EXHIBIT 10.7
PROMISSORY NOTE AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT
$96,075.00 December 14, 2001
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned Patricia Fraze ("Maker"), hereby
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promises to pay to the order of WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP, INC., a Delaware
Company ("Payee") or holder hereof, at Payee's address, 300 Crescent Court,
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Suite 1300, Dallas, Texas 75201 or such other address as Payee may designate in
writing from time to time, a principal sum of ninety six thousand, seventy five
and No/100 Dollars ($96,075.00) (the "Principal Sum"), together with interest
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thereon, as provided in this promissory note (this "Note").
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For purposes of this Note, the following terms shall have the following
definitions:
Maturity Date: the earlier of (i) ninety (90) days after Maker's employment
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with Payee is terminated (A) by Payee for Cause, or (B) by Maker
without Good Reason, or (ii) December 14, 2010.
Cause: (i) dishonesty, fraud or gross insubordination with respect to
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the business or affairs of Payee or, (ii) conviction of a crime
or acceptance of a plea bargain relating to a felony or a
misdemeanor if, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, the
employee's ability to carry out his/her responsibilities would be
materially impaired, or (iii) the violation of any substance
abuse policy of Payee that would result in discharge under such
policy as applied to Payee's employees generally.
Change of
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Control: (i) a merger or consolidation of Payee with or into another
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corporation in which Payee shall not be the surviving corporation
(other than a merger undertaken solely in order to reincorporate
in another state) (for purposes hereof, Payee shall not be deemed
the surviving corporation in any such transaction if, as the
result thereof, it becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of another
corporation), (ii) a dissolution of Payee, (iii) a transfer of
all or substantially all of the assets of Payee in one
transaction or a series of related transactions to one or more
other persons or entities, (iv) a transaction or series of
transactions that results in any entity, "Person" or "Group" (as
defined below), becoming the beneficial owner, directly or
indirectly, of securities of Payee representing more than 50% of
the combined voting power of Payee's then outstanding securities,
or (v) during any period of two (2) consecutive years commencing
on or after January 1, 2002, individuals who at the beginning of
the period constituted Payee's Board of Directors cease for any
reason to constitute at least a majority, unless the election of
each director who was not a director at the beginning of the
period has been approved in advance by directors representing at
least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then in office who were
directors at the beginning of the period; provided, however, that
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a "Change of Control" shall not be deemed to have occurred if the
ownership of 50% or more of the combined voting power of the
surviving corporation, asset transferee or Company (as the case
may be), after giving effect to the transaction or series of
transactions, is directly or indirectly held by (A) a trustee or
other fiduciary under an employee benefit plan maintained by
Payee, (B) one or more of the "executive officers" of Payee that
held such positions prior to the transaction or series of
transactions, or any entity, Person or Group under their control.
As used herein, "Person" and "Group" shall have the meanings set
forth in Sections 13(d)(3) and/or 14(d)(2) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and "executive officer" shall
have the meaning set forth in Rule 3b-7 promulgated under such
Act .
Collateral: 25 shares of common stock of Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.
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Good Reason: (i) a resignation occurring within ninety (90) days following a
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Change in Control; (ii) the relocation of Payee's principal place
of business to a location more than 100 miles from its location
as of the date of this Note without Maker's consent; or (iii) a
material reduction in Maker's salary or bonus opportunity, or
Maker's responsibilities.
Interest Rate: 3.93% per annum, compounded semi-annually.
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1. Background. Maker has executed this Note to evidence Maker's
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obligation to repay the Principal Sum together with interest thereon, as
provided in Section 2 of this Note, and to provide the Collateral as collateral
security for the obligations of Maker evidenced by this Note.
2. Interest. This Note shall bear interest at the Interest Rate set forth
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above. Maker shall pay all accrued and unpaid interest annually, with the first
interest payment date being February 1, 2003, and on the first day of each
February thereafter until the Maturity Date.
3. Events of Default; Remedies.
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(a) Each of the following shall constitute an "Event of Default"
under this Note:
(i) The failure of Maker to pay when due any part of the
Principal Sum, interest or other payment required to be made pursuant
to this Note.
(ii) The failure of Maker to observe or perform any other
obligation set forth in this Note or that certain Stock Purchase
Agreement between SWS Group, Inc. ("SWS") and Maker, dated as of
December 14, 2001 (the "SPA");
(iii) Any transfer of the Collateral by Maker to SWS as a result
of an exercise (A) by SWS of any call right, or (B) by Maker of any
put right, pursuant to the terms of the SPA; or
(iv) If Maker (a) makes a transfer in fraud of creditors, or
makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, of a substantial
part of Maker's property; (b) admits in writing Maker's inability to
pay his or her debts as they become due; (c) has a receiver, trustee
or custodian appointed for, or take possession of, all or
substantially all of Maker's assets, either in a proceeding brought by
Maker or in a proceeding brought against Maker and such appointment is
not discharged or such possession is not terminated within sixty (60)
days after the effective date thereof or he or she consents to or
acquiesces in such appointment or possession; (d) files a petition for
relief under the United States Bankruptcy Code or any other present or
future federal or state insolvency, bankruptcy or similar laws (all of
the foregoing hereinafter collectively called "Applicable Bankruptcy
Law") or an involuntary petition for relief is filed against Maker
under any Applicable Bankruptcy Law and such involuntary petition is
not dismissed within sixty (60) days after the filing thereof, or an
order for relief naming Maker is entered under any Applicable
Bankruptcy Law, or any composition, rearrangement, extension,
reorganization or other relief of debtors now or hereafter existing is
requested or consented to by Maker; (e) fails to have discharged
within a period of thirty (30) days any attachment, sequestration or
similar writ levied upon a substantial part of Maker's property; or
(f) fails to pay within thirty (30) days any final money judgment
against Maker.
(b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of
Default under this Note, Payee may declare the entire unpaid Principal Sum
and accrued and unpaid interest on this Note immediately due and payable,
without further notice, demand, or presentment, foreclose any liens or
security interests securing all or any part hereof, or exercise any other
right or remedy to which Payee may be entitled by agreement, at law, or in
equity; provided, however, that no Event of Default shall be deemed to have
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occurred unless notice of the event giving rise to a potential Event of
Default shall have been delivered to Maker and Maker shall have failed to
correct or cure such event within fifteen (15) days following his receipt
of such notice; provided further, however, that upon any Event of Default
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under Section 3(a)(iii) and (iv) hereof, this Note shall automatically
become due and payable without necessity of any notice or action on the
part of Payee and without the ability of Maker to cure such event. Payee
shall have all rights and remedies available to it under the Uniform
Commercial Code as adopted in the State of Texas.
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5. Costs of Collection. If this Note is placed in the hands of an
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attorney for collection, or if it is collected through any legal proceedings,
Maker agrees to pay court costs, reasonable attorneys' fees, and other costs of
collection of Payee.
6. Certain Waivers. Maker waives presentment and demand for payment,
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protest, notice of intention to accelerate, notice of acceleration, and notice
of protest and nonpayment, and agrees that his liability on this Note shall not
be affected by, and hereby consents to, any renewal or extension in the time of
payment hereof, any indulgences, or any release or change in any security for
the payment of this Note.
7. Pledge Agreement; Partial Release of Collateral. As security for
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payment of the Principal Sum and any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, Maker
hereby grants to Payee a continuing interest in all of Maker's right, title and
interest in, to and under the Collateral, which shall be retained by Payee, and
all products and proceeds of such Collateral, now existing or hereafter arising
(the "Pledge"). The Collateral shall be released from the Pledge upon Maker's
payment in full of the Principal Sum, together with all accrued interest
thereon. In addition, upon Maker's request, a partial release of the Collateral
shall be made provided, however, that Maker delivers cash to Payee in an amount
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sufficient to pay the pro-rata portion of the outstanding Principal Sum and any
unpaid interest accrued thereon attributable to the Collateral to be released
(the "Pro-Rata Debt Amount").
8. ENTIRETY. THIS NOTE REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN MAKER AND
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PAYEE AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR
SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS BY THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL
AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.
9. GOVERNING LAW. THE VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION, AND ENFORCEABILITY OF THIS
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NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA.
10. Parties Bound. This Note is binding upon and shall inure to the
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benefit of Maker, Payee, and their respective successors and assigns. Maker may
not assign any of its rights or obligations hereunder without Payee's prior
written consent, and any purported assignment thereof without Payee's prior
written consent shall be void and ineffective. Payee, upon prior written notice
to Maker, shall be entitled to assign its rights and duties hereunder to any
subsequent holder of this Note who shall for all purposes hereof thereafter be
"Payee" hereunder the same as if originally named as "Payee" herein.
MAKER:
/s/ PATRICIA FRAZE
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Patricia Fraze
PAYEE:
Westwood Holdings Group, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation
By: /s/ BRIAN O. CASEY
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Name: Brian O. Casey
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Title: President & COO
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