Exhibit 4.16 Option Agreement






Exhibit 4.16


OPTION AGREEMENT


THIS OPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated for purposes of reference as of December 1, 2012, is by and between the DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF GORDON COUNTY (hereinafter referred to as the "Issuer"), the mailing address of which is 300 South Wall Street, Calhoun, Georgia 30701, Attn: President, and MASLAND CARPETS, LLC (hereinafter referred to as "Company"), the mailing address of which is 2208 South Hamilton Street Extension, Dalton, Georgia 30721, Attn: Jon A. Faulkner, President.


WITNESSETH:


WHEREAS, the Issuer is issuing the Bonds (defined below) to acquire the Project (defined below) for lease to the Company; and


WHEREAS, the Issuer and the Company are contemporaneously entering into a Lease Agreement, of even date herewith (the "Lease"), relating to the Project; and


WHEREAS, the Company is only willing to execute the Lease and consummate the transactions contemplated by the Lease if it is granted the option to purchase the Project upon the terms and provisions as hereinafter set forth; and


WHEREAS, in exchange for granting the option to purchase the Project, the Issuer will receive good and valuable consideration, including the Option Fee, defined below, and the agreements of the Company contained herein that provide for the retirement of the Bonds if the Company exercises its right to terminated the Lease.


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Lease and the transaction described therein, and in consideration of the Option Fee in hand paid by the Company to the Issuer, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of all of which is respectively hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, and for the mutual covenants contained herein, the Issuer and Company hereby agree as follows:


1.DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms that are used herein and in the Lease, but not defined herein, shall have the definitions set forth in the Lease. Also, for purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:


(a)"Bonds" means the Issuer's Taxable Revenue Bond (Masland Carpets, LLC Real Estate Project), Series 2012A in the principal amount of $5,339,217.03 and the Issuer's Taxable Revenue Bond (Masland Carpets, LLC Real Estate Project), Series 2012B in the principal amount of$6,300,000.


(b)"Closing" means the consummation of the purchase and sale transaction contemplated hereby as a result of the exercise (or deemed exercise) of the Option.


(c)"Closing Date" means the date prescribed herein for the consummation of the Closing under the Option.



1










(d)    "Effective Date" means the date on which this Agreement is fully executed.


(e)    "Land"  means   the   land   in   Gordon   County,   Georgia,   described  in Exhibit A hereto.


(f)    "Option Fee" means the sum of $100.


(g)    "Option Term" means that period of time commencing on the date of delivery hereof and ending on the earlier of (I) the date after the expiration or earlier termination of the Lease which is thirty (30) days after the date of the expiration or earlier termination of the Lease, or if the Issuer's Notice has not been provided by that date, then thirty (30) days following the date on which the Company receives written notice from the Issuer of the pending expiration of the Lease; or (2) December 31, 2023. The Option Term is subject to Section 3(a) below.


(h)    "Permitted   Encumbrances"   means   encumbrances   permitted   by   the Lease.


(i)    "Project" means the Leased Land, the Leased Improvements and the Leased Equipment as defined in the Lease.


(j)    "Purchase Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) herein.


2.GRANT OF OPTION. For the consideration recited above, the  Issuer  does hereby grant to the Company the exclusive right and option ("Option") to purchase the Project (as the same shall exist at the time of such purchase, subject to Permitted Encumbrances) upon the terms and conditions as set forth herein.


		
	3.
	EXERCISE OF OPTION.




(a)At least six (6) months but no more than twelve (12) months prior to the expiration of the Option Term, the Issuer shall give written notice to the Company of the pending expiration of the Option (the "Issuer's Notice"). The Company may exercise the Option, at any time during the Option Term, by giving written notice thereof to the Issuer. If the Bonds have not theretofore been fully paid and if the Company is not then also the Bondholder, a copy of such notice shall also be given by the Company to the Bondholder at the address of the Bondholder as reflected on the Bond Register. Such notice shall specify a date and time of the Closing (the "Closing Date"), which shall be no earlier than thirty (30) days and no more than ninety (90) days following the date such notice is sent to the Issuer. The time, date and place of the Closing shall be 10:00 a.m. Gordon County, Georgia time on the Closing Date at the principal meeting place of the Issuer in Gordon County, Georgia, or such other time, date and place as the Company and the Issuer may agree. In the event the Company does not exercise the Option during the Option Tenn (after notice by the Issuer of such failure as hereinafter provided) or after exercise of the Option, fails to proceed with the Closing of the purchase of the Project pursuant to the terms and provisions as contained herein, the Issuer shall be entitled to retain (I) the Option Fee, and (2) except as provided below in connection with the



2










deemed exercise of the Option, the Project, free and clear of this Agreement. In the event that the Company fails to exercise the Option under this Agreement during the Option Term, the Issuer promptly shall notify the Company of such failure and the Company shall be entitled to exercise the Option within thirty (30) days following such notice and the Option Term shall be deemed to have been extended through the date on which notice of such election is furnished to the Issuer.


(b)In any event, it is acknowledged and agreed that the Term of the Lease shall automatically be extended on the same terms and conditions as set forth  therein, except that such Lease shall be at the rates provided for holder with respect thereto for any period after the scheduled expiration date of the Tenn of the Lease  through  the Closing Date.


4.    CONTRACT FOR PURCHASE AND SALE OF PROPERTY. In the event that  the  Company  exercises  its  Option  (or  it  is  deemed  exercised)  as  provided   for  in  the preceding paragraph, the Issuer agrees to sell and the Company agrees to buy the Project (as it then exists, by limited warranty deed and quitclaim bill of sale) in accordance with the following terms and conditions:


(a)Purchase Price. At the Closing, the Company shall pay the Purchase Price to the Issuer upon the exercise of the Option, which shall consist of (i) the sum of $100; (ii) the sum, if any, required to cause the Bonds to be retired in full if the Bonds have not been fully paid (if the Company is then the owner of the Bonds, the Company may mark the Bonds "cancelled" and surrender the Bonds to the Issuer); and (iii) all other sums, if any, then due to the Issuer or to the Bondholder from the Company as Additional Rent or for indemnification under the Lease, under any other Company Documents or related document or documents (which shall be paid directly to them, respectively) which have not been paid.


(b)Closing Procedure. The consummation of the sale by the Issuer and the purchase by the Company of the Property is referred to as the "Closing" herein. At the Closing, the Issuer shall, upon payment of the Purchase Price, convey the Lease Land and the Leased Improvements to the Company by quitclaim deed and the Leased Equipment to the Company "as is, where is" by quitclaim bill of sale.


(c)Closing Costs. All costs relating to the Closing, including, but not limited to, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Issuer, to the Company and to any lender, shall be paid by the Company.


(d)Default by the Issuer; Remedies of the Company. In the event the Issuer fails to close the sale of the Project pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled as its exclusive remedies to sue for specific performance or to seek other available equitable remedies, it being understood that the Company shall not have an adequate remedy at law.


(e)Status Pending Closing.  Until  and  unless  legal  title  to  the  Project  is transferred   to  the  Company  at  Closing,  the  Company  shall  not,  by  virtue  of  this



3








Agreement,  acquire  legal  title  to the Project,  and  the  risk  of  loss of the  Project  shall remain with the tenant under the Lease.


(f)Documents. The Issuer and the Company agree that  such documents  as may be legally necessary or reasonably appropriate to carry out the terms of this Agreement shall be executed and delivered by each patty to the other at the Closing.


		
	5.
	MISCELLANEOUS.




(a)Notice. All notices, demands and/or consents provided for  in  this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given as provided in the Lease for the giving of notices.


(b)Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia.


(c)Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall apply to, inure to the benefit of and be binding upon and enforceable against the parties hereto and their permitted respective heirs, successors, and or assigns. The Company may assign this Agreement only in connection with an assignment of the Lease permitted by the terms and conditions thereof or with the consent of the Issuer.


(d)Headings. The headings inserted at the beginning of each paragraph and/or subparagraph of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect or be used in the construction of any terms or provisions hereof.


(e)Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Lease, contains  all of the terms, promises, covenants, conditions and representations made or entered into by or between  the Issuer and the Company and supersedes all prior discussions and agreements, whether written or oral, between the Issuer and the Company with respect to the Option and all other matters contained herein and constitutes the sole and entire agreement between the Issuer and the Company  with  respect  thereto. This Agreement may not be modified or amended unless such amendment is set forth in writing and executed by both the Issuer and the Company with the formalities hereof.


(f)Public Purpose of Option to Purchase. The Issuer and the Company acknowledge that the Option constitutes a material inducement to the Company to locate its operations in the County and thereby promote industry and create employment opportunities in the County, and that in granting such Option, the Issuer is considering the entire transaction as a whole, including the promotion and expansion for the public good and welfare industry, trade and commerce within the County and the reduction of unemployment.


(g)Divisibility. The rights and obligations of the Issuer and the Company contained in this Agreement shall be divisible of  and  severable  from  their  respective rights and obligations contained in the Lease. The Option under this Agreement shall be fully enforceable  against  and  binding  upon  the  Issuer notwithstanding  the termination,



4








rejection,  or  disaffirmance  of  the  Lease  or  a  bankruptcy,   insolvency  or  other  legal proceeding  or otherwise.


(h)    Encumbrances. Except as otherwise expressly permitted in the Lease and the other Bond Documents, the Issuer shall not grant easements, rights of way, licenses or other encumbrances, convey title to all or a portion of the Project, pledge, grant a security interest in, hypothecate or otherwise  encumber its interest in the Project, impose restrictions, covenants or other agreements binding on the Project or approve or request variances or changes in zoning or other land use laws affecting the zoning, unless the Issuer has furnished prior notice thereof and has received express approval, in writing, by the Company prior to unde1iaking such action.


(i)    Time of the Essence. Time is of the essence in the performance of the parties' obligations and observance of the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement.






[SIGNATURES BEGIN ON FOLLOWING PAGE]

5






IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed under proper seal.


	
			
	 
	 
	DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF GORDON COUNTY

	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	By: /s/ Larry Roye

	 
	 
	Chairman

	ATTEST:
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 

	/s/ Ray Towers
	 
	 

	Secretary
	 
	 

	[SEAL]
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 






[SIGNATURES CONTINUE ON FOLLOWING PAGE]











6










	
			
	 
	 
	MASLAND CARPETS, LLC,

	 
	 
	a Georgia limited liability company

	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	By: /s/ Jon A. Faulkner                   (SEAL)

	 
	 
	Jon A. Faulkner, President
















[SIGNATURE PAGE TO OPTION AGREEMENT]

7












8








9