-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, FDRBA3OmPJL+zlL9TcQf50Ag5DznW9qJ7eOCPVrpMQqflIRUq2Dz1zaHmgXSjMEk v260QkOqZFvaZ4jMyUHwhw== /in/edgar/work/0000950131-00-005485/0000950131-00-005485.txt : 20000928 0000950131-00-005485.hdr.sgml : 20000928 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950131-00-005485 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20000921 ITEM INFORMATION: ITEM INFORMATION: FILED AS OF DATE: 20000926 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GLOBE HOLDINGS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000866395 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: [3060 ] IRS NUMBER: 042017769 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-64669 FILM NUMBER: 728780 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 456 BEDFORD STREET CITY: FALL RIVER STATE: MA ZIP: 02720 BUSINESS PHONE: 5086743585 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 456 BEDFORD STREET CITY: FALL RIVER STATE: MA ZIP: 02720 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GLOBE MANUFACTURING CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001071094 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: [3060 ] IRS NUMBER: 631101362 STATE OF INCORPORATION: AL FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-64675 FILM NUMBER: 728781 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 456 BEDFORD STREET CITY: FALL RIVER STATE: MA ZIP: 02720 8-K 1 0001.txt FORM 8-K SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 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): September 21, 2000 GLOBE HOLDINGS, INC. GLOBE MANUFACTURING CORP. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Massachusetts 333-64669 04-2017769 Alabama 333-64675 63-1101362 - ---------------------------- ------------------------ --------------------------------- (State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.) of incorporation) 456 Bedford Street, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 456 Bedford Street, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720 - --------------------------------------------- ------------ (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (508) 674-3585 (508) 674-3585 -------------- This Instrument contains 4 pages. Item 5. Other Events Global Holdings, Inc., Globe Manufacturing Corp. (together, the "Company"), Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative Agent and the lenders named therein have entered into a Third Forbearance Agreement dated as of September 15, 2000 (the "Forbearance Agreement"). Pursuant to the Forbearance Agreement, the Company's senior lenders have agreed not to exercise remedies available to them during the forbearance period as a result of the Company's non-compliance with certain covenant and payment requirements of the bank credit agreement. Effective October 2, 2000, Kevin T. Cardullo will begin serving as the Company's Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Finance and Information Technology, and Alan Teixeira will begin serving as Vice President, Human Resources and Administration. Item 7. Exhibits 10.1 Third Forbearance Agreement dated as of September 15, 2000 by and among Globe Manufacturing Corp., Globe Holdings, Inc., Bank of America, N.A., and certain other lenders. 99.1 Press release dated September 21, 2000. 2 SIGNATURE 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. GLOBE HOLDINGS, INC. Dated: September 26, 2000 By: /s/ Kevin T. Cardullo --------------------------- Assistant Vice President, Finance and Accounting GLOBE MANUFACTURING CORP. Dated: September 26, 2000 By: /s/ Kevin T. Cardullo --------------------------- Assistant Vice President, Finance and Accounting 3 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Description 10.1 Third Forbearance Agreement dated as of September 15, 2000 by and among Globe Manufacturing Corp., Globe Holdings, Inc., Bank of America, N.A., and certain other lenders. 99.1 Press release dated September 21, 2000. 4 EX-10.1 2 0002.txt THIRD FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT DATED 09/15/2000 Exhibit 10.1 THIRD FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT THIRD FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT, dated as of September 15, 2000 (the "Agreement") to the Credit Agreement, dated as of July 31, 1998 (as heretofore amended and as may be further amended, restated, modified and supplemented from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among GLOBE MANUFACTURING CORP., an Alabama corporation (the "Borrower"), the several lenders from time to time party to the Credit Agreement (the "Lenders"), BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the "Agent"), GLOBE HOLDINGS, INC., a Massachusetts corporation ("Holdings"), and the other Guarantors identified in the Credit Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement. WHEREAS, the Borrower, Holdings, the Agent and the Lenders are party to that certain Forbearance Agreement dated as of July 17, 2000 (the "Forbearance Agreement"); and WHEREAS, pursuant to the Forbearance Agreement, the Agent and the Lenders agreed, inter alia, to forbear from exercising certain rights in respect of the Subject Defaults (as defined in the Forbearance Agreement) through September 15, 2000; and WHEREAS, the Borrower has informed the Agent that additional Events of Default may occur and continue as a result of the non-compliance by the Borrower with the financial covenants contained in Sections 8.08, 8.09 and 8.16 of the Credit Agreement for the period ended September 30, 2000 and Section 8.10 of the Credit Agreement from September 16, 2000 through December 31, 2000 (collectively, the "Covenant Defaults"); and WHEREAS, the Borrower has informed the Agent that it may not be able to make the interest payments due on the Loans during the Forbearance Period (as hereinafter defined) (the "Interest Default" and together with the Subject Defaults and Covenant Defaults, the "New Specified Defaults"); and WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders and the Agent forbear from exercising certain rights in respect of the New Specified Defaults, and the Agent and the Lenders have agreed to do so on the terms contained herein. NOW, THEREFORE, for valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and subject to the fulfillment of the conditions set forth below, the parties hereto agree as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Forbearance Provisions. ---------------------- (a) The Agent, the Lenders, the Borrower and each of the Guarantors hereby acknowledge the occurrence and continuance of each of the Subject Defaults which have occurred and are continuing. The Borrower and each of the Guarantors agree that during the pendency of the Forbearance Period and so long as any Default or Event of Default remains in effect (including any New Specified Defaults), the Borrower shall not request, and the Lenders shall not be obligated to make or issue, any new Loan or any new Letter of Credit; provided, that any Loan outstanding as of the Effective Date (as herein defined) may only be converted to or continued as a Base Rate Loan. (b) The Agent and the Lenders agree to forbear from taking any action permitted to be taken by them under the Credit Agreement with respect to all New Specified Defaults for the period of time commencing on the Effective Date and terminating on the Termination Date (as herein defined) (the "Forbearance Period"); provided, however, that such forbearance shall extend only to the New Specified Defaults and not to any other Defaults or Events of Default now existing or occurring after the Effective Date and shall not in any way or manner restrict the Agent or the Lenders from exercising any rights or remedies they may have with respect to New Specified Defaults after the expiration or termination of the Forbearance Period or with respect to any other Default or Event of Default at any time. "Termination Date" shall mean the earliest to occur of any of the following events: (i) 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on December 31, 2000; (ii) the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default other than the New Specified Defaults; (iii) the Borrower's Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio shall be less than 1.12 to 1.0 for the rolling twelve-months ended September 30, 2000; (iv) the Borrower's Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall be no more than 12.93 to 1.0 at any time during the rolling twelve-months ended September 30, 2000; (v) the Borrower's Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be less than 0.660 to 1.0 for the rolling twelve-months ended September 30, 2000; and (vi) the Borrower's failure to comply with any of the provisions of this Agreement; (c) Subject to the terms hereof, the Borrower, each of the Guarantors, the Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that, notwithstanding the first sentence of Section 2.09(c) of the Credit Agreement and in order to induce the Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Agreement, during the Forbearance Period, interest on each Loan outstanding as of the Effective Date shall, to the extent the Borrower has sufficient cash available, be paid on the last Business Day of each month. (d) Notwithstanding any provision in the Credit Agreement or the Loan Documents to the contrary, during the Forbearance Period, all fees which are payable under the Credit Agreement and the Loan Documents on a quarterly basis, 2 including, without limitation, the Commitment Fee and letter of credit fees, shall be payable on a monthly basis on the last Business Day of each month. SECTION 2. Additional Provisions. --------------------- (a) During the term of the Forbearance Period, the Borrower shall (i) cause its financial advisors to consult and review with the Agent's counsel's financial advisor, PricewaterhouseCoopers ("PWC"), the Borrower's capital expenditure program, (ii) employ additional financial staff (either through external hiring or continuing the retention of professionals from Rothschild or the Borrower's outside auditors) for the purposes of preparing financial and cash flow projections, (iii) provide PWC reasonable access to all of the Borrower's books of account, records and financial information, as well as reasonable access to the Borrower's financial officers and representatives for the purpose of evaluating the Borrower's business plan and financial restructuring plan, in a manner and scope satisfactory to the Agent, (iv) deliver to the Agent and the Lenders weekly flash reports (including rolling thirteen week cash flow projections) by no later than the third Business Day of the following week and (v) provide to the Agent and the Lenders on the last Business Day of each week a status report in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders regarding the sale process undertaken by the Borrower. (b) The Borrower shall have received, and provided copies to the Agent and the Lenders, the following items on the dates specified below: (i) by no later than September 29, 2000, a bona fide letter of intent for the purchase of the Borrower's assets or stock by a qualified prospective purchaser, (ii) by no later than November 15, 2000, a binding letter of intent from a qualified prospective purchaser for the sale of the Borrower's assets or stock, together with a written summary of the terms of such sale which summary of terms shall be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent and the Required Lenders, and (iii) by no later than December 15, 2000, the Borrower shall have executed a purchase and sale agreement having customary conditions in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent and the Required Lenders. (c) The Borrower, each of the Guarantors, the Agent and the Lenders agree that the Aggregate Revolving Commitment is hereby permanently and irrevocably reduced to $27,900,000. SECTION 3. Total Cash Disbursements. The Borrower agrees that it shall not permit "Total Cash Disbursements" as listed in the projections delivered to the Agent on September 7, 2000 for any month during the Forbearance Period, before giving effect to any interest payment scheduled to have been made during the Forbearance Period, to exceed 125% (the "Threshold") of the amount budgeted for such month except to the 3 extent that such amounts in excess of the Threshold can be attributed to short- term, i.e., 3 to 5 business days, timing issues. SECTION 4. Representations and Warranties. The Borrower and each of the Guarantors represents and warrants (which representations and warranties shall survive the execution and delivery hereof) to the Agent and Lenders that: (a) It has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and carry out the terms and provisions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and has taken or caused to be taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; (b) No consent of any person (including, without limitation, shareholders or creditors of the Borrower or any Guarantor), and no action of, or filing with any governmental or public body or authority is required to authorize, or is otherwise required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other instruments and documents contemplated hereby which has not been obtained; (c) This Agreement and the other instruments and documents contemplated hereby have been duly executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer on behalf of such party, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such party enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium and other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and the exercise of judicial discretion in accordance with general principles of equity; (d) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other instruments and documents contemplated hereby will not violate any law, statute or regulation, or any order or decree of any court or governmental instrumentality, or conflict with, or result in the breach of, or constitute a default under any contractual obligation of such party; (e) After giving effect to this Agreement, there does not exist any Default or Event of Default other than the Subject Defaults; and (f) After giving effect to this Agreement, the representations and warranties contained in the Credit Agreement and in the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Effective Date as if such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the Effective Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date). 4 SECTION 5. Conditions to Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective on the date (the "Effective Date") upon which the following conditions have been satisfied in full or waived by the Agent in writing: (i) The Agent shall have received in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel, counterparts of this Agreement executed by the Borrower, the Guarantors, and the Lenders and such other approvals or documents as the Agent may reasonably request; (ii) All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or otherwise made in writing to the Agent in connection herewith shall be true and correct in all material respects; (iii) No Default or Event of Default, other than the Subject Defaults, shall have occurred and be continuing; (iv) The Agent shall have received payment in full of all outstanding invoices for reasonable costs and expenses owing to the Agent and the Lenders in accordance with Section 12.04 of the Credit Agreement, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of (x) counsel to the Agent, (y) counsel to the individual Lenders and (z) the Agent's financial advisor; and (v) The Agent shall have received from the Borrower the sum of $400,000 to be applied as a prepayment of interest on account of the Loans. SECTION 6. Ratification; Waiver of Defenses. (a) The Credit Agreement and the Loan Documents remain in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and affirmed. The Borrower and each Guarantor hereby (i) confirms and agrees that the Borrower is truly and justly indebted to the Agent, the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the Cash Management Bank in the aggregate amount of the Obligations without defense, counterclaim or offset of any kind whatsoever; and (ii) reaffirms and admits the validity and enforceability of the Credit Agreement and the Loan Documents and the Liens in the Collateral which were granted pursuant to the Loan Documents and otherwise. (b) This Agreement shall be limited precisely as written and shall not be deemed (i) to be a consent granted pursuant to, or a waiver or modification of, any other term or condition of the Credit Agreement or any of the instruments or agreements referred to therein or a waiver of any Default or Event of Default under the Credit Agreement, whether or not known to the Agent or the Lenders or (ii) to prejudice any 5 other right or rights which the Agent or the Lenders may now have or have in the future under or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any of the instruments or agreements referred to therein. SECTION 7. References. All references to the Credit Agreement in the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document and the other documents and instruments delivered pursuant to or in connection therewith shall mean such Credit Agreement as modified hereby and as each may in the future be amended, restated, supplemented or modified from time to time. This Agreement shall constitute a Loan Document. SECTION 8. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto individually or in combination, in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page by telecopier shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart. SECTION 9. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. SECTION 10. Acknowledgement by Guarantors. Each of the Guarantors hereby acknowledges that it has read this Agreement and consents to the terms hereof and further confirms and agrees that, notwithstanding the effectiveness of this Agreement, (i) its obligations under its Guaranty shall not be impaired or affected and (ii) such Guaranty is, and shall continue to be, in full force and effect and is hereby confirmed and ratified in all respects. SECTION 11. Miscellaneous. The parties hereto shall, at any time and from time to time following the execution of this Agreement, execute and deliver all such further instruments and take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate in order to carry out the provisions of this Agreement. SECTION 12. Headings. Section headings in this Agreement are included herein for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement. [Signatures on Following Page] 6 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower, each Guarantor, the Lenders and the Agent have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers on the day and year first above written. GLOBE MANUFACTURING CORP. By: /s/ Richard F. Heitmiller ---------------------------- Name: Richard F. Heitmiller Title: Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer GLOBE HOLDINGS, INC. By: /s/ Richard F. Heitmiller ------------------------------ Name: Richard F. Heitmiller Title: Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent By: /s/ Liliana Claar ------------------------------ Name: Liliana Claar Title: Vice President BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Lender By: /s/ Jay T. Wampler ------------------------------- Name: Jay T. Wampler Title: Managing Director 7 MERRILL LYNCH CAPITAL CORPORATION By: ------------------------------------------ Name: Title: OAKTREE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC, as general partner of or investment manager for OCM Opportunities Fund III, L.P. and Columbia/HCA Master Retirement Trust (separate account) By: /s/ Phillip W. Otero ------------------------------------------ Name: Phillip W. Otero Title: Vice President By: /s/ Kenneth Liang ------------------------------------------ Name: Kenneth Liang Title: Managing Director & General Counsel BHF (USA) CAPITAL CORPORATION By: /s/ Christopher Ruzzi ------------------------------------------ Name: Christopher Ruzzi Title: Vice President By: /s/ Dana McDougall ------------------------------------------ Name: Dana McDougall Title: Vice President 8 CYPRESSTREE INSTITUTIONAL FUND, LLC By: CypressTree Investment Management Company, Inc., its Managing Manager By: --------------------------------------- Name: Jeffrey W. Heuer Title: Principal CYPRESSTREE INVESTMENT FUND, LLC By: CypressTree Investment Management Company, Inc., its Managing Manager By: --------------------------------------- Name: Jeffrey W. Heuer Title: Principal CYPRESSTREE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC. As: Attorney-in-Fact and on behalf of First Allmerica Financial Life Insurance Company as Portfolio Manager By: --------------------------------------- Name: Jeffrey W. Heuer Title: Principal CYPRESSTREE SENIOR FLOATING RATE FUND By: CypressTree Investment Management Company, Inc., as Portfolio Manager By: --------------------------------------- Name: Jeffrey W. Heuer Title: Principal 9 CYPRESSTREE INVESTMENT PARTNERS I LTD. By: CypressTree Investment Management Company, Inc., as Portfolio Manager By: --------------------------------------------- Name: Jeffrey W. Heuer Title: Principal NORTH AMERICAN SENIOR FLOATING RATE FUND By: CypressTree Investment Management Company, Inc., as Portfolio Manager By: --------------------------------------------- Name: Jeffrey W. Heuer Title: Principal EATON VANCE SENIOR INCOME TRUST By: Eaton Vance Management, as Investment Advisor By: /s/ Payson F. Swaffield --------------------------------------------- Name: Payson F. Swaffield Title: Vice President FIRST SOURCE FINANCIAL LLP By: First Source Financial Inc., its Agent/Manager By: /s/ Jeffrey A. Cerny --------------------------------------------- Name: Jeffrey A. Cerny Title: Vice President 10 FLEET NATIONAL BANK By: --------------------------------------------- Name: Title: HELLER FINANCIAL, INC. By: /s/ Hugh Wilder --------------------------------------------- Name: Hugh Wilder Title: Senior Vice President KZH - CYPRESSTREE-1 CORPORATION By: --------------------------------------------- Name: Peter Chin Title: Authorized Agent MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER PRIME INCOME TRUST By: c/o Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Advisors, Inc. By: /s/ Sheila Finnerty --------------------------------------------- Name: Sheila Finnerty Title: Vice President NATIONAL CITY BANK By: /s/ Sharon Johnston --------------------------------------------- Name: Sharon Johnston Title: Vice President 11 OXFORD STRATEGIC INCOME FUND By: Eaton Vance Management, as Investment Advisor By: /s/ Payson F. Swaffield --------------------------------------------- Name: Payson F. Swaffield Title: Vice President SENIOR DEBT PORTFOLIO By: Boston Management and Research, as Investment Advisor By: /s/ Payson F. Swaffield --------------------------------------------- Name: Payson F. Swaffield Title: Vice President SUNTRUST BANK By: /s/ T. Michael Logan --------------------------------------------- Name: T. Michael Logan Title: Managing Director WILLIAM E. SIMON & SONS SPECIAL SITUATION PARTNERS, L.P. By: /s/ Dale Leshaw --------------------------------------------- Name: Dale Leshaw Title: Vice President 12 EX-99.1 3 0003.txt PRESS RELEASE DATED 09/21/2000 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Exhibit 99.1 - --------------------- Contacts: Kevin Cardullo Joel Weiden Assistant Vice President, Finance, Gavin Anderson & Co. Globe Manufacturing 212-515-1970 508-674-3585 GLOBE MANUFACTURING CORP. EXTENDS FORBEARANCE AGREEMENT WITH BANKS FALL RIVER, MA - SEPTEMBER 21, 2000 - Globe Manufacturing, a worldwide maker of Glospan/R/ spandex, today announced that it has reached an agreement with its bank lenders to extend its previously announced forbearance agreement until December 31, 2000. Richard Heitmiller, vice chairman, CEO and president of Globe Manufacturing said, "We are working hard and making progress at developing a restructuring plan that will reduce our debt and help us continue to be a top competitor in the fiber industry. The support of our bank lenders and bondholders during this process has been gratifying and we hope to resolve our balance sheet issues quickly and with minimal impact on our operations. During the restructuring process, the company intends to meet all obligations of trade creditors and employees." Under the forbearance agreement, the bank lenders will not exercise remedies available to them as a result of Globe's non-compliance with certain covenants and payment requirements of the bank credit agreement. As previously announced, the Company is actively involved in discussions with its bank lenders and bondholders regarding strategic alternatives that would enable it to reduce its long-term debt. The Company believes that under each of the scenarios it is considering, its trade creditors will be unimpaired. Established in 1945, Globe Manufacturing Corp. produces Glospan/R/ and Cleerspan/R/ Spandex Performance Fibers and is a premier worldwide spandex fiber supplier. Available in a range of deniers from 20 through 5040 and various packaging put-ups, Glospan/R/ is distributed to over 40 countries through five major distribution channels. Globe is registered under the internationally recognized ISO 9000 standard as an ISO 9001 manufacturer. This news release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Globe's positioning for the future. As required by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the company advises that forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or inferred. These could include the failure of Globe to improve financial results or to maintain liquidity; the ability of the company to obtain liquidity; the ability of the company to close on a recapitalization; the inability of the company to successfully amend debt covenants for fiscal 2000; sudden marketing changes in product pricing or the cost of raw materials; failure of the company to successfully implement its value-added marketing strategy or other uncertainties listed from time to time in the company's filings with the SEC. # # # -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----