Document:

exv10w26

 

Exhibit 10.26

March 23, 2007

Amaizing Energy Denison, LLC

Attention: Al Jentz

2404 West Highway 30

Denison, IA 51442

			
	     Re:	 	Amaizing Energy Denison, LLC Expansion

Dear Al:

     This letter of intent will confirm our discussions regarding the proposed terms and conditions
under which Fagen, Inc. (“Fagen”) will enter into exclusive negotiations with Amaizing
Energy Denison, LLC (“Owner”) to implement the transaction described in Paragraph 1 below
(the “Transaction”). (Fagen and Owner are referred to herein individually as a
“Party” and collectively as the “Parties”). This letter will constitute a letter
of intent between us (the “Letter of Intent”) if (a) this letter is executed and returned
by you within thirty (30) days of the date hereof, and (b) the Commitment Fee described in
Paragraph 5 below is paid contemporaneously with the delivery of this executed letter.

     The Parties agree to effect the Transaction subject only to the execution and delivery (in
each case in a form satisfactory to Fagen) of a definitive Design-Build Expansion Agreement and
other ancillary instruments and agreements (the “Transaction Documents”). The Parties
agree that the Transaction Documents must be executed and delivered by the parties thereto no later
than March 31, 2008 (the “Closing Date”); or this Letter of Intent will terminate in
accordance with Paragraph 11(a) hereof.

1. The Transaction. The Parties agree that the Transaction will consist of the following:

	 	(a)	 	Fagen agrees to provide Owner with those services as described in this Letter
of Intent which are necessary for Owner to develop a detailed description of a forty
(40) million gallons per year (“MGY”) expansion, including production
modifications, but not including any grains or distiller’s grains shipping and
receiving modifications or any ethanol storage or ethanol loadout modifications (the
“Expansion”) to its existing forty (40) MGY dry grind ethanol production
facility located at Denison, Iowa (the “Plant”) and to establish a price for
which Fagen would provide design, engineering, procurement of equipment and
construction services for the Expansion the (“Detailed Description”). A
general summary description of the Expansion is attached hereto as Exhibit A
(“General Expansion Description”). The Detailed Description will be
sufficiently thorough to permit an analysis of the Owner’s lump-sum cost to develop the
Expansion and

 

 

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	 	 	 	to develop an economic pro forma sufficient to determine if the Expansion can be
financed. The Detailed Description will be provided to Owner upon request after
execution by Owner of this Letter of Intent. Owner acknowledges that Fagen has no
control over cost of labor, materials, equipment, or services furnished by others,
over other contractors’ methods of determining prices, or other competitive bidding
or market conditions. Fagen’s estimates of project construction cost will be made on
the basis of its experience and qualifications and will represent Fagen’s best
judgment as experienced and qualified professionals familiar with the construction
industry. Fagen does not guarantee that proposals, bids, or actual construction
cost will not vary from its estimates of project cost and Owner acknowledges the
same.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Fagen will also provide Owner with conceptual design and technical information
required to support Owner’s application for a construction air permit prior to the
commencement of Plant Construction.
	 
	 	(c)	 	If Owner determines that the Expansion is economically feasible and desires to
proceed with the development of the Expansion, then Owner agrees to enter into a Lump
Sum Design-Build contract with Fagen for the design, procurement of equipment and
construction of the Expansion (the “Design-Build Expansion Agreement”).
	 
	 	(d)	 	Owner agrees that the Design-Build Expansion Agreement will be Fagen’s chosen
form of Design-Build Expansion Agreement and will contain among other things, those
terms and conditions set forth in the General Terms and Conditions section of this
Letter of Intent.

	2.	 	Contract Price. Subject to the remaining terms and conditions set forth herein, Owner shall
pay Fagen Fifty-two Million One Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($52,160,000.00) (the
“Contract Price”) as consideration to Fagen for complete performance of the services
described in the Design-Build Expansion Agreement and all costs incurred in connection
therewith. The Contract Price is based upon the General Expansion Description, and shall be
subject to adjustments to reflect any deviations from the General Expansion Description
requested by Owner; provided, however, that all requested deviations from the General
Expansion Description design must be submitted to Fagen by Owner no later than the earlier
of: (a) the date that is sixty (60) days prior to the scheduled delivery date for the Civil
Expansion Detail Design Package pursuant to the Pre-Engineering Services Agreement (as such
term is defined herein); or (b) the date upon which the Design-Build Expansion Agreement is
executed. The Contract Price shall be subject to the following:

	 	(a)	 	The Contract Price shall not include any costs related to union labor or
prevailing wage requirements. If any action by Owner, a change in applicable law, or a
governmental authority (as those terms are defined in the Design-Build Expansion
Agreement) acting pursuant to a change in applicable law, shall require Fagen to

 

 

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	 	 	 	employ union labor or compensate labor at prevailing wages, the Contract Price shall
be adjusted upwards to include any increased costs, of any kind or nature,
associated with such labor or wages including but not limited to site security and
personnel costs. Such adjustment shall include, but not be limited to, increased
labor, subcontractor, and material and equipment costs resulting from any union or
prevailing wage requirement; provided, however, that if an option is made available
to either employ union labor, or to compensate labor at prevailing wages, such
option shall be at Fagen’s sole discretion and that if such option is executed by
Owner without Fagen’s agreement, Fagen shall have the right to terminate this Letter
of Intent or the Design-Build Expansion Agreement, as applicable, and receive
compensation pursuant to Paragraph 4(c) hereof or the terms of the Design-Build
Expansion Agreement, whichever is applicable.
	 
	 	(b)	 	If the Construction Cost Index published by Engineering News-Record Magazine
(“CCI”) for the month in which a Notice to Proceed is given to Fagen is greater
than 7856.27 (March 2007), the Contract Price shall be increased by a percentage amount
equal to the percentage increase in CCI.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Due to rapidly accelerating costs of certain specialty materials required for
Expansion Plant Construction, in addition to any adjustment provided for in Paragraph
2(b) hereof, Fagen shall also add a surcharge to the Contract Price of one half of one
percent (0.50%) for each calendar month that has passed between March 2007 and the
month in which a valid Notice to Proceed is given to Fagen. By way of example, if a
valid Notice to Proceed is given one year after March 2007 and the CCI has increased
two percent (2%) over such period of time, the total adjustment to the Contract Price
shall be two percent (2%) in accordance with Paragraph 2(b) plus one half of one
percent (0.50%) for each of the twelve months from March 2007 to the delivery of a
valid Notice to Proceed in accordance with this paragraph, for a total adjustment of
eight percent (8%).
	 
	 	(d)	 	Fagen may adjust the Contract Price, and after taking into account any
adjustments allowed pursuant to 2(a), 2(b) and 2(c) above, by an amount not to exceed
fifteen percent (15%) of such adjusted price to account for additional engineering and
construction time and materials related to Owner’s site.

	3.	 	General Terms and Conditions. The consummation of the Transaction will be subject to the
Design-Build Expansion Agreement containing the following conditions:

	 	(a)	 	Fagen will have no responsibility for and will not perform any site preparation
work. Owner’s site responsibilities, in each instance in accordance with applicable
specifications provided by Fagen, will include, but will not be limited to:

	 	i.	 	Obtaining land and legal authority to use the site
for its intended purpose;
	 
	 	ii.	 	site grading including soil stabilization and the
costs connected therewith;

 

 

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	 	iii.	 	final grading, seeding, and mulching;
	 
	 	iv.	 	site security, including any site fencing;
v. procuring boundary and topographic surveys;
vi. procuring soil borings and geotechnical reports;
	 
	 	vii.	 	obtaining all operating permits, including any
fees, bonding, and required testing;
	 
	 	viii.	 	obtaining storm water runoff permit and erosion
control/land disturbance permit;
	 
	 	ix.	 	obtaining any necessary pollutant elimination
discharge permit;
	 
	 	x.	 	obtaining a natural gas supply and service
agreement and providing all gas piping to the use points, providing
burner tip pressures as specified by Fagen, and supplying a digital
flowmeter;
	 
	 	xi.	 	securing temporary and permanent electrical
service, including all infrastructure design and installation for any
line/service extensions, substation, primary feed and metering system,
and on-site electrical distribution system up to and including the
service transformers;
	 
	 	xii.	 	supplying a water source, storage, and water supply
lines of appropriate quality and quantity;
	 
	 	xiii.	 	paying for a water pre-treatment system, including
any building or structure required to house such system, the cost of
which is not included in the Contract Price, which shall be provided by a
vendor selected by Fagen and designed and constructed by Fagen pursuant
to a separate side-letter agreement executed by Owner and Fagen at
Fagen’s standard time plus material rates during the relevant time period
and at the relevant locale (the “Water Pre-Treatment System
Agreement”), and maintaining and using such system, including the use
of all chemicals specified for the operation of such water pre-treatment
system, for the entirety of the warranty period, it being agreed that
failure by Owner to maintain and properly use the water pre-treatment
system for the duration of the warranty period shall void any and all
warranties affected by such failure.
	 
	 	xiv.	 	providing wastewater discharge piping, septic tank
and drainfield or connect to a municipal system as required for the
sanitary sewer requirements of the Expansion;
	 
	 	xv.	 	providing and maintain required ditches and
permanent roads;
	 
	 	xvi.	 	constructing, furnishing, and equipping the
administration building;
	 
	 	xvii.	 	providing maintenance and power equipment and
spare parts;
	 
	 	xviii.	 	providing all rail design, engineering, and construction, including any
railroad permits or approvals;
	 
	 	xix.	 	supplying drawings of rail system and
administration building to Fagen; and
	 
	 	xx.	 	paying for the required fire protection system for
the Plant, including any building or structure required to house such
system, the cost of which is not included in the Contract Price, and
which shall be provided by Fagen pursuant to a separate side-letter
agreement executed by Owner and Fagen

 

 

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at Fagen’s standard time plus
material rates during the relevant time period and at the relevant locale
(the “Fire Protection System Agreement”).

	 	(b)	 	Owner will enter into a Pre-Engineering Services Agreement with Fagen
Engineering, LLC (“Pre-Engineering Services Agreement”). The Pre-Engineering
Services Agreement provides for Fagen Engineering, LLC to commence work on the Civil
Expansion Detail Design Package as set forth therein. The Civil Expansion Detail
Design Package shall consist of engineering and design of the Expansion site and shall
include, as applicable and required for the Expansion: property layout; grading,
drainage and erosion control plan drawings; roadway alignment drawings; culvert cross
sections and details; seeding and landscaping; utility layouts including fire loop,
potable water, well water if applicable, sanitary sewer, utility water blowdown, and
natural gas; site utility piping tables; sections and details drawings; and
miscellaneous details drawings. Owner will pay Fagen Engineering, LLC Ninety-two
Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($92,500.00) for such engineering services pursuant to
the terms of that agreement, the full amount of which, upon payment in full, shall be
included in and credited to the Contract Price. Notwithstanding the foregoing
sentence, if a Notice to Proceed is not issued pursuant to the terms of the
Design-Build Expansion Agreement, or Financial Closing is not obtained, then Fagen
Engineering, LLC shall keep the full amount paid under the Pre-Engineering Agreement as
compensation for the services provided thereunder.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Fagen will provide reasonable assistance to Owner in obtaining Owner’s permits,
approvals and licenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Owner shall hold harmless
Fagen, its officers, directors, employees, and agents, for Owner’s failure to comply
with applicable laws in obtaining or maintaining the required permits. The denial or
revocation of any Owner-obtained permit as a result of Owner’s failure to comply with
applicable laws shall entitle Fagen to an extension of contract times and an adjustment
of Contract Price to the extent affected by such denial or revocation and to any and
all other remedies available pursuant to the Design-Build Expansion Agreement and
applicable law.
	 
	 	(d)	 	Owner will provide: surveys describing the property’s boundaries; geotechnical
studies describing subsurface conditions; temporary and permanent easements, zoning and
other requirements and encumbrances to enable Fagen to perform the work; a legal
description of the site; as-built and record drawings of any existing structures;
environmental studies, reports, and statements describing the environmental conditions,
including hazardous conditions at the site.
	 
	 	(e)	 	Owner will be responsible for securing and executing all necessary real estate
agreements to secure the site and is responsible for all costs incurred in obtaining
those agreements.

 

 

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	 	(f)	 	Fagen may subcontract portions of the work.
	 
	 	(g)	 	Fagen will provide up to two (2) weeks of training for Owner’s employees and,
if applicable, Owner’s Operator’s employees required for the operation and maintenance
of the Expansion.
	 
	 	(h)	 	Fagen shall coordinate with Owner the timely and full integration of
installation and start-up of the Expansion into the Plant so as to coincide as much as
possible with the periods of non-operation (whether scheduled or otherwise) of the
Plant. Fagen shall perform all services reasonably necessary to fully integrate the
Expansion into the Plant so that the Expansion operates in accordance with the
Transaction Documents and maintains the Performance Guarantee Criteria.
	 
	 	(i)	 	Fagen shall use its best efforts to minimize any interruption to the Plant
resulting from the design, construction, and integration of the Expansion. However,
Fagen makes no guarantees as to, and shall not be held liable for, any effect the
design, construction, and integration of the Expansion shall have on the performance of
the Plant during Fagen’s performance of the services provided pursuant to the
Design-Build Expansion Agreement.
	 
	 	(j)	 	Owner must obtain Financial Closing prior to the issuance of a Notice to
Proceed.
	 
	 	(k)	 	Owner shall pay, at Fagen’s standard time plus material rates during the
relevant time period and at the relevant locale, all reasonable costs incurred by Fagen
for frost removal so that winter construction can proceed. Such costs will be in
addition to, and not included in, the Contract Price.
	 
	 	(l)	 	Fagen will utilize certain proprietary property and information of ICM, Inc., a
Kansas corporation (“ICM”), in the design and construction of the project, and
may incorporate proprietary property and information of ICM into the project. Owner’s
use of the proprietary property and information of ICM shall be governed by the terms
and provisions of a license agreement between Owner and ICM which shall be attached as
an exhibit to the Design-Build Agreement. Owner will be responsible for negotiating
any requested changes to the ICM license directly with ICM, not Fagen.
	 
	 	(m)	 	All drawings, specifications, calculations, data, notes and other materials and
documents, including electronic data furnished by Fagen to Owner under the Design-Build
Expansion Agreement (“Work Product”) will be instruments of service and Fagen
will retain the ownership and property interests therein, including copyrights thereto.
	 
	 	(n)	 	Upon payment in full under the Design-Build Agreement, Fagen will grant Owner

 

 

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	 	 	 	a limited license to the Work Product for use solely in connection with the operation,
maintenance, and repair of the Plant. The limited license will not permit Owner to use
the Work Product in connection with any expansion or enlargement
of the Plant, however, nothing in the limited license granted to Owner is intended
to limit Owner’s use of the Plant’s actual production capability as built.
	 
	 	(o)	 	Work will commence following receipt of Owner’s written valid notice to proceed
(“Notice to Proceed”). The Notice to Proceed cannot be given until (1) Owner
has title to the real estate on which the project will be constructed; (2) the site
work required of Owner is completed; (3) Owner has executed the Water Pre-Treatment
System Agreement and the Fire Protection System Agreement; (4) the air permit(s) and/or
other applicable local, state or federal permits necessary so that construction can
begin have been obtained; (5) Owner has obtained Financial Closing; (6) if applicable,
Owner has executed a sales tax exemption certificate and provided the same to Fagen;
(7) Owner has provided the name of its property/all-risk insurance carrier and the
specific requirements for fire protection; (8) Owner has provided an insurance
certificate or copy of insurance policy demonstrating that Owner has obtained builder’s
risk insurance, and (9) Fagen has provided Owner written notification of its
acceptance of the Notice to Proceed, provided that Fagen shall not be required to
accept the Notice to Proceed prior to June 16, 2008. If Owner has not fulfilled its
requirements for the issuance of a Notice to Proceed as set forth in this Paragraph
3(o) by the date referenced in item number 9 of this Paragraph, Fagen may, at its sole
option, terminate the Design-Build Agreement, thus releasing Fagen of all obligations.
	 
	 	(p)	 	“Substantial Completion” will be the date on which the Expansion
construction has been completed to a point that the Expansion is ready to grind the
first batch of corn for producing ethanol and begin operation for its intended use as a
forty (40) MGY dry grind ethanol production facility. No production capacity is
guaranteed on the Substantial Completion date, but the Expansion is largely completed
as of that date.
	 
	 	(q)	 	Substantial Completion will occur within Six Hundred and Thirty-Five (635) days
after the date of the Notice to Proceed.
	 
	 	(r)	 	Fagen will be entitled to an early completion bonus for each day that
Substantial Completion occurs in advance of Six Hundred and Thirty-Five (635) days
(“Early Completion Bonus”). The Early Completion Bonus is earned for achieving
Substantial Completion early, but is not due until the final payment.
	 
	 	(s)	 	“Final Completion” will be achieved once Owner reasonably determines
that: Substantial Completion has been achieved; any outstanding amounts owed by Fagen
to Owner have been paid; remaining items of work have been completed;

 

 

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	 	 	 	clean-up of the
site has been completed; all permits required to have been obtained by Fagen have been
obtained; certain information including an affidavit stating that there are no
outstanding liens, a release from further compensation, consent to final payment, and a
hard copy of the as-built plans (which will remain Work
Product) has been provided to Owner; releases and waivers of all claims and liens
from Fagen and subcontractors have been provided; and the Performance Tests have
been successfully completed. Final Completion will occur no more than ninety (90)
days after the actual Substantial Completion date. The 90-day period between
Substantial Completion and Final Completion will be tied directly to actual
Substantial Completion. By way of example, if Substantial Completion is achieved 10
days early, then the 90-day period to Final Completion would begin on that earlier
date.
	 
	 	(t)	 	Fagen will demonstrate certain performance guarantee criteria through
performance testing performed following Substantial Completion but prior to Final
Completion (“Performance Tests”). Air permit testing shall be done by a third
party contractor retained by Owner.
	 
	 	(u)	 	Owner will take control of the Expansion after completion and acceptance of the
Performance Tests. The Performance Tests will be completed by Owner’s personnel under
Fagen’s direction.
	 
	 	(v)	 	Fagen will pay liquidated damages at a daily amount equal to the daily Early
Completion Bonus amount for each day past 90 days after Substantial Completion that
Final Completion is not attained. Fagen’s liability for liquidated damages shall be
capped at and shall not exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000).
	 
	 	(w)	 	The aggregate liability of Fagen, its Subcontractors, vendors, suppliers,
agents and employees, to Owner (or any successor thereto or assignee thereof) for any
and all claims and/or liabilities arising out of or relating in any manner to the work
or to Fagen’s performance or non-performance of its obligations under the Design-Build
Agreement, whether based on contract, tort (including negligence), strict liability, or
otherwise, shall not exceed in the aggregate, the Contract Price and shall be reduced,
upon the issuance of each Application for Payment, by the total value of such
Application for Payment; provided, however, that upon the earlier of Substantial
Completion or such point in time that requests for payment pursuant to the Design-Build
Agreement have been made for ninety percent (90%) of the Contract Price, Fagen’s
aggregate liability shall be limited to the greater of (1) Ten Percent (10%) of the
Contract Price or (2) the amount of insurance coverage available to respond to the
claim or liability under any policy of insurance provided by Fagen under the
Design-Build Agreement.
	 
	 	(x)	 	The warranty period for work completed pursuant to the Design-Build Expansion
Agreement will extend for one year past Substantial Completion. The Warranty

 

 

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	 	 	 	will not
apply to defects caused by abuse, alterations, or failure to maintain the work by
persons other than Fagen or anyone for whose acts Fagen may be liable. The warranty
period will be extended one day for each day that such part of the work repaired under
such warranty is malfunctioning or not in conformance with
project requirements provided that Owner must report such non-conformance or
malfunction within seven (7) days of the appearance of such non-conformance or
malfunction.
	 
	 	(y)	 	Owner will pay Fagen a mobilization fee in the amount of Ten Million Dollars
($10,000,000.00) as soon as possible following the execution of the Design-Build
Expansion Agreement, and at the latest, at the earlier to occur of financial closing or
the issuance of a Notice to Proceed.
	 
	 	(z)	 	Fagen will request payment and Owner will pay Fagen in accordance with the
following procedures:

	 	i.	 	On or before the twenty-fifth (25th) day of each
month following the acceptance of Notice to Proceed Fagen will submit to
Owner a request for payment (an “Application for Payment”).
Along with each Application for Payment, except with respect to the first
Application for Payment, Fagen will submit to Owner signed lien waivers
for the work included in the Application for Payment submitted for the
immediately preceding pay period and for which payment has been received.
	 
	 	ii.	 	The Application for Payment will constitute Fagen’s
representation that the work has been performed consistent with the
Transaction Documents and has progressed to the point indicated in the
Application for Payment. No additional documentation will be provided to
Owner in support of the Application for Payment. The work completed at
the site and the comparison of the Application for Payment against the
Schedule of Values shall provide sufficient substantiation to Owner of
the accuracy of the Application for Payment. The Schedule of Values
subdivides the work into its respective parts, includes values for all
items comprising the work, and serves as the basis for the monthly
progress payments.
	 
	 	iii.	 	The Application for Payment may request payment for
equipment and materials not yet incorporated into the project only if
Owner is reasonably satisfied that the materials and equipment are
suitably stored at the site or elsewhere and are protected by suitable
insurance. Upon payment, Owner will receive title to such equipment and
materials.
	 
	 	iv.	 	Owner shall make payment within ten (10) days of
receipt of the Application for Payment. Failure to make such payment
will result in the accrual of interest at a rate of eighteen percent
(18%) per annum commencing five (5) days after the payment is due.
Failure to make such payment, except if due to appropriate withholding of
payment due to a good faith dispute, entitles Fagen to stop work.

 

 

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	 	v.	 	If Owner wishes to dispute any portion of the
Application for Payment, Owner must notify Fagen in writing within five
(5) days of receipt of the Application for Payment. Such notice must
state the specific amounts Owner intends to withhold, the reasons and
contractual basis for
withholding, and the specific measures Fagen must take to rectify Owner’s
concerns. Regardless of a dispute as to a portion of the Application for
Payment, Owner must pay all undisputed amounts by the payment due date.
	 
	 	vi.	 	Retainage on progress payments made pursuant to the
Design-Build Expansion Agreement will be capped at five percent (5%) of
the total price. Owner will retain ten percent (10%) of each payment up
to a maximum of five percent (5%) of the total Contract Price. Once five
percent (5%) of the total price has been retained, Owner will not retain
any additional amounts from subsequent payments. Owner will release
retainage, less the amount equal to the value of subcontractor lien
waivers not yet obtained, upon completion of the Performance Tests.
	 
	 	vii.	 	Upon Final Completion, Fagen will deliver to Owner
a request for final payment. Owner will make the final payment within
thirty (30) days after the receipt of such request. Owner’s failure to
make Final Payment will void any and all warranties, whether express or
implied, provided by Fagen pursuant to the Design-Build Expansion
Agreement.

	 	(aa)	 	Fagen will not be responsible for any hazardous condition encountered at the
site and may stop work in an affected area until such hazardous condition is removed by
Owner.
	 
	 	(bb)	 	Fagen will not be responsible for differing site conditions including concealed
or latent physical conditions or subsurface conditions and will be entitled to a price
adjustment to the Contract Price to the extent that its cost and/or time of performance
is adversely impacted by the differing site conditions.
	 
	 	(cc)	 	“Force Majeure Events” shall mean any cause or event beyond the
reasonable control of, and without the fault or negligence of a Party claiming Force
Majeure, including, without limitation, an emergency, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes,
tornadoes, adverse weather conditions not reasonably anticipated or acts of God;
sabotage; vandalism beyond that which could reasonably be prevented by a Party claiming
Force Majeure; terrorism; war; riots; fire; explosion; blockades; insurrection; strike;
slow down or labor disruptions (even if such difficulties could be resolved by
conceding to the demands of a labor group); economic hardship or delay in the delivery
of materials or equipment that is beyond the control of a Party claiming Force Majeure,
and action or failure to take action by any governmental authority after the effective
date of the Design-Build Agreement (including the adoption or change in any rule or
regulation or environmental constraints lawfully imposed by such governmental
authority), but

 

 

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	 	 	 	only if such requirements, actions, or failures to act prevent or delay
performance; and inability, despite due diligence, to obtain any licenses, permits, or
approvals required by any governmental authority.
	 
	 	(dd)	 	If Fagen is delayed at any time in the commencement or progress of the work due
to a delay in the delivery of, or unavailability of, essential materials or labor to
the project as a result of a significant industry-wide economic fluctuation or
disruption beyond the control of and without the fault of Fagen or its subcontractors
which is experienced or expected to be experienced by certain markets providing
essential materials, equipment, or labor to the project during the performance of the
work and such economic fluctuation or disruption adversely impacts the price,
availability, and delivery timeframes of essential materials and equipment (such event
an “Industry-Wide Disruption”), Fagen shall be entitled to an equitable
extension of the Contract Time on a day-for-day basis equal to such delay and an
equitable adjustment to the Contract Price. The Owner and Fagen shall undertake
reasonable steps to mitigate the effect of such delays. Notwithstanding any other
provision to the contrary, Fagen shall not be liable to the Owner for any expenses,
losses or damages arising from a delay, or unavailability of, essential materials or
labor to the project as a result of an Industry-Wide Disruption.

	4.	 	Exclusivity, No Solicitation or Negotiations.

	 	(a)	 	Neither Owner, nor its affiliates, shareholders, members or other equity
owners, or their officers, representatives, agents or employees will solicit or
negotiate, directly or indirectly, with any third party to obtain the services
contemplated by this Letter of Intent.
	 
	 	(b)	 	During the term of this Letter of Intent the Owner agrees that Fagen will have
the exclusive right to provide to Owner the services contemplated by the Letter of
Intent. Developer and Owner will not disclose any information related to this Letter
of Intent to a competitor or prospective competitor of Fagen.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Should Owner choose not to develop the project or to develop or pursue a
relationship with a company other than Fagen to provide the preliminary engineering or
design-build services for the project, then Owner will reimburse Fagen for all expenses
Fagen has incurred in connection with the project based upon Fagen’s standard rate
schedule plus all third party costs incurred from the date of this Letter of Intent.
Such expenses include, but are not limited to, labor rates and reimbursable expenses
such as legal charges for document review and preparation, travel expenses,
reproduction costs, long distance phone costs, and postage.
	 
	 	(d)	 	In the event Fagen’s services are terminated by Owner, title to the technical
data,

 

 

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	 	 	 	which may include preliminary engineering drawings and layouts and proprietary
process related information, will remain with Fagen and any copies thereof will be
returned to Fagen.
	 
	 	(e)	 	Owner acknowledges that the technical data provided by Fagen under this Letter
of Intent is preliminary and may not be suitable for construction. Owner agrees
that any use of such technical data following termination of Fagen’s services will
be at Owner’s sole risk.

	5.	 	Commitment Fee. Immediately upon the execution of this Letter of Intent, Owner shall pay
Fagen Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000.00) as a non-refundable commitment fee
(“Commitment Fee”). The Commitment Fee will be credited against the Contract Price
upon the occurrence of: (i) the execution of the Transaction documents; and (ii) timely
acceptance of Notice to Proceed pursuant to the Design-Build Expansion Agreement. If Owner
chooses not to proceed with the Expansion or the Transaction Documents are not executed and
delivered by the Closing Date or Owner fails to provide a timely Notice to Proceed pursuant to
the Design-Build Expansion Agreement, Fagen shall retain the full amount of the Commitment Fee
and Owner shall not be entitled to any refund or credit. Should Owner fail to pay the
Commitment Fee upon execution of this Letter of Intent, this Letter of Intent shall terminate
and Fagen shall have the right to receive compensation pursuant to Paragraph 4(c) hereof.
	 
	6.	 	Confidentiality. Owner will hold in confidence and will use only for the purposes of
completing the Transaction any and all confidential information disclosed to it except that
Owner may disclose confidential information to its lenders, lenders’ agents, prospective
investors, advisors and/or consultants as may be reasonably necessary to enable them to advise
Owner on the Transaction, provided that any party to whom confidential information is
disclosed is informed of the existence of this confidentiality obligation and agree to be
obligated to keep such information confidential. The term “confidential information”
will mean (i) any and all information concerning the Transaction, including that Fagen and
Owner are negotiating the consummation of the Transaction, and (ii) all information which
Owner, directly or indirectly, may acquire from Fagen, but confidential information will not
include information falling into any of the following categories:

	 	(a)	 	information that, at the time of disclosure hereunder, is in the public domain;
	 
	 	(b)	 	information that, after disclosure hereunder, enters the public domain other
than by breach of this Agreement or the obligation of confidentiality;
	 
	 	(c)	 	information that, prior to disclosure hereunder, was already in the Owner’s
possession, either without limitation on disclosure to others or subsequently becoming
free of such limitation;
	 
	 	(d)	 	information obtained by the Owner from a third party having an independent
right

 

 

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Expansion Letter of Intent

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	 	 	 	to disclose this information; and
	 
	 	(e)	 	information that is available through discovery by independent research without
use of or access to the confidential information acquired from Fagen.

	 	 	Owner’s obligation to maintain confidential information in confidence will be deemed performed
if Owner observes with respect thereto the same safeguards and precautions which Owner observes
with respect to its own confidential information of the same or similar kind. It will not be
deemed to be a breach of the obligation to maintain confidential information in confidence if
confidential information is disclosed upon the order of a court or other authorized governmental
entity, or pursuant to other legal requirements. However, if Owner is required to file the
Transaction Documents or a portion thereof with a governmental entity, it agrees that it will
not do so without first informing Fagen of the requirement and seeking confidential treatment of
the Transaction Documents prior to filing the documents or a portion thereof. Owner’s
confidentiality obligations under this section shall survive the expiration or termination of
this Letter of Intent and shall be a legally binding obligation of Owner for five (5) years
following the later to occur of termination of this Letter of Intent or completion of the
Expansion contemplated by the Transaction Documents.
	 
	7.	 	Publicity. Neither Owner nor any of its affiliates, shareholders, subcontractors, or vendors
or their officers, representatives, agents and employees will issue any press or publicity
release or otherwise release, distribute, announce, or disseminate any information for
publication concerning the Transaction, the existence of the negotiations among Fagen and
Owner, the participation of Fagen in the Transaction, or any other matter affecting Fagen
hereunder, without the prior written consent of Fagen, which consent may be withheld for any
reason, except where such press or publicity release is required by order of a court or
necessary or appropriate under the rules or regulations of any governmental agency.
	 
	 	 	The Parties will jointly agree on the timing and content of any public disclosure by Owner,
including but not limited to, press releases, relating to Fagen’s involvement in Owner’s
project, and no such disclosure will be made without Fagen’s consent and approval, except as may
be required by applicable law.
	 
	8.	 	Disclaimer of Consequential Damages. In no event will either Fagen or Owner be liable to the
other pursuant to this Letter of Intent, or for activities conducted under this Letter of
Intent, under any theory of recovery for any indirect, special, incidental or consequential
damages (including, without limitation, loss of revenues or profits, loss of use, cost of
replacement, cost of capital and claims of customers, interest charges, or increased costs of
nature whatsoever).
	 
	9.	 	Legal Effect. Although this Letter of Intent does not contain all matters upon which
agreement must be reached in order for the Transaction to be consummated, Fagen and Owner wish
to set forth, prior to the execution of the Transaction Documents, their mutual agreement as
to the material terms and conditions of the Transaction. Each Party agrees to

 

 

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	 	 	negotiate in
good faith towards entering into the written, definitive and legally binding Transaction
Documents containing, among other terms and conditions, those terms and conditions set forth
in this Letter of Intent including, without limitation, those terms set forth in Paragraphs 2
and 3 hereof; provided, however, that except as specifically identified and set forth herein,
nothing in this Agreement shall be read to promise, guarantee, or otherwise
secure on Owner’s behalf any specific construction start date with respect to the Plant
including but not limited to any pour concrete date, scheduling slots or dates for the delivery
of design packages or to entitle Owner to any rights, privileges, or claims with respect thereto
or any right, privilege, or claim to any place on Fagen’s construction schedule. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the provisions of this Paragraph and of Paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14,
17 and 18 hereof are agreed to be legally binding obligations of the Parties upon the execution
and acceptance of this Letter of Intent.
	 
	10.	 	Negotiation of Definitive Agreements. The Transaction Documents will contain reasonable terms
and conditions regarding releases, payment obligations, cooperation as to tax planning and
structuring, other financial matters, legal opinions, confidentiality, limitations of
liability, assignment, breach, dispute resolution, events of default, remedies,
representations, warranties, indemnifications and other provisions customary for similar
transactions. Time is of the essence in the performance of this Letter of Intent in all
respects.
	 
	11.	 	Termination. This Letter of Intent will terminate on March 31, 2008 unless the basic size
and design of the Expansion have been determined and mutually agreed upon, a specific site or
sites have been determined and mutually agreed upon, and at least 10% of the necessary equity
has been raised. This date may be extended upon mutual written agreement of the Parties.
Furthermore, unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties, this Letter of Intent will terminate:

	 	(a)	 	at the option of either Fagen or Owner if the Design-Build Expansion Agreement
is not completed and executed by the Closing Date; or
	 
	 	(b)	 	upon the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents.

	12.	 	Governing Law. This Letter of Intent is governed by, and the Transaction shall be governed
by, and will be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of
Minnesota, without regard to any conflicts of law or choice of law rules.
	 
	13.	 	Expenses. Except as set forth in Paragraph 4(c) above, unless otherwise agreed by Fagen and
Owner, each Party will bear its own expenses in connection with the negotiation and execution
of definitive documentation for the transactions contemplated herein.
	 
	14.	 	Indemnification. Each Party will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other Party and its
respective agents, servants, officers, directors, employees and affiliates from and against
any loss, cost, liability, claim, damage, expense (including reasonable attorneys’ and
consultants’ fees and disbursements), penalty or fine incurred in connection with any claim

 

 

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	 	 	or cause of action arising from or in connection with this Letter of Intent to the extent caused
by the negligence, misrepresentation, fraud, fault or misconduct of the indemnifying Party.
	 
	15.	 	Assignability; Binding Effect; Benefit. This Letter of Intent will inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the Parties and their
respective successors and assigns. Nothing in this Letter of Intent, either expressed or
implied, is intended to confer on any person other than the Parties and their respective
successors and permitted assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by
reason of this Letter of Intent. Neither Fagen nor Owner shall, without the written consent of
the other, assign or transfer this Letter of Intent. Any sale, transfer, or disposition by
Owner of over fifty percent (50%) of its assets or any sale, transfer, or disposition of more
than fifty percent (50%) of Owner to any single entity by one or more entities holding interest
in Owner shall be deemed an assignment subject to this paragraph. Notwithstanding any consent
granted by Fagen to any assignment, Owner shall remain jointly liable for any failure of any
assignee to fulfill its obligations under this Letter of Intent, including but not limited to
any payment and confidentiality obligations established hereunder.
	 
	16.	 	Further Action. Each Party agrees to execute and deliver all further instruments, legal
opinions and documents, and take all further action not inconsistent with the provisions of
this Letter of Intent that may be reasonably necessary to complete performance of the Parties’
obligations hereunder and to effectuate the purposes and intent of this Letter of Intent.
	 
	17.	 	Amendments. The Parties agree that this Letter of Intent may be modified only by written
agreement by the Parties.
	 
	18.	 	Integration; Letter of Intent. This Letter of Intent represents the entire understanding
between the Parties in relation to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any and all
previous agreements, arrangements or discussions between the Parties (whether written or oral)
in respect of the subject matter hereof. No change, amendment or modification of this Letter
of Intent will be valid or binding upon the Parties unless such change, amendment or
modification will be in writing and duly executed by both Parties.
	 
	19.	 	No Representation, Warranties or Covenants. Notwithstanding anything contained
herein to the contrary, Fagen is not making any representation, warranty or covenant of any
kind with respect to any design, engineering or construction scheduling, or with respect to
projections, estimates or budgets heretofore delivered to or made available to Owner of future
revenues, expenses or expenditures, future results of operations (or any component thereof) or
the future business and operations of the Owner, nor any other commitments or assurances
except as may be provided in the Transaction Documents.
	 
	20.	 	Counterparts. This Letter of Intent may be executed in one or more counterpart, each of
which when so executed and delivered will be deemed an original, but all of which taken
together constitute one and the same instrument. Signatures which have been affixed and

 

 

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transmitted by facsimile or other electronic means will be binding to the same extent as an
original signature, although the Parties contemplate that a fully executed counterpart with
original signatures will be delivered to each Party.

          If the foregoing terms accurately reflect your understanding of our discussions and are
acceptable to you, please sign and return the enclosed counterpart of this Letter of Intent to
Fagen to the attention of Becky Dahl.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	Yours sincerely,

Fagen, Inc.

 	 
	 	/s/ Ron Fagen
 	 
	 	By:          Roland "Ron" Fagen 	 
	 	Title:  	President and CEO 	 
	 

	 	 	 
	Accepted and agreed to this 1 day of May, 2007.
	 	 
	 
	 	 
	Amaizing Energy, LLC
	 	 
	 
	 	 
	/s/ Sam J. Cogdill
	 	 
	 

By: Sam J. Cogdill

	 	 
	Title: Chairman CEO
	 	 

 

 

Amaizing Energy Denison, LLC

Expansion Letter of Intent

March 23, 2007

Page 17 of 19

EXHIBIT A

General Description of Expansion

Grain Milling and Handling System

The grain milling system will be modified to include two additional hammer mills, one additional
scalper, and one additional cooling cyclone. Some minor modifications will be made to the existing
system The electrical gear for the grains expansion is expected to be installed in the existing
ground level MCC building.

If adequate space is not available in the existing grains MCC room, a new MCC room will be
constructed near the grains area. This MCC room is not part of the standard expansion package.
Expanded grain handling, grain storage, dust collection and controls are by the Owner.

Cook and Liquefaction System

A second slurry tank will be added to maintain residence time prior to the hydro heater. This
second slurry tank will be located in an addition to the building alongside the existing slurry
tank. The slurry blender and cross conveyor that takes the flour from the milling system to the
slurry tank will be adequate for the expansion. The first and second slurry tanks will operate at
the expanded rate and the production split will come after the second slurry tank. The slurry tank
will supply two cook pumps. One pump will feed the existing system, and the second will supply the
new cook tube and flash tank system that will be located in the new D&E area. This will allow the
flash from the second cook to go to the second side stripper unit of the distillation process.
After the new flash tank, the stream will be pumped to the liquefaction tanks. One liquefaction
tank will be added for further resonance time. From liquefaction, the stream will feed two heat
exchanger trains. The existing plant has one train in operation and a second train in stand-by and
cleaning. By adding a third train, the plant will have two trains on line and one train will be
the shared system between both process lines that will allow for cleaning of each system on a
regular basis. After cooling, the mash will go to the fermenter train as individual lines (three
mash feed lines).

Fermentation Area

A second yeast propagator will be added adjacent to the existing propagator in a building addition.
The dual yeast propagators will operate in a parallel-type mode to supply higher levels of yeast
to the fermentation process. At this time, the yeast propagator is balanced to the current plant
operation and the second will be similar to the existing propagator system with all the same
redundant equipment.

Four additional fermenters will be added on the end of the existing fermenters. By doing this, the
plant will move from three fermenters to seven fermenters. This move alone will allow for
additional fermentation time over and above what currently exists, since the empty tank is only

 

 

Amaizing Energy Denison, LLC

Expansion Letter of Intent

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one-seventh of the total volume instead of one-third of the total volume. The CO2 from the new
fermenters will be collected and vented to the existing beerwell. The fermenter fill line from
fermenter #1 through fermenter #7 will be expanded to an 8” line from the current 6” line. This
will allow the additional flow to move throughout the system in a single line rather than multiple
lines.

Distillation, Dehydration, Evaporation

The distillation, dehydration, and evaporation system will be substantially similar to what is
currently installed. The existing pipe rack that runs alongside the evaporator building that
supports piping and the 190 proof condenser will extend out past the new facility and support the
new 190 condenser with its associated piping. This design maintains full access to all of the
equipment for maintenance and service along with convenient installation opportunities. The pumps
and controls and associated equipment on the new system will be very similar to the existing system
for maintenance and serviceability. Larger mole sieves will be added for the new system to allow
for additional flexibility.

Energy Center

The energy center will be substantially similar to the existing energy center with certain
upgrades. To produce wet cake, the preferred procedure will be to make wet cake off the existing
energy center instead of the new center. The new energy center will have a conveyor that will
transport wet cake pad to the existing wet cake pad for emergency dumping of cake when the dryers
are down. The new energy center will incorporate the same centrifuges that are part of the
existing system. This again allows for better redundancy of spare parts. The new energy center
will include an MCC room and a complete operating control room. It is envisioned that, after the
expansion, there will be a control room operator for the two energy centers and a control room
operator for the process building. Both of these control rooms will be capable of running the
entire plant; however, under normal conditions, each will focus on their area of responsibility.
The energy center will be complete with a larger DA tank for the new and existing boiler, and
additional compressed air capacity.

The Owner is to supply adequate gas supply to the facility as required by Fagen.

Dry Distillers Grains

Currently, the DDG from the existing energy center is pneumatically conveyed to the DDG storage
building. Under the new system, a second cyclone receiver will be added to convey DDGS from the
new energy center to the existing storage building.

Additional DDGS loadout capabilities are not included in the standard expansion.

Tank Farm and Loadouts

A new loadout flare will be added for vapor recovery from the existing rail loadout. This flare can
be upsized at the Owner’s request/expense for additional loadouts.

 

 

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Expansion Letter of Intent

March 23, 2007

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The standard expansion does not include any expansion of the product storage or loadout.

Utilities

Expansion water volume quantities shall be made available by the Owner. Any necessary modifications
to the water distribution and treatment systems will be supplied by the Owner. A second RO unit
will be supplied by the Owner to pre-treat the water to the second energy center. This unit will
be located adjacent to the existing unit to take advantage of the chemical addition system.

Fagen will provide a second cooling tower. One cooling tower will be used predominately for
fermentation and cook line cooling while the other is used for distillation and the energy centers.
An MCC building will be constructed to provide power to the new cooling tower.

Two additional methanator bottles will be installed onto the existing methanator system. Minor
modifications are required to put the bottles on line.

All upgrades to site electrical utilities are the Owner’s responsibility.exv10w27

 

EXHIBIT 10.27

	 	 	 
	FAGEN, INC.

Civil — Mechanical — Electrical Contractors

	 	501 West Hwy, 212, P.O. Box 159

Granite Falls, MN 56241

320-564-3324

320-564-3278 fax

May 9, 2007

Sam Cogdill

Amaizing Energy Holding Company, LLC

2404 West Highway 30

Denison, Iowa 51442

     Re: NEK-SEN Energy, LLC Letter of Intent

Dear Sam:

     This letter (the “Letter Agreement”), when signed by you in the space set forth below,
will confirm the agreement between Amaizing Energy Holding Company, LLC (“AEHC”), and
Fagen, Inc. (“Fagen”) (sometimes collectively referred to as the “Parties”) with
respect to the matters set forth herein relative to the amendment of that certain Letter of Intent
between Fagen and NEK-SEN Energy, LLC (“NEK-SEN”) dated May 5, 2006, which was assigned to
Amaizing Energy, LLC with Fagen’s consent on August 23, 2006.

RECITALS

     A. Whereas, Fagen and NEK-SEN have entered into and executed that certain Letter of Intent
dated May 5, 2006 (the “Letter of Intent”) with respect to the construction of a fifty (50)
million gallon per year (“MGY”) dry grind ethanol production facility; and

     B. Whereas, the Letter of Intent identified NEK-SEN as Owner of the Plant and as counterparty
to the Letter of Intent between Fagen and Owner; and

     C. Whereas, pursuant to an August 8, 2006 agreement between Amaizing Energy, LLC and NEK-SEN,
NEK-SEN granted, transferred and conveyed all of its rights and interest in the Letter of Intent to
Amaizing Energy, LLC and on August 23, 2006 Fagen consented to such assignment of the Letter of
Intent.

     D. Whereas, on January 31, 2007 Amaizing Energy, LLC was merged with and into Amaizing Energy
Denison, LLC (“Denison LLC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of AEHC, both of which are Iowa Limited
Liability Companies formed on December 26, 2006.

     F. Whereas, AEHC has requested that the Letter of Intent be amended as provided herein.

 

 

     Now, therefore, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:

	 	1.	 	the Letter of Intent shall be amended to provide for the development of a one
hundred (100) MGY natural gas-fired dry grind ethanol production facility near
Atlantic, Iowa;
	 
	 	2.	 	the Contract Price contained in Section 2 of the Letter of Intent shall be
$119,698,365 and the Construction Cost Index referenced in the Letter of Intent shall
be 7,699.59 (June 2006);
	 
	 	3.	 	if a valid Notice to Proceed is not received by Fagen on or before February 28,
2008, then Fagen may terminate the Letter of Intent and shall be
entitled to collect
and retain any and all payments owed by or previously paid by AEHC or its affiliated
entities and subsidiaries to Fagen or Fagen Engineering, LLC relating to the Project;
	 
	 	4.	 	the nonrefundable $1,000,000 commitment fee paid by Amaizing Energy, LLC to
Fagen on August 23, 2006 shall be applied toward the above referenced Letter of Intent
contract price and shall not apply to any other project or agreement with which either
Fagen or AEHC is associated;
	 
	 	5.	 	Section 3(x)i. of the Letter of Intent, shall be amended and replaced in its
entirety with the following:

“On or before the twenty-fifth (25th) day of each month following
the acceptance of Notice to Proceed Fagen will submit to Owner a request for
payment (an “Application for Payment”). Along with each Application
for Payment, except with respect to the first Application for Payment, Fagen
will submit to Owner, via hardcopy or by electronic means including
facsimile or portable document format, signed lien waivers for the work
included in the Application for Payment submitted for the immediately
preceding pay period and for which payment ha been received.”

	 	6.	 	the other provisions of the Letter of Intent shall remain unchanged and in full
force and effect; and
	 
	 	7.	 	the terms of this letter shall control any conflict between this letter and the
Letter of Intent.

 

 

     If the foregoing terms accurately reflect your understanding and are acceptable to you, please
sign and return the enclosed counterpart of this letter to Ryan Manthey.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	Yours sincerely,

Fagen, Inc.

 	 
	 	     /s/ Ron Fagen
 	 
	 	By: Ron Fagen 	 
	 	Title:  	President & CEO 	 
	 

Accepted and agreed to this 9th day of May, 2007.

 

AMAIZING ENERGY HOLDING COMPANY, LLC

 

 

/s/ Sam Cogdill

 

By: Sam Cogdill

Its: Chairman

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