bdco9kex101062615.htm


Ex10.1


 


 



LOAN AGREEMENT







AMONG







Sovereign Bank







As Lender







______________________________________________







Lazarus Energy LLC







As Borrower







and







______________________________________________







Jonathan Pitts Carroll, Sr., Blue Dolphin Energy Company, 


Lazarus Refining & Marketing, LLC and 


Lazarus Energy Holdings LLC







As Guarantors


 


 




  





  











  
















LOAN AGREEMENT







This Loan Agreement is made and entered this ____ day of June, 2015, by and among Sovereign Bank (“Lender”), Lazarus Energy LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Borrower”), and Jonathan Pitts Carroll, Sr., a Texas resident (“Carroll”), Blue Dolphin Energy Company, a Delaware corporation (“Blue Dolphin”), Lazarus Refining & Marketing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“LRM”), and Lazarus Energy Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“LEH”, and jointly and severally together with Carroll, Blue Dolphin and LRM, collectively “Guarantor” or “Guarantors”).


 


RECITALS







WHEREAS, Borrower is the owner of an oil refinery plant located at 11372 US Hwy 87, Nixon, Wilson County, Texas (together with all improvements or alterations made thereto including the Expansion Improvements, the “Nixon Refinery”);


 


WHEREAS, Borrower desires to expand the Nixon Refinery by constructing the Expansion Improvements (as defined below); and


 


WHEREAS, Borrower has requested that Lender provide long-term financing (a) to fund the construction costs of the Expansion Improvements; (b) to repay its existing indebtedness to American First National Bank; (c) to fund the Construction Contingency Account for contingency costs relating to the Expansion Improvements; and (d) to pay for closing fees and costs;


 


NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:


 


AGREEMENT







Article 1


 


Definitions.


 


1.1 Certain Defined Terms.


 


Unless a particular term, word or phrase is otherwise defined or the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms, words and phrases used herein or in the Loan Documents (as hereinafter defined) have the following meanings (all definitions that are defined in this Agreement in the singular to have the same meanings when used in the plural and vice versa):


 


Advance shall have the meaning given such term in Section 3.4.


 


Affiliate shall mean any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with any other Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or otherwise.


 


 




  





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AFNB shall mean American First National Bank.


 


AFNB Debt shall mean the outstanding principal, interest, fees and other amounts outstanding by any Party under any existing debt or financing documents between AFNB and Borrower.


 


Agreement shall mean this Loan Agreement, as it may from time to time be amended, modified, restated or supplemented.


 


Annual Financial Statements shall mean, with respect to any Person, the annual financial statements of such Person, which statements shall include a balance sheet and an income statement as of the end of such fiscal year, all prepared in conformity with GAAP.


 


Attorney Representation Notice shall mean that certain Attorney Representation Notice Dated as of the Closing Date in Proper Form executed by Borrower.


 


Bankruptcy Code shall mean the United States Bankruptcy Code, as amended, and any successor statute.


 


Borrower’s Affidavit shall mean an affidavit in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto and made a part hereof signed by the President of Borrower.


 


Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a legal holiday on which commercial banks are authorized or required to close in Dallas, Texas.


 


Ceiling Rate shall mean, on any day, the maximum nonusurious rate of interest permitted for that day by whichever of applicable federal or state laws permits the higher interest rate, stated as a rate per annum. On each day, if any, that the state law establishes the Ceiling Rate, the Ceiling Rate shall be the weekly ceiling rate for that day. Lender may from time to time, as to current and future balances, implement any other ceiling under applicable federal or state laws by notice to Borrower, if and to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations. Without notice to Borrower or any other person or entity, the Ceiling Rate shall automatically fluctuate upward or downward as and in the amount by which such maximum nonusurious rate of interest permitted by applicable law fluctuates.


 


Certification Regarding Anti-Terrorism Laws shall mean that certain Certification Regarding Anti-Terrorism Laws dated the Closing Date, from Borrower and Guarantors to Lender.


 


Closing Date shall mean June __, 2015.


 


Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as now or hereafter in effect, together with all regulations, rulings and interpretations thereof or thereunder by the Internal Revenue Service.


 


 




  





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Collateral shall mean all Property, tangible or intangible, real, personal or mixed, now or hereafter subject to the Security Documents or any liens, security interests or encumbrances granted pursuant to the Security Documents, including without limitation, all “Property” as defined in the Deed of Trust and all “Collateral” as defined in the Security Agreement.


 


Commercial Land shall mean the Land.


 


Conditional Commitment shall mean Form 4279-3, Conditional Commitment for Guarantee issued by RBS in connection with this Loan.


 


Construction Contingency Account shall mean a non-interest bearing account in Lender’s or its designee’s name maintained by Lender, into proceeds of the Loan will be funded for construction contingency purposes in accordance with Sections 2.2 and 3.4.


 


Construction Rider shall mean the Construction Rider in the form of Exhibit C or otherwise acceptable to Lender, which Construction Rider is incorporated into this Agreement pursuant to Section 3.3.


 


Corporation shall mean corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, joint ventures, joint stock associations, business trusts and other business entities, whether organized under the laws of the United States of America or of a foreign jurisdiction.


 


Current Assets shall mean all assets, which in accordance with GAAP would be included in current assets.


 


Current Liabilities shall mean all Indebtedness which in accordance with GAAP would be included as current liabilities.


 


Current Ratio shall mean the ratio of Current Assets to Current Liabilities.


 


Debt shall mean, with respect to any Person, the sum of (a) all borrowings under the Note of such Person; (b) any obligation of such Person for borrowed money which under GAAP is shown on the balance sheet as a liability (including the principal component of capitalized lease obligations, but excluding reserves for deferred income taxes, deferred pension liability and other deferred expenses and reserves); (c) Indebtedness for borrowed money secured by any Lien existing on Property owned by such Person subject to such Lien, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed; (d) guarantees of borrowed money Indebtedness and endorsements (other than endorsements of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business) or such Person; (e) obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit; (f) the redemption amount owed by such Person with respect to any equity interest required to be redeemed; and (g) to the extent not covered in clauses (a) through (f) above, all liabilities (including short-term and long-term liabilities) of such Person which under GAAP would be shown on the balance sheet as a liability.


 


 




  





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Debt Service Coverage Ratio shall mean, as of the close of the date of determination, the ratio computed for the period consisting of the trailing twelve month period (ending on such date of determination) of: (a) the combined EBITDA (for such trailing twelve month period) of Borrower and LRM minus all property taxes and insurance to be paid for such trailing twelve month period if not yet paid during such period minus all distributions or dividends made by Borrower and LRM (subject to Lender’s consent rights to the same as provided in this Agreement) during such trailing twelve month period; to (b) the sum (for such trailing twelve month period) of all scheduled principal and interest of Borrower and LRM in each case scheduled or required to be made for the period of measurement, in each case in accordance with GAAP.


 


Debtor Relief Law shall mean any Legal Requirements relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, compromise arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt, general assignment for the benefit of creditors, dissolution or liquidation or similar proceeding of any jurisdiction.


 


Deed of Trust shall mean collectively that certain Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Security Agreement, Assignment of Leases and Rents, Financing Statement and Fixture Filing dated as of the Closing Date, in Proper Form, executed by Borrower in favor of Robert Blount, as trustee, for the benefit of Lender, covering and affecting the Land and the real and personal property described or otherwise encumbered therein, as the same may be amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time.


 


Default shall mean an event, which with notice or lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.


 


Default Rate shall mean, on any day, a rate per annum equal to the Ceiling Rate for that day.


 


Disbursement Account shall mean a non-interest bearing account in Lender’s or its designee’s name in a financial institution selected by Lender.


 


Disclosure Schedule shall mean the Disclosure Schedule attached hereto as Schedule 1.


 


Document Correction Agreement shall mean that certain Agreement of Assurance dated as of the Closing Date in Proper Form executed by Borrower, as the same may from time to time be amended, modified, supplemented or restated.


 


EBITDA shall mean, with respect to any Person, for any applicable period and with the respect to such Person, the sum of the following for such Person (and its consolidated subsidiaries, if any): (a) net income (determined in accordance with GAAP), plus (b) to the extent deducted in determining net income, the sum of (i) amounts attributable to amortization, depletion and depreciation of assets, (ii) income tax expense, and (iii) Interest Expense for such period, and minus, to the extent included in the statement of such net income for such period, the sum of (A) interest income (except to the extent deducted in determining Interest Expense), and (B) any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring income or gains (including, whether or not otherwise includable as a separate item in the statement of such net income for such period, gains on the sales of assets).


 


 




  





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Environmental Claim shall mean any third party (including Governmental Authorities and employees) action, lawsuit, claim or proceeding (including claims or proceedings at common law or under the Occupational Safety and Health Act or similar laws relating to safety of employees) which seeks to impose liability for (a) noise; (b) pollution or contamination of the air, surface water, ground water or land or the cleanup of such pollution or contamination; (c) solid, gaseous or liquid waste generation, handling, treatment, storage, disposal or transportation; (d) exposure to Hazardous Substances; (e) the safety or health of employees; or (f) the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce or use of Hazardous Substances. An Environmental Claim includes, but is not limited to, a common law action, as well as a proceeding to issue, modify or terminate an Environmental Permit, or to adopt or amend a regulation to the extent that such a proceeding attempts to redress violations of an applicable permit, license, or regulation as  alleged by any Governmental Authority.


 


Environmental Liabilities includes all liabilities arising from any Environmental Claim, Environmental Permit or Requirement of Environmental Law under any theory of recovery, at law or in equity, and whether based on negligence, strict liability or otherwise, including but not limited to: remedial, removal, response, abatement, investigative, monitoring, personal injury and damage to property or injuries to persons, and any other related costs, expenses, losses, damages, penalties, fines, liabilities and obligations, and all costs and expenses necessary to cause the issuance, reissuance or renewal of any Environmental Permit including attorneys’ fees and court costs.


 


Environmental Permit shall mean any permit, license, approval or other authorization under any applicable Legal Requirement relating to pollution or protection of health or the environment, including laws, regulations or other requirements relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of pollutants, contaminants or hazardous substances or toxic materials or wastes into ambient air, surface water, ground water or land, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport, or handling of pollutants, contaminants or Hazardous Substances.


 


Equipment and General Intangibles shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the UCC in force on the Closing Date.


 


Event of Abandonment shall mean (a) the written announcement by Borrower of a decision to abandon or indefinitely defer, or the abandonment of, the construction or completion or operation of all or any material part of the Expansion Improvements or the Nixon Refinery for any reason, or (b) the total suspension for more than 30 consecutive days or abandonment of the construction of the Expansion Improvements.


 


Event of Default shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 7.0.


 


Event of Taking shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events carried out by any Governmental Authority: (a) any condemnation, nationalization, seizure, compulsory acquisition, or expropriation of all or any portion of (i) the Nixon Refinery or (ii) the business operations of Borrower; or (b) any intervention in, or assumption of custody or control of, all or any portion of (i) the Nixon Refinery or (ii) the business operations of Borrower.


 


 




  





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Expansion Improvements shall mean (a) one (1) 100,000 barrel (bbl) capacity tank for storage of crude oil; (b) four (4) 100,000 bbl capacity tanks for storage of refined products (jet fuel, diesel, residuals and naphtha; (c) four (4) bullet tanks with a total 90,000 gallon capacity for storage of refined liquid petroleum gas; and (d) such other Improvements or modifications to the Nixon Refinery as approved by Lender.


 


Financing Statements shall mean all such Uniform Commercial Code financing statements as Lender shall require, in Proper Form, duly executed (or authorized, as appropriate) by Borrower or others to give notice of and to perfect or continue perfection of Lender’s Liens in all Collateral.


 


Funds Control Agreement shall mean any funds control agreement or similar agreement from time to time entered into between Lender and any third party (including a monitoring consultant described in Section 3.3), in form acceptable to Lender, for the purpose of such third party’s monitoring or controlling of the disbursement of the Loan or Advances relating to the construction of the Expansion Improvements and/or relating to any other use of proceeds of the Loan or Advances thereunder.


 


GAAP shall mean, as to a particular Person, such accounting practice as, in the opinion of independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing, conforms at the time to generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied. In addition, GAAP means those principles and practices (a) which are recognized as such by the Financial Accounting Standards Board; and (b) which are consistently applied for all periods after the Closing Date so as to reflect properly the financial condition, and results of operations and changes in financial position, of such Person. If any change in any accounting principle or practice is required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in order for such principle or practice to continue as GAAP, all reports and financial statements required hereunder may be prepared in accordance with such change. Notwithstanding the foregoing, as to individuals only, GAAP means such accounting principles and practices as, in the opinion of such accountants, conform at the time to such individual’s federal income tax basis of accounting, consistently applied.


 


Governmental Authority shall mean any foreign governmental authority, the United States of America, any State of the United States and any political subdivision of any of the foregoing, and any central Bank, agency, department, commission, board, bureau, court or other tribunal having jurisdiction over Lender, Borrower, Guarantor any Party or their respective Property.


 


Guaranty shall mean collectively all guaranties dated as of the Closing Date in Proper Form executed by all Guarantors in favor of Lender, as any of the same may from time to time be amended, modified, restated or supplemented.


 


Guarantor shall mean, to the extent the term is preceded or qualified with the word “any”, “each” or “such” or like word, each of Carroll, Blue Dolphin, LRM and LEH individually; otherwise, the term Guarantor shall mean all of them collectively on a joint and several basis, and Guarantors shall mean all of them collectively on a joint and several basis.


 


 




  





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Hazardous Substance shall mean petroleum products, and any hazardous or toxic waste or substance defined or regulated as such from time to time by any law, rule, regulation or order described in the definition of Requirements of Environmental Law.


 


Improvements shall mean all buildings and other improvements now or hereafter placed on the Land, as well as all appurtenances, betterments and additions thereto; all and singular the rights, privileges, hereditaments, and appurtenances in any wise incident or appertaining to said Land and improvements, including, without limitation, any and all rights to the present or future use of waste water, waste water capacity, drainage, water or other utility facilities to the extent same pertain to or benefit said Land or the improvements located thereon, including, without limitation, all reservations of or commitments or letters covering any such use in the future whether now owned or hereafter acquired.


 


Indebtedness shall mean and include, without duplication, (a) all items which in accordance with GAAP would be included on the liability side of a balance sheet on the date as of which Indebtedness is to be determined (excluding capital stock, surplus, surplus reserves and deferred credits); (b) all guaranties, letter of credit contingent reimbursement obligations and other contingent obligations in respect of, or any obligations to purchase or otherwise acquire, Indebtedness of others; (c) the redemption amount with respect to any equity interest to be redeemed; and (d) all indebtedness secured by any Lien existing on any interest of the Person with respect to which Indebtedness is being determined in Property owned subject to such Lien whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed; provided, that the term Indebtedness shall not mean or include any Indebtedness in respect of which monies sufficient to pay and discharge the same in full (either on the expressed date of maturity thereof or on such earlier date as such Indebtedness may be duly called for redemption and payment) shall be deposited with a depository, agency or trustee acceptable to Lender in trust for the payment thereof.


 


Indemnification Agreement shall mean that certain Indemnification Agreement dated the Closing Date, by and between Borrower and Lender.


 


Interest Expense shall mean, with respect to any Person and for any applicable period, the aggregate interest expense (both accrued and paid and net of interest income paid during such period to such Person) of such Person for such applicable period, including the portion of any payments made in respect of capitalized lease liabilities allocable to interest expense, but excluding one-time write-offs of unamortized upfront fees associated with this Agreement.


 


Key Agreements shall mean all contracts, permits, licenses and other rights acquired by a person or to which such Person are a party or by which such Person is bound and from time to time material to the ownership of assets or the operations of such Person, including, without limitation and for sake of clarity, (a) any construction contracts relating to the Expansion Improvements described in the Construction Rider or any construction contract with the general contractor relating to the construction of the Expansion Improvements, (b) the GEL Transaction Documents (as defined in that certain Letter Regarding Subordination of GEL Transaction Documents dated as of the date hereof between Borrower, Lender and GEL Tex Marketing, LLC, and (c) the Management Agreement dated as of February 15, 2012, by and among Borrower, Blue Dolphin and LEH, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to Management Agreement dated May 12, 2014.


 


 




  





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Land shall mean that certain approximate 56.309 acre tract of land (comprised of an approximate 51.309 acre tract and a 5.000 acre tract) situated in Wilson County, Texas, more particularly described on Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof.


 


Legal Requirement shall mean any law, statute, ordinance, decree, requirement, order, judgment, rule, or regulation (or interpretation of any of the foregoing) of, and the terms of any license or permit issued by, any Governmental Authority, whether presently existing or arising in the future, including, without limitation, any Requirements of Environmental Law.


 


Lien shall mean any mortgage, pledge, charge, encumbrance, security interest, collateral assignment or other lien whether based on common law, constitutional provision, statute or contract.


 


Loan shall mean the loan provided for in Section 2.1 hereof.


 


Loan Documents shall mean, collectively, the Note, this Agreement, the Guaranties, the Security Documents, the Authorization Agreement for automatic drafts, the Disclaimer of Oral Agreements, the Document Correction Agreement, the Borrower’s Affidavit, the Attorney Representation Notice, the Indemnification Agreement, the Certification Regarding Anti-Terrorism Laws, the Secretary’s Certificate(s), and the Financing Statements, each dated as of the Closing Date, and all instruments, certificates and agreements now or hereafter executed or delivered to Lender pursuant to any of the foregoing or in connection with the Obligations or any commitment regarding the obligations, and all amendments, modifications, renewals, extensions, increases and rearrangements of, and substitutions for, any of the foregoing.


 


Material Adverse Effect shall mean a material adverse effect (as determined by Lender acting in good faith) upon (a) the condition (financial or otherwise), business, operations, assets or prospects of (i) Borrower or any Guarantor or (ii) a material portion of the Nixon Refinery; (b) the ability of Borrower, any Guarantor or any other Party to fully and timely perform its respective obligations under the Loan Documents, the RBS Documents or the Key Agreements; (c) the rights and remedies of Lender under any of the Loan Documents; (d) the legality, validity, binding nature or enforceability of any Loan Document or any Key Agreements.


 


Maturity Date shall have the meaning given such term in the Note.


 


Mortgagee’s Policy of Title Insurance shall mean a mortgagee’s policy or policies of title insurance issued in favor of Lender by an underwriter satisfactory to Lender insuring the Lien of the Deed of Trust as a first and prior lien in an amount equal to Twenty-Five Million and NO/100 Dollars ($25,000,000), subject only to such encumbrances as are acceptable to Lender.


 


Net Worth shall mean as to any Person, (a) all assets of such Person, less (b) all liabilities of such Person, all determined in accordance with GAAP.


 


 




  





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Note shall mean collectively, that certain adjustable rate promissory note dated as of the Closing Date, the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B and made a part hereof, made and executed by Borrower payable to the order of Lender in the aggregate original principal amount of $25,000,000, and all modifications, renewals, extensions, increases and rearrangements of, and substitutions for such promissory note.


 


Obligations shall mean, as at any date of determination thereof, all obligations and liabilities of Borrower or any Guarantor arising under or in connection with a Loan Document, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, or now existing or hereafter arising, in respect of: (a) any and all sums, including principal, interest (including interest that would accrue on any of the foregoing during the pendency of any bankruptcy or related proceeding with respect to Borrower or any Guarantor), expenses, premiums, Prepayment Consideration (as defined in the Note), costs (including court costs), charges, fees (including attorneys’ fees) indemnities or other liabilities called for in the Note or in any Loan Document; (b) all other agreements, covenants, conditions, warranties, representations, liabilities, obligations and indebtedness of any Party now or hereafter created or incurred, in whole or in part, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (c) all other debts of any kind and character now or hereafter owing by Borrower or any Guarantor to the Lender whether such debts be evidenced by written instrument or not and whether they be direct obligations arising out of a guaranty, endorsement, suretyship or otherwise, or whether they be joint, several or indirect, and whether they were heretofore or are hereafter purchased or acquired and any and all amendments, modifications, renewals, extensions, increases, or rearrangements in whole or in part of any of the above.


 


Organizational Documents shall mean, with respect to a corporation, the certificate of incorporation, articles of incorporation and bylaws of such corporation; with respect to a limited liability company, the articles of organization, the limited liability company operating agreement and the regulations of such limited liability company; with respect to a partnership, the partnership agreement establishing such partnership and the certificate of limited partnership as to any limited partnership, with respect to a joint venture, the joint venture agreement establishing such joint venture; and, with respect to a trust, the instrument establishing such trust; in each case including any and all modifications thereof as of the date of the Loan Document referring to such Organizational Document and any and all future modifications thereof.


 


Parties shall mean Borrower, Guarantor, and any other party (other than Lender) executing any Loan Document.


 


Payment Reserve Account shall mean the reserve account (or any replacement account) established by virtue of the Payment Reserve Agreement.


 


Payment Reserve Agreement shall mean that certain Payment Reserve Agreement dated the Closing Date, by and between Borrower and Lender.


 


Person shall mean any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, joint stock association, business trust, other business entity, trust, unincorporated organization, Governmental Authority or any other form of entity.


 


 




  





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Prime Rate as used herein shall mean the “Prime Rate” as defined in the Note.


 


Prepayment Consideration shall have the meaning set forth in the Note.


 


Proper Form shall mean in form and substance satisfactory to Lender.


 


Property shall mean any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible.


 


Quarterly Financial Statements shall mean the quarterly financial statements of a Person, including all notes thereto, which statements shall include a balance sheet as of the end of such calendar quarter and an income statement for such calendar quarter and for the fiscal year to date, all setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding calendar quarter of the preceding year, prepared in accordance with GAAP (with the exclusion of notes and an auditor’s opinion) and certified as fairly reflecting the financial condition of such Person as of the date thereof and for the period covered thereby, subject to normal yearend adjustments, by the Chief Financial Officer or President of such Person.


 


RBS shall mean The Unites States of America acting through and by its agency, the Rural Business Cooperative Service, United States Department of Agriculture, or its successor agency.


 


RBS Agreement of Compliance shall mean that certain Agreement of Compliance of Borrower dated as of the Closing Date.


 


RBS Documents shall mean all of the following duly executed by or on behalf of the parties thereto and in Proper Form: (a) Loan Note Guarantee (Form 4279-5); (b) Certificate of Incumbency (Form 4279-7), if applicable; (c) Lender’s Agreement (Form 4279-4); (d) the RBS Agreement of Compliance; and (e) any other document executed by any Party for the benefit of RBS or the United Stated Department of Agriculture or any of its agencies or subdivisions in connection with the Loan Documents, and all amendments, modifications, renewals, extensions, increases and rearrangements of, and substitutions for, any of the foregoing.


 


RBS Guarantee shall mean that certain guaranty of the United States of America acting through RBS in the amount of sixty percent (60%) of the principal amount of the Note, said guaranty being Fifteen Million and 00/100 Dollars ($15,000,000).


 


RBS Guarantee Fee shall mean that certain fee imposed by RBS in the amount of three percent (3%) of the amount of the RBS Guarantee in connection with this Loan, said fee being Four Hundred Fifty Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($450,000).


 


Related Person shall mean, with respect to any Person, any individual, corporation, organization or other entity that is an officer, director, stockholder, partner or employee of such Person.


 


 




  





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Remedial Action shall mean any action necessary to ensure compliance with the Requirements of Environmental Law including (a) the removal and disposal or containment (if containment is practical under the circumstances and is permissible within Requirements of Environmental Law) or monitoring of any and all Hazardous Substances at the Property; (b) the taking of necessary precautions to protect against the release or threatened release of Hazardous Substances at, on, in, about, under, within or near the air, soil, surface water, groundwater or soil vapor at the Property or any public domain affected by the Property or any surrounding areas thereof; (c) any action necessary to mitigate the usurpation of wetlands, pinelands or other protected land or reclaim the same or to protect and preserve wildlife species; (d) any action necessary to meet the requirement permit; or (e) any other action required to satisfy Requirements of Environmental Law imposed upon Borrower the property and/or any operation thereon.


 


Requirements of Environmental Law shall mean all requirements imposed by any law (including for example and without limitation The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act), rule, regulation, or order of any Governmental Authority in effect at the applicable time which relate to (i) noise; (ii) pollution, protection or cleanup of the air, surface water, ground water or land; (iii) solid, gaseous or liquid waste generation, treatment, storage, disposal or transportation; (iv) exposure to Hazardous Substances; (v) the safety or health of employees or (vi) regulation of the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, use discharge or storage of Hazardous Substances.


 


Rural Area shall mean all territory of a State that is not within the outer boundary of any city having a population of fifty thousand or more and its immediately adjacent urbanized and urbanizing area with a population density of more than one hundred persons per square mile, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture according to the latest decennial census of the United States.


 


Secretary’s/Member’s Certificate shall mean a certificate, in Proper Form, of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or a Member of a Person as to (a) the resolutions of the Board of Directors or other governing body of such Person authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the documents to be executed by such Person; (b) the incumbency and signature of the officer of such Person executing such documents on behalf of such Person; and (c) the Organizational Documents of such Person.


 


Security Documents shall mean (a) that certain Security Agreement dated as of the Closing Date executed by Borrower in favor of Lender covering, among other Property, the Contract Rights, General Intangibles, Instruments, Chattel Paper, Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment of Borrower; (b) the Deed of Trust; (c) the Payment Reserve Agreement; (d) (i) the Subordination Agreement dated as of the Closing Date from Genesis Energy, LP in favor of Lender and (ii) the Subordination Agreement dated as of the Closing Date from John Kissick in favor of Lender; (e) the Collateral Assignment of Management Agreement dated as of the Closing Date by Blue Dolphin and LEH and the related Acknowledgment from Borrower; and (f) that certain Assignment of Life Insurance Policy as Collateral dated as of June 5, 2015, executed by Borrower in favor of Lender covering, among other property, a $5,000,000 life insurance policy on Carroll, together with any and all pledge, security or other collateral agreements, documents or instruments hereafter executed in favor of Lender in connection with, or as security for, the Obligations, as any of them may be amended, modified, restated or supplemented from time to time.


 


 




  





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Stated Rate shall mean the per annum interest rate specified in the Note applicable to the Loan (which as of the Closing date is equal to the Prime Rate as of the Closing Date + 2.75%, as subsequently adjusted in accordance with the terms of the Note and this Agreement.


 


Survey shall mean an ALTA boundary survey of the Land in Proper Form dated December 2000 and re-inspected February 13, 2006, performed by a registered public land surveyor duly licensed as such in the State in which the Land is located, acceptable to the Lender (and, in each instance that the Lender shall so require, to the title company), or such other survey as acceptable to Lender. Except as otherwise acceptable to Lender, each Survey shall be evidenced by a survey plat with north arrow showing the length and direction of the perimeter boundaries of the Land, the location and dimensions of all improvements in place as of the date of such survey, names of adjacent and nearby streets and roads, setback lines, encroachments, easements, rights-of-way and railroads, if any, affecting the Land, a legal description of the Land, and the date of the survey. The print of each Survey shall contain the duly executed and sealed certification of the surveyor certifying to the Lender (and, in each instance that the Lender shall so require, to the title company), substantially as follows:


 


I hereby certify to the Lender and the Title Company that on [date], this survey was made on the ground by me or under my supervision as per the field notes set forth on or attached to this survey and correctly and accurately shows: the boundaries and area to  the nearest ten-thousandth (1/10,000) of an acre (or the nearest square foot) of the subject property; the sizes, locations and types of all buildings and other improvements thereon (if any) and the locations of all easements, rights-of-way, setback lines and other matters affecting the subject property and which are of record or, whether or not they are of record, which are visible or of which I have been advised.


 


Except as shown on this survey, there are no encroachments upon the subject property by improvements on adjacent property, there are no party walls with or encroachments upon adjacent property, streets or alleys or onto any improvements setback line by any improvements on the subject property and there are no conflicts or protrusions. Adequate ingress and to and egress from the subject property is provided by US Highway 87 which is a paved, dedicated public right-of-way maintained by the City of Nixon or the County of Wilson, Texas.


 


None of the improvements, if any, on the subject property is situated so as to violate any setback line requirement.


 


No part of the subject property liens within the 100 year Flood Plain or in an identified Flood Prone Area or Special Flood Hazard Area, as such capitalized terms are defined by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in administering the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended.


 


Tangible Net Worth shall mean as to any Person, the total assets (valued at the lesser of (a) cost less normal depreciation or (b) fair market value) of such Person, less (1) all intangibles and (2) all liabilities, all determined in accordance with GAAP of such Person. The intangibles shall include (i) deferred charges, (ii) the amount of any write up in the book value of any assets contained in any balance sheet resulting from revaluation thereof or any write-up in excess of the cost of such assets acquired (excluding marketable securities) and (iii) the aggregate of all amounts appearing on the assets side of any such balance sheet for franchises, licenses, permits, patents, patent applications, copyrights, trademarks, trade names, goodwill, experimental or organizational expenses and other like intangibles.


 


 




  





12











  






 


Total Assets shall mean all assets of Borrower which in accordance with GAAP would be included in assets.


 


UCC shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Texas, or if the creation, perfection, and enforcement of any security interest granted in the Security Documents is governed by the laws of a state other than the State of Texas, then, as to the matter in question, the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in that state.


 


Working Capital shall mean Current Assets minus Current Liabilities.


 


Working Capital Proceeds shall have the meaning assigned in Section 2.2 of this Agreement.


 


1.2 Miscellaneous.  Except as otherwise expressly provided or the context otherwise requires, the following rules of interpretation shall apply to this Agreement and the other Financing Documents: (a) the words hereof, herein, and hereunder and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (b) whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms; (c) the words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”; (d) the word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”; (e) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or therein) and shall include any appendices, schedules, exhibits, clarification letters, side letters and disclosure letters executed in connection therewith; (f) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns to the extent permitted under the Loan Documents and, in the case of any Governmental Authority, any Person succeeding to its functions and capacities; (g) any reference to any Legal Requirements in any of the Loan Documents shall include all references to such Legal Requirements as amended from time to time; (h) all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP; and (i) to the extent that there is more than one Guarantor with respect to the Loan, all representations, warranties, covenants and other obligations of “Guarantor” in this Agreement and in any other Loan Document are and shall be the representations, warranties, covenants and obligations of all Guarantors on a joint and several basis.


 


 




  





13











  






 


Article 2


 


The Loan


 


2.1 The Loan.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Lender agrees to make a loan to Borrower (in the time frame specified in Section 3.4) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000, the proceeds of which will be disbursed in accordance with Section 3.4.  Amounts prepaid or repaid in respect of the Loan (or any Advances made under the Loan) may not be reborrowed.


 


2.2 Use of Proceeds.  The proceeds of the Loan (including any Advances) shall be used by Borrower as follows:


 



	
(a)  

	
To repay the AFNB Debt in full, which is estimated to be approximately Eight Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($8,750,000).







 



	
(b)  

	
To pay for the construction of the Expansion Improvements; provided that not more than Thirteen Million Five Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($13,500,000) of the Loan may be applied to such construction except at the discretion of Lender.







 



	
(c)  

	
To fund the following fees and expenses in each case related to the Nixon Refinery or the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents:  (i) the fees described in Section 3.1(h) (inclusive of a $500,000 loan origination fee, the $450,000 RBS Guaranty Fee, and a $125,000 loan packager fee), (ii) title insurance fees of up to $85,000, and (iii) legal fees of $25,000 and other closing fees of up to $65,000.







 



	
(d)  

	
To fund the Construction Contingency Account in an amount of $1,500,000 (subject to adjustments as set forth in Section 2.2) for disbursements in accordance with this Agreement for the purpose of funding contingencies (and, once Lender is satisfied that all contingencies have been satisfied after Completion (as defined in the Construction Rider) has occurred, to be thereafter applied in accordance with Section 3.4).







 


Should the actual AFNB Debt be higher than the amount specified in clause (a) above, the difference between the estimated amount and the actual amount will be taken from the Construction Contingency Account until expended then by Borrower in the form of a cash contribution for the shortfall.


 


Should the actual AFNB Debt be lower than the amount specified in clause (a) above, the difference between the estimated amount and the actual amount will be deposited into the Construction Contingency Account.


 


Should the actual amounts of the legal fee, loan packager fee and title insurance fee be lower than the estimated amounts then the difference may be applied to other reasonable and valid closing costs.  Should fees and costs associated with the Loan have a remaining balance after loan closing, this balance will be deposited into the Construction Contingency Account by Borrower.


 


 




  





14











  






 


Following the occurrence of Completion (as defined in the Construction Rider) of the Expansion Improvements, any remaining funds on deposit in the Disbursement Account or Construction Contingency Account shall be deposited in a Lender monitored working capital expenditures account maintained at Lender to be used solely and exclusively for business expenses of Borrower with respect to the Nixon Refinery (and such funds may not be used directly or indirectly as a revolving line of credit).


 


Funds drawn from any lender monitored working capital expenditures account are solely/exclusively for future business expenses of the Nixon Refinery and no funds shall directly or indirectly be used for payments, distributions, reimbursements, salaries and/or dividends to any owner, partner, stockholder, subsidiary, affiliate or beneficiary of Lazarus Energy LLC; Blue Dolphin Energy Company; Lazarus Energy Holdings, LLC; Carrol & Company Financial Holdings, LP; and AP Energy Partners, LLC.


 


2.3 Note.  The Loan made by Lender to Borrower shall be evidenced by the Note to be executed and delivered by Borrower to Lender on the Closing Date. The Loan shall bear interest from time to time at the rate and be due and payable (and may be prepaid) on the terms and conditions set forth in the Note and in this Agreement.


 


2.4 Security.  The Obligations will be secured by the Security Documents which cover, without limitation, the following Collateral: (a) a first priority lien on the Land and Improvements; (b) a first priority lien on all of Borrower’s fixtures, furniture, machinery and equipment; (c) a first priority lien on all of Borrower’s Contract Rights, General Intangibles and Instruments; a pledge of $5,000,000 of key man life insurance policies on Carroll; and (d) all other Collateral as described in the Security Documents.


 


2.5 Increased Loan Costs, etc.  Borrower agrees to reimburse Lender for any increase in the cost to Lender of, or any reduction in the amount of any sum receivable by Lender in respect of making, continuing or maintaining (or of its obligation or Commitment to make or continue) any Loans that arise in connection with any change in, or the introduction, adoption, effectiveness, interpretation, reinterpretation or phase in after the Closing Date of, any law or regulation, directive, guideline, decision or request (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority, including without limitation any change in, or the introduction, adoption, effectiveness, interpretation, reinterpretation or phase in that (a) is in respect of any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, Lender; or (b) subjects Lender to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement or the Loan (including Advances made thereunder) made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender in respect thereof.  Such additional amounts shall be payable by Borrower directly to Lender within ten (10) days of its receipt of such notice, and such notice shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on Borrower.


 


 




  





15











  






 


2.6 Increased Capital Costs.  If any change in, or the introduction, adoption, effectiveness, interpretation, reinterpretation or phase in of, any law or regulation, directive, guideline, decision or request (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority affects or would affect the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by Lender or any Person controlling Lender, and Lender determines (in good faith but in its sole discretion) that the rate of return on its or such controlling Person’s capital as a consequence of the Loan (or its commitment to make the Loan) made by Lender is reduced to a level below that which Lender or such controlling Person could have achieved but for the occurrence of any such circumstance, then upon notice from time to time by Lender to Borrower, Borrower shall within ten (10) days following receipt of such notice pay directly to Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate Lender or such controlling Person for such reduction in rate of return.  A statement of Lender as to any such additional amount or amounts shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on Borrower.  In determining such amount, Lender may use any method of averaging and attribution that it (in its sole discretion) shall deem applicable.


 


2.7 Taxes.  Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any taxes (other than taxes imposed on or measured by net income or profits (or franchise Taxes in lieu of net income Taxes) or any branch profits taxes imposed on Lender); provided that if Borrower shall be required to deduct any taxes from such payments, then (a) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made; (b) Borrower shall make such deductions; and (c)  Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Legal Requirements.  Borrower shall indemnify Lender, within ten (10) days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any taxes (other than taxes imposed on or measured by net income or profits (or franchise Taxes in lieu of net income Taxes) or any branch profits taxes imposed on Lender) paid by Lender and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to Borrower by Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Upon Lender’s request, Borrower shall deliver to Lender the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by the relevant Governmental Authority evidencing any payment of taxes by Borrower, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to Lender.


 


Article 3


 


Conditions for Making the Loan; Borrowing Procedures


 


3.1 Conditions Precedent to Funding of Loan.  The obligation of Lender to fund the Loan (which Lender shall endeavor to make not later than three (3) business days after the conditions precedent in Article 3 have been satisfied or waived by Lender) is conditioned upon and subject to all legal matters incident to the transactions hereby contemplated being satisfactory to Lender and Lender’s legal counsel, and is further conditioned upon Lender’s receipt of the following in Proper Form or the following conditions precedent having been otherwise fulfilled or waived:


 


 




  





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(a)  

	
the Loan Documents (including the Note and Security Documents) and all other agreements, documents and instruments required by Lender to be executed and/or delivered at or prior to Closing, each duly executed where appropriate, and in Proper Form;







 



	
(b)  

	
a duly executed Secretary’s/Member’s Certificate with respect to Borrower and any Party which is not a natural person;







 



	
(c)  

	
a duly executed Borrower’s Affidavit dated as of the later of the Closing Date or the date of the funding of the Loan;







 



	
(d)  

	
an opinion of counsel to Borrower and Guarantors in Proper Form covering such matters as acceptable to Lender;







 



	
(e)  

	
a list and summary of all pending or threatened litigation against Borrower certified to by the President of Borrower;







 



	
(f)  

	
if requested, evidence satisfactory to Lender that there has been no material deterioration in Borrower’s financial condition since the issuance of the Form FmHA 4279-3 Conditional Commitment for Guarantee;







 



	
(g)  

	
evidence satisfactory to Lender that Borrower has tangible balance sheet equity (defined as Tangible Net Worth divided by Total Assets) of at least ten percent (10%) in accordance with Rural Development Instruction 4279-B, Section 4279.131(d);







 



	
(h)  

	
Borrower shall have paid (i) the RBS Guarantee Fee, (ii) a loan origination fee to Lender in an amount equal to 2% of the Loan ($500,000), and (iii) a loan packaging fee of $125,000 (and the parties hereto agree that all such fees will be fully earned once paid and non-refundable);







 



	
(i)  

	
the Mortgagee’s Policy of Title Insurance;







 



	
(j)  

	
an “as completed” real estate market value appraisal confirming to FIRREA requirements for Lender prepared by an appraiser acceptable to Lender at the expense of Borrower, which appraisal shows the “as complete” appraised value of the Nixon Refinery to be at least $50,000,000;







 



	
(k)  

	
the RBS Documents;







 



	
(l)  

	
insurance policies reflecting the insurance required by the Loan Documents;







 


 




  





17











  






 


 



	
(m)  

	
at Lender’s request, invoices and/or statements of bills owed or incurred or other evidence that Loan or proceeds thereof are for purposes authorized under this Agreement;







 



	
(n)  

	
current financial statements of Borrower and Guarantor dated no earlier than ninety (90) days prior to the Closing Date;







 



	
(o)  

	
Phase I and Phase II environmental assessments satisfactory to Lender;







 



	
(p)  

	
a current certificate from the appropriate official of the state(s) of organization of Borrower and Guarantor as to the existence and good standing of Borrower and Guarantor;







 



	
(q)  

	
a current certificate from the appropriate public official of each jurisdiction other than Borrower’s state of organization as to the due qualification to do business and good standing of Borrower where such qualification is necessary to conduct Borrower’s business in such jurisdiction;







 



	
(r)  

	
the Survey;







 



	
(s)  

	
evidence of the payment in full of the AFNB Debt, termination of the loan agreement evidencing the AFNB Debt and release of any lien or security interest granted to secure the AFNB Debt and applicable UCC and other termination statements relating thereto;







 



	
(t)  

	
a timetable and budget for the Expansion Improvement in form and substance acceptable to Lender;







 



	
(u)  

	
evidence of the establishment of the Payment Reserve Account and the funding of the Payment Reserve Account in the amount of at least $1,000,000;







 



	
(v)  

	
a copy of a settlement statement in Proper Form; and







 



	
(w)  

	
payment of all costs and expenses (including, without limitation, any appraisal, survey, insurance, environmental assessment, engineering, inspection, searches, recording and attorney’s fees) in connection with the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby, if then invoiced.







 


3.2 Conditions Precedent to Loan and All Advances. The obligation of Lender to make any the Loan and any Advance under the Loan hereunder shall be subject to the further conditions precedent that on the date of the Loan and each Advance:


 



	
(a)  

	
the following statements shall be true (and each of the giving of the applicable Request for Advance and the acceptance by Borrower of the proceeds of the Loan or any such Advance shall constitute a representation and warranty by Borrower that on the date of the Loan or such Advance such statements are true):







 


 




  





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(i)  

	
The representations and warranties contained in Article 6 of this Agreement and in each other Loan Document are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of the Loan or such Advance, before and after giving effect to the Loan or such Advance, as applicable, and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date;







 



	
(ii)  

	
No event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from the Loan or such Advance or the application of the proceeds therefrom, which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default;







 



	
(iii)  

	
No Material Adverse Effect, Event of Taking or Event of Abandonment has occurred in Lender’s determination;







 



	
(iv)  

	
The budget delivered pursuant to Section 3.1 is adequate for the planned construction of the Expansion Improvements; and







 



	
(v)  

	
No law, regulation, order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority shall enjoin, prohibit or restrain, or impose or result in the imposition of any material adverse condition upon Lender’s making the Loan or the requested Advance; and







 



	
(b)  

	
Lender shall have received such other approvals, opinions or documents as Lender may request.







 


3.3 Conditions Precedent to Advances from Disbursement Account or Construction Contingency Account or for Construction Purposes.  The obligation of Lender to make any Advance from the Disbursement Account or the Construction Contingency Account or otherwise for the purpose of funding construction of the Expansion Improvements shall be subject to the further conditions precedent specified below that on the date of each such Advance:


 



	
(a)  

	
Borrower shall have complied, at Lender’s discretion, with all conditions precedent, procedures and obligations specified in the Construction Rider (which Construction Rider is hereby incorporated herein as if set forth in its entirety, mutatis mutandis) and/or in any Funds Control Agreement; and







 



	
(b)  

	
Borrower has obtained or caused to be obtained all performance and/or payment bonds on or by the general contractor providing the construction work for the Expansion Improvements as requested or required by Lender.







 


Borrower agrees that Lender may (but is not obligated to) hire pursuant to one or more Funds Control Agreements a monitoring consultant for the purpose of monitoring the disbursement of any Advances under the Loan Documents (including from the Disbursement Account and the Construction Contingency Account) and that the fees and expenses of each such consultant will be paid by Borrower.


 


 




  





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3.4 Borrowing Procedures.  Within three (3) Business Days after satisfaction of all of the conditions set forth in Section 3.1 and 3.2 above, Lender shall endeavor to fund the Loan for the purposes set forth in Section 2.2, with the proceeds of the Loan being applied as follows:  (x) proceeds of the Loan for the purposes of Sections 2.2(a) and 2.2(c) shall be paid directly to the Persons entitled to such proceeds as approved by Lender and (y) the remainder of the proceeds of the Loan, which shall consist of the amounts described in Sections 2.2(b) and 2.2(d) plus any additional amounts otherwise required by Section 2.2, shall be deposited into the Disbursement Account and the Construction Contingency Account to be further disbursed (by way of Advances as opposed to the Loan) by Lender in accordance with the conditions and procedures specified in Section 3.3 and for the purposes set forth in Section 2.2 hereof (and any advance of funds from the proceeds of the Loan deposited or reserved pursuant to clause (y) above shall constitute an “Advance”).  Interest shall begin to accrue on the Loan from the date funded, whether that funding of the Loan is to Borrower, an escrow agent, a third party or to the Disbursement Account or Construction Contingency Account. For sake of clarity, the Loan shall be deemed funded (including for purposes of interest accrual) when it is initially funded to Borrower or any other Person or into the Disbursement Account, the Construction Contingency Account or any other account (and in the case of the Disbursement Account or Construction Contingency Account or any other account, regardless of whether the funds in such accounts have yet been further disbursed to Borrower).  While a Default or Event of Default exists, Lender shall not be obligated to fund the Loan or any Advance from the Disbursement Account, Construction Contingency Account or other account and Lender shall be entitled (and is hereby authorized) without notice to Borrower or any other Person to apply the Loan proceeds in all such accounts to the Obligations. From time to time, Borrower may request Advances under the Loan from the Disbursement Account (or, if the amounts in the Disbursement Account have been fully applied in accordance with this Agreement, from the Construction Contingency Account) by submitting to Lender a Request for Advance no later than two (2) Business Days preceding the date of the requested Advance. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Lender shall advance to Borrower or, at Lender’s option, by joint payee checks or directly to the applicable third party, the amount requested; provided in no event, will the aggregate amounts advanced under the Loan exceed the original principal amount of the Note.  Following the occurrence of Completion (as defined in the Construction Rider) of the Expansion Improvements, any remaining funds on deposit in the Disbursement Account or Construction Contingency Account shall be deposited in a Lender monitored account maintained at Lender for working capital purposes to be used solely for business expenses of Borrower with respect to the Nixon Refinery (and such funds may not be used directly or indirectly as a revolving line of credit or otherwise to make payments, distributions, reimbursement, salary payments or dividends to any owner, partner, stockholder, subsidiary, Affiliate or beneficiary of Borrower, any Guarantor, Carrol & Company Financial Holdings, LP or AP Energy Partners, LLC).


 


Article 4


 


Affirmative Covenants


 


Until payment in full of and satisfaction of all Obligations (unless full compliance with any of the following provisions has been waived in writing, signed by both Lender and Borrower or each Guarantor, as the case may be), Borrower and each Guarantor will do and, if necessary, cause to be done, each and all of the following:


 


 




  





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4.1 Financial Statements and Information.  Without request by Lender (unless otherwise indicated), furnish Lender with true, correct and complete copies of the following documents and instruments:


 



	
(a)  

	
Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of Borrower, Borrower’s Annual Financial Statements with supporting schedules;







 



	
(b)  

	
Within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the applicable Guarantor, annual financial statements of such Guarantor, which financial statements (i) shall contain the financial information of the same type as described in the definition of Annual Financial Statement) and (ii) shall be reviewed and shall be certified and signed by such Guarantor as being true, correct and complete (except that (A) in the case of Blue Dolphin, such annual financial statements shall be audited and certified by a nationally recognized independent certified public accounting firm reasonably acceptable to Lender and (B) in the case of Carroll, such annual financial shall be due within thirty (30) days of the end of the applicable year);







 



	
(c)  

	
Within sixty (60) days after the end of each calendar quarter, Quarterly Financial Statements of Borrower and each Guarantor (except that (i) in the case of Blue Dolphin, such quarterly financial statements shall be satisfied upon Blue Dolphin’s timely filing of its quarterly 10-K reports and (ii) in the case of Carroll, such quarterly financials shall not be required pursuant to this clause (c));







 



	
(d)  

	
Within thirty (30) days after the filing of same, a true, correct and complete copy of the signed and dated annual U. S. federal income tax return or extension requests of Borrower and Guarantor;







 



	
(e)  

	
Such other financial and other information concerning Borrower or Guarantors requested by RBS or as Lender may request from time to time, including without limitation updated appraisals on the Nixon Refinery or any other Collateral or other real estate, equipment or chattel property within sixty (60) days from the date Lender or RBS requests such information or appraisals;







 



	
(f)  

	
Upon request of Lender, evidence of payment and discharge of all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed on Borrower, Guarantor, their income or profits or any of their Property prior to the date on which penalties or liens attach thereto, provided, however, neither Borrower nor Guarantor shall be required to pay any such tax, assessment, charge, levy or claim the payment of which is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and against which adequate reserves have been set up in accordance with GAAP;







 



	
(g)  

	
Prompt written notice of all claims, actions or litigation, including, without limitation, all proceedings before any Governmental Authority affecting Borrower, Guarantor or the Property of either of them, except litigation or proceedings that is not in excess of $100,000;







 


 




  





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(h)  

	
Prompt written notice of the occurrence of (i) any Default hereunder, (ii) any event or occurrence which has had or can be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) any Event of Abandonment or Event of Taking, or (iv) any casualty or damage to the Nixon Refinery in excess of $100,000;







 



	
(i)  

	
Within (i) thirty (30) days of the required submission date to any Governmental Authority, a copy of all required environmental and other regulatory reporting documents and (ii) thirty (30) days of the receipt of reports from any Governmental Authority, a copy of such reports; and







 



	
(j)  

	
Within sixty (60) days after the end of any fiscal quarter of Borrower, reports of quarterly accounts receivables and accounts payable agings.







 


4.2 Financial Tests.  Borrower shall have and maintain:


 



	
(a)  

	
As at the end of each fiscal quarter of Borrower, a ratio of (i) the total combined Debt of Borrower and LRM (excluding Debt owed to any Guarantor or any Affiliate or Related Person of any of them or of Borrower that is expressly subordinated in Proper Form to the Obligations in right of payment and liens) to (ii) total combined Tangible Net Worth of Borrower and LRM, not exceeding 2.50 to 1.0;







 



	
(b)  

	
As at the end of each fiscal year of Borrower, a ratio of (i) the Debt of Borrower to Net Worth of Borrower, not exceeding 2.50 to 1.0;







 



	
(c)  

	
As at the end of each fiscal quarter of Borrower, a ratio of (i) the total combined Current Assets (excluding any intercompany accounts receivables) of Borrower and LRM to (ii) the total combined Current Liabilities (for sake of clarity including any intercompany payables) of Borrower and LRM; and







 



	
(d)  

	
As at the end of each fiscal year of Borrower, a Current Ratio of Borrower of not less than 1.0 to 1.0;







 



	
(e)  

	
as at the end of each fiscal quarter, a Debt Service Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.50 to 1.0.







 


4.3 Taxes, Existence, Property, Etc.  At all times (a) pay when due all taxes and governmental charges of every kind upon Borrower or Guarantor or against its income, profits or Property, unless and only to the extent that the same shall be contested diligently in good faith and by proper proceedings and against which Borrower, or Guarantor, as the case may be has set up adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP and have in operation a depository plan for payment of future withholding taxes when required; (b) obtain and maintain in full force and effect (or where appropriate, promptly renew in a timely manner), or cause to be obtained and maintained in full force and effect all material permits, approvals, licenses and franchises (including all Environmental Permits and all construction permits) required by any Governmental Authority under any Legal Requirement for the construction, maintenance or operation of the Expansion Improvements, the Nixon Refinery and Borrower’s business and operations generally, in each case, at or before the time the same becomes necessary for such purposes and; (c) do all things necessary to preserve its existence, qualifications, rights, permits, approvals, licenses and franchises in all jurisdictions where its Property or the nature of its business makes such licensing or qualification necessary: and (d) cause the Collateral and its Property necessary or appropriate to the conduct of its business to be protected, maintained and kept in good repair, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and make all replacements and additions to its Property as may be necessary to conduct its business properly and efficiently.


 


 




  





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4.4 Legal Requirements.  Comply with all applicable Legal Requirements in respect of the conduct of its business and the ownership of its Property, including, without limitation, the following:


 



	
(a)  

	
Requirements of Environmental Law.







 



	
(b)  

	
All equal opportunity and nondiscrimination requirements as more fully set out in RBS Instruction 4279A, 4279B and 4287B.







 



	
(c)  

	
All requirements under Clean Air Act and Water Pollution Control Act as more fully set out in RBS Instruction 4279A, 4279B and 4287B.







 



	
(d)  

	
All special laws and regulations as required by RBS Instruction 4279A, 4279B and 4287B.







 



	
(e)  

	
The Americans with Disabilities Act.







 



	
(f)  

	
Legal Requirements in connection with the construction of the Expansion Improvements.







 


4.5 Inspection.  Permit Lender or RBS at any time to inspect its Property, to examine its files, books and records except privileged communication with legal counsel and classified governmental material, and make and take away copies thereof, and to discuss its affairs with its officers and accountants, all during normal business hours and at such intervals and to such extent as Lender or RBS may desire. RBS personnel and any person(s) accompanying RBS personnel shall be authorized to enter upon the premises and into any building thereon, whether permanent or temporary, jointly or separately, with personnel of the Lender to carry out the functions involving their interests. It is anticipated that scheduled and unscheduled inspections shall be conducted during normal business hours by these personnel as well as final acceptance inspections, and Borrower hereby authorizes all such scheduled and unscheduled inspections.


 


4.6 Further Assurances.  Promptly execute and deliver, at Borrower’s expense, any and all other and further instruments which may be requested by Lender to cure any defect in the execution and delivery of any Loan Document in order to effectuate the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, and in order to grant, preserve, protect and perfect the validity, perfection and priority of the Liens created by the Security Documents.


 


4.7 Books and Records.  Maintain books of record and account in such detail, form and scope as Lender or RBS shall require and in accordance with GAAP.


 


 




  





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4.8 Insurance.  Borrower will maintain at Borrower’s sole expense insurance with such insurers, on such of its Property, with responsible companies in such amounts, with such deductibles and against such risks as required pursuant to the Loan Documents and otherwise as may be required by and satisfactory to Lender, and furnish Lender satisfactory evidence thereof promptly upon request.  Without limiting the foregoing, Borrower shall cause Lender to be named as additional insured with respect to any liability insurance and will cause Lender to be named as loss payee and mortgagee as specified in the Loan Documents and will cause mortgagee title insurance to be issued in favor of Lender with respect to the Nixon Refinery.  All insurance proceeds and condemnation proceeds shall be applied at Lender’s election to the restoration of the affected Property or the payment or prepayment of the Obligations.


 


4.9 Cultural Materials.  If cultural materials are encountered during any construction, work must cease in the immediate area. Work can continue in the project area where no cultural materials are present. The Secretary of Interior must be contacted in accordance with 36 CFR 8007. Also, the State Historic Preservation Officer must be notified.


 


4.10 Protection of Collateral.  Lender may at any time after notice to Borrower take such steps as Lender deems necessary to protect Lender’s interest in and to preserve the Collateral. Borrower agrees to cooperate fully with all of Lender’s efforts to preserve the Collateral and will take such actions to preserve the Collateral as Lender may direct. All of Lender’s expenses of preserving the Collateral shall be charged to Borrower’s account and added to the Note. Upon the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default, Lender may use any of Borrower’s owned or leased lifts, hoists, trucks or other facilities or equipment for handling or removing the Collateral and Lender shall have, and is hereby granted, a right of ingress or egress to and through any of Borrower’s owned or leased Property.


 


4.11 Rural Areas.  Borrower will utilize all Loan proceeds in improving, developing or financing business, industry and employment and improving the economic or environmental climate in a Rural Area.


 


4.12 Completion.  Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Expansion Improvements to be constructed by the Completion Date in accordance with Legal Requirements and prudent industry practice and, at Lender’s discretion the Construction Rider and/or any Funds Control Agreement.


 


 




  





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4.13 Escrow Fund.  At the option of Lender, Lender may require Borrower to establish an Escrow Fund (defined below) sufficient to discharge its obligations for the payment of taxes, insurance premiums, and maintenance as required by the Deed of Trust. The initial deposits together with the amounts set forth in this subsection shall be called the (“Escrow Fund”). Initial deposits for taxes, premiums, and maintenance shall be made by Borrower to Lender in amounts determined by Lender in its sole and exclusive discretion on the date hereof to be held in Lender’s Escrow Fund. Additionally, Borrower shall pay to Lender or its designee on the first day of each calendar month: (a) one twelfth of an amount which would be sufficient to pay the taxes payable, or estimated by Lender to be payable (if greater), upon the due dates established by the appropriate taxing authority during the ensuing twelve (12) months; (b) one-twelfth of an amount which would be sufficient to pay, or estimated by Lender to be sufficient to pay (if greater), the insurance premiums due for the renewal of the coverage afforded by the policies upon the expiration thereof; and (c) one-twelfth of an amount which would be sufficient to pay or estimated by Lender to be sufficient to pay (if greater), all costs associated with maintenance and upkeep of building, grounds, equipment, and all other property which needs to be maintained in the ordinary course of business (“CAM”). Borrower shall notify Lender immediately of any changes to the amounts, schedules and instructions for payment of taxes, insurance premiums, and CAM of which it has obtained knowledge and expressly authorizes Lender or its designee to obtain the bills for taxes and other charges directly from the appropriate authority. The Escrow Fund and the payments of interest or principal, or both, payable pursuant to the Note, shall be added together and shall be paid as the aggregate sum by Borrower to Lender. Provided there are sufficient amounts in the Escrow Fund and no Default or an Event of Default exists, Lender shall be obligated to pay on behalf of Borrower the taxes, insurance premiums and CAM as they become due on their respective due dates by applying the Escrow Fund to the payment of such taxes, insurance premiums, and CAM required to be made by Borrower hereunder. If the amount of the Escrow Fund shall not be sufficient to pay the amounts due for taxes, insurance premiums, and CAM herein, Borrower shall promptly (but in no event later than three (3) Business Days after demand by Lender) pay to Lender, upon demand, an amount which Lender shall estimate to make up the deficiency. The Escrow Fund shall constitute a separate fund and shall not be commingled with other monies held by Lender. No interest or earnings shall be payable to Borrower on the Escrow Fund.


 


4.14 Change in Guarantor’s Status.  Should any Guarantor die, become legally incapacitated, become insolvent, or fail to pay such Guarantor’s debts generally as they become due, or voluntarily seek, consent to, or acquiesce in the benefit or benefits of any Debtor Relief Law or become a party to (or be made the subject of) any proceeding provided for by any Debtor Relief Law (other than as a creditor or claimant) that could suspend or otherwise adversely affect the rights and remedies of Lender granted hereunder, then, in any such event, the obligations guaranteed under such Guarantor’s Guaranty shall be, as between such Guarantor and Lender, a fully matured, due, payable and performable obligation of such Guarantor to Lender (without regard to whether Borrower is then in default under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or whether such guaranteed obligations, or any part thereof is then due and owing or unperformed by Borrower to Lender), payable and/or performable in full by such Guarantor to Lender automatically without notice or demand, which shall be the estimated amount owing in respect of the contingent claim created hereunder; provided, however, the death or legal incapacity of Guarantor shall not cause the maturity of such guaranteed obligations if, within thirty (30) days of the date of such death or incapacity, the representative or legal guardian of such Guarantor or Guarantor’s estate affirms in writing (which instrument shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Lender) (a) the obligations of such Guarantor’s estate with respect to such Guarantor’s Guaranty and (b) that no distributions shall be made from such estate without the prior written consent of Lender.


 


Article 5


 


Negative Covenants


 


Until payment in full of and satisfaction of all Obligations, Borrower shall not, without prior express written consent of Lender (and RBS if deemed necessary by Lender):


 


 




  





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5.1 Indebtedness.  Create, incur or assume, directly or indirectly, or become or remain liable with respect to any Debt whether direct, indirect, contingent or otherwise, other than (a) the Loan and (b) Current Liabilities (other than Debt for borrowed money, or under a credit facility or other line of credit) arising out of transactions in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business.


 


5.2 Contingent Liabilities.  Directly or indirectly assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable upon, or agree to purchase or otherwise furnish funds for the payment of, the liability or obligation, including contingent liabilities or obligations, of any Person other than Borrower.


 


5.3 Liens.  Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its Property now owned or hereafter acquired, except (i) Liens securing payment of the Note under this Agreement; and (ii) mechanics, carriers, workmen, repairmen or other like Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of obligations which are not overdue or are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained in accordance with GAAP.


 


5.4 Nature of Business.  Engage in any business other than Borrower’s principal business activity as in effect on the Closing Date or a business activity which is directly related thereto, or change the nature or method of operation or its manner of conducting business in any material respect.


 


5.5 Loans or Investments to Affiliates.  Make any loans or advances to, or investments in or purchase of equity interests of, any officer, director, shareholder, owner, member, partner or Affiliate of Borrower or any Guarantor unless (a) Lender provides its prior written consent and (ii) in the case of loans or advances, such loans or advances are subordinated in right of payment and/or priority of lien as required by Lender in its sole discretion.


 


5.6 Mergers, Consolidations, Dispositions, Acquisitions, Investments.  Liquidate or dissolve; form any new subsidiary or merge or consolidate with any corporation or other entity, or sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired; or acquire by purchase in any acquisitive corporate transaction or otherwise, all or substantially all of the assets of any corporation or other entity or make any investment in the assets of any corporation or other entity or business venture or allow any changes in the current equity ownership of Borrower or any entity Guarantor.


 


5.7 Capital Expenditures.  During any fiscal year, make or incur any expenditures for acquiring or improving any real property, machinery, equipment, furniture or fixtures by purchase, lease purchase agreement or option the aggregate cost or annual rental of which is in excess of two million and No/100 Dollars ($2,000,000) except as may be acquired by the proceeds of the Loan.


 


5.8 Disposition of Assets.  During any fiscal year, sell, lease or dispose of (whether in one or more transactions) in any manner any real property, machinery, equipment, furniture or fixtures not constituting Collateral, and shall not sell or dispose of any Collateral except in accordance with Section 5.13 hereof.


 


 




  





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5.9 Redemptions, Dividends, Distributions.  Redeem, retire or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of Borrower’s capital stock or other equity interest, declare or pay any dividend on or in respect any shares of Borrower’s capital stock or bonuses to officers or shareholders unless (a) after-tax profit was made in the preceding fiscal year; (b) Borrower is and will remain in compliance with covenants of the Loan Agreement and Conditional Commitment; (c) all of Borrower’s debts are paid to a current status; and (d) Borrower has received the prior written concurrence of the Lender, or make any other distribution of any Property or cash to owners of any equity interest in Borrower (in their capacity as such) except as provided above; provided, that if no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Borrower may make dividends and distributions to cover personal tax liability of the members of Borrower resulting from the profitability of Borrower’s business.  No such redemptions, dividends or distributions may be made if Lender determines that such redemptions, dividends or distribution will adversely affect the ability of Borrower to repay the Obligations.  Without limiting the foregoing, no proceeds of the Loan (including any Advances) shall be used to make dividends or distributions to the shareholder(s) of Borrower on account of the equity interests in Borrower.


 


5.10 New Management Practices.  Implement any new management practices without the prior written consent of Lender.


 


5.11 Change of Name or Location.  Change its name or the location of its chief executive office or principal place of business or the place where it keeps its books and records or state of incorporation or organizational structure.


 


5.12 Organizational Documents.  Amend, modify, restate or supplement any of its Organizational Documents if such action could be expected to adversely affect the Loan or any Obligation or the abilities of any of the Parties to perform their respective Obligations under any Loan Document.


 


5.13 Collateral.  Dispose of any of the Collateral or use the Collateral, permit the same to be used, for any unlawful purpose or in any manner inconsistent with the provisions or requirements of any insurance policy required in the Loan Documents, or allow any tangible Collateral to be moved from its current location, in each case without the consent of Lender (or, in the case of disposition of fixed assets or equipment constituting Collateral shall also require the consent of RBS). Borrower further agrees that all payments of any kind from any sale, including but not limited to public or private, of any of the Collateral will be made jointly payable to the Lender and Borrower and shall be kept separate and distinct from other Property of Borrower. These payments include but are not limited to the sale of any equipment, real estate, rolling stock, bonds or stocks. All proceeds must be applied to the Obligations upon receipt of such proceeds. If the Collateral is evidenced by promissory notes or other instruments for the payment of money, Borrower, will, at the request of Lender, immediately deliver them to Lender, appropriately endorsed to Lender’s order and regardless of the form of endorsement, Borrower waives presentment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest and notice of protest.


 


 




  





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5.14 Compensation.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no salaries, compensation and/or other like payments to officers and/or owners will be increased unless (a) an after tax profit (excluding extraordinary and non-recurring gains) (as shown on the Annual Financial Statements) was made in the preceding fiscal year; (b) all of Borrower’s Debt is paid to current status; (c) Borrower remains in compliance with the covenants of this Loan Agreement; and (d) prior written concurrence of the Lender is obtained.  No such compensation shall be permitted if Lender determines that the same will adversely affect the ability of Borrower to repay the Obligations.


 


5.15 Key Agreements.  Amend, modify or grant a waiver of any provision of any of the Key Agreements if such amendment, modification or waiver could have a Material Adverse Effect.


 


5.16 Additional Life Insurance.  Without the prior written consent of Lender and RBS, purchase additional life insurance from Borrower’s business assets or income.


 


5.17 Related Parties.  Engage in any transactions with any Guarantor or any Affiliate or any Related Person of any of them or of Borrower, except upon fair and reasonable terms where such terms are no less favorable, taken as a whole, than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with other parties that are not Related Persons.


 


5.18 No Subsidiaries.  Borrower shall not create or acquire any subsidiary (or a majority of the equity interests in any Person) without the consent of Lender.


 


5.19 Control Agreement.  Borrower shall maintain all of its operating accounts with Lender.


 


5.20 Gambling Activity.  Borrower shall not derive more than ten percent (10%) of its annual gross revenue from gambling activity.


 


5.21 Certain Guarantor Covenants.


 



	
(a)  

	
EACH GUARANTOR THAT IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL (OTHER THAN BLUE DOLPHIN) HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT UNTIL THE OBLIGATIONS ARE PAID IN FULL IN CASH AND ALL COMMITMENTS OF LENDER UNDER THE LOAN DOCUMENTS HAVE TERMINATED OR EXPIRED, SUCH GUARANTOR WILL NOT, WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF LENDER (WHICH MAY BE WITHHELD IN LENDER’S SOLE AND ABSOLUTE DISCRETION), SELL, LEASE, ASSIGN, ENCUMBER, HYPOTHECATE, TRANSFER OR OTHERWISE DISPOSE OF A MATERIAL PORTION OF SUCH GUARANTOR’S ASSETS OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN FOR LESS THAN REASONABLY EQUIVALENT VALUE OR IF THE RESULT OF SUCH ACTION WOULD (i) MATERIALLY AND ADVERSELY AFFECT THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF SUCH GUARANTOR OR (ii)   MATERIALLY AND ADVERSELY AFFECT SUCH GUARANTOR’S ABILITY TO PERFORM ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER ITS GUARANTY OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.







 


 




  





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(b)  

	
EACH GUARANTOR THAT IS AN INDIVIDUAL HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT UNTIL THE OBLIGATIONS ARE PAID IN FULL IN CASH AND ALL COMMITMENTS OF LENDER UNDER THE LOAN DOCUMENTS HAVE TERMINATED OR EXPIRED, SUCH GUARANTOR WILL NOT, WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF LENDER (WHICH MAY BE WITHHELD IN LENDER'S SOLE AND ABSOLUTE DISCRETION), SELL, LEASE, ASSIGN, ENCUMBER, HYPOTHECATE, TRANSFER OR OTHERWISE DISPOSE OF ANY ASSETS OF GUARANTOR EXCEPT FOR TRANSFERS OF ASSETS VALUED AT LESS THAN TEN PERCENT (10%) OF SUCH GUARANTOR’S TOTAL ASSETS AND TRANSFERS FOR WHICH SUCH GUARANTOR RECEIVES CONSIDERATION (IN THE FORM OF CASH OR OTHER PHYSICAL ASSET OF COMPARABLE LIQUIDITY) SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE TRANSFERRED ASSET (AS DETERMINED BY LENDER). 







 


Article 6


 


Representations and Warranties


 


To induce Lender to extend the credit and financial accommodations evidenced by the Loan Documents, Borrower and Guarantor each represents and warrants to Lender that:


 


6.1 Organization.  Each of Borrower and Guarantor (other than Carroll) is a corporation or limited liability company, as applicable, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has all requisite power and authority, corporate or otherwise, necessary in order for it to conduct its business and own its Properties.  Each of Borrower and Guarantor (other than Carroll) is a corporation or limited liability company in good standing under the laws of all jurisdictions (other than its jurisdiction of organization) in which qualification is necessary in order for it to conduct its business and own its Property as conducted and owned in such jurisdictions.


 


6.2 Financial Statements.  The financial statements of Borrower and Guarantor as of and for the period ended December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015, respectively, delivered to Lender concurrently herewith fairly present the financial condition of Borrower and Guarantor as at such date and the results of the operations of Borrower for the period ended on such date all in accordance with GAAP, and since the date of such financial statements, no event has occurred which has had or is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.


 


 




  





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6.3 Enforceable Obligations; Authorization.  The execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which Borrower or Guarantor is a party are within its corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of Borrower or Guarantor, as applicable. Neither execution or delivery of any Loan Documents nor the fulfillment of or compliance with its terms will contravene or violate (i) Borrower’s or Guarantor’s Organizational Documents, (ii) any Legal Requirement binding on or affecting Borrower or Guarantor or (iii) any mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement or other instrument, or any judgment, order or decree binding upon Borrower or Guarantor. No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any franchisor, licensor, distributor, Governmental Authority, regulatory body, or other Person is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by Borrower or Guarantor of the Loan Documents to which each is a party. The Loan Documents to which Borrower or Guarantor is a party have been duly executed and delivered and are legal, valid and binding obligations of Borrower and Guarantor, enforceable against each in accordance with their respective terms. The Improvements and the use of the Land and Improvements comply in all respects with applicable Legal Requirements.


 


6.4 Contractual Obligations.  Neither Borrower nor Guarantor has received notice nor has any actual knowledge that (i) it is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in any contractual obligation, including, without limitation, franchise and distribution contracts, applicable to it, or (ii) any condition exists which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default under such contractual obligations, in each case, except where such default or defaults, if any, will not have or is not likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.


 


6.5 Litigation.  There is no pending or, to the knowledge of Borrower or Guarantor, threatened action or proceeding affecting Borrower or Guarantor before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator, which has had or is likely to have an adverse effect on the financial position of Borrower or Guarantor or the results of operations of Borrower or any of their businesses or the ability of Borrower or Guarantor to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents or would subject Borrower or Guarantor to any liability not fully covered by insurance, or would be required to be disclosed in the notes to any financial statements of Borrower or Guarantor prepared in accordance with GAAP.


 


6.6 Title; Permits.  Borrower possesses adequate assets, licenses, patents, patent applications, copyrights, trademarks, trademark applications, trade names, technology, processes, and franchise and distribution rights to continue to conduct its business as heretofore conducted by it. Borrower has and will continue to have good and indefeasible title to its Property free and clear of all Liens other than as permitted by Section 5.3.  No Liens exist as of the Closing Date upon or with respect to any Property of Borrower other than Liens permitted under Section 5.3.


 


6.7 Indebtedness.  Except for trade payables arising and endorsements of negotiable instruments for collection, in each case, in the ordinary course of its business, and except as permitted under Section 5.1 of this Agreement, Borrower will not have, as of the Closing Date, (i) any obligation or liability (including, without limitation, contingent liabilities) which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any Indebtedness for borrowed money other than the Obligations or (iii) any obligation to guarantee the obligations of any other Person.


 


6.8 Regulations G, U and X.  Borrower is not engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulations G, U or X issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), and no proceeds of any Loan will be used to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or for any purpose which would be inconsistent with the provisions of Regulations G, U or X.


 


 




  





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6.9 Corporate Structure.  The outstanding capital stock of Borrower is duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable is not margin stock. At least fifty-one percent (51%) of the outstanding equity interests of Borrower are owned by citizens of the United States or individuals who reside in the United States after being legally admitted for permanent residence.


 


6.10 No Untrue or Misleading Statements.  The representations and warranties of Borrower, Guarantor and of each other Party to a Loan Document contained in the Loan Documents, and all certificates and other documents delivered pursuant to the terms thereof do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  Neither Borrower nor Guarantor has intentionally withheld any material fact from Lender in regard to any matter, which will have or is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.


 


6.11 Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act, Etc.  Borrower is not subject to regulation under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, the Interstate Commerce Act, the Investment Company Act of 1940, or any other Legal Requirements which limit the ability of Borrower to incur indebtedness or its ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents.


 


6.12 Solvency.  Both immediately before and immediately after giving effect to the consummation of the transactions evidenced by the Loan Documents, each of Borrower and Guarantor has capital sufficient to carry on its respective business and transactions and all businesses and transactions in which it is about to engage and is solvent and able to pay its respective debts as they mature; and each of Borrower and Guarantor owns Property having a value, both at fair valuation and at present fair salable value, greater than the amount required to pay its respective debts.


 


6.13 Legal Requirements.  Borrower and Guarantor are in compliance with all Legal Requirements applicable to them or their respective business, the violation of which would have a Material Adverse Effect.


 


6.14 Environmental Matters.  The operations of Borrower and Guarantor are in compliance with all applicable Requirements of Environmental Law; and (a) none of the Properties of Borrower or Guarantor require any Remedial Action; (b) to the knowledge of Borrower and Guarantor, there is not now on or in the Properties of Borrower or Guarantor (i) any asbestos containing materials, (ii) except as previously disclosed to Lender in the Phase I environmental site assessment dated June, 2000, any underground or aboveground storage tanks, or (iii) any polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) used in hydraulic oils, electrical transformers or other equipment; (c) neither Borrower nor Guarantor has received or is otherwise aware of any notice or claim to the effect that Borrower or Guarantor is or may be liable in any respect to any Person as a result of the release or threatened release of Hazardous Substances into the environmental; (d) neither Borrower nor Guarantor, nor any of their past or present Properties or operations, are subject to any investigation, judicial or administrative proceeding, order, judgment, decree, settlement or other agreement respecting (i) any Requirements of Environmental Law, (ii) any Remedial Action or (iii) any Environmental Claim or Environmental Liabilities arising from the release or threatened release of Hazardous Substances into the environment; and (e) none of the Properties of Borrower or Guarantor require any Remedial Action, other than such actions as specified in the Phase I and Phase II assessments delivered pursuant to Section 3.1 and completed by the applicable environmental remediator (or with respect to which arrangements for completion satisfactory to Lender have been made).


 


 




  





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6.15 Taxes.  Each of Borrower and Guarantor has filed (or has obtained a currently effective extension of time for the filing of) all federal and all state, local and other tax returns and other reports which each is required by any Legal Requirement to file, and all taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges thereupon and upon their respective Property, assets, income and franchises which are shown in such returns or reports to be due and payable have been paid other than those taxes, fees, assessments, and charges which are being contested pursuant to Section 4.3 hereof and such returns properly reflect the United States income, foreign taxes and/or state taxes of Borrower and Guarantor for the periods covered thereby. Borrower and Guarantor do not have any knowledge of any proposed tax assessment against Borrower or Guarantor that will have or is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.


 


6.16 Use of Proceeds.  Borrower’s uses of the proceeds of the Loan are and will continue to be, legal and proper corporate uses (duly authorized by Borrower’s Board of Directors, partner or members or managers, as applicable) in connection with Borrower’s business and are consistent with this Agreement and all applicable Legal Requirements in effect from time to time. None of the proceeds of the Loan will be disbursed to the owner(s), partners, stockholders or beneficiaries of Borrower or any members of their families.


 


6.17 Security Interests.  The Liens of Lender attaching to the Collateral will at all times constitute valid and enforceable first priority Liens in favor of Lender, subject to no prior Lien. Before any funding under the Note, Borrower and Guarantor will have taken or will have participated with Lender in taking, all necessary action and make all necessary filings to provide Lender with perfected, first priority Liens in the Collateral under the laws of all applicable jurisdictions. The Collateral is free from damage caused by fire or other casualty. Borrower and/or Guarantor, as applicable, have good and marketable title to and enjoy peaceful and undisturbed possession of all of the Collateral.


 


6.18 Business Loan.  All loans evidenced by the Note are and shall be for business, commercial, investment or other similar purposes and not primarily for personal, family, household or agricultural use, as such terms are used in the commercial law provision of the Code.


 


6.19 Principal Place of Business & Collateral.  Borrower’s principal place of business and chief executive office is at 801 Travis Street, Suite 2100, Houston, TX 77002, all Collateral is located at such address or at 11372 US Highway 87, Nixon, TX 78140. Borrower has never changed its name, whether by amendment of its organizational documents or otherwise.


 


 




  





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6.20 Certificate of Title.  No part of the Collateral is covered by a certificate of title or subject to any certificate of title law.


 


6.21 Land.  The Land described on Exhibit A is all the real estate owned or leased by borrower and any entity Guarantor.


 


6.22 ADA Compliance.  Borrower’s office facilities and all places accessible to the public are accessible to physically handicapped person who may be employed or come to visit. The office layout is in compliance with the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) or the American With Disabilities Act (ADA), which became effective January 26, 1992, as appropriate.


 


Article 7


 


Events of Default and Remedies


 


7.1 Events of Default.  If any of the following events (each an “Event of Default”) shall occur, then the Lender may do any or all of the following without any notice to Borrower (except as hereinafter expressly provided): (i) declare the Note to be, and thereupon such Note shall forthwith become, immediately due and payable, together with all accrued interest thereon and all fees and other amounts payable hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, without notice of any kind, notice of acceleration or of intention to accelerate, presentment and demand or protest, all of which are hereby expressly waived; (ii) exercise its rights of offset against each account and all other Property of Borrower in the possession of the Lender, which right is hereby granted by Borrower to Lender; (iii) terminate Lender’s obligation to make the Loan or any further Advances under the Loan and (iv) exercise any and all other rights available to Lender under the Loan Documents, at law or in equity:


 



	
(a)  

	
Borrower or Guarantor fails to make any payment of principal of or interest on the Note or in respect of any other Obligation under any Loan Document as and when due and such failure shall continue for a period of fifteen (15) days after written notice by Lender to Borrower (unless such fifteen (15) day period would unreasonably subject Lender to a material loss of its rights as set out in the Loan Documents, in which event such failure must be cured within such shorter period as Lender may require); or







 



	
(b)  

	
Borrower or Guarantor shall fail to pay when due, or within any applicable period of grace, any principal of, or interest on, any other Indebtedness in excess of $100,000; or if the holder of such other Indebtedness declares, or may declare, such Indebtedness due prior to its stated maturity because of Borrower’s or Guarantor’s default thereunder; or







 



	
(c)  

	
Any representation or warranty made by Borrower or Guarantor herein or by Borrower, Guarantor or any other Party in any other Loan Document or in any certificate, financial statement or other written statement furnished to Lender proves to have been incorrect, false or misleading in any material respect when made; or







 


 




  





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(d)  

	
Borrower, Guarantor or any other Party violates any covenant, agreement or condition or otherwise fails to perform any obligation (other than the obligation to pay principal of, or interest on, the Note) contained in this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or in connection with any other Indebtedness owed by Borrower, Guarantor or any other Party to Lender and such violation or failure continues uncured for a period of fifteen (15) days after written notice from lender to Borrower (unless such fifteen (15) day period would unreasonably subject Lender to a material loss of its rights as set out in the Loan Documents, in which event such failure must be cured within such shorter period as Lender may require); or







 



	
(e)  

	
Final judgment for the payment of money is rendered against Borrower or Guarantor and the same is not immediately paid or sufficiently bonded or escrowed; or







 



	
(f)  

	
Borrower, Guarantor or any other Person claims, or any court finds or rules, that the Lender does not have a valid first priority perfected Lien under any Security Document (subject only to Liens permitted by the Loan Documents); or the Liens granted pursuant to the Security Documents fail to be valid first priority perfected Liens (subject only to Liens permitted by the Loan Documents); or any Security Document is terminated or otherwise ceases to be in full force and effect (except in accordance with its terms and not related to any Default hereunder); or any Loan Document or any material provision of any Loan Document without Lender’s consent is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction (or asserted by any Party) to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable or ceases to be legal, valid or enforceable; or







 



	
(g)  

	
Borrower, Guarantor or any other Party sells, encumbers, or abandons (except as otherwise expressly permitted by the Loan Documents) any of the Property now or hereafter subject to any of the Security Documents; or any levy, seizure or attachment is made on any material portion thereof or thereon and same is not dismissed within 30 days; or any material portion of such Property is lost, stolen, substantially damaged or destroyed unless such loss, damage or destruction is in Lender’s judgment adequately covered by insurance; or







 



	
(h)  

	
Borrower, Guarantor or any other Party makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or becomes insolvent or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or petitions or applies to any tribunal for the appointment of a trustee, custodian, receiver, (or other similar official) of Borrower, Guarantor or any other Party of all or any substantial part of the assets of Borrower, Guarantor or any other Party or commences a voluntary case or any other proceeding relating to Borrower, Guarantor or any other Party under any Debtor Relief Law; or







 


 




  





34











  






 



	
(i)  

	
Any such petition or application is filed, or any such proceeding is commenced, against Borrower, Guarantor or any other Party and Borrower, Guarantor or such other Party by any act or omission indicates its approval, consent, or acquiescence thereto, or an order for relief is entered in an involuntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter constituted, or an order, judgment or decree is entered appointing any such trustee, custodian, receiver, liquidator, or similar official or adjudicating Borrower or such other Party bankrupt or insolvent, or approving the petition in any such proceedings, and such order, judgment, or decree remains in effect for 30 days; or







 



	
(j)  

	
Borrower, Guarantor or any other Party conceals, removes, or permits to be concealed or removed, any part of its Property, with intent to hinder, delay or defraud its creditors or any of them, or makes or suffers a transfer of any of its Property which may be fraudulent under any bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance or similar law; or shall have made any transfer of its Property to or for the benefit of a creditor at a time when other creditors similarly situated have not been paid; or







 



	
(k)  

	
Any event shall occur condition exist which results in a Material Adverse Effect; or any casualty has occurred to the Nixon Refinery that (i) in Lender’s or any insurance company’s determination would cause the Nixon Refinery to be a total loss or destroyed or (ii) would affect more than 50% production or capacity of the Nixon Refinery; or any Event of Abandonment occurs; or any Event of Taking shall occur and Lender is not satisfied with the steps being taken by Borrower to remedy the Event of Taking; or







 



	
(l)  

	
Any litigation commences which hinders or delays the collection of any part of the Obligations or the exercise of any right or option of Lender; or







 



	
(m)  

	
Death, incapacity, dissolution, business failure, merger, or similar event, adversely affects Borrower, Guarantor or any other Party; or







 



	
(n)  

	
Borrower uses the Loan proceeds or Collateral in any manner different from the manner contemplated in the Loan Documents; or







 



	
(o)  

	
Lender or any holder of the Note believes in good faith that the prospect of full payment of the Obligations or performance of any covenants or obligations by Borrower is impaired; or







 



	
(p)  

	
Failure of Borrower to comply with the terms of the Conditional Commitment or the terms of any RBS Document; or







 



	
(q)  

	
Any event occurs which, with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice, would permit the holder of any prior lien on the Land to accelerate the prior lien debt; or







 


 




  





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(r)  

	
Failure (i) by Blue Dolphin to own 100% of the equity interests in Borrower or LRM; (ii) by LEH to own at 80% of the voting equity interests in Blue Dolphin; (iii) by Carroll to own at least 50.1% of the voting equity interests in LEH; or (iv) by Carroll to be the President of Blue Dolphin or a member and board director of LEH;







 


provided, that if an Event of Default of the type described in Section 7.1(g) or (h) occurs, then the Note shall automatically without any action by any Person be immediately due and payable, together with all accrued interest thereon and all fees and other amounts payable hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, without notice of any kind, notice of acceleration or of intention to accelerate, presentment and demand or protest, all of which are hereby expressly waived.


 


7.2 Other Remedies.  In addition to and cumulative of any rights or remedies provided for in Section 7.1 hereof, if any one or more Events of Default shall have occurred, the Lender may proceed to protect and enforce its rights hereunder, by any appropriate proceedings, and the Liens evidenced by the Security Documents shall be subject to foreclosure in any manner provided for therein or provided for by law as the Lender may elect. The Lender may also proceed either by the specific performance of any covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or to enforce the payment of the Note or to enforce any other legal or equitable right provided under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or otherwise existing under any law in favor of the holders of Indebtedness of Borrower.


 


Article 8


 


Miscellaneous


 


8.1 Not an Agent.  Nothing contained herein shall be construed to constitute Borrower or Guarantor as Lender’s agent for any purpose whatsoever and lender shall not be responsible or liable for any shortage, discrepancy, damage, loss or destruction of any part of the Collateral wherever same may be located and regardless of the cause thereof. Lender does not, by anything herein or in any assignment or otherwise, assume any of Borrower’s or Guarantor’s obligations under any contract or agreement assigned to Lender and Lender shall not be responsible in any way for the performance by Borrower or Guarantor or any of the terms and conditions hereof.


 


8.2 Notices.  Any notice or other document required or permitted to be delivered to any party hereto shall be in writing and shall be given or delivered by hand delivery, by depositing it with an overnight delivery service, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or sent by telecopy (provided an identical notice is also sent simultaneously by mail, overnight delivery, or personal delivery as otherwise provided in this Section 8.2 to the party entitled to receive such notice or other document at the address specified adjacent to their signature on the signature pages of this Agreement or any such other address as such party shall request in a written notice made in compliance herewith. Any such notice or document will be deemed given or delivered on the earliest of the date actually received if sent by hand delivery, on the first Business day after deposit with an overnight delivery service, on the date deposited in the mail, if mailed, or on the date the telecopy is transmitted to the party’s telecopy number and confirmation of complete receipt is received by the transmitting party during normal business hours or the next Business Day if not confirmed during normal business hours. Actual notice, however and from whoever given or received, shall always be effective when received.


 


 




  





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8.3 Waiver; Remedies Cumulative.  No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising on the part of Lender of any right, power or privilege under any Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege under any Loan Document preclude any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies provided in the Loan Documents are cumulative of, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies provided by law, in equity, or in any other agreement or Loan Document, all of which Lender may pursue at any time and from time to time.


 


8.4 Assignment.  This Agreement shall be binding upon Borrower and Lender and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided, however, Borrower may not assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Lender, and any such assignment or transfer without such consent shall be null and void. Borrower acknowledges and agrees that Lender may sell one or more participations or assign its interest in all or any part of the Loan to others.


 


8.5 Severability.  If a court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision of this Loan Agreement, the Note, or any other Loan Document to be invalid or unenforceable as to any Person or circumstance, such finding shall not render that provision invalid or unenforceable as to any other Person or circumstance. If feasible, any such unenforceable or invalid provision shall be deemed to be modified to be within the limits of enforceability or validity; however, if such provision cannot be so modified, it shall be stricken and all of the remaining provisions of the Loan Documents in all other respects shall remain valid and enforceable and in no way affected thereby.


 


8.6 Expenses, Etc.  Borrower shall pay or reimburse Lender on demand: (a) the fees and expenses of legal counsel to Lender, in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of this Agreement (including the Exhibits and schedules hereto), and the other Loan Documents and the making of the Loan, and any modification, supplement or waiver of any of the terms of this Agreement, or any other Loan Document; (b) out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Lender in connection with the preparation, documentation and administration of the Loan or any of the Loan Documents; and (c) all amounts expended, advanced or incurred by Lender to satisfy any obligation of Borrower, Guarantor or any Party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to collect the Obligations or to enforce, protect, preserve or defend the rights of Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including without limitation, fees and expenses incurred in connection with Lender’s participation as a member of a creditors’ committee in a case commenced under the Bankruptcy Code or other similar law, fees and expenses incurred in connection with lifting the automatic stay prescribed in ‘ 362 of the Bankruptcy Code, fees and expenses incurred in connection with any action pursuant to ‘1129 of the Bankruptcy Code and all other customary out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Lender in connection with such matters, together with interest thereon at the Past Due Rate on each such amount until the date of reimbursement to Lender.


 


 




  





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8.7 Indemnification.  Borrower shall indemnify the Lender and its Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives, advisors, attorneys, members, management, and agents from, and hold each of them harmless against, any and all losses (except loss of profits), liabilities, claims or damages to which any of them may become subject, except with respect to any indemnified party for such indemnified party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct (AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF ANY INDEMNIFIED PARTIES), insofar as such losses (except loss of profits), liabilities, claims or damages arise out of or result from or relates to any (i) actual or proposed use by Borrower of the proceeds of any extension of credit by Lender hereunder; (ii) breach by Borrower of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the breach by any Party of any Loan Document; (iii) violation by Borrower or any other Party of any Legal Requirement; (iv) investigation, litigation or other proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, and Borrower shall reimburse Lender and its Directors, officers, employees and agents, upon demand for any expenses (including legal fees) incurred in connection with any such investigation or proceeding; (v) any transaction contemplated by the Loan Documents or the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents or any other document in any way relating to the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents (including any RBS Document and any Key Agreement); or (vi) taxes (excluding income taxes and franchise taxes) payable or ruled payable by any Governmental Authority in respect of the Obligations or any Loan Document, together with interest and penalties, if any.


 


8.8 Amendments, Etc.  No amendment or modification of this Agreement, the Note or any other Loan Document shall in any event be effective against Borrower unless the same shall be agreed or consented to in writing by Borrower. No amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, the Note or any other Loan Document, nor any consent to any departure by Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective against the Lender unless the same shall be agreed or consented to in writing by Lender (and RBS if deemed necessary by Lender), and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which  given.


 


8.9 Limitation of Interest.  Borrower, Guarantor and Lender intend to strictly comply with all applicable federal and state laws, including applicable usury laws (or the usury laws of any jurisdiction whose usury laws are deemed to apply the usury laws of the State of Texas. Accordingly, the provisions of this Section 8.9 shall govern and control over every other provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document which conflicts or is inconsistent with this Section, even if such provision declares that it controls. As used in this Section, the term interest includes the aggregate of all charges, fees, benefits or other compensation which constitute interest under applicable law, provided that, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, (a) any non-principal payment shall be characterized as an expense or as compensation for something other than the use, forbearance or detention of money and not as interest, and (b) all interest at any time contracted for, reserved charged or received shall be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread, in equal parts during the full term of the Obligations. In no event shall Borrower or any other Person be obligated to pay, or Lender have any right or privilege to reserve, receive or retain, (a) any interest in excess of the maximum amount of nonusurious interest permitted under the laws of the State of Texas or the applicable laws (if any) of the United States or of any other state, or (b) total interest in excess of the amount which Lender could lawfully have contracted for, reserved, received, retained or charged had the interest been calculated for the full term of the Obligations at the Ceiling Rate. On each day, if the Ceiling Rate, the rate at which interest shall accrue shall automatically be fixed by operation of this sentence at the Ceiling Rate for that day, and shall remain fixed at the Ceiling Rate for each day thereafter until the total amount of interest accrued equals the total amount of interest which would have 


 


 




  





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accrued if there were no such Ceiling Rate imposed by this sentence. Thereafter, interest shall accrue at the Stated Rate unless and until the Stated Rate again exceeds the Ceiling Rate; in which case, the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence shall again automatically operate to limit the interest accrual rate to the Ceiling Rate. The daily interest rates to be used in calculating interest at the Ceiling Rate shall be determined by dividing the applicable Ceiling Rate by the number of days in the calendar year for which such calculation is being made. None of the terms and provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document which directly or indirectly relate to interest shall ever be construed without reference to this Section 8.9, or be construed to create a contract to pay for the use, forbearance or detention of money at an interest rate in excess of the Ceiling Rate. If the term of any Obligation is shortened by reason of acceleration of maturity as a result of any Default or by any other cause, or by reason of any required or permitted prepayment, and if for that (or any other) reason lender at any time, including but not limited to, the stated maturity, is owed or receives (and/or has received) interest in excess of interest calculated at the Ceiling Rate, then and in any such event all of any such excess interest shall be canceled automatically as of the date of such acceleration, prepayment or other event which produces the excess, and, if such excess interest has been paid to Lender, it shall be credited pro tanto against the then outstanding principal balance of Borrower’s obligations to lender, effective as of the date or dates when the event occurs which causes it to be excess interest, until such excess is exhausted or all of such principal has been fully paid and satisfied, whichever occurs first, and any remaining balance of such excess shall be promptly refunded to its payor.


 


8.10 Survival.  The obligations of Borrower and Guarantor under each Loan Document to which each is a Party shall survive the repayment of the Loan.


 


8.11 Captions.  Captions and section headings appearing herein are included solely for convenience of reference and are not intended to affect the interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.


 


8.12 Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement and any of the parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart.


 


8.13 Governing Law.  LENDER SHALL HAVE THE OPTION BY WHICH STATE LAWS THIS LOAN AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED AND CONSTRUED: (A) THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS; OR (B) IF COLLATERAL HAS BEEN PLEDGED TO SECURE THE DEBT EVIDENCED BY THIS LOAN AGREEMENT, THEN BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OR STATES WHERE THE COLLATERAL IS LOCATED, AT LENDER’S OPTION. THIS CHOICE OF STATE LAWS IS EXCLUSIVE TO THE LENDER. BORROWER SHALL NOT HAVE ANY OPTION TO CHOOSE THE LAWS BY WHICH THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED. BORROWER AND GUARANTORS HEREBY CONSENT TO THE EXERCISE OF EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER IT BY ANY FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS OR ANY STATE COURT LOCATED IN DALLAS COUNTY SELECTED BY HOLDER, FOR THE PURPOSES OF ANY AND ALL LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE NOTE, THIS LOAN AGREEMENT AND ALL OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS. BORROWER AND GUARANTORS IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT, ANY CLAIM BASED ON THE CONSOLIDATION OR PROCEEDINGS IN SUCH COURTS IN WHICH PROPER VENUE MAY LIE IN DIVERGENT JURISDICTIONS, AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. BORROWER AND GUARANTORS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS LOAN AGREEMENT, THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY.


 


 




  





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8.14 Venue.  Borrower hereby irrevocably (a) agrees that any legal proceeding against Lender arising out of or in connection with the Loan Documents shall be brought in the district courts of Dallas County, Texas, or in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, or elsewhere (collectively, the Courts); (b) submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Courts; (c) agrees and consents that service of process may be made upon it in any proceeding arising out of the Loan Documents or any transaction contemplated thereby by service of process as provided Texas law; (d) WAIVES, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of any Loan Document or the transactions contemplated thereby in the Courts; and (e) WAIVES any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding in any Court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Nothing herein shall affect the right of Lender to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against Borrower in any jurisdiction or to serve process in any manner permitted by applicable law. Borrower agrees that a final and nonappealable judgment in any such action or proceeding may be enforced in other jurisdictions in any manner provided by law.


 


8.15 Conflicts Between This Agreement and the Other Loan Documents.  In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of any of the other Loan Documents, the terms of this Agreement shall control.


 







The Remainder of This Page Left Blank Intentional


 


 


 




  





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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.


 




 



	 	 
LENDER:







Sovereign Bank












By:  _______________________                                                                          


Name:  _____________________         


Title: ______________________          







Address for Notice:







17950 Preston Road, Suite 500


Dallas, Texas 75252


Attn:    Kathryn Walker, Senior Vice President


Telecopy No.:

















BORROWER:







Lazarus Energy LLC







 
By: Blue Dolphin Energy Company, a Delaware corporation, its sole member














By: _______________________                                                                           


Name:   Jonathan Pitts Carroll, Sr.


Title:     President







Address for Notice:







801 Travis Street, Suite 2100


Houston, Texas 77002


Attn:  Jonathan Pitts Carroll, Sr.


Telecopy No.:  866-804-9066


 





 


 


 




  





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GUARANTORS:














 


Jonathan Pitts Carroll, Sr., as Guarantor







Address for Notice:







c/o Lazarus Energy Holdings LLC


801 Travis Street, Suite 2100


Houston, Texas 77002


Attn:  Jonathan Pitts Carroll, Sr.


Telecopy No.:  866-804-9066












Blue Dolphin Energy Company, as Guarantor












By:  _______________________                                                                          


Name:   Jonathan Pitts Carroll, Sr.


Title:  President







Address for Notice:







801 Travis Street, Suite 2100


Houston, Texas 77002


Attn:  Jonathan Pitts Carroll, Sr.


Telecopy No.:  866-804-9066












Lazarus Refining & Marketing, LLC, as Guarantor












 
By: Blue Dolphin Energy Company, a Delaware corporation, its sole member














By:  _______________________                                                                          


Name:  Jonathan Pitts Carroll, Sr.


Title:    President







Address for Notice:







801 Travis Street, Suite 2100


Houston, Texas 77002


Attn:  Jonathan Pitts Carroll, Sr.


Telecopy No.:  866-804-9066







Lazarus Energy Holdings LLC, as Guarantor












By:   ______________________                                                                         


Name: Jonathan Pitts Carroll, Sr.


Title:   Member







Address for Notice:







801 Travis Street, Suite 2100


Houston, Texas 77002


Attn:  Jonathan Pitts Carroll, Sr.


Telecopy No.:  866-804-9066


 





 


 









  





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EXHIBIT A




 


LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF LAND







 


Being a 56.309 ACRE TRACT situated George McPeters Survey, A-419, Wilson County, Texas. Said 56.309 ACRE TRACT is that tract conveyed by Bill Klingemann, Substitute Trustee, to Notre Dame Investors, Inc, by Substitute Trustee’s Deed, in Volume 1159 at Page 609, dated May 06, 2003 and is comprised of all the tract called 51.30 acres in conveyance from Leal Petroleum Corporation to American Petro Chemical Corporation recorded in Volume 842 at Page 705 and all of a tract called 5.000 acres in conveyance from Notre Dame Refining Corporation to American Petro Chemical Corporation recorded in Volume 1049 at Page 651 of the Official Records of said county. Said 56.309 acre tract subsequently called 56.309 Acres in conveyance from Notre Dame Investors, Inc. to Lazarus Energy, L.L.C. recorded in Volume 1342 at Page 687 of the Official Public Records and being described by metes and bounds as follows:







BEGINNING at a one-half inch diameter rebar set with cap (B&A) marking the northwest corner of the tract herein described, same being the northwest corner of said 51.30 acre tract, northeast corner of a tract called Tract 2-B (41.245 acres) in Volume 685 at Page 101, lying in the south line of a tract called 7.654 acres in Volume 271 at Page 30, further described as lying in the south line of U.S. Highway No. 87; said point bears N 76° 16’ 00” E, 1495.62 feet from a concrete right of way marker found;







THENCE with a segment of the north line of the tract herein described, same being a segment of the common line of said 51.30 acre tract and said 7.654 acre tract, along a segment of the south line of U.S. Highway 87, N 76° 16’ 00” E, 140.71 feet (called N 76° 16’ E, 140.0 feet – basis of bearing) to a one-half inch diameter rebar set with cap (B&A) marking a north corner of the tract herein described, same being the north corner of said 51.30 acre tract, northwest corner residue called 640 acres in Volume X at Page 136;







THENCE continuing with the north line of the tract herein described, same being the common line of said 51.30 acre tract with that of said residue 640 acre tract and a tract called 1.666 acres in Volume 1030 at Page 772 as follows:







S 13° 27’ 49” E, 208.63 feet (called S 13° 37’ E, 207.4 feet) to a five-eighths inch diameter rebar found near a two way fence corner,







N 76° 26’ 34” E, 368.79 feet (called N 76° 29’ E, 368.4 feet) to a one-half inch diameter rebar set with cap (B&A),







N 76° 28’ 28” E, 31.40 feet (called N 76° 49’ E, 31.4 feet) to a five-eighths inch diameter rebar found near a two way fence corner,


 


 




  





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S 13° 55’ 25” E, 238.17 feet (called S 14° 00’ E, 238.0 feet) to a five-eighths inch diameter rebar found marking a re-entrant corner of the tract herein described, same being the southwest corner of said residue 640 acre tract,







N 76° 06’ 05” E, at 386.77 feet a one inch diameter iron pipe found and at, 388.52, (N 76° 16’ E, 388.1 feet) to a one-half inch diameter rebar set with cap (B&A) marking a re-entrant corner of the tract herein described,


same being the southeast corner of said residue 640 acre tract and







N 13° 36’ 45” W, at 1.84 feet a one inch diameter iron pipe found and at 446.92 feet (called N 13° 37’ W, 447.1 feet) to a one-half inch diameter rebar found marking a north corner of the tract herein described, same being the northeast corner of said 1.666 acre tract, lying in the south line of said 7.654 acre tract, further described as lying in the south line of U.S. Highway 87;







THENCE continuing with the north line of the tract herein described, same being a segment of the common line of said 51.30 acre tract and said 5.000 acre tract with that of said 7.654 acre tract, along a segment of the south line of U.S. Highway 87 as follows:







N 76° 16’ 00” E, 275.15 feet (called N 76° 16’ E, 275.3 feet) to a railroad spike found in asphalt driveway,







N 81° 58’ 38” E, 100.50 feet (called N 82° 12’ E, 99.2 feet) to a one-half inch diameter rebar set with cap (B&A),







N 76° 16’ 00” E, 800.00 feet (called N 76° 14’ E, 800.5 feet) to a one-half inch diameter rebar set with cap (B&A),







N 70° 33’ 22” E, 100.50 feet (called N 70° 43’ E, 101.2 feet) to a concrete right of way marker found broken, and







N 76° 16’ 00” E, 464.56 feet (in total called No record call, and N 75° 02’ 04” E, 278 feet) to a one-half inch diameter rebar set with cap (B&A) marking the northeast corner of the tract herein described, same being the northeast corner of said 5.000 acre tract, lying in the south line of said 7.654 acre tract, being the northwest corner of a tract called 200.008 acres in Volume 691 at Page 41; said point bears S 76° 16’ 00” W, 278.37 feet from an iron pipe found;







THENCE with the east line of the tract herein described, same being a segment of the common line of said 5.000 acre tract and said 51.30 acre tract with that of said 200.008 acre tract as follows: S 13° 43’ 44” E, 783.78 feet (called S 15° 01’ E, 783.5 feet) to a five-eighths inch diameter rebar found near a two way fence corner marking the east most southeast corner of the tract herein described, same being the southeast corner of said 5.000 acre tract, re-entrant corner of said 200.008 acre tract,







S 76° 16’ 39” W, 277.87 feet (called S 75° 02’ 04” W, 278 feet) to a five-eighths inch diameter rebar found marking a re-entrant corner of the tract herein described, same being the southwest corner of said 5.000 acre tract, lying in the east line of said 51.30 acre tract and being a north corner of said 200.008 acre tract, and


 


 




  





2











  











S 13° 24’ 23” E, 261.29 feet (called S 13° 24’ E, 261.7 feet) to a four inch diameter iron pipe post fence corner marking the south most southeast corner of the tract herein described, same being the southeast corner of said 51.30 acre tract and re-entrant corner of said 200.008 acre tract;


THENCE with the south line of the tract herein described, same being a segment of the common line of said 51.30 acre tract and said 200.008 acre tract as follows:







S 76° 08’ 20” W, 768.00 feet (called S 76° 10’ W, 768.0 feet) to a one-half inch diameter rebar set with cap (B&A), and







S 76° 15’ 20” W, 1619.78 feet (called S 76° 17’ W, 1619.8 feet) to a five-eighths inch diameter rebar found near a three way fence corner marking the southwest corner of the tract herein described, same being the southwest corner of said 51.30 acre tract, lying in the north line of said 200.008 acre tract and being the southeast corner of said 41.245 acre tract;







THENCE with the west line of the tract herein described, same being the common line of said 51.30 acre tract and said 41.245 acre tract as follows:







N 13° 57’ 38” W, 223.50 feet (called N 13° 55’ W, 223.5 feet) to a one-half inch diameter rebar set with cap (B&A),







N 13° 53’ 37” W, 373.70 feet (called N 13° 51’ W, 373.7 feet) to a fence post, and







N 13° 49’ 38” W, 449.84 feet (called N 13° 47’ W, 448.8 feet) to the PLACE OF BEGINNING and containing 56.309 ACRES OF LAND.


 


 




  





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EXHIBIT B


 







 


FORM OF PROMISSORY NOTE


 


[To be attached]


 


 




  





  











  
















EXHIBIT C


 



CONSTRUCTION RIDER TO LOAN AGREEMENT


 


This Construction Rider To Loan Agreement (this “Construction Rider”) is made and entered as of the Closing Date, by and among Sovereign Bank, as Lender, Lazarus Energy LLC, as Borrower, and Guarantor (as defined in the Loan Agreement defined below). In the event the terms and provisions of this Construction Rider are in conflict with the terms and provisions of the Loan Documents, the terms and provisions of this Construction Rider will control. However, the terms, conditions, requirements, and agreements contained herein are intended to be in addition to, and not a replacement of, the terms, conditions, requirements, and agreements contained in, and consistent with, the Loan Agreement.


 


Unless a particular term, word or phrase is otherwise defined or the context otherwise requires, capitalized terms, words and phrases used herein have the following meanings (all definitions that are defined in this Construction Rider in the singular to have the same meanings when used in the plural and vice versa). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Construction Rider shall have the same meaning as defined in the Loan Agreement:


 


“Advance” means a disbursement by Lender of any of the Escrow or proceeds of the Loan from the Disbursement Account for the construction of the Expansion Improvements.


 


“Approved Budget” means a budget and cost itemization prepared by Borrower, and approved in writing by Lender, specifying the cost by item of (a) all labor, materials, and services necessary for the construction of the Expansion Improvements in accordance with the Plans and all Legal Requirements; and (b) all other expenses anticipated by Borrower incident to the Loan, the Land, and the construction of the Expansion Improvements.


 


“Architect” means the architect, if any, named on Exhibit “1” attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.


 


“Architectural Contract” means a written agreement between Borrower and Architect, if any, for architectural services pertaining to construction of the Expansion Improvements.


 


“Borrower’s Affidavit” means a sworn affidavit of Borrower (and such other parties as Lender may require) to the effect that all statements, invoices, bills, and other expenses incident to the construction of the Expansion Improvements incurred to a specified date, whether or not specified in the Approved Budget, have been paid in full, except for (a) amounts retained pursuant to a Construction Contract, and (b) items to be paid from the proceeds of an Advance then being requested or in another manner satisfactory to Lender.


 


“Completion” is defined in Section C of this Construction Rider.


 


“Completion Date” means the Completion Date specified in Exhibit “1”.


 


“Construction Contract” means each agreement made by Borrower for construction of the Expansion Improvements.


 


“Contractor” means each Person with whom Borrower makes a Construction Contract.


 


 




  





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“Deed of Trust” means the Deed of Trust, Mortgage, Security Agreement, Assignment of Leases and Rents, Financing Statement and Fixture Filing covering and encumbering, among other things, the Land and Expansion Improvements to secure payment and performance of the Obligations.


 


“Escrow” means any funds placed on deposit with Lender or Lender's Representative and to be disbursed per the Loan Agreement or any other agreement.


 


“Inspecting Architects/Engineers” means the inspecting architects and/or engineers, if any, specified by Lender from time to time.


 


“Lender's Representative” means the party who would make the actual advances from the Escrow or the Disbursement Account to Borrower.


 


“Loan Agreement” shall mean the Loan Agreement dated as of the date hereof, among Sovereign Bank, as Lender, Lazarus Energy LLC, as Borrower, and Jonathan Pitts Carroll, Sr., Lazarus Energy Holdings LL, Lazarus Refining & Marketing, LLC and Blue Dolphin Energy Company, collectively as Guarantor, to which this Construction Rider is attached, as it may from time to time be amended, modified, restated or supplemented.


 


“Plans” means the final working drawings and specifications and timeline for the construction of the Expansion Improvements (including soil reports and engineering calculations) prepared by Architect (or Borrower, if there is no Architect) and as modified or supplemented from time to time and approved by Lender, Borrower, any lessee of the Land, if applicable, and, to the extent necessary, by each Governmental Authority.


 


“Principal Debt” means the aggregate unpaid balance of all Advances of the Loan, and all other principal indebtedness, if any, under the Note, at the time in question.


 


“Request for Advance” means a written request by Borrower (and such other parties as Lender may require) to Lender, on a form approved by Lender, specifying by name, current address, and amount all parties to whom Borrower is obligated for labor, materials, or services supplied for the construction of the Expansion Improvements and all other expenses incident to the Loan, the Land, and the construction of the Expansion Improvements, whether or not specified in the Approved Budget, requesting an Advance for the payment of such items, containing, if requested by Lender, an Borrower’s Affidavit, accompanied by such schedules, affidavits, releases waivers, statements, invoices, bills, and other documents as Lender may request.


 


“Title Company” means the title company or title companies named in Exhibit “1”.


 


“Title Insurance” means one or more title insurance commitments, binders, or policies, as Lender may require, issued by the Title Company, on a coinsurance or reinsurance basis (with direct access in Texas) if and as required by Lender, in the maximum amount of the Loan insuring or committing to insure that the Deed of Trust constitutes a valid lien covering the Land and all Expansion Improvements thereon subject only to those exceptions which Lender may approve.


 


A. General. Subject to the conditions hereof and the other terms, conditions, and requirements contained in the Loan Agreement, and provided that an Event of Default has not occurred, Lender will make Advances for construction-related expenses to Borrower in accordance with this Construction Rider. However, prior to any construction-related Advance, the following additional terms and conditions must be satisfied:


 


 




  





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1.  

	
Borrower must pay to Lender all required fees, costs, and expenses.







 



	
2.  

	
Lender must obtain an inspection of and acceptable report on the Expansion Improvements by the Inspecting Architects/Engineers, if required by Lender.







 



	
3.  

	
The sum of the Principal Debt plus the amount of the requested Advance shall not be in excess of the amount then available under Section 2.1 of the Loan Agreement.







 



	
4.  

	
The Title Insurance shall be endorsed and extended, if required by Lender, to cover each Advance with no additional title exceptions objectionable to Lender.







 



	
5.  

	
Borrower shall procure and deliver to Lender, if required by Lender, releases or waivers of mechanic's liens and receipted bills showing payment of all amounts due to all Persons who have furnished materials or services or performed labor of any kind in connection with the construction of any of the Expansion Improvements or otherwise with respect to the Land.







 



	
6.  

	
At the option of Lender, Advances shall be made only on the certificate of the Inspecting Architects/Engineers or other designated agent of Lender approved by the Lender, to which certificate shall be attached an estimate by the Contractor setting forth items to be paid out of the proceeds of each such Advance. However, the Lender may, at its discretion, make advances without requiring such certificate and Contractor's estimate, in which event Borrower shall furnish Lender a list of and the amounts of each items to be paid out of the Advances, or such other evidence that Lender may require.







 


B. Procedure for Borrowing. Lender shall not be required to make Advances more frequently than specified in Exhibit “1”, hereto. Each Application for Advance shall be submitted by Borrower to Lender a reasonable time (but not less than five Business Days) prior to the requested date (which must be a Business Day) of the Advance. Except as Lender may otherwise determine from time to time, each Advance will be made at Lender's principal office or at such other place as Lender may designate.


 


 




  





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C. Advances. Advances shall be made only for costs and expenses specified in the Approved Budget, and then only for work performed, services rendered, or materials furnished; invoices for same must be provided to Lender; no Advance shall be made for advance or unearned payments (or for making a dividend or distribution to any shareholder of Borrower). Advances for payment of costs of construction of the Expansion Improvements shall be made only after actual commencement of construction of the Expansion Improvements and shall not exceed the aggregate of (a) the costs of labor, materials, and services incorporated into the Expansion Improvements in a manner acceptable to Lender, plus (b) if approved by Lender, the purchase price of all uninstalled materials to be utilized in the construction of the Expansion Improvements stored on the Land, or elsewhere with the written consent of, and in a manner acceptable to, Lender, less (c) retainage, if any, specified in Exhibit “1”, and less (d) all prior Advances for payment of costs of labor, materials, and services for the construction of the Expansion Improvements. Without limitation of other conditions applicable thereto, the final Advance, including all retainage, will not be made until Completion of the Expansion Improvements has occurred.  “Completion” shall have occurred with respect to the Expansion Improvements when (i) “completion” (as that term is used in §53.106 of the Texas Property Code) of the Expansion Improvements has occurred and (ii) Lender has received the following to its satisfaction (or waived them in writing): (1) a completion certificate from the Architect and from the Inspecting Architects/Engineers, if any, (2) evidence that all Legal Requirements have been satisfied, including, but not limited to, delivery to Lender of certificates of occupancy permitting the Expansion Improvements to be legally occupied, if applicable, (3) evidence that no mechanic's or materialmen's liens or other encumbrances have been filed and remain in effect against the Land, (4) final lien releases or waivers by Architect, Contractor, and all subcontractors, materialmen and other Persons who have supplied labor, materials or services for the construction of the Expansion Improvements, or who otherwise might be entitled to claim a contractual, statutory or constitutional lien against the Land, (5) an “as-built” Survey showing that the Expansion Improvements as completed do not encroach on any boundary line, easement, building set back line, or other restricted area. Ten percent (10%) retainage shall be withheld from all Advances until thirty (30) days after Completion of the Expansion Improvements. In addition, the final Advance hereunder shall, at Lender's option, be withheld until thirty (30) days after (i) the Completion of the Expansion Improvements and (ii) an affidavit of completion has been filed with the county clerk of the county in which the Land is located in compliance with §53.106 of the Texas Property Code. To the extent that the Expansion Improvements are divided into phases or identifiable segments, references in the preceding sentence to a final Advance shall include each final Advance with respect to such a phase or segment. As a condition precedent to the first Advance for labor, materials, or construction services (whether or not it is the first Advance), Borrower and each original Contractor shall have jointly executed and recorded with the county clerk of the county in which the Land is situated, an affidavit of commencement of work, in form and substance approved by Lender, which contains the information required by §53.124(c) of the Texas Property Code, provided further that the date of commencement of work specified in such affidavit shall be subsequent to the date of recordation of the Deed of Trust.


 


D. Approved Budget Allocations. Lender shall not be obligated to make an Advance of an item allocated in the Approved Budget to the extent that the amount of the Advance of such item, when added to the amount of prior Advance of such item, would exceed the amount allocated to such item in the Approved Budget. Lender reserves the right to make Advances which are allocated to any of the items in the Approved Budget for such other items therein or in such different proportions as Lender may, in its sole discretion, deem necessary or advisable. Borrower may not reallocate items of cost in or change the Approved Budget without the prior written consent of Lender.


 


E. Disbursement of Loan Proceeds. Borrower and Lender agree, anything herein or in the other Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, that the Lender shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to advance the proceeds of the Loan in installments, from time to time, as, in the opinion of the Lender, funds are needed by Borrower for the purposes herein expressed; and the Lender reserves the right in its discretion to advance only such part of said Loan proceeds as it deems best, and to discontinue making such Advances to Borrower if, in its discretion, further or additional Advances shall seem to it unjustified, unwise or undesirable or if it deems itself insecure; and said Loan Documents shall be and remain valid and binding as security for the aggregate amount advanced at any time, whether or not the full amount of said Loan is Advanced. Lender will endeavor to make a requested disbursement within ___ days after Borrower has made a written request for payment and Lender has received all supporting information and documentation as may be required by Lender and/or any construction manager retained by Lender.


 


 




  





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F. Timely Payment of Construction Costs. Borrower agrees to pay, as the work progresses, all bills for labor and materials going into construction of the Expansion Improvements, and agrees to submit to the Lender all such receipts, affidavits, canceled checks or other evidences of payment as may be requested from time to time, and when and if requested by the Lender at any time to furnish adequate proof of payment of all indebtedness of every kind and character incurred in the development of the Land and/or the construction of Expansion Improvements.


 


G. No Work Done - Condition of Premises. Borrower warrants that no construction materials, supplies or equipment have been placed on the Land, that no labor has been performed therein incidental to the contemplated construction, and that Borrower has not received any notice of a claim of a mechanic's or materialman's lien against the Land except those liens shown on Exhibit “G” to the Loan Agreement and which will be paid in full with proceeds of the Loan and released. Borrower also warrants that the Expansion Improvements are not now damaged or injured as a result of any fire, explosion, accident, flood or other casualty.


 


H. Work in Accordance with Plans. Borrower agrees to proceed with diligence to construct the Expansion Improvements called for by the Plans and the Construction Contract, a copy of which Plans and Construction Contract have been delivered to the Lender, and Borrower further agrees that said construction work shall be done strictly in accordance with Plans and Construction Contract as approved by the Lender, and with all applicable Legal Requirements. The Plans and the Construction Contract heretofore delivered to, and approved by, the Lender may not be materially changed, altered or added to without the prior written consent of Lender.  Borrower shall use achieve Completion by no later than the Completion Date (or such later date as is consent to by Lender in writing).


 


I. Disbursements. Inspections shall be made by a representative of Lender for all disbursements. At no time and in no event shall Lender be obligated to disburse funds in excess of the amount recommended by Lender's agent or the Inspecting Architects/Engineers; or if any Event of Default shall have occurred; or if Lender is unsatisfied with the progress of construction; or, if in the sole opinion of Lender, the estimated remaining cost of construction in accordance with the Plans exceeds the remaining undisbursed portion of the Loan proceeds; or if any Expansion Improvements shall have been damaged by fire or other casualty and Lender shall not have received insurance proceeds sufficient in the sole judgment of Lender to effect the restoration of the Expansion Improvements to the condition immediately preceding such damage and in accordance with the Plans, if applicable, and permit the completion of the Expansion Improvements on or before the scheduled completion date. It is understood that any sum or sums required for the construction of the Expansion Improvements over and above the proceeds of the Loan herein agreed to be made shall be advanced by, and be the sole responsibility of, Borrower.


 


J. Remedies of Lender. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, and after the expiration of any applicable cure period, Lender shall at its option be entitled, in addition to and not in lieu of the remedies provided in the Loan Agreement and other Loan Documents, to proceed to exercise any or all of the following remedies:


 


1. Require Borrower to vacate the Land and Expansion Improvements.  Borrower agrees that, upon Lender's request in the event of an Event of Default, to immediately vacate the Land and Expansion Improvements;


 


2. Enter into possession of the Land and Expansion Improvements;


 


3. Perform or cause to be performed any and all work and labor necessary to complete the Expansion Improvements in accordance with the Plans and Construction Contract;


 


4. Employ security watchmen to protect the Land and Expansion Improvements;


 


5. Disburse that portion of the Loan proceeds not previously disbursed (including any retainage) to the extent necessary to complete construction of the Expansion Improvements in accordance with Plans and Construction Contract, and if the completion requires a larger sum than the remaining undisbursed portion of the Loan, to disburse such additional funds, all of which funds so disbursed by Lender shall be deemed to have been disbursed to Borrower and shall be secured by the Security Documents. For this purpose, Borrower hereby constitutes and appoints Lender its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full power of substitution to complete the construction of the Expansion Improvements in the name of Borrower, and hereby empowers Lender as said attorney to take all actions necessary in connection therewith including any Escrow and any funds which may remain unadvanced under the Loan for the purpose of completing the Expansion Improvements in the manner called for by the Plans; to make such additions and changes and corrections in the Plans which shall be necessary or desirable to complete the Expansion Improvements in substantially the manner contemplated by the Plans; to employ such contractors, subcontractors, agents, architects, and inspectors as shall be required for said purposes; to pay, settle or compromise all existing or future bills and claims which are or may be liens against said Land, or may be necessary or desirable for the completion of the Expansion Improvements or the clearance of the title to the Land; to execute all applications and certificates in the name of Borrower which may be required by any construction contract and to do any and every act with respect to the construction of the Expansion Improvements and to take such action and require such performance as it deems necessary. In accordance therewith Borrower hereby assigns and quitclaims to Lender all sums to be advanced hereunder including retainage and any sums in escrow conditioned upon the use of said sums, if any, for the completion of the Expansion Improvements; and/or


 


6. Take any other action that Lender, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable under the circumstances to protect and preserve the Collateral. Borrower agrees to immediately reimburse Lender for all costs incurred to protect and preserve the Collateral.


 


 




  





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K. Right of Inspection. Borrower agrees to permit Lender and its representatives and agents to enter upon the Land during normal business hours with 24 hours’ notice and to inspect the Expansion Improvements and all materials to be used in the construction thereof and to cooperate and cause Contractor to cooperate with Lender and its representatives and agents during such inspections; provided, however, that this provision shall not be deemed to impose upon Lender any duty or obligation whatsoever to undertake such inspection, to correct any defects in the Expansion Improvements or to notify any person with respect thereto.


 


L. Correction of Defects. Borrower agrees to promptly correct any structural defect in the Expansion Improvements and to promptly correct any departure from the Plans not previously approved by Lender. An Advance shall not constitute a waiver of Lender's right to require compliance with this, or any other, covenant.


 


M. General Conditions. The following conditions shall be applicable throughout the term of the Loan Agreement:


 


1. Rights of Third Parties. All conditions of the obligations of Lender hereunder, including the obligation to make Advances, are imposed solely and exclusively for the benefit of Borrower and Borrower's successors and assigns and no other person shall have standing to require satisfaction of such conditions in accordance with their terms or be entitled to assume that Lender will refuse to make advances in the absence of strict compliance with any or all thereof and no other person shall, under any circumstances, be deemed to be a beneficiary of such conditions, any and all of which may be freely waived in whole or in part by the Lender at any time if in its sole discretion it deems it desirable to do so. In particular, Lender makes no representations and assumes no duties or obligations as to third parties concerning the quality of the construction by Borrower or the Expansion Improvements or the absence therefrom of defects. In this connection, Borrower agrees to and shall indemnify Lender from any liability, claims or losses resulting from the disbursement of the Loan proceeds or from the condition of the Expansion Improvements whether related to the quality of construction or otherwise and whether arising during or after the term of the Loan. This provision shall survive the repayment of said Loan and shall continue in full force and effect so long as the possibility of such liability, claims, or losses exists.


 


2. Evidence of Satisfaction of Conditions.  Any condition of this Construction Rider which requires the submission of evidence of the existence or nonexistence of a specified fact or facts implies as a condition the existence or nonexistence, as the case may be, of such fact or facts, and Lender shall, at all times, be free to independently establish to its satisfaction and in its absolute discretion such existence or nonexistence.


 


N. Advances Do Not Constitute a Waiver. No Advance shall constitute a waiver of the conditions of Lender's obligation to make further Advances nor, in the event Borrower is unable to satisfy any such condition, shall any such waiver have the effect of precluding Lender from thereafter declaring such inability to be a Default. In addition, any waiver of any provision of the Loan Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of any other provision, and shall not act as a future waiver of any provision of the Loan Agreement.


 


O. Compliance With Federal Law. Borrower will ensure that each Contractor complies with Executive Order 11246, entitled “Equal Employment Opportunity”, as amended by Executive Order 11375, and as supplemented by applicable Department of Labor Regulations (41 CFR, Part 60). Failure of the Contractor to comply with these laws will be an Event of Default.


 


 




  





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P. Cost Overruns. Borrower will not allow any change and/or cost overrun on any contract or other commitment which will result in an additional cash flow expenditure and/or debt to the business and/or request for a subsequent loan, either guaranteed or not, without the express written approval of RBS. In no event will a subsequent Business & Industry Guaranteed Loan be approved to cover such costs. Furthermore, Borrower will not divert Loan funds from purposes identified in Section 2.2 of the Loan Agreement for any of the aforementioned items without the express written approval of RBS. Failure to comply with the terms of this paragraph will be considered a material adverse change in Borrower's financial condition and a default under the Loan. In the event any of the aforementioned increases in costs and/or expenses are incurred by Borrower, Borrower must provide for such increases in a manner that there is no diminution of Borrower's operating capital.


 


Q. Contingency Allocations.  Any amount allocated in the Approved Budget for “contingencies” or other non-specific purposes may, in Lender’s discretion, be disbursed by Lender to pay contingent costs and expenses of maintaining, leasing and promoting the “Property” or the “Collateral” (in each case as defined in the Deed of Trust or any other Security Document) and such other costs or expenses as Lender shall approve.  Under no circumstances shall Borrower have the right to require Lender to disburse any amounts so allocated and Lender may impose such requirements and conditions as it deems prudent and necessary should it elect to disburse all or any portion of the amounts so allocated.


 


R. Funds Control Agreement.  At Lender’s sole discretion, Lender’s obligations to make advances under the Loan (including any advances under Section 3.3 of the Credit Agreement) will be subject to Borrower’s entering into and complying with all of conditions precedent, procedures and obligations specified in one or more Funds Control Agreements as Lender deems necessary or advisable, which Funds Flow Agreements may, at Lender’s discretion or specification, supersede some or all of funding conditions and other terms of this Construction Rider.  At Lender’s direction, Borrower shall promptly enter into such Funds Control Agreements.  In the absence of any Funds Control Agreement, the terms and conditions of this Construction Rider shall apply, subject to any waivers hereto as permitted by Lender at its sole discretion.


 


S. Purpose of Loan and Escrow. The proceeds of the Loan and Escrow will be used for the purposes specified in the Loan Documents. Such Loan and Escrow will not be used directly or indirectly for personal, family, household or agricultural purposes or for the purposes of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock or for the purpose of extending credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock.


 


 




  





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EXHIBIT “1”


 


TO


 


CONSTRUCTION RIDER


 




 



	Loan: 	 
$25,000,000.00


	 	 
	The Architect: 	N/A 
	 	 
	The Closing Date: 	The date of the Loan Agreement. 
	 	 
	The Completion Date: 	 
On or before twelve (12) months from Closing Date.


	 	 
	 
The Contractors:

	 
[Name of Contractor]


[Address of Contractor]


	 	 
	 
The Expansion: Improvements:

	 
Construction of Expansion Improvements (as defined in the Loan Agreement) to the existing Nixon, Texas oil refinery plant pursuant to [Name of Contract] dated [          ] by and between Lazarus Energy LLC and [Name of Contractor], as Contractor; and in each case in accordance with plans and specifications as more particularly described in said contract.


	 	 
	Retainage to be deducted from Advance: 	 
Ten Percent (10%), if and to the extent required by Lender at its discretion.


	 	 
	Frequency of Advances: 	At sole discretion of Lender. 
	 	 
	The Title Company: 	 
Providence Title


5001 HWY 287 South, Ste 105


Arlington, TX 76017







 











 




  





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EXHIBIT D




 



AFFIDAVIT


 


STATE OF TEXAS                             §


§


COUNTY OF DALLAS                      §


 


BEFORE ME, the undersigned authority personally appeared Jonathan Pitts Carroll, Sr., who, being duly sworn by me, stated, under oath, as follows:


 


“This Affidavit is made by Jonathan Pitts Carroll, Sr.  I am the President of Blue Dolphin Energy Company, a Delaware corporation, sole member of Lazarus Energy LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”).


 


On behalf of the Company, I have previously made application to Sovereign Bank (the “Lender”) for a USDA Business & Industry Guaranteed loan in the amount of $25,000.000.00, same having been approved as Case No. 51-047-*****1870, which said loan, upon fulfillment of all prerequisites and requirements, shall be funded by Lender.


 


In connection with the application for said loan, I submitted certain financial and other requested information concerning myself individually and the Company.  By this Affidavit, I represent that the information and data previously submitted to the Lender was accurate in all material respects at the time of its submission and is accurate at time of closing of the described loan, including but not limited to the representations as to management and ownership.


 


Further, I represent that since the date of the initial Loan application, there has been no unremedied material adverse change in any material matter concerning myself or the Company.  Also, I represent that the Company has not contracted for any additional debt since the date of the financial information used in the loan application, without the knowledge and written approval of the Lender, and that the collateral offered to secure the Lender was not encumbered and is not encumbered except as identified in the loan application.


 


Further, I represent that neither I nor the Company are in default in payment of any federal, state or local taxes, except as previously disclosed to and approved by Lender, and that all future taxes will be paid when due, unless Lender approves otherwise.


 


Further, I represent that there are no actions, suits, or proceedings pending or threatened against the Company or me or affecting any of the Company’s or my properties, before any federal, state, or municipal court or any other governmental agency known to me, nor am I aware of any facts which to my knowledge might result in such action, suit or proceeding.  Neither the Company nor I are in default with respect to any order or decree of any court or any such other governmental agency.


 









  





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I understand that the representations made herein are material to Lender’s decision to fund the loan.”


 


DATED:  June 22nd , 2015.


 




 



	 	 
 /s/ JONATHAN PITTS CARROLL, SR. 


Jonathan Pitts Carroll, Sr.







 


 


 







 


ACKNOWLEDGMENT


 


STATE OF TEXAS                              §


§


COUNTY OF TARRANT                   §


 


This instrument was acknowledged before me on the ___ day of June, 2015, on behalf of Lazarus Energy LLC by Jonathan P. Carroll, Sr., President of Blue Dolphin Energy Company, the sole member of Lazarus Energy LLC.


 




 



	 	 
/s/ LORI A. CORDELL


Notary Public in and for the State of Texas







 






















 


My Commission Expires:


 


12/9/2018                                           


 














  





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