EX-10.1

ADVICE OF BORROWING TERMS

Relationship Office: South Yorkshire Corporate Business Centre   Date:     20
March 2001

 

Borrower(s) Registered Number: CJVander Limited 763852 International Silver
Company Limited 03768277

 

We intend that the facilities listed in Part 1 of the attached Facility Schedule
(the "on-demand facilities") should remain available to the borrower(s) until 13
September 2001 and all facilities should be reviewed on or before that date. 
The facilities are, however, subject to the following:-

•            the terms and conditions below,
•            the specific conditions applicable to an individual facility as
detailed in the Facility Schedule,
•            the Security detailed in the attached Security Schedule, and
•            the attached General Terms.

All amounts outstanding are repayable on demand which may be made by us at our
discretion at any time and the facilities may be withdrawn, reduced, made
subject to further conditions or otherwise varied by us giving notice in
writing.

Conditions:
The following conditions must be satisfied at all times while the facilities are
outstanding, but this will not affect our right to demand repayment at any time:

•            Monthly management accounts to be provided to us within 21 days of
the end of the month to which they relate; to include Profit & Loss, Balance
Sheet and Aged Debtor/Creditor listings with suitable commentary / explanations
re any divergence from budget.

•            Facilities remain available subject to our agreed lending formula
calculated on the following basis:

[Debtors  < 3 months + Stock x 40%] to cover utilised facilities in a ratio of
minimum 2:1

•            The advance Payment Guarantees in favour of Charles Kendall &
Partners Limited are issued subject to the advance payment monies are held in a
separate account designated NatWest Bank re C J Vander Ltd.  Interest accrued on
the balance of this account to be credited to the account of C J Vander Limited
on the bank's standard interest payment dates.

•            Given the current trading of C J Vander Ltd and insolvent balance
sheet footings (ie treating the parental support as a long term liability), we
will continue to extend existing levels of support on the basis of the clear
integrity of the parent undertaking.

Interest Set Off:
Cleared debit and cleared credit balances in the same currency on non-interest
bearing current accounts and loan accounts repayable on demand specified below
(the "Interest Set Off Accounts") will be used to calculate, on a daily basis,
the net cleared debit balance of the Interest Set Off Accounts.  The interest
Set Off Accounts, which we have agreed are to be set off for interest
calculation purposes, are detailed in the attached Facility Schedule which also
specifies the frequency at which interest will be payable and the rate or rates
at which it will be charged on the net cleared debit balance.

Cleared debit balances which are set off on a daily basis by cleared credit
balances on the Interest Set Off Accounts will incur interest at the Set Off
Rate specified in the attached Facility Schedule.

 

/s/  A Tyas

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Corporate Manager For and on behalf of National Westminster Bank Plc

Acceptance:
•            To signify your agreement to the terms and conditions outlined
above please sign and return the enclosed copy of this Advice of Borrowing Terms
within 28 days.

Form of Acceptance

I accept the facility/facilities on the above terms and conditions and confirm
that that I have been authorised by the Board(s) of Directors of the Borrower(s)
to sign this Form of Acceptance on behalf of the Borrower(s).

By (name and title): /s/ Stephen Wilfin, Controller Date  30 March 2001     For
and on behalf of:  C J Vander Limited  

 

Facility Schedule

Part 1 – Facilities repayable on Demand:

Group Composite
Facility

Accounts included in the
Group Facility Arrangement: Name:

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Account Number:

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C. J Vander Limited
International Silver Company Limited   Limit:  Gross £250,000 Limit:  Net
£250,000 Purpose: To finance working capital via Overdraft / Documentary Credits
Repayment: Fully fluctuating 1st Debit Interest Rate: 1.00% above the Bank’s
Base rate for the overdraft only 2nd Debit Interest Rate: 4.00% above the Bank’s
Base rate on borrowing in excess of agreed facilities for the overdraft only
Interest Payable: Quarterly Arrangement Fee: £1,250.00 to be debited on 20th
March 2001 to cover the 6 month period to 13/9/2000. Excess Fees: We will be
entitled to charge an excess fee at the Bank’s published rate for each day any
agreed limit is exceeded (see our “Services & Charges for Business Customers”
brochure for details).

Interest Set-Off Arrangement

The Interest Set-Off Accounts Name:

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Account Number:

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  C. J Vander Limited
International Silver Company Limited   1st Debit Interest Rate: 1.0% above the
Bank’s Base rate 2nd Debit Interest Rate: 4.00% above the Bank’s Base rate on
borrowing in excess of agreed facilities Set-Off Rate: 0% per annum
Interest/Set-Off Payable: Quarterly Account to be debited:  

Facilities not subject to a Group / Composite Facility.

Terminable Indemnities

Name of Borrower: C J Vander Limited Limit: £ 221,876 Type and Purpose: Advance
Payment Guarantee in favour of Charles Kendall & Partners Limited Basis of
Expiry: delivery of goods Arrangement Fee: 0.5% of outstanding value per annum
payable monthly in advance to account number Indemnity Fee: 1.5% of outstanding
value per annum payable quarterly in advance, to be debited to account number

Cheque Negotiations

Name of Borrower: C J Vander Limited Limit: £10,000 Purpose: Negotiation of
Foreign Cheques with Recourse Fees: Subject to separate tariff, calculated on
sterling value of cheque. Information available upon request or at the time the
service is provided.

Settlement Risk

Name of Borrower: C J Vander Limited / International Silver Company Ltd
Limit/Frequency: £60,000 per day Type and Purpose: Facilitate BACS payments via
Bankline Payaway

Settlement Risk

Name of Borrower: C J Vander Limited / International Silver Company Ltd
Limit/Frequency: £ 140,000 at any one time Type and Purpose: Facilitate payments
abroad via Bankline Payment Manager

 

Security Schedule

We rely on the security detailed below (and require additional security where
specified) to repay, on demand, all your current and future liabilities (both
actual and contingent) to us.  These liabilities include, without limitation,
those incurred by you under the facility(ies) specified in the Facility
Schedule.

 

Date Executed/New:

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Security

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  Given/to be given by:

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27/09/89 Cross Guarantee Structure   between C J Vander Ltd Roberts & Belk Ltd,
John Biggin Ltd, Modern Silverware Products Ltd, Vander Properties Ltd and  C J
Vander (Antiques) Ltd. 21/9/99 Cross guarantee   between C J Vander Ltd &
International Silver Co. Ltd. 13/01/74 Mortgage Debenture incorporating an
equitable charge over Vander House providing Fixed and Floating Charge over all
company assets   C J Vander Ltd 11/11/85 Supplemental Specific Charge over book
debts   C J Vander Ltd 8/10/99 Mortgage Debenture providing Fixed and Floating
charge over all company assets.   International Silver Company Ltd. 30/01/74
Mortgage Debenture providing Fixed and Floating charge over all company assets.
  Roberts & Belk Ltd. 04/09/91 Supplemental Specific Charge over book debts  
Roberts & Belk Ltd. 26/04/78 Mortgage Debenture providing Fixed and Floating
charge over all company assets.   John Biggin Ltd. 12/03/92 Mortgage Debenture
providing Fixed & Floating charge over all company assets.   Modern Silverware
Products Ltd. 27/09/89 Mortgage Debenture providing Fixed and Floating charge
over all company assets.   C J Vander (Antiques) Ltd.