Document:

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                                                               Exhibit 10.3(a)

                           COMMERCIAL PROMISSORY NOTE

                                                      Boston, Massachusetts
$2,000,000                                            September 29, 2000

      FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned (hereinafter, the "Borrower") promises
to pay to the order of Citizens Bank of Massachusetts (hereinafter, with any
subsequent holder, the "Bank") at 28 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
(or such other address provided by the Bank to the Borrower), at Maturity, as
defined below, the principal sum of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) or such
lesser amount as may be the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the loan made
by the Bank to the Borrower and evidenced hereby, with interest thereon, in
accordance with the provisions set forth below. This Note is a modification of
and substitution for the Commercial Promissory Note of the Borrower dated
September 30, 1995 to USTrust, predecessor to the Bank.

PAYMENT PROVISIONS

      Interest shall be determined in all instances based upon a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months and actual days elapsed. Interest on the unpaid principal
balance of the Note shall accrue at the floating rate per annum equal to the
Prime Rate (hereinafter defined). The term "PrimeRate" means the rate of
interest established from time to time by Citizens Bank of Massachusetts as its
Prime Rate and may or may not be the lowest rate of interest charged by the Bank
to any of its customers. Changes in the Base Lending Rate shall take effect on
the date announced by the Bank unless otherwise specified in the announcement.

      Interest, at the rate set forth above, shall be paid by the Borrower to
the Bank monthly in arrears, with the first such payment due on October 30, 2000
and each subsequent payment due on the last day of each consecutive calendar
month thereafter, and at the Maturity of the Note.

      In addition to any Interest Payments to be made as indicated above, the
Borrower shall pay the Bank at Maturity the then unpaid principal balance of the
Note plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon.

CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

      (a)   Borrower. As used herein, "Borrower" means the persons and/or
            entities named herein as borrower, and/or otherwise signing the Note
            as maker, and each of them, jointly and severally, if more than one.

      (b)   Guarantor. As used herein, "Guarantor" means the endorser(s) and/or
            guarantor(s) of the Note, and/or any guarantor(s) of any obligations
            now existing and/or hereafter arising of the Borrower to the Bank,
            any Affiliate (hereinafter defined) and/or any Participant
            (hereinafter defined) and each of them, if at all.

      (c)   Borrower and any Guarantor. As used herein, "Borrower and any
            Guarantor" means all persons and/or entities which constitute the
            Borrower, and if any, the Guarantor, and each of them.
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      (d)   Affiliate. As used herein, "Affiliate" means any parent company of
            the Bank, and all subsidiaries and/or affiliates of the Bank and/or
            said parent company, now existing and/or hereafter arising, and each
            of them.

      (e)   Participant. As used herein, "Participant" means any bank or other
            lender acting as a participant under any loan arrangement with the
            Borrower and any Guarantor, now existing and/or hereafter arising,
            in which the Bank or any Affiliate is a participant, including
            without limitation the Note if applicable.

      (f)   Loan Documents. As used herein, "Loan Documents" means documents, if
            any, which secure, evidence and/or relate to the loan evidenced by
            the Note, including without limitation any mortgages, security
            agreements, financing statements, loan applications, pledges,
            collateral assignments, commitment letters (including but not
            limited to the terms and conditions of that certain commitment
            letter between the Borrower and the Bank, dated September 29, 2000,
            which shall govern this Note), loan agreements, and set-off rights
            contained in any other instrument whatsoever, all the foregoing now
            existing and/or hereafter arising.

      (g)   Maturity. As used herein, "Maturity" means September 30, 2001.

      (h)   Note. As used herein, "Note" means this promissory note.

FURTHER PROVISIONS

      The Borrower and any Guarantor hereby certify, represent and covenant to
the Bank that the proceeds and basis of the loan evidenced by the Note are for
business and commercial purposes only, and that the proceeds of the Note have
not been and/or will not be used for personal (non-business), family, household
or agricultural purposes, and this has been relied on by the Bank.

      The Borrower and any Guarantor shall pay to the Bank an administrative
late fee of the greater of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) or five percent (5%) of
any periodic payment under the Note not received by the Bank within fifteen (15)
days after the periodic payment is due. Neither the inclusion of this provision
nor the Borrower's or any Guarantor's payment of such an administrative late fee
shall excuse the Borrower and any Guarantor from timely making those payments
otherwise required to be made under the Note, or waive or limit any rights which
the Bank has under the Note. The obligation of the Borrower and any Guarantor to
pay such administrative late fees is in addition to all other payment
obligations of the Borrower and any Guarantor under the Note.

      Upon any default under the Note, interest shall accrue thereafter on the
entire unpaid principal balance until the Note is paid in full at a rate per
annum ("Default Rate") equal to the aggregate of two percent (2%), plus the rate
provided in the Note. The Default Rate is separate and in addition to the
administrative late fee set forth herein for any principal and/or interest
installment under the Note not received by the Bank within fifteen (15) days
after the installment is due.

      Any payments received by the Bank on account of the Note prior to demand
or acceleration shall be applied first, to any costs, expenses, or charges then
owed the Bank by the Borrower; second, to accrued and unpaid interest; and
third, to the unpaid principal balance hereof. Any payments so received after
demand or acceleration shall be applied in such manner as the Bank may determine
in the Bank's sole discretion.

      If the Note is not payable on demand, then on that date on which by the
terms hereof, the then entire principal balance of the Note is due, at all times
thereafter, the aggregate of the then unpaid principal balance of the Note, and
all accrued and unpaid interest not so paid shall be payable on

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demand. It the Note is payable on demand, then the inclusion of the following
default provision shall not alter, affect, or otherwise limit the Bank's right
to make demand at any time. The Bank, at its option, may declare the entire
unpaid principal balance of the Note and accrued unpaid interest thereon to be
immediately due and payable without demand, notice or protest (which are hereby
waived) upon the occurrence of any one or more of the following events (herein,
"Events of Default"): (a) The failure by the Borrower to pay upon demand (or
when due, if not payable on demand) any of the Borrower's liabilities,
obligations, and indebtedness to the Bank, any Affiliate and/or any Participant
under the Note and/or the Loan Documents; (b) The failure by the Borrower
promptly, punctually, and faithfully to perform, discharge, or comply with any
of the Borrower's liabilities, obligations, indebtedness, or covenants to the
Bank, any Affiliate and/or any Participant under the Note and/or the Loan
Documents; (c) The occurrence of any event of default under any agreement
between the Bank and the Borrower, or instrument or paper given the Bank by the
Borrower, whether such agreement, instrument, or paper now exists or hereafter
arises (notwithstanding that the Bank may not have exercised its rights upon
default under any such other agreement, instrument, or paper) (the liabilities,
obligations, indebtedness, and covenants described in (a), (b) and (c) are
referred to herein as the "Liabilities"); (d) Any representation or warranty
heretofore, now, or hereafter made by the Borrower and any Guarantor to the
Bank, in any document, instrument, agreement, or paper was not true or accurate
when given; (e) The occurrence of any event such that any indebtedness of the
Borrower and any Guarantor to any creditor other than the Bank could be
accelerated, notwithstanding that such acceleration has not taken place; (f) Any
act by, against, or relating to the Borrower and any Guarantor, or the property
or assets of the Borrower and any Guarantor, which act constitutes the
application for, consent to, or sufferance of the appointment of a receiver,
trustee, or other person, pursuant to court action or otherwise, over all or any
part of the property of the Borrower and any Guarantor; the granting of any
trust mortgage or execution of an assignment for the benefit of the creditors of
the Borrower and any Guarantor, or the occurrence of any other voluntary or
involuntary liquidation or extension of debt agreement for the Borrower and any
Guarantor; the failure by the Borrower and any Guarantor generally to pay the
debts of the Borrower and any Guarantor as they mature; adjudication of
bankruptcy or insolvency relative to the Borrower and any Guarantor; the entry
of an order for relief or similar order with respect to the Borrower and any
Guarantor in any proceeding pursuant to Title 11 of the United States Code, as
amended (commonly referred to as the Bankruptcy Code) or any other federal
bankruptcy law; the filing of any complaint, application, or petition by or
against (however, if against, only if not dismissed within 30 days of the
filing) the Borrower and any Guarantor initiating any matter in which the
Borrower and any Guarantor is or may be granted any relief from the debts of the
Borrower and any Guarantor pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code or any other
insolvency statute or procedure; the calling or sufferance of a meeting of
creditors of the Borrower and any Guarantor; the meeting by the Borrower and any
Guarantor with a formal or informal creditor's committee; the offering by, or
entering into by, the Borrower and any Guarantor of any composition, extension
or any other arrangement seeking relief or extension for the debts of the
Borrower and any Guarantor, or the initiation of any other judicial or
non-judicial proceeding or agreement by, against (however, if against, only if
not dismissed within 30 days of the filing), or including the Borrower and any
Guarantor which seeks or intends to accomplish a reorganization or arrangement
with creditors; (g) The imposition of any lien upon any material portion of the
assets of the Borrower and any Guarantor or the entry of any judgment against
the Borrower and any Guarantor, which lien is not discharged or judgment is not
satisfied or appealed from (with execution or similar process stayed) within
fifteen (15) days of its imposition or entry; (h) The occurrence of any
materially adverse event or circumstance with respect to the Borrower and any
Guarantor such that the Bank deems itself insecure; (i) The entry of any court
order which enjoins, restrains or in any way prevents the Borrower from
conducting all or any part of Borrower's business affairs in the ordinary
course; (j) The service of any process upon the Bank seeking to attach by mesne
or trustee process any funds of the Borrower on deposit with the Bank or with an
Affiliate of the Bank; (k) The occurrence of any loss, theft, damage, or
destruction to or of any material portion of the assets of the Borrower and any
Guarantor, or the sale (other than sales in the ordinary course of business) or
encumbrance to or of any of the assets of the Borrower and any Guarantor; (1)
The death, termination of existence, dissolution, winding up, or liquidation of
the Borrower and any Guarantor; (m) The merger or consolidation of the

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Borrower and any Guarantor with or into any other corporation or other entity;
(n) The occurrence of any of the foregoing Events of Default with respect to any
guarantor, endorser, or surety to the Bank of the Liabilities, or the occurrence
of any of the foregoing Events of Default with respect to any parent (if the
Borrower is a corporation), subsidiary, or affiliate of the Borrower, as if such
guarantor, endorser, surety, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate were the Borrower
described therein; and/or (o) The termination of any guaranty by any guarantor
of the Liabilities.

      The Borrower and any Guarantor respectively waive presentment, demand,
notice, and protest, and also waive any delay on the part of the holder hereof.
Each assents to any extension or other indulgence (including, without
limitation, the release or substitution of collateral) permitted the Borrower
and any Guarantor by the Bank with respect to the Note and/or any collateral
given to secure the Note or any extension or other indulgence, as described
above, with respect to any other liability or any collateral given to secure any
other liability of the Borrower and any Guarantor to the Bank. All monies due
under the Note and/or Loan Documents shall be without setoff or counterclaim on
the part of the Borrower and any Guarantor.

      Any and all now existing and/or hereafter arising deposits, or other sums
at any time credited by, or due to, the Borrower and/or any Guarantor from the
Bank, any Affiliate and/or any Participant, including without limitation, being
a participant under the Note, if at all, and any now existing and/or hereafter
arising monies, securities, instruments, certificates, repurchase agreements,
and/or other property of the Borrower and any Guarantor in the possession of the
Bank, any Affiliate and/or any Participant, regardless of the reason the Bank or
such Affiliate or Participant had received same (all the foregoing collectively
called "Deposits") shall at all times constitute security for the Liabilities
including the Note, and/or for any endorsement of the Note and/or guaranty by
any Guarantor (said endorsement of the Note and/or guaranty by any Guarantor
hereinafter called "Guaranty Obligations"), and may be held, applied and/or set
off by the Bank, any Affiliate and/or any Participant against the Liabilities
and/or Guaranty Obligations at any time when due, whether or not other
collateral is held by or otherwise available to the Bank, any Affiliate and/or
any Participant, whether such collateral be security in full or in part. Without
limitation, and in addition to the foregoing, in the event the Bank, any
Affiliate or any Participant at any time or times hereafter is served with
trustee process of any kind which attach or order any payment from any goods,
effects and/or credits of the Borrower and any Guarantor in the hands or
possession of the Bank, any Affiliate or any Participant, then the Bank, any
Affiliate and/or any Participant without notice or demand to the Borrower and
any Guarantor may deem the dollar amount set forth in the trustee process as
becoming immediately due and payable under the Note, any endorsement and/or
guaranty by any Guarantor, and/or any other loan arrangement with the Borrower,
and setoff said amount against any Deposits being held by the Bank, any
Affiliate and/or any Participant, and any such payment made by said setoff shall
be applied as the Bank, any Affiliate or any Participant shall in its sole
discretion determine, and when applied to any outstanding principal, may be
applied in inverse order of maturity. The Borrower and any Guarantor hereby
grant to the Bank, any Affiliate and/or any Participant a security interest in
the Deposits to secure all obligations of the Borrower and any Guarantor, or any
one or more persons or entities comprising the Borrower and any Guarantor, to
the Bank, any Affiliate and/or any Participant under the Liabilities and/or the
Guaranty Obligations. The Borrower and any Guarantor hereby authorize the Bank,
any Affiliate and/or any Participant to charge the Deposits which the Borrower
and any Guarantor may at any time maintain with the Bank, any Affiliate and/or
any Participant for any payment due on account of the Liabilities and/or the
Guaranty Obligations. The Borrower and any Guarantor agree that the rights to
setoff against Deposits and to charge Deposits granted herein by the Borrower
and any Guarantor to the Bank, any Affiliate or any Participant (a) are
irrespective of the source or contributor(s) of funds or other property which
comprise the Deposits, whether or not the Deposits, Liabilities and/or Guaranty
Obligations are (i) individual and/or joint of the Borrower and any Guarantor,
or any one or more persons or entities comprising the Borrower and any
Guarantor, and/or (ii) in the name of or by the Borrower and any Guarantor, or
any one or more persons or entities comprising the Borrower and any Guarantor,
with another or others; and (b) are at the option of the Bank, any Affiliate or
any

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Participant, and in no event is the Bank, any Affiliate or any Participant under
a duty to exercise setoff against Deposits or to charge Deposits.

      The Borrower and any Guarantor agree that the Bank and any Affiliate shall
have the right at any time, and from time to time, with or without notice to the
Borrower and any Guarantor to enter into any participation agreement(s) with
other(s) which grants participation interests to the Bank and other(s) (a) in
the Note and any loan evidenced by the Note and the Loan Documents, (b) in any
other loan or loans, including promissory notes and all loan documents
applicable thereto, now existing and/or hereafter arising, by the Borrower
and/or any Guarantor with the Bank and/or any Affiliate, and/or (c) in any other
loan or loans, including promissory notes and all loan documents applicable
thereto, now existing and/or hereafter arising, by the Borrower and/or any
Guarantor with any other bank(s) or other lender(s). In addition, the Borrower
and any Guarantor agree that the Bank, any Affiliate and/or any Participant
and/or any other holder of the Note shall have the right to sell or otherwise
transfer the Note and/or any Loan Documents at any time.

      The Borrower agrees not to seek or accept contribution, reimbursement,
indemnity, subrogation or enforcement of any rights from anyone also obligated
under the Note, as maker, guarantor, endorser or otherwise, if at all; and any
Guarantor agrees not to seek or accept contribution, reimbursement, indemnity,
subrogation or enforcement of any rights from the Borrower, and any other
guarantor or endorser hereof, or anyone otherwise obligated under the Note; all
the foregoing in this paragraph until all obligations under the Note are paid in
full and no claim whatsoever exists and/or may exist against the Bank, any
Affiliate, and/or Participant for repayment, a preference payment in bankruptcy,
or otherwise in connection with the Borrower and any Guarantor.

      The Borrower and any Guarantor agree to indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the Bank, any Affiliate, and/or any officer, director and/or employee
of the Bank and/or any Affiliate of and from any claim or claims now existing,
hereafter arising and/or hereafter brought and/or threatened by the Borrower and
any Guarantor or by any other person or entity, in connection therewith, on
account of or relating to any relationship and/or dealings with the Borrower and
any Guarantor, including without limitation any person or entity contesting the
validity or priority of any mortgage(s) and/or other collateral granted to the
Bank.

      The Borrower and any Guarantor agree promptly to pay the Bank and any
Affiliate for all legal services hereafter rendered to the Bank and/or any
Affiliate including all time, legal fees and expenses, in connection with the
review, drafting, preparation for enforcement, negotiation, enforcement,
amendment, extension, substitution and/or modification of the Note, any
endorsement and/or guaranty thereof, any endorsement and/or guaranty of the
obligations of the Borrower to the Bank, any Loan Documents, any other
instruments securing or otherwise relating to the Note, any other matters
relating to the collection of the loan proceeds and/or realization on any
collateral given to the Bank, any bankruptcy and/or foreclosure proceedings,
procedures and expenses which relate to the Borrower and any Guarantor and/or
any mortgage(s) and/or other collateral given by the Borrower and any Guarantor,
and all rights and remedies of the Bank, whether now existing and/or hereafter
arising against the Borrower and any Guarantor and/or any collateral given by
the Borrower and any Guarantor to the Bank, whether or not court proceedings are
brought. The responsibility set forth anywhere in the Note of Borrower and any
Guarantor to pay for the attorneys' time, legal fees and expenses of the Bank
and/or any Affiliate shall include both outside counsel engaged by the Bank, and
any in-house counsel employed by the Bank and/or any Affiliate at the same rate
as comparable outside counsel.

      IN ANY CASE, CONTROVERSY OR MATTER WHICH ARISES OUT OF, OR IS IN RESPECT
OF, THE NOTE AND/OR LOAN EVIDENCED THEREBY, ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS, ANY COLLATERAL
SECURING THE NOTE, ANY OTHER INSTRUMENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE NOTE, AND/OR ANY
OTHER BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP OR TRANSACTION BETWEEN THE BANK AND/OR ANY AFFILIATE
WITH THE BORROWER AND ANY GUARANTOR, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING,
THE

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BORROWER AND ANY GUARANTOR KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY: (A) WAIVE
ANY RIGHT TO AND AGREE NOT TO BRING, COMMENCE, OR OTHERWISE TAKE ANY ACTION TO
TRANSFER, ANY PROCEEDING INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION COURT ACTION, ARBITRATION,
MEDIATION, ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING OR OTHERWISE AGAINST THE BANK AND/OR ANY
AFFILIATE, OTHER THAN IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS; (B) WAIVE ANY NOW
EXISTING AND/OR HEREAFTER ARISING RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY; AND (C) WAIVE ANY
NOW EXISTING AND/OR HEREAFTER ARISING RIGHT TO ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE,
SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY AND/OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES.

      The Borrower and any Guarantor shall maintain full and accurate books and
records showing in detail the income and expenses, and assets and liabilities,
of the Borrower and any Guarantor and any mortgaged premises which may secure
the Note and/or any endorsement and/or guaranty by any Guarantor; and, upon
request from the Bank, shall permit the Bank and/or its representatives to
examine and make copies of the books and records of the Borrower and any
Guarantor and any mortgaged premises which may secure the Note and/or any
endorsement and/or guaranty by any Guarantor. The Borrower and any Guarantor
shall deliver to the Bank annual financial statements including without
limitation a statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

      At all times when the security for the Note and/or any endorsement and/or
guaranty by any Guarantor includes real estate, the Borrower and any Guarantor
agree that the Bank and any Affiliate and representatives shall have the right
at any time hereafter to enter the mortgaged premises (a) for purposes of
inspecting and testing for hazardous materials and oils to determine whether or
not the premises violate any provisions of M.G.L. ch. 21E and regulations
relating thereto, and/or (b) for purposes of appraising the mortgaged premises.

      Any default under the Note shall be a default by the Borrower and any
Guarantor under any other promissory note and/or other instrument by the
Borrower and any Guarantor to the Bank, any Affiliate and/or any Participant,
now existing or hereafter arising. Any default by the Borrower under any other
promissory note and/or other instrument by the Borrower and any Guarantor to the
Bank, any Affiliate and/or any Participant now existing or hereafter arising,
shall be a default under the Note and Loan Documents. All mortgages and/or other
collateral from the Borrower to the Bank and/or any Affiliate, if any, now
existing or hereafter arising, shall also secure the obligations of the Borrower
under the Note. All mortgages and/or other collateral, if any, which secure the
Note shall also secure all promissory notes and other obligations of the
Borrower to the Bank, now existing or hereafter arising, whereof individual
and/or joint of the Borrower, or any one or more persons or entities comprising
the Borrower.

      AT THE DUE DATE OF THE NOTE (AT MATURITY, UPON EARLIER ACCELERATION, OR IN
THE EVENT THE NOTE IS A DEMAND NOTE), THE BANK MAY DEMAND PAYMENT OF THE NOTE,
MAY REWRITE THE NOTE BY AGREEMENT AT A GREATER OR LESSER RATE OF INTEREST, OR
MAY, BY AGREEMENT, ALLOW PAYMENTS TO BE MADE ON SAID NOTE AT THE SAME, OR A
LESSER OR A GREATER RATE OF INTEREST, IF AT ALL. THE NOTE IS A CONTRACT FOR A
SHORT-TERM LOAN. THE LOAN IS PAYABLE IN FULL AT MATURITY, UPON EARLIER
ACCELERATION, OR IN THE EVENT THE NOTE IS A DEMAND NOTE. THE BORROWER MUST REPAY
THE ENTIRE PRINCIPAL BALANCE OF THE LOAN AND UNPAID INTEREST WHEN DUE. THE BANK
IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO REFINANCE THE LOAN AT THAT TIME. THE BORROWER WILL,
THEREFORE, BE REQUIRED TO MAKE PAYMENT OUT OF OTHER ASSETS THE BORROWER MAY OWN,
OR WILL HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER BANK OR LENDER WILLING TO LEND THE BORROWER THE
MONEY AT PREVAILING MARKET RATES, WHICH MAY BE CONSIDERABLY HIGHER THAN THE
INTEREST RATE ON THE LOAN.
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      Within ten (10) days after requested by the Bank by notice to the
Borrower, Borrower and any Guarantor agree to execute and deliver to the Bank a
written statement addressed to the Bank, any Affiliate, any Participant and/or
any proposed Participant, and signed by the Borrower and any Guarantor under the
penalties of perjury, and duly notarized, acknowledging the principal and
interest balances then due under the Note, and further acknowledging that the
Note is in full force and effect and unmodified, that the Borrower and any
Guarantor have no defenses, offsets or counterclaims to the payment and/or
performance of the obligations of the Borrower and any Guarantor under the Note,
and have no claims or causes of action of any kind whatsoever then existing
against the Bank, any Affiliate and/or Participant, and a statement that the
Bank is not in default under the Note or any loan or other agreement relating to
the Note or any obligations evidenced thereby, all the foregoing in this
sentence except as may otherwise exist in which event the Borrower shall specify
what otherwise exists, and a statement regarding such other matters which the
Bank may require.

      In the event that prior to the recording of any mortgage, financing
statement or other collateral instrument, if any, given herewith by the Borrower
and any Guarantor to the Bank, there shall exist or otherwise be made known to
the Bank or any Affiliate, any voluntary or involuntary creation or occurrence,
of any encumbrance, mortgage, lien, attachment, or other security interest on or
in any real or personal property given herewith by the Borrower and any
Guarantor as collateral to the Bank, or any portion thereof (except as otherwise
specifically permitted, if at all, in any of the Loan Documents), or the
transfer of such real or personal property or any portion thereof or any legal
or beneficial interest therein, or the Borrower and any Guarantor become the
subject of a bankruptcy petition, assignment for the benefit of creditors, or
any arrangement with creditors, or any restraining order or injunction exists
against the Borrower and any Guarantor, at the option of the Bank all
obligations of the Bank to make the loan and/or advance monies pursuant to any
loan agreement, of which the Note evidences the loan in whole or in part, shall
be void, and the Note shall become immediately due and payable without notice or
demand to the extent of all monies due thereunder which have previously been
paid by the Bank.

      The Borrower and any Guarantor acknowledge that the Bank has notified and
does hereby notify the Borrower and any Guarantor as follows:

      (a)   THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ATTORNEY FOR THE BANK IS TO PROTECT THE
            INTEREST OF THE BANK;

      (b)   THE BORROWER AND ANY GUARANTOR MAY, AT BORROWER'S OR GUARANTOR'S OWN
            EXPENSE, ENGAGE AN ATTORNEY OF ITS OWN SELECTION TO REPRESENT THE
            BORROWER'S OR GUARANTOR'S OWN INTERESTS IN THE TRANSACTION.

      No delay or omission by the Bank in exercising or enforcing any of the
Bank's powers, rights, privileges, remedies, or discretions hereunder shall
operate as a waiver thereof on that occasion or on any other occasion. No waiver
of any default hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any other default
hereunder or as a continuing waiver. The Note shall be binding upon the Borrower
and each endorser and guarantor hereof and upon their respective heirs,
successors, assigns, and representatives, and shall inure to the benefit of the
Bank and its successors, endorsees, and assigns. The Borrower and any Guarantor
each authorizes the Bank to complete the Note if delivered incomplete in any
respect by the Borrower and any Guarantor. The Note is delivered to the Bank at
one of its offices in Massachusetts, shall be governed by the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and shall take effect as a sealed instrument. The
Borrower and any Guarantor of the Note each submits to the jurisdiction of the
courts of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts for all purposes with respect to the
Note, any collateral given to secure their respective liabilities, obligations
and indebtedness to the Bank, and their respective relationships with the Bank.
The Borrower and any Guarantor agree that all assets in which the Borrower and
any Guarantor have previously granted or hereafter grant to the Bank or any
Affiliate a security, mortgage or collateral interest shall secure the
Liabilities and Guaranty Obligations. The Note

<PAGE>

includes all future amendments, decreases, extensions, increases, modifications,
renegotiations, renewals, replacements, revisions, rewritings and/or
substitutions thereof, in whole or in part ("Modifications/Substitutions"). The
Borrower and any Guarantor agree that any mortgages and/or other collateral, if
any, which may secure the Note, secure all Modifications/Substitutions of the
Note, if any, now existing and/or hereafter arising, and include all future
Modifications/Substitutions of such mortgages and/or other collateral, if any,
now existing and/or hereafter arising. To the maximum extent permitted by law,
except for payments made on account of the Note which reduce the monies due
under the Note, all other provisions of the Note, shall survive (a) the payment
of all principal and interest obligations of the Borrower and any Guarantor
under the Note, (b) any termination, release or discharge of the principal and
interest obligations of the Borrower and any Guarantor to the Bank and/or any
Affiliate, and (c) the discharge or satisfaction of any mortgage, security
agreement and/or other collateral, if any, which may at any time secure the
Note. Any prepayment of the Note shall be applied to principal in inverse order
of maturity. Time of all payments and provisions hereof is of strict essence. In
the event more than one person or entity comprises the Borrower, all provisions
herein of the Borrower are joint and several obligations. The Borrower and any
Guarantor acknowledge and agree, and say under the penalties of perjury, that
(a) each is executing the Note as the free act and deed of each, (b) each is not
acting under any duress or undue influence, and (c) the Bank and/or any
Affiliate have made no agreements, warranties, representations or promises in
connection with the Note and/or any loan agreements or other agreements relating
to the Note, except as set forth herein or in a written instrument executed and
delivered by the Bank. The provisions of the Note are hereby declared to be
severable, and the invalidity of any provision or application thereof shall not
affect any other provision or any other application thereof. Interest on
principal under the Note shall accrue only on the amount of principal from time
to time actually outstanding under the Note. The Bank records, including without
limitations computer printout of the Bank showing an account of the Borrower,
shall be admissible as evidence in any action or proceeding in connection with
the Note, and shall constitute prima facie evidence of the items contained
therein. The Note may not be modified orally, but may be modified only by
written instrument signed by the holder hereof.

      In the event the Borrower and any Guarantor is a trust or corporation,
each person signing below in behalf of said entity personally and individually
certifies to the Bank that such person executing the Note (a) is a trustee of
any applicable trust, or an officer of any applicable corporation, and (b) has
been duly authorized, empowered and directed to execute and deliver the Note
and, if any, all other instruments securing or otherwise relating to the Note,
and any other agreements or instruments determined by such person in such
person's sole discretion to be appropriate or incidental to the loan evidenced
by the Note, all in such form and with such modifications, substitutions,
renewals, replacements, revisions, amendments and/or additions as such person
from time to time deems proper, in the name of and in behalf of said entity (i)
in the case of a trust, by a written instrument signed by all beneficiaries and
delivered to the trustee, and/or (ii) in the case of a corporation, unanimously
by all the directors of the corporation, at a meeting duly held or by written
consent in lieu of meeting, duly filed with the records of the minutes of the
corporation.
<PAGE>

      The Borrower has read all of the terms and conditions of the Note and
acknowledges receipt of an exact copy of it.

WITNESS                         MAKER ("Borrower")

Signed in my Presence           SONESTA INTERNATIONAL HOTELS CORPORATION

                                By: /s/
--------------------------          -------------------------------------
Print Name:                     Print Name:         Peter J. Sonnabend
           ---------------      Title:              Vice Chairman
                                Address:            200 Clarendon Street
                                                    Boston, MA 02116<PAGE>

                                                           Exhibit 10.3(b)

September 29, 2000

Mr. Peter J. Sonnabend, Vice Chairman
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation
John Hancock Tower
200 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA 02116

Dear Peter:

We are pleased to advise you that Citizens Bank of Massachusetts has approved
for your use an unsecured line of credit at our Prime Rate in the original
available amount of $2,000,000. This line of credit will be guaranteed by the
company's principal domestic subsidiaries (as described in Exhibit A). Unless
renewed, it will expire on September 30, 2001.

Advances under the line would be made against a 12-month revolving note, with
interest payable monthly in arrears. Advances will be made only if in the
opinion of the Bank there have been no material changes in your company's
financial condition. To monitor this performance we ask that you submit fiscal
year-end consolidated and consolidating financial statements audited by a CPA
firm satisfactory to the Bank with 120 days after each fiscal year-end,
quarterly financial statements prepared by management within 45 days after each
quarter-end and quarterly 10Q reports within 45 days after each quarter-end.

This commitment is subject to the following:

1.    The company shall maintain a minimum tangible net worth of at least
      $23,000,000 at all times.

2.    The company shall maintain minimum unrestricted cash of at least
      $2,000,000 for at least 270 consecutive days during each calendar year.

3.    The company shall neither have any other indebtedness nor guaranty any
      indebtedness other than the existing indebtedness described in Exhibit B.

4.    The Company shall deliver an executed note to the Bank, an executed
      Guaranty from the Guarantors to the Bank and other documentation deemed
      appropriate by the Bank or its counsel.
<PAGE>

Mr. Peter J. Sonnabend, Vice Chairman
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation
September 29, 2000
Page 2

All expenses incurred in connection with this transaction, including but not
limited to legal and appraisal fees, shall be the direct responsibility of the
Borrower, whether or not this facility becomes active.

This commitment shall expire thirty days from the date of this letter, unless
the enclosed copy has been signed and delivered to the Bank on or before that
date.

Again, we are delighted to make this accommodation available to you, and are
pleased to have Sonesta as one of our customers. If you are in agreement with
these terms and conditions, please indicate your acceptance by signing on the
two lines designated below and returning an executed copy to my attention. Thank
you.

Sincerely,

Charles J. Clark
Senior Vice President

ACCEPTED
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation

By: /s/
    --------------------------------------
    Peter J. Sonnabend
    Vice Chairman

I hereby acknowledge and affirm guaranty of the above-described credit facility,
by the principal domestic subsidiaries of Sonesta International Hotels
Corporation as described in Exhibit A, in my capacity as authorized signer for
said subsidiaries.

By: /s/
    --------------------------------------
    Peter J. Sonnabend, as authorized signer
    for Sonesta subsidiaries.
<PAGE>

Mr. Peter J. Sonnabend, Vice Chairman
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation
September 29, 2000
Page 3

                                    EXHIBIT A

                       Principal Domestic Subsidiaries of
                    Sonesta International Hotels Corporation
                    ----------------------------------------

      Anguilla Hotel Management, Inc.        Guaranty Unlimited
      Brewster Wholesale Corporation         Guaranty Unlimited
      Florida Sonesta Corporation            Guaranty Unlimited
      S.I.A. Advertising, Inc.               Guaranty Unlimited
      Sonesta Beach Resort Limited
         Partnership                         Guaranty Unlimited
      Royal Sonesta, Inc.                    Guaranty Limited to $1,000,000
<PAGE>

Mr. Peter J. Sonnabend, Vice Chairman
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation
September 29, 2000
Page 4

                                    EXHIBIT B

                             Permitted Indebtedness
                             ----------------------

                  Loans                      Maximum Commitment
                  -----                      ------------------

                  Sun America                   $71.7 Million
                  Scotiabank                    $ 5.0 Million

                  Guaranties
                  ----------

                  None

                  Trade debt not over 90 days.

                  Leases not in excess of $200,000.

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