Exhibit 10.2
UNIT PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
THIS UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement
”) is made the 29 th day of July, 2009 by and
between Soy Energy, LLC, an Iowa limited liability company (“
Soy Energy ”) and New Equity, LLC, an Iowa limited
liability company (“ New Equity ”). Soy Energy
and New Equity may hereinafter be collectively referred to as the
“ Parties .”
WHEREAS , Freedom Fuels, LLC, an Iowa limited liability
company (“ Freedom Fuels ”), is a
debtor-in-possession under title 11 of the United States Code (the
“Bankruptcy Code”), in a case before the Bankruptcy
Court for the Northern District of Iowa (the “ Bankruptcy
Court ”); and
WHEREAS , pursuant to that certain Asset Purchase Agreement
of even date herewith by and between Soy Energy and Freedom Fuels
(the “ Asset Purchase Agreement ”), Soy Energy
has agreed to purchase certain assets of Freedom Fuels;
and
WHEREAS , it is anticipated that New Equity will be
designated as the Freedom Fuels “DIP Lender” in the
plan of reorganization of Freedom Fuels to be filed with the
Bankruptcy Court (the “ Plan of Reorganization
”); and
WHEREAS , pursuant to that certain Loan Agreement, dated
June 5, 2009, by and between New Equity and Freedom Fuels and that
certain Promissory Note, dated June 5, 2009, issued by Freedom
Fuels to New Equity (the Loan Agreement and Promissory Note
collectively referred to as the “ Loan Agreement
”), New Equity has agreed to make certain advances to Freedom
Fuels (the “ DIP Loans ”), and which advances
shall not be greater than $1,000,000 (the “ Maximum Loan
Amount ”); and
WHEREAS, New Equity has agreed to pay to BANKFIRST, a South
Dakota State Bank (“Bankfirst”), cash in an amount
equal to the Maximum Loan Amount (i.e. $1,000,000) less all
advances actually made to Freedom Fuels by New Equity under the
Loan Documents (as the term “ Loan Documents ”
is defined in the Loan Agreement); and
WHEREAS , New Equity desires to acquire a 20% equity
interest in Soy Energy in exchange for New Equity’s interest
in the DIP Loans and the other consideration described herein;
and
WHEREAS , Soy Energy agrees to issue to New Equity
membership units of Soy Energy representing twenty percent (20%) of
the outstanding membership units of Soy Energy (post
issuance).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
promises contained herein, it is hereby agreed as
follows:
ARTICLE I
SALE; CONSIDERATION; CLOSING
Section
1.1 Sale and Purchase .
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the
Closing, Soy Energy shall sell and issue to New Equity, and New
Equity shall purchase
eight thousand two hundred
fifty-four (8,254) membership units of Soy Energy (the “
Units ”) representing twenty percent (20%) of the
outstanding membership units of Soy Energy (post issuance). As
consideration for the Units, New Equity shall pay or deliver to Soy
Energy the following (collectively the “ Purchase
Price ”):
(a) an
Assignment Agreement dated the Closing Date (defined blow),
assigning to Soy Energy all of New Equity’s right, title and
interest in and to the DIP Loans (including all of New
Equity’s interest in and to the Loan Agreement and the other
Loan Documents);
(b) a
promissory note, dated the Closing Date, in the original principal
amount of $2,000,000, in the form attached as Exhibit A to
this Agreement (the “ Dividend Cash Flow Note
”).
Section
1.2 Offering Document . At
least ten (10) days prior to Closing, Soy Energy shall provide New
Equity with a Confidential Private Placement Memorandum (“
PPM ”) describing Soy Energy and the Units. New
Equity’s obligation to purchase the Units hereunder shall be
subject to its review of the PPM. In the event that New Equity
determines it does not desire to purchase the Units after its
review of the PPM, New Equity shall have ten (10) days from the
delivery of the PPM to exercise its right to terminate this
Agreement under Section 5.1(f) by providing Soy Energy written
notice of termination within the ten (10) day period. Failure to
provide notice within such period shall be deemed acceptance and
approval of the obligations to purchase the Units, and the right to
terminate this Agreement under Section 5.1(f) shall terminate and
shall be of no further effect.
Section
1.3 Closing . The consummation
of the purchase and sale of the Units (the “ Closing
”) shall take place at the offices of BrownWinick, 666 Grand
Avenue, Suite 2000 Des Moines, Iowa 50309 (or at such other place
as the Parties may designate in writing) on a date to be specified
by the Parties (the “ Closing Date ”), which
date shall be no later than the fifth (5th) Business Day after
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article IV of
this Agreement, unless another time, date or place is agreed to in
writing by the Parties. At the Closing, the Parties agree that the
following shall occur:
(a) each
of the conditions precedent (as applicable) in Section 4.1 shall
have been satisfied, or such condition(s) shall have been expressly
waived in writing by Soy Energy;
(b) each
of the conditions precedent (as applicable) in Section 4.2 shall
have been satisfied, or such condition(s) shall have been expressly
waived in writing by New Equity;
(c) an
appropriate notation shall be made on the books and records of Soy
Energy as to the Units issued at the Closing to New Equity pursuant
to the terms hereof, and Soy Energy shall issue and deliver the
Units to New Equity.
Section
1.4 Closing Obligations. In
addition to any other documents to be delivered under other
provisions of this Agreement, at the Closing:
(a) Soy
Energy shall deliver to New Equity:
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(i)
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Certificates representing the
Units, duly endorsed by the appropriate officers of Soy
Energy;
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(ii)
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A certificate of Soy Energy,
executed by the appropriate officers of Soy Energy, certifying as
to the accuracy of Soy Energy’s representations and
warranties in this Agreement as of the date of this Agreement and
as of the Closing (as applicable) in accordance with Section 4.1,
and as to Soy Energy’s compliance with and performance of its
covenants and obligations to be performed or complied with at or
before the Closing in accordance with Section 4.1;
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(iii)
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A certificate of the appropriate
officers of Soy Energy, certifying (1) minutes or actions, as
applicable, of the members of Soy Energy authorizing the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and by the Asset
Purchase Agreement and (2) minutes or actions, as applicable, of
the members of the Board of Directors of Soy Energy authorizing the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and by the Asset
Purchase Agreement; and
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(iv)
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Evidence satisfactory to New
Equity, in its reasonable discretion, that Soy Energy has closed,
or contemporaneously with the Closing, will close, on the purchase
of the assets of Freedom Fuels pursuant to the Asset Purchase
Agreement.
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(b)
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New Equity shall deliver to Soy
Energy:
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(i)
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the Assignment Agreement, in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit B, executed by New Equity,
assigning and transferring to Soy Energy all of New Equity’s
interest in the DIP Loans;
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(ii)
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the Dividend Cash Flow Note,
executed by New Equity;
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(iii)
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a certificate of New Equity,
executed by the appropriate officers of New Equity certifying as to
the accuracy of New Equity’s representations and warranties
in this Agreement as of the date of this Agreement and as of the
Closing in accordance with Section 4.1 and as to New Equity’s
compliance with and performance of its covenants and obligations to
be performed or complied with at or before the Closing in
accordance with Section 4.1; and
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(iv)
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A certificate of the appropriate
officers of New Equity, certifying minutes or actions, as
applicable, of the members of the Board of Directors of New Equity
authorizing the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
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ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section
2.1 Representations by Soy
Energy . New Equity’s purchase of the Units hereunder is
predicated on the terms, facts, representations and warranties of
Soy Energy set forth herein. Soy Energy hereby warrants and
represents that:
(a) Soy
Energy is a limited liability company duly organized and validly
existing under the laws of the State of Iowa with full power to
conduct its business as it is now being conducted and to own or use
the properties and assets that it purports to own or
use.
(b) This
Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of
Soy Energy, enforceable against Soy Energy in accordance with its
terms. Subject only to its receipt of the member approvals
contemplated by Section 3.2, Soy Energy has full power and
authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this
Agreement. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor
the consummation or performance of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement will, directly or indirectly, (a) contravene or
conflict with any provision of the organization documents,
operating agreement, any resolutions of Soy Energy (or its members,
agents or shareholders) or any other agreement to which Soy
Energy’s is a party or by which its properties are bound, or
(b) result in a violation of any governmental authorization, permit
or license of Soy Energy. Except for approval of the Unit Holders
contemplated by Section 3.2, Soy Energy is not required to give any
notice or to obtain any consent in connection with the execution,
delivery or performance of this Agreement.
(c) Soy
Energy has timely filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements,
exhibits and other documents required to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) by Soy
Energy (the “Soy Energy SEC Documents”) under or
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “
Exchange Act ”) or the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the “Securities Act”). As of their respective
dates, or as subsequently amended prior to the date of this Unit
Purchase Agreement, the Soy Energy SEC Documents complied in all
material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or
the Exchange Act, as the case may be, applicable to such Soy Energy
SEC Documents, and none of the Soy Energy SEC Documents contained
any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this
sentence shall not apply to forward-looking statements which are
not required to be updated pursuant to securities laws. The
financial statements of Soy Energy included in the Soy Energy SEC
Documents comply in all material respects with applicable
accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of
the SEC with respect thereto, and fairly present the financial
position of Soy Energy as of the dates thereof and the results of
its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended. Except as
set forth in the Soy Energy SEC Documents, as of April 30, 2009,
Soy Energy had no material liabilities or obligations of any nature
(whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise), and as of the
date of this Agreement there has not been any material change in
the material liabilities or obligations of Soy Energy which are not
reflected on the Soy Energy SEC Documents as of April 30,
2009.
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Section
2.2 Representations by New
Equity . The sale and issuance of the Units hereunder are
predicated on the terms, facts, representations and warranties of
New Equity set forth herein. New Equity hereby warrants and
represents that:
(a) New
Equity is a limited liability company duly organized and existing
under the laws of the State of Iowa with full power to conduct its
business as it is now being conducted and to own or use the
properties and assets that it purports to own or use.
(b) This
Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of
New Equity, enforceable against New Equity in accordance with its
terms. New Equity has full power and authority to enter into and
perform its obligations under this Agreement. Neither the execution
and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation or performance
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will, directly
or indirectly, (a) contravene or conflict with any provision of the
organization documents or any resolutions of New Equity (or its
members, agents or shareholders), or (b) result in a violation of
any governmental authorization, permit or license of New Equity.
New Equity is not required to give any notice or to obtain any
consent in connection with the execution, delivery or performance
of this Agreement.
(c) As
of the Closing, New Equity shall have: (i) received and carefully
read a copy of the PPM; the articles of organization of Soy Energy
(the “ Articles ”) and the operating agreement
of Soy Energy (the “ Operating Agreement ”);
(ii) received and carefully reviewed all requested information that
New Equity considers necessary or advisable in order to make a
decision regarding an investment in Soy Energy; and (iii) attained
an understanding of each of the foregoing and the risks associated
with an investment in the Units.
(d) New
Equity understands that information provided about Soy
Energy’s future plans and prospects is uncertain and subject
to a number of uncertainties. New Equity is not relying on any
financial projections in making an investment decision to purchase
the Units.
(e) New
Equity understands, acknowledges and agrees that the Units will be
governed by the terms and conditions of the Operating Agreement and
accepts, adopts and agrees to be bound by each and every term and
provision of the Operating Agreement and to perform all obligations
therein imposed upon a member in all respects as if New Equity had
executed said Operating Agreement on the original date thereof.
Simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
New Equity shall execute and deliver a counterpart signature page
to the Operating Agreement.
(f) New
Equity understands that the securities purchased pursuant to this
Agreement have not been registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) or any state securities commission, that Soy
Energy is relying upon the exemption from registration provided in
Regulation D Rule 506 and various state exemptions, and that Soy
Energy’s reliance on such exemptions is based in part upon
the representations of New Equity contained herein.
(g) New
Equity understands the Units have not been approved or disapproved
by the SEC or state securities regulator or any other regulatory
authority, nor has any regulatory authority passed upon the
accuracy or adequacy of any information regarding Soy Energy that
has been provided to New Equity.
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(h) New
Equity intends to acquire the Units for its own account without a
view to public resale or distribution within the meaning of Section
2(11) of the Securities Act and has no contract, undertaking,
agreement or arrangement to sell or otherwise transfer or dispose
of any Units or any portion thereof to any other person, including
through distribution to its members.
(i) New
Equity has been encouraged to rely upon the advice of its legal
counsel and accountants or other financial advisers with respect to
the tax and other considerations in determining to purchase Units,
has relied solely upon such representatives or New Equity’s
own independent investigations, and not upon Soy Energy or its
agents, with respect to tax, business, risk, economic and other
considerations involved in this investment.
(j) New
Equity understands the high risk of this investment and the
financial hazard involved and can bear the economic risk of an
investment in Soy Energy, including the lack of liquidity of the
investment and the total loss of its investment, and has such
knowledge and experience in business and financial matters,
including the analysis of or participation in offerings of
privately issued membership interests, as to be capable of
evaluating the merits and risks of an investment in the
Units.
(k) New
Equity is competent to evaluate and establish that the investment
is consistent with its risk tolerance and investment goals such
that it can bear the economic risk of the purchase of Units
including the total loss of its investment.
(l) New
Equity acknowledges that during the course of discussions
concerning the purchase of Units, it has been given the opportunity
to ask questions of, and receive answers from, Soy Energy
concerning the terms and conditions of this offering and other
matters pertaining to this investment so as to understand more
fully the nature of the investment and the purchase of the
Units.
(m) New
Equity understands and agrees that (i) the Units issued pursuant to
this Agreement are subject to restrictions on transfer under
certain tax and securities laws along with restrictions in the
Operating Agreement, and (ii) if the Units or any part thereof are
sold or distributed in the future, New Equity shall sell or
distribute them pursuant to the terms of the Operating Agreement,
the requirements of the Securities Act, applicable tax and
securities laws and this Agreement.
(n) New
Equity understands that there is no present market for the Units,
that the Units will not trade on an exchange or automatic quotation
system, that no such market is expected to develop in the future
and that there are significant restrictions on the transferability
of the Units.
(o) New
Equity understands that (i) Soy Energy has no obligation or
intention to register any securities for resale or transfer under
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or any state securities laws
or to take any action (including the filing of reports or the
publication of information as required by Rule 144 under the
Securities Act) which would make available any exemption from the
registration requirements of any such laws, and (ii) New Equity
therefore may be precluded from selling or otherwise transferring
or disposing of the Units or any portion thereof for an indefinite
period of time or at any particular time.
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(p) New
Equity acknowledges that Soy Energy may refuse to transfer any
Units to any person unless New Equity furnishes Soy Energy with a
no action letter from the SEC or an opinion of counsel acceptable
to Soy Energy stating that such transfer is not in violation of the
Securities Act or state securities laws and will not violate any of
the exemptions from federal and state securities registration
relied upon by Soy Energy, and the transfer is made in accordance
with the terms of the Operating Agreement.
(q) New
Equity understands and agrees that Soy Energy may place a
restrictive legend on any membership certificate evidencing
ownership of the Units to give notice of the transfer restrictions
described herein, and that, to enforce such legend, Soy Energy may
place a stop transfer order with its registrar and transfer agent
(if any) covering all certificates representing any of the
Units.
(r) New
Equity’s financial condition is such that New Equity does not
have any present or contemplated need to dispose of any portion of
the Units to satisfy any existing or contemplated undertaking, need
or indebtedness.
(s) New
Equity’s purchase of the Units is not the result of any
general solicitation or general advertising, including, but not
limited to: (i) any advertisement, article, notice or other
communication published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media
or broadcast over television or radio; or (ii) any seminar or
meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general
solicitation or general advertising.
(t) New
Equity certifies, under penalty of perjury, that it is not subject
to the backup withholding provisions of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended.
(u) The
Investor Suitability Questionnaires which will be submitted to Soy
Energy under Section 3.6 hereof are, to the Knowledge of New
Equity, true and complete, and Soy Energy may rely on the truth and
accuracy of the information for purposes of assuring compliance
with the exemptions from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.
(v) To
the Knowledge of New Equity, the representations and warranties
made by Freedom Fuels in the Asset Purchase Agreement and all
schedules, exhibits and materials provided therewith, are and will
be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and the date
of Closing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and solely for purposes
of Section 2.2(v) of this Agreement, any breach of this
representation or multiple breaches of this representation which in
the aggregate represent less than $50,000 shall not be considered a
breach of this representation. For purposes of this Agreement,
“ Knowledge ” or any similar phrase means (i)
with respect to New Equity, the collective actual knowledge of
David Quinlan, Ed Dannen and Dale McBride and (ii) with respect to
Soy Energy, the collective actual knowledge of Chuck Sand and Rick
Davis.
(w) New
Equity has not undertaken, agreed to undertake, or will undertake
any offering or other sale or distribution of securities that could
adversely affect Soy Energy with respect to its qualification for
exemption from registration of the issuance of the Units hereunder
under applicable securities laws.
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(x) All
offers or sales of securities (as defined by Section 2(3) of the
Securities Act) by New Equity prior to the Closing were or will be
in compliance with applicable state and federal securities laws and
all applicable requirements of the exemption from registration
afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act or Regulation D
under the Securities Act, including but not limited to the
following:
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(i) New
Equity did not, and will not, offer or sell securities by means of
any form of general solicitation or general advertising;
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(ii) New
Equity did not, and will not, sell securities to any person who New
Equity knows is not an “accredited investor” (as
defined in Rule 501 under the Securities Act); and
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(iii) New
Equity did, and will, exercise reasonable care to assure that the
purchasers of securities are not underwriters within the meaning of
Section 2(11) of the Securities Act and, without limiting the
foregoing, that such purchasers will comply with Rule 502(d) under
the Securities Act.
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(y) No
person has acted, directly or indirectly, as a broker, finder or
financial advisor for New Equity in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and no person is or
will be entitled to any fee or commission or like payment in
respect thereof.
ARTICLE III
COVENANTS AND OTHER AGREEMENTS
Section
3.1 Bankruptcy Plan . Freedom
Fuels will provide to Soy Energy a copy of the Plan of
Reorganization to be submitted to the Bankruptcy Court at least
five (5) days prior to submission to the Bankruptcy Court, and Soy
Energy shall have the right to make such comments and
recommendations to the Plan of Reorganization as it determines
appropriate in its sole discretion in furtherance of the purposes
and intent of the Asset Purchase Agreement and, as applicable, the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. If (a) Freedom Fuels
does not comply with the delivery requirements or if Soy Energy, in
its commercially reasonable discretion, has reasonably determined
that the Plan of Reorganization submitted to or approved by the
Bankruptcy Court imposes terms, rights or obligations on Purchaser
that are materially changed from the provisions in the Asset
Purchase Agreement, and as applicable, this Agreement, and (b) Soy
Energy terminates the Asset Purchase Agreement, then Soy Energy
shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by providing New
Equity written notice of termination within ten (10) days from such
termination of the Asset Purchase Agreement. Failure to provide
notice within such period shall be deemed acceptance and approval
of the plan of reorganization and the right to terminate this
Agreement under this section shall terminate and shall be of no
further effect.
Section
3.2 Preparation of the Proxy
Statement; Unitholder Meeting .
(a) Concurrent
with the Purchaser Unitholder Meeting (as such term is defined by
the Asset Purchase Agreement), and subject to compliance with the
requirements of the Soy Energy Operating Agreement and applicable
law, the board of directors of Soy Energy shall, subject to its
fiduciary duties, use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain
the approval of its
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unitholders necessary to
undertake the transactions provided for herein, including without
limitation, the amendment of the Soy Energy Operating Agreement
consistent with Section 3.3 hereof to alter the composition of the
Soy Energy Board of Directors.
(b) If
at any time prior to the Purchaser Unitholder Meeting, any
information relating to Freedom Fuels, New Equity or Soy Energy
should be discovered by New Equity which should be set forth in an
amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement (as such term is
defined by the Asset Purchase Agreement), so that it would not
include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, New
Equity shall promptly notify Soy Energy.
Section
3.3 Soy Energy Board of
Directors . Subject to the approval of the Soy Energy members,
the Operating Agreement of Soy Energy will be amended to provide as
follows with respect to the size and composition of the Board of
Directors of Soy Energy:
(a) New
Equity shall be provided with the right to appoint four (4)
directors until the tenth anniversary of Closing. During those ten
years, the Board of Directors of Soy Energy shall consist of eleven
(11) directors. The seven (7) directors elected by the current Soy
Energy members are: Chuck Sand, Ron Wetherell, Darrell Downs, Doug
Lansink, Daryl Haack, Dave Langel and Dallas Thompson (the “
Soy Energy Directors ”). The four (4) initial
directors to be appointed by New Equity are: Ed Dannen, Dave
Quinlan, Tim Tracy, and Dale McBride (the “ New Equity
Initial Appointees ”). All of the foregoing shall serve
pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.3 and the Soy Energy
Operating Agreement, in each case until their respective successors
are duly elected and qualified.
(b) The
New Equity Initial Appointees shall serve at the pleasure of New
Equity. The appointment rights of New Equity shall terminate on the
tenth (10 th ) anniversary of Closing and the terms of
any New Equity appointees shall expire at the first annual meeting
of Soy Energy following the tenth (10 th ) anniversary
of Closing.
(c) No
later than twelve (12) months after commencement of operations of
the Corn Oil Pretreatment Facility described in the Asset Purchase
Agreement, the Soy Energy Directors shall be placed in three
different director groups as follows: Group 1; Group 2; and Group
3. The Group 1 director positions shall be up for election at the
first Soy Energy member meeting following the one year anniversary
of the commencement of operation of the Corn Oil Pretreatment
Facility, with the Group 2 director positions up for election the
following year, and so on. The members of Soy Energy prior to the
Closing shall solely elect directors following the expiration of
the terms of the Soy Energy Directors and until the tenth (10
th ) anniversary of Closing. Units issued hereunder to
New Equity shall not be permitted to vote in such Soy Energy
Director elections and shall not be included for purposes of
determining a quorum.
(d) Following
the tenth (10 th ) anniversary of Closing, directors
shall be elected by all members of Soy Energy, without regard to
any appointment rights or designated election groups for Soy Energy
and New Equity. As such, at the first annual meeting of Soy Energy
following the tenth (10 th ) anniversary of Closing, the
four (4) positions occupied by the New Equity appointees shall be
filled by election of all Soy Energy members to serve staggered
terms as
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provided in the Soy Energy
Operating Agreement, and the remaining Soy Energy Directors shall
continue serving staggered terms as provided in the Soy Energy
Operating Agreement.
(e) Due
to concerns regarding conflicts of interest and the potential
disclosure of confidential information between competing biodiesel
plants, New Equity Initial Appointees and the Soy Energy Directors
who do not execute the non-competition agreement in the form
attached as Exhibit C to this Agreement shall not be
eligible to participate in the board of directors referenced or any
other governing or advisory board of Soy Energy; provided, however,
that the board of directors of Soy Energy may waive this
requirement in whole or in part for newly elected or appointed
directors.
Section
3.4 Restrictions on Transfer;
Legend . The transfer of the Units issued hereunder is subject
to restrictions on transfer pursuant to this Agreement, the Soy
Energy Operating Agreement and tax and securities laws. In addition
to any other applicable restrictions under law or the Soy Energy
Operating Agreement, New Equity hereby agrees that, after Closing,
it shall not issue any securities or allow any transfers of the
Units or its membership units or equity interests for at least one
(1) year following the Closing Date by sale, distribution to its
members or otherwise; provided, however, that the foregoing
restriction against transfer shall not apply to testamentary
transfers, bona fide gifts to persons who agree to be subject to
this restriction, or sales pursuant to judicial or administrative
action (unless the transfer pertains to the dissolution of New
Equity and/or the distribution of the Units to its members, in
which case any such transfer shall be prohibited). New Equity
understands and agrees that each of the certificates evidencing the
Units issued hereunder may bear a legend setting forth such
restrictions. In addition to the foregoing restrictions, prior to
the Closing, New Equity shall not issue any securities or allow any
transfers of its membership units or equity interests to new
members from the date of submission to Soy Energy of the Investor
Suitability Questionnaires to the Closing.
Section
3.5 Offerings or Distributions
. New Equity has not undertaken, has not agreed to undertake, and
will not undertake any offering or other sale or distribution of
securities that could adversely affect Soy Energy with respect to
its qualification for exemption from registration for the issuance
of securities hereunder under applicable securities
laws.
Section
3.6 Investor Suitability
Questionnaires . New Equity shall provide to and collect from
its members and deliver to Soy Energy at least ten (10) days prior
to Closing an Investor Suitability Questionnaire in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit D duly and fully completed to the
reasonable satisfaction of Soy Energy and executed by each
beneficial owner of New Equity. Soy Energy shall be entitled to
rely upon such Investor Suitability Questionnaires for purposes of
issuing the Units.
Section
3.7 Operating Agreement . The
Units issued hereunder will be governed by the terms of the Soy
Energy Operating Agreement. New Equity agrees to be bound, in all
respects, by the terms of the Soy Energy Operating Agreement and
will sign an addendum to the Soy Energy Operating Agreement
agreeing to be so bound.
Section
3.8 Further Assurances . Soy
Energy and New Equity shall each use commercially reasonable
efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions necessary or
appropriate
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to fulfill its obligations under
this Agreement, including, without limitation, execution and
delivery of documents and instruments of transfer, deeds, consents,
waivers and approvals, assignment agreements to which Soy Energy
and/or New Equity is a party.
Section
3.9 Exclusivity . Each party
hereto acknowledges and agrees that it anticipates receiving
economic benefits from the other party’s commitment to enter
into and consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. In consideration of such benefits, the Parties agree as
follows:
(a) Soy
Energy (for itself, its affiliated companies and all of their
respective successors and assigns) covenants and agrees that,
during the Exclusivity Period (as defined below), Soy Energy will
not, together or with others, directly or indirectly:
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(i) acquire
any property or assets of Freedom Fuels, except pursuant to the
terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement;
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(ii) close
on the transactions contemplated by the Asset Purchase Agreement
without, on or prior to the date of such closing, closing on
issuance and sale of the Units pursuant to this
Agreement;
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(iii) enter
into any agreement or understanding (other than the Asset Purchase
Agreement) for the purchase, sale, transfer or assignment of any
property or assets of Freedom Fuels;
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(iv) propose,
recommend or seek approval of a Plan of Reorganization which does
not include completion of the transactions contemplated by the
Asset Purchase Agreement; or
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(v) propose,
recommend or seek conversion of the Freedom Fuels proceedings to
Chapter 7 under the Bankruptcy Code.
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(b) New
Equity (for itself, its affiliated companies and all of their
respective successors and assigns) covenants and agrees that,
during the Exclusivity Period, New Equity will not, together or
with others, directly or indirectly enter into any agreement or
understanding with any party other than Soy Energy with respect to
the property or assets of Freedom Fuels, any interest therein, or
any party having any interest or proposing to acquire any interest
therein.
(c) For
purposes of this Agreement, “ Exclusivity Period
” shall mean the period commencing the date hereof and
terminating on the earliest of (i) March 15, 2010; (ii) the
termination of this Agreement by mutual agreement of the Parties;
(iii) the Closing; (iv) any rejection by Bankfirst of the proposed
Plan of Reorganization providing for the transactions set forth in
this Agreement and the Asset Purchase Agreement; (v) the issuance
by the Bankruptcy Court of an order rejecting the Plan of
Reorganization providing for the transactions set forth in this
Agreement and the Asset Purchase Agreement, unless in lieu of such
Plan, the Bankruptcy Court orders or allows a § 363 sale on
substantially the same terms as set forth in this Agreement and the
Asset Purchase Agreement; (vi) the adoption by the Bankruptcy Court
of an alternative Plan of Reorganization or amended Plan of
Reorganization which fails to provide for the transactions on
substantially the same terms as set forth in this Agreement and the
Asset
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Purchase Agreement; or (vii) the
Bankruptcy Court’s conversion of the Freedom Fuels
proceedings to Chapter 7 under the Bankruptcy Code.
(d) If
either party, its affiliated companies or any of their respective
successors and assigns breaches or threatens to commit a breach of,
any of the provisions of this Section 3.9, then the other party
shall have the right and remedy to have the restrictive covenants
contained in this Section 3.9 specifically enforced, without
posting of any bond, by any court having jurisdiction, it being
acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach
will cause irreparable injury to such other party and that money
damages will not provide adequate remedy to such other party for
any such breach or threatened breach. The rights and remedies set
forth in this Section 3.9(d) shall be independent of any other
rights and remedies of such party under this Agreement, at law or
in equity. The obligations, rights and remedies of the Parties set
forth in this Section 3.9 shall survive any termination of this
Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
Section
4.1 Conditions Precedent to
Obligations of Soy Energy . The obligations of Soy Energy to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are
subject to the fulfillment, on or prior to the Closing Date, of
each of the following conditions (any or all of which may be waived
by Soy Energy in whole or in part to the extent permitted by
applicable law):
(a) The
representations and warranties of New Equity set forth in this
Agreement qualified as to materiality shall be true and correct,
and those not so qualified shall be true and correct in all
material respects, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the
Closing as though made at and as of the Closing, except to the
extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an
earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties
qualified as to materiality shall be true and correct, and those
not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material
respects, on and as of such earlier date);
&nb