EXHIBIT 10.24
▇▇▇▇▇ FARGO BANK REVOLVING LINE OF CREDIT NOTE
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$15,000,000.00 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
FEBRUARY 6, 2001
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned DOT HILL SYSTEMS CORP. AND SILICON
ALLEY MANAGEMENT, INC. ("Borrower") promises to pay to the order of ▇▇▇▇▇ FARGO
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ("Bank") at its office at SAN DIEGO RCBO, ▇▇▇ ▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, or at such other place as the holder
hereof may designate, in lawful money of the United States of America and in
immediately available funds, the principal sum of $15,000,000.00, or so much
thereof as may be advanced and be outstanding, with interest thereon, to be
computed on each advance from the date of its disbursement as set forth herein.
DEFINITIONS:
As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth after
each, and any other term defined in this Note shall have the meaning set forth
at the place defined:
(a) "Business Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or any other day
on which commercial banks in California are authorized or required by law to
close.
(b) "Fixed Rate Term" means a period commencing on a Business Day and
continuing for 1, 2 OR 3 MONTHS, as designated by Borrower, during which all or
a portion of the outstanding principal balance of this Note bears interest
determined in relation to LIBOR; provided however, that no Fixed Rate Term may
be selected for a principal amount less than $100,000.00; and provided further,
that no Fixed Rate Term shall extend beyond the scheduled maturity date hereof.
If any Fixed Rate Term would and on a day which is not a Business Day, then such
Fixed Rate Term shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day.
(c) "LIBOR" means the rate per annum (rounded upward, if necessary, to the
nearest whole 1/8 of 1 %) determined by dividing Base LIBOR by a percentage
equal to 100% less any LIBOR Reserve Percentage.
(i) "Base LIBOR" means the rate per annum for United States dollar
deposits quoted by Bank as the Inter-Bank Market Offered Rate, with the
understanding that such rate is quoted by Bank for the purpose of calculating
effective rates of interest for loans making reference thereto, on the first day
of a Fixed Rate Term for delivery of funds on said date for a period of time
approximately equal to the number of days in such Fixed Rate Term and in an
amount approximately equal to the principal amount to which such Fixed Rate Term
applies. Borrower understands and agrees that Bank may base its quotation of the
Inter-Bank Market Offered Rate upon such offers or other market indicators of
the Inter-Bank Market as Bank in its discretion deems appropriate including, but
not limited to, the rate offered for U.S. dollar deposits on the London
Inter-Bank Market.
(ii) "LIBOR Reserve Percentage" means the reserve percentage prescribed
by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for
"Eurocurrency Liabilities" (as defined in Regulation D of the Federal Reserve
Board, as amended), adjusted by Bank for expected changes in such reserve
percentage during the applicable Fixed Rate Term.
(d) "Prime Rate" means at any time the rate of interest most recently
announced within Bank at its principal office as its Prime Rate, with the
understanding that the Prime Rate is one of Bank's base rates and serves as the
basis upon which effective rates of interest are calculated for those loans
making reference thereto, and is evidenced by the recording thereof after its
announcement in such internal publication or publications as Bank may designate.
INTEREST:
(a) INTEREST. The outstanding principal balance of this Note shall bear
interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year, actual days elapsed) either
(i) at a fluctuating rate per annum EQUAL TO the Prime Rate in effect from time
to time, or (ii) at a fixed rate per annum determined by Bank to be .50000%
above LIBOR in effect on the first day of the applicable Fixed Rate Term. When
interest is determined in relation to the Prime Rate, each change in the rate of
interest
Page 1
hereunder shall become effective on the date each Prime Rate change is
announced within Bank. With respect to each LIBOR selection option selected
hereunder, Bank is hereby authorized to note the date, principal amount,
interest rate and Fixed Rate Term applicable thereto and any payments made
thereon on Bank's books and records (either manually or by electronic entry)
and/or on any schedule attached to this Note, which notations shall be prima
facie evidence of the accuracy of the information noted.
(b) SELECTION OF INTEREST RATE OPTIONS. At any time any portion of this
Note bears interest determined in relation to LIBOR, it may be continued by
Borrower at the end of the Fixed Rate Term applicable thereto so that all or a
portion thereof bears interest determined in relation to the Prime Rate or to
LIBOR for a new Fixed Rate Term designated by Borrower. At any time any portion
of this Note bears interest determined in relation to the Prime Rate, Borrower
may convert all or a portion thereof so that it bears interest determined in
relation to LIBOR for a Fixed Rate Term designated by Borrower. At such time as
Borrower requests an advance hereunder or wishes to select a LIBOR option for
all or a portion of the outstanding principal balance hereof, and at the end of
each Fixed Rate Term, Borrower shall give Bank notice specifying: (i) the
interest rate option selected by Borrower; (ii) the principal amount subject
thereto; and (iii) for each LIBOR selection, the length of the applicable Fixed
Rate Term. Any such notice may be given by telephone (or such other electronic
method as Bank may permit) so long as, with respect to each LIBOR selection, (A)
if requested by Bank, Borrower provides to Bank written confirmation thereof not
later than three (3) Business Days after such notice is given, and (B) such
notice is given to Bank prior to 10:00 a.m. on the first day of the Fixed Rate
Term, or at a later time during any Business Day if Bank, at it's sole option
but without obligation to do so, accepts Borrower's notice and quotes a fixed
rate to Borrower. If Borrower does not immediately accept a fixed rate when
quoted by Bank, the quoted rate shall expire and any subsequent LIBOR request
from Borrower shall be subject to a redetermination by Bank of the applicable
fixed rate. If no specific designation of interest is made at the time any
advance is requested hereunder or at the end of any Fixed Rate Term, Borrower
shall be deemed to have made a Prime Rate interest selection for such advance or
the principal amount to which such Fixed Rate Term applied.
(c) TAXES AND REGULATORY COSTS. Borrower shall pay to Bank immediately upon
demand, in addition to any other amounts due or to become due hereunder, any and
all (i) withholdings, interest equalization taxes, stamp taxes or other taxes
(except income and franchise taxes) imposed by any domestic or foreign
governmental authority and related in any manner to LIBOR, and (ii) future,
supplemental, emergency or other changes in the LIBOR Reserve Percentage,
assessment rates imposed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or
similar requirements or costs imposed by any domestic or foreign governmental
authority or resulting from compliance by Bank with any request or directive
(whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or other
governmental authority and related in any manner to LIBOR to the extent they are
not included in the calculation of LIBOR. In determining which of the foregoing
are attributable to any LIBOR option available to Borrower hereunder, any
reasonable allocation made by Bank among its operations shall be conclusive and
binding upon Borrower.
(d) PAYMENT OF INTEREST. Interest accrued on this Note shall be payable on
the LAST day of each MONTH, commencing FEBRUARY 28, 2001.
(e) DEFAULT INTEREST. From and after the maturity date of this Note, or
such earlier date as all principal owing hereunder becomes due and payable by
acceleration or otherwise, the outstanding principal balance of this Note shall
bear interest until paid in full at an increased rate per annum (computed on the
basis of a 360-day year, actual days elapsed) equal to 2% above the rate of
interest from time to time applicable to this Note.
BORROWING AND REPAYMENT:
(a) BORROWING AND REPAYMENT. Borrower may from time to time during the term
of this Note borrow, partially or wholly repay its outstanding borrowings, and
reborrow, subject to all of the limitations, terms and conditions of this Note
and of the Credit Agreement between Borrower and Bank defined below; provided
however, that the total outstanding borrowings under this Note shall not at any
time exceed the principal amount stated above. The unpaid principal balance of
this obligation at any time shall be the total amounts advanced hereunder by the
holder hereof less the amount of principal payments made hereon by or for any
Borrower, which balance may be endorsed hereon from time to time by the holder.
The outstanding principal balance of this Note shall be due and payable in full
on DECEMBER 31, 2002.
(b) ADVANCES. Advances hereunder, to the total amount of the principal sum
available hereunder, may be made by the holder at the oral or written request of
(i) ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ OR ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ OR ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, any one acting alone,
who are authorized to request advances and direct the disposition of any
advances until written notice of the revocation of such authority is received by
the holder at the office designated above, or (ii) any person, with respect to
advances deposited to the credit of any deposit account of any Borrower, which
advances, when so deposited, shall be conclusively presumed to have been made to
or for the benefit of each Borrower regardless of the fact that persons other
2.
than those authorized to request advances may have authority to draw against
such account. The holder shall have no obligation to determine whether any
person requesting an advance is or has been authorized by any Borrower.
(c) APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS. Each payment made on this Note shall be
credited first, to any interest then due and second, to the outstanding
principal balance hereof. All payments credited to principal shall be applied
first, to the outstanding principal balance of this Note which bears interest
determined in relation to the Prime Rate, if any, and second, to the outstanding
principal balance of this Note which bears interest determined in relation to
LlBOR, with such payments applied to the oldest Fixed Rate Term first.
PREPAYMENT:
(a) PRIME RATE. Borrower may prepay principal on any portion of this Note
which bears interest determined in relation to the Prime Rate at any time, in
any amount and without penalty.
(b) LIBOR. Borrower may prepay principal on any portion of this Note which
bears interest determined in relation to LlBOR at any time and in the minimum
amount of $100,000.00; provided however, that if the outstanding principal
balance of such portion of this Note is less than said amount, the minimum
prepayment amount shall be the entire outstanding principal balance thereof. In
consideration of Bank providing this prepayment option to Borrower, or if any
such portion of this Note shall become due and payable at any time prior to the
last day of the Fixed Rate Term applicable thereto by acceleration or otherwise,
Borrower shall pay to Bank immediately upon demand a fee which is the sum of the
discounted monthly differences for each month from the month of prepayment
through the month in which such Fixed Rate Term matures, calculated as follows
for each such month:
(i) DETERMINE the amount of interest which would have accrued each
month on the amount prepaid at the interest rate applicable to such amount had
it remained outstanding until the last day of the Fixed Rate Term applicable
thereto.
(ii) SUBTRACT from the amount determined in (i) above the amount of
interest which would have accrued for the same month on the amount prepaid for
the remaining term of such Fixed Rate Term at LIBOR in effect on the date of
prepayment for new loans made for such term and in a principal amount equal to
the amount prepaid.
(iii) If the result obtained in (ii) for any month is greater than
zero, discount that difference by LIBOR used in (ii) above.
Each Borrower acknowledges that prepayment of such amount may result in Bank
incurring additional costs, expenses and/or liabilities, and that it is
difficult to ascertain the full extent of such costs, expenses and/or
liabilities. Each Borrower, therefore, agrees to pay the above-described
prepayment fee and agrees that said amount represents a reasonable estimate of
the prepayment costs, expenses and/or liabilities of Bank. If Borrower fails to
pay any prepayment fee when due, the amount of such prepayment fee shall
thereafter bear interest until paid at a rate per annurn 2.000% above the Prime
Rate in effect from time to time (computed on the basis of a 360-day year,
actual days elapsed). Each change in the rate of interest on any such past due
prepayment fee shall become eff6ctive on the date each Prime Rate change is
announced within Bank.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT:
This Note is made pursuant to and is subject to the terms and conditions of
that certain Credit Agreement between Borrower and Bank dated as of FEBRUARY 6,
2001, as amended from time to time (the "Credit Agreement"). Any default in the
payment or performance of any obligation under this Note, or any defined event
of default under the Credit Agreement, shall constitute an "Event of Default"
under this Note.
MISCELLANEOUS:
(a) REMEDIES. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, the holder of
this Note, at the holder's option, may declare all sums of principal and
interest outstanding hereunder to be immediately due and payable without
presentment, demand, notice of nonperformance, notice of protest, protest or
notice of dishonor, all of which are expressly waived by each Borrower, and the
obligation, if any, of the holder to extend any further credit hereunder shall
immediately cease and terminate. Each Borrower shall pay to the holder
immediately upon demand the full amount of all payments, advances, charges,
costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees (to include outside
counsel fees and all allocated costs of the holder's in-house counsel), expended
or incurred by the holder in connection with the enforcement of the holder's
rights and/or the collection of any amounts which become due to the holder under
this Note, and the prosecution or
3.
defense of any action in any way related to this Note, including without
limitation, any action for declaratory relief, whether incurred at the trial or
appellate level, in an arbitration proceeding or otherwise, and including any of
the foregoing incurred in connection with any bankruptcy proceeding (including
without limitation, any adversary proceeding, contested matter or motion brought
by Bank or any other person) relating to any Borrower or any other person or
entity.
(b) OBLIGATIONS JOINT AND SEVERAL. Should more than one person or entity
sign this Note as a Borrower, the obligations of each such Borrower shall be
joint and several.
(c) GOVERNING LAW. This Note shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of California.
DOT HILL SYSTEMS CORP.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, President and Chief
Executive Officer
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, Vice President
Finance and CFO
SILICON ALLEY MANAGEMENT, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
President
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, Vice President and
Secretary
4.