<PAGE>

                                                                 Exhibit 4.01(e)

                          FOURTH AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
                          ---------------------------
        FOURTH AMENDMENT AND WAIVER (this "Amendment"), dated as of March 24,
2000, among U.S.A. FLORAL PRODUCTS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "US
Borrower"), U.S.A. FLORAL PRODUCTS GERMANY GMBH & CO. KG, a partnership
organized under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany (the "German
Borrower"), FLORIMEX WORLDWIDE B.V., a company organized under the laws of the
Netherlands (the "Dutch Borrower" and, together with the German Borrower and the
US Borrower, the "Borrowers", and each a "Borrower"), the lenders party to the
Credit Agreement referred to below (the "Banks"), BAYERISCHE HYPO-UND
VEREINSBANK AG, as Syndication Agent (in such capacity, the "Syndication
Agent"). BANKBOSTON, N.A., as Documentation Agent (in such capacity, the
"Documentation Agent"), and BANKERS TRUST COMPANY, as Arranger and
Administrative Agent (the "Administrative Agent"). Unless otherwise defined
herein, all capitalized terms used herein and defined in the Credit Agreement
are used herein as so defined .

                             W I T N E S S E T H:
                             - - - - - - - - - -

        WHEREAS, the Borrowers, the Banks, the Syndication Agent, the
Documentation Agent and the Administrative Agent are parties to a Credit
Agreement, dated as of October 16, 1997 and amended and restated as of October
2, 1998 (as further amended, modified or supplemented to, but not including, the
date hereof, the "Credit Agreement");

        WHEREAS, the Borrowers, the Banks, the Syndication Agent, the
Documentation and the Administrative Agent wish to modify the Credit Agreement
as herein provided; and

        WHEREAS, subject to terms and conditions of this Amendment, the parties
hereto agree as follows;

        NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed:

        1.      The Banks hereby waive any Default or Event of Default which may
arise solely as a result of the Borrowers failing to comply with any of Sections
7.11(c), (d), (g) and/or (i) of the Credit Agreement by April 1, 2000 with
respect to the security to be granted pursuant to the Dutch Pledge Agreement and
the Dutch Security Agreement and the guaranties to be provided by the Dutch
Credit Parties, so long as the Borrowers shall be in such compliance with each
such Section referred to above by May 31, 2000; provided, however, (x) if the
                                                --------  -------
Borrowers have not complied with each such Section by May 31, 2000, an Event of
Default under the Credit Agreement shall be deemed to have occurred on such date
and (y) the security interests to be granted in favor of the Collateral Agent
in the assets of the Dutch Credit Parties shall not include those receivables
that have been pledged to secure the Rabobank Revolver as permitted under
Section 8.04(g) of the Credit Agreement.

<PAGE>

        2.      Section 1.01(B)(a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
(i) deleting the comma appearing at the end of sun-clause (v)(x) thereof and
inserting the word "and" in lieu thereof and (ii) deleting the following text
appearing in such sub-clause (v) thereof:

   "and (z) the aggregate principal amount of all Foreign Subsidiary Third Party
   Borrowings (for this purpose, using the Dollar Equivalent of Foreign
   Subsidiary Third Party Borrowings incurred in a currency other than Dollars)
   then outstanding".

        3.      Section 101(D)(a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
(i) deleting the comma appearing at the end of sub-clause (iv)(x) thereof and
inserting the word "and" in lieu thereof and (ii) deleting the following text
appearing in such sub-clause (iv):

   "and (z) the aggregate principal amount of all Foreign Subsidiary Third Party
   Borrowings (for this purpose, using the Dollar Equivalent of Foreign
   Subsidiary Third Party Borrowings incurred in a currency other than Dollars)
   then outstanding".

        4.      Section 1 of the Credit Agreement id hereby amended by inserting
the following new Sections 1.14 and 1.15 at the end thereof:

        "1.14 Certain Additional Limitations on Loans and Letters of Credit.
              -------------------------------------------------------------
   (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Sections 1.01 and
   2.01(b) of this Agreement, until such time as the Required Banks otherwise
   agree, the US Borrower will not permit the aggregate amount of all Dollar
   Outstandings at any time to exceed the lesser of (i) the Dollar
   Outstandings Cap and (ii) the Total Dollar Revolving Loan Commitment at
   such time.

        (b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement
   (including Sections 1.01(c) and 2.01), until such time as the Required
   Banks otherwise agree, the Foreign Borrowers will not be permitted to incur
   or have outstanding any Foreign Revolving Loans or have any additional
   Foreign Letters of Credit issued for their account, although the Foreign
   Borrowers will be permitted to keep outstanding any Foreign Letters of
   Credit that are outstanding on March 17, 2000 (as such Foreign Letters of
   Credit may be extended or renewed (but not increased) from time to time in
   accordance with the terms hereof and thereof).

        1.15 Additional Base Rate Borrowings.     Notwithstanding anything to
             -------------------------------
   the contrary contained in this Agreement, if on any date set forth below the
   aggregate amount of all Dollar Outstandings on such date exceeds the amount
   set forth opposite such date set forth below, then all Dollar Revolving Loans
   which are outstanding on such date in excess of the amount set forth opposite
   such date shall thereafter bear interest at the interest rate otherwise
   applicable to Dollar Revolving Loans that are maintained as Base Rate Loans
   irrespective of the interest rate then applicable to such Dollar Revolving
   Loans:

     Date                       Amount
     ----                       ------

     March 31, 2000             $170,000,000


                                      -2-



<PAGE>

   June 30, 2000                $160,000,000
   September 30, 2000           $160,000,000
   December 31, 2000            $160,000,000
   March 31, 2001               $170,000,000


        5.      Section 2.01(b) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i)
deleting the text "(I)" appearing in sub-clause (i)(y) thereof and (ii) deleting
the following text appearing in such sub-clause (i)(y) thereof:

   "and (II) the aggregate principal amount of all Foreign Subsidiary Third
   Party Borrowings (for this purpose, using the Dollar Equivalent of Foreign
   Subsidiary Third Party Borrowings incurred in a currency other than Dollars)
   then outstanding".

        6.      Section 3.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
inserting the following new clauses (j) and (k) at the end thereof:

        "(j)    No later than April 30, 2000, the US Borrower agrees to deliver
   to the Administrative Agent for the pro rata distribution to each Bank (based
                                       --- ----
   on their respective "percentages" used in determining the Required Banks at
   such time (determined as if there were no Defaulting Banks)) warrants to
   purchase up to 5% of the common stock of the US Borrower calculated on a
   fully diluted basis, which warrants (i) shall have an exercise price of
   $0.25, (ii) shall be exercisable for a period of up to 10 years, provided,
                                                                    --------
   that such warrants shall not be exercisable until March 31, 2001, and (iii)
   ----
   shall otherwise be in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative
   Agent (including satisfactory anti-dilution protection); and

        (k)     In the event that the Borrowers have not repaid DM Term Loans
   and/or permanently reduced the commitments under the Total Dollar Revolving
   Loan Commitment and/or the Total Foreign Revolving Loan Commitment in an
   aggregate amount for all such repayments and/or commitment reductions of at
   least $50,000,000 by March 31, 2001 (exclusive of the Scheduled Repayments
   that are due on December 31, 2000 and March 31, 2001), then the US Borrower
   agrees to pay in Dollars to the Administrative Agent for the pro rata
                                                                --- ----
   distribution to each Bank (based on their respective "percentages" used in
   determining the Required Banks at such time (determined as if there were no
   Defaulting Banks)) within one Business Day thereafter a fee equal to
   $1,750,000."

        7.      Section 4.02(A)(a)(i) of the Credit Agreement is hereby deleted
in its entirety and the following new Section 4.02(A)(a)(i) is inserted in lieu
thereof:

        "(a)(i) If on any date the sum of (x) the aggregate outstanding
   principal amount of Dollar Revolving Loans (after giving effect to all other
   repayments thereof on such date) plus (y) the aggregate outstanding principal
   amount of all Swingline Loans (after giving effect to all other repayments
   thereof on such date) plus (z) the US Letter of Credit Outstandings on such
   date exceeds the lesser of (A) the Total Dollar Revolving



                                      -3-
<PAGE>

   Commitment as then in effect and (B) the Dollar Outstandings Cap, the US
   Borrower shall repay on such date the aggregate principal amount of Swingline
   Loans and, after all Swingline Loans have been repaid in full or if no
   Swingline Loans are outstanding, Dollar Revolving Loans in an amount equal to
   such excess. If, after giving effect to the prepayment of all outstanding
   Swingline Loans and Dollar Revolving Loans, the US Letter of Credit
   Outstandings exceeds the lesser of (A) the Total Dollar Revolving Commitment
   as then in effect and (B) the Dollar Outstandings Cap, the US Borrower agrees
   to pay the Administrative Agent on such date an amount in cash and/or Cash
   Equivalents equal to such excess and the Administrative Agent shall hold such
   payment as security for the obligations of the US Borrower hereunder pursuant
   to a cash collateral agreement to be entered into in form and substance
   satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which shall permit certain
   investments in Cash Equivalents satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
   until the proceeds are applied to the secured obligations). All repayments of
   Dollar Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 4.02(A)(a)(i) shall be
   applied to Acquisition Loans and Working Capital Loans in proportion to their
   respective outstanding amounts."

        8.      Section 7.01(d) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting the reference to "Sections 8.05, 8.09 and 8.10" appearing therein and
inserting the text "Sections 8.05, 8.09, 8.10 and 8.13" in lieu thereof.

        9.      Section 7.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby further amended
by inserting the following new clauses (j) and (k) at the end thereof:

        "(j) Monthly Financial Statements; etc..  (A) Within 30 days after the
             ----------------------------------
   end of each fiscal month of the US Borrower (commencing with its fiscal month
   ending on March 31, 2000), the consolidated statements of operations of the
   U.S. Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal month and for the elapsed
   portion of the fiscal year ended with the last day of such fiscal month and
   setting forth comparative figures for related periods in the immediately
   preceding fiscal year and comparative figures for the current fiscal year
   budget delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(c), all of which shall be in
   reasonable detail and certified by the chief financial officer or other
   Authorized Officer of the US Borrower that such statements fairly present the
   results of their operations for the periods indicated.

        (B) Within seven days after the end of each fiscal month of the US
   Borrower (commencing with its fiscal month ending on March 31, 2000), a
   rolling thirteen week cash flow forecast for the US Borrower's North American
   operations, which cash flow forecast shall be substantially in the same form
   as that delivered to the Banks prior to March 17, 2000.

        (k) Weekly Cash Flow Statements.  Within seven days after the end of
            ---------------------------
   each week, an actual cash flow statement for the US Borrower's North American
   operations for such week, together with a comparison against the forecasted
   cash flows for such week as set forth in the respective cash flow forecast
   delivered pursuant to clause (j)(B) of this Section 7.01"


                                      -4-





<PAGE>

        10.     Section 8.02(e) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting the reference to "$7,500,000" appearing therein and inserting the
amount "$3,000,000" in lieu thereof.

        11.     Section 8.02(f) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i)
inserting the text "with the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent
and the Required Banks," immediately prior to the first word of such Section and
(ii) deleting each reference to "Sections 8.09 and 8.10" appearing therein and
inserting the text "Sections 8.09, 8.10 and 8.13" in lieu thereof in each such
place.

        12.     The text of Section 8.05(b) of the Credit Agreement is hereby
deleted in its entirety and the following new text is inserted in lieu thereof:

        "Intentionally Omitted."

        13.     Section 8.09(a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting the chart appearing therein and inserting the following new chart in
lieu thereof:

        Period                                  Ratio
        ------                                  -----

        March 31, 2000 to and including
        December 30, 2000                       7.95:1.00

        December 31, 2000 to and
        including March 31, 2001                6.95:1.00

        April 1, 2001 to and including
        September 30, 2001                      4.00:1.00

        October 1, 2001 and thereafter          3.75:1.00".


        14.     Section 8.09(b) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by
deleting the chart appearing therein and inserting the following new chart in
lieu thereof:

        Period                                  Ratio
        ------                                  -----

        March 31, 2000 to and including
        December 30, 2000                       7.95:1.00

        December 31, 2000 to and
        including March 31, 2001                6.95:1.00

        April 1, 2001 to and including
        September 30, 2001                      4.00:1.00

        October 1, 2001 and thereafter          3.75:1.00".


                                      -5-

<PAGE>

               15.    Section 8.10 of the Credit Agreement is hereby deleted in
its entirety and the following new Section 8.10 is inserted in lieu thereof:

               "8.10  Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio. The US Borrower will
                      ------------------------------------
     not permit the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio of the US Borrower for
     any Test Period ending on the last day of a fiscal quarter of the US
     Borrower set forth below to be less than the ratio set forth opposite such
     fiscal quarter below:

               Fiscal Quarter Ending                   Ratio
               ---------------------                   -----

               March 31, 2000                          1.75:1.00
               June 30, 2000                           1.75:1.00
               September 30, 2000                      1.75:1.00
               December 31, 2000                       1.90:1.00
               March 31, 2001
               and the last day of the each
               fiscal quarter of the US
               Borrower ending thereafter              2.00:1.00"


               16.    Section 8 of the Credit Agreement is hereby further
amended by inserting the following new Sections 8.13 and 8.14 at the end
thereof:

               "8.13 Consolidated EBITDA. The US Borrower will not permit the
                     -------------------
Consolidated EBITDA of the US Borrower for any Test Period ending on the last
day of a fiscal quarter of the US Borrower set forth below to be less than the
amount set forth opposite such fiscal quarter below:

               Fiscal Quarter Ending                   Amount
               ---------------------                   ------

               March 31, 2000                          $11,500,000
               June 30, 2000                           $12,750,000
               September 30, 2000                      $1,250,000
               December 31, 2000                       $8,000,000
               March 31, 2001                          $14,000,000
               December 31, 2001                       $40,000,000
               December 31, 2002                       $50,000,000


               8.14   Certain Additional Restrictions on the Transfers of Funds.
                      ----------------------------------------------------------
     (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement
     (including Sections 8.02, 8.04, 8.06, 8.07 and 8.08), until April 1, 2001
     no Foreign Subsidiary of the US Borrower's Domestic Subsidiaries, whether
     in the form of an intercompany loan, a cash capital contribution, a
     Dividend or otherwise; provided that, thereafter, Foreign Subsidiaries of
                            --------
     the US Borrower may transfer cash to the US Borrower or any of the US


                                      -6-

<PAGE>

     Borrower's Domestic Subsidiaries in accordance with the other provisions of
     this Agreement

               (b)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
     Agreement (including Sections 8.02, 8.04, 8.06, 8.07 and 8.08), until April
     1, 2001 neither the US Borrower nor any of its Domestic Subsidiaries shall
     be permitted to transfer any cash to any Foreign Subsidiaries of the US
     Borrower, whether in the form of an intercompany loan, a cash capital,
     contribution, a Dividend or otherwise; provided that, thereafter, the US
                                            --------
     Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries may transfer cash to their Foreign
     Subsidiaries in accordance with the other provisions of this Agreement."

               17.    The definition of "Capital Expenditure Amount" appearing
in Section 10 of the Credit Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and the
following new definition of "Capital Expenditure Amount" is inserted in lieu
thereof:

               "Capital Expenditure Amount" shall mean, for any period listed in
     Section 8.05(a)(y), $6,000,000."

               18.    The definition of "Consolidated EBITDA" appearing in
Section 10 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) deleting the word
"and" appearing immediately prior to clause (ii) in the first sentence of such
definition and inserting a comma in lieu thereof and (ii) inserting the
following text immediately after clause (ii) in the first sentence of such
definition:

     "and (iii) from the computation of Consolidated EBITDA for the US Borrower
     and its Subsidiaries, up to $12,000,000 in restructuring charges recorded
     from the US Borrower's fiscal quarter ended on December 31, 1999 through
     the US Borrower's fiscal year ending on December 31, 2000 otherwise
     included in such computation for such period".

               19.    The definition of "Test Period" appearing in Section 10 of
the Credit Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and the following new
definition of "Test Period" is inserted in lieu thereof:

               "Test Period" shall mean, with respect to any Person, a period of
four consecutive fiscal quarters of such Person ended on the last day of the
then most recently ended fiscal quarter of such Person; provided, however, for
                                                        --------  -------
purposes of determining compliance with Section 8.13 for any fiscal quarter
ending on or prior to March 31, 2001, each such Test Period shall instead mean
the fiscal quarter of such Person ended on the last day of the then most
recently ended fiscal quarter of such Person.

               20.    The definition of "Total Indebtedness" appearing in
Section 10 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) inserting the text
"(1)" immediately following the text "any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to any"
appearing therein and (2) inserting the new following clause (2) at the end of
said definition:

     "and (2) borrowings under the ABN Revolver are supported by letters of
     credit, the lesser of the Indebtedness pursuant to such ABN Revolver and
     the stated amount of such letters

                                      -7-



<PAGE>

     of credit shall be excluded from the determination of Total Indebtedness
     for the purposes of compliance with Section 8.09".

               21.    Section 10 of the Credit Agreement is hereby further
amended by inserting the following new definitions in the appropriate
alphabetical order:

               "Dollar Outstanding" shall mean, at any time, the sum of (I) the
aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Dollar Revolving Loans at such
time plus (II) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Swingline Loans
at such time plus (III) the aggregate amount of all US Letter of Credit
Outstandings at such time.

               "Dollar Outstanding Cap" shall mean $174,000,000.

               22.    This Amendment shall become effective on the date (the
"Fourth Amendment Effective Date") when the Borrowers and the Required Banks
shall have signed a counterpart hereof (whether the same different counterparts)
and shall have delivered (including by way of facsimile transmission) the same
to the Administrative Agent at the Notice Office.

               23.    In order to induce the Banks to enter into this Amendment,
each Borrower hereby represents and warrants that (i) the representations,
warranties and agreements contained in Section 6 of the Credit Agreement are
true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Fourth Amendment
Effective Date, after giving effect to this Amendment, and (ii) there exists no
Default of Event of Default on the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, after giving
effect to this Amendment.

               24.    This Amendment is limited as specified and shall not
constitute a modification, acceptance or waiver of any other provision of the
Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document.

               25.    This Amendment may executed in any number of counterparts
and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which
counterparts when executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which
shall together constitute one and the same instrument. A complete set of
counterparts shall be lodged with the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent.

               26.    THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE
PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

               27.    From and after the Fourth Amendment Effective Date, all
references in the Credit Agreement and in the other Credit Documents to the
Credit Agreement shall be deemed to references to the Credit Agreement as
modified hereby.

                                    *  *  *

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their duly
authorized officers to execute and deliver this Amendment as of the date first
above written.


                                        U.S.A. FLORAL PRODUCTS, INC.


                                        By
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Title:


                                        U.S.A. FLORAL PRODUCTS GERMANY GMBH
                                          & CO. KG


                                        By
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Title:


                                        FLORIMEX WORLDWIDE B.V.


                                        By
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Title:


                                        BANKERS TRUST COMPANY,
                                          Individual and as Administrative Agent


                                        By
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Title:


                                        BAYERISCHE HYPO-UND VEREINSBANK AG


                                        By
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Title:


                                        By
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Title:


<PAGE>






                                        LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION


                                        By
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Title:


                                        FLEET NATIONAL BANK


                                        By
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Title:


                                        NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA


                                        By
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Title:


                                        By
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Title:


                                        UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.


                                        By
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Title:


                                        SCHMIDT BANK


                                        By
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Title: