The Borrower understands that the Holder may from time to time enter into a participation agreement or agreements with one or more participants pursuant to which such participant or participants shall be given participations in the Loan and that such participation may from time to time similarly grant to other participants sub-participations in the Loan. The Borrower agrees that any participant may exercise any and all rights of banker’s lien or set-off, whether arising by operation of law or given to the Holder by the provisions of this note, with respect to the Borrower as fully as if such participant had made a loan directly to the Borrower. For purposes of this paragraph only, the Borrower shall be deemed to be directly obligated to each participant or subparticipant in the amount of its participating interest in the principal of, and interest on, the Loan.
No failure or delay on the part of the Holder in exercising any right, power or privilege under this note shall operate as a waiver thereof. No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this note shall be effective unless in writing and signed by a duly authorized officer of the Holder. The unenforceability of any provision of this note shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the other provisions of this note, it being the intention of the Borrower and the Holder that the provisions of this note shall be severable.
The Borrower has executed this note without condition that anyone else should sign or become bound hereunder and without any other condition whatever being made. The provision of this note shall be binding, jointly and severally, upon the successors and assigns of the Borrower (except that the Borrower may not assign or transfer its rights hereunder without the prior written consent of the Bank) and shall inure to the benefit of the Bank, its successors and assigns. This note is given, executed and delivered under the seal of the Borrower. Time is of the essence of this note. This note shall be governed by the laws of the State of Alabama.
The Bank is hereby authorized by the Borrower to make advanced hereunder and enter into agreements with respect to Fixed Rates at the request (whether written or oral) of any officer or representative of a partner of the Borrower or any other representative of the Borrower.
Any provision of this note that 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 or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
All rights, power and remedies of the Holder under this note and now or hereafter existing at law, in equity or otherwise shall be cumulative and may be exercised successively or concurrently.
This note contains the entire understanding and agreement between the Borrower and the Holder with respect to the Loan and supersedes any and all prior agreements, understandings, promises, and statements with respect to the Loan.
EXHIBIT 10.2
MASTER PROMISSORY NOTE
$10,000,000 | October 24, 2005 |
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, HIBBETT SPORTING GOODS, INC., an Alabama corporation (“Borrower”), hereby promises to pay to the order of BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (“Lender”), at such place as Lender may designate from time to time, in lawful money of the United States and in immediately available funds, the principal amount of $10,000,000 or such lesser amount as shall equal the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the advances (the “Loans”) made by Lender to Borrower under this Master Promissory Note (this “Note”), and to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each such Loan at the rates per annum and on the dates specified below.
Each Loan hereunder shall be at the sole discretion of Lender. Each Loan shall bear interest at the rate per annum quoted to Borrower by Lender and accepted by Borrower prior to the making of such Loan (which acceptance shall in any event be deemed to occur upon receipt by Borrower of the proceeds of any Loan). Each Loan, and accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall be due and payable on demand, or if no demand is sooner made, on November 4, 2006. If any Loan remains outstanding for more than three months, interest on such Loan shall also be payable on the last day of the third month after the making of such Loan and on the last day of each third month thereafter. Lender may, if and to the extent any payment is not made when due hereunder, charge from time to time against any or all of Borrower’s accounts with Lender any amount so due.
The date, amount, interest rate, and, if applicable, the date of demand of each Loan, and each payment of principal and interest hereon, shall be recorded by Lender on its books, which recordations shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive as to such matters; provided, that the failure of Lender to make any such recordation or any error therein shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of Borrower hereunder.
Borrower may not prepay any Loan in whole or in part without Lender’s prior written consent; provided, however, that if any such prepayment is made Borrower shall at the time of prepayment pay Lender an amount sufficient to compensate Lender for any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of the prepayment, including any loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by Lender to maintain the amount prepaid or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by Lender in connection with the foregoing.
Interest shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and the actual days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). Overdue principal and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, interest shall bear interest, payable upon demand, for each day from and including the due date to but excluding the date of actual payment at a rate per annum equal to the sum of 2% plus the rate of interest public announced by Lender from time to time as its prime rate. Lender’s prime rate is a rate set by Lender based upon various factors including Lender’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Whenever any payment under this Note is due on a day that is not a day Lender is open to conduct substantially all of its business, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding day on which Lender is open to conduct substantially all of its business, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of the payment of interest.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if a petition shall be filed by or against Borrower under any law relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, or insolvency, then the outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest on this Note, together with all other amounts payable hereunder, shall become immediately due and payable.
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The request of the Borrower for any Loan and the receipt by Borrower of the proceeds thereof shall be deemed a representation by Borrower as of the date of each such request or receipt that Borrower is duly authorized to incur such indebtedness hereunder. Lender shall incur no liability to Borrower in acting upon any telephone, telex, or other communication that Lender in good faith believes has been given by an authorized representative of Borrower.
Borrower hereby waives presentment, protest, demand, or other notice of any kind in connection with this Note. No failure or delay by Lender in exercising, and no course of dealing with respect to, any right, power, or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power, or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power, or privilege. The rights and remedies of Lender provided herein shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by law. If any provision of this Note shall be held invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof. No provision of this Note may be modified or waived except by a written instrument signed by Lender and Borrower.
Lender may assign to one or more banks or other entities all or any part of, or may grant participations to one or more banks or other entities in or to all or any part of, this Note or any Loan or Loans hereunder. Borrower shall pay on demand all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the allocated costs of internal counsel) incurred by Lender in connection with the enforcement or attempted enforcement of this Note.
This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia and the applicable laws of the United States of America. Time is of the essence of this Note.
This paragraph concerns the resolution of any controversies or claims between Borrower and Lender, whether arising in contract, tort or by statute, including but not limited to controversies or claims that arise out of or relate to: (i) this Note (including any renewals, extensions or modifications); or (ii) any document related to this Note (collectively a “Claim”). For the purposes of this arbitration provision only, the term “Lender” shall include any parent corporation, subsidiary or affiliate of Lender involved in the servicing, management or administration of any Loan.
(a) At the request of either Lender or Borrower, any Claim shall be resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act (Title 9, U.S. Code) (the “Act”). The Act will apply even though this agreement provides that it is governed by the law of a specified state. The arbitration will take place on an individual basis without resort to any form of class action.
(b) Arbitration proceedings will be determined in accordance with the Act, the then-current rules and procedures for the arbitration of financial services disputes of the American Arbitration Association or any successor thereof (“AAA”), and the terms of this paragraph. In the event of any inconsistency, the terms of this paragraph shall control. If AAA is unwilling or unable to (i) serve as the provider of arbitration or (ii) enforce any provision of this arbitration clause, either Lender or Borrower may substitute another arbitration organization with similar procedures to serve as the provider of arbitration.
(c) The arbitration shall be administered by AAA and conducted, unless otherwise required by law, in Atlanta, Georgia. All Claims shall be determined by on arbitrator; however, if Claims exceed $5,000,000 upon the request of any party, the Claims shall be decided by three arbitrators. All arbitration hearings shall commence within 90 days of the demand for arbitration and close within 90 days of commencement and the award of the arbitrator(s) shall be issued within 30 days of the close of the hearing. However, the arbitrator(s), upon a showing of good cause, may extend the commencement of the hearing for up to an additional 60 days. The arbitrator(s) shall provide a concise written statement of reasons for the award. The arbitration award may be submitted to any court having jurisdiction to be confirmed, judgment entered and enforced.
(d) The arbitrator(s) will give effect to statutes of limitation in determining any Claim and may dismiss the arbitration on the basis that the Claim is barred. For purposes of the application of the statute of
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limitations, the service on AAA under applicable AAA rules of a notice of Claim is the equivalent of the filing of a lawsuit. Any dispute concerning this arbitration provision or whether a Claim is arbitrable shall be determined by the arbitrator(s). The arbitrator(s) shall have the power to award legal fees pursuant to the terms of this agreement.
(e) This paragraph does not limit the right of any party to: (i) exercise self-help remedies, such as but not limited to, setoff; (ii) initiate judicial or non-judicial foreclosure against any real or personal property collateral; (iii) exercise any judicial or power of sale rights, or (iv) act in a court of law to obtain an interim remedy, such as but not limited to, injunctive relief, writ of possession or appointment of a receiver, or additional or supplementary remedies.
(f) The filing of a court action is not intended to constitute a waiver of the right of any part, including the suing party, thereafter to require submittal of the Claim to arbitration.
As used in this Note the term “interest” does not include any fees or other charges imposed on Borrower in connection with the Loans, other than the interest described above. In no event shall the amount or rate of interest due and payable under this Note exceed the maximum amount or rate of interest allowed by applicable law and, in the event any such excess payment is made by Borrower or received by Lender, such excess sum shall be credited as a payment of principal (or if no principal shall remain outstanding, shall be refunded to Borrower). It is the express intent hereof that Borrower not pay and Lender not receive, directly or indirectly, interest in excess of that which may be lawfully paid under applicable law including the usury laws in force in the State of Georgia.
Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc. |
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By: | /s/ Gary Smith |
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Its: | Chief Financial Officer |
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