UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
July 27, 2005

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INCORPORATED

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


Delaware

0-20574

51-0340466

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

26950 Agoura Road
Calabasas Hills, California 91301
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(818) 871-3000

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14.d-2(b))

o

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 



SECTION 1 — REGISTRANT’S BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS

ITEM 1.01    ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT

          On July 27, 2005, The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (the “Registrant”) announced that its subsidiary, The Cheesecake Factory Bakery Incorporated (the “Company”), exercised an option under an Option Agreement (“Option Agreement’) with Nash County, North Carolina and Nash County Business Development Authority to acquire an improved 15.82-acre site that includes a 100,000 square foot shell building in the Whitaker Business and Industry Center, Rocky Mount, North Carolina (the “Site”).  Concurrently with the exercise of the option, the Company entered into an Inducement Agreement among the Company and the City of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Nash County, North Carolina and related redevelopment agencies (the “Nash Group”) providing for certain inducements as more fully described below.  The Company plans to develop a second bakery production facility at the site. 

          In accordance with the instructions to this Form 8-K, the following is a brief description of the terms and conditions of the Option Agreement and Inducement Agreement (collectively, the “Agreements”) that may be material to the Registrant.  The following description should not be regarded as a complete description of all of the terms and conditions of such agreements which are filed as exhibits hereto. 

          Pursuant to the Agreements, the Nash Group has agreed to provide the Company with certain inducements, including transferring the Site to the Company and providing certain infrastructure improvements without cost, paying certain direct cash inducements to the Company, and paying the fees of the Company’s real estate location consultant.  In addition, the Nash Group has granted the Company an option to acquire 15 acres of adjoining undeveloped land without additional cost provided that, if the Company exercises the option and fails to make at least $150,000 in improvements on such land within twelve months of the option exercise, the Company must pay the Nash Group $150,000.  The option is exercisable until December 31, 2012.

          The Nash Group has agreed to provide the foregoing inducements in consideration of the Company creating a specified number of permanent full-time jobs; investing specified amounts in capital improvements to expand and equip a bakery manufacturing and distribution center; and continuously maintaining a manufacturing/distribution facility at the Site.  The Company will be obligated to reimburse the Nash Group all or a portion of such inducements if the investment and employment targets are not satisfied by specified dates or if the Company fails to maintain operations at the site for ten years from the date the facility is opened.

SECTION 9 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

ITEM 9.01  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

     (c)     Exhibits

 

99.1

Option Agreement dated as of April 22, 2005

 

99.2

First Amendment to Option Agreement dated as of June 28, 2005

 

99.3

Inducement Agreement dated as of July 27, 2005

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SIGNATURES

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date:     August 1, 2005

T HE C HEESECAKE F ACTORY I NCORPORATED

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ M ICHAEL J. D IXON

 

 


 

 

Michael J. Dixon

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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EXHIBIT 99.1

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

)

 

 

)

OPTION AGREEMENT

 

)

COUNTY OF NASH

)

 

          THIS OPTION CONTRACT (the “Agreement”), dated as of April 22, 2005, by and between NASH COUNTY, a body corporate and politic and a political subdivision of the state of North Carolina (“Seller”), NASH COUNTY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, a North Carolina nonprofit corporation (“BDA”), and THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY BAKERY INCORPORATED., a California corporation (“Purchaser”).  (Purchaser, BDA and Seller, together with their successors and assigns, are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Parties” and individually as a “Party”).

WITNESSETH

          WHEREAS, Seller is the owner of fee simple, marketable title to that certain tract or parcel of real property located in Nash County, North Carolina, in a development known as Whitaker Business & Industry Center, consisting of an approximately 15.82 acre tract (the “Land”) and a partially complete building containing approximately 100,160 square feet (the “Improvements” and together with the Land, the “Property”), and BDA is owner of fee simple marketable title to a second tract of approximately 15 acres north of and abutting the Property (the “Additional Tract”), both tracts as more particularly described in Exhibit “A” attached hereto and made a part hereof by this reference; and

          WHEREAS, Purchaser desires to obtain options from Seller and BDA and Seller and BDA desire to grant to Purchaser options respecting the Property and the Additional Tract on the terms and conditions contained herein.

          NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises as hereinafter expressed, ten dollars ($10.00) and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties promise, covenant and agree as follows:

I.

OPTION -CONSIDERATION

          1.1          Seller and BDA hereby grant to Purchaser, its successors and assigns, and Purchaser hereby accepts from Seller and BDA, subject to and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the exclusive right and option to purchase the Property (the “Option”).


          1.2          Purchaser does hereby deliver to Seller and BDA in consideration of the Option $100.00, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged.

          1.3          The Option may be exercised by Purchaser at any time on or prior to 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the Feasibility Study Period by giving written notice thereof in accordance with Article XV hereof except that notice shall be deemed to have been given when sent if delivered by facsimile or electronic transmission or when delivered to the delivery service if sent by next day guaranteed delivery service.

          1.4          If Purchaser shall exercise the Option, contemporaneously with the conveyance by the Seller and BDA to the Purchaser of the Property Purchaser shall enter into an inducement agreement with Seller (in form mutually satisfactory to Seller and Purchaser) providing for, among other things:  the establishment by Purchaser on the Property of a commercial bakery and other improvements related thereto including production, storage, distribution, and office facilities (the “Project”); Purchaser’s commitment to invest therein not less than $12,000,000 in capital expenditures within two years of the date of the Closing and an additional $5,000,000 on or before December 31, 2012, to employ thereat not less than 300 full-time employees by December 31, 2010, and not less than 500 full-time employees by the expiration of the seven-year period ending December 31, 2012, and to pay wages to Purchaser’s employees as prescribed in the hereinafter defined Inducement Agreement (all of the foregoing activities of the Purchaser shall hereinafter be referred to as “Purchaser’s Obligations”).  The Purchaser’s performance of Purchaser’s Obligations shall be subject to satisfaction by Seller and the City of Rocky Mount (“City”) of the terms and conditions contained in the Economic Development Annex (“Annex”) attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference and satisfaction by Seller or the City, as the case may be, of the Site Requirements and other conditions listed on Exhibit B attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.

I.A.

ADDITIONAL OPTION

          I.A.1       BDA hereby grants to Purchaser the right and option to acquire the Additional Tract (the “Additional Option”).  The Additional Option may be exercised at any time on or before December 31, 2012, by written notice to BDA provided that at the time the Additional Option is exercised, Purchaser shall have performed all obligations required to be performed on or before the date of exercise of the Additional Option by Purchaser pursuant to the Inducement Agreement with an effective date of May 2, 2005, by and among The Carolinas Gateway Partnership, Inc., the Seller, the City of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and the BDA (the “Inducement Agreement”).  Within thirty (30) days after Purchaser’s exercise of the Additional Option, BDA shall convey the Additional Tract to the Purchaser by special warranty deed.  Within twelve (12) months after the conveyance of the Additional Tract, Purchaser shall construct improvements on the Additional Tract involving expenditures, recognized under generally accepted accounting principles as capital expenditures, of not less than $150,000.  If the Purchaser shall fail to complete the improvements within the twelve-month period, or if

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Purchaser shall fail to meet the Target Employment, Target Expenditures, and Continuation Goals contained in the Inducement Agreement, Purchaser shall upon demand pay the Authority the sum of $150,000.  Additionally, if the completed improvements shall be found to have an assessed tax value of less than $150,000, the Purchaser shall upon demand pay BDA the difference between the assessed value and $150,000.

          I.A.2       Purchaser shall have the right to have a survey and environmental site assessment performed on the Additional Tract and shall have the same rights to inspect the Additional Tract, have soil and similar tests performed on the Additional Tract and to obtain from BDA copies of information and documents pertaining to the Additional Tract in BDA’s possession or readily available to BDA or its counsel as Purchaser has with respect to the Property as prescribed in Article VII, Article VIII, Article IX and Section 10.2.

II.

FEASIBILITY STUDY PERIOD;
EFFECTIVE DATE AND SURVEY

          2.1          Purchaser is granted a period of sixty (60) days from the date of execution of this Agreement by Seller and BDA in which to conduct any studies and investigations desired by Purchaser in its sole discretion, including, but not limited to, soil studies, environmental inspections, tests and assessments, zoning, title, and other matters to determine whether the Property is suitable for the purposes and intended use by Purchaser of the Property (the “Feasibility Study Period”).

          2.2          The “Effective Date” is the date, if any, on which Purchaser elects to exercise the Option and proceed with the Closing.  If Purchaser shall fail to exercise the Option at or prior to the expiration of the Feasibility Study Period this Agreement shall terminate.

          2.3          Seller shall cause a survey of the Property to be prepared and delivered to Purchaser and its counsel within ten (10) days of execution of this Agreement by Purchaser.  The Feasibility Study Period shall be extended by one day for each day’s delay in delivering the Survey.  The Survey shall show, at a minimum, the area of the Property in acres, the location of the Improvements, utilities, easements, applicable set back lines, elevation lines at intervals, and other relevant features.  The survey shall be completed by a surveyor selected by Seller, but acceptable to Purchaser, in accordance with the standards established in North Carolina General Statutes § 47-30 and in accordance with the “Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for ALTA/ACSM Title Surveys” jointly established by the American Land Title Association and the American Congress of Surveying and Mapping in 1992.  The cost of the survey shall be borne by Seller.  The survey referred to in this paragraph shall herein be referred to as the “Survey.”  All other survey services, mapping or similar services required by Purchaser shall be contracted and paid for by Purchaser.

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III.

CLOSING SCHEDULE AND ACTION AT CLOSING

          3.1          The Closing will occur at the offices of Battle, Scott, Winslow & Wiley, P.A., 2343 Professional Drive, Rocky Mount, NC, 27804.

          3.2          At the Closing of the purchase and sale of the Property hereunder:

                         (A)          Seller or BDA, as the case may be, shall:

 

(i)          Execute and deliver to Purchaser a Special Warranty Deed to the Property conveying good marketable and insurable title to Purchaser;

 

 

 

(ii)         Represent and warrant that all property taxes for the Property have been paid for the years prior to the year of the Closings;

 

 

 

(iii)        Pay Seller’s and BDA’s closing costs as hereinafter specified;

 

 

 

(iv)        Deliver to Purchaser an affidavit that it is not a foreign entity;

 

 

 

(v)         Deliver to Purchaser an affidavit and indemnity agreement in a form satisfactory to the title insurance company showing that all labor and materials furnished to the Property within one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the date of the Closing have been paid for and agreeing to indemnify such title insurance company from any cause or claim arising therefrom;

 

 

 

(vi)        Deliver appropriate ordinances, Seller’s governing body resolutions, corporate resolutions and incumbency certificates of the officers of Seller and BDA indicating the authority and incumbency of the officers of Seller and BDA to execute and deliver the documents required in connection with the Closing;

 

 

 

(vii)       Deliver a certificate of existence for BDA as issued by the North Carolina Secretary of State;

 

 

 

(viii)      Deliver such other legal opinions, certificates, affidavits, and closing statements as may be reasonably requested by Purchaser or its counsel to satisfy Seller’s and BDA’s obligations under this Agreement;

 

 

 

(ix)        Deliver to Purchaser an executed Inducement Agreement and any other necessary agreements evidencing Seller’s undertaking to perform Seller’s Obligations and satisfy the Site Requirements; and

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(x)         Deliver to Purchaser a service agreement or agreements between the City and Purchaser for the provision of electric service to the Project and such equipment and other items as the City shall agree to provide on such terms and with rates for such services as shall be mutually satisfactory to the City and Purchaser.

                         (B)          Purchaser shall:

 

(i)          Pay Purchaser’s closing costs as hereinafter specified;

 

 

 

(ii)         Deliver the executed Inducement Agreement and any other necessary agreements evidencing Purchaser’s undertaking to perform Purchaser’s Obligations as therein described; and

 

 

 

(iii)        Deliver such legal opinions, certificates, affidavits, and closing statements as may be reasonably requested by Seller or its counsel or BDA or its counsel to satisfy Purchaser’s obligations under this Agreement.

          3.4          Closing costs at the Closing shall be paid as hereinafter specified:

                         (A)          By Seller and BDA:

 

(i)          All taxes, if any, for years prior to the year of the Closing on the Property;

 

 

 

(ii)         Seller’s and BDA’s portion of the prorated ad valorem real property taxes, if any, for the year of the Closing (as provided in Section 3.4) on the Property on a calendar year basis;

 

 

 

(iii)        Seller’s and BDA’s own attorneys fees;

 

 

 

(iv)        The cost of deed preparation, revenue stamps required by law and any assessments due to any Governmental Authority;

 

 

 

(v)         Seller’s and BDA’s portion of the prorated assessments, if any, applicable to the Property for the year of the Closing;

 

 

 

(vi)        All late payment penalties, if any, and ad valorem personal property taxes on the Property for the entire year in which the Closing occurs;

 

 

 

(vii)       Fees and premiums for the Owner’s policy of title insurance for the Property; and

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(viii)      Such other incidental costs and fees customarily paid by sellers in Nash County, North Carolina, land transactions of this nature.

                          (B)          By Purchaser:

 

(i)          Purchaser’s own attorney’s fees;

 

 

 

(ii)         Purchaser’s portion of the ad valorem real property prorated taxes, if any, for the year of the Closing (as provided in Section 3.4) on the Property on a calendar year basis;

 

 

 

(iii)        The cost of recording the Special Warranty Deed to the Property;

 

 

 

(iv)        Purchaser’s portion of the prorated assessments, if any, applicable to the Property for the year of the Closing; and

 

 

 

(v)         Such other incidental costs and fees customarily paid by purchasers in Nash County, North Carolina, land transactions of this nature.

          3.4          Ad valorem real property taxes, if any, based on the latest year for which taxes were assessed, for the Property shall be prorated between Seller and Purchaser and BDA and Purchaser on a calendar year basis.

IV.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING

          4.1          Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, all of Purchaser’s duties and obligations under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, its obligation to close, shall be conditioned upon and subject to the complete satisfaction of the following conditions precedent, each of which condition is for the sole benefit of Purchaser and any of which conditions may be waived by Purchaser at any time at Purchaser’s sole election:

                         (a)          completion of the matters set forth in Sections 2.1 and 2.3 herein or the expiration of the Feasibility Study Period and the exercise by Purchaser of the Option;

                         (b)          each and every warranty and representation made by Seller or BDA in this Agreement shall be true, correct and accurate in all material respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date;

                         (c)          Seller and BDA shall timely perform each and every duty, condition, obligation, covenant, and agreement of Seller and BDA contained in this Agreement, including, without limitation, the execution and/or delivery by Seller and BDA to Purchaser of each and every instrument to which either of them is a party referred to herein or in the Annex;

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                         (d)          Purchaser shall have obtained all necessary governmental permits and approvals of its site plan, improvements and operations which are capable of being obtained and shall have received assurances satisfactory to it that all other necessary permits and approvals can be obtained at no cost to Purchaser, at the appropriate time from applicable governmental authority and the Architectural Control Committee of Whitaker Business & Industry Center; and

                         (e)          Purchaser has determined to its satisfaction that the Property is free and clear of any liens, encumbrances, covenants, conditions and restrictions except for the following:

 

(i)          The defined easements, lot lines, building setback lines and restrictions shown on the Survey provided such easements, lines, and restrictions do not materially interfere with or limit Purchaser’s proposed use of the Property;

 

 

 

(ii)          Zoning ordinances in effect provided such ordinances do not materially interfere with or limit Purchaser’s proposed use of the Property;

 

 

 

(iii)          Taxes for the year in which the Closing take place (which shall be prorated on a calendar year basis at the Closing);

 

 

 

(iv)          Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for Whitaker Business & Industry Center;

 

 

 

(v)          Rights of others in and to the waters or creeks or branches, if any, crossing the Property and the natural flow thereof, free from diminution or pollution;

 

 

 

(vi)          Agreement regarding Wetlands recorded in Book 1754, Page 368, Nash County Registry; and

 

 

 

(vii)          Such other exceptions as approved by Purchaser as provided in Article XI.

          All of the foregoing items (i) through (vi) are hereinafter referred to as the “Permitted Exceptions.”

                         (f)          There has been no material change in the condition of the Property since completion of the studies and investigations made by Purchaser during the Feasibility Study Period.

                         (g)          The terms and conditions set out in Exhibit B hereto respecting the Improvements shall have been satisfied or provision deemed adequate by Purchaser shall have been made for satisfying each such term or condition subsequent to the Closing.

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V.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
AND AGREEMENTS OF SELLER AND BDA

          Seller and BDA hereby make the following representations and warranties to Purchaser, which shall also be true as of the date of the Closing of the Property.  The representations and warranties set forth herein shall continue and survive for one year after the Closing of the Property.

          5.1          Seller is a body politic and corporate and a political subdivision of the State of North Carolina.

          5.2          Seller has all necessary power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and has duly authorized the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement after first giving any required notice and holding a public hearing thereon.

          5.3          BDA is validly existing as a private nonprofit corporation, has all necessary corporate power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and has taken all action necessary to authorize the BDA to enter into and perform this Agreement.

          5.4          Seller and BDA have complied with all applicable laws, ordinances, regulations and restrictions relating to the Property.

          5.5          There are no parties, other than Seller or BDA, in possession of any portion of the Property as lessees, tenants at sufferance or trespassers and there are no options, leases or operating agreements applicable to or affecting the Property.

          5.6          Neither Seller nor BDA has received written notice of, nor does it have any knowledge of, any assessment affecting the Property, or any part thereof, or any such proceeding or assessment contemplated by any Governmental Authority including Seller.  As used herein, the term “Governmental Authority” shall mean the United States, the State of North Carolina, Seller, and any agency, department, commission, board, agency, bureau, political subdivision or instrumentality of any of them.  If notice, or knowledge of same, becomes available to Seller or BDA during the term of this Agreement, Seller or BDA shall immediately notify Purchaser in writing.

          5.7          The Property has full and free access to Corporation Parkway, which is a public street or highway accepted for maintenance by a Governmental Authority, and there is no pending or, to the best of Seller’s or BDA’s knowledge, threatened governmental proceeding or any other fact or condition which would limit or result in termination of such access.

          5.8          There has been no uncontrolled discharge, spill or release of any Hazardous Materials on the Property during the term of Seller’s or BDA’s ownership of the Property nor, to the best of their knowledge, before their ownership of the Property, and neither Seller nor BDA has received notice of a violation with respect to any spill or discharge or other violation of environmental laws with respect to the Property during the term of its ownership.

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          5.9          Neither Seller nor BDA has received any summons, complaint or other written notice of, nor does either have any knowledge of, any pending or threatened litigation or administrative proceedings which could adversely affect title to the Property or any part thereof or the ability of Seller or BDA to perform any of its obligations hereunder, including any condemnation of all or any portion of the Property by any Governmental Authority.  If notice, or knowledge of same, becomes available to Seller or BDA during the term of this Agreement, they shall immediately notify Purchaser in writing.

          5.10        Performance of this Agreement will not result in any breach of, or constitute any default under, or result in the imposition of any lien or encumbrance upon the Property under any agreement or other instrument to which Seller or BDA is a party or by which either or the Property is bound.

          5.11        Seller and BDA and all persons acting for and on behalf of them have the necessary authority to execute and deliver documents and otherwise consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

          5.12        Neither Seller nor BDA has knowledge of any inaccuracies in, and nothing has come to the attention of either which would cause either to question the accuracy of, any survey, reports or results of any testing or investigations prepared for or at the request of Seller or BDA and delivered or to be delivered (or copies of which have been or will be delivered) to Purchaser.

          5.13        There are no taxes, charges or assessments of any nature or description which would constitute a lien against the Property that will be unpaid at the date of Closing other than ad valorem taxes which are a lien but not yet due and owing.

          5.14        Seller owns and shall own at the date of the Closing marketable and insurable fee simple title to the Property subject only to the Permitted Exceptions.

          5.15        To the best of Seller’s and BDA’s knowledge, the Property does not contain underground storage tanks, wetlands, grave sites or cemeteries or endangered species that would materially interfere with or materially increase the cost of Purchaser’s proposed development and use of the Property.

          5.16        BDA is a private nonprofit corporation duly and validly existing under the laws of North Carolina.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of this Agreement by BDA have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action.

          5.17        No further action or approval is required in order to constitute this Agreement a binding and enforceable obligation of Seller and BDA in accordance with its terms except the requirement for a public hearing, the making of any necessary findings and approval of this Agreement as may be required by N.C. G. Stat. § 158-7.1(d).

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          5.18        The execution of this Agreement and consummation of the Closing pursuant to the terms hereof do not violate BDA’s articles of incorporation or bylaws or any material agreement, indenture or commitment to which Seller is a party or by which BDA or its assets or properties are bound.

          5.19        Except as described in Section 5.17 above, no hearing before, permission, approval, determination, consent or waiver by, and no declaration, filing or registration with any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Seller or BDA which has not already been obtained.

          5.20        Lines for water, sanitary sewer, electricity, natural gas and telephone run to the perimeter of the Property or exist in the right-of-way of Corporation Parkway, a public road adjacent to the Property.

          5.21        The Improvements comply with North Carolina Building Code construction requirements.  Seller represents to the best of its knowledge, the shell building’s walls and roof are waterproofed and water tight.  Seller represents to the best of its knowledge that there has been no material damage or deterioration to the shell building since its completion in June 2002, except for damaged soffett and window seals which Purchaser has had a reasonable opportunity to inspect.

VI.

REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES
AND COVENANTS OF PURCHASER

          Purchaser hereby warrants and represents to Seller and BDA that (i) it is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of California; (ii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of this Agreement by Purchaser have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Purchaser, and this Agreement is the valid and binding obligation of Purchaser according to its terms; (iii) no further action or approval is required in order to constitute this Agreement a binding and enforceable obligation of Purchaser in accordance with its terms; (iv) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and consummation of the Closing pursuant to the terms hereof will not violate Purchaser’s bylaws or articles of incorporation, or any material agreement, indenture, or commitment to which Purchaser is a party and by which Purchaser or its assets or properties are bound; (v) there exist no actions, suits, litigation, proceedings, court orders or other legal documents executed by Purchaser which would be violated if Purchaser should exercise the Option and purchase the Property according to the terms of this Agreement or purports to prevent Purchaser from exercising the Option or purchasing the Property according to the terms hereof; (vi) to the knowledge of Purchaser, no permission, approval, determination, consent or waiver by, and no declaration, filing or registration with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement; and (vii) there is no litigation, claim or action pending (or to Purchaser’s knowledge, threatened) against Purchaser challenging the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement.

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VII.

INSPECTION OF PROPERTY

          Seller and BDA agree not to take or permit any action whatsoever which would adversely affect the value of or title to the Property.  Prior to the Closing, Purchaser or its employees, agents or independent contractors may inspect the Property to insure that the Property has not been disturbed or changed in any way (other than by normal development of water, sewer and streets) as of the date of execution of this Agreement other than as required by this Agreement.

VIII.

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

          Seller and BDA do hereby represent and warrant to the best of their knowledge that:  (a) the Property is not and will not be in violation of any Environmental Requirement (as defined in Article XVI) applicable thereto as of the Closing; (b) the soil, surface water and ground water of or on the Property is now and as of the Closing shall be free from Hazardous Materials (as defined in Article XVI); and (c) the Property has not and as of the Closing shall not have been used for the treatment, storage or disposal of any Hazardous Materials.  Seller and BDA shall deliver to Purchaser copies of each environmental site assessment, soils report and test (“Property Reports”) obtained by Seller or BDA or in Seller’s or BDA’s possession.  In addition, Purchaser shall have the right to obtain soil reports, environmental assessments and tests from a qualified person selected by Purchaser, at Purchaser’s expense, with respect to the environmental and ecological condition of the Property including, but not limited to, the presence of any Hazardous Materials in, on or beneath the surface of the Property or in the ground water or the surface water on or in the Property, which reports and tests shall be satisfactory to Purchaser and copies of which shall be provided to Seller.

IX.

ACCESS RIGHTS

          After the date hereof and prior to the Closing, Purchaser shall have the right to enter upon the Property with men, equipment and materials to determine whether the conditions precedent set forth in this Agreement can be fulfilled and for the purpose of making such tests, inspections and surveys as Purchaser, in its sole discretion, shall desire, including, but not limited to, the right to conduct soil bores, test pit excavations, soil, surface water, air quality and ground water sampling and such other environmental tests as Purchaser shall deem appropriate.  In the event

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Purchaser shall disturb the Property in the course of making such tests, inspections or surveys, Purchaser at its own expense shall restore the Property as nearly as practicable to the condition of the Property immediately preceding such tests, inspection or survey.  Purchaser will indemnify and will hold Seller and BDA harmless from any loss, damage, claims, suits or costs, which shall arise out of any injury to any person or property as a result of any activities of Purchaser relating to the Property and not caused by the negligent or willful acts or omission of Seller, or its employees or agents, or BDA, or its employee or agents.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Purchaser shall not be obligated to defend or otherwise indemnify Seller or BDA, nor to repair any damage attributable in whole or in part to any one or more of the following:  (i) the discovery of hazardous materials, substances or wastes on the Property; (ii) any pre-existing latent defect in the Property; or (iii) the spread of any hazardous materials, substances or wastes already present on the Property, despite the use of reasonable care.

X.

SELLER’S COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS

          10.1        Seller and BDA hereby covenant and agree that immediately upon obtaining knowledge of the institution of foreclosure or any proceedings for the condemnation of the Property, or any portion thereof, or any other proceedings arising out of injury or damage to the Property, or any portion thereof, they will notify Purchaser of the pendency of such proceedings.

          10.2        Seller and BDA shall deliver to Purchaser’s counsel within ten (10) days of execution of this Agreement by Purchaser copies of information and documents pertaining to the Property in Seller’s and BDA’s possession or readily available to Seller or BDA or its counsel, consultants or contractors, including evidence of title, title insurance policies, title exceptions, surveys, plans and specifications for the Improvements and any warranties respecting the Improvements, right-of-way agreements, land plans, engineering studies, maps and environmental and geotechnical reports, surveys, service contracts, tax records and pertinent information.

          10.3        Seller agrees to obtain with Purchaser’s cooperation all approvals by Governmental Authorities of any necessary site plan, permit or approval for the development and use of the Property.

XI.

TITLE COMMITMENT

          Seller shall obtain and furnish Purchaser and its counsel a commitment for title insurance (hereinafter referred to as the “Commitment”), with respect to the Property together with true and legible copies of all items referred to as exceptions in such Commitment within ten (10) days after the date of Seller’s execution of this Agreement.  The Commitment shall be dated

12


no earlier than this Agreement and shall show title to the Property to be in Seller’s name.  Purchaser shall approve or disapprove the exceptions to title prior to the end of the Feasibility Study Period.  If Purchaser shall fail to give any notice of objections in writing to Seller prior to the expiration of the Feasibility Study Period, Purchaser shall be deemed to have approved the exceptions to title set forth in the Commitment and shall have waived any objection it may have to the exceptions to title set forth in the Commitment and described or shown on the Survey but not as to matters of title affecting the Property arising or discovered after the effective date of the Commitment not caused by Purchaser and not reflected on the Survey.  If Purchaser finds any such exceptions to title set forth in the Commitment to be unacceptable, then Purchaser shall, prior to the expiration of the Feasibility Study Period, notify Seller in writing of such fact.  Seller may, but shall not have any obligation to, then undertake to eliminate or modify such unacceptable exceptions to the reasonable satisfaction of Purchaser.  In the event Seller delivers written notice to Purchaser that it is unwilling or unable to eliminate or modify such unacceptable exceptions to the satisfaction of Purchaser after notice of such unacceptable items, Purchaser may, at its option, terminate this Agreement by written notice to Seller, or Purchaser may accept title to the Property in the condition set forth in the Commitment, with the elimination of such unacceptable matters as have been obtained, provided that in such event no adjustment shall be made to the purchase price.  If Purchaser proceeds to close the purchase of the Property, then all matters shown as exceptions to Seller’s title in the Commitment (other than ones that have been objected to by Purchaser and have been cured by Seller), shall be Permitted Exceptions.

XII.

REMEDIES/TERMINATION

          12.1         Seller’s and BDA’s Remedies .  If Purchaser shall exercise the Option and thereafter default in performing its obligations hereunder for any reason other than Seller’s or BDA’s default, Seller and BDA shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement and to recover from Purchaser the actual reasonable costs and expenses of Seller and BDA through the date of termination up to but not exceeding $10,000.  Seller and BDA shall not be entitled to any other remedies available, including specific performance.

          12.2         Purchaser’s Remedies .  If Seller or BDA defaults in performing its obligations hereunder for any reason other than Purchaser’s default, Purchaser shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement or to exercise any other remedies available to it, including specific performance to obtain performance of all the terms and conditions herein.

          12.3         Cure of Default .  No failure or default by Purchaser, Seller, or BDA with regard to any act required of any of them shall result in the termination or limitation of any right of such Party hereunder, unless and until such Party shall have failed to remedy such failure or cure such default within fifteen (15) days after the receipt of written notice from another Party specifying such failure or default.

13


          12.4         Termination .  If this Agreement is terminated by Purchaser’s failure to exercise the Option, or by mutual agreement of the Parties hereto, thereafter no Party hereto shall have any further obligation or liability hereunder.

XIII.

REAL ESTATE COMMISSION

          The Parties hereby represent and warrant to each other that there are no real estate commissions, consulting fee, or finder’s fees occasioned, due or payable to any person or agency, as a result of the execution and/or consummation of this Agreement except to Commercial Carolina Corporation which shall receive a consulting fee in the amount agreed to between Carolinas Gateway Partnership and Commercial Carolina Corporation which shall be payable at Closing by someone other than Purchaser.  If the purchase contemplated hereby shall fail to close for any cause other than Seller’s or BDA’s default, no brokerage commission or other fee shall be payable hereunder.  Further, each party agrees to hold the other harmless and to indemnify the other from any and all claims for real estate commissions and/or finders fees owed to brokers or finders engaged by the indemnifying Party except for the fee payable to Commercial Carolina Corporation referred to above.

XIV.

NOTICES

          Any notice, request or other communication given pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and, except as otherwise provided herein, shall be deemed delivered five (5) days after deposit in the United States mail, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or upon hand delivery, or upon receipt of facsimile transmission or electronic mail transmission, or one (1) day after deposit in a next day guaranteed delivery service to the Parties at the address shown below. 

 

SELLER:

Nash County

 

 

120 W. Washington Street, Suite 3072

 

 

Nashville, North Carolina 27856

 

 

Attn:  Bob Murphy, County Manager

 

 

Telephone:  (252) 459-9800

 

 

Facsimile:  (252) 459-9817

14


 

With a copy to:

Battle, Winslow, Scott & Wiley, P.A.

 

 

P.O. Box 7100

 

 

2343 Professional Drive

 

 

Rocky Mount, North Carolina  27804

 

 

Attn: G. Vincent Durham Jr. Esq.

 

 

Telephone:  (252) 937-2200

 

 

Facsimile:  (252) 937-8100

 

 

 

 

BDA:

Nash County Business Development Authority

 

 

427 Falls Road

 

 

Rocky Mount, North Carolina  27804

 

 

Attn:  Jimmie D. Smith, Jr., President

 

 

Telephone:  (252) 442-0114

 

 

Facsimile:  (252) 442-7315

 

 

 

 

PURCHASER:

The Cheesecake Factory Bakery Incorporated

 

 

23950 Agoura Road

 

 

Calabasas, California  91301

 

 

Attn:  Keith Carango, Vice President

 

 

Telephone:  (818) 871-3000

 

 

 

 

With a copy to:

The Cheesecake Factory Bakery Incorporated

 

 

23950 Agoura Road

 

 

Calabasas, California  91301

 

 

Attn:  Debby R. Zurzolo, General Counsel

 

 

Telephone:  (818) 871-3080

          The above-listed addresses may be changed by any Party by written notice sent in accordance with this paragraph.

XV.

DEFINITIONS

          For purposes of this Agreement, “Hazardous Material” means any substance (1) the presence of which requires investigation or remediation under any Environmental Requirements or federal, state or local statute, regulation, rule, ordinance, order, action, policy or common law; or (ii) which is or becomes defined as a “hazardous substance,” pollutant or contaminant under any Applicable Law or federal, state or local statute, regulation, rule or ordinance or amendments thereto including, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. section 6901 et seq.) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. section 6901 et seq.); or (iii) which is toxic, explosive, corrosive, flammable, infectious, radioactive, carcinogenic, mutagenic or otherwise hazardous and is or

15


becomes regulated by any Governmental Authority; or (iv) the presence of which on the Property causes or threatens to cause a nuisance upon the Property or to adjacent properties or poses or threatens to pose a hazard to the health or safety of persons on or about the Property; or (v) which contains gasoline, diesel fuel or other petroleum hydrocarbons; or (vi) which contains polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s), asbestos or urea formaldehyde insulation.  “Environmental Requirements” means any and all applicable present and future federal, state or local statutes, regulations, rules, ordinances, codes, licenses, permits, orders, approvals, authorizations and similar items, and any and all applicable judicial or administrative decrees, judgments or orders relating to the protection of human health or the environment or to the protection of the health and safety of employees or the public.

XVI.

CONDEMNATION

          If, prior to the Closing, all or any part of the Property is taken by any Governmental Authority under its power of eminent domain, Purchaser shall have the option, to be exercised within fifteen (15) days after Purchaser receives written notice of the same, (i) to take title to the Property at the Closing, in which case Seller or BDA, as the case may be, shall unconditionally assign its right in the condemnation award to Purchaser, or (ii) to terminate this Agreement, whereupon the duties and obligations of the parties hereto shall end.

XVII.

INDEMNIFICATION

          The representations and warranties of Seller and BDA are made with the knowledge and expectation that Purchaser is relying thereon and shall survive the Closing.  Seller and BDA will not cause or permit any action to be taken which will cause any of their representations or warranties to the untrue as of the Closing.  All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement shall be true at the Closing as though they were made at that time.  None of the representations and warranties shall be deemed merged into or superseded by the execution or delivery of any documents or agreements in connection with the consummation of the Closing.  Seller and BDA agree to the full extent permitted by law to indemnify and hold Purchaser harmless from all liabilities, claims, losses, damages and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) in connection with a breach of the representations and warranties made herein.  This indemnification obligation shall survive the Closing for a period of three (3) years.

16


XVIII.

MISCELLANEOUS

          18.1        Any covenant or agreement herein which is to be performed or which relates to performance or a state of fact or condition after the time of the Closing of title to the Property shall not be deemed to be merged into or waived by the instruments delivered in connection with the Closing, but shall expressly survive the Closing and be binding upon the Parties obligated thereby.

          18.2        The terms, provisions, warranties, representations, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement shall apply to, be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective legal representatives, successors and assigns.  This Agreement may be assigned by Purchaser to any entity that owns, or is owned or controlled by, Purchaser without Seller’s or BDA’s consent and to any other entity only with the written consent of Seller or BDA, which consent Seller or BDA shall not unreasonably withhold, condition or delay.

          18.3        Upon the exercise of the Option, the relevant provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a purchase agreement and time shall be of the essence in the performance of this Agreement.

          18.4        In the event Purchaser shall exercise the Option, the Parties will each reasonably cooperate with each other, their employees and agents to facilitate the purchase of the Property by Purchaser under the terms and conditions herein set forth.

          18.5        This Agreement shall be governed and interpreted under the substantive laws of the State of North Carolina, without regard to its choice of law rules.

          18.6        The headings used in this Agreement are for convenience purposes only and shall not be used in the interpretation of this Agreement.

          18.7        All Exhibits and the Annex attached hereto are incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Agreement.

          18.8        Failure of Purchaser to insist in any one or more instances upon the performance of any of the covenants, agreements and/or conditions of this Agreement, or to exercise any right or privilege herein conferred, shall not be construed as a waiver of any such or other covenant or condition.

          18.9        Purchaser acquires real property interests in the Property by the execution of this Agreement.  Purchaser’s rights vest upon Closing.

          18.10      This Agreement, including the Exhibits and the Annex, contains the entire agreement between the Parties relating to the Property, and the Parties shall not be bound by any verbal statement or agreement made heretofore.  This Agreement cannot be modified except by a written agreement signed by the Parties.

17


          18.11      If any items, terms or provisions contained in this Agreement are in conflict with any Applicable Laws, this Agreement shall be affected only as to its application to such items, terms or provisions, and shall in all other respects remain in full force and effect.

          18.12      Nothing contained herein is intended to create, nor shall it ever be construed to make Seller, BDA and Purchaser, partners or joint venturers.

          18.13      Each and every representation, warranty and agreement by any Party to any other Party shall be considered material and any breach thereof shall be an event of default and shall entitle the damaged Party to utilize any and all remedies specified in this Agreement.

          18.14      Until the Closing, the risk of loss by fire or other casualty of whatever kind or nature with respect to such or any other liability shall be upon Seller.

          18.15      Seller and BDA agree to execute and deliver to Purchaser, upon request, a Memorandum of Option in recordable form to be recorded in the Nash County Registry.

          18.16      Whenever the context permits, a singular shall include plural and one gender shall include all.

          18.17      During the period immediately following the execution of this Agreement by Seller and BDA, Seller and BDA shall not solicit proposals or offers, enter into any expressions of interest, agreements in principle or letters of intent or commence or consummate a negotiations with respect to the sale, exchange, transfer or lease with respect to all or any portion of the Property and shall not list, advertise, market or in any other fashion hold out the Property or any portion thereof as being for sale or available for sale or indicate an intent by Seller or BDA to entertain any offer to purchase the Property, contingent or otherwise.

18


          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement under seal on the dates set forth under their signatures below.

 

SELLER:

 

 

 

 

N ASH C OUNTY

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J. C LAUDE M AYO

 

 


 

Name:

J. Claude Mayo

 

Its:

Chairman, Nash County Commissioners

 

 

 

 

Executed this 2nd day of May, 2005.

 

 

 

 

BDA:

 

 

 

 

N ASH C OUNTY B USINESS D EVELOPMENT A UTHORITY

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ J IMMIE D. S MITH , J R .

 

 


 

Name:

Jimmie D. Smith, Jr.

 

Its:

Chairman

 

 

 

 

Executed this 3rd day of May, 2005.

 

 

 

 

PURCHASER:

 

 

 

 

T HE C HEESECAKE F ACTORY B AKERY I NCORPORATED

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ M AX S. B YFUGLIN

 

 


 

Name:

Max S. Byfuglin

 

Its:

Executive Vice President

 

 

 

 

Executed this 22nd day of April, 2005.

19


EXHIBIT A

Property

          Being Lot 2B as shown on plat entitled “Major Final Plat – Section 3, Whitaker Business and Industry Center”, by Joyner, Keeny & Associates, dated March 16, 1999, and recorded in Plat Book 28, Pages 104 and 105, Nash County Registry.

Additional Tract

          Being Lot 3B as shown on plat entitled “Major Final Plat – Section 3, Whitaker Business and Industry Center”, by Joyner, Keeny & Associates, dated March 16, 1999, and recorded in Plat Book 28, Pages 104 and 105, Nash County Registry.


EXHIBIT B
TO
OPTION AGREEMENT
BETWEEN AND AMONG
NASH COUNTY,
NASH COUNTY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY,
AND
THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY BAKERY INCORPORATED

Matters relating to Improvements

          The following terms and conditions shall apply to the Improvements as defined in the foregoing annexed Agreement:

          1.          Consents, permits, approvals and authorizations necessary for completion of the Improvements and related ancillary site and other improvements necessary to enable Purchaser’s lawful use and operation of the Property for a commercial bakery, warehouse, distribution and office facility and related uses shall be obtained by Seller or BDA, as the case may be, and delivered to Purchaser within a reasonable time after submission of all required plans and/or other submissions.

          2.          Seller shall deliver to Purchaser plans, specifications, project specification book, maintenance & operation manual, and any applicable warranties for the shell building.  The shell is constructed according to North Carolina Building Code standards as of 2001, which are subject to change in succeeding years.  Seller and BDA warrant and represent that the Property is zoned Planned Industrial under the current Zoning Ordinance in effect in Nash County and that the construction, installation, and operation of a commercial bakery are permitted uses within a Planned Industrial District.

          3.          Seller shall deliver to Purchaser any declaration of covenants, conditions or restrictions including any architectural, design or development guidelines applicable to the Improvements, any landscaping or screening requirements applicable to the Property and the Improvements.

          4.          The Site Requirements shall include the following:  City of Rocky Mount public water supply to serve the project is sufficient to provide not less than 1,000 gpm continuous demand.  Water pressure of 85 psi is attainable with a properly sized booster pump (to be provided and installed by the company).  The City’s existing water supply system can accommodate the company’s 100,000 gpd demand.  The City will extend separate fire and process water lines to the building at no cost to the company.  The City’s line and acreage fees will be waived.  The City will provide the meter vault to serve the company and the company will provide a 6” fire line meter and an 8” process water line meter with appropriate valves.  Company shall own and be responsible for water (and sewer) lines from the mains to the building after installation.

          The City will provide, at its expense, a 6” sewer service line from the main to the rear of the building.  A grease trap and a waste separator shall be provided, if required, by the company and the Carolinas Gateway Partnership will exercise reasonable good faith efforts to obtain grants in the amount of not less than $150,000 to pay for all or a portion of the costs of the grease trap, separator, booster pump and backflow valves.


ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ANNEX
TO
OPTION AGREEMENT
BETWEEN AND AMONG
NASH COUNTY,
NASH COUNTY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY,
AND
THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY BAKERY INCORPORATED

          This Annex is attached to and made a part of the captioned Option Agreement.  The exercise by the Purchaser of the Option shall be conditioned upon satisfaction of the following unless one or more of the following shall have been waived by Purchaser:

                    (i)          Purchaser shall have received reasonable assurances from the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the North Carolina Department of Revenue that each job created by development of the Purchaser of the Project on the Property will qualify under current law for a $5,000 credit against North Carolina corporate income tax or franchise tax pursuant to G.S. §105-129.8, provided the job meets all applicable eligibility requirements.

                    (ii)         Purchaser shall have received reasonable assurances from the Department of Commerce and the Department of Revenue that each dollar of investment in machinery and equipment for the Project shall entitle Purchaser under current law to a credit against North Carolina income or franchise taxes equal to $0.07 pursuant to G.S. §105-129.3A and G.S. §105-129.9.

                    (iii)        Purchaser and Nash County and the other parties thereto shall have entered into the Inducement Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

                    (iv)        Purchaser and the City shall have entered into a service, supply, or other agreement providing for the supply of electric energy to the Project.  The City’s electric rate to the company will be according to the applicable rate schedule in effect at the time and based on verified usage data supplied by the company.  The City is willing to provide a $60,000 per year grant for a period of five years based on the company reaching and maintaining a minimum of 1,800 kw demand and 900,000 kwh per month usage, or such other amounts and usages as the City and Company may agree.  The City intends to provide and own a generator that supplies back-up emergency power and for load management purposes at such time as the company’s usage will allow.  The company shall be responsible for making the generator PURPA qualified.

                    (v)         The Inducement Agreement shall have been executed and delivered by all parties and shall be in full force.

EXHIBIT 99.2

FIRST AMENDMENT TO OPTION AGREEMENT

           THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO OPTION AGREEMENT entered into effective as of the 28 day of June, 2005, by and among NASH COUNTY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, a North Carolina nonprofit corporation, NASH COUNTY, a body politic of the State of North Carolina (hereinafter referred to as the “Seller” ) and THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY BAKERY INCORPORATED , a California corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “ Purchaser ”).

WITNESSETH

           WHEREAS, the parties hereto have executed and delivered a certain Option Agreement to be effective as of the 2 nd day of May, 2005 (the “Option Agreement” ) providing the Option to acquire the Property (as described therein) by Purchaser after a sixty (60) day Feasibility Study Period;

           WHEREAS, certain events and occurrences have affected the schedule for proceeding with the Purchaser’s project and the Feasibility Study Period as contemplated by the Option Agreement, and the parties desire to amend the Option Agreement to change the time by which actions are to be taken;

           NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE RESPECTIVE COVENENTS AND OTHER UNDERTAKINGS OF THE PARTIES AND OTHER GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION, THE RECEIPT OF WHICH IS HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED, THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

          1.           Amendment .  Seller and Purchaser hereby mutually agree to extend the time within which the option to purchase the property may occur for an additional period of thirty (30) days.  To further clarify the extension of the option, it is hereby agreed that the period of sixty (60) days originally granted to Purchaser in which to conduct studies (the “ Feasibility Study Period ”), is hereby extended for an additional thirty (30) days to give the Purchaser a period of ninety (90) days from the date of original execution of the Agreement by Seller and Purchaser within which the Purchaser may conduct the study.


          2.           Ratification .  Except as modified hereby, the Option Agreement is hereby ratified and affirmed by the parties.

          3.           Binding Effect .  The First Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.

          4.           Construction .  All capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Option Agreement.

          5.           Execution .  This First Amendment may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which, when taken together, constitute one and the same document.  The signature of any party to any counterpart shall be deemed a signature to, and may be appended to, any other counterpart.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this First Amendment by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart.  Any party so executing this First Amendment by facsimile transmission shall promptly deliver a manually executed counterpart, provided that any failure to do so shall not affect the validity of the counterpart executed by facsimile transmission.

           IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto affixed their hands and seals to multiple counterpart originals which collectively shall constitute a single instrument effective as of the day and year first above written

2


 

N ASH C OUNTY B USINESS D EVELOPMENT A UTHORITY

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ G ARY R. G LISSON

 

 


 

Name:

  Gary R. Glisson

 

Its:

  Vice Chairman


ATTEST:

 

 

 

/s/ S HARON B. A RMSTRONG

 


 

Secretary

 

 

 

(CORPORATE SEAL)

 


 

N ASH C OUNTY

 

 

 

BY:

/s/ J. C LAUDE M AYO , J R .

 

 


 

 

Chairman, Nash County Board of Commissioners


ATTEST:

 

 

 

/s/ W AYNE M OORE

 


 

Nash Clerk

 

 

 

(CORPORATE SEAL)

 


 

T HE C HEESECAKE F ACTORY B AKERY I NCORPORATED

 

 

 

BY:

/s/ D AVID O VERTON

 

 


 

 

President


ATTEST:

 

 

 

/s/ D EBBY R. Z URZOLO

 


 

Secretary

 

 

 

(CORPORATE SEAL)

 

3


STATE OF CALIFORNIA

COUNTY OF ______________

          I, _________________________, a Notary Public of the State and County aforesaid, certify that ___________________________ personally came before me this day and acknowledged that ___he is _________ Secretary of THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY BAKERY INCORPORATED , a California corporation, and that by authority duly given and as the act of the corporation, the foregoing instrument was signed in its name by its _______ President, sealed with its corporate seal, and attested by _____self as its _________ Secretary.

          Witness my hand and official stamp or seal, this ______ day of _______________, 2005.

 

See attached

 


 

Notary Public

My commission expires: ___________________

(NOTARY SEAL)


STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

COUNTY OF NASH

          I, Marianne J. Taylor, a Notary Public of the State and County aforesaid, certify that Wayne Moore personally came before me this day and acknowledged that he is Clerk to the Board of Commissioners of NASH COUNTY , a body politic of the state of North Carolina, and that by authority duly given and as the act of the said Nash County, the foregoing instrument was signed in its name by Chairman of its Board of Commissioners, sealed with its corporate seal, and attested by himself as its Clerk.

          Witness my hand and official stamp or seal, this 30th day of June, 2005.

 

/s/ M ARIANNE J. T AYLOR

 


 

Notary Public

My commission expires: 3-31-09

(NOTARY SEAL)

4


STATE OF CALIFORNIA

COUNTY OF VENTURA

On June 28, 2005, before me, Asally Adib, Notary Public. Personally appeared David Overton, personally known to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he/she/they executed the same in his/her/their authorized capacity(ies), and that by his/her/their signature(s) on the instrument the person(s), or the entity upon behalf of which the person(s) acted, executed the instrument.

 

Witness my hand and seal.

 

 

 

/s/ A SALLY A DIB

 


 

Notary Public

(NOTARY SEAL)

5


STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

COUNTY OF NASH

          I, Marianne J. Taylor, a Notary Public of the State and County aforesaid, certify that Sharon B. Armstrong personally came before me this day and acknowledged that she is Secretary Clerk to the Board of NASH COUNTY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, a ___________________________, and that by authority duly given and as the act of the said Nash County, the foregoing instrument was signed in its name by Vice Chairman of its Board, sealed with its corporate seal, and attested by herself as its Secretary.

          Witness my hand and official stamp or seal, this 30th day of June, 2005.

 

/s/ M ARIANNE J. T AYLOR

 


 

Notary Public

My commission expires: 3-31-09

(NOTARY SEAL)

6


EXHIBIT A

DESCRIPTION OF OPTION PROPERTY

Being Lot 3B as shown on plat entitled “Major Final Plat – Section 3, Whitaker Business and Industry Center”, by Joyner, Keeny & Associates, dated March 16, 1999, and recorded in Plat Book 28, Pages 104 and 105, Nash County Registry.

EXHIBIT 99.3

INDUCEMENT AGREEMENT

          THIS INDUCEMENT AGREEMENT entered into effective as of the 27th day of July, 2005, by and between THE CAROLINAS GATEWAY PARTNERSHIP, INC., a North Carolina non-profit corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “Partnership” ); NASH COUNTY , a body politic of the State of North Carolina (the “ County ” and together with the Partnership, sometimes referred to herein as the “ Inducing Parties ”); the CITY OF ROCKY MOUNT , NORTH CAROLINA, a North Carolina municipal corporation (the “ City ”); NASH COUNTY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY , a North Carolina non-profit corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “ Authority ”); and THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY BAKERY INCORPORATED, a California corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “ Company ”).

W I T N E S S E T H

          WHEREAS, the City and County seek to promote economic growth and development within their jurisdictions and the social and economic improvement of their citizens; and

          WHEREAS, the Partnership is a non-profit corporation organized for the purpose, in part, of accelerating the quality and quantity of economic growth and employment opportunities in Nash and Edgecombe Counties by inducing the location in the region of business enterprises satisfying the aforementioned purpose and thereby reducing physical, economic, and social distress resulting from unemployment and underemployment existing therein; and

          WHEREAS, the Authority is a non-profit corporation organized under the aegis of County which owns the Whitaker Business and Industry Center (“Whitaker Center”) and promotes the use of the Whitaker Center for business and economic development to improve the economic health of Nash County, North Carolina; and


          WHEREAS, the Partnership and local governmental officials in Nash County have entered into negotiations with the Company to induce and cause the Company to locate a manufacturing/distribution facility in Nash County, North Carolina; and

          WHEREAS, other communities have offered attractive inducements attempting to induce Company to locate the manufacturing/distribution facility in those communities; and

          WHEREAS, Company considered the location of its operations in other communities if it were unable to obtain the cooperation and assistance of the Nash County and Rocky Mount communities for the acquisition and development of the facility; and

          WHEREAS, in consideration of the commitments of the Inducing Parties herein and other commitments flowing to the Company from the Nash County and Rocky Mount communities, the Company has agreed to locate a commercial bakery and warehousing and distribution facility in Nash County, North Carolina in the existing Shell Building No. IV located on the 15.82-acre tract in the Whitaker Center described on Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference (the “ Facility ”); and

          WHEREAS, the Company will acquire the Facility and make certain additional improvements to it and use it for its manufacturing/distribution operations for a period as specified herein; and

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          WHEREAS, the operations of the Company are expected to provide a number of new job opportunities for the citizens of the region and to create a significant increase in the tax base of Nash County; and

          WHEREAS, Company has agreed to locate its new manufacturing/distribution facility in Nash County, North Carolina in partial consideration of the Inducing Parties’ transferring the Facility to the Company and participating in the expenses of improvement, expansion, upfitting and equipping of the Facility for the location there of the Company’s operations; and

          WHEREAS, it is projected by the Company that the Company’s operations in Nash County, North Carolina will create 300 new permanent full-time jobs by December 31, 2010, and an aggregate 500 new permanent full-time jobs by December 31, 2012, and that new capital investment by the Company for the improvement, expansion, upfitting and equipping of the Facility will be at least $12,000,000.00 by December 31, 2008, and $17,000,000.00 by December 31, 2012; and

          WHEREAS, Company will endeavor to offer at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the newly-created jobs to persons, who, to the best of Company’s ability to determine within the constraints of laws, qualify as low or moderate income persons (as defined by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development) or to females, minorities or other legally protected class members (as defined by federal, state or local employment discrimination statutes and regulations), and the average weekly wage for at least forty percent (40%) of Company’s employees at the Facility will be paid an annual wage calculated pursuant to this Inducement Agreement that equals or exceeds the Specified Average Wage, as hereinafter defined; and

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          WHEREAS, the individual and corporate citizens of the region served by the Partnership have deemed the inducement of operations such as that contemplated by Company for the Facility to be of such importance that they have contributed or have agreed to contribute sums to the Partnership which will render it possible for such companies like Company to be granted a contribution in aid for the acquisition, improvement, expansion, upfitting and equipping of its facilities, which in this case will induce and enable the Company to promptly acquire, improve, expand, upfit and equip the Facility for its operations in Nash County, North Carolina, thereby providing an opportunity to create a number of new jobs in furtherance of the primary public purpose of the Partnership, which is to reduce unemployment, and which will, in addition, increase the Nash County tax base,

           NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE FOREGOING, THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

          1.     Within sixty thirty 60 days following the execution hereof, the Inducing Parties shall participate in the acquisition, improvement, expansion, upfitting and equipping of the Facility for the Company’s manufacturing/distribution operations in Nash County, North Carolina by the following (the “ Inducements ”):            

          a.  the County shall transfer to the Company at no cost the Facility, consisting of Shell Building No. IV and the 15.82-acre parcel on which it sits, all as described on Exhibit A attached hereto and which has an agreed value of $1,500,000.00 ( the “County Land Inducement” ); and

          b.  the County shall participate in the improvement, expansion, upfitting and equipping of the Facility by paying the Company a cash inducement of $500,000.00 ( the “Initial County Cash Inducement” ); and

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          c.  the Partnership shall participate in the improvement, expansion, upfitting and equipping of the Facility by paying the Company or others on behalf of the company a total cash inducement of $250,000 (the “ Partnership Inducement ”).

          In addition to the Initial County Cash Inducement, the County shall pay the Company an annual cash inducement of $10,000.00 for five (5) years on July 1 in each year beginning July 1, 2006, and continuing through July 1, 2010 ( the “Annual County Cash Inducements ”), provided, however, that the County shall have no obligation to pay any Annual County Cash Inducement on any payment date if the Company has not satisfied all of its obligations to be performed hereunder as of such date.  If the Company shall not have satisfied its obligations hereunder as of any payment date but shall satisfy all obligations of the Company to have been satisfied as of a subsequent payment date, all unpaid Annual County Cash Inducements which would have been paid as of such date shall be paid.  No Annual County Cash Inducements shall be paid after July 1, 2010.

          In no event shall either of the Inducing Parties have any liability for payment of the portion of the Inducements to be paid or delivered by the other Inducing Party.

          2.     From the date of this Agreement through December 31, 2012 (the “ Certification Period ”), Company shall establish and at all times maintain a manufacturing/distribution operation in the Facility, and Company shall make new capital expenditures for the acquisition, expansion, improvement, upfitting and equipping of the Facility totaling an aggregate of at least $12,000,000.00 by December 31, 2008 and of at least $17,000,000.00 by December 31, 2012 (the “ Target Expenditures ”).  Target Expenditures shall include only those capital expenditures made at the Facility by Company.  Also, by December 31, 2010, the Company will employ and

5


maintain in employment at least 300 permanent full-time employees not less than 40% of whom shall be paid an average wage that equals or exceeds the hereinafter defined Specified Average Wage, and by the end of the Certification Period on December 31, 2012, Company will employ and maintain in employment at least 500 such permanent full-time employees not less than 40% of whom shall be paid an average wage that equals or exceeds the hereinafter defined Specified Average Wage (the “ Target Employment ”).  Target Employment shall include only those jobs created by Company which arise from or relate to the manufacturing/distribution operations in the Facility.  Further, Company shall endeavor to offer at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the newly-created jobs to persons, who, to the best of Company’s ability to determine within the constraints of laws, qualify as low or moderate income persons or to females, minorities or other legally protected class members, as those terms were previously defined.  For purposes of this agreement, “capital expenditures” shall be such expenditures as are treated as capital expenditures according to generally accepted accounting principles and which shall be subject to ad valorem taxes by the County; “permanent full-time employees” shall mean permanent full-time employees at the Facility for the manufacturing/distribution operation; “Specified Average Wage” shall equal or exceed mean the average weekly wage for covered employees as defined by the Employment Security Commission in Nash County, North Carolina (or its successor)  based on the latest available annualized data for employees in the Company’s NAICS classification; “Facility” shall mean the Facility described on Exhibit A or any replacement facilities in Nash County, North Carolina approved by the Inducing Parties; and the “average weekly wage” for the Company’s employees shall be derived from adding all wages, salaries and benefits of all hourly and salaried employees, and dividing that number by total employment, with the salary, wages and benefits for each employee to include basic hourly wage or salary, plus overtime pay, benefits and bonuses.

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          3.     Company shall furnish to the Partnership and County on January 31, 2009, a written certification as to Company’s actual capital expenditures made through December 31, 2008, in whole or in part on the Facility.  If Company shall fail to meet the incremental goals for Target Expenditures as of December 31, 2008, Company shall pay the Inducing Parties the sum of $250,000.00 (the “ Interim Expenditures Repayment Amount ”).  Company shall furnish to the Partnership and County on January 31, 2011, a written certification as to Company’s actual employment through December 31, 2010, in whole or in part on the Facility.  If Company shall fail to meet the incremental goals for Target Employment as of December 31, 2010, Company shall pay the Inducing Parties the sum of $250,000.00 (the “ Interim Employment Repayment Amount ”).

          To determine whether Company has satisfied its full obligations hereunder, Company shall furnish to the Partnership and County on January 31, 2013, a written certification as to Company’s actual capital expenditures during the Certification Period made in whole or in part on the Facility, and as to Company’s maximum employment figure of permanent, full-time employees arising from or related to its manufacturing/distribution operations in the Facility at the Specified Average Wage, all as set forth herein.  In addition, Company shall further certify to the Partnership and County that it has continuously operated a manufacturing/distribution business in the Facility at all times since initiation of operations in the Facility following the execution and delivery hereof.  Company shall not be required to certify to the Partnership or County actual capital expenditures or employment figures above Target Expenditures or Target Employment.  If at the conclusion of the Certification Period, Company has attained the Target

7


Expenditures and attained and maintained the Target Employment and maintained its manufacturing/distribution operations in the Facility at all times since the execution hereof and Company certifies such to the Partnership at the end of the Certification Period, the Company shall be entitled to retain the Inducements paid and the Inducing Parties shall repay to the Company the Interim Expenditures Repayment Amount and Interim Employment Repayment Amount paid by the Company to the Inducing Parties.  Subject to the following proviso, if at the conclusion of the Certification Period, Company has failed to reach the Target Expenditures or to reach and maintain Target Employment or to continuously maintain a manufacturing/distribution operation in the Facility, the Company shall repay the full amount of the Inducements paid to the Company to the Inducing Parties without demand.  However, if at the conclusion of the Certification Period, Company has at all times maintained a manufacturing/distribution operation in the Facility and Company has achieved any portion less than one hundred percent (100%) of Target Expenditures or Target Employment, then the repayment shall be the same percentage of the total Inducements of $2,450,000.00 as the larger percentage of Company’s unfulfilled obligations as measured by comparing the ratios of (i) actual capital expenditures to the Target Expenditures and (ii) actual permanent, full-time employment to the Target Employment.  Any repayments made pursuant to the terms of this Paragraph 3 shall be without interest prior to its due date and shall represent the Inducing Parties’ sole and exclusive remedy hereunder.  The certification to be furnished by Company hereunder shall be signed and verified by an officer of Company and by an independent certified public accounting firm.

          4.     Following attainment and satisfactory certification of attainment of the goals of Target Employment, Target Expenditures and maintenance of its manufacturing/distribution operations at the Facility pursuant to Paragraph 3 above, the Company shall maintain its

8


manufacturing/distribution operation at the Facility and maintain a level of employment equal to an average of at least 450 permanent, full-time employees at least forty percent (not less than 40%) of whom shall be paid an average wage that equals or exceeds the Specified Average Wage until the expiration of ten (10) years from the date on which the Facility is placed into use for production (the “ Continuation Goals ”).  The Company shall certify its attainment of the Continuation Goals within thirty (30) days following the end of the ten-year period, such certification to be signed and verified by an officer of Company and by an independent certified public accounting firm.  If at any time following the end of the Certification Period and prior to the end of the ten-year period, the Company shall fail to maintain its manufacturing/distribution operations at the Facility, the Company shall immediately upon demand pay the Inducing Parties the sum of $500,000.00; if at the time the Company shall fail to maintain its manufacturing/distribution operations at the Facility or at the end of such ten-year period (in either event, the “ Applicable Time ”), the Company fails to maintain the Continuation Goal relating to employment and to provide the certification of its attainment of such Continuation Goal as specified, the Company shall immediately upon demand pay the Inducing Parties the same percentage of the total Inducements of $2,450,000.00 as the percentage of Company’s unfulfilled employment obligation as measured by comparing the ratios of actual permanent, full-time employment at the Specified Average Wage at the Applicable Time to the employment Continuation Goal of 450 employees.  For example, if at the Applicable Time, the Company has only 400 employees, its unfulfilled employment Continuation Goal obligation is 50/450, which is 11.11%; the repayment should be 11.11% of $2,450,000.00 or $272,195.00. Any repayment made pursuant to the terms of this paragraph shall be without interest prior to its due date and shall represent the Inducing Parties’ sole and exclusive remedy with respect to the Continuation Goals. 

9


          5.     In consideration of the Company’s undertakings herein and the provisions of this Paragraph 5, the Authority joins herein to grant and does hereby grant to the Company the right and option (the “Option”) to purchase the 15-acre parcel located in the Park adjacent to the Facility and being more fully described on Exhibit B attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference (the “ Option Property ”).  Such Option may be exercised at any time on or before December 31, 2012, by written notice to the Authority, provided that at the time the Option is exercised, Company shall have performed all obligations to be performed by Company hereunder as of the time of exercise of the option.  Within thirty (30) days after Company’s exercise of the Option, the Authority shall convey the Option Property to the Company by special warranty deed.  Within twelve (12) months after the conveyance of the Option Property, Company shall construct improvements on the Property with a fair market value of costing no less than $150,000.00, which is the fair market value of the Option Property on the date hereof.  Such improvements shall be funded by expenditures treated as capital expenditures according to generally accepted accounting principles and such improvements shall be subject to ad valorem taxes by the County.  If Company shall fail to complete the improvements within such twelve-month period or if Company shall fail to meet the goals of Target Employment and Target Expenditures and the Continuation Goals, Company shall upon demand pay Authority the sum of $150,000.00.  Additionally, if the completed improvements shall be found to have an assessed tax value of less than $150,000.00, then the Company shall upon demand pay the Authority the difference between the assessed tax value and $150,000.00.

10


          6.     Any delay in the performance of any of the duties or obligations of Company hereunder shall not be considered a breach of this Agreement and the time required for performance shall be extended for a period equal to the period of such delay, provided that such delay has been caused by or is the result of any acts of God; acts of the public enemy; insurrections; riots; embargoes; labor disputes, including strikes, lockouts, job actions, or boycotts; shortages of materials or energy; fires; explosions; floods; changes in laws governing international trade; or other unforeseeable causes beyond the control and without the fault or negligence of Company.  Company shall give prompt notice to the Partnership of such cause, and shall take whatever reasonable steps are necessary to relieve the effect of such cause as rapidly as possible.  No such event shall excuse the payment of any sums due and payable hereunder on the due date thereof except any payment due upon the failure of any act or event for which delayed performance is excused as provided above.

          7.     Company shall make a commercially reasonable effort as legally possible to assure that a majority of its employees are persons who certify to Company at the time of their hiring that they have been residents of Nash, Edgecombe, Halifax, Wilson, Northampton or Franklin Counties for at least 12 months prior to their hiring. 

          8.     This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, subject to the following, proviso: any successor or assign of the Company shall expressly assume the obligations of the Company hereunder, subject to all the limitations herein, including without limitation the obligations relating to the maintenance of a manufacturing/distribution operation in the Facility.  No assignment shall relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder.

11


          9.     Any payment not made hereunder when due shall bear interest at the legal rate from the due date until paid.  If any legal action or other proceeding shall be instituted for the collection of any sums or the performance of any other obligations hereunder, the prevailing party in any such action or proceeding shall be entitled to the recovery of its reasonable attorneys’ fees.

          10.     Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Inducing Parties shall have no obligation to transfer and pay the Inducements to the Company until the payment of their respective portions of such Inducements to be paid by the County have been approved as deemed necessary by counsel to the County following a public hearing or hearings in accordance with all applicable law.  The County agrees to exercise its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the necessary approvals of the payment of the Inducements.  If the Inducing Parties are unable to obtain such necessary approvals within sixty (60) days from the date hereof, any of the parties hereto shall have the right to terminate this Agreement and the parties shall have no further obligations hereunder.

          11.     The Partnership further agrees to exercise its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Company to receive the benefit of up to an additional $425,000.00 in grants from other local, state and federal governmental agencies and instrumentalities, including a North Carolina Eastern Region Flex Grant of $25,000.00, a Golden LEAF grant of $250,000, and a Rural Center grant of $85,400.  The Flex Grant, which is set to expire on May 31, 2005, is given at the time of a public announcement and can be used at the company’s discretion.  If received, the $250,000 Golden LEAF grant would be used to help with the purchase of a pre-treatment facility, and any remaining funds would go toward the electric generator.  If received, the $84,500 Rural Center grant would be used to help with the purchase of a water booster pump and a backflow valve.

12


          12.      The City intends to provide and own a generator that supplies back-up emergency power and for load management purposes at such time as the company’s usage will allow.  The company shall be responsible for making the generator PURPA qualified.  The City would have ownership of the pre-treatment equipment if the grants so dictate.  If the grants do not dictate so, then the pre-treatment equipment is to be acquired, installed, operated, and owned by the company with reimbursement from the recipient of the grant.

          The Company acknowledges that the Inducing Parties do not control such funds and that the Inducing Parties shall have no liability to the Company if the grant funds are not available or if the Company is not granted any of such funds.

          13.     In addition to the Inducements described hereinabove, the City joins herein to evidence its agreement to provide special additional incentives to Company (the “ City Incentives ”).  The Company has agreed to purchase water, sewer, gas and electrical utilities from the City for use at the Facility, and, in consideration of Company’s undertakings herein, provided that  (a) the City shall have installed and currently maintains in use at the time of payment a properly-sized, PURPA-qualified, peak-load/stand-by electric generator, (b) the Company shall have commenced and currently continues its operations in the Facility at the time of payment and (c) the Company shall have entered into and currently maintains in effect at the time of payment an electric service agreement with the City with a contract demand of 1800 kilowatts, then, at such time as Company has achieved a minimum 1800 kilowatt demand and a minimum of 900,000 kilowatt hours of electrical service per month, (collectively, the “ Utility Usage Goal ”), or such other amounts and usages as the City and Company may mutually agree, the City shall pay Company a City Incentive of $60,000.00, and thereafter the City shall pay Company a City Incentive of $60,000.00 for each successive period of at least twelve months in

13


which the average monthly electric service utility usage equals or exceeds the Utility Usage Goal.  The maximum City Incentives shall be $300,000.00, and such City Incentives shall be earned no later than December 31, 2012.  The first period of at least twelve months following the month for which the first City Incentive is paid shall not include such first month in which the Utility Usage Goal is attained, and the successive periods of at least twelve months can not include any of the same months.  The City shall retain ownership of the electric generator described in (a) of this Paragraph 11.

          14.     This Agreement shall be deemed a contract entered into, delivered and made in the State of North Carolina, United States of America, and it shall be governed, construed, interpreted and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina, notwithstanding the principles of conflicts of law.

          15.     Time is of the essence in the performance of the parties’ respective obligations hereunder.

          16.     This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which, when taken together, constitute one and the same document.  The signature of any party to any counterpart shall be deemed a signature to, and may be appended to, any other counterpart.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart.  Any party so executing this Agreement by facsimile transmission shall promptly deliver a manually executed counterpart, provided that any failure to do so shall not affect the validity of the counterpart executed by facsimile transmission.

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          17.     All notices hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by delivery in person, by placing the notice in the U. S. mail, postage prepaid, and mailing the same by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by mailing through a recognized national overnight courier (e.g., Federal Express), postage prepaid, in either addressed to the party to receive notice as follows:

 

If to the County:

Bob Murphy, County Manager

 

 

Nash County

 

 

120 W. Washington Street

 

 

Nashville, NC 27856

 

 

Ph:  (252) 459-9800

 

 

 

 

If to the Partnership:

John R. Gessaman, President and CEO

 

 

Carolinas Gateway Partnership

 

 

427 Falls Road

 

 

Rocky Mount, NC 27804

 

 

Ph:  (252) 442-0114

 

 

 

 

If to the Company:

Keith Carango, Vice President

 

 

The Cheesecake Factory

 

 

26950 Agoura Road

 

 

Calabasas Hills, CA 91301

 

 

Ph:  (818) 871-3000

 

 

 

 

 

Debbie Zarzulo, General Counsel

 

 

The Cheesecake Factory

 

 

26950 Agoura Road

 

 

Calabasas Hills, CA 91301

 

 

Ph:  (818)  871-3080

 

 

 

 

If to the City:

Steve Raper, City Manager

 

 

City of Rocky Mount

 

 

One Governmental Plaza

 

 

Rocky Mount, NC 27804

 

 

Ph:  (252) 972-1325

 

 

 

 

If to the Authority:

Jimmie D. Smith, Jr., President

 

 

Nash County Business Development Authority

 

 

427 Falls Road

 

 

Rocky Mount, NC 27804

 

 

Ph:  (252) 442-0114

          Notices shall be deemed given and received on the date when delivered in person, three days after being placed in the U.S. mails and one day after being placed in the custody of an overnight courier.  Any party may give notice of the change of address by giving such notice in accordance with the terms hereof.

[The signatures are on the following page.]

15


           IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have hereunto affixed their hands and seals to multiple counterpart originals which collectively shall constitute a single instrument effective as of the day and year first written above.

 

 

T HE C AROLINAS G ATEWAY P ARTNERSHIP , I NC .

 

 

 

 

 

BY:

/s/ J OHN G ESSAMAN

 

 

 


 

 

 

President

 

 

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ C.R. H ARRELL

 

 

 


 

 

 

Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(CORPORATE SEAL)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N ASH C OUNTY

 

 

 

 

 

BY:

/s/ J. C LAUDE M AYO , J R .

 

 

 


 

 

 

Chairman of Commissioners

ATTEST:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ W AYNE M OORE

 

 

 


 

 

 

Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(CORPORATE SEAL)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T HE C HEESECAKE F ACTORY B AKERY I NCORPORATED

 

 

 

 

 

BY:

/s/ D AVID O VERTON

 

 

 


 

 

 

President

 

 

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ D EBBY R. Z URZOLO

 

 

 


 

 

 

Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(CORPORATE SEAL)

 

 

 

16


 

 

N ASH C OUNTY B USINESS D EVELOPMENT A UTHORITY

 

 

 

 

 

BY:

/s/ G ARY R. G LISSON

 

 

 


 

 

 

Vice President

 

 

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ S HARON B. A RMSTRONG

 

 

 


 

 

 

Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(CORPORATE SEAL)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T HE C ITY OF R OCKY M OUNT , N ORTH C AROLINA

 

 

 

 

 

BY:

/s/ F REDERICK E. T RUNAGE

 

 

 


 

 

 

Mayor

 

 

 

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ J EAN M. B AILEY

 

 

 


 

 

 

City Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(CORPORATE SEAL)

 

 

 

STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

          I, Shari Conrad, a Notary Public of the State and County aforesaid, certify that David Overton personally came before me this day and acknowledged that he is President of THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY BAKERY INCORPORATED , a California corporation, and that by authority duly given and as the act of the corporation, the foregoing instrument was signed in its name by its President, sealed with its corporate seal, and attested by Debby R. Zurzolo as its Secretary.

          Witness my hand and official stamp or seal, this 27th day of July, 2005.

 

/s/ S HARI C ONRAD

 


 

Notary Public

 

 

My commission expires: 5/20/09

 

17


(NOTARY SEAL)

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF EDGECOMBE

          I, Marianne J. Taylor, a Notary Public of the State and County aforesaid, certify that Charlie R. Harrell personally came before me this day and acknowledged that he is Secretary of THE CAROLINAS GATEWAY PARTNERSHIP, INC., a North Carolina non-profit corporation, and that by authority duly given and as the act of the corporation, the foregoing instrument was signed in its name by its President, sealed with its corporate seal, and attested by himself as its Secretary.

          Witness my hand and official stamp or seal, this 1st day of August, 2005.

 

/s/ M ARIANNE J. T AYLOR

 


 

Notary Public

My commission expires: 3-31-09

(NOTARY SEAL)

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF NASH

          I, Catryna Johnson, a Notary Public of the State and County aforesaid, certify that Wayne Moore personally came before me this day and acknowledged that he is Clerk of the Board of Commissioners of NASH COUNTY , a body politic of the state of North Carolina, and that by authority duly given and as the act of the said Nash County, the foregoing instrument was signed in its name by the Chairman of its Board of Commissioners, sealed with its corporate seal, and attested by his self as its County Clerk.

          Witness my hand and official stamp or seal, this 1st day of August, 2005.

 

/s/ C ATRYNA J OHNSON

 


 

Notary Public

My commission expires: 4-17-10

(NOTARY SEAL)

18


STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF NASH

          I, Marianne J. Taylor, a Notary Public of the State and County aforesaid, certify that Sharon B. Armstrong personally came before me this day and acknowledged that she is Secretary of NASH COUNTY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY , a North Carolina non-profit corporation, and that by authority duly given and as the act of the corporation, the foregoing instrument was signed in its name by its Vice President, sealed with its corporate seal, and attested by herself as its Secretary.

          Witness my hand and official stamp or seal, this 1st day of August, 2005.

 

/s/ M ARIANNE J. T AYLOR

 


 

Notary Public

My commission expires: 3-31-09

(NOTARY SEAL)

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF NASH

          I, Frances M. Tripp, a Notary Public of the State and County aforesaid, certify that Jean M. Bailey personally came before me this day and acknowledged that she is City Clerk of CITY OF ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA, a North Carolina municipal corporation, and that by authority duly given and as the act of the said City, the foregoing instrument was signed in its name by the Mayor, sealed with its corporate seal, and attested by herself as its City Clerk.

          Witness my hand and official stamp or seal, this 29th day of July, 2005.

 

/s/ F RANCES M. T RIPP

 


 

Notary Public

My commission expires: July 27, 2007

(NOTARY SEAL)

19


EXHIBIT A

DESCRIPTION OF FACILITY

          Shell Building No. IV, containing approximately 100,000 square feet located in the Whitaker Business and Industry Center, the said building being located on the following parcel:

Facility (Shell Building No. IV and 15.82-acre parcel)

          Being Lot 2B as shown on plat entitled “Major Final Plat – Section 3, Whitaker Business and Industry Center”, by Joyner, Keeny & Associates, dated March 16, 1999, and recorded in Plat Book 28, Pages 104 and 105, Nash County Registry.


EXHIBIT B

DESCRIPTION OF OPTION PROPERTY

Option Property

          Being Lot 3B as shown on plat entitled “Major Final Plat – Section 3, Whitaker Business and Industry Center”, by Joyner, Keeny & Associates, dated March 16, 1999, and recorded in Plat Book 28, Pages 104 and 105, Nash County Registry.