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EXHIBIT 10.3
PROMISSORY NOTE
$1,537,000.00
June 29, 2000
YAGER/KUESTER PUBLIC FUND LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
A NORTH CAROLINA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP 1300 Altura Road
Fort Mill, South Carolina 29715
(Individually and collectively "Borrower")
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK
301 South Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
(Hereinafter referred to as "Bank")
RENEWAL/MODIFICATION/INCREASE. This Promissory Note renews, extends, increases
and/or modifies that certain Promissory Note dated March 16, 2000 (the "Original
Promissory Note"), evidencing an original principal amount of $1,561,000.00.
This Promissory Note is not a novation to the extent of the principal balance
currently outstanding under the Original Promissory Note.
Borrower promises to pay to the order of Bank, in lawful money of the United
States of America, at its office indicated above or wherever else Bank may
specify, the sum of One Million, Five Hundred Thirty-Seven Thousand and No/100
Dollars ($1,537,000.00) or such sum as may be advanced and outstanding from time
to time, with interest on the unpaid principal balance at the rate and on the
terms provided in this Promissory Note (including all renewals, extensions or
modifications hereof, this "Note").
SECURITY. Borrower has granted Bank a security interest in the collateral
described in the Loan Documents, including, but not limited to, real property
collateral described in that certain Deed of Trust of even date herewith.
INTEREST RATE. Interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal balance of this
Note from the date hereof at the Bank's Prime Rate, as that rate may change from
time to time in accordance with changes in the Bank's Prime Rate, ("Interest
Rate"). "Bank's Prime Rate" shall be that rate announced by Bank from time to
time as its prime rate and is one of several interest rate bases used by Bank.
Bank lends at rates both above and below Bank's Prime Rate, and Borrower
acknowledges that Bank's Prime Rate is not represented or intended to be the
lowest or most favorable rate of interest offered by Bank.
DEFAULT RATE. In addition to all other rights contained in this Note, if a
Default (as defined herein) occurs and as long as a Default continues, all
outstanding Obligations shall bear interest at the Interest Rate plus 3%
("Default Rate"), except if the Note is governed by the laws of the State of
North Carolina and the original principal amount is less than or equal to
$300,000.00. The Default Rate shall also apply from acceleration until the
Obligations or any judgment thereon is paid in full.
INTEREST AND FEE(S) COMPUTATION (ACTUAL/360). Interest and fees, if any, shall
be computed on the basis of a 360-day year for the actual number of days in the
applicable period ("Actual/360 Computation"). The Actual/360 Computation
determines the annual effective interest yield by taking the stated (nominal)
rate for a year's period and then dividing said rate by 360 to determine the
daily periodic rate to be applied for each day in the applicable period.
Application of the Actual/360 Computation produces an annualized effective rate
exceeding the nominal rate.
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REPAYMENT TERMS. This Note shall be due and payable in consecutive monthly
payments of principal of $5,000.00, plus accrued interest, commencing on July
31, 2000, and continuing on the last day of EACH month thereafter until fully
paid. In any event, all principal and accrued interest shall be due and payable
on June 30, 2002.
APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS. Monies received by Bank from any source for application
toward payment of the Obligations shall be applied to accrued interest and then
to principal. If a Default occurs, monies may be applied to the Obligations in
any manner or order deemed appropriate by Bank.
If any payment received by Bank under this Note or other Loan Documents is
rescinded, avoided or for any reason returned by Bank because of any adverse
claim or threatened action, the returned payment shall remain payable as an
obligation of all persons liable under this Note or other Loan Documents as
though such payment had not been made.
DEFINITIONS. LOAN DOCUMENTS. The term "Loan Documents" used in this Note and the
other Loan Documents refers to all documents executed in connection with or
related to the loan evidenced by this Note and any prior notes which evidence
all or any portion of the loan evidenced by this Note, and ANY letters of credit
issued pursuant to any loan agreement to which this Note is subject, any
applications for such letters Of credit and any other documents executed in
connection therewith or related thereto, and may include, without limitation, a
commitment letter that survives closing, a loan agreement, this Note, guaranty
agreements, security agreements, security instruments, financing statements,
mortgage instruments, any renewals or modifications, whenever any of the
foregoing are executed, but does not include swap agreements (as defined in 11
U.S.C. ss. 101). OBLIGATIONS. The term "Obligations" used in this Note refers to
any and all indebtedness and other obligations under this Note, all other
obligations under any other Loan Document(s), and all obligations under any swap
agreements (as defined in 11 U.S.C. ss. 101) between Borrower and Bank whenever
executed. CERTAIN OTHER TERMS. All terms that are used but not otherwise defined
in any of the Loan Documents shall have the definitions provided in the Uniform
Commercial Code.
LATE CHARGE. If any payments are not timely made, Borrower shall also pay to
Bank a late charge equal to 4% of each payment past due for 15 or more days.
Acceptance by Bank of any late payment without an accompanying late charge shall
not be deemed a waiver of Bank's right to collect such late charge or to collect
a late charge for any subsequent late payment received.
If this Note is secured by owner-occupied residential real property located
outside the state in which the office of Bank first shown above is located, the
late charge laws of the state where the real property is located shall apply to
this Note and the late charge shall be the highest amount allowable under such
laws. If no amount is stated thereunder, the late charge shall be 5% of each
payment past due for 10 or more days.
ATTORNEYS' FEES AND OTHER COLLECTION COSTS. Borrower shall pay all of Bank's
reasonable expenses incurred to enforce or collect any of the Obligations
including, without limitation, reasonable arbitration, paralegals', attorneys'
and experts' fees and expenses, whether incurred without the commencement of a
suit, in any trial, arbitration, or administrative proceeding, or in any
appellate or bankruptcy proceeding.
USURY. If at any time the effective interest rate under this Note would, but for
this paragraph, exceed the maximum lawful rate, the effective interest rate
under this Note shall be the maximum lawful rate, and any amount received by
Bank in excess of such rate shall be applied to principal and then to fees and
expenses, or, if no such amounts are owing, returned to Borrower.
DEFAULT. If any of the following occurs, a default ("Default") under this Note
shall exist: NONPAYMENT;
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Nonperformance. The failure of timely payment or performance of the Obligations
or Default under this Note or any other Loan Documents. False Warranty. A
warranty or representation made or deemed made in the Loan Documents or
furnished Bank in connection with the loan evidenced by this NOTE proves
materially false, or if of a continuing nature, becomes materially false. CROSS
DEFAULT. At Bank's option, any default in payment or performance of any
obligation under any other loans, contracts or agreements of Borrower, any
Subsidiary or Affiliate of Borrower, any general partner of or the holder(s) of
the majority ownership interests of Borrower with Bank or its affiliates
("Affiliate" shall have the meaning as defined in 11 U.S.C. ss. 101, except that
the term "Borrower" shall be substituted for the term "Debtor" therein;
"Subsidiary" shall mean any business in which Borrower holds, directly or
indirectly, a controlling interest). CESSATION; BANKRUPTCY. The death of,
appointment of a guardian for, dissolution of, termination of existence of, loss
of good standing status by, appointment of a receiver for, assignment for the
benefit of creditors of, or commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency
proceeding by or against Borrower, its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, if any, or
any general partner of or the holder(s) of the majority ownership interests of
Borrower, or any party to the Loan Documents. MATERIAL CAPITAL STRUCTURE OR
BUSINESS Alteration. Without prior written consent of Bank, (i) a material
alteration in the kind or type of Borrower's business or that of Borrower's
Subsidiaries or Affiliates, if any; (ii) the sale of substantially all of the
business or assets of Borrower, any of Borrower's Subsidiaries or Affiliates or
any guarantor, or a material portion (10% or more) of such business or assets if
such a sale is outside the ordinary course of business of Borrower, or any of
Borrower's Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any guarantor, or more than 50% of the
outstanding stock or voting power of or in any such entity in a single
transaction or a series of transactions; (iii) the acquisition of substantially
all of the business or assets or more than 50% of the outstanding stock or
voting power of any other entity; or (iv) should any Borrower or any of
Borrower's Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any guarantor enter into any merger or
consolidation.
REMEDIES UPON DEFAULT. If a Default occurs under this Note or any Loan
Documents, Bank may at any time thereafter, take the following actions: Bank
Lien. Foreclose its security interest or lien against Borrower's accounts
without notice. ACCELERATION UPON Default. Accelerate the maturity of this Note
and, at Bank's option, any or all other Obligations, whereupon this Note and the
accelerated Obligations shall be immediately due and payable. Cumulative.
Exercise any rights and remedies as provided under the Note and other Loan
Documents, or as provided by law or equity.
ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Borrower shall deliver to Bank, within 120 days
after the close of each fiscal year, audited financial statements reflecting its
operations during such fiscal year, including, without limitation, a balance
sheet, profit and loss statement and statement of cash flows, with supporting
schedules; all on a consolidated basis with respect to Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, Affiliates and parent or holding company, as applicable, and in
reasonable detail, prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles, applied on a basis consistent with that of the preceding year. If
audited statements are required, all such statements shall be examined by an
independent certified public accountant acceptable to Bank. The opinion of such
independent certified public accountant shall not be acceptable to Bank if
qualified due to any limitations in scope imposed by Borrower or any other
person or entity. Any other qualification of the opinion by the accountant shall
render the acceptability of the financial statements subject to Bank's approval.
FINANCIAL AND OTHER INFORMATION. Borrower shall deliver to Bank such information
as Bank may reasonably request from time to time, including without limitation,
financial statements and information pertaining to Borrower's financial
condition. Such information shall be true, complete, and accurate.
WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS. No waivers, amendments or modifications of this Note and
other Loan Documents shall be valid unless in writing and signed by an officer
of Bank. No waiver by Bank of any Default shall operate as a waiver of any other
Default or the same Default on a future occasion. Neither the failure nor any
delay on the part of Bank in exercising any right, power, or remedy under this
Note and other Loan Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a
single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.
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Each Borrower or any person liable under this Note waives presentment, protest,
notice of dishonor, demand for payment, notice of intention to accelerate
maturity, notice of acceleration of maturity, notice of sale and all other
notices of any kind. Further, each agrees that Bank may extend, modify or renew
this Note or make a novation of the loan evidenced by this Note for any period,
and grant any releases, compromises or indulgences with respect to any
collateral securing this Note, or with respect to ANY OTHER Borrower or any
other person liable under this Note or other Loan Documents, all without notice
to or consent of each Borrower or each person who may be liable under this Note
or any other Loan Document and without affecting the liability of Borrower or
any person who may be liable under this Note or ANY other Loan Document.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. Assignment. This Note and the other Loan Documents
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their
respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns. Bank's
interests in and rights under this Note and the other Loan Documents ARE freely
assignable, in whole or in part, by Bank. In addition, nothing in this Note or
any of the other LOAN Documents shall prohibit Bank from pledging or assigning
this Note or any of the other Loan Documents or any interest therein to any
Federal Reserve Bank. Borrower shall not assign its rights and interest
hereunder without the prior written consent of Bank, and any attempt by Borrower
to assign without Bank's prior written consent is null and void. Any assignment
shall not release Borrower from the Obligations. Applicable Law; Conflict
BETWEEN DOCUMENTS. This Note and the other Loan Documents shall be governed by
and construed under the laws of the state named in Bank's address shown above
without regard to that state's conflict of laws principles. If the terms of this
Note Should conflict with the terms of the Loan Agreement or any commitment
letter that survives closing, the terms of this Note shall control. BORROWER'S
ACCOUNTS. Except as prohibited by law, Borrower grants Bank a security interest
in all of Borrower's accounts with Bank and any of its affiliates. Jurisdiction.
Borrower irrevocably agrees to non-exclusive personal jurisdiction in the state
named in Bank's address shown above. Severability, If any provision of this Note
or of the other Loan Documents shall be prohibited or invalid under applicable
law, such provision shall be ineffective but only to the extent of such
prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision
or the remaining provisions of this Note or other such document. NOTICES. Any
notices to Borrower shall be sufficiently given, if in writing and mailed or
delivered to the Borrower's address shown above or such other address as
provided hereunder, and to Bank, if in writing and mailed or delivered to Bank's
office address shown above or such other address as Bank may specify in writing
from time to time. In the event that Borrower changes Borrower's address at any
time prior to the date the Obligations are paid in full, Borrower agrees to
promptly give written notice of said change of address by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, all charges prepaid. Plural; Captions.
All references in the Loan Documents to Borrower, guarantor, person, document or
other nouns of reference mean both the singular and plural form, as the case may
be, and the term "person" shall mean any individual, person or entity. The
captions contained in the Loan Documents are inserted for convenience only and
shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of the Loan Documents. ADVANCES.
Bank may, in its sole discretion, make other advances which shall be deemed to
be advances under this Note, even though the stated principal amount of this
Note may be exceeded as a result thereof. Posting of Payments. All payments
received during normal banking hours after 2:00 p.m. local time at the office of
Bank first shown above shall be deemed received at the opening of the next
banking day. Joint AND SEVERAL Obligations. Each person who signs this Note as a
Borrower (as defined herein) is jointly and severally obligated. FEES AND TAXES.
Borrower shall promptly pay all documentary, intangible recordation and/or
similar taxes on this transaction whether assessed at closing or arising from
time to time.
ARBITRATION. Upon demand of any party hereto, whether made before or after
institution of any judicial proceeding, any claim or controversy arising out of
or relating to the Loan Documents between parties hereto (a "Dispute") shall be
resolved by binding arbitration conducted under and governed by the Commercial
Financial Disputes Arbitration Rules (the "Arbitration Rules") of the American
Arbitration Association (the "AAA") and the Federal Arbitration Act. Disputes
may include, without limitation, tort claims, counterclaims, a dispute as to
whether a matter is subject to arbitration, claims brought as class actions, or
claims arising from
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documents executed in the future. A judgment upon the award may be entered in
any court having jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this arbitration
provision does not apply to disputes under or related to swap agreements.
Special Rules. All arbitration hearings shall be conducted in the city named in
the address of Bank first stated above. A hearing shall begin within 90 days of
demand for arbitration and all hearings shall conclude within 120 days of demand
for arbitration. These time limitations may not be extended unless a party shows
cause for extension and then for no more than a total of 60 days. The expedited
procedures set forth in Rule 51 et seq. of the ArbitrationRules shall be
applicable to claims of less than $1,000,000.00. Arbitrators shall be licensed
attorneys selected from the Commercial Financial Dispute Arbitration Panel of
the AAA. The parties do not waive applicable Federal or state substantive law
except as provided herein. Preservation and Limitation OF Remedies.
Notwithstanding the preceding binding arbitration provisions, the parties agree
to preserve, without diminution, certain remedies that any party may exercise
before or after an arbitration proceeding is brought. The parties shall have the
right to proceed in any court of proper jurisdiction or by self-help to exercise
or prosecute the following remedies, as applicable: (i) all rights to foreclose
against any real or personal property or other security by exercising a power of
sale or under applicable law by judicial foreclosure including a proceeding to
confirm the sale; (ii) all rights of self-help including peaceful occupation of
real property and collection of rents, set-off, and peaceful possession of
personal property; (iii) obtaining provisional or ancillary remedies including
injunctive relief, sequestration, garnishment, attachment, appointment of
receiver and filing an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding; and (iv) when
applicable, a judgment by confession of judgment. Any claim or controversy with
regard to any party's entitlement to such remedies is a Dispute. Waiver of
Exemplary Damages. The parties agree that they shall not have a remedy of
punitive or exemplary damages against other parties in any Dispute and hereby
waive any right or claim to punitive or exemplary damages they have now or which
may arise in the future in connection with any Dispute whether the Dispute is
resolved by arbitration or judicially. Waiver of Jury Trial. THE PARTIES
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BY AGREEING TO BINDING ARBITRATION THEY HAVE IRREVOCABLY WAIVED
ANY RIGHT THEY MAY HAVE TO JURY TRIAL WITH REGARD TO A DISPUTE.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower, on the day and year first above written, has
caused this Note to be executed under seal.
PLACE OF EXECUTION AND DELIVERY. Borrower hereby certifies that this Note and
the Loan Documents were executed in the State of North Carolina and delivered to
Bank in the State of North Carolina.
YAGER/KUESTER PUBLIC FUND LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
A NORTH CAROLINA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 56-1560476
By: DRY Limited Partnership, General Partner
BY: /s/ Dexter R. Yager, Sr. (SEAL)
Dexter R. Yager, Sr., General Partner
