Document:

ex4-1.htm

Exhibit 4.1

VALEANT PHARMACEUTICALS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

2011 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

(as amended through May 9, 2011)

 

	
1.

	
Purpose

 

The purposes of the Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) are to (i) align the long-term financial interests of employees, directors, consultants, agents and other service providers of the Company and its Subsidiaries with those of the Company’s shareholders; (ii) attract and retain those individuals by providing compensation opportunities that are competitive with other companies; and (iii) provide incentives to those individuals who contribute significantly to the long-term performance and growth of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

	
2.

	
Term

 

(a)         Effective Date.  The Plan has been adopted and approved by the Board (defined below) and shall become effective as of May 9, 2011 (the “Effective Date”), subject to the approval of the shareholders of the Company.

 

(b)         Duration.  Subject to the right of the Board to amend or terminate the Plan at any time pursuant to Section 17 hereof, the Plan shall remain in effect until the earlier of (i) the date all Common Shares subject to the Plan have been purchased or acquired according to the Plan’s provisions or (ii) the tenth anniversary of the date the Plan becomes effective pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.  No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after such termination date but Awards granted prior to such termination date shall remain outstanding in accordance with their terms.

 

	
3.

	
Definitions

 

“Award” shall mean an Option, SAR, Share Award or Cash Award granted under the Plan.

 

“Award Agreement” shall mean any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing an Award.

 

“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Blackout Period” means a period self-imposed by the Company (within the meaning of Section 613(m) of the TSX Company Manual) when the Participant is prohibited from trading in the Company’s securities.

 

“Business Day” means any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or statutory or civic holiday, on which banks in Toronto, Ontario are open for business.

 

“Cash Award” means cash awarded under Section 7(d) of the Plan, including cash awarded as a bonus or upon the attainment of Performance Criteria or otherwise as permitted under the Plan.

 

“Cause” shall have the meaning set forth in the Participant’s employment agreement with the Company, as in effect on the date an Award is granted; provided that if no such agreement or

  

  

  

 

definition exists, “Cause” shall mean, unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement: (i) conviction of any felony or indictable offense (other than one related to a vehicular offense) or other criminal act involving fraud; (ii) willful misconduct that results in a material economic detriment to the Company; (iii) material violation of Company policies and directives, which is not cured after written notice and an opportunity for cure; (iv) continued refusal by the Participant to perform the Participant’s duties after written notice identifying the deficiencies and an opportunity for cure; (v) a material violation by the Participant of any material covenants to the Company and (vi) such other actions constituting cause under applicable common law.  No action or inaction shall be deemed willful if not demonstrably willful and if taken or not taken by the Participant in good faith and with the understanding that such action or inaction was not adverse to the best interests of the Company.  Reference in this definition to the Company shall also include direct and indirect Subsidiaries of the Company, and materiality shall be measured based on the action or inaction and the impact upon the Company taken as a whole.

 

“Change of Control” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.

 

“Code” shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and any successor thereto.

 

“Committee” shall mean the Board or a committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan.  With respect to Awards granted to Covered Employees (or individuals expected to become Covered Employees), such committee shall consist of two or more individuals, each of whom, unless otherwise determined by the Board, is an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and a “nonemployee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act.

 

“Common Shares” shall mean the common shares of the Company, no par value per share.

 

“Company” shall mean Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., a Canadian corporation.

 

“Covered Employee” shall mean a “covered employee,” as such term is defined in Section 162(m)(3) of the Code.

 

“Deferred Shares” shall mean an Award payable in Common Shares at the end of a specified deferral period that is subject to the terms, conditions and limitations described or referred to in Section 7(c)(iv).

 

“Disability” shall mean, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, that the Participant is (i) unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months or (ii) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company; provided, that, if applicable to the Award, “Disability” shall be determined in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code.

  

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“Eligible Recipient” shall mean (i) any employee (including any officer) of the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) any director of the Company or any Subsidiary or (iii) any individual performing services for the Company or a Subsidiary in the capacity of a consultant, agent or otherwise.

 

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and any successor thereto.

 

“Good Reason” shall have the meaning set forth in the Participant’s employment agreement with the Company, as in effect on the date an Award is granted; provided that if no such agreement or definition exists, “Good Reason” shall mean, unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement, the occurrence of any of the events or conditions described in clauses (i) and (ii) immediately below which are not cured by the Company (if susceptible to cure by the Company) within thirty (30) days after the Company has received written notice from the Participant which notice must be provided by the Participant within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of the event or condition constituting Good Reason specifying the particular events or conditions which constitute Good Reason and the specific cure requested by the Participant: (i) any material reduction in the Participant’s duties or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior thereto; provided that diminution of responsibility shall not include any such diminution resulting from a promotion, death or Disability, the termination of the Participant’s employment for Cause, or the Participant’s termination of employment other than for Good Reason; and (ii) any reduction in the Participant’s base salary or target bonus opportunity which is not comparable to reductions in the base salary or target bonus opportunity of other similarly-situated employees at the Company.

 

“Insider” shall mean a reporting insider, as defined in National Instrument 55-104 – Insider Reporting Requirements and Exemptions of the Canadian Securities Administrators.

 

“ISO” shall mean an Option intended to be and designated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

“Market Price” shall mean, with respect to Common Shares, (i) the closing price per Common Share on the national securities exchange on which the Common Shares are principally traded (as of the Effective Date, the New York Stock Exchange) for the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such Common Shares on such exchange, or (ii) if the Common Shares are not then listed on a national securities exchange but are then traded in an over-the-counter market, the average of the closing bid and asked prices for the Common Shares in such over-the-counter market for the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such Common Shares in such market, or (iii) if the Common Shares are not then listed on a national securities exchange or traded in an over-the-counter market, such value as the Committee, using any reasonable method of valuation, shall determine.  With respect to property other than Common Shares, the Market Price shall mean the fair market value of such other property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee.

 

“Nonqualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option that is granted to a Participant that is not designated as an ISO.

  

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“Option” shall mean the right to purchase a specified number of Common Shares at a stated exercise price for a specified period of time subject to the terms, conditions and limitations described or referred to in Section 7(a).  The term “Option” as used in the Plan includes the terms “Nonqualified Stock Option” and “ISO.”

 

“Original Term” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a).

 

“Participant” shall mean an Eligible Recipient who has been granted an Award under the Plan.

 

“Performance Criteria” shall mean performance criteria based on the attainment by the Company or any Subsidiary (or any division or business unit of such entity) of performance measures pre-established by the Committee in its sole discretion, based on one or more of the following:

 

	
  

	
(i) revenues, income before taxes and extraordinary items, net income, operating income, earnings before income tax, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization or a combination of any or all of the foregoing, in each case, on a total or per-share basis;

 

	
  

	
(ii) after-tax or pre-tax profits including, without limitation, that attributable to continuing and/or other operations;

 

	
  

	
(iii) operational or free cash flow;

 

	
  

	
(iv) the level of the Company’s bank debt or other long-term or short-term public or private debt or other similar financial obligations of the Company;

 

	
  

	
(vi)  return on capital employed, return on assets, or return on invested capital;

 

	
  

	
(vii) after-tax or pre-tax return on stockholders’ equity;

 

	
  

	
(viii) economic value added targets based on a cash flow return on investment formula;

 

	
  

	
(ix) the Market Price of the Common Shares;

 

	
  

	
(x) the value of an investment in the Common Shares assuming the reinvestment of dividends;

 

	
  

	
(xi) the filing of one or more new drug application(s) (“NDA”) or one or more new drug submission(s) (“NDS”) or the approval of one or more NDA(s) or one or more NDS(s) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the Canadian Therapeutic Products Directorate, as applicable;

 

	
  

	
(xii) the achievement of a launch of one or more new drug(s);

 

	
  

	
(xiii) the achievement of research and development, or other strategic, milestones;

 

	
  

	
(xiv) the successful completion of clinical trial phases;

  

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(xv) licensing or acquiring new products;

 

	
  

	
(xvi) acquisition or divestiture of products or business; or

 

	
  

	
(xvii) the attainment of a certain level of, reduction of, or other specified objectives with regard to limiting the level in or increase in, all or a portion of controllable expenses or costs or other expenses or costs.

 

For purposes of item (i) above, “extraordinary items” shall mean all items of gain, loss or expense for the fiscal year determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence or related to a corporate transaction (including, without limitation, a disposition or acquisition) or related to a change in accounting principles, all as determined in accordance with standards established by Opinion No. 30 of the Accounting Principles Board.  The Performance Criteria may be based upon the attainment of specified levels of performance under one or more of the measures described above relative to the performance of other entities.  To the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code (including, without limitation, compliance with any requirements for shareholder approval) or to the extent that an Award is not intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee in its sole discretion may designate additional business criteria on which the Performance Criteria may be based or adjust, modify or amend the aforementioned business criteria.  Performance Criteria may include a threshold level of performance below which no Award will be earned, a level of performance at which the target amount of an Award will be earned and a level of performance at which the maximum amount of the Award will be earned.  To the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall make equitable adjustments to the Performance Criteria in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Company or any Subsidiary or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary, in response to changes in applicable laws or regulations, including changes in generally accepted accounting principles, or to account for items of gain, loss or expense determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a segment of a business or related to a change in accounting principles, as applicable.

 

“Person” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act.

 

“Restricted Shares” shall mean an Award of Common Shares that is subject to the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations described or referred to in Section 7(c)(iii).

 

“SAR” shall mean a share appreciation right that is subject to the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations described or referred to in Section 7(b).

 

“Section 16(a) Officer” shall mean an Eligible Recipient who is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

“Separation from Service” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations.

 

“Specified Employee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

  

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“Share Award” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(c)(i).

 

“Share Payment” shall mean a share payment that is subject to the terms, conditions, and limitations described or referred to in Section 7(c)(ii).

 

“Share Unit” shall mean a share unit that is subject to the terms, conditions and limitations described or referred to in Section 7(c)(v).

 

“Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company, if each of the corporations (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns shares possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares in one of the other corporations in the chain (or such lesser percent as is permitted by Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii)(E) of the Treasury Regulations).

 

“Transferred Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

“Treasury Regulations” shall mean the regulations promulgated under the Code by the United States Internal Revenue Service, as amended.

 

	
4.

	
Administration

 

(a)         Committee Authority. Subject to applicable law, the Committee shall have full and exclusive power to administer and interpret the Plan, to grant Awards and to adopt such administrative rules, regulations, procedures and guidelines governing the Plan and the Awards as it deems appropriate, in its sole discretion, from time to time.  The Committee’s authority shall include, but not be limited to, the authority to (i) determine the type of Awards to be granted under the Plan; (ii) select Award recipients and determine the extent of their participation; (iii) determine Performance Criteria no later than such time as required to ensure that an underlying Award which is intended to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code so complies; and (iv) establish all other terms, conditions, and limitations applicable to Awards, Award programs and, if applicable, the Common Shares issued pursuant thereto.  The Committee may accelerate or defer the vesting or payment of Awards, cancel or modify outstanding Awards, waive any conditions or restrictions imposed with respect to Awards or the Common Shares issued pursuant to Awards and make any and all other determinations that it deems appropriate with respect to the administration of the Plan, subject to (A) the limitations contained in Sections 4(d) and 17 of the Plan and applicable law with respect to all Participants and (B) the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code with respect to Covered Employees.

 

(b)         Administration of the Plan. The administration of the Plan shall be managed by the Committee.  All determinations of the Committee shall be made by a majority of its members either present in person or participating by conference telephone at a meeting or by written consent.  The Committee shall have the power to prescribe and modify the forms of Award Agreement, correct any defect, supply any omission or clarify any inconsistency in the Plan and/or in any Award Agreement and take such actions and make such administrative determinations that the Committee deems appropriate in its sole discretion.  Any decision of the

  

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Committee in the administration of the Plan, as described herein, shall be final, binding and conclusive on all parties concerned, including the Company, its shareholders and Subsidiaries and all Participants.

 

(c)         Delegation of Authority. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Committee may at any time delegate to one or more officers or directors of the Company some or all of its authority over the administration of the Plan, with respect to individuals who are not Section 16(a) Officers or Covered Employees.

 

(d)         Indemnification. No member of the Committee or any other Person to whom any duty or power relating to the administration or interpretation of the Plan has been delegated shall be personally liable for any action or determination made with respect to the Plan, except for his or her own willful misconduct or as expressly provided by statute.  The members of the Committee and its delegates, including any employee with responsibilities relating to the administration of the Plan, shall be entitled to indemnification and reimbursement from the Company, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the by-laws and policies of the Company.  To the fullest extent permitted by the law, in the performance of its functions under the Plan, the Committee (and each member of the Committee and its delegates) shall be entitled to rely upon information and advice furnished by the Company’s officers, accountants, counsel and any other party they deem appropriate, and neither the Committee nor any such Person shall be liable for any action taken or not taken in reliance upon any such advice.

 

	
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Participation

 

(a)         Eligible Recipients.  Subject to applicable law and Section 7 hereof, the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, which Eligible Recipients shall be granted Awards under the Plan.  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, members of the Board shall generally not be eligible to receive SARs or Options.

 

(b)         Participation outside of the United States. In order to facilitate the granting of Awards to Employees who are foreign nationals or who are employed outside of the U.S., the Committee may provide for such special terms and conditions, including, without limitation, substitutes for Awards, as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom.  The Committee may approve any supplements to, or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of, this Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this Section 5(b) without thereby affecting the terms of this Plan as in effect for any other purpose, and the appropriate officer of the Company may certify any such documents as having been approved and adopted pursuant to properly delegated authority; provided, that no such supplements, amendments, restatements or alternative versions shall include any provisions that are inconsistent with the intent and purpose of this Plan, as then in effect; and further provided that any such action taken with respect to a Covered Employee shall be taken in compliance with Section 162(m) of the Code and that any such action taken with respect to an Employee who is subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be taken in compliance with Section 409A of the Code.

  

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Available Shares of Common Shares

 

(a)         Shares Subject to the Plan. Subject to the following provisions of this Section 6, the maximum number of Common Shares that may be issued to Participants pursuant to Awards (all of which may be granted as ISOs) shall be equal to the sum of (i) the number of shares under the Company’s 2007 Equity Compensation Plan, as amended, reserved but unissued and not subject to outstanding awards (which, as of April 6, 2011, was 6,846,310 Common Shares) and (ii) the number of shares becoming available for reuse after awards are terminated, forfeited, cancelled, exchanged or surrendered following the Effective Date under the Company’s 2007 Equity Compensation Plan (the “Transferred Shares”).  For the avoidance of doubt, the Transferred Shares shall no longer be available under the Company’s 2007 Equity Compensation Plan.  Common Shares issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan may be shares that have been authorized but unissued, or have been purchased in open market transactions or otherwise.

 

(b)         Forfeited and Expired Awards.  If any shares subject to an Award are forfeited, canceled, exchanged or surrendered, or if an Award terminates or expires without a distribution of Common Shares to the Participant, the shares with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, cancellation, exchange, surrender, termination or expiration, again be available for Awards under the Plan.  Notwithstanding the forgoing, the shares surrendered or withheld as payment of either the exercise price of an Option (including shares otherwise underlying an Award of a SAR that are retained by the Company to account for the exercise price of such SAR) and/or withholding taxes in respect of an Award shall no longer be available for Awards under the Plan.

 

(c)         Other Items Not Included in Allocation. The maximum number of Common Shares that may be issued under the Plan as set forth in Section 6(a) shall not be affected by (i) the payment in cash of dividends or dividend equivalents in connection with outstanding Awards; (ii) the granting or payment of share-denominated Awards that by their terms may be settled only in cash, (iii) the granting of Cash Awards; or (iv) Awards that are granted in connection with a transaction between the Company or a Subsidiary and another entity or business in substitution or exchange for, or conversion adjustment, assumption or replacement of, awards previously granted by such other entity to any individuals who have become Eligible Recipients as a result of such transaction.

 

(d)         Other Limitations on Shares that May be Granted under the Plan. Subject to Section 6(e), the aggregate number of Common Shares that may be granted to any Covered Employee during a calendar year in the form of Options, SARs, and/or Share Awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code shall not exceed 1,000,000 shares (computed based on maximum performance).  Determinations made under this Section 6(d) with respect to Covered Employees shall be made in a manner consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code.  Furthermore, (i) the number of Common Shares issuable to Insiders, at any time, under all security-based compensation arrangements of the Company, cannot exceed 10% of issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Company; (ii) the number of Common Shares issued to Insiders, within any one year period, under all security-based compensation arrangements of the Company, cannot exceed 10% of issued and outstanding

  

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securities; and (iii) the number of Common Shares issuable to non-employee members of the Board, at any time, under all security-based compensation arrangements of the Company, cannot exceed 1% of issued and outstanding Common Shares of the Company.

 

(e)         Adjustments. In the event of any change in the Company’s capital structure, including, but not limited to, a change in the number of Common Shares outstanding, on account of (i) any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or any similar equity restructuring or (ii) any combination or exchange of equity securities, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reorganization, or divesture or any other similar event affecting the Company’s capital structure, to reflect such change in the Company’s capital structure, the Committee shall make appropriate equitable adjustments to the maximum number of Common Shares that may be issued under the Plan as set forth in Section 6(a) and to the maximum number of shares that may be granted to any single individual pursuant to Section 6(d) (but, in each case, only to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code).  In the event of any extraordinary dividend, divestiture or other distribution (other than ordinary cash dividends) of assets to shareholders, or any transaction or event described above, to the extent necessary to prevent the enlargement or diminution of the rights of Participants, the Committee shall make appropriate equitable adjustments to the number or kind of shares subject to an outstanding Award, the exercise price applicable to an outstanding Award, and/or any measure of performance that relates to an outstanding Award, including any applicable Performance Criteria.  Any adjustment to ISOs under this Section 6(e) shall be made only to the extent not constituting a “modification” within the meaning of Section 424(h)(3) of the Code.  With respect to Awards subject to Section 409A of the Code, any adjustments under this Section 6(e) shall conform to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.  Furthermore, with respect to Awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, such adjustments shall be made only to the extent that the Committee determines that such adjustments may be made without causing the Company to be denied a tax deduction on account of Section 162(m) of the Code.  Notwithstanding anything set forth herein to the contrary, the Committee may, in its discretion, decline to adjust any Award made to a Participant, if it determines that such adjustment would violate applicable law or result in adverse tax consequences to the Participant or to the Company.  If, as a result of any adjustment under this Section 6(e), a Participant would become entitled to a fractional Common Share, the Participant has the right to acquire only the adjusted number of full Common Shares and no payment or other adjustment will be made with respect to the fractional Common Shares so disregarded.  Adjustments described under this Section 6(e) are subject to any applicable regulatory approvals.

 

	
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Awards Under The Plan

 

Awards under the Plan may be granted as Options, SARs, Share Awards or Cash Awards, as described below.  Awards may be granted singly, in combination or in tandem as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion.

 

(a)         Options.  Options granted under the Plan shall be designated as Nonqualified Stock Options or ISOs.  Options shall expire after such period, not to exceed a maximum of ten years, as may be determined by the Committee (the “Original Term”).  If an Option is exercisable in installments, such installments or portions thereof that become exercisable shall

  

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remain exercisable until the Option expires or is otherwise canceled pursuant to its terms.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7(a), if the Original Term of an Option held by a Participant expires during a Blackout Period, the term of such Option shall be extended until the tenth Business Day following the end of the Blackout Period, at which time any unexercised portion of the Option shall expire.  Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7(a), Options shall be subject to the terms, conditions, restrictions, and limitations determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, from time to time.

 

(i)         Exercise Price. The Committee shall determine the exercise price per share for each Option, which shall not be less than 100% of the Market Price (as of the date of grant) of the Common Shares subject to the Option.

 

(ii)         Exercise of Options. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions relating to vesting and exercisability, as determined by the Committee, and upon provision for the payment in full of the exercise price and applicable taxes due, the Participant shall be entitled to exercise the Option and receive the number of Common Shares issuable in connection with the Option exercise.  The Common Shares issued in connection with the Option exercise may be subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Committee may determine, from time to time.  The exercise price of an Option and applicable withholding taxes relating to an Option exercise may be paid by methods permitted by the Committee from time to time including, but not limited to, (1) a cash payment; (2) tendering (either actually or by attestation) Common Shares owned by the Participant (for any minimum period of time that the Committee, in its discretion, may specify), valued at the Market Price at the time of exercise; (3) arranging to have the appropriate number of Common Shares issuable upon the exercise of an Option withheld or sold; or (4) any combination of the above.  Additionally, the Committee may provide that an Option may be “net exercised,” meaning that upon the exercise of an Option or any portion thereof, the Company shall deliver the number of whole Common Shares equal to (A) the difference between (x) the aggregate Market Price of the Common Shares subject to the Option (or the portion of such Option then being exercised) and (y) the aggregate exercise price for all such Common Shares under the Option (or the portion thereof then being exercised) plus (to the extent it would not give rise to adverse accounting consequences pursuant to applicable accounting principles or to adverse tax consequences to the Participants under Canadian federal, provincial or territorial tax laws) the amount of withholding tax due upon exercise divided by (B) the Market Price of a Common Share on the date of exercise.  Any fractional share that would result from such equation shall be canceled.

 

(iii)         ISOs. The terms and conditions of ISOs granted hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 422 of the Code and the terms, conditions, limitations and administrative procedures established by the Committee from time to time in accordance with the Plan.  At the discretion of the Committee, ISOs may be granted only to an employee of the Company, its “parent corporation” (as such term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) or a Subsidiary.

  

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(1)

	
ISO Grants to 10% Shareholders. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7(a), if an ISO is granted to a Participant who owns shares representing more than ten percent of the voting power of all classes of shares of the Company, its “parent corporation” (as such term is defined in Section 424 (e) of the Code) or a Subsidiary, the term of the Option shall not exceed five years from the time of grant of such Option and the exercise price shall be at least 110 percent of the Market Price (as of the date of grant) of the Common Shares subject to the Option.

 

	
  

	
(2)

	
$100,000 Per Year Limitation for ISOs. To the extent the aggregate Market Price (determined as of the date of grant) of the Common Shares for which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by any Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company) exceeds $100,000, such excess ISOs shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.

 

	
  

	
(3)

	
Disqualifying Dispositions. Each Participant awarded an ISO under the Plan shall notify the Company in writing immediately after the date he or she makes a “disqualifying disposition” of any Common Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of such ISO.  A “disqualifying disposition” is any disposition (including any sale) of such Common Shares before the later of (i) two years after the date of grant of the ISO and (ii) one year after the date the Participant acquired the Common Shares by exercising the ISO.  The Company may, if determined by the Committee and in accordance with procedures established by it, retain possession of any Common Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO as agent for the applicable Participant until the end of the period described in the preceding sentence, subject to complying with any instructions from such Participant as to the sale of such shares.

 

(b)         Share Appreciation Rights. A SAR represents the right to receive a payment in cash, Common Shares, or a combination thereof, in an amount equal to the product of (1) the excess of the Market Price per Common Share on the date the SAR is exercised over the exercise price per Common Share of such SAR (which exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Market Price of the Common Shares subject to the SAR as of the date the SAR was granted) and (2) the number of Common Shares subject to the portion of the SAR being exercised.  If a SAR is paid in Common Shares, the number of Common Shares to be delivered will equal the amount determined to be payable in accordance with the prior sentence divided by the Market Price of a Common Share at the time of payment.  The Committee shall establish the Original Term of a SAR, which shall not exceed a maximum of ten years.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 7(b), if the Original Term of a SAR held by the Participant expires during a Blackout Period, the term of such SAR shall be extended until the tenth Business Day following the end of the Blackout Period, at which time any unexercised portion of the SAR shall expire.   Except as otherwise provided in this Section 7(b), SARs shall be subject to the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, from time to

  

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time.  A SAR may only be granted to an Eligible Recipient to whom an Option could be granted under the Plan.

 

(c)         Share Awards.

 

(i)         Form of Awards. The Committee may grant Awards that are payable in Common Shares or denominated in units equivalent in value to Common Shares or are otherwise based on or related to Common Shares (“Share Awards”), including, but not limited to, Restricted Shares, Deferred Shares and Share Units. Share Awards shall be subject to such terms, conditions (including, without limitation, service-based and performance-based vesting conditions), restrictions and limitations as the Committee may determine to be applicable to such Share Awards, in its sole discretion, from time to time.

 

(ii)         Share Payment. If not prohibited by applicable law, the Committee may issue unrestricted Common Shares in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall from time to time in its sole discretion determine.  A Share Payment may be granted as, or in payment of, a bonus (including, without limitation, any compensation that is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code), or to provide incentives or recognize special achievements or contributions.

 

(iii)         Restricted Shares. Restricted Shares shall be subject to the terms, conditions, restrictions, and limitations determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, from time to time.  The number of Restricted Shares allocable to an Award under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

(iv)         Deferred Shares. Subject to Code Section 409A to the extent applicable, Deferred Shares shall be subject to the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, from time to time.  A Participant who receives an Award of Deferred Shares shall be entitled to receive the number of Common Shares allocable to his or her Award, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, from time to time, at the end of a specified deferral period determined by the Committee.  Awards of Deferred Shares represent only an unfunded, unsecured promise to deliver shares in the future and shall not give Participants any greater rights than those of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.

 

(v)         Share Units. A Share Unit is an Award denominated in Common Shares that may be settled either in Common Shares or in cash, in the discretion of the Committee, and, subject to Code Section 409A to the extent applicable, shall be subject to such other terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations determined by the Committee from time to time in its sole discretion.

 

(vi)         Blackout Period.  In the event that any Share Unit is scheduled by its terms to be delivered (the “Original Distribution Date”) during a Blackout Period, then, if the Participant is restricted from selling Shares during the Blackout Period, such shares subject to the Share Unit shall not be delivered on such Original Distribution Date and

  

12

  

 

shall instead be delivered as soon as practicable following the expiration of the Blackout Period; provided, however, that in no event shall the delivery of the shares be delayed pursuant to this provision beyond the latest date on which such delivery could be made without violating Code Section 409A.

 

(d)         Cash Awards. The Committee may grant Awards that are payable to Participants solely in cash, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, and, except as otherwise provided in this Section 7(d), such Cash Awards shall be subject to the terms, conditions, restrictions, and limitations determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, from time to time.  Awards granted pursuant to this Section 7(d) may be granted with value and payment contingent upon the achievement of Performance Criteria.  The maximum amount that any Covered Employee may receive with respect to a Cash Award granted pursuant to this Section 7(d) in respect of any annual performance period is $5,000,000 and for any other performance period, such amount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months in the performance period and the denominator of which is twelve.  Payments earned hereunder may be decreased or, with respect to any Participant who is not a Covered Employee, increased in the sole discretion of the Committee based on such factors as it deems appropriate.  No payment shall be made to a Covered Employee under this Section 7(d) prior to the certification by the Committee that the Performance Criteria have been attained.  The Committee may establish such other rules applicable to Cash Awards to the extent not inconsistent with Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(e)         Unless the applicable Award Agreement provides otherwise or the Committee determines otherwise, vesting with respect to an Award will cease upon termination of a Participant’s employment or service with the Company, and unvested Awards shall be forfeited upon such termination.  In the case of termination for Cause, vested Awards shall also be forfeited.

 

	
8.

	
Dividends and Dividend Equivalents

 

The Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide that Share Awards shall earn dividends or dividend equivalents, as applicable.  Such dividends or dividend equivalents may be paid currently or may be credited to an account maintained on the books of the Company.  Any payment or crediting of dividends or dividend equivalents will be subject to such terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations as the Committee may establish, from time to time, in its sole discretion, including, without limitation, reinvestment in additional Common Shares or common share equivalents; provided, however, if the payment or crediting of dividends or dividend equivalents is in respect of a Share Award that is subject to Code Section 409A, then the payment or crediting of such dividends or dividend equivalents shall conform to the requirements of Code Section 409A and such requirements shall be specified in writing.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, dividends or dividend equivalents may not be paid with respect to any Share Award subject to the achievement of Performance Criteria, unless and until the relevant Performance Criteria have been satisfied, and then only to the extent determined by the Committee, as specified in the Award Agreement.

  

13

  

 

9.        Nontransferability

 

Awards granted under the Plan, and during any period of restriction on transferability, Common Shares issued in connection with the exercise of an Option or a SAR, may not be sold, pledged, hypothecated, assigned, margined or otherwise transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, unless and until the shares underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such shares have lapsed or have been waived by the Committee.  No Award or interest or right therein shall be subject to the debts, contracts or engagements of a Participant or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, by judgment, lien, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy and divorce), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void, of no effect, and not binding on the Company in any way.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, permit (on such terms, conditions and limitations as it may establish) Nonqualified Stock Options and/or shares issued in connection with an Option or a SAR exercise that are subject to restrictions on transferability, to be transferred to a member of a Participant’s immediate family or to a trust or similar vehicle for the benefit of a Participant’s immediate family members.  During the lifetime of a Participant, all rights with respect to Awards shall be exercisable only by such Participant or, if applicable pursuant to the preceding sentence, a permitted transferee.

 

	
10.

	
Change of Control

 

(a)         Unless otherwise determined in an Award Agreement, in the event of a Change of Control:

 

(i)         With respect to each outstanding Award that is assumed or substituted in connection with a Change of Control, in the event of a termination of a Participant’s employment or service without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason during the 12-month period following such Change of Control, (i) such Award shall become fully vested and exercisable, (ii) the restrictions, payment conditions, and forfeiture conditions applicable to any such Award granted shall lapse, and (iii) any performance conditions imposed with respect to Awards shall be deemed to be achieved at target performance levels.

 

(ii)         With respect to each outstanding Award that is not assumed or substituted in connection with a Change of Control, immediately upon the occurrence of the Change of Control, (i) such Award shall become fully vested and exercisable, (ii) the restrictions, payment conditions, and forfeiture conditions applicable to any such Award granted shall lapse, and (iii) any performance conditions imposed with respect to Awards shall be deemed to be achieved at target performance levels.

 

(iii)         For purposes of this Section 10, an Award shall be considered assumed or substituted for if, following the Change of Control, the Award remains subject to the same terms and conditions that were applicable to the Award immediately prior to the Change of Control except that, if the Award related to Common Shares, the Award instead confers the right to receive common shares of the acquiring entity.

  

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(iv)         Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in the event of a Change of Control, the Committee (a) may, in its discretion provide that each Option and each SAR which may, by its terms, only be settled in shares shall, immediately prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, be deemed to have been exercised on a “net exercise” basis; and (b) may, in its discretion, except as would otherwise result in adverse tax consequences under Code Section 409A, provide that each Award, other than Options and SARs which may, by their terms, only be settled in shares, shall, immediately upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, be cancelled in exchange for a payment in cash or securities in an amount equal to (i) the excess of the consideration paid per Common Share in the Change of Control over the purchase price (if any) per Common Share subject to the Award multiplied by (ii) the number of Common Shares then outstanding under the Award.

 

(b)         A “Change of Control” shall be deemed to occur if and when the first of the following occurs:

 

(i)         the acquisition (other than from the Company, by any person (as such term is defined in Section 13(c) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities;

 

(ii)         the individuals who, as of the Effective Date, are members of the Board (the “Incumbent Board”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, unless the election, or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, of any new director was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Board, and such new director shall, for purposes of this Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board;

 

(iii)         the closing of: (i) a merger or consolidation involving the Company if the shareholders of the Company, immediately before such merger or consolidation, do not, as a result of such merger or consolidation, own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from such merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately before such merger or consolidation; or (ii) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or an agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur pursuant to this Agreement, solely because fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities is acquired by (i) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under one or more employee benefit plans maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) any corporation which, immediately prior to such acquisition, is owned directly or indirectly by the shareholders of the

  

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Company in the same proportion as their ownership of shares in the Company immediately prior to such acquisition.

 

(c)         Notwithstanding the foregoing, for each Award that constitutes deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, a Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred under the Plan with respect to such Award only if a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or a change in ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company shall also be deemed to have occurred under Section 409A of the Code.

 

	
11.

	
Award Agreements

 

Each Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement (as such may be amended from time to time) that sets forth the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations applicable to the Award, including, but not limited to, the provisions governing vesting, exercisability, payment, forfeiture, and termination of employment, all or some of which may be incorporated by reference into one or more other documents delivered or otherwise made available to a Participant in connection with an Award.

 

	
12.

	
Tax Withholding

 

Participants shall be solely responsible for any applicable taxes (including, without limitation, income, payroll and excise taxes) and penalties, and any interest that accrues thereon, which they incur in connection with the receipt, vesting or exercise of an Award.  The Company and its Subsidiaries shall have the right to require payment of, or may deduct from any payment made under the Plan or otherwise to a Participant, or may permit shares to be tendered or sold, including Common Shares delivered or vested in connection with an Award, in an amount sufficient to cover withholding of any federal, state, provincial, territorial, local, foreign or other governmental taxes or charges required by law or such greater amount of withholding as the Committee shall determine from time to time and to take such other action as may be necessary to satisfy any such withholding obligations.  It shall be a condition to the obligation of the Company to issue Common Shares upon the exercise of an Option, or SAR, or upon settlement of a Share Award, that the Participant pay to the Company, on demand, such amount as may be requested by the Company for the purpose of satisfying any tax withholding liability.  If the amount is not paid, the Company may refuse to issue shares.

 

	
13.

	
Other Benefit and Compensation Programs

 

Awards received by Participants under the Plan shall not be deemed a part of a Participant’s regular, recurring compensation for purposes of calculating payments or benefits from any Company benefit plan or severance program unless specifically provided for under the plan or program.  Unless specifically set forth in an Award Agreement, Awards under the Plan are not intended as payment for compensation that otherwise would have been delivered in cash, and even if so intended, such Awards shall be subject to such vesting requirements and other terms, conditions and restrictions as may be provided in the Award Agreement.

  

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14.       Unfunded Plan

 

The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation.  The Plan shall not establish any fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant or other Person.  To the extent any Participant holds any rights by virtue of an Award granted under the Plan, such rights shall constitute general unsecured liabilities of the Company and shall not confer upon any Participant or any other Person any right, title, or interest in any assets of the Company.

 

	
15.

	
Rights as a Shareholder

 

Unless the Committee determines otherwise, a Participant shall not have any rights as a shareholder with respect to Common Shares covered by an Award until the date the Participant becomes the holder of record with respect to such shares.  No adjustment will be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to such date, except as provided in Section 8.

 

	
16.

	
Future Rights

 

No Eligible Recipient shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award under the Plan.  There shall be no obligation of uniformity of treatment of Eligible Recipients under the Plan.  Further, the Company and its Subsidiaries may adopt other compensation programs, plans or arrangements as deemed appropriate or necessary.  The adoption of the Plan, or grant of an Award, shall not confer upon any Eligible Recipient any right to continued employment or service in any particular position or at any particular rate of compensation, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or a Subsidiary to terminate the employment or service of Eligible Recipients at any time, free from any claim or liability under the Plan.

 

	
17.

	
Amendment and Termination

 

(a)         The Plan and any Award may be amended, suspended or terminated at any time by the Board, provided that no amendment shall be made without shareholder approval if such shareholder approval is required in order to comply with applicable law or the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, the rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange, or any other securities exchange on which the Common Shares are traded or quoted. Except as otherwise provided in Section 10(a), no termination, suspension or amendment of the Plan or any Award shall adversely affect the right of any Participant with respect to any Award theretofore granted, as determined by the Committee, without such Participant’s written consent.

 

(b)         Notwithstanding Section 17(a), the Company shall obtain shareholder approval for: (i) subject to Section 6(e), a reduction in the exercise price or purchase price of an Award (or the cancellation and re-grant of an Award resulting in a lower exercise price or purchase price); (ii) the extension of the Original Term of an Option; (iii) any amendment to remove or to exceed the participation limits described in Section 6(d), including but not limited to those applicable to Insiders; (iv) an increase to the maximum number of Common Shares issuable under the Plan pursuant to Section 6(a) (other than adjustments in accordance with Section 6(e)); (v) amendments to this Section 17 other than amendments of a clerical nature; and (vi) any

  

17

  

 

amendment that permits Awards to be transferable or assignable other than for normal estate settlement purposes or for other purposes not involving the receipt of monetary consideration.

 

	
18.

	
Successors and Assigns

 

The Plan and any applicable Award Agreement shall be binding on all successors and assigns of a Participant, including, without limitation, the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator or trustee of such estate, or any receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or representative of the Participant’s creditors.

 

	
19.

	
Governing Law

 

The Plan and all agreements entered into under the Plan shall be governed, construed and administered in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein.

 

	
20.

	
Interpretation

 

The Plan is designed and intended, to the extent applicable, to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, and to provide for grants and other transactions which are exempt under Rule 16b-3, and all provisions hereof shall be construed in a manner to so comply.  Awards under the Plan are also intended to comply with Code Section 409A to the extent subject thereto, and the Plan and all Awards shall be interpreted in accordance with Code Section 409A and Treasury Regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the effective date of the Plan.  Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, no payment or distribution under this Plan that constitutes an item of deferred compensation under Code Section 409A and becomes payable by reason of a Participant’s termination of employment or service with the Company shall be made to such Participant until such Participant’s termination of employment or service constitutes a Separation from Service.  For purposes of this Plan, each amount to be paid or benefit to be provided shall be construed as a separate identified payment for purposes of Code Section 409A.  If a participant is a Specified Employee, then to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of taxes under Code Section 409A, such Participant shall not be entitled to any payments upon a termination of his or her employment or service until the earlier of:  (i) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of such Participant’s Separation from Service or (ii) the date of such Participant’s death.  Upon the expiration of the applicable waiting period set forth in the preceding sentence, all payments and benefits deferred pursuant to this Section 20 (whether they would have otherwise been payable in a single lump sum or in installments in the absence of such deferral) shall be paid to such Participant in a lump sum as soon as practicable, but in no event later than sixty (60) calendar days, following such expired period, and any remaining payments due under this Plan will be paid in accordance with the normal payment dates specified for them herein.  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in no event shall the Company or any affiliate be liable to a Participant on account of an Award’s failure to (i) qualify for favorable U.S. or foreign tax treatment or (ii) avoid adverse tax treatment under U.S. or foreign law, including, without limitation, Section 409A of the Code.

 

1810.1  Ninth Amendment to Construction Loan Agreement

NINTH AMENDMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION LOAN AGREEMENT

THIS NINTH AMENDMENT OF CONSTRUCTION LOAN AGREEMENT ("Amendment") is made this 25th day of May, 2011 between FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OMAHA, a national banking association ("Bank") and CARDINAL ETHANOL, LLC, an Indiana limited liability company("Borrower"). This Amendment amends that certain Construction Loan Agreement dated December 19, 2006 between Bank and Borrower (as amended, the "Loan Agreement").

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents, Bank extended the Construction Loan, Revolving Loan and other financial accommodations and extensions of credit described in the Loan Agreement to Borrower, all as more fully described in the Loan Agreement;

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain that certain First Amendment of Construction Loan Agreement dated August 22, 2007, a revised Total Project Cost Statement was attached to the Loan Agreement as Exhibit G and the Loan Agreement was otherwise amended as provided for therein;

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Second Amendment of Construction Loan Agreement dated December 18, 2007, the Loan Termination Date applicable to the Revolving Note was extended to December 17, 2008 and the Loan Agreement was otherwise amended as provided for therein;

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Third Amendment of Construction Loan Agreement dated July 31, 2008 (the "Third Amendment"), Bank extended to Borrower the Corn Oil Extraction Loan in the principal amount of $3,600,000.00 and the Loan Agreement was otherwise amended as provided for therein;

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Fourth Amendment of Construction Loan Agreement dated December 17, 2008, the Loan Termination Date of the Revolving Loan was extended to December 16, 2009, the Borrowing Base was modified, the interest rate on certain Loans was modified and the Loan Agreement was otherwise amended as provided for therein;

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Fifth Amendment of Construction Loan Agreement dated October 30, 2009, the limitations on Borrower's capital expenditures for Borrower's 2010 fiscal year was increased, the Excess Cash Flow payment application was modified, the financial covenants were modified and the Loan Agreement was otherwise amended as provided for therein; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Sixth Amendment of Construction Loan Agreement dated December 16, 2009, the Loan Termination Date of the Revolving Loan was extended to February 16, 2010 and the Loan Agreement was otherwise amended as provided for therein;

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Seventh Amendment of Construction Loan Agreement dated February 14, 2010, the Loan Termination Date applicable to the Revolving Note was extended from February 16, 2010 to February 15, 2011, the interest rate charged on the Revolving Loan was modified, the capital expenditures covenant was modified, and the Loan Agreement was otherwise amended as provided for therein;

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Eighth Amendment of Construction Loan Agreement dated February 15, 2011, the Loan Termination Date applicable to the Revolving Note was extended to February 14, 2012, the interest rate and definitions relating to the interest rate on the Loans were modified, the 

Borrowing Base was modified and the Loan Agreement was otherwise amended as provided for therein; and

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested, and under the terms of this Amendment Bank has agreed, to increase the maximum principal amount of the Revolving Loan to $15,000,000.00 and to otherwise amend the Loan Agreement as provided for herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein and other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree to amend the Loan Agreement as follows:

1.Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning given to such terms in the Loan Agreement, unless specifically defined herein.

2.The Recital to the Loan Agreement is hereby amended to delete the reference to Ten Million and No/100 Dollars ($10,000,000.00) as the principal amount of the Revolving Loan and inserting in lieu thereof Fifteen Million and No/100 Dollars ($15,000,000.00).

3.    The opening paragraph of Section 2.8 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended to delete the reference to $10,000,000.00 as the principal amount of the Revolving Loan and inserting in, lieu thereof $15,000,000.00. In addition, the first sentence of Section 2.8.1 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended to delete the reference to $10,000,000.00 as the principal amount of the Revolving Loan and inserting in lieu thereof $15,000,000.00. To further evidence such increase in the maximum principal amount of the Revolving Loan, Borrower shall execute and deliver to Bank a Sixth Amended and Restated Revolving Promissory Note dated of even date with this Amendment. From and after the date of this Amendment, any reference to the Revolving Note in the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be amended to refer to such Sixth Amended and Restated Revolving Promissory Note. The other Loan Documents and any other references in the Loan Agreement to the principal amount of the Revolving Loan are hereby amended by deleting any references therein to $10,000,000.00 as the principal amount of the Revolving Loan and inserting in lieu thereof $15,000,000.00.

4.     This Amendment shall not be effective until Bank shall have received each of the following (each in form and substance acceptable to Bank) or the following conditions have been satisfied:

(a).This Amendment, duly executed by Borrower.

(b).The Sixth Amended and Restated Revolving Note duly executed by Borrower.

(c).    A Second Amendment of Construction Loan Mortgage, Security
Agreement, Assignment of Leases and Rents and Fixture Financing Statement reflecting the increase in the maximum principal amount of the Revolving Loan pursuant to this Amendment.

(d)    A Secretary Certificate and appropriate resolutions authorizing the
transactions contemplated in this Amendment.

(e).    Such other matters as Bank may reasonably require.

5.    Except as modified and amended herein, all other terms, provisions, conditions and obligations imposed under the terms of the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and affirmed by Borrower. To the extent necessary, the other provisions of the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents are hereby amended to be consistent 

with the terms of this Amendment.

6.    Borrower certifies and reaffirms by its execution hereof that the representations and warranties set forth in the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true as of this date, and that no Event of Default under the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no event which, with the giving of notices or passage of time or both, would become such an Event of Default, has occurred as of execution hereof.

7.    This Amendment may be executed simultaneously in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Amendment on the date first written above.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF 
OMAHA, a national banking 
association

By:     /s/ Fallon Savage                
Title:     Vice President                

CARDINAL ETHANOL, LLC, an
Indiana limited liability company
                    
By: /s/ Jeffrey L. Painter        
Jeff Painter, President
                            

By: /s/ Dale Schwieterman            
Title:   Director

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