Document:

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4-K

                                 THIRD AMENDMENT

     THIS THIRD AMENDMENT dated as of March 25, 1999 (this "Amendment") amends
the Credit Agreement dated as of July 1, 1997 (as previously amended, the
"Credit Agreement") among TRUSERV CORPORATION (the "Company"), various financial
institutions (the "Lenders") and BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND SAVINGS
ASSOCIATION, as Agent (in such capacity, the "Agent"). Terms defined in the
Credit Agreement are, unless otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise
requires, used herein as defined therein.

     WHEREAS, the Company, the Lenders and the Agent have entered into the
Credit Agreement; and

     WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to amend the Credit Agreement as more
fully set forth herein;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     I. Amendments. Effective on (and subject to the occurrence of) the
Amendment Effective Date (as defined below), the Credit Agreement shall be
amended as set forth below:

     A. Addition of Definitions. The following definitions are added to Section
1.1 in appropriate alphabetical sequence:

          Asset Sale means the sale, lease, assignment or other transfer for
     value (each a "Disposition") by the Company or any Subsidiary to any Person
     (other than the Company or a Subsidiary) of any fixed asset of the Company
     or such Subsidiary.

          Base Rate Margin means the percentage set forth under the heading
     "Base Rate Margin" on Schedule 1.1 opposite the applicable Total Senior
     Debt to EBITDA Ratio.

          Borrowing Base means, as of the last day of any fiscal month, the
     total of (i) 85% of the remainder of (A) the daily average for such month
     of the amount of "Accounts and notes receivable, net" as would be shown on
     the Company's consolidated balance sheet minus (B) all Debt payable to
     Members plus (ii) 50% of the amount, based on the lower of cost or market
     value, of "Inventories" as would be shown on the Company's consolidated
     balance sheet as of the last day of such month plus (iii) the remainder of
     (x) the Specified Percentage (as defined below) of the amount of
     "Properties, less accumulated depreciation" as would be

<PAGE>   2

     shown on the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of the last day of
     such month minus (y) the then-outstanding amount of all Indebtedness
     secured by a Lien on any such properties; provided that the amount
     determined pursuant to clause (ii) (the "Inventory Amount") shall be
     reduced by the amount (if any) necessary so that the Inventory Amount is
     not more than 45% of the total of clauses (i), (ii) and (iii). For purposes
     of the foregoing, "Specified Percentage" means (a) from April 3, 1999
     through December 31, 1999, 50%, (b) from January 1, 2000 through December
     31, 2000, 40%, (c) from January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2001, 30%, and
     (d) thereafter, 20%.

          Borrowing Base Elimination Date means the first date after April
     3,1999 on which the Total Senior Debt to EBITDA Ratio has been below 3.0 to
     1.0 as of the last day of two consecutive fiscal quarters.

          EBITDA means, for any period, Consolidated Net Earnings for such
     period plus, to the extent deducted in computing such Consolidated Net
     Earnings, interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

          Excess Net Cash Proceeds means Net Cash Proceeds from Assets Sales
     which, together with all other Net Cash Proceeds from Asset Sales after
     March 25, 1999 (excluding the amount of such Net Cash Proceeds, if any,
     previously applied to reduce the Commitments pursuant to Section 2.8.2 or
     to reduce the "Commitments" under the Short-Term Credit Agreement pursuant
     to Section 2.5.2 thereof), exceed $20,000,000.

          Net Cash Proceeds means, with respect to any Asset Sale, the aggregate
     cash proceeds (including cash proceeds received by way of deferred payment
     of principal pursuant to a note, installment receivable or otherwise, but
     only as and when received) received by the Company or any Subsidiary
     pursuant to such Asset Sale net of (i) the direct costs relating to such
     Asset Sale (including sales commissions and legal, accounting and
     investment banking fees), (ii) taxes paid or reasonably estimated by the
     Company to be payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any
     available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements) and
     (iii) amounts required to be applied to the repayment of any Debt secured
     by a Lien on any asset subject to such Asset Sale.

          Offshore Rate Margin means the percentage set forth under the heading
     "Offshore Rate Margin" on Schedule 1.1 opposite the applicable Total Senior
     Debt to EBITDA Ratio.

          Total Senior Debt means all Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries
     other than Subordinated Debt.

          Total Senior Debt to EBITDA Ratio means, as of the last day of any
     fiscal quarter, the ratio of (a) the remainder of (i) the daily average of
     the amount of

<PAGE>   3

     Total Senior Debt outstanding during the last fiscal month of such fiscal
     quarter minus (ii) the daily average of cash and marketable securities
     during the last fiscal month of such fiscal quarter to (b) EBITDA for the
     period of four consecutive fiscal quarters then ending.

     A. Amendment of Certain Definitions. The definitions of "Commitment Fee
Rate" and "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" set forth in Section 1.1 are amended in
their entirety to read as follows, respectively:

          Commitment Fee Rate means the percentage set forth under the heading
     "Commitment Fee Rate" on Schedule 1.1 opposite the applicable Total Senior
     Debt to EBITDA Ratio.

          Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio means, as of the last day of any fiscal
     quarter, the ratio of

               (a) the sum, for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters
          ending on such day, of (i) Consolidated Net Earnings plus (ii) to the
          extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Earnings,
          interest expense, operating lease expense, depreciation and
          amortization,

          to

               (b) the sum for such period of (i) operating lease expense and
          (ii) interest expense;

     each as determined for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
     basis.

     A. Amendment to Definition of Consolidated Net Earnings. The definition of
"Consolidated Net Earnings" set forth in Section 1.1 is amended as follows:

     (a) the parenthetical clause at the end of clause (ii) of such definition
is amended by deleting the words "and current additions to reserves" at the end
thereof and substituting the following therefor: "current additions to reserves
and merger integration costs"; and

     (b) the following language is added immediately before the period at the
end of such definition:

          "; provided that, to the extent that amounts are deducted from
          Consolidated Net Earnings during the Company's 1999 fiscal year as a
          result of SOP 98-5, "Reporting the Costs of Start-up Activities",
          issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("SOP
          98-5"), in excess of the amount that would have been deducted absent
          SOP 98-5, such excess shall be added back to Consolidated Net
          Earnings".

<PAGE>   4

     A. Deletion of Definition. The definition of "Applicable Margin" is deleted
from Section 1.1.

     A. Deletion of Bid Loan Option. Notwithstanding any provision of the Credit
Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not have the option of borrowing
any Bid Loans. All borrowings under Section 2 of the Credit Agreement shall be
Committed Loans or Swing Line Loans.

     A. Addition of Mandatory Commitment Reductions. Section 2.8 shall be
amended by (a) adding a new Section number and caption at the beginning thereof
as follows: "2.8 Termination or Reduction of Commitments."; (b) renumbering the
existing Section 2.8 as "2.8.1"; and (c) adding the following Section 2.8.2 at
the end thereof:

               2.8.2 Mandatory Reduction of Commitments. If, at any time before
          the Borrowing Base Elimination Date, the Company and its Subsidiaries
          receive any Excess Net Cash Proceeds, the Commitments shall be reduced
          by an amount equal to the product of (a) such Excess Net Cash Proceeds
          multiplied by (b) 0.75 multiplied by (c) a fraction, the numerator of
          which is the aggregate amount of the Commitments and the denominator
          of which is the sum of the aggregate amount of the Commitments plus
          the aggregate amount of the "Commitments" under and as defined in the
          Short-Term Credit Agreement; provided that (x) no such reduction shall
          be required unless the aggregate amount of Excess Net Cash Proceeds
          (excluding Excess Net Cash Proceeds previously applied to reduce the
          Commitments pursuant to this Section or to reduce the "Commitments"
          under the Short-Term Credit Agreement pursuant to Section 2.5.2
          thereof) equals or exceeds $400,000; and (y) the amount of Excess Net
          Cash Proceeds to be applied on any single occasion shall be rounded
          down to an integral multiple of $100,000 (it being understood that the
          amount of Excess Net Cash Proceeds in excess of any such integral
          multiple shall be applied on the next date on which Excess Net Cash
          Proceeds are applied).

     A. Addition of Section 2.9.2. Section 2.9 shall be amended by (a) adding a
new Section number and caption at the beginning thereof as follows: "2.9
Prepayments."; (b) renumbering the existing Section 2.9 as "2.9.1"; and (c)
adding the following Section 2.9.2 at the end thereof:

               2.9.2 Mandatory Prepayments. If on any date on which the
          Commitments are reduced pursuant to Section 2.8.2, the Total
          Outstandings exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments as so
          reduced, the Company shall immediately prepay Loans in an amount equal
          to such excess.

<PAGE>   5

     A. Amendment to Section 2.12(a). Section 2.12(a) is amended in its entirety
to read as follows:

               2.12 Interest. (a) Each Committed Loan shall bear interest on the
          outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable Borrowing
          Date at a rate per annum equal to (i) at all times such Committed Loan
          is a Base Rate Loan, the sum of the Base Rate as in effect from time
          to time plus the Base Rate Margin as in effect from time to time and
          (ii) at all times such Committed Loan is an Offshore Rate Loan, the
          sum of the Offshore Rate for the applicable Interest Period plus the
          Offshore Rate Margin as in effect from time to time. Each Swing Line
          Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof
          from the applicable Borrowing Date at a rate per annum equal to the
          sum of (i) the Federal Funds Rate as in effect from time to time plus
          (ii) the applicable Offshore Rate Margin as in effect from time to
          time plus (iii) 0.10%.

     A. Deletion of Facility Fee and Change to Calculation of the Commitment
Fee. Section 2.13 is amended by (a) deleting the existing subsection (b); (b)
designating the existing subsection (c) as subsection (b); and (c) adding the
following sentence at the end thereof: "For purposes of calculating commitment
fees, Swing Line Loans shall not be deemed to constitute usage of the
Commitments."

     A. Borrowing Base Reporting Requirement. Section 6.2 is amended by (a)
deleting the word "and" at the end of subsection (d); (b) relettering the
existing subsection (e) as subsection (f); and (c) inserting the following new
subsection (e) in appropriate sequence:

               "(e) within 30 days after the end of each fiscal month (beginning
          with the month ending April 3, 1999) so long as the Borrowing Base
          Elimination Date has not occurred, a calculation in reasonable detail
          of the Borrowing Base as of the last day of such month, substantially
          in the form of Exhibit K; and"

     A. Amendment to Section 7.1. Section 7.1 is amended in its entirety to read
as follows:

     7.1 Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Company will not permit the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter to be less than the
applicable ratio set forth below:

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

                    4/3/99                             1.30 to 1.00
                    7/3/99                             1.35 to 1.00
                    10/2/99                            1.50 to 1.00
                    12/31/99                           1.85 to 1.00
                    4/1/00                             2.00 to 1.00
                    7/1/00                             2.15 to 1.00
                    9/30/00 and thereafter             2.25 to 1.00.

<PAGE>   6

     A. Amendment to Section 7.2(f). Clause (ii) of the proviso to Section
7.2(f) is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

          (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all such
     Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness listed on Schedule 7.2(f)) does not
     at any time exceed (A) prior to the Borrowing Base Elimination Date,
     $25,000,000 and (B) on and after the Borrowing Base Elimination Date, an
     amount equal to 10% of the consolidated total assets of the Company.

     A. Amendment to Section 7.3. Section 7.3 is amended by (a) amending clause
(x)(ii) contained in the proviso in its entirety to read as follows:

          "(ii) an amount equal to (A) the remainder of the lowest daily average
          amount of Short Term Debt outstanding for any period of 30 consecutive
          days during the 12-month period ending on the most recently completed
          month minus (B) the daily average of cash and marketable securities
          for such 30-day period to";

(b) amending the table therein in its entirety to read as follows:

                                                           Specified
                    Period                                 Percentage
                    -------------------------------------------------

                    Through 12/31/99                            60%
                    1/1/00 through 7/1/00                       58%
                    7/2/00 through 6/30/01                      55%
                    7/1/01 and thereafter                       50%

; and (c) by adding the following paragraph at the end thereof:

          Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section, the Company
          will not permit the aggregate principal amount of all Debt of the
          Company and its Subsidiaries (other than (i) Debt hereunder, (ii) Debt
          under the Short-Term Credit Agreement, (iii) Debt referred to on
          Schedule 5.7 which was outstanding on March 25, 1999 and (iv)
          Subordinated Debt owed to Members) to exceed $35,000,000 at any time
          prior to the Borrowing Base Elimination Date.

     A. Amendment to Section 7.5. Section 7.5 is amended by inserting the
following language after the words "the Company may merge" in the fourth line
thereof: ", after the Borrowing Base Elimination Date,".

<PAGE>   7

     A. Amendment to Section 7.11. Subsection 7.11(b) is amended by inserting
the following language at the beginning thereof: "after the Borrowing Base
Elimination Date,".

     A. Amendment to Section 7.14. Section 7.14 is amended in its entirety to
read as follows:

          7.14 Ratio of Borrowing Base to Debt. Not permit, at any time prior to
     the Borrowing Base Elimination Date, the ratio of (a) the Borrowing Base as
     of the last day of any fiscal month to (b) the remainder of (i) the daily
     average of the amount of Total Senior Debt outstanding during the fiscal
     month ending on such date minus (ii) the daily average of cash and
     marketable securities during the fiscal month ending on such date to be
     equal to or less than the applicable ratio set forth below:

                    Fiscal Month(s) Ending                    Ratio
                    ---------------------------------------------------

                    04/3/99 through 05/29/99                  1.10 to 1
                    7/3/99 through 10/2/99                    1.15 to 1
                    10/30/99 through 12/31/99                 1.20 to 1
                    01/29/00                                  1.10 to 1
                    2/26/00 through 12/31/00                  1.20 to 1
                    01/27/01                                  1.10 to 1
                    2/24/01 through 12/31/01                  1.20 to 1
                    01/26/02                                  1.10 to 1
                    2/23/02 and thereafter                    1.20 to 1.

     A. Amendment to Schedule 1.1. Schedule 1.1 is amended in its entirety to
read as set forth on Schedule 1.1 hereto.

     A. Addition of Schedule 7.2(f). The Schedule 7.2(f) attached hereto is
added to the Credit Agreement as Schedule 7.2(f) thereto.

     A. Amendment to Exhibit E. Exhibit E is amended in its entirety to read as
set forth on Exhibit E hereto.

     A. Addition of Exhibit K. The Exhibit K attached hereto is added to the
Credit Agreement as Exhibit K thereto.

     I. Waiver. Effective on the Amendment Effective Date, the Required Lenders
waive any Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default under the Credit
Agreement resulting from the Company's failure to be in compliance with Section
7.1 of the Credit Agreement as of December 31, 1998.

<PAGE>   8

     I. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to
the Agent and the Lenders that, after giving effect hereto, (a) each
representation and warranty set forth in Article V of the Credit Agreement is
true and correct as of the date of the execution and delivery of this Amendment
by the Company with the same effect as if made on such date (except to the
extent such representations and warranties expressly refer to an earlier date,
in which case they were true and correct as of such earlier date) and (b) no
Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default exists.

     I. Effectiveness. The amendments set forth in Section 1 above and the
waiver set forth in Section 2 above shall become effective on the date (the
"Amendment Effective Date") when the Agent shall have received (a) the fees
referred to in Section 5 and, to the extent then billed, all costs and expenses
of the Agent in connection with this Amendment (including reasonable attorneys'
fees and charges and all costs, expenses and charges for a field examination)
and (b) each of the following documents, each in form and substance satisfactory
to the Agent:

          (a) counterparts of this Amendment executed by the Company and the
     Required Lenders;

          (b) a certificate of the secretary or an assistant secretary of the
     Company as to:

               (i) resolutions of the Board of Directors authorizing the
               execution and delivery of this Amendment and the performance by
               the Company of its obligations under the Credit Agreement, as
               amended hereby, and

               (ii) the incumbency and signatures of those of its officers
               authorized to execute and deliver this Amendment;

          (c) an opinion of counsel for the Company, in form and substance
     satisfactory to the Agent; and

          (d) such other documents as the Agent or any Lender may reasonably
     request.

     I. Fees. In consideration of the Lenders and the Agent entering into this
Amendment, the Company agrees to pay, on or before the Amendment Effective Date,
(a) to the Agent for the account of each Lender which has executed and delivered
to the Agent a counterpart of this Amendment prior to 12:00 noon, Chicago time,
on March 25, 1999, an amendment fee in an amount equal to 0.25% of such Lender's
Commitment; and (b) to NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC ("NMS") and/or the
Agent certain fees agreed to among the Company, NMS and the Agent.

<PAGE>   9

     I. Miscellaneous.

     A. Continuing Effectiveness, etc. As herein amended, the Credit Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and confirmed in
all respects. After the Amendment Effective Date, all references in the Credit
Agreement and the other Loan Documents to "Credit Agreement" or similar terms
shall refer to the Credit Agreement as amended hereby.

     A. Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by the different parties on separate counterparts, and each
such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts
shall together constitute one and the same Amendment.

     A. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be a contract made under and
governed by the laws of the State of Illinois applicable to contracts made and
to be performed entirely within such state.

     A. Successors and Assigns. This Amendment shall be binding upon the
Company, the Lenders and the gent and their respective successors and assigns,
and shall inure to the benefit of the Company, the Lenders and the Agent and the
respective successors and assigns of the Lenders and the Agent.

Delivered at Chicago, Illinois, as of the day and year first above written.

                                    TRUSERV CORPORATION

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

                                    BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST
                                    AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION,
                                    as Agent

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

<PAGE>   10

                                    BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST
                                    AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION,
                                    as a Lender

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

                                    BANK OF MONTREAL

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

                                    THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO

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

                                    PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

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

                                    WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.

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

                                    THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY

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

<PAGE>   11

                                    ABN AMRO BANK N.V.

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

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

<PAGE>   12

                                    UMB BANK

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

                                    NATIONAL CONSUMER COOPERATIVE
                                    BANK

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

<PAGE>   13

                                  SCHEDULE 1.1

                                PRICING SCHEDULE

     Beginning March 26, 1999, the Offshore Rate Margin, the Base Rate Margin,
the BA Commission and the Commitment Fee Rate shall be 1.50%, 0.50%, 1.50% and
0.45%, respectively. Each of the foregoing shall be adjusted, to the extent
applicable, 60 days (or, in the case of the last fiscal quarter of any fiscal
year, 120 days) after the end of each fiscal quarter based on the applicable
Total Senior Debt to EBITDA Ratio, determined pursuant to the table below, as of
the last day of such fiscal quarter; provided that none of the foregoing shall
be adjusted prior to December 1, 1999; and provided, further, that if the
Company fails to deliver the financial statements required by Section 6.1 and
the related Compliance Certificate by the 60th day (or, if applicable, the 120th
day) after any fiscal quarter, the Offshore Rate Margin, the Base Rate Margin,
the BA Commission and the Commitment Fee Rate that would apply if the Total
Senior Debt to EBITDA Ratio were greater than 3.75 to 1 shall apply until such
financial statements are delivered.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total Senior Debt               Offshore Rate  Base Rate    BA      Commitment
       to EBITDA Ratio                   Margin       Margin   Commission  Fee Rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>          <C>       <C>        <C>
Equal to or greater than 3.75 to 1          1.50%      0.50%     1.50%      0.45%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equal to or greater than 3.00 to 1 but
less than 3.75 to 1                         1.25%      0.25%     1.25%      0.40%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 3.00 to 1                         1.00%         0%     1.00%      0.35%
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE><PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4-M

                                  May 12, 1999

TruServ Corporation
8600 West Bryn Mawr Avenue
Chicago, Illinois  60631
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
           Controller

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Reference is made to that certain Amended and Restated Note Purchase and
Private Shelf Agreement dated as of November 13, 1997 (as amended from time to
time, the "NOTE AGREEMENT") between TruServ Corporation, a Delaware corporation
formerly known as Cotter & Company (the "COMPANY"), and The Prudential Insurance
Company of America and each Prudential Affiliate which pursuant to the terms
thereof becomes bound thereby ("PRUDENTIAL"). Capitalized terms used herein and
not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in
the Note Agreement.

     Pursuant to the request of the Company and in accordance with the
provisions of paragraph 11C of the Note Agreement, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

     SECTION 1. Amendment. From and after the date this letter becomes effective
in accordance with its terms, the Note Agreement is amended as follows:

     1.1. Paragraph 10B of the Note Agreement is amended to delete the terms
"Consolidated Net Earnings" and "Current Debt" presently appearing therein and
to add the following defined terms thereto in appropriate alphabetical order:

          "ASSET BASE" shall mean, as of the last day of any fiscal month, the
     total of (i) 85% of the remainder of (A) the daily average for such month
     of the amount of "Accounts and notes receivable, net" as would be shown on
     the Company's consolidated balance sheet minus (B) all Debt payable to
     members of the Company plus (ii) 50% of the amount, based on the lower of
     cost or market value, of "Inventories" as would be shown on the Company's
     consolidated balance sheet as of the last day of such month plus (iii) the
     remainder of (x) the Specified Percentage (as defined below) of the amount
     of "Properties, less accumulated depreciation" as would be shown on the
     Company's consolidated balance sheet as of the last day of such month minus
     (y) the then outstanding amount of all Indebtedness secured by a Lien on
     any such properties; provided that the amount determined pursuant to clause
     (ii) (the "INVENTORY AMOUNT") shall be reduced by the amount (if any)
     necessary so that the Inventory Amount is not more than 45% of the total of
     clauses (i), (ii) and (iii). For purposes of the foregoing, "SPECIFIED
     PERCENTAGE" means (a) from April 3, 1999 through December 31, 1999, 50%,
     (b) from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000, 40%, (c) from January
     1, 2001 through December 31, 2001, 30%, and (d) thereafter, 20%.

<PAGE>   2

TruServ Corporation
May 12, 1999
Page 2

          "BA CREDIT AGREEMENTS" shall mean (i) the Credit Agreement dated as of
     July 1, 1997 among the Company, Bank of America National Trust and Savings
     Association, as agent, and the various financial institutions party
     thereto, as amended from time to time, (ii) the 364-Day Credit agreement
     dated as of September 30, 1998 among the Company, Bank of America National
     Trust and Savings Association, as agent, and the various financial
     institutions party thereto, as amended from time to time, and (iii) any
     refinancings, renewals or replacements of either of the credit agreements
     referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above.

          "CONSOLIDATED NET EARNINGS" shall mean with respect to any period:

          (i) consolidated gross revenues of the Company and its Subsidiaries
     minus

          (ii) all operating and non-operating expenses of the Company and its
     Subsidiaries including all charges of a proper character (including current
     and deferred taxes on income, provision for taxes on unremitted foreign
     earnings which are included in gross revenues, and current additions to
     reserves and merger integration costs),

     provided that it is agreed and understood that the following shall not be
     included in the calculation of consolidated gross revenues of the Company
     and its Subsidiaries:

          (a) any gains (net of expenses and taxes applicable thereto) in excess
          of losses resulting from the sale, conversion or other disposition of
          capital assets (i.e., assets other than current assets);

          (b) any gains resulting from the appraised write-up of assets;

          (c) any equity of the Company or any subsidiary in the unremitted
          earnings of any corporation which is not a Subsidiary;

          (d) any earnings of any Person acquired by the Company or any
          subsidiary through purchase, merger or consolidation or otherwise for
          any year prior to the year of acquisition; or

          (e) any deferred credit representing the excess of equity in any
          Subsidiary at the date of acquisition over the cost of the investment
          in the Subsidiary,

     all determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
     provided that, to the extent that amounts are deducted from Consolidated
     Net Earnings during the Company's 1999 fiscal year as a result of SOP 98-5,
     "Reporting the Costs of Start-up Activities", issued by the American
     Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("SOP 98-5"), in excess of the
     amount that would have been deducted absent SOP 98-5, such excess shall be
     added back to Consolidated Net Earnings.

          "CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION" shall mean, as to any Person, and provision
     of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, undertaking,
     contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument, document
     or agreement to which such

<PAGE>   3
TruServ Corporation
May 12, 1999
Page 3

     Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

          "CURRENT DEBT" shall mean, with respect to any Person, all
     Indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money which by its terms or by the
     terms of any instrument or agreement relating thereto matures on demand or
     within one year from the date of the creation thereof and is not directly
     or indirectly renewable or extendible at the option of the debtor to a date
     more than one year from the date of the creation thereof, provided that (i)
     borrowings under any revolving credit facility (including, without
     limitation, the BA Credit Agreements) shall constitute Current Debt and
     (ii) guarantees of Indebtedness of Company members in an aggregate amount
     not to exceed $20,000,000 shall not constitute Current Debt, so long as no
     event has occurred the result of which would be to cause or permit such
     Indebtedness to become due prior to any stated maturity.

          "EBITDA" shall mean, for any period, Consolidated Net Earnings for
     such period plus, to the extent deducted in computing such Consolidated Net
     Earnings, interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

          "FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO" shall mean, as of the last day of any
     fiscal quarter, the ratio of:

          (a) the sum, for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending
          on such day, of (i) Consolidated Net Earnings plus (ii) to the extent
          deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Earnings, interest
          expense, operating lease expense, depreciation and amortization,

     to

          (b) the sum for such period of (i) operating lease expense and (ii)
          interest expense;

          each as determined for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a
     consolidated basis.

          "GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY" shall mean any nation or government, any state
     or other political subdivision thereof, any central bank (or similar
     monetary or regulatory authority) thereof, any entity exercising executive,
     legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or
     pertaining to government, and any corporation or other entity owned or
     controlled, through stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the
     foregoing.

          "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" shall mean a material adverse effect on (a)
     the business, operations, affairs, condition (financial or otherwise),
     assets, properties or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken
     as a whole, or (b) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations
     under this Agreement and the Notes, or (c) the validity or enforceability
     of this Agreement or the Notes.

          "PRIVATE PLACEMENT AGREEMENTS" means the several Note Purchase
     Agreements dated as of September 10, 1998 among the Company and the
     purchasers listed in Schedule 1 thereto, pursuant to which the Company
     issued its 6.85% Senior

<PAGE>   4
TruServ Corporation
May 12, 1999
Page 4

     Notes due July 1, 2008 in the original aggregate principal amount of
     $105,000,000, as such agreements may be amended from time to time.

          "RATIO COMPLIANCE DATE" shall mean the first date to occur after April
     3, 1999 on which financial statements of the Company have been delivered
     pursuant to Section 5A showing that for each of the two most recent fiscal
     quarters of the Company, as reported in such financial statements, the
     Total Senior Debt to EBITDA Ratio has been below 3.0 to 1.0 as of the last
     day of such fiscal quarters.

          "SUPPLEMENTAL COUPON ELIMINATION DATE" shall mean the first January
     1st or July 1st to occur after the Ratio Compliance Date.

          "TOTAL SENIOR DEBT" shall mean all Debt of the Company and its
     Subsidiaries other than Subordinated Debt.

          "TOTAL SENIOR DEBT TO EBITDA RATIO" shall mean, as of the last day of
     any fiscal quarter, the ratio of (a) the remainder of (i) the daily average
     of the amount of Total Senior Debt outstanding during the last fiscal month
     of such fiscal quarter minus (ii) the daily average of cash and marketable
     securities during the last fiscal month of such fiscal quarter to (b)
     EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters then ending.

          "YEAR 2000 PROBLEM" shall mean the risk that computer applications and
     embedded microchips in non-computing devices may be unable to recognize and
     perform properly date-sensitive functions involving certain dates prior to
     and any date after December 31, 1999.

     1.2 Paragraph 1 of the Note Agreement is amended to add at the end thereof
the following paragraph:

          For the period from (and including) April 1, 1999 to (but excluding)
     the Supplemental Coupon Elimination Date, the Company shall pay to each
     holder of Notes supplemental interest on the unpaid balance of the
     aggregate principal amount of the Notes held by it at the rate of 0.50% per
     annum. Such supplemental interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360
     day year of twelve 30 day months and shall be payable on the interest
     payment due dates for the applicable Notes to which such supplemental
     interest relates, commencing with the first such interest payment due date
     on or after the date hereof. To the extent permitted by law, any overdue
     payment of supplemental interest shall bear interest (payable on demand) at
     a rate per annum from time to time equal to the greater of (i) 9.60% or
     (ii) 2% over the rate of interest publicly announced by Morgan Guaranty
     Trust Company of New York from time to time as its "base" or "prime" rate.
     For the avoidance of doubt, all references in this Agreement to interest
     shall be deemed to include the supplemental interest payable pursuant to
     this paragraph (including, without limitation, the references to interest
     in Paragraphs 4, 7A(ii), and 10A).

     1.3 Paragraph 5A of the Note Agreement is amended by (a) deleting the word
"and" immediately after clause 5A(iii), (b) renumbering clause (iv) as clause
(vii), and (c) inserting the following new clauses (iv), (v) and (vi):

<PAGE>   5
TruServ Corporation
May 12, 1999
Page 5

          (iv) promptly, such information or documentation as any such holder of
          Notes may request from time to time regarding the efforts of the
          Company and its Subsidiaries to address the Year 2000 Problem;

          (v) promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after a
          Responsible Officer becoming aware of any of the following, a written
          notice to you setting forth the nature of any of the following matters
          that has resulted or may reasonably be expected to result in a
          Material Adverse Effect: (a) any breach or non-performance of, or any
          default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Company or any
          Subsidiary; (b) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or
          suspension between the Company or any Subsidiary and any Governmental
          Authority; or (c) the commencement of, or any material development in,
          any litigation or proceeding affecting the Company or any Subsidiary
          including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;

          (vi) together with each delivery on or prior to the Ratio Compliance
          Date of financial statements required by clauses (i) and (ii) above
          relating to each of the periods covered by the projections attached
          hereto as Schedule 8B, the Company will deliver to each such holder of
          Notes a management's discussion and analysis (x) discussing the
          results of such period and (y) showing all the variances from such
          projections that occurred in such period and explaining in reasonable
          detail the reasons therefor and

     1.4 Paragraph 6B(1)(x) of the Note Agreement is amended to read as follows:

          (x) other Liens securing Funded Debt (other than Funded Debt that
     constitutes Subordinated Debt); provided, however, that (a) such Funded
     Debt is permitted by the provisions of paragraph 6B(2) and (b) the
     aggregate amount of all Secured Funded Debt outstanding together with all
     Funded Debt of any Subsidiary (other than as permitted by clause (i) of
     paragraph 6B(2)) does not at any time exceed (A) prior to the Ratio
     Compliance Date, $25,000,000 and (B) on and after the Ratio Compliance
     Date, an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of Consolidated Total Assets.

     1.5 Paragraph 6B(2) of the Note Agreement is amended by (a) amending
Paragraph 6B(2)(iii) in its entirety to read as follows:

          (iii) Senior Funded Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries, so long
     as (a) the aggregate principal amount of consolidated Senior Funded Debt
     does not exceed at any time (I) through (and including) December 31, 1999
     an amount equal to sixty per cent (60%) of Consolidated Capitalization,
     (II) from (and including) January 1, 2000 through (and including) July 1,
     2000 an amount equal to fifty-eight per cent (58%) of Consolidated
     Capitalization, (III) from (and including) July 2, 2000 through (and
     including) June 30, 2001 an amount equal to fifty-five per cent (55%) of
     Consolidated Capitalization and (IV) after June 30, 2001 an amount equal to
     fifty per cent (50%) of Consolidated Capitalization; and (b) the aggregate
     amount of all Funded Debt of Subsidiaries (excluding that permitted by
     clause (I) of this paragraph 6B(2)), together with all Secured Funded Debt
     does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Total Assets (it being understood that
     for purposes of this clause (iii) Consolidated Capitalization and
     Consolidated Total Assets shall be measured as of the later of (x) the end
     of the Company's most recent quarterly period and (y) any other date as of
     which the Company has prepared and delivered to each holder of the

<PAGE>   6
TruServ Corporation
May 12, 1999
Page 6

     Notes that is an Institutional Investor a consolidated balance sheet of the
     Company and its Subsidiaries).

and (b) by adding the following paragraph at the end of Paragraph 6B(2):

          Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this paragraph 6B(2), the
     Company shall not permit the aggregate principal amount of all Debt of the
     Company and its Subsidiaries (other than (i) Debt hereunder, (ii) Debt
     under the BA Credit Agreements referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) of the
     definition thereof (without giving effect to any amendments thereto that
     would increase the amounts that may be borrowed thereunder), (iii) Debt
     referred to on Schedule 6A2 which was outstanding on March 25, 1999 and
     (iv) Subordinated Debt owed to members of the Company) to exceed
     $35,000,000 at any time prior to the Ratio Compliance Date.

          1.6 Paragraph 6C of the Note Agreement is amended in its entirety to
read as follows:

          6C. RATIO OF ASSET BASE TO DEBT. The Company will not permit, at any
          time prior to the Ratio Compliance Date, the ratio of (a) the Asset
          Base as of the last day of any fiscal month to (b) the remainder of
          (i) the daily average of the amount of Total Senior Debt outstanding
          during the fiscal month ending on such date minus (ii) the daily
          average of cash and marketable securities during the fiscal month
          ending on such date to be equal to or less than the applicable ratio
          set forth below:

          Fiscal Month(s) Ending             Ratio

          04/3/99 through 05/29/99           1.10 to 1
          07/3/99 through 10/2/99            1.15 to 1
          10/30/99 through 12/31/99          1.20 to 1
          01/29/00                           1.10 to 1
          2/26/00 through 12/31/00           1.20 to 1
          01/27/01                           1.10 to 1
          2/24/01 through 12/31/01           1.20 to 1
          01/26/02                           1.10 to 1
          2/23/02 and thereafter             1.20 to 1

          1.7 Paragraph 6H of the Note Agreement is amended in its entirety to
read as follows:

          6H. FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO. The Company shall not permit the
          Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter to be
          less than the applicable ratio set forth below:

          Fiscal Quarter Ending                       Ratio

          4/3/99                                      1.30 to 1.00
          7/3/99                                      1.35 to 1.00
          10/2/99                                     1.50 to 1.00
          12/31/99                                    1.85 to 1.00
          4/1/00                                      2.00 to 1.00
          7/1/00                                      2.15 to 1.00
          9/30/00 and thereafter                      2.25 to 1.00

<PAGE>   7
TruServ Corporation
May 12, 1999
Page 7

     1.8 (a) Paragraph 7A(ii) of the Note Agreement is amended by deleting the
phrase "10 days" appearing therein and inserting in place thereof the phrase "3
days"; and (b) Paragraph 7A(iii) is amended by deleting the amount "$7,000,000"
appearing therein and inserting in place thereof the amount "$5,000,000."

     1.9 (a) Paragraph 8B is amended by adding the following paragraph at the
end thereof:

          The projections relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries for the
     two-year period 1999-2000, a copy of which is attached hereto as Schedule
     8B, disclose all material assumptions used in formulating such projections.
     The Company is not aware of any facts that (individually or in the
     aggregate) would result in any material change in any of such projections.
     Such projections have been prepared on the basis of the assumptions stated
     therein (all of which were made by the Company in good faith), and reflect
     the reasonable estimates of the Company of the financial condition, results
     of operations and other information projected therein.

          (b) Paragraph 8 is also amended by adding a new paragraph after
     Paragraph 8P as follows:

     8Q. YEAR 2000 PROBLEM. The Company and its Subsidiaries (a) have reviewed
     the areas within their business and operations which could be adversely
     affected by, and have developed or are developing a program to address on a
     timely basis, the Year 2000 Problem and (b) have made appropriate inquiries
     as to the effect the Year 2000 Problem will have on their material
     suppliers and customers. Based on such a review, program and inquiries, the
     Company reasonably believes that the Year 2000 Problem will not have a
     Material Adverse Effect.

     1.10 Paragraph 11 of the Note Agreement is amended by adding a new
paragraph 11T at the end thereof as follows:

     11T. COMPANY INDEMNIFICATION. Whether or not the transactions contemplated
     by this Agreement are consummated, the Company shall indemnify and hold you
     and each of your respective officers, directors, employees, counsel, agents
     and attorneys-in-fact (each an "INDEMNIFIED PERSON") harmless from and
     against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties,
     actions, judgments, suits, costs, charges, expenses and disbursements
     (including attorney's fees and expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever
     which may at any time (including at any time following repayment, or
     transfer by you, of the Notes) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted
     against any such Person in any way relating to or arising out of this
     Agreement, or the Notes or any document contemplated by or referred to
     herein or therein, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or
     any action taken or omitted by any such Person under or in connection with
     any of the foregoing, including with respect to any investigation,
     litigation or proceeding (including any bankruptcy, insolvency,
     reorganization or other similar proceeding or any appellate proceeding)
     related to or arising out of this Agreement or the Notes or the use of the
     proceeds thereof, whether or not an Indemnified Person is a party thereto
     (all the foregoing, collectively, the "INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES") provided
     that the Company shall not have obligation under this Paragraph 11T to any
     Indemnified Person with respect to Indemnified Liabilities resulting solely
     from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Person.

<PAGE>   8
TruServ Corporation
May 12, 1999
Page 8

     1.11 The Schedule 6B2 and the Schedule 8B attached to this letter are added
to the Agreement as Schedule 6B2 and Schedule 8B, respectively.

     SECTION 2. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and
warrants to each of the undersigned that, after giving effect hereto (a) each
representation and warranty set forth in Paragraph 8 (including without
limitation, Paragraph 8B) of the Note Agreement is true and correct as of the
date of the execution and delivery of this letter by the Company with the same
effect as if made on such date (except to the extent such representations and
warranties expressly refer to an earlier date, in which case they were true and
correct as of such earlier date) and (b) no Event of Default or Default exists.

     SECTION 3. Effectiveness. The amendments described in Section 1 above
shall become effective on the date when (the "EFFECTIVE DATE") each Purchaser
has received:

          (a) the fees referred to in Section 4 below and all costs and expenses
     of such Purchaser in connection with this letter;

          (b) the following documents, each (including, with limitation, those
     referred to in clause (ii) below) in a form and substance satisfactory to
     the Purchasers:

               (i) counterparts of this letter agreement executed by the Company
          and the Purchasers;

               (ii) certified copies of each of the BA Credit Agreements and the
          Private Placement Agreements (as such terms are defined in Section 1.1
          above); and

               (iii) such other documents or certificates as the Purchasers may
          reasonably request; and

          (c) All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the
     transactions contemplated by this letter agreement shall be satisfactory to
     the Purchasers and its counsel, and the Purchasers shall have received all
     such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents
     as they may reasonably request.

     SECTION 4. Fees. In consideration of the Purchasers entering into this
letter agreement, the Company agrees to pay, on or before the Effective Date,
(i) to Prudential a processing fee of $75,000, and (ii) ratably to Prudential
and the Prudential Affiliates who are holders of notes issued by the Company an
aggregate fee of $395,000.

     SECTION 5. Reference to and Effect on Note Agreement. Upon the
effectiveness of this letter, each reference to the Note Agreement in any other
document, instrument or agreement shall mean and be a reference to the Note
Agreement as modified by this letter. Except as specifically set forth in
Section 1 hereof, the Note Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and
is hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects.

     SECTION 6. Governing Law. THIS LETTER SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, WITHOUT REGARD TO
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS OF SUCH

<PAGE>   9
TruServ Corporation
May 12, 1999
Page 9

STATE.

            [THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

<PAGE>   10
TruServ Corporation
May 12, 1999
Page 10

     SECTION 7. Counterparts; Section Titles. This letter may be executed in any
number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts,
each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original
and all of which taken together shall constitute but one and the same
instrument. The section titles contained in this letter are and shall be without
substance, meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of the
agreement between the parties hereto.

                             Very truly yours,

                             THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE
                                COMPANY OF AMERICA

                             By:______________________________
                                        Vice President

                             PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                             By:______________________________
                                        Vice President

                             U.S. PRIVATE PLACEMENT FUND

                             By: Prudential Private Placement
                                   Investors, L.P., Investment Advisor

                             By: Prudential Private Placement
                                   Investors, Inc., its General Partner

                             By:______________________________
                                         Vice President

AGREED AND ACCEPTED:

TRUSERV CORPORATION

<PAGE>   11
TruServ Corporation
May 12, 1999
Page 11

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

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