EXHIBIT 10.14
FIRST AMENDMENT,
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
AND CONSENT TO
ASSIGNMENT OF GROUND LEASE
AND CONVEYANCE OF
LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS
This First Amendment, Assignment and Assumption
and Consent to Assignment of Ground Lease Conveyance of Leasehold
Improvements (this “ First Amendment ”) is made
as of May 9, 2008 by and among BUNGE MILLING, INC., an
Illinois corporation (“ Landlord ”), BIOFUELS
COMPANY OF AMERICA, LLC , an Illinois limited liability company
(“ Assignor ”), and BLACKHAWK BIOFUELS,
LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“
Assignee ”) and is effective as of the closing (the
“ Assignment Date ”) of the Asset Purchase
Agreement dated March 14, 2008 (the “ Asset Purchase
Agreement ”) by and among, Assignor, Assignee, Renewable
Energy Group, Inc., Biodiesel Investment Group, LLC and Bunge
North America, Inc.
RECITALS
A.
Landlord leased certain real property to Assignor pursuant to that
certain Amended and Restated Ground Lease Agreement dated
November 3, 2006 by and between Landlord and Assignor (the
“ Lease “) covering that real property (the
“ Real Property ”) legally described on
Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof and located
in the City of Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois, a Memorandum
of which Lease dated November 3, 2006, was recorded
November 22, 2006, as Document No. 2006-15109, files of
the Vermilion County Recorder.
B.
Assignor desires to assign its lessee’s interest in the Lease
to Assignee, and Assignee desires to assume all of Assignor’s
future obligations under the Lease, and Landlord agrees to consent
to the assignment to Assignee, subject to the terms and conditions
contained herein, including, without limitation, amendments to the
Lease as set forth in this First Amendment.
C.
Assignee further desires to convey its interest in the Improvements
to Assignee.
In
consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained
herein, and other valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Landlord, Assignor
and Assignee do hereby agree as follows:
1.
Terms . Capitalized terms that are used but not
defined in this First Amendment shall have the meanings specified
or incorporated by reference in the Lease.
2.
Assignment and Assumption
. Assignor hereby sells, assigns, transfers and conveys to
Assignee all of Assignee’s right, title and interest in, to
and arising under the Lease effective as of the Assignment
Date. Assignee hereby assumes and agrees to perform all of
Assignor’s future obligations under the Lease and assumes and
agrees to make all payments and observe and perform all of the
terms and conditions of the Lease to be observed and performed by
Assignor after the Assignment Date except liabilities or
obligations accrued on or before the Assignment
Date. Assignor shall remain liable for and shall observe and
perform all liabilities and obligations of Assignor under the Lease
that arose on or before the Assignment Date and relate to the
period prior to the Assignment Date.
3.
Consent . Subject to
the terms and conditions contained in this First Amendment,
Landlord hereby consents to the assignment of the Lease by Assignor
to Assignee and the assumption by Assignee of the future
obligations of Assignor under the Lease.
4.
Notice. Except
as provided in that certain Landlord and Mortgagee’s
Agreement dated as of the date hereof between Landlord and Fifth
Third Bank, Landlord shall have no obligation to give notice of any
default under the Lease except to Assignee and Fifth Third Bank
(and only to the extent required under the Lease) and shall have no
obligation to deal with any party other than Assignee with respect
to the Lease or the Real Property. Any notice to Assignee
shall be given to it at the following address as provided in the
Lease:
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Tenant:
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Blackhawk Biofuels, LLC
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22
Chicago Avenue
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Freeport, IL 61032-4230
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Attention:
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Ron
Mapes, Chair
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Telephone:
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815-235-2461
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Fax:
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815-235-4727
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with a copy to:
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Lindquist & Vennum, PLLP
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4200 IDS Center
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80
South Eight Street
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Minneapolis, MN 55402-2274
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ttention:
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Dean R. Edstrom
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elephone:
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612-371-3955
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ax:
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612-371-3207
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5.
Required Completion Date .
Notwithstanding anything contained in the Lease and
this First Amendment, Landlord acknowledges and agrees that for all
purposes under the Lease, including without limitation
Section 2.6 of the Lease, Tenant has caused construction of
the Improvements to be substantially completed and, except for
existing retainage amounts, fully paid for by the Required
Completion Date, which Improvements for these purposes shall not
include the Project Addition (as defined below).
6.
Agreement on Base Rent
. Effective as of the Assignment Date, Section 4.1.2 of
the Lease Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced
with the following:
4.1.2
As used in this Lease, “Base Rent” means:
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(a)
During the “Term” of and as defined in that certain Oil
Feedstock Supply Agreement dated
April , 2008 by and between Bunge
North America, Inc., Renewable Energy Group, Inc. and
Assignee (the “ Oil Feedstock Supply Agreement
”), whether the Tenant hereunder is Blackhawk Biofuels, LLC,
Leasehold Lender, or any of their respective successors and
assigns, and during any extensions thereof, the sum of One Dollar
($1.00) per annum, payable on the Rent Commencement Date and on
each anniversary of the Rent Commencement Date during each year of
such “Term” of the Oil Feedstock Supply Agreement,
including any extensions thereof.
(b)
Upon the expiration of the “Term” of the Oil Feedstock
Supply Agreement, including any extensions thereof, whether upon
early termination, subject to the terms of that certain Oil Supply
Cure Rights Agreement dated on or about the Assignment Date between
Landlord and Leasehold Lender, whether the Tenant hereunder is
Blackhawk Biofuels, LLC, Leasehold Lender, any of their respective
successors and assigns, or any other person or entity acting as
Tenant hereunder (each individually, including Blackhawk Biofuels,
LLC, a “ Successor Tenant ”), the sum of Seventy
Two Thousand Dollars ($72,000) per annum payable in equal monthly
installments in advance and without demand on the first day of each
and every calendar month throughout the Lease Term (prorated for
any partial calendar month); provided, that beginning on
March 1 of the year following the first full calendar year
after the Base Rent for the Land pursuant to this
Section 4.1.2(b) is applicable and each year thereafter,
the amount of the Base Rent shall be increased by the same
percentage as the percentage increase, if any, in the Consumer
Price Index (as defined below) for the previous calendar year; and
provided, however, that, although the Base Rent shall never be
decreased below the sum of Seventy Two Thousand Dollars ($72,000)
per annum, in no event shall the Base Rent be increased by the
foregoing provision to an amount which exceeds the fair market rent
for the Land (excluding all Improvements thereon) determined as
follows:
(i)
If Landlord and Successor Tenant agree on the fair market rent for
the Land, they shall immediately execute an amendment to this Lease
stating the annual Base Rent (but which shall continue to increase
annually thereafter based on the Consumer Price Index pursuant to
the provisions of Section 4.1.2(b) above). In the
event that Landlord and Successor Tenant are unable to agree upon
the fair market rent for the Land, either party shall have the
right to cause the fair market rent for the Land to be determined
by appraisal in accordance with the procedures set forth
herein. Either party may exercise such right by delivering
written notice thereof to the other party (a “ Rent
Appraisal Notice ”), which Rent Appraisal Notice shall
designate a Qualified Appraiser who has been appointed by the party
delivering such notice. The party to whom the Rent Appraisal Notice
was delivered shall then have the right to appoint an additional
Qualified Appraiser by delivering written notice thereof to the
other party within ten (10) days following the delivery of the
Rent Appraisal Notice. If the party to whom the Rent
Appraisal Notice was
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delivered does not
appoint a Qualified Appraiser within such ten (10) day period,
the single appraiser appointed shall be the sole appraiser and
shall determine the yearly fair market rent for the
Land.
(ii)
If both Qualified Appraisers are appointed by the parties hereto as
aforesaid, then the parties hereto shall jointly select a third
Qualified Appraiser within twenty (20) days following the delivery
of the Rent Appraisal Notice. If the parties hereto are unable to
mutually agree on the third appraiser, then any of the parties
hereto, by giving ten (10) days’ notice to the other
party, may file a petition with the American Arbitration
Association solely for the purpose of selecting a third appraiser
who meets the aforesaid qualifications.
(iii)
Each party shall bear the full cost of the appraiser that it
appointed, one-half of the cost of the third appraiser and one-half
of the American Arbitration Association’s costs, if any, with
respect to the appointment of the third appraiser. The third
appraiser, however selected, shall be a person who has not
previously acted in any capacity for either party.
(iv)
Within thirty (30) days after the selection of the third appraiser,
a majority of the appraisers shall determine the yearly fair market
rent for the land. If a majority of the appraisers are unable to
agree on such yearly fair market rent within said period of time,
the three appraisals shall be added together, their total shall be
divided by three, and the resulting quotient shall be the yearly
fair market rent for the Land. If, however, the lowest appraisal
and/or the highest appraisal is more than ten percent (10%) lower
and/or higher than the middle appraisal, such lowest appraisal
and/or highest appraisal shall be disregarded. If only one
appraisal is disregarded, the remaining two appraisals shall be
added together and their total divided by two, and the resulting
quotient shall be the yearly fair market rent for the
Land. If both the lowest appraisal and the highest
appraisal are disregarded, the middle appraisal shall be the yearly
fair market rent for the Land. Notwithstanding any provision
to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall the yearly fair
market rent for the Land be less the $72,000.00 or more than
$100,000.00; provided that the maximum amount of $100,000 shall
hereafter increase by the same percentage as the percentage
increase, if any, in the Consumer Price Index from
November 2006, to the month in which the Rent Appraisal Notice
is delivered. For purposes of this Agreement, the term
“ Consumer Price Index ” means the Consumer
Price Index-All Urban Consumers, U.S. All Items (1982-84=100)
as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
Labor Statistics. In the event that the United States
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics discontinues the
publication of the present Consumer Price Index, the index to be
used for computing increases in Base Rent will be such index as may
be published
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by any other United
States government bureau or department to replace the present
Consumer Price Index.
(v)
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, the
obligation to pay Base Rent hereunder shall be waived during the
period that the yearly fair market rent is being determined
hereunder. However, within thirty (30) days following such
determination, Successor Tenant shall be obligated to pay to
Landlord the amount of the Base Rent with respect to such period in
order to bring current the payment of Base Rent.
7.
Right of First Offer .
Landlord waives and relinquishes its right of first offer under
Section 18.1 of the Lease with respect to the transactions
contemplated by the Asset Purchase Agreement, but not
otherwise.
8.
Amendment to 5.1.1 of the
Lease . Section 5.1.1 of the Lease is hereby
amended by deleting “ten (10) million gallons” in
the fifth line and inserting “five (5) million
gallons” in lieu thereof.
9.
Consent to Project Addition
. Landlord understands that Assignee will perform or cause to
be performed additional work on and upgrades to the Plant as
described on Exhibit B attached hereto (the “
Project Addition ”). Landlord hereby consents to the
Project Addition. The Lease is hereby amended to include the
Project Addition in the definitions of the “Plant” and
the “Improvements” set forth in the Lease except with
respect to the Required Completion Date as provided
above.
10.
Additional Clarifications
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(a)
All references to Biofuels Company of America, LLC in the Lease are
hereby deleted and replaced with references to Blackhawk Biofuels,
LLC.
(b)
The Construction Contract referenced in the Lease has been assigned
to Assignee on or about the Assignment Date,
(c)
The definition of “Landlord and Mortgagee Agreement” is
amended to refer to that certain agreement so entitled between
Landlord and Leasehold Lender entered into on or about the
Assignment Date.
(d)
The definition of “Project Agreements” is amended by
substituting the following new definition in lieu thereof:
“‘ Project Agreements ’ means,
collectively, the Construction Contract, all agreements with
respect to the Project Addition, all agreements relating to the
design, construction and equipping of the Project, including,
without limitation, all agreements between Assignor (assigned to
Assignee) or Assignee or their agents and the following:
architects, engineers, contractors, equipment lessors, material
suppliers, equipment vendors and the like.”
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(e)
The definition of “Project” is amended by substituting
the following new definition in lieu thereof: “‘
Project ’ means the work, labor, material and services
required to construct the Plant and the Improvements on the Land,
as provided in the Construction Contract and other Project
Agreements.”
11.
Leasehold Mortgages .
Landlord hereby consents to (i) the Mortgage of Leasehold,
Security Agreement, Assignment of Rents and Leases and Fixture
Filing to be executed by Assignee in favor of Fifth Third Bank on
or about the Assignment Date and (ii) the Subordinated
Mortgage of Leasehold, Security Agreement, Assignment of Rents and
Leases and Fixture Filing to be executed by Assignee in favor of
REG Ventures, LLC on or about the Assignment Date.
12.
Conveyance of Assignor’s
Interest in Improvements . Incident to the assignment
and transfer of Assignor’s interest under the Lease, Assignor
also hereby grants, bargains, conveys and sells to Assignee, and
its successors and assigns, all right, title and interest of
Assignor in and to the following:
(a)
The Improvements, including the Plant, and all fixtures, equipment,
and personal property therein or thereon, located on the Real
Property; and
(b)
The offsite Improvements more particularly enumerated on
Exhibit D attached hereto and made a part hereof and
located within easement areas legally described in (collectively,
the “ Easements ”):
(i)
An Access Right-of-Way Easement over real property legally
described in Exhibit E-1 attached hereto and made a
part hereof;
(ii)
A Biodiesel Pipeline Easement over real property legally described
in Exhibit E-2 attached hereto and made a part
hereof;
(iii)
A Soybean Oil Pipeline Easement over real property legally
described in Exhibit E-3 attached hereto and made a
part hereof; and
(iv)
A Gas Pipeline Easement over real property legally described in
Exhibit E-4 attached hereto and made a part
hereof.
(c)
Assignor, for itself, and its successors, does covenant, promise
and agree, to and with Assignee, and its successors and assigns,
that Assignor has not made, done or suffered any act or thing
whereby the Improvements are or may become subject to any lien,
claim, encumbrance or security interest other than as set forth on
Exhibit C attached hereto, and the Landlord’s
right of reversion, as set forth in Sections 3.3 and 16.4 of the
Lease and the Easements, and will warrant and defend title thereto
against all persons claiming from or through Assignor as a result
of such act or thing.
(d)
Nothing herein shall be deemed to convey any title or interest of
Landlord, or of Landlord’s successors in interest, in the
Real Property, or in any easement area above-described, it being
intended that the Improvements described herein and in the Lease
are and shall be deemed severed from such title or interest of
Landlord, or its
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successors, but shall nevertheless be subject
to Landlord’s aforesaid right of reversion under the Lease
and the Easements.
13.
Agreement . The Lease as
amended by this First Amendment remains in full force and effect
and is in all respects ratified and confirmed. The Lease, as so
amended by this First Amendment, shall be read, taken and construed
as one and the same instrument.
14.
Counterparts . This First
Amendment may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto
in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be
an original, but all such respective counterparts shall together
constitute one and the same instrument.
15.
Memorandum of First
Amendment . Contemporaneously with the execution of
this First Amendment, Landlord, Assignor and Assignee shall execute
and acknowledge a Memorandum of this First Amendment (the “
Memorandum ”) for purpose of recordation. The
Memorandum shall be in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit F . Any party may record the Memorandum
in the appropriate public records. Upon termination of the
Lease, as amended, Tenant agrees, upon demand, to execute a release
of the Memorandum in recordable form.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE LEFT BLANK,
SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF
, the undersigned have
caused this First Amendment to be duly executed as of the date
first above written.
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LANDLORD
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BUNGE MILLING, INC
, an Illinois
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corporation
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By:
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/S/ Todd A.
Bastean
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Name:
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Todd A. Bastean
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Title:
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V.P. & General
Manager
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ASSIGNOR
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BIOFUELS COMPANY OF
AMERICA,
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LLC , an Illinois limited liability
company
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By:
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/S/ Mark A. Burke
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Mark A. Burke, President
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ASSIGNEE
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BLACKHAWK BIOFUELS,
LLC ,
a
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Delaware limited liability company
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By:
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/S/ Ronald L.
Mapes
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Ronald L. Mapes, Chair
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Exhibit A:
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Legal Description of Real Property
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Exhibit B:
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Description of Project Addition
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Exhibit C:
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Permitted Exceptions to Title to On-Site
Improvements
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Exhibit D:
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Offsite Improvements in Easement
Areas
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Exhibit E-1:
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Legal Description of Access Right-of-Way Easement Area
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Exhibit E-2:
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Legal Description of Biodiesel Pipeline Easement Area
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Exhibit E-3:
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Legal Description of Soybean Oil Pipeline Easement
Area
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Exhibit E-4:
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Legal Description of Gas Pipeline Easement Area
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Exhibit F:
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Form of Memorandum of Lease
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8
EXHIBIT A
LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF
REAL PROPERTY
A
tract of land being part of the Northwest Quarter of
Section 9, Township 19 North, Range 11 West of the Second Principal Meridian,
Vermilion County, Illinois and also part of Chs’ Leverenz
First Addition to the City of Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois,
Edward C. Lamm’s Addition to Danville, Illinois and Fred
Stebe’s Addition to the City of Danville, Vermilion County,
Illinois as all 3 subdivisions are recorded in the Vermilion County
Recorder’s Office, and also the vacated public Right-of-Ways
for Section Street, Short Street, Anderson Street, Harrison
Street and the public alleys per City of Danville, Illinois
Ordinance Number 8499, recorded
as Document Number 06-12386 in said Vermilion County
Recorder’s Office, described as follows, with bearings on a local
datum:
Beginning at the Northeast
corner of Lot 1 in said Chs’ Leverenz First Addition, proceed
North 88° 26'
08" East along an Easterly extensio
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