Exhibit 10.3

THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS NOTE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR (B) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE HOLDER (IF REQUESTED BY THE COMPANY), IN A FORM REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, THAT REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED UNDER SAID ACT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD OR ELIGIBLE TO BE SOLD PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, THE SECURITIES MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN OR FINANCING ARRANGEMENT SECURED BY THE SECURITIES. ANY TRANSFEREE OF THIS NOTE SHOULD CAREFULLY REVIEW THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE, INCLUDING SECTION 8 HEREOF.

Pacific Ethanol, Inc.

Senior Secured Note

Note No.: J17-[_]

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Pacific Ethanol, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), hereby promises to pay to the order of [____________________] or its registered assigns (“ Holder ”) the amount set out above (as reduced pursuant to the terms hereof pursuant to redemption or otherwise, the “ Principal ”) when due, whether upon the Maturity Date, acceleration, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof) and to pay interest (“ Interest ”) on any outstanding Principal (as defined above) at the applicable Interest Rate (as defined below) from the date set out above as the Issuance Date (the “ Issuance Date ”) until the same becomes due and payable, whether upon the Maturity Date, acceleration, redemption or otherwise (in each case in accordance with the terms hereof). This Senior Secured Note (including all Senior Secured Notes issued in exchange, transfer or replacement hereof, this “ Note ”) is one of an issue of Senior Secured Notes issued pursuant to the Additional Purchase Agreement (as defined below) on the Issuance Date (collectively, the “ Additional Notes ”, and together with the Initial Notes (as defined below), the “ Notes ”, and such other Senior Secured Notes issued pursuant to the Additional Purchase Agreement on the Issuance Date, together with the Initial Notes, the “ Other Notes ”). Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section 19.

THE OBLIGATIONS DUE UNDER THIS SENIOR SECURED NOTE ARE SECURED BY A SECURITY AGREEMENT (AS AMENDED, THE “SECURITY AGREEMENT”) DATED AS OF DECEMBER 15, 2016 AND EXECUTED BY THE COMPANY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HOLDER. ADDITIONAL RIGHTS OF THE HOLDER ARE SET FORTH IN THE SECURITY AGREEMENT.

1.            PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL.

1.1               On the Maturity Date, the Company shall pay to the Holder an amount in cash representing all outstanding Principal, all accrued and unpaid Interest and accrued and all other unpaid amounts hereunder. Any such payment shall be applied pro rata to the Note and the Other Notes in accordance with the respective Principal amounts thereof.

1.2               The Company may, at its sole option, at any time prepay this Note, without premium or penalty, in whole or in part, on one (1) Business Day’s prior written notice to the Holder, at a prepayment price equal to the amount of outstanding Principal so to be prepaid, together with accrued and unpaid Interest on such Principal, if any, through the date of such prepayment. Any such payment shall be applied pro rata to the Note and the Other Notes in accordance with the respective Principal amounts thereof.

2.            INTEREST; INTEREST RATE. Interest on this Note shall accrue at the applicable Interest Rate and shall commence accruing on the Issuance Date and Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and twelve 30-day months and shall be payable in cash to the record Holder in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each calendar year, beginning with September 15, 2017 and ending on the repayment of the Note. From and after the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the applicable Interest Rate shall automatically be increased by two percent (2%) per annum above the Interest Rate otherwise applicable in accordance with the terms hereof, and all such interest shall be payable on demand. In the event that such Event of Default is subsequently cured, the adjustment referred to in the preceding sentence shall cease to be effective as of the date of such cure, provided that the Interest as calculated and unpaid at such increased rate during the continuance of such Event of Default shall continue to apply to the extent relating to the days after the occurrence of such Event of Default through and including the date of such cure of such Event of Default.

3.            RIGHTS UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT.

3.1               Event of Default . Each of the following events shall constitute an “ Event of Default ”:

(a)                the Company’s failure to pay to the Holder any amount of Principal, Interest, or other amounts when and as due under this Note, the Security Agreement or the Additional Purchase Agreement, except, in the case of a failure to pay Interest or other non-Principal amounts when and as due, in which case only if such failure remains uncured for a period of at least five (5) days;

(b)                bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or liquidation proceedings or other proceedings for the relief of debtors shall be instituted by or against the Company or any Subsidiary and, if instituted against the Company or any Subsidiary by a third party, shall not be dismissed within sixty (60) days of their initiation;

(c)                the commencement by the Company or any Subsidiary of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree, order, judgment or other similar document in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal, state or foreign law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the execution of a composition of debts, or the occurrence of any other similar federal, state or foreign proceeding, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, the taking of corporate action by the Company or any Subsidiary in furtherance of any such action or the taking of any action by any Person to commence a UCC foreclosure sale or any other similar action under federal, state or foreign law or of any substantial part of the Company’s property or any substantial part of any Subsidiary’s property;

(d)                the entry by a court of (i) a decree, order, judgment or other similar document in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary of a voluntary or involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (ii) a decree, order, judgment or other similar document adjudging the Company or any Subsidiary as bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company or any Subsidiary under any applicable federal, state or foreign law or (iii) a decree, order, judgment or other similar document appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or any Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree, order, judgment or other similar document or any such other decree, order, judgment or other similar document unstayed and in effect for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days;

(e)                  a final judgment, judgments, any arbitration or mediation award or any settlement of any litigation or any other satisfaction of any claim made by any Person pursuant to any litigation, as applicable, (each a “ Judgment ”, and collectively, the “ Judgments ”) with respect to the payment of cash, securities and/or other assets with an aggregate fair market value in excess of $2,000,000 are rendered against, agreed to or otherwise accepted by, the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and which Judgments are not, within thirty (30) days after the entry thereof, bonded, discharged or stayed pending appeal, or are not discharged within thirty (30) days after the expiration of such stay; provided , however , that any Judgment which is covered by insurance or an indemnity from a credit worthy party shall not be included in calculating the $2,000,000 amount set forth above so long as the Company provides the Holder written evidence of such insurance coverage or indemnity (which evidence shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holder) to the effect that such Judgment is covered by insurance or an indemnity and the Company or such Subsidiary (as the case may be) will receive the proceeds of such insurance or indemnity prior to the later of (i) thirty (30) days after the issuance of such Judgment or (ii) any requirement to pay such Judgment;

(f)                 the Company and/or any Subsidiary, individually or in the aggregate, fails to pay, when due, or within any applicable grace period, any payment with respect to any Indebtedness in excess of $2,000,000 due to any third party or is otherwise in breach or violation of any agreement for monies owed or owing in an amount in excess of $2,000,000, which breach or violation results in the acceleration of amounts due thereunder or permits the other party thereto to accelerate amounts due thereunder;

(g)                any breach or failure in any respect by the Company to comply with any provision of this Note or any other Transaction Document for thirty (30) days after delivery to the Company of notice of such breach or failure by or on behalf of a Secured Party (as defined in the Security Agreement) or the Agent (as defined in the Security Agreement) or thirty (30) days after an officer of the Company has knowledge of such breach or failure, unless such default is capable of cure but cannot be cured within such time frame and the Company is using best efforts to cure the same in a timely manner;

(h)                any Material Adverse Change occurs (other than any Excluded Event) and is not otherwise cured within thirty (30) days of written notice thereof by the Required Holders;

(i)                  any provision of any Transaction Document (shall at any time for any reason (other than pursuant to the express terms thereof) cease to be valid and binding on or enforceable against the parties thereto, or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by any party thereto, or a proceeding shall be commenced by the Company or any Subsidiary or any governmental authority having jurisdiction over any of them, seeking to establish the invalidity or unenforceability thereof, or the Company or any Subsidiary shall deny in writing that it has any liability or obligation purported to be created under any Transaction Document to which it is a party, or any Lien created by the Security Agreement ceases to be enforceable and of the same effect and priority purported to be created thereby, other than as expressly permitted thereunder or thereunder;

(j)                  any Fundamental Transaction occurs without the written consent of the Required Holders;

(k)                any Event of Default (as defined in the Security Agreement) occurs with respect to the Security Agreement;

(l)                  any Event of Default (as defined in the Other Notes) occurs with respect to any Other Notes;

(m)              any representation, warranty, certification or other statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Company herein or in any other Transaction Document proves to have been false or misleading in any material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made; or

(n)                any Subordinated Indebtedness cease for any reason to be validly subordinated to the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note, or the Company, any Subsidiary or any holder thereof (or its trustee or agent) so asserts.

Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to this Note or any Other Note, the Company shall promptly deliver written notice thereof via facsimile and overnight courier (with next day delivery specified) (an “ Event of Default Notice ”) to the Holder.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth above or elsewhere herein, the following Indebtedness and obligations, and any defaults with respect thereto, shall not constitute an Event of Default under Section 3.1(f) above: (i) any payments contested by the Company and/or such Subsidiary (as the case may be) in good faith by proper proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside for the payment thereof in accordance with GAAP and, with respect to any subsidiary, such default is otherwise resolved in a manner which does not result in a Material Adverse Change; and (ii) with respect to any Subsidiary, any default with respect to a non-recourse obligation and such default does not otherwise result in a Material Adverse Change.

3.2               If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 3.1(b), (c) or (d) above) occurs, then the Holder may, by written notice to the Company, declare this Note to be forthwith due and payable, as to Principal, Interest and any other amounts due hereunder, whereupon this Note shall become forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Company. If any Event of Default specified in Section 3.1(b), (c) or (d) above occurs, the Principal of and accrued Interest on this Note shall automatically forthwith become due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Company.

3.3               If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Holder may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of Principal, Interest and any other amounts due under this Note or to enforce the performance of any provision of this Note. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the holder of this Note may proceed to protect and enforce its rights by an action at law, suit in equity or other appropriate proceeding. No course of dealing and no delay on the part of the holder of this Note in exercising any right, power or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof or otherwise prejudice such holder’s rights, powers or remedies. No right, power or remedy conferred by this Note upon the holder hereof shall be exclusive of any other right, power or remedy referred to herein or now or hereafter available at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

4.            NONCIRCUMVENTION. The Company hereby covenants and agrees that the Company will not, by amendment of its certificate of incorporation, bylaws or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, scheme of arrangement, dissolution, issue or sale of securities, or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Note, and will at all times in good faith carry out all of the provisions of this Note and take all action as may be required to protect the rights of the Holder of this Note.

5.            COVENANTS. Until all of the Notes have been redeemed or otherwise satisfied in accordance with their terms:

5.1               Rank . All payments due under this Note (a) shall rank pari passu with all Other Notes and (b) shall be senior to all other Indebtedness of the Company (excluding any other Permitted Indebtedness of the Company).

5.2               Incurrence of Indebtedness . The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, incur or guarantee, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness (other than (i) the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note and the Other Notes and (ii) Permitted Indebtedness).

5.3               Existence of Liens . The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, allow or suffer to exist any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance upon or in any property or assets owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, “ Liens ”) other than Permitted Liens.

5.4               Restricted Payments . The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, redeem, defease, repurchase, repay or make any payments in respect of, by the payment of cash or cash equivalents (in whole or in part, whether by way of open market purchases, tender offers, private transactions or otherwise), all or any portion of any Indebtedness (other than Permitted Payments with respect to any Permitted Indebtedness), whether by way of payment in respect of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on, such Indebtedness if at the time such payment is due or is otherwise made or, after giving effect to such payment, (i) an event constituting an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (ii) an event that with the passage of time and without being cured would constitute an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

5.5               Restriction on Redemption and Cash Dividends . Except for any Permitted Distributions, the Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, redeem, repurchase or pay any cash dividend or distribution on any of its capital stock without the prior express written consent of the Required Holders.

5.6               Restriction on Transfer of Assets . The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of any assets or rights of the Company or any Subsidiary owned or hereafter acquired whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, other than (i) sales, leases, licenses, assignments, transfers, conveyances and other dispositions of such assets or rights by the Company and its Subsidiaries that are in the ordinary course of their respective businesses and, after giving effect thereto, would not result in a Material Adverse Change, (ii) sales of product, inventory or receivables in the ordinary course of business, or (iii) Permitted Payments.

5.7               Change in Nature of Business . The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries on the Issuance Date or any business substantially related or incidental thereto. The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, modify its or their corporate structure or purpose in any material respect.

5.8               Preservation of Existence, Etc. The Company shall maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, its existence, rights and privileges, and become or remain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to become or remain, duly qualified and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification necessary.

5.9               Maintenance of Properties, Etc. The Company shall maintain and preserve in all material respects, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve in all material respects, all of its properties which are necessary or useful in the proper conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, at all times with the provisions of all material leases to which it is a party as lessee or under which it occupies property, so as to prevent any material loss or forfeiture thereof or thereunder.

5.10              Maintenance of Insurance . The Company shall maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations (including, without limitation, comprehensive general liability, hazard, rent and business interruption insurance) with respect to its properties (including all real properties leased or owned by it) and business, in such amounts and covering such risks as is required by any governmental authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto or as is carried generally in accordance with sound business practice by companies in similar businesses similarly situated.

5.11              Equity Issuances . The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its applicable Subsidiaries to not, issue additional capital stock or membership interests, as the case may be, for any purpose other than (i) to pay down a portion or all of the amounts owned under the Notes, and (ii) shares of the Company’s Common Stock issued to directors, officers or employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries (including the Excluded Subsidiaries) in their capacity as such pursuant to the Company’s stock incentive plans.

5.12              Investments in Subsidiaries . Except for any Permitted Investments, the Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to not, directly or indirectly, lend money or credit (by way of guarantee or otherwise) or make advances to any Excluded Subsidiary.

5.13              Delivery of Financial Statements; Information . If the Company is no longer required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) quarterly and annual reports, including financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K, so long as any Principal or Interest is outstanding under this Note, the Company shall furnish to the Holder such reports within 15 days after it would be required to file them with the SEC in substantially the form as would be required to file with the SEC if it were required to do so. The Company shall furnish such other information respecting the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries as the Holder may reasonably request.

5.14              Transactions with Affiliates . The Company shall not, and the Company shall cause each of its Subsidiaries not to, directly or indirectly, enter into or be a party to any transaction, including any purchase, sale, lease, exchange or transfer of property, the rendering of any service or the payment of any management, advisory or similar fees, with any Affiliate (other than the Holder or holders of any Other Notes and their respective Affiliates) unless such transaction is on fair and reasonable terms and conditions no less favorable to Company or the relevant Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction on an arm’s length basis from an unrelated Person.

6.            AMENDING THE TERMS OF THIS NOTE. No provision of this Note may be modified or amended without the prior written consent of the Required Holders and the Company and upon such due modification or amendment, such modification or amendment shall apply to the Note and all of the Other Notes; provided , however , that (a) no such modification or amendment shall, without the consent of the Holder hereunder, change the stated maturity date of this Note, or reduce the principal amount hereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of any interest hereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption or prepayment hereof, impair or affect the right of the Holder to receive payment of principal of, and interest on, the Notes or to institute suit for payment thereof, or impair or affect the right of the Holder to receive any other payment provided for under this Note, or change the definition of Required Holders, or change the pro rata sharing provisions of this Note and (b) the Holder hereunder may waive, reduce or excuse, or forbear from the exercise of any rights and remedies with respect to, any Event of Default under this Note without notice to or the consent of any holder of any of the Other Notes.

7.            TRANSFER. This Note may be offered, sold, assigned or transferred by the Holder in whole or in part, subject only to the provisions of the restrictive legend set forth at the top of the first page of this Note; provided that, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any such sale, assignment or transfer shall be subject to the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned; provided , further , that any partial offer, sale, assignment or transfer of this Note shall be in a principal amount not less than $500,000.

8.            REISSUANCE OF THIS NOTE.

8.1               Transfer . If this Note is to be transferred as permitted under Section 7 above, the Holder shall surrender this Note to the Company, whereupon the Company will forthwith issue and deliver upon the order of the Holder a new Note (in accordance with Section 8.3), registered as the Holder may request.

8.2               Lost, Stolen or Mutilated Note . Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Note (as to which a written certification and the indemnification contemplated below shall suffice as such evidence), and, in the case of loss, theft or destruction, of any indemnification undertaking by the Holder to the Company in customary and reasonable form and, in the case of mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Note, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Holder a new Note (in accordance with Section 8.3) representing the outstanding Principal.

8.3               Issuance of New Notes . Whenever the Company is required to issue a new Note pursuant to the terms of this Note, such new Note (i) shall be of like tenor with this Note, (ii) shall represent, as indicated on the face of such new Note, the Principal remaining outstanding, (iii) shall have an issuance date, as indicated on the face of such new Note, which is the same as the Issuance Date of this Note, (iv) shall have the same rights and conditions as this Note, and (v) shall represent accrued and unpaid Interest on the Principal and Interest of this Note, from the Issuance Date.

9.            REMEDIES, CHARACTERIZATIONS, OTHER OBLIGATIONS, BREACHES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. The remedies provided in this Note shall be cumulative and in addition to all other remedies available under this Note, under the Security Agreement, at law or in equity (including a decree of specific performance and/or other injunctive relief), and nothing herein shall limit the Holder’s right to pursue actual and consequential damages for any failure by the Company to comply with the terms of this Note or any other Transaction Document. The Company covenants to the Holder that there shall be no characterization concerning this instrument other than as expressly provided herein. Amounts set forth or provided for herein with respect to payments, conversion and the like (and the computation thereof) shall be the amounts to be received by the Holder and shall not, except as expressly provided herein, be subject to any other obligation of the Company (or the performance thereof). The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations hereunder will cause irreparable harm to the Holder and that the remedy at law for any such breach may be inadequate. The Company therefore agrees that, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the Holder shall be entitled, in addition to all other available remedies, to an injunction restraining any breach, without the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security being required. The Company shall provide all information and documentation to the Holder that is requested by the Holder to enable the Holder to confirm the Company’s compliance with the terms and conditions of this Note (including, without limitation, compliance with Section 5).

10.               PAYMENT OF COLLECTION, ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER COSTS. If (a) this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or enforcement or is collected or enforced through any legal proceeding or the Holder otherwise takes action to collect amounts due under this Note or to enforce the provisions of this Note or (b) there occurs any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership of the Company or other proceedings affecting Company creditors’ rights and involving a claim under this Note, then the Company shall pay the costs incurred by the Holder for such collection, enforcement or action or in connection with such bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other proceeding, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and disbursements.

11.               CONSTRUCTION; HEADINGS. This Note shall be deemed to be jointly drafted by the Company and the Holder and shall not be construed against any Person as the drafter hereof. The headings of this Note are for convenience of reference and shall not form part of, or affect the interpretation of, this Note. Terms used in this Note but defined in the other Transaction Documents shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms on the Issuance Date in such other Transaction Documents unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Holder.

12.               FAILURE OR INDULGENCE NOT WAIVER. No failure or delay on the part of the Holder in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right, power or privilege. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of the waiving party.

13.               NOTICES; CURRENCY; PAYMENTS.

13.1           Notices . Whenever notice is required to be given under this Note, unless otherwise provided herein, such notice shall be given in accordance with Section 6.5 of the Additional Purchase Agreement. The Company shall provide the Holder with prompt written notice of all actions taken pursuant to this Note, including in reasonable detail a description of such action and the reason therefore.

13.2           Currency . All principal, interest and other amounts owing under this Note that, in accordance with the terms hereof, are paid in cash shall be paid in U.S. dollars. All amounts denominated in other currencies shall be converted to the U.S. dollar equivalent amount in accordance with the Exchange Rate on the date of calculation. “ Exchange Rate ” means, in relation to any amount of currency to be converted into U.S. dollars pursuant to this Note, the U.S. dollar exchange rate as published in The Wall Street Journal on the relevant date of calculation (it being understood and agreed that where an amount is calculated with reference to, or over, a period of time, the date of calculation shall be the final date of such period of time).

13.3           Payments . Whenever any payment of cash is to be made by the Company to any Person pursuant to this Note, unless otherwise expressly set forth herein, such payment shall be made in lawful money of the United States of America by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with the Holder’s wire transfer instructions. Whenever any amount expressed to be due by the terms of this Note is due on any day which is not a Business Day, the same shall instead be due on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day, with interest accruing until paid.

14.               DISCLOSURE.

14.1           In connection with information that is either required or permitted to be disclosed to the Holder in such Holder’s capacity as the holder of this Note, on the date such information is to be disclosed, the Company may provide the Holder with such information; provided either that (i) such information does not contain Non-Public Information, or (ii) if such information does contain Non-Public Information, such information is Consented Information (as defined below).

14.2           If any such information to be disclosed contains Non-Public Information, the Company shall provide to the Holder a written notice (which notice shall, for the avoidance of doubt, not contain or constitute Non-Public Information), containing the following information: (A) a statement as to whether the information is required to be disclosed under the terms of this Note, (B) if the information is not so required to be disclosed, a statement that the Company or other applicable Person desires voluntarily to disclose such information, (C) a general description of such information (which description shall not include, and shall not constitute, Non-Public Information), (D) a statement as to whether the Holder is required or permitted to take some specific action as a lender under this Note, (E) a statement that such information contains Non-Public Information, and (F) a statement seeking the consent of the Holder to receive such Non-Public Information. Within two (2) Business Days of the date of the notice contemplated in the preceding sentence, the Holder shall advise the Company in writing whether it consents to the receipt of such Non-Public Information (any information for which such consent is provided, “Consented Information” ).

14.3           In the event any Non-Public Information is provided to the Holder by the Company, the Company shall promptly and in compliance with applicable law publicly disclose such Non-Public Information on a Current Report on Form 8-K or otherwise, within four (4) Business Days of (or such other period of time as may be expressly agreed to in writing by the Investor and the Company in connection with such disclosure) the disclosure thereof to the Holder ( provided that the Company shall provide the Holder a draft of each such Form 8-K at least two (2) Business Days prior to filing thereof). If the Company fails to disclose any Non-Public Information in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence, the Holder may publicly disclose such information by issuing a press release containing such information, or otherwise, within one Business Day of providing Notice to the Company of such intended disclosure. The Holder shall have no liability to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of its or their respective officers, directors, employees, stockholders or agents, for any such disclosure.

14.4           In no event shall the Company intentionally provide the Holder with any Non-Public Information without the prior written consent of the Holder. In the absence of any written notice that information provided by the Company contains Non-Public Information, the Holder may presume that such information (including the notice of such information) does not constitute Non-Public Information.

15.               CANCELLATION. After all Principal, accrued Interest and other amounts at any time owed on this Note have been paid in full (a) this Note shall automatically be deemed canceled without any action by or notice to Holder or Company and (b) the Holder shall promptly mark this Note as cancelled, shall promptly surrender this Note to the Company and this Note shall not be reissued.

16.               WAIVER OF NOTICE. Except for the notices specifically required by this Note or any other Transaction Document, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company hereby irrevocably waives demand, notice, presentment, protest and all other demands and notices in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement of this Note and the Additional Purchase Agreement.

17.               GOVERNING LAW. This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and all questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and performance of this Note shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdictions) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdictions other than the State of New York. The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. In the event that any provision of this Note is invalid or unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of law. Any such provision which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Note. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed or operate to preclude the Holder from bringing suit or taking other legal action against the Company in any other jurisdiction to collect on the Company’s obligations to the Holder, to realize on any collateral or any other security for such obligations, or to enforce a judgment or other court ruling in favor of the Holder. THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO, AND AGREES NOT TO REQUEST, A JURY TRIAL FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS NOTE OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

18.               MAXIMUM PAYMENTS. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to establish or require the payment of a rate of interest or other charges in excess of the maximum permitted by applicable law. In the event that the rate of interest required to be paid or other charges hereunder exceed the maximum permitted by such law, any payments in excess of such maximum shall be credited against amounts owed by the Company to the Holder and thus refunded to the Company.

19.               CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Note, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

19.1           “ Additional Purchase Agreement ” means the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 26, 2017, by and among the Company, the Holder, and each other “Investor” (as defined therein) as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

19.2           “ Business Day ” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed.

19.3           “ Common Stock ” means (i) the Company’s shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, and (ii) any capital stock into which such common stock shall have been changed or any share capital resulting from a reclassification of such common stock.

19.4           “ Contingent Obligation ” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or otherwise, of that Person with respect to any indebtedness, lease, dividend or other obligation of another Person if the primary purpose or intent of the Person incurring such liability, or the primary effect thereof, is to provide assurance to the obligee of such liability that such liability will be paid or discharged, or that any agreements relating thereto will be complied with, or that the holders of such liability will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss with respect thereto.

19.5           “ Excluded Events ” means (i) changes in the national or world economy or financial markets as a whole, (ii) changes in general economic conditions taken as a whole that affect the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct their business, (iii) acts of terrorism or war, including the engagement by the United States of America or any other country in hostilities, and whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency or war, or any earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural disasters, and (iv) any financial statement impact of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

19.6           “ Excluded Subsidiaries ” means Kinergy Marketing LLC, Pacific Ag. Products, LLC, Pacific Ethanol Development, LLC, Pacific Ethanol Central, LLC, Pacific Ethanol Pekin, Inc., Pacific Ethanol Canton, LLC, Pacific Ethanol Aurora West, LLC, Pacific Ethanol Aurora East, LLC and Pacific Aurora, LLC and each of their respective direct or indirect subsidiaries.

19.7           “ Fundamental Transaction ” means that (A) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, in one or more related transactions, (i) consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the surviving corporation) another Person or Persons, or (ii) sell, assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to another Person, or (iii) allow another Person to make a purchase, tender or exchange offer that is accepted by the holders of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company (not including any shares of Voting Stock of the Company held by the Person or Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the Persons making or party to, such purchase, tender or exchange offer), or (iv) consummate a securities purchase or business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or scheme of arrangement) with another Person whereby such other Person acquires more than the 50% of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Company (not including any shares of Voting Stock of the Company held by the other Person or other Persons making or party to, or associated or affiliated with the other Persons making or party to, such securities purchase agreement or other business combination), or (v) reorganize, recapitalize or reclassify the Voting Stock of the Company or (B) any “person” or “group” (as these terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or shall become the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 50% of the aggregate Voting Stock of the Company.

19.8           “ GAAP ” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.

19.9           “ Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without duplication (A) all indebtedness for borrowed money, (B) all obligations issued, undertaken or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (including, without limitation, “capital leases” in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles) (other than trade payables entered into in the ordinary course of business), (C) all reimbursement or payment obligations with respect to letters of credit, surety bonds and other similar instruments, (D) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, including obligations so evidenced incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses, (E) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, or incurred as financing, in either case with respect to any property or assets acquired with the proceeds of such indebtedness (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or bank under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (F) all monetary obligations under any leasing or similar arrangement which, in connection with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied for the periods covered thereby, is classified as a capital lease, (G) all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any equity interests in such Person or any other Person or any warrants, rights or options to acquire such equity interests, valued, in the case of redeemable preferred interests, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends, (H) all indebtedness referred to in clauses (A) through (G) above secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any mortgage, claim, lien, tax, right of first refusal, encumbrance, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance upon or in any property or assets (including accounts and contract rights) owned by any Person, even though the Person which owns such assets or property has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness, and (I) all Contingent Obligations in respect of indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses (A) through (H) above.

19.10       “ Initial Notes ” means those certain Senior Secured Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $55,000,000 issued pursuant to the Initial Purchase Agreement on December 15, 2016.

19.11       “ Initial Purchase Agreement ” means the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2016, by and among the Company and each “Investor” (as defined therein) as amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

19.12       “ Interest Rate ” means a rate per annum equal to the 3-month London Interbank Offered Rate (“ LIBOR ”), plus 7.0% (the “ Interest Rate Spread ”); provided , however , that on December 15, 2017 and December 15, 2018, the “Interest Rate Spread” shall be increased to 9.0% and 11.0%, respectively, and; provided , further , that if at any time during the term of this Note LIBOR is less than 1.0% per annum, the “Interest Rate” shall equal 1.0% plus the amount of the then current “Interest Rate Spread.” The “Interest Rate” shall in all cases be subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 2.

19.13       “ Material Adverse Change ” shall mean any set of circumstances or events which occur, arise or otherwise take place from and after the Issuance Date which (a) has or could reasonably be expected to have any material adverse effect whatsoever upon the validity or enforceability of this Note or any other Transaction Document, (b) is or could reasonably be expected to be material and adverse to the business properties, assets, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the Company or the Company and any of Subsidiaries on a collective basis, (c) impairs materially or could reasonably be expected to impair materially the ability of the Company to duly and punctually pay or perform any its obligations under this Note or any other Transaction Document, or (d) materially impairs or could reasonably be expected to materially impair the ability of Holder or, in the case of the Security Agreement, the Agent (as defined therein), to the extent permitted, to enforce its legal rights and remedies pursuant to this Note or any other Transaction Document.

19.14       “ Maturity Date ” shall mean December 15, 2019.

19.15       “ Non-Public Information ” means material, non-public information relating to the Company.

19.16       “ Permitted Distributions ” means (a) dividends by Subsidiaries of the Company to the Company or other Subsidiaries of the Company, and (b) current quarterly dividends required to be paid by the Company with respect to the Company’s Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock pursuant to the organizational documents of the Company as in effect as of the Issuance Date on the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that payment thereof is in the form of Common Stock, payment of previously accrued and unpaid dividends with respect to the Company’s Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding as of the Issuance Date shall be deemed to be “Permitted Distributions”.

19.17       “ Permitted Indebtedness ” means (i) Indebtedness evidenced by this Note and the Other Notes; (ii) Indebtedness of any Excluded Subsidiary, (iii) any Indebtedness secured by a Permitted Lien (other than Indebtedness referred to in clause (iv) of the definition of “Permitted Lien”), (iv) Indebtedness incurred by the Company that is made expressly subordinate in right of payment to the Indebtedness evidenced by this Note, as reflected in a written agreement acceptable to the Holder and approved by the Holder in writing, and which Indebtedness does not provide at any time for (1) the payment, prepayment, repayment, repurchase or defeasance, directly or indirectly, of any principal or premium, if any, thereon until ninety-one (91) days after the Maturity Date or later and (2) total interest and fees at a rate in excess of ten percent (10%) per annum (collectively, the “ Subordinated Indebtedness ”); provided , that in the aggregate outstanding at any time, such Subordinated Indebtedness does not exceed $30,000,000, (v) Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and Excluded Subsidiaries existing on the Issuance Date, (vi) such other trade and operating Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business by the Company (including any of the Company’s Subsidiaries and Excluded Subsidiaries), including without limitation, unsecured trade debt, financing with respect to the acquisition or lease of equipment and financing of insurance premiums; provided that in the aggregate outstanding at any time, such Indebtedness does not exceed the greater of $2,000,000 or three-quarters of one percent (0.75%) of total assets as reported in the Company’s most recent publicly filed Form 10-K or 10-Q reports, (vii) the Company’s Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding on the date hereof, and (viii) additional Indebtedness of the Company in an amount up to $15,000,000 that may arise from an increase in the credit facility of Kinergy Marketing LLC by an equivalent amount and resulting from the Company’s Contingent Obligations as a guarantor of the obligations arising under that facility, with the foregoing to be accomplished through an amendment and restatement of the facility. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Permitted Indebtedness of ICP Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (as the surviving entity in the merger contemplated under the ICP Agreement, which is to be renamed as “Illinois Corn Processing, LLC” upon closing thereof, hereinafter “ICP”) and ICP’s direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the “ICP Entities”) shall not include any Indebtedness secured by a second priority security interest in any equity or assets of the ICP Entities; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit any such Indebtedness (a) issued by ICP to the sellers under the ICP Agreement to the extent preexisting liens result in a second priority security interest in certain assets of ICP in favor of the sellers, or (b) resulting from equipment leases. For the avoidance of doubt, any first priority security interest in any equity or assets of the ICP Entities is expressly permitted.

19.18       “ Permitted Investments ” means (i) investments existing on the date hereof (inclusive of (a) the investment in the Excluded Subsidiaries in the amount of $25,000,000 made in part with the proceeds of the Initial Notes, and (b) the investment in the Excluded Subsidiaries in the amount of $30,000,000 being made in part with the proceeds of the Additional Notes issued pursuant to the Additional Purchase Agreement on the Issuance Date), and (ii) additional investments in the Excluded Subsidiaries that in the aggregate outstanding at any time do not exceed $20,000,000.

19.19       “ Permitted Liens ” means (i) any Lien for taxes not yet due or delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (ii) any statutory Lien arising in the ordinary course of business by operation of law with respect to a liability that is not yet due or delinquent, (iii) any Lien created by operation of law, such as materialmen’s liens, mechanics’ liens and other similar liens, arising in the ordinary course of business with respect to a liability that is not yet due or delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (iv) Liens securing financing obtained in the ordinary course of the Company's operations, including financing with respect to the acquisition or lease of equipment and financing of insurance premiums; provided, that (A) such Liens are solely upon and confined solely to the equipment, unearned insurance premiums or other asset or assets being acquired by such financing and (B) in the aggregate, the Indebtedness secured by such liens does not exceed the greater of $2,000,000 or three-quarters of one percent (0.75%) of total assets as reported in the Company's most recent publicly filed Form 10-K or 10-Q reports, (v) Liens incurred in connection with the extension, renewal or refinancing of the indebtedness secured by Liens of the type described in clause (iv) above, provided that any extension, renewal or replacement Lien shall be limited to the property encumbered by the existing Lien and the principal amount of the Indebtedness being extended, renewed or refinanced does not increase, and (vi) any Lien on the assets or properties of the Excluded Subsidiaries.

19.20       “ Permitted Payments ” means any payments, distributions or transfers with respect to (i) any Permitted Indebtedness (in the case of Subordinated Indebtedness, to the extent permitted by the relevant subordination or intercreditor agreement) and (ii) any Permitted Distributions.

19.21       “ Person ” means an individual, a limited liability company, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a trust, an unincorporated organization, any other entity or a government or any department or agency thereof.

19.22       “ Required Holders ” means the holders of Notes representing at least 66 2/3% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (excluding any Notes held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries).

19.23       “ Subsidiary ” means any Person in which the Company, directly or indirectly, (I) owns any of the outstanding capital stock or holds any equity or similar interest of such Person or (II) controls or operates all or any part of the business, operations or administration of such Person; provided that, for purposes of this Note, the term “Subsidiary” shall expressly exclude the Excluded Subsidiaries.

19.24       “ Transaction Documents ” means this Note, the Other Notes, the Security Agreement, the Initial Purchase Agreement and the Additional Purchase Agreement, together with any amendments, restatements, extensions or other modification thereto.

19.25       “ Voting Stock ” means voting equity interests.

FOR PURPOSES OF SECTIONS 1272, 1273 AND 1275 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED, THIS NOTE IS BEING ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT ON THE ISSUANCE DATE OF THIS NOTE. THE COMPANY AGREES TO PROVIDE PROMPTLY TO EACH HOLDER OF THIS NOTE, UPON WRITTEN REQUEST (1) THE ISSUE PRICE, (2) THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT AND (3) THE YIELD TO MATURITY OF THIS NOTE. ANY SUCH WRITTEN REQUEST SHOULD BE SENT TO THE COMPANY AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS: 400 CAPITOL MALL, SUITE 2060, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814, ATTN: BRYON T. MCGREGOR, CFO.

[signature page follows]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed as of the first date set forth above.

[Signature Page to Senior Secured Note]

AGREED AND ACCEPTED:

HOLDER”

|____________________|

By: _______________________

Name:

Title:

[Holder Acknowledgment of Senior Secured Note]

Exhibit 10.5

FIRST AMENDMENT TO SECURITY AGREEMENT

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “ Amendment ”) is entered into effective as of June 30, 2017 by and among Pacific Ethanol, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), each Holder and Cortland Capital Market Services LLC, as collateral agent for itself and the Secured Parties (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity, the “ Agent ”). All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings attributed to them in that certain Security Agreement dated effective as of December 15, 2016 by and among the Company, each Holder and the Agent (the “ Security Agreement ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Company issued certain Secured Promissory Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $55,000,000 on December 15, 2016 (the “ Initial Notes ”) pursuant to a Note Purchase Agreement dated as of December 12, 2016 by and among the Company and the Investors identified therein (the “ Initial Purchase Agreement ”), the obligations arising under which, among other obligations, are secured pursuant to the Security Agreement.

WHEREAS, the Company and certain Holders (including certain Holders that hold Initial Notes and certain Holders that do not hold Initial Notes) are parties to a Note Purchase Agreement dated as of June 26, 2017 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, including amendments and restatements thereof in its entirety, the “ Additional Purchase Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Company will issue or has issued, and such Holders will purchase or have purchased on a several basis, $13,948,078 in aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due December 15, 2019 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Additional Notes ”).

WHEREAS, as a condition to the closing under the Additional Purchase Agreement with the Company, the Holders of the Additional Notes have required, among other things, that the Company shall enter into this Amendment by which the parties intend that this Amendment expand the obligations secured pursuant to the Security Agreement to additionally cover the obligations under the Additional Notes and the Additional Purchase Agreement, among other obligations, as set forth herein.

AGREEMENT

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

1.        Certain Definitions . The following defined terms are added to Section 1 of the Security Agreement, or to the extent already defined in the Security Agreement, are amended and restated to read in their entireties as follows:

“ Agent Fee Letter ” means that certain Amended and Restated Agent Fee Letter, dated as of June 30, 2017, made by and between the Company and the Agent, as further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

“ First Amendment ” means the First Amendment to Security Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2017, among the Company, each Holder and the Agent.

“ Holders ” means (x) each Person that is (i) a signatory to the Initial Purchase Agreement or the Additional Purchase Agreement and identified as an “Investor” on Exhibit A to the Initial Purchase Agreement or Exhibit A to the Additional Purchase Agreement, respectively, (ii) a holder of any of the Notes, and (iii) a signatory to the First Amendment and identified as a “Secured Party” on the signature pages to the First Amendment, and (y) any other Person that becomes (i) a holder of any of the Notes pursuant to any permitted assignment or transfer and (ii) a “Secured Party” under this Agreement pursuant to a Security Agreement Joinder, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an assignment of all of its Notes and its rights and obligations under the Transaction Documents.

“ Obligations ” means all of the liabilities and obligations (primary, secondary, direct, contingent, sole, joint or several) due or to become due, or that are now or may be hereafter contracted or acquired, or owing to, of the Company to the Agent or to the Secured Parties, including, without limitation, all obligations under this Agreement, the Initial Purchase Agreement, the Additional Purchase Agreement, the Notes, the Agent Fee Letter and any other instruments, agreements or other documents executed and/or delivered in connection herewith or therewith, in each case, whether now or hereafter existing, voluntary or involuntary, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, whether or not jointly owed with others, and whether or not from time to time decreased or extinguished and later increased, created or incurred, and all or any portion of such obligations or liabilities that are paid, to the extent all or any part of such payment is avoided or recovered directly or indirectly from Agent or any of the Secured Parties as a preference, fraudulent transfer or otherwise as such obligations may be amended, supplemented, converted, extended or modified from time to time. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term “Obligations” shall include, without limitation: (i) the principal amount of, and interest on the Notes and the loans extended pursuant thereto; (ii) any and all other fees, indemnities, costs, obligations and liabilities of the Company from time to time under or in connection with this Agreement, the Initial Purchase Agreement, the Additional Purchase Agreement, the Notes, the Agent Fee Letter and any other instruments, agreements or other documents executed and/or delivered in connection herewith or therewith; and (iii) all amounts (including but not limited to post-petition interest) in respect of the foregoing that would be payable but for the fact that the obligations to pay such amounts are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving the Company.

The term “ Notes ” referred to in Recital A of the Security Agreement, and the term “ Notes ” used throughout the body of the Security Agreement, shall include the Initial Notes and the Additional Notes, collectively.

The term “ Purchase Agreement ” referred to in Recital A of the Security Agreement, and the term “ Purchase Agreement ” used throughout the body of the Security Agreement, shall include the Initial Purchase Agreement and the Additional Purchase Agreement, collectively.

“ Required Holders ” means the holders of Notes representing at least 66 2/3% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (excluding Notes held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries).

The term “ Transaction Document ” means the Initial Notes, the Additional Notes, this Security Agreement, the Initial Purchase Agreement and the Additional Purchase Agreement, together with any amendments, restatements, extensions or other modification thereto.

2.       Section 18(f) of the Security Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof: “Promptly following a request made by the Agent to a Holder, such Holder shall notify the Agent of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes held by such Holder at such time.”

3.       Exhibit 1 to the Security Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the reference to “Section 17(f)” therein and substituting “Section 17(i) therefor.

4.        Effectiveness . This Amendment will become effective upon the date on which the Agent has received (a) a counterpart hereof duly executed by each of the Investors (as defined in each of the Initial Purchase Agreement and the Additional Purchase Agreement), (b) a copy of the Agent Fee Letter duly executed by each of the parties thereto, (c) a copy of the Additional Purchase Agreement duly executed by each of the parties thereto, and (d) payment from the Company of (i) all fees required to be paid on or prior to the effective date of this Amendment pursuant to the Agent Fee Letter and (ii) all reasonable third-party fees and expenses incurred by the Agent in connection with this Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and expenses.

5.        Representations and Warranties; Covenants . In order to induce the Agent and the Holders to enter into this Amendment and for the applicable Holders to purchase the Additional Notes under the Additional Purchase Agreement, the Company hereby remakes all of the representations and warranties contained in Section 6 of the Security Agreement as of the date of this Amendment (except to the extent such representation or warranty relates to an earlier date, in which case, it is true, correct and complete as of such earlier date). The Company’s representations and warranties in Sections 6(b) and (c) of the Security Agreement shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to this Amendment.

6.        Note Holdings . Each Secured Party signatory to this Amendment on the date hereof hereby represents and warrants to the Agent (solely as to itself, and not as to any other Secured Party) that (x) as of the date hereof, the outstanding principal amount of the Notes held by such Secured Party is set forth on Schedule A hereto, and (y) on or prior to the date of this Amendment, it has not assigned all or any portion of its Notes to any Person, except any Person that is listed on Schedule A attached hereto.

7.        Joinder . Each of the undersigned Holders that will be receiving Additional Notes but does not hold any Initial Notes hereby (i) agrees to be a “Secured Party” under the Security Agreement (as amended by this Amendment), (ii) unconditionally and irrevocably expressly assumes, confirms and agrees to perform and observe as a Secured Party all terms, conditions, agreements, covenants, obligations, duties and provisions applicable to a “Secured Party” under the Security Agreement, as so amended (including, without limitation, those set forth in Section 17(i) of the Security Agreement) as if it were an original signatory thereto, and (iii) agrees that its address for notices under the Security Agreement is as set forth on Schedule B hereto.

8.        Interpretation . Except as expressly modified by this Amendment, all terms and provisions of the Security Agreement shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect and are ratified and affirmed on the date hereof. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Amendment and the terms of the Security Agreement prior to its amendment, the terms of this Amendment shall control.

9.        Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument and either of the parties hereto may execute this Amendment by signing any such counterpart.

[Signature Pages Follow]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.

Signature Page to First Amendment to Security Agreement

Signature Page to First Amendment to Security Agreement

Signature Page to First Amendment to Security Agreement

Signature Page to First Amendment to Security Agreement

Signature Page to First Amendment to Security Agreement

Signature Page to First Amendment to Security Agreement

Signature Page to First Amendment to Security Agreement

Signature Page to First Amendment to Security Agreement

Signature Page to First Amendment to Security Agreement

Signature Page to First Amendment to Security Agreement

Signature Page to First Amendment to Security Agreement

Signature Page to First Amendment to Security Agreement

SCHEDULE B

TO FIRST AMENDMENT TO SECURITY AGREEMENT

NOTICE INFORMATION FOR NEWLY SECURED PARTIES

Candlewood Special Situations Master Fund II, L.P.

c/o Candlewood Investment Group, LP

555 Theodore Fremd Avenue, Suite C-303

Rye, NY 10580

Email: compliance@candlewoodgroup.com

ATTN: Legal and Compliance

Co-Investment Income Fund, L.P. - US Tax-Exempt Series

BlackRock Alternative Advisors

40 East 52 ^nd Street, 16 ^th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Email: BAA-QBCo-InvestmentFundLP@blackrock.com

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice):

BlackRock, Inc. – Office of the General Counsel

40 East 52 ^nd Street, 16 ^th Floor

New York, NY 10022

ATTN: Michelle Galvez, David Maryles &Larry Gail

Email: legaltransactions@blackrock.com;

Larry.gail@blackrock.com

Co-Investment Income Fund, L.P. - US Taxable Series

BlackRock Alternative Advisors

40 East 52 ^nd Street, 16 ^th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Email: BAA-QBCo-InvestmentFundLP@blackrock.com

With a copy (which shall not constitute notice):

BlackRock, Inc. – Office of the General Counsel

40 East 52 ^nd Street, 16 ^th Floor

New York, NY 10022

ATTN: Michelle Galvez, David Maryles &Larry Gail

Email: legaltransactions@blackrock.com;

Larry.gail@blackrock.com

Exhibit 10.6

SECURED PROMISSORY NOTE

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ICP Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Merger Sub ” and the “ Initial Maker ”), to be merged with and into Illinois Corn Processing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Target ”), following the consummation of the Merger (as defined in the Merger Agreement referenced below), as Maker, hereby promises to pay to the order of Illinois Corn Processing Holdings Inc. (the “ Payee ”), the original principal sum of THIRTY-TWO MILLION, SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY-SIX THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX DOLLARS AND FORTY CENTS ($32,686,256.40) (as may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to the terms below, the “ Loan ”) together with interest and any other obligations payable hereunder, in each case in the manner described herein. Certain terms used herein are as defined in Annex A. Further, Pacific Ethanol Central, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ PEC ”) is a party hereto. This Secured Promissory Note (this “ Note ”) is a “Promissory Note” for purposes of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 26, 2017 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time ,the “ Merger Agreement ”), by and among PEC, as Buyer, the Merger Sub, the Target, MGPI Processing, Inc. and the Payee as Sellers, pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Target, with the Target surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of PEC and as the Maker hereunder.

1.       Adjustment to Principal Amount of Note . Upon the completion of the determination of the “Final Working Capital” (as defined in the Merger Agreement) pursuant to Section 1.7 of the Merger Agreement (the date of such determination, the “ Final Working Capital Date ”), the face amount of this Note (without giving effect to any reduction on account of any payment or prepayment prior to the Final Working Capital Date) shall automatically be deemed, immediately and without requirement for any further action, adjusted such that the original principal amount of this Note shall be equal to the amount set forth below under the heading “Adjusted Principal Amount”, which Adjusted Principal Amount shall be as follows:

; in each case, with same effect as if such adjusted principal amount were set forth above as the original face amount of this Note on the date hereof. Such determination of the Adjusted Principal Amount shall be made in accordance with the Merger Agreement and subject to the approval of the Payee and the Maker pursuant thereto. Upon written request by the Maker to the Payee, from time to time, the Payee shall confirm in writing the Adjusted Principal Amount.

2.       Interest . Interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal amount of this Note and be calculated on the basis of a 360 day year at LIBOR plus the Applicable Margin . In the event of any adjustment of the principal amount of the Note as set forth in Section 1, the applicable rate of interest shall accrue, and shall be deemed to have accrued on the unpaid principal amount of the note as adjusted pursuant to Section 1 as of the Effective Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth elsewhere herein, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the outstanding principal amount of this Note, and all accrued and overdue interest, shall bear interest until paid at the rate then applicable to the principal amount of this Note plus 2.00% per annum and shall be payable on demand.  Interest shall accrue on a daily basis, based on the actual number of days elapsed, and shall be payable on the earlier of (x) the date on which the entire amount of principal outstanding under this Note is repaid in full or (y) on the Maturity Date.

3.       Term; Maturity Date . Subject only to the acceleration provisions of Section 10, all unpaid principal, fees and accrued and unpaid interest shall be due and payable in full on January 3, 2019 (the “ Maturity Date ”).

4.       Voluntary Prepayments . The Maker may at any time prepay any principal amount of this Note in whole, or in part, without premium or penalty, provided that any prepayment under this Note shall be accompanied by a simultaneous pro rata prepayment under the MGP Note. By way of example, if the Maker makes a principal prepayment under this Note in the amount of $70, the Maker shall make a simultaneous prepayment under the MGP Note in the amount of $30.

5.       Mandatory Prepayments . On the date of receipt of any net cash proceeds by the Maker in excess of $1,000,000 over the term of this Note from the conveyance, assignment, sale, sale and leaseback, lease or sublease (as lessor or sublessor), license, exchange, transfer or other disposition of any property constituting Collateral, whether now owned or hereinafter acquired, the Maker shall pay to the Payee an amount equal to 70% of such excess net cash proceeds, which payment shall be applied by the Payee upon receipt thereof to reduce the outstanding balance of the Note. On the date of receipt of any net cash proceeds in excess of $30,000,000 from insurance, condemnation awards or other compensation in respect of one or more casualty events involving any one or more related properties constituting Collateral, the Maker shall pay to the Payee an amount equal to 70% of any such net cash proceeds, which payment shall be applied by the Payee upon receipt thereof to reduce the outstanding balance of the Note.     

6.       General Payment Terms . All payments of principal of, and interest upon, this Note shall be made by the Maker to the Payee in cash in immediately available funds in lawful money of the United States of America, by wire transfer to the bank account designated by the Payee in writing from time to time. All payments under this Note shall be made to the Payee without withholding, defense, set-off, counterclaim or deduction. Payments and prepayments made to the Payee by the Maker hereunder shall be applied first to expenses recoverable under Section 14, then accrued interest and then to principal ( provided that the Maker acknowledges that the application of such amounts as between the Payee and MGP shall be in accordance with the Master Terms Agreement). If the due date of any payment under this Note would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Business Day, such due date shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and interest shall be payable on any principal so extended for the period of such extension. From time to time, within five (5) days of written request by the Maker, the Payee shall provide the Maker with a reasonably detailed statement of all amounts outstanding under the Note on a line item basis, provide all supporting invoices and other documentation with respect to any expenses seeking to be recovered by the Payee pursuant to Section 14, and to provide to Borrower, as well as any third party to the extent directed to do so by Borrower, with a payoff demand good for no less than ten (10) days of the issuance thereof.

7.       Pledge of Interests in and to ICP . As collateral security for the payment and performance as and when due of all Obligations (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise and whether arising under this Note, the Mortgage or any other Credit Document), PEC hereby pledges and grants to the Payee a security interest in all of PEC’s right, title and interest in the following property, assets and revenues, whether now owned by PEC or hereafter acquired and whether now existing or hereafter coming into existence (all of the property, assets and revenues described in this Section 7 being collectively referred to herein as the “ PEC Collateral ”):

(a)       all limited liability company interests issued by the Maker, together with all certificates representing the same;

(b)       all limited liability company interests and other ownership or equity interests of any class issued by the Maker, securities, moneys or other property representing a dividend on or a distribution or return of capital on or in respect of the limited liability company interests issued by the Maker, or resulting from a split-up, revision, reclassification or other like change of such interests or otherwise received in exchange therefor, and any warrants, rights or options issued to the holders of, or otherwise in respect thereof;

(c)       all shares of capital stock of a corporation, limited liability company interests, partnership interests and other ownership or equity interests of any class in any Person of any successor entity of any merger or consolidation involving the Maker, but only to the extent of the interests in and to the Maker; and

(d)       all proceeds of and to any of the foregoing.

The obligations of PEC under this Section 7 are primary, absolute and unconditional, joint and several, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the obligations of the Maker under this Note, or any substitution, release or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Obligations, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor (other than the actual performance of the Obligations), it being the intent of this Section 7 that the obligations of PEC hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional, joint and several, under any and all circumstances and shall apply to any and all Obligations now existing or in the future arising, as such Obligations are reduced from time to time in accordance with this Note, including any payments received on account thereof.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth elsewhere herein or in any other Credit Document, (a) any obligations of PEC arising under this Note and any other Credit Document are limited to its interests, rights and title in and to the PEC Collateral and do not constitute personal obligations of or liability to PEC, except to the extent of any fraud or willful misconduct by PEC with respect to the PEC Collateral, (b) the general credit of PEC is not obligated or available for the payment of the Obligations created or secured by the Notes or any other Credit Document and, except to the extent of any fraud or willful misconduct by PEC with respect to the PEC Collateral, the Payee will not look, and shall be prohibited from looking, to PEC or its directors, officers, employees representatives, or its interest holders with respect to the Obligations or any covenant, stipulation, promise, indemnity, agreement or obligation contained in the Note or any other Credit Document, (c) in enforcing its rights and remedies under the Credit Documents, the Payee will look solely to any or all of the PEC Collateral, the ICP Collateral and the Maker for the payment of such Obligations pursuant to the Credit Documents and for the performance of the provisions hereof and thereof and shall not look to PEC except to the extent of any fraud or willful misconduct by PEC with respect to the PEC Collateral, and (d) the Payee will not seek a deficiency or other money judgment against any PEC Party and will not institute any separate action against PEC by reason of any default that may occur in the performance of any of the terms and conditions of the Credit Documents, except to the extent required to do to enforce its rights against the PEC Collateral and except to the extent of any fraud or willful misconduct by PEC with respect to the PEC Collateral. This provision shall not be construed as in any way adversely affecting or impairing the Payee’s lien as against the PEC Collateral or Payee’s right and remedies with respect thereto pursuant to this Note or applicable law, including foreclosure.

8.        Security Grant from the Maker . As collateral security for the payment and performance as and when due of all Obligations (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise and whether arising under this Note, the Mortgage or any other Credit Document), the Maker hereby pledges and grants to the Payee a security interest in all of its right, title and interest in the following property, assets and revenues, whether now owned by the Maker or hereafter acquired and whether now existing or hereafter coming into existence (all of the property, assets and revenues described in this Section 8 being collectively referred to herein as the “ ICP Collateral ” and together with the collateral as described in the Mortgage and the PEC Collateral, the “ Collateral ”):

(a)       all accounts, as-extracted collateral, chattel paper (whether tangible or electronic), commercial tort claims, deposit accounts, documents, equipment, financial assets, fixtures, general intangibles, goods, instruments (including promissory notes), insurance, intellectual property, inventory, investment property, letter-of-credit rights, payment intangibles, equity interests, receivables and receivables records, securities, securities accounts, security entitlements and software (as and to the extent such terms are defined in the UCC);

(b)       all other tangible and intangible property whatsoever; and

(c)       all proceeds of and to any of the foregoing.

9.        Events of Default . An “ Event of Default ” shall exist hereunder if any one or more of the following events shall occur:

(a)       the Maker shall fail to pay the Loan, including interest, and all other amounts, in full in cash on the Maturity Date, the Maker fails to make any required payment to the Payee pursuant to Section 5 within five (5) Business Days of the Maker’s receipt of the funds required to be paid to Payee pursuant to Section 5, or fails to pay any other amount as and when required to be made hereunder and such failure continues for more than ten (10) days after written demand therefor by the Payee to the Maker; or

(b)       the Maker (or PEC with respect to the PEC Collateral only) shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement to be performed or observed by it contained in paragraphs (a), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) or (j) of Annex B; provided that, except for paragraph (c), if such default or failure is involuntary, inadvertant or by mistake and is capable of cure, such default or failure shall not constitute an Event of Default if cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Payee within ten (10) days of the occurrence of such default; or

(c)       the default or failure to perform any other obligations of the Maker or PEC set forth herein, in the Mortgage or in any other Credit Document as and when required (after expiration of all applicable notice and cure periods); provided that, if such default or failure is capable of cure, such default or failure shall not constitute an Event of Default if cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Payee within thirty (30) days after written demand for cure thereof to the Maker from the Payee or, if such cure by its nature would take more than thirty (30) days to cure, then, so long as the Maker is diligently pursuing such cure, the Maker shall have up to an additional thirty (30) days to cure such default or failure before such default shall constitute an Event of Default; or

(d)       the failure of any representation or warranty set forth herein, in the Mortgage or in any other Credit Document to be true, correct and complete in any material respect; provided that, if such failure is subject to cure, such failure shall not constitute an Event of Default if cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Payee within thirty (30) days after written demand for cure to the Maker from the Payee or, if such cure by its nature would take more than thirty (30) days to cure, then, so long as the Maker is diligently pursuing such cure, the Maker shall have up to an additional thirty (30) days to cure such default before such default shall constitute an Event of Default; or

(e)       the Maker or PEC institutes or consents to any liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law with respect to it or any of the Collateral; or any such proceeding is instituted against the Maker or PEC and is not dismissed within the earlier of (i) prior to the entry for an order for relief or similar order adjudicating the Maker or PEC as subject to such proceeding or (ii) ninety (90) days after the commencement thereof; or

(f)       any judgment, writ, warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against the Maker or any of the Collateral in an amount in excess of $3,000,000 and is not otherwise covered by insurance, released, vacated, stayed or fully bonded by the earlier of (i) within sixty (60) calendar days after its issue or levy or (ii) at least thirty (30) days prior to any execution or foreclosure sale with respect thereto; or

(g)        a Change of Control; or

(h)       the failure to comply with paragraph (b) of Annex B or any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) is created, incurred, assumed or permitted to exist on any property or asset constituting PEC Collateral; provided that, in each case, if the creation of any such Lien is involuntary, inadvertent or by mistake, and is capable of cure, it shall not constitute an Event of Default if such Lien is terminated, removed or released to the reasonable satisfaction of the Payee within the earlier of, any enforcement of such Lien or thirty (30) days written demand for cure thereof to the Maker from Payee or, if such cure by its nature would take more than thirty (30) days to cure, then, so long as the Maker diligently pursuing such cure, the Maker shall have up to an additional thirty (30) days to cure such default or failure before such default shall constitute an Event of Default; or

(i)       there shall have occurred any “Event of Default” under and as defined in the MGP Note; or

(j)       all or any material part of this Note, the Mortgage or any other Credit Document delivered by or on behalf of the Maker in order to grant or perfect a Lien as security for any of the Obligations is or becomes void, illegal, invalid, unenforceable or of limited force and effect, or the Payee does not have or ceases to have a valid and perfected first priority Lien (subject to any Permitted Lien) in any Collateral for any reason other than the failure of the Payee to take any action within its control; provided that, if such default or failure is capable of cure, such default or failure shall not constitute an Event of Default if cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Payee within thirty (30) days written demand for cure thereof to the Maker from Payee or, if such cure by its nature would take more than thirty (30) days to cure, then, so long as the Maker diligently pursuing such cure, the Maker shall have up to an additional thirty (30) days to cure such default or failure before such default shall constitute an Event of Default.

10.        Remedies . Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default specified in Section 9(e), the principal amount of this Note together with any interest thereon, all fees and all other Obligations shall become immediately and automatically due and payable, without presentment, demand, notice, protest or other requirements of any kind (all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Maker). Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any other Event of Default, the Payee may, by written notice to the Maker, declare the principal amount of this Note together with any interest thereon to be due and payable, and the principal amount of this Note together with any such interest shall thereupon immediately become due and payable without presentment, further notice, protest or other requirements of any kind (all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Maker). Following any such demand, the Maker shall immediately pay to such holder all amounts due and payable with respect to this Note. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, the Payee shall have all of the rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral of a secured party under the UCC (whether or not the UCC is in effect in the jurisdiction where the rights and remedies are asserted) and such additional rights and remedies to which a secured party is entitled under the laws in effect in any jurisdiction where any rights and remedies hereunder may be asserted, including the right, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to exercise all voting, consensual and other powers of ownership pertaining to the Collateral as if the Payee were the sole and absolute owner thereof (and the Maker agrees to take all such action as may be appropriate to give effect to such right).

11.        Representations and Warranties . The Maker, and PEC to the extent applicable to it, each separately and severally represents and warrants to the Payee as follows:

(a)        General Representations . It is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has full power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Note and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party.  It has duly authorized and taken all other appropriate action for the execution, delivery and performance of this Note and any other document or instrument delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith and the consummation of the transactions provided for in this Note.  It has duly executed and delivered this Note and the other Credit Documents to which is it’s a party, this Note and such other Credit Documents constitute its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms except as enforceability thereof may be limited by any Debtor Relief Laws and by equitable principles, whether considered at law or in equity.  Its execution and delivery of this Note and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party, the performance of the obligations or transactions contemplated by this Note and such other Credit Documents and the fulfillment of the terms of this Note and such other Credit Documents will not (i) conflict with or violate any of its organizational documents or any contractual obligations applicable to it (ii) conflict with or violate any order, judgment or decree of governmental authority binding on it, (iii) require any approval of its equityholders or any approval or consent of any Person under any contractual obligation of such representing Person, except for such approvals or consents which will be obtained on or before the date hereof, or (iv) conflict with or violate any applicable laws, or (v) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of its properties or assets (other than any Liens created under this Note, the MGP Note and the Mortgage).  It has duly obtained, effected or given all authorizations, consents, licenses, orders or approvals of or registrations or declarations with any governmental authority or any other Person required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Note and the performance of the transactions contemplated by this Note, and such authorizations, consents, licenses, orders or approvals of or registrations or declarations are in full force and effect. There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or governmental authority pending against or, to its knowledge, threatened against or affecting it as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on (x) the ability of the Maker to fully and timely perform the Obligations, (y) the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Note against the Maker or the Collateral, or (z) the rights, remedies and benefits available to, or conferred upon, the Payee under this Note. It is not an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(b)        Collateral Representations . The full and correct legal name, type of organization, jurisdiction of organization and mailing address of the Maker and PEC respectively are correctly set forth in Schedule 1. The Equity Interests are not certified. The Equity Interests are duly authorized, validly existing, fully paid and non-assessable, and none of the Equity Interests are or will be while the Obligations are outstanding, subject to any contractual restriction, or any restriction under the organizational documents of the Maker except as contemplated herein.

(c)        No Article 8 Security . The Maker and PEC represent and warrant to the Payee that none of the Maker’s Equity Interests are a “security”, as such term is defined in UCC Article 8, and that neither the Maker nor PEC will cause or permit the Maker to “opt-in” to UCC Article 8 or to otherwise cause or permit any of the Maker’s Equity Interests to be a security for purposes of UCC Article 8.

12.        Covenants . The Maker and PEC each covenants and agrees as provided in Annex B.

13.        Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial, Etc. This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York. The Maker, PEC and Payee hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and of any New York state court sitting in New York City, borough of Manhattan for the purposes of all legal proceedings arising out of or relating to this Note or the transactions contemplated hereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Payee may commence any action to enforce any Lien in any court located in any state or other location that would otherwise have proper jurisdiction with respect to such enforcement action. This Note may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same Note. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Note by electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Note. This Section 13 shall survive the termination of this Note. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS NOTE OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THE ACTIONS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

14.        Expenses; Amendments; Notices . The Maker and the Payee shall each be solely responsible and bear their own respective fees, costs and expenses, including any and all attorneys’ fees and costs, incurred in connection with the drafting, negotiation, execution and delivery of this Note. The Maker shall pay within fifteen (15) days of written demand therefore by the Payee to the Maker, provided that such demand includes a detailed listing of all such costs and expenses and supporting documentation relating to same (except for any information of a confidential legal nature, including narrative descriptions of legal work involving strategy or the identification or assessment of risks or liabilities, which information may be redacted or omitted), all reasonable costs and expenses of the Payee, including reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, in connection with (a) any amendment to the extent requested by the Maker and any forbearance, waiver, consent, restructuring or reorganization of the Note or the Maker (including with respect of the bankruptcy of the Maker), and (b) enforcement or attempted enforcement of the Note, and any matter related thereto; provided that (i) any such fees and costs shall be limited to those incurred by ICPH or MGP, but not both and (ii) in the event the Maker is the prevailing party in any such enforcement proceedings, the Maker, not the Payee, shall be entitled to all of its reasonable fees and costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. To the extent any of the foregoing fees, costs and expenses of the Payee in this Section 14 are not reimbursed within a reasonable period following demand therefor, the Payee and MGP shall ratably share such fees, costs and expenses in proportion to the respective amounts due under their respective Promissory Notes. This Note may not be changed, modified or terminated orally, but only by an agreement in writing signed by the Maker, PEC and the Payee, provided that Payee and MGP may periodically amend or otherwise modify the Master Terms Agreement without providing notice to or obtaining the consent of the Maker or PEC. All notices and other communications in respect of this Note shall be given or made in writing at the address as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other party. Except as otherwise provided in this Note, all such communications shall be deemed to have been duly given when transmitted by electronic transmission (subject to receipt of confirmation thereof by recipient), the next day when delivered overnight mail by a national carrier or upon personal delivery or, in the case of a mailed notice, upon receipt, in each case given or addressed as aforesaid.

15.        Right of Setoff . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Payee and each of its affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by the Payee or any such affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Maker against any and all of the obligations of the Maker now or hereafter existing hereunder to the Payee or, irrespective of whether or not the Payee shall have made any demand hereunder and although such obligations of the Maker may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of the Payee different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of the Payee and its affiliates hereunder are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that the Payee or its affiliates may have.

16.        Assignments . The Maker may not assign any of its rights or obligations under this Note without the consent of the Payee. The Payee may at any time assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Note without the prior written consent of the Maker, but upon notice to the Maker, which notice shall set forth the name address and contact information of such assignee; provided that, in the event of any partial assignment or assumption to any Person, the Maker shall have no obligation to communicate with or otherwise report to such assignee and such assignee shall not have any rights of consent or approval, with all such rights remaining with the Payee. Subject to the foregoing, from and after the effective date specified in each assignment and assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Note and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such assignment and assumption, have the rights and obligations of the Payee under this Note, and the Payee shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such assignment and assumption, be released from its obligations under this Note (and, in the case of an assignment and assumption covering all of the Payee’s rights and obligations under this Note, the Payee shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Section 14 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment, subject to any corresponding obligations and liabilities of the Payee with respect thereto. In no event shall the Payee make any assignment to, or allow any assumption by, any Person (other than an affiliate of the Payee) which would constitute a competitor of the Maker or its affiliates with respect to procurement, manufacture, production, delivery and sale of ethanol and related products.

17.        Conditions Precedent . The effectiveness of this Note, and any obligation of the Payee to extend any financing to the Maker on the date hereof or the creation of any of the Obligations hereunder by the Maker, is expressly subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions on or before the date hereof:

(a)       The Closing Date under the Merger Agreement shall have occurred;

(b)       The Payee shall have received this Note originally executed and delivered by each Person party hereto and the Payee shall have received a copy of the fully executed Mortgage, with the original copy of the Mortgage being delivered to Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company (the “ Title Company ”) for recording at closing;

(c)       ICPH, as agent for itself and MGP, shall have received an ALTA mortgagee title insurance policy or unconditional commitments therefor issued by the Title Company, naming ICPH, in its capacity as such agent, as insured with respect to the real property which is the subject of the Mortgage (the “ Title Policy ”), the insured amount to be equal to the face amount of this Note and the MGP Note; provided that ICPH, in its capacity as such agent, shall have paid the Title Company all expenses and premiums of the Title Company together with all other sums required in connection with the issuance of the Title Policy (with such premiums and costs of ICPH, in its capacity as such agent, being allocated between ICPH and MGP pursuant to the Master Terms Agreement); provided further that all recording and stamp taxes (including mortgage recording and intangible taxes) payable in connection with recording the Mortgage in the appropriate real estate records shall be paid equally by ICPH, in its capacity as such agent, and the Maker (with all costs of ICPH, in its capacity as such agent, being allocated pursuant to the Master Terms Agreement);

(d)       ICPH, as agent for itself and MGP, shall have received a favorable written opinion from counsel admitted to the practice of law in the State of Illinois with respect to the form of mortgage being in proper form for recording, upon recording the liens created by such Mortgage shall attach to the real property described therein and, to the extent Illinois law is applicable to the Mortgage, the enforceability of the Mortgage under Illinois law, all subject to and limited by customary and reasonable qualifications, limitations and assumptions; and

(e)       The Payee shall have received each material organizational document of each of the Maker and PEC to the extent necessary to confirm authority to execute, deliver and perform the Note and the other Credit Documents, together with such consents, resolutions, signature and incumbency certificates as reasonably required with respect thereto.

18.        Terms Generally . The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any person shall be construed to include such person’s permitted successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Note in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Sections shall be construed to refer to Sections of this Note and (e) any reference to any law or regulation herein shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Maker and PEC have caused this Note to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers, as of the date and year and at a place first above written.

ICPH Promissory Note

ICPH Promissory Note

ICPH Promissory Note

ANNEX A

Definitions . The following capitalized terms, when used in this Note, shall have the following meanings:

“ Applicable Margin ” means, for any day in any period, the corresponding rate per annum set forth below under the caption “Margin”:

; provided that if any period above would otherwise expire on a day that is not the last day of an Interest Period, such period shall end on the nearest Interest Period end date.

“ Business Day ” means (a) any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any day which is a legal holiday under the laws of the State of New York and (b) with respect to any LIBOR Determination Date, the term “ Business Day ” means any day which is a Business Day described in clause (a) and which is also a day for trading by and between banks in U.S. Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

“ Cash ” means money, currency or a credit balance in any demand or deposit account.

“ Capital Expenditures ” means, with respect to any Person, the aggregate of all expenditures by such Person for the acquisition or leasing (pursuant to a capital lease) of fixed or capital assets, software or additions to equipment (including replacements, capitalized repairs and improvements) which should be capitalized under GAAP on the balance sheet of such Person.

“ Change of Control ” means (a) the failure of Maker to at all times be a wholly owned subsidiary of PEC, with the Maker being Controlled by PEC subject only to the rights and remedies of Payee pursuant to the Credit Documents or (b) the failure of PEC to continue to be Majority Owned and Controlled by Pacific Ethanol, Inc., a Delaware corporation. For purposes of this definition the term “ Majority Owned ” means, with respect to any Person, an equity ownership interest in such Person, whether held directly or indirectly or some combination thereof, of at least fifty-one percent (51%), and the term “ Controlled ” means the power to direct the management and policies of a Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities or other equity interests, by contract or otherwise (notwithstanding that, in the case of clause (b) above only, other Persons may have the right to participate in or veto significant managerial decisions).

“ Credit Documents ” means this Note, the MGP Note, the Mortgage and any DACA.

“ DACA ” means one or more deposit account control agreements in favor of ICPH, as agent for itself and MGP.

“ Debtor Relief Law ” means the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, codified as 11 U.S.C. §§101 et seq, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

“ Equity Interests ” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest.

“ GAAP ” means United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time.

“ ICPH ” means Illinois Corn Processing Holdings Inc.

“ Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all capital lease obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty and (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers' acceptances. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person's ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

“ Interest Period ” means an interest period of three months initially commencing on the date hereof and thereafter commencing on the date on which the immediately preceding Interest Period expires.

“ LIBOR ” means, for any LIBOR Determination Date, the rate per annum equal to the London interbank offered rate as administered by the ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for deposits of U.S. Dollars for a 3-month interest period that is quoted by Bloomberg (or, to the extent such service ceases to be available, any successor to such service as determined by the Payee) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) on such LIBOR Determination Date; provided that if LIBOR shall be less than zero on any LIBOR Determination Date, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Note. In the event LIBOR is indeterminable or unavailable as of any LIBOR Determination Date, LIBOR for the applicable Interest Period shall be deemed to be the rate in effect for the immediately preceding Interest Period.

“ LIBOR Determination Date ” means the date that is two Business Days prior to the first day of an Interest Period.

“ Lien ” means (i) any lien, mortgage, pledge, assignment, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any lease or license in the nature thereof) and any option, trust or other preferential arrangement having the practical effect of any of the foregoing and (ii) in the case of Equity Interests, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such Equity Interests.

“ Maker ” means (a) immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger, the Initial Maker, and (b) immediately following the consummation of the Merger, the Target.

“ Master Terms Agreement ” means the Master Terms Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit A. For avoidance of doubt, the Master Terms Agreement is not a Credit Document.

“ MGP ” means MGPI Processing, Inc.

“ MGP Note ” means the Promissory Note (as defined in the Merger Agreement) in favor of MGP.

“ Mortgage ” means the first priority mortgage delivered or caused to be delivered by the Maker naming ICPH, as agent for itself and MGP, as mortgagee, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Payee with respect to certain real property and fixtures owned by the Maker.

“ Obligations ” means all obligations of the Maker under the Credit Documents, whether now existing or hereafter arising or incurred, and whether absolute, contingent or otherwise, including all obligations to pay principal, fees and interest (including any default interest and any interest accruing after the commencement of any case under any Debtor Relief Law) under the Notes, the Mortgage and any DACA, and all expenses, indemnification obligations and other amounts payable by the Maker under any of the Credit Documents, in each case whether accruing or arising before or after the commencement of any case under any Debtor Relief Law (and whether or not such amounts are enforceable, allowed or allowable as a claim in whole or in part in such case).

“ Permitted Liens ” means (a) the liens created in favor of the Payee and MGP pursuant to the Credit Documents, (b) in the case of ICP Collateral, inchoate liens arising by operation of law which were incurred in the ordinary course of business, including carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens and other similar Liens; provided that, to the extent such inchoate liens become a presently existing Lien against any of the ICP Collateral, such Lien shall still constitute a permitted Lien so long as (i) in the aggregate, such Liens do not materially detract from, taken as a whole, the value of the ICP Collateral or otherwise materially impair the operations of the business of ICP or (ii) such Liens are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, which proceedings have the effect of postponing or preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property subject to such Liens and for which adequate reserves have been made if required in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and any such Liens are paid or released at least thirty (30) days prior to any such forfeiture or foreclosure sale, (c) in the case of ICP Collateral, pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other similar social security legislation, (d) in the case of ICP Collateral, Liens securing taxes, assessments and other governmental charges, the payment of which is not yet due or is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly initiated and diligently conducted and for which such reserve or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by generally accepted accounting principles shall have been made, (e) in the case of ICP Collateral, Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 12(a)(ii) , so long as such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition, construction, lease or improvement and such Lien does not encumber assets other than the specific assets acquired in connection with the incurrence of such Indebtedness, (f) those Liens, encumbrances and other exceptions to title identified in Schedule B of the Title Policy and (g) any other charge, encumbrance, claim or right which constitutes a Lien against the ICP Collateral to the extent such charge, encumbrance, claim or right existed prior to and continues after the Closing of the merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

“ Person ” means and includes natural persons, corporations, limited partnerships, general partnerships, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, joint stock companies, joint ventures, associations, companies, trusts, banks, trust companies, land trusts, business trusts or other organizations, whether or not legal entities, and governmental authorities.

“ Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Maker, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests.

“ UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code (or any similar or equivalent legislation) as in effect from time to time in any applicable jurisdiction.

ANNEX B

The Maker and, to the extent applicable, PEC covenant and agree as follows:

(a) Indebtedness . The Maker will not create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness except: (i) Indebtedness created hereunder; (ii) purchase money Indebtedness, including capital lease obligations, for fixed or capital assets so long as such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition, construction, lease or improvement and is secured only by the assets acquired in connection with the incurrence of such Indebtedness; (iii) unsecured Indebtedness incurred in good faith and in the ordinary course of ICP’s business and operations, including any Indebtedness owed to affiliates of the Maker so long as permitted under clause (d)(ii) or (g) below; and (iv) any indebtedness which is permitted as a Permitted Lien.

(b) Liens . The Maker will not create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset constituting Collateral, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except Permitted Liens.

(c) Fundamental Changes . Except as contemplated in the Merger Agreement, the Maker will not, and PEC will not permit the Maker to (i) merge into or consolidate with any other Person, (ii) permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or any substantial part of its assets (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired) or (iii) liquidate or dissolve.

(d) Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions .

(i) Investments : Except as contemplated in the Merger Agreement, the Maker will not purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not the Maker prior to such merger) any capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit. Maker shall not create or acquire any subsidiaries.

(ii) Loans, Advances and Guaranties : Maker will not make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, or guarantee any obligations of, any other Person; provided that accounts receivable and other advances made by the Maker to any affiliate, and any agreement to be obligated with respect to its pro rata share of certain centralized operating expenses or with respect to any letter of credit issued on its behalf, and any agreement to indemnify in connection therewith up to such pro rata share, together with any agreement to reimburse such affiliates with respect thereto, shall be permitted.

(e) Restricted Payments . The Maker will not declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment.

(f) Capital Expenditures . The Maker will not make or commit to make any Capital Expenditure, except Capital Expenditures in the ordinary course of business and to the extent deemed necessary or appropriate in good faith by the Maker in connection with its business and operations.

(g) Transactions with Affiliates . The Maker will not sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its affiliates, except in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Maker than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties and transactions entered into by the Maker not involving any other affiliate.

(h) Further Assurances; Pledged Equity Interests . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all dividends and other distributions on any pledged Equity Interests shall be paid directly to the Payee and retained by it as part of the Collateral. The Maker hereby expressly authorizes and instructs each issuer of any pledged Equity Interests pledged hereunder to (i) comply with any instruction received by it from the Payee that (x) states that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (y) is otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Note, without any other or further instructions from the Maker, and (ii) pay any dividend or other payment with respect to any pledged Equity Interests directly to the Payee. Without limiting any rights or powers granted by this Note to the Payee while no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default the Payee is hereby appointed the attorney-in-fact of the Maker for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Note and taking any action and executing any instruments that the Payee may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes, which appointment as attorney-in-fact is irrevocable and coupled with an interest. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, so long as the Payee shall be entitled under this Note to make collections in respect of the Collateral, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Payee shall have the right and power to receive, endorse and collect all checks made payable to the order of the Maker representing any dividend, payment or other distribution in respect of the Collateral or any part thereof and to give full discharge for the same.

(i) Cash Management. By no later than 120 days of the Effective Date, the Maker, using commercially reasonable efforts, shall endeavor to obtain and deliver to the Payee and MGP a DACA executed by the Maker and the Maker’s depositary bank, using such depositary bank’s standard form, subject only to such revisions thereto as may be reasonably requested by the Maker, the Payee or MGP. To the extent such DACA or DACAs are obtained pursuant hereto, the Maker will, after obtaining same, use only those accounts which are subject to such DACA or DACAs.

Exhibit A

MASTER TERMS AGREEMENT

MASTER TERMS AGREEMENT dated as of July 3, 2017 between Illinois Corn Processing Holdings Inc. (“ ICPH ”) and MGPI Processing, Inc. (“ MGP ”, together with ICPH, the “ Payees ”).

Reference is made to (i) that certain Secured Promissory Note dated as of July 3, 2017 by ICP Merger Sub, LLC (the “ Initial Maker ”), Illinois Corn Processing, LLC (the “ Target ”, together with the Initial Maker, the “ Makers ”) and Pacific Ethanol Central, LLC (“ PEC ”) in favor of ICPH (the “ ICPH Note ) and (ii) that certain Secured Promissory Note dated as of July 3, 2017 by Makers and PEC in favor of MGP (the “ MGP Note ”, together with the ICPH Note, the “ Notes ”). Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined are used herein as defined in the Notes.

Section 1. Agreements . Notwithstanding anything in the Notes to the contrary, the parties hereto agree as follows:

(a)         Pari Passu Pro Rata Liens . Notwithstanding anything herein or in any Credit Document to the contrary and notwithstanding the method, manner or order of the creation, attachment or perfection of any Lien (including the order of filing of any UCC financing statements or other Lien perfection documents), all Liens granted to or for the benefit of either Payee pursuant to the Notes, the Mortgage, any DACA or any other Credit Document shall be of equal priority, as between the Payees, and shall be for the pro rata benefit of each Payee, with any proceeds from the Collateral to be allocated between the Payees as provided in Section 1(b) below. Solely for Lien perfection purposes, each Payee (the “Agent Payee”) agrees to act as agent for itself and the other Payee with respect to any Collateral in the custody or control of the Agent Payee or with respect to which the Agent Payee has a Lien, whether such Lien is perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement or a mortgage or by any other method. Without limiting the foregoing, all Collateral in the possession or control of an Agent Payee shall be possessed or controlled by such Agent Payee as gratuitous bailee for perfection for the benefit of each Payee as secured party so as to satisfy the requirements of sections 8-106(d)(3), 8-301(a)(2), 9-104 and 9-313(c) of the UCC. In this Section 1(a), “control” has the meaning given that term in sections 8-106 and 9-314 of the UCC. Without limiting the foregoing, each Payee hereby appoints ICPH to act as its agent for purposes of perfecting and enforcing any Lien or other rights granted pursuant to the Mortgage, and ICPH agrees to act in such capacity for such purposes.

(b)        Payment Sharing . All amounts and payments of any kind received by either of the Payees under or in respect of the Notes or any other Credit Document shall, whether received by voluntary payment or scheduled payment of principal or interest, or exercise of rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral, be shared ratably among the Payees in proportion to the respective amounts due to them under their respective Notes (any such amounts, the “ Shared Payments ”). Any Shared Payment received by a Payee to which it is not due shall be segregated and held in trust and promptly paid over to the other Payee in the form received, with any necessary endorsements. If an Event of Default exists, any fees or expenses reasonably incurred by a Payee to collect a Shared Payment shall be shared ratably between the Payees in proportion to the respective amounts due to them under the respective Notes.

(c)        Enforcement .

(i)        If any Event of Default (as defined in either Note or any other Credit Document) shall have occurred and be continuing, ICPH may, but shall not be obligated to (except as provided in this Section 1(c)), take any enforcement action under or with respect to any Credit Document. MGP shall not be entitled to take any enforcement action under or with respect to any Credit Document without ICPH's consent, provided that if a MGP Enforcement Condition has occurred, MGP may (x) take any enforcement action under or with respect to any Credit Document (other than any DACA or the Mortgage) so long as any proceeds of such enforcement action are allocated between the Payees in accordance with Section 1(b) above, and (y) with respect to any DACA or the Mortgage, instruct ICPH in writing, and ICPH, as agent or secured party for ICPH and MGP under such DACA or the Mortgage (as applicable), shall upon receipt of such instruction commence an action to deliver an enforcement notice under such DACA or foreclose the Mortgage (as applicable) or otherwise exercise the rights and remedies under such DACA or Mortgage, or, if ICPH is unwilling to so foreclose on the Mortgage or exercise such rights and remedies under the Mortgage, ICPH shall enter into such agreements as MGP may reasonably request to enable MGP to foreclose the Mortgage or exercise such rights and remedies in its own name; and with any proceeds of such foreclosure or other exercise of rights or remedies being allocated between the Payees in accordance with Section 1(b) above. For purposes of this Section 1(c), an “ MGP Enforcement Condition ” shall be deemed to occur if any Event of Default (as defined in either Note or any other Credit Document) arises because of a failure to pay principal or interest under any Note (whether at stated maturity, by virtue of acceleration or otherwise) and such Event of Default remains in effect for at least 60 days, unless (A) ICPH shall have commenced and be diligently pursuing in good faith enforcement of the Credit Documents generally (including to foreclose or otherwise realize on all material collateral, other than pledged equity interests), or (B) any bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding shall have been filed by or against either Maker or PEC.

(ii)       Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1(c) to the contrary, (A) if ICPH commences any foreclosure action or otherwise attempts to realize on any personal property collateral, and without regard to whether an MGP Enforcement Condition has occurred or exists, or (B) if any bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding shall have been filed by or against either Maker or PEC, and without regard to whether any payment or other Event of Default (as defined immediately above) exists, the duration of such Event of Default, or any other fact or circumstance, MGP may take any such action (including responsive or defensive motions, pleadings, proofs of claim, statements of interest and other filings) which MGP deems necessary to preserve, confirm, continue or protect the validity and enforceability of its liens or rights to the collateral, so long as such action is not inconsistent with the terms of this agreement, and does not contest the liens of ICPH or hinder the exercise of remedies thereby.  

(d)        Amendments . No amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any provision of any Note, or consent to any departure by any party therefrom, shall in any event be effective without the written consent of each of ICPH and MGP.

(e)        Mortgage Fees . Any title insurance, recording or similar fees which are payable by a Payee pursuant to its Note in connection with the Mortgage (including any such fees payable by ICPH in its in capacity as agent for the Payees) shall be shared ratably among the Payees in accordance with the original principal amounts of their respective Notes.

Section 2. General . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York. The Payees hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and of any New York state court sitting in New York City, borough of Manhattan for the purposes of all legal proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement. This Section 2 shall survive the termination of this Agreement. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THE ACTIONS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

Exhibit 10.7

SECURED PROMISSORY NOTE

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ICP Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Merger Sub ” and the “ Initial Maker ”), to be merged with and into Illinois Corn Processing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Target ”), following the consummation of the Merger (as defined in the Merger Agreement referenced below), as Maker, hereby promises to pay to the order of MGPI Processing, Inc. (the “ Payee ”), the original principal sum of FOURTEEN MILLION, EIGHT THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED NINETY FIVE DOLLARS AND SIXTY CENTS ($14,008,395.60) (as may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to the terms below, the “ Loan ”) together with interest and any other obligations payable hereunder, in each case in the manner described herein. Certain terms used herein are as defined in Annex A. Further, Pacific Ethanol Central, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ PEC ”) is a party hereto. This Secured Promissory Note (this “ Note ”) is a “Promissory Note” for purposes of that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 26, 2017 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time ,the “ Merger Agreement ”), by and among PEC, as Buyer, the Merger Sub, the Target, Illinois Corn Processing Holdings Inc. and the Payee as Sellers, pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Target, with the Target surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of PEC and as the Maker hereunder.

1.       Adjustment to Principal Amount of Note . Upon the completion of the determination of the “Final Working Capital” (as defined in the Merger Agreement) pursuant to Section 1.7 of the Merger Agreement (the date of such determination, the “ Final Working Capital Date ”), the face amount of this Note (without giving effect to any reduction on account of any payment or prepayment prior to the Final Working Capital Date) shall automatically be deemed, immediately and without requirement for any further action, adjusted such that the original principal amount of this Note shall be equal to the amount set forth below under the heading “Adjusted Principal Amount”, which Adjusted Principal Amount shall be as follows:

; in each case, with same effect as if such adjusted principal amount were set forth above as the original face amount of this Note on the date hereof. Such determination of the Adjusted Principal Amount shall be made in accordance with the Merger Agreement and subject to the approval of the Payee and the Maker pursuant thereto. Upon written request by the Maker to the Payee, from time to time, the Payee shall confirm in writing the Adjusted Principal Amount.

2.        Interest . Interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal amount of this Note and be calculated on the basis of a 360 day year at LIBOR plus the Applicable Margin . In the event of any adjustment of the principal amount of the Note as set forth in Section 1, the applicable rate of interest shall accrue, and shall be deemed to have accrued on the unpaid principal amount of the note as adjusted pursuant to Section 1 as of the Effective Date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth elsewhere herein, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the outstanding principal amount of this Note, and all accrued and overdue interest, shall bear interest until paid at the rate then applicable to the principal amount of this Note plus 2.00% per annum and shall be payable on demand.  Interest shall accrue on a daily basis, based on the actual number of days elapsed, and shall be payable on the earlier of (x) the date on which the entire amount of principal outstanding under this Note is repaid in full or (y) on the Maturity Date.

3.        Term; Maturity Date . Subject only to the acceleration provisions of Section 10, all unpaid principal, fees and accrued and unpaid interest shall be due and payable in full on January 3, 2019 (the “ Maturity Date ”).

4.        Voluntary Prepayments . The Maker may at any time prepay any principal amount of this Note in whole, or in part, without premium or penalty, provided that any prepayment under this Note shall be accompanied by a simultaneous pro rata prepayment under the ICPH Note. By way of example, if the Maker makes a principal prepayment under the ICPH Note in the amount of $70, the Maker shall make a simultaneous prepayment under this Note in the amount of $30.

5.         Mandatory Prepayments . On the date of receipt of any net cash proceeds by the Maker in excess of $1,000,000 over the term of this Note from the conveyance, assignment, sale, sale and leaseback, lease or sublease (as lessor or sublessor), license, exchange, transfer or other disposition of any property constituting Collateral, whether now owned or hereinafter acquired, the Maker shall pay to the Payee an amount equal to 30% of such excess net cash proceeds, which payment shall be applied by the Payee upon receipt thereof to reduce the outstanding balance of the Note. On the date of receipt of any net cash proceeds in excess of $30,000,000 from insurance, condemnation awards or other compensation in respect of one or more casualty events involving any one or more related properties constituting Collateral, the Maker shall pay to the Payee an amount equal to 30% of any such net cash proceeds, which payment shall be applied by the Payee upon receipt thereof to reduce the outstanding balance of the Note.     

6.        General Payment Terms . All payments of principal of, and interest upon, this Note shall be made by the Maker to the Payee in cash in immediately available funds in lawful money of the United States of America, by wire transfer to the bank account designated by the Payee in writing from time to time. All payments under this Note shall be made to the Payee without withholding, defense, set-off, counterclaim or deduction. Payments and prepayments made to the Payee by the Maker hereunder shall be applied first to expenses recoverable under Section 14, then accrued interest and then to principal ( provided that the Maker acknowledges that the application of such amounts as between the Payee and ICPH shall be in accordance with the Master Terms Agreement). If the due date of any payment under this Note would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Business Day, such due date shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and interest shall be payable on any principal so extended for the period of such extension. From time to time, within five (5) days of written request by the Maker, the Payee shall provide the Maker with a reasonably detailed statement of all amounts outstanding under the Note on a line item basis, provide all supporting invoices and other documentation with respect to any expenses seeking to be recovered by the Payee pursuant to Section 14, and to provide to Borrower, as well as any third party to the extent directed to do so by Borrower, with a payoff demand good for no less than ten (10) days of the issuance thereof.

7.        Pledge of Interests in and to ICP . As collateral security for the payment and performance as and when due of all Obligations (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise and whether arising under this Note, the Mortgage or any other Credit Document), PEC hereby pledges and grants to the Payee a security interest in all of PEC’s right, title and interest in the following property, assets and revenues, whether now owned by PEC or hereafter acquired and whether now existing or hereafter coming into existence (all of the property, assets and revenues described in this Section 7 being collectively referred to herein as the “ PEC Collateral ”):

(a)       all limited liability company interests issued by the Maker, together with all certificates representing the same;

(b)       all limited liability company interests and other ownership or equity interests of any class issued by the Maker, securities, moneys or other property representing a dividend on or a distribution or return of capital on or in respect of the limited liability company interests issued by the Maker, or resulting from a split-up, revision, reclassification or other like change of such interests or otherwise received in exchange therefor, and any warrants, rights or options issued to the holders of, or otherwise in respect thereof;

(c)       all shares of capital stock of a corporation, limited liability company interests, partnership interests and other ownership or equity interests of any class in any Person of any successor entity of any merger or consolidation involving the Maker, but only to the extent of the interests in and to the Maker; and

(d)       all proceeds of and to any of the foregoing.

The obligations of PEC under this Section 7 are primary, absolute and unconditional, joint and several, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the obligations of the Maker under this Note, or any substitution, release or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Obligations, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor (other than the actual performance of the Obligations), it being the intent of this Section 7 that the obligations of PEC hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional, joint and several, under any and all circumstances and shall apply to any and all Obligations now existing or in the future arising, as such Obligations are reduced from time to time in accordance with this Note, including any payments received on account thereof.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth elsewhere herein or in any other Credit Document, (a) any obligations of PEC arising under this Note and any other Credit Document are limited to its interests, rights and title in and to the PEC Collateral and do not constitute personal obligations of or liability to PEC, except to the extent of any fraud or willful misconduct by PEC with respect to the PEC Collateral, (b) the general credit of PEC is not obligated or available for the payment of the Obligations created or secured by the Notes or any other Credit Document and, except to the extent of any fraud or willful misconduct by PEC with respect to the PEC Collateral, the Payee will not look, and shall be prohibited from looking, to PEC or its directors, officers, employees representatives, or its interest holders with respect to the Obligations or any covenant, stipulation, promise, indemnity, agreement or obligation contained in the Note or any other Credit Document, (c) in enforcing its rights and remedies under the Credit Documents, the Payee will look solely to any or all of the PEC Collateral, the ICP Collateral and the Maker for the payment of such Obligations pursuant to the Credit Documents and for the performance of the provisions hereof and thereof and shall not look to PEC except to the extent of any fraud or willful misconduct by PEC with respect to the PEC Collateral, and (d) the Payee will not seek a deficiency or other money judgment against any PEC Party and will not institute any separate action against PEC by reason of any default that may occur in the performance of any of the terms and conditions of the Credit Documents, except to the extent required to do to enforce its rights against the PEC Collateral and except to the extent of any fraud or willful misconduct by PEC with respect to the PEC Collateral. This provision shall not be construed as in any way adversely affecting or impairing the Payee’s lien as against the PEC Collateral or Payee’s right and remedies with respect thereto pursuant to this Note or applicable law, including foreclosure.

8.        Security Grant from the Maker . As collateral security for the payment and performance as and when due of all Obligations (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise and whether arising under this Note, the Mortgage or any other Credit Document), the Maker hereby pledges and grants to the Payee a security interest in all of its right, title and interest in the following property, assets and revenues, whether now owned by the Maker or hereafter acquired and whether now existing or hereafter coming into existence (all of the property, assets and revenues described in this Section 8 being collectively referred to herein as the “ ICP Collateral ” and together with the collateral as described in the Mortgage and the PEC Collateral, the “ Collateral ”):

(a)       all accounts, as-extracted collateral, chattel paper (whether tangible or electronic), commercial tort claims, deposit accounts, documents, equipment, financial assets, fixtures, general intangibles, goods, instruments (including promissory notes), insurance, intellectual property, inventory, investment property, letter-of-credit rights, payment intangibles, equity interests, receivables and receivables records, securities, securities accounts, security entitlements and software (as and to the extent such terms are defined in the UCC);

(b)       all other tangible and intangible property whatsoever; and

(c)       all proceeds of and to any of the foregoing.

9.        Events of Default . An “ Event of Default ” shall exist hereunder if any one or more of the following events shall occur:

(a)       the Maker shall fail to pay the Loan, including interest, and all other amounts, in full in cash on the Maturity Date, the Maker fails to make any required payment to the Payee pursuant to Section 5 within five (5) Business Days of the Maker’s receipt of the funds required to be paid to Payee pursuant to Section 5, or fails to pay any other amount as and when required to be made hereunder and such failure continues for more than ten (10) days after written demand therefor by the Payee to the Maker; or

(b)       the Maker (or PEC with respect to the PEC Collateral only) shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement to be performed or observed by it contained in paragraphs (a), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h) or (j) of Annex B; provided that, except for paragraph (c), if such default or failure is involuntary, inadvertant or by mistake and is capable of cure, such default or failure shall not constitute an Event of Default if cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Payee within ten (10) days of the occurrence of such default; or

(c)       the default or failure to perform any other obligations of the Maker or PEC set forth herein, in the Mortgage or in any other Credit Document as and when required (after expiration of all applicable notice and cure periods); provided that, if such default or failure is capable of cure, such default or failure shall not constitute an Event of Default if cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Payee within thirty (30) days after written demand for cure thereof to the Maker from the Payee or, if such cure by its nature would take more than thirty (30) days to cure, then, so long as the Maker is diligently pursuing such cure, the Maker shall have up to an additional thirty (30) days to cure such default or failure before such default shall constitute an Event of Default; or

(d)       the failure of any representation or warranty set forth herein, in the Mortgage or in any other Credit Document to be true, correct and complete in any material respect; provided that, if such failure is subject to cure, such failure shall not constitute an Event of Default if cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Payee within thirty (30) days after written demand for cure to the Maker from the Payee or, if such cure by its nature would take more than thirty (30) days to cure, then, so long as the Maker is diligently pursuing such cure, the Maker shall have up to an additional thirty (30) days to cure such default before such default shall constitute an Event of Default; or

(e)       the Maker or PEC institutes or consents to any liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law with respect to it or any of the Collateral; or any such proceeding is instituted against the Maker or PEC and is not dismissed within the earlier of (i) prior to the entry for an order for relief or similar order adjudicating the Maker or PEC as subject to such proceeding or (ii) ninety (90) days after the commencement thereof; or

(f)       any judgment, writ, warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against the Maker or any of the Collateral in an amount in excess of $3,000,000 and is not otherwise covered by insurance, released, vacated, stayed or fully bonded by the earlier of (i) within sixty (60) calendar days after its issue or levy or (ii) at least thirty (30) days prior to any execution or foreclosure sale with respect thereto; or

(g)        a Change of Control; or

(h)       the failure to comply with paragraph (b) of Annex B or any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) is created, incurred, assumed or permitted to exist on any property or asset constituting PEC Collateral; provided that, in each case, if the creation of any such Lien is involuntary, inadvertent or by mistake, and is capable of cure, it shall not constitute an Event of Default if such Lien is terminated, removed or released to the reasonable satisfaction of the Payee within the earlier of, any enforcement of such Lien or thirty (30) days written demand for cure thereof to the Maker from Payee or, if such cure by its nature would take more than thirty (30) days to cure, then, so long as the Maker diligently pursuing such cure, the Maker shall have up to an additional thirty (30) days to cure such default or failure before such default shall constitute an Event of Default; or

(i)       there shall have occurred any “Event of Default” under and as defined in the ICPH Note; or

(j)       all or any material part of this Note, the Mortgage or any other Credit Document delivered by or on behalf of the Maker in order to grant or perfect a Lien as security for any of the Obligations is or becomes void, illegal, invalid, unenforceable or of limited force and effect, or the Payee does not have or ceases to have a valid and perfected first priority Lien (subject to any Permitted Lien) in any Collateral for any reason other than the failure of the Payee to take any action within its control; provided that, if such default or failure is capable of cure, such default or failure shall not constitute an Event of Default if cured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Payee within thirty (30) days written demand for cure thereof to the Maker from Payee or, if such cure by its nature would take more than thirty (30) days to cure, then, so long as the Maker diligently pursuing such cure, the Maker shall have up to an additional thirty (30) days to cure such default or failure before such default shall constitute an Event of Default.

10.        Remedies . Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default specified in Section 9(e), the principal amount of this Note together with any interest thereon, all fees and all other Obligations shall become immediately and automatically due and payable, without presentment, demand, notice, protest or other requirements of any kind (all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Maker). Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any other Event of Default, the Payee may, by written notice to the Maker, declare the principal amount of this Note together with any interest thereon to be due and payable, and the principal amount of this Note together with any such interest shall thereupon immediately become due and payable without presentment, further notice, protest or other requirements of any kind (all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Maker). Following any such demand, the Maker shall immediately pay to such holder all amounts due and payable with respect to this Note. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, the Payee shall have all of the rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral of a secured party under the UCC (whether or not the UCC is in effect in the jurisdiction where the rights and remedies are asserted) and such additional rights and remedies to which a secured party is entitled under the laws in effect in any jurisdiction where any rights and remedies hereunder may be asserted, including the right, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to exercise all voting, consensual and other powers of ownership pertaining to the Collateral as if the Payee were the sole and absolute owner thereof (and the Maker agrees to take all such action as may be appropriate to give effect to such right).

11.        Representations and Warranties . The Maker, and PEC to the extent applicable to it, each separately and severally represents and warrants to the Payee as follows:

(a)        General Representations . It is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has full power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Note and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party.  It has duly authorized and taken all other appropriate action for the execution, delivery and performance of this Note and any other document or instrument delivered pursuant hereto or in connection herewith and the consummation of the transactions provided for in this Note.  It has duly executed and delivered this Note and the other Credit Documents to which is it’s a party, this Note and such other Credit Documents constitute its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms except as enforceability thereof may be limited by any Debtor Relief Laws and by equitable principles, whether considered at law or in equity.  Its execution and delivery of this Note and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party, the performance of the obligations or transactions contemplated by this Note and such other Credit Documents and the fulfillment of the terms of this Note and such other Credit Documents will not (i) conflict with or violate any of its organizational documents or any contractual obligations applicable to it (ii) conflict with or violate any order, judgment or decree of governmental authority binding on it, (iii) require any approval of its equityholders or any approval or consent of any Person under any contractual obligation of such representing Person, except for such approvals or consents which will be obtained on or before the date hereof, or (iv) conflict with or violate any applicable laws, or (v) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of its properties or assets (other than any Liens created under this Note, the ICPH Note and the Mortgage).  It has duly obtained, effected or given all authorizations, consents, licenses, orders or approvals of or registrations or declarations with any governmental authority or any other Person required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Note and the performance of the transactions contemplated by this Note, and such authorizations, consents, licenses, orders or approvals of or registrations or declarations are in full force and effect. There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or governmental authority pending against or, to its knowledge, threatened against or affecting it as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on (x) the ability of the Maker to fully and timely perform the Obligations, (y) the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Note against the Maker or the Collateral, or (z) the rights, remedies and benefits available to, or conferred upon, the Payee under this Note. It is not an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(b)        Collateral Representations . The full and correct legal name, type of organization, jurisdiction of organization and mailing address of the Maker and PEC respectively are correctly set forth in Schedule 1. The Equity Interests are not certified. The Equity Interests are duly authorized, validly existing, fully paid and non-assessable, and none of the Equity Interests are or will be while the Obligations are outstanding, subject to any contractual restriction, or any restriction under the organizational documents of the Maker except as contemplated herein.

(c)        No Article 8 Security . The Maker and PEC represent and warrant to the Payee that none of the Maker’s Equity Interests are a “security”, as such term is defined in UCC Article 8, and that neither the Maker nor PEC will cause or permit the Maker to “opt-in” to UCC Article 8 or to otherwise cause or permit any of the Maker’s Equity Interests to be a security for purposes of UCC Article 8.

12.        Covenants . The Maker and PEC each covenants and agrees as provided in Annex B.

13.        Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial, Etc. This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York. The Maker, PEC and Payee hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and of any New York state court sitting in New York City, borough of Manhattan for the purposes of all legal proceedings arising out of or relating to this Note or the transactions contemplated hereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Payee may commence any action to enforce any Lien in any court located in any state or other location that would otherwise have proper jurisdiction with respect to such enforcement action. This Note may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same Note. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Note by electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Note. This Section 13 shall survive the termination of this Note. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS NOTE OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THE ACTIONS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

14.        Expenses; Amendments; Notices . The Maker and the Payee shall each be solely responsible and bear their own respective fees, costs and expenses, including any and all attorneys’ fees and costs, incurred in connection with the drafting, negotiation, execution and delivery of this Note. The Maker shall pay within fifteen (15) days of written demand therefore by the Payee to the Maker, provided that such demand includes a detailed listing of all such costs and expenses and supporting documentation relating to same (except for any information of a confidential legal nature, including narrative descriptions of legal work involving strategy or the identification or assessment of risks or liabilities, which information may be redacted or omitted), all reasonable costs and expenses of the Payee, including reasonable attorney’s fees and costs, in connection with (a) any amendment to the extent requested by the Maker and any forbearance, waiver, consent, restructuring or reorganization of the Note or the Maker (including with respect of the bankruptcy of the Maker), and (b) enforcement or attempted enforcement of the Note, and any matter related thereto; provided that (i) any such fees and costs shall be limited to those incurred by ICPH or MGP, but not both and (ii) in the event the Maker is the prevailing party in any such enforcement proceedings, the Maker, not the Payee, shall be entitled to all of its reasonable fees and costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. To the extent any of the foregoing fees, costs and expenses of the Payee in this Section 14 are not reimbursed within a reasonable period following demand therefor, the Payee and ICPH shall ratably share such fees, costs and expenses in proportion to the respective amounts due under their respective Promissory Notes. This Note may not be changed, modified or terminated orally, but only by an agreement in writing signed by the Maker, PEC and the Payee, provided that Payee and ICPH may periodically amend or otherwise modify the Master Terms Agreement without providing notice to or obtaining the consent of the Maker or PEC. All notices and other communications in respect of this Note shall be given or made in writing at the address as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other party. Except as otherwise provided in this Note, all such communications shall be deemed to have been duly given when transmitted by electronic transmission (subject to receipt of confirmation thereof by recipient), the next day when delivered overnight mail by a national carrier or upon personal delivery or, in the case of a mailed notice, upon receipt, in each case given or addressed as aforesaid.

15.        Right of Setoff . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Payee and each of its affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by the Payee or any such affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Maker against any and all of the obligations of the Maker now or hereafter existing hereunder to the Payee or, irrespective of whether or not the Payee shall have made any demand hereunder and although such obligations of the Maker may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of the Payee different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of the Payee and its affiliates hereunder are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that the Payee or its affiliates may have.

16.        Assignments . The Maker may not assign any of its rights or obligations under this Note without the consent of the Payee. The Payee may at any time assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Note without the prior written consent of the Maker, but upon notice to the Maker, which notice shall set forth the name address and contact information of such assignee; provided that, in the event of any partial assignment or assumption to any Person, the Maker shall have no obligation to communicate with or otherwise report to such assignee and such assignee shall not have any rights of consent or approval, with all such rights remaining with the Payee. Subject to the foregoing, from and after the effective date specified in each assignment and assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Note and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such assignment and assumption, have the rights and obligations of the Payee under this Note, and the Payee shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such assignment and assumption, be released from its obligations under this Note (and, in the case of an assignment and assumption covering all of the Payee’s rights and obligations under this Note, the Payee shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Section 14 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment, subject to any corresponding obligations and liabilities of the Payee with respect thereto. In no event shall the Payee make any assignment to, or allow any assumption by, any Person (other than an affiliate of the Payee) which would constitute a competitor of the Maker or its affiliates with respect to procurement, manufacture, production, delivery and sale of ethanol and related products.

17.        Conditions Precedent . The effectiveness of this Note, and any obligation of the Payee to extend any financing to the Maker on the date hereof or the creation of any of the Obligations hereunder by the Maker, is expressly subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions on or before the date hereof:

(a)       The Closing Date under the Merger Agreement shall have occurred;

(b)       The Payee shall have received this Note originally executed and delivered by each Person party hereto and the Payee shall have received a copy of the fully executed Mortgage, with the original copy of the Mortgage being delivered to Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company (the “ Title Company ”) for recording at closing;

(c)       ICPH, as agent for itself and MGP, shall have received an ALTA mortgagee title insurance policy or unconditional commitments therefor issued by the Title Company, naming ICPH, in its capacity as such agent, as insured with respect to the real property which is the subject of the Mortgage (the “ Title Policy ”), the insured amount to be equal to the face amount of this Note and the ICPH Note; provided that ICPH, in its capacity as such agent, shall have paid the Title Company all expenses and premiums of the Title Company together with all other sums required in connection with the issuance of the Title Policy (with such premiums and costs of ICPH, in its capacity as such agent, being allocated between ICPH and MGP pursuant to the Master Terms Agreement); provided further that all recording and stamp taxes (including mortgage recording and intangible taxes) payable in connection with recording the Mortgage in the appropriate real estate records shall be paid equally by ICPH, in its capacity as such agent, and the Maker (with all costs of ICPH, in its capacity as such agent, being allocated pursuant to the Master Terms Agreement);

(d)       ICPH, as agent for itself and MGP, shall have received a favorable written opinion from counsel admitted to the practice of law in the State of Illinois with respect to the form of mortgage being in proper form for recording, upon recording the liens created by such Mortgage shall attach to the real property described therein and, to the extent Illinois law is applicable to the Mortgage, the enforceability of the Mortgage under Illinois law, all subject to and limited by customary and reasonable qualifications, limitations and assumptions; and

(e)       The Payee shall have received each material organizational document of each of the Maker and PEC to the extent necessary to confirm authority to execute, deliver and perform the Note and the other Credit Documents, together with such consents, resolutions, signature and incumbency certificates as reasonably required with respect thereto.

18.        Terms Generally . The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any person shall be construed to include such person’s permitted successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Note in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Sections shall be construed to refer to Sections of this Note and (e) any reference to any law or regulation herein shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Maker and PEC have caused this Note to be executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers, as of the date and year and at a place first above written.

MGP Promissory Note

MGP Promissory Note

MGP Promissory Note

ANNEX A

Definitions . The following capitalized terms, when used in this Note, shall have the following meanings:

“ Applicable Margin ” means, for any day in any period, the corresponding rate per annum set forth below under the caption “Margin”:

; provided that if any period above would otherwise expire on a day that is not the last day of an Interest Period, such period shall end on the nearest Interest Period end date.

“ Business Day ” means (a) any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any day which is a legal holiday under the laws of the State of New York and (b) with respect to any LIBOR Determination Date, the term “ Business Day ” means any day which is a Business Day described in clause (a) and which is also a day for trading by and between banks in U.S. Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

“ Cash ” means money, currency or a credit balance in any demand or deposit account.

“ Capital Expenditures ” means, with respect to any Person, the aggregate of all expenditures by such Person for the acquisition or leasing (pursuant to a capital lease) of fixed or capital assets, software or additions to equipment (including replacements, capitalized repairs and improvements) which should be capitalized under GAAP on the balance sheet of such Person.

“ Change of Control ” means (a) the failure of Maker to at all times be a wholly owned subsidiary of PEC, with the Maker being Controlled by PEC subject only to the rights and remedies of Payee pursuant to the Credit Documents or (b) the failure of PEC to continue to be Majority Owned and Controlled by Pacific Ethanol, Inc., a Delaware corporation. For purposes of this definition the term “ Majority Owned ” means, with respect to any Person, an equity ownership interest in such Person, whether held directly or indirectly or some combination thereof, of at least fifty-one percent (51%), and the term “ Controlled ” means the power to direct the management and policies of a Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities or other equity interests, by contract or otherwise (notwithstanding that, in the case of clause (b) above only, other Persons may have the right to participate in or veto significant managerial decisions).

“ Credit Documents ” means this Note, the ICPH Note, the Mortgage and any DACA.

“ DACA ” means one or more deposit account control agreements in favor of ICPH, as agent for itself and MGP.

“ Debtor Relief Law ” means the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, codified as 11 U.S.C. §§101 et seq, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

“ Equity Interests ” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest.

“ GAAP ” means United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time.

“ ICPH ” means Illinois Corn Processing Holdings Inc.

“ ICPH Note ” means the Promissory Note (as defined in the Merger Agreement) in favor of ICPH.

“ Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all capital lease obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty and (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers' acceptances. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person's ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

“ Interest Period ” means an interest period of three months initially commencing on the date hereof and thereafter commencing on the date on which the immediately preceding Interest Period expires.

“ LIBOR ” means, for any LIBOR Determination Date, the rate per annum equal to the London interbank offered rate as administered by the ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate) for deposits of U.S. Dollars for a 3-month interest period that is quoted by Bloomberg (or, to the extent such service ceases to be available, any successor to such service as determined by ICPH) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England time) on such LIBOR Determination Date; provided that if LIBOR shall be less than zero on any LIBOR Determination Date, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for the purposes of this Note. In the event LIBOR is indeterminable or unavailable as of any LIBOR Determination Date, LIBOR for the applicable Interest Period shall be deemed to be the rate in effect for the immediately preceding Interest Period.

“ LIBOR Determination Date ” means the date that is two Business Days prior to the first day of an Interest Period.

“ Lien ” means (i) any lien, mortgage, pledge, assignment, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any lease or license in the nature thereof) and any option, trust or other preferential arrangement having the practical effect of any of the foregoing and (ii) in the case of Equity Interests, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such Equity Interests.

“ Maker ” means (a) immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger, the Initial Maker, and (b) immediately following the consummation of the Merger, the Target.

“ Master Terms Agreement ” means the Master Terms Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit A. For avoidance of doubt, the Master Terms Agreement is not a Credit Document.

“ MGP ” means MGPI Processing, Inc.

“ Mortgage ” means the first priority mortgage delivered or caused to be delivered by the Maker naming ICPH, as agent for itself and MGP, as mortgagee, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Payee with respect to certain real property and fixtures owned by the Maker.

“ Obligations ” means all obligations of the Maker under the Credit Documents, whether now existing or hereafter arising or incurred, and whether absolute, contingent or otherwise, including all obligations to pay principal, fees and interest (including any default interest and any interest accruing after the commencement of any case under any Debtor Relief Law) under the Notes, the Mortgage and any DACA, and all expenses, indemnification obligations and other amounts payable by the Maker under any of the Credit Documents, in each case whether accruing or arising before or after the commencement of any case under any Debtor Relief Law (and whether or not such amounts are enforceable, allowed or allowable as a claim in whole or in part in such case).

“ Permitted Liens ” means (a) the liens created in favor of the Payee and ICPH pursuant to the Credit Documents, (b) in the case of ICP Collateral, inchoate liens arising by operation of law which were incurred in the ordinary course of business, including carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens and other similar Liens; provided that, to the extent such inchoate liens become a presently existing Lien against any of the ICP Collateral, such Lien shall still constitute a permitted Lien so long as (i) in the aggregate, such Liens do not materially detract from, taken as a whole, the value of the ICP Collateral or otherwise materially impair the operations of the business of ICP or (ii) such Liens are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, which proceedings have the effect of postponing or preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property subject to such Liens and for which adequate reserves have been made if required in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and any such Liens are paid or released at least thirty (30) days prior to any such forfeiture or foreclosure sale, (c) in the case of ICP Collateral, pledges or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance or other similar social security legislation, (d) in the case of ICP Collateral, Liens securing taxes, assessments and other governmental charges, the payment of which is not yet due or is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly initiated and diligently conducted and for which such reserve or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by generally accepted accounting principles shall have been made, (e) in the case of ICP Collateral, Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 12(a)(ii) , so long as such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition, construction, lease or improvement and such Lien does not encumber assets other than the specific assets acquired in connection with the incurrence of such Indebtedness, (f) those Liens, encumbrances and other exceptions to title identified in Schedule B of the Title Policy and (g) any other charge, encumbrance, claim or right which constitutes a Lien against the ICP Collateral to the extent such charge, encumbrance, claim or right existed prior to and continues after the Closing of the merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

“ Person ” means and includes natural persons, corporations, limited partnerships, general partnerships, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, joint stock companies, joint ventures, associations, companies, trusts, banks, trust companies, land trusts, business trusts or other organizations, whether or not legal entities, and governmental authorities.

“ Restricted Payment ” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Maker, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests.

“ UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code (or any similar or equivalent legislation) as in effect from time to time in any applicable jurisdiction.

ANNEX B

The Maker and, to the extent applicable, PEC covenant and agree as follows:

(a) Indebtedness . The Maker will not create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness except: (i) Indebtedness created hereunder; (ii) purchase money Indebtedness, including capital lease obligations, for fixed or capital assets so long as such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition, construction, lease or improvement and is secured only by the assets acquired in connection with the incurrence of such Indebtedness; (iii) unsecured Indebtedness incurred in good faith and in the ordinary course of ICP’s business and operations, including any Indebtedness owed to affiliates of the Maker so long as permitted under clause (d)(ii) or (g) below; and (iv) any indebtedness which is permitted as a Permitted Lien.

(b) Liens . The Maker will not create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset constituting Collateral, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except Permitted Liens.

(c) Fundamental Changes . Except as contemplated in the Merger Agreement, the Maker will not, and PEC will not permit the Maker to (i) merge into or consolidate with any other Person, (ii) permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or any substantial part of its assets (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired) or (iii) liquidate or dissolve.

(d) Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions .

(i) Investments : Except as contemplated in the Merger Agreement, the Maker will not purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not the Maker prior to such merger) any capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit. Maker shall not create or acquire any subsidiaries.

(ii) Loans, Advances and Guaranties : Maker will not make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, or guarantee any obligations of, any other Person; provided that accounts receivable and other advances made by the Maker to any affiliate, and any agreement to be obligated with respect to its pro rata share of certain centralized operating expenses or with respect to any letter of credit issued on its behalf, and any agreement to indemnify in connection therewith up to such pro rata share, together with any agreement to reimburse such affiliates with respect thereto, shall be permitted.

(e) Restricted Payments . The Maker will not declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment.

(f) Capital Expenditures . The Maker will not make or commit to make any Capital Expenditure, except Capital Expenditures in the ordinary course of business and to the extent deemed necessary or appropriate in good faith by the Maker in connection with its business and operations.

(g) Transactions with Affiliates . The Maker will not sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its affiliates, except in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Maker than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties and transactions entered into by the Maker not involving any other affiliate.

(h) Further Assurances; Pledged Equity Interests . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all dividends and other distributions on any pledged Equity Interests shall be paid directly to the Payee and retained by it as part of the Collateral. The Maker hereby expressly authorizes and instructs each issuer of any pledged Equity Interests pledged hereunder to (i) comply with any instruction received by it from the Payee that (x) states that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (y) is otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Note, without any other or further instructions from the Maker, and (ii) pay any dividend or other payment with respect to any pledged Equity Interests directly to the Payee. Without limiting any rights or powers granted by this Note to the Payee while no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default the Payee is hereby appointed the attorney-in-fact of the Maker for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Note and taking any action and executing any instruments that the Payee may deem necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes, which appointment as attorney-in-fact is irrevocable and coupled with an interest. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, so long as the Payee shall be entitled under this Note to make collections in respect of the Collateral, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Payee shall have the right and power to receive, endorse and collect all checks made payable to the order of the Maker representing any dividend, payment or other distribution in respect of the Collateral or any part thereof and to give full discharge for the same.

(i) Cash Management. By no later than 120 days of the Effective Date, the Maker, using commercially reasonable efforts, shall endeavor to obtain and deliver to the Payee and ICPH a DACA executed by the Maker and the Maker’s depositary bank, using such depositary bank’s standard form, subject only to such revisions thereto as may be reasonably requested by the Maker, the Payee or ICPH. To the extent such DACA or DACAs are obtained pursuant hereto, the Maker will, after obtaining same, use only those accounts which are subject to such DACA or DACAs.

Exhibit A

MASTER TERMS AGREEMENT

MASTER TERMS AGREEMENT dated as of July 3, 2017 between Illinois Corn Processing Holdings Inc. (“ ICPH ”) and MGPI Processing, Inc. (“ MGP ”, together with ICPH, the “ Payees ”).

Reference is made to (i) that certain Secured Promissory Note dated as of July 3, 2017 by ICP Merger Sub, LLC (the “ Initial Maker ”), Illinois Corn Processing, LLC (the “ Target ”, together with the Initial Maker, the “ Makers ”) and Pacific Ethanol Central, LLC (“ PEC ”) in favor of ICPH (the “ ICPH Note ) and (ii) that certain Secured Promissory Note dated as of July 3, 2017 by Makers and PEC in favor of MGP (the “ MGP Note ”, together with the ICPH Note, the “ Notes ”). Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined are used herein as defined in the Notes.

Section 1. Agreements . Notwithstanding anything in the Notes to the contrary, the parties hereto agree as follows:

(a)        Pari Passu Pro Rata Liens . Notwithstanding anything herein or in any Credit Document to the contrary and notwithstanding the method, manner or order of the creation, attachment or perfection of any Lien (including the order of filing of any UCC financing statements or other Lien perfection documents), all Liens granted to or for the benefit of either Payee pursuant to the Notes, the Mortgage, any DACA or any other Credit Document shall be of equal priority, as between the Payees, and shall be for the pro rata benefit of each Payee, with any proceeds from the Collateral to be allocated between the Payees as provided in Section 1(b) below. Solely for Lien perfection purposes, each Payee (the “ Agent Payee ”) agrees to act as agent for itself and the other Payee with respect to any Collateral in the custody or control of the Agent Payee or with respect to which the Agent Payee has a Lien, whether such Lien is perfected by the filing of a UCC financing statement or a mortgage or by any other method. Without limiting the foregoing, all Collateral in the possession or control of an Agent Payee shall be possessed or controlled by such Agent Payee as gratuitous bailee for perfection for the benefit of each Payee as secured party so as to satisfy the requirements of sections 8-106(d)(3), 8-301(a)(2), 9-104 and 9-313(c) of the UCC. In this Section 1(a), “control” has the meaning given that term in sections 8-106 and 9-314 of the UCC. Without limiting the foregoing, each Payee hereby appoints ICPH to act as its agent for purposes of perfecting and enforcing any Lien or other rights granted pursuant to the Mortgage, and ICPH agrees to act in such capacity for such purposes.

(b)        Payment Sharing . All amounts and payments of any kind received by either of the Payees under or in respect of the Notes or any other Credit Document shall, whether received by voluntary payment or scheduled payment of principal or interest, or exercise of rights or remedies with respect to the Collateral, be shared ratably among the Payees in proportion to the respective amounts due to them under their respective Notes (any such amounts, the “ Shared Payments ”). Any Shared Payment received by a Payee to which it is not due shall be segregated and held in trust and promptly paid over to the other Payee in the form received, with any necessary endorsements. If an Event of Default exists, any fees or expenses reasonably incurred by a Payee to collect a Shared Payment shall be shared ratably between the Payees in proportion to the respective amounts due to them under the respective Notes.

(c)        Enforcement .

(i)        If any Event of Default (as defined in either Note or any other Credit Document) shall have occurred and be continuing, ICPH may, but shall not be obligated to (except as provided in this Section 1(c)), take any enforcement action under or with respect to any Credit Document. MGP shall not be entitled to take any enforcement action under or with respect to any Credit Document without ICPH's consent, provided that if a MGP Enforcement Condition has occurred, MGP may (x) take any enforcement action under or with respect to any Credit Document (other than any DACA or the Mortgage) so long as any proceeds of such enforcement action are allocated between the Payees in accordance with Section 1(b) above, and (y) with respect to any DACA or the Mortgage, instruct ICPH in writing, and ICPH, as agent or secured party for ICPH and MGP under such DACA or the Mortgage (as applicable), shall upon receipt of such instruction commence an action to deliver an enforcement notice under such DACA or foreclose the Mortgage (as applicable) or otherwise exercise the rights and remedies under such DACA or Mortgage, or, if ICPH is unwilling to so foreclose on the Mortgage or exercise such rights and remedies under the Mortgage, ICPH shall enter into such agreements as MGP may reasonably request to enable MGP to foreclose the Mortgage or exercise such rights and remedies in its own name; and with any proceeds of such foreclosure or other exercise of rights or remedies being allocated between the Payees in accordance with Section 1(b) above. For purposes of this Section 1(c), an “ MGP Enforcement Condition ” shall be deemed to occur if any Event of Default (as defined in either Note or any other Credit Document) arises because of a failure to pay principal or interest under any Note (whether at stated maturity, by virtue of acceleration or otherwise) and such Event of Default remains in effect for at least 60 days, unless (A) ICPH shall have commenced and be diligently pursuing in good faith enforcement of the Credit Documents generally (including to foreclose or otherwise realize on all material collateral, other than pledged equity interests), or (B) any bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding shall have been filed by or against either Maker or PEC.   

(ii)       Notwithstanding anything in this Section 1(c) to the contrary, (A) if ICPH commences any foreclosure action or otherwise attempts to realize on any personal property collateral, and without regard to whether an MGP Enforcement Condition has occurred or exists, or (B) if any bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding shall have been filed by or against either Maker or PEC, and without regard to whether any payment or other Event of Default (as defined immediately above) exists, the duration of such Event of Default, or any other fact or circumstance, MGP may take any such action (including responsive or defensive motions, pleadings, proofs of claim, statements of interest and other filings) which MGP deems necessary to preserve, confirm, continue or protect the validity and enforceability of its liens or rights to the collateral, so long as such action is not inconsistent with the terms of this agreement, and does not contest the liens of ICPH or hinder the exercise of remedies thereby.  

(d)        Amendments . No amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any provision of any Note, or consent to any departure by any party therefrom, shall in any event be effective without the written consent of each of ICPH and MGP.

(e)        Mortgage Fees . Any title insurance, recording or similar fees which are payable by a Payee pursuant to its Note in connection with the Mortgage (including any such fees payable by ICPH in its in capacity as agent for the Payees) shall be shared ratably among the Payees in accordance with the original principal amounts of their respective Notes.

Section 2. General . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York. The Payees hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and of any New York state court sitting in New York City, borough of Manhattan for the purposes of all legal proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same Agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement. This Section 2 shall survive the termination of this Agreement. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THE ACTIONS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.