MARTIN COLOR-FI INC
10-Q, 1997-05-12
PLASTIC MATERIAL, SYNTH RESIN/RUBBER, CELLULOS (NO GLASS)
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                                    FORM 10-Q

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D. C. 20549



(Mark One)

(X)      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
         EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 30, 1997

OR

(  )     TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
         EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____________________ to _______________________

Commission file number 0-21340


                              MARTIN COLOR-FI, INC.
                -------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

        South Carolina                                          57-0879569
(State or other jurisdiction of                               (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)


                306 Main Street, Edgefield, South Carolina 29824
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (803) 637-7000
                   ------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                           Yes  [X]   No  [ ]

         As of May 9, 1997,  there  were  6,700,960  shares of the  registrant's
common stock issued and outstanding.



<PAGE>



                              MARTIN COLOR-FI, INC.
                                      INDEX


                                                                        Page No.
Part I - Financial Information

   Item 1 - Financial Statements

         Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) -
           Three months ended March 31, 1996 and March 30, 1997................2

         Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets -
           December 31, 1996 and March 30, 1997 (unaudited)....................3

         Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) -
           For the three months ended March 31, 1996 and March 30, 1997........4

         Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) -
           March 30, 1997....................................................5-6

   Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
            and Results of Operations........................................7-8

Part II - Other Information

   Item 1 - Legal Proceedings..................................................9

Signatures....................................................................10

   Exhibit Index..............................................................11



<PAGE>



                              MARTIN COLOR-FI, INC.
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                      (In thousands, except per share data)
                                   (unaudited)



                                                          Three Months Ended
                                                        March 31,      March 30,
                                                          1996          1997
                                                          ----          ----


Net sales                                                $ 25,623      $ 27,176
Cost of sales                                              21,920        21,375
                                                         --------      --------


Gross profit                                                3,703         5,801
Selling, general and administrative expenses                2,762         3,269
                                                         --------      --------


Operating income                                              941         2,532
Interest expense                                           (1,104)         (909)
Other income                                                   60           145
                                                         --------      --------


Income (loss) before income taxes                            (103)        1,768
Provision for income taxes                                    (28)          568
                                                         --------      --------


Net income (loss)                                        $    (75)     $  1,200
                                                         ========      ========


Net income (loss) per share                              $  (0.01)     $   0.18
                                                         ========      ========


Weighted average shares outstanding                         6,657         6,686
                                                         ========      ========




            See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.


                                        2

<PAGE>



                              MARTIN COLOR-FI, INC.
                      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                      December 31, 1996 and March 30, 1997
                      (In thousands, except per share data)


                                                         December 31,  March 30,
                                                            1996         1997
                                                            ----         ----
                                                                     (unaudited)
Assets
Current assets:
  Cash                                                     $    272     $    214
  Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $150
    and $150, respectively, for doubtful accounts            12,622       15,389
  Inventories                                                38,678       42,620
  Prepaid expenses                                              881        1,310
  Other assets                                                  856        1,000
                                                           --------     --------


  Total current assets                                       53,309       60,533

  Property, plant, and equipment, net                        42,873       42,549
  Goodwill                                                    5,091        5,621
  Other assets                                                1,343        1,468
                                                           --------     --------


  Total assets                                             $102,616     $110,171
                                                           ========     ========

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable and accrued expenses                    $ 16,105     $ 18,104
  Current portion of long-term debt                           6,725        9,036
                                                           --------     --------


  Total current liabilities                                  22,830       27,140

Deferred income taxes                                         5,184        5,606
Long-term debt                                               44,429       45,971

Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, no par value:
  Authorized shares - 50,000,000 in 1997 and 1996
  Issued and outstanding shares - 6,700,129 and
    6,681,479 in 1997 and 1996, respectively                    832          832
Additional paid-in capital                                   19,861       19,942
Retained earnings                                             9,480       10,680
                                                           --------     --------


Total shareholders' equity                                   30,173       31,454
                                                           --------     --------


Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                 $102,616     $110,171
                                                           ========     ========



            See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

                                        3

<PAGE>



                              MARTIN COLOR-FI, INC.
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
          FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND MARCH 30, 1997
                                 (In thousands)
                                   (unaudited)



                                                           March 31,   March 30,
                                                             1996         1997
                                                             ----         ----

Operating activities:
Net income (loss)                                          $    (75)   $  1,200
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash
  provided by (used in) operating activities:
    Depreciation and amortization                             1,021       1,089
    Deferred income taxes                                         -         422
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
     Accounts receivable                                     (2,150)     (2,767)
     Income tax receivable                                      (53)          -
     Inventories                                                721      (3,942)
     Prepaid expenses                                          (336)       (429)
     Other assets                                                (2)       (316)
     Accounts payable and accrued expenses                   (1,677)      1,411
                                                           --------    --------


Net cash used in operating activities                        (2,551)     (3,332)
Investing activities:
  Purchases of property, plant and equipment                   (485)       (641)
  Other                                                         (94)          -
                                                           --------    --------


Net cash used in investing activities                          (579)       (641)
Financing activities:
  Borrowings under line of credit                            10,085      13,152
  Payments on line of credit                                 (6,080)    (10,400)
  Additional loan costs                                         (10)        (19)
  Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt                        -       1,988
  Principal payments on long-term debt                         (858)       (887)
  Proceeds from issuance of common stock                          -          81
                                                           --------    --------


  Net cash provided by financing activities                   3,137       3,915

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents              7         (58)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                 12         272
                                                           --------    --------


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                 $     19    $    214
                                                           ========    ========

Supplemental  disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for:
  Interest (net of amounts capitalized)                    $  1,096    $    917
  Income taxes                                                   27          88


            See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

                                        4

<PAGE>



                              MARTIN COLOR-FI, INC.
              NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
      (Information for the three months ended March 31, 1996 and March 30,
                               1997 is unaudited)
                                 (In thousands)



1.       Basis of Presentation

         The accompanying  unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted  accounting  principles
for interim  financial  information  and with the  instructions to Form 10-Q and
Article  10 of  Regulation  S-X.  Accordingly,  they do not  include  all of the
information and footnotes required by generally accepted  accounting  principles
for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments
(consisting  of  normal  recurring  accruals)  considered  necessary  for a fair
presentation  have been included.  Operating  results for the three month period
ended March 30, 1997, are not necessarily  indicative of the results that may be
expected for the year ended December 31, 1997. For further information, refer to
the  financial  statements  and  footnotes  thereto  included in the  Registrant
Company's  Form  10-K for the year  ended  December  31,  1996,  filed  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 1997.

2.       New Accounting Standard

         In February  1997,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board issued
Statement  No.  128,  Earnings  per Share,  which is  required  to be adopted on
December  31,  1997.  At that time,  the Company  will be required to change the
method  currently  used to compute  earnings  per share and to restate all prior
periods.  Under the new requirements for calculating primary earnings per share,
the  dilutive  effect  of stock  options  will be  excluded.  The  impact is not
expected to have a material  effect in primary  earnings per share for the first
quarter ended March 30, 1997 and March 31, 1996.  The impact of Statement 128 on
the  calculation  of fully diluted  earnings per share for these quarters is not
expected to be material.

3.       Inventories

         Inventories consist of the following:

                                               December 31,          March 30,
                                                  1996                 1997

         Raw materials                           $25,963              $26,642
         Finished goods                           12,715               15,978
                                                 -------              -------

                                                 $38,678              $42,620
                                                 =======              =======


4.       Contingent Liability

         On  March  16,  1995,  the  Company  was  served  with a  lawsuit  by a
shareholder  alleging  violations of Federal  securities  laws and related state
laws and seeking an unspecified amount of damages. The shareholder  requested to
have the  case  certified  as a class  action  on  behalf  of other  non-insider
shareholders.


                                        5

<PAGE>



         A definitive  written  settlement  agreement  has been reached with the
class  plaintiff  under which the  Company's  settlement  liability  is fixed at
$2,000,000.  In exchange for a written release,  the Company's insurance carrier
has provided  $850,000 of this amount. By order dated March 12, 1997, the United
States  District  Court  certified the class in the matter,  appointed the class
plaintiffs' counsel as settlement administrator and gave preliminary approval to
the  settlement.  The  settlement  was funded by the Company on March 20,  1997.
Final settlement of the matter remains subject to final court approval.

         At December  31, 1995,  the Company  accrued the  estimated  settlement
amount, which includes legal fees less insurance proceeds,  as a liability.  The
Company's portion of the settlement has been funded by bank debt.


                                        6

<PAGE>



                              MARTIN COLOR-FI, INC.
                     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                  FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS



Statements  included  in  Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis  of  Financial
Condition and Results of  Operations  which are not  historical  in nature,  are
intended to be, and are hereby  identified as, "forward looking  statements" for
purposes of the safe harbor  provided by Section 21E of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934,  as amended.  The Company  cautions  readers that  forward  looking
statements, including without limitation, those relating to the Company's future
business  prospects,   revenues,  working  capital,  liquidity,  capital  needs,
interest costs, and income,  are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that
could cause  actual  results to differ  materially  from those  indicated in the
forward looking statements,  due to several important factors herein identified,
among others,  and other risks and factors  identified  from time to time in the
Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Outlook for 1997

Demand for  polyester  fibers is expected to increase for the remainder of 1997.
The large  declines in worldwide  selling prices of polyester  fiber  throughout
1996 and into the  first  quarter  of 1997 are  expected  to  stabilize  for the
remainder of 1997.  The strong  demand for the  Company's  carpet  production is
expected to continue for the remainder of 1997.  The Company has based its plans
for 1997 on these expectations. These matters are, however, beyond the Company's
control and could vary substantially from the Company's expectations.

Results of Operations:

Three months ended March 30, 1997,  compared to the three months ended March 31,
1996.


Net Sales:  Net sales  increased  6.1% to $27.2  million in the first quarter of
1997 from $25.6 million in the first quarter of 1996. This net sales increase is
primarily  related to an increase in net sales of the Pigment,  Yarn, and Carpet
Divisions,  after  intercompany  eliminations,  to $13.5  million  in the  first
quarter of 1997 from $9.1  million in the first  quarter of 1996.  The  increase
resulted primarily from an increased volume of sales in the Carpet Division.

Net sales in the Fibers Division  decreased by $2.0 million due to a decrease in
PET fiber sales.  PET fiber sales decreased due to a decrease in the average PET
fiber sales  price per pound to $0.663 in the first  quarter of 1997 from $0.834
in the first quarter of 1996. The decrease was,  however,  offset by an increase
in  shipments  to 22.0  million  pounds in the first  quarter  of 1997 from 20.1
million pounds in the first quarter of 1996.

Gross profit:  Gross profit increased 56.7% to $5.8 million in the first quarter
of 1997  as  compared  to $3.7  million  in the  first  quarter  of  1996.  As a
percentage of net sales, gross profit increased to 21.3% in the first quarter of
1997 as compared to 14.5% in the first  quarter of 1996.  The  increase in gross
profit is directly  related to the increase in net sales  discussed above and an
increase in the gross profit  margin.  The  increase in gross profit  percentage
relates to increased  margins in all  divisions  excluding  the Carpet  Division
which decreased slightly.

Selling,  general  and  administrative:   Selling,  general  and  administrative
expenses were $3.3 million or 12.0% of net sales in the first quarter of 1997 as
compared to $2.8 million or 10.8% of net sales in the first quarter of 1996. The
increase in selling, general and administrative expenses is due primarily to the
increase in net sales discussed above primarily  related to the Carpet Division.
The increase in selling,  general and administrative expenses as a percentage of
net sales is due to the sales growth of the Carpet  Division which incurs higher
selling,  general and  administrative  expenses  for its revenue  than the other
divisions.


                                        7

<PAGE>



Interest  expense:  Interest  expense  decreased  to $909  thousand in the first
quarter of 1997 from $1.1 million in the first  quarter of 1996 due primarily to
higher interest  capitalization  and a decrease in the weighted average interest
rate in the first quarter of 1997 compared to the first quarter of 1996.

Income tax  provision:  The income tax expense for the first quarter of 1997 was
$568  thousand  compared to an income tax benefit of $28  thousand for the first
quarter of 1996. The change is directly due to the increase in pretax income.

Net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share:  Net income increased to $1.2
million or $0.18 per share for the first  quarter of 1997 compared to a net loss
of $75 thousand or $0.01 per share for the first  quarter of 1996.  The increase
related directly to the increase in gross profit and gross profit percentage and
a decrease  in interest  expense  which was  partially  offset by an increase in
selling, general and administrative expenses.

Financial Condition

Current  assets  increased to $60.5  million at the end of the first  quarter of
1997 from $53.3 million at the end of 1996. Accounts  receivable  increased $2.8
million,  and  inventories  increased $3.9 million.  The above changes  resulted
directly from sales in the first quarter of 1997 occurring  later in the quarter
than the sales in the fourth quarter of 1996.  The increase in  inventories  was
primarily  related to an increase in finished goods  inventories  resulting from
production exceeding shipments in the first three months of the year.

The increase in accounts payable and accrued  expenses was primarily  related to
the increase in inventory  discussed  above and the timing of purchases and cash
disbursements.  The increase in debt relates  directly to the growth in accounts
receivable and inventory discussed above.

Liquidity  and capital  resources:  The Company used cash in  operations of $3.3
million for the first  quarter of 1997  compared  to $2.6  million for the first
quarter of 1996.  The  increase in cash used in  operations  was  primarily  the
result of  increases  in net  operating  assets and  liabilities,  primarily  an
increase in inventories partially offset by an increase in net income.

Net cash used in  investing  activities  amounted to $641  thousand in the first
quarter of 1997  compared  to $579  thousand in the first  quarter of 1996.  The
Company  increased its investment in property,  plant,  and equipment during the
first quarter of 1997 by $156 thousand compared to the first quarter of 1996.

Net cash provided by financing activities amounted to $3.9 million for the first
quarter of 1997  compared  to $3.1  million for the first  quarter of 1996.  The
change  occurred  primarily  due to the  increase in net cash used in  operating
activities discussed above.

In March of 1997, the Company entered into a $5 million capital expenditure term
loan to fund $2  million of 1996  capital  expenditures,  which were  previously
funded  under the  revolving  line of credit  agreement,  and $3 million of 1997
capital expenditures.

On May 2, 1997,  the Company  amended  its  revolving  line of credit  agreement
effective  March 27, 1997, to increase its  borrowings  from $25 million,  or an
agreed upon borrowing base to $28 million, or an agreed upon borrowing base. The
amendments provide for changes in the borrowing base formula until June 2, 1997.

The Company  believes  that the  financial  resources  available to it under its
revolving line of credit,  1997 term loan, and other internally  generated funds
will be  sufficient  to  adequately  meet its  foreseeable  working  capital and
capital expenditures requirements.


                                        8

<PAGE>



                           Part II - Other Information



Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

         In March 1995, litigation was commenced by a shareholder of the Company
against the Company and James F. Martin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
the  Company,  in the United  States  District  Court for the  District of South
Carolina,  Greenville Division. In the litigation,  the plaintiff alleges, among
other things,  that the Company  failed to prepare its  financial  statements in
accordance with generally  accepted  accounting  principles and issued false and
misleading  business and financial  information  to the  investing  public which
misstated  the  Company's  financial  condition,   earnings  and  prospects,  in
violation of the Federal securities laws and common law. The plaintiff sought to
have  the  action   certified  as  a  class  action  on  behalf  of  non-insider
shareholders  who purchased the common stock of the Company from April 21, 1993,
through February 28, 1995. A definitive  written  settlement  agreement has been
reached with the class plaintiff under which the Company's  settlement liability
is fixed at  $2,000,000.  In  exchange  for a  written  release,  the  Company's
insurance carrier has provided $850,000 of this amount. By order dated March 12,
1997,  the United  States  District  Court  certified  the class in the  matter,
appointed the class  plaintiffs'  counsel as settlement  administrator  and gave
preliminary approval to the settlement. The settlement was funded by the Company
on March 20, 1997. Final settlement of the matter remains subject to final court
approval.

         At December  31, 1995,  the Company  accrued the  estimated  settlement
amount, which includes legal fees less insurance proceeds,  as a liability.  The
Company's portion of the settlement has been funded by bank debt.

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

       (a)        Exhibits

         Exhibit 10.38 - Letter  Agreement,  dated May 2, 1997,  Modifying Third
         Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated March 27, 1997,
         with NationsBank, N.A.

         Exhibit 27 - Financial Data Schedule

       (b)        Reports on Form 8-K  - None


                                        9

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES



         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



                                           MARTIN COLOR-FI, INC.




Dated:   5/12/97                           By: /s/ Bret J. Harris
                                                    Bret J. Harris*
                                           Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer



         * Principal Financial and Accounting Officer


                                       10

<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit No.                Description


   10.38                   Letter Agreement,  dated May 2, 1997, Modifying Third
                           Amended and  Restated  Loan and  Security  Agreement,
                           dated March 27, 1997, with NationsBank, N.A.

     27                    Financial Data Schedule


                                       11



                                   May 2, 1997

Mr. Bret J. Harris
Chief Financial Officer
Martin Color-Fi, Inc.
Star Fibers Corp.
Custom Colorants, Inc.
Buchanan Industries, Inc.
Palmetto Spinning Corporation
P.O. Box 469
Edgefield, SC  29824

     Re:  Modification  of  Loans  Extended  by  NationsBank,   N.A.  to  Martin
          Color-Fi, Inc., et al.

Dear Bret:

         This letter shall serve as a written  modification  to (i) that certain
Third Amended and Restated  Loan and Security  Agreement (as amended or modified
the "Loan  Agreement") dated to be effective as of March 27, 1997 by and between
Martin  Color-Fi,  Inc., Star Fibers Corp.,  Custom  Colorants,  Inc.,  Buchanan
Industries,   Inc.  and  Palmetto  Spinning   Corporation   (collectively,   the
"Borrowers") and  NationsBank,  N.A.  ("NationsBank");  (ii) that certain Second
Amended and Restated  Revolving  Credit  Promissory Note (the "Revolving  Credit
Note")  in the  principal  amount of  $25,000,000  dated to be  effective  as of
December 16, 1996 executed by Borrowers and delivered to NationsBank; (iii) that
certain Second Amended and Restated Term Loan  Promissory Note (the "Term Note")
in the principal amount of $36,310,000  dated to be effective as of December 16,
1996 executed by Borrowers and delivered to NationsBank; and (iv) the other Loan
Documents (as such term is defined in the Loan Agreement).

I.       MODIFICATIONS TO LOAN AGREEMENT

         The Loan Agreement is amended as follows:

         (i)      By amending all references to the maximum  principal amount of
                  the  Revolving  Credit  Loan such that for the  period of time
                  commencing on the effective  date of this letter and ending on
                  June 2, 1997,  the maximum  principal  amount of the Revolving
                  Credit  Loan shall be  $28,000,000;  provided,  from and after
                  June 3, 1997 the  maximum  principal  amount of the  Revolving
                  Credit Loan shall be $25,000,000;



<PAGE>



Mr. Bret J. Harris
May 2, 1997
Page 2



         (ii)     By deleting the provision  that reads "sixty  percent (60%) of
                  the total  principal  outstanding  under the Revolving  Credit
                  Loan during the period of time commencing on December 16, 1996
                  and  ending on April  30,  1997" at the end of the next to the
                  last  sentence of Section 2.5 on page 13 and  substituting  in
                  lieu thereof the following:

                           sixty   percent   (60%)   of  the   total   principal
                           outstanding  under  Revolving  Credit Loan during the
                           period of time  commencing  on December  16, 1996 and
                           ending on June 2, 1997.

          (iii)   By inserting the following  provision at the end of the second
                  sentence of Section 3.2:

                           ; provided,  the  Income  Recapture  Payment  due  in
                           calendar year 1997 shall be due  and payable  on June
                           2, 1997.

II.      MODIFICATIONS TO REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE

         The Revolving  Credit Note is modified as necessary to provide that the
maximum  principal  amount of the Revolving Credit Note shall be $28,000,000 for
the period of time commencing as of the effective date of this letter and ending
on June 2, 1997.  From and after June 3, 1997, the maximum  principal  amount of
the Revolving Credit Note shall be reduced to $25,000,000.

III.     MODIFICATIONS TO TERM NOTE

         The Term Note is amended by inserting  the  following  provision at the
end of the second  sentence of the section  entitled  Repayment of Principal and
Payment of Interest:

         ,  provided,  the Income  Recapture  Payment due in calendar  year 1997
         shall be due and payable on June 2, 1997.

IV.      MODIFICATIONS TO OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS

         All other Loan Documents are amended as necessary to be consistent with
the  modification  set forth in this letter and to provide that each of the Loan
Documents  and any liens granted  thereby shall  continue to secure the Loans as
modified  by this  letter,  with the same  force and  effect as when  originally
executed.

         The intent of the foregoing  modifications described in this letter are
(i) to increase the maximum  principal  amount of the  Revolving  Credit Loan to
$28,000,000 from the date hereof


<PAGE>



Mr. Bret J. Harris
May 2, 1997
Page 3



through June 2, 1997 at which time the maximum principal amount of the Revolving
Credit Loan shall be reduced to $25,000,000;  (ii) to provide Borrowers a period
of time  commencing on December 16, 1996 and ending on June 2, 1997 during which
the inventory "cap" will be raised from 50% of the total  principal  outstanding
under the Revolving Credit Loan to 60% of the total principal  outstanding under
the Revolving  Credit Loan;  provided,  from and after June 3, 1997, the maximum
principal  advanced  and  outstanding  under the  Revolving  Credit Loan against
Eligible  Inventory  shall not exceed,  at any time,  fifty percent (50%) of the
total  principal  outstanding  under the  Revolving  Credit  Loan;  and (iii) to
establish  June 2,  1997 as the  date on  which  the  Income  Recapture  Payment
required to be paid in  connection  with the Term Loan in calendar  year 1997 is
due.

         All capitalized  terms not otherwise  defined in this letter shall have
the  meaning  ascribed to such term in the Loan  Agreement.  All other terms and
conditions  of the  Loan  Documents  shall  remain  in full  force  and  effect.
Borrowers  represent  and  warrant  that,  as of the date of this letter (i) all
representations contained in the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents are
true and accurate;  (ii) all covenants  contained in the Loan  Agreement and the
other  Loan  Documents  have been and  remain  satisfied;  and (iii) no Event of
Default  exists or no  condition  exists which with the giving of notice for the
passage  of time,  or both,  would  constitute  an Event of  Default  under Loan
Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

         As a condition to NationsBank  providing the modifications as described
herein, Borrowers shall pay to NationsBank a fee equal to $2,500.00 which is due
and payable upon acceptance of this letter by the Borrowers and must be received
by NationsBank  prior to NationsBank  being bound by the terms and conditions of
this letter agreement.

         Please have all parties execute the original of this letter to indicate
each of the Borrowers' agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions of this
letter and return the original fully- executed letter to me as soon as possible.
This letter  agreement  will be binding on all  parties  upon our receipt of the
original fully-executed and dated letter and our fee.

                                                         Kindest regards,
                                                         NationsBank, N.A.



                                                         Greg A. LaPointe
                                                         Vice President


<PAGE>



Mr. Bret J. Harris
May 2, 1997
Page 4


Agreed to on this      day of May, 1997.

BORROWERS:

MARTIN COLOR-FI, INC.


By: Bret J. Harris
    Its: Chief Financial Officer

STAR FIBERS CORP.


By: Bret J. Harris
    Its: Chief Financial Officer

CUSTOM COLORANTS, INC.


By: Bret J. Harris
    Its: Chief Financial Officer


BUCHANAN INDUSTRIES, INC.


By: Bret J. Harris
    Its: Chief Financial Officer

PALMETTO SPINNING CORPORATION


By: Bret J. Harris
    Its: Chief Financial Officer




<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
Condensed  Consolidated  Balance  Sheet at March  30,  1997(unaudited),  and the
Condensed  Consolidated Statement of Operations for the Three Months Ended March
30, 1997  (unaudited),  and is  qualified  in its  entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                       1,000
       
<S>                                <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                       MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                                     214        
<SECURITIES>                                                 0        
<RECEIVABLES>                                           15,389        
<ALLOWANCES>                                               150        
<INVENTORY>                                             42,620        
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                        60,533        
<PP&E>                                                  42,549        
<DEPRECIATION>                                          19,383        
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                         110,171        
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                   27,140        
<BONDS>                                                 45,971        
                                        0        
                                                  0        
<COMMON>                                                   832        
<OTHER-SE>                                              30,622        
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                           110,171        
<SALES>                                                 27,176        
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                        27,176        
<CGS>                                                   21,375        
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                           24,644        
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                             0        
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                             0        
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                         909        
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                          1,768        
<INCOME-TAX>                                               568        
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                      1,200        
<DISCONTINUED>                                               0        
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                              0        
<CHANGES>                                                    0        
<NET-INCOME>                                             1,200        
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             0.18               
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             0.18               
        

</TABLE>


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