Document:

exv10wy

 

Exhibit 10.y

Commercial Banking Office

August 12, 2003

Bell Industries, Inc.

1960 East Grand Avenue, Suite 560

El Segundo, California 90245

	 	 	 
	Attention

	 	Russell A. Doll
	

	 	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Re: Letter Agreement

Dear Russ:

     Reference is hereby made to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of
April 14, 1999, by and between Bell Industries, Inc., a California corporation
(“Company”), and Union Bank of California, N.A., a national banking association
(“Bank”), as amended by that certain First Amendment dated as of April 26,
2000, that certain Second Amendment dated as of March 27, 2002, and that
certain Third Amendment dated as of April 30, 2003 (as so amended, the “Credit
Agreement”), pursuant to which Bank agreed to extend credit to Company in the
amounts provided for therein. Initially capitalized terms used in this letter
agreement which are not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to
such terms in the Credit Agreement.

     Company and Bank hereby agree as follows:

     Until such date, if any, on which Company delivers to Bank a certificate,
executed by Company’s chief financial officer, certifying, together with
Financial Statements of Company demonstrating, that Company has achieved
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in any positive amount for four (4) consecutive
Fiscal Quarter periods, all of the following terms and conditions shall be in
effect and shall supersede any term, provision or condition of the Credit
Agreement to the contrary:

     (a) Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio Inapplicable. Company shall not be
required to comply with, and Bank shall not determine Company’s compliance
with, the negative covenant set forth in Section 7.6A of the Credit Agreement,
which relates to Company’s ratio of (i) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA to (ii)
Consolidated Interest Expense for each four (4) Fiscal Quarter period;

     (b) Maximum Consolidated Leverage Ratio Inapplicable. Company shall not be
required to comply with, and Bank shall not determine Company’s compliance
with, the negative covenant set forth in Section 7.6C of the Credit Agreement,
which relates to Company’s ratio of (i) Consolidated Total Debt to (ii)
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for each four (4) Fiscal Quarter period;

445 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California 9007

P.O. Box 513100, Los Angeles, California 90051-1100

213 236 7529 FAX 213 236 7635

 

 

Bell Industries, Inc.

August 12, 2003

Page 2

     (c) No Events of Default. No Event of Default under the Credit Agreement
(as modified by this letter agreement) shall have occurred and be continuing;

     (d) Total Utilization of Revolving Loan Commitment. The Total Utilization
of Revolving Loan Commitment shall not exceed Two Million Five Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($2,500,000) at any time;

     (e) Minimum Liquid Assets. Company shall maintain at all times
unencumbered and unrestricted Liquid Assets in one or more securities or other
accounts with Bank or any of Bank’s affiliates in an aggregate amount of not
less than Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,500,000). As used
herein, the term “Liquid Assets” shall mean immediately available (i) cash,
bank deposits, securities accounts, accounts and mutual funds; (ii) investments
in obligations of or guaranteed by the U.S. Government or any agency thereof;
and (iii) stocks, bonds and other debt instruments regularly traded on the New
York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or NASDAQ, provided that such
assets may be readily converted into cash;

     (f) No New Investments. Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any new Investment in any Person,
including any Joint Venture, without Bank’s prior written consent; and

     (g) No Restricted Junior Payments. Company shall not, and shall not permit
any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, declare, order, pay, make
or set apart any sum for any Restricted Junior Payment, without Bank’s prior
written consent.

     Nothing contained in this letter agreement shall be deemed to be a waiver
by Bank of any Event of Default that may occur under the Credit Agreement after
the date of this letter agreement, and Bank hereby reserves all of its rights
and remedies under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents with
respect to any Events of Default that may occur after the date of this letter
agreement.

     If the foregoing terms and conditions accurately reflect the mutual
agreement of Company and Bank, please sign and date the enclosed counterpart of
this letter agreement where indicated below, and return same to the undersigned
on or before August 20, 2003.

	 	 	 
	

	 	Very truly yours,
	 
	 	 
	

	 	UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.
	 
	 	 
	

	 	/s/ Peter Thompson
	

	 	
 
	

	 	Peter Thompson
	

	 	Vice President

 

 

Bell Industries, Inc.

August 12, 2003

Page 3

Acknowledged and Agreed 

this 14th day of August, 2003

BELL INDUSTRIES, INC

	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ Russell A. Doll
	 	 
	

	 	
 	 	 
	

	 	Russell A. Doll	 	 
	

	 	Senior Vice President and	 	 
	

	 	Chief Financial Officer<PAGE>
                                                                   Exhibit 10.14

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered effective as of September 1, 2001 by
and between VESTIN MORTGAGE, a Nevada corporation (the "Corporation"), and
Peggy May (the "Executive") with reference to the following facts:

                                  WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, the Corporation previously hired Executive in the position of
President for the Corporation; and

     WHEREAS, in order to retain the services of the Executive and to maximize
the period of her continued availability, the Corporation desires to enter into
the Agreement with Executive as is more fully set forth herein.

     NOW, THEREFORE, on the basis of the foregoing facts and in consideration
of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto
agree as follows:

     1.   Employment. The Corporation hereby agrees to, and does hereby, employ
the Executive and Executive hereby accepts employment with the Corporation on
the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement (the "Agreement").

     2.   Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on September 1, 2001,
and shall continue for a period of three (3) years until August 31, 2004 (the
"Term"). After the original Term, this Agreement shall continue for successive
one (1) year periods unless either party hereto shall notify the other in
writing at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of the Term of their
intention of not renewing the same.

     3.   Duties and Services.

          a.   The Corporation and the Executive hereby agree that, subject to
               the provisions of this Agreement, the Corporation will employ the
               Executive and the Executive will serve the Corporation as
               President during the Term.

          b.   Executive agrees during the term of this Agreement not to usurp a
               corporate opportunity for her own financial gain. A corporate
               opportunity shall be defined as a business opportunity which the
               Corporation is financially able to undertake, is, from its
               nature, in the line of the Corporation's business and is one in
               which the Corporation has an interest or a reasonable expectancy.
               Executive agrees that he shall offer a corporate opportunity to
               the Corporation. The Corporation shall have ten (10) days to
               either take the opportunity for itself or to reject the
               opportunity in which case Executive shall have the right to
               pursue such opportunity for himself. Failure to notify Executive
               within such ten (10) day period shall be deemed a rejection of
               the opportunity by the Corporation.
<PAGE>
     4.   Definitions. The following terms shall have the following meanings
when used herein:

          a.   Cause. Cause shall exist when and only when Executive (i) is
               convicted of a crime constituting a felony, or (ii) has been
               proven to be dishonest, has embezzled or has committed common law
               fraud ("for Cause").

     5.   Compensation. As salary during the Term, the Corporation shall pay the
Executive, in accordance with its normal payroll, a minimum annual salary of One
Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($160,000) such salary to be paid no less than
semi-monthly during the Term. The Executive shall receive such additional salary
as the Board of Directors of the Corporation may from time to time determine
during the Term. Unless expressly agreed in writing by the parties hereto, no
such additional compensation or benefits shall be deemed to modify or otherwise
affect the terms or conditions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing
if Executive is terminated other than for Cause, as defined herein, Executive
shall be entitled to twelve (12) months salary as severance as Executive's sole
and exclusive rights pursuant to this Agreement.

     6.   Other Benefits. During the Term Executive shall receive all rights and
benefits for which he is then eligible under any employee benefit plan or bonus
plan which the Corporation generally provides for its employees. Such benefits
shall include, but not be limited to medical insurance for Executive.

     7.   Death or Disability. In the event of the death of the Executive or the
disability of the Executive, this Agreement shall immediately terminate and the
Corporation shall pay to the Executive or her estate one (1) year's salary in a
single lump sum payment which payment shall be due and payable upon the sooner
of (i) thirty (30) days of Executive's death or (ii) thirty (30) days after
Executive is declared by her physician incapable of performing her duties as
specified in this Agreement. The Corporation shall have the right to fund
Executive's death and/or disability benefit through life insurance.

     8.   Place of Performance. In connection with her employment by the
Corporation during the Term, the Executive shall at all times be entitled to an
office at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, located in Las
Vegas, Nevada, or at such other office of the Corporation, as the Chief
Executive Officer of the Corporation shall, in her reasonable discretion deem to
be in the best interest of the Corporation.

     9.   Outside Activities and Non-Competition.

          a.   Covenant Not to Compete. Executive recognizes that the
               Corporation's decision to enter into this Agreement is induced
               primarily because of the covenants and assurances made by
               Executive, that Executive's covenant not to compete is necessary
               to ensure the continuation of the business of the Corporation and
               the reputation of the Corporation, and that irrevocable harm and
               damage will be done to the Corporation if Executive competes with
               the Corporation. Therefore, Executive agrees that during the term
               of this Agreement and for a period of one (1) year following
               termination of this Agreement, Executive shall not, directly or
               indirectly, as an employee,

                                       2
<PAGE>

          employer, contractor, consultant, agent, principal, shareholder,
          corporate officer, director, or in any other individual or
          representative capacity, engage or participate in any business or
          practice within the Practice Territory that is in competition in any
          manner whatsoever with the business of the Corporation without the
          written permission of the Corporation. The term "in competition in any
          manner whatsoever with the business of the Corporation" shall include
          the practice of accounting in the Practice Territory and engaging in
          the mortgage business in the State of Nevada. Practice Territory shall
          be defined as any area in which the Corporation has an office or
          conducts business. Executive agrees:

          (i)  If Executive should set up an office within the Practice
               Territory in competition with the business of the Corporation, it
               would cause economic harm and loss of goodwill to the Corporation
               resulting in immediate and irreparable loss, injuries, and damage
               to the Corporation.

          (ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10,
               Executive is not prohibited from owning less than five percent
               (5%) of the equity of any publicly traded entity.

     b.   Enforcement. The Corporation and Executive further agree that if any
          restriction in this Article is held by any court to be unenforceable
          or unreasonable, a lesser restriction will be enforced in its place
          and the remaining restrictions in this Agreement will be enforced
          independently of each other. In any action to enforce any provision of
          this Article 10, the court may award reasonable attorneys' fees,
          costs, and expenses to the prevailing party.

     c.   Survival. The provisions of this Article 10 shall survive the
          termination of this Agreement for one (1) year.

10.  Confidentiality of Information.

     a.   Confidential Information. Executive agrees to keep confidential and
          not to use or to disclose to others during the term of this Agreement
          and for a period of five (5) years thereafter, except as expressly
          consented to in writing by the Corporation or required by law, any
          secrets or confidential technology, proprietary information, patient
          lists, or trade secrets of the Corporation, or any matter or thing
          ascertained by Executive through Executive's affiliation with the
          Corporation, the use or disclosure of which matter or thing might
          reasonably be construed to be contrary to the best interest of the
          Corporation, the use or disclosure of which matter or thing might
          reasonably be construed to be contrary to the best interests of the
          Corporation. This restriction shall not apply to any information that
          (i) is or becomes generally available to and known by the public
          (other than as a result of an unpermitted disclosure directly or
          indirectly by Executive or Executive's affiliates, advisors, or

                                       3

<PAGE>
                    representatives; (ii) is or becomes available to Executive
                    on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the
                    Corporation or its affiliates, advisors, or representatives,
                    provided that, at the time of disclosure to Executive,
                    Executive is not aware that such source was bound by a
                    confidentiality agreement with or other obligation of
                    secrecy to the Corporation; or (iii) has already been or is
                    hereafter independently acquired or developed by the
                    Corporation; without violating any confidentiality agreement
                    with or other obligation of secrecy to the Corporation.

              b.    Departure. Except as provided herein, should Executive
                    leave the employment of the Corporation, Executive will
                    neither take nor retain, without prior written authorization
                    from the Corporation, any papers, client lists, fee books,
                    client records, files, or other documents or copies thereof
                    or other confidential information of any kind belonging to
                    the Corporation pertaining to the Corporation's clients,
                    business, sales, financial condition, or products. Without
                    limiting other possible remedies to the Corporation for
                    the breach of this covenant, Executive agrees that
                    injunctive or other equitable relief shall be available to
                    enforce this covenant, such relief to be without the
                    necessity of posting a bond, cash or otherwise. Executive
                    further agrees that if any restriction contained in this
                    paragraph is held by any court to be unenforceable or
                    unreasonable, a lesser restriction shall be enforced in
                    its place and remaining restrictions contained herein shall
                    be enforced independently of each other.

              c.    Exceptions.

                    (i)   Executive shall not be prohibited from releasing any
                          confidential or proprietary information to Executive's
                          legal counsel or financial advisors, provided that
                          Executive places such advisors under legal obligation
                          not to disclose the confidential information.

                    (ii)  It shall not be a breach of Executive's covenants
                          under this Article 10 if a disclosure is made pursuant
                          to a court order, a valid administrative agency
                          subpoena, or a lawful request for information by an
                          administrative agency. Executive shall give the
                          Corporation prompt notice of any such court order,
                          subpoena, or request for information.

         11   Notice. All Notices and other communications hereunder shall be
in writing and shall be deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered
five (5) days after deposit in the United States mail, by certified mail with
return receipt requested and postage prepaid, when delivered personally,
one (1) day after delivery to any overnight courier, or when transmitted by
facsimile transmission facilities, and addressed to the party to be notified as
follows:

              If to Corporation at:         2901 El Camino, Suite 206
                                            Las Vegas, Nevada 89102

                                               4
<PAGE>

     If to Executive at:      2901 El Camino, Suite 206
                              Las Vegas, Nevada 89102

12.  Miscellaneous.

     a.   This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
          Corporation, its successors and assigns. This Agreement may not be
          assigned by the Corporation without the prior written consent of the
          Executive. The obligations and duties of the Executive hereunder shall
          be personal and not assignable.

     b.   Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be
          interpreted in such a neater as to be valid and effective under
          applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is found to be
          prohibited or invalid under applicable law, such provision will be
          ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity without
          invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining
          provisions of this Agreement.

     c.   For purposes of this Agreement an "affiliate" of a person shall
          include any person, firm, corporation, association, organization, or
          unincorporated trade or business that, now or hereinafter directly or
          indirectly, controls, or is controlled by, or practices is under
          common control with such person.

     d.   Any waiver, alteration or modification of any term of this Agreement
          will be valid only if made in writing and signed by the parties
          hereto. Each party hereto from time to time may waive any of her or
          its rights hereunder without effecting a waiver with respect to any
          subsequent occurrences or transactions hereunder.

     e.   Captions and paragraph heading used herein are for convenience only
          are not a part hereof and shall not be used in construing this
          Agreement.

     f.   This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement of
          the parties and, except as otherwise provided hereunder, there are no
          other agreements or understandings, written or oral, in effect between
          the parties relating to the employment of the Executive by the
          Corporation during the Term. All prior negotiations or agreements, if
          any, between the parties relating solely to the employment of the
          Executive by the Corporation during the Term are hereby superseded.

     g.   This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with
          the laws of the State of Nevada.

     h.   This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be
          deemed an original, but both of which taken together shall constitute
          one and the same instrument.

                                       5

<PAGE>
     13   Arbitration. Any controversy between the parties hereto, including
the construction or application of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of
this Agreement, shall on written request of one party served on the other be
settled exclusively by arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American
Arbitration Association then in effect. The arbitrator selected must be a
member of the National Academy of Arbitrators and must have significant
experience in arbitrating labor disputes. Further, the Arbitrator must be an
attorney practicing labor law in the Southern California area. The cost of such
arbitration shall be borne by the losing party or in such proportions as the
Arbitrator(s) shall decide. Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's award
in any court of competent jurisdiction.

     14   The Executive's Employment. Nothing contained in this Agreement (i)
obligates the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to employ the
Executive in any capacity whatsoever, or (ii) prohibits or restricts the
corporation (or any such subsidiary) from terminating the employment, if any,
of the Executive at any time or for any reason whatsoever, with or without
cause, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is effective as of the day and year
first above written.

                                      "EXECUTIVE"

                                      /s/ Peggy May
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Peggy May

                                      VESTIN MORTGAGE, INC.,
                                      A NEVADA CORPORATION

                                      By: /s/ Lance Bradford
                                          --------------------------------------
                                      Name:
                                      Title: President/CFO

                                       6

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