EX-10 3 exhibit10_1note.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 NOTE

Promissory Note

 

$18,542,250.00

June 29, 2009

 

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Knollwood Estates Operating Company, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company, Sun River Ridge Limited Partnership, a Michigan limited partnership, and Sun Countryside Gwinnett LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (collectively, the “Borrower”), hereby promise to pay to the order of Bank of America, N.A., a national banking association (together with any and all of its successors and assigns and/or any other holder of this Note, “Lender”), without offset, in immediately available funds in lawful money of the United States of America, at 2600 West Big Beaver Road, Troy, Michigan 48084, the principal sum of Eighteen Million Five Hundred Forty One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty and No/100 Dollars ($18,541,250.00) (or the unpaid balance of all principal advanced against this Note, if that amount is less), together with interest on the unpaid principal balance of this Note from day to day outstanding as hereinafter provided.

 

Section 1.      Payment Schedule and Maturity Date. The principal of this Note shall be due and payable in monthly installments of $30,000.00 each, which shall be due and payable on August 10, 2009 and on the same day of each succeeding month thereafter until this Note shall have been fully paid and satisfied; and accrued unpaid interest on this Note shall be due and payable on August 10, 2009 and on the same day of each succeeding month thereafter until all principal and accrued interest owing on this Note shall have been fully paid and satisfied; provided, that on June 27, 2012 (the “Maturity Date”), the final maturity of this Note, the entire principal balance of this Note then unpaid and all accrued interest then unpaid shall be finally due and payable.

 

Section 2.      Security; Loan Documents. The security for this Note includes a Mortgage, a Deed to Secure Debt, Assignment and Security Agreement and a Deed of Trust, Assignment, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing (as the same may from time to time be amended, restated, modified or supplemented, collectively the “Mortgage”) of even date herewith from Borrower to Lender, conveying and encumbering certain real and personal property more particularly described therein (the “Property”). This Note, the Mortgage, the Term Loan Agreementbetween Borrower and Lender of even date herewith (as the same may from time to time be amended, restated, modified or supplemented, the “Loan Agreement”) and all other documents now or hereafter securing, guaranteeing or executed in connection with the loan evidenced by this Note (the “Loan”), as the same may from time to time be amended, restated, modified or supplemented, are herein sometimes called individually a “Loan Document” and together the “Loan Documents.”

 

                          Section 3.      Interest Rate.

 

(a)        BBA LIBOR Daily Floating Rate. The unpaid principal balance of this Note from day to day outstanding which is not past due, shall bear interest at a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to the BBA LIBOR Daily Floating Rate for that day plus four hundred (400) basis points per annum; provided, however, that in no event shall the interest rate for any day be less than five percent (5.0%) per annum. The “BBA LIBOR Daily Floating Rate” shall mean a fluctuating rate of interest per annum equal to the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate (“BBA LIBOR”), as published by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as reasonably selected by Lender from time to time) as determined for each Business Day at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time two (2) London Banking Days prior to the date in question, for U.S. Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such interest period) with a one month term, as adjusted from time to time in Lender’s sole discretion for reserve requirements, deposit insurance assessment rates and other regulatory costs. A “London Banking Day” is a day on which banks in London are open for business and dealing in offshore dollars. Interest shall be computed for the actual number of days which have elapsed, on the basis of a 360-day year.

 

 

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(b)       Alternative Rates. Lender may notify Borrower if the BBA LIBOR Daily Floating Rate is not available for any reason, or if Lender reasonably determines that no adequate basis exists for determining the BBA LIBOR Daily Floating Rate, or that the BBA LIBOR Daily Floating Rate will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to Lender of funding the Loan, or that any applicable Law or regulation or compliance therewith by Lender prohibits or restricts or makes impossible the charging of interest based on the BBA LIBOR Daily Floating Rate. If Lender so notifies Borrower, then interest shall accrue and be payable on the unpaid principal balance of this Note at a fluctuating rate of interest equal to the Prime Rate of Lender plus one hundred fifty (150) basis points per annum, from the date of such notification by Lender until Lender notifies Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension no longer exist, or until the Maturity Date of this Note (whether by acceleration, declaration, extension or otherwise), whichever is earlier to occur. The term “Prime Rate” means, on any day, the rate of interest per annum then most recently established by Lender as its “prime rate.” Any such rate is a general reference rate of interest, may not be related to any other rate, and may not be the lowest or best rate actually charged by Lender to any customer or a favored rate and may not correspond with future increases or decreases in interest rates charged by other lenders or market rates in general, and Lender may make various business or other loans at rates of interest having no relationship to such rate. Any change in the Prime Rate shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of a change in Lender’s Prime Rate. If Lender (including any subsequent holder of this Note) ceases to exist or to establish or publish a prime rate from which the Prime Rate is then determined, the applicable variable rate from which the Prime Rate is determined thereafter shall be instead the prime rate reported in The Wall Street Journal (or the average prime rate if a high and a low prime rate are therein reported), and the Prime Rate shall change without notice with each change in such prime rate as of the date such change is reported.

 

(c)        Past Due Rate. If any amount payable by Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), such amount shall thereafter bear interest at the Past Due Rate (as defined below) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law. Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable on demand, at a fluctuating rate per annum (the “Past Due Rate”) equal to the BBA LIBOR Daily Floating Rate plus six hundred (600) basis points.

 

Section 4          Prepayment. Borrower may prepay the principal balance of this Note, in full at any time or in part from time to time, without fee, premium or penalty, provided that: (a) Lender shall have actually received from Borrower prior written notice of (i) Borrower’s intent to prepay, (ii) the amount of principal which will be prepaid (the “Prepaid Principal”), and (iii) the date on which the prepayment will be made; (b) each prepayment shall be in the amount of $1,000 or a larger integral multiple of $1,000 (unless the prepayment retires the outstanding balance of this Note in full); and (c) each prepayment shall be in the amount of 100% of the Prepaid Principal, plus accrued unpaid interest thereon to the date of prepayment, plus any other sums which have become due to Lender under the Loan Documents on or before the date of prepayment but have not been paid.

 

Section 5.      Late Charges. If Borrower shall fail to make any payment under the terms of this Note (other than the payment due at maturity) within fifteen (15) days after the date such payment is due, Borrower shall pay to Lender on demand a late charge equal to four percent (4%) of the amount of such payment. Such fifteen (15) day period shall not be construed as in any way extending the due date of any payment. The late charge is imposed for the purpose of defraying the expenses of Lender incident to handling such delinquent payment. This charge shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other amount that Lender may be entitled to receive or action that Lender may be authorized to take as a result of such late payment.

 

 

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Section 6.      Certain Provisions Regarding Payments. All payments made under this Note shall be applied, to the extent thereof, to late charges, to accrued but unpaid interest, to unpaid principal, and to any other sums due and unpaid to Lender under the Loan Documents. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, all payments made under this Note shall be applied, to the extent thereof, in such manner and order as Lender may elect in its sole discretion, any instructions from Borrower or anyone else to the contrary notwithstanding. Remittances shall be made without offset, demand, counterclaim, deduction, or recoupment (each of which is hereby waived) and shall be accepted subject to the condition that any check or draft may be handled for collection in accordance with the practice of the collecting bank or banks. Acceptance by Lender of any payment in an amount less than the amount then due on any indebtedness shall be deemed an acceptance on account only, notwithstanding any notation on or accompanying such partial payment to the contrary, and shall not in any way (a) waive or excuse the existence of an Event of Default (as hereinafter defined), (b) waive, impair or extinguish any right or remedy available to Lender hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, or (c) waive the requirement of punctual payment and performance or constitute a novation in any respect. Payments received after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed to be received on, and shall be posted as of, the following Business Day. Whenever any payment under this Note or any other Loan Document falls due on a day which is not a Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

Section 7.      Events of Default. The occurrence of any one or more of the following shall constitute an “Event of Default” under this Note:

 

(a)       Borrower fails to pay any amounts payable by Borrower to Lender under the terms of this Note within seven (7) days after Lender gives written notice to the Borrower that such amounts are past due.

 

(b)       Any covenant, agreement or condition in this Note is not fully and timely performed, observed or kept. If the breach is capable of being remedied, the breach will not be considered an Event of Default under this Note for a period of thirty (30) days after the date on which Lender gives written notice of the breach to Borrower, or, if the breach cannot be remedied within a period of thirty (30) days, such longer period of time as may be necessary to remedy the breach provided Borrower is diligently pursuing a remedy of the breach and completes it within a reasonable time.

 

(c)       An Event of Default (as therein defined) occurs under any of the Loan Documents other than this Note (subject to any applicable grace or cure period).

 

Section 8.      Remedies. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, Lender may at any time thereafter exercise any one or more of the following rights, powers and remedies:

 

(a)       Lender may accelerate the Maturity Date and declare the unpaid principal balance and accrued but unpaid interest on this Note, and all other amounts payable hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, at once due and payable, and upon such declaration the same shall at once be due and payable.

 

(b)       Lender may exercise any of its other rights, powers and remedies under the Loan Documents or at law or in equity.

 

Section 9.      Remedies Cumulative. All of the rights and remedies of Lender under this Note and the other Loan Documents are cumulative of each other and of any and all other rights at law or in equity, and the exercise by Lender of any one or more of such rights and remedies shall not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise by Lender of any or all such other rights and remedies. No single or partial exercise of any right or remedy shall exhaust it or preclude any other or further exercise thereof, and every right and remedy may be exercised at any time and from time to time. No failure by Lender to exercise, nor delay in exercising, any right or remedy shall operate as a waiver of such right or remedy or as a waiver of any Event of Default.

 

 

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Section 10.    Costs and Expenses of Enforcement. Borrower agrees to pay to Lender on demand all costs and expenses incurred by Lender in seeking to collect this Note or to enforce any of Lender’s rights and remedies under the Loan Documents, including court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, whether or not suit is filed hereon, or whether in connection with bankruptcy, insolvency or appeal.

 

Section 11.    Service of Process. Borrower hereby consents to process being served in any suit, action, or proceeding instituted in connection with this Note by the mailing of a copy thereof by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to Borrower. Borrower irrevocably agrees that such service shall be deemed to be service of process upon Borrower in any such suit, action, or proceeding. Nothing in this Note shall affect the right of Lender to serve process in any manner otherwise permitted by law and nothing in this Note will limit the right of Lender otherwise to bring proceedings against Borrower in the courts of any jurisdiction or jurisdictions, subject to any provision or agreement for arbitration or dispute resolution set forth in the Loan Agreement.

 

Section 12.    Heirs, Successors and Assigns. The terms of this Note and of the other Loan Documents shall bind and inure to the benefit of the heirs, devisees, representatives, successors and assigns of the parties. The foregoing sentence shall not be construed to permit Borrower to assign the Loan except as otherwise permitted under the Loan Documents.

 

Section 13.    General Provisions. Time is of the essence with respect to Borrower’s obligations under this Note. If more than one person or entity executes this Note as Borrower, all of said parties shall be jointly and severally liable for payment of the indebtedness evidenced hereby. Borrower and each party executing this Note as Borrower hereby severally (a) waive demand, presentment for payment, notice of dishonor and of nonpayment, protest, notice of protest, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration and all other notices (except any notices which are specifically required by this Note or any other Loan Document), filing of suit and diligence in collecting this Note or enforcing any of the security herefor; (b) agree to any substitution, subordination, exchange or release of any such security or the release of any party primarily or secondarily liable hereon; (c) agree that Lender shall not be required first to institute suit or exhaust its remedies hereon against Borrower or others liable or to become liable hereon or to perfect or enforce its rights against them or any security herefor; (d) consent to any extensions or postponements of time of payment of this Note for any period or periods of time and to any partial payments, before or after maturity, and to any other indulgences with respect hereto, without notice thereof to any of them; and (e) submit (and waive all rights to object) to non-exclusive personal jurisdiction of any state or federal court sitting in the state and county in which any of the Property is located is to be madefor the enforcement of any and all obligations under this Note and the other Loan Documents; (f) waive the benefit of all homestead and similar exemptions as to this Note; (g) agree that their liability under this Note shall not be affected or impaired by any determination that any title, security interest or lien taken by Lender to secure this Note is invalid or unperfected; and (h) hereby subordinate to the Loan and the Loan Documents any and all rights against Borrower and any security for the payment of this Note, whether by subrogation, agreement or otherwise, until this Note is paid in full. A determination that any provision of this Note is unenforceable or invalid shall not affect the enforceability or validity of any other provision and the determination that the application of any provision of this Note to any person or circumstance is illegal or unenforceable shall not affect the enforceability or validity of such provision as it may apply to other persons or circumstances. This Note may not be amended except in a writing specifically intended for such purpose and executed by the party against whom enforcement of the amendment is sought. Captions and headings in this Note are for convenience only and shall be disregarded in construing it. THIS NOTE, AND ITS VALIDITY, ENFORCEMENT AND INTERPRETATION, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY MICHIGAN LAW (WITHOUT REGARD TO ANY CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES) AND APPLICABLE UNITED STATES FEDERAL LAW. Whenever a time of day is referred to herein, unless otherwise specified such time shall be the local time of the place where payment of this Note is to be made. The term “Business Day” shall mean a day on which Lender is open for the conduct of substantially all of its banking business at its office in the city in which this Note is payable (excluding Saturdays and Sundays). Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Loan Agreement. The words “include” and “including” shall be interpreted as if followed by the words “without limitation.”

 

 

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Section 14.    Notices. Any notice, request, or demand to or upon Borrower or Lender shall be deemed to have been properly given or made when delivered in accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement regarding notices.

 

Section 15.    No Usury. It is expressly stipulated and agreed to be the intent of Borrower and Lender at all times to comply with applicable state law or applicable United States federal law (to the extent that it permits Lender to contract for, charge, take, reserve, or receive a greater amount of interest than under state law) and that this Section shall control every other covenant and agreement in this Note and the other Loan Documents. If applicable state or federal law should at any time be judicially interpreted so as to render usurious any amount called for under this Note or under any of the other Loan Documents, or contracted for, charged, taken, reserved, or received with respect to the Loan, or if Lender’s exercise of the option to accelerate the Maturity Date, or if any prepayment by Borrower results in Borrower having paid any interest in excess of that permitted by applicable law, then it is Lender’s express intent that all excess amounts theretofore collected by Lender shall be credited on the principal balance of this Note and all other indebtedness secured by the Mortgage, and the provisions of this Note and the other Loan Documents shall immediately be deemed reformed and the amounts thereafter collectible hereunder and thereunder reduced, without the necessity of the execution of any new documents, so as to comply with the applicable law, but so as to permit the recovery of the fullest amount otherwise called for hereunder or thereunder. All sums paid or agreed to be paid to Lender for the use or forbearance of the Loan shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be amortized, prorated, allocated, and spread throughout the full stated term of the Loan.

 

Section 16.    Disputes. Disputes under this Note are subject to the dispute resolution provisions as set forth in the Loan Agreement and as to any dispute that for any reason is not within arbitration, the parties waive all rights to trial by jury, as further set forth in the Loan Agreement.

 

                          Section 17.    Joint and Several Libility

 

(a)        Each Borrower agrees that it is jointly and severally liable to Lender for the payment of all obligations arising under this Note and the other Loan Documents, and that such liability is independent of the obligations of any other Borrower. Lender may bring an action against any Borrower, whether an action is brought against any other Borrower.

 

(b)       Each Borrower agrees that any release which may be given by Lender to another Borrower or any Guarantor will not release such Borrower from its obligations under this Note or any of the other Loan Documents.

 

(c)        Until the Loan is paid in full, each Borrower waives any right to assert against Lender any defense, setoff, counterclaim or claim that such Borrower may have against any other Borrower or any other party liable to Lender for the obligations of the Borrower under this Note or any of the other Loan Documents.

 

(d)       Each Borrower agrees that it is solely responsible for keeping itself informed as to the financial condition of each other Borrower and of all circumstances which bear upon the risk of nonpayment. Each Borrower waives any right it may have to require Lender to disclose to such Borrower any information that Lender may now or hereafter acquire concerning the financial condition of any other Borrower.

 

(e)        Borrower represents and warrants to Lender that each Borrower will derive benefit, directly and indirectly, from the collective administration and availability of the Loan under this Note and the other Loan Documents. Borrower agrees that Lender will not be required to inquire as to the disposition by any Borrower of funds disbursed in accordance with the terms of this Note or any of the other Loan Documents.

 

 

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(f)        Until all obligations of Borrower to Lender under this Note and the other Loan Documents have been paid in full, each Borrower waives any right of subrogation, reimbursement, indemnification and contribution (contractual, statutory or otherwise), including any claim or right of subrogation under the Bankruptcy Code (Title 11, United States Code) or any successor statute, that such Borrower may now or hereafter have against any other Borrower with respect to the indebtedness incurred under this Note or any of the other Loan Documents. Each Borrower waives any right to enforce any remedy which Lender now has or may hereafter have against any other Borrower, and waives any benefit of, and any right to participate in, any security now or hereafter held by Lender.

 

(g)       Each Borrower hereby waives any election of remedies by Lender that impairs any subrogation or other right of such Borrower to proceed against any other Borrower or other person, including any loss of rights resulting from any applicable anti-deficiency laws relating to nonjudicial foreclosures of real property or other laws limiting, qualifying or discharging obligations or remedies.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower has caused this Note to be executed as of the date first above written.

 

BORROWER:

Knollwood Estates Operating Company LLC

 

By:

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, a Michigan limited partnership

Title:

Sole Member

By:

Sun Communities, Inc., a Maryland corporation

Title:

General Partner

 

By:


/s/ Jonathon M. Colman

 

Name:

Jonathan M. Colman

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

Sun River Ridge Limited Partnership

 

By:

River Ridge Investments LLC, a Michigan limited liability company

Title:

General Partner

By:

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, a Michigan limited partnership

Title:

Sole member

By:

Sun Communities, Inc., a Maryland corporation

Title:

General Partner

 

By:


/s/ Jonathon M. Colman

 

Name:

Jonathan M. Colman

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

Sun Countryside Gwinnett LLC

 

By:

Sun QRS Countryside, Inc., a Michigan corporation

Title:

Manager

 

By:


/s/ Jonathon M. Colman

 

Name:

Jonathan M. Colman

 

Title:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

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