ex_180509.htm


Exhibit 4.1


 


 


FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE


 


This FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of April 7, 2020, is entered into among Gevo, Inc., a company duly incorporated and existing under the laws of Delaware, United States of America, and having its principal executive office at 345 Inverness Drive South, Building C, Suite 310, Englewood, CO 80112 as Issuer (the “Company”), the guarantors listed on the signature page hereof (each, a “Guarantor” and, collectively, the “Guarantors”), Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, as Trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”), Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, as Collateral Trustee (in such capacity, the “Collateral Trustee”), with the consent of the Holders listed in Schedule I, attached hereto (together, the “Requisite Holders”), each of which is represented herein by Whitebox Advisors LLC (the “Representative” and, together with the Company, each Guarantor, each Requisite Holder, the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee, the “Parties” and each of them, a “Party”) pursuant to the last sentence of Section 1.04(a) of the Indenture (as defined below). Capitalized terms used herein without definition have the meanings given in the Indenture.


 


RECITALS


 


WHEREAS, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, and the Collateral Trustee have heretofore executed and delivered an indenture, dated as of January 10, 2020 (the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance by the Company of 12.0% Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2020/2021;


 


WHEREAS, Section 14.02 of the Indenture provides, among other things, that the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may, with the consent of the requisite percentage of Holders set forth therein, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental thereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders under the Indenture;


 


WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Requisite Holders consent to the amendments to certain provisions of the Indenture as set forth below and to the Company’s and the Guarantors’ entry into this First Supplemental Indenture, and the Requisite Holders have agreed to consent to such amendments and to the Company’s and the Guarantors’ entry into this First Supplemental Indenture, in each case subject to the terms and conditions hereof; and


 


WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee enter into this First Supplemental Indenture and, with the consent of the Requisite Holders, the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee have agreed to enter into this First Supplemental Indenture on the terms set forth below.


 


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee, the Requisite Holders, and the Representative, acting in the name and on behalf of each of the Requisite Holders, hereby covenant and agree as follows:


 


AGREEMENT 


 


1.      Effectiveness. This First Supplemental Indenture shall become effective immediately upon its execution and delivery by each of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee and the Representative (acting in the name and on behalf of each Requisite Holder).


 


2.      Amendments to Indenture.


 


Section 1.01 of the Indenture is hereby amended by deleting the current definition of each of the terms “19.99% Proposal,” “Maturity Date” and “Redemption Price” and substituting, respectively in lieu thereof, the following new definitions:


 


“19.99% Proposal” means the proposal to be submitted at the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company authorizing the issuance under this Indenture of shares of Common Stock representing more than 19.99% of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of January 10, 2020.


 


“Maturity Date” means December 31, 2020; provided, however, that if (i) the Stockholder Approval is obtained prior to June 30, 2020, and (ii) the combined aggregate principal balance of all Initial Notes and all Additional Notes that remain outstanding at the Close of Business on December 15, 2020, is less than $7,000,000.00, “Maturity Date” shall mean April 1, 2021.


 


“Redemption Price” means, as of any Redemption Date, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Principal Amount of the Notes or portion thereof to be redeemed on such Redemption Date, and (ii) accrued and unpaid interest (including Additional Interest) on such Principal Amount from, and including, the last Interest Payment Date on which interest on the Notes was paid to, but excluding, the Redemption Date; provided, however, that in the case of any Redemption Date that occurs on or after December 31, 2020, the “Redemption Price” shall include, in addition, an amount (the “Redemption Make-Whole Payment”) equal to 14% of the Principal Amount of the Notes or portion thereof to be redeemed on such Redemption Date.


 


3.      Indenture Supplemented; Ratification of Indenture. This First Supplemental Indenture is supplemental to the Indenture and does and shall be deemed to form a part of, and shall be construed in connection with and as part of, the Indenture for any and all purposes. Except as specifically modified herein, the Indenture, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified by this First Supplemental Indenture, and the Notes are in all respects ratified and confirmed, and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms.


 


4.      Representative’s Representation; Consent of Requisite Holders. Pursuant to Sections 1.04 and 14.02 of the Indenture, by its signature below, the Representative, acting in the name and on behalf of each of the Requisite Holders, hereby consents, effective as of the date hereof, to the entry into this First Supplemental Indenture by the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee and to the amendments to the Indenture set forth in Section 2 of this First Supplemental Indenture.


 


5.      Trustee and Collateral Trustee. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, no duties, responsibilities or liabilities are assumed, or shall be construed to be assumed, by the Trustee or the Collateral Trustee by reason of this First Supplemental Indenture. This First Supplemental Indenture is executed and accepted by the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee subject to all the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture with the same force and effect as if those terms and conditions were repeated at length herein and made applicable to the Trustee with respect hereto. The Trustee and the Collateral Trustee make no representation or warranty as to the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture. Additionally, the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or with respect to any of the recitals or statements contained herein, all of which recitals or statements are made solely by the Company and the Guarantors, and the Trustee and the Collateral Trustee make no representation with respect to any such matters.


 


6.      Guarantors. Each Guarantor, for value received, hereby expressly acknowledges and agrees to the Company’s execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture, to the performance by the Company of its agreements and obligations hereunder and to the consents and amendments set forth herein. This First Supplemental Indenture and the performance or consummation of any transaction or matter contemplated under this First Supplemental Indenture shall not limit, restrict, extinguish or otherwise impair any Guarantor’s liability to the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee or the Holders with respect to the payment and other performance obligations of such Guarantor pursuant to the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor hereby ratifies, confirms and approves its Guaranteed Obligations and acknowledges that it is unconditionally liable to the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee and the Holders for the full and timely payment of the Guaranteed Obligations (on a joint and several basis with the other Guarantors). Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that it has no defenses, counterclaims or set-offs with respect to the full and timely payment of any or all Guaranteed Obligations as of the date hereof.


 


7.      Costs and Expenses. The Company shall pay the reasonable costs and expenses actually incurred by the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee, the Requisite Holders and the Representative in connection with the preparation, negotiation, and/or review of this First Supplemental Indenture and the agreements, documents, and/or instruments executed and/or delivered in connection therewith, including without limitation all of the Trustee’s, the Collateral Trustee’s, the Requisite Holders’ and the Representative’s reasonable out-of-pocket legal fees incurred in connection therewith for which the Company has received an invoice, which invoice shall provide reasonably detailed documentation of such costs and expenses, in each case, within fifteen days after written demand for such payment (accompanied by the invoice in question), which may be in the form of an email (accompanied by the invoice in question) by the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee, the Requisite Holders, the Representative or any of their respective counsel, as applicable.


 


8.      Release. In consideration of the benefits provided to each of the Credit Parties under this First Supplemental Indenture, each of the Credit Parties hereby agrees as follows:


 


(a)      The Credit Parties, for themselves and on behalf of their respective successors and assigns, do hereby release, acquit and forever discharge the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee, each Requisite Holder, and the Representative, and the respective past or present officers, directors, attorneys, affiliates, employees and agents of the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee, each Requisite Holder, and the Representative, and each of their respective successors and assigns, from any and all claims, demands, obligations, liabilities, causes of action, offsets, damages, costs or expenses, of every type, kind or nature, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, liquidated or unliquidated, including any claims that the Credit Parties and their respective successors, counsel and advisors may in the future discover they would have now had if they had known facts not now known to them, whether founded in contract, in tort or pursuant to any other theory of liability, that each of the Credit Parties now has or may acquire against any one or more of them, arising out of events or transactions which occurred on or before the date hereof (each a “Released Claim” and collectively, the “Released Claims”), including without limitation, those Released Claims arising out of or connected with the transactions arising under or related to any of the Indenture Documents or this First Supplemental Indenture.


 


(b)      The provisions, waivers and releases set forth in this Section are binding upon the Credit Parties and their respective assigns and successors in interest. The provisions, waivers and releases of this Section shall inure to the benefit of the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee, each Requisite Holder and the Representative, and each of their respective past or present officers, directors, attorneys, affiliates, employees and agents, and each of their respective successors and assigns. The Credit Parties warrant and represent that they are the sole and lawful owner of all right, title and interest in and to all of the claims released hereby and they have not heretofore voluntarily, by operation of law or otherwise, assigned or transferred or purported to assign or transfer to any person any such claim or any portion thereof. Each of the Credit Parties shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee, the Collateral Trustee, each Requisite Holder and the Representative, and each of their respective past or present officers, directors, attorneys, affiliates, employees and agents, and each of their respective successors and assigns, from and against any claim, demand, damage, debt and liability (including payment of attorneys’ fees and costs actually incurred whether or not litigation is commenced) based on or arising out of any such assignment or transfer. The provisions of this Section shall survive the date hereof. Nothing herein is or should be construed to be a release of claims against the Credit Parties or a satisfaction of any Indebtedness.


 


9.      Governing Law. THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (OR, TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED, THE LAW OF THE JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE COLLATERAL IS LOCATED), WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW.


 


10.      Multiple Originals. The Parties may sign any number of copies of this First Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this First Supplemental Indenture. Delivery of an executed counterpart by facsimile or PDF shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof.


 


11.      Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.


 


12.      Consent to Jurisdiction. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any competent New York State court or federal court of the United States sitting in the State and City of New York, County of New York and Borough of Manhattan, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this First Supplemental Indenture or the Notes, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such state court sitting in the State and City of New York, County of New York and Borough of Manhattan or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court sitting in the State and City of New York, County of New York and Borough of Manhattan.


 


Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action proceeding arising out of or relating to this First Supplemental Indenture or the Notes in any such New York State or federal court. Each of the Parties hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.


 


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be executed and delivered as of the date first above written.


 


 


	 	 	 
	
			COMPANY:

			
	 
	
			GEVO, INC.

			
	 	 
	
			By:

				
			 

				
			/s/ L. Lynn Smull

			
	
			Name:

				
			 

				
			L. Lynn Smull

			
	
			Title:

				
			 

				
			Chief Financial Officer

			
	 
	
			GUARANTORS:

			
	 
	
			AGRI-ENERGY, LLC

			
	 	 
	
			By:

				
			 

				
			/s/ L. Lynn Smull

			
	
			Name:

				
			 

				
			L. Lynn Smull

			
	
			Title:

				
			 

				
			Chief Financial Officer

			
	 
	
			GEVO DEVELOPMENT, LLC

			
	 	 
	
			By:

				
			 

				
			/s/ L. Lynn Smull

			
	
			Name:

				
			 

				
			L. Lynn Smull

			
	
			Title:

				
			 

				
			Chief Financial Officer

			



 


 


 


 


 


 





 










 








 


             


	
			REQUISITE HOLDERS (Solely for purposes of Section 4(b)):


			WHITEBOX RELATIVE VALUE PARTNERS, LP


			WHITEBOX GT FUND, LP


			WHITEBOX MULTI-STRATEGY PARTNERS, LP


			PANDORA SELECT PARTNERS, LP

			
	 
	
			By:         Whitebox Advisors LLC 

			
	 	 
	
			By:

				
			 

				
			/s/ Luke Harris

			
	
			Name:

				
			 

				
			Luke Harris

			
	
			Title:

				
			 

				
			General Counsel - Corporate, Transactions & Litigation

			
	 



 


 


 


 





 










 








 


 


	 	 	 
	
			TRUSTEE:

			
	 
	
			WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB as Trustee

			
	 	 
	
			By:

				 	
			/s/ Geoffrey J. Lewis

			
	
			Name:

				 	
			Geoffrey J. Lewis

			
	
			Title:

				
			 

				
			Vice President

			
	 
	
			COLLATERAL TRUSTEE:

			
	 
	
			WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB as Collateral Trustee

			
	 	 
	
			By:

				
			 

				
			/s/ Geoffrey J. Lewis

			
	
			Name:

				
			 

				
			Geoffrey J. Lewis

			
	
			Title:

				
			 

				
			Vice President

			



 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 





 










 








 


 


SCHEDULE I


 


HOLDERS


 


	
			Name

				
			Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes Held

			
	
			WHITEBOX RELATIVE VALUE PARTNERS, LP

				
			$4,638,647.00

			
	
			WHITEBOX GT FUND, LP

				
			$1,038,649.00

			
	
			WHITEBOX MULTI-STRATEGY PARTNERS, LP

				
			$5,828,384.00

			
	
			PANDORA SELECT PARTNERS, LP

				
			$2,876,026.00

			
	
			Total

				
			$14,381,706.00