Exhibit b(1)
Bank One, NA
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May 18, 2000
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Inc.
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Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Vice President Finance & CFO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Bank One, NA (the "Lender") is pleased to agree, subject to the terms and
conditions of this letter agreement, to make a term loan (the "Term Loan") to
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Inc., a New York corporation (the "Borrower") in the aggregate
principal amount of $40,000,000, which Term Loan will be made in a single
advance on or prior to May 23, 2000 and would mature on the earlier of (i) July
31, 2000 and (ii) the date on which the Borrower incurs indebtedness for
borrowed money (other than pursuant to this letter agreement or the Note (as
hereinafter defined)) in excess of $10,000,000 (such earlier date being herein
called the "Maturity Date").
(a) The Term Loan will be evidenced and governed by the Lender's standard
form of master note (the "Note"), a copy of which is attached hereto. The
Borrower may from time to time in accordance with the terms and conditions of
this letter agreement and the Note request that the Term Loan or portions
thereof bear interest at either of the following interest rate options:
(i) a rate equal to the prime rate of interest announced from time to time
by the Lender' or its parent (which is not necessarily the lowest rate
charged to any customer), changing when and as the prime rate changes, with
interest payable on the last day of each month, on the Maturity Date, and
on demand thereafter (the portion of the Term Loan bearing interest at the
prime rate being referred to herein as a "Floating Rate Loan"); or
(ii) subject to availability and for an interest period to be agreed upon,
at such fixed rate as the Borrower and the Lender may mutually agree upon
from time to time (the portion of the Term Loan bearing interest at a fixed
rate being referred to herein as a "Fixed Rate Loan").
(b) It is understood and agreed that any portion of the Term Loan that is
prepaid may not be reborrowed. No interest period or maturity of any Fixed Rate
Loan hereunder shall extend beyond the Maturity Date. Interest and fees will be
computed on the basis of actual days elapsed
on a 360-day year basis.
(c) The Borrower will pay the Lender a non-refundable upfront fee in the
amount of $25,000, such fee to be payable on the date the Term Loan is funded
and to be applied toward payment of the arrangement fee required to be paid
pursuant to that certain fee letter dated May 18, 2000 from the Lender and Banc
One Capital Markets, Inc. to the Borrower.
(d) The Borrower will use the proceeds of the Term Loan for general
corporate purposes.
(e) Prior to the date on which the Term Loan shall be made, the Borrower
will provide the Lender with an appropriate corporate resolution, an incumbency
certificate and an opinion of counsel, in each case in form and substance
satisfactory to the Lender.
(f) The Borrower will at all times maintain consolidated stockholders'
equity (calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (as hereinafter
defined) on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles) of not less than $188,000,000.
(g) The Lender shall have no obligation to make the Term Loan hereunder
(and the Term Loan and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon may, at the
option of the Lender, be declared immediately due and payable without notice)
if: (i) there is any failure by the Borrower to pay any principal, interest,
fees or other obligations when due under this letter agreement, the Note or any
other agreement or arrangement with the Lender, (ii) there exists any default
under the Note or any violation or failure to comply with any provision of this
letter agreement or the Note, (iii) there occurs any material adverse change in
the condition or results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, since the date of the quarterly financial statements most
recently delivered to the Lender prior to the date of this letter agreement,
(iv) any litigation is pending or threatened against the Borrower or any
Subsidiary which might have a material adverse effect on the financial condition
or results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
(v) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to pay when due any indebtedness
in excess of $5,000,000 (including but not limited to indebtedness for borrowed
money), or any such indebtedness shall become due and payable, or shall be
capable of becoming due and payable at the option of any holder thereof, by
acceleration of its maturity, in each case, as the result of any default by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary under any agreement relating to such indebtedness,
(vi) any petition is filed by or against the Borrower or any Subsidiary under
the Federal Bankruptcy Code or similar state law, or (vii) the Borrower or any
Subsidiary becomes insolvent, howsoever evidenced. "Subsidiary" means (i) any
corporation if more than 50% of the outstanding securities having ordinary
voting power owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Borrower or by
one or more of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) any partnership, association, joint
venture or similar business organization if more than 50% of the ownership
interests having ordinary voting power are so owned or controlled; provided
that, for purposes hereof, Kreativ, Incorporated shall not be deemed to be a
Subsidiary. The Lender may require a certificate of compliance with these
conditions from the Borrower's Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer as a
condition to making the Term Loan hereunder.
(h) The Lender may make assignments and sell participations in the Term
Loan (or any portion thereof), and may disclose information pertaining to the
Borrower to prospective assignees and participants. Any such assignment may be
made only with the Borrower's consent (which consent will not unreasonably be
withheld).
(i) This letter agreement shall be effective as of the date first above
written when the Borrower has signed and returned to the Lender a copy of this
letter agreement.
(i) THIS LETTER AGREEMENT AND THE NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL
LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. BOTH PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY
IN THE EVENT THIS LETTER AGREEMENT OR THE NOTE BECOMES THE SUBJECT OF A DISPUTE.
Very truly yours,
BANK, ONE, NA
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Title: Vice President
Accepted and Agreed:
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Title: Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
