordinate. No such subordination shall constitute a subordination to any lien or other encumbrance, whenever arising, or improve the right of any junior lienholder; and nothing herein shall be construed as subordinating this Deed of Trust to any Lease.

Section 3.3 No Liability of Beneficiary . Beneficiary’s acceptance of this assignment shall not be deemed to constitute Beneficiary a “mortgagee in possession,” nor obligate Beneficiary to appear in or defend any proceeding relating to any Lease or to the Mortgaged Property, or to take any action hereunder, expend any money, incur any expenses, or perform any obligation or liability under any Lease, or assume any obligation for any deposit delivered to Trustor by any tenant and not as such delivered to and accepted by Beneficiary. Beneficiary shall not be liable for any injury or damage to person or property in or about the Mortgaged Property, or for Beneficiary’s failure to collect or to exercise diligence in collecting Rents, but shall be accountable only for Rents that it shall actually receive. Neither the assignment of Leases and Rents nor enforcement of Beneficiary’s rights regarding Leases and Rents (including collection of Rents) nor possession of the Mortgaged Property by Beneficiary or by a keeper appointed at Beneficiary’s request nor Beneficiary’s consent to or approval of any Lease (nor all of the same), shall render Beneficiary liable on any obligation under or with respect to any Lease or constitute affirmation of, or any subordination to, any Lease, occupancy, use or option. If Beneficiary seeks or obtains any judicial relief regarding Rents or Leases, the same shall in no way prevent the concurrent or subsequent employment of any other appropriate rights or remedies nor shall same constitute an election of judicial relief for any foreclosure or any other purposes. Beneficiary neither has nor assumes any obligations as lessor or landlord with respect to any Lease. The rights of Beneficiary under this Article 3 shall be cumulative of all other rights of Beneficiary under the Credit Documents or otherwise.

ARTICLE 4 - DEFAULT

Section 4.1 Events of Default . The occurrence of anyone of the following shall be a default under this Deed of Trust (each a “ default ”):

(a) Failure to Pay Obligations . Any of the Obligations is not timely paid when due, on demand or otherwise.

(b) Nonperformance of Covenants . Any covenant, agreement or condition herein or in any other Credit Document (other than covenants otherwise addressed in another paragraph of this Section, such as covenants to pay the Obligations) is not fully and timely performed, observed or kept, and any such failure under this Deed of Trust is not cured within forty five (45) days after written notice thereof and any such failure under any other Credit Document is not cured within the applicable grace period (if any) provided for herein or in such other Credit Document

(c) Representations . Any statement, representation or warranty in any of the Credit Documents, or in any financial statement or any other writing heretofore or hereafter delivered to Beneficiary in connection with the Obligations is false, misleading or erroneous in any material respect on the date hereof or on the date as of which such statement, representation or warranty is made, and such statement, representation or warranty is not made true and correct (as of the time such corrective action is taken) within the applicable grace period (if any) provided for in such Credit Document.

(d) Bankruptcy or Insolvency . The owner of the Mortgaged Property or any person liable, directly or indirectly, for any of the Obligations (or any guarantor, general partner or joint venturer of such owner or other person):

(1) (i) Executes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or takes any action in furtherance thereof; (ii) admits in writing its inability to pay, or fails to pay, its debts generally as they become due; (iii) as a debtor, files a petition, case, proceeding or other action pursuant to, or voluntarily seeks the benefit or benefits of: Title 11 of the United States Code as now or hereafter in effect or any other law, domestic or foreign, as now or hereafter in effect relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, receivership, reorganization, arrangement, composition, extension or adjustment of debts, or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors (Title 11 of the United States Code and such other laws being herein called “ Debtor Relief Laws ”), or takes any action in furtherance thereof; or (iv) seeks the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator of the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof or of any significant portion) of its other property; or

 

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(2) Suffers the filing of a petition, case, proceeding or other action against it as a debtor under any Debtor Relief Law or seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator of the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof or of any significant portion of its other property, and (i) admits, acquiesces in or fails to contest diligently the material allegations thereof, or (ii) the petition, case, proceeding or other action results in entry of any order for relief or order granting relief sought against it, or (iii) in a proceeding under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, the case is converted from one chapter to another, or

(3) Conceals, removes, or permits to be concealed or removed, any part of its property, with intent to hinder, delay or defraud its creditors or any of them, or makes or suffers a transfer of any of its property which causes or increases its insolvency or which may be fraudulent under any bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance or similar law; or makes any transfer of its property to or for the benefit or a creditor at a time when other creditors similarly situated have not been paid; or suffers or permits, while insolvent, any creditor to obtain a lien upon any of its property through legal proceedings.

(e) Transfer of the Mortgaged Property . Any sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or transfer of all or any part of the Mortgaged Property or any interest therein, voluntarily or involuntarily, whether by operation of law or otherwise, without Beneficiary’s prior written consent, except: (i) sales or transfers items of the Accessories which have become obsolete or worn beyond practical use and which have been replaced by adequate substitutes, owned by Trustor, having a value equal to or greater than the replaced items when new; (ii) the grant, in the ordinary course of business, of a leasehold interest in a part of the Improvements to a tenant for occupancy, not in excess of one year and not containing a right or option to purchase and not in contravention of any provision of this Deed of Trust or of any other Credit Document; and (iii) Permitted Encumbrances. Beneficiary may, in its sole discretion, waive a default under this paragraph, but it shall have no obligation to do so, and any waiver may be conditioned upon such one or more of the following (if any) which Beneficiary may require: the grantee’s integrity, reputation, character, creditworthiness and management ability being satisfactory to Beneficiary in its sole judgment and grantee executing, prior to such sale or transfer, a written assumption agreement containing such terms as Beneficiary may require, a principal pay down on the Obligations (or any one or more thereof), an increase in the rate of interest payable upon the Obligations, a transfer fee, a modification of the term of the Obligations (or any one or more thereof), and any other modification of the Credit Documents which Beneficiary may require.

(f) Transfer of Ownership of Trustor . Unless previously approved in writing by Beneficiary in its sole discretion, the sale, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or transfer, voluntarily or involuntarily, whether by operation of law or otherwise, of any interest in Trustor except in strict accordance with the terms and provisions of the Credit Documents.

(g) Grant of Easement, Etc . Without the prior written consent of Beneficiary, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, Trustor grants any easement (other than easements which are for utilities serving only the Premises and which do not, singly or in the aggregate, diminish the value of the Premises) or dedication, files any plat, condominium declaration, or restriction, or otherwise encumbers the Mortgaged Property, or seeks or permits any zoning reclassification or variance, unless such action is expressly permitted by the Credit Documents, is a Permitted Encumbrance or does not affect the Mortgaged Property.

(h) Abandonment . The owner of the Mortgaged Property abandons any part of the Mortgaged Property.

(i) Default Under Other Lien . A default or event of default occurs and has not been cured within the applicable grace period (if any) under any lien, security interest or assignment covering the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof (whether or not Beneficiary has consented, and without implying Beneficiary’s consent, to any such lien, security interest or assignment not created hereunder), or the holder of any such lien, security interest or assignment declares a default or institutes foreclosure or other proceedings for the enforcement of its remedies thereunder.

(j) Eminent Domain . (i) Any governmental authority shall require, or commence any proceeding for, the demolition of any building or structure comprising a material part of the Premises, or (ii) there is commenced any proceeding to condemn or otherwise take pursuant to the power of eminent domain, or a contract for sale or a conveyance in lieu of such a taking is executed which provides for the transfer of, a material portion of the Premises, including but not limited to the taking (or transfer in lieu thereof) of any portion which would result in the blockage or substantial impairment of access or utility service to the Improvements or which would cause the Premises to fail to comply with any Legal Requirement.

 

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(k) Destruction . The Mortgaged Property is so demolished, destroyed or damaged that, in the reasonable opinion of Beneficiary, it cannot be restored or rebuilt (1) with available funds, (2) to a profitable condition, (3) within a reasonable period of time, and (4) in accordance with Beneficiary’s requirements for restoration.

(l) Liquidation, Etc . The liquidation, termination, dissolution, merger, consolidation or failure to maintain good standing in the State of Nebraska (or in the State of its incorporation or organization) of the owner of the Mortgaged Property or any person obligated to pay any part of the Obligations, except for any merger, dissolution or consolidation of a wholly-owned subsidiary pursuant to which Trustor acquires all of the assets of such subsidiary.

(m) Enforceability; Priority . Any Credit Document shall for any reason without Beneficiary’s specific written consent cease to be in full force and effect, or shall be declared null and void or unenforceable in whole or in part, or the validity or enforceability thereof, in whole or in part, shall be challenged or denied by any party thereto other than Beneficiary; or the liens, mortgages or security interests of Beneficiary in any of the Mortgaged Property become unenforceable in whole or in part, or cease to be of the priority herein required, or the validity or enforceability thereof, in whole or in part, shall be challenged or denied by Trustor or any person obligated to pay any part of the Obligations.

(n) Other Credit Documents . A default or event of default occurs under the Loan Agreement or any Credit Document other than this Deed of Trust, and the same is not remedied within the applicable period of grace (if any) provided in such Credit Document.

The enumeration of specific events of default shall not impair the demand nature of any of the Obligations which by its terms or otherwise is payable on demand.

ARTICLE 5 - REMEDIES

Section 5.1 Certain Remedies . If a default shall occur, Beneficiary may (but shall have no obligation to) exercise any one or more of the following remedies:

(a) Acceleration . With respect to any Obligations other than any Obligation which is payable on demand, Beneficiary may at any time and from time to time declare any or all of such Obligations immediately due and payable and such Obligations shall thereupon be immediately due and payable, with presentment, demand, protest, notice or protest, notice of acceleration or of intention to accelerate or any other notice or declaration of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Trustor. Without limitation of the foregoing, upon the occurrence of a default described in clauses (i), (iii) or (iv) of paragraph (d)(1) or paragraph (d)(2) of Section 4.1 hereof, all Obligations shall thereupon be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest, notice of protest, declaration or notice of acceleration or intention to accelerate, or any other notice, declaration or act of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Trustor.

(b) Enforcement of Assignment of Rents . From the date of default through the expiration of the last redemption period following the foreclosure of this Deed of Trust, Beneficiary may: (1) terminate the License and collect and/or sue for the Rents in Beneficiary’s own name, give receipts and releases therefor, and after deducting all expenses of collection, including attorneys’ fees and expenses, apply the net proceeds thereof to the Obligations in such manner and order as Beneficiary may elect and/or to the operation and management of the Mortgaged Property, including the payment of management, brokerage and attorneys’ fees and expenses; and (2) require Trustor to transfer all security deposits and records thereof to Beneficiary together with original counterparts of the Leases.

(c) Collection . Beneficiary may collect the outstanding Obligations with or without resorting to judicial process.

(d) Assembly of Collateral . Beneficiary may require Trustor to deliver and make available to Beneficiary any and all Collateral at a place reasonably convenient to Trustor and Beneficiary.

(e) Possession . Beneficiary may take immediate possession, management and control of the Mortgaged Property without seeking the appointment of a receiver.

 

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(f) Receiver . Beneficiary may apply for and obtain, without notice and upon ex parte application, the appointment of a receiver for the Mortgaged Property without regard to Trustor’s financial condition or solvency, the adequacy of the Mortgaged Property to secure the payment or performance of the Obligations, or the existence of any waste to the Mortgaged Property.

(g) Foreclosure . Beneficiary may foreclose this Deed of Trust.

(h) Power of Sale . To the extent and in the manner permitted by the laws of the State of Tennessee, Beneficiary may require the Trustee, and the Trustee is hereby authorized and empowered to do any one or more of the following: (i) Enter upon and take possession of the Land without the appointment of a receiver, or an application therefor, employ a managing agent of the Land and operate or lease the same, either in its own name, or in the name of the Trustor, and receive the Rents and apply the same, after payment of all necessary charges and expenses, on account of the indebtedness secured hereby; and (ii) to sell all or part of the Land at public auction, to the highest bidder for cash, free from the equity of redemption, whether statutory or common law, the rights of homestead, dower, marital share, and all other rights and exemptions of every kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, after giving notice of the time and place of such sale and of the Land to be sold, by publication of such notice at least three (3) different times in some newspaper published in the county and state where the sale is to be made (which shall be a county in which some part of the Land is situated), the first of which publications shall be at least twenty-one (21) days previous to said sale, and on the day and at the front door of the County Court House in the county and state where the sale is to be made, being the place fixed in said notice, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., which notice may be given before or after entry by the Trustee or as otherwise required by applicable law. The Trustor shall be provided with notice of such sale before the first date of publication as required by T.C.A. Section 35-5-101(e). The Trustee shall execute a conveyance to the purchaser in fee simple and deliver possession to the purchaser, which the Trustor warrants shall be given without obstruction, hindrance or delay. The Trustee may sell all or any portion of the Land, together or in lots or parcels, and may execute and deliver to the purchaser or purchasers of such Land a conveyance in fee simple. The Trustee making such sale shall receive the proceeds thereof and shall apply the same as set forth in Section 5.2 of this Deed of Trust. The sale or sales by the Trustee of less than the whole of the Land shall be without regard to any right of Trustor or any other person to the marshalling of assets and shall not exhaust the power of sale herein granted, and the Trustee is specifically empowered to make successive sale or sales under such power until the whole of the Land shall be sold; and if the proceeds of such sale or sales of less than the whole of the Land shall be less than the aggregate of the Obligations secured hereby and the expenses thereof, this Deed of Trust and the lien, security interest and assignment hereof shall remain in full force and effect as to the unsold portion of the Land; provided, however, that Trustor shall never have any right to require the sale or sales of less than the whole of the Land, but the Beneficiary shall have the right at its sole election, to require the Trustee to sell less than the whole of the Land. The Beneficiary may bid and become the purchaser of all or any part of the Land at any such sale, and the amount of Beneficiary’s successful bid may be credited on the Obligations secured hereby. Any and all such sales and deeds shall be a perpetual bar, both in law and equity (including the statutory right of redemption), against Trustor and its heirs, successors and assigns, and all other persons claiming the Land or any part thereof, by, from, through or under Trustor. Immediately upon the filing of any foreclosure proceeding under this Deed of Trust, there shall be and become due and owing by Trustor all expenses incident to any foreclosure proceedings under this Deed of Trust. The Beneficiary or the Trustee may proceed by a suit or suits in equity or at law, whether for the specific performance of any covenant or agreement herein contained or in aid of the execution of any power herein granted, or for any foreclosure hereunder or for the sale of the Land or any personal property under the judgment or decree of any court or courts of competent jurisdiction.

(i) Set-off . Beneficiary may set-off Trustor’s Obligations against any amounts due by Beneficiary to Trustor including, but not limited to, monies, instruments and deposit accounts maintained with Beneficiary.

(j) Collateral . Beneficiary may exercise all rights against the Collateral allowed a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law, including without limitation to sell the Collateral or any part thereof at public or private sale, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery, at such price or prices as Beneficiary may deem satisfactory, and in connection with any such sale, Trustor hereby agrees that ten (10) days’ prior written notice of the time and place of any such sale or other intended disposition of any of the Collateral constitutes “reasonable notification” within the meaning of applicable provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, except that shorter or no notice shall be reasonable as to any Collateral which is perishable or threatens to decline speedily in value or is of a type customarily sold on a recognized market. Beneficiary may proceed under this Deed of Trust solely as to the real property interests, or solely as to the personal property interests, or as to both the real and personal property interests in accordance with its rights and remedies in respect of the real property interests.

 

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(k) Lawsuits . Beneficiary may institute suits for collection of the Obligations, the specific performance of any covenant or agreement herein contained or in aid of the execution of any power herein granted. Beneficiary may commence an action against Trustor under Nebraska law for the recovery of any balance due under the Credit Documents which was not retired as a result of the exercise of any foreclosure proceedings or the power of sale granted herein.

(l) Termination of Commitment to Lend . Beneficiary may terminate any commitment or obligation to lend or disburse funds under any Credit Document.

(m) Other Rights and Remedies . Beneficiary may exercise any and all other rights and remedies which Beneficiary may have under the Credit Documents, under applicable law or otherwise.

The enumeration of the availability of specific remedies in the event of default shall not impair the demand nature of any of the Obligations which by its terms or otherwise is payable on demand. Beneficiary’s rights are cumulative and may be exercised together, separately and in any order. In the event that Beneficiary institutes an action seeking the recovery of any of the Mortgaged Property by way of a pre-judgment remedy in an action against Trustor, Trustor waives the posting of any bond which might otherwise be required.

Section 5.2 Proceeds of Foreclosure . Subject to applicable law, the proceeds of any sale held at the instance of the Beneficiary in foreclosure of the liens and security interests evidenced hereby shall be applied in such order or priority as the Beneficiary may elect, in its sole discretion, which may include the application thereof in accordance with the following: FIRST, to the payment of all necessary costs and expenses incident to such foreclosure sale, including but not limited to all reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses, all court costs, commissions and charges of every character, and to the payment of the other Obligations, including specifically without limitation the principal, accrued interest, prepayment premium and attorneys’ fees due and unpaid on the Obligations and the amounts due and unpaid and owed to Beneficiary under this Deed of Trust, the order and manner of application to the terms in this clause FIRST to be in Beneficiary’s sole discretion; and SECOND, the remainder, if any there shall be, shall be paid to Trustor, or to Trustor’s heirs, representatives, successors or assigns, or such other persons (including the holder of any inferior lien) as may be entitled thereto by law; provided, however, that if Beneficiary is uncertain which person or persons are so entitled, Beneficiary may commence appropriate proceedings with respect to such remainder in any court of competent jurisdiction, and the amount of any attorneys’ fees, court costs and expenses incurred in such action shall be a part of the Obligations and shall be reimbursable (without limitation) from such remainder.

Section 5.3 Remedies Cumulative . All rights and remedies provided for herein and in any other Credit Document are cumulative of each other and of any and all other rights and remedies available under the law, and Beneficiary shall, in addition to the rights and remedies provided herein or in any other Credit Document, be entitled to avail itself of all such other rights and remedies as may now or hereafter exist under applicable law for the collection of the Obligations and the enforcement of the covenants herein and the foreclosure of the liens and security interest evidenced hereby, and the resort to any right or remedy provided for hereunder or under any such other Credit Document or provided under applicable law shall not prevent the concurrent or subsequent employment of any other appropriate right or rights or remedy or remedies.

Section 5.4 Beneficiary’s Discretion as to Security . Beneficiary may resort to any security given by this Deed of Trust or to any other security now existing or hereafter given to secure the payment of the Obligations, in whole or in part, and in such portions and in such order as may seem best to Beneficiary in its sole and uncontrolled discretion, and any such action shall not in anyway be considered as a waiver of any rights, benefits, liens or security interest evidenced by this Deed of Trust.

Section 5.5 Waiver of Homestead and Other Exemptions . Trustor hereby waives all homestead, dower or curtesy interest, redemption rights and appraisement rights or other exemptions to which Trustor would otherwise be entitled under any applicable law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Trustor hereby expressly waives the equity of redemption and the statutory right of redemption pursuant to T.C.A. Section 66-8-101.

 

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Section 5.6 Reimbursement of Amounts Expended by Beneficiary . Upon demand, Trustor shall immediately reimburse Beneficiary for all amounts (including attorney fees and legal expenses) expended by Beneficiary in the performance of any action required to be taken by Trustor or the exercise of any right or remedy of Beneficiary under this Deed of Trust, together with interest thereon at the Default Rate. These sums shall be included in the definition of Obligations herein and shall be secured by the interest granted herein.

ARTICLE 6 - MISCELLANEOUS

Section 6.1 Scope of Deed of Trust . This Deed of Trust is a mortgage of real property, a security agreement, and an absolute assignment of leases and rents, and also covers proceeds and fixtures.

Section 6.2 Effective as a Financing Statement, Fixture Filing . This Deed of Trust shall be effective as a financing statement. The mailing addresses of Trustor and Beneficiary are as set forth in Section 6.26 of this Deed of Trust. A carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Deed of Trust or of any financing statement relating to this Deed of Trust shall be sufficient as a financing statement.

This instrument shall also be deemed to be a Fixture Filing within the meaning of the UCC, and for such purpose, the following information is given:

 

(a)     Name and address of Debtor:

   See Section 6.26

(b)     Type of Organization:

   Corporation/Limited Liability Company

(c)     Jurisdiction of Organization:

   Iowa/Delaware

(d)     Name and address of Secured Party:

   See Section 6.26

(e)     Description of collateral:

   See granting clause above

(f)      Description of real estate to which the Collateral is attached or upon which it is or will be located:

   See Exhibit “B” attached hereto.

Some of the above-described collateral is or is to become fixtures upon the above-described real estate, and this Fixture Filing is to be filed for record in the public real estate records.

Section 6.3 Notice to Account Debtors . In addition to the rights granted elsewhere in this Deed of Trust, Beneficiary may at any time notify the account debtors or obligors of any accounts, chattel paper, negotiable instruments or other evidences of indebtedness included in the Collateral to pay Beneficiary directly.

Section 6.4 Waiver by Beneficiary . Beneficiary may at any time and from time to time by a specific writing intended for the purpose: (a)  waive compliance by Trustor with any covenant herein made by Trustor to the extent and in the manner specified in such writing; (b) consent to Trustor’s doing any act which hereunder Trustor is prohibited from doing, or to Trustor’s failing to do any act which hereunder Trustor is required to do, to the extent and in the manner specified in such writing; (c)  release any part of the Mortgaged Property or any interest therein from the lien and security interest of this Deed of Trust; or (d)  release any party liable, either directly or indirectly, for the Obligations or for any covenant herein or in any other Credit Document, without impairing or releasing the liability of any other party. No such act shall in any way affect the rights or powers of Beneficiary hereunder except to the extent specifically agreed to by Beneficiary in such writing.

Section 6.5 No Impairment of Security . The lien, security interest and other security rights of Beneficiary hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall not be impaired by any indulgence, moratorium or release granted by Beneficiary including, but not limited to, any renewal, extension or modification which Beneficiary may grant with respect to any Obligations, or any surrender, compromise, release, renewal, extension, exchange or substitution which Beneficiary may grant in respect of the Mortgaged Property, or any part thereof or any interest therein, or any release or indulgence granted to any endorser, guarantor or surety of any Obligations. The taking of additional security by Beneficiary shall not release or impair the lien, security interest or other security lights of Beneficiary hereunder or affect the liability of Trustor or of any endorser, guarantor or surety, or improve the right of any junior lienholder in the Mortgaged Property (without implying hereby Beneficiary’s Consent to any junior lien),

Section 6.6 Acts Not Constituting Waiver by Beneficiary . Beneficiary may waive any default without waiving any other prior or subsequent default. Beneficiary may remedy any default without waiving the default remedied. Neither failure by Beneficiary to exercise, nor delay by Beneficiary in exercising, nor discontinuance of the exercise of any right, power or remedy (including but not limited to the right to accelerate the

 

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maturity of the Obligations or any part thereof) upon or after any default shall be construed as a waiver of such default or as a waiver of the right to exercise any such right, power or remedy at a later date. No single or partial exercise by Beneficiary of any right, power or remedy hereunder shall exhaust the same or shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof, and every such right, power or remedy hereunder may be exercised at any time and from time to time. No modification or waiver of any provision hereof nor consent to any departure by Trustor therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Beneficiary and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance, for the purpose for which given and to the extent therein specified. No notice to nor demand on Trustor in any case shall of itself entitle Trustor to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. Remittances in payment of any part of the Obligations other than in the required amount in immediately available U.S. funds shall not, regardless of any receipt or credit issued therefor, constitute payment until the required amount is actually received by Beneficiary in immediately available U.S. funds and shall be made and accepted subject to the condition that any check or draft may be handled for collection in accordance with the practice of Beneficiary. Acceptance by Beneficiary of any payment in an amount less than the amount then due on any Obligation shall be deemed an acceptance on account only and shall not in any way excuse the existence of a default hereunder.

Section 6.7 Trustor’s Successors . If the ownership of the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof becomes vested in a person other than Trustor, Beneficiary may, without notice to Trustor, deal with such successor or successors in interest with reference to this Deed of Trust and to the Obligations in the same manner as with Trustor, without in any way vitiating or discharging Trustor’s liability hereunder or for the payment or performance of the Obligations. No transfer of the Mortgaged Property, except to Beneficiary when expressly agreed to, no forbearance on the part of Beneficiary, and no extension of the time for the payment of the Obligations given by Beneficiary shall operate to release, discharge, modify, change or affect, in whole or in part, the liability of Trustor hereunder for the payment or performance of the Obligations or the liability of any other person hereunder for the payment of the Obligations. Each Trustor agrees that it shall be bound by any modification of this Deed of Trust or any of the other Credit Documents made by Beneficiary and any subsequent owner of the Mortgaged Property, with or without notice to such Trustor, and no such modifications shall impair the obligations of such Trustor under this Deed of Trust or any other Credit Document. Nothing in this Section 6.7 or elsewhere in this Deed of Trust shall be construed to imply Beneficiary’s consent to any transfer of the Mortgaged Property.

Section 6.8 Place of Payment . All Obligations which may be owing hereunder at any time by Trustor shall be payable at the place designated in the Note, as the case may be (or, if no such designation is made, at the address of Beneficiary indicated in Section 6.26 ).

Section 6.9 Subrogation to Existing Liens . To the extent that proceeds of the Obligations are used to pay indebtedness secured by any outstanding lien, security interest, charge or prior encumbrance against the Mortgaged Property, such proceeds have been advanced by Beneficiary at Trustor’s request, and Beneficiary shall be subrogated to any and all rights, security interest and liens owned by any owner or holder of such outstanding liens, security interests, charges or encumbrances, however remote, irrespective of whether said liens, security interests, charges or encumbrances are released, and all of the same are recognized as valid and subsisting and are renewed and continued and merged herein to secure the Obligations, but the terms and provisions of this Deed of Trust shall govern and control the manner and terms of enforcement of the liens, security interests, charges and encumbrances to which Beneficiary is subrogated hereunder. It is expressly understood that in consideration of the payment of such indebtedness by Beneficiary, Trustor hereby waives and releases all demands and causes of action for offsets and payments in connection with the said indebtedness.

Section 6.10 Application of Payments to Certain Obligations . If any part of the Obligations cannot be lawfully secured by this Deed of Trust or if any part of the Mortgaged Property cannot be lawfully subject to the lien and security interest hereof to the full extent of the Obligations, then all payments made shall, unless otherwise designated by the Beneficiary, be applied on the Obligations first in discharge of that portion thereof which is not secured by this Deed of Trust.

Section 6.11 Compliance with Usury Laws . It is the intent of Trustor and Beneficiary and all other parties to the Credit Documents to conform to and contract in strict compliance with applicable usury laws from time to time in effect. All agreements between Beneficiary and Trustor (or any other party liable with respect to any indebtedness under the Credit Documents) are hereby limited by the provisions of this Section 6.11 which shall override and control all such agreements, whether now existing or hereafter arising. In no way, nor in any event or contingency (including but not limited to prepayment, default, demand for payment, or acceleration of the maturity

 

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of any obligation), shall the interest taken, reserved, contracted for, charged, chargeable, or received under this Deed of Trust, the Note delivered in connection therewith or any other Credit Document or otherwise, exceed the maximum non-usurious amount permitted by applicable law (the “ Maximum Lawful Amount ”). If, from any possible construction of any document, interest would otherwise by payable in excess of the Maximum Lawful Amount, any such construction shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 6.11 and such document shall ipso facto be automatically reformed and the interest payable shall be automatically reduced to the Maximum Lawful Amount, without the necessity of execution of any amendment or new document. If Beneficiary shall ever receive anything of value which is characterized as interest under applicable law and which would apart from this provision be in excess of the Maximum Lawful Amount, an amount equal to the amount which would have been excessive interest shall, without penalty, be applied to the reduction of the principal amount owing on the Obligations in the inverse order of its maturity and not to the payment of interest, or refunded to Trustor or the other payor thereof if and to the extent such amount which would have been excessive exceeds such unpaid principal. Any right to accelerate maturity of any of the Obligations does not include the right to accelerate any interest which has not otherwise accrued on the date of such acceleration, and Beneficiary does not intend to charge or receive any unearned interest in the event of acceleration. All interest paid or agreed to be paid to Beneficiary shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread throughout the full stated term (including any renewal or extension) of such indebtedness so that the amount of interest on account of such indebtedness does not exceed the Maximum Lawful Amount.

Section 6.12 Marshalling . To the fullest extent allowed by applicable law, Trustor waives any right to require the marshalling of any assets constituting collateral for the Loan.

Section 6.13 Invalidity of Certain Provisions . A determination that any provision of this Deed of Trust is unenforceable or invalid shall not affect the enforceability or validity of any other provision, and the determination that the application of any provision of this Deed of Trust to any person or circumstance is illegal or unenforceable shall not affect the enforceability or validity of such provision as it may apply to other persons or circumstances.

Section 6.14 Gender; Titles; Construction . Within this Deed of Trust, words of any gender shall be held and construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular number shall be held and construed to include the plural, unless the context otherwise requires. Titles appearing at the beginning of any subdivisions hereof are for convenience only, do not constitute any part of such subdivisions, and shall be disregarded in construing the language contained in such subdivisions. The use of the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and other similar compounds of the word “here” shall refer to this entire Deed of Trust and not to any particular Article, Section, paragraph or provision. The term “person” and words importing persons as used in this Deed of Trust shall include firms, associations, partnerships (including limited partnerships), joint ventures, trusts, corporations, limited liability companies, and other legal entities, including public or governmental bodies, agencies or instrumentalities, as well as natural persons.

Section 6.15 Reporting Compliance . Trustor agrees to comply with any and all reporting requirements applicable to the transactions secured by this Deed of Trust which are set forth in any law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, order or determination of any governmental authority, and further agrees upon written request of Beneficiary to furnish Beneficiary with evidence of such compliance.

Section 6.16 Beneficiary’s Consent . Except where otherwise expressly provided herein, in any instance hereunder where the approval, consent or the exercise of judgment of Beneficiary is required or requested, (i) the granting or denial of such approval or consent and the exercise of such judgment shall be within the sole discretion of Beneficiary, and Beneficiary shall not, for any reason or to any extent, be required to grant such approval or consent or exercise such judgment in any particular manner, regardless of the reasonableness of either the request or Beneficiary’s judgment, and (ii) no approval or consent of Beneficiary shall be deemed to have been given except by a specific writing intended for the purpose and executed by an authorized representative of Beneficiary.

Section 6.17 Trustor . Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, as used in this Deed of Trust, “ Trustor ” means the Trustor named in the appearance clause of this Deed of Trust or any of them. The obligations of Trustor hereunder shall be joint and several. If any Trustor, or any signatory who signs on behalf of any Trustor, is a corporation, partnership or other legal entity, Trustor and any such signatory, and the person or persons signing for it, represent and warrant to Beneficiary that this instrument is executed, acknowledged and delivered by Trustor’s duly authorized representatives. If Trustor is an individual, no power of attorney granted by Trustor herein shall terminate on Trustor’s disability.

 

19


Section 6.18 Successors and Assigns . The terms, provisions, covenants and conditions hereof shall be binding upon Trustor, and the heirs, devisees, representatives, successors and assigns of Trustor, and shall inure to the benefit of the Beneficiary, its successors and assigns, and shall constitute covenants running with the Land. All references in this Deed of Trust to Trustor shall be deemed to include all such heirs, devisees, representatives, successors and assigns of Trustor.

Section 6.19 Modification or Termination . The Credit Documents may only be modified or terminated by a written instrument or instruments intended for that purpose and executed by the party against which enforcement of the modification or termination is asserted. Any alleged modification or termination which is not so documented shall not be effective as to any party.

Section 6.20 No Partnership, etc . The relationship between Beneficiary and Trustor is solely that of Beneficiary and Trustor. Beneficiary has no fiduciary or other special relationship with Trustor. Nothing contained in the Credit Documents is intended to create any partnership, joint venture, association or special relationship between Trustor and Beneficiary or in any way make Beneficiary a co-principal with Trustor with reference to the Mortgaged Property. All agreed contractual duties between or among Beneficiary and Trustor are set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents and any additional implied covenants or duties are hereby disclaimed. Any inferences to the contrary of any of the foregoing are hereby expressly negated.

Section 6.21 Power of Attorney . Trustor hereby appoints Beneficiary as its attorney-in-fact and upon any default hereunder authorizes Beneficiary to endorse Trustor’s name on all instruments and other documents pertaining to the Obligations. In addition, Beneficiary shall be entitled, but not required, to perform any action or execute any document required to be taken or executed by Trustor under this Deed of Trust. Beneficiary’s performance of such action or execution of such documents shall not relieve Trustor from any Obligation or cure any default under this Deed of Trust. The powers of attorney described in this action are coupled with an interest and are irrevocable.

Section 6.22 Collection Costs . If Beneficiary hires an attorney to assist in collecting any amount due or enforcing any right or remedy under this Deed of Trust, Trustor agrees to pay Beneficiary’s reasonable attorney fees and collection costs, including, but not limited to, costs incurred for copying, title reports, surveys, title abstract and all other costs incurred by Beneficiary in collecting the debt.

Section 6.23 Partial Release . Beneficiary directly (and without joinder of Trustee) or the Trustee upon written direction from the Beneficiary may release its interest in a portion of the Mortgaged Property by executing and recording one or more partial releases without affecting its interest in the remaining portion of the Mortgaged Property.

Section 6.24 Applicable Law . THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEBRASKA (EXCLUSIVE OF ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES) SHALL GOVERN THE VALIDITY, ENFORCEABILITY, INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF ALL OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS DEED OF TRUST AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS AND ALL ISSUES HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER, INCLUDING (WITHOUT LIMITATION) THE DETERMINATION OF THE MAXIMUM LAWFUL RATE OF INTEREST THAT MAY BE CONTRACTED FOR, CHARGED OR RECEIVED WITH RESPECT TO THE OBLIGATIONS; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE SHALL GOVERN THE PROCEDURAL AND SUBSTANTIVE MATTERS RELATING TO THE CREATION, PERFECTION AND FORECLOSURE OF LIENS, AND ENFORCEMENT OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES AGAINST THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY.

Section 6.25 Entire Agreement . The Credit Documents constitute the entire understanding and agreement between Trustor and Beneficiary with respect to the transactions arising in connection with the Obligations and supersede all prior written or oral understandings and agreements between Trustor and Beneficiary with respect to the matters addressed in the Credit Documents. Trustor hereby acknowledges that, except as incorporated in writing in the Credit Documents, there are not, and were not, and no persons are or were authorized by Beneficiary to make, any representations, understandings, stipulations, agreements or promises, oral or written, with respect to the matters addressed in the Credit Documents.

 

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Section 6.26 Notices . All notices, consents, approvals, elections and other communications (collectively “ Notices ”) hereunder shall be in writing (whether or not the other provisions of this Deed of Trust expressly so provide) and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed by United States registered or certified mail, with return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by United States Express Mail or courier service to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other addresses as shall be given in writing by any party to the others pursuant to this Section 6.26 ) and shall be deemed complete upon receipt or refusal to accept delivery as indicated in the return receipt or in the receipt of such Express Mail or courier service:

 

If to Trustor: Green Plains Grain Company, LLC
     Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC
     Green Plains Essex Inc.
     450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400
     Omaha, NE 68114
     Attention: Jerry L. Peters

 

With a copy to: Michelle Mapes
     General Counsel
     Green Plains Renewable Energy
     450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400
     Omaha, NE 68114

 

If to Beneficiary: Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
     Agricultural Investments
     10801 Mastin Blvd., Suite 930
     Overland Park, KS 66210
     Attention: Director

ARTICLE 7 - NON-UNIFORM COVENANTS

Section 7.1 Request for Notices . Each party to this Deed of Trust requests that a copy of any notice of default or any other notice of sale or any other notices that may be given pursuant to this Deed of Trust or otherwise be sent to the party at the address set forth herein, as provided by the applicable law of the State of Tennessee.

Section 7.2 Indemnification of Trustee . Except for gross negligence and willful misconduct, Trustee shall not be liable for any act or omission or error of judgment. Trustee may rely on any document believed by it in good faith to be genuine. All money received by Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust, but need not be segregated (except to the extent required by law), and Trustee shall not be liable for interest thereon. Trustor shall protect, indemnify and hold harmless Trustee against all liability and expenses which Trustee may incur in the performance of its duties hereunder.

Section 7.3 Actions by Trustee . At any time, or from time to time, without liability therefor and without notice, upon written request of Beneficiary and presentation of this Deed of Trust and the Note for endorsement, and without affecting the personal liability of any person for payment of the Obligations or the effect of this Deed of Trust upon the remainder of the Mortgaged Property, Trustee may take such actions as Beneficiary may request and which are permitted by this Deed of Trust or by applicable law.

Section 7.4 Substitution of Trustee . Beneficiary has the power and shall be entitled, at any time and from time to time, in its sole discretion and without cause, to remove Trustee or any successor trustee and to substitute and appoint another trustee or trustees (either corporate or individual) in the place and stead of Trustee or any successor trustee, by written instrument duly executed and recorded in the Office of the county recorder of the county or counties where the Mortgaged Property is situated, which instrument shall be conclusive proof of the proper substitution and appointment of such successor trustee or trustees, who shall have all the rights, title, estate, powers, duties and privileges of the predecessor trustee, without the necessity of any conveyance from such predecessor.

 

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Section 7.5 Waiver of Jury Trial . TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, TRUSTOR AND BENEFICIARY HEREBY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING AND/OR HEARING ON ANY MATTER WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF, OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH, THE NOTE, THIS DEED OF TRUST OR ANY OF THE CREDIT DOCUMENTS, OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY REMEDY UNDER ANY LAW, STATUTE, OR REGULATION. NEITHER PARTY WILL SEEK TO CONSOLIDATE ANY SUCH ACTION IN WHICH A JURY HAS BEEN WAIVED, WITH ANY OTHER ACTION IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL CANNOT OR HAS NOT BEEN WAIVED. EACH PARTY HAS RECEIVED THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL WITH RESPECT TO THIS WAIVER.

ARTICLE 8 - NON-UNIFORM COVENANTS

Section 8.1 Title/Terminology/Form . This Deed of Trust is intended to be a first priority real estate lien document under the laws of the State of Tennessee, and it shall be characterized, enforced and interpreted accordingly, regardless of its title, terminology or form and any provisions which are inapplicable or unnecessary in the State may be disregarded as surplusage.

Section 8.2 Remedies.

(a) In that regard, any specific recitations in Articles 4 and 5 and Section 6.2 , as to methods of enforcement, specific procedures, specific times and dates, and otherwise, are intended to conform to the laws of the State of Tennessee and, in the event of any inconsistency therewith, said provisions of Articles 4 and 5 and Section 6.2 shall be deemed to have been amended so as to be consistent in all respects with the laws of the State.

(b) Likewise, any constitutional, statutory or equitable debtor’s rights which could have been waived by Trustor, including but not limited to redemption, appraisement, marital and homestead, and rights to extend or delay any judicial sale or sale under a power, are considered and they hereby are waived.

Section 8.3 Indemnification . Trustor shall indemnify, defend and hold Beneficiary harmless from and against (i) any and all claims for brokerage, leasing, finder’s or similar fees which may relate to the Mortgaged Property or the Note and (ii) against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, actions, suits, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements at the trial and all appellate levels) of whatever kind or nature which may be imposed on or incurred by Beneficiary at any time pursuant either to a judgment or decree or other order entered into by a court or administrative agency or to a settlement reasonably approved by Trustor, which judgment, decree, order or settlement related in any way to or arises out of the offer, sale or lease of the Mortgaged Property and/or the ownership, use, occupation or operation of any portion of the Mortgaged Property; provided that such indemnity shall not apply to Beneficiary’s own acts or omissions or those of its agents or employees acting in the scope of their agency or employment.

Section 8.4 No Credit for Taxes . Trustor will not claim or demand or be entitled to receive any credit or credits on the Obligations, or any part thereof, for any taxes (including, without limitation, so much of the taxes assessed against the Mortgaged Property as is equal to the tax rate applied to the Obligations, or any part thereof), and that no deduction shall be claimed from the taxable value of the Mortgaged Property by reason of this Deed of Trust.

Section 8.5 Effective Date . The effective date of this Deed of Trust shall be the date on the first page hereof, notwithstanding the fact that this Deed of Trust may have been executed and acknowledged on a date other than such date.

[NO FURTHER TEXT ON PAGE]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Trustor has executed this Deed of Trust as of the day and year first above written.

 

TRUSTOR:
By:   /s/ Jerry L. Peters
Its:   Chief Financial Officer
 
GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC , a
Delaware limited liability company
By:   /s/ Jerry L. Peters
Its:   Chief Financial Officer
GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC. , an Iowa corporation
By:   /s/ Jerry L. Peters
Its:   Chief Financial Officer

[NOTARY BLOCKS TO APPEAR ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

 

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Corporate Acknowledgement

STATE OF Nebraska                )

COUNTY OF Douglas              )

Before me, Sharon Mize, of the state and county aforesaid, personally appeared Jerry Peters, with whom I am personally acquainted (or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence), and who, upon oath, acknowledge himself to be Chief Financial Officer of Green Plains Essex Inc., the within named bargainor, a corporation, and that Jerry Peters as such officer, being authorized so to do, executed the foregoing instrument for the purpose therein contained by signing the name of the corporation by himself as such officer.

WITNESS my hand and seal at office in Omaha, NE, this 28 day of October, 2011.

 

My commission expires:     /s/ Sharon Mize
10/28/14     Notary Public

[AFFIX NOTARIAL SEAL]

 

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LLC Acknowledgement

STATE OF Nebraska               )

COUNTY OF Douglas             )

Before me, Sharon Mize, of the state and county aforesaid, personally appeared Jerry Peters, with whom I am personally acquainted (or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence), and who, upon oath, acknowledge himself to be Chief Financial Officer of Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC, the within named bargainor, a corporation, and that Jerry Peters as such officer, being authorized so to do, executed the foregoing instrument for the purpose therein contained by signing the name of the corporation by himself as such officer.

WITNESS my hand and seal at office in Omaha, NE, this 28 day of October, 2011.

 

My commission expires:     /s/ Sharon Mize
10/28/14     Notary Public

[AFFIX NOTARIAL SEAL]

STATE OF Nebraska               )

COUNTY OF Douglas             )

Before me, Sharon Mize, of the state and county aforesaid, personally appeared Jerry Peters, with whom I am personally acquainted (or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence), and who, upon oath, acknowledge himself to be Chief Financial Officer of Green Plains Grain Company LLC, the within named bargainor, a corporation, and that Jerry Peters as such officer, being authorized so to do, executed the foregoing instrument for the purpose therein contained by signing the name of the corporation by himself as such officer.

WITNESS my hand and seal at office in Omaha, NE, this 28 day of October, 2011.

 

My commission expires:     /s/ Sharon Mize
10/28/14     Notary Public

[AFFIX NOTARIAL SEAL]


EXHIBIT “A”

DEFINED TERMS

Beneficiary ” means Beneficiary, and its successors and assigns, including any subsequent holder of the Obligations.

Collateral ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3 .

Credit Documents ” means, collectively, this Deed of Trust, the Loan Agreement, the Note and such other documents evidencing, governing, guaranteeing, securing or otherwise executed in connection with the Obligations, the Loan Agreement or this Deed of Trust, as they or any of them may have been or from time to time hereafter may be renewed, extended, supplemented, increased, amended, modified or restated.

Deed of Trust ” means this Deed of Trust, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Assignment of Leases and Rents, as the same may be renewed, extended, supplemented, increased, modified, amended or restated from time to time.

Default Rate ” has the meaning attributed to it in the Note and Loan Agreement.

Loan Agreement ” means that certain Loan Agreement, dated of even date with this Deed of Trust, executed by Trustor, as the same may have been or from time to time hereafter may be renewed, extended, supplemented, increased, amended, modified or restated.

Obligations ” means the obligation of the Trustor to (a) make payment of the principal of, interest and premiums on, and to perform all covenants, agreements, liabilities and obligations of the Trustor, under the Note, the Deed of Trust, the Loan Agreement and all other obligations of the Trustor under any other instrument given to secure the Note and any and all extensions and renewals thereof; (b) to perform any and all covenants, agreements, liabilities and obligations of Trustor, to Beneficiary, its successors and assigns, provided for or arising under this Deed of Trust; and (c) to make payment of all costs and expenses of collection, legal expenses and attorneys’ fees incurred by the Beneficiary, its successors and assigns, in the enforcement of the rights of the Beneficiary hereunder or in any litigation or bankruptcy proceeding for the protection of Beneficiary’s collateral and claim against Trustor.

Permitted Encumbrances ” means any of the following:

(i) liens, charges or other encumbrances for taxes and assessments which are not yet due and payable;

(ii) liens of or resulting from any judgment or award, the time for the appeal or petition for rehearing of which shall not have expired, or in respect of which Trustor shall at any time in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or proceeding for a review and in respect of which a stay of execution pending such appeal or proceeding for review shall have been secured;

(iii) deposits, pledges or liens to secure statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds or other liens of like general nature incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money, provided, in each case, that the obligation secured is not overdue or, if overdue, is being contested in good faith by appropriate actions or proceedings;

(iv) liens, charges or encumbrances in favor of Beneficiary;

(v) liens, charges, or other encumbrances disclosed to and approved by Beneficiary in writing in connection with the Trustor’s arrangements for the acquisition and development of the Premises, including without limitation payments and rights-of-way for utilities, roads, drainage, cable, communications and similar purposes;


(vi) liens, charges, or other encumbrances set forth in a policy of mortgagee’s title insurance issued to Beneficiary, but only if expressly acknowledged and approved in writing by Beneficiary and in the case of any leases in favor of a Trustor, subordinated to the lien hereof; and

(vii) liens, charges or other encumbrances securing the Trustor’s obligations under that certain Credit Agreement dated as of even date herewith by and among the Trustor, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Promissory Note ” means the Note described in the opening recitals, together with interest thereon, executed in accordance with the Loan Agreement and evidencing Trustor’s indebtedness to Beneficiary thereunder. The Note contains provisions for the interest rate therein to be adjusted from time to time.

Uniform Commercial Code ” means the Uniform Commercial Code in effect, and as amended from time to time hereafter, in the State of Nebraska.

 

3


EXHIBIT “B”

LAND

DESCRIPTION OF REAL PROPERTY

Reference for prior title is made to                      recorded on                          ,              , in Book              , Page              [or as Instrument No.                      ], in the Register’s office of                      County, Tennessee.

Exhibit 10.10

SPACE ABOVE THIS LINE FOR RECORDER’S USE

 

PREPARED BY   TAXPAYER NAME AND ADDRESS:
AND WHEN RECORDED MAIL TO:  
  GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC
DREW K. THEOPHILUS   450 REGENCY PARKWAY, SUITE 400
BAIRD HOLM LLP   OMAHA, NE 68114
1500 WOODMEN TOWER   ATTENTION: JERRY L. PETERS
1700 FARNAM STREET  
OMAHA, NE 68102   GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC.
402-344-0500   450 REGENCY PARKWAY, SUITE 400
  OMAHA, NE 68114
  ATTENTION: JERRY L. PETERS
 
  LEGAL DESCRIPTION: See Exhibit “B”

MORTGAGE, SECURITY AGREEMENT

FIXTURE FILING AND ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES AND RENTS

(Iowa)

BY

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC

a Delaware limited liability company

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC,

a Delaware limited liability company

and

GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation

as Mortgagor

TO AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF

METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,

a New York corporation,

as Mortgagee

October 28, 2011


THIS INSTRUMENT IS ALSO INTENDED TO BE FILED AS A UCC-1 FINANCING STATEMENT FILED AS A FIXTURE FILING FOR PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 9 OF THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE.

THE NAMES OF THE DEBTOR (“ MORTGAGOR ”) AND THE SECURED PARTY (“ MORTGAGEE ”), THE MAILING ADDRESS OF THE SECURED PARTY FROM WHICH INFORMATION CONCERNING THE SECURITY INTEREST MAY BE OBTAINED, AND THE MAILING ADDRESS OF THE DEBTOR IS DESCRIBED IN THE MORTGAGE, AND A STATEMENT INDICATING THE TYPES, OR DESCRIBING THE ITEMS, OF COLLATERAL, ARE AS DESCRIBED ON PAGES 1 THROUGH 4 HEREOF, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF IOWA CODE SECTION 554.9502.

THIS MORTGAGE SECURES FUTURE ADVANCES

NOTICE: THIS MORTGAGE SECURES CREDIT IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,000,000.00. LOANS AND ADVANCES UP TO THIS AMOUNT, TOGETHER WITH INTEREST, ARE SENIOR TO INDEBTEDNESS TO OTHER CREDITORS UNDER SUBSEQUENTLY RECORDED OR FILED MORTGAGES AND LIENS.

MORTGAGE, SECURITY AGREEMENT, FIXTURE FILING

AND ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES AND RENTS

Executed in counterparts to allow for simultaneous filing

This Mortgage, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Assignment of Leases and Rents (the “ Mortgage ”) is dated as of October 28, 2011, and is executed by GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; and GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation (collectively, “ Mortgagor ”), to and for the benefit of METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, a New York corporation (“ Mortgagee ”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, Mortgagor has executed a Secured Promissory Note in the original principal amount of $30,000,000.00, with a final payment due on November 1, 2021 in favor of Mortgagee (the “ Note ”); and

WHEREAS, Mortgagor has agreed to secure its obligations to Mortgagee hereunder by executing this Mortgage to and in favor of Mortgagee, with POWER OF SALE in accordance with the applicable laws of the State of Iowa, burdening the real and personal property described below, and by granting, or causing to be granted, to Mortgagee the other liens and security interests herein described;

NOW, THEREFORE, in order to secure the full and punctual payment and performance of all present and future Obligations (as hereafter defined), Mortgagor has agreed to execute and deliver this Mortgage and to grant a mortgage lien and continuing security interest in and to the Mortgaged Property (as hereinafter defined), all upon the following terms and conditions:

ARTICLE 1 - DEFINITIONS; MORTGAGE TO SECURE OBLIGATIONS

Section 1.1 Definitions . Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Mortgage shall have the meanings set forth in the Loan Agreement. In addition to other terms defined herein, certain defined terms are set forth in Exhibit “A” attached hereto.

Section 1.2 Grant . In order to secure the Obligations, Mortgagor hereby mortgages and warrants, grants, assigns, bargains, sells and conveys to Mortgagee, its successors and assigns, with POWER OF SALE and right of entry and possession, and does hereby grant unto Mortgagee a continuing security interest in, (a)  the real


property (herein called the “ Land ”) described in Exhibit “B” which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, and (i) all improvements now or hereafter situated or to be situated on the Land (herein together called the “ Improvements ”); and (ii) all right, title and interest of Mortgagor in and to (1) all streets, roads, alleys, easements, rights-of-way, privileges, hereditaments, appurtenances, licenses, rights of ingress and egress, vehicle parking rights and public places, existing or proposed, abutting, adjacent, used in connection with or pertaining to the Land or the Improvements; (2) all of Mortgagor’s present and future estate, right, title and interest in and to all accretion, avulsion, riparian rights, water rights, waters, water courses, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by Mortgagor; (3) the reversion(s), remainder(s), possession(s), claims and demands of Mortgagor in and to the same, and the rights of Mortgagor in and to the benefits of any conditions, covenants and restrictions now or hereafter affecting said real property, together with all estate, right, title and interest, including, without limitation, leasehold interests, that Mortgagor now has or may hereafter acquire, and (4) any strips or gores between the Land and abutting or adjacent properties (the Land, Improvements and other rights, titles and interests referred to in this clause (a) being herein sometimes collectively called the “ Premises ”); (b)  all things now or hereafter affixed to or located upon or used in connection with the Land, including, without limitation, all buildings, structures and Improvements of every kind and description now or hereafter erected or placed thereon, all apparatus, furnishings, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment, appliances, systems, building materials and personal property of every kind and nature whatsoever, now owned or hereafter acquired by Mortgagor, which are or shall be attached to, or used for the operation or maintenance of, said buildings, structures or Improvements located on the Land, or which are or shall be located in, on or about the Land, or which, wherever located, are used or intended to be used in or in connection with the construction, fixturing, equipping, furnishing, use, transportation of personal property to or from, operation or enjoyment of the Land or the Improvements thereon, and all permits, licenses, franchises, contract rights, management contracts or agreements, warranties, guaranties, authorities, certificates and leasehold interests, now or hereafter owned by Mortgagor and relating to the ownership use, operation, maintenance or enjoyment of the Land, the Improvements thereon, and the fixtures, equipment and personal property described above; and also including all extensions, additions, accessions, substitutions, improvements, betterments, renewals, renovations, repairs, replacements, products and proceeds of any of the foregoing, together with the benefit of any deposits or payments now or hereafter made by Mortgagor or on its behalf in connection with any of the foregoing, including all bridges, irrigation pumps, electric motors, engines, pipes, sprinklers, center pivot systems, control panels, accessories and accessions, and all other irrigation equipment connected therewith now or hereafter placed or installed, together with all water and watering rights of every kind and description, on the Land described herein; all accessories and accessions to fully operate grain handling facilities, storage warehouses, equipment sheds and shop buildings, including but not limited to office equipment, scales, compressors, engines, motors, control panels, conveyors, load-out equipment and all improvements, fixtures and appurtenances on or related to the Land described herein; scales, office equipment, computer equipment and software, fuel and water tanks, fuel and water metering and pumping equipment, fire prevention equipment, pneumatic equipment, compressors, engines, motors, control panels, conveyors, baling equipment, load-out equipment on or related to the Land described herein; provided, however , that expressly excluded from the security interest hereby created are all vehicles and rolling stock owned by Mortgagor, all personal property and equipment not owned by Mortgagor (including, but not limited to, leased property) located on the Land (collectively, the “ Excluded Collateral ”); and all of such things, other than the Excluded Collateral, whether now hereafter placed thereon or used in connection therewith or whether now owned or hereafter acquired by Mortgagor, or used in or necessary to the complete and proper planning, development, use, occupancy or operation thereof, or acquired (whether delivered to the Land or stored elsewhere) for use or installation in or on the Land or the Improvements, and all renewals and replacements of, substitutions for and additions to the foregoing (the properties referred to in this clause (b) being herein sometimes collectively called the “ Accessories ”); (c)  all of (i) Mortgagor’s rights, but not liability for any breach by Mortgagor, under all insurance policies and other contracts and general intangibles (including but not limited to trademarks, trade names and symbols) related to the Premises or the Accessories or the operation thereof; (ii) deposits (including but not limited to Mortgagor’s rights in tenants’ security deposits, deposits with respect to utility services to the Premises, and any deposits or reserves hereunder or under any other Credit Document for taxes, insurance or otherwise), money, accounts, instruments, documents, notes and chattel paper arising from or by virtue of any transactions related to the Premises or the Accessories; (iii) permits, licenses, franchises, certificates, development rights, commitments and rights for utilities, and other rights and privileges obtained in connection with the Premises or the Accessories; (iv) leases, rents, royalties, bonuses, issues, profits, revenues and other benefits of the Premises and the Accessories (without derogation of Article 3 hereof); (v) oil, gas and other hydrocarbons and other minerals produced from or allocated to the Land and all products processed or obtained therefrom and the proceeds thereof; and (vi) engineering, accounting, title, legal, and other technical or business data concerning the Mortgaged Property (as

 

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defined below) which are in the possession of Mortgagor or in which Mortgagor can otherwise grant a security interest; and (d)  all (i) proceeds of or arising from the properties, rights, titles and interests referred to above in this Section 1.2 , including but not limited to proceeds of any sale, lease or other disposition thereof, proceeds of each policy of insurance relating thereto (including premium refunds and including the right to receive proceeds attributable to the insurance loss of the Premises), proceeds of the taking thereof or of any rights appurtenant thereto, including change of grade of streets, curb cuts or other rights of access, by eminent domain or transfer in lieu thereof for public or quasi-public use under any law, and proceeds arising out of any damage thereto; and (ii) other interests of every kind and character which Mortgagor now has or hereafter acquires in, to or for the benefit of the properties, rights, titles and interests referred to above in this Section 1.2 and all property used or useful in connection therewith, including but not limited to rights of ingress and egress and remainders, reversions and reversionary rights or interests; and if the estate of Mortgagor in any of the property referred to above in this Section 1.2 is a leasehold estate, the lien and security interest created hereby shall encumber and extend to all other or additional title, estates, interests or rights which are now owned or may hereafter be acquired by Mortgagor in or to the property demised under the lease creating the leasehold estate. All of the foregoing real and personal property and intangible rights covered by and subject to this Mortgage are herein collectively referred to as the “ Mortgaged Property ”.

Section 1.3 Security Interest . Mortgagor hereby grants to Mortgagee a security interest in all of the Mortgaged Property which constitutes personal property subject to Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code or fixtures as defined therein (herein sometimes collectively called the “ Collateral ”). In addition to its rights hereunder or otherwise, Mortgagee shall have all of the rights of a secured party under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code in force in any state to the extent the same is applicable law.

Section 1.4 Purpose . This Mortgage and the Obligations are executed and incurred for business or agricultural purposes and not for personal, household or family purposes.

Section 1.5 Future Advances and Expenses . This Mortgage also secures the repayment of all advances that Mortgagee may extend to Mortgagor under the Loan Agreement and the other Credit Documents. In addition this Mortgage secures the repayment of all amounts expended by Mortgagee to perform Mortgagor’s covenants under this Mortgage or maintain, preserve, or dispose of the Mortgaged Property, together with interest thereon from date of expenditure until repaid.

Section 1.6 Advances . This Mortgage is subject to the terms of the Loan Agreement, which is a loan agreement between Mortgagor and Mortgagee. Mortgagor acknowledges that in the event the Loan will be used for the purchase of the Mortgaged Property, Mortgagee may impose any reasonable restrictions or conditions in order to insure that this Mortgage remains senior in priority to all other liens and encumbrances, including, but not limited to mechanics’ and materialmen’s liens. The Loan represented by the Credit Documents matures on the dates indicated in the recitals above. The Note and Loan Agreement requires Mortgagor to make payments to Mortgagee on the terms provided therein.

ARTICLE 2 - REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS

Section 2.1 Mortgagor represents, warrants, and covenants as follows:

(a) Payment and Performance . Mortgagor will make due and punctual payment of the Obligations. Mortgagor will timely and properly perform and comply with all of the covenants, agreements, and conditions imposed upon it by this Mortgage and the other Credit Documents and will not permit a default to occur hereunder or thereunder. Time shall be of the essence in this Mortgage.

(b) Title and Permitted Encumbrances . Mortgagor has, in Mortgagor’s own right, and Mortgagor covenants to maintain, good, valid and merchantable title to the Mortgaged Property, free and clear of all liens, charges, claims, security interests, and encumbrances except for Permitted Encumbrances. Mortgagor, and Mortgagor’s successors and assigns, will warrant and forever defend title to the Mortgaged Property, subject as aforesaid, to Mortgagee against the claims and demands of all persons claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof. Mortgagor will punctually pay, perform, observe and keep all covenants, obligations and conditions in or pursuant to any Permitted Encumbrance and will not modify or permit modification of any Permitted Encumbrance without the prior written consent of Mortgagee. Inclusion of any matter as a Permitted Encumbrance does not

 

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constitute approval or waiver by Mortgagee of any existing or future violation or other breach thereof by Mortgagor, with respect to the Mortgaged Property or otherwise. No part of the Mortgaged Property constitutes all or any part of the homestead of Mortgagor. If any right or interest of Mortgagee in the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof shall be endangered or questioned or shall be attacked directly or indirectly, Mortgagee (whether or not named as a party to legal proceedings with respect thereto) is hereby authorized and empowered to take such steps as in its discretion may be proper for the defense of any such legal proceedings or the protection of such right or interest of Mortgagee, including but not limited to the employment of independent counsel, the prosecution or defense of litigation, and the compromise or discharge of adverse claims. All expenditures so made of every kind and character shall be an Obligation (which Obligation Mortgagor hereby promises to pay on demand of Mortgagee) owing by Mortgagor to Mortgagee, and Mortgagee shall be subrogated to all rights of the person receiving such payment.

(c) Taxes and Other Impositions . Mortgagor will pay, or cause to be paid, all taxes, assessments and other charges or levies imposed upon or against or with respect to the Mortgaged Property or the ownership, use, occupancy or enjoyment of any portion thereof, or any utility service thereto, as the same become due and payable, including but not limited to ad valorem taxes assessed against the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof, and shall deliver promptly to Mortgagee such evidence of the payment thereof as Mortgagee may require. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Mortgagor shall have the right to contest any such charges and any such contest shall not be considered a default under this Mortgage or any other Credit Documents, provided Mortgagor either provides a bond for the disputed matters in accordance with applicable law or establishes appropriate reserves for such matters.

(d) Insurance . Mortgagor, at its sole cost and expense, shall at all times, unless otherwise indicated, provide, maintain and keep in force:

(1) property insurance covering the Improvements, the Premises and Collateral against loss or damage from such causes of loss as are embraced by insurance policies of the type known as “Special Form/Open Perils/Special Perils” property insurance, including, without limitation, boiler coverage, and business interruption coverage, on a replacement cost basis with an Agreed Value Endorsement waiving coinsurance, all in an amount not less than the then full replacement cost of the Improvements and personal property constituting a part of the Mortgaged Property, without deduction for physical depreciation thereof;

(2) comprehensive general liability insurance insuring against claims for personal injury (including, without limitation, bodily injury or death), property damage liability and such other loss or damage from such causes of loss as are embraced by insurance policies of the type known as “Comprehensive General Liability” insurance, with a combined single limit of $1,000,000 per occurrence. Such insurance coverage shall be issued and maintained on an “occurrence” basis;

(3) flood insurance in an amount equal to the lesser of 100% of the full replacement cost of the Improvements, or the maximum amount of insurance obtainable; provided, however, that such insurance shall be required only when all or any portion of the Land is located within a 100-year flood plain or area designated as subject to flood by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or any other governmental agency, or when required by any federal, state or local law, statute, regulation or ordinance;

(4) In the event of the construction of any Improvements on the Mortgaged Property, builder’s risk insurance insuring against loss or damage from such causes of loss as are embraced by insurance policies of the type now known as “Builder’s Risks” property insurance (written on an “all risks” or “open perils” basis), including, without limitation, fire and extended coverage, and collapse of the Improvements (or any portion thereof) to agreed limits, all in form and substance acceptable to Mortgagee and (i) as to Improvements being or to be constructed with the proceeds of the Loan, in an amount not less than the completed value on a non-reporting form of the Improvements being constructed, (ii) as to property then subject to restoration pursuant to Section 2.1(h) or any restoration accomplished in connection with a condemnation, in an amount not less than the full replacement cost of such property, and (iii) as to any additional property then being constructed, in an amount not less than the completed value, on a non-reporting form, of the additional improvements then being constructed; provided, however, that such insurance shall be required only during the construction of the Improvements being financed hereby, and any period of restoration or any restoration accomplished in connection with a condemnation, or any subsequent period of construction of any additional Improvements; and

 

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(5) Such other insurance and in such amounts, as may, from time to time, be reasonably required by Mortgagee against other insurable hazards or risks, including, but not limited to, environmental impairment liability coverage, nuclear reaction or radioactive contamination coverage and/or earthquake coverage, which hazards or risks at the time are commonly insured against, and provided such insurance is generally available, for property similarly situated, due regard being given to the height and type of building, its construction, use and occupancy.

Except as herein expressly provided otherwise, all policies of insurance required under this Section 2.1(d) shall be issued by companies, and be in form, amount, and content and have an expiration date, approved by Mortgagee and as to the policies of insurance required under subparagraph (1) of this Section 2.1(d) , shall contain a Standard Non Contributory Mortgagee Clause or Lender’s Loss Payable Endorsement, or equivalents thereof, in form, scope and substance satisfactory to Mortgagee, in favor of Mortgagee, and as to policies of insurance required under subparagraph (1) of this Section 2.1(d) , shall provide that the proceeds thereof (“ Insurance Proceeds ”) shall be payable to Mortgagee. Mortgagee shall be furnished a certificate of each policy required hereunder, which policy shall provide that the issuing company shall endeavor to notify Mortgagee in writing at least thirty (30) days’ prior to cancellation or modification of the policy. If requested by Mortgagee, Mortgagor shall also furnish to Mortgagee a copy of each such policy. At least thirty (30) days prior to expiration of any policy required hereunder, Mortgagor shall furnish Mortgagee appropriate proof of issuance of a policy continuing in force the insurance covered by the policy so expiring. Mortgagor shall furnish Mortgagee receipts for the payment of premiums on such insurance policies or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to Mortgagee in the event that such premiums have not been paid to Mortgagee pursuant to the terms of this Mortgage. In the event that Mortgagor does not deposit with Mortgagee a new policy of insurance with evidence of payment of premiums thereon at least thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of any policy, then Mortgagee may, but shall not be obligated to, procure such insurance and pay the premiums therefor and any money paid by Mortgagee for such premiums shall be reimbursed to Mortgagee in accordance with the terms of this Mortgage.

In the event of the foreclosure of this Mortgage or other transfer of the title to the Mortgaged Property in extinguishment, in whole or in part, of the Obligations, all right, title and interest of Mortgagor in and to any insurance policy, or premiums paid in connection with such policy or payments in satisfaction of claims or any other rights thereunder then in force, shall pass to the purchaser or grantee. Nothing contained herein shall prevent accrual of interest as provided in the Note on any portion of the Obligations to which the Insurance Proceeds are to be applied until such time as the Insurance Proceeds are actually received by Mortgagee and applied by Mortgagee to reduce the Obligations secured by this Mortgage. All of such insurance shall be subject to such deductibles as are approved by Mortgagee.

(e) Reserve for Insurance, Taxes and Assessments . [Intentionally omitted].

(f) Eminent Domain and Condemnation . Mortgagor shall notify Mortgagee immediately of any threatened or pending proceeding for eminent domain or condemnation affecting the Mortgaged Property or arising out of damage to the Mortgaged Property, and Mortgagor shall, at Mortgagor’s expense, diligently prosecute any such proceedings. Mortgagee shall have the right (but not the obligation) to participate in any such proceeding and to be represented by counsel of its own choice. Mortgagee shall be entitled to receive all sums which may be awarded or become payable to Mortgagor for the condemnation of the Mortgaged Property, or any part thereof, for public or quasi-public use, or by virtue of private sale in lieu thereof, and any sums which may be awarded or become payable to Mortgagor for injury or damage to the Mortgaged Property. Mortgagor shall, promptly upon request of Mortgagee, execute such additional assignments and other documents as may be necessary from time to time to permit such participation and to enable Mortgagee to collect and receipt for any such sums. All such sums are hereby assigned to Mortgagee, and shall, after deduction therefrom of all reasonable expenses actually incurred by Mortgagee, including attorneys’ fees, at Mortgagee’s option be (1) released to Mortgagor, or (2) applied (upon compliance with such terms and conditions as may be required by Mortgagee) to repair or restoration of the Mortgaged Property so affected, or (3) applied to the payment of the Obligations in such order and manner as Mortgagee, in its sole discretion, may elect whether or not due. In any event the unpaid portion of the Obligations shall remain in full force and effect and the payment thereof shall not be excused. Mortgagee shall not be, under any circumstances, liable or responsible for failure to collect or to exercise diligence in the collection of any such sum or for failure to see to the proper application of any amount paid over to Mortgagor. Mortgagee is hereby authorized, in the name of Mortgagor, to execute and deliver valid acquittance for, and to appeal from, any such award, judgment

 

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or decree. All costs and expenses (including but not limited to attorneys’ fees) incurred by Mortgagee in connection with any condemnation shall be an Obligation owing by Mortgagor (which Mortgagor hereby promises to pay on demand of Mortgagee) to Mortgagee pursuant to this Mortgage.

(g) Compliance with Legal Requirements . The Mortgaged Property and the use, operation and maintenance thereof and all activities thereon comply in all material respects with all applicable Legal Requirements (defined below). The Mortgaged Property is not dependent on any other property or premises or any interest therein other than the Mortgaged Property to fulfill any requirement of any Legal Requirement. No part of the Mortgaged Property constitutes a nonconforming use under any zoning law or similar law or ordinance. Mortgagor has obtained and shall preserve in force all requisite zoning, utility, building, health and operating permits from the governmental authorities having jurisdiction over the Mortgaged Property, except where the failure to have such permit would not have a material adverse effect on the Mortgaged Property or Mortgagor’s ability to pay the Obligations. If Mortgagor receives a notice or claim from any person that the Mortgaged Property, or any use, activity, operation or maintenance thereof or thereon, is not in compliance with any Legal Requirement, Mortgagor will promptly furnish a copy of such notice or claim to Mortgagee. Mortgagor has received no notice and has no knowledge of any such noncompliance. As used in this Mortgage: (i) the term “ Legal Requirement ” means any Law (defined below), agreement, covenant, restriction, easement, or condition (including, without limitation of the foregoing, any condition or requirement imposed by any federal, state, or local governmental body, or insurance or surety company), as any of the same now exists or may be changed or amended or come into effect in the future; and (ii) the term “ Law ” means any federal, state or local law, statute, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, license, permit, authorization, decision, order, injunction or decree, domestic or foreign.

(h) Maintenance; Repair and Restoration . Mortgagor will keep the Mortgaged Property in good order, repair, operation condition and appearance, causing all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, additions and improvements to be promptly made, and will not allow any of the Mortgaged Property to be misused, abused or wasted or to deteriorate. Mortgagor will not, without the prior written consent of Mortgagee, (i) remove from the Mortgaged Property any fixtures or personal property covered by this Mortgage except such as is replaced by Mortgagor by an article of equal suitability and value, owned by Mortgagor, free and clear of any lien or security interest (except that created by this Mortgage), or (ii) make any structural alteration to the Mortgaged Property or any other alteration thereto which impairs the value thereof. Mortgagor may remove items from the Mortgaged Property without the consent of Mortgagee which are worn out, undesirable, obsolete, disused or unnecessary for use in the operation of the Mortgaged Property and which are not of material value relative to the value of the Mortgaged Property. If any act or occurrence of any kind or nature (including any condemnation or any casualty for which insurance was not obtained or obtainable) shall result in damage to or loss or destruction of the Mortgaged Property, Mortgagor shall give prompt notice thereof to Mortgagee and Mortgagor shall promptly, at Mortgagor’s sole cost and expense and regardless of whether insurance or condemnation proceeds (if any) shall be available or sufficient for the purpose, commence and continue diligently to completion to restore, repair, replace and rebuild the Mortgaged Property as nearly as possible to its value, condition and character immediately prior to the damage, loss or destruction.

(i) No Other Liens . Mortgagor will not, without the prior written consent of Mortgagee, create, place or permit to be created or placed, or through any act or failure to act, acquiesce in the placing of, or allow to remain, any mortgage, voluntary or involuntary lien, whether statutory or contractual, security interest, encumbrance or charge, or conditional sale or other title retention document, against or covering the Mortgaged Property, or any part thereof, other than the Permitted Encumbrances, regardless of whether the same are expressly or otherwise subordinate to the lien or security interest created in this Mortgage, and should any of the foregoing become attached hereafter in any manner to any part of the Mortgaged Property without the prior written consent of the Mortgagee, Mortgagor will cause the same to be promptly discharged and released. Mortgagor will own all parts of the Mortgaged Property and, except as permitted in the Loan Agreement, will not acquire any fixtures, equipment or other property forming a part of the Mortgaged Property pursuant to a lease, license, security agreement or similar agreement, where by any party has or may obtain the right to repossess or remove same, without the prior written consent of Mortgagee.

(j) Operation of Mortgaged Property . Mortgagor will operate the Mortgaged Property in a good and workmanlike manner and will pay all fees or charges of any kind in connection therewith. Mortgagor will keep the Mortgaged Property occupied so as not to impair the insurance carried thereon. Mortgagor will not use or occupy

 

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or conduct any activity on, or allow the use or occupancy of or the conduct of any activity on, the Mortgaged Property in any manner which makes void, voidable or cancelable, or increases the premium of, any insurance then in force with respect thereto. Mortgagor will not initiate or permit any zoning reclassification of the Mortgaged Property or seek any variance under existing zoning ordinances applicable to the Mortgaged Property or use or permit the use of the Mortgaged Property in such a manner which would result in such use becoming a nonconforming use under applicable zoning ordinances or any other Legal Requirement. Except to the extent permitted by the Credit Documents and except for Permitted Encumbrances, Mortgagor will not impose any easement, restrictive covenant or encumbrance upon the Mortgaged Property, execute or file any subdivision plat or condominium declaration affecting the Mortgaged Property or consent to the annexation of the Mortgaged Property to any municipality, without the prior written consent of Mortgagee. Mortgagor will not do or suffer to be done any act whereby the value of any part of the Mortgaged Property may be lessened in any material respect. Mortgagor will preserve, protect, renew, extend and retain all material rights and privileges granted for or applicable to the Mortgaged Property. There shall be no extraction, removal or production of any sand and gravel from the surface or subsurface of the Land regardless of the depth thereof or the method of mining or extraction thereof without the prior written consent of Mortgagee. Mortgagor will cause all debts and liabilities of any character (including without limitation all debts and liabilities for labor, material and equipment and all debts and charges for utilities servicing the Mortgaged Property) incurred in the construction, maintenance, operation and development of the Mortgaged Property to be promptly paid.

(k) Status of Mortgagor; Suits and Claims; Credit Documents . If Mortgagor is a corporation, partnership, or other legal entity, Mortgagor is and will continue to be (i) duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of organization, (ii) authorized to do business in, and in good standing in, each state in which the Mortgaged Property is located, and (iii) possessed of all requisite power and authority to carry on its business and to own and operate the Mortgaged Property. Each Credit Document executed by Mortgagor has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Mortgagor, and the obligations thereunder and the performance thereof by Mortgagor in accordance with their terms are and will continue to be within Mortgagor’s power and authority (without the necessity of joinder or consent of any other person), are not and will not be in contravention of any Legal Requirement to which Mortgagor or the Mortgaged Property is subject, and do not and will not result in the creation of any encumbrance against any assets or properties of Mortgagor, or any other person liable, directly or indirectly, for any on the Obligations, except Permitted Encumbrances or as otherwise expressly contemplated by the Credit Documents. There is no suit, action claim, investigation, inquiry, proceeding or demand pending (or, to Mortgagor’s knowledge, threatened) which affects the Mortgaged Property (including, without limitation, any which challenges or otherwise pertains to Mortgagor’s title to the Mortgaged Properly) or the validity, enforceability or priority of any of the Credit Documents. There is no judicial or administrative action, suit or proceeding pending (or, to Mortgagor’s knowledge, threatened) against Mortgagor, or against any other person liable directly or indirectly for the Obligations, except as disclosed in writing to Mortgagee. The Credit Documents constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of Mortgagor (and of each guarantor, if any) enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws (hereinafter defined) and except as the availability of certain remedies may be limited by general principles of equity. Mortgagor will not cause or permit any change to be made in its name, identity, state of organization, taxpayer identification number or corporate or partnership structure, unless Mortgagor shall have notified Mortgagee of such change prior to the effective date of such change, and shall have first taken all action required by Mortgagee for the purpose of further perfecting or protecting the lien and security interest of Mortgagee in the Mortgaged Property. Mortgagor’s principal place of business and chief executive office, and the place where Mortgagor keeps its books and records concerning the Mortgaged Property has been and will continue to be (unless Mortgagor notifies Mortgagee of any change in writing prior to the date of such change) the address of Mortgagor set forth in Section 6.26 below.

(l) Environmental Matters . Mortgagor will defend, indemnify and hold Mortgagee and its directors, officers, agents and employees harmless from and against all claims, demands, causes of action, liabilities, losses, costs and expenses (including, without limitations, costs of suit, reasonable attorneys’ fees and fees of expert witnesses) arising from or in connection with (i) the presence in, on or under or the removal from the Mortgaged Property of any hazardous substances or solid wastes (as hereafter defined), or any releases or discharges of any hazardous substances or solid wastes on, under or from such property, (ii) any activity carried on or undertaken on or off the Mortgaged Property, whether prior to or during the term of this Mortgage, and whether by Mortgagor or any predecessor in title or any officers, employees, agents, contractors or subcontractors of Mortgagor or any predecessor in title, or any third persons at any time occupying or present on the Mortgaged Property, in connection

 

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with the handling, use, generation, manufacture, treatment, removal, storage, decontamination, clean-up, transport or disposal of any hazardous substances or solid wastes at any time located or present on or under the Mortgaged Property, or (iii) any breach of any environmental representation, warranty or covenant under the terms of this Mortgage. The foregoing indemnity and hold harmless shall not apply to any such event (i) occurring after foreclosure by Mortgagee or a deed in lieu of foreclosure in favor of Mortgagee and (ii) caused by Mortgagee or any owner subsequent to Mortgagor. The foregoing indemnity shall further apply to any residual contaminations on or under the Mortgaged Property, or affecting any natural resources, and to any contamination of the Mortgaged Property or natural resources arising in connection with the generation, use, handling, storage, transport or disposal of any such hazardous substances or solid wastes, and irrespective of whether any of such activities were or will be undertaken in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, codes and ordinances. The terms “ hazardous substance ” and “ release ” as used in this Mortgage shall have the meanings specified in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (as amended, “ CERCLA ”), and the terms “ solid waste ” and “ disposal ” (or “ disposed ”) shall have the meanings specified in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended by the Used Oil Recycling Act of 1980, the Solid Waste Disposal Act Amendments of 1980, and the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 (as amended, “ RCRA ”) and shall also include those substances regulated under any statutes or regulations adopted or promulgated by the State of Nebraska or the State of Iowa or any agency or political subdivision thereof, including any statutes, ordinances, rules or regulations regulating or pertaining to hazardous substances or the protection of the environment; provided, in the event that the laws of the State of Nebraska or Iowa establish a meaning for “hazardous substance”, “release”, “solid waste” or “disposal” which is broader than that specified in either CERCLA or RCRA, such broader meaning shall apply. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreements of Mortgagor hereunder, the provisions of this Section shall survive the final payment of all Obligations and the termination of this Mortgage and shall continue thereafter in full force and effect.

(m) Further Assurances . Mortgagor will, promptly on request of Mortgagee, (i) correct any defect, error or omission which may be discovered in the contents, execution or acknowledgment of this Mortgage or any other Credit Document; (ii) execute, acknowledge, deliver, procure and record and/or file such further documents (including, without limitation, further mortgages, security agreements, financing statements, continuation statements, and assignments of rents or leases) and do such further acts as may be necessary, desirable or proper to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Mortgage and the other Credit Documents, to more fully identify and subject to the liens and security interests hereof in any property intended to be covered hereby (including specifically, but without limitation, any renewals, additions, substitutions, replacements, or appurtenances to the Mortgaged Property) or as deemed advisable by Mortgagee to protect the lien or the security interest hereunder against the rights or interests of third persons; and (iii) provide such certificates, documents, reports, information, affidavits and other instruments and do such further acts as may be necessary, desirable or proper in the reasonable determination of Mortgagee to enable Mortgagee to comply with the requirements or requests of any agency having jurisdiction over Mortgagee or any examiners of such agencies with respect to the Obligations, Mortgagor or the Mortgaged Property. Mortgagor shall pay all costs connected with any of the foregoing, which shall be an Obligation owing by Mortgagor (which Mortgagor hereby promises to pay on demand of Mortgagee) to Mortgagee pursuant to this Mortgage.

(n) Fees and Expenses . Without limitation of any other provision of this Mortgage or of any other Credit Document and to the extent not otherwise prohibited by applicable law, Mortgagor will pay, and will reimburse to Mortgagee on demand to the extent paid by Mortgagee and reasonably required by Mortgagee: (i) all reasonable appraisal fees, filing and recording fees, taxes, brokerage fees and commissions, abstract fees, title search or examination fees, title policy and endorsement premiums and fees, Uniform Commercial Code search fees, escrow fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees, architect fees, construction consultant fees, environmental inspection fees, survey fees, and all other out-of-pocket costs and expenses of every character incurred by Mortgagor or Mortgagee in connection with the preparation of the Credit Documents, the evaluation, closing and funding of the Loan, and any and all amendments and supplements to this Mortgage or any other Credit Documents or any approval, consent, waiver, release or other matter requested or required hereunder or thereunder, or otherwise attributable or chargeable to Mortgagor as owner of the Mortgaged Property; and (ii) all reasonable costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, incurred or expended in connection with the exercise of any right or remedy, or the enforcement of any obligation of Mortgagor hereunder or under any other Credit Document.

 

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(o) Books and Records, Inspection . Mortgagor will keep, and will allow Mortgagee at reasonable times to inspect, complete and accurate books and records with regard to the Mortgaged Property. All books and records relating to the Mortgaged Property shall at all times be located at Mortgagor’s address set forth in Section 6.26 or such other location agreeable to Mortgagee. Mortgagor shall be permitted to inspect the Mortgaged Property, from time to time, upon reasonable prior notice to Mortgagee.

(p) Taxes on this Mortgage . In the event of the enactment after this date of any law of any governmental entity applicable to Mortgagee, any promissory note given in connection therewith, the Mortgaged Property or this Mortgage deducting from the value of property for the purpose of taxation any lien or security interest thereon, or imposing upon Mortgagee the payment of the whole or any part of the taxes or assessments or charges or liens herein required to be paid by Mortgagor, or changing in any way the laws relating to the taxation of mortgages or security agreements or debts secured by mortgages or security agreements or the interest of the Mortgagee or secured party in the property covered thereby, or the manner of collection of such taxes, so as to affect this Mortgage, the Obligations or Mortgagee, then, and in any such event, Mortgagor, upon demand by Mortgagee, shall pay such taxes, assessments, charges or liens, or reimburse Mortgagee therefor, provided, however, that if in the opinion of counsel for Mortgagee (i) it might be unlawful to require Mortgagor to make such payment or (ii) the making of such payment might result in the imposition of interest beyond the maximum amount permitted by law, then and in such event, Mortgagee may elect, by notice in writing given to Mortgagor, to declare all of the Obligations to be and become due and payable sixty (60) days from the giving of such notice.

(q) Statement Concerning this Mortgage . Mortgagor shall at any time and from time to time furnish within seven (7) business days of request by Mortgagee a written statement in such form as may be required by Mortgagee stating that (i) this Mortgage and the other Credit Documents are valid and binding obligations of Mortgagor, enforceable against Mortgagor in accordance with their terms; (ii) the unpaid principal balance of the Obligations; (iii) the date to which interest on the Obligations is paid; (iv) that this Mortgage and the other Credit Documents have not been released, subordinated or modified; and (v) that there are no offsets or defenses against the enforcement of this Mortgage or any other Credit Document. If any of the foregoing statements are untrue, Mortgagor shall, alternatively, specify the reasons therefor.

(r) Authorization to File Financing Statements . Mortgagee authorizes Mortgagor to file such financing statements as Mortgagor deems necessary to perfect its security interest in the Collateral or to otherwise prevent its security interest therein from becoming unperfected and to amend or continue such financing statements. Mortgagee agrees to pay the costs and expenses incurred by Mortgagee in making such filings.

Section 2.2 Performance by Mortgagee on Mortgagor’s Behalf . Mortgagor agrees that, if Mortgagor fails to perform any act or to take any action which under any Credit Document Mortgagor is required to perform or take, or to pay any money which under any Credit Document Mortgagor is required to pay, and whether or not the failure then constitutes a default hereunder or thereunder, and whether or not there has occurred any default or defaults hereunder or the Obligations has been accelerated, Mortgagee, in Mortgagor’s name or its own name, may, but shall not be obligated to, perform or cause to be performed such act or take such action or pay such money, and any expenses so incurred by Mortgagee and any money so paid by Mortgagee shall be an Obligation owing by Mortgagor to Mortgagee (which obligation Mortgagor hereby promises to pay on demand of Mortgagee), and Mortgagee, upon making such payment, shall be subrogated to all of the rights of the person, entity or body politic receiving such payment. Mortgagee and its designees shall have the right, upon reasonable prior written notice to Mortgagor (no notice being required in the event of an emergency), to enter upon the Mortgaged Property at any time and from time to time for any such purposes. No such payment or performance by Mortgagee shall waive or cure any default or waive any right, remedy or recourse of Mortgagee. Any such payment may be made by Mortgagee in reliance on any statement, invoice or claim without inquiry into the validity or accuracy thereof. Each amount due and owing by Mortgagor to Mortgagee pursuant to this Mortgage shall bear interest, from the date such amount becomes due until paid, at the Default Rate, which interest shall be payable to Mortgagee on demand; and an such amounts, together with such interest thereon, shall automatically and without notice be a part of the Obligations. The amount and nature of any expense by Mortgagee hereunder and the time which paid shall be fully established by the certificate of Mortgagee or any of Mortgagee’s officers or agents.

Section 2.3 Absence of Obligations of Mortgagee with Respect to Mortgaged Property . Notwithstanding anything in this Mortgage to the contrary, including, without limitation, the definition of

 

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“Mortgaged Property” and/or the provisions of Article 3 hereof, (i) to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Mortgaged Property is composed of Mortgagor’s rights, title and interests therein but not Mortgagor’s obligations, duties or liabilities pertaining thereto, (ii) Mortgagee neither assumes nor shall have any obligations, duties or liabilities in connection with any portion of the items described in the definition of “Mortgaged Property” herein, either prior to or after obtaining title to such Mortgaged Property, whether by foreclosure sale, the granting of deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise, and (iii) Mortgagee may, at any time prior to or after the acquisition of title to any portion of the Mortgaged Property as above described, advise any party in writing as to the extent of Mortgagee’s interest therein and/or expressly disaffirm in writing any rights, interests, obligations, duties and/or liabilities with respect to such Mortgaged Property or matters related thereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is understood and agreed that Mortgagee shall have no obligations, duties or liabilities prior to or after acquisition of title to any portion of the Mortgaged Property, as lessee under any lease or purchaser or seller under any contract or option unless Mortgagee elects otherwise by written notification.

ARTICLE 3 - ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES AND RENTS

Section 3.1 Assignment . As additional security for the Obligations, Mortgagor hereby absolutely, presently and unconditionally grants, assigns, transfers and pledges to Mortgagee all Rents (hereinafter defined) and all of Mortgagor’s rights in and under all Leases (hereinafter defined). Mortgagor shall have a revocable license (the “ License ”) to collect the Rents, subject to the provisions of Section 3.2 herein, until an event of default occurs under the Loan. Upon the occurrence of a default hereunder, Mortgagee shall have the right, power and privilege (but shall be under no duty) to terminate the License, demand possession of the Rents, which demand shall to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law be sufficient action by Mortgagee to entitle Mortgagee to immediate and direct payment of the Rents (including delivery to Mortgagee of Rents collected for the period in which the demand occurs and for any subsequent period), for application as provided in this Mortgage, all without the necessity of any further action by Mortgagee, including, without limitation, any action to foreclose the lien of this Mortgage or to obtain possession of the Land, Improvements or any other portion of the Mortgaged Property. Mortgagor hereby authorizes and directs the tenants under the Leases to pay Rents to Mortgagee upon written demand by Mortgagee, without further consent of Mortgagor, without any obligation to determine whether a default has in fact occurred and regardless of whether Mortgagee has taken possession of any portion of the Mortgaged Property, and the tenants may rely upon any written statement delivered by Mortgagee to the tenants. Any such payment to Mortgagee shall constitute payment to Mortgagor under the Leases, and Mortgagor hereby appoints Mortgagee as Mortgagor’s lawful attorney-in-fact for giving, and Mortgagee is hereby empowered to give, acquittance to any tenants for such payments to Mortgagee after a default. As used herein: (i) “ Lease ” means each existing or future lease, sublease (to the extent of Mortgagor’s rights thereunder) or other agreement under the terms of which any person has or acquires any right to occupy or use the Mortgaged Property, or any part thereof, or interest therein, and each existing or future guaranty of payment or performance thereunder, and all extensions, renewals, modifications and replacements of each such lease, sublease, agreement or guaranty; and (ii) “ Rents” means all of the rents, revenue, income, profits and proceeds derived and to be derived from the Mortgaged Property or arising from the use of enjoyment of any portion thereof or from any Lease, including but not limited to liquidated damages following default under any such Lease, all proceeds payable under any policy of insurance covering loss of rents resulting from untenantability caused by damage to any part of the Mortgaged Property, all of Mortgagor’s rights to recover monetary amounts from any tenant in bankruptcy including, without limitation, rights of recovery for use and occupancy and damage claims arising out of Lease defaults, including, rejections, under any applicable Debtor Relief Law (as hereinafter defined), together with any sums of money that may now or at any time hereafter be or become due and payable to Mortgagor by virtue of any and all royalties, overriding royalties, bonuses, delay rentals and any other amount of any kind or character arising under any and all present and all future oil, gas, mineral and mining leases covering the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof, and all proceeds and other amounts paid or owing to Mortgagor under or pursuant to any and all contracts all bonds relating to the construction or renovation of the Mortgaged Property.

Section 3.2 Covenants, Representations and Warranties Concerning Leases and Rents . Mortgagor covenants, represents and warrants that: (i) Mortgagor has good title to, and is the owner of the entire lessor’s interest in, the Leases and Rents (if any) hereby assigned and has the authority to assign them; (ii) all Leases (if any) are valid and enforceable, and in full force and effect, and are unmodified except as stated therein; (iii) unless otherwise stated in a Permitted Encumbrance, no Rents or Leases have been or will be assigned, mortgaged, pledged or otherwise encumbered and no other person has or will acquire any right, title or interest in such Rents or Leases; (iv) no Rents have been waived, released, discounted, set off or compromised in any material respect; (v)

 

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except as stated in the Leases, Mortgagor has not received any material amount of funds or deposits from any tenant for which credit has not already been made on account of accrued Rents; (vi) Mortgagor shall perform all of its obligations under the Leases and enforce the tenants’ obligations under the Leases to the extent enforcement is prudent under the circumstances; (vii) Mortgagor will not without the prior written consent of Mortgagee, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, enter into any Lease after the date hereof, or, in any material respect, waive, release, discount, set off, compromise, reduce or defer any Rent, receive or collect Rents more than one (1) year in advance, grant any rent-free period to any tenant, reduce any Lease term or waive, release or otherwise modify any other material obligation under any Lease, renew or extend any Lease except in accordance with a right of the tenant thereto in such Lease, approve or consent to an assignment of a Lease or a subletting of any part of the premises covered by a Lease, or settle or compromise any claim against a tenant under a Lease in bankruptcy or otherwise (if Mortgagee so requests, Mortgagor shall cause the tenant under any Lease consented to by Mortgagee to enter into a subordination agreement with Mortgagee satisfactory in the sole discretion of Mortgagee); (viii) promptly upon request by Mortgagee, Mortgagor shall deliver to Mortgagee executed originals of all Leases and copies of all records relating thereto; (ix) there shall be no extinguishment by confusion of the leasehold estates, created by the Leases, with ownership of the Land without the prior written consent of Mortgagee; and (x) Mortgagee may at any time and from time to time by specific written instrument intended for the purpose, unilaterally subordinate the lien of this Mortgage to any Lease, without joinder or consent of, or notice to, Mortgagor, any tenant or any other person, and notice is hereby given to each tenant under a Lease of such right to subordinate. No such subordination shall constitute a subordination to any lien or other encumbrance, whenever arising, or improve the right of any junior lienholder; and nothing herein shall be construed as subordinating this Mortgage to any Lease.

Section 3.3 No Liability of Mortgagee . Mortgagee’s acceptance of this assignment shall not be deemed to constitute Mortgagee a “mortgagee in possession,” nor obligate Mortgagee to appear in or defend any proceeding relating to any Lease or to the Mortgaged Property, or to take any action hereunder, expend any money, incur any expenses, or perform any obligation or liability under any Lease, or assume any obligation for any deposit delivered to Mortgagor by any tenant and not as such delivered to and accepted by Mortgagee. Mortgagee shall not be liable for any injury or damage to person or property in or about the Mortgaged Property, or for Mortgagee’s failure to collect or to exercise diligence in collecting Rents, but shall be accountable only for Rents that it shall actually receive. Neither the assignment of Leases and Rents nor enforcement of Mortgagee’s rights regarding Leases and Rents (including collection of Rents) nor possession of the Mortgaged Property by Mortgagee or by a keeper appointed at Mortgagee’s request nor Mortgagee’s consent to or approval of any Lease (nor all of the same), shall render Mortgagee liable on any obligation under or with respect to any Lease or constitute affirmation of, or any subordination to, any Lease, occupancy, use or option. If Mortgagee seeks or obtains any judicial relief regarding Rents or Leases, the same shall in no way prevent the concurrent or subsequent employment of any other appropriate rights or remedies nor shall same constitute an election of judicial relief for any foreclosure or any other purposes. Mortgagee neither has nor assumes any obligations as lessor or landlord with respect to any Lease. The rights of Mortgagee under this Article 3 shall be cumulative of all other rights of Mortgagee under the Credit Documents or otherwise.

ARTICLE 4 - DEFAULT

Section 4.1 Events of Default . The occurrence of anyone of the following shall be a default under this Mortgage (each a “ default ”):

(a) Failure to Pay Obligations . Any of the Obligations is not timely paid when due, on demand or otherwise.

(b) Nonperformance of Covenants . Any covenant, agreement or condition herein or in any other Credit Document (other than covenants otherwise addressed in another paragraph of this Section, such as covenants to pay the Obligations) is not fully and timely performed, observed or kept, and any such failure under this Mortgage is not cured within forty five (45) days after written notice thereof and any such failure under any other Credit Document is not cured within the applicable grace period (if any) provided for herein or in such other Credit Document

(c) Representations . Any statement, representation or warranty in any of the Credit Documents, or in any financial statement or any other writing heretofore or hereafter delivered to Mortgagee in connection with the

 

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Obligations is false, misleading or erroneous in any material respect on the date hereof or on the date as of which such statement, representation or warranty is made, and such statement, representation or warranty is not made true and correct (as of the time such corrective action is taken) within the applicable grace period (if any) provided for in such Credit Document.

(d) Bankruptcy or Insolvency . The owner of the Mortgaged Property or any person liable, directly or indirectly, for any of the Obligations (or any guarantor, general partner or joint venturer of such owner or other person):

(1) (i) Executes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or takes any action in furtherance thereof; (ii) admits in writing its inability to pay, or fails to pay, its debts generally as they become due; (iii) as a debtor, files a petition, case, proceeding or other action pursuant to, or voluntarily seeks the benefit or benefits of: Title 11 of the United States Code as now or hereafter in effect or any other law, domestic or foreign, as now or hereafter in effect relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, receivership, reorganization, arrangement, composition, extension or adjustment of debts, or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors (Title 11 of the United States Code and such other laws being herein called “ Debtor Relief Laws ”), or takes any action in furtherance thereof; or (iv) seeks the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator of the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof or of any significant portion) of its other property; or

(2) Suffers the filing of a petition, case, proceeding or other action against it as a debtor under any Debtor Relief Law or seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator of the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof or of any significant portion of its other property, and (i) admits, acquiesces in or fails to contest diligently the material allegations thereof, or (ii) the petition, case, proceeding or other action results in entry of any order for relief or order granting relief sought against it, or (iii) in a proceeding under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, the case is converted from one chapter to another, or

(3) Conceals, removes, or permits to be concealed or removed, any part of its property, with intent to hinder, delay or defraud its creditors or any of them, or makes or suffers a transfer of any of its property which causes or increases its insolvency or which may be fraudulent under any bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance or similar law; or makes any transfer of its property to or for the benefit or a creditor at a time when other creditors similarly situated have not been paid; or suffers or permits, while insolvent, any creditor to obtain a lien upon any of its property through legal proceedings.

(e) Transfer of the Mortgaged Property . Any sale, lease, conveyance, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or transfer of all or any part of the Mortgaged Property or any interest therein, voluntarily or involuntarily, whether by operation of law or otherwise, without Mortgagee’s prior written consent, except: (i) sales or transfers of items of the Accessories which have become obsolete or worn beyond practical use and which have been replaced by adequate substitutes, owned by Mortgagor, having a value equal to or greater than the replaced items when new; (ii) the grant, in the ordinary course of business, of a leasehold interest in a part of the Improvements to a tenant for occupancy, not in excess of one year and not containing a right or option to purchase and not in contravention of any provision of this Mortgage or of any other Credit Document; and (iii) Permitted Encumbrances. Mortgagee may, in its sole discretion, waive a default under this paragraph, but it shall have no obligation to do so, and any waiver may be conditioned upon such one or more of the following (if any) which Mortgagee may require: the grantee’s integrity, reputation, character, creditworthiness and management ability being satisfactory to Mortgagee in its sole judgment and grantee executing, prior to such sale or transfer, a written assumption agreement containing such terms as Mortgagee may require, a principal pay down on the Obligations (or any one or more thereof), an increase in the rate of interest payable upon the Obligations, a transfer fee, a modification of the term of the Obligations (or any one or more thereof), and any other modification of the Credit Documents which Mortgagee may require.

(f) Transfer of Ownership of Mortgagor . Unless previously approved in writing by Mortgagee in its sole discretion, the sale, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or transfer, voluntarily or involuntarily, whether by operation of law or otherwise, of any interest in Mortgagor except in strict accordance with the terms and provisions of the Credit Documents.

 

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(g) Grant of Easement, Etc . Without the prior written consent of Mortgagee, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, Mortgagor grants any easement (other than easements which are for utilities serving only the Premises and which do not, singly or in the aggregate, diminish the value of the Premises) or dedication, files any plat, condominium declaration, or restriction, or otherwise encumbers the Mortgaged Property, or seeks or permits any zoning reclassification or variance, unless such action is expressly permitted by the Credit Documents, is a Permitted Encumbrance or does not affect the Mortgaged Property.

(h) Abandonment . The owner of the Mortgaged Property abandons any part of the Mortgaged Property.

(i) Default Under Other Lien . A default or event of default occurs and has not been cured within the applicable grace period (if any) under any lien, security interest or assignment covering the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof (whether or not Mortgagee has consented, and without implying Mortgagee’s consent, to any such lien, security interest or assignment not created hereunder), or the holder of any such lien, security interest or assignment declares a default or institutes foreclosure or other proceedings for the enforcement of its remedies thereunder.

(j) Eminent Domain . (i) Any governmental authority shall require, or commence any proceeding for, the demolition of any building or structure comprising a material part of the Premises, or (ii) there is commenced any proceeding to condemn or otherwise take pursuant to the power of eminent domain, or a contract for sale or a conveyance in lieu of such a taking is executed which provides for the transfer of, a material portion of the Premises, including but not limited to the taking (or transfer in lieu thereof) of any portion which would result in the blockage or substantial impairment of access or utility service to the Improvements or which would cause the Premises to fail to comply with any Legal Requirement.

(k) Destruction . The Mortgaged Property is so demolished, destroyed or damaged that, in the reasonable opinion of Mortgagee, it cannot be restored or rebuilt (1) with available funds, (2) to a profitable condition, (3) within a reasonable period of time, and (4) in accordance with Mortgagee’s requirements for restoration.

(l) Liquidation, Etc . The liquidation, termination, dissolution, merger, consolidation or failure to maintain good standing in the State of Nebraska (or in the State of its incorporation or organization) of the owner of the Mortgaged Property or any person obligated to pay any part of the Obligations, except for any merger, dissolution or consolidation of a wholly-owned subsidiary pursuant to which Mortgagor acquires all of the assets of such subsidiary.

(m) Enforceability; Priority . Any Credit Document shall for any reason without Mortgagee’s specific written consent cease to be in full force and effect, or shall be declared null and void or unenforceable in whole or in part, or the validity or enforceability thereof, in whole or in part, shall be challenged or denied by any party thereto other than Mortgagee; or the liens, mortgages or security interests of Mortgagee in any of the Mortgaged Property become unenforceable in whole or in part, or cease to be of the priority herein required, or the validity or enforceability thereof, in whole or in part, shall be challenged or denied by Mortgagor or any person obligated to pay any part of the Obligations.

(n) Other Credit Documents . A default or event of default occurs under the Loan Agreement or any Credit Document other than this Mortgage, and the same is not remedied within the applicable period of grace (if any) provided in such Credit Document.

The enumeration of specific events of default shall not impair the demand nature of any of the Obligations which by its terms or otherwise is payable on demand.

ARTICLE 5 - REMEDIES

Section 5.1 Certain Remedies . If a default shall occur, Mortgagee may (but shall have no obligation to) exercise any one or more of the following remedies:

 

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(a) Acceleration . With respect to any Obligations other than any Obligation which is payable on demand, Mortgagee may at any time and from time to time declare any or all of such Obligations immediately due and payable and such Obligations shall thereupon be immediately due and payable, with presentment, demand, protest, notice or protest, notice of acceleration or of intention to accelerate or any other notice or declaration of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Mortgagor. Without limitation of the foregoing, upon the occurrence of a default described in clauses (i), (iii) or (iv) of paragraph (d)(1) or paragraph (d)(2) of Section 4.1 hereof, all Obligations shall thereupon be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest, notice of protest, declaration or notice of acceleration or intention to accelerate, or any other notice, declaration or act of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Mortgagor.

(b) Enforcement of Assignment of Rents . From the date of default through the expiration of the last redemption period following the foreclosure of this Mortgage, Mortgagee may: (1) terminate the License and collect and/or sue for the Rents in Mortgagee’s own name, give receipts and releases therefor, and after deducting all expenses of collection, including attorneys’ fees and expenses, apply the net proceeds thereof to the Obligations in such manner and order as Mortgagee may elect and/or to the operation and management of the Mortgaged Property, including the payment of management, brokerage and attorneys’ fees and expenses; and (2) require Mortgagor to transfer all security deposits and records thereof to Mortgagee together with original counterparts of the Leases.

(c) Collection . Mortgagee may collect the outstanding Obligations with or without resorting to judicial process.

(d) Assembly of Collateral . Mortgagee may require Mortgagor to deliver and make available to Mortgagee any and all Collateral at a place reasonably convenient to Mortgagor and Mortgagee.

(e) Possession . Mortgagee may take immediate possession, management and control of the Mortgaged Property without seeking the appointment of a receiver.

(f) Receiver . Mortgagee may apply for and obtain, without notice and upon ex parte application, the appointment of a receiver for the Mortgaged Property without regard to Mortgagor’s financial condition or solvency, the adequacy of the Mortgaged Property to secure the payment or performance of the Obligations, or the existence of any waste to the Mortgaged Property.

(g) Foreclosure . Mortgagee may foreclose this Mortgage.

(h) Power of Sale . Subject to compliance with the applicable laws of the State of Iowa, authorize and empower Mortgagee to fix the day, time, and place of sale, to sell the Mortgaged Property and all estate, right, title and interest, claim and demand therein, and right of redemption thereof, at one or more sales as an entirety or in parcels; said sale to be by public outcry to the highest bidder for cash or cash equivalent pursuant to the power of sale granted by the laws of the State of Iowa and any successor laws thereto. Mortgagee may bid at said sale and purchase said Mortgaged Property, or any part thereof, as the highest bidder therefor. At the foreclosure sale the Mortgaged Property may be offered for sale and sold as a whole without first offering it in any other manner or may be offered for sale and sold in any other manner Mortgagee may elect. The Mortgagee shall have full power to conduct any sale through an agent appointed by the Mortgagee for the purpose, but said appointment of agent need not be recorded.

(i) Set-off . Mortgagee may set-off Mortgagor’s Obligations against any amounts due by Mortgagee to Mortgagor including, but not limited to, monies, instruments and deposit accounts maintained with Mortgagee.

(j) Collateral . Mortgagee may exercise all rights against the Collateral allowed a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law, including without limitation to sell the Collateral or any part thereof at public or private sale, for cash, upon credit or for future delivery, at such price or prices as Mortgagee may deem satisfactory, and in connection with any such sale, Mortgagor hereby agrees that ten (10) days’ prior written notice of the time and place of any such sale or other intended disposition of any of the Collateral constitutes “reasonable notification” within the meaning of applicable provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, except that shorter or no notice shall be reasonable as to any Collateral which is perishable or threatens to decline speedily in

 

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value or is of a type customarily sold on a recognized market. Mortgagee may proceed under this Mortgage solely as to the real property interests, or solely as to the personal property interests, or as to both the real and personal property interests in accordance with its rights and remedies in respect of the real property interests.

(k) Lawsuits . Mortgagee may institute suits for collection of the Obligations, the specific performance of any covenant or agreement herein contained or in aid of the execution of any power herein granted. Mortgagee may commence an action against Mortgagor under Nebraska law for the recovery of any balance due under the Credit Documents which was not retired as a result of the exercise of any foreclosure proceedings or the power of sale granted herein.

(l) Termination of Commitment to Lend . Mortgagee may terminate any commitment or obligation to lend or disburse funds under any Credit Document.

(m) Other Rights and Remedies . Mortgagee may exercise any and all other rights and remedies which Mortgagee may have under the Credit Documents, under applicable law or otherwise.

The enumeration of the availability of specific remedies in the event of default shall not impair the demand nature of any of the Obligations which by its terms or otherwise is payable on demand. Mortgagee’s rights are cumulative and may be exercised together, separately and in any order. In the event that Mortgagee institutes an action seeking the recovery of any of the Mortgaged Property by way of a pre-judgment remedy in an action against Mortgagor, Mortgagor waives the posting of any bond which might otherwise be required.

Section 5.2 Proceeds of Foreclosure . Subject to applicable law, the proceeds of any sale held at the instance of the Mortgagee in foreclosure of the liens and security interests evidenced hereby shall be applied in such order or priority as the Mortgagee may elect, in its sole discretion, which may include the application thereof in accordance with the following: FIRST, to the payment of all necessary costs and expenses incident to such foreclosure sale, including but not limited to all reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses, all court costs, commissions and charges of every character, and to the payment of the other Obligations, including specifically without limitation the principal, accrued interest, prepayment premium and attorneys’ fees due and unpaid on the Obligations and the amounts due and unpaid and owed to Mortgagee under this Mortgage, the order and manner of application to the terms in this clause FIRST to be in Mortgagee’s sole discretion; and SECOND, the remainder, if any there shall be, shall be paid to Mortgagor, or to Mortgagor’s heirs, representatives, successors or assigns, or such other persons (including the holder of any inferior lien) as may be entitled thereto by law; provided, however, that if Mortgagee is uncertain which person or persons are so entitled, Mortgagee may commence appropriate proceedings with respect to such remainder in any court of competent jurisdiction, and the amount of any attorneys’ fees, court costs and expenses incurred in such action shall be a part of the Obligations and shall be reimbursable (without limitation) from such remainder.

Section 5.3 Remedies Cumulative . All rights and remedies provided for herein and in any other Credit Document are cumulative of each other and of any and all other rights and remedies available under the law, and Mortgagee shall, in addition to the rights and remedies provided herein or in any other Credit Document, be entitled to avail itself of all such other rights and remedies as may now or hereafter exist under applicable law for the collection of the Obligations and the enforcement of the covenants herein and the foreclosure of the liens and security interest evidenced hereby, and the resort to any right or remedy provided for hereunder or under any such other Credit Document or provided under applicable law shall not prevent the concurrent or subsequent employment of any other appropriate right or rights or remedy or remedies.

Section 5.4 Mortgagee’s Discretion as to Security . Mortgagee may resort to any security given by this Mortgage or to any other security now existing or hereafter given to secure the payment of the Obligations, in whole or in part, and in such portions and in such order as may seem best to Mortgagee in its sole and uncontrolled discretion, and any such action shall not in anyway be considered as a waiver of any rights, benefits, liens or security interest evidenced by this Mortgage.

Section 5.5 Waiver of Homestead and Other Exemptions . Mortgagor hereby waives all homestead, dower or curtesy interest, redemption rights and appraisement rights or other exemptions to which Mortgagor would otherwise be entitled under any applicable law, including any redemption rights under the applicable laws of the State of Iowa.

 

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Without limitation to the foregoing, in the event of the foreclosure of this mortgage and sale of the Mortgagor’s interest in the Mortgaged Property by sheriff’s sale in such foreclosure proceedings, the time of one (1) year of redemption from said sale provided by the statutes of the State of Iowa shall be reduced to six (6) months; provided, however, that Mortgagee in such action files an election to waive any deficiency judgment against Mortgagor which may arise out of the foreclosure proceedings. Without limitation to the foregoing, if (i) the court finds affirmatively that the Mortgaged Property has been abandoned by Mortgagor and those persons (if any) personally liable under the Note and (ii) Mortgagee waives any right to a deficiency judgment against Mortgagor or Mortgagor’s successor in interest in the foreclosure action, then the period of redemption shall be reduced to 60 days. The provisions of this section shall be construed to conform with the provisions of Sections 628.26 and 628.27 of the Iowa Code, as amended.

Section 5.6 Reimbursement of Amounts Expended by Mortgagee . Upon demand, Mortgagor shall immediately reimburse Mortgagee for all amounts (including attorney fees and legal expenses) expended by Mortgagee in the performance of any action required to be taken by Mortgagor or the exercise of any right or remedy of Mortgagee under this Mortgage, together with interest thereon at the Default Rate. These sums shall be included in the definition of Obligations herein and shall be secured by the interest granted herein.

ARTICLE 6 - MISCELLANEOUS

Section 6.1 Scope of Mortgage . This Mortgage is a mortgage of real property, a security agreement, and an absolute assignment of leases and rents, and also covers proceeds and fixtures.

Section 6.2 Effective as a Financing Statement, Fixture Filing . This Mortgage shall be effective as a financing statement. The mailing addresses of Mortgagor and Mortgagee are as set forth in Section 6.26 of this Mortgage. A carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Mortgage or of any financing statement relating to this Mortgage shall be sufficient as a financing statement.

This instrument shall also be deemed to be a Fixture Filing within the meaning of the UCC, and for such purpose, the following information is given:

 

(a)    Name and address of Debtor:    See Section 6.26
(b)    Type of Organization:    Corporation/Limited Liability Company
(c)    Jurisdiction of Organization:    Iowa/Delaware
(d)    Name and address of Secured Party:    See Section 6.26
(e)    Description of collateral:    See granting clause above
(f)    Description of real estate to   
   which the Collateral is attached   
   or upon which it is or will be located:    See Exhibit “B” attached hereto.

Some of the above-described collateral is or is to become fixtures upon the above-described real estate, and this Fixture Filing is to be filed for record in the public real estate records.

Section 6.3 Notice to Account Debtors . In addition to the rights granted elsewhere in this Mortgage, Mortgagee may at any time notify the account debtors or obligors of any accounts, chattel paper, negotiable instruments or other evidences of indebtedness included in the Collateral to pay Mortgagee directly.

Section 6.4 Waiver by Mortgagee . Mortgagee may at any time and from time to time by a specific writing intended for the purpose: (a)  waive compliance by Mortgagor with any covenant herein made by Mortgagor to the extent and in the manner specified in such writing; (b) consent to Mortgagor’s doing any act which hereunder Mortgagor is prohibited from doing, or to Mortgagor’s failing to do any act which hereunder Mortgagor is required to do, to the extent and in the manner specified in such writing; (c)  release any part of the Mortgaged Property or any interest therein from the lien and security interest of this Mortgage; or (d)  release any party liable, either directly or indirectly, for the Obligations or for any covenant herein or in any other Credit Document, without impairing or releasing the liability of any other party. No such act shall in any way affect the rights or powers of Mortgagee hereunder except to the extent specifically agreed to by Mortgagee in such writing.

 

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Section 6.5 No Impairment of Security . The lien, security interest and other security rights of Mortgagee hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall not be impaired by any indulgence, moratorium or release granted by Mortgagee including, but not limited to, any renewal, extension or modification which Mortgagee may grant with respect to any Obligations, or any surrender, compromise, release, renewal, extension, exchange or substitution which Mortgagee may grant in respect of the Mortgaged Property, or any part thereof or any interest therein, or any release or indulgence granted to any endorser, guarantor or surety of any Obligations. The taking of additional security by Mortgagee shall not release or impair the lien, security interest or other security lights of Mortgagee hereunder or affect the liability of Mortgagor or of any endorser, guarantor or surety, or improve the right of any junior lienholder in the Mortgaged Property (without implying hereby Mortgagee’s Consent to any junior lien),

Section 6.6 Acts Not Constituting Waiver by Mortgagee . Mortgagee may waive any default without waiving any other prior or subsequent default. Mortgagee may remedy any default without waiving the default remedied. Neither failure by Mortgagee to exercise, nor delay by Mortgagee in exercising, nor discontinuance of the exercise of any right, power or remedy (including but not limited to the right to accelerate the maturity of the Obligations or any part thereof) upon or after any default shall be construed as a waiver of such default or as a waiver of the right to exercise any such right, power or remedy at a later date. No single or partial exercise by Mortgagee of any right, power or remedy hereunder shall exhaust the same or shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof, and every such right, power or remedy hereunder may be exercised at any time and from time to time. No modification or waiver of any provision hereof nor consent to any departure by Mortgagor therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Mortgagee and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance, for the purpose for which given and to the extent therein specified. No notice to nor demand on Mortgagor in any case shall of itself entitle Mortgagor to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. Remittances in payment of any part of the Obligations other than in the required amount in immediately available U.S. funds shall not, regardless of any receipt or credit issued therefor, constitute payment until the required amount is actually received by Mortgagee in immediately available U.S. funds and shall be made and accepted subject to the condition that any check or draft may be handled for collection in accordance with the practice of Mortgagee. Acceptance by Mortgagee of any payment in an amount less than the amount then due on any Obligation shall be deemed an acceptance on account only and shall not in any way excuse the existence of a default hereunder.

Section 6.7 Mortgagor’s Successors . If the ownership of the Mortgaged Property or any part thereof becomes vested in a person other than Mortgagor, Mortgagee may, without notice to Mortgagor, deal with such successor or successors in interest with reference to this Mortgage and to the Obligations in the same manner as with Mortgagor, without in any way vitiating or discharging Mortgagor’s liability hereunder or for the payment or performance of the Obligations. No transfer of the Mortgaged Property, except to Mortgagee when expressly agreed to, no forbearance on the part of Mortgagee, and no extension of the time for the payment of the Obligations given by Mortgagee shall operate to release, discharge, modify, change or affect, in whole or in part, the liability of Mortgagor hereunder for the payment or performance of the Obligations or the liability of any other person hereunder for the payment of the Obligations. Each Mortgagor agrees that it shall be bound by any modification of this Mortgage or any of the other Credit Documents made by Mortgagee and any subsequent owner of the Mortgaged Property, with or without notice to such Mortgagor, and no such modifications shall impair the obligations of such Mortgagor under this Mortgage or any other Credit Document. Nothing in this Section 6.7 or elsewhere in this Mortgage shall be construed to imply Mortgagee’s consent to any transfer of the Mortgaged Property.

Section 6.8 Place of Payment . All Obligations which may be owing hereunder at any time by Mortgagor shall be payable at the place designated in the Note, as the case may be (or, if no such designation is made, at the address of Mortgagee indicated in Section 6.26 ).

Section 6.9 Subrogation to Existing Liens . To the extent that proceeds of the Obligations are used to pay indebtedness secured by any outstanding lien, security interest, charge or prior encumbrance against the Mortgaged Property, such proceeds have been advanced by Mortgagee at Mortgagor’s request, and Mortgagee shall

 

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be subrogated to any and all rights, security interest and liens owned by any owner or holder of such outstanding liens, security interests, charges or encumbrances, however remote, irrespective of whether said liens, security interests, charges or encumbrances are released, and all of the same are recognized as valid and subsisting and are renewed and continued and merged herein to secure the Obligations, but the terms and provisions of this Mortgage shall govern and control the manner and terms of enforcement of the liens, security interests, charges and encumbrances to which Mortgagee is subrogated hereunder. It is expressly understood that in consideration of the payment of such indebtedness by Mortgagee, Mortgagor hereby waives and releases all demands and causes of action for offsets and payments in connection with the said indebtedness.

Section 6.10 Application of Payments to Certain Obligations . If any part of the Obligations cannot be lawfully secured by this Mortgage or if any part of the Mortgaged Property cannot be lawfully subject to the lien and security interest hereof to the full extent of the Obligations, then all payments made shall, unless otherwise designated by the Mortgagee, be applied on the Obligations first in discharge of that portion thereof which is not secured by this Mortgage.

Section 6.11 Compliance with Usury Laws . It is the intent of Mortgagor and Mortgagee and all other parties to the Credit Documents to conform to and contract in strict compliance with applicable usury laws from time to time in effect. All agreements between Mortgagee and Mortgagor (or any other party liable with respect to any indebtedness under the Credit Documents) are hereby limited by the provisions of this Section 6.11 which shall override and control all such agreements, whether now existing or hereafter arising. In no way, nor in any event or contingency (including but not limited to prepayment, default, demand for payment, or acceleration of the maturity of any obligation), shall the interest taken, reserved, contracted for, charged, chargeable, or received under this Mortgage, the Note delivered in connection therewith or any other Credit Document or otherwise, exceed the maximum non-usurious amount permitted by applicable law (the “ Maximum Lawful Amount ”). If, from any possible construction of any document, interest would otherwise by payable in excess of the Maximum Lawful Amount, any such construction shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 6.11 and such document shall ipso facto be automatically reformed and the interest payable shall be automatically reduced to the Maximum Lawful Amount, without the necessity of execution of any amendment or new document. If Mortgagee shall ever receive anything of value which is characterized as interest under applicable law and which would apart from this provision be in excess of the Maximum Lawful Amount, an amount equal to the amount which would have been excessive interest shall, without penalty, be applied to the reduction of the principal amount owing on the Obligations in the inverse order of its maturity and not to the payment of interest, or refunded to Mortgagor or the other payor thereof if and to the extent such amount which would have been excessive exceeds such unpaid principal. Any right to accelerate maturity of any of the Obligations does not include the right to accelerate any interest which has not otherwise accrued on the date of such acceleration, and Mortgagee does not intend to charge or receive any unearned interest in the event of acceleration. All interest paid or agreed to be paid to Mortgagee shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread throughout the full stated term (including any renewal or extension) of such indebtedness so that the amount of interest on account of such indebtedness does not exceed the Maximum Lawful Amount.

Section 6.12 Marshalling . To the fullest extent allowed by applicable law, Mortgagor waives any right to require the marshalling of any assets constituting collateral for the Loan.

Section 6.13 Invalidity of Certain Provisions . A determination that any provision of this Mortgage is unenforceable or invalid shall not affect the enforceability or validity of any other provision, and the determination that the application of any provision of this Mortgage to any person or circumstance is illegal or unenforceable shall not affect the enforceability or validity of such provision as it may apply to other persons or circumstances.

Section 6.14 Gender; Titles; Construction . Within this Mortgage, words of any gender shall be held and construed to include any other gender, and words in the singular number shall be held and construed to include the plural, unless the context otherwise requires. Titles appearing at the beginning of any subdivisions hereof are for convenience only, do not constitute any part of such subdivisions, and shall be disregarded in construing the language contained in such subdivisions. The use of the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and other similar compounds of the word “here” shall refer to this entire Mortgage and not to any particular Article, Section, paragraph or provision. The term “person” and words importing persons as used in this Mortgage shall include firms, associations, partnerships (including limited partnerships), joint ventures, trusts, corporations, limited liability companies, and other legal entities, including public or governmental bodies, agencies or instrumentalities, as well as natural persons.

 

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Section 6.15 Reporting Compliance . Mortgagor agrees to comply with any and all reporting requirements applicable to the transactions secured by this Mortgage which are set forth in any law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, order or determination of any governmental authority, and further agrees upon written request of Mortgagee to furnish Mortgagee with evidence of such compliance.

Section 6.16 Mortgagee’s Consent . Except where otherwise expressly provided herein, in any instance hereunder where the approval, consent or the exercise of judgment of Mortgagee is required or requested, (i) the granting or denial of such approval or consent and the exercise of such judgment shall be within the sole discretion of Mortgagee, and Mortgagee shall not, for any reason or to any extent, be required to grant such approval or consent or exercise such judgment in any particular manner, regardless of the reasonableness of either the request or Mortgagee’s judgment, and (ii) no approval or consent of Mortgagee shall be deemed to have been given except by a specific writing intended for the purpose and executed by an authorized representative of Mortgagee.

Section 6.17 Mortgagor . Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, as used in this Mortgage, “ Mortgagor ” means the Mortgagor named in the appearance clause of this Mortgage or any of them. The obligations of Mortgagor hereunder shall be joint and several. If any Mortgagor, or any signatory who signs on behalf of any Mortgagor, is a corporation, partnership or other legal entity, Mortgagor and any such signatory, and the person or persons signing for it, represent and warrant to Mortgagee that this instrument is executed, acknowledged and delivered by Mortgagor’s duly authorized representatives. If Mortgagor is an individual, no power of attorney granted by Mortgagor herein shall terminate on Mortgagor’s disability.

Section 6.18 Successors and Assigns . The terms, provisions, covenants and conditions hereof shall be binding upon Mortgagor, and the heirs, devisees, representatives, successors and assigns of Mortgagor, and shall inure to the benefit of the Mortgagee, its successors and assigns, and shall constitute covenants running with the Land. All references in this Mortgage to Mortgagor shall be deemed to include all such heirs, devisees, representatives, successors and assigns of Mortgagor.

Section 6.19 Modification or Termination . The Credit Documents may only be modified or terminated by a written instrument or instruments intended for that purpose and executed by the party against which enforcement of the modification or termination is asserted. Any alleged modification or termination which is not so documented shall not be effective as to any party.

Section 6.20 No Partnership, etc . The relationship between Mortgagee and Mortgagor is solely that of Mortgagee and Mortgagor. Mortgagee has no fiduciary or other special relationship with Mortgagor. Nothing contained in the Credit Documents is intended to create any partnership, joint venture, association or special relationship between Mortgagor and Mortgagee or in any way make Mortgagee a co-principal with Mortgagor with reference to the Mortgaged Property. All agreed contractual duties between or among Mortgagee and Mortgagor are set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents and any additional implied covenants or duties are hereby disclaimed. Any inferences to the contrary of any of the foregoing are hereby expressly negated.

Section 6.21 Power of Attorney . Mortgagor hereby appoints Mortgagee as its attorney-in-fact and upon any default hereunder authorizes Mortgagee to endorse Mortgagor’s name on all instruments and other documents pertaining to the Obligations. In addition, Mortgagee shall be entitled, but not required, to perform any action or execute any document required to be taken or executed by Mortgagor under this Mortgage. Mortgagee’s performance of such action or execution of such documents shall not relieve Mortgagor from any Obligation or cure any default under this Mortgage. The powers of attorney described in this action are coupled with an interest and are irrevocable.

Section 6.22 Collection Costs . If Mortgagee hires an attorney to assist in collecting any amount due or enforcing any right or remedy under this Mortgage, Mortgagor agrees to pay Mortgagee’s reasonable attorney fees and collection costs, including, but not limited to, costs incurred for copying, title reports, surveys, title abstract and all other costs incurred by Mortgagee in collecting the debt.

 

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Section 6.23 Partial Release . Mortgagee directly may release its interest in a portion of the Mortgaged Property by executing and recording one or more partial releases without affecting its interest in the remaining portion of the Mortgaged Property.

Section 6.24 Applicable Law . THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEBRASKA (EXCLUSIVE OF ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES) SHALL GOVERN THE VALIDITY, ENFORCEABILITY, INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF ALL OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS MORTGAGE AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS AND ALL ISSUES HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER, INCLUDING (WITHOUT LIMITATION) THE DETERMINATION OF THE MAXIMUM LAWFUL RATE OF INTEREST THAT MAY BE CONTRACTED FOR, CHARGED OR RECEIVED WITH RESPECT TO THE OBLIGATIONS; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF IOWA SHALL GOVERN THE PROCEDURAL AND SUBSTANTIVE MATTERS RELATING TO THE CREATION, PERFECTION AND FORECLOSURE OF LIENS, AND ENFORCEMENT OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES AGAINST THE MORTGAGED PROPERTY.

Section 6.25 Entire Agreement . The Credit Documents constitute the entire understanding and agreement between Mortgagor and Mortgagee with respect to the transactions arising in connection with the Obligations and supersede all prior written or oral understandings and agreements between Mortgagor and Mortgagee with respect to the matters addressed in the Credit Documents. Mortgagor hereby acknowledges that, except as incorporated in writing in the Credit Documents, there are not, and were not, and no persons are or were authorized by Mortgagee to make, any representations, understandings, stipulations, agreements or promises, oral or written, with respect to the matters addressed in the Credit Documents.

Section 6.26 Notices . All notices, consents, approvals, elections and other communications (collectively “ Notices ”) hereunder shall be in writing (whether or not the other provisions of this Mortgage expressly so provide) and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed by United States registered or certified mail, with return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by United States Express Mail or courier service to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other addresses as shall be given in writing by any party to the others pursuant to this Section 6.26 ) and shall be deemed complete upon receipt or refusal to accept delivery as indicated in the return receipt or in the receipt of such Express Mail or courier service:

 

If to Mortgagor:

   Green Plains Grain Company, LLC
   Green Plains Grain Company TN LLC
   Green Plains Essex Inc.
   450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400
   Omaha, NE 68114
   Attention: Jerry L. Peters

With a copy to:

   Michelle Mapes
   General Counsel
   Green Plains Renewable Energy
   450 Regency Parkway, Suite 400
   Omaha, NE 68114

If to Mortgagee:

   Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
   Agricultural Investments
   10801 Mastin Blvd., Suite 930
   Overland Park, KS 66210
   Attention: Director

Section 6.27 Waiver of Jury Trial . TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, MORTGAGOR AND MORTGAGEE HEREBY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING AND/OR HEARING ON ANY MATTER WHATSOEVER ARISING OUT OF, OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH, THE NOTE, THIS MORTGAGE OR ANY OF THE CREDIT DOCUMENTS, OR THE ENFORCEMENT OF ANY REMEDY UNDER ANY LAW, STATUTE, OR REGULATION. NEITHER PARTY WILL SEEK TO CONSOLIDATE ANY SUCH ACTION IN WHICH A JURY HAS BEEN WAIVED, WITH ANY OTHER ACTION IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL CANNOT OR HAS NOT BEEN WAIVED. EACH PARTY HAS RECEIVED THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL WITH RESPECT TO THIS WAIVER.

[NO FURTHER TEXT ON PAGE]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Mortgagor has executed this Mortgage as of the day and year first above written.

MORTGAGOR:

 

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC ,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:   /s/ Jerry L. Peters
Its:   Chief Financial Officer

GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC ,

a Delaware limited liability company

By:   /s/ Jerry L. Peters
Its:   Chief Financial Officer

GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC. ,

an Iowa corporation

By:   /s/ Jerry L. Peters
Its:   Chief Financial Officer

[NOTARY BLOCKS TO APPEAR ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

 

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STATE OF Nebraska

     )      
     )       ss.

COUNTY OF Douglas

     )      

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 28 day of October, 2011, by Jerry Peters, the Chief Financial Officer of GREEN PLAINS ESSEX INC., an Iowa corporation, on behalf of the corporation.

 

/s/ Sharon Mize
Notary Public

 

STATE OF Nebraska

     )      
     )       ss.

COUNTY OF Douglas

     )      

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 28 day of October, 2011, by Jerry Peters, the Chief Financial Officer of GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, on behalf of the company.

 

/s/ Sharon Mize
Notary Public

STATE OF Nebraska

     )      
     )       ss.

COUNTY OF Douglas

     )      

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 28 day of October, 2011, by Jerry Peters, the Chief Financial Officer of GREEN PLAINS GRAIN COMPANY TN LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, on behalf of the company.

 

/s/ Sharon Mize
Notary Public

 

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EXHIBIT “A”

DEFINED TERMS

Collateral ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3 .

Credit Documents ” means, collectively, this Mortgage, the Loan Agreement, the Note and such other documents evidencing, governing, guaranteeing, securing or otherwise executed in connection with the Obligations, the Loan Agreement or this Mortgage, as they or any of them may have been or from time to time hereafter may be renewed, extended, supplemented, increased, amended, modified or restated.

Default Rate ” has the meaning attributed to it in the Note and Loan Agreement.

Loan Agreement ” means that certain Loan Agreement, dated of even date with this Mortgage, executed by Mortgagor, as the same may have been or from time to time hereafter may be renewed, extended, supplemented, increased, amended, modified or restated.

Mortgage ” means this Mortgage, Security Agreement, Fixture Filing and Assignment of Leases and Rents, as the same may be renewed, extended, supplemented, increased, modified, amended or restated from time to time.

Mortgagee ” means Mortgagee, and its successors and assigns, including any subsequent holder of the Obligations.

Obligations ” means the obligation of the Mortgagor to (a) make payment of the principal of, interest and premiums on, and to perform all covenants, agreements, liabilities and obligations of the Mortgagor, under the Note, the Mortgage, the Loan Agreement and all other obligations of the Mortgagor under any other instrument given to secure the Note and any and all extensions and renewals thereof; (b) to perform any and all covenants, agreements, liabilities and obligations of Mortgagor, to Mortgagee, its successors and assigns, provided for or arising under this Mortgage; and (c) to make payment of all costs and expenses of collection, legal expenses and attorneys’ fees incurred by the Mortgagee, its successors and assigns, in the enforcement of the rights of the Mortgagee hereunder or in any litigation or bankruptcy proceeding for the protection of Mortgagee’s collateral and claim against Mortgagor.

Permitted Encumbrances ” means any of the following:

(i) liens, charges or other encumbrances for taxes and assessments which are not yet due and payable;

(ii) liens of or resulting from any judgment or award, the time for the appeal or petition for rehearing of which shall not have expired, or in respect of which Mortgagor shall at any time in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or proceeding for a review and in respect of which a stay of execution pending such appeal or proceeding for review shall have been secured;

(iii) deposits, pledges or liens to secure statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds or other liens of like general nature incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money, provided, in each case, that the obligation secured is not overdue or, if overdue, is being contested in good faith by appropriate actions or proceedings;

(iv) liens, charges or encumbrances in favor of Mortgagee;

(v) liens, charges, or other encumbrances disclosed to and approved by Mortgagee in writing in connection with the Mortgagor’s arrangements for the acquisition and development of the Premises, including without limitation payments and rights-of-way for utilities, roads, drainage, cable, communications and similar purposes;

 

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(vi) liens, charges, or other encumbrances set forth in a policy of mortgagee’s title insurance issued to Mortgagee, but only if expressly acknowledged and approved in writing by Mortgagee and in the case of any leases in favor of a Mortgagor, subordinated to the lien hereof; and

(vii) liens, charges or other encumbrances securing the Mortgagor’s obligations under that certain Credit Agreement dated as of even date herewith by and among the Mortgagor, the lenders party thereto and BNP Paribas Bank, as administrative agent, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

Promissory Note ” means the Note described in the opening recitals, together with interest thereon, executed in accordance with the Loan Agreement and evidencing Mortgagor’s indebtedness to Mortgagee thereunder. The Note contains provisions for the interest rate therein to be adjusted from time to time.

Uniform Commercial Code ” means the Uniform Commercial Code in effect, and as amended from time to time hereafter, in the State of Nebraska.

 

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EXHIBIT “B”

LAND

DESCRIPTION OF REAL PROPERTY