EXHIBIT 10.15
DISTILLER’S GRAIN MARKETING
AGREEMENT
THIS
DISTILLER’S GRAIN MARKETING AGREEMENT (the
“Agreement”), is entered into effective as of
December 1, 2004, by Granite Falls Ethanol LLC, a Minnesota
Limited Liability Company (“Seller”), and Commodity
Specialist Company, a Delaware corporation
(“Buyer”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Seller
desires to sell and Buyer desires to purchase the Distiller’s
Dried Grains with Solubles (“DDGS”), hereinafter DDGS,
output of the ethanol production plant which Seller owns in Granite
Falls, Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, Seller
and Buyer wish to agree in advance of such sale and purchase to the
price formula, payment, delivery and other terms thereof in
consideration of the mutually promised performance of the
other;
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants and
conditions herein contained, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged by both parties, it is hereby agreed:
1. BUYER
PERFORMANCE . Buyer agrees to perform the services that it
provides for Seller in a professional and competent
manner.
2.
PURCHASE AND SALE . Seller agrees to sell to Buyer and Buyer
agrees to purchase from Seller the entire bulk feed grade DDGS,
output from Seller’s plant at Granite Falls, Minnesota.
(hereinafter the “Plant”) that is shipped from Plant by
rail, and so much output that is shipped by truck that Seller in
its discretion elects to sell to Buyer, subject to all terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement. Buyer shall label all
Product that is sold by Buyer and shall register all labels with
the states where the Products are sold.
3. TRADE
RULES . All purchases and sales made hereunder shall be
governed by the Feed Trade Rules of the National Grain and Feed
Association unless otherwise specified. Said Trade Rules, a copy of
which is appended hereto as Exhibit A, shall, to the extent
applicable, be a part of this Agreement as if fully set forth
herein.
4.
TERM . The term of this Agreement shall be for one year
commencing as of completion and start-up of production of the
Plant. Start-up is anticipated to be October 1, 2005.
Thereafter this agreement shall remain in effect until terminated
by either party at its unqualified option by providing the other
party hereto not less than 90 days written notice of its
election to terminate this Agreement.
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5.
DELIVERY AND TITLE .
A. The
place of delivery for all the Products sold pursuant to this
Agreement shall be FOB Plant. Buyer and Buyer’s agents shall
be given access to Seller’s Plant in a manner and at all
times reasonably necessary and convenient for Buyer to take
delivery as provided herein. Buyer shall coordinate the loading and
shipping of all outbound Products purchased hereunder which is
shipped by truck or rail with Seller. All labor and equipment
necessary to load trucks or rail cars shall be supplied by Seller
without charge to Buyer. Seller agrees to handle the Products in a
good and workmanlike manner in accordance with Buyer’s
reasonable requirements and in accordance with normal industry
practice. Seller shall maintain the truck and rail loading
facilities in safe operating condition in accordance with normal
industry standards.
B. Seller
further warrants that storage space for not less than seven days
production of DDGS shall be reserved for Buyer’s use at the
Plant and shall be continuously available for storage of DDGS
purchased by Buyer hereunder at no charge to Buyer. Seller shall be
responsible at all times for the quantity, quality and condition of
any the Products in storage at the Plant. Seller shall not be
responsible for the quantity, quality and condition of any of the
Products stored by Buyer at locations other than the
Plant.
C. Buyer
shall give to Seller a schedule of quantities of the Products to be
removed by truck and rail with sufficient advance notice reasonably
to allow Seller to provide the required services. Seller shall
provide the labor, equipment and facilities necessary to meet
Buyer’s loading schedule and, except for any consequential or
indirect damages, shall be responsible for Buyer’s actual
costs or damages resulting from Seller’s failure to do so.
Buyer shall order and supply trucks and rail cars as scheduled for
truck and rail shipments. All freight charges shall be the
responsibility of Buyer and shall be billed directly to
Buyer.
D. Buyer
shall provide loading orders as necessary to permit Seller to
maintain Seller’s usual production schedule, provided,
however, that Buyer shall not be responsible for failure to
schedule removal of the Products unless Seller shall have provided
to Buyer production schedules as follows: Five (5) days prior
to the beginning of each calendar month during the term hereof,
Seller shall provide to Buyer a tentative schedule for production
in the next calendar month. Seller shall inform Buyer daily of
inventory and production status. For purposes of this paragraph,
notification will be sufficient if made by e-mail or facsimile as
follows:
If to Buyer, to the attention of
Steve Markham, Facsimile number 612-330-9894 or e-mail to
smarkham@csc-world.com, and
If to Seller, to the attention of
. Or to such other representatives of Buyer and
Seller as they may designate to the other in writing.
E. Title,
risk of loss and full shipping responsibility shall pass to Buyer
upon loading the Products into trucks or rail cars and delivering
to Buyer a the bill of lading for each such shipment.
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6. PRICE
AND PAYMENT
A. Buyer
agrees to pay Seller as follows: for all DDGS removed by Buyer from
the Plant a price equal to ninety eight (98%) of the FOB Plant
price actually received by Buyer from its customers. For purposes
of this provision, the FOB Plant price shall be the actual sale
price, less all freight costs incurred by Buyer in delivering the
Product to its customer. Buyer agrees that it shall not sell
Product for delivery more than 90 days from the date of
entering into a sale without the consent of Seller. Buyer agrees to
use commercially reasonable efforts to achieve the highest resale
price available under prevailing market conditions. Seller’s
sole and exclusive remedy for breach of Buyer’s obligations
hereunder shall be to terminate this Agreement. Buyer shall collect
all applicable state tonnage taxes on Products sold by Buyer and
shall remit to the appropriate governmental agency.
B. Within
three (3) business days following receipt of certified weight
certificates, which certificates shall be presented to Buyer each
Thursday for all shipments during the preceding week, Buyer shall
pay Seller the full price, determined pursuant to paragraph 6A
above, for all properly documented shipments. Buyer agrees to
maintain accurate sales records and to provide such records to
Seller upon request. Seller shall have the option to audit
Buyer’s sales invoices at any time during normal business
hours and during the term of this Agreement. If any such audit
shall reveal a deficiency together with interest from the date that
such payment should have been made at the prime rate then in effect
as reported in the Wall Street Journal.
7.
QUANTITY AND WEIGHTS .
A. It
is understood that the output of the Products shall be determined
by Seller’s production schedule and that no warranty or
representation has been made by Seller as to the exact quantities
of Products to be sold pursuant to this Agreement.
B. The
quantity of Products delivered to Buyer from Seller’s Plant
shall be established by weight certificates obtained from scale at
the Plant which is certified as of the time of weighing and which
complies with all applicable laws, rules and regulations or in the
event that the scale at the Plant is inoperable then at other
scales which are certified as of the time of weighing and which
comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations. The
outbound weight certificates shall be determinative of the quantity
of the Products for which Buyer is obligated to pay pursuant to
Section 5.
8.
QUALITY .
A. Seller
understands that Buyer intends to sell the Products purchased from
Seller as a primary animal feed ingredient and that said Products
are subject to minimum quality standards for such use. Seller
agrees and warrants that the Products produced at its plant and
delivered to Buyer shall be accepted in the feed trade under
current industry standards.
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B. Seller
warrants that all Products, unless the parties agree otherwise,
sold to Buyer hereunder shall, at the time of delivery to Buyer,
conform to the following minimum quality standard:
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Protein
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Fat
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Fiber
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Moisture
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Ash
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Min
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Max
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Min
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Max
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Min
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Max
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Min
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Max
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Min
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Max
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27
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10
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15
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12
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6
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The standard for DDGS will be
determined on an as is basis per original sample rather than a dry
weight basis.
C. Seller
warrants that at the time of loading, the Products will not be
adulterated or misbranded within the meaning of the Federal Food,
Drug and Cosmetic Act and that each shipment may lawfully be
introduced into interstate commerce under said Act. Payment of
invoice does not waive Buyer’s rights if goods do not comply
with terms or specifications of this Agreement. Unless otherwise
agreed between the parties to this Agreement, and in addition to
other remedies permitted by law, the Buyer may, without obligation
to pay, reject either befor