UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
[ X ] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED]
For the fiscal year ended March 1, 1997.
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]
For the transition period from to
Commission File No. 1-7832
PIER 1 IMPORTS, INC.
(Exact name of Company as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 75-1729843
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
301 Commerce Street, Suite 600
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Company's telephone number, including area code: (817) 878-8000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Name of each exchange
Title of each class on which registered
- ------------------------------------- -------------------------
Common Stock, $1 par value New York Stock Exchange
5 3/4% Convertible Sub. Notes Due 2003 New York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether the Company (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
Company was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes [ X ] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Sec. 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained
herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the Company's knowledge,
in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in
Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]
As of May 7, 1997, there were 45,015,771 shares of Common Stock, $1.00
par value, outstanding, and the aggregate market value of the Common Stock
of the Company held by non-affiliates was approximately $925 million.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Location in Form 10-K Incorporated Document
Part III Proxy Statement for 1997 Annual Meeting
<PAGE>
PART I
Item 1. Business.
(a) General Development of Business.
From fiscal 1992 through fiscal 1997, the Company, (references to the
"Company" or "Pier 1" shall include Pier 1 Imports, Inc. and its
subsidiaries throughout this document), expanded its specialty retail
operations from 585 North American retail stores to 687 stores. In fiscal
year 1997, the Company continued to execute its expansion plan by opening 50
new North American Pier 1 stores while closing 25 stores. Throughout the
fiscal year the Company continued its focus on cost efficiencies and expense
controls. Subject to changes in the retail environment, availability of
suitable store sites and adequate financing, the Company plans to open
approximately 55 new Pier 1 stores in fiscal year 1998 and plans to close 29
stores, contingent upon lease renewal negotiations and relocation space
availability.
Set forth below is a list by city of Pier 1 stores opened in North
America in fiscal 1997:
Alpharetta, GA Lafayette, IN
Birmingham, AL Lake Grove, NY
Charlotte, NC Littleton, CO
Clarksville, IN Maple Grove, MN
Columbia, MO Merritt Island, FL
Conroe, TX Muncy, PA
Dickson, PA Newport, RI
Duluth, MN Niles, IL
Eagan, MN Oakville, OT
East York, OT Oklahoma City, OK
Encinitas, CA Phoenix, AZ
Fairless Hills, PA Portland, OR
Falls Church, VA Santa Fe, NM
Fayetteville, AR Sarasota, FL
Fort Worth, TX Staten Island, NY
Freehold, NJ Sugarland, TX
Gainesville, FL Sunset Valley, TX
Gainesville, GA Tacoma, WA
Hamden, CT Temple, TX
High Point, NC Vero Beach, FL
Houston, TX Virginia Beach, VA
Humble, TX Washington, DC
Key West, FL Willow Grove, PA
Knoxville, TN Woodbury, MN
La Mesa, CA Yakima, WA
During fiscal 1997, the Company continued its program to redesign all
store interiors to improve the visual merchandising of its products. This
program incorporates store improvements such as better lighting, wider
aisles, a more open view for ease of shopping and greater use of "lifestyle
merchandising" by grouping products in home-use settings. This
remerchandising effort is accompanied by a remodeling program to refurnish
older stores. In the fiscal year 34 stores were remodeled and
remerchandised and 54 were remerchandised.
During fiscal 1997, the Company acquired two corporations which owned
38 Pier 1 store locations which were leased to the Company at the time of
the acquisition.
Presently, Pier 1 maintains regional distribution center facilities in
or near Baltimore, Maryland; Columbus, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Fort Worth,
Texas; Los Angeles, California; and Savannah, Georgia.
In May 1997, pursuant to the Company's option, the preference stock of
The Pier Retail Group Limited ("The Pier") acquired by the Company in 1993
was converted into a 90% controlling interest of The Pier. The Pier is a
fifteen-store retail operation that offers decorative home furnishings and
related items in a store setting similar to Pier 1 stores. At fiscal 1997
year-end, The Pier operated thirteen stores in England, one store in Wales
and one in Scotland. At the end of fiscal 1997, the Company's net
investment in The Pier was $6.5 million. The Company also guarantees a bank
line available to The Pier of 5.0 million British Pounds (or $8.1 million)
and as of March 1, 1997, $6.1 million was outstanding under this line. While
the history of The Pier reflects net losses aggregating $7.8 million since
fiscal 1993, The Pier's fiscal 1997 results were better than planned and the
current plan indicates marginal profitability and positive cash flow in
fiscal 1998.
During fiscal 1994, the Company initiated an arrangement to supply
Sears de Mexico S.A. ("Sears Mexico") with Pier 1 merchandise to be sold in
certain Sears Mexico stores throughout Mexico. Presently, nine Sears Mexico
stores offer Pier 1 merchandise and the parties have entered into a letter
of intent to formally franchise these nine locations and all future
locations. Along with the change in the structure of the arrangement with
Sears Mexico and the prospects for an expanding Mexican economy, the
franchise agreement will substantially insulate the Company from currency
fluctuations which have reduced its profitability in the past.
The Company entered into another separate agreement with Sears Roebuck
de Puerto Rico, Inc. ("Sears Puerto Rico") in fiscal 1996 for Sears Puerto
Rico to market and sell Pier 1 merchandise in the Sears Puerto Rico stores.
Sears Puerto Rico operates 10 stores in Puerto Rico, four of which offer
Pier 1 merchandise. During the second quarter of fiscal 1998, Sears Puerto
Rico plans to begin marketing and selling Pier 1 merchandise in two
additional existing stores. Puerto Rico operations were marginally
profitable in fiscal 1997 and are planned to improve as new locations are
added.
Additionally in fiscal 1996, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company
entered into a franchise agreement with Akatsuki Printing Co., Ltd.
(collectively "Akatsuki") and Skylark Group to develop Pier 1 retail stores
in Japan. In fiscal 1997, Akatsuki has expanded its retail operations to
five Pier 1 stores in the Tokyo metropolitan area and surrounding suburbs
and, due to the success of the stores opened to date, the Company and
Akatsuki have agreed to accelerate the expansion plan and open an additional
twelve stores by the end of fiscal 1998. The agreement provides for the
licensing of up to 100 total stores.
In October 1996, the Company completed its planned elimination of high
cost fixed debt from its balance sheet. The transactions included the
conversion of $68,250,000 of its 6 7/8 subordinated convertible debentures
into the Company's common stock which eliminated this obligation from the
balance sheet. Further the Company sold $86.25 million of 5 3/4%
convertible subordinated notes and utilized the proceeds to retire $18.6
million of 11 1/2% subordinated debentures, and $25 million in 11% senior
notes and to reduce the Company's outstanding bank revolving credit facility
by $38 million.
In February 1997, the Company closed the securitization of its
proprietary credit card receivables through a private placement of trust
certificates which bear interest at the rate of 6.74% per annum and have an
average life of approximately five years. The Company received cash
proceeds of approximately $50 million.
In May 1997, the Company purchased a national bank charter in Omaha,
Nebraska. The Company plans to use the newly named Pier 1 National Bank to
standardize the interest rates and fees charged on its proprietary credit
card and export the Nebraska interest rate to the 46 states where the
Company operates stores. The Company has 2.27 million card holders.
On July 31, 1995, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with
Sunbelt Nursery Group, Inc. concerning Sunbelt's default on 13 Sunbelt
nursery stores subleased from the Company. Pursuant to the settlement
agreement, Sunbelt agreed to a claim by the Company of $14.7 million and
agreed to continue to sublease the 13 stores at market rates for up to three
years or until the Company is able to find buyers for the properties. As of
March 1, 1997, the Company had sold seven of the 13 subleased stores.
Additionally, Sunbelt is obligated to make future deferred payments out of
its cash flow above specified levels up to a total of $8 million, with the
ability to prepay the obligation at a significant discount. Sunbelt
estimates that payments to the Company will commence in 2009 and the
obligation will be fully satisfied in the year 2016. If Sunbelt fully
performs its obligations relating to these and other terms of the settlement
agreement, the remaining $6.7 million of the Company's claim will be deemed
satisfied. On January 31, 1997 Sunbelt and the Company modified the terms
of the settlement agreement to allow Sunbelt the opportunity to eliminate
the existing $8.0 million obligation for a total consideration of $2.0
million, which is comprised of $200,000 in cash, $.8 million in a note and
the remaining $1.0 million to be settled by Mr. Duoos, Chairman of the
Board, on behalf of Sunbelt upon the registration and sale of $1.0 million
of his personal shares of common stock in Sunbelt, valued on the date
delivered and immediately following the registration of the shares with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company has the unilateral right to
terminate this agreement (i) if the Sunbelt shares are not delivered by May
30, 1997 or (ii) if the closing price of Sunbelt's common stock on the day
immediately preceding the delivery date is less than one dollar per share.
(b) Financial Information About Industry Segments.
The Company operates in one business segment consisting of the retail
sale of decorative home furnishings and related items.
Financial information with respect to the Company's business is found
in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements which are set forth in
Item 8 herein.
(c) Narrative Description of Business.
The specialty retail operations of Pier 1 consist of a chain of retail
stores operating under the name "Pier 1 Imports," "The Market of Pier 1" and
"The Pier," selling a wide variety of furniture, decorative home
furnishings, dining and kitchen goods, accessories and other specialty items
for the home. At the end of fiscal 1997, the Company had completely
discontinued casual clothing and fashion accessories in all Pier 1 stores.
On March 1, 1997, Pier 1 operated 661 stores in 47 states of the United
States, 25 stores in two Canadian provinces and 1 store in Puerto Rico. It
also had 20 franchised stores in 15 states. Additionally, the Company,
through certain subsidiaries, operated 15 stores in the United Kingdom under
the name The Pier. The Company supplies merchandise and licenses the Pier 1
name to Sears Mexico and Sears Puerto Rico which sell Pier 1 merchandise in
dedicated retail space in nine Sears Mexico stores and in four Sears Puerto
Rico stores. The Company has five franchise stores in Tokyo and surrounding
suburbs. The company-operated Pier 1 stores in the United States and Canada
average approximately 7,500 square feet in size of retail selling space, and
are generally freestanding units located near major shopping centers or
malls, predominately located in all major United States metropolitan areas
and many of the primary smaller markets. In fiscal 1997, net sales of the
Company totalled $947.1 million of which The Pier totalled $20.3 million.
Pier 1 stores have their highest sales volumes during November and December,
reflecting the Christmas selling season.
The Company offers a diverse selection of products consisting of over
5,000 items. While the broad categories of Pier 1's merchandise remain
constant, individual items within these product groupings change frequently
in order to meet the demands of customers. The principal categories of
merchandise include the following:
FURNITURE - This product group consists of furniture and the related
furniture pads and pillows to be used on patios and in sun rooms, living,
dining and kitchen areas, and constituted approximately 31.5%, 32.8% and
32.8% of the total retail sales of Pier 1 in fiscal years 1997, 1996, and
1995, respectively. These goods are purchased mainly from Italy, Malaysia,
Chile, China, the Philippines and Indonesia, as well as domestic sources
and are made of metal and handcrafted natural materials, including rattan,
pine, beech, rubberwood and selected hardwoods with either natural, stained
or painted finishes.
DECORATIVE HOME FURNISHINGS - This product group constituted the
broadest category of merchandise in Pier 1's sales mix and contributed
approximately 27.5%, 27.0% and 27.5% to Pier 1's total retail sales in
fiscal years 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. These items are imported
from approximately 40 countries and include brass, marble and wood items, as
well as lamps, vases, dried and silk flowers, baskets, wall decorations and
numerous other decorative items, practically all of which are handcrafted
from natural materials.
HOUSEWARES - This product group is purchased mainly from India, the Far
East and Europe and includes ceramics, dinnerware and other functional and
decorative items. These goods accounted for approximately 13.8%, 14.1% and
14.3% of the total retail sales of Pier 1 in fiscal years 1997, 1996 and
1995, respectively.
BED & BATH - This product group is imported mainly from India, England,
Italy and China, as well as domestic sources and includes bath and fragrance
products, candles, and bedding. These goods accounted for approximately
12.2%, 9.2% and 7.8% of the total retail sales of Pier 1 in fiscal years
1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
SEASONAL - This product group consists of merchandise to celebrate
holiday and spring/summer entertaining and is imported mainly from Europe,
Canada, China, and India. These items accounted for approximately 9.6%,
9.3% and 8.7% of the total retail sales of Pier 1 in fiscal years 1997, 1996
and 1995, respectively.
APPAREL - This product group is imported from India, Greece, Thailand
and Indonesia and accounted for approximately 5.4%, 7.6% and 8.9% of the
total retail sales of Pier 1 in fiscal years 1997, 1996 and 1995,
respectively. Apparel has now been completely discontinued.
Merchandise offered for sale in Pier 1 stores largely consists of items
that require a significant degree of handcraftsmanship. Most items are
imported directly by Pier 1 from foreign suppliers. Pier 1 is not dependent
on any particular supplier and has enjoyed long-standing relationships with
many vendors. During fiscal 1997, Pier 1 imported approximately 30.3% of
its purchases from China, 18.1% from India, and 28.7% from Indonesia, Japan,
Thailand, the Philippines, and Italy. The remaining 22.9% was imported from
various Asian, European, Central American, South American and African
countries or obtained from United States manufacturers, wholesalers or
importers. In selecting the source of a product, Pier 1 considers quality,
dependability of delivery and cost. For the most part, the imported
merchandise is handcrafted in cottage industries and small factories.
The Company currently maintains 6 regional distribution centers located
in or near Baltimore, Maryland; Los Angeles, California; Fort Worth, Texas;
Chicago, Illinois; Savannah, Georgia; and Columbus, Ohio, and leases
additional space from time to time and on a temporary basis. Imported
merchandise and a portion of domestic purchases are delivered to the
distribution centers, unpacked, and made available for shipment to the
various stores in the center's region. The merchandise is then distributed
to the retail stores by leased fleet and contract carriers. Due to the time
delays involved in procuring merchandise from foreign suppliers, Pier 1
maintains a substantial inventory in order to be assured of a sufficient
supply of products to its customers.
Pier 1 primarily competes with small specialty sections of large
department stores, home furnishing stores, small specialty import stores and
discount stores. Management believes that its stores compete on the basis
of price, depth and breadth of merchandise assortment and customer service.
The Company believes its stores enjoy a competitive edge over competing
retailers due to greater name recognition, established vendor relationships
and the extent and variety of the merchandise offered. While other stores
may offer fewer items and change them less frequently, Pier 1 differentiates
itself by offering an array of unique and frequently changing products.
As a retailer of imported merchandise, the Company is subject to
certain risks that typically do not affect retailers of domestically
produced merchandise, including the need to order merchandise from four to
twelve months in advance of delivery and to pay for such merchandise at the
time it is loaded for transport to designated U.S., international or
Canadian destinations. Additionally, dock strikes, fluctuations in foreign
currency exchange rates, restrictions on the convertibility of the dollar
and other currencies, duties, taxes and other charges on imports, import
quota systems and other restrictions generally placed on foreign trade can
affect the price, delivery and availability of ordered merchandise. The
inability to import products from certain countries or the imposition of
significant tariffs could have a material adverse effect on the results of
operations of the Company.
In the 1988 Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act ("1988 Act") was
signed into law amending the Trade Act of 1974 (the "Act"). This
legislation was enacted partly in response to a perceived decline in U.S.
global competitiveness and the continuing presence of unfair trade practices
that limit U.S. exporters' access to foreign markets. Under the law, unfair
trade practices of countries around the world may be investigated by the
office of the United States Trade Representative, and such investigations
may lead to sanctions which could take the form of quotas or increased
duties on imports into the U.S.
Under the Act, the U.S. Trade Representative is required to take some
action within 30 days (subject to being postponed for 180 days) after the
conclusion of its investigation of countries alleged to have committed
unfair trade practices. Upon a determination that a country has committed
an unfair trade practice, the U.S. Trade Representative may designate the
subject country a priority foreign country whose trade practices, if
corrected, would provide the greater potential for expansion of U.S.
exports. On three previous occasions, the U.S. Trade Representative
identified China as a priority foreign country under the Act, which
designations were rescinded after agreements were reached with China
regarding the basis for the designations.
The United States may employ other measures besides the Act to
implement its international trade policies and objectives, such as the
withdrawal of most favored nation ("MFN") status to countries around the
world which would cause import duties to increase. In May 1997, the
President indicated he would recommend to Congress renewal of China's MFN
trading status. Congress has 90 days from June 3, 1997 to revoke China's
MFN status. If no action is taken, China's MFN status would be renewed for
one year from July 3, 1997. However, if China's MFN status is lost, the
Company would choose to source affected goods from other countries. Any
type of sanction on imports is likely to increase the Company's import costs
or limit the availability of products purchased from sanctioned countries.
In such event, the Company will seek similar products from other countries.
The United States and more than 100 other countries culminated seven
years of negotiations with an agreement which became effective January 1,
1995 to reduce, over time, tariff and non-tariff barriers to world trade in
goods and services and to establish a World Trade Organization to replace
the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Any agreement which may reduce
tariff and non-tariff barriers in international trade is considered
beneficial to the Company's business in the United States and around the
world.
The Company owns five federally registered service marks under which
its company-operated and franchised stores do business. These registrations
are numbered 948,076 and 1,620,518 for the mark PIER 1 IMPORTS and
1,104,059 for the mark PIER 1 and 1,907,947 for the mark PIER 1 IMPORTS FOR
A CHANGE and 1,903,864 for the mark FOR A CHANGE. Also the Company has
registered, and has applications pending for the registration of Pier 1
trademarks and service marks in the United States and in numerous foreign
countries.
On March 1, 1997, the Company employed a total of 11,255 persons:
5,721 were full-time employees and 5,534 were part-time employees.
The Company maintains a wholly owned foreign subsidiary incorporated
under the laws of Hong Kong to manage certain merchandise procurement,
export and financial service functions for Pier 1. Also the Company
maintains a wholly owned foreign subsidiary incorporated under the laws of
Bermuda which owns the right to license and to franchise the Company's
trademarks and service marks outside the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico
and Mexico.
Item 2. Properties.
As a holding company, the Company does not own any physical property
materially important to the conduct of its business operations. The
Company's home office in Fort Worth, Texas is leased by Pier 1.
A subsidiary of the Company leases certain properties consisting
principally of retail stores, warehouses and office space. The subsidiary
leases currently provide 136,777 square feet of office space in downtown
Fort Worth for the Company's home office. Most of the Company's North
American retail store operations are conducted pursuant to leases which are
classified as operating leases, and at March 1, 1997, the present value of
the Company's minimum future operating lease commitments aggregated
approximately $375 million.
The Company currently owns and leases distribution space of
approximately 2.75 million square feet. Additional temporary space
requirements can be met by leasing space on a short-term basis.
The following table shows the distribution by state of Pier 1 North
American stores as of March 1, 1997:
United States and Puerto Rico
- -----------------------------
Alabama 8 Nebraska 4
Arizona 10 Nevada 3
Arkansas 4 New Hampshire 4
California 78 New Jersey 20
Colorado 15 New Mexico 3
Connecticut 13 New York 34
Delaware 2 North Carolina 14
Florida 48 North Dakota 3
Georgia 20 Ohio 31
Idaho 3 Oklahoma 6
Illinois 33 Oregon 6
Indiana 15 Pennsylvania 27
Iowa 5 Puerto Rico 1
Kansas 6 Rhode Island 3
Kentucky 6 South Carolina 7
Louisiana 9 South Dakota 2
Maryland 16 Tennessee 13
Massachusetts 20 Texas 56
Michigan 21 Utah 4
Minnesota 17 Virginia 23
Mississippi 4 Washington 17
Missouri 11 West Virginia 1
Montana 2 Wisconsin 13
Wyoming 1
Canada
- ------
Ontario 16
Quebec 9
Warehouse properties that are owned or leased by Pier 1 are as follows:
Owned/Leased
Location Approx. Sq. Ft. Facility
- ------------------- --------------- ------------
Baltimore, Maryland 634,186 sq. ft. Leased
Columbus, Ohio 527,127 sq. ft. Leased
Chicago, Illinois 297,552 sq. ft. Owned
Fort Worth, Texas 454,868 sq. ft. Owned
Rancho Cucamonga, California 417,000 sq. ft. Leased
Savannah, Georgia 393,216 sq. ft. Owned
The Company has agreements with unaffiliated parties to lease certain
stores and distribution center space. Certain of these unaffiliated parties
are committed to make available up to $25.0 million for development or
acquisition of properties leased by Pier 1. As of March 1, 1997, the
Company utilized $23.9 million of that availability. This facility expires
December 30, 1997, at which time the Company must extend the term of the
facility or purchase the properties covered under the facility. In order to
continue to finance new store land and building costs, the Company is
exploring other financing opportunities currently available in the capital
markets.
During fiscal 1997, the Company acquired two corporations which owned
38 Pier 1 store locations, which were leased to the Company, for an
aggregate purchase price of $59.9 million. The purchase price of these
corporations approximated the fair market value of the land and buildings
owned by these corporations at the time of purchase. The effect of owning
these properties, as opposed to leasing these properties, is not expected to
have a significant impact on future operations.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
There are various claims, lawsuits, investigations and pending actions
against the Company and its subsidiaries incident to the operation of their
businesses. Liability, if any, associated with these matters is not
determinable at March 1, 1997. While a certain number of the lawsuits
involve substantial amounts, it is the opinion of management, after
consultation with counsel, that the ultimate resolutions of such litigation
will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position,
results of operations or liquidity. The Company intends to vigorously
defend itself against the claims asserted against the Company in these
lawsuits.
On December 27, 1995, a derivative suit, entitled Harry Lewis v. Clark
A. Johnson, et al., was filed by a stockholder on behalf of the Company in
the Delaware Chancery Court against each member of the Company's Board of
Directors. The complaint alleged that the Directors violated their
fiduciary duties to the Company and its stockholders by not adequately
supervising the officers, employees and agents of the Company who were
responsible for the trading activities that resulted in the $19.3 million in
losses described in Note 12 to the financial statements. The suit was
consolidated with four other stockholder derivative suits and was dismissed
without prejudice on April 14, 1997.
On January 3, 1996, another derivative suit, entitled John P. McCarthy
Profit Sharing Plan, et al. v. Clark A. Johnson, et al., was filed by a
stockholder on behalf of the Company in the District Court of Tarrant
County, Texas against each member of the Board of Directors, two executive
officers of the Company and the outside financial consultant of the Company.
The complaint alleges that the Directors and executives of the Company
violated their duties to the Company and its stockholders by gross
mismanagement and waste of the Company's assets exceeding $34 million and
that the defendants engaged in conspiracy and fraud by concealing and
misrepresenting facts to the Company and its stockholders. The suit seeks
an award in the amount of all damages sustained by the Company. On February
12, 1996, the Company filed a related cross-claim suit against S. Jay
Goldinger, the financial consultant, and his firm, Capital Insight, and a
third-party claim against a brokerage firm, Refco, Inc., asserting
conspiracy and fraud and seeking damages sustained by the Company from the
trading activities managed by Goldinger. The plaintiffs agreed to dismiss
without prejudice claims against the Company's officers and directors other
than the former chief financial officer, but Refco subsequently filed a
third-party suit against the Company's officers and directors seeking
indemnification and contribution. The Company's former chief financial
officer filed cross-claims against the Company seeking unpaid and post-
employment benefits and damages for alleged libel and slander by the
Company. The Company filed cross-claims against its former chief financial
officer based on his actions related to the investments which led to the
trading losses. The ultimate outcome of such matters cannot presently be
determined.
On January 24, 1996, a suit, entitled Hernan Velasquez v. Clark A.
Johnson, et al., was filed in the District Court of Tarrant County, Texas
against the Company and each member of the Company's Board of Directors.
The complaint asserted a class action by Company stockholders purchasing
and/or holding Company common stock between July 8, 1994, and December 22,
1995, and alleged fraud and violations of the Texas Securities Act in the
dissemination of materially false and misleading information concerning the
Company's financial condition and sought compensatory and exemplary damages
in excess of $50 million in connection with purchases by the stockholder
class of Company common stock during the class period. The suit was
dismissed without prejudice on April 14, 1997.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
There were no matters submitted to a vote of the Company's security
holders during the fourth quarter of the Company's fiscal year.
Executive Officers of the Company
CLARK A. JOHNSON, age 66, has served as Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, and a member of the Executive Committee since March
1988. He has been a Director of the Company since March 1983. From May 1985
to March 1988, Mr. Johnson was President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company. He is a Director of Albertson's, Inc., InterTAN, Inc., Metro Media
International Group and Heritage Media Corporation.
MARVIN J. GIROUARD, age 57, has served as President and Chief Operating
Officer of the Company and as a Director since August 1988. From May 1985
until August 1988, he served as Senior Vice President - Merchandising of
Pier 1. Additionally, he serves as a Director of ENSERCH Corporation.
STEPHEN F. MANGUM, age 43, has served as Senior Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company since August 1996. From
January 1994 to July 1996, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of Bloomingdale's, Inc., a subsidiary of Federated
Department Stores, Inc., and served as Vice President of Profit Development
from March 1993 to December 1993. From August 1987 to March 1993, he served
as Vice President of Finance/Control of the Hecht's division of The May
Department Stores Company, Inc.
J. RODNEY LAWRENCE, age 51, has served as Senior Vice President of
Legal Affairs and Secretary of the Company and Pier 1 Imports (U.S.), Inc.
since June 1992, and served as Vice President of Legal Affairs and Secretary
of the Company from November 1985 to June 1992.
E. MITCHELL WEATHERLY, age 49, has served as Senior Vice President of
Human Resources of the Company since June 1992 and served as Vice President
of Human Resources of the Company from June 1989 to June 1992 and of Pier 1
Imports (U.S.), Inc. from August 1985 to June 1992.
PHIL E. SCHNEIDER, age 45, has served as Senior Vice President of
Marketing of the Company and Pier 1 Imports (U.S.), Inc. since May 1993 and
served as Vice President of Advertising of Pier 1 Imports (U.S.), Inc. from
January 1988 to May 1993.
CHARLES H. TURNER, age 40, has served as Senior Vice President of
Stores of the Company and Pier 1 Imports (U.S.), Inc. since August 1994 and
served as Controller and Principal Accounting Officer of the Company from
January 1992 to August 1994.
PERRY R. MCNEELY, age 49, has served as Senior Vice President of
Logistics of the Company and Pier 1 Imports (U.S.), Inc. since June 1993.
From January 1989 to June 1993, he was Vice President of Operations for
Lechters, Inc.
JAY R. JACOBS, age 42, has served as Senior Vice President of
Merchandising of the Company since May 1995, served as Vice President of
Divisional Merchandising of Pier 1 Imports (U.S.), Inc. from May 1993 to May
1995 and served as Director of Divisional Merchandising of the Company from
July 1991 to May 1995.
The officers of the Company are appointed by the Board of Directors,
hold office until their successors are elected and qualified and/or until
their earlier death, resignation or removal.
None of the above executive officers has any family relationship with
any other of such officers. None of such officers was selected pursuant to
any arrangement or understanding between him and any other person.
<PAGE>
PART II
Item 5. Market for the Company's Common Equity and Related Stockholder
Matters.
The Company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
As of May 1997, there were approximately 18,000 stockholders of the
Company's common stock.
Market Price
--------------- Cash Dividends
Fiscal 1997 High Low Per Share(1)
- ----------- ------ ------ --------------
First Quarter 15 3/4 12 $0.04
Second Quarter 17 14 3/8 0.04
Third Quarter 16 1/2 13 0.04
Fourth Quarter 18 5/8 14 5/8 0.04
Fiscal 1996
- -----------
First Quarter(2) 9 1/2 8 $0.03
Second Quarter 10 7 3/4 0.03
Third Quarter 10 7/8 8 7/8 0.03
Fourth Quarter 13 1/4 9 5/8 0.04
____________________
(1) For restrictions on the payments of dividends, see Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
- Liquidity and Capital Resources.
(2) Market prices and cash dividends have been adjusted to reflect the
effect of the 5% stock dividend distributed May 8, 1995.
Certain of the Company's existing loan and lease guarantee agreements
require the Company to maintain certain financial ratios and limit certain
investments and distributions to stockholders, including cash dividends,
loans to stockholders and purchases of treasury stock. Generally the
Company may make "restricted payments," as defined in the loan agreements,
which include the payment of cash dividends, up to an aggregate maximum of
approximately $22.6 million as of March 1, 1997. The Company's Board of
Directors currently expects to continue to pay cash dividends in fiscal 1998
but intends to retain most of its future earnings for the expansion of the
Company's business. The Company's dividend policy will depend upon the
earnings, financial condition and capital needs of the Company and other
factors deemed relevant by the Company's Board of Directors.
<PAGE>
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
Pier 1 Imports, Inc.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
($ in millions except per share amounts)
4-Year
Compound
Annual Year Ended
Growth ----------------------------------
Rate 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
-------- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Summary of operations:
Net sales 10.8% $947.1 810.7 712.0 685.4 629.2
Gross profit 11.8% $384.5 325.5 277.6 259.6 246.2
Selling, general and
administrative expenses 11.1% $274.5 235.6 206.0 195.4 180.2
Depreciation and
amortization 7.0% $ 19.8 17.2 16.0 15.8 15.1
Store-closing provision $ - - - 21.3 -
Operating income 15.4% $ 90.2 72.7 55.6 27.1 50.9
Nonoperating expense,
net of income (1) (9.9%) $ 9.9 44.3 22.3 18.8 15.0
Income before income taxes,
extraordinary charges and
equity in net
loss of subsidiary 22.3% $ 80.3 28.4 33.2 8.4 35.9
Equity in net loss of
Sunbelt Nursery Group, Inc. $ - - - - (3.6)
Income before extraordinary
charges 20.3% $ 48.2 10.0 22.1 5.9 23.0
Extraordinary charges, net
of income tax benefit (2) $ 4.1 - - - -
Net income for common
stockholders 17.7% $ 44.1 10.0 22.1 5.9 23.0
Per common share data:(3)
Primary net income for common
stockholders 14.4% $ 1.01 .25 .56 .15 .59
Fully diluted net income
before extraordinary
charges for common stock-
holders 16.8% $ 1.06 .25 .55 .15 .57
Fully diluted net income for
common stockholders 14.2% $ .97 .25 .55 .15 .57
Cash dividends declared 27.8% $ .16 .13 .10 .09 .06
Stockholders' equity 9.7% $ 7.40 5.73 5.60 5.09 5.11
Other financial data:
Working capital(4) (6.1%) $175.1 246.8 265.0 229.0 225.2
Current ratio(4) 2.6 3.5 4.1 3.5 3.4
Total assets 5.5% $570.3 531.1 485.9 463.3 460.5
Long-term debt (6.8%) $111.3 180.1 154.4 145.2 147.2
Stockholders' equity 12.7% $323.0 227.9 222.4 201.1 200.5
Weighted average shares
outstanding and common
stock equivalents
(millions) (3) 43.7 39.8 39.7 39.5 39.2
Effective tax rate(5) 40.0% 64.7 33.6 29.0 25.9
Return on average stock-
holders' equity 16.0% 4.5 10.4 3.0 12.2
Return on average total assets 8.0% 2.0 4.6 1.3 5.4
Pre-tax return on sales(6) 8.5% 3.5 4.7 1.2 5.7
- ---------------------
(1) Nonoperating expense, net of income, is comprised of interest expense
and interest and investment income in each fiscal year presented, and in
addition, includes net trading losses or gains in fiscal years 1996,
1995 and 1994, the provision for Sunbelt
Nursery Group, Inc. defaults in fiscal year 1996 and the write-down of
General Host securities in fiscal years 1995 and 1994.
(2) The Company recorded after-tax extraordinary charges aggregating $4.1
million during the third quarter of fiscal year 1997 from the early
retirement of debt. See Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
(3) Reflects the effect of the 5% stock dividend distributed May 8, 1995.
(4) The reduction in the fiscal year 1997 working capital and current ratio
is due to the recording as a non-current asset the beneficial interest
from the securitization of proprietary credit card receivables. See:
Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(5) The Company has not recorded any tax benefit on the fiscal year 1996 and
1995 net trading losses, which resulted in higher effective tax rates in
those years.
(6) Calculated before extraordinary charges, net of income tax benefit, in
fiscal year 1997.
<PAGE>
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations.
Pier 1 Imports, Inc. (the "Company") is North America's largest
specialty retailer of imported decorative home furnishings, gifts and
related items, with 720 stores in 47 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, and
international operations in the United Kingdom, Japan and Mexico as of
fiscal 1997 year-end. The Company directly imports merchandise from 44
countries around the world and designs proprietary assortments that become
exclusive Pier 1 Imports offerings. In fiscal 1997, the Company reported
sales of $947.1 million and net income of $44.1 million or $.97 per share on
a fully diluted basis, after recording after-tax extraordinary charges of
$4.1 million for the early retirement of debt. Income before extraordinary
charges aggregated $48.2 million, or $1.06 per share on a fully diluted
basis.
FISCAL YEARS ENDED MARCH 1, 1997 AND MARCH 2, 1996
During the 52-week period of fiscal 1997, the Company's net sales
increased $136.4 million, or 16.8%, to $947.1 million over net sales of
$810.7 million reported in the 53-week period of fiscal 1996. Same-store
sales in fiscal 1997 increased 12.9% over the comparable 52-week period of
fiscal 1996. The continued growth in sales is primarily due to increased
customer traffic in the stores resulting from the national television
advertising campaign which commenced in the second quarter of fiscal 1996,
the continued focus on company-wide customer service programs and the
Company's store remodel and remerchandising programs which have improved the
layout and design of approximately 144 new and existing stores during fiscal
1997. The Company's remerchandising strategy focuses on upgrading the store
chain through a new floor plan and fixture design. The Company opened 50
and closed 25 North American stores during fiscal 1997. Beginning in fiscal
1997, the Company consolidated the operations of The Pier Retail Group
Limited ("The Pier"), a 15-store retail chain in the United Kingdom in which
the Company has an investment in preference stock. As a result of the
consolidation, the Company recorded $20.3 million in The Pier's net sales
during fiscal 1997. Hard goods sales, such as furniture and decorative
accessories, increased 16.2% in fiscal 1997 compared to fiscal 1996, while
soft goods sales declined 19.9% in fiscal 1997 compared to fiscal 1996.
During fiscal 1997, the Company de-emphasized apparel in stores and at the
end of fiscal 1997, the Company had completely discontinued soft goods in
all Pier 1 Imports stores. Hard goods and soft goods sales contributed 95%
and 5%, respectively, of total sales in fiscal 1997. North American sales
per average square foot of retail selling space increased to $177.67 in
fiscal 1997 from $164.39 in the prior year, and the North American average
dollar transaction increased 6.6% in fiscal 1997 over fiscal 1996.
Sales on the Company's proprietary credit card aggregated $226.2
million, or 23.9% of total sales, for the 52-week period in fiscal 1997, an
increase of 20.2% over proprietary credit card sales of $188.3 million, or
23.2% of total sales, for the 53-week period in fiscal 1996. Proprietary
credit card customers spent an average of $136 per transaction in fiscal
1997 compared to $130 per transaction in fiscal 1996, while the number of
active cardholder accounts grew 10.9% over fiscal 1996. Sales on the
Company's proprietary credit card are encouraged through targeted marketing
promotions.
Gross profit, after related buying and store occupancy costs, expressed
as a percentage of sales, increased 0.4% to 40.6% in fiscal 1997 from 40.2%
in fiscal 1996. Merchandise margins decreased slightly in fiscal 1997 to
53.8% compared to 54.1% in fiscal 1996, primarily due to clearance and
promotional markdowns on soft goods merchandise during fiscal 1997 as the
Company de-emphasized soft goods merchandise in the stores throughout the
fiscal 1997 year. The decrease in soft goods merchandise margins was
partially offset by an increase in hard goods merchandise margins for
decorative accessories, housewares and bed and bath, coupled with
approximately $2.2 million in duty refunds, including interest, paid to the
Company as a result of retroactive legislation passed in August 1996. The
Company continues to operate 13 Clearance Centers within North America to
move older merchandise and allow more room for fresh merchandise in the
stores throughout the year. Store occupancy costs, as a percentage of
sales, improved 0.8% to 13.2% in fiscal 1997 from 14.0% in fiscal 1996,
primarily due to the effect of higher sales leveraging relatively fixed
store lease costs. In addition, store lease costs were reduced as a result
of the Company's purchase of stores previously leased to the Company,
thereby eliminating base and percentage rents for those stores.
Selling, general and administrative expenses, including marketing, as a
percentage of sales, decreased 0.1% to 29.0% in fiscal 1997 from 29.1% in
fiscal 1996. In total dollars, selling, general and administrative expenses
increased $38.9 million in fiscal 1997 compared to fiscal 1996, with $24.3
million of the increase attributable to expenses that normally grow
proportionately with sales and net new stores, such as store salaries and
supplies, and profit sharing bonuses. Marketing expenses, which decreased
0.2% as a percentage of sales, increased $4.6 million in fiscal 1997 as the
Company continues to utilize primarily television advertising. Selling,
general and administrative expenses related to international operations and
ventures increased by $2.3 million. Travel and meeting expenses increased
by $2.2 million. All other selling, general and administrative expenses
increased by a total of $5.5 million.
Operating income increased $17.5 million to $90.2 million, or 9.5% of
sales, in fiscal 1997 from $72.7 million, or 9.0% of sales, in fiscal 1996.
Interest and investment income increased in fiscal 1997 compared to
fiscal 1996 primarily due to $1.6 million in investment income recognized on
the investment in Whiffletree Partners, L.P. ("Whiffletree") during fiscal
1997. Interest expense decreased $2.1 million during fiscal 1997 compared
to fiscal 1996. The decrease was due to the conversion of the 6 7/8%
convertible subordinated notes in the second quarter of fiscal 1997, the
exchange of the 8 1/2% exchangeable debentures and the retirement of the 11
1/2% subordinated debentures due 2003 and the 11% senior notes due 2001 in
the third quarter of fiscal 1997. These decreases were offset partially by
interest expense related to the issuance in the third quarter of fiscal 1997
of the 5 3/4% convertible subordinated notes due 2003 and higher average
short-term debt levels.
In late December 1995, the Company was made aware of losses of $19.3
million resulting from trading activities in a discretionary account. As a
result of the investigations of the trading losses, the Company recorded
$16.5 million and $2.8 million of the net trading losses in fiscal 1996 and
fiscal 1995, respectively. The Company has not recorded any tax benefit on
these losses. The Company and a Special Committee of the Board of Directors
investigated the matter and found no evidence to suggest that the Company's
net losses from these trading activities will exceed the $19.3 million
recorded in fiscal years 1996 and 1995. See: Notes 6 and 12 of the Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
In April 1995, Sunbelt Nursery Group, Inc. ("Sunbelt") defaulted on 13
nursery store sublease agreements with the Company comprising $22.8 million
of non-revolving store development financing, and the Company terminated the
subleases. At the same time, Sunbelt defaulted on three nursery store lease
agreements guaranteed by the Company; however, such defaults were
subsequently cured. During the first quarter of fiscal 1996, the Company
recorded a pre-tax charge of $14.0 million which represented the estimated
cost to disengage from its financial support of Sunbelt. The charge
reflects the Company's estimated losses resulting from the lease termination
costs associated with the 13 nursery store subleases and other related
costs. As of March 1997, seven nursery store properties had been sold at
costs consistent with the Company's estimates to record the charge. For
additional information, see the results of operations discussion of the
fiscal years ended March 2, 1996 and February 25, 1995 below.
The Company's effective income tax rate for fiscal 1997 is 40% compared
to 64.7% in fiscal 1996. The effective rate for fiscal 1996, exclusive of
the aforementioned net trading losses, would have been 41%. The effective
income tax rate for fiscal 1998 is expected to approximate 40%.
During the third quarter of fiscal 1997, the Company utilized the net
proceeds from the public offering of the 5 3/4% convertible subordinated
notes due 2003 to retire $17.5 million of 11 1/2% subordinated debentures
due 2003 and $25 million of 11% senior notes due 2001. In addition, the
Company induced the exchange of its $12.5 million of 8 1/2% exchangeable
debentures. The Company recorded after-tax extraordinary charges of $4.1
million during the third quarter of fiscal 1997 for the early retirement of
debt. The pre-tax extraordinary charges aggregated $6.9 million.
Fiscal 1997 net income aggregated $44.1 million, or $.97 per share on a
fully diluted basis, compared to fiscal 1996 net income of $10.0 million, or
$.25 per share. Fiscal 1997 net income before extraordinary charges and
related income tax benefit aggregated $48.2 million, or $1.06 per share on a
fully diluted basis, compared to net income before special charges in fiscal
1996 of $35.6 million, or $.85 per share on a fully diluted basis. Special
charges in fiscal 1996 included the $16.5 million in net trading losses and
the $14.0 million provision for Sunbelt defaults.
FISCAL YEARS ENDED MARCH 2, 1996 AND FEBRUARY 25, 1995
Net sales grew $98.7 million, or 13.9%, to $810.7 million for the 53-
week period of fiscal 1996 compared to $712.0 million for the 52-week period
of fiscal 1995. For the comparable 52-week period of fiscal 1996 versus the
same period of fiscal 1995, total sales increased 12.0% and same-store sales
increased 6.5%. The growth in sales was partially attributable to the
national television advertising campaign which began in July 1995 and
increased customer traffic and transactions in the stores. In addition, the
Company instituted new in-store selling programs, redesigned stores to
enhance visual merchandising, and remodeled 35 stores in fiscal 1996 as part
of a long-term strategy to refurbish existing stores. During fiscal 1996,
the Company opened 48 conventional Pier 1 stores and 8 mall-based stores,
and closed 22 stores in North America, resulting in an 8.0% increase in the
weighted average store count (which is calculated based on the number of
days a store is open during a given period) over the prior year. Hard goods
sales, such as furniture and decorative accessories, contributed 93% of
total sales, while soft goods sales of apparel, jewelry and accessories
comprised 7% of total sales. Hard goods sales increased 11.8% during fiscal
1996, while soft goods sales declined 6.2% in fiscal 1996 compared to the
year earlier. The Company continued to improve store sales by de-
emphasizing apparel and focusing merchandise selection on products for the
home and family. Sales per average square foot of retail selling space
increased to $164.39 in fiscal 1996 from $154.03 a year ago. Net sales for
fiscal years 1996 and 1995 excluded $3.6 million and $26.7 million,
respectively, for stores included in the fiscal 1994 store-closing program.
Sales on the Company's proprietary credit card comprised 23.2% of the
Company's net sales for fiscal 1996 and aggregated $188.3 million for the
53-week year, up 48.5% from a year earlier. Proprietary credit card
receivables totalled $76.9 million at fiscal 1996 year-end, an increase of
22.7% compared to the prior fiscal year. Proprietary credit card customers
spent an average of $130 per transaction in fiscal 1996, and the number of
active cardholder accounts grew 31% over fiscal 1995. Sales on the
Company's proprietary credit card are encouraged through targeted marketing
promotions.
Gross profit, after related buying and store occupancy costs, expressed
as a percentage of sales, increased 1.2% to 40.2% in fiscal 1996 from 39.0%
in fiscal 1995. Merchandise margins improved to 54.1% in fiscal 1996 from
53.4% in fiscal 1995. The margin growth was due to a shift from newspaper
advertising that emphasized promotional discounts to national television
advertising that focused on bringing new customers into the stores. In
addition, margins improved for the Company with increased emphasis on hard
goods and decreased emphasis on soft goods, as well as the use of 11
Clearance Centers allowing fresh merchandise to be delivered to the stores
throughout the year. Store occupancy costs, as a percentage of sales,
decreased to 14.0% during fiscal 1996 from 14.5% in fiscal 1995. This
improvement was primarily due to leveraging relatively fixed occupancy
expenses on a greater sales base, partially offset by slightly higher market
rates, in the aggregate, on new store leases entered into during fiscal 1996
and incremental increases in floating rate leases linked to LIBOR for
approximately 55 store operating leases. In addition, the Company purchased
the remaining 90% interest in a limited partnership which owns 33 Pier 1
stores previously leased to the Company, thus eliminating base rent expenses
for those stores beginning after December 1995.
Selling, general and administrative expenses, including marketing,
aggregated 29.1% of sales in fiscal 1996 compared to 28.9% of sales in
fiscal 1995. In dollars, the fiscal 1996 increase of $29.6 million over the
prior year was affected by the 53-week year compared to the fiscal 1995 52-
week year, as well as increases in expenses that normally grow
proportionately with sales and net new stores, such as store salaries and
supplies. Although marketing expenses declined slightly as a percentage of
sales, expenses increased $2.5 million to support the shift from primarily
print advertising to primarily television advertising beginning in mid-
summer of fiscal 1996. Additionally, supply expenses increased 0.4% as a
percentage of sales or $4.6 million due, in part, to increased costs
associated with bags, boxes, tissues, and funding of the new exclusive Pier
1 tags. Other costs included in fiscal 1996 selling, general and
administrative expenses were $1.2 million related to the investigation of
the trading losses.
During fiscal 1996, the Company utilized $6.0 million of the remaining
fiscal 1994 store-closing reserve which consisted of $5.0 million for lease
termination costs and $1.0 million for interim operating losses and other
costs. In addition, the Company credited $1.4 million to income during
fiscal 1996 for its changes in estimates relating to the fiscal 1994 store-
closing program. The remaining liability of $4.4 million is for final
payments on lease termination costs on three stores for which settlement
agreements are pending. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 1996, the
Company identified five underperforming stores to close and recorded a
charge of $1.4 million consisting of costs for lease terminations of $0.9
million and fixed asset write-downs of $0.5 million.
In fiscal 1996, operating income improved to 9.0% of sales, a $17.1
million increase over fiscal 1995 in which operating income was 7.8% of
sales.
Net interest expense increased in fiscal 1996 compared to fiscal 1995
primarily due to decreased interest income on lower cash balances and short-
term investments coupled with higher debt levels beginning in the second
half of fiscal 1996.
The Company's special charges in fiscal years 1996 and 1995 included
trading losses and losses related to Sunbelt and General Host Corporation
("General Host") as discussed below.
In late December 1995, the Company was made aware of trading losses of
$19.3 million resulting from substantial trading activities in a
discretionary account. The Company had regularly designated a portion of
its excess cash and short-term investments for management by a financial
consultant in the discretionary account. The amount of funds deposited by
the Company varied during each year, and the funds were generally withdrawn
near the end of each fiscal year. According to statements of the account
provided by brokerage firms that executed trading activity at the financial
consultant's instructions, the funds were invested in treasury bonds,
treasury bond futures contracts and options on treasury bond futures
contracts. The futures and options contracts were often used in a manner
that provided a high degree of speculation and leverage to the invested
funds. As a result of the investigations of the trading losses, the Company
recorded $16.5 million of the net trading losses in fiscal 1996 and restated
its fiscal 1995 financial statements to record $2.8 million of the net
trading losses during that year. Fiscal 1996 and 1995 quarterly financial
statements have been restated to reflect the trading losses and gains during
those periods based on the information available to the Company. The
Company deposited a total of $19.5 million in the discretionary account in
fiscal 1996, and during the first and second quarters incurred net trading
losses in the account of $16.0 million and $0.6 million, respectively, and
during the third quarter attained a net trading gain of $0.1 million.
During the first, second and third fiscal quarters of fiscal 1995, the
Company incurred net trading losses in the account of $1.5 million, $4.2
million and $5.7 million, respectively, and during the fourth quarter
attained a net trading gain of $8.6 million. To the extent trading losses
are not offset by trading gains, the Company has not recorded any tax
benefit on these losses. The Company and a Special Committee of the Board
of Directors investigated the matter and found no evidence to suggest that
the Company's net losses from these trading activities will exceed $19.3
million in the aggregate.
In April 1993, the Company completed the sale of its 49.5% ownership
interest in Sunbelt to General Host and, in connection with the sale,
committed to provide Sunbelt a $12 million credit facility through April
1994 and up to $25 million of non-revolving store development financing
through April 1996. In October 1994, in connection with the sale by General
Host of its 49.5% interest in Sunbelt to a third party unrelated to the
Company or General Host, the Company received payment of the amounts owed
under the credit facility and agreed to extend $22.8 million of the non-
revolving store development financing to Sunbelt until June 30, 1998, at
market rental rates. The Company also had outstanding guarantees on other
Sunbelt store lease commitments which aggregated $4.5 million with a present
value of approximately $3.4 million at fiscal 1996 year-end. In April 1995,
Sunbelt defaulted on 13 store sublease agreements with the Company
comprising the $22.8 million of non-revolving store development financing,
and the Company terminated the subleases. Sunbelt also defaulted on three
nursery store lease agreements guaranteed by the Company. In July 1995, the
Company entered into a settlement agreement with Sunbelt concerning
Sunbelt's default on the 13 store sublease agreements and store lease
agreements guaranteed by the Company. Pursuant to the settlement agreement,
Sunbelt agreed to a claim by the Company of $14.7 million (secured by a
second lien on up to $6 million of Sunbelt's assets) and agreed to continue
to sublease the 13 stores for up to three years or until the Company is able
to find a buyer for the properties. Sunbelt also cured the defaults on the
three nursery store leases guaranteed by the Company. Additionally, Sunbelt
is obligated to make future deferred payments out of its cash flow above
specified levels up to a total of $8 million (which may be prepaid with $4
million in payments made by May 1997 or with $6 million in payments made by
May 1998). The remaining $6.7 million of the Company's claim will be deemed
satisfied if Sunbelt fully performs its obligations relating to these and
other terms of the settlement agreement. During the first quarter of fiscal
1996, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $14 million which represents
the estimated cost to disengage from its financial support of Sunbelt. The
charge reflected the Company's estimated losses resulting from the lease
termination costs associated with the 13 nursery store subleases and other
related costs. As of March 1996, two nursery store properties had been sold
at costs consistent with the Company's estimates used to record the charge.
In the third quarter of fiscal 1995, the Company recorded a non-cash,
pre-tax special charge of $7.5 million to reflect an 'other than temporary'
decline in the market value of the General Host common stock held by the
Company. As a result of the issuance of the Company's exchangeable
debentures in December 1994, the General Host common stock was no longer
available for sale, and the Company no longer had market risk in relation to
the General Host common stock.
The Company's effective income tax rate for fiscal 1996 increased to
64.7% from 33.6% in fiscal 1995. The effective rates for fiscal 1996 and
1995, exclusive of the effects of the aforementioned net trading losses,
would have been 41% and 31%, respectively. The increase in these rates is
primarily due to the benefit of favorable tax treatment from the sale of
Sunbelt common stock recognized in fiscal 1995 and no longer available in
fiscal 1996.
Net income for fiscal 1996 aggregated $10.0 million, or $.25 per
primary share, compared to net income of $22.1 million, or $.56 per primary
share in fiscal 1995. Before special charges in fiscal years 1996 and 1995,
net income improved 18.5% to $35.6 million in fiscal 1996 compared to $30.1
million in fiscal 1995. Special charges in fiscal 1995 included the $7.5
million write-down of the General Host common stock and net trading losses
of $2.8 million.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash, including temporary investments, increased $18.8 million to $32.3
million in fiscal 1997 from $13.5 million a year earlier. Cash flow from
operations increased $123.7 million to $135.1 million in fiscal 1997 from
$11.4 million in fiscal 1996 primarily due to net income (adjusted for non-
cash and non-operating items) totalling $75.5 million, the sale of the
proprietary credit card receivables in February 1997, which provided net
cash proceeds of $49.6 million, and a reduction in inventory levels of $7.8
million. Other sources of cash during fiscal 1997 included $83.6 million in
net proceeds from the issuance of 5 3/4% convertible subordinated notes in
September 1996 and $4.7 million in net proceeds from the liquidation of the
Whiffletree investment. These cash increases were partially offset by
repayments of long-term debt of $90.6 million, acquisitions aggregating
$59.9 million by the Company of two corporations owning 38 Pier 1 Imports
store locations, which were leased to the Company, capital expenditures of
$36.8 million, purchases of the Company's stock in open market transactions
of $7.7 million, cash dividend payments of $7.0 million, payments on the
reserve for Sunbelt defaults of $3.4 million and net payments under line of
credit agreements of $2.0 million. Other net cash provided by operating,
investing and financing activities aggregated $5.0 million.
During fiscal 1997, capital expenditures of $13.0 million were required
to support the opening of 50 new Pier 1 Imports stores in North America. A
total of 34 stores were remodeled in fiscal 1997 at a cost of approximately
$6.1 million. In fiscal 1998, an additional 55 existing stores will be
remodeled for approximately $13.7 million. The Company's new store
development plan for fiscal 1998 provides for the opening of approximately
56 U.S. stores, primarily in single-store markets. Financing for new store
land and building costs will be provided by operating leases. Inventory and
fixtures for the fiscal 1998 development plan are estimated to cost
approximately $15.1 million, which will be funded by operations, working
capital and bank lines of credit. Twenty-nine stores are expected to close
in fiscal 1998 as their leases expire.
Working capital requirements will continue to be provided by cash on
hand, operations, sales of proprietary credit card receivables and a
committed three-year, $65 million competitive advance and revolving credit
facility, all of which was available at the end of fiscal 1997, and other
short-term (12-month) bank facilities aggregating $159.7 million, of which
$75.3 million in uncommitted lines of credit was available at fiscal 1997
year-end. At the end of fiscal 1997, the short-term bank facilities
consisted of $29.7 million in committed lines of credit and $130.0 million
in uncommitted lines. Most of the Company's loan and lease guarantee
agreements require the Company to maintain certain financial ratios and
limit certain investments and distributions to stockholders, including cash
dividends and purchases of treasury stock. At fiscal 1997 year-end, the
most restrictive of these agreements limited the aggregate of such payments
to $22.6 million. The Company's current ratio was 2.6 to 1 at fiscal 1997
year-end compared to 3.5 to 1 at fiscal 1996 year-end. The reduction in the
fiscal 1997 current ratio is due to the recording as a non-current asset the
$34.1 million of beneficial interest received in connection with the sale of
proprietary credit card receivables. See: Note 2 of the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Company has commitments from unaffiliated parties to make available
up to $25.0 million for the development or acquisition of stores for lease
to the Company. As of fiscal 1997 year-end, the Company utilized $23.9
million of that availability. This facility expires December 30, 1997, at
which time the Company must extend the term of the facility or purchase the
properties covered under the facility. In order to continue to finance new
store land and building costs, the Company is exploring other financing
opportunities currently available in the capital markets. The Company's
minimum future operating lease commitments expected for fiscal 1998
aggregate $95.6 million, and the present value of total existing operating
lease commitments is $375.3 million. These commitments will be funded from
operating cash flow.
In February 1997, the Company securitized its entire portfolio of
proprietary credit card receivables (the "Receivables"). The Company sold
all existing Receivables to a wholly owned subsidiary, Pier 1 Funding, Inc.
("Funding"), which transferred the Receivables to the Pier 1 Credit Card
Master Trust (the "Master Trust"). The Master Trust may issue one or more
series of beneficial interests in the Master Trust that represent undivided
interests in the assets of the Master Trust consisting of the Receivables
and all proceeds of the Receivables. In the initial sale of Receivables,
the Company sold $84.1 million of Receivables and received $49.6 million in
cash and $34.1 million in beneficial interests in the Master Trust. On a
daily basis, the Company will sell to Funding for transfer to the Master
Trust all future-generated Receivables, except those failing certain
eligibility criteria, and receive as the purchase price payments of cash
(funded from the amount of undistributed principal collections from
Receivables in the Master Trust) and residual interests in the Master Trust.
The Company is obligated to repurchase from Funding certain Receivables
related to customer credits such as merchandise returns and other receivable
defects, but has no obligation to reimburse Funding, the Master Trust or
purchasers of any certificates issued by the Master Trust for credit losses
from the Receivables. The holder of any subordinated certificate of
interest in the Master Trust, which currently is only Funding, is subject to
credit losses from the Receivables before holders of senior certificates,
and Funding, as holder of the residual interest in the Master Trust, is
subject to credit losses allocable to the residual interest in proportion to
that interest relative to all interests in the Master Trust.
As part of the initial transaction securitizing the Receivables, the
Master Trust sold to third parties $50.0 million of Series 1997-1 Class A
Certificates, which bear interest at 6.74% and mature in May 2002. Funding
retained the $14.1 million of Series 1997-1 Class B Certificates, which are
currently non-interest bearing and subordinated to the Class A Certificates,
and retained the residual interest in the Master Trust. Funding has the
right to sell in the future all or part of the Class B Certificates, which
would then bear interest at a rate determined at that time, and to exchange
a portion of its residual interest for the proceeds of a new issuance of
certificates by the Master Trust. Beginning in October 2001, principal
collections of Receivables allocable to Series 1997-1 will be used to
amortize the outstanding balances of the Series 1997-1 Certificates and will
not be available to fund the purchase of new receivables being transferred
from the Company. At March 1, 1997, the Master Trust held $87.1 million in
Receivables.
The Master Trust is in the process of issuing a Series 1997-2 of
variable funding certificates, of which the Series 1997-2 Class A
Certificates are anticipated to provide for a maximum outstanding principal
balance of $50.0 million that may be issued and repaid from time to time in
minimum increments of $1.0 million, bear interest at fixed spreads over the
Certificateholder's A-1/P-1 commercial paper rate and mature approximately
five years after issuance. Funding expects to retain the Series 1997-2
Class B subordinated Certificates, which will be issued in amounts equal to
11.7% of the corresponding Class A Certificates.
In September 1996, the Company completed a public offering of 5 3/4%
convertible subordinated notes due 2003 which yielded $86.3 million in gross
proceeds. These notes are convertible at any time prior to maturity, unless
previously redeemed or repurchased, into shares of common stock at a
conversion price of $18.50 per share, subject to adjustment under certain
circumstances. Net proceeds from the public offering were used to retire
high cost, long-term debt and repay $20 million outstanding under the
Company's bank revolving credit facility. Cash costs for the early
retirement of debt totaled approximately $5.6 million. See: Note 5 of the
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
During fiscal 1997, approximately $3.4 million was expended and charged
against the Company's previously established reserve to disengage from its
financial support of Sunbelt. At fiscal 1997 year-end, approximately $10.4
million remained in the reserve. Cash requirements to fund this reserve
will be funded through working capital and operations. As of March 1997,
seven of the 13 store properties have been sold at costs consistent with the
Company's previously recorded reserve. The Company guarantees other Sunbelt
store lease commitments aggregating $3.0 million with a present value of
approximately $2.6 million at the end of fiscal 1997. The Company is not
aware of any defaults on these leases.
In March 1993, the Company invested $3 million in Whiffletree. In
April 1996, the Company divested its interest in Whiffletree for
approximately $4.7 million, yielding a three-year compound annual return of
approximately 14.7% after termination costs.
During fiscal 1997, the Company purchased for approximately $7.7
million 500,000 shares of its common stock in open market transactions under
a Board of Directors approved program. In addition, approximately 116,000
shares of common stock were acquired as payment for the exercise of employee
stock options.
During fiscal 1997, the Company paid cash dividends aggregating $.16
per share and subsequently declared a cash dividend of $.04 per share
payable on May 15, 1997 to shareholders of record on May 1, 1997. The
Company currently expects to continue to pay cash dividends in fiscal 1998
but to retain most of its future earnings for expansion of the Company's
business.
The Company's inventory purchases are made almost entirely in U.S.
dollars. When purchase commitments are denominated in foreign currencies,
the Company may enter into forward exchange contracts when they are
available in order to manage its exposure to foreign currency exchange
fluctuations.
Management believes the funds provided from operations, coupled with
the Company's cash position, available lines of credit and sales of accounts
receivable through securitization agreements, are sufficient to meet its
foreseeable cash requirements.
IMPACT OF INFLATION AND CHANGING PRICES
Inflation has not had a significant impact on the operations of the
Company.
IMPACT OF NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standard ("SFAS") No. 128, "Earnings per
Share." The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 128 in the fourth quarter
of fiscal year 1998. The adoption of this standard will impact earnings per
share calculations; however, the adoption will have no impact on the
Company's results of operations.
<PAGE>
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Index to Financial Statements
Financial Statements:
Reports of Independent Auditors
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended
March 1, 1997, March 2, 1996 and February 25, 1995
Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 1, 1997 and March 2,
1996
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended
March 1, 1997, March 2, 1996 and February 25, 1995
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Years
Ended March 1, 1997, March 2, 1996 and February 25, 1995
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Financial Statement Schedules:
For the Years Ended March 1, 1997, March 2, 1996 and
February 25, 1995
II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves
All other schedules are omitted because they are not required or are
not applicable or the required information is shown in the financial
statements or notes thereto.
<PAGE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
To the Board of Directors of Pier 1 Imports, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Pier 1
Imports, Inc. as of March 1, 1997 and March 2, 1996, and the related
consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows
for the years then ended. Our audits also included the financial statement
schedule listed in the index at Item 14(a). These financial statements and
schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and
schedule based on our audits. The consolidated financial statements and
schedule of Pier 1 Imports, Inc. for the year ended February 25, 1995 were
audited by other auditors whose reports dated April 7, 1995, except for
Notes 6, 9, 12, and 13, as to which the date is February 29, 1996, expressed
an unqualified opinion on those statements and schedule.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.
An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial
position of Pier 1 Imports, Inc. at March 1, 1997 and March 2, 1996, and the
consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then
ended in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in
our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in
relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly
in all material respects the information set forth therein.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Fort Worth, Texas
April 11, 1997
<PAGE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of Pier 1 Imports, Inc.
In our opinion, the consolidated statements of operations, of cash
flows and changes in stockholders' equity for the year ended February 25,
1995, after the restatement described in Note 12, present fairly, in all
material respects, the results of operations and cash flows of Pier 1
Imports, Inc. and its subsidiaries for the year ended February 25, 1995 in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the Company's management; our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based
on our audit. We conducted our audit of these statements in accordance with
generally accepted auditing standards which require that we plan and perform
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining,
on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the
financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a
reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above. We have not audited the
consolidated financial statements of Pier 1 Imports, Inc. for any period
subsequent to February 25, 1995.
/s/ Price Waterhouse LLP
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Fort Worth, Texas
April 7, 1995, except for Notes 6, 9,
12, and 13, as to which the
date is February 29, 1996
<PAGE>
Pier 1 Imports, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands except per share amounts)
Year Ended
----------------------------
1997 1996 1995
-------- -------- --------
Net sales $947,091 $810,707 $711,985
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of sales (including buying and
store occupancy) 562,629 485,186 434,412
Selling, general and administrative
expenses 274,477 235,617 206,022
Depreciation and amortization 19,765 17,204 15,989
-------- -------- --------
856,871 738,007 656,423
-------- -------- --------
Operating income 90,220 72,700 55,562
Nonoperating (income) and expense:
Interest and investment income (2,713) (935) (2,231)
Interest expense 12,595 14,723 14,223
Trading losses -- 16,463 2,799
Provision for Sunbelt Nursery Group,
Inc. defaults -- 14,000 --
Write-down of General Host securities -- -- 7,543
-------- -------- --------
9,882 44,251 22,334
-------- -------- --------
Income before income taxes and
extraordinary charges 80,338 28,449 33,228
Provision for income taxes 32,129 18,400 11,168
-------- -------- --------
Income before extraordinary charges 48,209 10,049 22,060
Extraordinary charges from early
retirement of debt, net of income tax
benefit of $2,747 4,122 -- --
-------- -------- --------
Net income $ 44,087 $ 10,049 $ 22,060
======== ======== ========
Primary net income per share:
Before extraordinary charges $1.10 $.25 $.56
Extraordinary charges, net of income
tax benefit (.09) -- --
----- ---- ----
Net income $1.01 $.25 $.56
===== ==== ====
Fully diluted net income per share:
Before extraordinary charges $1.06 $.25 $.55
Extraordinary charges, net of income
tax benefit (.09) -- --
----- ---- ----
Net income $ .97 $.25 $.55
===== ==== ====
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
<PAGE>
Pier 1 Imports, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands except share data)
1997 1996
-------- --------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash, including temporary investments of $22,188
and $1,588, respectively $ 32,280 $ 13,534
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
accounts of $267 and $3,949, respectively 4,128 77,735
Inventories 220,013 223,166
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 29,057 33,078
-------- --------
Total current assets 285,478 347,513
Properties, net 216,836 144,627
Other assets 67,954 38,956
-------- --------
$570,268 $531,096
======== ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt $ 4,845 $ 4,454
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 105,541 96,246
-------- --------
Total current liabilities 110,386 100,700
Long-term debt 111,250 180,100
Other non-current liabilities 25,584 22,373
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $1.00 par, 200,000,000 shares
authorized, 45,361,000 and 39,877,000 issued,
respectively 45,361 39,877
Paid-in capital 166,475 110,899
Retained earnings 118,721 81,633
Cumulative currency translation adjustments (1,385) (1,072)
Less--373,000 and 303,000 common shares in
treasury, at cost, respectively (5,437) (2,545)
Less--unearned compensation (687) (869)
-------- --------
323,048 227,923
Commitments and contingencies
-------- --------
$570,268 $531,096
======== ========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
<PAGE>
Pier 1 Imports, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Year Ended
---------------------------
1997 1996 1995
------- ------- -------
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income $ 44,087 $10,049 $22,060
Adjustments to reconcile to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 19,765 17,204 15,989
Deferred taxes and other 6,422 4,509 3,515
Investment gain (1,607) -- --
Extraordinary charges on early retirement
of debt 6,869 -- --
Provision for Sunbelt Nursery Group, Inc.
defaults -- 14,000 --
Write-down of General Host securities -- -- 7,543
Change in cash from:
Inventories 7,775 (22,198) 18,352
Accounts receivable and other
current assets 37,596 (13,346) (16,071)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 12,889 7,159 417
Store-closing reserve -- (6,020) (4,650)
Other assets, liabilities, and
other, net 1,303 27 (618)
Net cash provided by operating -------- ------- -------
activities 135,099 11,384 46,537
-------- ------- -------
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures (36,775) (22,127) (17,471)
Proceeds from disposition of properties 841 84 62
Cost of disposition of Sunbelt Nursery
Group, Inc. properties (3,412) -- --
Acquisitions (59,936) -- --
Acquisition of limited partnership
interest -- (40,000) --
Loans to Sunbelt Nursery Group, Inc. -- -- (9,600)
Proceeds from Sunbelt Nursery Group, Inc. -- -- 11,600
Other investments 4,665 (7,600) (2,093)
Net cash used in investing ------- ------- -------
activities (94,617) (69,643) (17,502)
------- -------- -------
Cash flow from financing activities:
Cash dividends (6,999) (5,158) (4,138)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 83,602 40,000 11,060
Repayments of long-term debt (90,639) (14,750) (2,500)
Net (payments) borrowings under line of
credit agreements (1,961) 1,700 --
(Payments) proceeds from (purchases) sales
of capital stock, treasury stock, and
other, net (5,739) (565) (14)
Net cash (used in) provided by -------- ------- -------
financing activities (21,736) 21,227 4,408
-------- ------- -------
Change in cash and cash equivalents 18,746 (37,032) 33,443
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning
of year 13,534 50,566 17,123
-------- ------- -------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 32,280 $13,534 $50,566
======== ======= =======
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
Pier 1 Imports, Inc.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(in thousands except share data)
<CAPTION>
Cumulative Subscriptions
Currency Receivable Unrealized Loss Total
Common Paid-in Retained Translation Treasury and Unearned on Marketable Stockholders'
Stock Capital Earnings Adjustments Stock Compensation Equity Securities Equity
------- ------- -------- ----------- -------- ------------ ----------------- -------------
<S> <C><C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance February 26, 1994 $37,617 $ 92,670 $76,597 ($ 964) ($ 884) ($1,369) ($2,574) $201,093
Purchases of treasury stock -- -- -- -- (2,575) -- -- (2,575)
Restricted stock grant and
amortization -- (2) -- -- (61) 263 -- 200
Exercise of stock options
and other 209 1,165 (3) -- 2,043 -- -- 3,414
Currency translation
adjustments -- -- -- (231) -- -- -- (231)
Realized loss on marketable
equity securities -- -- -- -- -- -- 2,574 2,574
Cash dividends ($.10
per share) -- -- (4,138) -- -- -- -- (4,138)
Net income -- -- 22,060 -- -- -- -- 22,060
------- -------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- --------
Balance February 25, 1995 37,826 93,833 94,516 (1,195) (1,477) (1,106) -- 222,397
Purchases of treasury stock -- -- -- -- (4,090) -- -- (4,090)
Restricted stock grant and
amortization 7 123 -- -- 29 237 -- 396
Exercise of stock options
and other 166 682 365 -- 2,993 -- -- 4,206
Currency translation
adjustments -- -- -- 123 -- -- -- 123
Cash dividends ($.13
per share) -- -- (5,158) -- -- -- -- (5,158)
Stock dividend (5%) 1,878 16,261 (18,139) -- -- -- -- --
Net income -- -- 10,049 -- -- -- -- 10,049
------- -------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- --------
Balance March 2, 1996 39,877 110,899 81,633 (1,072) (2,545) (869) -- 227,923
Purchases of treasury stock -- -- -- -- (9,520) -- -- (9,520)
Restricted stock grant and
amortization -- -- -- -- -- 182 -- 182
Exercise of stock options
and other -- (1,539) -- -- 6,628 -- -- 5,089
Currency translation
adjustments -- -- -- (313) -- -- -- (313)
Cash dividends ($.16
per share) -- -- (6,999) -- -- -- -- (6,999)
Conversion of 6 7/8%
convertible debt 5,484 57,115 -- -- -- -- -- 62,599
Net income -- -- 44,087 -- -- -- -- 44,087
------- -------- -------- ------- ------- ------- ------- --------
Balance March 1, 1997 $45,361 $166,475 $118,721 ($1,385) ($5,437) ($ 687) $ -- $323,048
======= ======== ======== ======= ======= ======= ======= ========
<FN>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Organization - Pier 1 Imports, Inc. is North America's largest
specialty retailer of imported decorative home furnishings, gifts and
related items, with retail stores located in the United States, Canada and
Puerto Rico and international operations in the United Kingdom, Mexico and
Japan. Concentrations of risk with respect to sourcing the Company's
inventory purchases are limited due to the large number of vendors or
suppliers and their geographic dispersion around the world. The Company
sources the largest amount of inventory from China; however, management
believes that alternative merchandise could be obtained from manufacturers
in other countries over time.
Basis of consolidation - The consolidated financial statements of Pier
1 Imports, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (the "Company") include
the accounts of all subsidiary companies. Beginning in fiscal 1997, the
Company consolidated the results of The Pier Retail Group Limited ("The
Pier"). Material intercompany transactions and balances have been
eliminated.
Use of estimates - Preparation of the financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management
to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the
financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ
from those estimates.
Fiscal periods - The Company utilizes 5-4-4 (week) quarterly accounting
periods with the fiscal year ending on the Saturday nearest the last day of
February. Fiscal 1997 consisted of a 52-week year; fiscal 1996 was a 53-
week year (which occurs every seven years); and fiscal 1995 was a 52-week
year. Fiscal 1997 ended March 1, 1997, fiscal 1996 ended March 2, 1996 and
fiscal 1995 ended February 25, 1995.
Cash and cash equivalents - The Company considers all highly liquid
investments with an original maturity date of three months or less to be
cash equivalents. The effect of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations
on cash is not material.
Marketable securities - Trading account assets are recorded at their
fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recorded as trading gains or
losses in the Company's statement of operations. See: Notes 6 and 12 of the
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Debt and equity securities
available for sale are recorded at their fair value, with unrealized gains
and losses accumulated and included as a separate component of stockholders'
equity, net of related income tax effects. Adjustments for any impairments
in the market value of equity securities available for sale (based on market
conditions) that are deemed to be 'other than temporary' are included as a
loss in the current year's operations.
Translation of foreign currencies - Assets and liabilities of foreign
operations are translated into U.S. dollars at fiscal year-end exchange
rates. Income and expense items are translated at average exchange rates
prevailing during the year. Translation adjustments arising from
differences in exchange rates from period to period are included as a
separate component of stockholders' equity.
Financial instruments - The fair value of financial instruments is
determined by reference to various market data and other valuation
techniques as appropriate. Unless otherwise disclosed, the fair values of
financial instruments approximate their recorded values.
Risk management instruments: The Company may utilize various financial
instruments to manage interest rate and market risk associated with its on
and off balance sheet commitments.
The Company hedges certain commitments denominated in foreign currency
through the purchase of forward contracts. The forward contracts are
purchased only to cover specific commitments to buy merchandise for resale;
any gains or losses on such contracts are included in the cost of the
merchandise purchased.
The Company enters into foreign exchange forward contracts only with
major financial institutions and continually monitors its positions with,
and the credit quality of, these counterparties to its off balance sheet
financial instruments. The Company does not expect non-performance by any
of the counterparties, and any losses incurred in the event of
non-performance would not be material.
Trading account instruments: Financial instruments that were used in
trading activities were recorded at their fair values, with realized and
unrealized gains and losses recorded as trading gains or losses in the
Company's statement of operations.
Inventories - Inventories are comprised primarily of finished
merchandise and are stated at the lower of average cost or market; cost is
determined principally on the first-in, first-out method.
Properties, maintenance and repairs - Buildings, equipment, furniture
and fixtures, and leasehold interests and improvements are carried at cost
less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is based on the straight-line
method over estimated useful lives or lease terms, if shorter.
Expenditures for maintenance, repairs and renewals which do not
materially prolong the useful lives of the assets are charged to expense as
incurred. In the case of disposals, assets and the related depreciation are
removed from the accounts and the net amount, less proceeds from disposal,
is credited or charged to income.
Advertising costs - All advertising costs are expensed the first time
the advertising takes place. Advertising costs were $36,968,000, $32,093,000
and $29,566,000 in fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The amounts of
prepaid advertising at fiscal year-ends 1997, 1996 and 1995 were $762,000,
$456,000 and $71,000, respectively.
Income taxes - Income tax expense is based on the liability method.
Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based
on differences between financial statement and tax bases of assets and
liabilities using presently enacted tax rates. Deferred federal income
taxes, net of applicable foreign tax credits, are not provided on the
undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries to the extent the Company
intends to permanently reinvest such earnings abroad. At March 1, 1997,
such undistributed earnings aggregated $16.6 million.
Stock based compensation - The Company grants stock options and
restricted stock for a fixed number of shares to employees with stock option
exercise prices equal to the fair market value of the shares at the date of
grant. The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standard ("SFAS") No. 123, "Accounting and
Disclosure of Stock-Based Compensation," in October 1995. This standard,
which was adopted by the Company in fiscal 1997, had no effect on the
Company's results of operations. The Company continues to account for stock
option grants in accordance with Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion
No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and, accordingly,
recognizes no compensation expense for the stock option grants.
Net income per share - Net income per share during a period is computed
by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding and common stock equivalents, which totaled 43,682,000,
39,778,000 and 39,698,000 for fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
Computation of the weighted average shares for fiscal 1995 gives retroactive
effect to the 5% stock dividend distributed May 8, 1995. Fully diluted net
income per share is based on the assumed conversion into common stock of all
the 5 3/4% convertible subordinated notes in fiscal 1997 and the 6 7/8%
convertible subordinated notes in fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995. Interest
expense and amortized debt issue costs, net of tax, on the 5 3/4%
convertible subordinated notes were added back to net income and aggregated
$1.4 million in fiscal 1997. Interest expense and amortized debt issue
costs, net of tax, on the 6 7/8% convertible subordinated notes were added
back to net income and aggregated $0.9 million, $2.7 million and $3.5
million in fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Fully diluted net
income per share resulted in less than 3% dilution of primary net income per
share for all fiscal years presented, with the exception of a $.04 dilution
for fiscal 1997. If the 6 7/8% convertible subordinated notes had been
converted at the beginning of the fiscal 1997 year, primary earnings per
share would have been reduced by $.02. See: Note 5 of the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.
Impact of recently issued accounting standards - In February 1997, the
FASB issued SFAS No. 128, "Earnings per Share." The Company is required to
adopt SFAS No. 128 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998. The adoption of
this standard will impact earnings per share calculations; however, the
adoption will have no impact on the Company's results of operations.
Note 2 - Proprietary Credit Card Information
The Company's proprietary credit card receivables arise primarily under
open-end revolving credit accounts used to finance purchases of merchandise
and services offered by the Company. These accounts have various billing
and payment structures, including varying minimum payment levels and finance
charge rates. The Company has an agreement with a third party to provide
certain credit card processing and related credit services, while the
Company maintains control over credit policy decisions and customer service
standards.
As of fiscal 1997 year-end, the Company had approximately 2.2 million
proprietary cardholders and 396,000 active customer credit accounts
(accounts with balances as of the beginning or end of fiscal 1997). These
accounts had an average balance of $220. The Company's proprietary credit
card sales accounted for 23.9% of the total sales in fiscal 1997. A summary
of the Company's proprietary credit card results for each of the last three
fiscal years follows (in thousands):
1997 1996 1995
-------- -------- --------
Costs:
Processing fees $ 7,811 $ 6,932 $ 6,536
Write-off of capitalized costs 3,151 -- --
Provision for bad debts 6,728 5,763 3,285
Reversal of bad debt provision (3,824) -- --
-------- -------- --------
13,866 12,695 9,821
-------- -------- --------
Income:
Finance charge income, net of fees 11,476 11,245 8,800
Insurance and other income 614 312 237
-------- -------- --------
12,090 11,557 9,037
-------- -------- --------
Net proprietary credit card costs $ 1,776 $ 1,138 $ 784
======== ======== ========
Preferred Card sales $226,248 $188,303 $126,836
======== ======== ========
Costs as a percent of Preferred Card sales 6.13% 6.74% 7.74%
===== ===== =====
Gross Preferred Card receivables at year-end $ 87,089 $ 76,878 $ 62,648
======== ======== ========
Owned Preferred Card receivables at year-end $ -- $ 76,878 $ 62,648
======== ======== ========
In February 1997, the Company securitized its entire portfolio of
proprietary credit card receivables (the "Receivables"). The Company sold
all existing Receivables to a special purpose wholly owned subsidiary, Pier
1 Funding, Inc. ("Funding"), which transferred the Receivables to the Pier 1
Imports Credit Card Master Trust (the "Master Trust"). The Master Trust may
issue one or more series of beneficial interests in the Master Trust that
represent undivided interests in the assets of the Master Trust consisting
of the Receivables and all proceeds of the Receivables. In the initial sale
of Receivables, the Company sold $84.1 million of Receivables and received
$49.6 million in cash and $34.1 million in beneficial interests in the
Master Trust. On a daily basis, the Company will sell to Funding for
transfer to the Master Trust all future-generated Receivables, except those
failing certain eligibility criteria, and receive as the purchase price
payments of cash (funded from the amount of undistributed principal
collections from Receivables in the Master Trust) and residual interests in
the Master Trust. The Company is obligated to repurchase from Funding
certain Receivables related to customer credits such as merchandise returns
and other receivable defects, but has no obligation to reimburse Funding,
the Master Trust or purchasers of any certificates issued by the Master
Trust for credit losses from the Receivables. The holder of any
subordinated certificate of interest in the Master Trust, which currently is
only Funding, is subject to credit losses from the Receivables before
holders of senior certificates, and Funding, as holder of the residual
interest in the Master Trust, is subject to credit losses allocable to the
residual interest in proportion to that interest relative to all interests
in the Master Trust. Funding was capitalized by the Company as a wholly
owned special purpose subsidiary that is subject to certain covenants and
restrictions, including a restriction from engaging in any business or
activity unrelated to acquiring and selling interests in the Receivables.
Neither Funding nor the Master Trust is consolidated with the Company.
As part of the initial transaction securitizing the Receivables, the
Master Trust sold to third parties $50.0 million of Series 1997-1 Class A
Certificates, which bear interest at 6.74% and mature in May 2002. Funding
retained the $14.1 million of Series 1997-1 Class B Certificates, which are
currently non-interest bearing and subordinated to the Class A Certificates,
and retained the residual interest in the Master Trust. Funding has the
right to sell in the future all or part of the Class B Certificates, which
would then bear interest at a rate determined at that time, and to exchange
a portion of its residual interest for the proceeds of a new issuance of
certificates by the Master Trust. Beginning in October 2001, principal
collections of Receivables allocable to Series 1997-1 will be used to
amortize the outstanding balances of the Series 1997-1 Certificates and will
not be available to fund the purchase of new receivables being transferred
from the Company.
In June 1996, the FASB issued SFAS No. 125, "Accounting for Transfers
and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities." This
statement provides guidance for distinguishing transfers of financial assets
(securitizations) that are sales from transfers that are secured borrowings
occurring after December 31, 1996. The Company's recently completed
securitization, as discussed above, was accounted for as a sale in
accordance with SFAS No. 125. As a result of the sale, the Company reversed
its allowance for doubtful accounts and wrote off all unamortized account
origination costs. Costs of completing the transaction were charged against
income. The sale had no material impact on net income in fiscal 1997 and
the Company expects no material impact in future years, although the precise
amounts will be dependent on a number of factors such as interest rates and
levels of securitization.
Note 3 - Properties
Properties are summarized as follows at March 1, 1997 and March 2, 1996
(in thousands):
1997 1996
-------- --------
Land $ 58,637 $ 28,485
Buildings 82,198 52,710
Equipment, furniture and fixtures 108,391 103,108
Leasehold interests and improvements 105,739 84,877
Construction in progress 50 402
-------- --------
355,015 269,582
Less accumulated depreciation and
amortization 138,179 124,955
-------- --------
Properties, net $216,836 $144,627
======== ========
During fiscal 1997, the Company acquired two corporations which owned
38 Pier 1 store locations, which were leased to the Company, for an
aggregate purchase price of $59.9 million. The purchase price of these
corporations approximated the fair market value of the land and buildings
owned by these corporations at the time of purchase. The effect of owning
these properties, as opposed to leasing these properties, is not expected to
have a significant impact on future operations.
Note 4 - Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities/Other Non-current
Liabilities
The following is a summary of accounts payable and accrued liabilities
and other non-current liabilities at March 1, 1997 and March 2, 1996 (in
thousands):
1997 1996
------- -------
Trade accounts payable $ 41,026 $32,070
Accrued payroll and other employee-
related liabilities 25,068 19,146
Sunbelt default reserve 10,372 13,784
Accrued taxes, other than income 8,742 8,200
Store-closing reserves 2,245 5,255
Accrued insurance, other than workers'
compensation 3,748 4,230
Accrued interest 2,257 4,070
Gift certificates outstanding 5,972 3,226
Other 6,111 6,265
--------- -------
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $105,541 $96,246
======== =======
Accrued average rent $ 14,328 $13,819
Other 11,256 8,554
-------- -------
Other non-current liabilities $ 25,584 $22,373
======== =======
At the end of fiscal 1994, the Company recorded a pre-tax special
charge of $21.3 million for a store-closing provision that was established
to reflect the anticipated costs to close 49 stores with histories of
underperformance and high occupancy costs, and to close the Canadian
distribution center and administrative offices. This closing plan was
completed during fiscal 1997. In the normal course of business, the Company
may from time to time elect to close certain stores before their scheduled
lease expiration dates. The costs associated with such closures are not
expected to have a material effect on net income or cash flow and will be
charged to income when the determination is made to close such stores.
Accrued liabilities at March 1, 1997 include a provision of $2.2 million for
stores to be closed during the next year.
Note 5 - Long-term Debt and Available Credit
Long-term debt is summarized as follows (in thousands):
1997 1996
-------- --------
11 1/2% subordinated debentures, net of
unamortized discount of $2,062 in 1996 $ -- $ 17,938
Industrial revenue bonds 25,000 25,000
11% senior notes -- 25,000
6 7/8% convertible subordinated notes -- 62,750
8 1/2% exchangeable debentures, net of
unamortized discount of $626 in 1996 -- 11,874
5 3/4% convertible subordinated notes 86,250 --
Competitive advance and revolving credit
facility -- 40,000
Capital lease obligations 39 104
-------- --------
111,289 182,666
Less - portion due within one year 39 2,566
-------- --------
$111,250 $180,100
======== ========
In July 1996, $62.7 million of the Company's 6 7/8% convertible
subordinated notes due April 1, 2002 were converted into 5,483,823 shares of
the Company's common stock. The remaining $69,000 of the notes were
redeemed at a price of 103.4375% of par plus accrued interest. The
conversion and redemption of the note reduced the Company's long-term debt
by $62.8 million and increased its equity capitalization by approximately
$62.6 million.
In September 1996, the Company issued $86.3 million of 5 3/4%
convertible subordinated notes due 2003. The notes are convertible at any
time prior to maturity, unless previously redeemed or repurchased, into
shares of common stock of the Company at a conversion price of $18.50 per
share. The Company may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, on or after
October 2, 1999. Interest on the notes will be payable semiannually on
April 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing April 1, 1997.
The Company utilized the net proceeds from the issuance of the 5 3/4%
convertible subordinated notes due 2003 to retire $17.5 million of 11 1/2%
subordinated debentures due 2003 and $25 million of 11% senior notes due
2001. The balance of the net proceeds was used to repay $20.0 million
outstanding under the Company's bank revolving credit facility. In
addition, the Company induced the exchange of its $12.5 million of 8 1/2%
exchangeable debentures during the third quarter of fiscal 1997. The
Company recorded pre-tax extraordinary charges aggregating $6.9 million
during the third quarter of fiscal 1997 for the early retirement of the
aforementioned debt. The after-tax extraordinary charges aggregated $4.1
million or $.09 per share.
Long-term debt matures as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal 1998 $ 39
1999 --
2000 --
2001 --
2002 --
Thereafter 111,250
--------
$111,289
========
Some of the Company's loan and lease agreements require that the
Company maintain certain financial ratios and limit specific payments and
equity distributions including cash dividends, loans to stockholders and
purchases of treasury stock. At fiscal 1997 year-end, the most restrictive
of the agreements limits the aggregate of such payments to $22.6 million.
The Company has lines of credit which aggregate approximately $225
million. The lines may be used for short-term working capital requirements
and/or merchandise letters of credit. At fiscal 1997 year-end,
approximately $110 million had been utilized, leaving $115 million of
available lines of credit. The weighted average interest rate on short-term
working capital loans outstanding was 6.5% and 6.7% for fiscal 1997 and
1996, respectively.
Note 6 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments
A financial consultant retained by the Company to manage the Company's
excess cash and short-term investments used some of the Company's funds to
trade in treasury bonds, treasury bond futures contracts, options on
treasury bond futures contracts and other financial instruments. The
trading account was closed prior to the end of fiscal 1996. There were no
open positions at March 2, 1996. The average fair value of the trading
account was $0.6 million and $1.9 million during fiscal years 1996 and 1995,
respectively. Net realized losses associated with these trading activities
totalled approximately $16.5 million in fiscal year 1996.
As of March 1, 1997, the fair value of long-term debt was $125.1
million compared to its recorded value of $111.3 million. The fair value of
long-term debt was estimated based on the quoted market values for the same
or similar issues, or rates currently available for debt with similar terms.
There are no other significant assets or liabilities with a fair value
different from the recorded value.
Until August 5, 1995, the Company had an interest rate hedging
agreement on $100 million of notional principal with a commercial bank for
the purpose of limiting the Company's exposure to interest rate fluctuations
on its $25 million of floating rate industrial revenue bonds, as well as
approximately $75 million of store operating lease agreements with rental
payments linked to LIBOR. This swap agreement was designated as a hedge
contract and, therefore, the differential between the floating and fixed
interest rates to be paid was recognized over the life of the agreement.
Under this swap agreement, the Company paid a fixed rate of 6.25% and, since
inception, had received an average floating rate of 4.93%. In addition, the
Company augmented the swap through the purchase of an interest rate floor
with the effect that the Company received payments under the swap based on a
floating rate not less than 6.25% from February 6, 1995 until August 5,
1995. The Company's weighted average interest rates, including the effects
of hedging activities, were 8.3% and 7.8% for the 1996 and 1995 fiscal
years, respectively. The weighted average interest rates, excluding the
effects of hedging activities, would have been 8.6% and 7.9% for the 1996
and 1995 fiscal years, respectively. This swap agreement expired on August
5, 1995 and was not renewed.
At March 1, 1997, the Company had approximately $7.2 million of forward
exchange contracts outstanding with negligible fair values and with
maturities ranging from one to five months.
Note 7 - Employee Benefit Plans
In 1986, the Company adopted a qualified, defined contribution employee
retirement plan. All full- and part-time personnel who are at least 21
years old, have been employed for a minimum of 12 months and have worked
1,000 hours in the preceding twelve months are eligible to participate in
the plan. Employees contributing from 1% to 5% of their compensation
receive matching Company contributions of up to 3%. Company contributions
to the plan were $1,459,000, $1,400,000 and $1,282,000 in fiscal 1997, 1996
and 1995, respectively.
In addition, a non-qualified retirement savings plan is available for
the purpose of providing deferred compensation for certain employees whose
benefits under the qualified plan are limited under Section 401(k) of the
Internal Revenue Code.
The Company maintains supplemental retirement plans ("the Plans") for
certain of its executive officers. The Plans provide that upon death,
disability or reaching retirement age, a participant will receive benefits
based on highest compensation and years of service. The Company recorded
expenses related to the Plans of $1,006,000, $1,152,000 and $850,000 in
fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
Note 8 - Matters Concerning Stockholders' Equity
Stock purchase plan - Substantially all employees and directors are
eligible to participate in the Pier 1 Imports, Inc. Stock Purchase Plan
under which the Company's common stock is purchased on behalf of employees
at market prices through regular payroll deductions. Each employee
participant may contribute up to 10% of the eligible portions of annual
compensation and directors may contribute part or all of their monthly
directors' fees. The Company contributes from 10% to 100% of the
participants' contributions, depending upon length of participation and date
of entry into the Plan. Company contributions to the Plan were $888,000,
$896,000 and $844,000 in fiscal years 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
Restricted stock grant plans - In fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995, the
Company issued 9,553 shares, 16,247 shares and 19,584 shares, respectively,
of its common stock to key officers pursuant to a Management Restricted
Stock Plan which provides for the issuance of up to 259,692 shares. The
shares of restricted stock were awarded in conjunction with the granting of
stock options to those officers, with the number of shares awarded
representing 25% of the number of stock options granted. The restricted
stock will vest at the times and to the extent that such stock options are
exercised. The cost of these restricted stock shares, which is not
material, is being expensed over the specified vesting period of the related
options. Shares not vested are returned to the Plan if employment is
terminated for any reason. To date, 10,637 shares have been returned to the
Plan.
In 1991, the Company issued 292,825 shares of its common stock to key
officers pursuant to a Restricted Stock Grant Plan which provides for
issuance of up to 530,333 shares. These shares vest and the cost of these
shares, which is not material, is being expensed over a 10-year period of
continued employment. Unvested shares are returned to the Plan if
employment is terminated for any reason. To date, 161,615 shares have been
returned to the Plan.
Stock option plans - In June 1989, the Company adopted two stock option
plans, the 1989 Employee Stock Option Plan and the 1989 Non-Employee
Director Stock Option Plan. Under the employee plan, options have been
granted at the fair market value of shares on the date of grant and may be
granted to qualify as Incentive Stock Options under Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code or as non-qualified options. Under the director plan,
non-qualified options covering 3,000 shares are granted once each year to
each non-employee director. The Company may grant options covering up to
3,070,253 shares of the Company's common stock under the employee plan and
up to 150,000 shares under the director plan. Both plans are subject to
adjustments for stock dividends.
In 1990, the 1980 Stock Option Plan expired subject to outstanding
options covering 439,290 shares at fiscal year-end 1997.
A summary of stock option transactions related to the stock option
plans during the three fiscal years ended March 1, 1997 is as follows:
<PAGE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Weighted Exercisable Shares
Average Weighted Average -----------------------------
Exercise Fair Value at Number of Weighted Average
Shares Price Date of Grant Shares Exercise Price
------ -------- ---------------- --------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Outstanding at February 26, 1994 1,051,722 $ 6.22 634,111 $5.54
Options granted 400,330 7.87
Options exercised (126,505) 6.15
Options cancelled or expired (77,709) 6.72
---------
Outstanding at February 25, 1995 1,247,838 6.70 687,855 7.52
Options granted (includes effect of 5%
stock dividend) 460,154 10.30 $3.93
Options exercised (226,796) 4.51
Options cancelled or expired (73,060) 7.95
---------
Outstanding at March 2, 1996 1,408,136 7.69 705,441 6.32
Options granted 832,211 16.54 6.42
Options exercised (315,368) 5.16
Options cancelled or expired (8,720) 7.96
---------
Outstanding at March 1, 1997 1,916,259 11.95 603,270 8.00
=========
For shares outstanding at March 1, 1997:
Weighted
Average Weighted Average Shares Weighted Average
Total Exercise Remaining Currently Exercise Price -
Ranges of Exercise Prices Shares Price Contractual Life Exercisable Exercisable Shares
------------------------- ------ -------- ---------------- ----------- ------------------
$ 4.07 - $ 5.41 145,424 $ 4.83 2.83 145,424 $ 4.83
$ 6.22 - $ 9.26 508,570 7.79 7.09 279,761 7.87
$ 9.50 - $11.69 430,054 10.39 7.30 163,085 10.42
$15.00 - $16.63 832,211 16.54 9.77 15,000 15.00
</TABLE>
At March 1, 1997 and March 2, 1996, outstanding options covering
603,270 and 705,441 shares were exercisable and 940,788 and 264,279 shares
were available for grant, respectively.
The Company accounts for its stock options using the intrinsic value-
based method of accounting prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25 but is required
to disclose the pro forma effect on net income and earnings per share as if
the options were accounted for using a fair value-based method of
accounting. The fair values for options issued in fiscal 1997 and fiscal
1996 have been estimated as of the date of grant using a binomial option
pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions for 1997 and
1996, respectively: risk-free interest rates of 6.14% and 6.10%, expected
volatility factors of .3012 and .3054, expected dividend yields of 0.8% for
both years, and weighted average expected lives of six years from date of
grant to date of exercise for all options. For purposes of computing pro
forma net income and earnings per share, the fair value of the stock options
is amortized on a straight-line basis as compensation expense over the
vesting periods of the options. The pro forma effects on net income and
earnings per share are as follows (in thousands of dollars except for
earnings per share information):
1997 1996
------ ------
Pro forma net income $43,621 $9,926
======= ======
Pro forma primary earnings per share $1.00 $.25
==== ====
Pro forma fully diluted earnings per share $.96 $.25
==== ====
Binomial option valuation models are used in estimating the fair value
of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully
transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of
highly subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility
and the average life of options. Because the Company's stock options have
characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and
because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect
the fair value estimate, in management's opinion, the existing models do not
necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its stock
options. In addition, the pro forma net income and earnings per share
amounts shown above for fiscal 1997 and 1996 do not include the effect of
any grants made prior to fiscal 1996.
Common stock dividend - On May 8, 1995, the Company distributed a 5%
common stock dividend to stockholders of record on May 1, 1995. Based on an
average of the closing price of the Company's common stock the day before,
and for a two-week period following the date of the dividend declaration,
the market value of the 1.9 million shares distributed was $18.1 million.
Share purchase rights plan - On December 9, 1994, the Board of
Directors adopted a Share Purchase Rights Plan and declared a dividend of
one common stock purchase right (a "Right") payable on each outstanding
share of the Company's common stock on December 21, 1994, and authorized the
issuance of Rights for subsequently issued shares of common stock. The
Rights, which will expire on December 21, 2004, are initially not
exercisable, and until becoming exercisable will trade only with the
associated common stock. After the Rights become exercisable, each Right
entitles the holder to purchase at a specified exercise price one share of
common stock. The Rights will become exercisable after the earlier to occur
of (i) 10 days following a public announcement that a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons have acquired beneficial ownership of 15%
or more of the outstanding common stock or (ii) ten business days (or such
later date as determined by the Board of Directors) following the
commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender or
exchange offer the consummation of which would result in beneficial
ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the outstanding common
stock. If the Company were acquired in a merger or other business
combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning
power were sold, proper provision would be made so that each Right would
entitle its holder to purchase, upon the exercise of the Right at the then
current exercise price, that number of shares of common stock of the
acquiring company having a market value of twice the exercise price of the
Right. If any person or group were to acquire beneficial ownership of 15%
or more of the Company's outstanding common stock, each Right would entitle
its holder (other than such acquiring person whose Rights would become void)
to purchase, upon the exercise of the Right at the then current exercise
price, that number of shares of the Company's common stock having a market
value on the date of such 15% acquisition of twice the exercise price of the
Right. The Board of Directors may at its option, at any time after such 15%
acquisition but prior to the acquisition of more than 50% of the Company's
outstanding common stock, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and
exercisable Rights (other than those held by such acquiring person whose
Rights would become void) for common stock at an exchange rate per Right of
one-half the number of shares of common stock receivable upon exercise of a
Right. The Board of Directors may, at any time prior to such 15%
acquisition, redeem all the Rights at a redemption price of $.01 per Right.
Note 9 - Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes, net of income tax benefit for
extraordinary charges in fiscal 1997, consists of (in thousands):
1997 1996 1995
------- ------ ------
Federal:
Current $24,487 $18,801 $ 8,733
Deferred (320) (3,864) (436)
State:
Current 4,879 3,583 2,040
Deferred (40) (446) (93)
Foreign:
Current 376 326 924
------- ------- -------
$29,382 $18,400 $11,168
======= ======= =======
Deferred tax assets (liabilities) at March 1, 1997 and March 2, 1996
are comprised of the following (in thousands):
1997 1996
------- -------
Deferred tax assets:
Capital loss carryforwards $ 1,890 $ 2,784
Inventory 1,362 924
Deferred compensation 5,460 4,123
Bad debts 109 1,511
Accrued average rent 6,498 6,208
Trading losses 7,609 3,950
Losses on The Pier Retail Group Ltd. 3,103 2,712
Other 1,189 879
-------- --------
27,220 23,091
Valuation allowance (9,794) (6,039)
-------- --------
Total deferred tax assets 17,426 17,052
-------- --------
Deferred tax liabilities:
Fixed assets, net (3,600) (3,586)
------- -------
Total deferred tax liabilities (3,600) (3,586)
------- -------
Net deferred tax assets $13,826 $13,466
======= =======
At March 1, 1997, the Company had net capital loss carryforwards of
approximately $4.8 million for income tax purposes that expire in the year
2000. For financial reporting purposes, the valuation allowance has been
recognized to offset the deferred tax assets relating to trading losses and
to partially offset losses of The Pier.
The Company has settled and closed all Internal Revenue Service ("IRS")
examinations of the Company's tax returns for all years through fiscal 1993.
Federal income tax returns for fiscal years 1995 and 1994 are currently
under examination. The Company does not anticipate adjustments, if any,
arising from this examination to have a material impact on the Company's
results of operations.
The difference between income taxes at the statutory federal income tax
rate of 35 percent in fiscal 1997, 1996 and 1995, and income tax reported in
the consolidated statement of operations is as follows (in thousands):
1997 1996 1995
------- ------- -------
Tax at statutory federal tax rate $25,714 $ 9,957 $11,630
Tax treatment on sale of subsidiary
stock -- -- (1,959)
Valuation allowance 1,162 7,977 1,120
State income taxes, net of federal
benefit 3,300 1,280 1,080
Tax-favored investment income -- (88) (61)
Targeted jobs tax credit -- (215) (524)
Net foreign income taxed at lower
rates (69) (365) (425)
Other, net (725) (146) 307
------- ------- -------
$29,382 $18,400 $11,168
======= ======= =======
Note 10 - Commitments and Contingencies
Leases - The Company leases certain property consisting principally of
retail stores, warehouses and transportation equipment under leases expiring
through the year 2015. Most retail store locations are leased for initial
terms of 10 to 15 years with varying renewal options and rent escalation
clauses. Certain leases provide for additional rental payments based on a
percentage of sales in excess of a specified base.
Capital leases, which are insignificant in fiscal 1997 and 1996, are
recorded in the Company's balance sheet as assets along with the related
debt obligation. All other lease obligations are operating leases, and
payments are reflected in the Company's consolidated statement of operations
as store occupancy.
At March 1, 1997, the Company had the following minimum lease
commitments in the years indicated (in thousands):
Operating
Fiscal Year Leases
----------- ---------
1998 $ 95,603
1999 82,055
2000 72,982
2001 63,447
2002 53,299
Thereafter 215,139
--------
Total lease commitments $582,525
========
Present value of total operating
lease commitments $375,290
========
Rental expense incurred was $102,409,000, $96,693,000 and
$92,072,000, including contingent rentals of $463,000, $784,000 and
$766,000, based upon a percentage of sales, and net of sublease incomes
totalling $1,500,000, $1,647,000 and $1,552,000, in fiscal 1997, 1996 and
1995, respectively.
The Company has commitments from unaffiliated parties to make available
up to $25.0 million for development or acquisition of stores leased by the
Company. As of March 1, 1997, the Company utilized $23.9 million of that
availability. This facility expires December 30, 1997, at which time the
Company must extend the term of the facility, purchase the 21 properties
presently covered under the facility, or find alternative financing.
Legal matters - In addition to the legal matters discussed in Note 12,
there are various other claims, lawsuits, investigations and pending actions
against the Company and its subsidiaries incident to the operations of its
business. Liability, if any, associated with these other matters is not
determinable at March 1, 1997; however, the Company considers them to be
ordinary and routine in nature. The Company maintains liability insurance
against most of these claims. While certain of the lawsuits involve
substantial amounts, it is the opinion of management, after consultation
with counsel, that the ultimate resolution of such litigation will not have
a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results of
operations or liquidity.
Note 11 - Supplemental Cash Flow Information
The following is supplemental cash flow information (in thousands):
1997 1996 1995
------- ------- -------
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest $10,891 $12,937 $13,477
Income taxes 34,810 22,405 15,457
Note 12 - Trading Losses
In late December 1995, the Company was made aware of losses of $19.3
million resulting from substantial trading activities in a discretionary
account by a financial consultant retained to manage the Company's excess
cash and short-term investments. The Company maintained a relationship with
the consultant from 1986 through 1995 and provided funds under his
management which at one time reached $22 million. In executing these
trading transactions, the consultant may have acted outside the scope of
instructions from the Company and improperly attributed transactions to the
Company. These transactions are recorded on statements the Company received
from brokerage firms that executed the transactions purportedly in
accordance with the consultant's instructions. Management believes that
these statements represent the best evidence of the transactions available
to the Company. As a result, the Company restated its financial statements
for affected periods to reflect the gains and losses in the periods
indicated by the brokerage firm statements.
Restatements of the financial statements indicate significant trading
losses during the first three quarters of the fiscal year ended February 25,
1995 and then a substantial recovery of such losses in the fourth fiscal
quarter. Restatements of fiscal 1996 indicate significant trading losses in
the first and second quarters of the fiscal year. The effect on the
financial statements for the full fiscal years ended March 2, 1996 and
February 25, 1995 was to reduce net income by net trading losses of $16.5
million and $2.8 million, respectively. The Company has not recorded any
tax benefit on these losses. The amounts of the net trading losses or gains
for the quarterly periods in fiscal 1996 are included in Note 16. The
recorded amount of trading losses does not include any conflicting claims
involving the financial consultant or other parties, which are expected to
be the subject of protracted legal proceedings. The Company is pursuing all
legal remedies to recoup the lost funds against any and all parties
responsible for the trading losses. The recorded losses have not been
reduced by any possible recoveries from such sources.
On December 27, 1995, a derivative suit, entitled Harry Lewis v. Clark
A. Johnson et al., was filed by a stockholder on behalf of the Company in
the Delaware Chancery Court against each member of the Company's Board of
Directors. The complaint alleges that the Directors violated their
fiduciary duties to the Company and its stockholders by not adequately
supervising the officers, employees and agents of the Company who were
responsible for the trading activities that resulted in the $19.3 million in
losses. During fiscal 1997, the suit was consolidated with four other
stockholder derivative suits and dismissed without prejudice.
On January 3, 1996, another derivative suit, entitled John P. McCarthy
Profit Sharing Plan, et al. v. Clark A. Johnson et al., was filed by a
stockholder on behalf of the Company in the District Court of Tarrant
County, Texas against each member of the Board of Directors, two executive
officers of the Company and the outside financial consultant of the Company.
The complaint alleges that the Directors and executives of the Company
violated their duties to the Company and its stockholders by gross
mismanagement and waste of the Company's assets exceeding $34 million and
that the defendants engaged in conspiracy and fraud by concealing and
misrepresenting facts to the Company and its stockholders. The suit seeks
an award in the amount of all damages sustained by the Company. On February
12, 1996, the Company filed a related cross-claim suit against S. Jay
Goldinger, the financial consultant, and his firm, Capital Insight, and a
third-party claim against a brokerage firm, Refco, Inc., asserting
conspiracy and fraud and seeking damages sustained by the Company from the
trading activities managed by Goldinger. The plaintiffs agreed to dismiss
without prejudice claims against the Company's officers and directors other
than the former chief financial officer, but Refco subsequently filed a
third party suit against the Company's officers and directors seeking
indemnification and contribution. The Company's former chief financial
officer filed cross-claims against the Company seeking unpaid and post-
employment benefits and damages for alleged libel and slander by the
Company. The Company filed cross-claims against its former chief financial
officer based on his actions related to the investments which led to the
trading losses.
On January 24, 1996, a suit, entitled Hernan Velasquez v. Clark A.
Johnson et al., was filed in the District Court of Tarrant County, Texas
against the Company and each member of the Company's Board of Directors.
The complaint asserts a class action by Company stockholders purchasing
and/or holding Company common stock between July 8, 1994, and December 22,
1995, and alleges fraud and violations of the Texas Securities Act in the
dissemination of materially false and misleading information concerning the
Company's financial condition. The suit seeks compensatory and exemplary
damages in excess of $50 million in connection with purchases by the
stockholder class of Company common stock during the class period.
Subsequent to fiscal 1997 year-end, the suit was dismissed without
prejudice.
The Company maintains Directors and Officers liability insurance and,
as such, the Company's directors and officers will seek indemnification
against all of these matters. Except as described, the ultimate outcome of
these matters cannot presently be determined.
Note 13 - Provision for Sunbelt Nursery Group, Inc. Defaults
In connection with the Company's sale of its Sunbelt Nursery Group,
Inc. ("Sunbelt") investment to General Host Corporation ("General Host") in
April 1993, the Company committed to provide Sunbelt a $12 million credit
facility through April 1994 and up to $25 million of non-revolving store
development financing through April 1996. In October 1994, in connection
with the sale by General Host of its 49.5% interest in Sunbelt to a third
party unrelated to the Company or General Host, the Company received payment
of the amounts owed under the credit facility and agreed to extend $22.8
million of the non-revolving store development financing to Sunbelt until
June 30, 1998, at market rental rates.
In April 1995, Sunbelt defaulted on 13 store sublease agreements with
the Company comprising the $22.8 million of non-revolving store development
financing, and the Company terminated the subleases. In July 1995, the
Company entered into a settlement agreement with Sunbelt which required the
Company to record a pre-tax charge of $14 million in its fiscal 1996 first
quarter as its best estimate of the costs to disengage from its financial
support of Sunbelt. The charge includes estimated losses resulting from
terminating the subleases and disposing of the properties. As of March
1997, seven nursery store properties had been sold at costs consistent with
the Company's estimates used to record the charge. The Company also
guarantees other Sunbelt store lease commitments aggregating $3.0 million
with a present value of approximately $2.6 million at fiscal 1997 year-end.
Note 14 - Investment in General Host Corporation
In the third quarter of fiscal 1995, the Company recorded a provision
of $7.5 million to reflect an 'other than temporary' write-down of the
carrying value of the 2.1 million shares of General Host common stock held
by the Company. In December 1994, the Company issued $12.5 million of 8
1/2% exchangeable debentures due December 1, 2000, mandatorily exchangeable
into the 2.1 million shares of General Host common stock held by the
Company. During the third quarter of fiscal 1997, the Company induced the
exchange of its $12.5 million of 8 1/2% exchangeable debentures; therefore,
the Company no longer has an investment in General Host.
Note 15 - Related Parties
In March 1993, the Company invested $3 million in a limited partnership
fund with Whiffletree Partners, L.P., which is managed by Whiffletree
Corporation, one of whose principals is Steven E. Berman, a brother of
Martin L. Berman. Whiffletree Corporation is an affiliate of Palisade
Capital Securities, L.L.C., of which Martin L. Berman is currently Chief
Executive Officer. In April 1996, the Company divested its interest in
Whiffletree Partners, L.P. for net proceeds of approximately $4.7 million
after deducting fees of $0.3 million.
Since fiscal 1988, interest-bearing loans have been outstanding to
certain Company officers. At March 1, 1997, such officers had loan balances
totaling $971,000, and maturities of these loans begin in fiscal 1998.
Note 16 - Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
Summarized quarterly financial data (in thousands except per share
amounts) for the years ended March 1, 1997 and March 2, 1996 are set forth
below:
Three Months Ended
--------------------------------------
Fiscal 1997 6/01/96 8/31/96 11/30/96 3/01/97
----------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net sales $205,292 $231,050 $225,598 $285,151
Gross profit 81,697 89,993 95,544 117,228
Income before extraordinary
charges 8,273 11,420 10,628 17,888
Extraordinary charges, net of
income tax benefit(1) -- -- 4,122 --
Net income 8,273 11,420 6,506 17,888
Primary net income per share(2) $.21 $.26 $.14 $.39
Fully diluted net income per share
before extraordinary charges(2) $.20 $.26 $.23 $.37
Three Months Ended
--------------------------------------
Fiscal 1996 5/27/95 8/26/95 11/25/95 3/02/96
----------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net sales(3)(4) $176,815 $199,456 $190,185 $244,251
Gross profit(3)(4) 69,138 74,758 78,571 103,054
Net income (loss)(4)(5)(6) (18,335) 8,900 6,949 12,535
Primary net income (loss) per
share(2)(4)(5)(6) ($.46) $.22 $.18 $.31
Fully diluted net income per
share(2)(4)(5)(6) ($.46) $.21 $.17 $.29
___________________
(1) During the third quarter of fiscal 1997, the Company recorded pre-tax
extraordinary losses aggregating $6.9 million due to the early
retirement of debt as discussed in Note 5.
(2) Fully diluted net income per share resulted in less than 3% dilution of
primary net income per share for fiscal year 1996 and a $.04 dilution
for fiscal year 1997. The effect of the extraordinary charges in the
third quarter of fiscal 1997 resulted in a reduction of earnings of $.09
per share.
(3) The restatements of earnings as discussed in Note 12 for the quarters of
fiscal year 1996 had no effect on the Company's previously reported
sales and gross profit.
(4) The fiscal 1996 fourth quarter consisted of a 14-week quarter (which
occurs every seven years) compared to a typical 13-week quarter.
(5) Fiscal 1996 first, second and third quarters net income (loss) includes
trading (losses) gains of ($15,956), ($602) and $95, respectively.
(6) Fiscal 1996 first quarter net loss includes a pre-tax charge of $14,000
for Sunbelt defaults.
<PAGE>
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure.
Information regarding a change in the Company's auditors on March 1,
1996, is contained in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A, filed
March 21, 1996.
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Company.
Information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference
to the Sections entitled "Election of Directors" and "Certain Relationships
and Related Transactions" set forth in the Company's Proxy Statement for its
1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
The information regarding compliance with Section 16(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is incorporated herein by reference to the
Section entitled "Section 16(a) Beneficial Reporting Compliance" set forth
in the Company's Proxy Statement for its 1997 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by
reference to the Section entitled "Executive Compensation" set forth in the
Company's Proxy Statement for its 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by
reference to the Sections entitled "Election of Directors - Security
Ownership of Management" and "Election of Directors - Security Ownership of
Certain Beneficial Holders" set forth in the Company's Proxy Statement for
its 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by
reference to the Section entitled "Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions" set forth in the Company's Proxy Statement for its 1997 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders.
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K.
(a) The following consolidated financial statements, schedules and
exhibits are filed as part of this report.
1. Financial Statements
* Reports of Independent Auditors
* Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended
March 1, 1997, March 2, 1996 and February 25, 1995
* Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 1, 1997 and March 2,
1996
* Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
March 1, 1997, March 2, 1996 and February 25, 1995
* Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the
years ended March 1, 1997, March 2, 1996 and February 25,
1995
2. Financial Statement Schedules
For the Years Ended March 1, 1997, March 2, 1996 and February
25, 1995
* Report of Independent Accountants on Financial Statement
Schedules
* II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves
Schedules other than those referred to above have been
omitted because they are not required or are not applicable
or because the information required to be set forth therein
either is not material or is included in the financial
statements or notes thereto.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
None
(c) Exhibits
See Exhibit Index.
(d) Not applicable.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: _______________ PIER 1 IMPORTS, INC.
By:/s/ Clark A. Johnson
Clark A. Johnson, Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Company and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date
/s/ Susan E. Barley Chief Financial Officer May 30, 1997
Susan E. Barley and Principal Accounting
Officer
/s/ Clark A. Johnson Chairman and Chief May 30, 1997
Clark A. Johnson Executive Officer
/s/ Marvin J. Girouard Director May 30, 1997
Marvin J. Girouard
/s/ Charles R. Scott Director May 30, 1997
Charles R. Scott
/s/ Sally F. McKenzie Director May 30, 1997
Sally F. McKenzie
/s/ James M. Hoak, Jr. Director May 30, 1997
James M. Hoak, Jr.
/s/ Martin L. Berman Director May 30, 1997
Martin L. Berman
/s/ Craig C. Gordon Director May 30, 1997
Craig C. Gordon
<PAGE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS ON
FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
To the Board of Directors of Pier 1 Imports, Inc.
Our audit of the consolidated financial statements referred to in our
report dated April 7, 1995, except for Notes 6, 9, 12 and 13, as to which
the date is February 29, 1996, appearing in Item 8 of this 1996 Annual
Report on Form 10-K for Pier 1 Imports, Inc., also included an audit of the
Financial Statement Schedule listed in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for the year
ended February 25, 1995. In our opinion, this Financial Statement Schedule
presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein
when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements.
/s/ Price Waterhouse LLP
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Fort Worth, Texas
April 7, 1995, except for
Notes 6, 9, 12 and 13, as to
which the date is February 29, 1996
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE II
PIER 1 IMPORTS, INC. AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES
(in thousands)
ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS
Year Ended
----------------------------------------
March 1, March 2, February 25,
1996 1996 1995
---------- ---------- ------------
Balance at beginning of year $ 3,949 $ 2,335 $ 2,072
Additions charged to income 6,728 5,763 3,285
Balances written off, net of
recoveries (5,572) (4,149) (3,022)
Reserve reversal in
conjunction with
securitization (4,838) -- --
---------- ---------- ------------
Balance at end of year $ 267 $ 3,949 $ 2,335
========== ========== ============
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
3(i) Certificate of Incorporation and Amendments thereto
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to
Registrant's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 2, 1996.
3(ii) Bylaws of the Company, Restated as of December 7, 1994,
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3(ii) to the
Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 26, 1994.
4 Rights Agreement dated December 9, 1994, between the Company
and First Interstate Bank, N.A., as rights agent, incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 4 to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form 8-A, Reg. No. 1-7832, filed December 20,
1994.
4.1 Indenture, dated September 18, 1996, between the Company and
Wells Fargo Bank (Texas), N.A., as Trustee, relating to 5 3/4%
Convertible Subordinated Notes Due 2003, incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 2 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-3, Reg. No. 333-10677, filed
September 11, 1996.
As permitted by Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K, Exhibit
Number 4 omits instruments relating to issues of long-term debt
of the Company and its subsidiaries, the total authorized
principal amount of which for each issue does not exceed 10% of
the consolidated total assets of the Company and its
subsidiaries. The Company agrees to furnish a copy of any such
instrument to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
request.
10.1* Form of Indemnity Agreement between the Company and the
directors and executive officers of the Company, incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10(l) to the Company's Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended February 29, 1992.
10.2* The Company's Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan effective
May 1, 1986, as amended and restated as of January 1, 1996.
10.3* Pier 1 Benefit Restoration Plan as Amended and Restated
effective July 1, 1995, incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.5.1 to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
May 27, 1995.
10.4* The Company's Restricted Stock Plan effective March 5, 1990,
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(p) to the
Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 3, 1990.
10.5* The Company's Management Restricted Stock Plan, effective June
24, 1993, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to
the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 25,
1995.
10.6* The Company's 1989 Employee Stock Option Plan, effective June
29, 1989, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10(q) to
the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 3,
1990.
10.7* The Company's 1989 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan,
effective June 29, 1989, incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10(r) to the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended March 3, 1990.
10.8* Form of Post-Employment Consulting Agreement between the
Company and its executive officers, incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10(r) to the Company's Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended February 29, 1992.
10.9* The Company's Executive Bonus Plan, incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Company's Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended February 26, 1994.
10.10* The Company's Management Medical and Tax Benefit Plans,
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the
Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 26,
1994.
10.11.1 Agreement of Settlement dated July 31, 1995 between Pier Lease,
Inc., the Company, Sunbelt Nursery Group, Inc., Wolfe Nursery,
Inc. and Timothy R. Duoos, incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.15 to Sunbelt Nursery Group, Inc.'s Form 10-K/A-2
for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1995.
10.11.2 Note Modification Agreement, dated January 3, 1997, among the
Company, Sunbelt Nursery Group, Inc., Wolfe Nursery Group, Inc.
and Timothy R. Duoos, incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.27 to Sunbelt Nursery Group, Inc.'s Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended March 30, 1997.
10.12 Revolving Credit Agreement, dated December 15, 1995, among the
Company, certain of its subsidiaries, Wells Fargo Bank (Texas),
N.A., Bank One, Texas, N.A., NationsBank of Texas, N.A., and
Credit Lyonnais New York Branch, incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Form 10-Q for
quarter ended November 25, 1995.
10.13 Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated February 12, 1997, among
Pier 1 Imports (U.S.), Inc., Pier 1 Funding, Inc. and Texas
Commerce Bank National Association, as Trustee.
21 Roster of Subsidiaries of the Company
23.1 Consent of Independent Auditors
23.2 Consent of Independent Accountants
27 Financial Data Schedule for Twelve-Month Period Ended March 1,
1997.
_______________________
*Management Contracts and Compensatory Plans
PIER 1 FUNDING, INC.,
Transferor
PIER 1 IMPORTS (U.S.), INC.,
Servicer
and
TEXAS COMMERCE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
Trustee
PIER 1 IMPORTS CREDIT CARD MASTER TRUST
POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT
Dated as of February 12, 1997
<PAGE>
POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT, dated as of February 12, 1997
among PIER 1 FUNDING, INC., a Delaware corporation, as Transferor, PIER 1
IMPORTS (U.S.), INC., a Delaware corporation, as Servicer, and TEXAS
COMMERCE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized
and existing under the laws of the United States, as Trustee.
In consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained,
each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties, the
Certificateholders and any Enhancement Provider to the extent provided
herein and in any Supplement:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
Section 1.1. Definitions. Whenever used in this Agreement,
the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings, and the
definitions of such terms are applicable to the singular as well as the
plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine
and neuter genders of such terms.
"Account" shall mean each Initial Account, each Automatic Addi-
tional Account and each Supplemental Account, but shall exclude any Account
all the Receivables in which are either reassigned or assigned to the
Transferor or its designee or the Servicer in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement and any inactive Accounts which in accordance with the Credit
Card Guidelines have been removed from the active computer records of the
Credit Card Originator. The definition of Account shall include each
account into which an Account is transferred (a "Transferred Account");
provided that (i) such transfer is made in accordance with the Credit Card
Guidelines and (ii) such Transferred Account can be traced or identified, by
reference to or by way of the computer files, microfiche lists or printed
lists delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.1 or 2.9(f), as an
account into which an Account has been transferred. The term "Account"
shall be deemed to refer to an Automatic Additional Account or a Supplemen-
tal Account only from and after the Addition Date with respect thereto, and
the term "Account" shall be deemed to refer to any Removed Account only
prior to the Removal Date with respect thereto.
"Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Active Account" shall mean, as of any Business Day, any
Account in which there has been any financial activity within the preceding
12 Monthly Periods.
"Addition" shall mean the designation of additional Eligible
Accounts to be included as Accounts pursuant to Section 2.9(a), (b) or (d)
or of Participation Interests to be included as Trust Assets pursuant to
Section 2.9(a) or (b), as applicable.
"Addition Cut-Off Date" shall mean the date as of which any
Receivables relating to Supplemental Accounts or Participation Interests are
designated for inclusion in the Trust, as specified in the related Assign-
ment.
"Addition Date" shall mean (i) with respect to Supplemental
Accounts, the date on which the Receivables in such Supplemental Accounts
are conveyed to the Trust pursuant to Section 2.9(a) or (b), as applicable,
(ii) with respect to Automatic Additional Accounts, the date on which such
accounts are created, and (iii) with respect to Participation Interests, the
date from and after which such Participation Interests are to be included as
Trust Assets pursuant to Section 2.9(a) or (b).
"Additional Account" shall mean an Automatic Additional Account
or a Supplemental Account.
"Adjustment Payment" shall have the meaning specified in
subsection 3.9(a).
"Adjustment Payment Shortfall" shall mean, for any Business
Day, the amount by which the Transferor Amount would have been reduced below
zero as a result of adjustments to the Aggregate Principal Receivables
pursuant to Section 3.9 of the Agreement and with respect to which the
Transferor was obligated but failed to make a deposit into the Excess
Funding Account by the close of business on the preceding Business Day.
"Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any specified Person,
any other Person controlling or controlled by or under common control with
such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" shall
mean the power to direct the management and policies of a Person, directly
or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have
meaning correlative to the foregoing.
"Aggregate Addition Limit" shall mean the number of accounts
which would either (x) with respect to any of the three consecutive Monthly
Periods commencing in January, April, July and October of each calendar year
commencing April, 1997, exceed 15% of the number of Accounts as of the first
day of such three-month period (or the Trust Cut-Off Date, in the case of
1997) or (y) with respect to any twelve-month period, exceed 20% of the
number of Accounts as of the first day of such twelve-month period.
"Aggregate Principal Receivables" shall mean, for any day in
any Monthly Period, the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables at the end
of such day.
"Agreement" shall mean this Pooling and Servicing Agreement and
all amendments hereof and supplements hereto, including, with respect to any
Series or Class, the related Supplement.
"Amortization Period" shall mean, with respect to any Series or
any Class within a Series, a period following the Revolving Period, which
shall be the controlled amortization period, the controlled accumulation
period, the principal amortization period, the rapid accumulation period,
the early amortization period, or other amortization period or accumulation
period, in each case as defined with respect to such Series in the related
Supplement.
"Applicants" shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.8.
"Appointment Date" shall have the meaning specified in Section
9.2(a).
"Assignment" shall have the meaning specified in Section
2.9(f).
"Authorized Newspaper" shall mean any newspaper or newspapers
of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York
printed in the English language (and, with respect to any Series or Class,
if and so long as the Investor Certificates of such Series or Class are
listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and such exchange shall so require,
in Luxembourg, printed in any language satisfying the requirements of such
exchange) and customarily published on each business day at such place,
whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays.
"Automatic Addition Suspension Date" shall mean the Business
Day specified in Section 2.9(d)(i) or the Determination Date specified in
Section 2.9(d)(ii), as applicable.
"Automatic Addition Termination Date" shall mean the Business
Day specified by the Transferor pursuant to Section 2.9(d)(i) hereof as of
which new open end credit card accounts owned by the Credit Card Originator
shall cease to become Automatic Additional Accounts.
"Automatic Additional Account" shall mean each open end credit
card account established pursuant to a Credit Card Agreement coming into
existence (i) after the Trust Cut-Off Date and prior to the earlier of the
Automatic Addition Termination Date or an Automatic Addition Suspension Date
and (ii) following an Automatic Addition Suspension Date and after a Restart
Date and prior to a subsequent Automatic Addition Suspension Date or any
Automatic Addition Termination Date.
"Base Rate" shall have the meaning, with respect to any Series,
specified in the related Supplement.
"Bearer Certificate" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 6.1.
"Bearer Rules" shall mean the provisions of the Code, in effect
from time to time, governing the treatment of bearer obligations, including
sections 163(f), 871, 881, 1441, 1442 and 4701, and any regulations
thereunder including, to the extent applicable to any Series, proposed or
temporary regulations of the Internal Revenue Service.
"Benefit Plan" shall have the meaning specified in Section
6.4(c).
"Billed Finance Charges" shall mean with respect to any Monthly
Period the amount of finance charges, late fees and other fees and charges
billed to Obligors on the Receivables.
"Book-Entry Certificates" shall mean beneficial interests in
the Investor Certificates, ownership and transfers of which shall be made
through book entries by a Clearing Agency as described in Section 6.10.
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than (a) a Saturday or
Sunday, (b) any other day on which national banking associations or state
banking institutions in Houston and Fort Worth, Texas, Mason, Ohio or New
York, New York are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or
governmental decree to be closed or (c) for purposes of any particular
Series, any other day specified in the related Supplement.
"Cash Equivalent" shall mean book-entry securities, negotiable
instruments or securities represented by instruments in bearer or registered
form which evidence:
(a) direct obligations of, and obligations fully guaranteed as
to timely payment of principal and interest by, the United States of
America;
(b) demand deposits, time deposits or certificates of deposit
(having original maturities of no more than 365 days) of depository
institutions or trust companies incorporated under the laws of the United
States of America or any state thereof (or domestic branches of foreign
banks) and subject to supervision and examination by federal or state
banking or depository institution authorities; provided that at the time of
the Trust's investment or contractual commitment to invest therein, the
short-term debt rating of such depository institution or trust company
shall be in the highest investment category of each Rating Agency;
(c) commercial paper or other short-term obligations having,
at the time of the Trust's investment or contractual commitment to invest
therein, a rating from each Rating Agency in its highest investment
category;
(d) demand deposits, time deposits and certificates of deposit
which are fully insured by the FDIC, with a Person the commercial paper of
which has a credit rating from each Rating Agency in its highest investment
category;
(e) notes or bankers' acceptances (having original maturities
of no more than 365 days) issued by any depository institution or trust
company referred to in (b) above;
(f) time deposits, other than as referred to in clause (d)
above, with a Person the commercial paper of which has a credit rating from
each Rating Agency in its highest investment category;
(g) investments in money market funds which have a credit
rating from Moody's in its highest investment category and which shall
invest only in Cash Equivalents described in clauses (a) through (f) of
this definition; provided, however, that any such investments would not
cause the Trust to become an "investment company" within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act;
(h) any other investments approved in writing by each Rating
Agency which would not cause the Trust to become an "investment company"
within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.
"Certificate" shall mean any one of the Investor Certificates
or the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate.
"Certificateholder" or "Holder" shall mean an Investor
Certificateholder or a Person in whose name the Exchangeable Transferor
Certificate is registered in the Certificate Register.
"Certificateholders' Interest" shall have the meaning specified
in Section 4.1.
"Certificate Owner" shall mean, with respect to a Book-Entry
Certificate, the Person who is the owner of such Book-Entry Certificate, as
reflected on the books of the Clearing Agency, or on the books of a Person
maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency (directly or as an indirect
participant, in accordance with the rules of such Clearing Agency).
"Certificate Rate" shall mean, with respect to any Series or
Class, the certificate rate specified therefor in the related Supplement.
"Certificate Register" shall mean the register maintained
pursuant to Section 6.4, providing for the registration of the Registered
Certificates and the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate and transfers and
exchanges thereof.
"Class" shall mean, with respect to any Series, any one of the
classes of Investor Certificates of that Series.
"Clearing Agency" shall mean an organization registered as a
"clearing agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
"Clearing Agency Participant" shall mean a broker, dealer,
bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time
a Clearing Agency effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities
deposited with the Clearing Agency.
"Closing Date" shall mean, with respect to any Series, the
closing date specified in the related Supplement.
"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time.
"Collection Account" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 4.2.
"Collections" shall mean all payments (including Recoveries of
Principal Receivables or Finance Charge Receivables) received by the
Servicer with respect to the Receivables, in the form of cash, checks (to
the extent collected), wire transfers or other form of payment in accordance
with the Credit Card Agreement in effect from time to time on any
Receivables. If so specified in any Supplement, Collections shall also
include any payments received by the Servicer with respect to Participation
Interests.
"Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Controlled Accumulation Period" shall mean, with respect to
any Series, the period, if any, specified as such in the related Supplement.
"Corporate Trust Office" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 11.16.
"Coupon" shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.1.
"Credit Card Agreement" shall mean, with respect to an Account,
the agreements between the Credit Card Originator which owns such Account
and the related Obligor, governing the terms and conditions of such Account,
as such agreements may be amended, modified or otherwise changed from time
to time and as distributed (including any amendments and revisions thereto)
to such Obligors. An example of a Credit Card Agreement is attached as
Exhibit F.
"Credit Card Guidelines" shall mean written policies and
procedures of the Credit Card Originator relating to the operation of its
consumer revolving lending business, including the written policies and
procedures for determining the creditworthiness of credit card customers,
the extension of credit to credit card customers and relating to the
maintenance of credit card accounts and collection of receivables with
respect thereto, as such policies and procedures may be amended, modified,
or otherwise changed from time to time in conformance with all Requirements
of Law, the failure to comply with which would have a material adverse
effect on interests hereunder of Investor Certificateholders.
"Credit Card Originator" shall mean Pier 1 and its successors
or assigns and/or any transferee of the Accounts from Pier 1 or any other
originator of Accounts.
"Cycle" shall mean, with respect to any Account, the monthly
billing cycle for such Account as determined in accordance with the Credit
Card Guidelines as in effect on the date of this Agreement.
"Cycle Billing Date" shall mean, with respect to any Account,
each date on which bills are processed for the Cycle which includes such
Account.
"Daily Report" shall have the meaning specified in Section
3.4(b).
"Date of Processing" shall mean, with respect to any transac-
tion, the Business Day on which such transaction is first recorded pursuant
to the Servicer's customary and usual servicing practices on the Servicer's
computer file of consumer open-end credit card accounts (without regard to
the effective date of such recordation).
"Debtor Relief Laws" shall mean the Bankruptcy Code of the
United States of America and all other applicable liquidation,
conservatorship, bankruptcy, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership,
insolvency, reorganization, suspension of payments, readjustment of debt,
marshalling of assets or similar debtor relief laws of the United States,
any state or any foreign country from time to time in effect, affecting the
rights of creditors generally.
"Default Amount" shall mean, on any Business Day, the amount of
Principal Receivables (other than Ineligible Receivables) in Accounts which
became Defaulted Accounts on such Business Day.
"Defaulted Account" shall mean each account with respect to
which, in accordance with the Servicer's customary and usual servicing
procedures, the Servicer has charged off the Receivables in such account as
uncollectible.
"Defaulted Receivable" shall mean, with respect to any Business
Day, all Principal Receivables in any Account which became a Defaulted
Account on such day in accordance with the Credit Card Guidelines and the
Servicer's customary and usual servicing procedures for servicing open end
credit card account receivables comparable to the Receivables. A Principal
Receivable in any Account shall become a Defaulted Receivable on the day on
which such Principal Receivable is recorded as charged off on the Servicer's
computer master file of consumer credit card accounts in accordance with the
Credit Card Guidelines.
"Defeasance" shall have the meaning specified in Section
12.4(a).
"Defeased Series" shall have the meaning specified in Section
12.4(a).
"Deferred Payment Plan Receivable" shall mean a Receivable
which pursuant to a deferred payment plan offered by the Credit Card
Originator does not by its terms require the related Obligor to make current
payments of principal and/or interest for a specified period. For purposes
of this Agreement a Receivable will be deemed to be a "Deferred Payment Plan
Receivable" only for so long as pursuant to its terms principal and/or
interest payments are not required to be made by the related Obligor.
"Definitive Certificates" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 6.10.
"Definitive Euro-Certificates" shall have the meaning specified
in Section 6.13.
"Delinquency Percentages" shall mean with respect to any
Business Day the percentage equivalent of an amount determined on the
preceding Factor Date (or on such Business Day with respect to each Factor
Date) equal to (x) the product of (i) 0.5 and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding
Balance of all Receivables retail age 2 or greater (30 or more days past
due) divided by (y) the aggregate Outstanding Balance of all Receivables on
such Factor Date.
"Deposit Date" shall mean each day on which the Servicer
deposits Collections in the Collection Account.
"Depositary" shall mean the Person specified in the applicable
Supplement, in its capacity as depositary for the respective accounts of any
Clearing Agency or, with respect to Global Certificates, any foreign
clearing agencies set forth in the related Supplement.
"Depository Agreement" shall mean, with respect to any Series
or Class, the agreement among the Transferor, the Trustee and the applicable
Clearing Agency.
"Determination Date" shall mean the third Business Day
preceding each Distribution Date.
"Discount Option Receivables" shall mean, on any Date of
Processing, the sum of (a) the aggregate Discount Option Receivables at the
end of the prior day, plus (b) any New Discount Option Receivables created
on such day, minus (c) any Discount Option Receivables Collections received
on such Date of Processing.
"Discount Option Receivables Collections" shall mean on any
Date of Processing, the product of (a) a fraction the numerator of which is
the amount of the Discount Option Receivables and the denominator of which
is the sum of the Principal Receivables plus the amount of Discount Option
Receivables in each case (for both numerator and denominator) at the end of
the prior Monthly Period and (b) Collections of Principal Receivables, prior
to any reduction for Finance Charge Receivables which are Discount Option
Receivables, received on such Date of Processing.
"Discount Percentage" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.11.
"Disposition" shall have the meaning specified in subsection
9.2(a).
"Distribution Account" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 4.2.
"Distribution Date" shall mean, with respect to any Series, the
date specified in the related Supplement.
"Document Delivery Date" shall mean the first Closing Date in
the case of Initial Accounts, the Addition Date in the case of Supplemental
Accounts and the Removal Date in the case of Removed Accounts.
"Eligible Account" shall mean an open end credit card account,
which is not a commercial account, owned by the Credit Card Originator which
as of the Trust Cut-Off Date with respect to an Initial Account, on the date
of creation thereof with respect to an Automatic Additional Account, or as
of the related Addition Cut-Off Date with respect to a Supplemental Account,
(a) which is payable in United States dollars, (b) which has not been
identified by the Credit Card Originator in its computer files as an account
as to which the Credit Card Originator or the Servicer has any confirmed
record of any fraud-related activity by the Obligor on such account,
(c) which has not been sold or pledged to any other party and which does not
have Receivables which have been sold or pledged to any other party,
(d) which was created in accordance with the credit and collection policies
of the Credit Card Originator at the time of creation of such account or the
Receivables in which each Rating Agency permits to be added automatically to
the Trust, (e) the Receivables in which the Credit Card Originator has not
charged off in its customary and usual manner for charging off Receivables
in such Accounts as of the Closing Date (or, with respect to Supplemental
Accounts as of the Addition Date and with respect to Automatic Additional
Accounts, as of the date the Receivables of such Accounts are designated for
inclusion in the Trust unless such Account is subsequently reinstated) and
(f) which is not an Automatic Additional Account designated by the
Transferor to be included as an Account after the Automatic Addition Termi-
nation Date or the Automatic Addition Suspension Date and prior to the
relevant Restart Date (unless the Rating Agencies shall have consented to
the inclusion of such Automatic Additional Account as an Eligible Account).
Eligible Accounts may include accounts, the receivables of which have been
written off, or with respect to which the Credit Card Originator believes
the related Obligor is bankrupt, or as to which certain receivables have
been identified by the Obligor as having been incurred as a result of
fraudulent use of any credit cards, or as to which any credit cards have
been reported to the Credit Card Originator as lost or stolen; provided that
(a) the balance of all receivables included in such accounts is reflected on
the books and records of the Credit Card Originator (and is treated for
purposes of this Agreement) as "zero," and (b) charging privileges with
respect to all such accounts have been canceled and will not be reinstated
by the Credit Card Originator or the Servicer except in accordance with the
Credit Card Guidelines of the Credit Card Originator.
"Eligible Deposit Account" shall mean either (a) a segregated
account with an Eligible Institution or (b) a segregated trust account with
the corporate trust department of a depository institution organized under
the laws of the United States or any one of the states thereof, including
the District of Columbia (or any domestic branch of a foreign bank), and
acting as a trustee for funds deposited in such account, so long as any of
the securities of such depository institution shall have a credit rating
from each Rating Agency in one of its generic credit rating categories which
signifies investment grade.
"Eligible Institution" shall mean (a) a depository institution
(which may be the Trustee or an Affiliate) organized under the laws of the
United States or any one of the states thereof which at all times (i) has
either (x) a long-term unsecured debt rating of "A2" or better by Moody's or
(y) a certificate of deposit rating of "P-1" by Moody's, (ii) has either (x)
a long-term unsecured debt rating of "A" by Fitch or (y) a certificate of
deposit rating of "F-l+" by Fitch and (iii) is a member of the FDIC or (b)
any other institution that is acceptable to the Rating Agencies.
"Eligible Receivable" shall mean each Receivable that satisfies
each of the following criteria:
(a) it arises under an Eligible Account;
(b) it constitutes an "account," a "general intangible," or
"chattel paper" as defined in Article 9 of the UCC as then in effect in
Relevant UCC State;
(c) it is the legal, valid and binding obligation of a Person
who (i) is living, (ii) is not a minor under the laws of his/her state of
residence and (iii) is competent to enter into a contract and incur debt;
(d) it and the underlying Credit Card Agreement do not
contravene in any material respect any laws, rules or regulations applicable
thereto (including rules and regulations relating to truth in lending, fair
credit billing, fair credit reporting, equal credit opportunity, fair debt
collection practices and privacy) that could reasonably be expected to have
an adverse impact on the amount of Collections thereunder, and the Credit
Card Originator under the underlying Credit Card Agreement is not in
violation of any such laws, rules or regulations in any respect material to
such Credit Card Agreement;
(e) all material consents, licenses, or authorizations of, or
registrations with, any governmental authority required to be obtained or
given in connection with the creation of such Receivable or the execution,
delivery, creation and performance of the underlying Credit Card Agreement
have been duly obtained or given and are in full force and effect as of the
date of the creation of such Receivable;
(f) at the time of its transfer to the Trust, the Transferor or
the Trust will have good and marketable title free and clear of all Liens
and security interests arising under or through the Transferor (other than
Liens permitted pursuant to subsection 2.7(b));
(g) it is not, at the time of its transfer to the Trust, a
Defaulted Receivable;
(h) it arises under a Credit Card Agreement that has been duly
authorized by the Credit Card Originator and which, together with such
Receivable, is in full force and effect and constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Obligor of such Receivable enforceable against
such Obligor in accordance with its terms and is not subject to any dispute,
offset, counterclaim or defense whatsoever (except the discharge in
bankruptcy of such Obligor); and
(i) it is not a Receivable designated by the Transferor to be
treated as having a Principal Receivable balance of zero pursuant to
subsection 2.7(j).
"Eligible Servicer" shall mean the Trustee, a wholly owned
subsidiary or Affiliate of the Trustee or an entity which, at the time of
its appointment as Servicer, (a) is servicing a portfolio of consumer open
end credit card accounts or other consumer open end credit accounts, (b) is
legally qualified and has the capacity to service the Accounts, (c) is
qualified (or licensed) to use the software that is then being used to
service the Accounts or obtains the right to use, or has its own, software
which is adequate to perform its duties under this Agreement, (d) has the
ability to professionally and competently service a portfolio of similar
accounts and (e) has a net worth of at least $50,000,000 as of the end of
its most recent fiscal quarter.
"Enhancement" shall mean the rights and benefits provided to
the Investor Certificateholder of any Series or Class pursuant to any letter
of credit, surety bond, cash collateral account, guaranty collateral
invested amount, spread account, guaranteed rate agreement, maturity
guaranty facility, tax protection agreement, interest rate swap agreement,
interest rate cap agreement or other similar arrangement. The subordination
of any Class to another Class, or a cross support feature which requires
collections on Receivables allocated to one Series to be paid as principal
and/or interest with respect to another Series shall be deemed to be an En-
hancement for such Series.
"Enhancement Agreement," shall mean any agreement, instrument
or document governing the terms of any Enhancement or pursuant to which any
Enhancement is issued or outstanding.
"Enhancement Invested Amount" with respect to any Series, if
applicable, shall have the meaning specified in the related Supplement.
"Enhancement Provider" shall mean the Person or Persons provid-
ing any Enhancement, other than the Investor Certificateholders of any Class
which is subordinated to another Class.
"ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended.
"Excess Finance Charge Collections" shall, unless otherwise
specified in the related Supplement with respect to any Series, have the
meaning specified in Section 4.5.
"Excess Funding Account" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 4.2.
"Exchangeable Transferor Certificate" shall mean the certifi-
cate executed by the Transferor and authenticated by or on behalf of the
Trustee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A.
"Excluded Series" shall mean any Series designated as such in
the relevant Supplement.
"Factor Date" shall mean, with respect to the Yield Factor or
the Finance Charge Receivable Factor, respectively, the date on which such
factor is determined which shall in no event be later than the 10th Business
Day from the end of the preceding Monthly Period.
"FASIT" shall mean a "financial asset securitization investment
trust" as defined in Section 860L of the Code.
"FDIC" shall mean the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or
any successor.
"Finance Charge Account" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 4.2.
"Finance Charge Collections" shall mean (x) with respect to any
Business Day (a) the product of (i) Collections received with respect to the
Receivables minus Recoveries and (ii) the sum of the Yield Factor and the
Discount Percentage plus (b) any investment earnings on amounts on deposit
in the Principal Account, the Finance Charge Account and the Excess Funding
Account plus (c) Recoveries plus (d) amounts paid by the Transferor to the
Servicer with respect to Adjustment Payment Shortfalls in accordance with
the proviso to the last sentence of subsection 3.9(a) and (y) with respect
to any Monthly Period (a) the aggregate amount for each Cycle of Collections
received with respect to Finance Charges (other than Recoveries) for the
period from and including the Cycle Billing Date in the preceding Monthly
Period to but excluding the Cycle Billing Date in such Monthly Period plus
(b) unless otherwise specified in a Supplement, any investment earnings on
amounts on deposit in the Principal Account, the Finance Charge Account and
the Excess Funding Account accrued during such Monthly Period plus (c)
Recoveries received during such Monthly Period plus (d) Discount Option
Receivables Collections received during such Monthly Period plus (e) Collec-
tions in respect of Ineligible Receivables received during such Monthly
Period plus (f) amounts paid by the Transferor with respect to Adjustment
Payment Shortfalls in accordance with the proviso to the last sentence of
subsection 3.9(a) during such Monthly Period; provided, however, that pursu-
ant to any Supplement such amount may be adjusted for purposes of alloca-
tions to the related Series pursuant to such Supplement.
"Finance Charge Receivables" shall mean for any Business Day,
the sum of (i) the product of the Finance Charge Receivable Factor
determined on the preceding Factor Date (or on such Business Day with
respect to each Factor Date) and the aggregate Outstanding Balances of
Eligible Receivables as of such Business Day, determined in accordance with
subsection 2.5(a) and (ii) the Discount Option Receivables on such Factor
Date.
"Finance Charge Receivable Factor" shall mean, with respect to
any Factor Date, the aggregate amount of periodic finance charges, late
fees, overlimit fees and returned check fees and other fees and charges out-
standing on the last day of the preceding Monthly Period divided by the
aggregate Outstanding Balance of the Receivables on the last day of such
preceding Monthly Period.
"Finance Charges" shall mean, with respect to any Monthly
Period, the sum of (i) all amounts billed to the Obligors on any Account at
the beginning of each Obligor's respective Cycle in respect of Periodic
Finance Charges and (ii) all fees and charges in respect of such Account,
including Late Fees, overlimit fees, and returned check fees.
"Finance Charge Shortfalls" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 4.5.
"Fitch" shall mean Fitch Investors Service, L.P., or its
successor.
"Floating Allocation Percentage" shall mean, with respect to
any Series, the floating allocation percentage specified in the related
Supplement.
"Foreign Receivable" shall mean each Receivable arising in an
Account the Obligor on which has a billing address which is not in the
United States or its territories or possessions.
"Funding Period" shall have the meaning specified in Section
4.6.
"Global Certificate" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 6.13.
"Governmental Authority" shall mean the United States of Ameri-
ca, any state or other political subdivision thereof and any entity
exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative
functions of or pertaining to government.
"Group" shall mean, with respect to any Series, the group of
Series, if any, in which the related Supplement specifies such Series is to
be included.
"Holders' Majority" shall have the meaning specified in
subsection 9.2(a).
"Ineligible Default Amount" shall mean, as of any Business Day,
the aggregate Outstanding Balance of Receivables in Accounts which are
identified on the Servicer's computer records as not being Eligible Accounts
and which are reported in the Servicer's master computer records on such
Business Day as becoming Defaulted Accounts.
"Ineligible Receivables" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.5(a).
"Ineligible Receivables Balance" shall mean, as of any Business
Day, the sum of (a) the product of (i) the average Outstanding Balance over
the immediately preceding twelve Monthly Periods of Receivables in each New
Account and (ii) the aggregate number of New Accounts which are not Eligible
Accounts as a result of the failure to satisfy clause (f) of the definition
of "Eligible Account," as of such Business Day, (b) the product of (I) the
average Outstanding Balance over the immediately preceding twelve Monthly
Periods of each Deferred Payment Plan Receivable and (II) the aggregate
number of Deferred Payment Plan Receivables which are not Eligible
Receivables as a result of the designation of such Deferred Payment Plan
Receivables as such pursuant to subsection 2.7(j) as of such Business Day
and (c) the amount by which the aggregate Outstanding Balance of Foreign
Receivables exceeds 1% of the aggregate Outstanding Balance of all
Receivables on such Business Day.
"Initial Account" shall mean each open end credit card account
established pursuant to a Credit Card Agreement between the Credit Card
Originator and any Person existing on the Trust Cut-Off Date.
"Insolvency Event" shall have the meaning specified in Section
9.1(a).
"Insolvency Proceeds" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 9.2(b).
"Insurance Proceeds" shall mean any amounts recovered by the
Servicer pursuant to any credit insurance policies covering any Obligor with
respect to Receivables under such Obligor's Account.
"Interest Funding Account" shall mean, with respect to any
Series, the account, if any, specified as such in the related Supplement.
"Invested Amount" shall have, with respect to any Series, the
meaning specified in the related Supplement.
"Investment Company Act" shall mean the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended.
"Investor Certificateholder" shall mean the Person in whose
name a Registered Certificate is registered in the Certificate Register or
the holder of any Bearer Certificate (or the Global Certificate, as the case
may be) or Coupon.
"Investor Certificates" shall mean any one of the certificates
(including the Bearer Certificates, the Registered Certificates or any
Global Certificate) executed by the Transferor and authenticated by or on
behalf of the Trustee, substantially in the form attached to the related
Supplement, other than the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate, the Supple-
mental Certificates, if any, and any Participation.
"Investor Percentage" shall have, for any Series, with respect
to Principal Receivables, Finance Charge Receivables and Receivables in
Defaulted Accounts, the meaning specified in the related Supplement.
"Late Fees" shall mean the fees specified in the Credit Card
Agreement applicable to each Account for late fees with respect to such
Account.
"Lien" shall mean any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge,
hypothecation, assignment, participation or equity interest, deposit
arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), preference, priority or
other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature
whatsoever, including any conditional sale or other title retention
agreement, any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect
as any of the foregoing and the filing of any financing statement under the
UCC (other than any such financing statement filed for informational
purposes only) or comparable law of any jurisdiction to evidence any of the
foregoing, excluding any lien or filing pursuant to this Agreement;
provided, however, that any assignment or transfer pursuant to Section
6.3(c) or (d) or Section 7.2 shall not be deemed to constitute a Lien.
"Loss" shall have the meaning specified in subsection 7.4.
"Minimum Aggregate Principal Receivables" shall mean as of any
date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of the numerators used on
such date to calculate the Investor Percentages with respect to Principal
Receivables for all Series outstanding on such date, minus the amount on
deposit in the Excess Funding Account as of such date.
"Minimum Transferor Amount" shall mean, as of any date of
determination, the product of (i) the sum of (a) the aggregate Principal
Receivables and (b) the amounts on deposit in the Excess Funding Account and
any other accounts specified in a Supplement and (ii) the Required Retained
Transferor's Percentage.
"Monthly Period" shall mean with respect to each Distribution
Date, the immediately preceding fiscal month of the Transferor, unless
otherwise defined in any Supplement.
"Monthly Servicing Fee" shall have the meaning specified in the
related Supplement.
"Moody's" shall mean Moody's Investors Service, Inc., or its
successor.
"New Account" shall mean, as of any Business Day, any Account
which was originated and became an Active Account within the immediately
preceding twelve Monthly Periods.
"New Discount Option Receivables" shall mean, as of any date of
determination, the product of the Discount Percentage and the amount of
Principal Receivables (before subtracting out Finance Charge Receivables
which are Discount Option Receivables) arising on such date of determina-
tion.
"Notices" shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.5(a).
"Obligor" shall mean, with respect to any Account, the Person
or Persons obligated to make payments with respect to such Account,
including any guarantor thereof.
"Officer's Certificate" shall mean, unless otherwise specified
in this Agreement, a certificate delivered to the Trustee signed by the
Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board, President, any Vice
President or the Treasurer of the Transferor or the Servicer, as the case
may be.
"Opinion of Counsel" shall mean a written opinion of counsel,
who may be counsel for, or an employee of, the Person providing the opinion
and which opinion shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
"Outstanding Balance" shall mean, with respect to a Receivable
on any day, the aggregate amount owed by the Obligor thereunder as of the
close of business on the prior Business Day (net of returns and
adjustments).
"Participation" shall have the meaning specified in Section
6.3(e).
"Participation Interests" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.9(a)(ii).
"Participation Percentage," with respect to any Participation,
shall have the meaning specified in the related Participation Supplement.
"Participation Supplement" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 6.3(e).
"Paying Agent" shall mean any paying agent and co-paying agent
appointed pursuant to Section 6.7.
"Pay Out Event" shall mean, with respect to any Series, a Trust
Pay Out Event and each additional event, if any, specified in the relevant
Supplement as a Pay Out Event with respect to such Series.
"Periodic Finance Charges" shall have the meaning specified in
the Credit Card Agreement applicable to each Account for finance charges
(due to periodic rate) or any similar term.
"Person" shall mean any legal person, including any individual,
corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company,
trust, unincorporated organization, governmental entity or other entity of
similar nature.
"Pier 1" shall mean Pier 1 Imports (U.S.), Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
"Pier 1 Funding" shall mean Pier 1 Funding, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
"Pool Factor" shall mean a number carried out to seven decimals
representing the ratio of the applicable Invested Amount as of such Record
Date (determined after taking into account any reduction in the Invested
Amount which will occur on the following Distribution Date) to the
applicable initial Invested Amount unless otherwise specified with respect
to a Series in the related Supplement.
"Portfolio Yield" shall have the meaning, with respect to any
Series, specified in the related Supplement.
"Pre-Funding Account" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 4.6.
"Principal Account" shall have the meaning specified in
subsection 4.2.
"Principal Allocation Percentage" shall mean, with respect to
any Series, the principal allocation percentage specified in the related
Supplement.
"Principal Collections" shall mean (x) with respect to any
Business Day the product of (i) Collections received with respect to each
Receivable minus Recoveries and (ii) one minus the sum of the Yield Factor
and the Discount Percentage and (y) with respect to any Monthly Period (i)
Collections received with respect to each Receivable during such Monthly
Period minus (ii) Recoveries received during such Monthly Period minus (iii)
the aggregate amount for each Cycle of Collections received with respect to
Finance Charges (other than Recoveries) for the period from and including
the Cycle Billing Date in the preceding Monthly Period to but excluding the
Cycle Billing Date in such Monthly Period minus (iv) Discount Option
Receivables Collections during such Monthly Period minus (v) Collections in
respect of Ineligible Receivables received during such Monthly Period;
provided, however, that pursuant to any Supplement such amount may be
adjusted for purposes of allocations to the related Series pursuant to such
Supplement.
"Principal Receivables" shall mean for any Business Day for the
purposes of this Agreement, the aggregate Outstanding Balance of Eligible
Receivables, determined in accordance with subsection 2.5(a), as of such
Business Day (which shall be equal to the aggregate Outstanding Balance of
all Receivables, determined in accordance with subsection 2.4(c), minus the
Ineligible Receivables Balance, if any, on such Business Day) minus the
amount of Finance Charge Receivables on such Business Day as shown on the
Transferor's books and records.
"Principal Sharing Series" shall mean a Series that, pursuant
to the Supplement therefor, is entitled to receive Shared Principal
Collections.
"Principal Shortfalls" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 4.4.
"Principal Terms" shall mean, with respect to any Series, (i)
its name or designation; (ii) its initial principal amount (or method for
calculating such amount) and its invested amount in the Trust; (iii) its
Certificate Rate (or method for the determination thereof); (iv) the payment
date or dates and the date or dates from which interest shall accrue; (v)
the method for allocating Collections to Certificateholders of such Series;
(vi) the designation of any Series Accounts and the terms governing the
operation of any such Series Accounts; (vii) the percentage used to
calculate the servicing fee with respect thereto; (viii) the provider, if
any, and the terms of any form of Enhancement with respect thereto; (ix) the
terms on which the Investor Certificates of such Series may be repurchased
by the Transferor or any Affiliate of the Transferor or remarketed to other
investors; (x) the Series Termination Date; (xi) the number of Classes of
Investor Certificates of such Series and, if such Series consists of more
than one Class, the rights and priorities of each such Class; (xii) the
extent to which the Investor Certificates of such Series will be issuable in
temporary or permanent global form (and, in such case, the Depositary for
such Global Certificate or Certificates, the terms and conditions, if any,
upon which such Global Certificates may be exchanged, in whole or in part,
for Definitive Certificates, and the manner in which any interest payable on
a Global Certificate will be paid); (xiii) whether the Investor Certificates
of such Series may be issued as Bearer Certificates and any limitation
imposed thereon; (xiv) the priority of such Series with respect to any other
Series; (xv) the Group, if any, to which such Series belongs; and (xvi) any
other relevant terms of, or with respect to, such Series.
"Publication Date" shall have the meaning specified in
subsection 9.2(a).
"Rating Agency" shall mean, with respect to any outstanding
Series or Class, each statistical rating agency selected by the Transferor
to initially rate the Investor Certificates of such Series or Class and
which shall be specified in the related Series Supplement.
"Rating Agency Condition" shall mean that each Rating Agency
shall have notified the Transferor, the Servicer and the Trustee in writing
that a particular action will not result in a reduction or withdrawal of the
then current rating of any outstanding Series or Class with respect to which
it is a Rating Agency.
"Reassignment" shall have the meaning specified in Section
2.10.
"Receivable" shall mean any amount owing from time to time by
an Obligor under an Account, including amounts owing for purchases of goods
and services, and amounts payable for Finance Charge Receivables. A Receiv-
able shall be deemed to have been created at the end of the day on the Date
of Processing of such Receivable.
"Receivables Purchase Agreement" shall mean (i) the receivables
purchase agreement, dated as of February 12, 1997, between Pier 1 and the
Transferor and (ii) any receivables purchase agreement between a transferor
of the Accounts other than Pier 1 and the Transferor, substantially in the
form of the receivables purchase agreement referred to in clause (i) above.
"Record Date" shall mean, with respect to any Series Date, the
date specified in the related Supplement.
"Recoveries" shall mean all amounts, including Insurance
Proceeds, received by the Servicer with respect to Principal Receivables
which have previously become Defaulted Receivables and with respect to
Finance Charge Receivables which have been charged off as uncollectible in
accordance with the Credit Card Guidelines and the Servicer's customary and
usual servicing procedures for servicing open end credit card account
receivables comparable to the Receivables.
"Registered Certificateholder" shall mean the Holder of a
Registered Certificate, as shown in the Certificate Register.
"Registered Certificates" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 6.1.
"Related Person" shall mean a Person that is an Affiliate of
Pier 1 Funding, any Investor Certificateholder, any Enhancement Provider, or
any Person whose status would violate the conditions for a trustee contained
in Section 4(i) of Rule 3a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.
"Relevant UCC State" shall mean each jurisdiction in which the
filing of a UCC financing statement is necessary to evidence the security
interest of the Trustee established under this Agreement.
"Removal Date" shall have the meaning specified in Section
2.10(a).
"Removal Notice Date" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.10(a).
"Removed Accounts" shall have the meaning specified in Section
2.10.
"Required Designation Date" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 2.9(a).
"Required Retained Transferor's Percentage" shall mean, as of
any date of determination, the highest of the Required Retained Transferor's
Percentages specified in the Supplements for all outstanding Series.
"Requirements of Law" with respect to any Person shall mean any
law, treaty, rule or regulation, or determination of an arbitrator or
Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such
Person or to which such Person is subject, whether Federal, state or local.
"Reserve Account" shall mean, with respect to any Series, the
account, if any, specified as such in the related Supplement.
"Responsible Officer" shall mean any officer within the
Corporate Trust Department (or any successor group of the Trustee), includ-
ing any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary or any
other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee customarily performing
functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be
such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is
referred at the Trustee's Corporate Trust Office because of such officer's
knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
"Restart Date" shall mean the date specified in the notice
delivered by the Transferor to the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.9(d)(i) or
2.9(d)(iii).
"Revolving Period" shall mean, with respect to any Series, the
period specified as such in the related Supplement.
"Rule 144A" shall mean Rule 144A under the Act, as such Rule
may be amended from time to time.
"Series" shall mean any series of Investor Certificates
established pursuant to a Supplement.
"Series Account" shall mean any deposit, trust, escrow or
similar account maintained for the benefit of the Investor
Certificateholders of any Series or Class, as specified in any Supplement.
"Series Allocation Percentage" shall mean with respect to any
Series, on any date of determination, the percentage equivalent of a
fraction the numerator of which is the Series Invested Amount of such Series
and the denominator of which is the sum of the Series Invested Amounts of
all Series then outstanding.
"Series Invested Amount" shall have, with respect to any
Series, the meaning specified in the related Supplement.
"Series Issuance Date" shall mean, with respect to any
Series, the date on which the Investor Certificates of such Series are to be
originally issued in accordance with Section 6.3 and the related Supplement.
"Series Termination Date" shall mean, with respect to any
Series, the termination date specified in the related Supplement.
"Service Transfer" shall have the meaning specified in Section
10.1.
"Servicer" shall mean Pier 1, in its capacity as Servicer
pursuant to this Agreement, and, after any Service Transfer, the Successor
Servicer.
"Servicer Default" shall have the meaning specified in Section
10.1.
"Servicing Fee" shall mean, with respect to any Series, the
servicing fee specified in Section 3.2.
"Servicing Fee Rate" shall mean, with respect to any Series,
the servicing fee rate specified in the related Supplement.
"Servicing Officer" shall mean any officer of the Servicer
involved in, or responsible for, the administration and servicing of the
Receivables whose name appears on a list of servicing officers furnished to
the Trustee by the Servicer on the initial Closing Date, as such list may
from time to time be amended.
"Settlement Statement" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 3.4(c).
"Shared Principal Collections" shall have the meaning specified
in Section 4.4.
"Successor Servicer" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 10.2(a).
"Supplement" shall mean, with respect to any Series, a supple-
ment to this Agreement, executed and delivered in connection with the
original issuance of the Investor Certificates of such Series pursuant to
Section 6.3, and all amendments thereof and supplements thereto.
"Supplemental Account" shall mean each open end credit card
account established pursuant to a Credit Card Agreement, which account is
designated pursuant to Section 2.9(a) or 2.9(b) to be included as an
Account, and is identified in a computer file, microfiche list or printed
list delivered to the Trustee by the Transferor pursuant to Section 2.1.
"Supplemental Certificate" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 6.3(c).
"Tax Opinion" shall mean, with respect to any action, an
Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, for Federal income tax purposes, (a)
such action will not adversely affect the tax characterization as debt of
Investor Certificates of any outstanding Series or Class with respect to
which an Opinion of Counsel was delivered at the time of their issuance that
such Investor Certificates would be characterized as debt, (b) such action
will not cause the Trust to be classified, for federal income tax purposes,
as an association (or publicly traded partnership) taxable as a corporation
and (c) such action will not cause or constitute an event in which gain or
loss would be recognized by any Investor Certificateholder.
"Termination Notice" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 10.1.
"Transfer Agent and Registrar" shall have the meaning specified
in Section 6.4.
"Transfer Date" shall mean the Business Day immediately
preceding each Distribution Date.
"Transferor" shall mean Pier 1 Funding, Inc., a Delaware corpo-
ration, or its permitted successors or assigns under this Agreement and
additional transferors, if any, designated in accordance with Sections 2.12
or 6.3(d).
"Transferor Amount" shall mean, on any date of determination,
the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables on such day, minus the sum of
the Series Invested Amounts with respect to all Series then outstanding,
minus the amount of any Participation, plus the principal amount on deposit
in the Excess Funding Account or other account specified in a Supplement.
"Transferor Fiscal Year" shall mean the approximately twelve
month period selected by the Transferor ending generally on the Saturday
closest to March 1.
"Transferor Retained Certificates" shall mean Investor Certifi-
cates of any Series which the Transferor retains pursuant to the terms of
any Supplement.
"Transferor Retained Class" shall mean any Class of Investor
Certificates which is designated as a Transferor Retained Class pursuant to
the terms of any Supplement.
"Transferor Interest" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 4.1.
"Transferor's Percentage" shall mean, with respect to Finance
Charge Receivables and Defaulted Receivables, 100% less the sum of Investor
Percentages with respect to all outstanding Series, less the sum of the
Participation Percentages with respect to all Participations and with
respect to Principal Receivables, 100% less the sum of the Principal Alloca-
tion Percentages with respect to all outstanding Series, less the sum of the
Participation Percentages with respect to all Participations.
"Transferred Account" shall have the meaning set forth in the
definition of "Account."
"Trust" shall mean the Pier 1 Imports Credit Card Master Trust
created by this Agreement.
"Trust Assets" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.1.
"Trust Cut-Off Date" shall mean February 12, 1997.
"Trust Pay Out Event" shall have the meaning specified in
Section 9.1.
"Trustee" shall mean Texas Commerce Bank National Association,
a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the
United States, in its capacity as trustee on behalf of the Trust, or its
successor in interest, or any successor trustee appointed as herein provid-
ed.
"UCC" shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code, as amended from
time to time, as in effect in the State of Texas and in any other State
where the filing of a financing statement is required to perfect the
Transferor's or the Trust's interest in the Receivables and the proceeds
thereof or in any other specified jurisdiction.
"Undivided Interest" shall mean the undivided interest in the
Trust evidenced by an Investor Certificate.
"United States" shall mean the United States of America
(including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories, its
possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.
"U.S. Person" or "United States Person" shall mean a citizen or
resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership or other entity
created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any
state, an estate the income of which is subject to United States Federal
income taxation regardless of its source or any trust whose administration
is subject to the primary supervision of a United States Court and which has
one or more United States fiduciaries having the authority to control all
substantial decisions of such trust.
"Variable Funding Certificates" shall have the meaning speci-
fied in any Variable Funding Supplement.
"Variable Funding Supplement" shall mean a Supplement executed
in connection with the issuance of, and otherwise specifying the terms
governing the issuance of, Variable Funding Certificates provided for
therein.
"Yield Factor" shall mean with respect to any Business Day the
percentage equivalent of an amount determined on the preceding Factor Date
(or on such Business Day with respect to each Factor Date) equal to (i) (x)
the product of the Billed Finance Charges for the Monthly Period preceding
such Factor Date and one minus the Delinquency Percentage for the preceding
Factor Date (or on such Business Day with respect to each Factor Date) plus
(y) Recoveries for the Monthly Period preceding such Factor Date, divided by
(ii) the aggregate amount of Collections for the Monthly Period preceding
such Factor Date.
Section 1.2. Other Definitional Provisions. (a) With respect
to any Series, all terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall
have meanings ascribed to them in the related Supplement.
(b) All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined
meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered
pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein.
(c) As used in this Agreement and in any certificate or other
document made or delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, accounting terms not
defined in this Agreement or in any such certificate or other document, and
accounting terms partly defined in this Agreement or in any such certificate
or other document to the extent not defined, shall have the respective
meanings given to them under generally accepted accounting principles. To
the extent that the definitions of accounting terms in this Agreement or in
any such certificate or other document are inconsistent with the meanings of
such terms under generally accepted accounting principles, the definitions
contained in this Agreement or in any such certificate or other document
shall control.
(d) The agreements, representations and warranties of Pier 1
Funding and Pier 1 in this Agreement in each of their respective capacities
as Transferor and as Servicer, shall be deemed to be the separate
agreements, representations and warranties of Pier 1 Funding and Pier 1
solely in each such respective capacity for so long as Pier 1 Funding and
Pier 1 act in each such capacity under this Agreement.
(e) Any reference to each Rating Agency shall only apply to
any specific rating agency if such rating agency is then rating any
outstanding Series.
(f) Unless otherwise specified, references to any amount as on
deposit or outstanding on any particular date shall mean such amount at the
close of business on such day.
(g) The words "hereof," "herein" and "hereunder" and words of
similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as
a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; references to
any Section, Schedule or Exhibit are references to Sections, Schedules and
Exhibits in or to this Agreement unless otherwise specified; and the term
"including" means "including without limitation."
<PAGE>
ARTICLE II
Conveyance of Receivables
Section 2.1. Conveyance of Receivables. By execution of this
Agreement, the Transferor does hereby transfer, assign, set over and
otherwise convey to the Trust, for the benefit of the Certificateholders,
all its right, title and interest in, to and under (i) the Receivables
existing at the close of business on the Trust Cut-Off Date and thereafter
created from time to time and arising in the Initial Accounts and the
Receivables existing on each applicable Addition Date and thereafter created
from time to time and arising in any Automatic Additional Accounts owned by
the Credit Card Originator, and in each case, thereafter created from time
to time until the termination of the Trust, all Recoveries allocable to the
Trust as provided herein, all moneys due or to become due and all amounts
received with respect to any of the foregoing and all proceeds (including
"proceeds" as defined in the UCC) of any of the foregoing and (ii) the
Receivables Purchase Agreement. Such property, together with all moneys on
deposit in the Collection Account, the Principal Account, the Finance Charge
Account, the Excess Funding Account, the Series Accounts and any Enhancement
shall constitute the assets of the Trust (the "Trust Assets"). The
foregoing does not constitute and is not intended to result in the creation
or assumption by the Trust, the Trustee, any Investor Certificateholders or
any Enhancement Provider of any obligation of the Credit Card Originator,
the Servicer, the Transferor or any other Person in connection with the Ac-
counts or the Receivables or under any agreement or instrument relating
thereto, including any obligation to obligors, merchant banks, merchants
clearance systems or insurers.
The Transferor agrees to record and file, at its own expense,
financing statements (and continuation statements when applicable) with
respect to the Receivables now existing and hereafter created in Accounts
and other Trust Assets meeting the requirements of applicable state law in
such manner and in such jurisdictions as are necessary to perfect, and
maintain the perfection of, the assignment of such Receivables to the Trust,
and to deliver a file stamped copy of each such financing statement or other
evidence of such filing (which may, for purposes of this Section 2.1 consist
of telephone confirmation of such filing promptly followed by delivery to
the Trustee of a file-stamped copy) to the Trustee on or prior to the
initial Closing Date, in the case of such Receivables arising in the Initial
Accounts and Automatic Additional Accounts, and (if any additional filing is
so necessary) the applicable Addition Date, in the case of such Receivables
arising in Supplemental Accounts. The Trustee shall be under no obligation
whatsoever to file such financing or continuation statements or to make any
other filing under the UCC in connection with such assignment.
The Transferor further agrees, at its own expense, (a) on (x)
the Automatic Addition Termination Date or any Automatic Addition Suspension
Date (if the Transferor has elected to cease the transfer to the Trust of
receivables arising in Accounts which are not Eligible Accounts pursuant to
clause (f) of the definition thereof), in the case of the Initial Accounts
and any Additional Accounts designated pursuant hereto prior to such date,
(y) the applicable Addition Date, in the case of Supplemental Accounts, and
(z) the applicable Removal Date, in the case of Removed Accounts, to
indicate in the appropriate computer files that Receivables created in
connection with the Accounts owned by the Credit Card Originator (other than
Removed Accounts) have been conveyed to the Trust pursuant to this Agreement
for the benefit of the Certificateholders (or conveyed to the Transferor or
its designee in accordance with Section 2.10, in the case of Removed
Accounts) by including in such computer files the code identifying each such
Account (or, in the case of Removed Accounts, either including such a code
identifying the Removed Accounts only if the removal occurs prior to the
Automatic Addition Termination Date or any Automatic Addition Suspension
Date, or subsequent to a Restart Date, or deleting such code thereafter) and
(b) on the date referred to in clauses (x), (y) or (z) above, as applicable,
to deliver to the Trustee a computer file, microfiche list or printed list
containing a true and complete list of all such Accounts, specifying for
each such Account, as of the Automatic Addition Termination Date or any
Automatic Addition Suspension Date, in the case of clause (x) above, the
applicable Addition Cut-Off Date, in the case of Supplemental Accounts, and
the Removal Date, in the case of Removed Accounts, its account number, the
aggregate amount outstanding in such Account and the aggregate amount of
Principal Receivables outstanding in such Account. Such file or list shall
be supplemented from time to time to reflect Supplemental Accounts and
Removed Accounts. Once the code referenced in this paragraph has been
included with respect to any Account, the Transferor further agrees not to
alter such code during the remaining term of this Agreement unless and until
(a) such Account becomes a Removed Account, (b) a Restart Date has occurred
on which the Transferor starts including Automatic Additional Accounts as
Accounts or (c) the Transferor shall have delivered to the Trustee at least
30 days prior written notice of its intention to do so and has taken such
action as is necessary or advisable to cause the interest of the Trustee in
the Receivables and other Trust Assets to continue to be perfected with the
priority required by this Agreement.
The Transferor hereby grants and transfers to the Trust, for
the benefit of the Certificateholders, a security interest in all of the
Transferor's right, title and interest in, to and under the Receivables and
all other Trust Assets, to secure a loan in an amount equal to the unpaid
principal amount of the Investor Certificates issued hereunder or to be
issued pursuant to this Agreement and the interest accrued at the related
Certificate Rate, and agrees that this Agreement shall constitute a security
agreement under applicable law.
Section 2.2. Acceptance by Trustee. (a) The Trustee hereby
acknowledges its acceptance on behalf of the Trust of all right, title and
interest to the property, now existing and hereafter created, conveyed to
the Trust pursuant to Section 2.1 and declares that it shall maintain such
right, title and interest, upon the trust herein set forth, for the benefit
of all Certificateholders.
(b) The Trustee hereby agrees not to disclose to any Person
any of the account numbers or other information contained in any computer
files, microfiche lists or printed lists delivered to the Trustee from time
to time, except (i) to a Successor Servicer or as required by a Requirement
of Law applicable to the Trustee, (ii) in connection with the performance of
the Trustee's duties hereunder or (iii) in enforcing the rights of
Certificateholders. The Trustee (i) agrees to take such measures as shall
be reasonably requested by the Transferor to protect and maintain the
security and confidentiality of such information and (ii) in any event will
maintain and preserve such files or lists and the confidentiality of the
information contained in such files or lists in the same manner and with the
same degree of care that it would exercise with respect to similar files,
lists or information maintained by it for its own account. The Trustee will
also, upon two Business Days prior notice, allow the Transferor to inspect
the Trustee's security and confidentiality arrangements from time to time
during normal business hours. The Trustee shall provide the Transferor with
notice no later than five Business Days prior to any disclosure pursuant to
this Section or any shorter period of time as required by any Requirements
of Law.
(c) The Trustee shall have no power to create, assume or incur
indebtedness or other liabilities in the name of the Trust other than as
contemplated in this Agreement or any Supplement.
(d) The Trustee hereby agrees not to use any information it
obtains pursuant to this Agreement, including any of the account numbers or
other information contained in the computer files, microfiche lists or
printed lists delivered by the Transferor to the Trustee pursuant to this
Agreement, including Sections 2.1, 2.9, 2.10 or 3.4(c), other than to
perform its duties hereunder.
Section 2.3. Representations and Warranties of the Transferor
Relating to the Transferor. The Transferor hereby represents and warrants
to the Trust (and agrees that the Trustee may rely on each such
representation and warranty in accepting the Receivables in trust and in
authenticating the Certificates) as of each Closing Date that:
(a) Organization and Good Standing. The Transferor is a
corporation validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State
of Delaware, and has full corporate power, authority and legal right to own
its properties and conduct its business as such properties are presently
owned and such business is presently conducted, to execute, deliver and
perform its obligations under this Agreement and each Supplement and to
execute and deliver to the Trustee the Certificates pursuant hereto.
(b) Due Qualification. The Transferor is duly qualified to do
business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation (or is exempt
from such requirements), and has obtained all necessary licenses and
approvals in each jurisdiction in which failure to so qualify or to obtain
such licenses and approvals would render any Credit Card Agreement relating
to an Account owned by the Credit Card Originator or any Receivable
transferred to the Trust by the Transferor unenforceable by the Credit Card
Originator, the Transferor, the Servicer or the Trustee and would have a
material adverse effect on the interests of the Certificateholders
hereunder or under any Supplement.
(c) Due Authorization. The execution, delivery and perfor-
mance of this Agreement and each Supplement by the Transferor, the
execution and delivery to the Trustee of the Certificates by the Transferor
and the consummation by the Transferor of the transactions provided for in
this Agreement and each Supplement have been duly authorized by the
Transferor by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Transferor.
(d) No Conflict. The execution and delivery by the Transferor
of this Agreement, each Supplement and the Certificates, the performance by
the Transferor of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each
Supplement and the fulfillment by the Transferor of the terms hereof and
thereof will not conflict with, result in any breach of any of the material
terms and provisions of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of
time or both) a material default under, any indenture, contract, agreement,
mortgage, deed of trust, or other instrument to which the Transferor is a
party or by which it or any of its properties are bound.
(e) No Violation. The execution and delivery by the
Transferor of this Agreement, each Supplement and the Certificates, the
performance by the Transferor of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and each Supplement and the fulfillment by the Transferor of the
terms hereof and thereof will not conflict with or violate the certificate
of incorporation or by-laws of the Transferor or any Requirements of Law
applicable to the Transferor.
(f) No Proceedings. There are no proceedings or investiga-
tions pending or, to the best knowledge of the Transferor, threatened
against the Transferor, before any court, regulatory body, administrative
agency, or other tribunal or governmental instrumentality (i) asserting the
invalidity of this Agreement, any Supplement or the Certificates, (ii)
seeking to prevent the issuance of the Certificates or the consummation of
any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any Supplement or
the Certificates, (iii) seeking any determination or ruling that, in the
reasonable judgment of the Transferor, would materially and adversely
affect the performance by the Transferor of its obligations under this
Agreement or any Supplement, (iv) seeking any determination or ruling that
would materially and adversely affect the validity or enforceability of
this Agreement, any Supplement or the Certificates or (v) seeking to affect
adversely the income tax attributes of the Trust under the Federal or
applicable state income or franchise tax systems.
(g) All Consents Required. All approvals, authorizations,
consents, orders or other actions of any Person or of any governmental body
or official required in connection with the execution and delivery by the
Transferor of this Agreement, each Supplement and the Certificates, the
performance by the Transferor of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and each Supplement and the fulfillment by the Transferor of the
terms hereof and thereof, have been obtained.
(h) Insolvency. No Insolvency Event with respect to the
Credit Card Originator or the Transferor has occurred and the transfer of
the Receivables by the Transferor to the Trust has not been made in
contemplation of the occurrence thereof.
The representations and warranties of the Transferor set forth
in this Section 2.3 shall survive the transfer and assignment by the
Transferor of the respective Receivables to the Trust. Upon discovery by
the Transferor, the Servicer or the Trustee of a breach of any of the
representations and warranties by the Transferor set forth in this Section
2.3, the party discovering such breach shall give prompt written notice to
the others and to each Enhancement Provider, if any, entitled thereto pursu-
ant to the relevant Supplement. The Transferor agrees to cooperate with the
Servicer and the Trustee in attempting to cure any such breach. For
purposes of the representations and warranties set forth in this Section
2.3, each reference to a Supplement shall be deemed to refer only to those
Supplements in effect as of the relevant Closing Date.
Section 2.4. Representations and Warranties of the Transferor
Relating to this Agreement and any Supplement and the Receivables. (a)
Representations and Warranties. The Transferor hereby represents and
warrants to the Trust (and agrees that the Trustee may rely on each such
representation and warranty in accepting the Receivables in trust and in
authenticating the Certificates) as of the date of this Agreement and the
date of each Supplement, as of each Closing Date, to the extent specified
below, as of the Automatic Addition Termination Date or Automatic Addition
Suspension Date and, with respect to Additional Accounts, as of the related
Addition Date that:
(i) this Agreement, each
Supplement and, in the case of Supplemental Accounts, the
related Assignment, each constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Transferor, enforceable against the
Transferor in accordance with its terms, except as such en-
forceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
now or hereafter in effect affecting the enforcement of credi-
tors' rights in general and except as such enforceability may
be limited by general principles of equity (whether considered
in a suit at law or in equity);
(ii) as of the Automatic
Addition Termination Date or any Automatic Addition Suspension
Date and as of each subsequent Addition Date with respect to
Supplemental Accounts, and as of the applicable Removal Date
with respect to the Removed Accounts, the related computer
file, microfiche list or printed list delivered pursuant to
this Agreement, as supplemented to such date, is an accurate
and complete listing in all material respects of all the
Accounts owned by the Credit Card Originator as of such date,
such Addition Cut-Off Date or such Removal Date, as the case
may be, and the information contained therein with respect to
the identity of such Accounts and the Receivables existing in
such Accounts is true and correct in all material respects as
of such date, such Addition Cut-Off Date or such Removal Date,
as the case may be;
(iii) the Transferor is the
legal and beneficial owner of all right, title and interest in
each Receivable and the Transferor has the full right to
transfer such Receivable to the Trust, and each Receivable
conveyed to the Trust by the Transferor has been conveyed to
the Trust free and clear of any Lien of any Person claiming
through or under the Transferor or any of its Affiliates (other
than Liens permitted under subsection 2.7(b)) and in com-
pliance, in all material respects, with its certificate of
incorporation and by-laws and all Requirements of Law applica-
ble to the Transferor;
(iv) all authorizations,
consents, orders or approvals of or registrations or
declarations with any Governmental Authority required to be
obtained, effected or given by the Transferor in connection
with the conveyance by the Transferor of Receivables to the
Trust have been duly obtained, effected or given and are in
full force and effect;
(v) this Agreement or, in the
case of Supplemental Accounts, the related Assignment
constitutes either a valid transfer and assignment to the Trust
of all right, title and interest of the Transferor in the
Receivables and other Trust Assets conveyed to the Trust by the
Transferor and all monies due or to become due with respect
thereto and the proceeds thereof or a grant of a "security in-
terest" (as defined in the UCC) in such property to the Trust,
which, in the case of existing Receivables and the proceeds
thereof, is enforceable upon execution and delivery of this
Agreement, or, with respect to then existing Receivables in
Additional Accounts, as of the applicable Addition Date, and
which will be enforceable with respect to such Receivables
hereafter and thereafter created and the proceeds thereof upon
such creation, in each case except as such enforceability may
be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganiza-
tion, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in
effect affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights in gen-
eral and except as such enforceability may be limited by
general principles of equity (whether considered in a suit at
law or in equity). Upon the filing of the financing statements
pursuant to Section 2.1 and, in the case of Receivables hereaf-
ter created and the proceeds thereof, upon the creation there-
of, the Trust shall have a first priority security interest in
such property and proceeds (as defined in the UCC) except for
Liens permitted under subsection 2.7(b);
(vi) except as otherwise
expressly provided in this Agreement or any Supplement, neither
the Transferor nor any Person claiming through or under the
Transferor has any claim to or interest in the Collection
Account, the Principal Account, the Finance Charge Account, the
Excess Funding Account, any Series Account or any Enhancement;
(vii) on the Trust Cut-Off
Date, with respect to each Initial Account, on the date of its
creation, with respect to each Automatic Additional Account
and, on the applicable Addition Cut-Off Date, with respect to
each related Supplemental Account each Account classified as an
"Eligible Account" by the Transferor in any document or report
delivered hereunder will satisfy the requirements contained in
the definition of Eligible Account and each Receivable classi-
fied as an "Eligible Receivable" by the Transferor in any docu-
ment or report delivered hereunder will satisfy the require-
ments contained in the definition of Eligible Receivable;
(viii) on the Trust Cut-Off
Date, each Receivable then existing is an Eligible Receivable,
on the date of creation of each Automatic Additional Account,
each Receivable contained in such Automatic Additional Account
is an Eligible Receivable and, on the applicable Addition Cut-
Off Date, each Receivable contained in any related Supplemental
Account is an Eligible Receivable; and
(ix) as of the date of the
creation of any new Receivable, such Receivable is an Eligible
Receivable.
(b) Notice of Breach. The representations and warranties of
the Transferor set forth in this Section 2.4 shall survive the transfer and
assignment by the Transferor of Receivables to the Trust. Upon discovery by
the Transferor, the Servicer or the Trustee of a breach of any of the
representations and warranties by the Transferor set forth in this Section
2.4, the party discovering such breach shall give prompt written notice to
the others and to each Enhancement Provider, if any, entitled thereto
pursuant to the relevant Supplement. The Transferor agrees to cooperate
with the Servicer and the Trustee in attempting to cure any such breach.
For purposes of the representations and warranties set forth in this Section
2.4, each reference to a Supplement shall be deemed to refer only to those
Supplements in effect as of the date of the relevant representations or
warranties.
Section 2.5. Designation of Ineligible Receivables. (a)
Designation of Ineligible Receivables. In the event that (i) any represen-
tation or warranty of the Transferor contained in Section 2.4(a)(ii), (iii),
(iv), (vii), (viii) or (ix) is not true and correct in any material respect
as of the date specified therein with respect to any Receivable transferred
to the Trust by the Transferor or any Account owned by the Credit Card
Originator and as a result of such breach any Receivables in the related
Account become Defaulted Receivables or the Trust's rights in, to or under
such Receivables or the proceeds of such Receivables are impaired or such
proceeds are not available for any reason to the Trust free and clear of any
Lien (other than Liens permitted under subsection 2.7(b) hereof), unless
cured within 60 days (or such longer period, as may be agreed to by the
Trustee) after the earlier to occur of the discovery thereof by the
Transferor or receipt by the Transferor or a designee of the Transferor of
notice thereof given by the Trustee, or (ii) it is so provided in Section
2.7(a) with respect to any Receivables transferred to the Trust by the
Transferor, then such Receivable shall be designated an "Ineligible Receiv-
able" and shall be assigned a principal balance of zero for the purpose of
determining the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables on any day;
provided, however, that such Receivables will not be deemed to be Ineligible
Receivables but will be deemed an Eligible Receivable and such Principal
Receivables shall be included in determining the aggregate Principal Receiv-
ables in the Trust if, on any day prior to the end of such 60-day or longer
period, (x) either (A) in the case of an event described in clause (i) above
the relevant representation and warranty shall be true and correct in all
material respects as if made on such day or (B) in the case of an event
described in clause (ii) above the circumstances causing such Receivable to
become an Ineligible Receivable shall no longer exist and (y) the Transferor
shall have delivered an Officer's Certificate describing the nature of such
breach and the manner in which the relevant representation and warranty
became true and correct; provided, further, that, on any Business Day on
which there are Receivables which are not Eligible Receivables as a result
of the failure to satisfy clause (f) of the definition of "Eligible Account"
or clause (i) of the definition of "Eligible Receivable," the aggregate
value of the Receivables shall be equal to the aggregate Outstanding
Balances of all Receivables minus the Ineligible Receivable Balance on such
Business Day. When the provisions of this subsection 2.5(a) require
designation of a Receivable as an Ineligible Receivable, the Servicer shall
deduct the product of the unpaid balance of such Ineligible Receivable and
one minus the Finance Charge Receivable Factor from the Principal Receiv-
ables in the Trust and decrease the Transferor Amount by such amount.
(b) Transferor Deposit. On and after the date of its designa-
tion as an Ineligible Receivable, each Ineligible Receivable shall not be
given credit in determining the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables.
If, following the exclusion of such Principal Receivables from the calcula-
tion of the Transferor Amount, the Transferor Amount (excluding the interest
represented by any Supplemental Certificate) would otherwise be less than
the Minimum Transferor Amount, the Transferor shall make a deposit into the
Excess Funding Account in immediately available funds prior to the next
succeeding Business Day in an amount equal to the amount by which the
Transferor Amount (excluding the interest represented by any Supplemental
Certificate) would otherwise be less than the Minimum Transferor Amount (up
to the amount of such Principal Receivables). The payment of such deposit
amount in immediately available funds shall be considered payment in full of
all of the Ineligible Receivables.
The obligation of the Transferor to make the deposits, if any,
required to be made to the Excess Funding Account as provided in this
Section, shall constitute the sole remedy respecting the event giving rise
to such obligation available to Certificateholders (or the Trustee on behalf
of the Certificateholders) or any Enhancement Provider.
Section 2.6. Reassignment of Receivables in Trust Portfolio.
If any representation or warranty of the Transferor set forth in Section
2.3(a), (b) or (c) or Section 2.4(a)(i), (v) or (vi) is not true and correct
in any material respect and such breach has a material adverse effect on the
Certificateholders' Interest in the Receivables transferred to the Trust by
the Transferor, then either the Trustee or the Holders of Investor
Certificates evidencing not less than 50% of the aggregate unpaid principal
amount of all outstanding Investor Certificates, by notice then given to the
Transferor and the Servicer (and to the Trustee if given by the Investor
Certificateholders), may direct the Transferor to accept a reassignment of
the Receivables transferred to the Trust by the Transferor if such breach
and any material adverse effect caused by such breach is not cured within 60
days of such notice (or within such longer period, not in excess of 150
days, as may be specified in such notice), and upon those conditions the
Transferor shall be obligated to accept such reassignment on the terms set
forth below; provided, however, that such Receivables will not be reassigned
to the Transferor if, on any day prior to the end of such 60-day or longer
period (i) the relevant representation and warranty shall be true and
correct in all material respects as if made on such day and (ii) the
Transferor shall have delivered an Officer's Certificate describing the
nature of such breach and the manner in which the relevant representation
and warranty became true and correct.
The Transferor shall deposit in the Collection Account in
immediately available funds not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time,
on the first Distribution Date following the Monthly Period in which such
reassignment obligation arises, in payment for such reassignment, an amount
equal to the sum of the amounts specified therefor with respect to each
outstanding Series in the related Supplement. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in this Agreement, such amounts shall be distributed on such
Distribution Date in accordance with Article IV and the terms of each
Supplement. The payment of such deposit amount in immediately available
funds shall be considered payment in full of all of the Receivables.
Upon the deposit, if any, required to be made to the Collection
Account as provided in this Section and the reassignment of the applicable
Receivables, the Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall automatically and
without further action be deemed to transfer, assign, set over and otherwise
convey to the Transferor or its designee, without recourse, representation
or warranty (except for the warranty that since the date of transfer by the
Transferor, the Trustee has not sold, transferred or encumbered any such
Receivables or interest therein other than as contemplated by this
sentence), all the right, title and interest of the Trust in and to such
Receivables, all moneys due or to become due and all amounts received with
respect thereto and all proceeds thereof. The Trustee shall execute such
documents and instruments of transfer or assignment and take such other
actions as shall reasonably be requested and furnished by the Transferor to
effect the conveyance of such Receivables pursuant to this Section. The
obligation of the Transferor to accept reassignment of any Receivables, and
to make the deposits, if any, required to be made to the Collection Account
as provided in this Section, shall constitute the sole remedy respecting the
event giving rise to such obligation available to Certificateholders (or the
Trustee on behalf of the Certificateholders).
Section 2.7. Covenants of the Transferor. The Transferor
hereby covenants as follows:
(a) Receivables to be Accounts, General Intangibles or Chattel
Paper. Except in connection with the enforcement or collection of an
Account, the Transferor will take no action to cause any Receivable trans-
ferred by it to the Trust to be evidenced by any instrument (as defined in
the UCC) and, if any such Receivable is so evidenced (whether or not in
connection with the enforcement or collection of an Account), it shall be
deemed to be an Ineligible Receivable in accordance with Section 2.5(a).
(b) Security Interests. Except for the conveyances hereunder,
the Transferor will not sell, pledge, assign or transfer or otherwise
convey to any other Person, or grant, create, incur, assume or suffer to
exist any Lien on any Receivable, whether now existing or hereafter cre-
ated, or any interest therein; the Transferor will immediately notify the
Trustee of the existence of any Lien on any Receivable of which the
Transferor has knowledge; and the Transferor shall defend the right, title
and interest of the Trust in, to and under the Receivables, whether now
existing or hereafter created, against all claims of third parties claiming
through or under the Transferor; provided, however, that nothing in this
Section 2.7(b) shall prevent or be deemed to prohibit the Transferor from
suffering to exist upon any of the Receivables any Liens for taxes if such
taxes shall not at the time be due and payable or if the Transferor shall
currently be contesting the validity thereof in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves with
respect thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section
2.7(b) shall be construed to prevent or be deemed to prohibit the transfer
of the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate and certain other rights of the
Transferor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and any related
Supplement.
(c) Transferor Interest. Except as otherwise permitted
herein, including in Sections 2.12, 6.3 and 7.2, the Transferor agrees not
to transfer, assign, exchange or otherwise convey or pledge, hypothecate or
otherwise grant a security interest in the Transferor Interest represented
by the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate or any Supplemental Certificate
and any such attempted transfer, assignment, exchange, conveyance, pledge,
hypothecation or grant shall be void.
(d) Delivery of Collections or Recoveries. If the Transferor
receives Collections or Recoveries, the Transferor agrees to pay the
Servicer all such Collections and Recoveries as soon as practicable after
receipt thereof but in no event later than two Business Days after the Date
of Processing by the Transferor.
(e) Notice of Liens. The Transferor shall notify the Trustee
and each Enhancement Provider, if any, entitled to such notice pursuant to
the relevant Supplement promptly after becoming aware of any Lien on any
Receivable other than the conveyances hereunder or Liens permitted under
Section 2.7(b).
(f) Separate Corporate Existence. The Transferor shall:
(i) Maintain in full effect
its existence, rights and franchises as a corporation under the
laws of the state of its incorporation and obtain and preserve
its qualification to do business in each jurisdiction in which
such qualification is or shall be necessary to protect the
validity and enforceability of this Agreement and the
Receivables Purchase Agreement and each other instrument or
agreement necessary or appropriate to effect proper adminis-
tration hereof and to permit and effectuate the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(ii) Maintain its own deposit
account or accounts, separate from those of any Affiliate of
the Transferor, with commercial banking institutions. The
funds of the Transferor will not be diverted to any other
Person or for other than the corporate use of the Transferor,
and, except as may be expressly permitted by this Agreement or
the Receivables Purchase Agreement, the funds of the Transferor
shall not be commingled with those of any Affiliate of the
Transferor.
(iii) Ensure that, to the
extent that it shares the same officers or other employees as
any of its stockholders or Affiliates, the salaries of and the
expenses related to providing benefits to such officers and
other employees shall be fairly allocated among such entities,
and each such entity shall bear its fair share of the salary
and benefit costs associated with all such common officers and
employees.
(iv) Ensure that, to the
extent that it jointly contracts with any of its stockholders
or Affiliates to do business with vendors or service providers
or to share overhead expenses, the costs incurred in so doing
shall be allocated fairly among such entities, and each such
entity shall bear its fair share of such costs. To the extent
that the Transferor contracts or does business with vendors or
service providers where the goods and services provided are
partially for the benefit of any other Person, the costs
incurred in so doing shall be fairly allocated to or among such
entities for whose benefit the goods and services are provided,
and each such entity shall bear its fair share of such costs.
All material transactions between the Transferor and any of its
Affiliates shall be only on an arm's-length basis.
(v) Maintain a principal
executive and administrative office through which its business
is conducted separate from those of its stockholders and
Affiliates. To the extent that the Transferor and any of its
stockholders or Affiliates have offices in contiguous space,
there shall be fair and appropriate allocation of overhead
costs among them, and each such entity shall bear its fair
share of such expenses.
(vi) Conduct its affairs
strictly in accordance with its Certificate of Incorporation
and observe all necessary, appropriate and customary corporate
formalities, including holding all regular and special
stockholders' and directors' meetings appropriate to authorize
all corporate action, keeping separate and accurate minutes of
such meetings, passing all resolutions or consents necessary to
authorize actions taken or to be taken, and maintaining
accurate and separate books, records and accounts, including
payroll and intercompany transaction accounts. Regular stock-
holders, and directors, meetings shall be held at least
annually.
(vii) Ensure that its Board
of Directors shall be elected independently from the Boards of
Directors of its Affiliates and shall at all times include at
least one Independent Director (for purposes hereof, "Inde-
pendent Director" shall mean any member of the Board of Direc-
tors of the Transferor who is not and has not been (x) a
director, officer, employee or shareholder of any Affiliate of
the Transferor within a period of three years prior to such
Person's election to the Board of Directors or (y) a member of
the immediate family of any of the foregoing).
(viii) Ensure that decisions
with respect to its business and daily operations shall be
independently made by the Transferor (although the officer
making any particular decision may also be an officer or
director of an Affiliate of the Transferor) and shall not be
dictated by an Affiliate of the Transferor.
(ix) Act solely in its own
corporate name and through its own authorized officers and
agents, and no Affiliate of the Transferor shall be appointed
to act as agent of the Transferor, except as expressly contem-
plated by this Agreement or the Receivables Purchase Agreement.
(x) Ensure that no Affiliate
of the Transferor shall advance funds to the Transferor, other
than capital contributions from Pier 1 made to enable the
Transferor to pay the purchase price of Receivables or as is
otherwise provided in the Receivables Purchase Agreement, and
no Affiliate of the Transferor will otherwise supply funds to,
or guaranty debts of, the Transferor; provided, however, that
additionally Pier 1 may provide funds to the Transferor in
connection with capitalization of the Transferor to assure that
the Transferor has substantial assets.
(xi) Not enter into any
guaranty, or otherwise become liable, with respect to any
obligation of any Affiliate of the Transferor.
(xii) Ensure that any
financial reports required of the Transferor shall comply with
generally accepted accounting principles and shall be issued
separately from, but may be consolidated with, any reports pre-
pared for any of its Affiliates.
(g) Continuous Perfection. The Transferor shall not change
its name, identity or structure in any manner that could cause any
financing or continuation statement filed pursuant to this Agreement to be
misleading within the meaning of Section 9-402(7) of the UCC (or any other
then applicable provision of the UCC) unless the Transferor shall have
delivered to the Trustee at least 30 days' prior written notice thereof
and, no later than 30 days after making such change, shall have taken all
action necessary or advisable to amend such financing statement or
continuation statement so that it is not misleading. The Transferor shall
not change its chief executive office or change the location of its
principal records concerning the Receivables, the Trust Assets or the
Collections unless it has delivered to the Trustee at least 30 days' prior
written notice of its intention to do so and has taken such action as is
necessary or advisable to cause the interest of the Trustee in the Re-
ceivables and other Trust Assets to continue to be perfected with the
priority required by this Agreement.
(h) Reports to the Commission. The Transferor shall, on
behalf of the Trust, cause to be filed with the Commission any periodic
reports required to be filed under the provisions of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder.
(i) Capitalization. The Transferor shall maintain at all
times sufficient capital to meet its obligations as such may arise from
time to time.
(j) Designated Receivables. The Transferor shall designate
certain Deferred Payment Plan Receivables to be treated as each having a
Principal Receivable balance of zero on each Business Day on which the
aggregate principal balance of Deferred Payment Plan Receivables exceeds
15% of the balance of the Aggregate Principal Receivables on such day, such
that following such designation the Principal Receivables balance of all
Deferred Payment Plan Receivables not so designated shall not exceed 15% of
the balance of the Aggregate Principal Receivables on such day. The
Transferor shall designate certain Foreign Receivables to be treated as
each having a Principal Receivable balance of zero on each Business Day on
which the aggregate Outstanding Balance of Foreign Receivables exceeds 1%
of the aggregate Outstanding Balance of all Receivables on such day, such
that following such designation the Outstanding Balance of all Foreign Re-
ceivables not so designated shall not exceed 1% of the aggregate
Outstanding Balance of all Receivables on such day. Receivables so desig-
nated by the Transferor will not be treated as Eligible Receivables, their
principal balances will not be credited toward the Aggregate Principal
Receivables in the Trust and Collections with respect to such Receivables
will be treated as Finance Charge Collections.
Section 2.8. Covenants of the Transferor with Respect to the
Receivables Purchase Agreement. The Transferor, in its capacity as
purchaser of the Receivables from Pier 1 pursuant to the Receivables
Purchase Agreement, hereby covenants that the Transferor will at all times
enforce the covenants and agreements of the Credit Card Originator in the
Receivables Purchase Agreement, including covenants to the effect set forth
below.
(a) Periodic Finance Charges and Other Fees. Except as other-
wise required by any Requirement of Law, or as is deemed by the Credit Card
Originator in its sole discretion to be appropriate, it shall not at any
time reduce the annual percentage rates of the Periodic Finance Charges
assessed on the Receivables or reduce other fees on the Accounts, if,
either (a) as a result of such reduction it is reasonably expected that
such reduction will cause a Pay Out Event to occur with respect to a
Series or (b) such reduction (x) if the Credit Card Originator owns a
comparable segment of receivables, is not applied to any such comparable
segment of consumer open end credit accounts owned by the Credit Card
Originator that have characteristics the same as or substantially similar
to the Receivables that are the subject of such change and (y) if the
Credit Card Originator does not own such a comparable segment of receiv-
ables, will be made with the intent to materially benefit the Transferor
over the Investor Certificateholders or to materially adversely affect the
Investor Certificateholders, except as otherwise restricted by an
endorsement, sponsorship, or other agreement between the Transferor and an
unrelated third party or by the terms of the Accounts.
(b) Credit Card Agreements and Credit Card Guidelines. The
Credit Card Originator shall comply with and perform its obligations under
the Credit Card Agreements relating to the Accounts and the Credit Card
Guidelines except insofar as any failure so to comply or perform would not
materially and adversely affect the rights of the Trust, the Certificate-
holders or any Enhancement Provider hereunder or under the Certificates.
Unless required by law or unless, in its sole discretion, the Credit Card
Originator deems it appropriate, it will not change the terms and pro-
visions of the Credit Card Agreements or the Credit Card Guidelines with
respect to any of the Accounts in any respect (including the calculation of
the amount, or the timing, of charge-offs and the Periodic Finance Charges
and other fees to be assessed thereon), if, either (a) as a result of such
change it is reasonably expected that such change will cause a Pay Out Ev-
ent to occur with respect to a Series or (b) such change (x) if the Credit
Card Originator owns a comparable segment of receivables, is not applied to
any such comparable segment of consumer open end credit accounts owned by
the Credit Card Originator that have characteristics the same as or
substantially similar to the Receivables that are the subject of such
change and (y) if the Credit Card Originator does not own such a comparable
segment of receivables, will be made with the intent to materially benefit
the Transferor over the Investor Certificateholders or to materially ad-
versely affect the Investor Certificateholders, except as otherwise
restricted by an endorsement, sponsorship, or other agreement between the
Transferor and an unrelated third party or by the terms of the Accounts.
The Transferor further covenants that the Transferor will not
enter into any amendments to the Receivables Purchase Agreement unless the
Rating Agency Condition has been satisfied.
Section 2.9. Addition of Accounts. (a) Required Additions.
(i) If, as of the close of business on the last Business Day of any Monthly
Period, either (x) the Transferor Amount (excluding the interest represented
by any Supplemental Certificate) is less than the Minimum Transferor Amount
on such date or (y) the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables is less
than the Minimum Aggregate Principal Receivables on such date, the
Transferor shall on or prior to the close of business on the 10th Business
Day following the last Business Day of such Monthly Period (the "Required
Designation Date"), unless the Transferor Amount (excluding the interest
represented by any Supplemental Certificate) equals or exceeds the Minimum
Transferor Amount and the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables equals
or exceeds the Minimum Aggregate Principal Receivables, as the case may be,
in either case as of the close of business on any day after the last
Business Day of such Monthly Period and prior to the Required Designation
Date, designate additional Eligible Accounts to be included as Accounts as
of the Required Designation Date or any earlier date in a sufficient amount
such that, after giving effect to such addition, the Transferor Amount
(excluding the interest represented by any Supplemental Certificate) as of
the close of business on the Addition Date is at least equal to the Minimum
Transferor Amount on such date and the aggregate amount of Principal Receiv-
ables equals or exceeds the Minimum Aggregate Principal Receivables on such
date. The failure of any condition set forth in paragraph (c) or (d) below,
as the case may be, shall not relieve the Transferor of its obligation
pursuant to this paragraph; provided, however, that the failure of the
Transferor to transfer Receivables to the Trust as provided in this para-
graph solely as a result of the unavailability of a sufficient amount of
Eligible Receivables shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement;
provided, further, that any such failure which has not been timely cured
will nevertheless result in the occurrence of a Pay Out Event with respect
to each Series for which, pursuant to the Supplement therefor, a failure by
the Transferor to convey Receivables in Supplemental Accounts or
Participation Interests to the Trust by the day on which it is required to
convey such Receivables or Participation Interests constitutes a "Pay Out
Event" (as defined in such Supplement).
(ii) In lieu of, or in addition to, designating Supplemental
Accounts pursuant to clause (i) above, the Transferor may, subject to the
conditions specified in paragraph (c) below, convey to the Trust
participations representing undivided interests in a pool of assets
primarily consisting of open end credit card receivables generated in credit
card accounts owned by a Credit Card Originator, and any interests in the
foregoing, including securities representing or backed by such receivables,
and other self-liquidating financial assets, including any "Eligible Assets"
as such term is defined in Rule 3a-7 under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (or any successor to such Rule) and collections thereon
("Participation Interests"); provided that an opinion of counsel is
delivered that such Participation Interest will not be classified, or cause
the Trust to be classified for federal income tax purposes as an equity
interest in an association taxable as a corporation; provided, further, that
to the extent required pursuant to the Act, any Participation Interests
transferred to the Trust shall have been (i) registered under the Act or
(ii) held for at least the applicable Rule 144(k) holding period. The addi-
tion of Participation Interests in the Trust pursuant to this paragraph (a)
or paragraph (b) below shall be effected by an amendment hereto, dated the
applicable Addition Date, pursuant to Section 13.1(a), which shall specify,
among other things, the amount of Principal Receivables to be represented by
such Participation Interests.
(b) Permitted Additions. The Transferor may from time to time
after an Automatic Additional Termination Date or an Automatic Addition
Suspension Date (and in the latter case, prior to a Restart Date), at its
sole discretion, subject to the conditions specified in paragraph (c) below,
designate additional Eligible Accounts to be included as Accounts or
designate Participation Interests to be included as Trust Assets, in either
case as of the applicable Addition Date.
(c) Conditions to Addition. On the Addition Date with
respect to any Supplemental Accounts or Participation Interests added
pursuant to Section 2.9(a) or 2.9(b), the Credit Card Originator will sell
to the Transferor and the Transferor will thereafter transfer to the Trust
the Receivables arising in Supplemental Accounts (and such Supplemental Ac-
counts shall be deemed to be Accounts for purposes of this Agreement) and
Participation Interests, subject to the satisfaction of the following condi-
tions:
(i) on or before the tenth
Business Day immediately preceding the Addition Date, the
Transferor shall have given the Trustee, the Servicer, each
Rating Agency and any Enhancement Provider entitled thereto
pursuant to the relevant Supplement written notice that the
Supplemental Accounts or Participation Interests will be in-
cluded and specifying the applicable Addition Date, the Addi-
tion Cut-Off Date, the approximate number of accounts expected
to be added and the approximate aggregate balances expected to
be outstanding in the accounts to be added;
(ii) in the case of
Supplemental Accounts, the Transferor shall have delivered to
the Trustee copies of UCC-1 financing statements covering such
Supplemental Accounts, if necessary to perfect the Trust's
interest in the Receivables arising therein;
(iii) as of each of the
Addition Cut-Off Date and the Addition Date, (x) no Insolvency
Event with respect to the Credit Card Originator or the
Transferor shall have occurred, (y) the Credit Card Originator
and the Transferor shall not be insolvent and (z) the transfer
of the Receivables arising in the Supplemental Accounts or the
Participation Interests to the Trust shall not have been made
in contemplation of the occurrence of an Insolvency Event or
the insolvency thereof;
(iv) except in the case of an
Addition pursuant to Section 2.9(a), the Rating Agency
Condition shall have been satisfied and in the case of an
Addition pursuant to Section 2.9(a) which would exceed the
Aggregate Addition Limit, the Transferor shall have provided to
each Rating Agency at least 10 Business Days prior written
notice of such Addition and at or prior to the end of such 10
Business Day period, the Transferor shall receive a notice in
writing from each Rating Agency that such Addition will not
result in the lowering or withdrawal of its then existing
rating of the Investor Certificates of any Series;
(v) the Transferor shall have
delivered to the Trustee and any Enhancement Provider entitled
thereto pursuant to the relevant Supplement an Officer's Cer-
tificate, dated the Addition Date, stating that (x) in the case
of Supplemental Accounts, as of the applicable Addition Date
the Supplemental Accounts are all Eligible Accounts, (y) to the
extent applicable, the conditions set forth in clauses (ii)
through (iv) above have been satisfied and (z) the Transferor
reasonably believes that (A) the addition by the Transferor of
the Receivables arising in the Supplemental Accounts or of the
Participation Interests to the Trust will not, based on the
facts known to such officer at the time of such certification,
then or thereafter cause a Pay Out Event to occur with respect
to any Series and (B) in the case of Supplemental Accounts or
Participation Interests, no selection procedure believed by the
Transferor to be materially adverse to the interests of the
Investor Certificateholders has been used in designating the
Supplemental Accounts (from among the available Eligible
Accounts owned by the Credit Card Originator) or Participation
Interest or a random selection procedure was used by the Trans-
feror in selecting the Supplemental Accounts (from among the
available Eligible Accounts owned by the Credit Card Origi-
nator) or Participation Interests; and
(vi) the Transferor shall
have delivered to the Trustee, each Rating Agency and any
Enhancement Provider entitled thereto pursuant to the relevant
Supplement an outside Opinion of Counsel, dated the Addition
Date, in accordance with Section 13.2(d).
(d) Automatic Additional Accounts.
(i) All accounts which meet
the definition of Automatic Additional Accounts shall be
included as Accounts from and after the date upon which such
Automatic Additional Accounts are created and all Receivables
in such Automatic Additional Accounts, whether such Receivables
are then existing or thereafter created, shall be transferred
automatically to the Trust upon purchase by the Transferor.
For all purposes of this Agreement, all receivables of such
Automatic Additional Accounts shall be treated as Receivables
upon their creation. The Transferor may elect at any time to
terminate the inclusion in Accounts of new accounts which would
otherwise be Automatic Additional Accounts as of any Business
Day (the "Automatic Addition Termination Date"), or suspend any
such inclusion as of any Business Day (an "Automatic Addition
Suspension Date") until a date (the "Restart Date") to be
notified in writing by the Transferor to the Trustee in each
case by delivering to the Trustee, the Servicer and each Rating
Agency prior written notice of such election at least 10 days
prior to such Automatic Addition Termination Date or Automatic
Addition Suspension Date. Promptly after an Automatic Addition
Termination Date or any Automatic Addition Suspension Date, or
a Restart Date, the Transferor and the Trustee agree to execute
and the Transferor agrees to record and file at its own expense
an amendment to the financing statements referred to in Section
2.1 hereof to specify the accounts then subject to this
Agreement (which specification may incorporate a list of
accounts by reference) and, except in connection with any such
filing made after a Restart Date, to release any security
interest in any accounts created after the Automatic Addition
Termination Date or any Automatic Addition Suspension Date.
(ii) The Transferor shall not
be permitted to continue to designate Automatic Additional
Accounts to be included as Accounts pursuant to this subsection
2.9(d) (and the date on which such determination is made shall
be also referred to as an "Automatic Addition Suspension Date")
if the Aggregate Addition Limit would be exceeded as a result
of the inclusion of such Automatic Additional Accounts as Ac-
counts.
On each Determination Date,
the Transferor shall have delivered to the Rating Agencies and
the Trustee an Officer's Certificate, certifying (i) that each
Automatic Additional Account designated as an Eligible Account
is an Eligible Account and (ii) that the Aggregate Addition
Limit would not be exceeded as a result of the inclusion of
such Automatic Additional Accounts as Accounts or (y) if the
Aggregate Addition Limit would be exceeded as a result of the
inclusion of such Automatic Additional Accounts as Accounts,
that the Rating Agency Condition has been satisfied with re-
spect to such inclusion.
As of the Addition Date, (x)
no Insolvency Event with respect to the Credit Card Originator
or the Transferor shall have occurred, (y) the Credit Card
Originator and the Transferor shall not be insolvent and (z)
the transfer of the Receivables arising in the Automatic Addi-
tional Accounts to the Trust shall not have been made in con-
templation of the occurrence of an Insolvency Event or the in-
solvency thereof.
(iii) The Transferor intends
to continue to automatically add accounts so long as the Aggre-
gate Addition Limit is not exceeded. Upon the Aggregate Addi-
tion Limit being exceeded, the Transferor shall cease to
designate Automatic Additional Accounts to be included as
Accounts pursuant to this subsection 2.9(d) until a date (the
"Restart Date") specified in a written notice given by the
Transferor to the Trustee; provided, however, that the
Transferor shall specify in such notice that on such Restart
Date (x) the Aggregate Addition Limit would not be exceeded as
a result of the inclusion of Automatic Additional Accounts as
Accounts and (y) all accounts of the Credit Card Originator
shall have been designated Accounts either as Automatic
Additional Accounts prior to the Automatic Addition Suspension
Date or as Supplemental Accounts.
(e) Representations and Warranties. The Transferor hereby
represents and warrants to the Trust as of the related Addition Date as to
the matters relating to it set forth in paragraph (d)(iii) above and that
the file or list delivered pursuant to paragraph (f) below is, as of the
applicable Addition Cut-Off Date, true and complete in all material
respects.
(f) Delivery of Documents. In the case of the designation of
Supplemental Accounts, the Transferor shall deliver to the Trustee (i) the
computer file, microfiche list or printed list required to be delivered
pursuant to Section 2.1 with respect to such Supplemental Accounts on the
applicable Document Delivery Date and (ii) a duly executed, written
Assignment (including an acceptance by the Trustee for the benefit of the
Certificateholders), substantially in the form of Exhibit B (the "Assign-
ment"), on the Document Delivery Date.
(g) Adjustment to Calculations. The Transferor may direct
that the Principal Receivables in the Additional Accounts be treated as
Principal Receivables outstanding on the last day of the Monthly Period
preceding the Monthly Period in which the Addition is made. Such direction
may be made on the Addition Date only if all collections with respect to the
Additional Accounts for the period from the last day of the preceding
Monthly Period through the Addition Date are deposited in the Collection
Account on the Addition Date. Following any such Addition, the Servicer
shall allocate collections for the balance of such Monthly Period, including
the collections deposited on the Addition Date, to the Certificateholders'
Interest of each Series and the Transferor Amount so that each interest re-
ceives the same allocations of Finance Charge Receivables, Principal
Receivables and Default Amounts that it would have received if such Addi-
tional Accounts had been included in the Trust for the entire Monthly Period
in which the Addition occurred.
Section 2.10. Removal of Accounts. On any day of any Monthly
Period the Transferor shall have the right to require the reassignment to it
or its designee of all the Trust's right, title and interest in, to and
under the Receivables then existing and thereafter created, all moneys due
or to become due and all amounts received with respect thereto on and after
such date and all proceeds thereof in or with respect to the Accounts then
owned by the Credit Card Originator and designated by the Transferor (the
"Removed Accounts") or designated Participation Interests (unless otherwise
set forth in the applicable Supplement), upon satisfaction of the following
conditions:
(a) on or before the tenth Business Day immediately preceding
the Removal Date (the "Removal Notice Date") the Transferor shall have given
the Trustee, the Servicer, each Rating Agency and any Enhancement Provider
entitled thereto pursuant to the relevant Supplement written notice of such
removal and specifying the date for removal of the Removed Accounts and
Participation Interests (the "Removal Date");
(b) with respect to Removed Accounts, on or prior to the date
that is 10 Business Days after the Removal Notice Date, the Transferor shall
have delivered to the Trustee a computer file, microfiche list or printed
list containing a true and complete list of the Removed Accounts specifying
for each such Account, as of the Removal Notice Date, its account number,
the aggregate amount outstanding, and the aggregate amount of Principal
Receivables outstanding in such Account;
(c) with respect to Removed Accounts, the Transferor shall
have represented and warranted on the Removal Date that the list of Removed
Accounts delivered pursuant to paragraph (b) above, as of the Removal Notice
Date, is true and complete in all material respects;
(d) the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied with
respect to such removal;
(e) the Transferor shall have delivered to the Trustee and any
Enhancement Provider entitled thereto pursuant to the relevant Supplement an
Officer's Certificate, dated as of the Removal Date, to the effect that the
Transferor reasonably believes that (i) such removal will not, based on the
facts known to such officer at the time of such certification, then or
thereafter cause a Pay Out Event or an event which with notice or lapse of
time would constitute a Pay Out Event to occur with respect to any Series
and (ii) (x) no selection procedure believed by the Transferor to be
materially adverse to the interests of the Investor Certificateholders has
been used in designating the Removed Accounts from among any pool of
Accounts or Participation Interests of a similar type or (y) a random se-
lection procedure was used by the Transferor in selecting the Removed
Accounts or Participation Interests;
(f) the Transferor shall not utilize a selection procedure
intended to include a disproportionately higher level of Defaulted
Receivables in the Removed Accounts than exist in the Accounts and shall not
remove such Accounts for the intended purpose of mitigating losses to the
Trust; and
(g) the Transferor shall pay to the Trust the greater of (i)
the fair market value (as of the Removal Date) of the Receivables to be
removed and (ii) the amount of the Principal Receivables to be removed; to
the extent the fair market value of the Receivables exceeds the amount of
the Principal Receivables to be removed, the amount of such excess shall be
treated as Collections of Finance Charge Receivables.
Upon satisfaction of the above conditions, the Trustee shall
execute and deliver to the Transferor or its designee a written reassignment
in substantially the form of Exhibit C (the "Reassignment") and shall,
without further action, be deemed to transfer, assign, set over and
otherwise convey to the Transferor or its designee, effective as of the
Removal Date, without recourse, representation or warranty, all the right,
title and interest of the Trust in and to the Receivables arising in the
Removed Accounts or the Participation Interests, all moneys due and to
become due and all amounts received with respect thereto on and after the
Removal Date and all proceeds thereof. In addition, the Trustee shall
execute such other documents and instruments of transfer or assignment and
take such other actions as shall reasonably be requested and furnished by
the Transferor to effect the conveyance of Receivables pursuant to this
Section.
Section 2.11. Discount Option. (a) The Transferor shall
designate a percentage (the "Discount Percentage"), initially equal to 1%,
of the amount of Receivables arising in the Accounts that would otherwise
constitute Principal Receivables (prior to subtracting from Principal
Receivables, Finance Charge Receivables that are Discount Option Receiv-
ables) to be treated as Finance Charge Receivables. The Transferor may from
time to time increase (subject to the limitations described below), reduce
or eliminate the Discount Percentage for Discount Option Receivables arising
in the Accounts on and after the date of such change. The Transferor must
provide 30 days' prior written notice to the Servicer, the Trustee and each
Rating Agency of any such increase, reduction or elimination, and such
increase, reduction or elimination shall become effective on the date
specified therein only if (i) the Transferor has delivered to the Trustee an
Officer's Certificate to the effect that, based on the facts known to such
officer at the time, the Transferor reasonably believes that such increase,
reduction or elimination shall not at the time of its occurrence cause a Pay
Out Event, or an event which with notice or the lapse of time would
constitute a Pay Out Event, to occur with respect to any Series and (ii) the
Discount Percentage shall not be greater than 3% at any time, unless the
Transferor, the Servicer and the Trustee shall have received written
confirmation from each Rating Agency that the Rating Agency Condition is
satisfied.
(b) On each Date of Processing the Transferor shall treat
Discount Option Receivables Collections as Collections of Finance Charge
Receivables.
Section 2.12. Additional Transferors. The Transferor may
designate additional Persons to be included as Transferors under this Agree-
ment by an amendment to this Agreement (which amendment shall be subject to
Section 13.1) and, in connection with such designation, the Transferor shall
surrender the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate to the Trustee in exchange
for a newly issued Exchangeable Transferor Certificate reflecting such
additional Transferor's interest in the Transferor Interest; provided,
however, that prior to any such designation and issuance the conditions set
forth in Section 6.3(c) shall have been satisfied with respect thereto.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE III
Administration and Servicing
of Receivables
Section 3.1. Acceptance of Appointment and Other Matters
Relating to the Servicer. (a) Pier 1 agrees to act as Servicer under this
Agreement, and the Certificateholders by their acceptance of Certificates
consent to Pier 1 acting as Servicer. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any
other provisions of this Agreement or any Supplement, the Investor
Certificateholders consent to an Affiliate of Pier 1 acting as Servicer
hereunder, in full substitution for Pier 1; provided that such Affiliate
acting as Servicer shall expressly assume in writing (unless such assumption
occurs by operation of law), by an agreement supplemental hereto, executed
and delivered to the Trustee, the performance of every covenant and
obligation of the Servicer, as applicable hereunder, and shall in all
respects be designated the Servicer under this Agreement; provided, further,
that Pier 1 will remain jointly and severally liable with such Affiliate.
(b) The Servicer shall service and administer the Receivables,
shall collect payments due under the Receivables and shall charge off as
uncollectible Receivables, all in accordance with its customary and usual
servicing procedures for servicing credit card and other consumer open end
credit receivables comparable to the Receivables and in accordance with the
Credit Card Guidelines. The Servicer shall have full power and authority,
acting alone or through any party properly designated by it hereunder, to do
any and all things in connection with such servicing and administration
which it may deem necessary or desirable. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, and subject to Section 10.1 and provided Pier 1 is the
Servicer, the Servicer or its designee (rather than the Trustee) is hereby
authorized and empowered (i) to instruct the Trustee to make withdrawals and
payments from the Collection Account, the Principal Account, the Finance
Charge Account and any Series Account, as set forth in this Agreement or any
Supplement, and (ii) to take any action required or permitted under any
Enhancement, as set forth in this Agreement or any Supplement. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing and subject to Section 10.1, the
Servicer or its designee is hereby authorized and empowered to make any
filings, reports, notices, applications and registrations with, and to seek
any consents or authorizations from, the Commission and any state securities
authority on behalf of the Trust as may be necessary or advisable to comply
with any Federal or state securities laws or reporting requirements;
provided, however, that initially, the Transferor shall make any filings
with the Commission and under state securities laws on behalf of the Trust.
The Trustee shall furnish the Servicer with any powers of attorney or other
documents necessary or appropriate to enable the Servicer to carry out its
servicing and administrative duties hereunder.
(c) The Servicer shall not be obligated to use separate
servicing procedures, offices, employees or accounts for servicing the
Receivables from the procedures, offices, employees and accounts used by the
Servicer in connection with servicing other credit card receivables.
(d) The Servicer shall comply with and perform its servicing
obligations with respect to the Accounts and Receivables in accordance with
the Credit Card Agreements relating to the Accounts and the Credit Card
Guidelines except insofar as any failure to so comply or perform would not
materially and adversely affect the Trust or the Investor
Certificateholders.
(e) The Servicer shall be liable for the payment, without
reimbursement, of all expenses incurred in connection with the Trust and the
servicing activities hereunder including expenses related to enforcement of
the Receivables, fees and disbursements of the Trustee, any Paying Agent and
any Transfer Agent and Registrar (including the reasonable fees and expenses
of its counsel) in accordance with Section 11.5, fees and disbursements of
independent accountants and all other fees and expenses, including the costs
of filing UCC continuation statements and the costs and expenses relating to
obtaining and maintaining the listing of any Investor Certificates on any
stock exchange, that are not expressly stated in this Agreement to be
payable by the Trust, the Investor Certificateholders of a Series or the
Transferor (other than Federal, state, local and foreign income, franchise
and other taxes, if any, or any interest or penalties with respect thereto,
assessed on the Trust).
(f) The Servicer agrees that upon a request by the Transferor
it will use its best efforts to obtain and maintain the listing of the
Investor Certificates of any Series or Class on any specified securities
exchange. If any such request is made, the Servicer shall give notice to
the Transferor and the Trustee of the date on which such Investor
Certificates are approved for such listing. Within three Business Days
following receipt of notice by the Servicer of any actual, proposed or
contemplated delisting of such Investor Certificates by any such securities
exchange the Servicer, in its sole discretion, may terminate any listing on
any such securities exchange.
Section 3.2. Servicing Compensation. As full compensation for
its servicing activities hereunder and as reimbursement for any expense
incurred by it in connection therewith, the Servicer shall be entitled to
receive a servicing fee (the "Servicing Fee") with respect to each Monthly
Period, payable monthly on the related Distribution Date, in an amount equal
to one-twelfth of the product of (a) the weighted average of the Servicing
Fee Rates with respect to each outstanding Series (based upon the Servicing
Fee Rate for each Series and the Series Invested Amount (or such other
amount as specified in the related Supplement) of such Series, in each case
as of the last day of the prior Monthly Period) and (b) the amount of
Principal Receivables on the last day of the prior Monthly Period. The
share of the Servicing Fee allocable to (i) the Certificateholders' Interest
of a particular Series with respect to any Monthly Period (the "Monthly
Servicing Fee") and (ii) the Enhancement Invested Amount, if any, of a
particular Series with respect to any Monthly Period will each be determined
in accordance with the relevant Supplement. The share of the Servicing Fee
allocable to any Participation with respect to any Monthly Period will be
determined in accordance with the applicable Participation Supplement. The
portion of the Servicing Fee with respect to any Monthly Period not so
allocated to the Certificateholders' Interest or the Enhancement Invested
Amount, if any, of a particular Series or any Participation shall be paid
from amounts allocable to the Holder of the Exchangeable Transferor Certifi-
cate on the related Distribution Date. In no event shall the Trust, the
Trustee, the Investor Certificateholders of any Series, the holder of any
Participation or any Enhancement Provider be directly liable for the share
of the Servicing Fee with respect to any Monthly Period to be paid from
amounts allocable to the Holder of the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate.
Section 3.3. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the
Servicer. Pier 1, in its capacity as initial Servicer, hereby makes, and
any Successor Servicer by its appointment hereunder shall make, on each
Closing Date (and on the date of any such appointment), the following
representations, warranties and covenants to the Trust (and agrees that the
Trustee may rely on each such representation, warranty and covenant in
accepting the Receivables in trust and in authenticating the Certificates):
(a) Organization and Good Standing. The Servicer is either
(i) a national banking association duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the United States or (ii) a corporation (or
with respect to such Successor Servicer, such other corporate entity as may
be applicable) duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the State of Delaware (or with respect to such Successor
Servicer, the jurisdiction of its organization), and has full corporate
power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its obliga-
tions under this Agreement and each Supplement and, in all material
respects, to own its properties and conduct its business as such properties
are presently owned and as such business is presently conducted.
(b) Due Qualification. The Servicer is duly qualified to do
business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation (or is exempt from
such requirements), and has obtained all necessary licenses and approvals in
each jurisdiction in which failure to so qualify or to obtain such licenses
and approvals would have a material adverse effect on the interests of the
Investor Certificateholders hereunder or under any Supplement.
(c) Due Authorization. The execution, delivery, and per-
formance of this Agreement and each Supplement have been duly authorized by
the Servicer by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Servicer.
(d) Binding Obligation. This Agreement and each Supplement
constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Servicer,
enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
other similar laws now or hereinafter in effect, affecting the enforcement
of creditors' rights in general (or with respect to such Successor Servicer,
such other entity as may be applicable) and except as such enforceability
may be limited by general principles of equity (whether considered in a suit
at law or in equity).
(e) No Violation. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement and each Supplement by the Servicer, the performance of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each Supplement and the
fulfillment of the terms hereof and thereof applicable to the Servicer, will
not conflict with, violate, result in any breach of any of the terms and
provisions of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or
both) a default under, any Requirement of Law applicable to the Servicer or
the certificate of incorporation or by-laws or any indenture, contract,
agreement, mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument to which the Servicer
is a party or by which it or any of its properties are bound which would
have a material adverse effect on the interests of the Investor Certificate-
holders hereunder or under any Supplement.
(f) No Proceedings. There are no proceedings or investiga-
tions pending or, to the best knowledge of the Servicer, threatened against
the Servicer before any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or
other tribunal or governmental instrumentality seeking to prevent the
issuance of the Certificates or the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or any Supplement, seeking any determination
or ruling that, in the reasonable judgment of the Servicer, would materially
and adversely affect the performance by the Servicer of its obligations
under this Agreement or any Supplement, or seeking any determination or
ruling that would materially and adversely affect the validity or
enforceability of this Agreement or any Supplement.
(g) Compliance with Requirements of Law. The Servicer shall
duly satisfy all obligations on its part to be fulfilled hereunder or in
connection with the Receivables and the related Accounts, will maintain in
effect all governmental qualifications required under Requirements of Law in
order to properly service the Receivables and the related Accounts and will
comply in all material respects with its certificate of incorporation and
by-laws and all other Requirements of Law in connection with servicing the
Receivables and the related Accounts, the failure to comply with which would
have a material adverse effect on the interests of the Investor Certificate-
holders.
(h) No Rescission or Cancellation. Subject to Section 3.9,
the Servicer shall not permit any rescission or cancellation of a Receivable
except as ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction or other Governmental
Authority or in the ordinary course of its business and in accordance with
the Credit Card Guidelines.
(i) Protection of Certificateholders' Rights. Except as
provided in subsection 2.8(a) and (b) hereof with respect to the Receivables
Purchase Agreement, the Servicer shall take no action which, nor omit to
take any action the omission of which, would substantially impair the rights
of Certificateholders in any Receivable or Account, nor shall it, except in
the ordinary course of its business and in accordance with the Credit Card
Guidelines, reschedule, revise or defer Collections due on the Receivables.
(j) Receivables Not To Be Evidenced by Promissory Notes.
Except in connection with its enforcement or collection of an Account, the
Servicer will take no action to cause any Receivable to be evidenced by any
instrument, other than an instrument that, taken together with one or more
other writings, constitutes chattel paper (as such terms are defined in the
UCC).
(k) All Consents Required. All approvals, authorizations,
consents, orders or other actions of any Person or of any governmental body
or official required in connection with the execution and delivery by the
Servicer of this Agreement and each Supplement, the performance by the
Servicer of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each
Supplement and the fulfillment by the Servicer of the terms hereof and
thereof, have been obtained; provided, however, that the Servicer makes no
representation or warranty regarding state securities or "blue sky" laws in
connection with the distribution of the Certificates.
(l) Maintenance of Records and Books of Account. The Servicer
shall maintain and implement administrative and operating procedures
(including the ability to recreate records evidencing the Receivables in the
event of the destruction of the originals thereof), and keep and maintain
all documents, books, computer records and other information, reasonably
necessary or advisable for the collection of all the Receivables. Such
documents, books and computer records shall reflect all facts giving rise to
the Receivables, all payments and credits with respect thereto, and, to the
extent required pursuant to Section 2.1, such documents, books and computer
records shall indicate the interests of the Trust in the Receivables.
For purposes of the representations and warranties set forth in
this Section 3.3, each reference to a Supplement shall be deemed to refer
only to those Supplements in effect as of the relevant Closing Date or the
date of appointment of a Successor Servicer, as applicable.
If any of the representations, warranties or covenants of the
Servicer contained in paragraph (g), (h), (i) or (j) with respect to any
Receivable or the related Account is breached, and as a result of such
breach the Trust's rights in, to or under any Receivables in the related
Account or the proceeds of such Receivables are materially impaired or such
proceeds are not available for any reason to the Trust free and clear of any
Lien, then no later than the expiration of 60 days (or such longer period,
as may be agreed to by the Trustee) from the earlier to occur of the
discovery of such event by the Servicer, or receipt by the Servicer of
notice of such event given by the Trustee, all Receivables in the Account or
Accounts to which such event relates shall be reassigned or assigned to the
Servicer on the terms and conditions set forth below; provided, however,
that such Receivables will not be reassigned or assigned to the Servicer if,
on any day prior to the end of such 60-day or longer period, (i) the rele-
vant representation and warranty shall be true and correct, or the relevant
covenant shall have been complied with, in all material respects and (ii)
the Servicer shall have delivered an Officer's Certificate describing the
nature of such breach and the manner in which such breach was cured.
The Servicer shall effect such assignment by making a deposit
into the Collection Account in immediately available funds prior to the next
succeeding Business Day in an amount equal to the amount of such
Receivables, which deposit shall be considered a Collection with respect to
such Receivables and shall be applied in accordance with Article IV and the
terms of each Supplement.
Upon each such assignment to the Servicer, the Trustee, on
behalf of the Trust, shall automatically and without further action be
deemed to transfer, assign, set over and otherwise convey to the Servicer,
without recourse, representation or warranty (except for the warranty that
since the date of transfer by the Transferor, the Trustee has not sold,
transferred or encumbered any such Receivables or interest therein other
than as contemplated by this sentence), all right, title and interest of the
Trust in and to such Receivables, all moneys due or to become due and all
amounts received with respect thereto and all proceeds thereof. The Trustee
shall execute such documents and instruments of transfer or assignment and
take such other actions as shall be reasonably requested by the Servicer to
effect the conveyance of any such Receivables pursuant to this Section. The
obligation of the Servicer to accept assignment of such Receivables, and to
make the deposits, if any, required to be made to the Excess Funding Account
or the Collection Account as provided in the preceding paragraph, shall
constitute the sole remedy respecting the event giving rise to such
obligation available to Certificateholders (or the Trustee on behalf of
Certificateholders) or any Enhancement Provider, except as provided in
Section 8.4.
Section 3.4. Reports and Records for the Trustee.
(a) Daily Records. Upon reasonable prior notice by the
Trustee, the Servicer shall make available at an office of the Servicer (or
other location designated by the Servicer if such records are not accessible
by the Servicer at an office of the Servicer) selected by the Servicer for
inspection by the Trustee or its agent (reasonably acceptable to the
Servicer) on a Business Day during the Servicer's normal business hours a
record setting forth (i) the Collections on each Receivable and (ii) the
amount of Receivables for the Business Day preceding the date of the
inspection. The Servicer shall, at all times, maintain its computer files
with respect to the Receivables in such a manner so that the Receivables may
be specifically identified and, upon reasonable prior request of the
Trustee, shall make available to the Trustee, at an office of the Servicer
(or other location designated by the Servicer if such computer files are not
located at an office of the Servicer) selected by the Servicer, on any
Business Day of the Servicer during the Servicer's normal business hours any
computer programs necessary to make such identification.
(b) Daily Report.
(i) On each Business Day the
Servicer shall prepare a completed Daily Report substantially in the form
of Exhibit G hereto.
(ii) The Servicer shall
deliver to the Trustee (with copies to the Depositary if the Depositary is
not also the Trustee) the Daily Report by 2:30 p.m. (New York City time) on
each Business Day with respect to activity in the Receivables for such
Business Day (or, in the case of a Daily Report delivered on the Business
Day following a Saturday, Sunday or other non-Business Day the aggregate
activity for such Business Day and such preceding non-Business Days).
(iii) Upon discovery of any
error or receipt of notice of any error in any Daily Report, the Servicer,
the Transferor and the Trustee shall arrange to confer and shall agree upon
any adjustments necessary to correct any such errors. If any such error is
material, the Servicer or the Trustee, as the case may be, shall retain all
Collections (or such lesser amount as the Trustee and the Servicer shall
agree to be necessary to cover any such error) in the Collection Account
until such material error is corrected. Unless the Trustee has received
written notice of any error or discrepancy, the Trustee may rely on each
Daily Report delivered to it for all purposes hereunder.
(c) Settlement Statement. On each Determination Date, the
Servicer shall, prior to 3:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such day, deliver
to the Trustee the Settlement Statement for the related Monthly Period
substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto.
Section 3.5. Annual Servicer's Certificate. The Servicer will
deliver, as provided in Section 13.5, to the Trustee, any Enhancement
Provider and the Rating Agencies on or before ninety days following the end
of each of the Transferor Fiscal Years, beginning on May 30, 1998, an
Officer's Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D stating that
(a) a review of the activities of the Servicer during the twelve-month
period (which shall be the period from the first day of the preceding
Transferor Fiscal Year to and including the last day of such Transferor
Fiscal Year or in the case of the first such Officer's Certificate, from the
Trust Cut-Off Date to the last day of such Transferor Fiscal Year) and its
performance under this Agreement was made under the supervision of the
officer signing such certificate and (b) to such officer's knowledge, based
on such review, the Servicer has fully performed all its obligations under
this Agreement throughout such period, or, if there has been a default in
the performance of any such obligation, specifying each such default known
to such officer and the nature and status thereof. A copy of such
certification may be obtained by any Investor Certificateholder by a request
in writing to the Trustee addressed to the Corporate Trust Office.
Section 3.6. Annual Servicing Report of Independent Public
Accountants; Copies of Reports Available. (a) On or before the 120th day
following the end of each Transferor Fiscal Year, beginning with the
Transferor Fiscal Year ending in calendar year 1998, the Servicer shall
cause a firm of nationally recognized independent public accountants (who
may also render other services to the Servicer or the Transferor) to furnish
a report (addressed to the Trustee) to the Trustee, the Servicer and each
Rating Agency to the effect that they have applied certain procedures agreed
upon with the Servicer and examined certain documents relating to the
servicing of Accounts under this Agreement and each Supplement and that, on
the basis of such agreed upon procedures, such firm is of the opinion that
the Servicer's assertion regarding the effectiveness of the internal control
structure in effect on the date of such statement is fairly presented. Such
report shall set forth the agreed upon procedures performed. Any findings
or exceptions, except for such exceptions believed to be immaterial as a
result of the performance of such procedures, shall be set forth in such
report. A copy of such report shall be delivered to each Investor
Certificateholder by the Servicer and to each Enhancement Provider, if any,
entitled thereto pursuant to the relevant Supplement.
(b) On or before the 120th day following the end of each
Transferor Fiscal Year, beginning with the Transferor Fiscal Year ending in
calendar year 1998, the Servicer shall cause a firm of nationally recognized
independent public accountants (who may also render other services to the
Servicer or the Transferor) to furnish a report to the Trustee, the Servicer
and each Rating Agency to the effect that they have applied certain
procedures agreed upon with the Servicer to compare the mathematical calcu-
lations of certain amounts set forth in the Settlement Statement delivered
pursuant to Section 3.4(c) during the period covered by such report with the
Servicer's computer reports which were the source of such amounts and that
on the basis of such agreed upon procedures and comparison, such accountants
are of the opinion that such amounts are in agreement, except for such
exceptions as they believe to be immaterial and such other exceptions as
shall be set forth in such statement. A copy of such report shall be
delivered to each Enhancement Provider, if any, entitled thereto pursuant to
the relevant Supplement.
(c) A copy of each certificate and report provided pursuant to
Section 3.4(c), 3.5 or 3.6 may be obtained by any Investor Certificateholder
or Certificate Owner by a request to the Trustee addressed to the Corporate
Trust Office.
Section 3.7. Tax Treatment. The Transferor has entered into
this Agreement, and the Certificates will be issued with the intention that,
unless otherwise specified in any Supplement, for Federal, state and local
income and franchise tax purposes, the Investor Certificates (except any
Certificates held by the Transferor) of each Series will qualify as debt
secured by the Receivables. The Transferor, by entering into this Agree-
ment, each Certificateholder, by the acceptance of its Certificate (and each
Certificate Owner, by its acceptance of an interest in the applicable
Certificate), agree to treat the Investor Certificates for Federal, state
and local income and franchise tax purposes as debt. Each Holder of an
Investor Certificate agrees that it will cause any Certificate Owner
acquiring an interest in an Investor Certificate through it to comply with
this Agreement as to treatment as debt under applicable tax law, as
described in this Section 3.7. Furthermore, subject to Section 11.11 or
unless the Transferor shall determine that the filing of returns is
appropriate, the Trustee shall treat the Trust as a security device only and
shall not file tax returns or obtain an employer identification number on
behalf of the Trust and none of the parties hereto shall make the election
provided for in Treasury Regulation Section 301.7701-3(c).
Section 3.8. Notices to Pier 1. If Pier 1 is no longer acting
as Servicer, any Successor Servicer shall deliver to Pier 1 each certificate
and report required to be provided thereafter pursuant to Section 3.4(c),
3.5 or 3.6.
Section 3.9. Adjustments. (a) If the Servicer adjusts
downward the amount of any Receivable because of a rebate, refund, unau-
thorized charge or billing error to an accountholder, or because such
Receivable was created in respect of merchandise which was refused or
returned by an accountholder, or if the Servicer otherwise adjusts downward
the amount of any Receivable without receiving Collections therefor or
charging off such amount as uncollectible, then, in any such case, the
amount of Principal Receivables will be reduced by the amount of the
adjustment. Similarly, the amount of Principal Receivables will be reduced
by the product of one minus the Finance Charge Receivable Factor and the
amount of any Receivable which was a fraudulent or counterfeit charge or
with respect to which the covenant of the Transferor contained in Section
2.7(b) has been breached. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Collection
with respect to such Receivables, the balances of which have been adjusted
downward, which would otherwise have been treated as Collections of Princi-
pal Receivables shall be treated as Collections of Principal Receivables.
Any adjustment required as provided above shall be made on or prior to the
end of the Monthly Period in which such adjustment obligation arises. If,
following the exclusion of such Principal Receivables from the calculation
of the Transferor Amount, the Transferor Amount (excluding the interest
represented by any Supplemental Certificate) would otherwise be less than
the Minimum Transferor Amount, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City
time, on the Distribution Date following the Monthly Period in which such
adjustment obligation arises, the Transferor shall pay to the Servicer for
deposit into the Excess Funding Account in immediately available funds in an
amount equal to the amount by which the Transferor Amount (excluding the
interest represented by any Supplemental Certificate) would otherwise be
less than the Minimum Transferor Amount (up to the amount of such Principal
Receivables) (any such payment, an "Adjustment Payment"). Any amount depos-
ited into the Excess Funding Account pursuant to the preceding sentence
shall be considered Principal Collections and shall be applied in accordance
with Article IV and the terms of each Supplement; provided, however, that
any amounts paid by the Transferor pursuant to the preceding sentence after
the time period specified therein, to the extent of any related Adjustment
Payment Shortfall, shall not be deposited in the Excess Funding Account but
shall be considered Finance Charge Collections and shall be applied in
accordance with Article IV and the Supplement.
(b) If (i) the Servicer makes a deposit into the Collection
Account in respect of a Collection of a Receivable and such Collection was
received by the Servicer in the form of a check which is not honored for any
reason or (ii) the Servicer makes a mistake with respect to the amount of
any Collection and deposits an amount that is less than or more than the
actual amount of such Collection, the Servicer shall appropriately adjust
the amount subsequently deposited into the Collection Account to reflect
such dishonored check or mistake. Any Receivable in respect of which a
dishonored check is received shall be deemed not to have been paid.
Notwithstanding the first two sentences of this paragraph, any adjustments
made pursuant to this paragraph will be reflected in a current report but
will not change any amount of Collections previously reported pursuant to
subsection 3.4(c).
<PAGE>
ARTICLE IV
Rights of Certificateholders and
Allocation and Application of Collections
Section 4.1. Rights of Certificateholders. The Investor
Certificates shall represent fractional undivided interests in the Trust,
which, with respect to each Series, shall consist of the right to receive,
to the extent necessary to make the required payments with respect to the
Investor Certificates of such Series at the times and in the amounts
specified in the related Supplement, (a) the portion of Collections
allocable to Investor Certificateholders of such Series pursuant to this
Agreement and such Supplement and (b) funds on deposit in the Collection
Account, the Principal Account and the Finance Charge Account allocable to
Certificateholders of such Series pursuant to this Agreement and such
Supplement, funds on deposit in any related Series Account and funds avail-
able pursuant to any related Enhancement (collectively, with respect to all
Series, the "Certificateholders' Interest"), it being understood that,
unless otherwise specified in the Supplement with respect to such Series,
the Investor Certificates of any Series or Class shall not represent any
interest in any Series Account or Enhancement for the benefit of any other
Series or Class. The Exchangeable Transferor Certificate shall represent
the ownership interest in the remainder of the Trust Assets not allocated,
pursuant to this Agreement, any Supplement or any Participation Supplement,
to the Certificateholders' Interest or any Participation, respectively,
including the right to receive Collections with respect to the Receivables
and other amounts at the times and in the amounts specified in this Agree-
ment or any Supplement to be paid to the Transferor on behalf of the Holder
of the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate (the "Transferor's Interest");
provided, however, that the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate shall not
represent any interest in the Collection Account, the Principal Account, the
Finance Charge Account, any Series Account or any Enhancement, except as
specifically provided in this Agreement or any Supplement.
Section 4.2. Establishment of Collection Account, Finance
Charge Account, Principal Account and Excess Funding Account. The Servicer,
for the benefit of the Certificateholders, shall establish and maintain in
the name of the Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, four Eligible Deposit
Accounts bearing a designation clearly indicating that the funds deposited
therein are held for the benefit of the Certificateholders (the "Collection
Account," the "Principal Account," the "Finance Charge Account" and the
"Distribution Account," respectively). Each of the Collection Account, the
Principal Account, the Finance Charge Account and the Distribution Account
shall initially be established with the Trustee. The Trustee shall possess
all right, title and interest in all funds on deposit from time to time in
the Collection Account, the Principal Account, the Finance Charge Account
and the Distribution Account and in all proceeds thereof for the benefit of
the Certificateholders. Each of the Collection Account, the Principal
Account, the Finance Charge Account and the Distribution Account shall be
under the sole dominion and control of the Trustee for the benefit of the
Certificateholders. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, the
Servicer agrees that it shall have no right of set-off or banker's lien
against, and no right to otherwise deduct from, any funds held in the
Collection Account, the Principal Account, the Finance Charge Account or the
Distribution Account for any amount owed to it by the Trustee, the Trust,
any Certificateholder or any Enhancement Provider. If at any time the
Collection Account, Principal Account, Finance Charge Account or
Distribution Account ceases to be an Eligible Deposit Account, the Trustee
(or the Servicer on its behalf) shall within 10 Business Days (or such
longer period, not to exceed 30 calendar days, as to which each Rating
Agency may consent) establish a new Collection Account, Principal Account,
Finance Charge Account or Distribution Account, as applicable, meeting the
conditions specified above, transfer any cash or any investments to such new
Collection Account, Principal Account, Finance Charge Account or
Distribution Account, as applicable, and from the date such new account is
established, it shall be the "Collection Account," "Principal Account," "Fi-
nance Charge Account" or "Distribution Account," as applicable.
Funds on deposit in the Principal Account and the Finance
Charge Account shall at the written direction of the Servicer or the
Transferor be invested by the Trustee in Cash Equivalents selected by the
Servicer or the Transferor. All such Cash Equivalents shall be held by the
Trustee for the benefit of the Certificateholders. The Trustee shall main-
tain for the benefit of the Certificateholders possession of the negotiable
instruments or certificated securities, if any, evidencing such Cash
Equivalents. Investments of funds in the Principal Account or the Finance
Charge Account representing Collections collected during any Monthly Period
shall be invested in Cash Equivalents that will convert or be convertible
into cash so that all funds will be available at the close of business on
the Transfer Date following such Monthly Period. No Cash Equivalent shall
be disposed of prior to its maturity; provided, however, that the Trustee
may sell, liquidate or dispose of a Cash Equivalent before its maturity, at
the written direction of the Servicer, if such sale, liquidation or disposal
would not result in a loss of all or part of the principal portion of such
Cash Equivalent or if, prior to the maturity of such Cash Equivalent, a
default occurs in the payment of principal, interest or any other amount
with respect to such Cash Equivalent. On each Distribution Date, all inter-
est and other investment earnings (net of losses and investment expenses) on
funds on deposit in the Principal Account and the Finance Charge Account
shall be treated as Collections of Finance Charge Receivables with respect
to the last day of the related Monthly Period, except as otherwise specified
in any Supplement. For purposes of determining the balances in the
Principal Account (which are available for distribution to
Certificateholders) under this Agreement, all investment earnings net of
investment expenses and losses on such funds shall be deemed not to be on
deposit (or available for distribution).
The Servicer, for the benefit of the Certificateholders, shall
establish and maintain in the name of the Trustee, on behalf of the Trust,
an Eligible Deposit Account bearing a designation clearly indicating that
the funds deposited therein are held for the benefit of the
Certificateholders (the "Excess Funding Account"). The Excess Funding
Account shall initially be established with the Trustee. The Trustee shall
possess all right, title and interest in all funds on deposit from time to
time in the Excess Funding Account and in all proceeds thereof. The Excess
Funding Account shall be under the sole dominion and control of the Trustee
for the benefit of the Certificateholders. Except as expressly provided in
this Agreement, the Servicer agrees that it shall have no right of set-off
or banker's lien against, and no right to otherwise deduct from, any funds
held in the Excess Funding Account for any amount owed to it by the Trustee,
the Trust, any Certificateholder or any Enhancement Provider. If, at any
time, the Excess Funding Account ceases to be an Eligible Deposit Account,
the Trustee (or the Servicer on its behalf) shall within 10 Business Days
(or such longer period, not to exceed 30 calendar days, as to which each
Rating Agency may consent) establish a new Excess Funding Account meeting
the conditions specified above, transfer any cash or any investments to such
new Excess Funding Account and from the date such new Excess Funding Account
is established, it shall be the "Excess Funding Account."
Funds on deposit in the Excess Funding Account shall at the
written direction of the Servicer or the Transferor be invested by the
Trustee in Cash Equivalents selected by the Servicer or the Transferor. All
such Cash Equivalents shall be held by the Trustee for the benefit of the
Certificateholders. The Trustee shall maintain for the benefit of the
Certificateholders possession of the negotiable instruments or certificated
securities, if any, evidencing such Cash Equivalents. Funds on deposit in
the Excess Funding Account on any day will be invested in Cash Equivalents
that will convert or be convertible into cash so that all funds will be
available at the close of business on the next Business Day. No Cash
Equivalent shall be disposed of prior to its maturity; provided, however,
that the Trustee may sell, liquidate or dispose of a Cash Equivalent before
its maturity, at the written direction of the Servicer, if such sale,
liquidation or disposal would not result in a loss of all or part of the
principal portion of such Cash Equivalent or if, prior to the maturity of
such Cash Equivalent, a default occurs, in the payment of principal,
interest or any other amount with respect to such Cash Equivalent. Funds
deposited in the Excess Funding Account on a Transfer Date with respect to
the next following Distribution Date are not required to be invested
overnight. On each Distribution Date, all interest and other investment
earnings (net of losses and investment expenses) on funds on deposit in the
Excess Funding Account shall be treated as Collections of Finance Charge
Receivables with respect to the last day of the related Monthly Period
except as otherwise specified in the related Supplement. Unless otherwise
directed by the Servicer, funds on deposit in the Excess Funding Account
will be withdrawn and paid to the Holder of the Exchangeable Transferor
Certificate or such other Person as may be specified in a Supplement on any
Business Day to the extent that the Transferor Amount [(excluding the inter-
est represented by any Supplemental Certificate)] would otherwise exceed the
Minimum Transferor Amount on such date. On any Transfer Date on which one
or more Series is in a Controlled Accumulation Period or Amortization
Period, the Servicer shall determine the aggregate amounts of Principal
Shortfalls, if any, with respect to each such Series that is a Principal
Sharing Series (after giving effect to the allocation and payment provisions
in the Supplement with respect to each such Series), and the Servicer shall
instruct the Trustee to withdraw such amount (up to the amount on deposit in
the Excess Funding Account) on the succeeding Distribution Date and allocate
such amount among each such Series as specified in each related Supplement;
provided, however, that funds shall only be withdrawn from the Excess
Funding Account for allocation to cover such Principal Shortfalls if, and to
the extent, that such allocation will not result in the reduction of the
Transferor Amount (excluding the interest represented by any Supplemental
Certificate) to an amount below the Minimum Transferor Amount. For purposes
of determining the balances (which are available for distribution to
Certificateholders) in the Excess Funding Account for any reason under this
Agreement, all investment earnings net of investment expenses and losses on
such funds shall be deemed not to be on deposit (or available for
distribution).
Each of the Principal Account, the Finance Charge Account and
the Excess Funding Account and each Series Account shall be established at a
depository institution which agrees in writing as follows: (i) all money,
securities, instruments and other property credited to any such account
shall be treated as "financial assets" within the meaning of Section 8-
102(a)(9) of the 1994 Official Text of the Uniform Commercial Code and (ii)
such depository institution will comply with "entitlement orders" (within
the meaning of Section 8-1029(a)(8) of the 1994 Official Text of the Uniform
Commercial Code) issued by the Trustee and relating to such account without
further consent by the Transferor or any other person.
Section 4.3. Collections and Allocations. (a) The Servicer
will instruct the Trustee to apply all funds on deposit in the Collection
Account as described in this Article IV and in each Supplement. Except as
otherwise provided below and in each Supplement, the Servicer shall deposit
Collections into the Collection Account no later than the second Business
Day following the Date of Processing of such Collections. Subject to the
express terms of any Supplement, but notwithstanding anything else in this
Agreement to the contrary, if Pier 1 or an Affiliate of Pier 1 remains the
Servicer and (x) for so long as Pier 1 maintains a short-term debt rating of
"F-1" or better by Fitch and "P-1" or better by Moody's (or such other
rating below "F-1" or "P-1", as the case may be, which is satisfactory to
each Rating Agency), or (y) Pier 1 has provided to the Trustee a letter of
credit covering collection risk of the Servicer acceptable to each Rating
Agency (as evidenced by a letter from each Rating Agency to the effect that
the Rating Agency Condition has been satisfied), the Servicer need not make
the daily deposits of Collections into the Collection Account as provided in
the preceding sentence, but may make a single deposit in the Collection
Account in immediately available funds not later than 11:00 a.m., New York
City time, on the related Transfer Date.
(b) On each Business Day for all purposes of this Agreement
and each Supplement, the Servicer shall allocate all Collections received
for any period between Finance Charge Collections and Principal Collections.
Such Collections shall be allocated on each Business Day such that the sum
of (i) the product of (x) such Collections received with respect to such
Business Day minus Recoveries on such Business Day and (y) the sum of the
Yield Factor and the Discount Percentage in effect with respect to such
Business Day and (ii) any investment earnings with respect to amounts on
deposit in the Excess Funding Account on such Business Day and (iii)
Recoveries on such Business Day shall be considered Finance Charge Collec-
tions and the remainder of such Collections shall be considered Principal
Collections. With respect to each day during each Monthly Period, (i)
Collections of Finance Charge Receivables will be allocated to the
Certificateholders' Interest of each Series, and (ii) Collections of
Principal Receivables will be allocated to the Certificateholders' Interest
of each Series, each as set forth in the Supplement related to such Series.
On each Determination Date, the Servicer shall determine the
aggregate amount of Finance Charge Collections and Principal Collections for
the preceding Monthly Period determined in each case in accordance with
clause (y) of the respective definitions thereof. If, with respect to any
Monthly Period, the aggregate amount of Finance Charge Collections for each
Business Day in such Monthly Period, determined in accordance with clause
(x) of the definition of Finance Charge Collections, exceeds the amount of
Finance Charge Collections for such Monthly Period, determined in accordance
with clause (y) of the definition of Finance Charge Collections, the amount
of such excess shall be treated as Principal Collections with respect to
such Monthly Period. If, with respect to any Monthly Period, the aggregate
amount of Finance Charge Collections for each Business Day in such Monthly
Period, determined in accordance with clause (x) of the definition of
Finance Charge Collections, is less than the amount of Finance Charge
Collections for such Monthly Period, determined in accordance with clause
(y) of the definition of Finance Charge Collections, amounts initially
allocated as Principal Collections in an amount equal to such shortfall
shall be treated as Finance Charge Collections with respect to such Monthly
Period. On each Determination Date following any adjustment to the total
amount of Finance Charge Collections and Principal Collections as described
above, the Servicer shall determine the aggregate amount which would have
been deposited in the Finance Charge Account and the Principal Account for
each Series with respect to the preceding Monthly Period in accordance with
the provisions of each Supplement if Collections had been allocated on such
adjusted basis. If the amount on deposit in the Finance Charge Account on
any Determination Date with respect to the preceding Monthly Period is less
than the amount that would have been deposited therein had Collections been
allocated on such adjusted basis, the Trustee, at the written direction of
the Servicer, shall deposit in the Finance Charge Account the amount of such
shortfall first from amounts on deposit in the Principal Account to the
extent that any such amounts would not have been deposited therein had
Collections been allocated on such adjusted basis and second from the
Transferor to the extent of amounts paid to the Transferor during such
Monthly Period which would otherwise have been deposited in the Finance
Charge Account had Collections been allocated on such adjusted basis. If
the amount on deposit in the Principal Account on any Determination Date
with respect to the preceding Monthly Period is less than the amount that
would have been deposited therein had Collections been allocated on such
adjusted basis, the Trustee, at the written direction of the Servicer, shall
deposit in the Principal Account the amount of such shortfall first from
amounts on deposit in the Finance Charge Account to the extent that any such
amounts would not have been deposited therein had Collections been allocated
on such adjusted basis and second from the Transferor to the extent of
amounts paid to the Transferor during such Monthly Period which would
otherwise have been deposited in the Principal Account had Collections been
allocated on such adjusted basis.
(c) Throughout the existence of the Trust, unless otherwise
stated in any Supplement, the Servicer shall allocate to the Holder of the
Exchangeable Transferor Certificate an amount equal to the product of (A)
the Transferor's Percentage and (B) the aggregate amount of such Collections
allocated to Principal Receivables and Finance Charge Receivables,
respectively, in respect of each Monthly Period; provided, however, that, if
the Transferor Amount (determined after giving effect to any payment of such
allocated amount and any Principal Receivables transferred to the Trust on
such date and excluding the interest represented by any Supplemental
Certificate), would otherwise be less than or equal to the Minimum Tra-
nsferor Amount, the Servicer will not distribute to the Holder of the
Exchangeable Transferor Certificate any such allocated amounts that other-
wise would be distributed to the Holder of the Exchangeable Transferor
Certificate, but shall deposit such funds in the Excess Funding Account.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, unless otherwise
stated in any Supplement, the Servicer need not deposit this amount or any
other amounts so allocated to the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate
pursuant to any Supplement into the Collection Account and shall pay, or be
deemed to pay, such amounts as collected to the Holder of the Exchangeable
Transferor Certificate.
The payments to be made to the Holder of the Exchangeable
Transferor Certificate pursuant to this Section 4.3(c) do not apply to
deposits to the Collection Account or other amounts that do not represent
Collections, including payment of the purchase price for Receivables
pursuant to Section 2.6 or 10.1, proceeds from the sale, disposition or
liquidation of Receivables pursuant to Section 9.2 or 12.2 or payment of the
purchase price for the Certificateholders' Interest of a specific Series
pursuant to the related Supplement.
(d) Throughout the existence of
the Trust, unless otherwise stated in any Participation Supplement, the
Servicer shall allocate to the holders of any Participations an amount equal
to the product of (A) the related Participation Percentage and (B) the
aggregate amount of such Collections allocated to Principal Receivables,
Finance Charge Receivables and Recoveries, respectively, and the aggregate
Defaulted Amount, in each case, in respect of each Monthly Period. Notwith-
standing anything in this Agreement to the contrary, unless otherwise stated
in any Participation Supplement, the Servicer need not deposit these amounts
or any other amounts so allocated to any Participation pursuant to any
Participation Supplement into the Collection Account and shall pay such
amounts as collected to the holder of the related Participation.
The payments to be made to the holder of any Participation
pursuant to this Section 4.3(d) do not apply to deposits to the Collection
Account or other amounts that do not represent Collections, including
payment of the purchase price for Receivables pursuant to Section 2.6 or
10.1, proceeds from the sale, disposition or liquidation of Receivables
pursuant to Section 9.2 or 12.2 or payment of the purchase price for the
Certificateholders' Interest of a specific Series pursuant to the related
Supplement.
Section 4.4. Shared Principal Collections. On each Business
Day, (a) the Servicer shall allocate Shared Principal Collections to each
Principal Sharing Series, pro rata, in proportion to the Principal
Shortfalls, if any, with respect to each such Series, and any remainder may,
at the option of the Transferor, be applied as principal with respect to any
Variable Funding Certificate and (b) the Servicer shall instruct the Trustee
to withdraw from the Collection Account or the Excess Funding Account and
pay to the Holder of the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate an amount equal
to the excess, if any, of (x) the sum of the aggregate amount for all out-
standing Series which the related Supplements or this Agreement specify are
to be treated as "Shared Principal Collections" for such Distribution Date
plus the amount of any payment received by the Trustee from the holder of
any Participation with respect to the purchase of a Participation or any
increases in the principal amount of such Participation (such sum to be
treated for purposes of this Agreement as "Shared Principal Collections")
over (y) the aggregate amount for all outstanding Principal Sharing Series
which the related Supplements specify are "Principal Shortfalls," for such
Business Day; provided, however, that, if, on any Business Day the Trans-
feror Amount (determined after giving effect to any Principal Receivables
transferred to the Trust on such date) would otherwise be less than or equal
to the Minimum Transferor Amount, the Servicer will not distribute to the
Holder of the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate any Shared Principal
Collections that otherwise would be distributed to the Holder of the Ex-
changeable Transferor Certificate, but shall deposit such funds in the
Excess Funding Account.
Section 4.5. Excess Finance Charge Collections. On each
Business Day, (a) for each Group the Servicer shall apply the aggregate
amount for all outstanding Series in such Group of the amounts which the
related Supplements specify are to be treated as "Excess Finance Charge
Collections" for such Business Day to each Series in such Group, pro rata,
in proportion to the aggregate amount for all outstanding Series which the
related Supplements specify are "Finance Charge Shortfalls", if any, with
respect to each such Series, and (b) the Servicer shall withdraw (or shall
instruct the Trustee to withdraw) from the Collection Account and pay to the
Holder of the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate an amount equal to the
excess, if any, of (x) the aggregate amount for all outstanding Series in a
Group of the amounts which the related Supplements specify are to be treated
as "Excess Finance Charge Collections" for such Distribution Date over (y)
the aggregate amount for all outstanding Series in such Group which the
related Supplements specify are "Finance Charge Shortfalls" for such
Distribution Date; provided, however, that the sharing of Excess Finance
Charge Collections among Series in a Group will continue only until such
time, if any, at which the Transferor shall deliver to the Trustee an
Officer's Certificate to the effect that, in the reasonable belief of the
Transferor, the continued sharing of Excess Finance Charge Collections among
Series in any Group would have adverse regulatory implications with respect
to the Transferor. Following the delivery by the Transferor of such an
Officer's Certificate to the Trustee, there will not be any further sharing
of Excess Finance Charge Collections among Series in any Group.
Section 4.6. Allocations During Funding Period. To the extent
that the Servicer establishes an Eligible Deposit Account as a pre-funding
account (the "Pre-Funding Account") with respect to any Series, bearing a
designation indicating that the funds deposited therein are for the benefit
of such Series, during the period (the "Funding Period"), as set forth in
the related Supplement, that the Pre-Funding Account maintains a balance,
the date upon which an increase in the Invested Amount of such Series in
accordance with the terms of such related Supplement occurs shall be treated
as an Addition Date solely for the purpose of calculating the Investor
Percentages. Such Addition Date shall be deemed to occur on the date of
each such increase and the Floating Allocation Percentages shall be calcu-
lated accordingly.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE V
Distributions and Reports to
Certificateholders
Distributions shall be made to, and reports shall be provided
to, Certificateholders as set forth in the applicable Supplement.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE VI
The Certificates
Section 6.1. The Certificates. The Investor Certificates of
any Series or Class may be issued in bearer form ("Bearer Certificates")
with attached interest coupons and any other applicable coupon
(collectively, the "Coupons") or in fully registered form ("Registered
Certificates") and shall be substantially in the form of the exhibits with
respect thereto attached to the applicable Supplement. The Exchangeable
Transferor Certificate will be issued in registered form, substantially in
the form of Exhibit A, and shall upon issue, be executed and delivered by
the Transferor to the Trustee for authentication and redelivery as provided
in Section 6.2. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Participation
Supplement, each Participation shall be uncertificated. Each Supplemental
Certificate shall be either issued in registered form or shall be
uncertificated, in either case as specified in the applicable Supplement.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.3 or in any Supplement, Bearer
Certificates shall be issued in minimum denominations of $5,000 and
Registered Certificates shall be issued in minimum denominations of $1,000
and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof and shall be subject
to the terms specified in the applicable Supplement. If specified in any
Supplement, the Investor Certificates of any Series or Class shall be issued
upon initial issuance as a single certificate evidencing the aggregate
original principal amount of such Series or Class as described in Section
6.13. The Exchangeable Transferor Certificate shall initially be a single
certificate and shall initially represent the entire Transferor Interest.
Each Certificate shall be executed by manual or facsimile signature on
behalf of the Transferor by its President or any Vice President. Certifi-
cates bearing the manual or facsimile signature of an individual who was, at
the time when such signature was affixed, authorized to sign on behalf of
the Transferor shall not be rendered invalid, notwithstanding that such
individual ceased to be so authorized prior to the authentication and
delivery of such Certificates or does not hold such office at the date of
such Certificates. No Certificates shall be entitled to any benefit under
this Agreement, or be valid for any purpose, unless there appears on such
Certificate a certificate of authentication substantially in the form
provided for herein executed by or on behalf of the Trustee by the manual
signature of a duly authorized signatory, and such certificate of
authentication upon any Certificate shall be conclusive evidence, and the
only evidence, that such Certificate has been duly authenticated and
delivered hereunder. Bearer Certificates shall be dated the Closing Date.
All Registered Certificates and the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate
shall be dated the date of their authentication.
Section 6.2. Authentication of Certificates. The Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver the Investor Certificates of each Series and
Class that are issued upon original issuance to or upon the order of the
Transferor against payment to the Transferor of the purchase price therefor.
The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Exchangeable Transferor
Certificate to the Transferor simultaneously with its delivery of the Inves-
tor Certificates of the first Series to be issued hereunder. If specified
in the related Supplement for any Series or Class, the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver outside the United States the Global Certificate
that is issued upon original issuance thereof.
Section 6.3. New Issuances. (a) The Transferor may from time
to time direct the Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, to authenticate one or
more new Series of Investor Certificates. The Investor Certificates of all
outstanding Series shall be equally and ratably entitled as provided herein
to the benefits of this Agreement without preference, priority or
distinction, all in accordance with the terms and provisions of this
Agreement and the applicable Supplement except, with respect to any Series
or Class, as provided in the related Supplement.
(b) On or before the Closing Date relating to any new Series,
the parties hereto will execute and deliver a Supplement which will specify
the Principal Terms of such new Series. The terms of such Supplement may
modify or amend the terms of this Agreement solely as applied to such new
Series. The obligation of the Trustee to authenticate the Investor
Certificates of such new Series and to execute and deliver the related
Supplement is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions;
provided, however, that the conditions set forth in clauses (i), (iii), (iv)
and (v) shall not be applicable to the issuance of the first Series of
Investor Certificates:
(i) on or before the tenth
Business Day immediately preceding the Closing Date, the Transferor shall
have given the Trustee, the Servicer, each Rating Agency and any
Enhancement Provider entitled thereto pursuant to the relevant Supplement
notice of such issuance and the Closing Date;
(ii) the Transferor shall
have delivered to the Trustee the related Supplement, executed by each
party hereto other than the Trustee;
(iii) the Transferor shall
have delivered to the Trustee any related Enhancement Agreement executed by
each of the parties thereto, other than the Trustee;
(iv) the Rating Agency
Condition shall have been satisfied with respect to such issuance;
(v) the Transferor shall have
delivered to the Trustee and any Enhancement Provider entitled thereto
pursuant to the relevant Supplement an Officer's Certificate, dated the
Series Issuance Date, to the effect that the Transferor reasonably believes
that such issuance will not, based on the facts known to such officer at
the time of such certification, then or thereafter cause a Pay Out Event to
occur with respect to any Series;
(vi) the Transferor shall
have delivered to the Trustee and each Rating Agency a Tax Opinion, dated
the Closing Date, with respect to such issuance and an Opinion of Counsel
substantially to the effect that the Transferor was duly incorporated and
is validly existing and that the Investor Certificates of such Series, when
executed, authenticated, delivered and paid for, will be duly and validly
issued and outstanding; and
(vii) the Transferor Amount
(excluding the interest represented by any Supplemental Certificate) shall
not be less than the Minimum Transferor Amount, as of the Closing Date and
after giving effect to such issuance.
Upon satisfaction of the above conditions, the Trustee shall execute the
Supplement and authenticate the Investor Certificates of such Series upon
execution thereof by the Transferor.
(c) The Transferor may surrender
the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate to the Trustee in exchange for a
newly issued Exchangeable Transferor Certificate and one or more additional
certificates (each a "Supplemental Certificate"), the terms of which shall
be defined in a Supplement (which Supplement shall be subject to Section
13.1(a) to the extent that it amends any of the terms of this Agreement), to
be delivered to or upon the order of the Transferor (or the Holder of a
Supplemental Certificate, in the case of the transfer or exchange thereof,
as provided below), upon satisfaction of the following conditions:
(i) the Transferor Amount
(excluding the interest represented by any Supplemental Certificate) shall
not be less than the Minimum Transferor Amount, as of the date of, and
after giving effect to, such exchange;
(ii) the Rating Agency
Condition shall have been satisfied with respect to such exchange (or
transfer or exchange as provided below); and
(iii) the Transferor shall
have delivered to the Trustee and each Rating Agency a Tax Opinion, dated
the date of such exchange (or transfer or exchange as provided below), with
respect thereto.
Any Supplemental Certificate may be transferred or exchanged only upon
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in clauses (ii) and (iii) above.
(d) The Exchangeable Transferor Certificate (or any interest
therein) may be transferred to a Person which is a member of the "affiliated
group" as defined in Code Section 1504(a) of which Pier 1 Funding is a
member without the consent or approval of the Holders of the Investor
Certificates, provided that (i) the Rating Agency Condition shall have been
satisfied with respect to such transfer and the Transferor shall have
delivered to the Trustee and each Rating Agency, (ii) a Tax Opinion, dated
the date of such transfer, with respect thereto, and (iii) the Transferor
Amount (excluding the interest represented by any Supplemental Certificate)
shall not be less than the Minimum Transferor Amount. In connection with
any such transfer, the Person to whom the Exchangeable Transferor Certifi-
cate is transferred will, by its acquisition and holding of an interest in
the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate, assume all of the rights and
obligations of the Transferor as described in this Agreement and in any
Supplement or amendment thereto (including the right under this subsection
(d) with respect to subsequent transfers of an interest in the Exchangeable
Transferor Certificate).
(e) The Transferor may direct the
Trustee to issue on behalf of the Trust one or more participations (each, a
"Participation"), the terms of which shall be defined in a Participation
Supplement (the "Participation Supplement," which shall be subject to
Section 13.1(a) to the extent that it amends any of the terms of this
Agreement), to be delivered to or upon the order of the Transferor upon
satisfaction of the following conditions:
(i) the Transferor Amount
(excluding the interest represented by any Supplemental Certificate) shall
not be less than the Minimum Transferor Amount, as of the date of, and
after giving effect to, such exchange;
(ii) the Rating Agency
Condition shall have been satisfied with respect to such issuance (or
transfer as provided below); and
(iii) the Transferor shall
have delivered to the Trustee and each Rating Agency a Tax Opinion, dated
the date of such issuance (or transfer as provided below), with respect
thereto.
Any Participation may be transferred or exchanged only upon satisfaction of
the conditions set forth in clauses (ii) and (iii) above. The Trustee, at
the direction of the Transferor, may agree to extend the term of any
Participation. Any payments made by the holder of any Participation and re-
ceived by the Trustee with respect to the purchase of any Participation or
the increase in the principal amount of the Participation shall be treated
as Collections of Principal Receivables pursuant to subsection 4.4.
Section 6.4. Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Certifi-
cates. (a) The Trustee shall cause to be kept at the office or agency to
be maintained in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.16 a register
(the "Certificate Register") in which, subject to such reasonable
regulations as it may prescribe, a transfer agent and registrar (which may
be the Trustee) (the "Transfer Agent and Registrar") shall provide for the
registration of the Registered Certificates and of transfers and exchanges
of the Registered Certificates as herein provided. The Transfer Agent and
Registrar shall initially be Texas Commerce Bank National Association, and
any co-transfer agent and co-registrar chosen by the Transferor and
acceptable to the Trustee, including, if and so long as any Series or Class
is listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and such exchange shall so
require, a co-transfer agent and co-registrar in Luxembourg or another
western European city. So long as any Investor Certificates are outstand-
ing, the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall maintain an office in New York
City or the Transferor shall appoint a co-transfer agent and co-registrar in
New York City. Any reference in this Agreement to the Transfer Agent and
Registrar shall include any co-transfer agent and co-registrar unless the
context requires otherwise.
The Trustee may revoke such appointment and remove any Transfer
Agent and Registrar if the Trustee determines in its sole discretion that
such Transfer Agent and Registrar failed to perform its obligations under
this Agreement in any material respect. Any Transfer Agent and Registrar
shall be permitted to resign as Transfer Agent and Registrar upon 30 days'
notice to the Transferor, the Trustee and the Servicer; provided, however,
that such resignation shall not be effective and such Transfer Agent and
Registrar shall continue to perform its duties as Transfer Agent and
Registrar until the Trustee has appointed a successor Transfer Agent and
Registrar reasonably acceptable to the Transferor.
Subject to paragraph (c) below, upon surrender for registration
of transfer of any Registered Certificate at any office or agency of the
Transfer Agent and Registrar maintained for such purpose, one or more new
Registered Certificates (of the same Series and Class) in authorized
denominations of like aggregate fractional undivided interests in the
Certificateholders' Interest shall be executed, authenticated and delivered,
in the name of the designated transferee or transferees.
At the option of a Registered Certificateholder, Registered
Certificates (of the same Series and Class) may be exchanged for other
Registered Certificates of authorized denominations of like aggregate
fractional undivided interests in the Certificateholders' Interest, upon
surrender of the Registered Certificates to be exchanged at any such office
or agency; Registered Certificates, including Registered Certificates
received in exchange for Bearer Certificates, may not be exchanged for
Bearer Certificates. At the option of the Holder of a Bearer Certificate,
subject to applicable laws and regulations, Bearer Certificates may be
exchanged for other Bearer Certificates or Registered Certificates (of the
same Series and Class) of authorized denominations of like aggregate
fractional undivided interests in the Certificateholders' Interest, upon
surrender of the Bearer Certificates to be exchanged at an office or agency
of the Transfer Agent and Registrar located outside the United States. Each
Bearer Certificate surrendered pursuant to this Section shall have attached
thereto all unmatured Coupons; provided that any Bearer Certificate, so
surrendered after the close of business on the Record Date preceding the
relevant payment date or distribution date after the expected final payment
date need not have attached the Coupon relating to such payment date or
distribution date (in each case, as specified in the applicable Supplement).
Whenever any Investor Certificates are so surrendered for ex-
change, the Transferor shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and the
Transfer Agent and Registrar shall deliver (in the case of Bearer
Certificates, outside the United States) the Investor Certificates which the
Investor Certificateholder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
Every Investor Certificate presented or surrendered for registration of
transfer or exchange shall be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in a form satisfactory to the Trustee or the Transfer Agent and
Registrar duly executed by the Investor Certificateholder or the attorney-
in-fact thereof duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of trans-
fer or exchange of Investor Certificates, but the Transfer Agent and
Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any such transfer
or exchange.
All Investor Certificates (together with any Coupons)
surrendered for registration of transfer and exchange or for payment shall
be canceled and disposed of in a manner satisfactory to the Trustee. The
Trustee shall cancel and destroy any Global Certificate upon its exchange in
full for Definitive Euro-Certificates and shall deliver a certificate of
destruction to the Transferor. Such certificate shall also state that a
certificate or certificates of a Foreign Clearing Agency to the effect
referred to in Section 6.13 was received with respect to each portion of the
Global Certificate exchanged for Definitive Euro-Certificates.
The Transferor shall execute and deliver to the Trustee Bearer
Certificates and Registered Certificates in such amounts and at such times
as are necessary to enable the Trustee to fulfill its responsibilities under
this Agreement, each Supplement and the Certificates.
(b) The Transfer Agent and Registrar will maintain at its
expense in the City of New York and, if and so long as any Series or Class
is listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, Luxembourg, an office or agency
where Investor Certificates may be surrendered for registration of transfer
or exchange (except that Bearer Certificates may not be surrendered for
exchange at any such office or agency in the United States).
(c) (i) Registration of transfer of Investor Certificates
containing (x) a legend substantially to the effect set forth on Exhibit E-
1-A shall be effected only if such transfer is made pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Act or is exempt from the
registration requirements under the Act and (y) a legend substantially to
the effect set forth on Exhibit E-1-B shall be effected only if such
transfer is made to a Person that is not (i) an employee benefit plan (as
defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) that is subject to the provisions of
Title I of ERISA, (ii) a plan described in Section 4975(e)(1) of the Code,
(iii) a governmental plan, as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA, subject to
any federal, state or local law which is, to a material extent, similar to
the provisions of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, (iv) an
entity whose underlying assets include plan assets by reason of a plan's
investment in the entity or (v) a person investing "plan assets" of any
such plan (including for purposes of clauses (iv) and (v), any insurance
company general account, but excluding any entity registered under the In-
vestment Company Act of 1940, as amended) (each, a "Benefit Plan") unless
otherwise provided in the applicable Supplement. In the event that regis-
tration of a transfer of Investor Certificates is to be made in reliance
upon an exemption from the registration requirements under the Act, the
transferor or the transferee shall deliver, at its expense, to the Trans-
feror, the Servicer and the Trustee, an investment letter from the
transferee, substantially in the form of the investment representation
letter attached hereto as Exhibit E-2, and, with respect to Investor
Certificates other than Book-Entry Certificates, no registration of trans-
fer shall be made until such letter is so delivered.
Investor Certificates issued
upon registration or transfer of, or Investor Certificates issued in
exchange for, Investor Certificates bearing the legend referred to in
clause (y) above shall also bear such legend unless the Transferor, the
Servicer, the Trustee and the Transfer Agent and Registrar receive an
opinion of counsel, satisfactory to each of them, to the effect that such
legend may be removed.
Whenever an Investor
Certificate containing the legend referred to above is presented to the
Transfer Agent and Registrar for registration of transfer, the Transfer
Agent and Registrar shall promptly seek instructions from the Servicer
regarding such transfer and shall be entitled to receive instructions
signed by a Servicing Officer prior to registering any such transfer. The
Servicer hereby agrees to indemnify the Transfer Agent and Registrar and
the Trustee and to hold each of them harmless against any loss, liability
or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising
out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by them in relation
to any such instructions furnished pursuant to this clause (i).
(ii) Registration of transfer
of Investor Certificates containing a legend to the effect set forth on
Exhibit E-1-B shall be effected only if such transfer is made to a Person
which is not a Benefit Plan. By accepting and holding any such Investor
Certificate, an Investor Certificateholder shall be deemed to have
represented and warranted that it is not a Benefit Plan. By acquiring any
interest in a Book-Entry Certificate which contains such legend, a
Certificate Owner shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that it
is not a Benefit Plan.
Section 6.5. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
Certificates. If (a) any mutilated Certificate (together, in the case of
Bearer Certificates, with all unmatured Coupons (if any) appertaining
thereto) is surrendered to the Transfer Agent and Registrar, or the Transfer
Agent and Registrar receives evidence to its satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate and (b) there is delivered to
the Transfer Agent and Registrar and the Trustee such security or indemnity
as may be required by them to save each of them and the Transferor harmless,
then, in the absence of notice to the Trustee that such Certificate has been
acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Transferor shall execute, the Trustee
shall authenticate and the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall deliver (in
the case of Bearer Certificates, outside the United States), in exchange for
or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a
new Certificate of like tenor and aggregate fractional undivided interest.
In connection with the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section,
the Trustee or the Transfer Agent and Registrar may require the payment by
the Certificateholder of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other
expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee and Transfer Agent
and Registrar) connected therewith. Any duplicate Certificate issued
pursuant to this Section shall constitute complete and indefeasible evidence
of ownership in the Trust, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost,
stolen or destroyed Certificate shall be found at any time.
Section 6.6. Persons Deemed Owners. The Trustee, the Paying
Agent, the Transfer Agent and Registrar and any agent of any of these may
(a) prior to due presentation of a Registered Certificate for registration
of transfer, treat the Person in whose name any Registered Certificate is
registered as the owner of such Registered Certificate for the purpose of
receiving distributions pursuant to the terms of the applicable Supplement
and for all other purposes whatsoever, and (b) treat the bearer of a Bearer
Certificate or Coupon as the owner of such Bearer Certificate or Coupon for
the purpose of receiving distributions pursuant to the terms of the
applicable Supplement and for all other purposes whatsoever; and, in any
such case, neither the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent and
Registrar nor any agent of any of these shall be affected by any notice to
the contrary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in determining whether the
Holders of the requisite Investor Certificates have given any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder,
Certificates owned by the Transferor, the Servicer, any other Holder of the
Exchangeable Transferor Certificate, the Trustee or any Affiliate thereof,
shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, in
determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only
Certificates which the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so
disregarded. Certificates so owned which have been pledged in good faith
shall not be disregarded and may be regarded as outstanding if the pledgee
establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right so to act
with respect to such Certificates and that the pledgee is not the
Transferor, the Servicer, any other Holder of the Exchangeable Transferor
Certificate or any Affiliate thereof.
Section 6.7. Appointment of Paying Agent. The Paying Agent
shall make distributions to Investor Certificateholders from the Collection
Account, the Principal Account, the Finance Charge Account or any applicable
Series Account pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Supplement and
shall report the amounts of such distributions to the Trustee. Any Paying
Agent shall have the revocable power to withdraw funds from the Collection
Account, the Principal Account, the Finance Charge Account or any applicable
Series Account for the purpose of making the distributions referred to
above. The Trustee may revoke such power and remove the Paying Agent if the
Trustee determines in its sole discretion that the Paying Agent shall have
failed to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any Supplement in
any material respect. The Paying Agent shall initially be Texas Commerce
Bank National Association, and any co-paying agent chosen by the Transferor
and acceptable to the Trustee, including, if and so long as any Series or
Class is listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and such exchange so
requires, a co-paying agent in Luxembourg or another western European city.
Any Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days'
notice to the Trustee. In the event that any Paying Agent shall resign, the
Trustee shall appoint a successor to act as Paying Agent. The Trustee shall
cause each successor or additional Paying Agent to execute and deliver to
the Trustee an instrument in which such successor or additional Paying Agent
shall agree with the Trustee that it will hold all sums, if any, held by it
for payment to the Investor Certificateholders in trust for the benefit of
the Investor Certificateholders entitled thereto until such sums shall be
paid to such Investor Certificateholders. The Paying Agent shall return all
unclaimed funds to the Trustee and upon removal shall also return all funds
in its possession to the Trustee. The provisions of Sections 11.1, 11.2,
11.3 and 11.5 shall apply to the Trustee also in its role as Paying Agent,
for so long as the Trustee shall act as Paying Agent. Any reference in this
Agreement to the Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless the
context requires otherwise.
Section 6.8. Access to List of Registered Certificateholders'
Names and Addresses. The Trustee will furnish or cause to be furnished by
the Transfer Agent and Registrar to the Servicer or the Paying Agent, within
five Business Days after receipt by the Trustee of a request therefor, a
list in such form as the Servicer or the Paying Agent may reasonably
require, of the names and addresses of the Registered Certificateholders.
If any Holder or group of Holders of Investor Certificates of any Series or
all outstanding Series, as the case may be, evidencing not less than 10% of
the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such Series or all outstanding
Series, as applicable (the "Applicants"), apply to the Trustee, and such
application states that the Applicants desire to communicate with other
Investor Certificateholders with respect to their rights under this
Agreement or any Supplement or under the Investor Certificates and is
accompanied by a copy of the communication which such Applicants propose to
transmit, then the Trustee, after having been adequately indemnified by such
Applicants for its costs and expenses, shall afford or shall cause the
Transfer Agent and Registrar to afford such Applicants access during normal
business hours to the most recent list of Registered Certificateholders of
such Series or all outstanding Series, as applicable, held by the Trustee,
within five Business Days after the receipt of such application. Such list
shall be as of a date no more than 45 days prior to the date of receipt of
such Applicants' request.
Every Registered Certificateholder, by receiving and holding a
Registered Certificate, agrees with the Trustee that neither the Trustee,
the Transfer Agent and Registrar, nor any of their respective agents, shall
be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as
to the names and addresses of the Registered Certificateholders hereunder,
regardless of the sources from which such information was derived.
Section 6.9. Authenticating Agent. (a) The Trustee may
appoint one or more authenticating agents with respect to the Certificates
which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee in authenticating
the Certificates in connection with the issuance, delivery, registration of
transfer, exchange or repayment of the Certificates. Whenever reference is
made in this Agreement to the authentication of Certificates by the Trustee
or the Trustee's certificate of authentication, such reference shall be
deemed to include authentication on behalf of the Trustee by an
authenticating agent and certificate of authentication executed on behalf of
the Trustee by an authenticating agent. Each authenticating agent must be
acceptable to the Transferor and the Servicer.
(b) Any institution succeeding to the corporate agency
business of an authenticating agent shall continue to be an authenticating
agent without the execution or filing of any power or any further act on the
part of the Trustee or such authenticating agent. An authenticating agent
may at any time resign by giving notice of resignation to the Trustee and to
the Transferor. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an
authenticating agent by giving notice of termination to such authenticating
agent and to the Transferor. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or
upon such a termination, or in case at any time an authenticating agent
shall cease to be acceptable to the Trustee or the Transferor, the Trustee
promptly may appoint a successor authenticating agent. Any successor
authenticating agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall
become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor
hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an authenticating
agent. No successor authenticating agent shall serve unless acceptable to
the Trustee. The Transferor agrees to pay to each authenticating agent from
time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.
The provisions of Sections 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3 shall be applicable to any
authenticating agent.
(c) Pursuant to an appointment made under this Section, the
Certificates may have endorsed thereon, in lieu of the Trustee's certificate
of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in
substantially the following form:
This is one of the Certificates referred to in the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement.
as Authenticating Agent
for the Trustee,
By:
Authorized Officer
Section 6.10. Book-Entry Certificates. Unless otherwise speci-
fied in the related Supplement for any Series or Class, the Investor
Certificates, upon original issuance, shall be issued in the form of one or
more typewritten Investor Certificates representing the Book-Entry
Certificates, to be delivered to the Clearing Agency, by, or on behalf of,
the Transferor. The Investor Certificates shall initially be registered on
the Certificate Register in the name of the Clearing Agency or its nominee,
and no Certificate Owner will receive a definitive certificate representing
such Certificate Owner's interest in the Investor Certificates, except as
provided in Section 6.12. Unless and until definitive, fully registered
Investor Certificates ("Definitive Certificates") have been issued to the
applicable Certificate Owners pursuant to Section 6.12 or as otherwise
specified in any such Supplement:
(a) the provisions of this Section shall be in full force and
effect;
(b) the Transferor, the Servicer and the Trustee may deal with
the Clearing Agency and the Clearing Agency Participants for all purposes
(including the making of distributions) as the authorized representatives of
the respective Certificate Owners;
(c) to the extent that the provisions of this Section conflict
with any other provisions of this Agreement, the provisions of this Section
shall control; and
(d) the rights of the respective Certificate Owners shall be
exercised only through the Clearing Agency and the Clearing Agency
Participants and shall be limited to those established by law and agreements
between such Certificate Owners and the Clearing Agency or the Clearing
Agency Participants. Pursuant to the Depository Agreement, unless and until
Definitive Certificates are issued pursuant to Section 6.12, the Clearing
Agency will make book-entry transfers among the Clearing Agency Participants
and receive and transmit distributions of principal and interest on the
related Investor Certificates to such Clearing Agency Participants.
For purposes of any provision of this Agreement requiring or
permitting actions with the consent of, or at the direction of, Investor
Certificateholders evidencing a specified percentage of the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of Investor Certificates, such direction or consent may be
given by Holders of Book-Entry Certificates only through the Depositary with
which such Certificates have been deposited.
Section 6.11. Notices to Clearing Agency. Whenever any notice or
other communication is required to be given to Investor Certificateholders
of any Series or Class with respect to which Book-Entry Certificates have
been issued, unless and until Definitive Certificates shall have been issued
to the related Certificate Owners, the Trustee shall give all such notices
and communications to the applicable Clearing Agency.
Section 6.12. Definitive Certificates. If Book-Entry Certif-
icates have been issued with respect to any Series or Class and (a) the
Transferor advises the Trustee that the Clearing Agency is no longer willing
or able to discharge properly its responsibilities under the Depository
Agreement with respect to such Series or Class and the Trustee or the
Transferor is unable to engage a qualified successor, (b) the Transferor, at
its option, advises the Trustee that it elects to terminate the book-entry
system with respect to such Series or Class through the Clearing Agency or
(c) after the occurrence of a Servicer Default, Certificate Owners of such
Series or Class evidencing not less than 50% of the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of such Series or Class advise the Trustee and the Clearing
Agency through the Clearing Agency Participants that the continuation of a
book-entry system with respect to the Investor Certificates of such Series
or Class through the Clearing Agency is no longer in the best interests of
the Certificate Owners with respect to such Certificates, then the Trustee
shall notify all Certificate Owners of such Certificates, through the
Clearing Agency, of the occurrence of any such event and of the availability
of Definitive Certificates to Certificate Owners requesting the same. Upon
surrender to the Trustee of any such Certificates by the Clearing Agency,
accompanied by registration instructions from the Clearing Agency for
registration, the Transferor shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver such Definitive Certificates. Neither the
Transferor nor the Trustee shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such
instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying
on, such instructions. Upon the issuance of such Definitive Certificates
all references herein to obligations imposed upon or to be performed by the
Clearing Agency shall be deemed to be imposed upon and performed by the
Trustee, to the extent applicable with respect to such Definitive Certifi-
cates and the Trustee shall recognize the Holders of such Definitive
Certificates as Investor Certificateholders hereunder.
Section 6.13. Global Certificate. If specified in the related
Supplement for any Series, or Class, the Investor Certificates for such
Series or Class will initially be issued in the form of a single temporary
global Certificate (the "Global Certificate") in bearer form, without
interest coupons, in the denomination of the aggregate principal amount of
such Series or Class and substantially in the form set forth in the exhibit
with respect thereto attached to the related Supplement. The Global
Certificate will be executed by the Transferor and authenticated by the
Trustee upon the same conditions, in substantially the same manner and with
the same effect as the Definitive Certificates. The Global Certificate may
be exchanged for Bearer or Registered Certificates in definitive form (the
"Definitive EuroCertificates") pursuant to the terms of any applicable
Supplement.
Section 6.14. Uncertificated Classes. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary contained in this Article VI or in Article XII, unless
otherwise specified in any Supplement, any provisions contained in this
Article VI and in Article XII relating to the registration, form, execution,
authentication, delivery, presentation, cancellation and surrender of
Certificates shall not be applicable to any uncertificated Certificates.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE VII
Other Matters Relating to the Transferor
Section 7.1. Liability of the Transferor. The Transferor shall
be liable in all respects for the obligations, covenants, representations
and warranties of the Transferor arising under or related to this Agreement
or any Supplement. The Transferor shall be liable only to the extent of the
obligations specifically undertaken by it in its capacity as Transferor.
Section 7.2. Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the
Obligations of, the Transferor. (a) The Transferor shall not consolidate
with or merge into any other corporation or convey or transfer its
properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person unless:
(i)(x) the business entity formed by such consolidation or
into which the Transferor is merged or the Person which acquires by
conveyance or transfer the properties and assets of the Transferor
substantially as an entirety shall be, if the Transferor is not the
surviving entity, organized and existing under the law of the United
States of America or any State or the District of Columbia, and, if the
Transferor is not the surviving entity, such business entity shall ex-
pressly assume, by an agreement supplemental hereto, executed and
delivered to the Trustee, the performance of every covenant and obliga-
tion of the Transferor hereunder, including its obligations under Sec-
tion 7.4; (y) the Transferor has delivered to the Trustee an Officer's
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such
consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and such supplemental
agreement comply with this Section, that such supplemental agreement is
a valid and binding obligation of such surviving entity enforceable
against such surviving entity in accordance with its terms, except as
such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally from time to time in effect and except as
such enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity
(whether considered in a suit at law or in equity), and that all
conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction
have been complied with;
(ii) the Rating Agency Condition shall have been satisfied
with respect to such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer;
(iii) the Transferor shall have delivered to the Trustee and
each Rating Agency a Tax Opinion, dated the date of such consolidation,
merger, conveyance or transfer, with respect thereto;
(iv) in connection with any merger or consolidation, the
business entity into which the Transferor shall merge or consolidate
shall be (x) a business entity that is not subject to Title 11 of the
United States Code or (y) a special-purpose corporation, the powers and
activities of which shall be limited to the performance of the
Transferor's obligations under this Agreement, any Supplement and the
Receivables Purchase Agreement; and
(v) if the Transferor is not the surviving entity, the
surviving entity shall file new UCC-1 financing statements with respect
to the interest of the Trust in the Receivables.
(b) The obligations of the Transferor hereunder shall not be
assignable nor shall any Person succeed to the obligations of the Transferor
hereunder except for mergers, consolidations, assumptions and sales in
accordance with the provisions of the foregoing paragraph.
(c) This Section 7.2 shall not be construed to prohibit or in any
way limit the Transferor's ability to effectuate any consolidation or merger
pursuant to which the Transferor would be the surviving entity.
Section 7.3. Limitations on Liability of the Transferor. Subject
to Sections 7.1 and 7.4, neither the Transferor, any Holder of the
Exchangeable Transferor Certificate nor any of their directors, officers,
employees or agents of the Transferor acting in such capacities shall be
under any liability to the Trust, the Trustee, the Certificateholders, any
Enhancement Provider or any other Person for any action taken or for
refraining from the taking of any action in good faith in their capacities
as or on behalf of the Transferor pursuant to this Agreement; provided,
however, that this provision shall not protect the Transferor, any Holder of
the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate or any of their directors, officers,
employees or agents against any liability which would otherwise be imposed
by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the
performance of duties or by reason of reckless disregard of obligations and
duties hereunder. The Transferor and any director, officer, employee or
agent of the Transferor may rely in good faith on any document of any kind
prima facie properly executed and submitted by any Person (other than the
Transferor) respecting any matters arising hereunder.
Section 7.4. Liabilities. The Transferor shall indemnify and
hold harmless the Trustee and its officers, directors, employees and agents,
from and against any loss, liability, expense, damage or injury
(collectively, a "Loss") suffered or sustained by reason of the acceptance
and performance by the Trustee of the Trust pursuant to this Agreement,
other than as specified in Section 8.4, including any judgment, award,
settlement, reasonable attorneys' fees and other reasonable costs or expens-
es incurred in connection with the defense of any action, proceeding or
claim; provided, however, that the Transferor's duty to indemnify under this
Section 7.4 shall not extend to any Losses (i) for which the Trustee has
received payment under Section 8.4 or Section 11.5 of this Agreement, or
(ii) that are caused by or result from the breach of contract by, or the
fraud, negligence, or willful misconduct of, the Trustee, its employees or
its agents. This indemnification shall survive the termination of the
Agreement or the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE VIII
Other Matters Relating to the Servicer
Section 8.1. Liability of the Servicer. The Servicer shall be
liable under this Agreement only to the extent of the obligations
specifically undertaken by the Servicer in its capacity as Servicer.
Section 8.2. Merger or Consolidation of, or Assumption of the
Obligations of, the Servicer. The Servicer shall not consolidate with or
merge into any other corporation or convey or transfer its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless:
(a) (i) the corporation formed by such consolidation or into
which the Servicer is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance
or transfer the properties and assets of the Servicer substantially as
an entirety shall be, if the Servicer is not the surviving entity,
either (i) a national banking association duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the United States or
(ii) a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United
States of America or any State or the District of Columbia, and, if the
Servicer is not the surviving entity, such corporation shall expressly
assume, by an agreement supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to
the Trustee the performance of every covenant and obligation of the
Servicer hereunder;
(ii) the Servicer has delivered to the Trustee an Officer's
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolida-
tion, merger, conveyance or transfer and such supplemental agreement
comply with this Section, that such supplemental agreement is a valid
and binding obligation of such surviving entity enforceable against
such surviving entity in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors,
rights generally from time to time in effect and except as such
enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity (whether
considered in a suit at law or in equity), and that all conditions
precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been
complied with; and
(iii) either (x) the corporation formed by such consoli-
dation or into which the Servicer is merged or the Person which ac-
quired by conveyance or transfer the properties and assets of the
Servicer substantially as an entirety shall be an Eligible Servicer
(taking into account, in making such determination, the experience and
operations of the predecessor Servicer) or (y) upon the effectiveness
of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, a Successor
Servicer shall have assumed the obligations of the Servicer in
accordance with this Agreement.
(b) This Section 8.2 shall not be construed to prohibit or in any
way limit the Servicer's ability to effectuate any consolidation or merger
pursuant to which the Servicer would be the surviving entity.
(c) The Servicer shall notify each Rating Agency promptly after
any consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer effected pursuant to this
Section 8.2.
Section 8.3. Limitation on Liability of the Servicer and Others.
Except as provided in Sections 8.4 and 11.5, neither the Servicer nor any of
the directors, officers, employees or agents of the Servicer in its capacity
as Servicer shall be under any liability to the Trust, the Trustee, the
Certificateholders, any Enhancement Providers or any other person for any
action taken or for refraining from the taking of any action in good faith
in its capacity as Servicer pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however,
that this provision shall not protect the Servicer or any director, officer,
employee or agent of the Servicer against any liability which would other-
wise be imposed by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence in the performance of duties or by reason of reckless disregard
of obligations and duties hereunder. The Servicer and any director,
officer, employee or agent of the Servicer may rely in good faith on any
document of any kind prima facie properly executed and submitted by any
Person (other than the Servicer) respecting any matters arising hereunder.
The Servicer shall not be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or
defend any legal action which is not incidental to its duties as Servicer in
accordance with this Agreement and which in its reasonable judgment may
involve it in any expense or liability. The Servicer may, in its sole
discretion, undertake any such legal action which it may deem necessary or
desirable for the benefit of the Certificateholders with respect to this
Agreement and the rights and duties of the parties hereto and the interests
of the Certificateholders hereunder.
Section 8.4. Servicer Indemnification of the Trust and the
Trustee. The Servicer shall indemnify and hold harmless the Trust and the
Trustee and its officers, directors, employees and agents, from and against
any loss, liability, expense, damage or injury suffered or sustained by
reason of any acts or omissions of the Servicer with respect to the Trust
pursuant to this Agreement, including any judgment, award, settlement,
reasonable attorneys' fees and other costs or expenses incurred in connec-
tion with the defense of any action, proceeding or claim; provided, however,
that the Servicer shall not indemnify the Trustee if such acts, omissions or
alleged acts or omissions constitute or are caused by fraud, negligence, or
willful misconduct by the Trustee, its employees or its agents; provided,
further, that the Servicer shall not indemnify the Trust, the Trustee, the
Investor Certificateholders or the Certificate Owners for any liabilities,
costs or expenses of the Trust or the Trustee with respect to any action
taken by the Trustee at the request of the Investor Certificateholders;
provided, further, that the Servicer shall not indemnify the Trust, the
Investor Certificateholders or the Certificate Owners as to any losses,
claims or damages incurred by any of them in their capacities as investors,
including losses with respect to market or investment risks associated with
ownership of the Investor Certificates or losses incurred as a result of
Defaulted Receivables; provided, further, that the Servicer shall not
indemnify the Trust, the Investor Certificateholders or the Certificate
Owners for any liabilities, costs or expenses of the Trust, the Investor
Certificateholders or the Certificate Owners arising under any tax law,
including any Federal, state, local or foreign income or franchise taxes or
any other tax imposed on or measured by income (or any interest or penalties
with respect thereto or arising from a failure to comply therewith) required
to be paid by the Trust, the Investor Certificateholders or the Certificate
Owners in connection herewith to any taxing authority; and provided,
further, that the Servicer shall not indemnify for any acts or omissions to
act of any predecessor Servicer. Indemnification pursuant to this Section
shall not be payable from the Trust Assets. The provisions of this indem-
nity shall run directly to and be enforceable by an indemnitee subject to
the limitations hereof. This indemnification shall survive the termination
of this Agreement, the resignation or removal of the Servicer and the
resignation or removal of the Trustee.
Section 8.5. The Servicer Not To Resign. The Servicer shall not
resign from the obligations and duties hereby imposed on it except upon the
determination that (i) the performance of its duties hereunder is no longer
permissible under Requirements of Law and (ii) there is no reasonable action
which the Servicer could take to make the performance of its duties hereun-
der permissible under such Requirements of Law. Any determination
permitting the resignation of the Servicer shall be evidenced by an Opinion
of Counsel to such effect delivered to the Trustee. No resignation shall
become effective until the Trustee or a Successor Servicer shall have
assumed the responsibilities and obligations of the Servicer in accordance
with Section 10.2. If within 120 days of the date of the determination that
the Servicer may no longer act as Servicer, and if the Trustee is unable to
appoint a Successor Servicer, the Trustee shall serve as Successor Servicer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustee shall, if it is legally unable so
to act, petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint any estab-
lished institution having a net worth of not less than $50,000,000 and whose
regular business includes the servicing of credit card accounts as the
Successor Servicer hereunder. The Trustee shall give prompt notice to each
Rating Agency and each Enhancement Provider, if any, entitled thereto under
the terms of the applicable Supplement upon the appointment of a Successor
Servicer.
Section 8.6. Access to Certain Documentation and Information
Regarding the Receivables. The Servicer shall provide to the Trustee access
to the documentation regarding the Accounts and the Receivables in such
cases where the Trustee is required in connection with the enforcement of
the rights of Certificateholders or by applicable statutes or regulations to
review such documentation, such access being afforded without charge but
only (a) upon reasonable request, (b) during normal business hours, (c)
subject to the Servicer's normal security and confidentiality procedures and
(d) at reasonably accessible offices in the continental United States
designated by the Servicer. Nothing in this Section shall derogate from the
obligation of the Credit Card Originator, the Transferor, the Trustee and
the Servicer to observe any applicable law prohibiting disclosure of
information regarding the Obligors and the failure of the Servicer to
provide access as provided in this Section as a result of such obligation
shall not constitute a breach of this Section.
Section 8.7. Delegation of Duties. It is understood and agreed
by the parties hereto that the Servicer may delegate certain of its duties
hereunder to Financial and Credit Services Group, a subsidiary of Federated
Department Stores, Inc. located in Mason, Ohio and Tampa, Florida. In the
ordinary course of business, the Servicer may at any time delegate any
duties hereunder to any Person who agrees to conduct such duties in
accordance with the Credit Card Guidelines and this Agreement. Any such
delegations shall not relieve the Servicer of its liability and
responsibility with respect to such duties, and shall not constitute a
resignation within the meaning of Section 8.5 hereof and the Servicer will
remain jointly and severally liable with such Person for any amounts which
would otherwise be payable pursuant to this Article VIII as if the Servicer
had performed such duty; provided, however, that in the case of any signifi-
cant delegation to a Person other than an Affiliate of the Servicer, at
least 30 days prior written notice shall be given to the Trustee, each
Rating Agency and each Enhancement Provider, if any, entitled thereto
pursuant to the relevant Supplement, of such delegation to any entity that
is not an Affiliate of the Servicer.
Section 8.8. Examination of Records. To the extent required
pursuant to Section 2.1, the Transferor and the Servicer shall clearly and
unambiguously indicate in their computer files or other records that the
Receivables arising in the Accounts have been conveyed to the Trustee, on
behalf of the Trust, pursuant to this Agreement for the benefit of the
Certificateholders. From and after the date the actions referred to in the
preceding sentence are required to be taken, the Transferor and the Servicer
shall, prior to the sale or transfer to a third party of any receivable held
in its custody, examine its computer and other records to determine that
such receivable is not a Receivable.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE IX
Pay Out Events
Section 9.1. Pay Out Events. If any one of the following events
(each, a "Trust Pay Out Event") shall occur with respect to any Series:
(a) Pier 1, the Transferor or any Holder of the Exchangeable
Transferor Certificate shall fail generally to, or admit in writing its
inability to, pay its debts as they become due or makes an assignment for
the benefit of its creditors; or a proceeding shall have been instituted in
a court having jurisdiction in the premises seeking a decree or order for
relief in respect of Pier 1, the Transferor or any Holder of the Excha-
ngeable Transferor Certificate in an involuntary case under any Debtor
Relief Law, or for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee,
trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or other similar official of
such Person or for any substantial part of its property, or for the winding-
up or liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or readjustment of its
affairs or similar relief and, if instituted against the Transferor or any
Holder of the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate, any such proceeding shall
continue undismissed or unstayed and in effect, for a period of 60 consec-
utive days, or any of the actions sought in such proceeding shall occur; or
the commencement by Pier 1, the Transferor or any Holder of the Exchangeable
Transferor Certificate, of a voluntary case under any Debtor Relief Law, or
such Person's seeking, consenting or acquiescing to the entry of an order
for relief in an involuntary case under any Debtor Relief Law, or seeking,
consenting or acquiescing to the appointment of or taking possession by a
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conserva-
tor or other similar official of such Person or for any substantial part of
its property, or any general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or
such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person shall have taken any corporate
action in furtherance of any of the foregoing actions (any such event, an
"Insolvency Event");
(b) the Trust shall become an "investment company" within the
meaning of the Investment Company Act;
(c) The Transferor Amount (excluding the interest represented by
any Supplemental Certificates) shall be less than the Minimum Transferor
Amount and the Transferor shall fail to convey sufficient Receivables
arising under Additional Accounts or other eligible assets within the time
period specified in subsection 2.9(a); or
(d) the Transferor shall become unable for any reason to transfer
Receivables to the Trust pursuant to this Agreement;
then, in the case of any such event, a Trust Pay Out Event shall be deemed
to have occurred without any notice or other action on the part of the
Trustee or the Certificateholders or all certificateholders, as appropriate,
immediately upon the occurrence of such event.
Section 9.2. Additional Rights upon the Occurrence of Certain
Events. (a) If an Insolvency Event occurs with respect to the Transferor
(excluding any Supplemental Certificate), or an event set forth in Section
9.1(d) shall occur, the Transferor shall on the day any such event occurs
(the "Appointment Date"), immediately cease to transfer Principal Receiv-
ables, or interests in Principal Receivables represented by any Participa-
tion Interests to the Trust and shall promptly give notice to the Trustee
thereof. Notwithstanding any cessation of the transfer to the Trust of
additional Principal Receivables or any Participation Interests, Principal
Receivables or any Participation Interests transferred to the Trust prior to
the occurrence of such Insolvency Event and Collections in respect of such
Principal Receivables and Participation Interests, and Finance Charge
Receivables whenever created accrued in respect of such Principal Receiv-
ables, shall continue to be a part of the Trust. Upon the Appointment Date,
this Agreement and the Trust shall be deemed to have terminated, subject to
the liquidation, winding up and dissolution procedures described below.
Within 15 days of the Appointment Date, the Trustee shall (i) publish a
notice in an Authorized Newspaper that an Insolvency Event has occurred,
that the Trust has terminated, and that the Trustee intends to sell, dispose
of or otherwise liquidate the Receivables and any Participation Interests on
commercially reasonable terms and in a commercially reasonable manner (a
"Disposition") and (ii) send written notice to the Investor
Certificateholders describing the provisions of this Section 9.2 and
requesting each Investor Certificateholder to advise the Trustee in writing
that it elects one of the following options: (A) the Investor
Certificateholder wishes the Trustee to instruct the Servicer not to
effectuate a Disposition, or (B) the Investor Certificateholder refuses to
advise the Trustee as to the specific action the Trustee shall instruct the
Servicer to take or (C) the Investor Certificateholder wishes the Servicer
to effect a Disposition. If after 75 days from the day notice pursuant to
clause (i) above is first published (the "Publication Date"), the Trustee
shall not have received the written instruction described in clause (A)
above from Holders of Investor Certificates representing Undivided Interests
aggregating in excess of 50% of the related Invested Amount of each Series
(or, in the case of a Series having more than one Class, each Class of such
Series) and the holders of any Supplemental Certificates or any other inter-
est in the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate other than the Transferor as
provided in Section 6.3(b) (for each Series, a "Holders' Majority"), the
Trustee shall instruct the Servicer to effectuate a Disposition, and the
Servicer shall proceed to consummate a Disposition. If, however, with
respect to the portion of the Receivables allocable to any outstanding
Series, a Holders' Majority instruct the Trustee not to effectuate a
Disposition of the portion of the Receivables allocable to such Series, the
Trust shall be reconstituted and continue with respect to such Series
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the applicable Supplement (as
amended in connection with such reconstitution); provided, however, that in
the event of an Insolvency Event, the Trust shall not be reconstituted
unless the Trustee shall have first received an Opinion of Counsel to the
effect that the Trust, as reconstituted, shall not be subject to Federal or
any applicable state income tax on its income. The portion of the
Receivables allocable to any Series shall be equal to the sum of (1) the
product of (A) the Transferor Percentage, (B) the aggregate outstanding
Principal Receivables and (C) a fraction the numerator of which is the
related Investor Percentage of Collections of Finance Charge Receivables and
the denominator of which is the sum of all Investor Percentages with respect
to Collections of Finance Charge Receivables for all Series outstanding and
(2) the Invested Amount of such Series. The Transferor or any of its
Affiliates shall be permitted to bid for the Receivables. In addition, the
Transferor or any of its Affiliates shall have the right to match any bid by
a third person and be granted the right to purchase the Receivables at such
matched bid price. The Trustee shall then use its reasonable efforts to
promptly sell, dispose of or otherwise liquidate the Receivables and any
Participation Interests in a commercially reasonable manner and on
commercially reasonable terms, which shall include the solicitation of
competitive bids. The Trustee may obtain a prior determination from any
conservator, receiver or liquidator that the terms and manner of any
proposed sale, disposition or liquidation are commercially reasonable. The
provisions of Sections 9.1 and 9.2 shall not be deemed to be mutually exclu-
sive.
(b) The proceeds from the Disposition pursuant to paragraph (a)
("Insolvency Proceeds") shall be immediately deposited in the Collection
Account. Insolvency Proceeds shall be allocated to Finance Charge
Receivables and Principal Receivables in the same proportion such
Receivables bore to one another on the prior Determination Date, although
the Trustee shall determine conclusively the amount of the Insolvency
Proceeds which are deemed to be Finance Charge Collections and Principal
Collections. The Insolvency Proceeds shall be allocated and distributed to
Investor Certificateholders in accordance with Article IV and the terms of
each such Supplement and to the holder of any Participation in accordance
with the applicable Participation Supplement.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE X
Servicer Defaults
Section 10.1. Servicer Defaults. If any one of the following
events (a "Servicer Default") shall occur and be continuing:
(a) failure by the Servicer to make any payment, transfer or
deposit or to give instructions to the Trustee to make payments,
transfers or deposits within five Business Days after the date the
Servicer is required to do so, under the terms of this Agreement or any
Supplement;
(b) failure on the part of the Servicer to duly observe or
perform in any material respect any other covenants or agreements of
the Servicer set forth in this Agreement or any Supplement which has a
material adverse effect on the interests hereunder of the Investor
Certificateholders of any Series or Class (which determination shall be
made without regard to whether funds are then available pursuant to any
Enhancement) and which continues unremedied for a period of 60 days
after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the
same to be remedied, shall have been given to the Servicer by the
Trustee, or to the Servicer and the Trustee by Holders of Investor
Certificates evidencing not less than 50% of the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of all Investor Certificates (or, with respect to any
such failure that does not relate to all Series, 50% of the aggregate
unpaid principal amount of all Series to which such failure relates);
or the Servicer shall delegate its duties under this Agreement, except
as permitted by Sections 8.2 and 8.7, a Responsible Officer of the
Trustee has actual knowledge of such delegation and such delegation
continues unremedied for 15 days after the date on which written notice
thereof, requiring the same to be remedied, shall have been given to
the Servicer by the Trustee, or to the Servicer and the Trustee by
Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing not less than 50% of the
aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Investor Certificates;
(c) any representation, warranty or certification made by
the Servicer in this Agreement or any Supplement or in any certificate
delivered pursuant to this Agreement or any Supplement shall prove to
have been incorrect when made, which has a material adverse effect on
the rights of the Investor Certificateholders of any Series or Class
(which determination shall be made without regard to whether funds are
then available pursuant to any Enhancement) and which continues to be
incorrect in any material respect for a period of 60 days after the
date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be
remedied, shall have been given to the Servicer by the Trustee, or to
the Servicer and the Trustee by the Holders of Investor Certificates
evidencing not less than 50% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount
of all Investor Certificates (or, with respect to any such
representation, warranty or certification that does not relate to all
Series, 50% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Series to
which such representation, warranty or certification relates); or
(d) the Servicer shall fail generally to, or admit in
writing its inability to, pay its debts as they become due; or a
proceeding shall have been instituted in a court having jurisdiction in
the premises seeking a decree or order for relief in respect of the
Servicer in an involuntary case under any Debtor Relief Law, or for the
appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian,
sequestrator, conservator or other similar official of such Person or
for any substantial part of its property, or for the winding-up or
liquidation of its affairs and, if instituted against the Servicer, any
such proceeding shall continue undismissed or unstayed and in effect,
for a period of 60 consecutive days, or any of the actions sought in
such proceeding shall occur; or the commencement by the Servicer, of a
voluntary case under any Debtor Relief Law, or such Person's consent to
the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any
Debtor Relief Law, or consent to the appointment of or taking
possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian,
sequestrator, conservator or other similar official of such Person or
for any substantial part of its property, or any general assignment for
the benefit of creditors; or such Person or any Subsidiary of such
Person shall have taken any corporate action in furtherance of any of
the foregoing actions;
then, in the event of any Servicer Default, so long as the Servicer Default
shall not have been remedied, either the Trustee or the Holders of Investor
Certificates evidencing more than 50% of the aggregate unpaid principal
amount of all Investor Certificates, by notice given to the Servicer (and to
the Trustee and any Enhancement Provider entitled thereto pursuant to the
relevant Supplement if given by the Investor Certificateholders) (a
"Termination Notice"), may terminate all but not less than all the rights
and obligations of the Servicer, as Servicer, under this Agreement and in
and to the Receivables and the proceeds thereof; provided, however, if
within 60 days of receipt of a Termination Notice the Trustee is unable to
obtain any bids from Eligible Servicers in accordance with Section 10.2(c)
to act as a Successor Servicer and receives an Officer's Certificate of the
Servicer to the effect that the Servicer cannot in good faith cure the
Servicer Default which gave rise to the Termination Notice, the Trustee
shall offer the Transferor the right at its option to purchase the
Certificateholders' Interest and the interest in the Trust Assets
represented by any Participation on the Distribution Date occurring in the
next calendar month. The purchase price for the Certificateholders'
Interest shall be equal to the sum of the amounts specified therefor with
respect to each outstanding Series in the related Supplement. The
Transferor shall notify the Trustee prior to the Record Date for the related
Distribution Date of the purchase if it is exercising such option. If it
exercises such option, the Transferor shall (x) deliver to the Trustee an
Opinion of Counsel (which must be an independent outside counsel) to the
effect that, in reliance on certain certificates to the effect that the
Receivables constitute fair value for consideration paid therefor and as to
the solvency of the Transferor, the purchase would not be considered a
fraudulent conveyance and (y) deposit the purchase price into the Collection
Account not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such Distribution
Date in immediately available funds. The purchase price shall be allocated
and distributed to Investor Certificateholders in accordance with Article IV
and the terms of each Supplement.
After receipt by the Servicer of such Termination Notice, and on
the date that a Successor Servicer shall have been appointed by the Trustee
pursuant to Section 10.2, all authority and power of the Servicer under this
Agreement shall pass to and be vested in the Successor Servicer (a "Service
Transfer"); and, without limitation, the Trustee is hereby authorized and
empowered (upon the failure of the Servicer to cooperate) to execute and
deliver, on behalf of the Servicer, as attorney-in-fact or otherwise, all
documents and other instruments upon the failure of the Servicer to execute
or deliver such documents or instruments, and to do and accomplish all other
acts or things necessary or appropriate to effect the purposes of such
transfer of servicing rights. The Servicer agrees to cooperate with the
Trustee and the Successor Servicer in effecting the termination of the
responsibilities and rights of the Servicer to conduct servicing hereunder
including the transfer to the Successor Servicer of all authority of the
Servicer to service the Receivables provided for under this Agreement,
including all authority over all Collections which shall on the date of
transfer be held by the Servicer for deposit, or which have been deposited
by the Servicer, in the Collection Account, or which shall thereafter be
received with respect to the Receivables, and in assisting the Successor
Servicer and in enforcing all rights to Insurance Proceeds. The Servicer
shall promptly transfer its electronic records relating to the Receivables
to the Successor Servicer in such electronic form as the Successor Servicer
may reasonably request and shall promptly transfer to the Successor Servicer
all other records, correspondence and documents necessary for the continued
servicing of the Receivables in the manner and at such times as the
Successor Servicer shall reasonably request. To the extent that compliance
with this Section 10.1 shall require the Servicer to disclose to the
Successor Servicer information of any kind which the Servicer reasonably
deems to be confidential, the Successor Servicer shall be required to enter
into such customary licensing and confidentiality agreements as the Servicer
shall deem appropriate to protect its interests.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any delay in or failure of
performance under Section 10.1(a) for a period of five Business Days or
under Section 10.1(b) or (c) for a period of 60 days (in addition to any
period provided in Section 10.1(a), (b) or (c)) shall not constitute a
Servicer Default until the expiration of such additional five Business Days
or 60 days, respectively, if such delay or failure could not be prevented by
the exercise of reasonable diligence by the Servicer and such delay or
failure was caused by an act of God or the public enemy, acts of declared or
undeclared war, public disorder, rebellion or sabotage, epidemics,
landslides, lightning, fire, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods or similar
causes. The preceding sentence shall not relieve the Servicer from the
obligation to use its best efforts to perform its obligations in a timely
manner in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and any Supplement,
and the Servicer shall provide the Trustee, each Rating Agency, any
Enhancement Provider entitled thereto pursuant to the relevant Supplement,
the Holder of the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate and the Investor
Certificateholders with an Officer's Certificate giving immediate notice of
such failure or delay by it, together with a description of its efforts to
so perform its obligations.
In the event the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in
any proceeding which result from the occurrence or continuance of a Servicer
Default described in Section 10.1(d), or from the occurrence of any event
which, by virtue of the passage of time, would become such a Servicer
Default, the expenses so incurred and compensation for services so rendered
are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable
bankruptcy, conservatorship or receivership code or statute or equivalent
law.
Section 10.2. Trustee to Act; Appointment of Successor. (a) On
and after the receipt by the Servicer of a Termination Notice pursuant to
Section 10.1, the Servicer shall continue to perform all servicing functions
under this Agreement until the date specified in the Termination Notice or
otherwise specified by the Trustee or until a date mutually agreed upon by
the Servicer and the Trustee. The Trustee shall, as promptly as possible
after the giving of a Termination Notice, appoint an Eligible Servicer as a
successor servicer (the "Successor Servicer"), and such Successor Servicer
shall accept its appointment by a written assumption in a form acceptable to
the Trustee. In the event that a Successor Servicer has not been appointed
or has not accepted its appointment at the time when the Servicer ceases to
act as Servicer, the Trustee without further action shall automatically be
appointed the Successor Servicer. The Trustee may delegate any of its
servicing obligations to an Affiliate of the Trustee or agent in accordance
with Section 3.1(b) and 8.7. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustee
shall, if it is legally unable so to act, petition a court of competent
jurisdiction to appoint any established institution having a net worth of
not less than $50,000,000 and whose regular business includes the servicing
of credit card receivables as the Successor Servicer hereunder. The Trustee
shall give prompt notice to each Rating Agency and each Enhancement
Provider, if any, entitled thereto pursuant to the applicable Supplement
upon the appointment of a Successor Servicer.
(b) Upon its appointment, the Successor Servicer shall be the
successor in all respects to the Servicer with respect to servicing
functions under this Agreement and shall be subject to all the
responsibilities, duties and liabilities (except for liabilities arising
during the period of time when the prior Servicer was performing and acting
as Servicer) relating thereto placed on the Servicer by the terms and
provisions hereof, and all references in this Agreement to the Servicer
shall be deemed to refer to the Successor Servicer. If the Trustee shall
succeed to the Servicer hereunder, it shall do so in its individual capacity
and not in its capacity as trustee and, accordingly, the provisions of
Article VIII (rather than the provisions of Article XI) shall be applicable
to the Trustee in its duties as the successor to the Servicer. In the event
the Trustee shall not seek to appoint a successor Servicer within three
months of its succession to the Servicer's duties hereunder, the Trustee, at
its sole option, may resign as Trustee pursuant to Section 11.7.
(c) In connection with any Termination Notice, the Trustee will
review any bids which it obtains from Eligible Servicers and shall be
permitted to appoint any Eligible Servicer submitting such a bid as a
Successor Servicer for servicing compensation not in excess of the aggregate
Servicing Fees for all Series; provided, however, that the Holder of the
Exchangeable Transferor Certificate shall be responsible for payment of the
portion of such aggregate Servicing Fees allocable to the Holder of the
Exchangeable Transferor Certificate and that no such monthly compensation
paid out of Collections shall be in excess of such aggregate Servicing Fees.
Each Holder of the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate agrees that, if Pier
1 (or any Successor Servicer) is terminated as Servicer hereunder, the
portion of the Collections in respect of Finance Charge Receivables that the
Holder of the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate is entitled to receive
pursuant to this Agreement or any Supplement shall be reduced by an amount
sufficient to pay the share of the compensation of the Successor Servicer
attributable to the Holder of the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate
pursuant to Section 3.2 (determined by reference to the Supplements with
respect to any outstanding Series).
(d) All authority and power granted to the Successor Servicer
under this Agreement shall automatically cease and terminate upon
termination of the Trust pursuant to Section 12.1 and shall pass to and be
vested in the Transferor, and, without limitation, the Transferor is hereby
authorized and empowered to execute and deliver, on behalf of the Successor
Servicer, as attorney-in-fact or otherwise, all documents and other instru-
ments, and to do and accomplish all other acts or things necessary or
appropriate to effect the purposes of such transfer of servicing rights.
The Successor Servicer agrees to cooperate with the Transferor in effecting
the termination of the responsibilities and rights of the Successor Servicer
to conduct servicing on the Receivables. The Successor Servicer shall
transfer its electronic records relating to the Receivables to the Trans-
feror in such electronic form as the Transferor may reasonably request and
shall transfer all other records, correspondence and documents to the
Transferor in the manner and at such times as the Transferor shall
reasonably request. To the extent that compliance with this Section 10.2
shall require the Successor Servicer to disclose to the Transferor
information of any kind which the Successor Servicer deems to be
confidential, the Transferor shall be required to enter into such customary
licensing and confidentiality agreements as the Successor Servicer shall
deem appropriate to protect its interests.
Section 10.3. Notification to Certificateholders. Within two
Business Days after the Servicer becomes aware of any Servicer Default, the
Servicer shall give notice thereof to the Trustee, each Rating Agency and
any Enhancement Provider entitled thereto pursuant to the relevant
Supplement and the Trustee shall give notice to the Investor
Certificateholders. Upon any termination or appointment of a Successor
Servicer pursuant to this Article, the Trustee shall give prompt notice
thereof to the Investor Certificateholders.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE XI
The Trustee
Section 11.1. Duties of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of any Servicer Default
of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge and after
the curing of all Servicer Defaults which may have occurred, undertakes to
perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in
this Agreement, and no implied covenants or duties shall be read into this
Agreement against the Trustee. If a Responsible Officer has received
written notice that a Servicer Default has occurred (and such Servicer De-
fault has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the
rights and powers vested in it by this Agreement, and use the same degree of
care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use
under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs;
provided, however, that if the Trustee shall assume the duties of the
Servicer pursuant to Section 8.5 or 10.2, the Trustee in performing such
duties shall use the degree of skill and attention customarily exercised by
a servicer with respect to comparable receivables that it services for
itself or others.
(b) The Trustee, upon receipt of all resolutions, certificates,
statements, opinions, reports, documents, orders or other instruments
furnished to the Trustee that are specifically required to be furnished
pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, shall examine them to determine
whether they substantially conform to the requirements of this Agreement.
The Trustee shall retain all such items for at least one year after receipt
and shall make such items available for inspection by any Investor
Certificateholder at the Corporate Trust Office, such inspection to be made
during regular business hours and upon reasonable prior notice to the
Trustee.
(c) Subject to subsection 11.1(a), no provision of this Agreement
shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own
negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own misconduct;
provided, however, that:
(i) the Trustee shall not be personally liable for an error
of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible
Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was
negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(ii) the Trustee shall not be personally liable with respect
to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good
faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of Investor
Certificates evidencing Undivided Interests aggregating more than 50%
of the Invested Amount of any Series relating to the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Trustee with respect to such Series, or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Trustee with respect to such Series, under this
Agreement; and
(iii) the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any
failure by the Servicer referred to in clauses (a) and (b) of Section
10.1 or of any breach by the Servicer contemplated by clause (c) of
Section 10.1 or of any Pay Out Event unless a Responsible Officer of
the Trustee obtains actual knowledge of such failure, breach or Pay-Out
Event or the Trustee receives written notice of such failure, breach or
Pay Out Event from the Servicer or any Holders of Investor Certificates
evidencing Undivided Interests aggregating not less than 10% of the
Invested Amount of any Series adversely affected thereby.
(d) The Trustee shall not be required to expend or risk its own
funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of
its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if
there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured
to it, and none of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall in any
event require the Trustee to perform, or be responsible for the manner of
performance of, any of the obligations of the Servicer under this Agreement
except during such time, if any, as the Trustee shall be the successor to,
and be vested with the rights, duties, powers and privileges of, the
Servicer in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(e) Except for actions expressly authorized by this Agreement,
the Trustee shall take no action reasonably likely to impair the interests
of the Trust in any Receivable now existing or hereafter created or to
impair the value of any Receivable now existing or hereafter created.
(f) Except as provided in this Agreement, the Trustee shall have
no power to vary the corpus of the Trust.
(g) If a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, has received written
notice that the Paying Agent or the Transfer Agent and Registrar shall fail
to perform any obligation, duty or agreement in the manner or on the day
required to be performed by the Paying Agent or the Transfer Agent and
Registrar, as the case may be, under this Agreement, the Trustee shall be
obligated promptly upon its obtaining knowledge thereof by a Responsible
Officer of the Trustee to perform such obligation, duty or agreement in the
manner so required.
(h) If the Transferor has agreed to transfer any of its open-end
revolving credit card receivables (other than the Receivables) to another
Person, upon the written request of the Transferor, the Trustee on behalf of
the Trust will enter into such intercreditor agreements with the transferee
of such receivables as are customary and necessary to identify separately
the rights, if any, of the Trust and such other Person in the Transferor's
open-end revolving credit card receivables; provided, however, that the
Trust shall not be required to enter into any intercreditor agreement that
could adversely affect the interests of the Certificateholders or the
Trustee and, upon the request of the Trustee, the Transferor will deliver an
Opinion of Counsel on any matters relating to such intercreditor agreement,
reasonably requested by the Trustee.
Section 11.2. Certain Matters Affecting the Trustee. Except as
otherwise provided in Section 11.1:
(a) the Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting on,
or in refraining from acting in accordance with, the initial report, the
Daily Report, the Settlement Statement, the annual Servicer's certificate,
written investment instructions from the Servicer or the Transferor, the
monthly payment instructions and notification to the Trustee, the monthly
Certificateholder's statement, any resolution, Officer's Certificate,
certificate of auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, appraisal, bond or other
paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or
presented to it pursuant to this Agreement by the proper party or parties;
(b) the Trustee may consult with counsel, and the advice or any
Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection
in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted by it hereunder in
good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;
(c) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of
the rights or powers vested in it by this Agreement or any Enhancement, or
to institute, conduct or defend any litigation hereunder or in relation
hereto, at the request, order or direction of any of the Certificateholders
or any Enhancement Provider, pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement,
unless such Certificateholders or Enhancement Provider shall have offered to
the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and
liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby; nothing contained
herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligations, upon the
occurrence of any Servicer Default (which has not been cured or waived) of
which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge, to exercise such
of the rights and powers vested in it by this Agreement and any Enhancement,
and to use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent
person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his
own affairs;
(d) the Trustee shall not be personally liable for any action
taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be
authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by
this Agreement;
(e) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into
the facts of matters stated in the initial report, the Daily Report, the
Settlement Statement, the annual Servicer's certificate, the monthly payment
instructions and notification to the Trustee, the monthly Certificateholders
statement, any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond or other paper or
document, unless requested in writing so to do by Holders of Investor
Certificates evidencing Undivided Interests aggregating more than 50% of the
Invested Amount of any Series which could be adversely affected if the
Trustee does not perform such acts;
(f) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder
or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or
attorneys or a custodian, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any
misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent, attorney or
custodian appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(g) except as may be required by subsection 11.1(a), the Trustee
shall not be required to make any initial or periodic examination of any
documents or records related to the Accounts or the Receivables for the pur-
pose of establishing the presence or absence of defects, the compliance by
the Transferor with its representations and warranties or for any other
purpose;
(h) whenever in the administration of this Agreement the Trustee
shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to
taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless
other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad
faith on its part, rely upon an Officer's Certificate;
(i) the right of the Trustee to perform any discretionary act
enumerated in this Agreement or any Supplement shall not be construed as a
duty, and the Trustee shall not be answerable for performance of any such
act; and
(j) Cash Equivalents may be purchased by or through the Trustee
or any of its Affiliates and may include any Cash Equivalents for whom the
issuer of which the Trustee or any of its Affiliates provides services.
Section 11.3. Trustee Not Liable for Recitals in Certificates.
The Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the recitals
contained herein and in the Certificates (other than the certificate of au-
thentication on the Certificates). Except as set forth in Section 11.15,
the Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of
this Agreement or of the Certificates (other than the certificate of
authentication on the Certificates) or of the Trust Assets or of any Receiv-
able or related document. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use
or application by the Transferor of any of the Certificates or of the
proceeds of such Certificates, or for the use or application of any funds
paid to the Transferor in respect of the Receivables or deposited in or
withdrawn from the Collection Account, the Excess Funding Account, the
Principal Account or the Finance Charge Account, or any Series Account or
other accounts now or hereafter established to effectuate the transactions
contemplated herein and in accordance with the terms hereof. The Trustee
shall have no responsibility for filing any financing or continuation state-
ment in any public office at any time or to otherwise perfect or maintain
the perfection of any security interest or Lien granted to it hereunder
(unless the Trustee shall have become the Successor Servicer) or to prepare
or file any Commission filing for the Trust or to record this Agreement or
any Supplement.
Section 11.4. [Reserved].
Section 11.5. The Servicer to Pay Trustee's Fees and Expenses.
(a) The Servicer covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to
time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, reasonable compensation
(which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compen-
sation of a trustee of an express trust) for all services rendered by the
Trustee in the execution of the trust hereby created and in the exercise and
performance of any of the powers and duties hereunder of the Trustee, and,
subject to Section 8.4, the Servicer will pay or reimburse the Trustee
(without reimbursement from the Collection Account, the Principal Account,
the Finance Charge Account, any Series Account or otherwise) upon its
request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or
made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Agree-
ment (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its agents and counsel)
except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its own
negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith and except as provided in the
following sentence. If the Trustee is appointed Successor Servicer pursuant
to Section 10.2, the provisions of this Section 11.5 shall not apply to
expenses, disbursements and advances made or incurred by the Trustee in its
capacity as Successor Servicer (which shall be covered out of the Servicing
Fee).
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 11.5(a),
the Servicer agrees to pay the Trustee from and after a Pay Out Event or a
Servicer Default reasonable expenses, including all fees, costs and expenses
(including reasonable attorney's fees) associated with either the Trustee
becoming the Successor Servicer hereunder or the Trustee arranging for a
Person other than the Trustee to become a Successor Servicer (including the
costs and expenses of obtaining competitive bids). When the Trustee incurs
expenses or renders services after the occurrence of a Servicer Default
pursuant to Section 10.1(d), the expenses and the compensation for the
services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any
applicable bankruptcy, conservatorship or receivership code or statute or
equivalent law.
The obligations of the Servicer under this Section 11.5 shall
survive the termination of the Trust and the resignation or removal of the
Trustee.
Section 11.6. Eligibility Requirements for Trustee. The Trustee
hereunder shall at all times (a) be a corporation organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof
authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a
long-term unsecured debt rating of at least Baa3 by Moody's, and having, in
the case of an entity that is subject to risk-based capital adequacy
requirements, risk-based capital of at least $50,000,000 or, in the case of
an entity that is not subject to risk-based capital adequacy requirements,
having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and subject to
supervision or examination by federal or state authority and (b) not be a
Related Person. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least
annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid super-
vising or examining authority, then for the purpose of this Section 11.6,
the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be
its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be
eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.6, the Trustee
shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in
Section 11.7.
Section 11.7. Resignation or Removal of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may at any time resign and be discharged from the
Trust hereby created by giving written notice thereof to the Servicer. Upon
receiving such notice of resignation, the Servicer shall promptly appoint a
successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, one copy of which
instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the
successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and
have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the giving of such
notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee.
(b) If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of Section 11.6 hereof and shall fail to
resign after written request therefor by the Transferor, or if at any time
the Trustee shall be legally unable to act, or shall be adjudged bankrupt or
insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be
appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee
or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation,
conservation or liquidation, then the Transferor may, but shall not be
required to, remove the Trustee and promptly appoint a successor trustee by
written instrument, in duplicate, one copy of which instrument shall be
delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee.
(c) If (i) the Trustee shall fail to perform any of its
obligations hereunder, (ii) a Certificateholder shall deliver written notice
of such failure to the Trustee, and (iii) the Trustee shall not have
corrected such failure for 60 days thereafter, then the Holders of Investor
Certificates representing more than 50% of the Invested Amount (including
related commitments of holders of Variable Funding Certificates) shall have
the right to remove the Trustee and (with the consent of the Transferor,
which shall not be unreasonably withheld) promptly appoint a successor
trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, one copy of which instrument
shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor
trustee.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of
a successor trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 11.7
shall not become effective until acceptance of appointment by the successor
trustee as provided in Section 11.8 hereof, and any liability of the Trustee
arising hereunder shall survive such appointment of a successor trustee.
Notice of any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a
successor trustee shall be provided to each Rating Agency by the Servicer in
a prompt manner.
Section 11.8. Successor Trustee.
(a) Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 11.7
hereof shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Transferor and to its
predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and
thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor Trustee shall become
effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or
conveyance, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties
and obligations of its predecessor hereunder, with the like effect as if
originally named as Trustee herein. The predecessor Trustee shall deliver
to the successor trustee all documents and statements held by it hereunder,
and the Transferor and the predecessor Trustee shall execute and deliver
such instruments and do such other things as may reasonably be required for
fully and certainly vesting and confirming in the successor trustee all such
rights, powers, duties and obligations.
(b) No successor trustee shall accept appointment as provided in
this Section 11.8 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor
trustee shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 11.6 hereof.
(c) Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as
provided in this Section 11.8, such successor trustee shall mail notice of
such succession hereunder to all Certificateholders at their addresses as
shown in the Certificate Register.
Section 11.9. Merger or Consolidation of Trustee. Any Person
into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be
consolidated, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the
corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the
Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be eligible under the
provisions of Section 11.6 hereof, without the execution or filing of any
paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything
herein to the contrary notwithstanding.
Section 11.10. Appointment of Co-Trustee or Separate Trustee.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement, at
any time, for the purpose of meeting any legal requirements of any
jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust may at the time be located, the
Trustee shall have the power and may execute and deliver all instruments to
appoint one or more Persons to act as a co-trustee or co-trustees, or
separate trustee or separate trustees, of all or any part of the Trust, and
to vest in such Person or Persons, in such capacity and for the benefit of
the Certificateholders, such title to the Trust, or any part thereof, and,
subject to the other provisions of this Section 11.10, such powers, duties,
obligations, rights and trusts as the Trustee may consider necessary or
desirable. No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be required to
meet the terms of eligibility as a successor trustee under Section 11.6 and
no notice to Certificateholders of the appointment of any co-trustee or
separate trustee shall be required under Section 11.8 hereof.
(b) Every separate trustee and co-trustee shall, to the extent
permitted by law, be appointed and act subject to the following provisions
and conditions:
(i) all rights, powers, duties and obligations conferred or
imposed upon the Trustee shall be conferred or imposed upon and
exercised or performed by the Trustee and such separate trustee or co-
trustee jointly (it being understood that such separate trustee or co-
trustee is not authorized to act separately without the Trustee joining
in such act), except to the extent that under any laws of any juris-
diction in which any particular act or acts are to be performed
(whether as Trustee hereunder or as successor to the Servicer
hereunder) the Trustee shall be incompetent or unqualified to perform
such act or acts, in which event such rights, powers, duties and
obligations (including the holding of title to the Trust or any portion
thereof in any such jurisdiction) shall be exercised and performed
singly by such separate trustee or co-trustee, but solely at the
direction of the Trustee;
(ii) no trustee (including the Trustee), separate trustee or
co-trustee hereunder shall be personally liable by reason of any act or
omission of any other trustee or co-trustee hereunder; and
(iii) the Trustee may at any time accept the resignation of
or remove any separate trustee or co-trustee.
(c) Any notice, request or other writing given to the Trustee
shall be deemed to have been given to each of the then separate trustees and
co-trustees, as effectively as if given to each of them. Every instrument
appointing any separate trustee or co-trustee shall refer to this Agreement
and the conditions of this Article XI. Each separate trustee and co-
trustee, upon its acceptance of the trusts conferred, shall be vested with
the estates or property specified in its instrument of appointment, either
jointly with the Trustee or separately, as may be provided therein, subject
to all the provisions of this Agreement, specifically including every
provision of this Agreement relating to the conduct of, affecting the
liability of, or affording protection to, the Trustee. Every such
instrument shall be filed with the Trustee and a copy thereof given to the
Servicer.
(d) Any separate trustee or co-trustee may at any time constitute
the Trustee as its agent or attorney-in-fact with full power and authority,
to the extent not prohibited by law, to do any lawful act under or in
respect to this Agreement on its behalf and in its name. If any separate
trustee or co-trustee shall die, become incapable of acting, resign or be
removed, all of its estates, properties, rights, remedies and trusts shall
vest in and be exercised by the Trustee, to the extent permitted by law,
without the appointment of a new or successor trustee.
Section 11.11. Tax Returns. Consistent with Section 3.7, the
Trustee shall not file any Federal tax returns on behalf of the Trust;
provided, however, that if a class of Certificates is issued that would be
characterized as an equity interest in a partnership for federal income tax
purposes, partnership information returns shall be prepared and signed by
the Transferor, as general partner, and not by the Trustee. In the event
the Trust shall be required to file tax returns, the Servicer shall at its
expense prepare or cause to be prepared any tax returns required to be filed
by the Trust and, to the extent possible, shall remit such returns to the
Trustee for signature at least five days before such returns are due to be
filed. The Trustee is hereby authorized to sign any such return on behalf
of the Trust. The Servicer shall prepare or shall cause to be prepared all
tax information required by law to be distributed to Certificateholders and
shall deliver such information to the Trustee at least five days prior to
the date it is required by law to be distributed to Certificateholders. The
Trustee, upon request, will furnish the Servicer with all such information
known to the Trustee as may be reasonably required in connection with the
preparation of all tax returns of the Trust and shall, upon request, execute
such return. In no event shall the Trustee be liable for any liabilities,
costs or expenses of the Trust, the Investor Certificateholders or the
Certificate Owners arising under any tax law, including federal, state,
local or foreign income or excise taxes or any other tax imposed on or
measured by income (or any interest or penalty or addition with respect
thereto or arising from a failure to comply therewith).
Section 11.12. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of
Certificates. All rights of action and claims under this Agreement or any
Series of Certificates may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without
the possession of any of the Certificates or the production thereof in any
proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the
Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee. Any recovery of
judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compen-
sation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and
counsel, be for the ratable benefit of any Series of Certificateholders in
respect of which such judgment has been obtained.
Section 11.13. Suits for Enforcement. If a Servicer Default or
Pay-Out Event of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge
shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee, in its discretion may, subject
to the provisions of Section 10.1, proceed to protect and enforce its rights
and the rights of any Series of Certificateholders under this Agreement by a
suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law or otherwise, whether for the
specific performance of any covenant or agreement contained in this
Agreement or in aid of the execution of any power granted in this Agreement
or for the enforcement of any other legal, equitable or other remedy as the
Trustee, being advised by counsel, shall deem most effectual to protect and
enforce any of the rights of the Trustee or any Series of Certificate-
holders.
Section 11.14. Rights of Certificateholders to Direct Trustee.
Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing Undivided Interests aggregating
more than 50% of the aggregate Invested Amount (or, with respect to any
remedy, trust or power that does not relate to all Series, 50% of the
aggregate Invested Amount of the Investor Certificates of all Series to
which such remedy, trust or power relates) shall have the right to direct
the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the
Trustee; provided, however, that Holders of Investor Certificates aggregat-
ing more than 50% of the aggregate Invested Amount of any Class may direct
the Trustee to exercise its rights under Section 8.6; provided, further,
that, subject to Section 11.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline
to follow any such direction if the Trustee being advised by counsel
determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken, or if the
Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Responsible
Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceedings so directed would be
illegal or involve it in personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to the
rights of Certificateholders not parties to such direction; and provided,
further that nothing in this Agreement shall impair the right of the Trustee
to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and which is not
inconsistent with such direction of such Holders of Investor Certificates.
Section 11.15. Representations and Warranties of Trustee. The
Trustee represents and warrants that:
(i) the Trustee is a national banking association organized,
existing and authorized to engage in the business of banking under the
laws of the United States of America;
(ii) the Trustee is an entity that satisfies the eligibility
requirements of Section 11.6;
(iii) the Trustee has full power, authority and right to
execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, and has taken all
necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance
by it of this Agreement; and
(iv) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
the Trustee and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of
the Trustee, enforceable against the Trustee in accordance with its
terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws now or hereafter in effect affecting the enforcement of creditors'
rights in general and except as such enforceability may be limited by
general principles of equity (whether considered in a suit at law or in
equity).
Section 11.16. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Trustee will
maintain at its expense an office or offices, or agency or agencies, where
notices and demands to or upon the Trustee in respect of the Certificates
and this Agreement may be served. The Trustee initially appoints its Corpo-
rate Trust Office as its office for such purposes. The Trustee will give
prompt written notice to the Servicer and to Certificateholders (or in the
case of Holders of Bearer Certificates, in the manner provided for in the
related Supplement) of any change in the location of the Certificate
Register or any such office or agency.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE XII
Termination
Section 12.1. Termination of Trust. The Trust and the respective
obligations and responsibilities of the Transferor, the Servicer and the
Trustee created hereby (other than the obligation of the Trustee to make
payments to Investor Certificateholders as hereinafter set forth) shall
terminate, except with respect to the duties, rights, powers, privileges and
immunities described in Sections 7.4, 8.4, 9.2, 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.5 and
12.2(b), upon the earlier of (i) the day following the Distribution Date on
which the Invested Amount and Enhancement Invested Amount for each Series is
zero (provided that the Transferor has delivered a written notice to the
Trustee electing to terminate the Trust) and (ii) the time provided in
Section 9.2; provided, however, in no event shall the Trust created by this
Agreement continue beyond the expiration of 21 years from the death of the
last survivor of the descendants of Joseph P. Kennedy, the late ambassador
to the Court of St. James', living on the date of this Agreement.
Section 12.2. Final Distribution. (a) The Servicer shall give
the Trustee at least 30 days prior notice of the Distribution Date on which
the Investor Certificateholders of any Series or Class may surrender their
Investor Certificates for payment of the final distribution on and
cancellation of such Investor Certificates (or, in the event of a final
distribution resulting from the application of Section 2.6, 9.2 or 10.1,
notice of such Distribution Date promptly after the Servicer has determined
that a final distribution will occur, if such determination is made less
than 30 days prior to such Distribution Date). Such notice shall be
accompanied by an Officer's Certificate setting forth the information
specified in Section 3.5 covering the period from the first day of the then
current Transferor Fiscal Year through the date of such notice. Not later
than the fifth day of the month in which the final distribution in respect
of such Series or Class is payable to Investor Certificateholders, the
Trustee shall provide notice to Investor Certificateholders of such Series
or Class specifying (i) the date upon which final payment of such Series or
Class will be made upon presentation and surrender of Investor Certificates
of such Series or Class at the office or offices therein designated, (ii)
the amount of any such final payment and (iii) that the Record Date
otherwise applicable to such payment date is not applicable, payments being
made only upon presentation and surrender of such Investor Certificates at
the office or offices therein specified (which, in the case of Bearer
Certificates, shall be outside the United States). The Trustee shall give
such notice to the Transfer Agent and Registrar and the Paying Agent at the
time such notice is given to Investor Certificateholders.
(b) Notwithstanding a final distribution to the Investor
Certificateholders of any Series or Class (or the termination of the Trust),
except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, all funds then on deposit in
the Collection Account, the Principal Account, the Finance Charge Account
the Excess Funding Account and any Series Account allocated to such Investor
Certificateholders shall continue to be held in trust for the benefit of
such Investor Certificateholders, and the Paying Agent or the Trustee shall
pay such funds to such Investor Certificateholders upon surrender of their
Investor Certificates (and any excess shall be paid in accordance with the
terms of any relevant Enhancement Agreement). In the event that all such
Investor Certificateholders shall not surrender their Investor Certificates
for cancellation within six months after the date specified in the notice
from the Trustee described in paragraph (a), the Trustee shall give a second
notice to the remaining such Investor Certificateholders to surrender their
Investor Certificates for cancellation and receive the final distribution
with respect thereto (which surrender and payment, in the case of Bearer
Certificates, shall be outside the United States). If within one year after
the second notice all such Investor Certificates shall not have been
surrendered for cancellation, the Trustee may take appropriate steps, or may
appoint an agent to take appropriate steps, to contact the remaining such
Investor Certificateholders concerning surrender of their Investor Certif-
icates, and the cost thereof shall be paid out of the funds in the
Collection Account, the Principal Account, the Finance Charge Account or any
Series Account held for the benefit of such Investor Certificateholders.
The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Transferor any moneys held
by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for
two years. After payment to the Transferor, Investor Certificateholders
entitled to the money must look to the Transferor for payment as general
creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another
Person.
(c) In the event that the Invested Amount with respect to any
Series is greater than zero on its Series Termination Date or such earlier
date as is specified in the related Supplement (after giving effect to
deposits and distributions otherwise to be made on such date), the Trustee
will use all reasonable efforts to sell or cause to be sold on such Series
Termination Date, in accordance with the procedures and subject to the
conditions described in such Supplement, Principal Receivables and the
related Finance Charge Receivables (or, if a Tax Opinion is obtained,
interests therein) in an amount up to 110% of the Invested Amount with
respect to such Series on such date (after giving effect to such deposits
and distributions; provided, however, that in no event shall such amount
exceed an amount of Principal Receivables (and all associated Finance Charge
Receivables) equal to the sum of (i) the product of (A) the Transferor's
Percentage, (B) the aggregate outstanding Principal Receivables, and (C) a
fraction the numerator of which is the related Investor Percentage of
Collections of Finance Charge Receivables and the denominator of which is
the sum of all Investor Percentages with respect to Collections of Finance
Charge Receivables of all Series outstanding and (ii) the Invested Amount of
such Series). The proceeds from any such sale shall be allocated and dis-
tributed in accordance with the terms of the applicable Supplement.
Section 12.3. Transferor's Termination Rights. Upon the
termination of the Trust pursuant to Section 12.1 and the surrender of the
Exchangeable Transferor Certificate and any Supplemental Certificate, the
Trustee shall assign and convey to the Transferor or its designee, without
recourse, representation or warranty, all right, title and interest of the
Trust in the Receivables, whether then existing or thereafter created, all
moneys due or to become due and all amounts received with respect thereto
and all proceeds thereof, except for amounts held by the Trustee pursuant to
Section 12.2(b). The Trustee shall execute and deliver such instruments of
transfer and assignment, in each case without recourse, as shall be
reasonably requested and furnished by the Transferor to vest in the
Transferor or its designee all right, title and interest which the Trust had
in the Receivables and such other related assets.
Section 12.4. Defeasance. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement or any Supplement:
(a) The Transferor may at its option be discharged from its
obligations hereunder with respect to any Series or all outstanding Series
(each a "Defeased Series") on the date the applicable conditions set forth
in Section 12.4(c) are satisfied ("Defeasance"); provided, however, that the
following rights, obligations, powers, duties and immunities shall survive
with respect to the Defeased Series until otherwise terminated or discharged
hereunder: (i) the rights of Holders of Investor Certificates of the
Defeased Series to receive, solely from the trust fund provided for in
Section 12.4(c), payments in respect of principal of and interest on such
Investor Certificates when such payments are due; (ii) the Transferor's
obligations with respect to such Certificates and with respect to the
Trustee under Sections 6.4, 6.5 and 7.4; (iii) the rights, powers, trusts,
duties and immunities of the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Transfer
Agent and Registrar hereunder; and (iv) this Section 12.4. For purposes of
allocating (x) Collections of Principal Receivables, Finance Charge
Receivables and Recoveries and (y) the aggregate Default Amount with respect
to each Monthly Period, the Series Invested Amount of any Defeased Series
shall be deemed to be reduced by the amount of Principal Collections
allocated to such Series and applied to purchase Cash Equivalents and the
Transferor Amount shall be deemed to have been correspondingly increased.
(b) Subject to Section 12.4(c), the Transferor at its option may
cause Collections allocated to the Defeased Series and available to purchase
additional Receivables to be applied to purchase Cash Equivalents rather
than additional Receivables.
(c) The following shall be the conditions to Defeasance under
Section 12.4(a): (i) the Transferor irrevocably shall have deposited or
caused to be deposited with the Trustee, under the terms of an irrevocable
trust agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, as trust
funds in trust for making the payments described below, (A) dollars in an
amount, or (B) Cash Equivalents which through the scheduled payment of
principal and interest in respect thereof will provide, not later than the
due date of payment thereon, money in an amount, or (C) a combination
thereof, in each case sufficient to pay and discharge, and, which shall be
applied by the Trustee, at the written direction of the Servicer, to pay and
discharge, all remaining scheduled interest and principal payments on all
outstanding Investor Certificates of the Defeased Series on the dates sched-
uled for such payments in this Agreement and the applicable Supplements and
all amounts owing to the Enhancement Providers, if any, with respect to the
Defeased Series; (ii) prior to any exercise of its right pursuant to this
Section 12.4 with respect to a Defeased Series to substitute money or Cash
Equivalents for Receivables, the Transferor shall have delivered to the
Trustee a Tax Opinion with respect to such deposit and termination of
obligations and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such deposit and
termination of obligations will not result in the Trust being required to
register as an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act; (iii) the Transferor shall have delivered to the Trustee and
each Enhancement Provider, if any, entitled thereto pursuant to the relevant
Supplement an Officer's Certificate of the Transferor stating that the
Transferor reasonably believes that such deposit and termination of obliga-
tions will not, based on the facts known to such officer at the time of such
certification, then cause a Pay Out Event or any event that, with the giving
of notice or the lapse of time, would constitute a Pay Out Event to occur
with respect to any Series; and (iv) the Rating Agency Condition has been
satisfied.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE XIII
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 13.1. Amendment; Waiver of Past Defaults. (a) This
Agreement or any Supplement may be amended from time to time by the
Servicer, the Transferor and the Trustee without the consent of any of the
Certificateholders, in connection with (i) adding covenants, restrictions or
conditions of the Transferor, as the Transferor's Board of Directors shall
consider to be for the benefit or protection of the Investor Certificate-
holders, and making the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a
default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions or conditions a
default or Pay Out Event permitting the enforcement of all or any of the
several remedies provided in this Agreement as herein set forth; provided,
however, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction or
condition such amendment may provide for a particular period of grace after
default or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may
limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default, (ii) curing
any ambiguity or correcting or supplementing any provision contained herein
or in any Supplement which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provision contained herein or in any Supplement or to surrender any right or
power conferred upon the Transferor, (iii) the issuance of a Supplemental
Certificate or Participation, (iv) the addition of a Participation Interest
to the Trust, (v) the assumption by another entity, in accordance with the
provisions of this Agreement, of the Transferor's obligations hereunder,
(vi) the provision of additional Enhancement for the benefit of Certificate-
holders of any Series, (vii) enabling the Trust or a portion thereof to
elect to qualify as a FASIT (or comparable tax entity for the securitization
of financial assets) in accordance with the Code, (viii) the transfer of the
Receivables from, and the generation of new Receivables by, a credit card
bank established by Pier 1 or any Affiliate thereof and/or the appointment
of a credit card bank established by Pier 1 as Servicer hereunder in
connection with such transfer and any other transactions related, supplemen-
tal or incidental thereto or (ix) adding any provision to, changing in any
manner or eliminating any of the provisions of, this Agreement or any
Supplement or modifying in any manner the rights of Certificateholders of
any Series then issued and outstanding; provided, however, in each case,
that (x) except with respect to clause (viii), the Transferor shall have
delivered to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate to the effect that the
Transferor reasonably believes that such action shall not adversely affect
in any material respect the interests of any Investor Certificateholder, (y)
except with respect to clauses (i) and (ii), the Rating Agency Condition
shall have been satisfied with respect to any such amendment and (z) a Tax
Opinion is delivered in connection with any such amendment. The designation
of additional Transferors pursuant to Section 2.12 shall be subject to this
Section 13.1 only to the extent that the supplement to this Agreement
providing for such designation amends any of the terms of this Agreement.
Additionally, this Agreement may be amended from time to time by the
Servicer, the Transferor and the Trustee, without the consent of any of the
Certificateholders, to add to or change any of the provisions of this
Agreement to provide that Bearer Certificates may be registrable as to
principal, to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of
principal of (or premium, if any) or any interest on Bearer Certificates to
comply with the Bearer Rules, to permit Bearer Certificates to be issued in
exchange for Registered Certificates (if then permitted by the Bearer
Rules), to permit Bearer Certificates to be issued in exchange for Bearer
Certificates of other authorized denominations or to permit the issuance of
Certificates in uncertificated form.
(b) This Agreement or any Supplement may also be amended from
time to time by the Servicer, the Transferor and the Trustee, with the
consent of the Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing not less than 66-
2/3% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Investor Certificates
of all adversely affected Series, for the purpose of adding any provisions
to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this
Agreement or any Supplement or of modifying in any manner the rights of the
Certificateholders; provided, however, that no such amendment shall (i)
reduce in any manner the amount of or delay the timing of any distributions
to be made to Investor Certificateholders or deposits of amounts to be so
distributed or the amount available under any Enhancement without the
consent of each affected Certificateholder (provided that any amendment of
the terms of a Pay Out Event shall not be deemed to be within the scope of
this clause (i)), (ii) change the definition of or the manner of calculating
the interest of any Investor Certificateholder without the consent of each
affected Investor Certificateholder or (iii) reduce the aforesaid percentage
required to consent to any such amendment without the consent of each Inves-
tor Certificateholder. Any amendment to be effected pursuant to this
paragraph shall be deemed to adversely affect all outstanding Series, except
any specified Series with respect to which the Trustee shall have received
an Opinion of Counsel for the Transferor, addressed to the Trustee, to the
effect that such amendment does not adversely affect in any material respect
the interests of any Investor Certificateholder of such Series. The Trustee
may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such amendment which
affects the Trustee's rights, duties or immunities under this Agreement or
otherwise.
(c) Promptly after the execution of any such amendment or consent
(other than an amendment pursuant to paragraph (a)), the Trustee shall
furnish notification of the substance of such amendment to each Investor
Certificateholder, and the Servicer shall furnish notification of the
substance of such amendment to each Rating Agency and each Enhancement
Provider, if any, entitled thereto pursuant to the relevant Supplement.
(d) It shall not be necessary for the consent of Investor
Certificateholders under this Section to approve the particular form of any
proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve
the substance thereof. The manner of obtaining such consents and of
evidencing the authorization of the execution thereof by Investor
Certificateholders shall be subject to such reasonable requirements as the
Trustee may prescribe.
(e) Any Supplement executed in accordance with the provisions of
Section 6.3 shall not be considered an amendment to this Agreement for the
purposes of this Section.
(f) The Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing more than 66-
2/3% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Investor Certificates
of each Series, or, with respect to any Series with two or more Classes, of
each Class (or, with respect to any default that does not relate to all
Series, 66-2/3% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Investor
Certificates of each Series to which such default relates or, with respect
to any such Series with two or more Classes, of each Class) may, on behalf
of all Certificateholders, waive any default by the Transferor or the
Servicer in the performance of their obligations hereunder (other than any
event which would result in a Trust Pay Out Event or the failure to add
Receivables in Additional Accounts when required to do so pursuant to
subsection 2.9(a)(i)) and its consequences, except the failure to make any
distributions required to be made to Investor Certificateholders or to make
any required deposits of any amounts to be so distributed. Upon any such
waiver of a past default, such default shall cease to exist, and any default
arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been remedied for every purpose of
this Agreement. No such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other
default or impair any right consequent thereon except to the extent express-
ly so waived.
Section 13.2. Protection of Right, Title and Interest to Trust.
(a) The Transferor shall cause this Agreement, all amendments and
supplements hereto and all financing statements and continuation statements
and any other necessary documents covering the Certificateholders' and the
Trustee's right, title and interest to the Trust to be promptly recorded,
registered and filed, and at all times to be kept recorded, registered and
filed, all in such manner and in such places as may be required by law fully
to preserve and protect the right, title and interest of the Certif-
icateholders and the Trustee hereunder to all property comprising the Trust
Assets. The Transferor shall deliver to the Trustee file-stamped copies of,
or filing receipts for, any document recorded, registered or filed as
provided above, as soon as available following such recording, registration
or filing.
(b) Within 30 days after the Transferor makes any change in its
name, identity or corporate structure which would make any financing
statement or continuation statement filed in accordance with paragraph (a)
seriously misleading within the meaning of Section 9-402(7) (or any
comparable provision) of the UCC, the Transferor shall give the Trustee
notice of any such change and shall file such financing statements or
amendments as may be necessary to continue the perfection of the Trust's
security interest in the Receivables and the proceeds thereof.
(c) The Transferor and the Servicer will give the Trustee prompt
notice of any relocation of any office from which it services Receivables or
keeps records concerning the Receivables or of its principal executive
office and whether, as a result of such relocation, the applicable
provisions of the UCC would require the filing of any amendment of any
previously filed financing or continuation statement or of any new financing
statement and shall file such financing statements or amendments as may be
necessary to perfect or to continue the perfection of the Trust's security
interest in the Receivables and the proceeds thereof. The Transferor and
the Servicer will at all times maintain within the United States their
principal executive offices and each office from which the Servicer services
Receivables.
(d) The Transferor will deliver to the Trustee and any Enhance-
ment Provider entitled thereto pursuant to the relevant Supplement: (i) upon
the execution and delivery of each amendment of this Agreement or any
Supplement, an Opinion of Counsel to the effect specified in Exhibit H-1;
(ii) on each Addition Date on which any Supplemental Accounts are to be
designated as Accounts pursuant to Section 2.9(a) or (b), an Opinion of
Counsel substantially in the form of Exhibit H-2, and on each Addition Date
on which any Participation Interests are to be included in the Trust
pursuant to Section 2.9(a) or (b), an Opinion of Counsel covering the same
substantive legal issues addressed by Exhibit H-2 but conformed to the
extent appropriate to relate to Participation Interests; and (iii) on or
before March 31 of each year, beginning with March 31, 1998, an Opinion of
Counsel substantially in the form of Exhibit H-3.
Section 13.3. Limitation on Rights of Certificateholders. (a)
The death or incapacity of any Certificateholder (other than the Transferor)
shall not operate to terminate this Agreement or the Trust, nor shall such
death or incapacity entitle such Certificateholders' legal representatives
or heirs to claim an accounting or to take any action or commence any
proceeding in any court for a partition or winding up of the Trust, nor
otherwise affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties
hereto or any of them.
(b) No Investor Certificateholder shall have any right to vote
(except as expressly provided in this Agreement) or in any manner otherwise
control the operation and management of the Trust, or the obligations of the
parties hereto, nor shall any Investor Certificateholder be under any
liability to any third person by reason of any action by the parties to this
Agreement pursuant to any provision hereof.
(c) No Investor Certificateholder shall have any right by virtue
of any provisions of this Agreement to institute any suit, action or
preceding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this
Agreement, unless such Investor Certificateholder previously shall have
made, and unless the Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing more than
50% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Investor Certificates
(or, with respect to any such action, suit or proceeding that does not
relate to all Series, 50% of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the
Investor Certificates of all Series to which such action, suit or proceeding
relates) shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute such
action, suit or proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall
have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require
against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or there-
by, and the Trustee, for 60 days after its receipt of such request and offer
of indemnity, shall have neglected or refused to institute any such action,
suit or proceeding; it being understood and intended, and being expressly
covenanted by each Investor Certificateholder with every other Investor
Certificateholder and the Trustee, that no one or more Investor Certificate-
holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing
itself or themselves of any provisions of this Agreement to affect, disturb
or prejudice the rights of Holders of any other of the Investor
Certificates, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to
any other Investor Certificateholder, or to enforce any right under this
Agreement, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable
and common benefit of all Investor Certificateholders except as otherwise
expressly provided in this Agreement. For the protection and enforcement of
the provisions of this Section, each and every Investor Certificateholder
and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at
law or in equity.
SECTION 13.4. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REFERENCE TO
ITS CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF
THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.
Section 13.5. Notices, Payments. (a) All demands, notices,
instructions, directions and communications (collectively, "Notices") under
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
given if personally delivered at, mailed by certified or registered mail,
return receipt requested, or sent by facsimile transmission (i) in the case
of the Transferor, to Pier 1 Funding, Inc., 301 Commerce Street, Suite 900,
Fort Worth, Texas 76102, Attention: Treasurer (facsimile no. (817) 878-
7881), (ii) in the case of the Servicer to Pier 1 Imports (U.S.), Inc., 301
Commerce Street, Suite 600, Fort Worth, Texas 76102, Attention: Treasurer
(facsimile no. (817) 878-7881), (iii) in the case of the Trustee, 600
Travis, 8th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, Attention: Global Trust Services-
Pier 1, Facsimile Number (713) 216-7757, except that with respect to the
presentation of Certificates for payment or for registration of transfer and
exchange, such term shall also mean the office of the Trustee in the city of
Dallas, Texas, which on the date hereof is 1201 Main Street, 18th Floor,
Dallas, Texas 75202, in each case at such further address or addresses as
the Trustee shall give appropriate and timely written notice in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement, (iv) in the case of Moody's, to 99 Church
Street, New York, New York 10007, Attention of ABS Monitoring Department 4th
Floor (facsimile no. 212-553-4600), (v) in the case of Fitch, to Fitch
Investors Service, L.P., One State Street Plaza, New York, New York 10004,
Attention of Asset Backed Group (facsimile no. ___________), (vi) in the
case of the Paying Agent or the Transfer Agent and Registrar, to
_____________, Attention: _____________ (facsimile no. ___________) and
(vii) to any other Person as specified in any Supplement; or, as to each
party, at such other address or facsimile number as shall be designated by
such party in a written notice to each other party.
(b) Any Notice required or permitted to be given to a Holder of
Registered Certificates shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid,
at the address of such Holder as shown in the Certificate Register. No
Notice shall be required to be mailed to a Holder of Bearer Certificates or
Coupons but shall be given as provided below. Any Notice so mailed within
the time prescribed in this Agreement shall be conclusively presumed to have
been duly given, whether or not the Investor Certificateholder receives such
Notice. In addition, (a) if and so long as any Series or Class is listed on
the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and such Exchange shall so require, any Notice
to Investor Certificateholders shall be published in an Authorized Newspaper
of general circulation in Luxembourg within the time period prescribed in
this Agreement and (b) in the case of any Series or Class with respect to
which any Bearer Certificates are outstanding, any Notice required or
permitted to be given to Investor Certificateholders of such Series or Class
shall be published in an Authorized Newspaper within the time period
prescribed in this Agreement.
Section 13.6. Rule 144A Information. For so long as any of the
Investor Certificates of any Series or Class are "restricted securities"
within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Act, each of the Transferor,
the Trustee, the Servicer and any Enhancement Provider agree to cooperate
with each other to provide to any Investor Certificateholders of such Series
or Class and to any prospective purchaser of Certificates designated by such
Investor Certificateholder, upon the request of such Investor
Certificateholder or prospective purchaser, any information required to be
provided to such holder or prospective purchaser to satisfy the condition
set forth in Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Act.
Section 13.7. Severability of Provisions. If any one or more of
the covenants, agreements, provisions or terms of this Agreement shall for
any reason whatsoever be held invalid, then such provisions shall be deemed
severable from the remaining provisions of this Agreement and shall in no
way affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions or of
the Certificates or the rights of the Certificateholders.
Section 13.8. Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, except as provided in Article VIII, this
Agreement may not be assigned by the Servicer without the prior consent of
Holders of Investor Certificates evidencing not less than 66-2/3% of the
aggregate unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Investor Certificates.
Section 13.9. Certificates Nonassessable and Fully Paid. It is
the intention of the parties to this Agreement that the Certificateholders
shall not be personally liable for obligations of the Trust, that the
interests in the Trust represented by the Certificates shall be
nonassessable for any losses or expenses of the Trust or for any reason
whatsoever and that Certificates upon authentication thereof by the Trustee
pursuant to Section 6.2 are and shall be deemed fully paid.
Section 13.10. Further Assurances. The Transferor and the
Servicer agree to do and perform, from time to time, any and all acts and to
execute any and all further instruments required more fully to effect the
purposes of this Agreement, including the execution of any financing
statements or continuation statements relating to the Receivables for filing
under the provisions of the UCC of any applicable jurisdiction.
Section 13.11. Nonpetition Covenant. Notwithstanding any prior
termination of this Agreement, the Servicer, the Trustee, the Transferor,
each Enhancement Provider, if any, each Holder of a Supplemental Certificate
and each Holder of a Participation shall not, prior to the date which is one
year and one day after the termination of this Agreement with respect to the
Trust or the Transferor, acquiesce, petition or otherwise invoke or cause
the Trust or the Transferor to invoke the process of any Governmental
Authority for the purpose of commencing or sustaining a case against the
Trust or the Transferor under any Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or
similar law or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee,
custodian, sequestrator or other similar official of the Trust or the
Transferor or any substantial part of their respective property or, except
as otherwise permitted under Section 9.2, Article XII or the provisions of
any Supplement, ordering the winding-up or liquidation of the affairs of the
Trust or the Transferor.
Each of the Trustee, the Transferor, the Servicer, and each
Certificateholder by acceptance of its Certificate, hereby agrees that it
will not institute against the Holder of the Exchangeable Transferor
Certificate, or join any other Person in instituting against the Holder of
the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate, on account of its ownership of the
Exchangeable Transferor Certificate or its obligations hereunder, any bank-
ruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, readjustment of debt, marshalling of assets
or any similar proceeding so long as there shall not have elapsed one year
plus one day since the last day on which any Investor Certificates shall
have been outstanding.
Section 13.12. No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure to
exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Trustee or the
Certificateholders, any right, remedy, power or privilege under this
Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege under this Agreement
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and
privileges provided under this Agreement are cumulative and not exhaustive
of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.
Section 13.13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
two or more counterparts (and by different parties on separate
counterparts), each of which shall be an original, but all of which together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 13.14. Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement will
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, the
Certificateholders, any Enhancement Provider (to the extent provided in this
Agreement and the related Supplement) and their respective successors and
permitted assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Agreement, no other Person will have any right or obligation hereunder.
Section 13.15. Actions by Certificateholders. (a) Wherever in
this Agreement a provision is made that an action may be taken or a Notice
given by Certificateholders, such action or Notice may be taken or given by
any Certificateholder, unless such provision requires a specific percentage
of Certificateholders.
(b) Any Notice, request, authorization, direction, consent,
waiver or other act by the Holder of a Certificate shall bind such Holder
and every subsequent Holder of such Certificate and of any Certificate
issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or
in lieu thereof in respect of anything done or omitted to be done by the
Trustee or the Servicer in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such
action is made upon such Certificate.
Section 13.16. Merger and Integration. Except as specifically
stated otherwise herein, this Agreement sets forth the entire understanding
of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, and all prior
understandings, written or oral, are superseded by this Agreement. This
Agreement may not be modified, amended, waived or supplemented except as
provided herein.
Section 13.17. Headings. The headings herein are for purposes of
reference only and shall not otherwise affect the meaning or interpretation
of any provision hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Transferor, the Servicer and the Trustee
have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective officers
as of the day and year first above written.
PIER 1 FUNDING, INC.,
as Transferor
By
Name: Charles L. Horn
Title: Vice President & Treasurer
PIER 1 IMPORTS (U.S.), INC.,
as Servicer
By
Name: Stephen F. Mangum
Title: Senior Vice President &
Chief Financial Officer
TEXAS COMMERCE BANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By
Name: Wayne Mentz
Title: Vice President
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF EXCHANGEABLE TRANSFEROR CERTIFICATE
THIS EXCHANGEABLE TRANSFEROR CERTIFICATE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. NEITHER THIS EXCHANGEABLE
TRANSFEROR CERTIFICATE NOR ANY PORTION HEREOF MAY BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT
IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGISTRATION PROVISIONS OF SUCH ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN
AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION PROVISIONS.
THIS EXCHANGEABLE TRANSFEROR CERTIFICATE IS NOT PERMITTED TO BE
TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, EXCHANGED OR OTHERWISE PLEDGED OR CONVEYED EXCEPT IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT REFERRED TO
HEREIN.
No. R-1 One Unit
PIER 1 IMPORTS CREDIT CARD MASTER TRUST
EXCHANGEABLE TRANSFEROR CERTIFICATE
THIS CERTIFICATE REPRESENTS AN INTEREST
IN CERTAIN ASSETS OF THE
PIER 1 IMPORTS CREDIT CARD MASTER TRUST
Evidencing an interest in a trust, the corpus of which consists primarily of
receivables generated from time to time in the ordinary course of business
in a portfolio of open end credit card accounts owned by Pier 1 Imports
(U.S.), Inc.
(Not an interest in or obligation of the Transferor
or any affiliate thereof)
This certifies that PIER 1 FUNDING, INC. is the registered owner
of a fractional interest in the assets of a trust (the "Trust") not
allocated to the Certificateholders' Interest, the interest of any Holder of
a Supplemental Certificate or the interest of any holder of a Participation
pursuant to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of February 12,
1997 (as amended and supplemented, the "Agreement"), among Pier 1 Funding,
Inc., a Delaware corporation, as transferor (the "Transferor"), Pier 1
Imports (U.S.), Inc., a Delaware corporation, as Servicer, and Texas
Commerce Bank National Association, a national banking association, as
trustee (the "Trustee"). The corpus of the Trust consists of (i) a
portfolio of all receivables (the "Receivables") existing in the open end
credit card accounts identified under the Agreement from time to time (the
"Accounts"), (ii) all Receivables generated under the Accounts from time to
time thereafter, (iii) funds collected or to be collected from
accountholders in respect of the Receivables, (iv) all funds which are from
time to time on deposit in the Collection Account, the Principal Account,
the Finance Charge Account, the Excess Funding Account and in the Series Ac-
counts, (v) the benefits of any Enhancements issued and to be issued by
Enhancement Providers, if any, with respect to one or more Series of Inves-
tor Certificates and (vi) all other assets and interests constituting the
Trust. Although a summary of certain provisions of the Agreement is set
forth below, this Certificate does not purport to summarize the Agreement
and reference is made to the Agreement for information with respect to the
interests, rights, benefits, obligations, proceeds and duties evidenced
hereby and the rights, duties and obligations of the Trustee. A copy of the
Agreement may be requested from the Trustee by writing to the Trustee at 600
Travis, 8th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, Attention: Global Trust Services-
Pier I, Facsimile Number (713) 216-7757. To the extent not defined herein,
the capitalized terms used herein have the meanings ascribed to them in the
Agreement.
This Certificate is issued under and is subject to the terms,
provisions and conditions of the Agreement, to which Agreement, as amended
and supplemented from time to time, the Holder of this Certificate by virtue
of the acceptance hereof assents and is bound.
The Receivables consist of Principal Receivables which arise
generally from the purchase of merchandise and services and Finance Charge
Receivables which arise generally from Periodic Finance Charges, Late Fees
and other fees and charges with respect to the Accounts.
This Certificate is the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate, which
represents the Transferor Interest in certain assets of the Trust, including
the right to receive a portion of the Collections and other amounts at the
times and in the amounts specified in the Agreement. The aggregate interest
represented by the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate at any time in the
Receivables in the Trust shall not exceed the Transferor Interest at such
time. In addition to the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate, (i) Investor
Certificates will be issued to investors pursuant to the Agreement, which
will represent the Certificateholders' Interest, (ii) Supplemental Certifi-
cates may be issued pursuant to the Agreement, which will represent that
portion of the Transferor Interest not allocated to the Holder of the
Exchangeable Transferor Certificate and (iii) Participations may be issued
pursuant to the Agreement, which will represent an undivided ownership
interest in the Receivables. This Exchangeable Transferor Certificate shall
not represent any interest in the Collection Account, the Principal Account,
the Finance Charge Account, the Excess Funding Account or the Series
Accounts, except as expressly provided in the Agreement, or any Enhanceme-
nts.
The Transferor has entered into the Agreement, and this
Certificate is issued, with the intention that, for Federal, state and local
income and franchise tax purposes only, the Investor Certificates (except,
Transferor Retained Certificates which are held by the Transferor) will
qualify as debt secured by the Receivables. The Transferor, by entering
into the Agreement and the Holder of the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate
by acceptance of this Exchangeable Transferor Certificate, agree to treat
such Investor Certificates for Federal, state and local income and franchise
tax purposes as debt under applicable tax law.
Subject to certain conditions and exceptions specified in the
Agreement, the obligations created by the Agreement and the Trust created
thereby shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) the day following the
Distribution Date on which the Invested Amount and Enhancement Invested
Amount for each Series is zero (provided that the Transferor has delivered a
written notice to the Trustee electing to terminate the Trust) and (ii) the
time provided in Section 9.2(a) of the Agreement; provided, however, in no
event shall the Trust created by this Agreement continue beyond the expira-
tion of 21 years from the death of the last survivor of the descendants of
Joseph P. Kennedy, the late ambassador to the Court of St. James', living on
the date of the Agreement
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed
by or on behalf of the Trustee, by manual signature, this Certificate shall
not be entitled to any benefit under the Agreement or be valid for any
purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Pier 1 Funding, Inc. has caused this
Certificate to be duly executed on this 12th day of February, 1997.
PIER 1 FUNDING, INC.,
as Transferor
By:________________________
Name:
Title:
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is the Exchangeable Transferor Certificate referred to in the
within-mentioned Agreement.
TEXAS COMMERCE BANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By:________________________
Authorized Signatory
Date: February 12, 1997
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT OF RECEIVABLES IN SUPPLEMENTAL ACCOUNTS
(As required by Section 2.9 of
the Pooling and Servicing Agreement)
ASSIGNMENT No. ____ OF RECEIVABLES IN SUPPLEMENTAL ACCOUNTS dated
as of __________, ____ by and among PIER 1 FUNDING, INC., a Delaware
corporation, as Transferor (the "Transferor"), PIER 1 IMPORTS (U.S.), INC.,
a Delaware corporation, as Servicer (the "Servicer"), and TEXAS COMMERCE
BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and
existing under the laws of the United States (the "Trustee"), pursuant to
the Pooling and Servicing Agreement referred to below.
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS the Transferor, the Servicer and the Trustee are parties
to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of February 12, 1997 (as may
be amended and supplemented from time to time, the "Agreement");
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Agreement, the Transferor wishes to
designate Supplemental Accounts owned by the Credit Card Originator to be
included as Accounts and to convey the Receivables of such Supplemental
Accounts, whether now existing or hereafter created, to the Trust as part of
the corpus of the Trust (as each such term is defined in the Agreement); and
WHEREAS the Trustee is willing to accept such designation and
conveyance subject to the terms and conditions hereof;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Transferor, the Servicer and the Trustee
hereby agree as follows:
1. Defined Terms. All capitalized terms used herein shall have
the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement unless otherwise defined
herein.
"Addition Date" shall mean, with respect to the Supplemental
Accounts designated hereby, ___________, ____.
"Addition Cut-Off Date" shall mean, with respect to the
Supplemental Accounts designated hereby, ___________, ____.
2. Designation of Supplemental Accounts. On or before the
Document Delivery Date, the Transferor will deliver to the Trustee a
computer file, microfiche list or printed list containing a true and
complete schedule identifying all such Supplemental Accounts specifying for
each such Account, as of the Addition Cut-Off Date, its account number, the
aggregate amount outstanding in such Account and the aggregate amount of
Principal Receivables outstanding in such Account, which computer file,
microfiche list or printed list shall supplement any computer file,
microfiche list or printed list previously delivered to the Trustee.
3. Conveyance of Receivables. The Transferor does hereby
transfer, assign, set over and otherwise convey to the Trust, for the
benefit of the Certificateholders, all its right, title and interest in, to
and under the Receivables of such Supplemental Accounts existing at the
close of business on the Addition Date and thereafter created from time to
time until the termination of the Trust, all monies due or to become due and
all amounts received with respect thereto and all proceeds (including
"proceeds" as defined in the UCC) thereof. The foregoing does not
constitute and is not intended to result in the creation or assumption by
the Trust, the Trustee, any Investor Certificateholder or any Enhancement
Provider of any obligation of the Servicer, the Transferor, the Credit Card
Originator or any other Person in connection with the Accounts, the Receiv-
ables or under any agreement or instrument relating thereto, including any
obligation to Obligors, merchant banks, merchants clearance systems or
insurers.
The Transferor agrees to record and file, at its own expense,
financing statements (and continuation statements when applicable) with
respect to the Receivables now in Supplemental Accounts, meeting the
requirements of applicable state law in such manner and in such jurisdic-
tions as are necessary to perfect, and maintain perfection of, the
assignment of such Receivables to the Trust, and to deliver a file-stamped
copy of each such financing statement or other evidence of such filing to
the Trustee on or prior to the Addition Date. The Trustee shall be under no
obligation whatsoever to file such financing or continuation statements or
to make any other filing under the UCC in connection with such assignment.
In connection with such assignment, the Transferor further agrees,
at its own expense, on or prior to the date of this Assignment, to cause the
Credit Card Originator to indicate in the appropriate computer files that
Receivables created in connection with the Supplemental Accounts and
designated hereby have been conveyed to the Trust pursuant to the Agreement
and this Assignment for the benefit of the Certificateholders.
The Transferor does hereby grant to the Trustee a security
interest in all of its right, title and interest in and to the Receivables
now existing and hereafter created in the Supplemental Accounts, all monies
due or to become due and all amounts received with respect thereto and all
"proceeds" (including "proceeds" as defined in the UCC) thereof. This
Assignment constitutes a security agreement under the UCC.
4. Acceptance by Trustee. The Trustee hereby acknowledges its
acceptance on behalf of the Trust of all right, title and interest to the
property, now existing and hereafter created, conveyed to the Trust pursuant
to Section 3 of this Assignment, and declares that it shall maintain such
right, title and interest, upon the trust set forth in the Agreement for the
benefit of all Certificateholders. The Trustee further acknowledges that,
prior to or simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this
Assignment, the Transferor delivered to the Trustee the computer file,
microfiche list or printed list described in Section 2 of this Assignment.
5. Representations and Warranties of the Transferor. The
Transferor hereby represents and warrants to the Trustee, on behalf of the
Trust, as of the date of this Assignment and as of the Addition Date that:
(a) Legal, Valid and Binding Obligation. This Assignment
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Transferor
enforceable against the Transferor in accordance with its terms, except
as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or
hereafter in effect affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights in
general and except as such enforceability may be limited by general
principles of equity (whether considered in a suit at law or in
equity);
(b) Eligibility of Accounts. Each Supplemental Account
designated hereby is an Eligible Account;
(c) Insolvency. As of each of the Addition Cut-Off Date and
the Addition Date, no Insolvency Event with respect to the Credit Card
Originator or the Transferor has occurred and the transfer by the
Transferor of Receivables arising in the Supplemental Accounts to the
Trust has not been made in contemplation of the occurrence thereof;
(d) Pay Out Event. The Transferor reasonably believes that
(A) the addition of the Receivables arising in the Supplemental
Accounts will not, based on the facts known to the Transferor, then or
thereafter cause a Pay Out Event to occur with respect to any Series
and (B) no selection procedure was utilized by the Transferor which
would result in the selection of Supplemental Accounts (from among the
available Eligible Accounts owned by the Credit Card Originator) that
would be materially less favorable to the interests of the Investor
Certificateholders of any Series as of the Addition Date than a random
selection;
(e) Security Interest. This Assignment constitutes a valid
transfer and assignment to the Trust of all right, title and interest
of the Transferor in the Receivables and other Trust Assets conveyed to
the Trust by the Transferor and all monies due or to become due and all
amounts received with respect thereto and the proceeds thereof (as
defined in the UCC), and this Assignment constitutes a grant of a
"security interest" (as defined in the UCC) in such property to the
Trust, which, in the case of existing Receivables and the proceeds
thereof, is enforceable upon execution and delivery of this Assignment,
and which will be enforceable with respect to such Receivables
hereafter created and the proceeds thereof upon such creation. Upon
the filing of the financing statements described in Section 3 of this
Assignment and, in the case of the Receivables hereafter created and
the proceeds thereof, upon the creation thereof, the Trust shall have a
first priority security interest in such property except for Liens
permitted under Section 2.7(b) of the Agreement;
(f) No Conflict. The execution and delivery by the
Transferor of this Assignment, the performance of the transactions
contemplated by this Assignment and the fulfillment of the terms hereof
applicable to the Transferor, will not conflict with or violate its
certificate of incorporation or by-laws or any Requirements of Law
applicable to the Transferor or conflict with, result in any breach of
any of the material terms and provisions of, or constitute (with or
without notice or lapse of time or both) a material default under, any
indenture, contract, agreement, mortgage, deed of trust or other
instrument to which the Transferor is a party or by which it or its
properties are bound;
(g) No Proceedings. There are no proceedings or investiga-
tions, pending or, to the best knowledge of the Transferor, threatened
against the Transferor before any court, regulatory body, adminis-
trative agency or other tribunal or governmental instrumentality (i)
asserting the invalidity of this Assignment, (ii) seeking to prevent
the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Assignment, (iii) seeking any determination or ruling that, in the
reasonable judgment of the Transferor, would materially and adversely
affect the performance by the Transferor of its obligations under this
Assignment, (iv) seeking any determination or ruling that would
materially and adversely affect the validity or enforceability of this
Assignment or (v) seeking to affect adversely the income tax attributes
of the Trust under the Federal, or applicable state income or franchise
tax systems; and
(h) All Consents. All authorizations, consents, orders or
approvals or other actions of any Person or of any court or other
governmental authority required to be obtained by the Transferor in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Assignment by the
Transferor and the performance of the transactions contemplated by this
Assignment by the Transferor, have been obtained.
6. Ratification of Agreement. As supplemented by this
Assignment, the Agreement is in all respects ratified and confirmed and the
Agreement as so supplemented by this Assignment shall be read, taken and
construed as one and the same instrument.
7. Counterparts. This Assignment may be executed in two or more
counterparts, and by different parties on separate counterparts, each of
which shall be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
8. GOVERNING LAW. THIS ASSIGNMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS
CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE
PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Transferor, the Servicer and the Trustee
have caused this Assignment to be duly executed by their respective officers
as of the day and year first above written.
PIER 1 FUNDING, INC.,
as Transferor,
By ______________________________
Name:
Title:
PIER 1 IMPORTS (U.S.), INC.,
as Servicer,
By ______________________________
Name:
Title:
TEXAS COMMERCE BANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee,
By ______________________________
Name:
Title:
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF REASSIGNMENT OF RECEIVABLES IN REMOVED ACCOUNTS
(As required by Section 2.10 of
the Pooling and Servicing Agreement)
REASSIGNMENT No. _____ OF RECEIVABLES dated as of __________,
___, by and among PIER 1 FUNDING, INC., a Delaware corporation, as
Transferor (the "Transferor"), PIER 1 IMPORTS (U.S.), INC., a Delaware
corporation, as Servicer (the "Servicer") and TEXAS COMMERCE BANK NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, a national banking association (the "Trustee"), pursuant to the
Pooling and Servicing Agreement referred to below.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS the Transferor, the Servicer and the Trustee are parties
to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of February 12, 1997 (as may
be amended and supplemented from time to time, the "Agreement");
WHEREAS pursuant to the Agreement, the Transferor wishes to remove
from the Trust all Receivables in certain designated Accounts owned by the
Credit Card Originator (the "Removed Accounts") and to cause the Trustee to
reconvey the Receivables of such Removed Accounts, whether now existing or
hereafter created, from the Trust to the Transferor; and
WHEREAS the Trustee is willing to accept such designation and to
reconvey the Receivables in the Removed Accounts subject to the terms and
conditions hereof;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Transferor, the Servicer and the Trustee
hereby agree as follows:
1. Defined Terms. All terms defined in the Agreement and used
herein shall have such defined meanings when used herein, unless otherwise
defined herein.
"Removal Date" shall mean, with respect to the Removed Accounts
designated hereby, ______________, ____.
"Removal Notice Date" shall mean, with respect to the Removed
Accounts, ______________, ____.
2. Designation of Removed Accounts. On or before the date that
is 10 Business Days after the Removal Date, the Transferor will deliver to
the Trustee a computer file, microfiche list or printed list containing a
true and complete schedule identifying all Accounts the Receivables of which
are being removed from the Trust, specifying for each such Account, as of
the Removal Notice Date, its account number, the aggregate amount outstand-
ing in such Account and the aggregate amount of Principal Receivables in
such Account, which computer file, microfiche list or printed list shall
supplement any computer file, microfiche list or printed list previously
delivered to the Trustee pursuant to the Agreement.
3. Conveyance of Receivables. (a) The Trustee does hereby
transfer, assign, set over and otherwise convey to the Transferor, without
recourse, on and after the Removal Date, all right, title and interest of
the Trust in, to and under the Receivables existing at the close of business
on the Removal Date and thereafter created from time to time in the Removed
Accounts designated hereby, all monies due or to become due and all amounts
received with respect thereto and all proceeds thereof.
(b) In connection with such transfer, the Trustee agrees to
execute and deliver to the Transferor on or prior to the date this
Reassignment is delivered, applicable termination statements with respect to
the Receivables existing at the close of business on the Removal Date and
thereafter created from time to time in the Removed Accounts reassigned
hereby and the proceeds thereof evidencing the release by the Trust of its
interest in the Receivables in the Removed Accounts, and meeting the
requirements of applicable state law, in such manner and such jurisdictions
as are necessary to terminate such interest.
4. Representations and Warranties of the Transferor. The
Transferor hereby represents and warrants to the Trustee, on behalf of the
Trust, as of the Removal Date:
(a) Legal, Valid and Binding Obligation. This Reassignment
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Transferor
enforceable against the Transferor, in accordance with its terms, except as
such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights in general and except as such
enforceability may be limited by general principles of equity (whether
considered in a suit at law or in equity);
(b) Pay Out Event. The Transferor reasonably believes that
(A) the removal of the Receivables existing in the Removed Accounts will
not, based on the facts known to the Transferor, then or thereafter cause a
Pay Out Event to occur with respect to any Series and (B) no selection
procedure believed by the Transferor to be materially adverse to the inter-
ests of the Investor Certificateholders has been used in removing Removed
Accounts from among any pool of Accounts or Participations of a similar type
as of the Removal Date; and
(c) List of Removed Accounts. The list of Removed Accounts
delivered pursuant to Section 2.10 (c) of the Agreement, as of the Removal
Date, is true and complete in all material respects.
(d) Defaulted Receivables. No selection procedure was uti-
lized by the Transferor with the intent to include a disproportionately
higher level of Defaulted Receivables in the Removed Accounts than exist in
the Accounts or to remove Accounts for the intended purpose of mitigating
losses to the Trust.
5. Ratification of Agreement. As supplemented by this
Reassignment, the Agreement is in all respects ratified and confirmed and
the Agreement as so supplemented by this Reassignment shall be read, taken
and construed as one and the same instrument.
6. Counterparts. This Reassignment may be executed in two or
more counterparts, and by different parties on separate counterparts, each
of which shall be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
7. GOVERNING LAW. THIS REASSIGNMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS
CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS, AND THE OBLIGATIONS, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF THE
PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH LAWS.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Transferor, the Servicer and the Trustee
have caused this Reassignment to be duly executed by their respective
officers as of the day and year first above written.
PIER 1 FUNDING, INC.,
as Transferor
By ______________________________
Name:
Title:
PIER 1 IMPORTS (U.S.), INC.,
as Servicer
By ______________________________
Name:
Title:
TEXAS COMMERCE BANK
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By ______________________________
Name:
Title:
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF ANNUAL SERVICER'S CERTIFICATE
(To be delivered on or before the
90th day following the end of the fiscal year
of the Transferor beginning on May 30, 1998,
pursuant to Section 3.5 of the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement referred to below)
PIER 1 IMPORTS (U.S.), INC.
PIER 1 IMPORTS CREDIT CARD MASTER TRUST
The undersigned, a duly authorized representative of Pier 1
Imports (U.S.), Inc., as Servicer ("Pier 1"), pursuant to the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement dated as of February 12, 1997 (as may be amended and
supplemented from time to time, the "Agreement"), among Pier 1 Funding,
Inc., as Transferor, Pier 1, as Servicer, and Texas Commerce Bank National
Association, as Trustee, does hereby certify that:
1. Pier 1 is, as of the date hereof, the Servicer under the
Agreement. Capitalized terms used in this Certificate have their respective
meanings as set forth in the Agreement.
2. The undersigned is a Servicing Officer who is duly authorized
pursuant to the Agreement to execute and deliver this Certificate to the
Trustee.
3. A review of the activities of the Servicer during the
Transferor Fiscal Year ended __________, ____, and of its performance under
the Agreement was conducted under my supervision.
4. Based on such review, the Servicer has, to the best of my
knowledge, performed in all material respects its obligations under the
Agreement throughout such year and no default in the performance of such
obligations has occurred or is continuing except as set forth in paragraph 5
below.
5. The following is a description of each default in the
performance of the Servicer's obligations under the provisions of the
Agreement known to me to have been made by the Servicer during the
Transferor Fiscal Year ended __________, ____, which sets forth in detail
(i) the nature of each such default, (ii) the action taken by the Servicer,
if any, to remedy each such default and (iii) the current status of each
such default: [If applicable, insert "None."]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this
Certificate this _____ day of , 19__.
PIER 1 IMPORTS (U.S.), INC.,
as Servicer,
By ______________________________
Name:
Title:
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT E-1-A
THIS CERTIFICATE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "1933 ACT"). NEITHER THIS CERTIFICATE NOR ANY
PORTION HEREOF MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED, OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED
EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGISTRATION PROVISIONS OF THE 1933 ACT AND
ANY APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF ANY STATE BLUE SKY OR SECURITIES LAWS OR
PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION PROVISIONS. THE
TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN
THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT REFERRED TO HEREIN.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT E-1-B
THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE ACQUIRED BY OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A
BENEFIT PLAN (AS DEFINED BELOW).
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT E-2
[FORM OF INVESTMENT LETTER]
[Date]
Texas Commerce Bank National Association
600 Travis, 8th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Global Trust Services-Pier 1
Pier 1 Funding, Inc.
301 Commerce Street, Suite 900
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
Attention: ______________
Re: Purchase of $____________ principal
amount of Pier 1 Imports Credit Card
Master Trust, [Class __], [__%] [Floating Rate] Asset Backed Cer-
tificates, Series [ ]
Dear Sirs:
In connection with our purchase of the above-referenced Asset
Backed Certificates (the "Certificates") we confirm that:
(i) we understand that the Certificates are not being registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and are
being sold to us in a transaction that is exempt from the registration
requirements of the 1933 Act;
(ii) any information we desire concerning the Certificates or any
other matter relevant to our decision to purchase the certificates is
or has been made available to us;
(iii) we have such knowledge and experience in financial and
business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of
an investment in the Certificates, and we (and any account for which we
are purchasing under paragraph (iv) below) are able to bear the
economic risk of an investment in the Certificates; we (and any account
for which we are purchasing under paragraph (iv) below) are an "ac-
credited investor" (as such term is defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2) or
(3) of Regulation D under the 1933 Act); and we are not, and none of
such accounts is, a Benefit Plan;
(iv) we are acquiring the Certificates for our own account or for
accounts as to which we exercise sole investment discretion and not
with a view to any distribution of the Certificates, subject, neverthe-
less, to the understanding that the disposition of our property shall
at all times be and remain within our control;
(v) we agree that the Certificates must be held indefinitely by
us unless subsequently registered under the 1933 Act or an exemption
from any registration requirements of that Act and any applicable state
securities laws available;
(vi) we agree that in the event that at some future time we wish
to dispose of or exchange any of the Certificates (such disposition or
exchange not being currently foreseen or contemplated), we will not
transfer or exchange any of the Certificates unless
(A)(1) the sale is of at least U.S. $ principal
amount of Certificates to an Eligible Purchaser (as defined
below), (2) a letter to substantially the same effect as para-
graphs (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of this letter is
executed promptly by the purchaser and (3) all offers or
solicitations in connection with the sale, whether directly or
through any agent acting on our behalf, are limited only to
Eligible Purchasers and are not made by means of any form of
general solicitation or general advertising whatsoever; or
(B) the Certificates are transferred pursuant to Rule 144
under the 1933 Act by us after we have held them for more than
three years; or
(C) the Certificates are sold in any other transaction that
does not require registration under the 1933 Act and, if the
Transferor, the Servicer, the Trustee or the Transfer Agent and
Registrar so requests, we theretofore have furnished to such party
an opinion of counsel satisfactory to such party, in form and sub-
stance satisfactory to such party, to such effect; or
(D) the Certificates are transferred pursuant to an
exception from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act under
Rule 144A under the 1933 Act; and
(vii) we understand that the Certificates will bear a legend to
substantially the following effect:
"THIS CERTIFICATE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "1933 ACT"). NEITHER THIS CERTIFICATE NOR ANY
PORTION HEREOF MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED
EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGISTRATION PROVISIONS OF THE 1933 ACT
AND ANY APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF ANY STATE BLUE SKY OR SECURITIES LAWS
OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION
PROVISIONS. THE TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE IS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN
CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT REFERRED TO
HEREIN."
["THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE ACQUIRED BY OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A
BENEFIT PLAN (AS DEFINED BELOW)."]
The first paragraph of this legend may be removed if the Transferor,
the Servicer, the Trustee and the Transfer Agent and Registrar have
received an opinion of counsel satisfactory to them, in form and
substance satisfactory to them, to the effect that such paragraph may
be removed.
"Eligible Purchaser" means either an Eligible Dealer or a
corporation, partnership or other entity which we have reasonable grounds to
believe and do believe can make representations with respect to itself to
substantially the same effect as the representations set forth herein.
"Eligible Dealer" means any corporation or other entity the principal
business of which is acting as a broker and/or dealer in securities.
["Benefit Plan" means (i) an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section
3(3) of ERISA) that is subject to the provisions of Title I of ERISA, (ii) a
plan described in Section 4975(e)(1) of the Code, (iii) a governmental plan,
as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA, subject to any federal, state or local
law which is, to a material extent, similar to the provisions of Section 406
of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, (iv) an entity whose underlying assets
include plan assets by reason of a plan's investment in the entity or (v) a
person investing "plan assets" of any such plan (including for purposes of
clauses (iv) and (v), any insurance company general account, but excluding
any entity registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amend-
ed).] Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the
meanings given to such terms in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated
as of February 12, 1997, among Pier 1 Funding, Inc., Pier 1 Imports (U.S.),
Inc. and Texas Commerce Bank, National Association.
Very truly yours,
________________________
(Name of Purchaser)
By:_____________________
(Authorized Officer)
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT F
Representative Credit Card Agreements
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT G
Form of Daily Report
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT H-1
FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL WITH RESPECT
TO AMENDMENTS
Provisions to be included in
Opinion of Counsel to be delivered pursuant
to Section 13.2(d)(i)
The opinions set forth below may be subject to all the
qualifications, assumptions, limitations and exceptions taken or made in the
Opinions Of Counsel delivered on any applicable Closing Date.
(i) The amendment to the [Pooling and Servicing Agreement], [Sup-
plement], attached hereto as Schedule 1 (the "Amendment" ), has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Transferor and the
Servicer and constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of the
Transferor and the Servicer, respectively, enforceable in accordance
with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by appli-
cable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws
from time to time in effect affecting creditors' rights generally or
the rights of creditors of national banking associations. The enforce-
ability of the respective obligations of the Transferor and the
Servicer is also subject to general principles of equity (regardless of
whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or
at law)
(ii) The Amendment has been entered into in accordance with the
terms and provisions of Section 13.1 of the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT H-2
FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL WITH RESPECT
TO ADDITION OF SUPPLEMENTAL ACCOUNTS
Provisions to be included in
Opinion of Counsel to be
delivered pursuant to
Section 13.2(d)(ii)
The opinions set forth below may be subject to appropriate
qualifications, assumptions, limitations and exceptions.
1. The Receivables arising in such Supplemental Accounts consti-
tute either "general intangibles," "accounts" or "chattel paper," in each
case as defined under Section 9-106 of the UCC.
2. Assignment No. ___ of Receivables in Supplemental Accounts
(the "Assignment") has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Transferor and constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement of the
Transferor, enforceable against the Transferor in accordance with its terms,
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equitable princi-
ples.
3. The Pooling and Servicing Agreement as amended by the
Assignment creates in favor of the Trust a security interest in the
Transferor's rights in the Receivables in such Supplemental Accounts and the
proceeds thereof.
4. The security interest described in paragraph 3 is perfected
and of first priority under the UCC.
5. No filing or other action, other than the filing of a Uniform
Commercial Code financing statement in the recording offices in the Relevant
UCC State is necessary in order to perfect or maintain the security interest
in the Receivables and the proceeds thereof created by the Pooling and
Servicing Agreement in favor of the Trust in the Transferor's rights in the
Receivables and the proceeds thereof.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT H-3
FORM OF ANNUAL OPINION OF COUNSEL
Provisions to be included in
Opinion of Counsel to be
delivered pursuant to
Section 13.2(d)(iii)
The opinion set forth below may be subject to appropriate
qualifications, assumptions, limitations and exceptions.
No further filing or other action, other than such filing or
action described in such opinion, is necessary from the date of such opinion
through March 31 of the following year, in order to maintain the perfection
and priority of the security interest created by the Pooling and Servicing
Agreement in favor of the Trust in the Transferor's rights in the Receiv-
ables and the proceeds thereof.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT I
FORM OF SETTLEMENT STATEMENT
EXHIBIT 21
ROSTER OF SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY
Pier 1 Assets, Inc., a Delaware corporation
Pier 1 Licensing, Inc., a Delaware corporation
Pier 1 Imports (U.S.), Inc., a Delaware corporation
Pier 1 Funding, Inc., a Delaware corporation
Pier Lease, Inc., a Delaware corporation
Pier-ASD, Inc., a Delaware corporation
CEEMCO, Inc., an Illinois corporation
Pier-SNG, Inc., a Delaware corporation
PIR Trading, Inc., a Delaware corporation
Pier International Limited, a Hong Kong private
company
Pier Alliance Ltd., a Bermuda limited liability
company
Pier-FTW, Inc., a Delaware corporation
Pacific Industrial Properties, Inc., a Delaware
corporation
Pier Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation
Pier 1 Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation
Pier 1 Services Company, a Delaware business trust
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statements on Form S-8 (No. 33-9970, No. 33-50278, and No. 33-32166) and in
the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-49356) of our report dated
April 11, 1997, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and
schedule of Pier 1 Imports, Inc. included in the Annual Report (Form 10-K)
for the year ended March 1, 1997.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Fort Worth, Texas
May 27, 1997
EXHIBIT 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (No. 33-9970, No. 33-50278, and No. 33-32166) and in
the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-49356) of our report dated
April 7, 1995, except for Notes 6, 9, 12 and 13, as to which the date is
February 29, 1996, appearing on page 21 of Pier 1 Imports, Inc.'s annual
report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 1, 1997. We also consent to
the incorporation by reference of our report on the Financial Statement
Schedule, which appears in Item 14(a) of this Form 10-K.
/s/ Price Waterhouse LLP
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Fort Worth, Texas
May 29, 1997
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND BALANCE SHEET AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-1-1997
<PERIOD-END> MAR-1-1997
<CASH> 32,280
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 4,395
<ALLOWANCES> 267
<INVENTORY> 220,013
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 285,478
<PP&E> 355,015
<DEPRECIATION> 138,179
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 570,268
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 110,386
<BONDS> 111,250
<COMMON> 45,361
0
0
<OTHER-SE> 277,687
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 570,268
<SALES> 947,091
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 947,091
<CGS> 562,629
<TOTAL-COSTS> 562,629
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 19,765
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 12,595
<INCOME-PRETAX> 80,338
<INCOME-TAX> 32,129
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 48,209
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 4,122
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 44,087
<EPS-PRIMARY> 1.01
<EPS-DILUTED> .97
</TABLE>
