EXHIBIT 10.3

 

CREDIT LYONNAIS CAYMAN ISLAND BRANCH

1301 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS

NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019

 

January 31, 2003

 

U.S.I. Holdings Corporation

50 California Street

24th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94111

 

Attention: Mr. David L. Eslick

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

FEE LETTER

 

Re:    Eighth Amendment to Credit Agreement

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to (i) the Credit Agreement, dated as of September 17, 1999,
among U.S.I. Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the
lenders from time to time party thereto (each a “Lender” and collectively, the
“Lenders”), Credit Lyonnais Cayman Island Branch (“Credit Lyonnais”), as
Administrative Agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as successor to The Chase
Manhattan Bank (“JPMorgan”), as Syndication Agent (as amended, modified or
supplemented through the date hereof, the “Credit Agreement”) and (ii) the
Eighth Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2003, among
the Borrower, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and the Syndication Agent
(the “Eighth Amendment”). All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
defined herein shall have the respective meanings provided such terms in the
Credit Agreement.

 

By your signature below, you agree to pay the following non-refundable fees:

 

Amendment Fee:

An amendment fee, to be earned by and payable to each Lender which approves the
Eighth Amendment, equal to 0.50% of the sum of the total outstanding Term Loans
and the Revolving Credit Commitment of each such Lender, in each case, as of the
effective date of the Eighth

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Amendment (the “Eighth Amendment Effective Date”), which amendment fee shall due
and payable on the Eighth Amendment Effective Date.

 

Structuring Fee:

A structuring fee in an amount equal to 0.75% of the sum of the total
outstanding Term Loans and the Revolving Credit Commitment, in each case, as of
Eighth Amendment Effective Date, which structuring fee shall be earned by and
due and payable to Credit Lyonnais on the Eighth Amendment Effective Date.

 

Refinancing Fee:

A refinancing fee in an amount equal to 0.50% of the sum of the total
outstanding Term Loans and the Revolving Credit Commitment, in each case, as of
October 1, 2003, which refinancing fee shall be earned by and due and payable to
Credit Lyonnais on October 1, 2003 if all of the Loans under the Credit
Agreement have not been repaid and all of the Commitments thereunder terminated
as of such date.

 

Furthermore, it is hereby agreed that if by July 31, 2003, the Borrower retains
in writing Credit Lyonnais (or its affiliates), alone or with others, to
structure and arrange a new senior credit facility (the “2003 Senior Credit
Facility”), then (x) the amount of any refinancing fee that is subsequently paid
to Credit Lyonnais pursuant to the caption “Refinancing Fee” in this letter and
(y) an amount equal to 1/3 (i.e., 0.25%) of any structuring fee theretofore paid
to Credit Lyonnais pursuant to the caption “Structuring Fee” in this letter, in
each case, shall be credited towards any fees otherwise receivable by Credit
Lyonnais (or any of its affiliates) in connection with the 2003 Senior Credit
Facility. It is understood and agreed that this letter shall not constitute or
give rise to any obligation on the part of Credit Lyonnais to participate in the
arrangement of, or provide or commit to provide any financing under, the 2003
Senior Credit Facility.

 

Reference is made to the Fee Letter, dated as of March 29, 2002, among the
Borrower, Credit Lyonnais and JPMorgan (the “March 2002 Fee Letter”). Credit
Lyonnais hereby waives any right to receive the advisory fee required to be paid
pursuant to the caption “Advisory Fee” in the March 2002 Fee Letter.

 

This Fee Letter may not be amended or waived except by an instrument in writing
signed by Credit Lyonnais and you. This Fee Letter shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. This Fee Letter
may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an
original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one agreement.
Delivery of an executed signature page of this Fee Letter by facsimile
transmission shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart
hereof.

 

This Fee Letter is delivered to you on the understanding that neither this Fee
Letter nor any of its terms or substance shall be disclosed, directly or
indirectly, to any other person except (a) to your officers, agents and advisors
who are directly involved in the consideration of this matter or (b) as may be
compelled in a judicial or administrative proceeding or as otherwise required by
law (in which case you agree to inform us promptly thereof).

 

*    *    *

 

 

-2-

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign and return the enclosed
counterpart of this letter.

 

Very truly yours,

 

CREDIT LYONNAIS CAYMAN ISLAND BRANCH

By:

 

/s/    W. MICHAEL GEORGE        

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   

Name:  W. Michael George

Title:    Authorized Signature

 

AGREED AND ACCEPTED:

 

 

U.S.I. HOLDINGS CORPORATION

By:

 

/s/    ROBERT SCHNEIDER

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   

Name:  Robert S. Schneider

Title:    Executive Vice President of

          Finance and Administration