Exhibit 4(a)

	
             
 	
            EXECUTION COPY
 



 


 


SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO CONSTRUCTION AND TERM


LOAN AGREEMENT  


THIS SEVENTH AMENDMENT TO CONSTRUCTION AND TERM LOAN AGREEMENT (this "Amendment"), dated as of September 4, 2009, is executed by and among LEVELLAND/HOCKLEY COUNTY ETHANOL, LLC, a Texas limited liability company (the "Borrower"), each of the Lenders or other lending institutions which is a signatory hereto or any successor or assignee thereof, and GE BUSINESS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC. (in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders, together with its successors in such capacity, the "Administrative Agent").


R E C I T A L S: 


A.           The Borrower, the Lenders, and the Administrative Agent are parties to that certain Construction and Term Loan Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2006, as amended by (a) that certain First Amendment to Construction and Term Loan Agreement and other Loan Documents dated as of August 10, 2007, (b) that certain Second Amendment to Construction and Term Loan Agreement dated as of February 15, 2008, (c) that certain Third Amendment to Construction and Term Loan Agreement dated as of February 19, 2008, (d) that certain Fourth Amendment to Construction and Term Loan Agreement dated as of May 31, 2008, (e) that certain Fifth Amendment to Construction and Term Loan Agreement dated as of May 31, 2008, and (f) that certain Sixth
Amendment to Construction and Term Loan Agreement dated as of January 29, 2009 (as has been and may be amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time, the "Loan Agreement").


B.           The Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders desire to amend the Loan Agreement and agree to the other matters as described herein, subject to the terms and conditions contained herein.


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises herein contained and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows intending to be legally bound:


ARTICLE I


 


Definitions


Section 1.1        Definitions.  Capitalized terms used in this Amendment, to the extent not otherwise defined herein, shall have the same meanings as in the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby.


ARTICLE II


 


Amendments and Agreements


Section 2.1       Amendment to "Calculation Start Date" Definition.  The definition of "Calculation Start Date" found in Section 1.1 of the Loan Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:


 


 


 








 


 


"Calculation Start Date" means July 1, 2009.


Section 2.2       EBITDAR Coverage Ratio.  Section 6.10(a) of the Loan Agreement is amended by adding the following sentence thereto:


For clarity and avoidance of doubt, prior to the end of the Borrower's second quarter in fiscal year 2010, the term "annualized" means for the third quarter of fiscal year 2009, the applicable financial information for such quarter times four; for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009, the applicable financial information for such quarter and for the prior quarter times two; and for the first quarter of fiscal year 2010, the applicable financial information for such quarter and the two prior quarters times 1.33.


Section 2.3       Leverage Ratio.  Section 6.10(b) of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:


"(b)        Leverage Ratio.  Beginning April 1, 2010, and at all times thereafter, Borrower's Leverage Ratio shall be equal to or less than the ratio set forth below that corresponds to the applicable period of the calculation:



	
            Period of Calculation:
 	
            Ratio:
 
	
            April 1, 2010 through and including December 31, 2010
 	
            3.34 to 1.00
 
	
            January 1, 2011 through and including December 31, 2011
 	
            2.54 to 1.00
 
	
            January 1, 2012 through and including December 31, 2012
 	
            2.17 to 1.00
 
	
            January 1, 2013 and thereafter
 	
            1.82 to 1.00
 



 


Section 2.4        Waiver of Certain Financial Covenant Defaults.  Administrative Agent and Lenders hereby waive any Default by Borrower of Borrower's covenants set forth in Section 6.10(a) of the Loan Agreement that occurred prior to the Calculation Start Date.


Section 2.5        Amendment Fee. In consideration of the execution of this Amendment, Borrower irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay to Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a fee in the amount of $20,000.00.


Section 2.6        Expenses.  Without limiting anything contained in the Loan Documents, Borrower acknowledges and agrees that Borrower shall pay, as a condition to this Amendment, all reasonable third-party costs and expenses of Administrative Agent and the Lenders, including without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees, in connection with preparing, negotiating, and executing this Amendment.


 


 








 


 


ARTICLE III


 


Conditions Precedent


Section 3.1       Condition.  The effectiveness of this Amendment is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:


(a)          Amendment; Amendment Fee; Expenses.  The Administrative Agent shall have received this Amendment executed by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders, and Administrative Agent shall have received payment of the fees and expenses provided for in Sections 2.5 and 2.6 above.


(b)          Default.  Upon giving effect to this Amendment, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.


(c)          Representations and Warranties.  All of the representations and warranties contained in Article IV of the Loan Agreement and in the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct on and as of the date of this Amendment with the same force and effect as if such representations and warranties had been made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties speak to a specific date.


ARTICLE IV


 


No Waiver


Nothing contained herein shall be construed as a consent by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to any breach of any covenant or provision of the Loan Agreement, the other Loan Documents, this Amendment, or of any other contract or instrument among Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and the failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender at any time or times hereafter to require strict compliance by Borrower of any provision thereof shall not waive, affect or diminish any right of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to thereafter demand strict compliance therewith.  Nothing contained in this Amendment shall be deemed or construed to waive any condition, obligation, Default, or Event of Default except to the extent expressly waived herein.  The Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby reserve all rights granted under the Loan Agreement and the other Loan
Documents (in each case as amended by this Amendment), and this Amendment and any other contract or instrument among Borrower, the Administrative Agent and any of the Lenders.


ARTICLE V


 


Ratifications, Representations and Warranties


Section 5.1        Ratifications.  The terms and provisions set forth in this Amendment shall modify and supersede all inconsistent terms and provisions set forth in the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents and except as expressly modified and superseded by this Amendment, the terms and provisions of the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents are ratified and confirmed and shall continue in full force and effect.  The Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agree that the Loan Agreement as amended hereby shall continue to be legal, 


 


 








 


valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy and other similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.


Section 5.2       Representations and Warranties.  The Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment and any and all other Loan Documents executed or delivered in connection herewith have been authorized by all requisite action on the part of the Borrower and will not violate the articles of organization, operating agreement or regulations or other organizational documents of the Borrower, (ii) the representations and warranties contained in the Loan Agreement, as such Loan Agreement is amended hereby, and any other Loan Document are true and correct on and as of the date hereof as though made on and as of the date hereof except for those that relate solely to a specific
date or have changed as a result of transactions permitted by the Loan Agreement, (iii) after giving effect to this Amendment, no Default has occurred and is continuing, and (iv) after giving effect to this Amendment, the Borrower is in full compliance with all material covenants and agreements contained in the Loan Agreement as amended hereby.


ARTICLE VI


 


Miscellaneous


Section 6.1       Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All representations and warranties made in this Amendment or any other Loan Document (as amended by this Amendment), including any Loan Document furnished in connection with this Amendment, shall survive the execution and delivery of this Amendment and such other Loan Documents, and no investigation by the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall affect the representations and warranties or the right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to rely upon them.


Section 6.2       Severability.  Any provision of this Amendment held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable shall not impair or invalidate the remainder of this Amendment and the effect thereof shall be confined to the provision so held to be invalid or unenforceable.


Section 6.3       GOVERNING LAW.  THIS LOAN AGREEMENT, THE NOTE AND, UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED THEREIN, EACH OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, SHALL BE GOVERNED IN ALL RESPECTS BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, NOT INCLUDING ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS; PROVIDED THAT THE LAWS OF THE STATE WHERE REAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL IS LOCATED SHALL GOVERN WITH RESPECT TO THE CREATION, PERFECTION AND ENFORCEMENT OF RIGHTS, SECURITY INTERESTS, REMEDIES AND LIENS AGAINST THE REAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL.


Section 6.4        Successors and Assigns.  This Amendment is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower and their respective successors and assigns, except the Borrower may not assign or transfer its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.


 


 








 


 


Section 6.5       Counterparts.  This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  Facsimiles of signatures shall be binding and effective as originals.


Section 6.6       Effect of Waiver.  No consent or waiver, express or implied, by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to or for any breach of or deviation from any covenant, condition or duty by the Borrower shall be deemed a consent or waiver to or of any other breach of the same or any other covenant, condition or duty.


Section 6.7      Headings.  The headings, captions, and arrangements used in this Amendment are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Amendment.


Section 6.8    ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  THIS AMENDMENT, THE LOAN AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS EMBODY THE FINAL, ENTIRE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT AND SUPERSEDE ANY AND ALL PRIOR AND CONTEMPORANEOUS COMMITMENTS, AGREEMENTS, REPRESENTATIONS AND UNDERSTANDINGS, WHETHER WRITTEN OR ORAL, RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT, AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED OR VARIED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OR DISCUSSIONS OF THE PARTIES HERETO.  THERE ARE NO ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO.


 


[Remainder of Page Left Blank Intentionally]


[Signature Pages Follow]


 


 








 


 


 



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment is executed as of the date first set forth above.


 


 

 

	 	BORROWER:
	 	 
	 	LEVELLAND/HOCKLEY COUNTY ETHANOL, LLC
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Greg Methvin
	 	 	Name: Greg Methvin
	 	 	Title: President


 

 


 



 








 


 


 


 


 


	 	ADMINISTRATIVE
    AGENT AND LENDER:
	 	 
	 	GE
          BUSINESS FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.,

          as
    Administrative Agent and as a Lender 

    
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/Randall
    Homick
	 	 	Name: Randall Homick
	 	 	Title: Authorized Signatory


 

 


 



 








 


  


	 	OTHER LENDERS:
	 	 
	 	STATE BANK OF TEXAS, 

      as a Lender

    
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	By:	 
	 	 	Name:  
	 	 	Title:


 

 


 



 








 


 


 


	 	 
	 	PALM
          DESERT NATIONAL BANK,

          as
          a Lender

    
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	By:	 
	 	 	Name:  
	 	 	Title:


 

 


 



 








 


 


 


	 	 
	 	COMMUNITY
          FIRST BANK,

          as
          a Lender

    
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/
    Thomas J. Fleming
	 	 	Name: Thomas J. Fleming
	 	 	Title: Vice President


 

 


 



 


 








 


 


 


	 	MIDWEST BANK OF WESTERN ILLINOIS,

    as a Lender
	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/ Brad
    S. Ray
	 	 	Name: Brad S. Ray
	 	 	Title: Vice President


 

 


 


 



 








 


 


 


	 	TEXAS CITIZENS BANK N.A.,

      as a Lender
	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/Gary
    K. Pool
	 	 	Name: Gary K. Pool
	 	 	Title: Vice President


 

 


 







 


 


 


	 	INTERSTATE BANK, SSB, 

      as a Lender
	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	By:	/s/
    David Bergin
	 	 	Name: David Bergin
	 	 	Title: President