1 EXHIBIT 10.44 INSTALLMENT NOTE $184,000.00 Mobile , AL December 30 , 1997 - --------------------- --------------- ------------------------- -- (City) (State) (Date) For the value received, the undersigned (whether one or more, hereinafter called the "Obligors") promise(s) to pay to the order of SouthTrust Bank, National Association (hereinafter called the "Bank" or, together with any other holder of this note, the "Holder"), at any office of the Bank in Birmingham, Alabama, or at such other place as the Holder may designate, the principal sum of One Hundred Eighty Four Thousand and 00/100 Dollars, together with interest thereon at the rate provided below from the date of this note (or, other interest accrual date shown below) until maturity (whether as originally scheduled or upon acceleration following default), and with interest on the unpaid balance of the principal sum (plus accrued but unpaid interest at maturity, to the extent permitted by law) at the rate which is 2 percent per annum in excess of the rate provided below or the maximum rate allowed by law, whichever is less, from maturity until said indebtedness is paid in full. Interest will continue to accrue daily on the entire unpaid balance of the principal sum of this note until each payment under this note is received by the Holder at the address provided above. Interest will accrue beginning on the date of this note unless another date is show here:_______________________, 19____. INTEREST RATE Interest will accrue on the above-stated principal sum as Variable Rate follows (mark applicable provision): - --- Interest will accrue on the above-stated principal sum at the rate per annum which is ___________________ percentage points in excess of the Index Rate. Unless another rate is made applicable below, the "Index Rate" is the rate of interest designated by the Bank periodically as its Base Rate. The Base Rate is not necessarily the lowest rate charged by the Bank. The Base Rate on the date of this note is __________________ percent ____(check box if applicable) The "Index Rate" is the weekly auction average yield of ____________ - week U.S. Treasury Bills at the most recent auction prior to the date the interest rate payable under this note is calculated. The Index Rate on the date of this note is ___________ percent. The rate of interest payable under this note will change to reflect any change in the Index Rate: ____ on any day the Index ____ on the ____________ day Rate changes of each month hereafter. ____ on the day each payment ___ ________________________ of Interest is due as provided below. Obligors may prepay this note in full at any time without penalty. X Fixed Rate Interest will accrue on the above-stated principal sum at - --- the rate of 8.19 percent per annum. Interest on the principal sum will be calculated at the rate set forth above on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed by multiplying the principal sum by the per annum rate set forth above, multiplying the product thereof by the actual number of days elapsed, and dividing the product so obtained by 360. PAYMENT SCHEDULE The above-stated principal sum and interest thereon shall be paid as follows (mark applicable provision): __ Installments The Obligors promise to pay the above-stated principal sum of Principal, in __________ consecutive of Principal, Interest Paid ___ monthly installments ___ quarterly installments ____________ installments in the amount of Separately $_________________________ each, beginning _______________, 19____ and continuing on the same day of each month, quarter, or other period (as applicable) thereafter until ______________, 19_______ at which time a final installment in the amount of the unpaid balance of the principal sum and all accrued but unpaid interest thereon shall be due and payable. The Obligors promise to pay accrued interest on the principal sum: _________ monthly _________ quarterly ______________________________________ beginning ______________________________, 19____ and continuing on the same day of each month, quarter, or other period (as applicable) thereafter until final maturity of the principal sum. ___ Installments The Obligors promise to pay the above-stated principal sum and interest thereon in 35 consecutive of Principal x monthly installments _____ quarterly installments ____________________ installments in and Interest the amount of $5,782.03 each, beginning January 30, 1998 and continuing on the same day of each month, quarter, or other period (as applicable) thereafter until December 30, 2000 at which time a final installment in the amount of the unpaid balance of the principal sum and all accrued but unpaid interest thereon shall be due and payable. payments under this note shall be made in U.S. dollars and in immediately available funds at the place where the payment is due. LOAN FEE (This provision applicable only if completed): A loan in the amount of $_______________ has been _________ included in the amount of this note and paid to the Bank from the loan proceeds _____________ paid to the Bank by cash or check at closing. The loan fee is earned by the Bank when paid and is not subject to refund except to the extent required by law. LATE CHARGE If any, scheduled payment is in default 10 days or more, Obligors agree to pay a late charge equal to 5% of the amount of the payment which is in default, not less than $50 or more than the maximum amount allowed by applicable law. The preceding sentence does not apply if the original principal amount ??? this Note is less than $2,000. PREPAYMENT If the interest rate on this note is a variable rate, Obligors may prepay this note in full at any time without premium or penalty. If the interest rate on this note is a fixed rate, unless the paragraph which follows is applicable, prepayment of the principal sum of this note in whole or in part is permitted. If this line is marked, and if the interest rate on this note is a fixed rate, Obligors may not prepay this note in whole or in part during the first year after date of this note unless the Holder consents. Thereafter, prepayment will be permitted on any scheduled payment date on condition that the amount of the payment must equal the sum of (a) the principal amount prepaid plus (b) accrued interest on the amount prepaid plus (c) a premium equal to 1% of the principal amount prepaid multiplied times the number of years or parts of a year remaining until final scheduled maturity of this note. No prepayment premium need be paid if prepayment is made within one year prior to the final scheduled maturity of this note. As used in paragraph, "prepayment" includes payment following acceleration of the maturity of this note after default by the Obligors if the Obligors were able to pay as agreed but failed to pay in order to induce Holder to accelerate the maturity of this note. If prepayment in full without penalty or premium is required to be permitted by applicable law, the foregoing provisions will not apply and prepayment will be allowed in accordance with such law. COLLATERAL This note is secured by every security agreement, pledge, assignment, stock power, mortgage, deed of trust, security deed and/or other instrument covering personal or real property (all of which are hereinafter included in the term "Separate Agreements") which secures an obligation so defined as to include this note, including without limitation all such Separate Agreements which are of even date herewith and/or described in the space below. In addition, as security for the payment of any and all liabilities and obligations of the Obligors to the Holder (including this note and the indebtedness evidenced by this note and extensions, renewals and modifications thereof, and all writings delivered in substitution therefor) and all claims of every nature of the Holder against the Obligors, whether present or future, and whether joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, direct or indirect (all the foregoing are hereinafter included in the term "Obligations"), the Obligors hereby assign to the Holder and grant to the Holder a security interest in and ??? title to the property (the "Collateral") described below: (Describe Separate Agreements and Collateral.) Equipment as more fully described in Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof, along with any renewals, substitutions, attachments, replacements and cash or non-cash proceeds of the foregoing. The Obligors are jointly and severally liable for the payment of this note and have subscribed their names hereto without condition that anyone else should or become bound hereon and without any other condition whatever being made. The provisions printed on the back of this page are a part of this note. Provisions of this note are binding on the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of each and every Obligor and shall inure to the behalf of Holder, its successors and assigns. This note is executed under the seal of each of the Obligors and of the indorsers, if any, with the intention that it be an instrument under seal. CAUTION: IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU THOROUGHLY READ THE CONTRACT BEFORE YOU SIGN IT. Address of Obligor: 360 Central Avenue Bankers Hazard Determination Services, Inc. [LS] - ------------------------ ---------------------------------------------- St. Petersburg, FL 33701 By: /s/ G. Kristin Delano Secretary - ------------------------ ------------------------------------------------ Title AKT Signature [LS] - ------------------------ ------------------------------------- ?? - ------------------------ 2 EXHIBIT A This Exhibit describes the property to be included in the "Collateral or Security" referred to in a Note, Security Agreement and in any Financing Statement delivered by BANKERS HAZARD DETERMINATION SERVICES, INC. (Borrower) to SouthTrust Bank, National Association to which this Exhibit is attached, to wit: SYS# DESCRIPTION - ---- ----------- 322 HP LASERJET 5 PRINTER WITH PRINT SERVER 323 HP JETDIRECT INT T/R PRINT SERVER 324 HO JETDIRECT INTERNAL PRINT SERVER 325 HO JETDIRECT INTERNAL PRINT SERVER 326 HP SCANJET 4c SCANNER PC 300 HOST FAX SERVE SOFTWARE & EQUIPMENT 315 COMPAQ PROLINEA E 5/100 WITH 32 MB RAM 327 COMPAQ DESKPRO 4000 5/166 328 COMPAQ DESKPRO 4000 5/166 329 HITACHI SUPERSCAN ELITE 20 MONITOR 330 HITACHI SUPERSCAN ELITE 20 MONITOR 331 HP 5 SI PRINTER W/PRINT SERVER 332 HP 5 SI PRINTER W/PRINT SERVER 333 COMPAQ DESKPRO 4000 5/166 W/16MB 334 COMPAQ DESKPRO 4000 5/166 W/16MB 335 COMPAQ DESKPRO 4000 5/166 W/16MB 336 HITACHI SUPERSCAN ELITE 17" MONITOR 337 HITACHI SUPERSCAN ELITE 17" MONITOR 338 HITACHI SUPERSCAN ELITE 17" MONITOR 339 HP 5 SI PRINTER W/PRINT SERVER 340 HITACHI SUPERSCAN ELITE 17 MONITOR 341 HITACHI SUPERSCAN ELITE 17 MONITOR 342 HITACHI SUPERSCAN ELITE 17 MONITOR 343 COMPAQ DESKPRO 4000 5/166 344 COMPAQ DESKPRO 4000 5/166 345 COMPAQ DESKRPO 4000 5/166 346 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 347 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 348 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 349 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 350 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 351 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 352 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 353 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 354 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 355 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 356 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 357 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 358 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 359 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 360 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 361 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 362 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 363 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 364 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 365 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 366 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 3 367 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 368 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 369 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 370 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E PENTIUM 371 ORACLE DESIGNER/2000 SOFTWARE 372 1 TIME LICENSING ORDER (ORACLE) 373 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E 374 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E 375 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E 376 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E 377 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E 378 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E 379 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E 380 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E 381 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E 382 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E 383 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E 384 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E 385 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E 386 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E 387 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E 388 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E 389 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E 390 COMPAQ PROLINEA 6150E 392 COMPAQ 64MB UPGRADE PROSIGNIA 300 393 COMPAQ 64MB UPGRADE PROSIGNIA 300 394 COMPAQ 9.1 GB PLIGGABLE HARD DRIVE 395 COMPAQ 9.1 GB PLIGGABLE HARD DRIVE 396 COMPAQ 9.1 GB PLIGGABLE HARD DRIVE 397 COMPAQ 9.1 GB PLIGGABLE HARD DRIVE 398 COMPAQ 9.1 GB PLIGGABLE HARD DRIVE 399 COMPAQ SMART-2 ARRAY CONTROLLER/P3 400 COMPAQ ARMADA LAPTOP 401 HP LASERJET 5 SI PRINTER