Exhibit 10.1
FORBEARANCE AND STANDSTILL
AGREEMENT
THIS FORBEARANCE AND STANDSTILL AGREEMENT (the
“ Agreement ”) is entered into as of June 30,
2011 by and between NEDAK Ethanol, LLC, a Nebraska limited
liability company, (the “ Borrower ”), and Arbor
Bank, a Nebraska banking corporation (the “ Lead
Lender ”) with the intent and agreement that this
Agreement shall be effective as of the Effective Date
defined below. Lead Lender and Borrower shall each individually be
a “Party” and collectively, the
“Parties”.
RECITALS
A. Reference
is made to that certain Loan Agreement dated as of June 19, 2007
(the “ Loan Agreement ”), by and among Borrower
and Lead Lender, and the Promissory note issued thereunder by
Borrower and made payable to Lead Lender dated as of June 19, 2007
in the principal sum of $6,864,000 (the “ Borrower’s
Note ”) under which Lead Lender and certain other lenders
has provided tax increment financing in connection with the
development by Borrower of a 44 million gallon ethanol plant in the
City of Atkinson (the “ Facility ”). Unless
otherwise defined, terms in this Agreement with an initial capital
letter will have the meaning given such term in the Loan
Agreement.
B. On
August 12, 2010, the Lead Lender filed a lawsuit in the District
Court of Douglas County, Nebraska (the “ Court
”) against the Borrower (designated Arbor Bank v NEDAK
Ethanol, LLC, Doc. 1110 No. 213, the “ Lender Suit
”) alleging that Borrower has failed to make certain payments
required under the Borrower’s Note and failed to comply with
certain other covenants under the Loan Agreement. On October 29,
2010, the Lead Lender filed a motion for summary judgment (the
“ Lender Summary Judgment Motion ”). On April
20, 2011, the Court issued a preliminary order finding in favor of
the Lead Lender with respect to the default by the Borrower on the
TIF Loan and directing that a hearing be held to establish the
interest and costs.
C. Borrower
is party to a Master Credit Agreement, as amended and supplemented
(the “ Senior Credit Agreement ”), with
AgCountry Farm Credit Services FCA (f/k/a Farm Credit Services of
Grand Forks, North Dakota) (“ Senior Lender ”)
regarding a senior secured credit facility (the “ Senior
Credit Facility ”). Borrower and Senior Lender have
entered into several forbearance agreements, including the Seventh
Supplement and Forbearance Agreement dated as of February 1, 2011
(the “ Senior Lender Forbearance ”) pursuant to
which Senior Lender has agreed to forbear from its rights under the
Senior Credit Agreement until June 30, 2011, or the occurrence of
an event of default under the Senior Lender Forbearance. Included
among such events of default are any actions by the Lead Lender to
exercise any right or remedy under any the Loan Agreement, or the
issuance or entry of any judgment, decree or order for the payment
of money against Borrower or the award of equitable relief in
connection with the Lender Suit and the Lender Summary Judgment
Motion.
D. Borrower
has undertaken a plan to raise capital (the “ 2011
Offering ”) in order to remedy the current defaults under
the Senior Credit Facility and the Loan Agreement and to complete a
restructuring of its debt to allow for continued operations of the
Facility, as is more fully described in the Borrower’s
Confidential Private Placement Memorandum dated
April 7, 2011
(as supplemented from time to time, the “ 2011 Offering
PPM ”). A copy of the 2011 Offering PPM has been provided
to the Lead Lender.
E. In
connection with the 2011 offering and the proposed restructuring
plan, Borrower intends to enter into an Ethanol Purchase And Sale
Agreement and the Ethanol Tank Lease with Tenaska Biofules, LLC
(together, the “ Tenaska Agreements ”). This
Agreement is imperative to aid Borrower in its efforts to negotiate
favorable terms with Tenaska Biofuels, LLC and the Senior Lender in
their respective agreements. Borrower and Lead Lender wish to
cooperate to support Borrower’s activities to complete the
2011 Offering, allow Borrower to enter into the Tenaska Agreements
and for the implementation of the plan.
F. To
induce Lead Lender to enter into this Agreement and thereby forbear
from exercising Lender’s rights, powers and remedies under
the Loan Agreement, Borrower’s Note and other Loan Documents
and the law, Borrower has agreed to adhere to the promises and
covenants set forth herein.
G. Lead
Lender is willing to forebear during the Standstill Period (defined
below) from exercising its rights, remedies and powers under the
Loan Agreement, Borrower’s Note, the other Loan Documents and
the law subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein,
provided that Lead Lender does not waive any Events of Default by
Borrower or any of such rights, powers and remedies.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
foregoing, and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, Borrower and Lead
Lender, acting on behalf of itself and each Participant, agree as
follows:
1.
Recitals . Borrower acknowledges and agrees that each of the
Recitals and facts set forth in Paragraphs A through G above is
true and correct and is incorporated herein by this reference and
made a part hereof.
2.
Reaffirmation of the Terms and Undertakings of the Loan
Documents and Other Agreements . Borrower acknowledges and
agrees that, as a result of certain Events of Default, Lead Lender
has validly accelerated and the entire unpaid balance of
Borrower’s Note is due and owing to Lead Lender without
setoff, defense or counterclaims of any kind whatsoever, and that
Borrower is absolutely and unconditionally liable to Lead Lender
for the same to the full extent set forth in the Recitals together
with any interest and other costs (including collection costs) that
continue to accrue after the date hereof, and that such liability
is not subject to any defense, setoff or counterclaim. Borrower
acknowledges and agrees that the terms of the Loan Agreement,
Borrower’s Note, any other Loan Documents, and any other
agreements delivered in favor of Lead Lender prior to the date
hereof are valid and remain in full force and effect in accordance
with their terms, and are hereby reaffirmed and restated effective
as of the date hereof as if fully set forth herein.
3.
Validity and Enforceability of the Loan Agreement,
Borrower’s Note, Loan Documents and Other Agreements .
Borrower acknowledges and agrees that the Loan Agreement,
Borrower’s Note, and any other Loan Documents, are valid,
binding and fully enforceable according to their terms. Any
technical defects in the Loan Agreement,
Borrower’s
Note, or any
other Loan Documents, whether known or unknown, are hereby
unconditionally and absolutely waived by Borrower. Borrower hereby
waives any and all rules of construction, if any, and arguments
that this Agreement, the Loan Agreement, Borrower’s Note and
other Loan Documents are to be construed against Lead Lender as a
result of its participation in the drafting hereof and
thereof.
4.
No Waiver by Lead Lender of Existing Defaults, Rights and
Remedies . Nothing in this Agreement or otherwise should or
shall be construed as a waiver by Lead Lender of any existing
Events of Default. Lender retains and has not waived any of its
rights and remedies set forth in the Loan Agreement,
Borrower’s Note, the other Loan Documents or provided for at
law. Lead Lender’s agreement to forbear under this Agreement
shall not constitute an extension of the maturity date under the
Loan Documents, a waiver of a