AMENDED ANDRESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Security Agreements
EX-10.3 4 a05-12636_1ex10d3.htm EX-10.3

Exhibit 10.3

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT is dated as of July 12, 2005, between GREAT PLAINS ETHANOL, LLC, a South Dakota limited liability company (“Borrower”), and AGCOUNTRY FARM CREDIT SERVICES, FLCA (“Lender”).

 

WHEREAS, Borrower and Lender entered into a Credit Agreement dated as of June 19, 2002, pursuant to which Lender, subject to the terms and conditions contained therein, made loans to Borrower; and

 

WHEREAS, as a condition precedent to Lender’s making any loans to Borrower under the Credit Agreement dated June 19, 2002, that Borrower execute and deliver to Lender a security agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, Borrower granted security interests in favor of Lender pursuant to the terms of a Security Agreement dated June 19, 2002; and

 

WHEREAS, Borrower has entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of the date hereof (as amended and in effect from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) with Lender, pursuant to which Lender, subject to the terms and conditions contained therein, is to make additional loans and accommodations to Borrower; and

 

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to Lender’s making such additional loans and accommodations to Borrower under the Credit Agreement that Borrower execute and deliver to Lender a security agreement in substantially the form hereof; and

 

WHEREAS, Borrower wishes to grant security interests in favor of Lender as herein provided.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Borrower and Lender agree as follows:

 

1.                                      Definitions.  All capitalized terms which are not defined herein shall have the respective meanings provided for in the Credit Agreement.  The term “State” as used herein means the State of North Dakota.  All terms defined in Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State and used herein shall have the same meanings as specified therein. The term “Event of Default” as used herein means any Event of Default described or listed in the Credit Agreement, including the failure of Borrower to pay or perform any of the Obligations as and when due to be paid or performed under the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 



 

2.                                      Grant of Security Interest.  Borrower hereby grants to Lender, to secure the payment and performance in full of all of the Obligations, a security interest in, and pledges and assigns to Lender, the following properties, assets and rights of Borrower, wherever located, whether now owned or hereafter acquired or arising, and all proceeds (including casualty insurance proceeds) and products thereof (all of the same being hereinafter called the “Collateral”): all personal and fixture property of every kind and nature including without limitation all goods (including inventory, equipment and any accessions thereto), instruments (including notes), documents, accounts (including health-care-insurance receivables), chattel paper (whether tangible or electronic), deposit accounts, letter-of-credit rights (whether or not the letter of credit is evidenced by a writing), commercial tort claims, securities and all other investment property, supporting obligations, any other contract rights or rights to the payment of money (including without limitation all United States Department of Agriculture payments and Commodity Credit Corporation payments such as payments related to the bioenergy program described at 7 C.F.R. Part 1424), including without limitation all management contracts, supply contracts, off-take contracts, all railroad, trucking and other transportation contracts, and all power contracts, insurance claims and proceeds, tort claims, and all general intangibles including, without limitation, all payment intangibles, patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, trade names, copyrights, copyright applications, software, engineering drawings, service marks, customer lists, goodwill, and all licenses, permits, agreements of any kind or nature pursuant to which Borrower possesses, uses or has authority to possess or use property (whether tangible or intangible) of others or others possess, use or have authority to possess or use property (whether tangible or intangible) of Borrower, and all recorded data of any kind or nature, regardless of the medium of recording including, without limitation, all software, writings, plans, specifications and schematics.  Lender acknowledges that the attachment of its security interest in any commercial tort claim as original collateral is subject to Borrower’s compliance with Section 4.07.

 

3.                                      Authorization to File Financing StatementsBorrower hereby irrevocably authorizes Lender at any time and from time to time to file in any Uniform Commercial Code jurisdiction any initial financing statements and amendments thereto that (a) indicate the Collateral (i) as all assets of Borrower or words of similar effect, regardless of whether any particular asset comprised in the Collateral falls within the scope of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State or such jurisdiction, or (ii) as being of an equal or lesser scope or with greater detail, and (b) contain any other information required by Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State or any other state for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statement or amendment, including (i) whether Borrower is an organization, the type of organization and any organization identification number issued to Borrower and, (ii) in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing or indicating Collateral as as-extracted collateral or timber to be cut, a sufficient description of real property to which the Collateral relates.  Borrower agrees to furnish any such information to Lender promptly upon request.  Borrower also ratifies its authorization for Lender to have filed in any Uniform Commercial Code jurisdiction any like initial financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.

 

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4.                                      Other Actions.  Further to insure the attachment, perfection and first priority of, and the ability of Lender to enforce, Lender’s security interest in the Collateral, Borrower agrees, in each case at Borrower’s own expense, to take the following actions with respect to the following Collateral:

 

4.01.                     Notes and Tangible Chattel PaperIf Borrower shall at any time hold or acquire any notes or tangible chattel paper, Borrower shall forthwith endorse, assign and deliver the same to Lender, accompanied by such instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as Lender may from time to time specify.

 

4.02.                     Deposit AccountsFor each deposit account that Borrower at any time opens or maintains, Borrower shall, at Lender’s request and option, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, either (a) cause the depositary bank to agree to comply at any time with instructions from Lender to such depositary bank directing the disposition of funds from time to time credited to such deposit account, without further consent of Borrower, or (b) arrange for Lender to become the customer of the depositary bank with respect to the deposit account, with Borrower being permitted, only with the consent of Lender, to exercise rights to withdraw funds from such deposit account.  The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to (i) any deposit account for which Borrower, the depositary bank and Lender have entered into a cash collateral agreement specially negotiated among Borrower, the depositary bank and Lender for the specific purpose set forth therein, (ii) deposit accounts for which Lender is the depositary and (iii) deposit accounts specially and exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of Borrower’s salaried employees.

 

4.03.                     Investment PropertyIf Borrower shall at any time hold or acquire any certificated securities, Borrower shall forthwith endorse, assign and deliver the same to Lender, accompanied by such instruments of transfer or assignment duly executed in blank as Lender may from time to time specify.  If any securities now or hereafter acquired by Borrower are uncertificated and are issued to Borrower or its nominee directly by the issuer thereof, Borrower shall immediately notify Lender thereof and, at Lender’s request and option, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, either (a) cause the issuer to agree to comply with instructions from Lender as to such securities, without further consent of Borrower or such nominee, or (b) arrange for Lender to become the registered owner of the securities.  If any securities, whether certificated or uncertificated, or other investment property now or hereafter acquired by Borrower are held by Borrower or its nominee through a securities intermediary or commodity intermediary, Borrower shall immediately notify Lender thereof and, at Lender’s request and option, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, either (i) cause such securities intermediary or (as the case may be) commodity intermediary to agree to comply with entitlement orders or other instructions from Lender to such securities intermediary as to such securities or other investment property, or (as the case may be) to apply any value distributed on account of any commodity contract as directed by Lender to such commodity intermediary, in each case

 

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without further consent of Borrower or such nominee, or (ii) in the case of financial assets or other investment property held through a securities intermediary, arrange for Lender to become the entitlement holder with respect to such investment property, with Borrower being permitted, only with the consent of Lender, to exercise rights to withdraw or otherwise deal with such investment property.  The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any financial assets credited to a securities account for which Lender is the securities intermediary.

 

4.04.                     Collateral in the Possession of a BaileeIf any goods are at any time in the possession of a bailee, Borrower shall promptly notify Lender thereof and, if requested by Lender, shall promptly obtain an acknowledgment from the bailee, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, that the bailee holds such Collateral for the benefit of Lender and shall act upon the instructions of Lender, without the further consent of Borrower.

 

4.05.                     Electronic Chattel Paper and Transferable Records.   If Borrower at any time holds or acquires an interest in any electronic chattel paper or any “transferable record,” as that term is defined in Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, or in Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as in effect in any relevant jurisdiction, Borrower shall promptly notify Lender thereof and, at the request of Lender, shall take such action as Lender may reasonably request to vest in Lender control, under Section 9-105 of the Uniform Commercial Code, of such electronic chattel paper or control under Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or, as the case may be, Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, as so in effect in such jurisdiction, of such transferable record.  Lender agrees with Borrower that Lender will arrange, pursuant to procedures satisfactory to Lender and so long as such procedures will not result in Lender’s loss of control, for Borrower to make alterations to the electronic chattel paper or transferable record permitted under UCC Section 9-105 or, as the case may be, Section 201 of the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act or Section 16 of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act for a party in control to make without loss of control, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur after taking into account any action by Borrower with respect to such electronic chattel paper or transferable record.

 

4.06.                     Letter-of-Credit Rights.  If Borrower is at any time a beneficiary under a letter of credit now or hereafter issued in favor of Borrower, Borrower shall promptly notify Lender thereof and, at the request and option of Lender, Borrower shall, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, either (i) arrange for the issuer and any confirmer of such letter of credit to consent to an assignment to Lender of the proceeds of any drawing under the letter of credit or (ii) arrange for Lender to become the transferee beneficiary of the letter of credit.

 

c4.07                  Commercial Tort Claims.  If Borrower shall at any time hold or acquire a commercial tort claim, Borrower shall immediately notify Lender in a writing signed by

 

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Borrower of the brief details thereof and grant to Lender in such writing a security interest therein and in the proceeds thereof, all upon the terms of this Agreement, with such writing to be in form and substance satisfactory to Lender.

 

4.08                        Other Actions as to any and all Collateral.  Borrower further agrees to take any other action reasonably requested by Lender to insure the attachment, perfection and first priority of, and the ability of Lender to enforce, Lender’s security interest in any and all of the Collateral including, without limitation, (a) executing, delivering and, where appropriate, filing financing statements and amendments relating thereto under the Uniform Commercial Code, (b) causing Lender’s name to be noted as secured party on any certificate of title for a titled good if such notation is a condition to attachment, perfection or priority of, or ability of Lender to enforce, Lender’s security interest in such Collateral, (c) complying with any provision of any statute, regulation or treaty of the United States as to any Collateral if compliance with such provision is a condition to attachment, perfection or priority of, or ability of Lender to enforce, Lender’s security interest in such Collateral, (d) obtaining governmental and other third party consents and approvals, including without limitation any consent of any licensor, lessor or other person obligated on Collateral, (e) obtaining waivers from mortgagees and landlords in form and substance satisfactory to Lender and (f) taking all actions required by any earlier versions of the Uniform Commercial Code or by other law, as applicable in any relevant Uniform Commercial Code jurisdiction, or by other law as applicable in any foreign jurisdiction.

 

5.                                      Relation to Other Security Documents. The provisions of this Agreement supplement the provisions of any real estate mortgage or deed of trust granted by Borrower to Lender and securing the payment or performance of any of the Obligations.  Nothing contained in any such real estate mortgage or deed of trust shall derogate from any of the rights or remedies of Lender hereunder.

 

6.                                      Representations and Warranties Concerning Borrower’s Legal StatusBorrower represents and warrants to Lender as follows: (a) Borrower’s exact legal name is that indicated on the signature page hereof, (b) Borrower is a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of South Dakota, (c) Borrower’s organizational identification number is DL003422, (d) Borrower’s tax payer identification number is 46-0459188 and (e) Borrower’s place of business, chief executive office, as well as mailing address is 27716 – 462nd Avenue, Chancellor, South Dakota  57015.

 

7.                                      Covenants Concerning Borrower’s Legal Status.   Borrower covenants with Lender as follows:  (a) without providing at least 30 days prior written notice to Lender, Borrower will not change its name, its place of business or, if more than one, chief executive office, or its mailing address or organizational identification number if it has one, (b) if Borrower does not have an organizational identification number and later obtains one, Borrower shall forthwith notify Lender of such organizational identification number, and (c) Borrower will not change its type of organization, jurisdiction of organization or other legal structure.

 

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8.                                      Representations and Warranties Concerning Collateral, EtcBorrower further represents and warrants to Lender as follows:  (a) Borrower is the owner of the Collateral, free from any adverse lien, security interest or other encumbrance, except for the security interest created by this Agreement and other liens permitted by the Credit Agreement, (b) to the extent that any of the Collateral constitutes, or is the proceeds of, “farm products” as defined in Section 9-102(a)(34) of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State or any other relevant state, Borrower has taken all required acts to ensure that Lender’s security interest in such Collateral is first and prior, (c) none of the account debtors or other persons obligated on any of the Collateral is a governmental authority subject to the Federal Assignment of Claims Act or like federal, state or local statute or rule in respect of such Collateral, (d) Borrower holds no commercial tort claim except as set forth on Schedule 8(d) and (e) Borrower has at all times operated its business in compliance with all applicable provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended, and with all applicable provisions of federal, state and local statutes and ordinances dealing with the control, shipment, storage or disposal of hazardous materials or substances.

 

9.                                      Covenants Concerning Collateral, EtcBorrower further covenants with Lender as follows:  (a) the Collateral, to the extent not delivered to Lender pursuant to Section 4, will be kept at those locations listed on Schedule 9(a) and Borrower will not remove the Collateral from such locations, without providing at least 30 days prior written notice to Lender, (b) except for the security interest herein granted and liens permitted by the Credit Agreement, Borrower shall be the owner of the Collateral free from any lien, security interest or other encumbrance, and Borrower shall defend the same against all claims and demands of all persons at any time claiming the same or any interests therein adverse to Lender, (c) Borrower shall not pledge, mortgage or create, or suffer to exist a security interest in the Collateral in favor of any person other than Lender except for liens permitted by the Credit Agreement, (d) Borrower will keep the Collateral in good order and repair and will not use the same in violation of law or any policy of insurance thereon, (e) Borrower will permit Lender, or its designee, to inspect the Collateral at any reasonable time, wherever located, (f) Borrower will pay promptly when due all taxes, assessments, governmental charges and levies upon the Collateral or incurred in connection with the use or operation of such Collateral or incurred in connection with this Agreement, (g) Borrower will continue to operate, its business in compliance with all applicable provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended, and with all applicable provisions of federal, state and local statutes and ordinances dealing with the control, shipment, storage or disposal of hazardous materials or substances, and (h) Borrower will not sell or otherwise dispose, or offer to sell or otherwise dispose, of the Collateral or any interest therein except for (i) sales of inventory and licenses of general intangibles in the ordinary course of business and (ii) sales or other dispositions of obsolescent items of equipment in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices and permitted by the Credit Agreement.

 

10.                               Insurance.

 

10.01.              Maintenance of InsuranceBorrower will maintain with financially sound and reputable insurers insurance with respect to its properties and business against such casualties and contingencies as shall be in accordance with general practices of businesses engaged in similar activities in similar geographic areas.  Such insurance shall

 

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be in such minimum amounts that Borrower will not be deemed a co-insurer under applicable insurance laws, regulations and policies and otherwise shall be in such amounts, contain such terms, be in such forms and be for such periods as may be reasonably satisfactory to Lender.  In addition, all such insurance shall be payable to Lender as loss payee under a standard loss payee clause.  Without limiting the foregoing, Borrower will (i) keep all of its physical property insured with casualty or physical hazard insurance on an “all risks” basis, with electronic data processing coverage, with a full replacement cost endorsement and in an amount equal to 100% of the full replacement cost of such property, (ii) maintain all such workers’ compensation or similar insurance as may be required by law and (iii) maintain, in amounts and with deductibles equal to those generally maintained by businesses engaged in similar activities in similar geographic areas, general public liability insurance against claims of bodily injury, death or property damage occurring, on, in or about the properties of Borrower; business interruption insurance; and product liability insurance.

 

10.02.              Insurance ProceedsThe proceeds of any casualty insurance in respect of any casualty loss of any of the Collateral shall, subject to the rights, if any, of other parties with a prior interest in the property covered thereby, (i) so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and to the extent that the amount of such proceeds is less than $25,000, be disbursed to Borrower for direct application by Borrower solely to the repair or replacement of Borrower’s property so damaged or destroyed and (ii) in all other circumstances, be held by Lender as cash collateral for the Obligations.  Lender may, at its sole option, disburse from time to time all or any part of such proceeds so held as cash collateral, upon such terms and conditions as Lender may reasonably prescribe, for direct application by Borrower solely to the repair or replacement of Borrower’s property so damaged or destroyed, or Lender may apply all or any part of such proceeds to the Obligations with the Commitments (if not then terminated) being reduced by the amount so applied to the Obligations.

 

10.03.              Notice of Cancellation, etc All policies of insurance shall provide for at least 30 days prior written cancellation notice to Lender.  In the event of failure by Borrower to provide and maintain insurance as herein provided, Lender may, at its option, provide such insurance and charge the amount thereof to Borrower.  Borrower shall furnish Lender with certificates of insurance and policies evidencing compliance with the foregoing insurance provision.

 

11.                               Collateral Protection Expenses; Preservation of Collateral.

 

11.01.              Expenses Incurred by LenderIn its discretion, Lender may discharge taxes and other encumbrances at any time levied or placed on any of the Collateral, make repairs thereto and pay any necessary filing fees or, if the debtor fails to do so, insurance premiums.  Borrower agrees to reimburse Lender on demand for any and all expenditures so made.  Lender shall have no obligation to Borrower to make any such expenditures, nor shall the making thereof relieve Borrower of any default.

 

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11.02.              Lender’s Obligations and DutiesAnything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, Borrower shall remain liable under each contract or agreement comprised in the Collateral to be observed or performed by Borrower thereunder.  Lender shall not have any obligation or liability under any such contract or agreement by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or the receipt by Lender of any payment relating to any of the Collateral, nor shall Lender be obligated in any manner to perform any of the obligations of Borrower under or pursuant to any such contract or agreement, to make inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by Lender in respect of the Collateral or as to the sufficiency of any performance by any party under any such contract or agreement, to present or file any claim, to take any action to enforce any performance or to collect the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to Lender or to which Lender may be entitled at any time or times.  Lender’s sole duty with respect to the custody, safe keeping and physical preservation of the Collateral in its possession, under Section 9-207 of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State or otherwise, shall be to deal with such Collateral in the same manner as Lender deals with similar property for its own account.

 

12.                               Securities and DepositsLender may at any time at its option, transfer to itself or any nominee any securities constituting Collateral, receive any income thereon and hold such income as additional Collateral or apply it to the Obligations.  Whether or not any Obligations are due, Lender may demand, sue for, collect, or make any settlement or compromise which it deems desirable with respect to the Collateral.  Regardless of the adequacy of Collateral or any other security for the Obligations, any deposits or other sums at any time credited by or due from Lender to Borrower may at any time be applied to or set off against any of the Obligations then due and owing.

 

13.                               Notification to Account Debtors and Other Persons Obligated on Collateral.     If a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Borrower shall, at the request of Lender, notify account debtors and other persons obligated on any of the Collateral of the security interest of Lender in any account, chattel paper, general intangible, instrument or other Collateral and that payment thereof is to be made directly to Lender or to any financial institution designated by Lender as Lender’s agent therefor, and Lender may itself, if a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing beyond the applicable cure period, if any, without notice to or demand upon Borrower, so notify account debtors and other persons obligated on Collateral.  After the making of such a request or the giving of any such notification, Borrower shall hold any proceeds of collection of accounts, chattel paper, general intangibles, instruments and other Collateral received by Borrower as trustee for Lender without commingling the same with other funds of Borrower and shall turn the same over to Lender in the identical form received, together with any necessary endorsements or assignments.  Lender shall apply the proceeds of collection of accounts, chattel paper, general intangibles, instruments and other Collateral received by Lender to the Obligations, such proceeds to be immediately entered after final payment in cash or other immediately available funds of the items giving rise to them.

 

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14.                               Power of Attorney.

 

14.01.              Appointment and Powers of Lender.  Borrower hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints Lender and any officer or agent thereof, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorneys-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority in the place and stead of Borrower or in Lender’s own name, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of this Agreement, to take any and all appropriate action and to execute any and all documents and instruments that may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, hereby gives said attorneys the power and right, on behalf of Borrower, without notice to or assent by Borrower, to do the following:

 

(a)                                  upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default beyond the applicable cure period, if any, generally to sell, transfer, pledge, make any agreement with respect to or otherwise deal with any of the Collateral in such manner as is consistent with the Uniform Commercial Code of the State and as fully and completely as though Lender were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes, and to do at Borrower’s expense, at any time, or from time to time, all acts and things which Lender deems necessary to protect, preserve or realize upon the Collateral and Lender’s security interest therein, in order to effect the intent of this Agreement, all as fully and effectively as Borrower might do, including, without limitation, (i) the filing and prosecuting of registration and transfer applications with the appropriate federal or local agencies or authorities with respect to trademarks, copyrights and patentable inventions and processes, (ii) upon written notice to Borrower, the exercise of voting rights with respect to voting securities, which rights may be exercised, if Lender so elects, with a view to causing the liquidation in a commercially reasonable manner of assets of the issuer of any such securities and (iii) the execution, delivery and recording, in connection with any sale or other disposition of any Collateral, of the endorsements, assignments or other instruments of conveyance or transfer with respect to such Collateral; and

 

(b)                                 to the extent that Borrower’s authorization given in Section 3 is not sufficient, to file such financing statements with respect hereto, with or without Borrower’s signature, or a photocopy of this Agreement in substitution for a financing statement, as Lender may deem appropriate and to execute and/or file in Borrower’s name such financing statements and amendments thereto and continuation statements which may require Borrower’s signature.

 

14.02.              Ratification by Borrower.  To the extent permitted by law, Borrower hereby ratifies all that said attorneys shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof This power of attorney is a power coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable.

 

14.03.              No Duty on LenderThe powers conferred on Lender hereunder are solely to protect its interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon it to

 

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exercise any such powers.  Lender shall be accountable only for the amounts that it actually receives as a result of the exercise of such powers and neither it nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents shall be responsible to Borrower for any act or failure to act, except for Lender’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

15.                               RemediesIf an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing beyond the applicable cure period, if any, Lender may, without notice to or demand upon Borrower, declare this Agreement to be in default, and Lender shall thereafter have in any jurisdiction in which enforcement hereof is sought, in addition to all other rights and remedies, the rights and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code of the State or of any jurisdiction in which Collateral is located, including, without limitation, the right to take possession of the Collateral, and for that purpose Lender may, so far as Borrower can give authority therefor, enter upon any premises on which the Collateral may be situated and remove the same therefrom.  Lender may in its discretion require Borrower to assemble all or any part of the Collateral at such location or locations within the jurisdictions of Borrower’s principal office(s) or at such other locations as Lender may reasonably designate.  Unless the Collateral is perishable or threatens to decline speedily in value or is of a type customarily sold on a recognized market, Lender shall give to Borrower at least ten Business Days prior written notice of the time and place of any public sale of Collateral or of the time after which any private sale or any other intended disposition is to be made.  Borrower hereby acknowledges that ten Business Days prior written notice of such sale or sales shall be reasonable notice.  In addition, Borrower waives any and all rights that it may have to a judicial hearing in advance of the enforcement of any of Lender’s rights hereunder, including, without limitation, its right following an Event of Default to take immediate possession of the Collateral and to exercise its rights with respect thereto.

 

16.                               Standards for Exercising RemediesTo the extent that applicable law imposes duties on Lender to exercise remedies in a commercially reasonable manner, Borrower acknowledges and agrees that it is not commercially unreasonable for Lender (a) to fail to incur expenses reasonably deemed significant by Lender to prepare Collateral for disposition or otherwise to complete raw material or work in process into finished goods or other finished products for disposition, (b) to fail to obtain third party consents for access to Collateral to be disposed of, or to obtain or, if not required by other law, to fail to obtain governmental or third party consents for the collection or disposition of Collateral to be collected or disposed of, (c) to fail to exercise collection remedies against account debtors or other persons obligated on Collateral or to remove liens or encumbrances on or any adverse claims against Collateral, (d) to exercise collection remedies against account debtors and other persons obligated on Collateral directly or through the use of collection agencies and other collection specialists, (e) to advertise dispositions of Collateral through publications or media of general circulation, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (f) to contact other persons, whether or not in the same business as Borrower, for expressions of interest in acquiring all or any portion of the Collateral, (g) to hire one or more professional auctioneers to assist in the disposition of Collateral, whether or not the collateral is of a specialized nature, (h) to dispose of Collateral by utilizing Internet sites that provide for the auction of assets of the types included in the Collateral or that have the reasonable capability of doing so, or that match buyers and sellers of assets, (i) to dispose of

 

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assets in wholesale rather than retail markets, (j) to disclaim disposition warranties, (k) to purchase insurance or credit enhancements to insure Lender against risks of loss, collection or disposition of Collateral or to provide to Lender a guaranteed return from the collection or disposition of Collateral, or (l) to the extent deemed appropriate by Lender, to obtain the services of other brokers, investment bankers, consultants and other professionals to assist Lender in the collection or disposition of any of the Collateral.  Borrower acknowledges that the purpose of this Section 16 is to provide non-exhaustive indications of what actions or omissions by Lender would not be commercially unreasonable in Lender’s exercise of remedies against the Collateral and that other actions or omissions by Lender shall not be deemed commercially unreasonable solely on account of not being indicated in this Section 16.  Without limitation upon the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section 16 shall be construed to grant any rights to Borrower or to impose any duties on Lender that would not have been granted or imposed by this Agreement or by applicable law in the absence of this Section 16.

 

17.                               No Waiver by Lender, etc.  Lender shall not be deemed to have waived any of its rights upon or under the Obligations or the Collateral unless such waiver shall be in writing and signed by Lender.  No delay or omission on the part of Lender in exercising any right shall operate as a waiver of such right or any other right.  A waiver on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any right on any future occasion.  All rights and remedies of Lender with respect to the Obligations or the Collateral, whether evidenced hereby or by any other instrument or papers, shall be cumulative and may be exercised singularly, alternatively, successively or concurrently at such time or at such times as Lender deems expedient.

 

18.                               Suretyship Waivers by Borrower.  Borrower waives demand, notice, protest, notice of acceptance of this Agreement, notice of loans made, credit extended, Collateral received or delivered or other action taken in reliance hereon and all other demands and notices of any description.  With respect to both the Obligations and the Collateral, Borrower assents to any extension or postponement of the time of payment or any other indulgence, to any substitution, exchange or release of or failure to perfect any security interest in any Collateral, to the addition or release of any party or person primarily or secondarily liable, to the acceptance of partial payment thereon and the settlement, compromising or adjusting of any thereof, all in such manner and at such time or times as Lender may deem advisable.  Lender shall have no duty as to the collection or protection of the Collateral or any income thereon, nor as to the preservation of rights against prior parties, nor as to the preservation of any rights pertaining thereto beyond the safe custody thereof as set forth in Section 11.02. Borrower further waives any and all other suretyship defenses.

 

19.                               MarshalingLender shall not be required to marshal any present or future collateral security (including but not limited to this Agreement and the Collateral) for, or other assurances of payment of, the Obligations or any of them or to resort to such collateral security or other assurances of payment in any particular order, and all of its rights hereunder and in respect of such collateral security and other assurances of payment shall be cumulative and in addition to all other rights, however existing or arising.  To the extent that it lawfully may, Borrower hereby agrees that it will not invoke any law relating to the marshalling of collateral which might cause delay in or impede the enforcement of Lender’s rights under this Agreement

 

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or under any other instrument creating or evidencing any of the Obligations or under which any of the Obligations is outstanding or by which any of the Obligations is secured or payment thereof is otherwise assured, and, to the extent that it lawfully may, Borrower hereby irrevocably waives the benefits of all such laws.

 

20.                               Proceeds of Dispositions; ExpensesBorrower shall pay to Lender on demand any and all expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, incurred or paid by Lender in protecting, preserving or enforcing Lender’s rights under or in respect of any of the Obligations or any of the Collateral.  After deducting all of said expenses, the residue of any proceeds of collection or sale of the Obligations or Collateral shall, to the extent actually received in cash, be applied to the payment of the Obligations in such order or preference as Lender may determine, proper allowance and provision being made for any Obligations not then due.  Upon the final payment and satisfaction in full of all of the Obligations and after making any payments required by Sections 9-608(a)(1)(C) or 9-615(a)(3) of the Uniform Commercial Code of the State, any excess shall be returned to Borrower, and Borrower shall remain liable for any deficiency in the payment of the Obligations.

 

21.                               Overdue AmountsUntil paid, all amounts due and payable by Borrower hereunder shall be a debt secured by the Collateral and shall bear, whether before or after judgment, interest at the rate of interest for overdue principal set forth in the Credit Agreement.

 

22.                               Governing Law; Consent to JurisdictionTHIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE.  Borrower agrees that any suit for the enforcement of this Agreement may be brought in the courts of the State or any federal court sitting therein and consents to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such court.  Borrower hereby waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such suit or any such court or that such suit is brought in an inconvenient court.

 

23.                               Waiver of Jury TrialTHE PARTIES WAIVE THEIR RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF ANY DISPUTE IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, ANY RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER OR THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY SUCH RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS.  Except as prohibited by law, Borrower waives any right which it may have to claim or recover in any litigation referred to in the preceding sentence any special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages or any damages other than, or in addition to, actual damages.  Borrower (i) certifies that neither Lender nor any representative, agent or attorney of Lender has represented, expressly or otherwise, that Lender would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce the foregoing waivers and (ii) acknowledges that, in entering into the Credit Agreement and the other loan documents to which Lender is a party, Lender is relying upon, among other things, the waivers and certifications contained in this Section 23.

 

24.                               MiscellaneousThe headings of each section of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not define or limit the provisions thereof.  This Agreement and all rights and obligations hereunder shall be binding upon Borrower and its respective successors

 

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and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of Lender and its successors and assigns.  If any term of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity of all other terms hereof shall in no way be affected thereby, and this Agreement shall be construed and be enforceable as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable term had not been included herein.  Borrower acknowledges receipt of a copy of this Agreement.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

GREAT PLAINS ETHANOL, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Darrin Ihnen

 

 

 

Name:

Darrin Ihnen

 

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LENDER:

 

 

 

 

 

 

AGCOUNTRY FARM CREDIT SERVICES, FLCA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Randolph L. Aberle

 

 

 

Name:

Randolph L. Aberle

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 



 

Schedule 8(d)

 

Tort Claims

 

None.

 



 

Schedule 9(a)

 

27716 – 462nd Avenue, Chancellor, South Dakota  57015