Document:

exv10w2

Exhibit 10.2

NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     This Agreement originally made by and between Nuance Communications, Inc. (the “Company”) and
Paul A. Ricci (the “Executive”) effective as of August 11, 2006 (the “Effective Date”), is hereby
amended and restated solely to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the
“Code”) as of December 29, 2008.

     1. Duties and Scope of Employment.

          (a) Positions and Duties. Executive will serve as Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company. Executive will render such business and professional services in
the performance of Executive’s duties, consistent with Executive’s position within the Company, as
shall reasonably be assigned to him by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).

          (b) Board Membership. During the Employment Term (as defined below), Executive will
serve as the Chairman of the Board, subject to any required stockholder approval.

          (c) Obligations. During the Employment Term, Executive will devote Executive’s full
business efforts and time to the Company. For the duration of the Employment Term, Executive
agrees not to actively engage in any other employment, occupation or consulting activity for any
direct or indirect remuneration without the prior approval of the Board of Directors of the
Company, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld, provided, however, that Executive may,
without the approval of the Board, serve in any capacity with any civic, educational or charitable
organization, or as a member of corporate Boards of Directors (but in all cases subject to
Executive’s compliance with the terms of the Confidential Information Agreement and the terms of
this Agreement).

     2. Employment Term. Subject to earlier termination as provided for below, the Company
will employ Executive for an initial term of three (3) years commencing on the Effective Date. The
term of employment hereunder shall automatically extend for successive additional terms of one (1)
year each (each, a “Successive One-Year Term”) unless, at least ninety (90) days prior to the end
of the initial three (3) year term or any Successive One-Year Term, the Company or Executive gives
written notice of intent to terminate this Agreement (a “Notice of Non-Renewal”). The term of
employment under this Agreement shall include the initial three (3) year period and any extension
thereof (the “Employment Term”). If Executive’s employment terminates as a result of the receipt
of a Notice of Non-Renewal from the Company, Executive shall be entitled to the payments and
benefits under Section 5(a) of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive and the
Company acknowledge that this employment relationship may be terminated at any time prior to the
expiration of the Employment Term, upon ninety (90) days written notice to the other party, with or
without Cause or for any or no reason, at the option either of the Board or Executive and that in
the event the Company or Executive terminate Executive’s employment with the Company prior to the
end of the Employment Term, Executive only will be entitled to those payments and benefits, if any,
provided for in Section 5 of this Agreement.

 

 

     3. Compensation.

          (a) Base Salary. The Company will pay Executive as compensation for Executive’s
services a base salary at the annualized rate of $543,500 through the period ending September 30,
2006, which amount shall be increased to an annual base salary of $575,000 effective October 1,
2006 (respectively, the “Base Salary”). The Base Salary will be paid through payroll periods that
are consistent with the Company’s normal payroll practices and will be subject to the usual,
required withholding. Executive’s compensation will be reviewed, at a minimum of once per year, to
ensure Executive’s total compensation is consistent with current market practices and in line with
Executive’s performance.

          (b) Performance Bonus. For the 2006 fiscal year of the Company, Executive will be
eligible to receive a target bonus of up to 81 percent (81%) of Executive’s Base Salary in 2006
based upon the achievement of performance criteria established by the Compensation Committee of the
Board, after consultation with Executive. For each fiscal year of the Company following its 2006
fiscal year, Executive will be eligible to receive a target bonus of up to one-hundred percent
(100%) of Executive’s then Base Salary based upon the achievement of performance criteria
established within four (4) months of the start of the applicable bonus period by the Compensation
Committee of the Board, after consultation with Executive. The performance standards will be based
on the Company’s achievement of goals for proforma revenue and earnings, as defined by the
Compensation Committee of the Board. The actual percentage of Base Salary payable as a bonus for
any year will depend upon the extent to which the applicable performance criteria have been
achieved. Any bonus that actually is earned will be paid as soon as practicable (but no later than
two and one-half (21/2) months) after the end of the fiscal year for which the bonus is earned, but
only if Executive was employed with the Company through the end of such fiscal year.

          (c) Restricted Stock. At the August 11, 2006 Compensation Committee Meeting, the
Compensation Committee of the Board issued the Executive seven hundred thirty-five thousand four
hundred forty-five (735,445) shares of common stock of the Company at a per share purchase price
equal to the par value of the Company’s common stock and, on October 1, 2007, the Compensation
Committee of the Board will issue Executive an additional fourteen thousand five hundred fifty-five
(14,555) shares of common stock of the Company at a per share purchase price equal to the par value
of the Company’s common stock (together, the “Restricted Stock”). The Restricted Stock awards will
vest 100% on the third anniversary of the Effective Date of this Agreement; provided, however, (i)
375,000 shares shall vest upon the achievement of financial targets for Fiscal 2007 approved by the
Board (the “Fiscal 2007 Objectives”) and (ii) an additional 375,000 shares shall be scheduled to
vest upon the achievement of financial targets for Fiscal 2008 approved by the Board (the “Fiscal
2008 Objectives”). Except as otherwise specified herein, in the event that Executive’s employment
with the Company terminates, any unvested shares of Restricted Stock shall be forfeited and revert
to the Company. The grant of the Restricted Stock shall be represented by, and subject to, the
terms of a Restricted Stock Agreement to be prepared in accordance with the terms herein.

          In addition, if (i) the Fiscal 2007 Objectives and the Fiscal 2008 Objectives are achieved or
(ii) if the closing price of one share of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market is
equal to or greater than $18.00, on a split adjusted basis, for a period of ninety consecutive
calendar days, the Company shall issue Executive an additional two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) shares of common stock of the Company at a per share purchase price equal
to the par value of the Company’s common stock, which shares, if
issued, shall vest on August 11, 2009.

 

 

          (d) Stock Options. At the August 11, 2006 Compensation Committee Meeting, the
Compensation Committee of the Board granted Executive a stock option grant to acquire one million
(1,000,000) shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price equal to the closing fair
market value as quoted on NASDAQ on the date of grant (the “Stock Options”). The Stock Options
shall vest in three equal installments annually over a three-year term (i.e. one third of the Stock
Options shall be scheduled to vest on each anniversary of the Effective Date). The maximum term of
the Stock Options will be seven years. Except as otherwise specified herein, in the event that
Executive’s employment with the Company terminates, any unvested Stock Options will be forfeited.
The grant of the Stock Options shall be represented by, and subject to, the terms of a stock option
agreement to be prepared in accordance with the terms herein and the stock option plan pursuant to
which they are granted.

          (e) Car Allowance. During the Employment Term, the Company will reimburse Executive
up to $15,000 per calendar year (or such greater amount as approved by the Board or Compensation
Committee, consistent with the Company’s practice with respect to other executive officers) for use
towards a car leased by the Company or via a car allowance included in the Executive’s pay. The
lease allowance is inclusive of insurance costs to cover the leased vehicle. The Company shall
make such reimbursement payments by March 15th of year following the calendar year
Executive incurred such eligible car allowance expenses.

          (f) Tax & Financial Services Allowance. The Company will reimburse Executive up to
$40,000 for expenses incurred by Executive for reasonable professional services during the period
beginning January 1, 2006 and ending on September 30, 2006. Effective October 1, 2006 and through
the Employment Term, the Company will reimburse Executive for reasonable professional services
expenses incurred by Executive for tax, financial and/or estate planning. The Company will
reimburse Executive only for expenses that do not exceed $10,000 per calendar year. The Company
shall make such reimbursement payments by the end of the third month following the calendar year
Executive incurred such eligible tax and financial service allowance expenses.

     4. Benefits.

          (a) Employee Benefits. During the Employment Term, Executive will be entitled to
participate in the employee benefit plans currently and hereafter maintained by the Company of
general applicability to other senior executives of the Company, including, without limitation, the
Company’s group medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, and flexible-spending account
plans. The Company reserves the right to cancel or change the benefit plans and programs it offers
to its employees at any time.

          (b) Executive Medical Benefit. During the Employment Term, the Company shall offer
Executive a supplemental executive medical benefit provided through a major health network,
provided that the expense incurred by the Company shall not exceed $15,000 per year. Any
reimbursement made pursuant to this Section 4(b) will be paid by the Company by the end of the
third month following the calendar year Executive incurred any eligible supplement executive medical expense. No unused benefit from one calendar year will carry forward or otherwise be
available for future calendar years.

 

 

          (c) Post Retirement Medical Benefit. For the period following Executive’s retirement,
but not before age 55, until such time as Executive is age 65, provided Executive is an active
full-time employee of the Company at the time of his retirement, the Company shall reimburse
Executive up to a maximum amount of $150,000, net of withholding taxes, for expenses incurred to
purchase medical or health insurance during the entire ten (10) year period. The Company shall
make such reimbursement payments by the end of the third month following the calendar year
Executive incurred such eligible post-retirement medical or health insurance expenses.

     5. Severance. Except as set forth below, upon termination of employment by the
Company for any reason, other than following a Change of Control (in a termination to which Section
5(c) applies), Death or Disability, Executive shall receive payment of (a) his Base Salary, as then
in effect, through the date of termination of employment, and (b) all accrued vacation, expense
reimbursements and any other benefits (other than severance benefits, except as provided below) due
to Executive through the date of termination of employment in accordance with established Company
plans and policies or applicable law (the “Accrued Obligations”). In addition, the following will
apply:

          (a) Involuntary Termination other than for Cause, Death or Disability. If Executive’s
employment with the Company is terminated (i) by the Company for a reason other than Cause (as
defined below), Executive becoming Disabled (as defined below) or Executive’s death, or (ii) by the
Executive for Good Reason, then, subject to Executive’s compliance with the provisions in Section
5(e), Executive will be entitled to receive through the term of the Severance Period: (i)
continuing payments of 1.5 times Executive’s Base Salary, as then in effect, during the Severance
Period, to be paid periodically in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll policies and
subject to the usual, required withholding, plus 100% of Executive’s target Performance Bonus, as
then in effect, during the Severance Period, to be paid periodically in accordance with the
Company’s normal payroll policies and subject to the usual, required withholding, (ii) continued
payment by the Company of the group medical, dental and vision continuation coverage premiums for
Executive and Executive’s eligible dependents under Title X of the Consolidated Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”) during the Severance Period under the Company’s
group health plans, as then in effect; (iii) immediate full vesting on the termination date of
Executive’s stock options and unvested Restricted Stock that were granted prior to the Effective
Date and continued vesting during the severance period for Executive’s stock options and unvested
Restricted Stock granted after the Effective Date, and (iv) an extended period of time to exercise
certain outstanding options granted before and after the Effective date. Outstanding
options granted prior to this Agreement shall expire on their original expiration date.
Outstanding options granted after the Effective date shall expire on either their original
expiration date or two years after the Executive’s termination date, whichever is earlier.

          (b) Termination due to Death or Disability. If the Executive’s employment with the
Company is terminated due to his Death or his becoming Disabled, then Executive or Executive’s
estate (as the case may be) will (i) receive the Base Salary through the date of termination of
employment, (ii) be entitled to immediate 100% vesting of any Company stock options or Restricted Stock held by the Executive that were unvested immediately prior to his termination of
employment, (iii) receive Company-paid coverage for a period of two (2) years for Executive (if
applicable) and Executive’s eligible dependents under the Company’s health benefit plans (or, at
the Company’s option, coverage under a separate plan), providing benefits that are no less
favorable than those

 

 

provided under the Company’s plans immediately prior to Executive’s death,
(iv) receive all accrued vacation, expense reimbursements and any other benefits due to Executive
through the date of termination of employment in accordance with Company-provided or paid plans and
policies, and (v) be entitled to receive all compensation and benefits from the Company for which
he is eligible under other policies or plans.

          (c) Change of Control Benefits. If, within twelve (12) months following a Change of
Control, Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated for a reason other than (i) Cause,
(ii) Executive becoming Disabled or (iii) Executive’s death, or if the Executive terminates his
employment with the Company for Good Reason, then, subject to Executive’s compliance with the
provisions in Section 5(e), Executive will be entitled to receive the severance payments and
benefits set forth in Section 5(a) and the post retiree medical benefit provided under Section
4(c); provided, however Executive shall receive two (2.0) times his Base Salary as then in effect
rather than one-half (1 1/2) times his Base Salary and immediate 100% acceleration of any unvested
options or awards, rather than continued vesting over the severance period. In addition, if
Executive becomes subject to the excise tax applicable to excess parachute payments under Section
4999 of the Code, then the Company (or its successor) will reimburse Executive for up to $4,000,000
of that tax. The reimbursements required by this Section 5(c) shall be paid to Executive, or for
his benefit, within fifteen (15) days following receipt by the Company of the report of the
accounting firm described below; provided however that in any event any such payment shall be made
not later than (i) the end of the calendar year following the year in which the amount of taxes
owed are remitted to the applicable tax authority, or (ii) in the case of a tax audit or litigation
in connection with the applicability of or calculation of tax amounts owing under Sections 280G or
4999 of the Code, the end of the calendar year following the year in which the audit or litigation
is completed. The accounting firm engaged by the Company for general audit purposes as of the day
prior to the effective date of the Change of Control shall perform the foregoing calculations. If
the accounting firm so engaged by the Company is also serving as accountant or auditor for the
individual, entity or group which will control the Company upon the occurrence of a Change of
Control, the Company shall appoint a nationally recognized accounting firm other than the
accounting firm engaged by the Company for general audit purposes to make the determinations
required hereunder. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such
accounting firm required to be made hereunder. The accounting firm engaged to make the
determinations hereunder shall provide its calculations, together with detailed supporting
documentation, to the Company and Executive within thirty calendar days after the date on which
such accounting firm has been engaged to make such determinations or such other time as requested
by the Company or Executive. If the accounting firm determines that no excise tax is payable with
respect to any payments, it shall furnish the Company and Executive with an opinion reasonably
acceptable to Executive that no excise tax will be imposed with respect to such payments. Any good
faith determinations of the accounting firm made hereunder shall be final, binding, and conclusive
upon the Company and Executive. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of the Executive’s actual
payment of a Section 4999 excise tax, he shall in any event be entitled to reimbursement pursuant
to this Section 5(c) to the extent the amount of such tax exceeds the excise tax amount previously
determined by the accounting firm.

          (d) Other Termination. If the Executive terminates employment with the Company other
than for Good Reason (as defined), or if Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated for
Cause, then Executive will receive payment of the Accrued Obligations but he shall not be entitled
to any other compensation or benefits (including, without limitation, accelerated

 

 

vesting of stock
options and unvested Restricted Stock) from the Company, except to the extent provided under the
applicable stock option agreement(s), Company benefit plans or as may be required by law (for
example, under COBRA).

          (e) Conditions to Receive Severance Package. Except for the Accrued Obligations, the
applicable provisions of the Option Plan and Option Agreement, and other payments to which
Executive may be entitled by law, the severance payments, continued benefits, continued vesting,
vesting acceleration and the ability to exercise stock options described in this Section 5 will be
provided to Executive if the following conditions are satisfied: (i) Executive complies with all
surviving provisions of the Confidential Information Agreement, any confidentiality or proprietary
rights agreement signed by Executive and the non-competition provisions set forth herein; and (ii)
Executive executes and delivers to the Company, and does not revoke, a full general release, in a
form acceptable to the Company, releasing all claims, known or unknown, that Executive may have
against the Company, and any subsidiary or related entity, their officers, directors, employees and
agents, arising out of or any way related to Executive’s employment or termination of employment
with the Company.

          (f) Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” means Executive’s employment with
the Company is terminated after a majority of the Board has found any of the following to exist:
(i) the commission by the Executive of a felony, either in connection with the performance of his
obligations to the Company or which adversely affects the Executive’s ability to perform such
obligations; (ii) gross negligence, dishonesty or breach of fiduciary duty; or (iii) the commission
by the Executive of an act of fraud or embezzlement which results in loss, damage or injury to the
Company, whether directly or indirectly; (iv) disclosure of the Company’s confidential or
proprietary information which violates the terms of the Confidential Information Agreement; or (v)
Executive’s continued substantial willful nonperformance (except by reason of Disability) of his
employment duties after Executive has received a written demand for performance by the Board and
has failed to cure such nonperformance within 15 business days of receiving such notice.

          (g) Change of Control. For the purposes of this Agreement, a “Change of Control”
means the occurrence of any of the following events, but only to the extent such event constitutes
a “change in control event” for purposes of Section 409A: (i) any “person” (as such term is used in
Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) becomes the
“beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities
of the Company representing 50% or more of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then
outstanding voting securities; or (ii) a change in the composition of the Board occurring within a
one-year period, as a result of which fewer than a majority of the directors are Incumbent
Directors (“Incumbent Directors” will mean directors who either (A) are members of the Board as of
the Effective Date, or (B) are elected, or nominated for election, to the Board with the
affirmative votes of at least a majority of the Board at the time of such election or nomination
(but will not include an individual whose election or nomination is in connection with an actual or
threatened proxy contest relating to the election of directors to the Company)); or (iii) the date
of the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation that has been approved by
the stockholders of the Company, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the
voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent
(either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving
entity) more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the voting
securities of the Company or

 

 

such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or
consolidation; or (iv) the date of the consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of
all or substantially all the Company’s assets.

          (h) Disabled. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disabled” means Executive being unable
to perform the principal functions of his duties due to a medically certifiable physical or mental
impairment, but only if such inability has lasted or is reasonably expected to last for at least
six months. Whether Executive is Disabled will be determined by a third party administrator of the
Company’s long-term disability program.

          (i) Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” means (i) without the
Executive’s consent, a significant reduction of the Executive’s duties, position, reporting status,
or responsibilities relative to the Executive’s duties, position, reporting status, or
responsibilities in effect immediately prior to such reduction, or the removal of the Executive
from such position, duties and responsibilities or change in reporting status, unless the Executive
is provided with comparable duties, position and responsibilities or reporting status; also a
reduction in duties, position, reporting status or responsibilities by virtue of the Company being
acquired and made part of a larger entity will constitute “Good Reason” unless the Executive
remains in his position as Chief Executive Officer of a publicly traded company that conducts
substantially the same core operations, business and activities as were conducted by the Company
prior to any such acquisition or similar corporate transaction; (ii) without the Executive’s
consent, a substantial reduction, by the Board of the Executive’s Base Salary as in effect
immediately prior to such reduction (unless such reduction is part of an overall Company effort
that effects similarly situated senior executives of the Company); (iii) without the Executive’s
consent, the requirement that Executive relocate his principal place of employment more than fifty
(50) miles from the current location of the Company’s principal executive offices; (iv) a material
breach by the Company of this Agreement; and (iv) failure of Executive to be nominated as a Board
member. Executive will not resign for Good Reason without first providing the Company with written
notice of the acts or omissions constituting the grounds for “Good Reason” within ninety (90) days
of the initial existence of the grounds for “Good Reason” and, if such grounds are susceptible to
cure, a reasonable cure period of not less than thirty (30) days following the date of such notice.
Any resignation for Good Reason must occur within two years of the initial existence of the
grounds constituting Good Reason.

          (j) Severance Period. For purposes of this Agreement, “Severance Period” means the
period beginning on the date of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company and ending
on the date eighteen (18) months later for all reasons other than a termination following a Change
of Control. “Severance Period” for a termination following a Change of Control means the period
beginning on the date of Executive’s termination of employment with the Company and ending on the
date twenty-four (24) months later.

     6. Confidential Information. Executive agrees to continue to comply with any
agreement Executive has entered into with the Company regarding confidential information and/or
invention assignment (the “Confidential Information Agreement”).

     7. Assignment. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of (a)
the heirs, executors and legal representatives of Executive upon Executive’s death. None of the
rights of Executive to receive any form of compensation payable pursuant to this Agreement may be

 

 

assigned or transferred except by will, trust, or the laws of descent and distribution. Any other
attempted assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of Executive’s right to
compensation or other benefits will be null and void.

     8. Indemnification. Subject to applicable law, Executive will be provided
indemnification but on terms no less favorable than provided to any other Company executive officer
and subject to the terms of any separate written indemnification agreement.

     9. Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications called for
hereunder will be in writing and will be deemed given (i) on the date of delivery if delivered
personally, (ii) one (1) day after being sent by a well established commercial overnight service,
or (iii) four (4) days after being mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, prepaid and addressed to the parties or their successors at the following addresses, or
at such other addresses as the parties may later designate in writing:

If to the Company:

Nuance Communications, Inc.

One Wayside Road

Burlington, MA 01803

Attn: Vice President — Human Resources & Operations

If to Executive:

at the last residential address known by the Company.

     10. Severability. In the event that any provision hereof becomes or is declared by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Agreement will continue
in full force and effect without said provision.

     11. Original Agreement. Executive previously entered into an employment agreement
with the Company on August 11, 2003, as amended from time to time (the “Original Agreement”).
Executive and the Company agree that this Agreement will supersede and replace the Original
Agreement in its entirety.

     12. Non-Competition, and Non-Solicitation. For a period beginning on the Effective
Date and ending 18 months after the Executive ceases to be employed by the Company (or 24 months
following termination of Executive’s employment if such termination occurs within twelve months
following a Change of Control of the Company), Executive, directly or indirectly, whether as
employee, owner, sole proprietor, partner, director, member, consultant, agent, founder,
co-venturer or otherwise, will: (i) not engage, participate or invest in a company whose primary
business is competitive with the Company; (ii) not engage, participate or invest in a large Information
Technology (“IT”) company, such as Microsoft or IBM, in a position in which his principal
involvement would be in the business of speech recognition software; (iii) not solicit, induce or
influence any person to leave employment with the Company; (iv) not directly or indirectly solicit
business from any of the Company’s customers and users on behalf of any company defined in Section
12(i) or (ii), above. Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit the Executive from owning (as a
passive investment): (A) not more than two percent of any class of publicly traded securities of

 

 

any entity or (B) not more than five percent of any class of non-publicly traded securities of any
entity.

     13. Non Disparagement. Following the date Executive ceases to be employed by the
Company, Executive will not disparage in any way the Company, its Officers, directors, employees,
investors, shareholders, administrators, affiliates, divisions, subsidiaries, predecessor or
successor corporations, or assigns, and will refrain from any defamation, libel or slander of any
of those parties, and any tortious interference with the contracts, relationships and prospective
economic advantage of any of those parties. Likewise, following the date Executive ceases to be
employed by the Company, its officers, directors, employees, administrators, and affiliates, will
not disparage, except as otherwise required by law, in any way the Executive, and will refrain from
any defamation, libel or slander of the Executive, and, subject to provisions of paragraph 12 of
this Agreement, will refrain from any tortious interference with the contracts, relationships and
prospective economic advantage of the Executive.

     14. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Confidential Information
Agreement, represents the entire agreement and understanding between the Company and Executive
concerning the subject matter herein and Executive’s employment relationship with the Company, and
supersedes and replaces any and all prior or contemporaneous agreements and understandings whether
written or oral between the Executive and the Company.

     15. Arbitration and Equitable Relief.

          (a) Except as provided in Section 15(d) below, Executive and the Company agree that to the
extent permitted by law, any dispute or controversy arising out of, relating to, or in connection
with this Agreement, or the interpretation, validity, construction, performance, breach, or
termination thereof will be settled by arbitration to be held at a location within 45 miles of the
Company’s principal executive offices in Massachusetts, in accordance with the procedures then in
effect of the Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Services, Inc. (“JAMS”) (the “Rules”). The
arbitrator may grant injunctions or other relief in such dispute or controversy. The decision of
the arbitrator will be final, conclusive and binding on the parties to the arbitration. Judgment
may be entered on the arbitrator’s decision in any court having jurisdiction.

          (b) The arbitrator will apply Massachusetts law to the merits of any dispute or claim, without
reference to rules of conflict of law. Executive hereby expressly consents to the personal
jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Massachusetts for any action or proceeding
arising from or relating to this Agreement and/or relating to any arbitration in which the parties
are participants.

          (c) The Company will pay the direct costs and expenses of the arbitration. The
Company will also reimburse Executive’s fees and expenses as incurred quarterly, including
reasonable attorneys’ fees in connection with any dispute arising out of this agreement, provided
Executive prevails on at least one material issue in such dispute, or provided an arbitrator does
not determine that Executive’s legal positions were frivolous or without legal foundation. In the
event Executive does not so prevail or in the event of such determination, Executive will repay to
the Company any amounts previously reimbursed by it, and Executive will reimburse the Company for
its fees and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with the dispute.

 

 

          (d) Both the Company and the Executive may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for a
temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or other interim or conservatory relief, as
necessary to enforce the provisions of the Confidential Information Agreement between Executive and
the Company and/or Section 13 of this Agreement, without breach of this arbitration agreement and
without abridgement of the powers of the arbitrator.

          (e) EMPLOYEE HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS SECTION 15, WHICH DISCUSSES ARBITRATION. EMPLOYEE
UNDERSTANDS THAT BY SIGNING THIS AGREEMENT, EMPLOYEE AGREES TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, TO
SUBMIT ANY FUTURE CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF, RELATING TO, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE
INTERPRETATION, VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION, PERFORMANCE, BREACH, OR TERMINATION THEREOF TO BINDING
ARBITRATION, AND THAT THIS ARBITRATION CLAUSE CONSTITUTES A WAIVER OF EMPLOYEE’S RIGHT TO A JURY
TRIAL AND RELATES TO THE RESOLUTION OF ALL DISPUTES RELATING TO ALL ASPECTS OF THE
EMPLOYER/EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS:

               (i) ANY AND ALL CLAIMS FOR WRONGFUL DISCHARGE OF EMPLOYMENT; BREACH OF CONTRACT, BOTH EXPRESS
AND IMPLIED; BREACH OF THE COVENANT OF GOOD FAITH AND FAIR DEALING, BOTH EXPRESS AND IMPLIED;
NEGLIGENT OR INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS; NEGLIGENT OR INTENTIONAL
MISREPRESENTATION; NEGLIGENT OR INTENTIONAL INTERFERENCE WITH CONTRACT OR PROSPECTIVE ECONOMIC
ADVANTAGE; AND DEFAMATION;

               (ii) ANY AND ALL CLAIMS FOR VIOLATION OF ANY FEDERAL STATE OR MUNICIPAL STATUTE, INCLUDING,
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990, THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT, AND
ANY LAW OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA; AND

               (iii) ANY AND ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF ANY OTHER LAWS AND REGULATIONS RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT
OR EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION.

     16. No Oral Modification, Cancellation or Discharge. This Agreement may be changed or
terminated only in writing (signed by Executive and the Company).

     17. Withholding. The Company is authorized to withhold, or cause to be withheld, from
any payment or benefit under this Agreement the full amount of any applicable withholding taxes.

     18. Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts (with the exception of its conflict of laws provisions).

     19. Acknowledgment. Executive acknowledges that he has had the opportunity to discuss
this matter with and obtain advice from his private attorney, has had sufficient time to, and has
carefully read and fully understands all the provisions of this Agreement, and is knowingly and
voluntarily entering into this Agreement.

     20. Attorneys’ Fees. Executive shall be reimbursed his reasonable attorneys’ fees

 

 

     incurred with respect to the negotiation of this Agreement.

     21. Code Section 409A.

          (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no Deferred Compensation
Separation Benefits (as defined below) will become payable under this Agreement until Executive has
a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and any proposed or
final regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (“Section 409A”). Further, if Executive is a
“specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of Executive’s termination
(other than due to death), and the severance payable to Executive, if any, pursuant to this
Agreement, when considered together with any other severance payments or separation benefits, are
considered deferred compensation under Section 409A (together, the “Deferred Compensation
Separation Benefits”), such Deferred Compensation Separation Payments that are otherwise payable
within the first six (6) months following Executive’s termination of employment will become payable
on the first payroll date that occurs on or after the date six (6) months and one (1) day following
the date of Executive’s termination of employment. All subsequent Deferred Compensation Separation
Benefits, if any, will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each
payment or benefit. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if Executive dies following
his termination but prior to the six (6) month anniversary of his termination, then any payments
delayed in accordance with this paragraph will be payable in a lump sum as soon as administratively
practicable after the date of Executive’s death and all other Deferred Compensation Separation
Benefits will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or
benefit. Each payment and benefit payable under this Agreement is intended to constitute separate
payments for purposes of Section 1.409A-2(b)(2) of the Treasury Regulations.

          (b) Any amount paid under this Agreement that satisfies the requirements of the “short-term
deferral” rule set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Treasury Regulations shall not constitute
Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits for purposes of Section 15(a) above.

          (c) Any amount paid under this Agreement that qualifies as a payment made as a result of an
involuntary separation from service pursuant to Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii) of the Treasury
Regulations that does not exceed the Section 409A Limit (as defined below) shall not constitute
Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits for purposes of Section 15(a) above. For purposes of
this Section 15(c), “Section 409A Limit” will mean the lesser of two (2) times: (i) Executive’s
annualized compensation based upon the annual rate of pay paid to Executive during the Company’s
taxable year preceding the Company’s taxable year of Executive’s termination of employment as
determined under Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A)(1); or (ii) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a qualified plan pursuant to Section
401(a)(17) of the Code for the year in which Executive’s employment is terminated.

          (d) The foregoing provisions are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A so
that none of the severance payments and benefits to be provided hereunder will be subject to the
additional tax imposed under Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted to so
comply. The Company and Executive agree to work together in good faith to consider amendments to
this Agreement and to take such reasonable actions which are necessary, appropriate or desirable to
avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition prior to

 

 

actual payment to Executive
under Section 409A.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement on the respective dates set
forth below:

	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	EXECUTIVE	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	/s/ Paul A. Ricci
	 	Date December 29, 2008
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Paul A. Ricci	 	 
	 

	 	Chairman and Chief Executive Officer	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	COMPANY	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	/s/ Robert Frankenberg
	 	Date December 29, 2008
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Robert Frankenberg	 	 
	 

	 	Chairman of the Compensation Committee of	 	 
	 

	 	The Board of Directorsexv10w1

Exhibit 10.1

FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT

     THIS FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of February 2, 2009,
by and among HEARTLAND GRAIN FUELS, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Borrower”), DAKOTA
FUELS, INC. and ABE HEARTLAND, LLC (together, the “Pledgors” and, together with the Borrower, the
“Loan Parties” and each a “Loan
Party”), WESTLB AG, NEW YORK BRANCH, for itself and as agent (the
“Agent”) for the financial institutions from time to time party hereto as lenders and, in certain
instances, as Interest Rate Protection Providers (together, the “Lenders”), and the Lenders (the
Lenders and the Agent together, the “Forbearing Parties” and each a “Forbearing Party” and together
with the Loan Parties, the “Parties”).

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

     A. Pursuant to the Senior Credit Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2007, as amended from time
to time (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among the Borrower, the Lenders and the Agent, the Lenders
agreed to extend certain credit facilities to the Borrower. Capitalized terms used in this
Agreement but not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Credit
Agreement. This Agreement is deemed to be one of the Financing Documents under and pursuant to the
Credit Agreement and all provisions of the Credit Agreement which apply to Financing Documents
shall apply to this Agreement.

     B. The Loan Parties have requested that the Forbearing Parties forbear from exercising certain
rights and remedies under the Credit Agreement and the other Financing Documents through the
Forbearance Maturity Date (as defined below) solely in respect of the Events of Default and
expected Events of Default that are set forth on Schedule “A” attached hereto (together, the
“Specified Defaults”).

     C. The Forbearing Parties are willing to forbear from exercising certain rights and remedies
under the Credit Agreement and the other Financing Documents only through the Forbearance Maturity
Date and solely regarding the Specified Defaults, subject to the express terms and provisions of
this Agreement.

AGREEMENT

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

     1. Acknowledgments by the Loan Parties. To induce the Forbearing Parties to execute
this Agreement, the Loan Parties hereby acknowledge, stipulate and agree as follows:

          (a) The Specified Defaults under the heading “Existing Events of Default” on Schedule A
hereto constitute Events of Default that have occurred, remain uncured and are continuing as of
the time of this Agreement, and Borrower acknowledges (i) receipt of notice from the Agent dated
October 28, 2008 terminating all remaining Commitments, (ii) that the

 

 

Forbearance Agreement Execution Copy

Forbearing Parties have no obligation to make further Loans under the Credit Agreement and
(iii) that Section 7.02(s) of the Credit Agreement prohibits the Borrower from making any
Restricted Payment for so long as any Specified Default or any other Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing.

          (b) As of the time of this Agreement nothing has occurred that constitutes or otherwise can
be construed or interpreted as a waiver of, or otherwise to limit in any respect any rights or
remedies the Forbearing Parties or any of them, have or may have arising as the result of any
Event of Default that has occurred or that may occur under the Credit Agreement, the other
Financing Documents or applicable law.

          (c) The principal amount of the Term Loan outstanding as of the date hereof is equal to
$87,979,000 (the “Term Loan Advances”) and that all Term Loan Advances under the Credit Agreement
and the other Financing Documents shall continue to be due and payable when required under the
Credit Agreement.

          (d) The principal amount of the Working Capital Loan outstanding as of the date hereof is
equal to $7,100,000 (the “Working Capital Advances”) and that all Working Capital Advances under
the Credit Agreement and the other Financing Documents shall continue to be due and payable when
required under the Credit Agreement.

          (e) Primary Swap Obligations with respect to terminated Swap Agreements as of the date
hereof equal $4,212,550 and that all Primary Swap Obligations shall continue to be due and
payable when required under the Credit Agreement, the Financing Documents or any relevant Swap
Agreement.

          (f) There is no amount outstanding and owing to the Lenders with respect to the Construction
Loan.

          (g) There are no Letters of Credit outstanding as of the date hereof.

          (h) The Loan Parties agree that (i) interest on the Loans and other Obligations that may be
due and owing under the Credit Agreement or other Financing Documents commenced accruing at the
Default Rate on October 28, 2008 and shall continue to accrue at such rate so long as any
Specified Default or any other Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (ii)
all interest amounts on the Loans and other Obligations and other amounts that may be due and
owing under the Credit Agreement and other Financing Documents shall continue to be due and
payable when required under the Credit Agreement.

          (i) No Loan Party has any defense, claim, counterclaim or right of offset against any of the
Forbearing Parties or their Affiliates with respect to the Loans or any portion thereof or any
other Obligations.

          (j) The obligations of the Loan Parties under this Agreement of any nature whatsoever,
whether now existing or hereafter arising, are Obligations.

          (k) Except as expressly modified by this Agreement, all terms and provisions of the Credit
Agreement and the other Financing Documents are valid and enforceable and remain in full force
and effect according to their respective terms. The failure of any of the

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Forbearance Agreement Execution Copy

Loan Parties to comply with any of its covenants and agreements in this Agreement shall be
an Event of Default for purposes of the Credit Agreement and the other Financing Documents,
including for purposes of this Agreement.

          (l) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other contract or
instrument between or among any Loan Party or Loan Parties, on the one hand, and the Forbearing
Parties, or any of them, on the other hand: (i) the relationship between any of the Forbearing
Parties on the one hand, and each of the Loan Parties, on the other hand, shall be limited to the
relationship of a lender to a borrower in a commercial loan transaction; (ii) no Forbearing Party
is or shall be construed as a partner, joint venturer, alter-ego, manager, controlling person,
agent, fiduciary, or other business associate or participant of any kind of any Loan Party (or
any other Person), and no Forbearing Party intends to assume any such status at any time; and
(iii) no Forbearing Party shall be deemed responsible for (or a participant in) any acts,
omissions or decisions of any other Forbearing Party or, in the case of any Lender, the Agent.

          (m) The Forbearing Parties’ entry into, and covenants to perform in accordance with, this
Agreement constitute (i) reasonably equivalent value for the purposes of any provision of Title
11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) or the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, (ii)
fair consideration for the purpose of any provision of the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, and
(iii) reasonably equivalent value, fair consideration and fair value for the purpose of any other
law of the United States, any state, territory or possession, or the District of Columbia or
other applicable laws, received by the Loan Parties as of the closing of this Agreement in
contemporaneous exchange for the Loan Parties’ entry into, and covenants to perform in accordance
with, this Agreement and the documents executed in connection with this Agreement.

          (n) All time-related defenses of the Loan Parties, such as statutes of limitations,
doctrines of estoppel, doctrines of laches or any other rules of law or equity of similar nature,
are hereby tolled with respect to all rights, claims and causes of action of any kind whatsoever
that any Forbearing Party may have against any Loan Party under or in connection with the
Financing Documents as of the time of the closing of this Agreement through and including the
date which is thirty (30) days after the Forbearance Maturity Date.

          (o) Except for Permitted Liens entitled to priority under applicable law, the Agent for
itself and the ratable benefit of the Lenders and other Senior Secured Parties has a first
priority perfected security interest in, and lien upon, in all applicable jurisdictions, all of
the property that is pledged as Collateral under any of the Security Documents, to secure the
full and prompt payment of all Obligations.

     2. Forbearance Maturity Date. This Agreement shall terminate on the date (the
“Forbearance Maturity Date”) which is the earliest to occur of:

	 	(i)	 	11:59 p.m. (New York time) on March 31, 2009;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	the date of an occurrence of any Default or Event of Default
other than the Specified Events of Default set forth in Schedule “A” hereto;
	 
	 	(iii)	 	the date the Borrower fails to achieve the “process
benchmarks” or

3

 

Forbearance Agreement Execution Copy

	 	 	 	“financial achievements” set forth in Schedule “B” hereto; or
	 
	 	(iv)	 	the date any Loan Party fails to comply substantially with any
of the agreements, material covenants, or other material terms set forth in
this Agreement.

Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to (ii) through (iv) above shall occur upon 5 business
days’ prior written notice from the Agent or the Required Lenders to the Loan Parties and without
any further action or notice by the Forbearing Parties. Further, the Loan Parties acknowledge and
agree that none of the Forbearing Parties have any obligation to extend the term of this Agreement
beyond the time provided herein and there exists no course of dealing that would permit arguing for
an extension contrary to the Forbearing Parties’ wishes.

     3. Forbearance by Forbearing Parties. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, from the effective date of this Agreement until the Forbearance Maturity Date (the
“Forbearance Period”), the Forbearing Parties agree to forbear from exercising their respective
rights and remedies under the Credit Agreement, Security Documents and the other Financing
Documents, solely in respect of the Specified Defaults.

     4. Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness. The effectiveness of this Agreement upon
the Forbearing Parties shall be conditioned upon and subject to the satisfaction of the following:

          (a) This Agreement shall have been duly authorized and executed by each of the Loan Parties
and the Forbearing Parties and the Parties shall have delivered original counterparts thereof to
the Agent.

          (b) The Borrower shall have reimbursed the Agent for any reasonable costs, fees and expenses
of the Forbearing Parties incurred in respect of this Agreement, the Specified Defaults or
otherwise payable as contemplated by the Credit Agreement that have been invoiced to the Borrower
(including, but not limited to, reasonable costs, fees and expenses incurred by legal and
financial advisors retained by the Agent).

          (c) The Borrower shall have paid to the Agent in immediately available funds a nonrefundable
forbearance fee equal to 20 basis points of the amount of outstanding Loans and Primary Swap
Obligations in respect of terminated Swap Contracts held by the Lenders who execute the
Agreement, such forbearance fee to be allocated by the Agent pro rata among such Lenders in
accordance with their respective share of the outstanding Loans and Primary Swap Obligations.

          (d) The Borrower shall have paid to the Agent in immediately available funds a
restructuring/work fee equal to 5 basis points of the aggregate amount of outstanding Loans and
Primary Swap Obligations held by the Lenders.

          (e) The Borrower and South Dakota Wheat Growers (“SDWG”) shall have entered into an
agreement, satisfactory to the Agent, pursuant to which SDWG has committed to allow the Borrower
to purchase corn forward to satisfy at least 80% of its production requirements for the months of
January and February 2009 and at least 50% of its production requirements for the month of March
2009, so long as the Forbearance Maturity Date has not

4

 

Forbearance Agreement Execution Copy

occurred.

     5. Cooperation by Borrower. During the Forbearance Period, the Borrower shall use its
commercially reasonable best efforts to cooperate with the Agent and Lenders in regard to their due
diligence concerning the Borrower, its assets, businesses, liabilities and contracts, and the
Borrower shall: (i) in addition to the reports and financial information required to be provided
under the Credit Agreement, provide all financial information or reports that may be reasonably
requested by the Forbearing Parties or their professionals, including, without limitation, those
expressly set forth in Schedule B annexed hereto; (ii) grant the Agent and its professionals access
to the Plants upon reasonable notice; (iii) not enter into any material contract, including,
without limitation, any hedging or other forward contract, unless reasonably acceptable to the
Agent; (iv) make management available to meet with the Forbearing Parties and their advisors upon
reasonable notice; (v) schedule meetings with the Forbearing Parties and/or SDWG that may be
reasonably requested by the Forbearing Parties or their professionals; and (vi) provide whatever
other assistance is reasonably requested by the Forbearing Parties or their professionals.

     6. Rights Upon Termination of the Forbearance Period; No Waiver of Specified Default.
Upon the termination of the Forbearance Period, the Forbearing Parties shall no longer be required
to forbear from the conduct listed in Section 3 of this Agreement and shall be entitled at such
time or at any time thereafter to enforce all of their rights and remedies to the same extent as if
the Forbearing Parties had not agreed to forbear from doing so during the Forbearance Period. The
Forbearing Parties do not hereby waive any Specified Events of Default or any other Event of
Default whether known or unknown or presently existing or hereafter arising under the Credit
Agreement and/or the Financing Documents. The fact of the Forbearing Parties’ forbearance during
the Forbearance Period shall not be construed as a waiver of any of the Forbearing Parties’ rights
or remedies, nor shall it be the basis to deem any Forbearing Party estopped from taking any action
at a later date. All statutes of limitation applicable to actions that any Forbearing Party may be
entitled to bring to enforce its rights and remedies against any obligor or the Collateral shall be
tolled during the Forbearance Period, and each time period provided in each such statute of
limitations shall be extended by a period of time equal to the duration of the Forbearance Period.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, none of the Forbearing Parties shall be required
to forbear in respect of any Event of Default under the Credit Agreement or the other Financing
Documents, except for the Specified Defaults during the Forbearance Period.

     7. Representations and Warranties of the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties represent and
warrant (in each case, as to itself only) to the Forbearing Parties that the following statements
are true, correct and complete as of the date hereof.

          (a) Power and Authority. Each of the Loan Parties has all requisite power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the transactions contemplated by, and
perform their respective obligations under, this Agreement;

          (b) Authorization. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance
of their respective obligations hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary action on
their part;

          (c) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by each of them of

5

 

Forbearance Agreement Execution Copy

this Agreement does not and shall not (i) violate any provision of law, rule or regulation
applicable to each of them or any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates or (ii) conflict with, result
in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any
material contractual obligation to which either of them or any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates
is a party or under their respective limited liability membership agreements, by-laws or other
organizational documents;

          (d) Governmental Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by each of them
of this Agreement does not and shall not require any registration or filing with, consent or
approval of, or notice to, or other action to, with or by, any Federal, state or other governmental
authority or regulatory body other than has been previously obtained; and

          (e) Binding Obligation. This Agreement is the legally valid and binding obligation
of each of them, enforceable against them individually or collectively in accordance with its
terms, except as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or other similar laws relating to or limiting creditor’s rights generally or by equitable
principles relating to enforceability.

     8. Representations and Warranties of the Forbearing Parties. The Forbearing Parties
represent and warrant (in each case, as to itself only) to the Loan Parties that the following
statements are true, correct and complete as of the date hereof.

          (a) Power and Authority. Each Forbearing Party has all requisite power and authority
to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the transactions contemplated by, and perform its
obligations under, this Agreement;

          (b) Authorization. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance
of its obligations hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary action on its part;

          (c) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by it of this Agreement
does not and shall not (i) violate any provision of law, rule or regulation applicable to it or
(ii) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both)
a default under any material contractual obligation to which it is a party or under its charter,
by-laws or other organizational documents;

          (d) Governmental Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by it of this
Agreement does not and shall not require any registration or filing with, consent or approval of,
or notice to, or other action to, with or by, any Federal, state or other governmental authority or
regulatory body; and

          (e) Binding Obligation. This Agreement is the legally valid and binding obligation
of the Forbearing Parties, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, except as
enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws relating to or limiting creditor’s rights generally or by equitable principles relating to
enforceability.

     9. Continued Compliance with Credit Agreement and Financing Documents. Each of the
Loan Parties acknowledge and agree that the Forbearing Parties’ agreement to

6

 

Forbearance Agreement Execution Copy

forbear from enforcing its or their remedies during the Forbearance Period does not in any
manner limit the Loan Parties’ obligations to comply with their respective covenants and agreements
in the Credit Agreement and the Financing Documents during the Forbearance Period and thereafter,
except to the extent expressly modified herein.

     10. Notices. Unless otherwise specified herein, all notices, requests and other
communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including telecopier or similar writing)
and shall be given to such party at its address or telecopier number set forth below or such other
address or telecopier number as such party may hereafter specify by notice to the other party.
Each such notice, request or other communication shall be effective (i) if given by telecopier or
other form of facsimile transmission, when the recipient confirms legible transmission thereof, or
(ii) if given by any other means, when delivered at the address specified in this Section 10:

	 	(a)	 	If to the Loan Parties:

Heartland Grain Fuels, L.P.

10201 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 250

Minneapolis, MN 55305

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

Telecopier: (763) 226-2725

Telephone: (763) 226-2707

with a copy to:

Faegre & Benson LLP

2200 Wells Fargo Center

90 South Seventh Street

Minneapolis, MN 55402-3901

Attention: Michael R. Stewart, Esq.

Telecopier: (612) 766-1600

Telephone: (612) 766-7928

	 	(b)	 	If to the Forbearing Parties:

WestLB AG, New York Branch

1211 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

Attention: Dominick D’ Ascoli

Telecopier: (212) 852-6374

Telephone: (212) 597-8546

with a copy to:

Chadbourne & Parke LLP

30 Rockefeller Plaza

New York, New York 10112

Attention: N. Theodore Zink, Jr., Esq.

Telecopier: (646) 710-5356

Telephone: (212) 408-5356

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Forbearance Agreement Execution Copy

     11. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the
Parties pertaining to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings of the Parties in connection therewith.

     12. Amendments. Amendment of this Agreement shall require the written consent of each
of the Parties.

     13. Reservation of Rights. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, nothing
herein is intended to, or does, in any manner waive, limit, impair or restrict the ability of each
of the Parties hereto to protect and preserve their rights, remedies and interests. Except as
expressly set forth herein, nothing herein shall be deemed an admission of any kind. Except as
expressly set forth herein, nothing contained herein effects a modification of any of the Parties’
rights under the Credit Agreement or the Financing Documents.

     14. Counterparts; Modification. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the
Parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but
all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Except as expressly
provided for herein, no modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall
be effective unless such modification, amendment or waiver is in writing and signed by each of the
Parties hereto.

     15. Representation by Counsel. Each party hereto acknowledges that it has been
represented by counsel in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. Accordingly, any rule of law or any legal decision that would provide any party hereto
with a defense to the enforcement of the terms of this Agreement against such party shall have no
application and is expressly waived. The provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted in a
reasonable manner to effect the intent of the Parties hereto.

     16. Consideration. Each party hereto acknowledges the receipt and sufficiency of good
and valuable consideration in exchange for its agreement to undertake its duties and obligations
under this Agreement.

     17. Governing Law; Severability. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Any provision of this Agreement which is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to
the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions
hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or
render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

     18. Specific Performance. It is understood and agreed by each of the Parties hereto
that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for any breach of this Agreement by any party
and each non-breaching part shall be entitled to specific performance and injunctive or other
equitable relief as a remedy of any such breach.

     19. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the
benefit of the Parties and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators
and representatives.

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Forbearance Agreement Execution Copy

     20. Further Assurances. Each of the Parties shall promptly and duly execute and
deliver any and all instruments and documents of further assurance and all such supplemental
instruments and take such further action as the other party to this Agreement may reasonably deem
necessary to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.

9

 

[Signature Page to the Forbearance Agreement]

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Forbearance Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	HEARTLAND GRAIN FUELS, L.P.,

as Borrower

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Richard R. Peterson
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Richard R. Peterson 	 
	 	 	Title:  	CEO	 

 

 

[Signature Page to the Forbearance Agreement]

	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	ABE HEARTLAND, LLC, as Pledgor

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Richard R. Peterson
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Richard R. Peterson 	 
	 	 	Title:  	CEO	 
	 
	 	DAKOTA FUELS, INC., as Pledgor

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Richard R. Peterson
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Richard R. Peterson 	 
	 	 	Title:  	CEO	 

 

 

[Signature Page to the Forbearance Agreement]

	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	WESTLB AG, NEW YORK BRANCH, as 

Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Ronald Spitzer
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Ronald Spitzer 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Executive Director 	 
	 
	 	 	 
	 	By:  	                                             /s/ Dominick D’Ascoli
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Dominick D’Ascoli 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Director 	 
	 
	 	WESTLB AG, NEW YORK BRANCH, as Lender

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Ronald Spitzer
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Ronald Spitzer 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Executive Director 	 
	 
	 	 	 
	 	By:  	                                             /s/ Dominick D’Ascoli
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Dominick D’Ascoli 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Director 	 

 

 

[Signature Page to the Forbearance Agreement]

	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	COOPERATIEVE CENTRALE FAIFFEISEN-

BOERENLEENBANK B.A., “RABOBANK

NEDERLAND” NEW YORK BRANCH

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Rebecca Morrow
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Rebecca Morrow 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Executive Director 	 
	 	 	 
	 	By:  	                       /s/ Jeff Bliss
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Jeff Bliss 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Executive Director 	 

 

 

[Signature Page to the Forbearance Agreement]

	 	 	 	 	 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	FARM CREDIT OF TEXAS, as Lender

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Alan Robinson
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Alan Robinson 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Vice President 	 
	 

 

 

[Signature Page to the Forbearance Agreement]

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	NORDKAP BANK AG, as Lender

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	 	 
	 	 	Title:  	 	 
	 
	 	 	 
	 	By:  	                                  /s/
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	 	 
	 	 	Title:  	SVP 	 

 

 

	 	 	 	 	 

[Signature Page to the Forbearance Agreement]

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	BANCO SANTANDER, S.A. — NEW YORK
BRANCH, as Lender

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/ Jesus Lopez
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Jesus Lopez 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Vice President 	 
	 
	 	 	 
	 	By:  	                                             /s/ Harry Moreno
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Harry Moreno 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Vice President 	 

 

 

	 	 	 	 	 

SCHEDULE A TO FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT

Specified Defaults

A. Existing Events of Default

	1.	 	Under Section 8.01 of the Credit Agreement, Borrower’s failure (i) to pay approximately $1.4
million of interest on the Term Loan that was due and payable on October 22, 2008, and (ii) to
pay approximately $47,193 of interest on the Working Capital Loan that was due and payable on
November 24, 2008.

B. Expected Events of Default

	2.	 	Any Default or Event of Default resulting from the non-payment of principal and/or interest
accruing on any Loan under the Credit Agreement that would otherwise be payable during the
Forbearance Period.

	3.	 	Any default in the payment of Swap Termination Value under any Swap Contracts with WestLB AG,
New York Branch and Rabobank Nederland, New York Branch.

	4.	 	Any Default or Event of Default resulting from the Borrower’s failure to pay off the Working
Capital Loans for a period of ten consecutive days in each calendar year.

 

 

SCHEDULE B TO FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT

Process Benchmarks and Financial Achievements:

The Agreement shall terminate in accordance with Section 2 hereof if any of the following occurs:

Production Benchmark:

If undenatured production of ethanol is less than:

6,000,000 gallons for the month of January 2009 or

5,400,000 gallons for the month of February 2009.

During the Forbearance Period, within five business days after the last day of each month, the
Borrower shall report to the Agent the undenatured production of ethanol for the immediately
preceding month.

Financial Benchmarks:

A minimum liquidity test measured by total cash in Project Accounts. Total cash in all Project
Accounts should not fall below $1 million.

On the Tuesday of every week during the Forbearance Period, the Borrower shall provide a weekly
cash flow forecast to the Agent showing the ending cash balance for the prior week.

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