Exhibit 10.1
*PORTIONS OF
THIS AGREEMENT HAVE BEEN OMITTED PURSUANT TO A REQUEST FOR
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT WHICH HAS BEEN FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
CORN OIL AGENCY
AGREEMENT
THIS CORN OIL AGENCY AGREEMENT (this “
Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of
November 12, 2010 by and between Southwest Iowa Renewable
Energy, LLC, an Iowa limited liability company (“
Producer ”), and Bunge North America, Inc., a New York
corporation (“ Bunge ”) (each of Producer and
Bunge, a “ Party ” and collectively, the “
Parties ”).
RECITALS
A. Producer
operates an ethanol production facility located near Council
Bluffs, Iowa (the “ Facility ”) and intends to
install a corn oil extraction system at the Facility.
B. Bunge
is regularly engaged in the business of marketing ethanol,
vegetable oil, grain and feed products throughout the
world.
C. As
of the date of this Agreement, Bunge is a Member of Producer
pursuant to the Third Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of
Producer dated July 17, 2009 (“ Operating Agreement
”).
D. Producer
desires to engage, and Bunge desires to provide, the services of
Bunge to market as an agent all corn oil produced by the Facility
(“ Corn Oil ”).
E. The
Parties desire that Bunge will provide such services in accordance
with the terms set forth in this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
Therefore, the
Parties agree:
1.
Exclusive Agent . Subject to the terms of this
Agreement, Bunge will have the exclusive right to market, and
Producer will solely utilize the services of Bunge to market, all
Corn Oil during the Term (as defined in Section 4.1
hereof).
2.
Corn Oil Marketing Policy; Contracts .
2.1 Corn Oil
Marketing Policy . Producer and Bunge will mutually
agree upon a Corn Oil marketing policy setting forth the guidelines
and parameters within which Bunge will provide the services set
forth in this Agreement as agent of Producer for the Facility (the
“ Policy ”). The Policy shall
include, among other things, obligations of Producer to deliver to
Bunge written estimates of Corn Oil production at the Facility a
reasonable period of time prior to such production, the
establishment of daily bids, credit limits, forward contracting
limits, risk management guidelines and other daily operating
parameters.
2.2 Agency
Services . To the extent that Producer meets its
obligations set forth in Section 2.3 , Bunge will
provide the following services (the “ Services
”) to Producer:
(a) Negotiate
and execute in the name of and on behalf of Producer, contracts,
arrangements and agreements for the sale of Corn Oil (“
Contracts ”);
(b) Schedule
and arrange, on Producer’s behalf and at Producer’s
sole expense, the shipping and timely delivery of all Corn Oil sold
on a basis other than FOB Facility;
(c) Make
reasonable efforts to review the creditworthiness of Corn Oil
purchasers in accordance with reasonable guidelines established by
Producer;
(d) Invoice
all purchasers of Corn Oil on Producer’s behalf, and assist
Producer with the management and collection of accounts receivable
for Corn Oil sales; and
(e) Use
commercially reasonable efforts to negotiate Contracts that
maximize the sale price and minimize related costs, subject to
prevailing market conditions and in accordance with the
Policy. Producer acknowledges that Bunge will use its
reasonable judgment in making such negotiating
decisions.
2.3
Producer’s Obligations . In connection with
Bunge’s provision of the Services, Producer will:
(a) Produce
Corn Oil that meets the “ Production Standards ”
set forth in Exhibit A hereto;
(b) Provide
Bunge with estimates of Corn Oil production at the Facility a
reasonable period of time prior to such production and provide
Bunge with reasonable advance notice of any circumstances that
would reasonably be expected to materially affect Corn Oil
production at the Facility;
(c) Determine
the weight of all Corn Oil using scales at the Facility that are
inspected and certified as required by applicable law;
(d) Pay
all shipping and delivery charges arranged by Bunge for sales of
Corn Oil; and
(e) Abide
by any terms of the Policy applicable to Producer.
2.4 Title
. Producer will hold all title to, and bear all risk of
loss and responsibility for, all Corn Oil until and to the extent
that title, risk of loss, and responsibility pass to a purchaser of
Corn Oil in accordance with the terms of any sales contract
negotiated by Bunge in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement. Bunge will not be responsible for any failure
of Corn Oil to comply with the terms of any sales contract
negotiated by Bunge hereunder which complies with this
Agreement.
2.5 Contract
Commitments . All Contracts negotiated by Bunge
shall be consistent with the Policy, unless the general manager of
the Facility approves in advance any Contract terms inconsistent
with the Policy. Bunge will not be a party to, or have
any liability or obligation to any purchaser or to Producer under
Contracts which are executed in compliance with the terms of this
Section 2 and Producer will bear all risk of loss, for non-payment
or otherwise, under the terms of such Contracts. Bunge
shall be entitled to rely on Corn Oil production estimates provided
by Producer pursuant to Section 2.3(b) and Bunge will not have any
liability or obligation to any purchaser or to Producer with
respect to any Contract to deliver a specified amount of Corn Oil
sold under any such Contracts which are executed in compliance with
the terms of this Section 2, including, without limitation, the
inability of Producer to supply amounts of Corn Oil in compliance
with the terms of such Contracts.
2.6 Other
Activities of Bunge . Producer understands that Bunge is in the
business of marketing Corn Oil for itself and for other third
parties outside the terms of this Agreement and that Bunge may
negotiate Contracts in the same markets where Bunge sells its own
or other parties’ Corn Oil.
2.7 Sales to
Bunge . Producer and Bunge may, from time to time,
mutually agree that Bunge will purchase certain quantities of Corn
Oil for its own account (including for resale to third parties in
contracts which are not Contracts subject to this
Agreement). In such cases, Bunge will pay to Producer
the current fair market value of such Corn Oil as determined by the
Parties.
2.8
Compliance with Policy . Neither Bunge nor its
Affiliates shall be in breach of this Agreement or liable to
Producer under this Agreement to the extent Bunge acts in
accordance with the Policy or in accordance with directions given
by Producer’s board of directors or general
manager.
3.1
Marketing Fee . On or before the 10
th day of each month during the Term, Producer will
pay to Bunge a fee (the “ Marketing Fee ”) equal
to * per pound of Corn Oil sold during the immediately preceding
month; provided that at any time that the outstanding
principal balance of advances drawn by SIRE, solely with respect to
advances drawn in order to pay for the corn oil extraction system
that is intended to produce the Corn Oil, under that certain
Subordinated Revolving Credit Note dated August 26, 2009 between
Producer and Bunge N.A. Holdings, Inc. is equal to or greater than
One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), then the Marketing Fee will be
equal to * per pound of Corn Oil sold during the immediately
preceding month.
* OMITTED
PURSUANT TO A REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT WHICH HAS BEEN
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION.
3.2
Payment . Producer will pay the Marketing Fee by
wire transfer. Interest will accrue on amounts past due
at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (a) the
prime rate, as reported from time to time by the Wall Street
Journal plus 2%, and (b) the highest rate
permitted
by law. All amounts due to Bunge
under this Agreement will be paid without setoff, counterclaim or
deduction.
3.3
Adjustments. Beginning on the third anniversary of the
Effective Date of this Agreement and on each anniversary
thereafter, the Marketing Fee will be increased (or decreased) by
an amount equal to *.
* OMITTED
PURSUANT TO A REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT WHICH HAS BEEN
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION.
3.4 Tax . For
purposes of personal property taxation and/or assessment or other
taxation, if any, any tax assessed on Corn Oil produced under this
Agreement will be the responsibility of Producer, and at no time
will Bunge be responsible for the payment of any such
tax.
4. Term and
Termination .
4.1 Term
. The initial term of this Agreement will begin upon
execution of this Agreement by both Parties and, unless earlier
terminated in accordance with the terms hereof, will expire upon
the third anniversary of the Effective Date. Unless
earlier terminated in accordance with this Agreement, this
Agreement will automatically renew for successive three-year terms
thereafter unless either Party gives written notice to the other
Party of its election not to renew, no later than 180 days prior to
the expiration of the initial term or the then current renewal
term, as applicable. The “ Term ”
will be the total of the initial term of this Agreement and any
renewal terms. The “ Effective Date ”
will be the date that the corn oil extraction system that Producer
plans to install at the Facility begins producing commercially
viable quantities of Corn Oil, or such other date agreed by the
Parties in writing.
(a) Either
Party may terminate this Agreement immediately upon notice to the
other Party if such other Party has (i) materially breached any
representation, warranty, or obligation under this Agreement, and
(ii) failed to remedy such breach within 30 days after the
terminating Party has given notice of such breach, or if such
breach cannot reasonably be cured within such 30-day period, such
other Party has failed to commence and diligently pursue remedy of
the breach and failed to remedy such breach not later than 120 days
after the terminating Party has given notice of such
breach.
(b) Bunge
may terminate this Agreement immediately upon notice to Producer if
Producer fails to pay any amount due under this Agreement within 15
days after Bunge gives Producer notice of such
nonpayment.
(c) Bunge
may terminate this Agreement immediately upon notice to Producer:
(i) if the Effective Date has not occurred on or before
April 1, 2011; and/or (ii) upon the occurrence of a
Dissolution Event (as defined in Article X of the Operating
Agreement).
(d) Either
Party may terminate this Agreement immediately upon notice to the
other Party if (i) such other Party files a petition for
adjudication as a bankrupt, for reorganization or for an
arrangement under any bankruptcy or insolvency law; (ii) an
involuntary petition under such law is filed against such other
Party and is not dismissed, vacated or stayed within 60 days
thereafter; or (iii) such other Party makes an assignment of all or
substantially all of its assets for the benefit of its
creditors.
(e) Bunge
may terminate this Agreement immediately upon notice to Producer if
there is a Change in Control of Producer. A “ Change of
Control ” occurs upon any of: (i) a sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of Producer; (ii) a merger or
consolidation involving Producer, excluding a merger or
consolidation after which 50% or more of the outstanding equity
interests of Producer continue to be held by the same holders that
held 50% of more of the outstanding equity interests of Producer
immediately before such merger or consolidation, or (iii) any
issuance and/or acquisition of equity interests of Producer that
results in a person or entity holding 50% or more of the
outstanding equity interests of Producer, excluding any persons or
entities that held 50% or more of the outstanding equity interests
of Producer immediately before such acquisition and, with respect
to Producer, excluding Bunge.
(f) Either
Party may terminate this Agreement in accordance with
Section 9.3 hereof.
(g) Producer
may terminate this Agreement immediately upon notice to Bunge if
there is a Change in Control of Producer upon payment to Bunge of
an amount equal to *.
* OMITTED
PURSUANT TO A REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT WHICH HAS BEEN
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION.
4.3
Survival . The provisions of this Agreement which expressly
or by their nature survive expiration or termination of this
Agreement, including, but not limited to, Sections 3.2, 4, 6, 7,
11 and 12 , will remain in effect after the expiration or
termination of this Agreement.
5.
Covenants of Producer . Producer covenants to Bunge that it
will use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the corn
oil extraction system that Producer intends to install at the
Facility will be fully operational no later than April 1,
2011.
6.
Representations and Warranties . Each Party represents and
warrants to the other Party that (a) all necessary corporate
action has been taken to authorize the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by the representing Party; and
(b) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
by the representing Party does not, and will not, violate or
constitute a breach of or default under any Governmental
Requirement (as defined in Section 16.5) or any indenture, contract
or other instrument to which its assets are bound or to which the
representing Party's business is subject.
7. Limitation of
Liability .
7.1 General
Disclaimer . EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS
AGREEMENT, BUNGE MAKES NO STATUTORY, WRITTEN, ORAL, EXPRESSED OR
IMPLIED WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS OR GUARANTEES OF ANY KIND
CONCERNING THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY BUNGE OR ITS AFFILIATES UNDER
THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS
AGREEMENT, NEITHER BUNGE NOR ITS AFFILIATES WILL BE LIABLE TO
PRODUCER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF,
RELATING TO OR RESULTING FROM SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THIS
AGREEMENT OR THE FAILURE TO PROVIDE SERVICES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT,
EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT SUCH DAMAGES ARISE OUT OF OR RESULT FROM THE
GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF BUNGE; PROVIDED, THAT THE
AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF ALL SUCH DAMAGES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IN ANY
FISCAL YEAR WILL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF THE MARKETING FEE IN SUCH
FISCAL YEAR. THE REMUNERATION TO BE PAID FOR THE
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED REFLECTS THIS LIMITATION OF
LIABILITY.
7.2 Consequential
Damages . IN NO EVENT WILL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO
THE OTHER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL
OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
8.1 Suspend
Performance . Bunge may suspend its performance under this
Agreement until Producer has paid all amounts due under this
Agreement if Producer fails to pay any amount within 15 days after
the date when such amount is due and uncured under this
Agreement.
8.2 Specific
Enforcement . The Parties shall have the right and remedy to
seek to have the provisions of this Agreement specifically enforced
by any court having equity jurisdiction without the necessity of
posting any bond, it being acknowledged and agreed by the parties
that the scope of the provisions of this Agreement are reasonable
under the circumstances.
8.3 Rights Not
Exclusive . No right, power or remedy conferred by this
Agreement will be exclusive of any other right, power or remedy now
or hereafter available to a Party at law, in equity, by statute or
otherwise.
9.1 Definition of
Force Majeure Event . Each Party is excused from performing its
obligations under this Agreement to the extent that such
performance is prevented by an act or event (a “Force
Majeure Event ”) whether or not foreseen, that: (i) is
beyond the reasonable control of, and is not due to the fault or
negligence of, such Party, and (ii) could not have been avoided by
such Party’s exercise of due diligence, including, but not
limited to, a labor controversy, strike, lockout, boycott,
transportation stoppage, action of a court or public authority,
fire, flood, earthquake, storm, war, civil strife, terrorist
action, epidemic, or act of God; provided that a Force
Majeure Event will not include economic hardship, changes in market
conditions, or insufficiency of funds. Notwithstanding the
foregoing sent