Master Lease Agreement, dated as of April 10, 2019, between Plug Power Inc. and Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Inc
Exhibit 10.31
MASTER LEASE AGREEMENT
(DEMO EQUIPMENT)
This Master Lease Agreement (this "Agreement"), dated as of April 10, 2019, is made between Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the "Lessor"), and Plug Power Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of Delaware (the "Lessee"). Lessor and Lessee are referred to in this Agreement individually as a "Party" and, collectively, as the "Parties". Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth for such terms in the Master Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
WHEREAS, Lessor is in the business of owning and leasing equipment and has purchased and plans to continue to purchase, from time to time, certain fuel cell equipment from Lessee pursuant to the Master Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between Lessor and Lessee (as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Master Purchase Agreement") when and as the conditions to such purchase are met as provided herein;
WHEREAS, Lessee desires to lease such fuel cell equipment as further described in this Agreement when and as the conditions to such lease are met as provided herein; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, representations, warranties and agreements hereinafter set forth, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties agree as follows:
Agreement (as defined below) whereby daily and continuous operation of such Equipment at the applicable Site has begun, or (y) Lessee is actively seeking to cause such Equipment to be the subject of a Demo Agreement. A "Demo Agreement" means an agreement between Lessee and a customer or potential customer of Lessee (each, a "Demo Customer"), pursuant to which such Demo Customer is granted a right to use Equipment leased under a Lease at the applicable Site.
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include all amounts payable by Lessee to Lessor for the lease of the Equipment. As used in this Agreement, the term "Lease Term" of any Lease means the Initial Term of such Lease, plus any Renewal Term (as defined in Section 15) of such Lease. All Rent payable under each Lease shall be paid to the account of Lessor in U.S. dollar same day funds to the account specified in such Lease (or such other account as Lessor shall notify to Lessee upon 10 business days prior written notice), and Lessee shall permit Lessor to debit the account of Lessee at M&T Bank ([***]) to make any payment of Rent when due under a Lease.
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operation, merchantability or fitness for use of the Equipment, or any eviction of the Equipment by paramount title or otherwise from the Site, or any unavailability of access to the Equipment at the Site; (c) any loss, theft or destruction of, or damage to, the Equipment or any portion thereof or interruption or cessation in the use or possession thereof or any part thereof for any reason whatsoever and of whatever duration; (d) the condemnation, requisitioning, expropriation, seizure or other taking of title to or use of the Equipment or the Site by any governmental entity or otherwise; (e) any ineligibility of the Equipment or any portion thereof for any particular use, whether or not due to any failure of Lessee to comply with any Applicable Law; (f) any event of "force majeure" or any frustration of purpose; (g) any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding by or against Lessee; (h) any default under or termination of, a Demo Agreement, or the failure of any Demo Agreement to be in full force and effect; (i) any defect in the title to, or the existence of any lien with respect to, the Equipment; or (j) the upgrading, conversion or relocation of any Equipment, including any relocation made pursuant to Section 8(b), it being the intention of the Parties hereto that all Rent and other amounts payable under this Agreement shall continue to be payable in the manner and at times provided for herein. If for any reason whatsoever this Agreement is terminated in whole or in part by operation of law or otherwise, Lessee nonetheless agrees, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, to pay to Lessor an amount equal to each installment of Rent and all other amounts due and owing hereunder, at the time such payment would have become due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof had this Agreement not been so terminated.
(B) the Site from and to which such Relocated Equipment is being relocated;
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(b) The Parties agree that this Agreement will be a "true lease," and the Lessor will be treated as owner of the Equipment and Lessee will be treated as lessee and, accordingly, the Parties agree that the Lessor will be entitled to claim any and all benefits available to an owner of the Equipment, including (i) all Tax Benefits (as defined in Section 18), and (ii) all rights and interests in and to any environmental attributes associated with the energy output from the Equipment that, as a matter of law, belong to the owner rather than the user of the Equipment (all such attributes in this clause (ii), specifically excluding any Tax Benefits, the "Environmental Attributes"). Lessor hereby assigns to Lessee, solely for the duration of the Lease Term, all of its rights and interests in and to any and all Environmental Attributes currently available by law to an owner of the Equipment as of the date hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, Lessor does not assign to Lessee any Environmental Attributes that, due to any future change in law, may become available to an owner of the Equipment (including, but not limited to, any carbon credits). In the event that this Agreement or any Lease is deemed to be a lease intended for security, Lessee hereby grants Lessor a purchase money security interest in the Equipment (including any replacements, substitutions, additions, attachments and proceeds).
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use, property (real or personal and tangible or intangible), value added or other transfer taxes on (i) the initial sale of Equipment to Lessor, (ii) the Rents, (iii) the sale of power to, or the use of the Equipment by, the Demo Customer under or otherwise with respect to any Demo Agreement, (iv) any payment of Termination Value (as defined in Section 12) and (v) upon any exercise of the Purchase Option, Renewal Option or Return Option (in each case, as defined in Section 14), but excluding any and all taxes, charges and fees (including any interest, additions to tax and penalties) (A) on or measured by the net income of Lessor, but excluding taxes that are in the nature of sales, use, property (real or personal and tangible or intangible), value added or other transfer taxes, (B) resulting from Lessor's negligence, or (C) resulting from or arising out of any failure on the part of Lessor to file any tax returns or pay any taxes owing on a timely basis or any errors or omissions on Lessor's tax returns unless Lessee is responsible under this Agreement for filing the returns, Lessee has not provided information requested by Lessor that is necessary to file such tax returns or Lessor's failure to file any tax returns or any errors or omissions on such tax returns is attributable to Lessee's fraud, negligence or misrepresentation. Lessee shall file, in a timely manner and in the name of Lessor as owner, any personal property tax returns relating to the Equipment that are required to be filed covering periods during the Lease Term, pay the amounts shown on the returns and provide copies of such returns and proof of payment to Lessor. Failure of Lessee to pay promptly amounts due hereunder shall be treated the same as failure to pay any installment of Rent pursuant to Section 3. If Lessee is requested by Lessor to file any other returns or remit payments directly to any governmental body or agency, Lessee shall timely file such returns and remit such payments and shall provide proof of said timely filing or payment to Lessor.
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Any insurance proceeds received with respect to such Equipment (or any item thereof) shall be applied, in the event option (c) of this Section 12 is elected, in reduction of the then unpaid obligations, including the Termination Value, of Lessee to Lessor, if not already paid by Lessee, or, if already paid by Lessee, to reimburse Lessee for such payment, or, in the event option (a) or (b) of this Section 12 is elected, to reimburse Lessee for the costs of repairing, restoring or replacing such Equipment (or any item thereof) upon receipt by Lessor of evidence, satisfactory to Lessor, that such repair, restoration or replacement has been completed, and an invoice has been provided therefor. "Termination Value" means, at any time, with respect to the Equipment leased under any Lease, the amount set forth on attachment #3 to such Lease at (or on the first scheduled date on attachment #3 to such Lease prior to) such time.
(b) If Lessee fails to obtain insurance or provide evidence thereof to Lessor, Lessee agrees that Lessor may, but shall not be obligated to, obtain such insurance on Lessee's behalf and charge Lessee for all costs and expenses associated therewith. Without limiting the forgoing, Lessee specifically agrees that if Lessor obtains insurance on Lessee's behalf, Lessee will be required to pay a monthly insurance charge. The insurance charge will include reimbursement for premiums advanced to the insurer, finance charges (which will typically be at a rate higher than the rate used to determine the Rent), billing and tracking fees, administrative expenses and other related fees. Lessor shall receive a portion of the insurance charges, which
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may include a profit from such finance charges, billing, tracking, administrative and other charges.
Except as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph, any other insurance obtained by or available to Lessor shall be secondary insurance, and Lessor shall be solely liable for all costs associated therewith.
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during any Renewal Term shall be the Fair Market Rental Value for the Equipment leased under such Lease, as determined below. The commencement of any Renewal Term for a Lease is conditioned upon mutually agreeable lease terms between Lessor and Lessee and any credit enhancements as may be required by Lessor.
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that Lessor will have to report the Rent as income in the periods and amounts shown on the Rent schedule to such Lease.
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Lessor under section 168(g)(1)(E) of the Code); (xvi) Lessee has not claimed and will not claim, or cause to be claimed, an investment tax credit under section 48(a)(3)(iv) of the Code or other federal tax credit, in each case with respect to the Equipment or any portion thereof; (xvii) on the Rental Commencement Date applicable to the Equipment, the Equipment will not require any improvements, modifications or additions (other than ancillary items of a kind customarily selected and furnished by lessees of property of the same kind as the Equipment) in order for the Equipment to be rendered complete for its intended use by Lessee; (xviii) Lessee will not take a position for U.S. federal or state income tax purposes that it is the owner of any portion of the Equipment during the Lease Term or that is inconsistent with any of the tax assumptions set forth in this Section 18; (xix) at no time during the period beginning on the applicable Rental Commencement Date and ending on the fifth anniversary of such date (the "Recapture Period") will the Equipment or any portion thereof be disposed of or otherwise cease to be (in each case within the meaning of section 50 of the Code) "qualified fuel cell property" within the meaning of Section 48(c)(1) of the Code, other than as a result of the status of Lessor or any member of the Lessor or actions taken by Lessor; and (xx) all written information provided by or on behalf of Lessee to the Appraiser was accurate and complete in all material respects and remains accurate and complete on the applicable Rental Commencement Date.
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liabilities or losses that Lessor may incur in the contest. Lessor will have the sole discretion to determine whether or not to undertake judicial or administrative proceedings beyond the level of an Internal Revenue Service auditing agent and to select counsel to handle the contest; provided that if the claim must be paid before the matter can be heard in court, Lessee will advance the funds necessary to do so on an interest-free basis. For purposes of this Section 18, the term "Lessor" shall include the entity or entities, if any, with which Lessor files a consolidated income tax return.
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Value for all Equipment; and/or (iv) exercise any other right or remedy available at law or in equity.
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no Default shall have occurred, WFEF shall maintain its administrative role under this Agreement with Lessee and shall act as an intermediary between Lessee and any WFEF partial assignee, and (ii) unless Lessee receives notice from WFEF or WFEF's assignee to the contrary, Lessee's satisfaction of its obligations under the Lease Documents to WFEF shall be deemed to satisfy such obligations to all Lessors.
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limitation that certain (A) Loan and Security Agreement dated as of December 23, 2016 by and among Plug Power Inc., NY Green Bank and the other parties thereto and (B) Loan and Security Agreement dated as of March 29, 2019 by and among Plug Power Inc., Generate Lending, LLC, and the other parties thereto, in each case, as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time; (iii) Lessee is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing in its state of incorporation and in any jurisdiction where the Equipment is located; and (iv) no material approval, consent or withholding of objection is required from any governmental authority or entity with respect to the entering into, or performance of any Lease Document by Lessee.
If to Lessee:
Plug Power Inc.
968 Albany Shaker Road
Latham, NY 12110
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Attn: Paul Middleton
Telephone: (518) 738-0281
Facsimile: (518) 782-7884
Email: ***@***
If to Lessor:
Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Inc.
600 South Fourth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Attn: Account Services
Facsimile: (866) 687-5578
Email: ***@***
As used herein: "Anti-Terrorism Laws" means any laws relating to terrorism, trade sanctions programs and embargoes, import/export licensing, money laundering, or bribery, all as amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time; "Compliance Authority" means each and all of the (a) U.S. Treasury Department/Office of Foreign Assets Control, (b) U.S. Treasury Department/Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, (c) U.S. State Department/Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, (d) U.S. Commerce Department/Bureau of Industry and Security, (e) Internal Revenue Service, (f) U.S. Justice Department, and (g) U.S. Securities and
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Exchange Commission; "Covered Entity" means Lessee, its affiliates and subsidiaries, all guarantors, pledgors of collateral, all owners of the foregoing, and all brokers or other agents of Lessee acting in any capacity in connection with this Agreement or any Lease; "Reportable Compliance Event" means that any Covered Entity becomes a Sanctioned Person, or is indicted, arraigned, investigated or custodially detained, or receives an inquiry from regulatory or law enforcement officials, in connection with any Anti-Terrorism Law or any predicate crime to any Anti-Terrorism Law, or self-discovers facts or circumstances implicating any aspect of its operations with the actual or possible violation of any Anti-Terrorism Law; "Sanctioned Country" means a country subject to a sanctions program maintained by any Compliance Authority; and "Sanctioned Person" means any individual person, group, regime, entity or thing listed or otherwise recognized as a specially designated, prohibited, sanctioned or debarred person or entity, or subject to any limitations or prohibitions (including but not limited to the blocking of property or rejection of transactions), under any order or directive of any Compliance Authority or otherwise subject to, or specially designated under, any sanctions program maintained by any Compliance Authority.
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Agreement or any Lease by telecopy, emailed pdf or any other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement or such Lease.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
LESSOR:
WELLS FARGO EQUIPMENT FINANCE, INC.
By: /s/ Angela D. Baumann
Name: Angela D. Baumann
Title: Authorized Signer
LESSEE:
PLUG POWER INC.
By:
Paul Middleton
Chief Financial Officer
(Wells Fargo/Plug Power- Master Lease Agreement (Demo Equipment))
(Original)
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
LESSOR:
WELLS FARGO EQUIPMENT FINANCE, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
LESSEE:
PLUG POWER INC.
By: /s/ Paul Middleton
Paul Middleton
Chief Financial Officer
(Wells Fargo/Plug Power - Master Lease Agreement (Demo Equipment))
(Original)
EXHIBIT A
RENTAL SCHEDULE NO. [ ]
This Rental Schedule dated and effective as of [ ], 20[ ] (this "Lease") incorporates by reference the terms and provisions of the Master Lease Agreement dated as of April 10, 2019 (as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Master Lease Agreement") by and between Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Inc. (together with its successors and assigns, "Lessor") and Plug Power Inc. ("Lessee"). This Lease shall be accompanied by a Certificate of Acceptance in the form attached as Attachment #1.
All terms used within this document that are defined in the Master Lease Agreement shall have the same meaning herein.
1. | Description of Equipment: |
[ ] GenDrive Fuel Cells, as more fully described on Schedule A hereto, and located at the following Site: [INSERT ADDRESS OF SITE].
Lease Terms:
Initial Term: [ ]1
Rental Commencement Date: [ ], 20[ ]
Rent: As set forth on Attachment #2 attached hereto and incorporated herein
Lessor Account Information: All payments of Rent shall be made to the following
account of Lessor[ ]2
The Initial Term of this Lease shall commence upon the Acceptance Date as indicated on the Certificate of Acceptance ("Lease Commencement Date") and, unless earlier terminated pursuant to the terms of the Master Lease Agreement, shall continue until expiration of the number of months of the Initial Term specified above after the Rental Commencement Date.
Lessee shall pay Rent throughout the Initial Term in advance on each Rent payment date listed on Attachment #2 in the amount specified under the column heading "Rent Payment" for such Rent payment date. The Rent payable on each Rent payment date shall be applied to satisfy the Lessee's obligation with respect to the Rent owed on each "Rental Date" for the applicable rental period, as further set forth on Attachment #2 hereto.
2. | The Termination Values are as set out on Attachment #3 attached hereto and incorporated herein. |
3. | All purchase and end of term options awarded to Lessee in respect of this Lease shall apply to all, but not less than all, Equipment leased under this Lease. |
1 Initial term to be 78 months from the Lease Commencement Date.
2 Account information to be inserted
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[Signature page follows.]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Lease to be duly executed on the date set forth below by their authorized representatives.
THIS LEASE CANNOT BE CANCELLED
LESSOR:
WELLS FARGO EQUIPMENT FINANCE, INC.
By:
Name:
Title:
LESSEE:
PLUG POWER INC.
By:
Paul Middleton
Chief Financial Officer
Schedule A
TO EXHIBIT A
DESCRIPTION OF EQUIPMENT
| |
Product / Model Number | Serial Number |
| |
Attachment #1
TO EXHIBIT A
CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE
to
Rental Schedule No.
Dated [ ], 20[ ]
In compliance with the terms, conditions and provisions of the Master Lease Agreement dated as of April 10, 2019 (as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Lease") between the undersigned ("Lessee") and Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Inc. (together with its successors and assigns, "Lessor"), Lessee hereby:
(a) | certifies and warrants that all Equipment described in the above-referenced Rental Schedule (the "Equipment") is delivered, inspected and fully installed, and operational as of the Acceptance Date as indicated below; |
(b) | accepts all the Equipment for all purposes under the Lease and all attendant documents as of the date above (the "Acceptance Date"); and |
(c) | restates and reaffirms, as of the Acceptance Date, each of the representations, warranties and covenants heretofore given to Lessor in the Lease. |
Lessor is hereby authorized to insert serial numbers on the above-referenced Rental Schedule.
| LESSEE: PLUG POWER INC. By: Name: Title: |
Attachment #2
TO EXHIBIT A
Rents
for Rental Schedule No. [ ]
Rent shall be due and payable in accordance with the following schedule.3 Rent is stated exclusive of all applicable sales and/or use taxes. Lessee is responsible for all sales and/or use taxes on the Rent.
3 Rent payments will be due monthly in advance.
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Attachment #3
TO EXHIBIT A
Termination Value Schedule Rental Schedule No. [ ]
EXHIBIT B
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT AND ENTERING INTO OF LEASES
1. | A Lease for the applicable Equipment, substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this Agreement, duly executed by Lessee. |
2. | A Certificate of Acceptance for the applicable Equipment, substantially in the form of Attachment #1 to Exhibit A to this Agreement, duly executed by Lessee. |
3. | A Bill of Sale for the applicable Equipment duly executed by Lessee. |
4. | The Demo Agreement for the applicable Equipment duly executed by Lessee and the Demo Customer. |
5. | The Warranties with respect to the applicable Equipment. |
6. | (a) In the case of the first Lease entered into on or after the date of this Agreement, a certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of Lessee, attaching (i) true and complete copies of the constitutive documents of Lessee as in effect on the date of this Agreement, (ii) a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by the authorized governing body of Lessee, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance by Lessee of each of the Lease Documents to which it is or will be a party, (iii) an incumbency certificate with respect to the officers of Lessee authorized to execute and deliver the Lease Documents to which Lessee is or will be a party and (iv) a certificate of good standing, issued by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, dated no more than ten (10) business days prior to the date of such Lease; and (b) in the case of each other Lease, a bringdown of the certificate referenced in clause (a) of this item 6 in form and substance satisfactory to Lessor. |
7. | Precautionary UCC-1 financing statements, naming Lessee as debtor and Lessor or its successors and assigns as secured party, properly filed, registered or recorded in each jurisdiction in which Lessor shall reasonably request. |
8. | UCC search reports, satisfactory to Lessor, dated not more than ten (10) business days before the date of the applicable Lease, made in respect of Lessee in each jurisdiction in which Lessee is located. |
9. | UCC-3 financing statements, terminating the interests of any secured party that is not Lessor, properly filed, registered or recorded in each jurisdiction in which Lessor shall reasonably request. |
10. | Copies of certificates of insurance naming Lessor as loss payee and/or additional insured that conform to all requirements set forth in Section 13. |
11. | An itemized invoice for each item of Equipment (including itemization of any sales/use tax being paid or sales tax exemption certificate), together with evidence of payment thereof. |
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12. | A pay proceeds letter addressed to Lessor, duly executed by Lessee, and in form and substance satisfactory to Lessor (each, a "Pay Proceeds Letter"). |
13. | An appraisal report prepared solely for Lessor and its counsel by an appraiser chosen by Lessor (the "Appraiser") that is satisfactory in form and substance to Lessor, which confirms, among other things, that all of the applicable Equipment is "qualified fuel cell property" within the meaning of section 48(c)(1) of the Code, Lessor will be eligible to claim a 30% investment tax credit under section 48(a)(3)(iv) of the Code based on the appraised fair market value of the Equipment as of the Rental Commencement Date, and confirms a residual value and remaining useful life for the applicable Equipment at the end of the Initial Term therefor that is acceptable to Lessor and Lessor’s counsel. |
14. | A certificate from the chief financial officer of Lessee that is satisfactory in form and substance to Lessor confirming that the applicable Equipment is in service for U.S. federal income tax purposes as of the date of the applicable Lease. |
15. | An opinion issued by Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP to Lessor, satisfactory in form and substance to Lessor. |
16. | An irrevocable standby letter of credit (each, a "Letter of Credit"), issued by SunTrust Bank or such other United States bank acceptable to Lessor in its sole discretion (the "L/C Issuer"): |
17. | Such other documentation as Lessor shall reasonably require. |