1 Exhibit 10.2 July 23, 1996 Northwestern National Life Insurance Company Northern Life Insurance Company ReliaStar Bankers Security Life Insurance Company as Successor By Merger to The North Atlantic Life Insurance Company of America c/o ReliaStar Investment Research, Inc. 100 Washington Avenue South Suite 800 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401-2121 Gentlemen: Reference is made to the Note Purchase Agreement (as heretofore amended, the "1987 Agreement") among Northwestern National Life Insurance Company ("Northwestern"), Northern Life Insurance Company ("Northern"), The North Atlantic Life Insurance Company of America ("North Atlantic") (collectively, the "Lenders") and Michael Anthony Jewelers, Inc. (the "Company"), dated as of December 15, 1987, pursuant to which Northwestern purchased a 10.5% Senior Note of the Company in the original principal amount of $4,000,000 and North Atlantic purchased a 10.5% Senior Note of the Company in the original principal amount of $1,000,000. The Company requests that the 1987 Agreement be amended in the following respect, such amendment to be effective as of the date hereof: Negative Covenant - ----------------- Paragraph 5(b) of the 1987 Agreement, as the same has been amended, shall be deleted in its entirety and there shall be substituted in lieu thereof the following in Paragraph 5: (b) FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE. Permit the ratio of Total Pretax Income available for Fixed Charges to Total Fixed Charges (the "Fixed Charge Ratio") for any twelve month fiscal year end period to be less than 175%, provided that the Fixed Charge Ratio may be less than 175% at fiscal year end if the Fixed Charge Ratio for the previous fiscal year was at least 175% at fiscal year end; provided further, that the Fixed Charge Ratio may be less than 175%, but in no event less than 100%, for any four fiscal quarter period. The amendment set forth herein shall supersede in its entirety the amendment of Paragraph 5(b) set forth in that certain letter amendment dated February 16, 1995 among the Lenders and the Company. 2 Except as amended hereby, the 1987 Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. If you agree to amending the 1987 Agreement in the manner set forth above, please so indicate by executing the form of acknowledgment set forth below. The amendment shall then take effect as of the date hereof. This letter amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which together shall constitute but one instrument. Very truly yours, MICHAEL ANTHONY JEWELERS, INC. By: /s/ Allan Corn -------------- Allan Corn, Chief Financial Officer By: /s/ Michael A. Paolercio, Treasurer ----------------------------------- Michael A. Paolercio, Treasurer Agreed to and accepted as of the date first above written on behalf of Northwestern National Life Insurance Company By: /s/ James Wittich ------------------ Title: Authorized Representative ------------------------- Northern Life Insurance Company By: /s/ James Wittich ----------------- Title: Assistant Treasurer ------------------- ReliaStar Bankers Security Life Insurance Company as Successor By Merger to The North Atlantic Life Insurance Company of America By: /s/ James Wittich ----------------- Title: Vice President -------------- MFD/mh: fran\nnlic