PROMISSORY NOTE

EX-10.3 4 d276227dex103.htm PROMISSORY NOTE Promissory Note

Exhibit 10.3

PROMISSORY NOTE

 

Principal    Loan Date    Maturity    Loan No    Call / Coll      Account    Officer    Initials
$9,000,000.00    12-23-2011    12-31-2012    129100054      41          JHO   

References in the boxes above are for Lender’s use only and do not limit the applicability of this document to any particular loan or item.

Any item above containing “***” has been omitted due to text length limitations.

 

Borrower:  

SOLAR POWER, INC.

2240 Douglas Blvd., Suite 200

Roseville, CA 95661

  Lender:  

CATHAY BANK, a California Banking Corp. HIGH TECHNOLOGY DIVISION

20111 STEVENS CREEK BLVD., #200 CUPERTINO, CA 95014

 

 

 

 

Principal Amount: $9,000,000.00    Date of Note: December 23, 2011

PROMISE TO PAY. SOLAR POWER, INC. (“Borrower”) promises to pay to CATHAY BANK, a California Banking Corp. (“Lender”), or order, in lawful money of the United States of America, the principal amount of Nine Million & 00/100 Dollars ($9,000,000.00) or so much as may be outstanding, together with interest on the unpaid outstanding principal balance of each advance. Interest shall be calculated from the date of each advance until repayment of each advance.

PAYMENT. Borrower will pay this loan in one payment of all outstanding principal plus all accrued unpaid interest on December 31, 2012. In addition, Borrower will pay regular monthly payments of all accrued unpaid interest due as of each payment date, beginning January 31, 2012, with all subsequent interest payments to be due on the last day of each month after that. Unless otherwise agreed or required by applicable law, payments will be applied first to any accrued unpaid interest; then to principal; then to any late charges; and then to any unpaid collection costs. Borrower will pay Lender at Lender’s address shown above or at such other place as Lender may designate in writing.

VARIABLE INTEREST RATE. The interest rate on this Note is subject to change from time to time based on changes in an independent index which is the PRIME RATE AS PUBLISHED IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (the “Index”). The Index is not necessarily the lowest rate charged by Lender on its loans. If the Index becomes unavailable during the term of this loan, Lender may designate a substitute index after notifying Borrower. Lender will tell Borrower the current Index rate upon Borrower’s request. The interest rate change will not occur more often than each DAY. Borrower understands that Lender may make loans based on other rates as well. Interest on the unpaid principal balance of this Note will be calculated as described in the “INTEREST CALCULATION METHOD” paragraph using a rate of 1.250 percentage points over the Index. NOTICE: Under no circumstances will the interest rate on this Note be more than the maximum rate allowed by applicable law.

INTEREST CALCULATION METHOD. Interest on this Note is computed on a 365/360 basis; that is, by applying the ratio of the interest rate over a year of 360 days, multiplied by the outstanding principal balance, multiplied by the actual number of days the principal balance is outstanding. All interest payable under this Note is computed using this method. This calculation method results in a higher effective interest rate than the numeric interest rate stated in this Note. (Initial Here            )

PREPAYMENT. Borrower agrees that all loan fees and other prepaid finance charges are earned fully as of the date of the loan and will not be subject to refund upon early payment (whether voluntary or as a result of default), except as otherwise required by law. Except for the foregoing, Borrower may pay without penalty all or a portion of the amount owed earlier than it is due. Early payments will not, unless agreed to by Lender in writing, relieve Borrower of Borrower’s obligation to continue to make payments of accrued unpaid interest. Rather, early payments will reduce the principal balance due. Borrower agrees not to send Lender payments marked “paid in full”, “without recourse”, or similar language. If Borrower sends such a payment, Lender may accept it without losing any of Lender’s rights under this Note, and Borrower will remain obligated to pay any further amount owed to Lender. All written communications concerning disputed amounts, including any check or other payment instrument that indicates that the payment constitutes “payment in full” of the amount owed or that is tendered with other conditions or limitations or as full satisfaction of a disputed amount must be mailed or delivered to: CATHAY BANK, a California Banking Corp.; HIGH TECHNOLOGY DIVISION; 20111 STEVENS CREEK BLVD., #200; CUPERTINO, CA 95014.

LATE CHARGE. If a payment is 11 days or more late, Borrower will be charged 5.000% of the regularly scheduled payment or $5.00, whichever is greater.

INTEREST AFTER DEFAULT. Upon default, the interest rate on this Note shall, if permitted under applicable law, immediately increase by adding an additional 5.000 percentage point margin (“Default Rate Margin”). The Default Rate Margin shall also apply to each succeeding interest rate change that would have applied had there been no default.

DEFAULT. Each of the following shall constitute an event of default (“Event of Default”) under this Note:

Payment Default. Borrower fails to make any payment when due under this Note.

Other Defaults. Borrower fails to comply with or to perform any other term, obligation, covenant or condition contained in this Note or in any of the related documents or to comply with or to perform any term, obligation, covenant or condition contained in any other agreement between Lender and Borrower.

Default in Favor of Third Parties. Borrower or any Grantor defaults under any loan, extension of credit, security agreement, purchase or sales agreement, or any other agreement, in favor of any other creditor or person that may materially affect any of Borrower’s property or Borrower’s ability to repay this Note or perform Borrower’s obligations under this Note or any of the related documents.

False Statements. Any warranty, representation or statement made or furnished to Lender by Borrower or on Borrower’s behalf under this Note or the related documents is false or misleading in any material respect, either now or at the time made or furnished or becomes false or misleading at any time thereafter.

Insolvency. The dissolution or termination of Borrower’s existence as a going business, the insolvency of Borrower, the appointment of a receiver for any part of Borrower’s property, any assignment for the benefit of creditors, any type of creditor workout, or the commencement of any proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency laws by or against Borrower.

Creditor or Forfeiture Proceedings. Commencement of foreclosure or forfeiture proceedings, whether by judicial proceeding, self-help, repossession or any other method, by any creditor of Borrower or by any governmental agency against any collateral securing the loan. This includes a garnishment of any of Borrower’s accounts, including deposit accounts, with Lender. However, this Event of Default shall not apply if there is a good faith dispute by Borrower as to the validity or reasonableness of the claim which is the basis of the creditor or forfeiture proceeding and if Borrower gives Lender written notice of the creditor or forfeiture proceeding and deposits with Lender monies or a surety bond for the creditor or forfeiture proceeding, in an amount determined by Lender, in its sole discretion, as being an adequate reserve or bond for the dispute.

Events Affecting Guarantor. Any of the preceding events occurs with respect to any Guarantor of any of the indebtedness or any Guarantor dies or becomes incompetent, or revokes or disputes the validity of, or liability under, any guaranty of the indebtedness evidenced by this Note.


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Change In Ownership. Any change in ownership of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the common stock of Borrower.

Adverse Change. A material adverse change occurs in Borrower’s financial condition, or Lender believes the prospect of payment or performance of this Note is impaired.

Insecurity. Lender in good faith believes itself insecure.

LENDER’S RIGHTS. Upon default, Lender may declare the entire unpaid principal balance under this Note and all accrued unpaid interest immediately due, and then Borrower will pay that amount.

ATTORNEYS’ FEES; EXPENSES. Lender may hire or pay someone else to help collect this Note if Borrower does not pay. Borrower will pay Lender that amount. This includes, subject to any limits under applicable law, Lender’s attorneys’ fees and Lender’s legal expenses, whether or not there is a lawsuit, including attorneys’ fees, expenses for bankruptcy proceedings (including efforts to modify or vacate any automatic stay or injunction), and appeals. Borrower also will pay any court costs, in addition to all other sums provided by law.

JURY WAIVER. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Lender and Borrower hereby waive the right to any jury trial in any action, proceeding, or counterclaim brought by either Lender or Borrower against the other.

GOVERNING LAW. This Note will be governed by federal law applicable to Lender and, to the extent not preempted by federal law, the laws of the State of California without regard to its conflicts of law provisions. This Note has been accepted by Lender in the State of California.

CHOICE OF VENUE. If there is a lawsuit, Borrower agrees upon Lender’s request to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of SANTA CLARA County, State of California.

RIGHT OF SETOFF. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Lender reserves a right of setoff in all Borrower’s accounts with Lender (whether checking, savings, or some other account). This includes all accounts Borrower holds jointly with someone else and all accounts Borrower may open in the future. However, this does not include any IRA or Keogh accounts, or any trust accounts for which setoff would be prohibited by law. Borrower authorizes Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to charge or setoff all sums owing on the indebtedness against any and all such accounts.

COLLATERAL. Borrower acknowledges this Note is secured by property as described in a UCC Financing Statement.

LINE OF CREDIT. This Note evidences a revolving line of credit. Advances under this Note may be requested orally by Borrower or as provided in this paragraph. All oral requests shall be confirmed in writing on the day of the request. All communications, instructions, or directions by telephone or otherwise to Lender are to be directed to Lender’s office shown above. The following person or persons are authorized to request advances and authorize payments under the line of credit until Lender receives from Borrower, at Lender’s address shown above, written notice of revocation of such authority: Stephen C. Kircher, Chief Executive Officer of SOLAR POWER, INC.; and James R. Pekarsky, Chief Financial Officer of SOLAR POWER, INC. Borrower agrees to be liable for all sums either: (A) advanced in accordance with the instructions of an authorized person or (B) credited to any of Borrower’s accounts with Lender. The unpaid principal balance owing on this Note at any time may be evidenced by endorsements on this Note or by Lender’s internal records, including daily computer print-outs. Lender will have no obligation to advance funds under this Note if: (A) Borrower or any guarantor is in default under the terms of this Note or any agreement that Borrower or any guarantor has with Lender, including any agreement made in connection with the signing of this Note; (B) Borrower or any guarantor ceases doing business or is insolvent; (C) any guarantor seeks, claims or otherwise attempts to limit, modify or revoke such guarantor’s guarantee of this Note or any other loan with Lender; (D) Borrower has applied funds provided pursuant to this Note for purposes other than those authorized by Lender; or (E) Lender in good faith believes itself insecure.

            (INITIAL) ARBITRATION. Lender and Borrower and Guarantor agree that all disputes, claims and controversies between them, whether individual, joint, or class in nature, arising from the Note, Guaranty, or any other loan document, including without limitation contract and tort disputes, shall be arbitrated pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules and Supplemental Procedures for Financial Services Disputes, upon request of either party. No act to take or dispose of any collateral securing the Note or Guaranty shall constitute a waiver of this arbitration agreement or be prohibited by this arbitration agreement. This includes, without limitation, obtaining injunctive relief or a temporary restraining order; invoking a power of sale under any deed of trust or mortgage; obtaining a writ of attachment or imposition of a receiver; or exercising any rights relating to personal property, including taking or disposing of such property with or without judicial process pursuant to Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code. Any disputes, claims, or controversies concerning the lawfulness or reasonableness of any act, or exercise of any right, concerning any collateral securing the Note, Guaranty, or any other loan document, including without limitation, any claim to rescind, reform, or otherwise modify any agreement relating to the collateral securing the Note or Guaranty shall also be arbitrated, provided however that no arbitrator shall have the right or the power to enjoin or restrain any act of any party. Lender and Borrower and Guarantor agree that in the event of an action for judicial foreclosure pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 726, or any similar provision in any other State, the commencement of such an action will not constitute a waiver of the right to arbitrate and the court shall refer to arbitration as much of such action, including counterclaims, as lawfully may be referred to arbitration. Judgment upon any award rendered by any arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. The arbitrators shall not have power to make an award of $1.0 million or more against any party to an arbitration unless it is in the form of a statement of decision as described in California Code of Civil Procedure Section 632, and the parties specifically reserve the right, upon a petition to vacate, to have any such award reviewed and vacated upon the same grounds as would result in reversal on appeal from a judgment after trial by court. Nothing in the Note or Guaranty shall preclude any party from seeking equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction. The statute of limitations, estoppel, waiver, laches, and similar doctrines which would otherwise be applicable in an action brought by a party shall be applicable in any arbitration proceeding, and the commencement of an arbitration proceeding shall be deemed the commencement of an action for these purposes.

To the extent not provided by this agreement, including the Rules incorporated herein, arbitration hereunder shall be governed by California arbitration law. Arbitration shall be conducted in California, in English and, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties with respect to a particular dispute, shall be heard by a panel of three arbitrators. The arbitrators in any arbitration shall be experienced in the areas of law raised by the subject matter of the dispute. Lists of prospective arbitrators shall include retired judges. Notwithstanding the AAA rules, (a) any party may strike from a list of prospective arbitrators any individual who is regarded by that party as not appropriate for the dispute; and (b), if the arbitrator appointment cannot be made from the initial list of prospective arbitrators circulated by the AAA, a second and, if necessary, a third list shall be circulated and exhausted before the AAA is empowered to make the appointment.

The Federal Arbitration Act shall apply to the construction, interpretation, and enforcement of this arbitration provision.

WAIVER OF CONFIDENTIALITY OF BUSINESS ADDRESS. Borrower hereby waives any rights to keep business address on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles, or equivalent governmental agency (“DMV”) confidential from Lender. Borrower authorizes Lender, its agents, successors, and assigns to obtain business address from the DMV when Lender has legitimate need for this information.

            (INITIAL) INTEREST RATE FLOOR. Under no circumstances will the interest rate on this Note be less than 5.500% (the “Interest Rate Floor”) or more than the maximum rate allowed by applicable law; provided, however, that if this Note changes the amount of the Interest Rate Floor, the new amount of the Interest Rate Floor will not be effective until such time (a) all conditions to the effectiveness of this Note are satisfied, (b) all documents required by Lender in connection with this Note have been received, and (c) Lender’s internal loan department has made such adjustments to the Lender’s automated loan system as may be necessary to change the amount of the Interest Rate Floor.


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BUSINESS LOAN AGREEMENT (ASSET BASED). This Note is additionally subject to all the terms and conditions of a Business Loan Agreement (Asset Based) of even date herewith together with any and all modifications and replacements thereof.

SUCCESSOR INTERESTS. The terms of this Note shall be binding upon Borrower, and upon Borrower’s heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of Lender and its successors and assigns.

GENERAL PROVISIONS. If any part of this Note cannot be enforced, this fact will not affect the rest of the Note. Lender may delay or forgo enforcing any of its rights or remedies under this Note without losing them. Borrower and any other person who signs, guarantees or endorses this Note, to the extent allowed by law, waive any applicable statute of limitations, presentment, demand for payment, and notice of dishonor. Upon any change in the terms of this Note, and unless otherwise expressly stated in writing, no party who signs this Note, whether as maker, guarantor, accommodation maker or endorser, shall be released from liability. All such parties agree that Lender may renew or extend (repeatedly and for any length of time) this loan or release any party or guarantor or collateral; or impair, fail to realize upon or perfect Lender’s security interest in the collateral; and take any other action deemed necessary by Lender without the consent of or notice to anyone. All such parties also agree that Lender may modify this loan without the consent of or notice to anyone other than the party with whom the modification is made. The obligations under this Note are joint and several.

PRIOR TO SIGNING THIS NOTE, BORROWER READ AND UNDERSTOOD ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THIS NOTE, INCLUDING THE VARIABLE INTEREST RATE PROVISIONS. BORROWER AGREES TO THE TERMS OF THE NOTE.

BORROWER ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF A COMPLETED COPY OF THIS PROMISSORY NOTE.

BORROWER:

 

SOLAR POWER, INC.
By:  

/s/ James R. Pekarsky

  Authorized Signer for SOLAR POWER, INC.

 

 

 

LASER PRO Lending, Ver. 5.58.20.001    Copr. Harland Financial Solutions, Inc. 1997, 2011.    All Rights Reserved.    - CA     d:\cfiwin\CFIWIN\WINDS\CFI\LPL\D20.FC    TR-25343 PR-33